Youtube

(PG-13: Language) If you can believe it, YouTube has only been around since 2005. Lots of things have changed with the service since then, and Casually Explained is here to casually explain the history of Google’s video juggernaut, and what its changes have meant for creators.

We really do our best to avoid hyperbole and overblown clickbait content around here. But if you’re a content creator and are desperate for eyeballs no matter the cost, check out Materialisimo’s brief tutorial on guaranteed YouTube success.

The Slow Mo Guys kicked off a new 12-part YouTube Originals series with a bigger budget than their standard backyard set offers them. The first few episodes are live now, including a look at what it’s like to run through a wall or a pane of glass in slow-motion.

Captain Disillusion usually takes on videos which at least appear to be somewhat believable, but this time he went after stuff like the ridiculously fake “Gateway to Sedona” because he was incredulous that the video actually has true believers.

YouTube’s history is well-documented. But Business Casual also chronicles the more recent developments in the video-sharing website, particularly how Google is recouping its $1.5B investment by gathering information. And also actual money.

(PG-13: Language) “I’m trying to poke the YouTube algorithmbot with a stick…” Tool expert AvE rants about problems with YouTube, whose policies and ad model make creators pennies (and publishers $0), forcing them to make even more annoying sponsored content.

Abacaba used a combination of line graphs and sounds to represent the history of YouTube’s most popular viral videos from Charlie Bit my Finger to Gangnam Style to Despacito. Frankly, we’re not sure the sounds added much value, but the moving chart was fascinating.

Captain Disillusion takes on yet another internet myth – this time its the guy who claims to be able to aim his tape measure with the precision of a crossbow. With the help of a fan, he yet again illustrates how VFX, camera angles, and editing can make anything believable.

YouTube doesn’t have a schedule of shows to base the ads that will be shown alongside its videos. So instead, as CGP Grey explains, the site holds split-second ad placement auctions based on information and estimates about you and the video you’re about to watch.

What was one of the most popular videos in the early days of YouTube gets revisited, with the cast of finger puppet Harry Potter reuniting to celebrate 10 years since the original, and taking advantage of today’s much improved video streaming quality.

(PG-13) “…I like YouTube because people can’t make me stop.” Casually Explained walks us through the steps needed to ace the 21st century dream job, from accepting your demographic to inevitably selling out.

Super Bowl ads cost up to $5 million for 30 seconds of air time. The Film Theory turns into to the Digital Marketing Theory to argue that those ads don’t work. So companies are better off spending their money on a spot where their ad can be on primetime all the time: YouTube.

Conan O’Brien recently stopped by New York City’s YouTube Space to check out their virtual reality lab, where he doodled a 3D self portrait, destroyed some guy’s cubicle, ate some virtual food, and learned how the tech might change our lives (or at least porn) for the better.

Roberto from stuffwhatidone discovered an oddly pleasant noise that his 2002 Audi makes whenever he opens its glove box. Of course, the Internet couldn’t leave that alone, and now it’s a complete song, courtesy of musician Duncan de Heusden.

Google employees Nat and Lo spoke with some of their co-workers who handle YouTube to give us an overview of how it compresses and stores the videos we upload and how it distributes those copies around the world.

YouTuber Many A True Nerd spawned a new kind of let’s play video. He made an abridged playthrough of Fallout: New Vegas in the style of Choose Your Own Adventure books to let us dictate how the video plays out. Turn annotations on.

YouTube’s April Foo – er, April Fizools’ Day prank combines its new 360º video feature with everyone’s dream couch buddy Snoop Dogg. The SnoopaVision button lets you watch Snoop Dogg watch a YouTube video. Videos here and here.

That funky mix of letters and numbers at the end of a YouTube URL is the unique pointer to any of the millions of videos on the site. Tom Scott ponders if and when they’ll run out of video IDs, and the rationale behind the current numbering scheme.

YouTuber Kara West made lemonade out of anesthesia. The numbing drug administered to her for a dental crown operation left half her face numb, making her look like Two-Face.

For the past month, the Beatles’ official Vevo account has been uploading high definition videos of some of their live performances. These videos and more are available in 4K resolution in the Beatles 1 video collection.

YouTube celebrates its 10th birthday with an alphabetical, animated compilation of some of its most popular videos and genres, set to Blackalicious’ Alphabet Aerobics. YouTube, you da real MVP.

YouTube now supports 360º video playback on Chrome and on Android devices. You can change the camera’s perspective both while the video is playing and when it’s paused. See more examples here, here and here.

On February 15, 2005, the world’s most popular video sharing site was founded. In honor of its 10th anniversary, The Daily Conversation compiled 101 of the most popular YouTube videos from the past 10 years. List of videos here.

YouTubers will soon be able to combine different shots of the same event in one video. The feature is called Choose Your View and it will let viewers seamlessly switch perspectives while the video is playing. Check out the demo here.

A gathering of YouTube’s biggest celebrities and the people, animals, songs and memes that went viral this year, including Last Week Tonight, the Spider Dog and of course Frozen. The message is clear: YouTube is the new TV.