Tag Archives: Creator

YouTube’s War Against Ad Blockers Continues with the Platform Blocking Content Altogether

May 28, 2024 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

The relationship between YouTube and ad blockers has always been a bit… strained. Creators rely on ad revenue to keep making the videos you love, while viewers often find ads disruptive and intrusive. Lately, however, things have taken a turn for the inconvenient, with reports suggesting YouTube might be taking a more aggressive stance against ad blockers.

Hand Holding Smartphone with Internet Access to YouTube — Photo by Szabó Viktor

Recent user experiences paint a frustrating picture. Reports indicate that some viewers with ad blockers are encountering issues such as videos automatically skipping to the end upon playback, or being stuck in endless buffering loops. Others describe sound issues, where the video plays with no audio until the volume slider is adjusted, only to be muted again shortly thereafter. While these issues might seem like glitches, the timing coincides with growing reports of YouTube’s new tactic.

There’s no official confirmation from YouTube, but the evidence suggests a deliberate strategy. Disabling videos or making them unplayable for ad blocker users would certainly incentivize them to turn off their blockers and view the ads that generate revenue for creators.

The Creator Conundrum

Many content creators rely on ad revenue to fund their work. Without that income, the quality and quantity of content we enjoy could be impacted. While ad blockers offer a solution for viewers seeking an uninterrupted experience, they can harm the creators who rely on ad revenue to keep making the content we love.

Finding a middle ground is ideal. Perhaps a less disruptive or intrusive ad format could be explored. For viewers who still prefer an ad-free experience, YouTube Premium offers a subscription option. Ultimately, the goal should be to create a sustainable ecosystem that benefits both creators and viewers.

What Can You Do?

If you’re experiencing playback issues with ad blockers, you can try temporarily disabling them to see if it resolves the problem. Keep in mind, that doing so will allow ads to play. Alternatively, consider supporting your favourite creators directly through features like YouTube channel memberships or Super Chat donations.

This situation is still developing, and it’s unclear what YouTube’s long-term strategy might be. One thing is certain: the war between ad blockers and monetization continues, and viewers are caught in the middle. Here’s hoping a solution emerges that allows us to enjoy great content without sacrificing a seamless viewing experience or the livelihood of content creators.

News, Social Media

Generative AI Coming to YouTube Creator Tools

September 22, 2023 Nur Jeevan Leave a comment

YouTube has revealed a bevvy of features and a new app that is being introduced to simplify the process for creators. However, the new features and apps are not just focused on simplifying but also assisting creators when it comes to ideation and even getting the most from their analytics.

Dream Screen for Shorts

YouTube Shorts has become a stronghold for viewership and engagement since its introduction in 2020. The spontaneous ideas and artistic takes on content have grown to over 70 billion daily views with more than 2 billion monthly active users. To elevate this creative ecosystem, YouTube is introducing some game-changing tools.

One such tool is the experimental “Dream Screen,” set to debut later this year. Dream Screen leverages AI to allow creators to conjure video or image backgrounds simply by typing a concept into a prompt. Fancy filming in outer space, wandering through an enchanted forest, or envisioning your pug driving you to school? Dream Screen can bring these imaginative settings to life, limited only by the creator’s imagination.

AI-Powered Insights and Beyond

Video creation involves much more than just editing and production. However, the data-heavy side of content creation needs far more time than creators can allocate to it. So, they are harnessing AI to offer creators more efficient tools for generating ideas and reaching broader audiences.

AI-Powered Insights: YouTube Studio will soon leverage generative AI to spark video ideas and draft outlines, helping creators brainstorm content that resonates with their audience.
Assistive Search in Creator Music: Finding the perfect soundtrack for your video will become effortless with assistive search in Creator Music. Simply describe your content, and AI will suggest suitable music options.
Automatic Dubbing with Aloud: To expand their audience reach globally, creators often need to dub their content into multiple languages. YouTube introduces “Aloud,” an AI-powered dubbing tool designed to help creators bridge language barriers and connect with diverse audiences.

YouTube AI Insights.width 800.format webp

In addition to these AI-powered features, YouTube is launching the YouTube Create app. The app is currently in beta for Android users in select markets. This app offers a range of video editing tools and access to a library of royalty-free music. It aims to simplify video production, enabling creators to focus on their creative vision.

Business, Computers, News

The HP ZBook Studio G9 is Here – The Ultimate Professional Mobile Workstation is Here!

July 19, 2022 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Creators are a unique bunch. They are very much like gamers. They require a lot of power in their PC for all kinds of things they need to do with their PC. They require specialized hardware to be in their PC for their work. Weirdly enough, in the modern era of work, they require all the power they need to be packed in a single portable slate of a device.

Creators are also rather distinct to gamers. While they want all the power in the world in their backpacks, they want subtlety as well. They want a laptop that can stay discreet and quiet even under load. They want something that looks rather regular compared to the over-the-top looks of a gaming PC. Instead of blacks and reds, they want silvers and whites.

While it all sounds impossible, HP seems to have figured something out. They have created and launched the ZBook Studio G9. On paper, it is one of the most powerful laptops made for the studio in the world. It also looks like a regular laptop with no extraordinary vents or gills for cooling purposes. You do not even have to attach it to anything for it to work with the beast lurking inside.

Source: HP
Source: HP
Source: HP
Source: HP
Source: HP

The beast inside is a 12^th generation Intel Core i9 (up to) paired with an NVIDIA RTX A5500 or an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti (up to). You also get up to 64GB of DDR5 RAM to take advantage of Intel’s 12^th generation Core processor speeds. To keep everything properly cooled is HP’s owne Vaportforce Thermal technology that works with new curved metal blades to dissipate enough heat to keep the ZBook Studio G9 working optimally.

Displaying Windows 1o Pro in all its glory, or whatever software you use for work, is a 16-inch display that they call HP DreamColor display. It offers 120Hz refresh rate and 16:10 aspect ratio. You also get WQXGA (up to 2,560 x 1,600 pixels) in resolution with the brilliant display, so you have more canvas to work with. The ZBook Studio G9 is also equipped with Bang & Olufsen tuned speakers so that you can quickly process audio data with the highest level of accuracy even when you are on-the-go.

All of this power is wrapped in an MIL-STD 810 certified body. That means it can handle simple spillages or even the occasional drop; accidents happen. The entire laptop also weighs 1.73 kg, which is not a lot of weight for a laptop that carries so much weight within its svelte body.

The HP ZBook Studio G9 will be available in Malaysia July onward with prices announced then as well. There are no colour options for the laptop, it only comes in silver. The bonus is that it is made entirely out of aluminium. If you want one, you have to contact your HP representative to get a quote. For more information on the ZBook Studio G9 though, you can visit their website.

Computers, Lifestyle, News

MSI’s Creator Z16 Notebook PC Lands in Malaysia

August 16, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

High-performance computing is the name of the game for MSI. For the longest time, they have been the name to beat too when it comes to high-performance gaming rigs. This includes their line of very powerful and very desirable gaming laptops.

Of late though, high-performance PCs are not just about playing games at high framerates and ultra-realistic graphics. It is also about creating contents that can live up to demands of the modern world. High-performance machines are not just about getting the most out of your games anymore, it is about making your workflow more effective and efficient.

Earlier in the year, MSI launched their new line of notebook PCs created for creators. The new line-up of creator notebook PCs combines the power of Intel’s latest and greatest with NVIDIA’s most powerful Ampere architecture for a performance like no other. At the same time, the svelte, stealth look of the notebook combined with fans designed to work as quietly as possible while maintaining optimal temperatures ensures that the MSI fits into any working environment.

Today, MSI introduces its new line-up of ‘made for creator’ notebooks in the Creator Z16. Aside from the familiar MSI logo, there is nothing to indicate the power that is hidden within its aluminium body. It even looks like a modern unassuming thin and light notebook PC.

Fire it up though and you get a completely different story from its external façade. The first thing that greets you is a brilliant 16-inch display that boasts 2,560 by 1,600 pixels (QHD) at a 16:10 aspect ratio. The 16-incher boasts 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 colour gamut with ΔE<2 in colour accuracy. That also means what you see is what you get on the MSI Creator Z16’s True Colour display. To get the best out of your creative mind, the 120Hz refresh rate display is a touch sensitive panel.

Of course, a high-resolution and fast display has to be matched by its powerful internals. The Creator Z16 boasts Intel’s latest 11^th Generation Core i7 that clocks at up to 4.6Ghz on turbo. The new generation CPU is also paired with a new generation NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 with Max-Q design. The combination of the two processing chips means that the Creator Z16 is perfect for any sort of creative work on-the-go. With up to 16GB in RAM, you can edit 8K HDR videos smoothly and quickly, very important when you have a short deadline, and you need to be moving about for your shoots. You do not even need to lug around an extra backup drive for in your haul, because the Creator Z16 comes with 1TB of NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD. The only downside is that you have no more excuses for not meeting your deadline.

Source: MSI
Source: MSI
Source: MSI
Source: MSI
Source: MSI

The MSI Creator Z 16 is now available for pre-order in Malaysia via MSI’s official Lazada Store and their own Online Store. There are no colour choices here, but you are getting a slate grey finish that looks ultra-professional. The MSI Creator Z16 will set you back MYR 11,999. More information on the MSI Creator Z16 is available from their website.

Computers, News

MSI Launches new 11th Generation Intel and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 30 series Laptops for Creators.

May 18, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

MSI is one of those names that you normally associate with high-performance computing especially in the field of gaming. Unlike their competitors, their entire line-up of PCs and laptops are focused on high-performance and high-demand computing solutions. Now, that also means creator-grade PCs.

Their single-minded drive to produce the best and most powerful solutions for all kinds of gaming and creation needs also pushes the brand to create the most desirable machines with the latest and most powerful innovations. For 2021, it means Intel’s latest 11^th Generation Core processors and NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 30 series. But power is just half the story, aesthetics rule too, in the modern world of creator-class rigs.

MSI Creator Z16 & M16

Source: MSI
Source: MSI
Source: MSI
Source: MSI

For creators, the display could be everything. When you are on-the-go though, sometimes it is a case of ‘beggars cannot be choosers’. Not in the case of the Creator class Z16 though.

You still get a large 16-inch display at 16:10 display factor. For a super smooth experience in your work and 3D work, the panel refreshes at 120Hz as well. Technically, 120Hz (Z16) on this IPS display will look stellar too, if you are thinking of gaming. It is a creator class PC though so the QHD+ resolution is displayed at 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut for the most colour accurate images possible. It is also a touchscreen for even more flexibilities on the move.

A display like this requires a lot of power from the rest of the hardware within the notebook though. This is where the 11^th Generation Intel Core i7 processor kicks in to ensure you have 120fps from your programs and final product. The powerful processor is paired with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 mobile GPU (RTX 1050 or RTX 1050 Ti for M16) to keep up with all sorts of 3D and rendering demands. With up to 64GB of configurable RAM, you would not be wanting for more power from this thin (16.8mm, Z16) and light (2.2kg) package.

There are two NVMe PCIe Gen4 M.2 SSD slots (1x PCIe Gen 3 M.2 SSD for M16) within the svelte and understated all-metal body too. That means you can even get up to 4TB of storage if you want with two 2TB SSDs. With Gen4 speeds too, your workflow will be smoother and quicker than ever with nearly no bottlenecks.

You still get two full USB Type-A ports alongside two Thunderbolt enabled USB Type-C (1x for M16) ports for the best-in-class expandibility in terms of I/O. Unfortunately, power still goes through a proprietary port via a 180W adapter (150W for M16). There is also a 3.5mm combo audio jack if you are into music production and audio engineering, but the four stereo speakers tuned by Dyneaudio should be powerful enough for audio monitoring and even enjoying music on the side.

MSI Creator 17

Source: MSI
Source: MSI
Source: MSI
Source: MSI

Working on-the-go also means that you might have to compromise on display size. But there is a way with MSI. The Creator 17 is that way to have no compromises whether or not you work on your desk, and even when you are working on-the-go.

First things first, you get the most powerful processor of the lot; an 11^th Generation Intel Core i9 processor. You can spec your desktop replacing machine with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (up to) if you want or need to. You can even spec your rig with up to 64GB of RAM if you really need.

Storage wise, you have one NVMe PCIe Gen4 slot for your ultra-fast working storage unit and another NVMe PCIe Gen3 M.2 SSD slot for whatever that you have already worked on. It is still fast too in today’s standards, if you need it to be your working drive still.

The internals powers Windows and other creator programmes that projects on a 17.3-inch Ultra HD 4K resolution Mini LED display. Just so you can do your best work even on-the-go, the Creator 17’s display is a HDR 1000 certified panel with 100% DCI-P3 colour gamut coverage. For your audio needs, you have two stereo speakers designed and tuned for Dynaudio for the best sound reproduction you can have in a notebook PC.

While all that might sound like a lot of heft in a notebook PC, the MSI Creator 17 weighs just 2.45kg. At 20.25mm in thickness as well, it is not what you would call a hefty item. It comes packing a 230W slim adapter to keep the package small and portable, just in case you need to get going quickly.

Android, iOS, Lifestyle, Mobile, News

#MYReels Simplifies Content Creation on Facebook and Instagram in Malaysia

March 23, 2021 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Instagram today just introduced a brand-new feature for content creators. They call it ‘Reels’ to help content creators make even more variety of contents on Instagram stories at least. Of course, short form contents on Instagram Stories can be shared across to Facebook as well.

Reels for Instagram will bring the long-awaited Instagram Music feature that has been available in other regions for a while now. But Reels is not just about taking the Music feature into Instagram Stories for Malaysia. It is also about helping content creators to create more varieties of contents on Instagram.

There are a few tools that comes with Reels too to make it a speedy content creator tool of choice for the many content creators on Instagram and Facebook. You can control your video speed for one, to make seamless and great looking slow-motion videos. You can record your videos now without even touching your smartphones too with a timer and countdown function now. You can add timed texts and stickers on selected parts of your video too now, instead of guessing and just hoping for the best. You can even align yourself up from previous videos to create a smooth, seamless transition in videos. Most of the time as well, on your smartphone, you are shooting free-handed so Instagram Reels can touch-up the videos to add extra stability and control over your short form videos.

Obviously, bringing Music feature into Instagram and Facebook in Malaysia is huge too. Creators in Malaysia now have access to an expanded licensed music library for their own contents on Facebook and Instagram. Users can also use music stickers on their Instagram and Facebook Stories and even easily add lyrics on their contents. It does not stop there too, you can now have music on your Facebook Profile.

If you think that Reels adds some ‘TikTok like’ functions and features to Instagram and Facebook, you may not be completely wrong. The rise of TikTok has empowered plenty of content creators to quickly make compelling short form contents that you can easily follow on their platform. TikTok has also appealed to plenty of Instagram and Facebook content creators thanks to the innovative tools that TitTok has provided for quick and seamless content creation. The introduction of Reels and its suite of content creation tool should bring some content creators back to Instagram and Facebook.

Reels is now available for Instagram and Facebook users in 50 regions. Malaysia is a part of those 50 countries with Reels introduced in Instagram and Facebook. Music is available in 90 countries so far and Malaysia is now part of those countries to have Music features available. Instagram and Facebook are two free apps available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Computers, News

The 2020 MSI Creator 17 With Mini LED – A World First

April 2, 2020 Darwin Sucipto Leave a comment

Creators, in a lot of sense, are like gamers. Before you deny, let us look at the facts. People in the creative industry, especially designers, videographers, photographers, or 3D artists need a powerful PC. The more power, the better. Gamers need a lot of power as well to get the best sort of experience in the gaming world – a sort of immersive escape from the real world.

Creators, especially ones that are in the 3D design space needs a lot of computing power to render 3D spaces and designs. Gamers play a lot of 3D games and need plenty of rendering power from their PC to render whatever that is coded into the game smoothly and beautifully, as intended by the designers. Conclusion? Gamers and creators are nearly the same people.

The difference is that gamers prefer a display that does not glare into their eyes. Colours, although important, are quite secondary. They prefer higher refresh rates than colour accuracy because that may affect their performance in an online multiplayer match up. Creators on the other hand prefer colour accuracy, quality and resolution over anything else. The more accurate the colours and resolution, the better. They need a true to life representation of colours to do their jobs.

That is the reason why creators need PCs with specialised monitors to work with. The old days of the creative industry was to get a gaming PC and hook it up to a colour accurate monitor. Not anymore.

With the new MSI Creator 17, you are now getting a display like no other. They call it a Mini LED display. The technology of which, we have not understood fully yet. What we know though is that it is supposedly better than OLED and IPS displays in terms of colour reproduction. It is DCI-P3 100% certified, which also means you get very accurate colours.

The 17.3-inch Mini LED display pushes up to 4K in resolution. It is also a Display HDR 1000 display with a peak brightness of 1,000 nits. That is bright; really bright. You might want to consider lowering the brightness in a dark room, else you get blind.

The MSI Creator 17 packs the power too with an NVIDIA GeForce 2080 SUPER (up to) and Intel’s 10^th Generation Core i7-107875H processor. You can choose to slot in two SSD’s within the notebook for an uninterrupted workflow. They did not mention how much RAM you can get it with, but we can safely assume that you can slot in at least a 32GB RAM stick into it.

For more information and pricing of the Creator series notebook PCs, you should contact MSI directly for a quote. If not, you can find more information on MSI’s products in their website.

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