Retiring HubPages Video

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   Marina Lazarevicposted 9 years ago

   One of our goals this year is to simplify infrastructure and retire features that are seldom used. Deciding to retire something can be tough, but in the long run it is worth it. A leaner HubPages will not only perform better, but will allow us to focus our efforts on the features that are most important. We've been chipping away at this project slowly with lesser-known features.
   
   Today, we are starting the process of retiring HubPages Video.  Video was a costly feature to maintain and was used by only a small fraction of Hubbers. Soon the options to create a new Video Hub and convert an existing Hub to Video will be removed. Eventually, we will completely decommission Video.
   
   You might be wondering what will happen to existing Video Hubs. We're still working on figuring out exactly what we will do with them, but we'd like to preserve as many as we can by converting them to a third-party platform like YouTube (and embedding them into Hubs). This step won't happen for a while, however. If you have the time, feel free to move your own videos to another provider now. That way, you can add them to new or existing Hubs.
   
   Let us know if you have any questions!

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      sallybeaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks for letting us know in advance of these changes.
      I uploaded one of my videos to youtube and then deleted the video from the 'my video' folders on HubPages.
      I then added the video from youtube using the usual method and I got a message to say that I needed a valid HubPages video.  I ignored it and went out of the page and came back in to discover that the video appears to be working as it should  http://sallybea.hubpages.com/video/Is-graffiti-art
      I know we are not meant to be able to do this but perhaps your very kind engineers could take a look at this so that we can add our videos back to our hubs without losing views or traffic.  It also means I kept my URL but that the little video motif is showing in my HubPages stats.

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         missoliveposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Hi there, thanks for the info. I have the same question as sallybea, I'd love to keep the hub and just remove the video portion of my 'video hubs'. Can we assume there is going to be a way to keep the text capsules and maintain the original hub and url? I think I only have 2 'video hubs'.
         
         By the way, I'm kind of glad you are doing away with the 'video hub' option

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            Marina Lazarevicposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Yes, we are working on a way to convert video Hubs to normal Hubs.

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               Thelma Albertsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               Thank you for the heads up Marina. I think I have 5 video hubs and I hope  those hubs will turn to normal hubs and I don´t have to tweak or do something about its changes.

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      Patty Inglish, MSposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Congratulations to HP for judicious streamlining! McDonald's has streamlined operations and menus a few times since the 1980s, with very positive results and they are doing it right now in 2015. I am much encouraged by the good changes at HP and the good results recently. Thank you!

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      PegCole17posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yes, will there be a blog post to announce this? Not everyone follows the forums.

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      sallybeaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I can't help think that a way to figuring out exactly how to retain the video hubs should have been worked out before this announcement was made.  I have already moved four of my videos to YouTube, but want to know how to retain the URL and also the views I have already received from these hubs.

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      1. 81

         Marina Lazarevicposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         All we're doing at this stage is preventing new Video Hubs from being created. There is plenty of time before we'll be ready to convert existing video Hubs to normal Hubs. If you want to hang tight until then, that's perfectly reasonable!

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            sallybeaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Hi Marina, thanks but I was a little previous and uploaded four of my five videos to youtube today and inserted them into my video hubs as explained above.  I only hope I have not created a problem for myself long term.
            I never liked the video hubs from the start and stopped using this facility - I am pleased to hear that this feature will now be retired.

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   Sue Adamsposted 9 years ago

   I only have 2 video hubs, partly because I never really understood the advantages of having special single video hubs when multiple  videos can be added to normal hubs.
   My video hubs get as many views as most of my other hubs and it would be a shame to remove them.
   
   My question:
   Can video hubs be converted into normal hubs and retain their URL and Title? If so, how?

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   1. 81

      Marina Lazarevicposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Sue! I just answered this question here.

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3. 82

   grand old ladyposted 9 years ago

   I would just like to know, are you retiring videos made for HP only? In other words, will we still be allowed to add videos from Youtube to existing hubs? I'm asking because my videos are mainly from Youtube. I think my hub might suffer if we can't add relevant Youtube videos.

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      Millionaire Tipsposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Grand old lady, this only applies to videos that are housed on HubPages servers. Your Youtube videos are fine.

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         mary615posted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Thanks, I was wondering the same thing.  I've only used YouTube videos.

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         PaigSrposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Ditto on the thanks. This was what I too was not getting. But it now makes sense.

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      Marina Lazarevicposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Just HubPages-hosted videos. You'll still be able to embed YouTube and Vimeo videos into your Hubs.

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   Millionaire Tipsposted 9 years ago

   I only have one video hub.  The video kept stuttering, even though it is a very short one, and I did not like that it automatically started playing when you opened the hub.  I won't miss this feature.

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5. 82

   Marcy Goodfleischposted 9 years ago

   Thanks, as always, for the advanced notice - I think the discussion here answered my one question, but here goes:
   
   I have only used YouTube videos, but some are in my main photo capsule at the top of the hub. Will those still be okay going forward?  My question relates to positioning, not the source of the video. None of the hubs were designated as video hubs.
   
   Thanks - I am pretty sure I'm okay here, but just wanted to toss that question into the mix.

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      Marina Lazarevicposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      Yup, you're good!

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         sallybeaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Hi Marina,
         My video hubs now contain violations because I added youtube videos to them instead of HubPages videos - Help please!
         I thought this might come back and bite me.

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            Marina Lazarevicposted 9 years agoin reply to this

            I'm sorry that you had violations on those Hubs! Though I just took a look and don't see any, so perhaps a moderator cleared them. If there are any other video Hubs with violations, please post the links here and I'll check. Thanks!

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               sallybeaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

               Hi Marina,
               Thank you, much appreciated.
               http://sallybea.hubpages.com/video/How- … a-Bird-Pod
               http://sallybea.hubpages.com/video/Is-graffiti-art
               http://hubpages.com/video/How-to-wet-fe … hone-pouch
               Sally

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                  Marina Lazarevicposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                  Ok, I see what you mean. For now, you can safely ignore these violations (your Hubs will not be moderated) and we will get the violations removed ASAP. We want to encourage Hubbers to do what you've done, not the opposite! Thanks for bringing this up!

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                     sallybeaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                     Hi Marina,
                     Thanks, I have one more to go and then I should be done.
                     I appreciate your assistance, thank you so much.
                     Sally

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                     sallybeaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                     Hi Marina,
                     I notice that my hubs are still showing violations because I changed the videos to YouTube videos.   I also know that staff have a lot on my plate but I have a dilemma.  The hubs in question are receiving more traffic as a result of the change to Youtube videos.  Can you reassure me please that these views and the URL will remain the same when you staff manage to get around to this.  I also don't want to be moderated for the violations.
                     Thank you
                     Sally.

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                     1. 81

                        Marina Lazarevicposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                        Hey Sally. First of all, I'm happy to hear that your Hubs are receiving more traffic now. That's great! Second, yes, I can assure you that your Hubs won't be moderated and the violations will be gone from your account today or tomorrow.
                        
                        update: looks like the violations are gone now!

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                           sallybeaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

                           Hi Mariana,
                           You are a treasure!  Thank you, I appreciate all you do for us.
                           Thank you
                           Sally

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      TIMETRAVELER2posted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I wasn't aware you could use YouTube Videos in Photo Capsules.  How do you do this?

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         sallybeaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Insert a video capsule rather than a photo capsule.  Navigate to the youtube video of your choice and then add the link following the instructions on the video capsule.
         It could be your own video which you uploaded to youtube previously.

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            TIMETRAVELER2posted 9 years agoin reply to this

            Interesting.  Thanks.

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   Sherry Hewinsposted 9 years ago

   I think this is a good decision. I never liked the video hubs posted by others, as they started playing when the hub was opened. I found that annoying, so I never made one myself. It was a good try, but that feature was not a winner. It happens.

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   janderson99posted 9 years ago

   Polls will go next

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8. 87

   Venkatachari Mposted 9 years ago

   Thanks, Marina and Sallybea. Both of you have cleared all my doubts about this video retirement plans. I do not know that there is one hubpages video tool here for creating video hubs. You are now retiring only those video hubs and the tool by converting the video hubs into normal hubs. But, I can upload my videos from youtube or vimeo as I have done in my recipe hubs and some other hubs. They are not going to be a problem for anybody.
   Through your conversations here all my doubts are now cleared. Thanks again.

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9. 88

   WannaB Writerposted 9 years ago

   Since I first uploaded the videos made for my hubs to HubPages, my computer with the originals uploaded crashed. How can I retrieve those videos from HubPages so I won't lose them? I would like to move them to YouTube, but HubPages now has my only copies.

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      sallybeaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      I am in the same situation.  I have one video which I have not converted yet because I cannot find the original one on my computer.  I have left this last on HubPages in the hope that HubPages will eventually figure out a way to convert them or I might have to re-make it or delete the Hub.  I am so glad HubPages have retired this feature.

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         agvulpesposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         If you are using Firefox Browser you can try the 'add on' called 'Download Flash and Video'
         It is easy to use and you can save the Videos in the MP4 format which should be ok for YouTube

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         Matthew Meyerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         See below.
         http://hubpages.com/forum/post/2742718

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      Matthew Meyerposted 9 years agoin reply to this

      We are planning on providing a tool so that you can download any video you uploaded and used in a HubPagesVideo Hub. Keep an eye out for more information to come when the tool is ready.

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         BarbRadposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         Thank you, Matthew.

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         sallybeaposted 9 years agoin reply to this

         That is good news, thanks Matthew.

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