YouTube Australia Blog: 2011

Get More Into: Top 50 Music Videos of 2011

Thursday, 22 December 2011

From kitty-cam to kids with nerf guns to Thom York's peculiar dance moves, we bring you 50 of the greatest, weirdest and most innovative music videos of 2011.
Hand-picked by the YouTube Australia music team who have been diligently scouring the depths of the internet, this list is a celebration of all things wonderful and weird in the world of music.

2011 was a year of power females. Who could forget Beyonce's ground-breaking 'Countdown' or Lana Del Rey’s washed out glamour throwback video for ‘Video Games’.

This year we’ve seen a crop of new talent and innovation with Alexander’s breakout video for ‘A Million Years’, featuring makeup landscapes - or ‘manscapes’ - being a notable mention. The Beastie Boys brought us the the Spike Jonze-directed epic masterpiece 'Make Some Noise' featuring more celebrities than the Betty Ford clinic.

A special shout out to the Aussies who made the cut - Children Collide's 'Loveless', directed by award-winning Australian filmmaker David Michôd (Animal Kingdom). It features a one-take shot of their lead singer getting a haircut. Bluejuice's granny-kissing antics, Strange Talk's interactive prize giveaways and last but not least, Gotye’s body-paint experiments also get a mention.

So sit back and raise a glass to the year that was 2011 in music! Watch the full playlist here.

Posted by Sophie Hirst and Cat Conroy, YouTube Team, just watched Bing Crosby & David Bowie - Little Drummer Boy

Opening up a world of educational content with YouTube for Schools

Monday, 12 December 2011

Cross-posted from the Official YouTube Blog
When I was in school during the 90s, watching videos in the classroom was a highlight of any week. The teacher would roll in a television on a cart, pop in a VHS tape, and then we’d enjoy whatever scratchy science video my teacher had checked out from the school video library that week. Sight, sound and motion have always had the power to engage students and complement classroom instruction by bringing educational topics to life.
We’ve been hearing from teachers that they want to use the vast array of educational videos on YouTube in their classrooms, but are concerned that students will be distracted by the latest music video or cute cat, or a video that wasn’t appropriate for students. While schools that restrict access to YouTube may solve this distraction concern, they also limit access to hundreds of thousands of educational videos on YouTube that could help bring photosynthesis to life, or show what life was like in ancient Greece.
To address this issue, we’ve developed YouTube for Schools, a network setting that school administrators can turn on to grant access only to the educational content from YouTube EDU. Teachers can choose from the hundreds of thousands of videos on YouTube EDU created by more than 600 partners like the Smithsonian, TED, Steve Spangler Science, and Numberphile.

We know how busy teachers are, and that searching through thousands of videos sounds like a daunting visit to the world’s largest library, so we’ve also worked with teachers to put together more than 300 playlists broken out by subject -- Math, Science, Social Studies, and English Language Arts -- and by grade level. Teachers can find them listed out at youtube.com/teachers. Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without your input -- teachers, what videos do you use in your classroom? Suggest your own education playlist here.

YouTube for Schools is just the latest initiative in our ongoing attempts to make YouTube a truly valuable educational resource, and to inspire learners around the world with programs like YouTube Space Lab. So how do you get started? To join YouTube for Schools or learn more about the program, head on over to www.youtube.com/schools.

Brian Truong, Product Manager, recently watched “The Challenges of Getting to Mars: Transporting a Mars Rover.”

Get more into what you love on YouTube with our new look

Friday, 2 December 2011

Cross-posted from the Official YouTube Blog.
From your favorite sports highlights and dance competitions to make-up tutorials, science experiments and great movies, there’s a ton of great stuff on YouTube — over three billion views worth per day by last count. More and more, behind every great video is a great Channel, and with our announcement last month that more of them are coming to YouTube, we want to make it easier for you to find and keep tabs of what you want to watch.

So, today we're introducing a new homepage, Channel design and a fresh coat of digital paint. Here are three ways these updates will improve your life on YouTube:

1. A new homepage
The YouTube homepage is your gateway to a vast entertainment universe. To help you get more into YouTube, we’re making it easier to find and follow great Channels when you arrive. On the left side of the homepage you can create your own, personal, customizable YouTube Channel line-up. Sign-in, or create a YouTube account. Then you can browse recommended Channels; customize your homepage’s feed; even link your YouTube account to Google+ and Facebook to see what your friends are sharing. The new homepage feed we launched earlier this year is now front and center on the homepage. You can switch between feeds by clicking on different Channels on the left.

For step by step instructions on using the new YouTube homepage, you can go to our help center.

2. Simpler, customizable Channels
Given the homepage’s new focus on helping you find and organize your favorite Channels, we would be remiss if we didn’t update the look and feel of the Channels themselves. Today we're launching an improved Channel design focused on what matters most: helping users find great videos. As different uploaders have different goals, we've created new Channel templates to meet your needs whether you produce one video a week or have thousands of videos for a fan to browse. Some partners have even uploaded videos talking about the features, or giving tips on how they’re taking advantage of the new design. To learn how to opt-in to and test this new Channel design, check out our help center.

3. A new overall design
To bring the new homepage and Channels designs together we’ve also applied a fresh coat of digital paint across the whole site. In July, we unveiled an experimental design called Cosmic Panda. We’ve used your feedback to improve our overall design, and today, we’re presenting a cleaner and simpler YouTube, with a consistent gray background, bigger video thumbnails and a more streamlined watch page.

Ready to get started? Your new YouTube is already shipped and waiting for you at YouTube.com, and like every new toy, we included an instruction manual (and video) to help.

Our recent Channels expansion, our grants and educational programs, and this new design are all focused on helping you discover a broader range of entertainment on YouTube. We’re always innovating and testing new stuff out to make the experience the best it can be for you. We rely on your feedback to figure out when we've gotten it right and when it needs further tweaks. So let us know what you think.

The YouTube team

Calling all budding scientists: Deadline extended to enter YouTube Space Lab

Tuesday, 29 November 2011

This is a cross-post from the Official YouTube Blog.
Last month we challenged you to come up with an idea for an experiment that an astronaut can carry out in space, for the chance to watch NASA astronauts conduct it aboard the International Space Station live on YouTube next year. We know the many registered teams out there are busy preparing their experiments for YouTube Space Lab, so we’re extending the deadline by a week to December 14, 2011 to help get your entry just right.

Here’s YouTube Space Lab Judge, Professor Stephen Hawking, to inspire you to join if you haven’t registered already:

Be sure to read the How to Enter guide on our YouTube channel to learn what you need to do to submit your entry. You can also read about the amazing prizes for the regional and global winners, ranging from ZERO-G flights to an authentic astronaut training experience in Russia.

And if you just want to watch cool space videos? We're regularly adding playlists on the channel from What is space?, to Early Pioneers, and the US vs USSR. There's more to come so make sure you subscribe to the channel to keep up with the latest.

Be sure to read the updated official rules and blast off to YouTube Space Lab today!

Zahaan Bharmal, YouTube Space Lab lead, recently watched "Mars Science Laboratory Lifts Off for Red Planet."

Get More Into: Music

Tuesday, 22 November 2011

From huge audiences watching Coldplay live from a bullring in Madrid to two young Nicky Minaj fans, music lovers from all over the world have come to YouTube to dig into the latest musical hits and trends. Here at Google Australia we’ve always got a tune spinning and are constantly looking for breaking new artists to fill our latest playlist.

Today we’re inviting you to embark on a musical journey with some of your favourite acts — from down under and abroad — that will take us on a guided tour of the hot hits, big surprises, inspirational performances and everything in between. We’re Getting More Into Music. And you can too.

Starting today, we’ll be featuring playlists created by music fans — for music fans. Want to hear how DJ Pogo hears sounds in film? What videos Florence + The Machine watch before each gig? We’ve asked these musicians — and several more — to dig into whatever they’re into and share it on YouTube.

With over 48 hours of video uploaded every minute, we’re hoping these playlists make it easy to find out what music fans on YouTube are into, and help you get a little more into your own music passion.

And it’s a big week to get more into Aussie music, too. We’ll be featuring three full length shows from the vaults of The Aria awards and have even created an easy way for you to save your own playlists of top Australian acts. We’ll be profiling a few of your favourite Aria Nominated acts too at youtube.com/music and youtube.com/getmoreintoau, so watch this space!

Posted by Ernesto Soriano III, YouTube Team, just watched Davyd (A.I. Mashup)

Poetic Justice: Impress The Band, Join Them Downunder on 1st Jan, 2012

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

This is a cross-post from the YouTube UK Blog.

Dance superstars Justice have laid down a challenge to YouTube: produce a mind-blowing video cover of one the tracks from "Audio, Video, Disco" and win the opportunity to treat yourself and a friend to a similarly mind-blowing New Year's Day at the band's January 1, 2012, concert in Sydney, Australia.
Given that the French duo have a reputation for producing innovative, quirky videos, it's time to get creative: think"D.A.N.C.E" or the epic "Civilisation" (although, naturally, your production can be on a smaller scale). The creators of the top nine entries as decided by Gaspard and Xavier will join them in an exclusive Google+ Hangout at theJustice +Page to review the entries, at which point the winner will be announced.

Submissions should be made at the Justice YouTube channel and don't forget to share your efforts using Google+ and boost your profile by interacting with the band's +page, as comments will be linked directly back to their home on YouTube and will doubtless boost your chances. The competition closes at 3pm, Paris time, on December 10, so get filming if you want to start 2012 with a bang… and more than a few beats.

Posted by Jamie Dolling, YouTube UK, recently watched "Audio, Video, Disco".

Four Aussies join the 32 next YouTube stars of cooking and fitness training

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Thinking of searching YouTube for some good Christmas recipes? Want some videos to help you achieve that New Year’s fitness resolution? You’re in good company. Searches on YouTube for cooking recipes spike around the end of every year, and searches for fitness exercises spike just around the start of the new year.

We also happen to have partners who are doing amazing things with food and fitness. So to supercharge their careers, we created the YouTube Next Chef and the YouTube Next Trainer programs. We’d like to introduce you to the first class of partners who’ll be attending a 12-week course via Google+ Hangouts and receiving a $15,000 equipment and promotional package, all to help them share their passion for food or fitness on YouTube with you.

Representing Australia, we have three chefs — master BBQ of AussieGriller, the simple yet elegant cuisine of cookingwithkarma, and the big flavors of OnePotChefShow — as well as one trainer, FitnessFAQs, who focuses his exercise on body-weight. They are among the 32 partners from 6 countries around the world who will be participating.

YouTube Next Chef
The partners of the YouTube Next Chef class include self-taught chefs, cookbook authors, former restaurant owners and more. Their culinary styles range from making a full meal with just one pot to vegan desserts to gourmet on a budget, and represent five countries around the world. These partners will be taught by the finest folks in culinary arts, including editors from CHOW.com, YouTube Partners like Rob Nixon, and industry experts like Lee Allison.

YouTube Next Trainer
If fitness is your goal, our YouTube Next Trainers are here to help. This international group can teach you exercises using city landscapes, fitness routines made for athletes, safe parkour training exercises, pilates made simple and more. Expect to see these partners get top tier training from our featured mentors Billy Blanks, YouTube Partners like DeStorm, and industry experts like Julie DelaBarre.

Stay tuned for weekly videos starting Nov 15 for YouTube Next Chef and Nov 23 for YouTube Next Trainer.

Posted by Austin Lau, YouTube Creator Programs, recently watched “The Coolest Extreme Skiing Dudes.”

Are you the next big chef or trainer on YouTube?

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

This is a cross-post from the Official YouTube blog.

Since launching the first YouTube NextUp, we’ve been working to supercharge the careers of partners from around the world, and now we’re expanding the program even further. Today we’re kicking off two new YouTube Next Creator Programs to highlight the stars of tomorrow on YouTube today: YouTube Next Chef and YouTube Next Trainer.

Each program will have sixteen participants who take part in a three month virtual class held on Google+ Hangouts. Our chefs and trainers will each receive an equipment kit worth more than $5,000, mentoring from industry leaders, filming and editing lessons and more than $10,000 worth of promotion on YouTube. Here’s more info on each and an introduction from our hosts.

YouTube Next Chef
Crafty in the kitchen? Love sharing your family’s recipes with the world? With YouTube Next Chef, you could be selected to learn filmmaking tailored to cooking videos. Shea Hess of Hungry in Brooklyn will be your host.

YouTube Next Trainer
Personal health comes in many forms, and we’re interested in your unique approach. From yoga to 100-yard sprints, this program will help you develop filmmaking talents specifically for fitness videos. Sarah Dussalt of SarahsFabChannel will be your host.

How to apply
Starting today through October 25, partners from Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States can apply at youtube.com/NextChef and youtube.com/NextTrainer, which also includes all rules and details.

We’ll be back on November 9 to introduce you to the selected chefs and trainers, as we keep working on ways to help YouTube Partners turn their passion into their career.

Posted by Austin Lau, YouTube Creator Programs, recently watched, “How To Peel a Head of Garlic in Less Than 10 Seconds.”

A big week for Australian music

Monday, 17 October 2011

Don’t be fooled into thinking one little Nicky Minaj fan has stolen all the limelight this week. Here at YouTube we love Australian music and we’re excited to bring you the biggest news and best new music from around the country this week.

Indie music fans were in hipster heaven on Monday with Australia’s favourite street party, Laneway Festival, announcing their killer 2012 lineup. To get you familiar with the all the headlining acts including Feist, SBTRKT, The Horrors, M83, Toro Y Moi, Washed Out, Girls, Active Child and many more, the Laneway folks have put together a playlist of their latest singles. Check it out, subscribe to their YouTube channel, and look out for further updates and ticketing information.

While we’re on the subject of announcements, ARIA unveiled their ARIA Award Nominations for 2011 this week. To coincide with the announcement, they’ve also launched their official YouTube channel where you’ll be see playlists for the nominated artists in each category, special guest cameos, behind-the-scenes footage and of course, all the action leading up to the big night.

This year also marks the 25th anniversary for the ARIA Awards and to celebrate, they’ve put together a video of their all-time favourite ARIA moments.

25 years of ARIA magic

And to end the week on a high note, Triple j Unearthed gave us their picks of the best new bands they’re tipping for 2012. You heard it here first.

Posted by Sophie Hirst, YouTube Music, recently watched George Harrison: Living in the Material World (Official Trailer)

Coming to a universe near you: YouTube Space Lab

Tuesday, 11 October 2011

This is a cross-post from the Official Google blog.

Can plants survive beyond Earth? Can proteins observed in space reveal the mysteries of life? Science experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) could unlock the answers and now we're giving you a chance to ask the questions. Today, we’re launching YouTube Space Lab with Lenovo, in cooperation with Space Adventures, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Space Lab is a new galactic channel on YouTube that will lift off from your laptop, taking you to interesting and awesome videos from around the world... and beyond.

Interested students are invited to come up with an idea for a science experiment that can be conducted in space and upload a video explaining it to YouTube by December 7, 2011. The YouTube community and a panel of distinguished scientists, astronauts and expert judges, including Professor Stephen Hawking, will pick the best ones. If your video is selected, it will be performed aboard the ISS and live streamed on YouTube to the world in 2012.

We'll also throw in some out-of-this-world prizes for the winners: like ZERO-G flights, Lenovo IdeaPad laptops and your choice of either a trip to Tanegashima Island, Japan, to watch your experiment blast off in a rocket bound for the ISS, or—once you’re 18—a one-of-a-kind astronaut training experience in Star City, Russia, the training center for Russian cosmonauts. For more information on how to enter, including eligibility requirements and experiment guidelines, check out the competition page on the channel or the official rules.

All future astronauts and space enthusiasts can find inspiration in the space related content on YouTube.com/SpaceLab. Space Lab is just one of many educational channels available under YouTube.com/EDU. Educators can also visit YouTube.com/Teachers to learn how to better incorporate video into the classroom. We're developing a YouTube for Schools pilot aimed at making YouTube accessible in more schools. If you want to be notified when it's ready, sign up here.

Blast off now and be part of a global experiment where your teacher is an astronaut and your classroom, space!

Zahaan Bharmal, YouTube Space Lab lead, recently watched Android in Space - Nexus S on Space Shuttle Atlantis.

Additional Creator Tools from YouTube

Thursday, 22 September 2011

This is a cross-post from the Official YouTube Blog.

As part of our ongoing goal to foster the creation of great video content, we are announcing the release of three new features we hope will empower you to become even more imaginative with your video production.

1. Convert your 2D videos into 3D with a single click. (beta!)
Creating 3D videos was pretty tough before. You had to set up two cameras, combine the footage from each, and use special software to make the effect look just right. Today we're launching 2D to 3D conversion. Once you've uploaded your 2D videos to YouTube, you can convert them to 3D with the click of a button. Converted videos will be viewable by everyone in 3D. You'll still get best results with a 3D camera, but it's a great new way to let people enjoy your finest moments. You'll find this feature by selecting "Edit Info", then "3D Video" on a video you've uploaded. (Note, you'll still need glasses to watch on most devices.)

2. All verified users in good standing can now upload long-form videos.
YouTubers are some of the most innovative, entertaining and inspirational people in the world, and their creativity often needs more than the current upload limit of 15 minutes. Today, we’re improving upon our previous launch by enabling long uploads for users with a clean track record who complete an account verification and continue to follow the copyright rules set forth in our Community Guidelines. Check out some of the original full-length videos that can now shine on YouTube, such as student-film: “Spirit’s Revenge.”

To help you get those longer videos online, we also recently launched resumable uploads, which ensures that you won’t lose any of the minutes you’ve uploaded if your internet fails or your computer dies during the upload process. You can resume uploading right where you left off once you’re back online. (Note: Advanced uploader is no longer required to upload large files.)

3. Shoot, edit and share your videos easily with vlix and Magisto, now on youtube.com/create.
We’re adding two additional video creation platforms for you to make your videos even better: Vlix and Magisto. Vlix lets you spice up your videos by adding cool effects and text to the video intro and closing. Magisto takes your unedited video and automatically edits it into short, fun clips.

With so many tools at your fingertips, what are you waiting for? Get Ready...Set...Create!

Posted by Shenaz Zack Mistry, Product Manager, recently watched "Home."

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