So Long, Google Video. Google Finally Cements Nail in Coffin

Bloomberg via Getty Images

Google has finally decided to put Google Video out of its misery. What’s that I hear? Silence? Yep, that the sound of people caring.

Starting April 29, the site will not host any more videos, making many nonexistent users forlorn about its demise. An email was sent out to active users to download their videos and re-upload them to YouTube if they would like to save their videos for internet posterity. Your cat videos belong on YouTube, not Google Video.

Google Video started out in 2005, when it was launched in direct competition with YouTube. Eventually, YouTube proved to be the fairest of ‘em all, making Google Video look like a flash in the pan. Google decided that if you can’t beat them, you might as well buy them, snatching up YouTube for $1.6 billon during the latter half of 2006.

Although Google Video ceased the ability to upload videos two years ago, many people, such as myself, were befuddled as to why Google Video kept trudging on. It is anyone’s guess, really, especially when it became rapidly clear that YouTube would become the favorite, successful child.

Sadly, this was one bullet that should have come much sooner. It started with a bang, but ended with a whimper.

(via TechCrunch)

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pks29733steel

Never wasted time ‘uploading’ anything to either service. Both were always good for a laugh (are people really this stupid?).
http://thejapanguy.com brandonash21

With all due respect, I don’t think uploading videos to YouTube is a waste of time whatsoever. Yeah, sure there are videos on YouTube that are purely made to entertain…those kind of videos reach a lot of people. I think they’re great! I’ve definitely seen my fair share of them. But at the same time there are some YouTubers who try to make their videos something that people can learn from. I happen to be one of them. Being here in Japan during the March 11th earthquake when cell phone services were disabled, when it was tough for foreigners to get information. Services like YouTube & Skype were ways for some of us to show what was happening here (still is) a way to connect with the rest of the world, and a way to obtain information. I’ve never used Google Video, but I am definitely a YouTube user and fan. It’s an entertaining service, but it’s more that that.

Donald Ash
http://thejapanguy.com
YouTube Username: TheJapanGuy
http://pictoralwanderings.blogspot.com quellejoie

I’m truly surprised they didn’t end this sooner! I thought would have phased Google Video out pretty quickly after buying YouTube; at least it’s done, haha
Though…I’ve fond memories of looking up Jane Austen movies on it after getting tired of reading Sense and Sensibility.
http://mrgnome.wordpress.com/ mrgnome

April 19, 2011 at 5:34 pm
Indeed! Google video is hosting more than “clips”. That is why it’s important. Clips of cats and penguins can use youtube but GV hosts tons of long lectures, hard to find documentaries and other archive-worthy material. To simply remove all that is ruthless and totally impropriate for Google. Users trusted Google with their material and Google promised them access. Removing google videos will also create dead links and dead embeds on other sites that catalog and link to videos there. Universities, interest groups, documentary sites. The list is long. Google video has not been dead at all since 2009 as many claim. It is a vital source of information not found elsewhere. It must be preserved in some form. That is the only right thing to do. Period.