Good morning all!
It was only a matter of time … while Animoto practically invented the upload-your-pics-and-make-an-amazing-video genre it has DOMINATED for good reason, alternatives are popping up everywhere. I wrote the other day about Stupeflix, and today, I’m here to tell you about Flixtime, a site I heard about on Twitter from Ozge Karaoglu, a teacher/trainer in Istanbul, Turkey.
Flixtime has everything today’s discriminating web 2.0 aficionado demands: crazy simple UI (user interface), great special effects, terrific soundtrack selection, ability to upload your own music, add text & titles, mix pictures and video … the usual. It does all these things with style and grace, and, of course, it does them all for free (for now, I’ll bet.)
Here’s the editing window with some uploads in progress:
And this is what it looks like when you add music – their collection is MASSIVE and EXTREMELY high quality!
Once you’ve added your content, press “render video” and grab a cup of your favorite beverage. The rest happens automagically:
Videos are currently limited to ONE MINUTE and there is no “premium” or “pro” option (though that most likely is in the works.) Further sign of a just-launched venture, the EMBED capability is currently grayed out (or is it ‘greyed’ out?”) but videos can of course be played on the web. You can download, ‘em too, of course.
I like Flixtime a lot. The UI is sweet and intuitive and the one-minute limit handily beats Animoto’s 30-second freebie. I love Animoto’s support for us teachers but delays in processing the educator accounts have caused me (and others) quite a bit of inconvenience of late. (Remember, folks, it’s FREE so let’s be thankful we can get it at all!)
If you’re into making movies from your pics and video clips, Flixtime is worth checking out and keeping an eye on, especially if the service ends up having the staying power of Animoto – clearly an established (soon to be acquired?) Web 2.0 player.
Hope this helps,
-kj-
Kevin,
I was initially bummed about the lack of an embed option on FlixTime, but I got around it by using FlixTime’s direct upload to YouTube option. Of course, this doesn’t help much if you’re in an environment that blocks YouTube.
Richard
Hi Rich! Thanks for commenting! Good point – another option – create a personal or district Ning, upload the video there, grab the embed codes , done – as long as Ning isn’t blocked! :) Same strategy would apply to Teachertube.com, Schooltube.com, Blip.TV, etc.!
Do we REALLY need another “fluff” software that does the bulk of the work for kids? Or might we be better off having students making the bulk of creative decisions, instead of dumping images into a program that relies on special effects instead of meaning. I offer these for your consideration:
http://jonorech.blogspot.com/2009/06/digital-storytelling-and-animoto-are.html
http://jonorech.wikispaces.com/Digital+Storytelling%2C+NOT+Digital+Spectacle
Thank you,
Jon Orech
Hi Jon,
Good points, no argument, but nothing is going to stop the onslaught of new apps like these. In case you didn’t notice, a while back I reviewed a similar video making application with MUCH more creative control – Stupeflix. See: http://www.ncs-tech.org/?p=4874. My advice: use what works, discard what doesn’t.
The issue is not the tool, it’s how it’s used. Faster computers aren’t needed either – we can create bad content just as easily with really old machines. Doesn’t mean the semiconductor industry is going to slow down any. Hardware and software will continue marching on.
Finally, the even larger issue is how we promote these tools. I definitely agree that it’s easy to get wrapped up in the excitement (SQUIRREL!) of a new release but the focus of this blog is mostly tool sharing. I think you’ll agree that more detailed discussions of the meaningful application of these tools are also needed. Would change the nature of this blog, to be sure, and if I were in a “regular” classroom, rather than a lab, I can assure you that I’d be more inclined to get into that depth. Sounds like an excuse, and maybe it is … just trying to be honest.
Appreciate your contribution to the conversation!
-kj-
Kevin,
You are right, there is no stopping what comes out. And in the hands of an experienced teacher like yourself, I have no doubt that you would use it appropriately.
And I am the first one to admit that tools don’t come first http://jonorech.blogspot.com/2008/12/tools-schmools.html
My concern is that teachers who are mesmerized by “Digital Spectacle” rely on these tools, and are under the impression that their students are learning, when time could be better spent working with issues like story, image composition, and the relationship between the words and images. Kevin, tou have to forgive this former English teacher who fiercely supports the use of Digital Storytelling for classroom instruction. Tools like Animoto, Stupeflix, etc can serve some purpose, as a means for grabbing students’ attention, but what gets me is when teachers use these tools and say they are having kids make Digital Stories.
OK, I am finished. Thanks for your indulgence. True, your purpose is to make people aware of tools…which you did quite well. Perhaps this battle I wage is quixotic, but still will sally forth.
Thanks, Kevin!
Jon, right back.
Totally understood – no forgiveness necessary.
I like to surround myself with people like Bernajean Porter and Gary Stager, whose relentless pursuit of meaningful learning that transcends tools … “the beef” as Bernajean has been saying lately. BJP is one who truly bristles whenever she hears people talk about “digital stories” – they are NOT “digital storytelling” in her sense of the word. Having had the privilege of working with her, I completely understand where she (and you) come from on this.
Bottom line – we’ve all got our own battles and happily wage them – it’s what gets us up in the morning! Someday, I’ll grow this blog beyond it’s current state – a potato chip for the mind, if you will – to something a hell of a lot more powerful.
But to really do that, I need 25 kids of my own for 180 days…
Stay gold,
-kj-
Wow!!! You can really tell that your teachers. : )
I worked with your lot for a few years, met dome great guys/gals and some real dinosaurs.
The use of tools like this can be really useful if time is a constraint. I’m a big believer in using tools to save time, which is what this is for.
Maybe we should all row boats, walk everywhere and grow all our own food, actually sounds a good idea.
Thanks for all you cool tools, love reading this site.
Oli G