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Posts Tagged “

YouTube

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privacy

Judge Orders Google To Turn Over All YouTube User Data To Viacom

Wired's Threat Level blog says that the judge in the Viacom/Google lawsuit has made a ruling forcing Google to turn over "every record of every video watched by YouTube users, including users' names and IP addresses," to Viacom. More »

3:10 PM on Thu Jul 3 2008
By Meg Marco
10,719 views, 78 comments

pranks

Just Say 'Yes' To Telemarketers

Want to drive a telemarketer crazy and amuse yourself at the same time? Here's an example of how to do it.

More »

4:11 PM on Mon Jun 30 2008
By Chris Walters
96,483 views, 120 comments

Nintendo Wii Fit

Is Youtube's "Wii Fit Underwear Girl" Actually A Marketing Campaign?

Nintendo is facing accusations that a popular Youtube video is nothing more than a viral-video marketing campaign for the Wii Fit, reports The Telegraph. The video, quite simply, features a young woman using a virtual hula-hoop in her underwear. What separates it from other videos is that the 2 people in the video have both been identified as employees of the same advertising company. Nintendo denies the allegations. The video and details, inside... More »

8:11 AM on Mon Jun 16 2008
By Jay Slatkin
19,665 views, 70 comments

videos

Worst Promotion Ever Causes Riot In Union Square As Hipsters Fight For Cash-Wrapped Tomatoes

Cash Tomato, a would-be YouTube! competitor, tried to drum up free advertising by handing out tomatoes wrapped with wads of cash in New York's Union Square. The event was scheduled to kick-off yesterday at 2:29 p.m. to honor the leap year with giveaways of up to $29. Predictably, a riot ensued as a mob of over 100 overwhelmed the three workers dressed as tomatoes who were holding the cash. Video of the riot, after the jump. More »

6:00 PM on Sat Mar 1 2008
By Carey
15,764 views, 71 comments

clip wars

NBC Pulls Content From YouTube

NBC said yesterday that it was pulling its content from YouTube in favor of its own video site, "Hulu." More »

8:13 PM on Tue Oct 23 2007
By Meg Marco
2,094 views, 23 comments

customer service

Southwest Gate Agent Entertains Passengers With Ukelele

A reader writes in, "The airlines get so much crap, its nice to see at least some employees stepping up to make things more bearable." A few months ago, a Southwest Airlines gate agent in Phoenix amused delayed passengers with a live performance of Van Morrison's "Brown Eyed Girl." He even gets the passengers to sing along at one point.

We're not huge fans of the ukelele, but this is a lot better than that time we were stranded at JFK and the Delta gate agent stared coldly at us as he recited the words to NIN's "Closer" into the PA system.

Plug in your work headphones and get ready to rock out classic-easy-listening-style.

Gate Agent Plays Ukelele [YouTube] (Thanks to Brent!)

11:47 AM on Fri Oct 12 2007
By Chris Walters
2,679 views, 28 comments

Latest by R3PUBLIC0N: Whoever this Brent guy is that submitted the article, be aware he made my day with that NIN bit. more »

videos

Man Documents Efforts To Get Off Spam Lists

Jonny Halleran has taken on the sort of masochistic project we love to watch here at Consumerist: trying to get himself removed from all direct mail and marketing lists, and documenting it on YouTube. His first attempt involves Verizon, and it's clear by their escalating series of mixed messages that they've created a sort of antimatter version of "customer service," one that's designed to confuse and mislead customers so they'll hang up and just sort of sit there in stunned silence for a little while. More »

10:34 AM on Fri Oct 12 2007
By Chris Walters
3,124 views, 23 comments

Latest by n/a: In addition to using GMail's + filter, I utilize my own domain's email forwarding abilities. For things that I sign up with, I use my GMail address, but if the email form I'm filling out doesn't allow pluses in more »

advertising

Get Ready For YouTube Ads

Hey there fans of watching people fall while stomping on grapes, YouTube has announced a new ad system for its videos. From the NYT:
Now Google believes it finally has found the formula to cash in on YouTube's potential as a magnet for online video advertising and keep its audience loyal at the same time.
More »

11:39 AM on Wed Aug 22 2007
By Meg Marco
14,726 views, 28 comments

advertising

User-Generated Content Won't Displace Madison Avenue Anytime Soon

Many people see ads and think they could do better. According to the New York Times, no, they can't. The Times is following the struggle of H.J. Heinz to find five user-generated ads to air on TV sometime this September. Companies like Heinz are discovering that user-generated content doesn't save time or money. For the foreseeable future, Madison Avenue will be responsible for creating the ads we love to hate.
Many entries are mediocre, if not downright bad, and sifting through them requires full-time attention. And even the most well-known brands often spend millions of dollars up front to get the word out to consumers.
We prefer YouTube's user-generated content to the schmaltz spewing from Madison Avenue. What do you think: is the content really worse, or are companies unwilling to step away from their comfort zones? Tell us in the comments. — CAREY GREENBERG-BERGER More »

2:58 PM on Sat May 26 2007
By Carey
895 views, 21 comments

Latest by s00p3rm4n: @idledebonair: Honey, have user-generated ads ever been cool either? Your squirrel-on-a-jetski/Herbal Essences mashup has never been cool. Good for a half laugh and a generous swig of bourbon to wash off the guilt, but never COOL like the more »

free

You Tube to Offer Old TV Shows

You Tube has inked a deal to offer various old TV shows such as "I Spy" and "My Favorite Martian." We know guys, calm down, seriously. You can handle this. From Reuters:
Digital Music said on Monday the deal also includes an agreement to allow certain music, for which it controls the rights, to be used in users' videos uploaded to YouTube.
More »

5:49 PM on Mon Feb 12 2007
By Meg Marco
9,869 views, 10 comments

verizon

YouTubers Post Videos In Response To Verizon Math Call

5Six different video have already gone up on YouTube in response to our upload of George's original "Verizon Can't Count" phone call. More »

5:33 PM on Mon Dec 11 2006
By Ben Popken
220 views, Comment

videos

Best Buy Employee's Video On How The Store Screws You Over

This parodic video appear to be made by a Best Buy employee. It re-enacts how slightly informed Best Buy employees manipulate uninformed customers. More »

6:44 PM on Tue Dec 5 2006
By Ben Popken
9,449 views, 19 comments

master spas

Hot Tub Dealer Sets Up "Competitive" Fair Where It's The Only Seller

Much like the pearl buyers in Steinbeck's The Pearl, Master Spas in Minneapolis sets up a hot tub fair promoted with the line, "15 manufacturer's compete for your business!" However, the only business actually selling at the convention is Master Spas. KSTP investigates. — BEN POPKEN

5:45 PM on Tue Dec 5 2006
By Ben Popken
1,279 views, 11 comments

jalopnik

Auto Shop Doesn't Do Any Work It's Paid To, Hidden Cameras Reveal

A joint investigation by Las Vegas Channel 8 and the state's Attorney documented widespread fraud at four Purrfect Auto franchises. Hidden cameras revealed the work the investigators paid for was never done. More »

9:39 AM on Mon Dec 4 2006
By Ben Popken
344 views, 21 comments

clips

Don't Buy Richard Simmons' Exploding Steamer

Richard Simmons' craptastic vegetable steamer catches fire at 2:20 on the Letterman show. The best part is that Richard doesn't seem to be in on the joke. More »

2:50 PM on Fri Dec 1 2006
By Ben Popken
10,646 views, 24 comments

self-stirring mug

You Tube Video Causes Self-Stirring Cup Fad

This video is featured on You Tube's main page. It's a self-stirring cup, nothing new (apparently), but the video caused a run on similar cups in stores. From Hammacher Schlemmer's website:
SOLD OUT Due to the popularity of this item, we are unexpectedly sold out. Please contact customer service at 1-800-321-1484 regarding future product availability.
More »

10:58 AM on Thu Nov 30 2006
By Meg Marco
415 views, 20 comments

clips

Enroll In The Viral Video Learning Center

A satirical video for the "Viral Learning Center," where you'll learn the skills and techniques you need to make your very own videos. More »

6:59 PM on Wed Nov 29 2006
By Ben Popken
95 views, 4 comments

verizon

Revver Cuts Deal with Verizon

Verizon is obsessed with internet video. One day after inking a similiar deal with internet video giant YouTube, Verizon has added the ad-supported video service Revver to their VCast service as well. More »

3:59 PM on Wed Nov 29 2006
By Meg Marco
50 views, 4 comments

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