Ah, you gotta love Google.  The company pulls out some amazing new things with April fools day.  This time around they have hit several Google services like Gmail, YouTube, and Google search.  Virgle anybody?Maybe there will be more developments, but it will be interesting to see how it turns out as the day goes on.  Unfortunately, it didn’t have me as fooled (although the Gmail one was very convincing at first).  It was still fun though!

Why the greatest company around repeatedly fails to fix a simple script that uploads videos is beyond me.  Frankly, I see it as an embarrassment to the company.  I for one know that many people have had issues with uploading videos on YouTube.  It does not even require an effort to search online as I talk to people on a daily basis that have had issues.  It is not the users’ fault either.

I just learned that it might be an issue with the latest flash player, but even if that is the case, I have had issues for well over a year now.  I’ve even performed clean installs.  It just makes no sense.

YouTube, a company that supposedly represents some of the best innovation online has never had it right with their upload tool.  Ever since I first joined the site, I have had issues that just baffle me.  YouTube, Google please fix this problem!

Nowadays, with the advancements in feed technology that delivers content to users, it is becoming more and more common for users to skip visiting websites entirely. Feed readers—like Google Reader—are delivering the goods now. For someone like me, it is essential to be able to view the content without the fat. However, there are still sites I tend to visit on a daily basis. This should give you some insight on what I am looking at on the web on a daily basis.

YouTube

This site really requires no introduction. YouTube is one of the most popular sites on the web right now. It practically requires a visit to make use of it. Most video sharing sites incorporate content/media feeds to get videos delivered, but you just won’t get the overall feel without visiting the site. I have visited YouTube on a daily basis for almost two years now, and I don’t see myself stopping anytime soon.

Wired

Something about the Wired site design just makes me want to visit it. I just love it. That is why the new design for Tech In Demand is being modeled from the Wired design. When you have a site design that just makes you want to visit the site, you know you have something special. Great job Wired, and I am sure I will be visiting. Oh, I almost forgot to mention that the site has some killer content too—actually, I was just kidding as the content is flat-out amazing!

Facebook

Alright, I have been slacking lately on Facebook, but I always tend to visit the increasingly popular social networking site. It really is the best place to network with friends. After all, who needs MySpace? Until something even more impressive comes along, I will consider Facebook as one of my favorite social networks; that, or until the company does something incredibly stupid.

Hulu

Hulu is a recent discovery for me, but I love going to the site and investigating all the television shows that I have never seen before. Doogie Howser, M.D. would be my latest discovery. I think of Hulu as the professional broadcast version of YouTube. The site’s design could be more efficient, but it is sufficient for now. It all just works.

Stickam

Probably my most hated but most used site, Stickam allows multiple users to interact via video and audio at the same time. It is a first of its kind, but unfortunately, it is becoming quite poor in functionality and stability. I am sure another company will step up to overtake the commanding position that Stickam has, and that can’t happen soon enough. Unfortunately—until that day comes—I am stuck with Stickam.

Wikipedia

Not only is Wikipedia one of my favorite sites to visit on a daily basis, it is my favorite site of all sites ever invented. The site is literally priceless. If you have never visited a Wikipedia entry, then there is something wrong with you. It is just an amazing resource for research and information. I just can’t express in words how much I appreciate its existence.

Honorable Mentions:

• Flickr
• Delicious
• Creative Cow
• Bubbl.us
• Vimeo

I am sure there are more, but this was just a list of the sites I could think about off the top of my head. All these sites really offer benefits to for their visitors. Those types of sites are obviously the ones that are going to get the most page views. Regardless, I am sure I will think of more. I will update this list later on if I think of anything.

I am always interested in learning about new websites. So, why don’t you tell me what are your favorite sites to visit on a daily basis?

Once I get my MacBook Pro—yes, I know I keep mentioning a MacBook Pro—I am going to attempt to post three or more videos every day for the next 30 days. Call it an experiment of some sort. With my new laptop, I should be able to easily upload videos via Quick Capture. I’m attempting to do this for a few reasons, but mostly it is just because I want to see if I can pull it off.

The reasoning behind all this? I have seen people who have uploaded at least five 5 - 10 minute videos per day, everyday, for a very long time now. I think they are insane. With all the freedom I have, I can’t even find the time to make one video within the past several months. I know that most of the people I watch actually have typical day jobs. I just can’t imagine doing something like that. I have to at least attempt it.

The quick capture feature will—hopefully—be a go for the MacBook’s iSight camera. If not, I may have to adjust the rules and goals slightly. I did see other users successfully using Quick Capture though, so I am confident that things will go smoothly with that regard. I have set up a few rules and goals for me to follow as well.

The Rules

1. I must aim to post at least three videos every day in a 30 day time period.
2. If I fail to reach three videos during any day, I must make up the required amount within three days.
3. If at any point I end up behind more than six videos, I fail the experiment.
4. Videos must be at least one minute in length to count. Preferably longer than that, but the point is to actually provide videos with some purpose.

The Goals

• Have 100 new videos uploaded within 30 days.
• Have at least 5 of these videos generate video responses.
• Have an average of 50 views per video.
• Have an average of at least 5 comments per video.
• Have at least three videos reach over 1,000 views.
• Have at least two videos reach over 5,000 views.
• Have at least one video reach over 10,000 views.

Questions To Be Answered

1. Can I pull it off?
2. Will I gain more subscribers than I did previously with posting videos on an irregular basis?
3. Will I lose any subscribers?
4. Will view counts be reasonable?
5. Will people comment?
6. What will be the general consensus by others of what I am doing?
7. Will this affect my work? (If so—how and why?)
8. Will this be considered as work or fun to me?

Knowing me, I will probably be yapping about something related to technology most of the time. It might be a few weeks before I start this experiment, but I will keep everyone updated!