YouTube expands to widescreen
YouTube has expanded the viewable width of all videos appearing on the site, creating an image that viewers will likely associate more with a movie theater screen or high-definition television. We're expanding the width of the page to 960 pixels to better reflect the quality of the videos you create and the screens that you use to watch them. This new, wider player is in a widescreen aspect ratio which we hope will provide you with a cleaner, more powerful viewing experience. The expanded viewing width will please YouTube users who are increasingly filming and uploading more videos to the site in the 16:9 aspect ratio.
However, those worried that their 4:3 videos will appear stretched out need not fear. The video sharing site will still add black vertical bars to videos uploaded in the 4:3 aspect ratio. While other sites such as Vimeo and Blip.tv have been using the widescreen format for some time, this move by YouTube seems to coincide with the recent announcement that MGM will become the first major movie studio to post full-length feature films on YouTube. YouTube parent Google may be trying to duplicate the success of competitor Hulu, which has become the top outlet for watching full-length films and TV shows on the Web, and is reportedly generating as many ad dollars in its first year in business as YouTube, which will mark its fourth birthday in February.
Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival has now made its programme of films throughout the 2009 Doc/Fest, available for viewing.
What do you want the UK Government to do to support the Documentary Industry?
'Hiccup' by Derville Quigley joins the shortlist of 'Virgin Media Shorts'
Urban Screens is an exciting new project being piloted in the Broomhall area of Sheffield using high tec screens and content created by local young people to create visual newspapers reflecting the diversity of the area.
Residents of Broomhall will be able to tell their life stories which will then be beamed around the area on the 32ins TVs - which will be placed in secure areas.
