YouTube has been consciously working on helping creators with various tools to enhance their content creation experience.
One big issue has always been about content being stolen from creators and re-uploaded to other channels without permission.
I know this firsthand because I have experienced this myself and have had to manually file video take-down notices.
This can be very frustrating because if you do create content yourself, you know the amount of work and effort that goes into the production.
In July 2018, YouTube introduced the Copyright Match Tool to help creators protect their content. When it was first introduced, it was rolled out to creators with over 100,000 subscribers. The long-term plan was to roll it out in phases to all creators in the YouTube Partner program.
As per YouTube, this tool has gone through a lot of testing and is now being rolled out to more content creators. Earlier in March 2019, I received an email from YouTube indicating that I now had access to this tool and could check it out.
MY FIRSTHAND EXPERIENCE
When I checked out the copyright match tool, I wasn't surprised to see that 8 of my videos were re-uploaded without my permission. To manually check YouTube for re-uploads of your videos can be a tedious task. And then once you find videos that have been stolen or used without your permission, you need to file a take-down notice.
So based on using the copyright match tool firsthand, I can say that this is a blessing and a great tool to have in your content creation toolbox. When I checked all the 8 videos that were re-uploaded, all of them had a 100% match. You can watch this video below, to see the copyright match tool in action and what options are available to content creators.
HOW DOES COPYRIGHT MATCH TOOL WORK?
Essentially, once content creators upload their videos to their channel, YouTube will scan their platform to see if it finds matches to similar or same videos that have be re-uploaded.
Once a match has been found, it will be reported in the Matches tab of the Copyright Match Tool. It will list down relevant details about the re-uploaded video like: the links to the re-uploaded and original videos; channel name and link; the percentage match of the re-upload; and various actions you can take.
WHAT ACTION CAN YOU TAKE FOR RE-UPLOADED VIDEOS?
There are 3 main actions that content creators can take regarding the re-uploaded videos:
(1) Move to Archive: if you don't want to take any action. This will place the entry in the Archive tab where you can access it later, if you wish.
(2) Contact Channel: allows you to send a pre-written email message to the channel owner alerting them about the copyright violation.
(3) Request Video Removal: allows you to submit a legal request to YouTube to take down the video. There are 2 options available - one provides a 7-day notice for the channel to remove the video; and the second option requests immediate take-down which could also result in a copyright strike.
WHAT TO DO BEFORE TAKING ACTION?
Before you take any action on the re-uploaded videos, it's best to check the re-uploads in question, and then decide your course of action. Bear in mind that original content can be used by others without asking permission if it's used under "Fair Use".
In my case, all of my videos were full uploads as is they were originally created by the person re-uploading them. So this is not considered "Fair Use" and so I requested immediate take-down.
Overall, I'm impressed with this tool because even if I had manually checked YouTube, I would probably not caught most of these videos. Also, YouTube was very prompt in taking immediate action after my submitting the take-down notices.
Do you have access to the Copyright Match Tool? If so, have you had any matches and taking action? Please feel free to chime in and provide your feedback in the comments section below...thanks!
CREDITS: Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission | Images and graphics used in this video are public domain via Pixabay, unless otherwise mentioned | Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
AutomationBundle went live on December 7, 2018 and will be available for a limited time until December 14, 2018. After this launch period is over, this special offer will be closed permanently.
Honestly-speaking, this is a no-brainer and I will explain more in a moment. AutomationBundle launched at a low one-time price of $37 and the price will keep increasing during the promotional period, so grab it while the price is still low.
So what is AutomationBundle? Well, it is a collection of 12 best-selling software that will help you in online and offline marketing. Specifically, apps included in this awesome bundle of joy will help you graphic design, video creation,lead generation, email marketing, social media marketing, content generation, webinars, and a whole lot more.
More information on the apps included in this AutomationBundle are available below, but I would encourage you to check this demo video below to see the power of each of these software.
As you can see (if you watched the above demo video), the value of this software bundle is just incredible. In fact, I've personally purchased, beta-tested and still use some of these apps myself in my own business and for my clients. Here is a list of the 12 apps included in the AutomationBundle package:
Video Builder 2.0: a cloud-based video creation app with which you can create 3D avatar videos using text-to-speech functionality.
DesignoPro2: is a vector graphics design app for creating professional-looking visual content and logos for websites, videos, social media.
Chit Chat Chimp: set up fully-configured chat bots on your sites and landing pages that will help boost your sales campaigns and results.
Canvas by Dropmock: helps you create professional-quality, engaging Facebook video covers with just a few clicks.
LiveReel: allows you to simultaneously broadcast, livestream, and syndicate your videos across 15+ video platforms including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Periscope, twitch, and others.
VideoSpin Blaster: allows you to create stunning videos on the fly, spin images and video clips with unlimited variations, add amazing text-to-speech in all popular languages, and much more.
SyndLab: is a powerful social app that automatically syndicates posts, videos, memes, and any other content to 30+ different social media sites and channels.
HQWebinar: allows you easily run live and/or recorded webinars with a state-of-the-art, peer-to-peer webinar platform.
Sellin Messenger: allows you to sell products, services and add-ons easily via Facebook Messenger. Convert raw visitors into leads and subscribers automatically, and with no additional work once you set everything up.
MailPrimo: a complete cloud-based auto-responder platform. Send unlimited emails to your lists with NO monthly subscription fees and/or limitations.
Vizully: allows you to create professional and high-quality visual content helping you deliver the right messages to your social media audiences. This will help you attract, engage and convert visitors into customers and with no additional advertising costs.
EZ Spokesperson Creator: allows you to create stunning human spokesperson videos with a load of customizable options, backgrounds, lower-thirds, sound tracks and much more.
Based on my own personal experience using some of the apps included in AutomationBundle, I would highly recommend buying it. Essentially, you are getting 12 best-selling apps for the price of one. Also, worth mentioning is that this software bundle is backed with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so you've got nothing to lose.
CREDITS: AutomationBundle logo and screenshots are copyright protected, used with permission. AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER: If you use the link above to purchase AutomationBundle. I may earn a commission as JVZoo affiliate. This recommendation and review is based on my firsthand experience using many of the apps in AutomationBundle myself.
There are approximately 3.6 billion internet users around the world. That is over half the world's population. However, overall internet user growth continues to slow. Also, 2017 was the first year during which global new smartphone shipments had a zero percent growth.
In Mary Meeker's Internet Trends Report 2018, you will find many more interesting and valuable stats from internet and smartphone usage, to the rise of voice-controlled products, Artificial Intelligence, and more.
Below you will find an infographic which highlights 5 key takeaways from Ms. Meeker's Internet Trends Report. Towards the end of the infographic you will also find the full SlideShare presentation of the Internet Trends Report.
This infographic was created using Visme and if you'd like to create your own infographics, try Visme for free. More details at the bottom of this post.
With Amazon Prime Day fast approaching many big retailers and companies are trying to make the best of the opportunity. They are doing this by offering their own hard-to-resist offers and specials. This is a good thing and great opportunity for the consumer who can benefit hugely from it.
Amazon Prime Day officially kicks off on July 16, 2018 at 3:00 pm ET. This special deals day was first introduced in 2015 as Amazon celebrated its 20th anniversary. Prime Day 2017 was reportedly the biggest shopping day in Amazon's history, until Cyber Monday 2017.
Prime Day has now become a major shopping event allowing Amazon Prime members to avail of thousands of deals. These special deals include price drops on popular Amazon devices like Fire TV, Fire Tablets, Echo and others, to deals on groceries items from Whole Foods and everything in between.
However, as you keep an eye on Amazon Prime Day deals, you may also want to look at competitors like eBay. Why? Firstly, because they are offering some pretty sweet deals too; and secondly, because they've made some serious commitments to their customers. These commitments include Price Match Guarantee, Guaranteed Delivery, and Money Back Guarantee. Check for more details on these programs and commitments below.
They are also offering special $119 deals to counter the Amazon Prime annual membership fee, so you can "Pay for what you love. Not shipping." You can look for these deals at the eBay Deals page.
PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE
eBay has some of the best prices anywhere. And that's a promise they stand behind. So as part of their Price Match Guarantee commitment , if you buy an eBay Deal or another top product on eBay, and then find a better price with a competitor within 48 hours, they'll cover 110% of the difference!
Items qualifying for the Best Price Guarantee include the following:
Any product that displays the Best Price Guarantee badge, including the Top 20 best selling products across thousands of categories as well any item in the eBay Deals program.*
Eligible items must be available from an approved competitor, including Amazon.com, BestBuy.com, HomeDepot.com, Jet.com, Sears.com, Target.com, Walmart.com, and Wayfair.com.
Both items (listed on eBay and the approved competitor’s website) should be exactly the same and currently in stock.
GUARANTEED DELIVERY
This eBay commitment allows you to shop 20 million items across all categories and have your selections delivered to your doorstep in 3 days or less. Many of these items also include free shipping. When shopping at eBay, you can filter items by guaranteed delivery date.
MONEY BACK GUARANTEE
With this commitment, eBay offers worry-free shopping because they want you to have a great shopping experience. Essentially, you get the item you ordered, or your money back, on virtually all items. Here is how it briefly works:
If your item hasn’t arrived or isn’t as described, go to My eBay, find the item in your purchase history, and select return or item not received within 30 days of delivery;
If your issue is not resolved in 3 business days, contact eBay;
You'll get your money back. You will hear from eBay within 48 hours.
You can check these Daily Summer Exclusives all with free shipping and no membership required at the eBay Deals page where you will also find special $119 deals.
FOOTNOTES: *Unlike other retailers, eBay Deals are available to your entire audience and always ship for free every day – no membership required. Featuring top-selling inventory across all categories at usually between 20% and 80% off, there are tens of thousands of trending products offered through eBay Deals at any given time. ‘Featured deals’, which are displayed on the homepage of our Deals site, are updated at least once a day starting at 8 a.m. PT.
AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER: If you use any links above to purchase products. I may earn a commission as an eBay and Amazon affiliate.
Firefox is among the top three internet browsers when it comes to global browser usage (see chart below). At one point, it was at the top of the list, but Google Chrome has taken over since mid-2012 and has maintained that top spot ever since.
Mozilla updates Firefox approximately once every six weeks in the form of rapid releases. They have been making a lot of effort to keep the browser relevant by implementing performance boosting tweaks, enhanced security, new features and functionality, and continuous bug fixes as well as fixes to security vulnerabilities.
At the time of writing this Firefox Review, the latest rapid release version is Firefox 54 which was released June 13, 2017. And this is the fourth rapid release update in 2017.
In 2016, Mozilla focused a lot of their efforts on one of the biggest projects they have ever undertaken on browser overhauls. They dubbed it Project Electrolysis (or Project e10s) using multi-process architecture.
Essentially, it splits up the browser into multiple processes which is designed to improve responsiveness, stability as well as security of the browser. This is an on-going project and we can expect to see many positive changes in browser performance as this project evolves.
Mozilla has taken a phased approach to implementing multi-process architecture (e10s) as they roll out that changes to the Firefox user-base.
In phase one, Mozilla will split Firefox into UI process and content process. So when a resource-intensive webpage is loading, it won't lock up tabs, buttons, and menus (for example).
In phase two, Mozilla will be further splitting up content processes so that one resource-intensive webpage won't slow down another webpage while loading.
In phase three, the plan is to sandbox Firefox add-ons or extensions in order to ensure that problem add-ons don't slow down the browser or webpages when loading.
I've personally seen a significant difference in web browser performance when multi-process was enabled in my browser in Firefox 50. You can see the results of the Browsermark Benchmark Tests I ran, in the video above, comparing performance of Firefox 50 vs Firefox 51.
Project Electrolysis remains on-going, while Mozilla continues to work on other relevant projects to enhance the performance and security of Firefox. In that regard, Mozilla has undertaken another big project called Project Quantum.
It is Mozilla's ambitious plan to create a next-generation web engine that leverages from modern hardware. The first component of Project Quantum is Quantum Compositor. It made its way into the stable release in Firefox 53, though a small portion of the Firefox userbase will have it enabled on their browsers.
Quantum Compositor is designed to speed up Firefox as well as to prevent graphics crashes on Windows. Quantum Compositor will be enabled for about 70% of Firefox users. Those on Windows 7 SP1, and above; and on computers equipped with, Intel, Nvidia or AMD, graphics cards.
Based on initial tests conducted by Mozilla with Quantum Compositor enabled: 17% fewer driver related crashes; 22% fewer Direct3D related crashes; and 11% fewer Direct3D accelerated video crashes.
In Firefox 51, Mozilla added support for WebGL2. WebGL stands for Web Graphics Library. It is a JavaScript API, for rendering interactive 2D & 3D computer graphics without the need for plugins. WebGL2 comes with many new features, mostly focused towards increased performance & visual fidelity.
In Firefox 52, NPAPI support was removed, for Firefox plugins except for Adobe Flash. NPAPI or Netscape Plugins API is a plugins infrastructure, that was developed way back in 1995, for the Netscape browser, on which Mozilla built Firefox.
Due to the age of the API and security issues, as well as, the adoption of plugin-free web technologies such as HTML5 major web browser vendors, began to phase out NPAPI support, back in 2013. In September 2015, Google permanently dropped NPAPI support in Google Chrome 45.
Mozilla had announced that this change was coming via their blog in October 2015. If you still need to use NPAPI plugins, you can download the ESR (Extended Support Release) version of Firefox.
Some of the other enhancements that Mozilla introduced in 2017 include the following:
In terms of Security Enhancements, Mozilla introduced a new warning that is displayed when a login page does not have a secure connection. It will be in the form of a grey-lock icon, with a red strike-through on the address bar. And you can click on it, to get more information. This security feature was further enhanced in Firefox 52 for login pages that don't have a secure connection.
The Firefox Sync feature was also enhanced. You can now send and open tabs from one device to another. In order to use the Sync feature, you will need to have a Firefox account and be logged in.
Mozilla introduced support for FLAC playback, which is an audio format similar to MP3, but lossless, meaning that audio is compressed in FLAC, without any loss in quality. This means that you can now play, any FLAC file directly in Firefox.
In Firefox 52, you will find a an improved experience for managing your downloads. In the Downloads area, you will have quick access to five recent downloads as opposed to three (in previous versions). You will also find larger Cancel and Restart buttons.
In Firefox 53, Mozilla introduced two new Compact Themes. One light and one dark theme that you will find in your Add-ons section, under Appearance. You can activate one of the compact themes by clicking on the Enable button corresponding to the respective theme.
As is evident, Mozilla continues to put in significant effort into enhancing the performance and security of the Firefox internet browser. With Project Electrolysis and Project Quantum well underway, we can expect 2017 to be a year in which we see many positive changes in Firefox.
CREDITS: Browser Benchmark Tests Performed Using Browsermark from Basemark: http://web.basemark.com/ | Firefox information and logos used under Creative Commons License Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported (CC BY-SA 3.0) | Global Browser Usage from StatCounter.com | Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are trademarks, or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries | Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission | Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Gifzign is a collection of apps with which you can create Animated GIFs, Cinemagraphs, and Animated Mockups. Many of us who use various social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Google+ and others, have seen the rise and popularity of animated GIFs.
They are a great tool for entertainment and social sharing. Most social media platforms allow uploading of animated GIFs. This has made them popular because they help express ourselves with animations.
Animated GIFs are also used in advertising today by many top companies. I'm sure you've seen these ads on websites, blogs and social media platforms.
Off late, cinemagraphs are becoming more mainstream. If you've not seen or don't know what cinemagraphs are, they are moving or living photographs. Used effectively, they provide stunning visuals that grab the viewers' attention. Further down this article, you will see an example of a cinemagraph I created.
There are many online and offline resources for creating animated GIFs. I've personally used several of these apps over the past couple of years. However, creating cinemagraphs is not very easy, especially if you don't have the right tools and know-how.
This is where Gifzign comes into the picture. As I mentioned at the start of this article, Gifzign is a desktop application that has several apps into one. Down below I will highlight some of the main features and functionality of this versatile app.
GIFZIGN FEATURES
The Gifzign app is packed with several animation features as listed below:
GIF Creator: convert videos to animated GIFs;
GIF Editor: add text, images and effects to GIFs;
Cinemagraphs: create moving photos using videos;
Mockups: add a variety device mockups to your GIFs;
GIF Player: embed your animated GIFs in beautiful players;
Screen Recorder: record your screen and convert them into GIFs.
GIFZIGN VIDEO REVIEW
I've been using Gifzign since it launched in March 2017. I've had a chance to test out most of its features and functionality. I've created a variety of animated GIFs, cinemagraphs, and animated device mockups. I've created a Gifzign video review and several tutorials on my YouTube channel. You can check my brief Gifzign Video Review below:
Based on my experience using Gifzign so far, I find it very easy to use and I like the simplistic user-interface. Converting videos to animated GIFs takes literally a few minutes and the file size is relatively small. Creating cinemagraphs takes a little longer compared to creating animated GIFs, but the process is still quite simple. I cover this in more detail in the sections below.
You can even overlay text and images over animated GIFs and cinemagraphs to create funny animated memes to share on social media. An additional feature is the ability to add a variety of filters to GIFs and cinemagraphs. There are a few things that I would like to see improved in the app which I've listed further down in this article.
WHAT ARE ANIMATED GIFS?
GIF or Graphics Interchange Format is a lossless image file format which supports both, animated and static images. Animated GIFs have become popular and you see them all over social media.
Here is an example of an animated GIF image which was created using the Gifzign app.
Animated GIF Created in Gifzign
Creating animated GIFs in Gifzign is easy: (1) you upload you video; (2) choose the GIF quality; (3) control the start and end time, including the duration, using the timeline; (4) preview the animated GIF; (5) and save the GIF.
Once saved, your GIF is available in your dashboard, where you can download it and create a mockup as well. You can learn more about animated device mockups in the section below.
WHAT ARE CINEMAGRAPHS?
Cinemagraphs are essentially still photos that have an element of constant movement in them. They are created from video clips by overlaying a still image over a video clip and then masking certain parts of the image to reveal the video underneath.
Cinemagraphs are published as animated GIFs, thereby giving an illusion of an animation. As you can see from the cinemagraph below, part of the waterfalls is frozen, and part of the waterfalls is flowing. This is a basic example of a cinemagraph, but hopefully it gives you an idea of the possibilities.
Cinemagraph Created in Gifzign
Creating cinemagraphs in Gifzign is fairly simple: (1) you upload a video; (2) choose a frame and take a still image; (3) use the masking and brush tools to mask portions of the still image; (4) preview your cinemagraph; (5) and convert it into an animated GIF.
You can then download the cinemagraph and post it on your blog or website, and share it on social media. You can even use cinemagraphs to create professional-looking animated ad banners.
For step-by-step instructions, you can check my video tutorial on How To Create Stunning Cinemagraphs.
WHAT ARE ANIMATED MOCKUPS?
Once you create animated GIFs and cinemagraphs in Gifzign, you can embed them in device mockups. When you buy the Gifzign app, it comes with a bunch of device mockup templates. You can use these templates to showcase your animated GIFs.
Creating Mockups is simple. Once you've created your animated GIF, you go to your dashboard and click on the Mockups button, choose a mockup template and download it as an animated GIF. Below you will find examples of animated mockups I created in Gifzign:
Animated GIF Mockups Created in Gifzign
GIFZIGN IMPROVEMENTS
Having highlighted many of the key features and functionality of Gifzign, you can see that this is a very useful app, especially if you are an internet marketer, graphic designer, or even a small business owner.
Having said so, I would like to see a few improvements and new features added to this useful app: (1) I would prefer to have the default for Quality set to “HD” instead of “Vintage”; (2) an option to be able to move text elements around the canvas and remove/change outline color; (3) labels for icons and buttons displaying their function; (4) ability to edit GIFs that are already created and saved on the dashboard; (5) and finally, the option to change the dimensions for resolution and size of GIFs and cinemagraphs.
I've already made them aware of the above suggestions and feedback, and they've acknowledged saying that they will look at the possibility of implementing the changes in the coming updates.
Having previous experience using another app called Youzign, a graphic design application, I'm positive that the creators of Gifzign will focus on improving and making this app even better.
GIFZIGN PRICING
Recently, I've seen a couple of apps that were launched that specifically focus on cinemagraph creation. They launched at a discounted price of $67 and then increased in price, post launch.
Gifzign launched in March 2017 at a discounted price of $27 and will soon increase to $47 at the end of the launch period. This is a one-time, lifetime price. But post launch, the price will likely increase to a monthly and/or yearly subscription. So if you find this useful, take advantage of the discount.
GIFZIGN VIDEO TUTORIALS
Like I mentioned earlier, I've had a chance to play around and test most of the Gifzign features and functionality. I've created a brief review video as well as several tutorials to help you see Gifzign in action and start using it to create cool animated GIFs and stunning cinemagraphs. These video tutorials are on my YouTube channel and you can access them by clicking the banner below:
Hope you found this Gifzign review useful. Based on my experience using it so far, I would definitely recommend this Animated GIF and Cinemagraph Maker. It can be used in your business or if you have clients, you can offer this as a service and create animated GIFs and cinemagraphs. Should you have any questions, please feel free to ask.
AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER:
If you use the link(s) above to purchase the product. I may earn a commission as a JVZoo affiliate. This recommendation and review is based on my firsthand experience using this product myself.
CREDITS:
Gifzign logo and screenshots are copyright protected and used with permission | Images, graphics, icons, video footage used with permission or licensed for commercial purposes | Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are trademarks, or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries | Other company names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
In this Fotojet Review, I will share many of the useful features and functionality available in this free online graphic design platform.
I've been using Fotojet since September 2015 when it was just a Collage Maker. Since then, Fotojet has evolved a lot. Today, Fotojet is a robust and feature-packed graphic design software, collage maker, and photo editor.
I personally use it often for my graphic design needs, for creating social media banners and posts, for editing photos or just creating greeting cards. Fotojet is free to use, but it does have a premium features as part of their Fotojet Plus membership.
I've used both, the free and premium versions. So in this honest review, I will try and cover as much as I can, in terms of my firsthand experience using this online graphic design software. Apart from this written review, I've also created a Fotojet Video Review, which you will find further down below. In the video review, you will be able to see the Fotojet user-interface in action.
Fotojet: Graphic Design
In today's world of social media platforms, it's key to be able to stand out with your unique designs. Fotojet makes it possible to create unique and original social media covers and images for social media posts. If you're creative, you can create your own unique designs, from scratch, by starting on a blank canvas and using the many built-in tools that Fotojet offers.
On the other hand, if you're not too creative, you can use the many professionally-designed pre-made templates. Though these are pre-made templates, they can be fully customized so as to give them your own personal touch. They can be personalized with your own images and text very easily.
You can create Social Media Cover Photos, Headers, and Posts for popular social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google+, Tumblr as well as Email Headers. See some example below.
You can also create posters, flyers, invitations, greeting cards, banner ads and so much more with Fotojet. You can even create your own custom sized design if you wish.
Fotojet Facebook Covers
Fotojet: Collage Maker
With the Fotojet Collage Maker, you can create cool-looking collages from scratch or use pre-made templates. You can even create collage greeting cards for any occasion like birthdays, anniversaries, and special holidays.
With the collage maker, you can not only make cool-looking 2D collages, but stunning 3D collages. They have several amazing-looking 3D collage templates that will help transform your pictures into a work of art. You can take a look at some of the examples of 3D collages that I made on this web page.
Apart from creating amazing 2D and 3D collages, you can also make Magazine Covers. Using the Fotojet Magazine Cover templates, you can put yourself on popular magazine covers like Time, Bazaar, Newsweek, Bride, Vanity Fair, Elle, Forbes, and many others.
With the Fotojet Collage Maker, you can also have a lot of fun. For example, you can create your own Mona Lisa photo, make yourself Superman, create a Wanted poster, and so much more.
Fotojet Photo 3D Collages
Fotojet: Photo Editor
One of the Fotojet tools that I use often is the Fotojet Photo Editor. Apart from the basic photo editing features like resizing, cropping, rotating and flipping, you can also apply premium effects and filters to enhance your images.
For example, look at this before and after image of the sunset picture that I took. I only applied the Shadow effect (under Selective Filters) to this picture and it made the original picture much more vibrant. You can also use the Auto-Enhance feature which is basically a one-click button that fixes your image.
There are several Advanced photo editing features that are part of the premium Fotojet Plus membership. You can apply sharpen, de-haze apply noise or a vignette effects to your pictures. But my favourite features in the Fotojet Photo Editor are the Focus, Color Splash and Selective Filters.
Fotojet Selective Filters (Before and After)
With the Focus feature, you can apply a radial blur or a tilt-shift to an image so as to to focus on a particular area of the image and blur the rest.
With the Color Splash feature, you can turn a color photo into black and white, and then apply a color splash only to a particular portion of the image giving it a really unique look.
With the Selective Filter feature, you can apply a variety of radial and gradient effects to your images like Exposure, Highlights, Shadows, Temperature, Tint, and others.
You can also apply a variety of other effects like Black & White, Sepia, Vintage, Chromatic, and others. Additionally, you can apply overlays to your photos to give it a cool-effect like bokeh, light trails, hearts, light burst, paper, fabric, paint, grunge, and others.
All these photo editing features are easy to use and more importantly can help turn your images into a work of art. I'm still in the process of fully tapping into the features and functionality this graphic design software has to offer.
Fotojet Premium (Fotojet Plus)
Fotojet Magazine Cover
Fotojet is available for free, but they also have a Premium offering that includes access to premium templates, features and additional functionality. Fotojet Plus is their premium service which is available for US$2.91 per month (billed annually) or US$4.99 per month (billed monthly). You can upgrade to Fotojet Plus at anytime or cancel it anytime as well.
In the premium version of Fotojet, you will get access to an ever-growing and over 600 premium templates, over 300 premium clipart images, frames, overlays, photo effects, and so much more. Also, the Fotojet premium is ad-free and you will receive priority customer service.
One thing I like about the developers, PearlMountain Limited, is that they are constantly listening to customer feedback and improving their platform. I've personally provided my own feedback and seen it implemented. Having said so, there are still things that can be improved, for example, I would like to have the ability to save my projects in order to edit them later, if and when needed. But I would definitely recommend Fotojet as a regular user myself.
Another good thing about the Fotojet, the company, is their customer servive. I've personally dealt with a few of their staff and have always received timely responses and have had pleasant dealings with them. Hope you found this Fotojet Review useful. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask. And if you've used Fotojet, please feel free to share your feedback.
CREDITS: Fotojet logo and screenshots are copyright protected and used with permission. PearlMountain Technology Co. Ltd. | Images used in this article belong to the author or have been used with permission | Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are trademarks, or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. | Other names and logos used in this video may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Explaindio Video Creator (EVC 3.0 PRO) the latest version will be released on October 4, 2016. It’s been in beta for the good part of 2016 and I’ve been fortunate to be an active beta-tester.
The new 3.0 version of this versatile video creator comes packed with a load of new features that I will highlight in this review. A ton of text and object animation options have been added to Explaindio giving you the flexibility to create professional-looking videos for your clients or your own business.
There are many video creators in the market, but Explaindio not only comes with a load of animation features, it also comes at an affordable price. Similar software in the market can be quite pricey, so it’s great to see a powerful video creation software that you can afford. Talking about the price, I thought it would be a good place to start off this review. So let’s dive right in:
How much will Explaindio 3.0 cost?
Currently, Explaindio 2.0 PRO costs $57 per year. When you maintain an active subscription of EVC 2.0, you will get Explaindio 3.0 FREE. However, at launch the price of EVC 3.0 (commercial version) will be going up to $67 per year (for the first week of launch) and thereafter, the price will be set at $77 per year. Therefore, if you get EVC 2.0 before launch, you can get it at the lower price of $57 per year.
Also, right off the bat, I’d like to inform you that there will be OTOs (One-Time Offers) on the Explaindio sales page during the buying process. The OTOs will include: (1) Monthly Template Club; (2) 3D FBX to ZF3D Converter; (3) 200+ 3D Intros/Outros; (4) 700 Transitions. The OTOs are all relevant offers, but you don’t have to buy the OTOs, unless you find them useful for your business.
If you’ve not yet purchased Explaindio, you can try it risk-free and take it on a 30-Day Test Drive. If you like it and find it useful, you can maintain your membership and will be charged $57 per year. If not, you can avail of the 30-day money-back guarantee. Also, like I mentioned earlier, you will get it at a lower price before launch. If you’re not satisfied, you can freely cancel your subscription before your trial period ends and request a refund.
What is the difference between EVC 2.0 and EVC 3.0?
Before I get into the comparison part of the two versions, if you watched my earlier Explaindio 2.0 Reviewand have personally used this video creator, you already know that it came with a lot of new features when compared to EVC 1.x. It was a whole new architecture with new features like Animation Points, Sketch-to-Video, Dynamic Zoom and Rotation of Elements, Solid Line Text Sketching and more.
Well, when you enter into the new world of Explaindio 3.0, you will be amazed by the new user-interface, functionality, and loads of new features. First of all, it has a whole new timeline that allows you to create simultaneous animations. It also allows you flexibility to control timing, speed and duration of the animation directly in the timeline. Like I mentioned earlier, EVC 3.0 comes with features galore, I'll list down below, some of the Key Features and then discuss them in more detail, in the following section:
Morph Animation
Preset Text Animations
Preset Object Animations
Simultaneous Animations
Animated Sketch Hands
3D Animation Functionality
API Integration (Youzign & Pixabay)
The new Explaindio Video Creator also includes: UNDO and REDO buttons; and ability to Left and Right align text (in the text box). Imported and embedded MP4 videos no longer need to be converted to 24 fps. This will save a great deal of time and frustration because in EVC 2.0, you have to make sure that the MP4 videos imported in Explaindio had to be converted to 24 fps. Also, there was an improvement in the Image Sketch functionality, that is, the color fill image sketch.
Another improvement is that in EVC 3.0, we will transition from login to license keys. This will be more convenient to users avoiding the issue of the system detecting Explaindio on more than two computers.
The Green Screen feature which was available in EVC 2.0 PRO has been retired because it wasn’t feasible to keep it on due to technical reasons. But, there are free green screen software out there, for example, like Shotcut.
What are the new features in Explaindio 3.0?
One of the first things you will notice is that EVC 3.0 has a New Timeline. It is quite different when compared to EVC 2.0 because it makes SIMULTANEOUS ANIMATIONS possible in Explaindio.
This was one major feature that EVC 2.0 lacked, so it will open up a whole new world in terms of animation possibilities. While we are on the topic of animations, EVC 3.0 comes with Text and Object animations.
The preset TEXT ANIMATION option will allow you to animate text and create cool text animation effects. I really like this feature and I’ve tried various variations of text animations. One example of using text animation is creating animated quotes. With the preset OBJECT ANIMATION option, you can animate any object on the canvas like images, graphics, icons, videos, etc. Combined, there are over 100 text and object animations included in EVC 3.0. Using these new text and object animations, you can take your video creation to a whole new level.
The new MORPH ANIMATION feature will allow you to morph any text or other objects on the canvas. For example, you can have text morph into an object and vice versa. Using this animation in your video creation can really help enhance and set your videos uniquely apart.
Explaindio already comes with SKETCH-BY-HAND functionality. This allows you to create engaging whiteboard animation videos that have become popular today. In EVC 3.0, this hand sketch functionality has been improved, making the hand movement more natural, rather than static. This makes the hand sketching look more realistic.
New functionality for ANIMATED 3D CHARACTERS and objects has also been included in the all new Explaindio.
3D characters in videos has been catching on and becoming more popular in mainstream marketing. With this new feature, you can also start leveraging by adding 3D animated characters and elements in your videos.
You will not be able to create 3D characters and objects in Explaindio, rather you will be able to import them into EVC and incorporate them into you videos. However, bear in mind that you can only import 3D characters and object in ZF3D format.
Finally, Explaindio 3.0 comes with API integration for Pixaby and Youzign. This will give you free access to hundreds of copyright-free and royalty-free images to use in your videos via Pixabay. Also, if you have Youzign Graphic Design Software, you can now access all your designs from within Explaindio via the Youzign API integration.
It's been said “If a picture is worth a thousand words then a video is priceless.” Hope this gives you a glimpse into the video animation possibilities in the all new Explaindio 3.0.
Is it worth upgrading to EVC 3.0 PRO?
If you are still using EVC 2.0 STANDARD and want to take video creation to the next level, then I would highly recommend that you upgrade to EVC 3.0. If you already have EVC 2.0 PRO, then you will get EVC 3.0 FREE, as long as you maintain an active subscription.
As mentioned earlier, EVC 3.0 comes loaded with new functionality and features. That being said, you should expect a steeper learning curve when using the new Explaindio 3.0 Video Creator. The good news is that you will find many tutorials in the member’s area. Also, I’ve also created several EVC 3.0 Tutorials on my YouTube channel and will be adding more.
You can check my YouTube channel for my Explaindio Review & Video Tutorials.
There is no way that I can cover everything about Explaindio Video Creator in this review, but hopefully it allows you to make an informed decision whether to invest in Explaindio 3.0 or not. Video marketing has become a dominant force in today’s marketing world, so if you are not using video in your promoting your business, you are losing out a great deal. If you have any specific questions regarding EVC 3.0, please feel free to ask and I will do my best to respond to them.
CREDITS Explaindio Video Creator logo and screenshots are copyright protected, used with permission | Commercial Rights to use videos & images used in this video production | Commercial rights to use other videos and animations AFFILATE DISCLAIMER If you use the link above to purchase the product. I may earn a commission as a JVZoo affiliate. This recommendation and review is based on my firsthand experience using this product myself.
European laws have mandated that online publishers provide their EU visitors information regarding their use of cookies on their blogs, websites or apps. Additionally, you may need to obtain consent from your European visitors.
If you are using a Blogger blog, like this one I'm using here, Google has already added a notice on your blog to help meet these requirements. However, if you’ve made changes to your blog template, the notification may not be working properly.
Using your blog URL, you can check to confirm if this cookie notification is working properly on your blog. In order to do so, replace the “.COM” in your blog URL with “.CO.UK” or “.FR” and test it in your internet browser. If you don’t see a cookie notification, it means that the notification is no longer working. There are various free and paid tools online that can help you install a Cookie Notification Bar like the one you see below.
I used a free online tool called Cookie Consent from SilkTide to install the Cookie Notification Bar which you can use on your blog or website. Watch the video tutorial below on “How to Install a Cookie Notification Bar in Blogger” Though, this tutorial is specific to Blogger blogs, you can use the same method to install the Cookie Notification Bar on other blogs or websites.
In order to better understand what you need to do as an on publisher, you can visit this website www.CookieChoice.org where you will find relevant information regarding the European Cookie Law. Depending on the type of information you collect from visitors on your blog, website or app, you may have to develop a customized Privacy or Cookie Policy.
Google’s Gmail web-based email service, which is free to use, is one of most widely used and popular email services today. Apart from providing 15 GB of free storage space, it has a robust built-in spam-filtering system.
It is a community-based spam filtering system in which emails marked as spam, help other Gmail users, in terms of protecting them from future spam messages from the same email address.
When you first start using Gmail, it may take a little while until Gmail becomes more intuitive in terms of filtering spam messages.
Therefore, it’s important to take the time to mark messages as spam, create filters, identify email that was mistakenly marked as spam, and so on. In the video tutorial below, you will learn How to Manage Spam in Gmail, as well as how to use the smart spam filters.
All email messages that are marked as SPAM are stored in a “Spam” folder. It’s a good idea to check this “Spam” folder regularly because sometimes email messages that are not spam may end up in the folder. You can then use the option to mark it as “not spam”. Gmail automatically deletes the email messages in the “Spam” folder after 30 days.
In the above video tutorial you will learn:
How to block a sender?
How to report spam email?
How to create spam filters?
How to mark email as spam?
How to mark an email “not spam”?
How to edit filters and blocked senders list?
The Gmail spam filters are also a very effective way to deal with spam. For example, you can create a Gmail spam filter to delete email messages from a specific email address as soon as it makes its way to your inbox. Similarly, you can also use the Spam filters to mark certain email addresses as “not spam”. In essence, you are marking those email addresses as “safe senders”.
One of the other good security features of Gmail is that it automatically scans attachments in all incoming and outgoing email messages for viruses. Also, as a security measure, Gmail doesn’t permit emailing executable (“.exe”) files as attachments.
If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them in the comments section below. Also, if you have any of your own tips on how to combat spam, feel free to share them.
CREDITS:
Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission | Spam images from Public Domain via Pixabay | Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are trademarks, or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries | Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
In November 2015, Google announced that changes were coming to the Google+ social network. They made a new Web version available for users with an option to switch back to the Classic version.
Well, starting in September (I believe September 12, 2016), the Classic version will be put to rest and all users will be forced to the new Web Google+.
Since the new Web version came out, I’ve tried it, on and off several times. However, I mostly stuck with the Classic version for many reasons.
For one, I prefer the smaller sized, two-column layout. Also, I found that when sharing posts, it was easier, on the Classic version, to add them to Collections. Most of my posts that include an embedded YouTube video, somehow have the thumbnail all skewed up.
Google Hangouts will also be gone, being replaced with YouTube Live, but not via the Google+ platform. And finally, the new Web Google+ no longer has Events. It has been removed and we most probably won’t see it back. This has left many Google+ users frustrated and I can understand why.
Well, it’s not all bad, if you can handle what’s left of new Google+ social network. You will now be able to post Photo Comments as well as include a link when responding to comments. There is a new Notifications Center which will be a full-screen notifications page which I believe will be further enhanced.
If you have a wider screen, you will be able to display a 3-column layout. If not, you will see a 2-column layout which can be customized to a one-column layout, if you wish. Also, Communities will have improved capabilities, giving moderators more control to deal with spam and the like.
You can check this Google+ Post from Luke Wroblewski for a full list of the New Web Features. Below is a video that highlights some of these key changes and gives you a look at the Classic version compared to the new Web version of Google+:
Back in May 2015, Google launched Google Photos and in August 2015, photos from Google+ were migrated to Google Photos. Earlier, in July 2015 they announced that Google+ would be decoupling from YouTube. From the outside looking in, it seems like slowly, but surely Google has been tearing Google+ apart.
Google is known to abandon apps as it has done in the past. I spare you the details, but I’m hoping that Google+ sticks around. I know Google’s social network hasn’t really gone mainstream (so to speak) compared to Facebook.
However, I do like using Google+ and was actually disappointed when they decoupled from YouTube. I found that interface between Google+ and YouTube very practical and useful, especially with regards to managing social interactions via comments on my Tutorials YouTube Channel.
We can expect to see more changes in the coming months as feedback continues to pour in. Make sure to use the Feedback form, on your Google+ profile, to make your voice heard and hopefully Google will give heed to our feedback.
It’s difficult to please everyone, but I’m hoping that Google+ remain a decent and use-able social media platform. So with everything said and done, will you say “Hello” or “Goodbye” to the new Google+ social network?
Credits:
Google and the Google logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc., used with permission | Google+ Logo Used Under Creative Commons CC Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License | Firefox Logo Used Under Creative Commons CC Attribution ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License | Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are trademarks, or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries | Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
