Sep 19, 2014 09:32 AM
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It’s hard to believe that YouTube is barely 9 years old, and yet it is something we could not have imagined at the turn of the millennium; of all the videos you could see on the internet for free. The proliferation of fast broadband one of the primary contributors, together with the advances in video shooting in all devices, from digital cameras to smartphones and tablets.
There is literally nothing you cannot find on YouTube. I have listed down some of the things you do get on YouTube which make it such a compelling alternative to television. Keep in mind, this list is not comprehensive as to cover the entirety of what YouTube contains would take millions of pages.
What you get on YouTube
Popular on YouTube
The popular on YouTube channel changes from country to country. Some of the hottest trending and popular viral videos make their way here, whether it be the trailer / song of the latest Salman Khan blockbuster, to hilarious spoofs on politicians, or the rice bucket challenge, trending news items or highlights from the recent India Pakistan cricket match.
Television shows
Channels have realized that television is not the only medium which is popular these days. Due in part to with the advent of smartphones and fast 3G networks, they have started steaming their shows online. For instance, the IPL made its matches available for watching online. In addition, you can see other popular channels and shows like MTS Splitsvilla, Comedy Central etc. Many use YouTube not for showing the entire show but showing a preview to get viewers hooked for the next episode.
How to tutorials
Have a problem you cannot fix? Whether it is cleaning a stubborn stain on your clothes, finding the recipe for thai red curry or even changing a car tyre, you can find tutotials to do almost anything on YouTube. You can literally learn a new thing everyday.
YouTube specific channels that are better than TV
Let’s face it. A lot of programming on television is rather boring and dull. Since YouTube connects you with video creators and uploaders from all over the world, there are some amazing channels which better what you see on tv. For e.g. as an automobile enthusiast, I was restricted to shows like Fifth Gear or Top Gear. But on YouTube, there are amazing channels like /EVO and/DRIVE whose production values and quality easily rival and better what television has to offer.
All your music. Literally all of them
With YouTube, you can find that long lost song that didn’t seem to be available anywhere. There is no limit to the amount and variety of songs you get on YouTube. None at all. Whether it be Ghazals, Indi-Pop, Regional favourites, Punk, Old 70s Rock, just about anything you can name will be available on YouTube.
The next viral trend
YouTube is the place where videos become viral and a hit. While not all of these trends are funny or interesting, there are many which make their way into pop culture for their 15 minutes of fame, and you just cannot ignore them. Case in point be the hit single from Korean Pop Artist PSY, called Gangnam Style. It has till date achieved more than 2 BILLION views on YouTube and I am grateful that Justin Bieber no longer has the number 1 most watched video on YouTube.
You see it when you want to
Unlike television, YouTube is not restricted to any timings or schedules. You can watch any video as soon as it is uploaded, for as many times as you want to watch it. Whether it be A Monday to a Sunday, or 12 midnight to 12PM, no time is too early or late to watch a YouTube video.
How YouTube is like television
YouTube is similar to television in one way- they have introduced ads for many videos. However, you can skip most ads within a few seconds of watching, and these ads help pay for the individual up loaders who create or distribute content, so I am ok with them earning revenue through these means.
Niggles with YouTube
While YouTube is great, it is far from perfect
Bandwidth required
To watch YouTube on any sort of reasonable quality(360p and above), you require at least a 1Mbps connection. And the higher quality you go the more bandwidth it consumes. For watching HD(720 to 1080p) videos, you require at least a 4 Mbps line for smooth watching, and it will chew up at least 5-10GB of bandwidth for an hour of viewing.
Quality is not always assured
Ultimately quality depends upon the uploader of the videos. Older songs, movies or sports events were not recorded in High definition and in many cases the video uploaded have been recovered from an old tape. So the quality will not be satisfactory.
Some videos not available in your country
Some channels put regional restrictions whereby their YouTube videos are not viewable outside their countries borders. This is particularly frustrating when I click on a video and the error message shows up.
YouTube download not in-built
Sometimes, you do not have internet connectivity but you may want to rewatch an old video or two. Unfortunately, YouTube does not yet support in build video downloading which will enable you to save bandwidth. Thankfully, there are thousands of third party tools which enable you to enable that functionality.
Conclusion
YouTube is here to stay. There is literally nothing you cannot find on it. So my suggestion? Get a fast unlimited connection, and you’re ready to channel surf in the new age.
