Blogger launches sneak peek of new service

Yesterday Blogger launched a new service called Blogger in Draft. It's essentially the same old Blogger interface with a few new features the team is in the midst of developing. Think of it like an open beta test. The first new feature is a built-in video uploader tool. Users can add AVI, MPEG, Quicktime, Windows Media, and Real video files with sizes up to 100MB. The service will then convert it into a playable Web video with an interface identical to Google's own video player, complete with Blogger branding.

What's interesting about this new feature is that Google is not-so-secretly uploading Blogger videos to Google video, where they can be searched and sorted. Blogger is just skipping a step in the user process and doing the upload without having to venture off-site.

Google intends to add more features to Blogger in Draft in the coming months. Below is a screenshot of the new uploading interface.

Update: Reader HiddenNook pointed out that Google isn't making the videos searchable through Google video, despite the fact the player branding contains the Google Video moniker and nonworking links to the source video. Digging deeper into the source code of a posted Blogger video, you'll find these videos are hosted via Google video, albeit in private. It's an interesting choice in restrictions.

Blogger in Draft's new video-uploader tool lets you upload videos, not just embed them on the page.

(Credit: CNET Networks)

[HiddenNook]

A Factual Mistake?

You said:

[quote] What's interesting about this new feature is that Google is not-so-secretly uploading Blogger videos to Google video, where they can be searched and sorted. Blogger is just skipping a step in the user process and doing the upload without having to venture off-site. [/quote]

Where did you get this analysis? Yes, they are using Google Video, but last I checked over at the "Blogger In Draft" Blog, video's are not being indexed, and can not be searched on Google Video.

[quote] Are my videos indexed or searchable?
No, your videos are kept private and will not be included in Google Video search.[/quote]

Source: http://bloggerindraft.blogspot.com/2007/06/video-upload-faq.html

You may want to verify your info, as I would hate for a great site like yours to make a silly mistake like this.

[Josh.Lowensohn]

A yes, you are right (fixed)

You are correct. Thanks for the correction, I've updated the post.

Cheers

[Improbulus]

100 MB figure is also suspect

Although Blogger say you can upload files of up to 100 MB, it doesn't actually work with files of more than about 4 or 5 MB. Believe me, I've tried! (and noted some other issues too, see http://www.consumingexperience.com/2007/06/blogger-in-draft-video-uploading.html). Maybe it's just my system, but others have reported problems uploading too.

Though they still won't let you upload audio files, a workaround I've figured out is to combine the MP3 with a photo (a very basic kind of mashup, I guess! howto at http://www.consumingexperience.com/2007/06/blogger-how-to-upload-mp3-files-to-play.html) and then post the resulting video. But there's still the 5 MB limit.