This review will probably need updating quickly, because we can't imagine a company as successful and motivated as Google leaving a high-profile product in a state such as this for long. Google's entry into the online video marketplace looks rushed, and it lacks organisation, ease, and any forethought about how people shop.
Unmistakably a Google product, the video store has the company's signature sparse, white interface with an emphasis on searching, rather than Yahoo-like categorisation. The top of the home page features commercial content from CBS, BMG music, and others, offering well-known names such as Survivor, CSI, and NBA basketball. As of the posting of this review, you can even browse and play back all commercials shown during Super Bowl XL. Lower on the page, you'll find selections of popular and random free videos. A quick browse will uncover a gigantic library of video clips and shows.
It's with paid content that Google Video mostly misses the mark. Videos can range in price dramatically, from US 99 cents to US$14.99, instead of a standard price; the iTunes Music Store charges US$1.99 for videos (iTunes video content is AU$3.39 in Australia). More expensive shows can often be purchased for less with a day pass, for those who are content to watch a show but not own it. Purchased content is available only to Windows 2000 and XP users and is in a proprietary GVI format, which can be played only with Google's free, no-frills player and can't be transferred to a portable device. With restrictions such as that, it's obvious that Google misunderstood why the iTunes Music Store's video sales made such a splash.
With free content, Google Video is more successful, although it's no more than a time-killing diversion. Users can post their own videos to the store, which are free to view, although within a few weeks, people will be able to charge for them (good luck). Free content can be viewed through Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari on any Windows or Macintosh computer, and most of it can be downloaded in AVI for either Windows or Mac computers; or in the correct format for PlayStation Portables or video iPods. Some pages have icons for sending the listing to a friend or adding the video to your Web site, but not all of them do.
Google won't say how many titles are on the site, except that the number is in the thousands. With no organisation to the store, you're left browsing commercial or popular content, or searching on keywords. It's an entertaining way to spend some time, and the inclusion of so much free content is a smart idea, but with so little organisation, it's hard to discover interesting content in the store.
We didn't experience any major problems using the site or purchasing video, although purchases downloaded far too slowly. One 30-minute program took 20 minutes to download. Also, the Google Video player is far too simple, with no way to view your library of titles.
If you're having problems, Google Video offers several FAQs online, as well as a page to e-mail a question.
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Phruargh
26/03/2008, 12:30 AM
rating
3/10
make it easier to download what i want
Pros: measy to see what i want
Cons: hard to get what i want
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deedee
25/09/2007, 08:10 PM
rating
10/10
hi like this software
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Cakes777
02/02/2007, 02:06 PM
rating
10/10
Love It. Way better Than YouTube, mostly because of the Pro.
Pros: Download free videos.
Cons: No iPod videos for videos on sale.
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manoj_bhatia
21/12/2006, 07:03 AM
rating
2/10
wuts d use when u cant save d content
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coreey247
21/11/2006, 08:22 AM
rating
10/10
i think this will be good for downloading free movies.
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06/10/2006, 09:35 AM
rating
10/10
sdf asfsdaf
sdf
Pros: sdf
Cons: sdf
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08/08/2006, 07:05 AM
rating
7/10
Its great, but hate the fact you can copy the content.
Pros: Alot of ressources, massive library.
Cons: Contents c'ant be copyed to the hard drive and transfered to something that is editable... It would be great to have access to such a big library and be able to do what you want with the content. I'm really upset with this...
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