The first round of voting begins in minutes. If you don’t think iVlog is the absolute perfect app for the contest criteria, here’s a little something to persuade you.
Innovation and Creativity:
The app does one thing and one thing only: video journaling or “vlogging.” Was it innovation for Apple to make a device that only played music? You bet it was. They could focus on it and do it well without getting in the face of the user. This is even more crucial for vlogging, because it’s the vlogger’s face that needs the attention.
An app dedicated to vlogging does not yet exist for the Mac, but the Mac is exactly the place where it can be done properly. This is a creativity app. The vlogger is the one who will be most creative.
Use of OS X and Leopard:
iVlog is principally dependent on Core Image and Core Animation for its creative feature set. Titles and effects can be experimented with in real time over video. Furthermore, if one does not wish to upload their vlog entry, they can save it and the effects without re-compression. The smooth experience of experimenting with video is absolutely necessary and OS X has demonstrated that it’s perfect for the job. OS X was made for iVlog, not the other way around. OS X’s abilitiy to provide a gentle overlay interface is choice. iVlog can show off OS X so well, there should be a presentation at the next MacWorld.
Feasibility of Development:
iVlog is similar to Apple’s Motion because of its ability to render text and image effects. However, it certainly will not be as extensive as Motion, because it shouldn’t be. All it would do are things that help vloggers. A headline and a timestamp. Maybe a sidebar with a word on it (think Colbert Report). Nothing fancy, just very cool. Core Image and Core Animation are made for this, so they should help development tremendously.
Update: There is some discussion in the comments section about voice-recognition feasibility, and I encourage you to check them out. Thanks for your feedback!
Mass-Market Appeal:
I think of this criterion as another way of saying “marketability,” which is a hugely dynamic and complex concept that even marketers don’t really understand. It takes more than just appeal from the mass market. It also takes a willingness, ability, and decision to buy the app at a price that makes us money. Mass-Market appeal is little good if the competition is stronger. To remain strong, it pays to have relationships with distributors and producers who can add value to the app. So, allow me to list reasons why I think iVlog is an insanely marketable app.
• The vlogging market is just starting, giving us an enormous opportunity that only comes once in a lifetime.
• The “My Dream App” format is poised to beat competition early, with fast development based on exactly what vloggers tell us they want.
• Demand will continue to emerge indefinitely with the growth of the Internet.
• Good opportunities with other producers, like a possible bundle deal with iGlasses.
• Good opportunities with vlog distributors, like YouTube one-click uploading from a free iVlog Lite
• It will give ordinary people the ability to make great vlogs that will further provide popular exposure for the app.
• Use of the app will raise the value of the whole Internet and a Mac with iSight, especially for tweens, teens, and people who think interacting with strangers over the net right now is too anonymous, dangerous, and impersonal (e.g. their moms and dads). iVlog can legitimately become the next killer app.
Personally, it would be my killer app for dream journaling (my dreap app). Nightvision through iGlasses can make it easy to wake up, talk about a dream, and get back to bed. Quick, consistent, and efficient dream journaling is very hard to achieve.
Here is a compiled list of iVlog’s feature set. Please remember that you can comment on these and that they are only ideas. There’s an opportunity to change them. Is something too much? Is something missing? By all means, let your voice be heard!
• Audio and video recording support
• Unobtrusive yet elegant overlaying interface
• Saving effects without recompression
• Easily navigable archive
• One-click uploading to sites like YouTube
• Video Podcast support
• Animated text (including titles and timestamps)
• Animated custom graphical adornments of any size, shape, and transparency
• Simple video editing capabilities like cutting and trimming
• iChat-style presentation abilities
• iChat-style still and video backdrops
• Ability to import recorded iChat sessions to publish as interviews
• iGlasses support
In the interest of time and space in this blog, I take some things implicit. For example, I am taking it implicit that iVlog will have the ability to distinguish personal journal entries from dream journal entries. I also assume the ability to add keywords for searching.
I’ll be here to listen how iVlog can be better. Thank you for your vote.
