VIDEO HAROLD

1.1 in my new series, the Video Herald, in which I demonstrate an unboxing. This takes place during WWDC 2008.

This video was originally shared on blip.tv by Harold with a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.

Posted by admin on Wednesday, June 11, 2008 • 0 comments • filed under Events, Silliness, Mac• trackback

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1.0 in my new series, the Video Herald (which is really a continuation of my last series, the Podcaster Herald), in which I share my discoveries about online video.

This video was originally shared on blip.tv by Harold with a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.

Posted by admin on Wednesday, March 7, 2007 • 2 comments • filed under Announcements, Podcasts, My Videos, Tips, Messages• trackback

Okay, it’s time for yet another clarification of what this project, Video Harold, is. Every year or two I like to post my thoughts on the direction of this site and all of its aspects. The mission of the project should be simple and clear, yet I doubt it is. The reason? Well, I myself am not entirely certain what the meaning of this project is, and have not recently made any attempts at clarifying its mission.

Here’s what’s certain: I’m Harold, AKA Video Harold, also the Video Herald…and I’m your video messenger. Still, what does that mean, precisely? Perhaps it doesn’t matter; perhaps it’s a concept that can develop, in part, with your assistance. (Actually, that’s been part of the concept from the beginning. This site/podcast/videoblog/project began its life in 2004 as audioblogs.info, a blog dedicated to disseminating information about audioblogs/audioblogging. From the beginning, I’ve desired and requested participation from my readers, hoping for some collaborative type of experience. About a year or two into the project, having never fully realized the collaborative aspect of audioblogs.info, I changed the site to Podcaster Herald[.com] and began the experimental stage of this project, less focused on providing a service of information as it was about putting out video podcasts designed to provoke my audience to discussion about podcasting.)

So I’ve created this “Video Harold/Herald” concept and I’m bringing it to you, the participant. (I prefer the term participant or collaborator to terms such as viewer or consumer, which I perceive as inaccurately describing your role in all this — or at least, the role I would like for you to take.) At this point in time, I offer you the opportunity to decide what this project means to you: Perhaps I am a guru, instructing in the finer points of online video production and distribution. Perhaps I am simply some wacky dude who puts out video ramblings, one of thousands of other videobloggers out there. Perhaps I am the next Orson Welles. (Oh, eat me.)

Anyway, love me, hate me, post comments or call your grandmother. No matter what, please subscribe to my RSS/podcast feed, and contact me anytime. My Gmail address is harold.johnson@gmail.com. (I’m also using Gmail to chat.) Or Skype me, haroldjohnson — and don’t forget to leave a voicemail if I’m not available!

Posted by admin on Saturday, February 24, 2007 • 0 comments • filed under Announcements, Messages, Thinking Aloud• trackback

So you listen to podcasts, but you don’t have an iPod? Those digital audio recordings can’t rightly be referred to as podcasts, then, can they? Not as long as you’re forced to sit at your desktop PC in order to listen to them! For you, they’re more like webcasts. Well, here’s your chance to win an iPod so that you can turn that webcast into a podcast. Simply head over to Croncast.com, home of one of the longest-running podcasts out there, and sign up for the Croncast 300 by 300th iPod contest. Even if you don’t win an iPod, you may later thank me for introducing you to Kris and Betsy Smith, the fun-lovin’ spousehosts of the always-interesting Croncast. A common topic of the ‘cast: Goodwill-lovin’ and Goodwill loathin’ (depending on which spouse’s perspective is being offered).

Tags: iPod contest, podcast, croncast, free iPod, podcasters, Kris Smith, Betsy Smith

Posted by admin on Wednesday, August 23, 2006 • 0 comments • filed under Announcements, Contests, Podcasters, People, Reviews• trackback

BlogTalkRadio, a web service released about a week ago, has nearly taken over my life. The service enables anyone to create their own “talk radio shows” within minutes of registering for the service (which is free). Users can host their shows simply using a telephone, though a PC (or Mac) with ‘Net access is needed if the host desires to take live phone calls from listeners.

The service also equips users with their own blog, so as to enhance communication with listeners (or, as I refer to them, participators) of their broadcasts. (The blog feature, which is not feature-rich, is not really intended to replace any existing blog(s) that users may already have.) Users are also provided with their own profile page; here’s mine.

As I post this, there are just over 600 shows currently scheduled; I imagine there will soon be thousands, and tens of thousands — perhaps hundreds of thousands — by the end of the year (as long as the service is able to scale up smoothly enough). The service is fun to use, even if only as a “party line”. I have bigger plans for the service, however, as you will find out if you keep an eye on my schedule; bookmark my host page there and keep subscribed to my feed here to stay tuned to my productions…

Tags: BlogTalkRadio, podcast, talk radio, blog talk, podcasting, podcasters, new services, technology, podcast production, techniques