Robert, I really like the Qik videos. One thing, though, is it would really help me to always have a little meta data for each one, so people can judge if they want to watch. A meaningful title would be enough.
I know that you put titles on many of your Qik videos, but there are also quite a few that have a title of "Untitled". Seeing "Untitled" makes me less likely to watch the video.
justin
· 1 year ago
I'm so jealous. I was hoping to be at SXSW this year, but not luck. Thanks for keeping us updated with great posts.
Justin Thorp
· 1 year ago
Jim Long is awesome! I have so much respect for him! He's a pillar of the DC tech community. Great interview Robert.
Scott O'Raw
· 1 year ago
Hi Robert,
I also like the Qik videos. One thing I would say is that, simply due to the quality issue - shaky camera and audio sometimes not being the best - I would prefer them to be shorter. I think, sometimes, you are still approaching these interviews in terms of "the big camera".
Snappier, punchier little vignettes of opinion I think would work a lot better.
Just my 2p worth (I'm Scottish. We don't do cents here! ;-) )
anjali28
· 1 year ago
Hi Robert: I like your Qik videos as well. I know you're trying to work on the audio/video quality. If they could somehow be made sharper, that would be great. Thanks for streaming from SXSW BTW!!!
Brian Sullivan
· 1 year ago
As you know I really don't care for the Qik videos (mostly they seem to waste my time) -- but the latest tactic (not sure if it is a new feature or not) where your twitter posts actually include some subject information is an improvement.
But I do agree it is likely possible to get a different kind of video/interview using the cell phone because of its "invisibility". Hopefully the technology of the phones, network will improve so the usefulness of the strategy also improves.
Daniel Brusilovsky
· 1 year ago
Robert -- Although Qik is still an experiment, there is nothing else like it. Kyte announced live streaming, but thats nothing like Qik does it :)
Keep on Qikking!
Andrew Feinberg
· 1 year ago
Honestly, I think the Qik videos are much better for things like, say, the Mark Zuckerberg mulligan at Pangea where it's on the fly, not for an actual "interview."
When I talk to someone it's either off the cuff with the voice recorder or sit down with the table microphone into the laptop or GarageBand. Sometimes I'll use BlogTalkRadio. To me, having the camera between me and the subject makes it about the camera and not the conversation, and I think interviews flow better when they are conversations between equals.
Having someone else take the video while you talk to someone? You'll probably get more natural results and better answers that way.
clem
· 1 year ago
Qik is easier for you, more painful for us: no thought to questions, long dull sections, and poor audio and video quality.
Doing research, preparing a series of questions, editing the results to include the important answers, and capturing the interview in high quality audio and video is very hard work for you, but would make the resulting video much more interesting and valuable to us.
Robert Bardou
· 1 year ago
Robert, and what cell phone do you use for interview recording? I mean what resolution (in Mpx) has phone's camera?
Ivan Pope
· 1 year ago
It just occured to me that Qik is a spy's delight. When I was a kid, all spies (in the movies) had those tiny little cameras that they would use for photographing all sorts of stuff, documents mostly. Then they had the pressing problem of getting the film back to base - which is generally where they fell down. These days, they would just open up their phone and let it stream back - end of. No-one could find the film and destroy it. I might take up a career in industrial espionage!
Robert Scoble
· 1 year ago
clem: it's pretty clear to you that you have no clue about what I'm doing with Qik. I doubt you even watched a single video.
Robert: I'm using a Nokia N95.
Jim Long
· 1 year ago
Robert, What a BLAST meeting you Rocky, Shel and EVERYONE else at SXSW. Thanks for the shout out! As you can imagine, I've been spending my evenings adding new Twitter friends. ;-)
I've found that audio is sort of the weak link on the N95, so we've both learned to work the camera mic pretty close. Noisy environments obviously make that tougher. To me, the game changer of the Qik platform is that it lets the audience participate via chat. That is beyond evolutionary.
Oh and that little spy camera that Ivan Pope was talking about is called a minox.
clem
· 1 year ago
robert: What is pretty clear is that YOU haven't watched much of it.
If you don't want feedback, don't ask.
Robert Scoble
· 1 year ago
Clem: well, OK, then you'll want to watch our edited shows at ScobleizerTV, which are professionally shot on expensive HD cameras.
Qik videos let me get you different kinds of video.
For instance, here's Guy Kawasaki in the airport tonight talking about his new service. That question WAS prepared. http://qik.com/video/36369
Here's R.E.M.'s lead singer talking about why he likes the Internet. Very short, and prepared question: http://qik.com/video/35841
In all three cases, the quality is good enough to watch and learn something from. The player on all three starts immediately here. Not sure if you have a slower connection or something else that keeps Flash videos from playing.
All Comments
I know that you put titles on many of your Qik videos, but there are also quite a few that have a title of "Untitled". Seeing "Untitled" makes me less likely to watch the video.
I also like the Qik videos. One thing I would say is that, simply due to the quality issue - shaky camera and audio sometimes not being the best - I would prefer them to be shorter. I think, sometimes, you are still approaching these interviews in terms of "the big camera".
Snappier, punchier little vignettes of opinion I think would work a lot better.
Just my 2p worth (I'm Scottish. We don't do cents here! ;-) )
But I do agree it is likely possible to get a different kind of video/interview using the cell phone because of its "invisibility". Hopefully the technology of the phones, network will improve so the usefulness of the strategy also improves.
Keep on Qikking!
When I talk to someone it's either off the cuff with the voice recorder or sit down with the table microphone into the laptop or GarageBand. Sometimes I'll use BlogTalkRadio. To me, having the camera between me and the subject makes it about the camera and not the conversation, and I think interviews flow better when they are conversations between equals.
Having someone else take the video while you talk to someone? You'll probably get more natural results and better answers that way.
Doing research, preparing a series of questions, editing the results to include the important answers, and capturing the interview in high quality audio and video is very hard work for you, but would make the resulting video much more interesting and valuable to us.
Robert: I'm using a Nokia N95.
I've found that audio is sort of the weak link on the N95, so we've both learned to work the camera mic pretty close. Noisy environments obviously make that tougher. To me, the game changer of the Qik platform is that it lets the audience participate via chat. That is beyond evolutionary.
Oh and that little spy camera that Ivan Pope was talking about is called a minox.
If you don't want feedback, don't ask.
Qik videos let me get you different kinds of video.
For instance, here's Guy Kawasaki in the airport tonight talking about his new service. That question WAS prepared. http://qik.com/video/36369
Here's R.E.M.'s lead singer talking about why he likes the Internet. Very short, and prepared question: http://qik.com/video/35841
Here's executives at Rackspace talking about their unique corporate culture. http://qik.com/video/35737
In all three cases, the quality is good enough to watch and learn something from. The player on all three starts immediately here. Not sure if you have a slower connection or something else that keeps Flash videos from playing.
Here's one of the guys who invented the Intel chip: http://qik.com/video/35706
Qik videos let me get content up much faster and much cheaper, plus you get to participate during the filming of the video.
There way more videos like these, than like the examples you provided.