VIDEO TIPS

The following provides tips and guidelines to help you enjoy the video clips on this site and to help you upload your own videos more quickly and easily.

Viewing Downloaded Clips

• The quality of video clip that you get depends on so many variables. But the most important variable is the speed of the data coming into your computer: the faster the connection, the better the video.
  
• If you have a good connection and the clip takes a long time to download, you may need to check on the following:
  
       - Close down any additional programs running on your computer.
       - Certain browsers do not handle videos well. If this is the case, use Internet Explorer to view the videos.
       - Disable any software that disallows pop up windows. Then view the video. The same is true
          for certain virus protection programs.
       - Some companies have software that prohibits employees from viewing streaming video
         at work. Watch at home.
   
• Please give the video time to buffer. This allows the system to "save up" the frames so the video will run smoothly. Your quality of Internet connection will control the level and length of the "starting and stopping." Let it go all the way through, and then play the video again.

Formatting

• We accept videos that are 3 minutes or shorter. But we recommend that they be 60 seconds or shorter. This will allow more people to be able to share their videos. All videos have a 100MB file size limit, although we recommend a 50 MB size.
  
• The shorter the video, the shorter the upload time. After 10 minutes of uploading, the browser will cut off a video. If this happens to you, you will need to shorten your video. This website does not have a dedicated server; therefore, there may be difficulties uploading at certain times of the day. If you are having trouble, contact our webmaster: webmaster@AnimalLoversUnited.com .
  
• Our system supports video files from most digital cameras, camcorders and cell phones in the following file formats: .mpg, .avi, .mpeg, .wmv, .dat, .3pg, .mp4, .asf, .mpeg4, .divx, .mov, anf .flv.
  
• To ensure the highest quality video, we recommend the following formatting for our Animal Lovers United site:
  
       - 60 second or shorter length
       - 50 MB file size
       - 30 frames per second
       - 320 X 240 resolution
       - MP3 audio
  

Creating Your Own Video

• It is so much fun to capture on video the precious daily antics of our pets and other critters of nature! Once you have made a movie on your cell, camcorder or digital camera, copy it to your computer. You can then either edit the movie or leave it alone. Besides Windows Movie Maker and iMovie, there are many good software programs on the Internet to help you edit.
  
• Once you're satisfied with your movie, save it on your computer under the "File" menu of your program.
  
• Sign in on our www.AnimalLoversUnited.com site by clicking onto the Member log-in button.
  
       - Click onto the "Video upload" button.
       - Fill out the video title; write a description of it; and then list helpful tag words to help people
          find your video through the site's search program. Identify the channels on which you would
          like your video listed (no more than three).
       - Finally, designate the name of your friend who referred you to our site. This is private. It
          is only used to determine who will win the $50 Finder's Fee for bringing the most people to
          compete in our Video contest. You may leave this section blank, if you wish. But your friend
          will not get credit. WE DO NOT EXPLOIT OR SELL NAMES. Click onto the continue button.
       - Locate your video on your browser and click onto the download button. It's as simple as that!