Video embeds can really add a lot to any article, blog or diary. I've discovered that they're really easy to do using my iPhone, and I imagine the same is true for other smart phones that record video.
The iPhone lets you easily upload a video to youtube. I use it a lot to get snippets of news shows from TV and the occasional live news coverage-- speeches, debates, demonstrations... I have a digital recorder on my Comcast box, so, if I see a news segment I want to grab on my camera, I back up to the point the segment starts, set up my phone camera video stand and grab it. I can usually set it up, record it and upload it to youtube in 10-15 minutes. Then I can wrap an article around it.
Before I set up my iPhone recording stand I just held the camera as still as possible. It worked okay. The stand's better and easier. Give it a try.
Here's the set-up I created to shoot video from TV for youtube. I bought the iPhone tripod mount for under $10, attached it to a mini desktop tripod costing under $10 and mounted it on an old mike stand, (cost about $20-$25 on craigslist or ebay.) You might be able to use a cheap sheet music stand that you can pick up at a yard sale for under $5.
Here's a link to where I bought it for $10
Here's an example of a mini tripod from radio shack for $7.99
I put one of the legs into the open neck of the mike stand and set the height to optimize the image on my iPhone.
One thing you'll want to do is go from full/wide screen mode setting on your TV to a narrower one, so you can get in closer for the shot. And keep the volume up on the sound.
If there are other solutions, please mention them in the comments.
If you have a product you want me to review, contact me at rob at opednews dot com.
