Howcast - The YouTube of Instructional Videos?
I’m one of those people that hates to read instructions. I’d much rather either figure it out myself or, better yet, watch it being done before tackling it myself. So this new service seems right up my alley…
A New York City startup called Howcast launched yesterday and wants to be the “YouTube of instructional videos.” In fact, the three founders—Jason Liebman, Daniel Blackman and Sanjay Raman—are ex-Google employees who worked on Google Video and YouTube before leaving eight months ago. They’re apparently going for a little more polished look than YouTube, trying to bring some production values to the world of Web video.
The site provides professionally produced instructional videos on everything from “How to Groom Your Cat” (see below) to “How to Hang a Picture” and “How to Paint a Room”. There’s a familiar formula for each one: The Howcast graphic, an intro explaining what you’ll need for the task at a hand, and step-by-step instructions explained in a voiceover. The site’s video player lets you jump to different chapters, or steps, zoom in for a better look, and provides the transcript as well. Viewers can add comments in the form of tips, warnings and facts to each video. And the Flash-based site lets you browse the video directory on the left hand side while you are watching a video without interrupting it or going to another page. More…
Although a few similar sites already exist, I’m looking forward to trying some of these as Howcast’s library broadens. Lord knows there are a lot of things I need to learn how to do!
Doug
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Reader Comments (10)
Well this is great!! Even has Seeley's Photoshop Quick Tips which I use and like. I notice they even have "How to Get Laid" on here but you have to register to claim you are 18 (wink wink). Don't have time now but I probably will get back to that when there isn't anyone dropping by my cubicle.Thanks for the post!
I watched the video on how to paint a room because I need to paint two rooms. Very helpful but the part where you paint along where the ceiling meets the wall they say to use a small brush. I can't paint that straight. I remember seeing a tool on TV that you use instead of a brush and it makes the line straight but I don't remember where to get one. Does anyone else know about this and where I can buy one?
Pretty handy. Not overly detailed but gives you the short course. Video quality is great compared to YouTube style vids and the production quality is great. I will use it for sure!
I like it and will use it!! Thanks!!
BTW, the paint thing you are looking for is called a paint cut-in trim pad. You might try As seen on TV.com or Google to see if it comes up somewhere.
Really handy resource. Now I can look like I know what I'm doing with my "honey-do" lists.
Good find! I already see how this can help me with things around the house.
I wish! My cat is a bundle of knots and brushing him is no picnic! He doesn't like it and neither do I, but I have to do it or else shave him. But with a normal cat, I am sure this would work fine.
This is great but I wasn't able to find how you zoom in and out. Otherwise it is a very good tool.
OK, someone had to be first. I registered to prove I am over 18, then watched "How To Get Laid". Yes, I already know how but I was curious what the video would be like. I also watched "How To Get Rid Of A Hickey" and "How To Get Rid Of A One Night Stand".
I am not going to tell you anything about them except they are kind of funny. I did learn some new things about removing hickeys.