Attention All Bloggers: Introducing Vlog It!
Video Blogging Software from Serious Magic
New Software Lets Bloggers Create and Add Video to Blogs
FOLSOM, Calif., February 7, 2005 - Targeting the millions of people who blog
around the world today, Serious Magic, Inc. announces the immediate
availability of Vlog It to help users quickly and easily add video to their
blog, or create a "vlog," in minutes.
"Text blogs have given people a great way to share their personal thoughts,
opinions and news with others online," said Mark Randall, president and
Chief Magician of Serious Magic, a leading developer of next-generation
video software and communications tools for business, consumer, educational
and professional markets. "Vlog It adds a new dimension by letting bloggers
share sights and sounds- instead of just text - with audiences."
How It Works
With Vlog It, users combine media-video clips, digital photos and music with
narration to achieve a video. To create a vlog, users:
o Drag & drop photos, video clips and music into Vlog It!
o Add cool TV-style transitions and sound effects. Bloggers can even go for
the complete newscaster look, using Vlog It's live webcam recording and
teleprompter to add narration.
o Click Publish and then drag and drop the video thumbnail into their blog.
When visitors to the blog click on the thumbnail, their video will
automatically play.
Takes the Complexity Out of Video Creation
Vlog It introduces a new, simple process for video creation that is unlike
any video editing software. With Vlog It, events are tied to words and ideas
instead of seconds and frames. Vlog It drastically cuts the time required to
capture, edit, render, compress and upload video, making it a radically
easier and faster way to share video on the Web.
Powerful Newscast-style Features
Vlog It introduces consumers to the vlog-creation process with a three-step
Wizard so novices can access a variety of newscast-style themes. Each theme
includes coordinated graphics, titles, lower-third graphics, backgrounds and
music so videos look as if they were created inside a television newsroom.
Experienced users can go directly into the advanced interface for greater
control and more sophisticated options.
For those that wish to appear on camera, Vlog It takes live input from
standard webcams and camcorders. To put themselves on camera, users simply
place their camera on their computer monitor and plug it into their PC. When
reading their text blog from Vlog It's on-screen teleprompter, it appears
the user is looking directly at the camera while they are reading.
Vlog It also offers the ability to replace a background with an image or
video. This is perfect for the blogger wishing to appear "on location", such
as in front of the White House discussing political views or in an actual
newsroom commenting on the day's events. To utilize this feature, users
place any green or blue fabric behind them or purchase an inexpensive green
screen backdrop from Serious Magic's Web store.
"Because Vlog It lets people make their own online videos quickly and
easily, we expect bloggers to create personalized mini documentaries, video
diaries, news shows, reality-TV shows - and even entirely new show formats
that they'll conceive to express themselves and share their world with
others," explained Randall.
Availability
Vlog It is now available via electronic download or CD at
About Serious Magic
Serious Magic, Inc. was founded in early 2001 by a team of industry veterans
to create the next generation of visual communication tools. Award-winning
products include Visual Communicator 2, empowering non-technical users to
create stunning videos and presentations that captivate audiences, deliver
key points, and compel action and Ovation, companion software for MicrosoftR
PowerPointR that instantly turns
PowerPoint slides into highly-polished, professional presentations. The name
Serious Magic was inspired by Arthur C. Clarke's observation: "Any
sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic." For more
