XYplorer Beta Club

admin wrote:* apparently the only people on this planet that don't understand english (SCNR)

Yeah, something's definitely wrong with those people, it's unbelievable!

admin wrote:series/set of 1-2 min: yes, I'm for it!
text instead of audio: yes, totally okay (more people can read english than hear, and one could even do some french* version). Plus some zen-ish sitar-twang in the background maybe?

* apparently the only people on this planet that don't understand english (SCNR)

LIC FOR VID
Today I had the Huck Finn idea of giving away a free license in exchange for a short video clip that demonstrates some cool XYplorer usage. Of course, standards must be kept and controlled, so there should be an independent jury. Good idea?

admin wrote:LIC FOR VID
Today I had the Huck Finn idea of giving away a free license in exchange for a short video clip that demonstrates some cool XYplorer usage. Of course, standards must be kept and controlled, so there should be an independent jury. Good idea?

Only problem is...IMO, only ppl who would likely be good at making video already have license and would likely not have any use for it.

As I recall, serendipity bought at least one extra one last year with the idea of having some giveaway contest for it and I'm not sure if that ever got anywhere.

j_c_hallgren wrote:As I recall, serendipity bought at least one extra one last year with the idea of having some giveaway contest for it and I'm not sure if that ever got anywhere.

It did not go anywhere. Because I had too little time to think of anything then and even now. I thought instead of donating $ to Don, one could give away licenses in exchange of involving new users with XY. That way, Don would get $ from the licenses and XY would get some popularity. I am ready to offer a standard license (maybe in October), but not for free. Users have to win it, somehow (I can't think of).

I don't know how much this would be worth but Giveaway of the Day concept seems to offer win-win solution.

serendipity wrote:I don't know how much this would be worth but Giveaway of the Day concept seems to offer win-win solution.

I checked that some months ago and was not overwhelmed.

I'm experimenting with Video Captures now.

Here's a first attempt:

Topic: Use Address Bar to find all *.gif in current folder.
Size: 828KB
Length: 8 sec
Format: WMV
Capture Software: FastStone Capture 6.3
File: http://www.xyplorer.com/download/Video_ ... 0-best.wmv

I think, it's too large for merely 8 seconds, and it does not look very hip.

PS: I'd like to try "Jing Project 1.6.8198", but it requires Microsoft .NET Framework 3. Anybody got experience with Microsoft .NET Framework 3 on XP/SP3???

admin wrote:PS: I'd like to try "Jing Project 1.6.8198", but it requires Microsoft .NET Framework 3. Anybody got experience with Microsoft .NET Framework 3 on XP/SP3???

Installed it quite a time ago, never saw any problem.

looks good.

I have net3 and no problems though it is big!

graham wrote:I have net3 and no problems though it is big!

How big?

PS: I'm not sure if a video without accompanying audio text really cuts it.

admin wrote:I'm experimenting with Video Captures now.

Here's a first attempt:
I think, it's too large for merely 8 seconds, and it does not look very hip.

Ok, here's my feedback:

1) Yes, it is somewhat large but also in format (WMV) that isn't as common for these type of videos as most that I've run into are Flash, and tend to be run directly via player on host server, or YouTube or similar sites...advantage of video sharing sites is no bandwidth usage for you but also may be found via searching so new ppl may find product.

2) As we discussed, it needs either on-screen overlay 'captions' describing actions or audio...some have both...even some low vol generic background music if captions used is sometimes seen.

3) IMHO, moved a bit too quick to see what is happening...needs to be more of: action - pause - action - pause - action ...so that viewer has chance to see what occurs...not a long pause, not more than 1 sec... but longer than currently.

4) Was a bit small screen size to see it clearly...

Don't want to be too picky but if you're going thru the effort, it might as well be as good as most other products, right?

j_c_hallgren wrote:

admin wrote:I'm experimenting with Video Captures now.

Here's a first attempt:
I think, it's too large for merely 8 seconds, and it does not look very hip.

Ok, here's my feedback:

1) Yes, it is somewhat large but also in format (WMV) that isn't as common for these type of videos as most that I've run into are Flash, and tend to be run directly via player on host server.

2) Needs either audio or large on-screen overlay 'captions' describing actions...some have both.

3) IMHO, moved a bit too quick to see what is happening...needs to be more of: action - pause - action - pause - action ...so that viewer has chance to see what occurs...not a long pause, not more than 1 sec... but longer than currently.

4) Was a bit small screen size to see it clearly...

Don't want to be too picky but if you're going thru the effort, it might as well be as good as most other products, right?

Oh yes, I fully agree. I'll try Jing now...

Just bouncing around YouTube, I found this one about PhotoShop...the first couple of min were enough to say this might be a possibly reasonable example to model after.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kIkarvhoa8&

j_c_hallgren wrote:Just bouncing around YouTube, I found this one about PhotoShop...the first couple of min were enough to say this might be a possibly reasonable example to model after.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kIkarvhoa8&

I must say that from a watcher's/learner's perspective I'm not so thrilled by the video approach. If I'd really follow the steps I'd have to do a lot of stop and go and rewind.

Here's my new idea: A storyboard/comic like approach seems to be much more efficient in showing how something done. Have you ever seen this anywhere? -- I have not, but I worked once in storyboarding and I know: it could look pretty !

admin wrote:Here's my new idea: A storyboard/comic like approach seems to be much more efficient in showing how something done. Have you ever seen this anywhere? -- I have not, but I worked once in storyboarding and I know: it could look pretty !

Not sure if this is what you meant, but it's one recent example of a "comic" approach: http://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/index.html...or were you thinking more of a PowerPoint presentation?

I still think the video idea makes sense if it's done in small chunks, like around 2 min max....can't recall/find the one that I was thinking of as example.

Update/addendum: Or something like Opera does here? http://www.opera.com/support/tutorials/ ... bookmarks/
Or better yet, like this? http://www.opera.com/support/tutorials/flash/speeddial/