Google Video

Google Video (http://video.google.com)

Google Video (also found at http://www.google.com/video) launched in January 2006 as the first online video store with dynamic, user-friendly search capabilities and an extensive amount of content. Google’s broadband destination features user created videos, network television shows, music videos, and movies. Google Video separates from the competition by the scope of entertainment available.

As the only online video store that offers the option to rent footage, Google Video has developed partnerships with a broad range of entertainment and educational corporations, creating a site where users can literally find it all. It is just as easy to upload a home video and share those moments privately or publicly, as it is to legally watch the latest CSI episode. Footage ranges from the National Archives oldest piece of film (circa 1894) titled Carmencita, Spanish Dance to Paris Hilton’s new music video.

In keeping with their branded style of search, Google Video offers a simple user interface sorting videos into the following categories: Top 100, Comedy, Music Videos, Sports, Animation, and TV Shows. In addition to this organizational system, video screenshots are also shown under popular, recent or featured categories, designed to help users decide what to watch. Other current television network offerings are also shown, but generally these downloads are available at fee, so read the fine print before clicking on an image.

Even with a logical system of organization, video choices are still wildly different in each category and titles are misleading. To help viewers make educated decisions, a five star rating system is shown below the title of each image. Users who comment and rank the video determine ratings. This tool is available to everyone by clicking on the “write comment” link.

To select and view a video users must click on an image or text link. The video will immediately begin to play on a new page with an informational tool bar to the right. Here users can see how many people have actually viewed and ranked the video, giving a better sense of its real popularity.

At a quick glance it is obvious to the user who produced or posted the video, when it went online and its length. Users can also create their own label and download the video for free or for a fee depending on who owns the content.

Be aware that Google Video is uncensored and unregulated. Adorable footage of kittens playing may be listed next to sexually provocative content with misleading titles. Unlike other sites that are driven by user recommendations, Google Video does not currently have a warning system in place, such as the commonly used NSFW (Not Safe for Work) acronym.

In comparison to other video search engines, Google has the largest selection of diverse content and the most user-friendly navigation system. With more to come, downloading options for iPods and Sony Playstation Portables, get ready to sit back and watch the next phase of internet entertainment grow. -123Reference.com

Google Video (http://video.google.com)

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