http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-blogs_rss.php?ver=2 Sun, 20 May 2012 07:38:53 +0100 Tiki CMS/Groupware via FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/img/tiki.jpg http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog.php?blogId=1 en-us http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=1&postId=18
We've established our virtual teaching platform based upon the open source learning management system MOODLE found at http://www.moodle.org.

The URL of our Moodle site is as follows:

-> http://elearn.virtuallyeducated.com <-

We've also established our public blog site using the popular and free online service BLOGGER. Recently, Google acquired BLOGGER, yet you can still get to the main BLOGGER site at http://www.blogger.com.

The URL of our Blogger site is as follows:

-> http://blog.virtuallyeducated.com <-

Please follow us in our journey to establish the preferred, virtual teaching platform on the Internet!

]]> admin Sat, 04 Aug 2007 23:40:16 +0100 http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=4&postId=17
The file below is an ".AVI" file format.


Filtering SpamVideo.avi

Enjoy!

]]> Christopher Epperson Mon, 11 Jun 2007 05:52:55 +0100 http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=4&postId=16 Updated on Sunday, 06/03/2007 10:54 AM by Christopher Epperson


Just discovered that there is currently no means to sell your Podcast content via iTunes. What follows is taken from a blog discussing this issue as follows:

I plan on investing other means to sell Podcast content as I see this as a great way to start a simple business that people from all other the world could utilize as a revenue source as well as a practical means of cultural exchange.

• Begin of thread from "http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-136717.html" ***

PCA Forum > For Podcasters > Advertising in Podcasts > Is iTunes planning to allow us to charge $$?

---

PDA

View Full Version : Is iTunes planning to allow us to charge $$?

---

Dan Carlin

Mar 19th, 2007, 02:48 PM

Does anyone know if iTunes is planning to allow us to charge for our old shows?

We would like to sell our archived shows (which we currently sell on CD per season) individually for a buck apiece. ITunes seems set up to allow this organization-wise...but isn't doing it now (as far as I can tell).

But my producer turned me on to this story http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-6041352.html

So, in a way, maybe you can get around this issue (although this solution is not as good as simply letting us charge per show downloaded).

ITunes is missing the boat here. They are getting outflanked by others looking to fill this niche (podcasters being able to avoid the advertising hassle and just allow people to pay for shows or archives). They want the podcasting community to flourish...well, this would be the quickest, easiest road to cash for most of us. If they don't want us to go away (and lose all that content and potential revenue off of our work) they need to help us make some money.

Anyone heard anything about this? I'd love to think iTunes was getting ready to spring this on us as a surprise soon. But I haven't heard anything...so I'm probably just dreaming...

---

WyethDigital?

Mar 19th, 2007, 02:56 PM

Apple does not sell podcasts, plain and simple. The deal that the article talks about is between Ricky and Audible. Apple and Audible have a deal where Apple can sell Audible.com audio books on iTunes, and it sounds as if Ricky's show will be handled under that umbrella. Apple isn't selling a Ricky Gervaise podcast, they're selling another Audible.com product.

If you're interested in this deal, you should seek out someone at Audible.

Eric

Does anyone know if iTunes is planning to allow us to charge for our old shows?

We would like to sell our archived shows (which we currently sell on CD per season) individually for a buck apiece. ITunes seems set up to allow this organization-wise...but isn't doing it now (as far as I can tell).

But my producer turned me on to this story http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-6041352.html

So, in a way, maybe you can get around this issue (although this solution is not as good as simply letting us charge per show downloaded).

ITunes is missing the boat here. They are getting outflanked by others looking to fill this niche (podcasters being able to avoid the advertising hassle and just allow people to pay for shows or archives). They want the podcasting community to flourish...well, this would be the quickest, easiest road to cash for most of us. If they don't want us to go away (and lose all that content and potential revenue off of our work) they need to help us make some money.

Anyone heard anything about this? I'd love to think iTunes was getting ready to spring this on us as a surprise soon. But I haven't heard anything...so I'm probably just dreaming...

---

Dan Carlin

Mar 19th, 2007, 03:10 PM

Oh sorry...yes, I realized the audible deal was different from iTunes allowing us to charge.

I may be an idiot, but if I were iTunes, why wouldn't I want to corner this market for myself? I mean...am I missing something? Take a percentage of every sale (maybe even charge a setup fee for people to get started) and whammo...more money for virtually nothing (after they initiate the program).

Seems a terrible waste and an opportunity they have left open to someone else...

It also would have had a profound impact on the New Media (so to speak). I could see so many ways iTunes would benefit in both the short and long term, one wonders why they wouldn't be working on this...

But hey...maybe I just don't get it...I'm sure they are much smarter than I am over there at Apple...

---

mdattilo

Mar 19th, 2007, 04:35 PM

There's simply not enough money in it. People may buy a CD of past episodes (especially for their non-tech saavy friends), but how much would you charge for an old podcast episode? $.99? Forget it.

Also, keep in mind that most podcasts on iTunes have fewer than 300 subscribers. Apple is not going to go to the trouble of setting up a "storefront" for the maybe 500 podcasters who could sell back episodes of their shows.

The money in podcasting is in advertising, IMHO, just as it is in other mediums.

---

WyethDigital?

Mar 19th, 2007, 05:10 PM

The money in podcasting is in advertising, IMHO, just as it is in other mediums.

I think some of the money in podcasting is in advertising... at least until there's a more equitable formula than there is now. But that's a whole other discussion!

I also believe that there's money in diversification — moving beyond the podcast by utilizing what you've learned from it. As an example, we're working with a couple of companies looking to get into podcasting and/or new media. One of them wants a huge number of shows done economically, and the other wants less shows, but with a TV level of quality. Both stand to be huge financial windfalls for us that may not only support our own show, but may even help us along the way to quitting the day jobs.

I agree that currently there's no incentive for Apple to charge for podcasts. With so many free podcasts out there, I just don't see things changing immediately. Not to say you shouldn't try to sell past episodes... if you can, go for it! We're attempting the same thing with our DVD. (http://www.howtogirl.com/how-to_dvd.htm)

Eric

---

Dan Carlin

Mar 19th, 2007, 05:53 PM

Well, that's just it. We DO sell past shows right now (for $20). They sell well. We figured more people would buy if we sold them individually for a smaller price (the cigarette model..a single versus a whole box).
Why wouldn't they buy singles if they buy "boxes" from us now?

---

WyethDigital?

Mar 19th, 2007, 05:55 PM

Well, that's just it. We DO sell past shows right now (for $20). They sell well. We figured more people would buy if we sold them individually for a smaller price (the cigarette model..a single versus a whole box).
Why wouldn't they buy singles if they buy "boxes" from us now?

Have you thought about selling single downloads on your site?

Eric

---

Dan Carlin

Mar 19th, 2007, 08:29 PM

Yes Eric, thanks for the suggestion. The E-commerce side of things is a bit daunting though (at least the guys who handle the tech stuff that I can't suggest that it is...).

Besides, the ease with which iTunes could allow people to do it (just click..they already have the credit card info, etc.) would, I am sure, translate into higher buy rates.

And while I understand the cost of handling all these smaller podcasts might not be "worth it' initially for iTunes...but if iTunes doesn't do it they will lose out on a rosy future because they consider the present too miniscule.

Besides...they could charge a start-up fee that would cover those initial costs and weed out those who didn't think they stood a good liklihood of getting a good return on such an "investment".

Don't you think?

---

WyethDigital?

Mar 19th, 2007, 08:46 PM

Actually, I think your friends have you a little too timid about the e-commerce thing. The transaction part would be easy, especially if you tied it into PayPal?. The hardest part (at least for me) would be setting up a secure URL to serve the files.

In any case, when Apple first started out with iTunes, it wasn't designed to generate a huge profit, but to sell iPods. Since then, of course, the business model has changed, so you never know. They could always reconsider it.

All I know for sure is that Apple's official stance is not to charge for podcasts. If the decision to pay or not were up to me, and I worked for Apple, I think part of my reason not to would be that at one point there were 90,000 podcasts listed in iTunes. Some of them were (of course) defunct, so the number is actually quite a bit lower. Still, I don't think having to constantly manage, weed, and keep track of potential payments for up 90,000 podcasts is economical, even in the long run. For one thing, unless a podcaster can prove they have a tax number from the IRS designating him as an official business, they couldn't pay the podcaster any more than $600 per year. That's just a lot to keep track of! If your friends are telling you how hard it would be to set up an e-commerce site for your one podcast, imagine the difficulty for 90,000.

Yes Eric, thanks for the suggestion. The E-commerce side of things is a bit daunting though (at least the guys who handle the tech stuff that I can't suggest that it is...).

Besides, the ease with which iTunes could allow people to do it (just click..they already have the credit card info, etc.) would, I am sure, translate into higher buy rates.

And while I understand the cost of handling all these smaller podcasts might not be "worth it' initially for iTunes...but if iTunes doesn't do it they will lose out on a rosy future because they consider the present too miniscule.

Besides...they could charge a start-up fee that would cover those initial costs and weed out those who didn't think they stood a good liklihood of getting a good return on such an "investment".

Don't you think?

---

Allen Milller

Apr 26th, 2007, 09:57 AM

I spoke with a senior member of content programing at Apple TV, and it doesn't appear they have any plans to allow Pod-casters to charge for content in the iTunes store. However for video producers, they are willing to except TV formatted shows that are well produced for sell on Apple TV. I have a video series called SMIDGITS www.smidgits.com. After they looked at our site they told me they are looking for content that is at-least 30 minutes per segment and can be presented as a series. That's if you want to sell. So because of that I am directing some interest in developing such content, but still be able to pod-cast certain elements of it...

This is one of the main reasons why I think this industry can't seem to take off in the way it should be. The "gate-keepers" have to allow us to set prices for our products... Don't get me wrong though, I think Apple is great, and one of the reasons we've gotten this far... but its time for them to open up their store to those like us that have helped fuel this technology...

---

WyethDigital?

Apr 27th, 2007, 09:03 AM

This is one of the main reasons why I think this industry can't seem to take off in the way it should be. The "gate-keepers" have to allow us to set prices for our products... Don't get me wrong though, I think Apple is great, and one of the reasons we've gotten this far... but its time for them to open up their store to those like us that have helped fuel this technology...
That's the problem, though, Allen. You're looking at Apple as the sole gate keeper. Why not use Google Video or your own site to sell your full content, and use your Smidgits podcast to promote it?

I don't see why Apple would (or should) allow us to sell our podcasts through their store at whatever price we set, when Apple doesn't even allow the studios to do that. They recognize there has to be a certain price point to make things attractive to buyers, and to make it worth selling.

There are other options out there, too. Look into Brightcove, or Akimbo. These sites serve Video On Demand networks, and claim to be developing revenue models for their users. Of course, if you develop your program into something Apple's interested in selling, then there's that avenue, as well.

Eric

---

Barefoot Radio.com

May 6th, 2007, 04:35 PM

I don't think it would hurt if Apple would look at letting people charge. I'm sure they could come up with a system with rules that suits them fine.

I wonder why there are no plans as of yet.

---

vBulletin v3.6.2, Copyright ©2000-2007, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

• End of thread from "http://www.podcastalley.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-136717.html" ***

]]> Christopher Epperson Mon, 11 Jun 2007 05:48:41 +0100 http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=4&postId=15

I recently took a closer look at Liberated Syndication (LIBSYN) found at http://www.libsyn.com . When you sign up for the service you must check a box that states that you agree to their terms. Like most software services, few users read the "end user agreement", so I took the time to read the terms and have a few comments regarding the terms.

1) Section II. Site Content expressly forbids a user to use the service for "...any commercial enterprise...". Therefore, anyone that wishes to establish a Podcast for service and charge for content must find an alternative method, since LIBSYN forbids commercial use of their service.



2) Section IV. License To Libsynis provides LIBSYN royalty free use of a user's content. Thus, based upon Section II, you have no right to make money from your content hosted by LIBSYN, yet LIBSYN, a commercial service, can use your content. Something to consider when signing up for this service.

3) Secon XI. Copyright Infringement forbids any posting of any copyrighted material including music, pictures, etc. in a user's blog site. Therefore, a user must be aware of the content that he or she posts in his or her account. If you read the section, LIBSYN policy allows LIBSYN to terminate your account for such a copyright violation.



The three items above are the areas I found most interesting. There is a lot more in the terms; however, much of the language is standard such you would except from a copy that makes no guarantees about availability of the service, etc.



You can find the entire end user agree at http://libsyn.com/legal.




]]> Christopher Epperson Mon, 11 Jun 2007 05:46:40 +0100 http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=4&postId=14

Attached are my script and audio Podcast files.


Podcast_Spam_Filter.ppt


AudioPodcastVersion1Edited.mp3


Comments (1)
Jim was here
Thursday, 05/17/2007 6:38 AM by James McGrath?

]]> admin Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:14:02 +0100 http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=4&postId=13
Just in case any one is interested, attached is the powerpoint presentation I created for my Video Podcast as a script to read while recording.

Podcast_Spam_Filter_video_podcast.ppt

]]> Christopher Epperson Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:26:35 +0100 http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=4&postId=12
Thoough iTunes and the Video iPod were designed to work together, I found one aspect of using the overall system a bit troubling. If, for some reason, you have no reason or desire to synchronize all files iTunes to the iPod or vice versa. Instead, if you simply wish to place a video file onto your video iPod, I found no easy method to both move the find and verify that the file made it to the video iPod without being forced to disconnect the video iPod after transferring the video file. In other words, you can simply drag a compatible video file into your video iPod via iTunes. Yet, there is no way to view the updated contents of your video iPod while the video iPod is still connected. Apparently, the only way to both transfer and see a file both in iTunes and a video iPod while the video iPod is still connected to the computer and controlled by iTunes is to use the file sychronization process. Unfortunately, if you are careless, you could inadvertently wipeout the contents of the iPod if you fail to sychronize properly. I'll write more on this later if I can figure out a better way take advantage of the synchronization feature without risking the contents listed in iTunes and/or the iPod.

]]> Christopher Epperson Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:24:53 +0100 http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=4&postId=11 Updated on Saturday, 05/05/2007 10:00 PM by Christopher Epperson


I learned quite a bit about using Camtasia and saving a video file in a format compatible for both iTunes and a video iPod this past week.

First, the format of the file I posted into Black Board is a ".M4V" which is a format that works both on iTunes and a video iPod. I tested this file on both platforms. I created this file by first producing a ".MOV" video from Camtasia, then I imported the ".MOV" file into iTunes and finally I converted the imported .MOV file in iTunes to a ".M4V" file format using the convert to iPod format from with iTunes.

Further, I found that a file with the following properties looks acceptable on iTunes and is a reasonable size for the Video iPod device to store as follows:




One important fact to note, if you include music in your Audio or Video Podcast you should consider setting your "channels" (see above) to stereo versus mono. Please be aware setting the channels to stereo may significantly increase the overall size of your Podcast file.






Comments (1)
Good information as I will be using Camtasia for my final project. Thanks
Monday, 05/07/2007 10:56 AM by Leah Castillo

]]> Christopher Epperson Thu, 07 Jun 2007 13:29:15 +0100 http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=4&postId=10
While assisting classmate Jim McGrath? to convert video from his mobile phone, I was introduced to a video format entitled 3GPP. This is the native format of the video file copied from his phone. So, we searched and found a conversion program that allowed the video to be imported into Windows Movie Maker software program.
Learning about the 3GPP format peeked my curiosity. Therefore, I used Google to learn more and found http://www.apple.com/quicktime/technologies/3gpp/faq.html which contained the following information:
What are 3GPP and 3GPP2?

3GPP and 3GPP2 are new worldwide standards for the creation, delivery, and playback of multimedia over 3G mobile networks. Both 3GPP and 3GPP2 seek to provide uniform delivery of rich multimedia over 3G mobile networks to a new breed of multimedia-enabled wireless devices. Tailored to the unique requirements of mobile devices, 3GPP and 3GPP2 are based on MPEG-4, the standard for delivery of video and audio over the Internet.
What is the difference between 3GPP and 3GPP2?

3GPP, defined by a group of telecommunications standards bodies called the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), was created for use on Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM) networks, the most popular type of 3G network across the globe. 3GPP2 was defined by a different group of telecommunications bodies called 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 (3GPP2) for use on the second most predominate type of 3G network, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) 2000. The 3GPP and 3GPP2 formats are very similar, as both are based on the QuickTime? file format and contain MPEG-4 and H.263 video, AAC and AMR audio, and 3G Text. 3GPP2 adds the option to use QCELP audio and Movie Fragments, a technology that allows multimedia content to be delivered incrementally over standard TCP wireless networks, providing a more immediate viewing experience for the end user.

Essentially, yet another “standard” exists to define how we’ll interact with video content on our phone. Only time will tell if this “standard” will last.


Comments (1)
The information is great. I am just wondering how can I download my photos and videos from my cell phone to my computer, and use the files for instructional purpose. Thank you very much for the information.
Thursday, 05/03/2007 7:14 AM by Li-Ling? Chen

]]> Christopher Epperson Thu, 07 Jun 2007 13:27:02 +0100 http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=4&postId=9 Updated on Saturday, 05/05/2007 10:26 PM by Christopher Epperson


While listening to a Podcast about technology, the author stating that the best microphone for Podcasting is a USB style with a Digital Signal Processing or DSP microchip inline with the microphone. After listening to Podcasts created with non-DSP microphones and discussing the quality of audio content created with standard microphones with other Podcasters, I’ve come to the conclusion that the much more expensive DSP style microphone provides little to no real advantage.

]]> Christopher Epperson Thu, 07 Jun 2007 13:24:59 +0100 http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=4&postId=8

During the creation of my latest Podcast, the audio Podcast for this class, I came to a simply realization: “Keep on talking and edit later”. What I mean by this is that if you are creating an audio Podcast with no necessity to stay in sync with other content, then you may find this simple, quick and easy audio Podcast creation method useful.



First, write, at minimum, bullet points in a word processing or presentation file format. A more complete approach is to write out a word-for-word script to read as your audio Podcast. Either option tends to reduce the number of times you must re-record your content.



Second, read and record your bullet points or script. If you make a mistake while recording, re-read your written content from the point where your error occurred even if you restart 10 times. There is no need to start completely over. Simply keep recording your content until you complete the entire Podcast.



Third, edit out the mistakes and save the edited version to a separate audio project file. If you wish to re-edit the file, open up the unedited version and re-edit the audio content. Repeat this process until you are satisfied with the content.



This method allows you to capture and use your best delivery while providing you the opportunity to remove your less flattering work.

]]> Christopher Epperson Thu, 07 Jun 2007 13:23:45 +0100 http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=4&postId=7
Since I've done an audio Podcast before, I know the general process; however, limiting the Podcast to 2 minutes is a bit challenging since a music tune is often longer than that. One think I do know is that it is much easier to do a Podcast about something you know really well since you can more easily ad lib if you have no script or choose to talk extemporaneously. So, with that in mind, I've chosen to give a quick lesson on how to set up filter rules in your email client to combat SPAM. This topic came to mind since I just went through an exercise in attempting to combat the SPAM I receive every day. We'll see if I can convey enough information in two minutes to help with such a nagging problem for email users everywhere. Stay tuned.

]]> Christopher Epperson Thu, 07 Jun 2007 13:21:41 +0100 http://www.virtuallyeducated.com/tiki-view_blog_post.php?blogId=1&postId=5 Here are some of the tools that we plan to make available on this site?

* A wiki system where users can edit pages using a powerful syntax
* Articles, reviews, topics and user submissions
* Forums
* Weblogs
* Image galleries
* File galleries
* Chatrooms
* FAQs
* Games
* Polls
* Project management software packages
* Online project management, online meeting, web conferencing, video conferencing tools
* Voice over the Internet tools


]]> admin Thu, 07 Jun 2007 12:09:11 +0100