The headline above is appropriate for today, as the last couple days of YouTube (Nasdaq:GOOG) coverage have been dominated by the closing off of YouTube in Pakistan, and it resulting in the worldwide shutdown for a couple hours.
For the YouTube nation thing, I'm referring to the decision by the company to start a test group of users who will experiment with using a personalized homepage on the site. Testers were chosed at random.
Even thought the test group is small, YouTube has assured users they'll be opening it up to everyone sometime in the near future.
In other YouTube news, director Jim Fogarty has released a 20-minute film on YouTube called "Coffee and Donuts," which you can view below.
He said the reason he did it was "I just wanted to get it out there and let people enjoy it."
HBO has also put up the show "In Treatment," among many others on a branded channel on YouTube, adding they aren't looking to monetize it at this time.
Links, videos and other YouTube stories below:
Pakistan welcomes back YouTube
YouTube has removed a video clip that offended some of Pakistan's Muslims, and the government there has lifted a nationwide ban against the video-sharing site.
Efforts by Pakistan's state-controlled Internet service provider to block YouTube inside that country triggered a two-hour blackout of the site Sunday across the globe.
Pakistan investigates YouTube blockage
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YouTube To Test Personalized Homepage
For the "recommendations" feature the YouTube blog says, "Based on what you've viewed and favorited in the past, you'll see an algorithmically-selected set of videos that you otherwise may never have discovered."
On the new subscription feature YouTube says, "To help you keep track of the most current activity, we've changed the layout that displays newly added videos from your subscriptions. You'll be able to see videos from your three most recently updated subscriptions."
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Director Jim Fogarty has released his film "Coffee and Donuts," via YouTube.
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Shows to be promoted on the premium channel's YouTube destination (www.youtube.com/hbo) include Flight of the Conchords, The Wire, Def Comedy Jam, Real Time with Bill Maher, Real Sports, Extras, and Entourage as well as stand-up comedy specials. Whole episodes of In Treatment will also be available on the channel, as well as promotions for HBO films and documentaries.
HBO, penniless on YouTube
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Misawa couple’s clip a finalist in YouTube contest
Earlier this month, Scott Vecchione and his wife entered a short movie contest on the video-sharing Web site YouTube’s “Where’s Yours,” about favorite place in nature.
Last week, he found out their 6 minute, 41 second clip featuring northeastern Japan was named a top-10 finalist in the contest sponsored by Nature Valley, the company that makes granola bars.
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FixMyMovie Releaunches, Autopost to YouTube
Remember that web-based magic tool funded by InQTel, called FixMyMovie? You know, the one that makes your mobile (and other) movies look like they were never crappy? Well, FixMyMovie is relaunching its free service, with a few new options that should make just about everyone happy.
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