YouTube Awards

As I was going through the stories of the day in Slashdot I saw this story that YouTube is giving out awards for user videos.

It was a quick, hasty process begun and concluded in just a week - a far cry from the many months of, say, Oscar campaigning. :-)
A few of the categories on which the awards have been given out are..

most creative video

best comedy

best commentary

best series

best music video

most inspirational video

most adorable video.

The winners and nominees are compiled in a gallery at http://www.youtube.com/YTAwards.

I feel that this is an interesting move from Google after this huge takeover last year. Youtube has really been a trend setter in Online Video-Sharing and this is one big leap. A interview with Jamie Byrne, head of product marketing at YouTube published in CNN ’s website where he talks about the likelihood of becoming an annual affair depending on the response from the community.

P.S : Enjoy watching the clips leisurely at home as Mr. websense wont allow you to do it from office. ;)

Unconference Update! :-)

Well.. Well.. The first ever ChannelOne Unconference has begun - in great style. Here here I give you some insights on what has happened in the first session, that is so far!!!

I rushed in to the Fortune Select Hotel at around 9.40 in the morning only to find Frank speaking on the importance of ChannelOne and it was great to hear that we “do” have a role in painting the big picture…[I missed Lakshmi’s and our very own Sukumar’s opening speeches) It is indeed heartening to find that the Top Management is actively encouraging this culture and indeed participating in that… (I was actually surprised that Frank stayed there interacting with us for almost 3 hours :mrgreen: )

Then, we went on to attend the first unconference session of the morning – Corporate Story Telling by Archana Raghuram, who kept threatening us that she would continue with her full deck of slides if we don’t come up with suggestions :-D It was a great session with some very innovative ideas – Thanks to Vijay Shriram, Sriram Iyer (internal systems) and Siddharth.

Though the next “expected” session on Blogs was swapped, we bloggers made our own sessions – outside the meeting rooms… It was great to see fellow bloggers and being identified with “Arre.. Oh.. Sambar” guy rather than the usual Ram ;)

I met quite a few faces (and brains) behind the blogs – (Scribble) Shriram, (Admin) Senthil Raja, (Pots) Roy, (Management Stories) Vinu, (Madarasi Geek)Abhisheik, (Untitled) Ravi , (Snake Gourd) Shyamala , (Congnizant song) Praveen, (Cognorators) Dr. Anita and our very own.. (CKO) Sukumar…

It was really a exhilarating experience!!!

And now.. By the time I hit publish.. There is a special session underway by the bloggers… For the bloggers.. :-)

And you might be wondering, what I’m doing here – Blogging and not participating there… :-( Well, that’s another story…

I’m looking forward to meet them all tomorrow – and have loads and loads of FUN cum GYAN…

P.S : Please forgive me if I haven’t made this as interesting as expected as I have a tight schedule ahead…

Meenaks, Prem , Mahesh, and Sravya – We miss you here :-(

Sambasivam (Pic Blogger) - Where ever you are, show up at the unconf tomorrow - We are eagerly waiting to meet you!!! :-)