When I Grow Up I Want To Be a YouTuber... What?

My youngest son has recently decided he wants to do what every 11 year old wants to do - be a 'YouTuber'.

Is that a accepted noun these days?




YouTube, for those of you not versed in the world of online entertainment, is the Google owned video sharing website where anyone can have their place in the video world.  Like a blog; only visual.  With moving images and sound.  Known as a vlog (video log!)

The world of YouTube contains hours and hours (and hours) of material, some of which is quite interesting and useful, and others which is purely inane.  Unsurprisingly, it's the inane that catches the imagination of the masses, and consequently makes 'stars' of the performers and presenters!!

Since it is completely free to use (with the potential to earn money from advertising) it is easy to get involved.
I have my own 'channel' which I haven't contributed to for years.  Indeed, most of my videos are set to 'private' so that only I can see them.  It makes for a great storage library of home movies!

My son also has his own YouTube channel, called Mini Tube (Click to go straight to his channel).  He has some great ideas; and, if I'm honest, I enjoy helping him put them together, film them, edit them, publish and promote them.

Now, don't get me wrong; it's light years away from being a revenue earner - he needs to build his subscriber base, and get the views up.
Surprise, surprise; there are videos, on YouTube (where else) about how to do this!

There are plenty of children with their own channels; and I am more than aware of the concern around online safety.  It's something that I discuss with all my children on a frequent basis.  I don't want to make them paranoid about it; but they need to understand the issues around being online.

All of them have grown up in a digital world; they have been exposed to it since a very early age, so it would be useless to stop Jamie from taking part.  So long as he knows the limits and understands the issues.

So, our journey has just started, and we are learning how to make the best videos and increase views.
He would be so excited to know that you have seen his videos, and even subscribed to his channel.  Each one gets a little better, from a content perspective.

You can watch his latest video below.

Audioboo - Now Playing Everywhere

Over three years ago,  I wrote about Audioboo, a delightful new way to post articles to the internet.

YouTube was the visual method, but with Audioboo, it's possible to, quite literally, sound off.

At the time, Audioboo was only released as an app for the iPeople, and also via their own website.  However, this week saw the release of their app to BlackBerry World.



It gets better.  Not only is it released onto BlackBerry 10, but it is a native app.  That's right.
No Android port here.  This is the real deal, and it means a lot to see companies developing and releasing apps to the BlackBerry ecosystem.

With all the negative news around BlackBerry at the moment, you'd be forgiven for thinking that developers would no longer support them; but BlackBerry Jam Asia appears to have confounded everyone, with a great turnout by those looking to increase and improve development on the BB10 OS.

So, thanks to Audioboo for releasing this fantastic new app - which allows me to save recordings as drafts, so I can build on them (currently, it's not possible to edit the recording in app) and then lets me post them for you to hear (or not).

Once recorded, they can be shared across multiple social media sites.

My latest 'boo' is here

You can get AudioBoo in BlackBerry World

Google+ - Have you looked yet?

Around the middle of July, I wrote about how I was decamping from facebook, and moving over to Google+.

I wrote a more informed update a week later.

There were various reasons for leaving, including:
a) It was new (and still is fairly fresh)
b) There are no silly ads
c) There are no people calling for help to build their cities / farms etc


Now, nearly three months on, I can honestly say how refreshing it is to go there.  There are still no adverts (yet!) and it's easy to filter the streams, to view what you want to see.

I still drop in to facebook occasionally (to have a nosey); although my status updates are limited, and I've stopped posting my foursquare check-ins every time!!

The number one reason I like it is the informality of the site.  I feel free to write what I like; complete strangers (although some of them have become more friendly) comment and re-share; we chat, banter, share photos; and generally have a laugh.

More importantly, it's a place where I can find information about anything.  I just have to post a question, and within minutes (if not seconds) there's an answer.  Granted, it may not be the answer I'm looking for; but the fact that there is an army of folk out there, all willing and able to chip in, is great.

On facebook it's much more cliquey.  I don't feel that I can just 'butt in' to a conversation.
On Google+ there are no such issues - see a post, add a comment; and around it goes.

Some serious, some extremely funny.

There is music, video, photos, links to blogs - you might be reading this via Google+

It's strange that there was such a noise about the changes that facebook were making; and yet the inertia to try something new hasn't materialised in the volumes expected.  Sure, it's strange to move; but I'm not suggesting you do what I did and go cold turkey.

Take a look around.  Follow some of the people, read their comments and posts.

Post a couple of your own, and see what reaction you get.

There are some truly great people to be discovered; and whilst you may not know them in real life; they're still people, with the same emotions, daily troubles etc, that you have.  Interact with them.

So; come and take a look.

Don't be shy.

First Word Challenge

I saw this on another blog that I read (Single Dad Laughing), and thought it would be fun to share it here too.


It's something different, it's simple, and I bet it'll be a lot of fun for everybody involved.


Fill in the blanks of these five different questions with the first word that pops into your head for each.

1. I am really _______________.
2. I think children are _______________.
3. I wish I were a better _______________.
4. I am the best _______________.
5. My biggest fear is _______________.

Copy and paste the questions with your answers into the comments below. It'll be fun to get an idea of who you are right at this particular moment. If you want to do it anonymously, that's fine too.