How to get videos to auto-play during slideshow? [Sitemap]

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PhotoDaddy

Aug-24-2008, 02:27 PM

Does anyone know if there is a way to get videos to play automatically during a slideshow of a gallery that contains a mix of photos and videos? It seems like a no-brainer feature given that it allows all of the album contents to be enjoyed without any extra clicks.

If not, who do I beg to add it as a feature request? It would really help some of my non tech-savvy relatives to enjoy the albums that we post.

Cheers,

Dean

docwalker

Aug-25-2008, 09:58 AM

I am afraid that Slideshows and videos have to stand alone at this time. I will let the programmer know that is something you want.

Travelingman2

Sep-03-2008, 08:52 PM

That would be a great feature to have the videos play durin slide show mode.:deal

SamirD

Sep-17-2008, 02:02 PM

I third. :D

everydaymemories

Sep-24-2008, 07:10 PM

I fourth the wish for videos to play in slideshows! Thanks!

Malte

Oct-08-2008, 01:04 PM

I fourth the wish for videos to play in slideshows! Thanks!

Me too! I would like to blur the line between photos and videos as much as possible. Eg. videos could play in the normal preview instead of only in lightbox. Thumbnails could play a couple of seconds on mouseover.

Malte

pave

Nov-12-2008, 02:56 PM

I fourth the wish for videos to play in slideshows! Thanks!
For me, this is the most wanted feature.

It's hard to believe, but G and Y! are currently winning in this field. You guys aren't going to let that happen any longer, are you? ;)

darryl

Dec-24-2008, 11:43 AM

So I hardly ever use the slideshow, but now that Phanfare has support for full-screen video in theirs, I thought I'd look at one of my galleries in Slideshow view (by clicking on the button, not embedded or anything fancy.)

Duuuuuuuuudes! This is so broken!

When I get to a video in my slideshow, it just gets stuck. No crappy preview frame, it doesn't skip over, it just sticks on the last photo before the video.

THIS IS BROKEN. I don't know why it's so hard to embed videos in a slideshow, but geez, if you can't do it, at least skip over them completely or show the preview frame.

Dang!

Malte

Dec-24-2008, 01:26 PM

When I get to a video in my slideshow, it just gets stuck. No crappy preview frame, it doesn't skip over, it just sticks on the last photo before the video.

I have had this happen too, I thought it was my Flash that was broken. Guess not.

Malte

docwalker

Dec-24-2008, 05:46 PM

Thanks for letting us know you want it.

Malte

Dec-25-2008, 12:13 PM

Thanks for letting us know you want it.

Doc, are you referring to the auto-play request or the bug that halts the slideshow when it comes to a video?

Malte

docwalker

Dec-25-2008, 03:38 PM

I was referring to the Slideshow as it was the last discussion. But it applies to both. We watch these threads and try to incorporate the suggestions made.

Malte

Dec-27-2008, 03:57 AM

I was referring to the Slideshow as it was the last discussion. But it applies to both. We watch these threads and try to incorporate the suggestions made.

But the fact that the slideshow halts when it comes to a video, that's considered a bug to you guys right?

Malte

docwalker

Dec-27-2008, 03:59 AM

Yes, It is on our list.

darryl

Jan-16-2009, 03:57 PM

Ugly hack involving a remotely hosted copy of the JW Player (http://www.longtailvideo.com/) and a custom-hacked RSS feed:

http://darryl.smugmug.com/gallery/7111927_hQujN

Hrm. I actually think that you can include photos too. Let me try that next.

So I intermixed a photo with videos:
http://darryl.smugmug.com/gallery/7112038_5pcs4

Unfortunately writing your own playlist (RSS feed) to feed the player is a big pain.

pave

Oct-12-2009, 04:04 PM

If anyone else is looking forward to this feature, please go and vote for it: http://smugmug.uservoice.com/pages/17723-smugmug/suggestions/314392-play-videos-when-in-slideshow-mode?ref=title

oceanboy

Nov-01-2009, 04:53 PM

Yes, It is on our list.Good to hear. Is it auto-play of videos in slideshow mode that is on the list?

Any update as to where on the list it is?

TBT

Nov-12-2009, 06:49 PM

Good to hear. Is it auto-play of videos in slideshow mode that is on the list?

Any update as to where on the list it is?

Hopefully it's moving up. Google just dropped their prices so now they are actually competitive with smugmug ($50 a year for 200gb).

I will be tempted to go back to Google if this stays on the backburner. As beautiful as the smugmug gallerys look... for the most part my folks just hit the slidshow button... a button that fails to show any of my videos...

docwalker

Nov-13-2009, 02:29 AM

TBT, send me a link to your site via email. We can see if we can figure out why the button is not appearing. I had a user the other day that was asking the same question and it turned out he was using CSS that was blocking it. There may be other reasons.

SamirD

Nov-13-2009, 04:46 AM

We can see if we can figure out why the button is not appearing.I don't think he's talking about the button not appearing, but videos not playing in the slideshow. :scratch

docwalker

Nov-13-2009, 04:48 AM

He sorry... too early. I read button and thought it was something else. I understand now.

SamirD

Nov-13-2009, 05:07 AM

He sorry... too early. I read button and thought it was something else. I understand now.No problem Doc. I'm not an early person either. :thumb

oceanboy

Nov-16-2009, 02:45 PM

Hi Doc,

Can you give us an update on the status of this? I'm a new SmugMugger and this is the #1 problem, in my view.

I take pictures and videos, upload them, and then can't give people links that that them easily see both.

(I'm trying a work-around of giving people links to a thumbnail view and telling them to be sure to navigate by using arrow keys, but any time you have to instruct people in how to view a web site, it's a big problem.)

BriBur

Nov-26-2009, 10:11 AM

This is the #1 issue that I have. Why can't I stitch together a slideshow that includes photos and videos? Picasa has had this for along time although the quality of the video is terrible.

The benefit of Picasa is that I can send them a link that plays a slideshow that hos both videos and stills in it. I just can't see my parents having the ability to browse around the site and find the videos so they can watch their grandkids - the technical overhead would be too much for them.

Also, at $160 per year for the professional series why can't my original videos be made available for download instead of some more heavily compressed, reduced frame-rate HD video?

Why I really want is two things:

1. A place that I share both high quality stills and high quality video with non-technical family where I can edit the ordering of the playlist. This needs to have simple one-click navigation and everything including the video needs to play in the order of the playlist so that no additional navigation is required by the viewer. This gives both editorial control and simplicity for the viewer.

2. A backup of my original files for both photos and videos simply by uploading them for albums not some separate workflow or cost. If the pro level cost $50 then I would be more accepting, but at $160 per year it should just work without separately needing SmugVault. I am uploading 24mbit 60fps video in AVCHD format and am getting back reduced framerate more heavily compressed videos which then means that I need to use separate workflow for them. Having to do the additional step means that I still need to think of video and photos separately. This really begs the question am I better off with a basic membership to SmugHub and another membership to Vimeo or Exposure Room for video given there isn't a seamless workflow for both? It is cheaper and I will original files for both photos and videos.

Where is the one-stop shop for Photos and Video? You guys are tantalizingly close... Please finish the job.

TBT

Apr-16-2010, 12:43 AM

Can we get an update on videos autoplaying in slide shows.

I've been waiting almost two years for this feature.

After 2 years my older viewers prefer to just hit slideshow missing every single movie.

Even for my younger, more tech savy viewers it is SO 1990's to have to watch a slideshow then go back and click on every single movie to then view the videos.

Is there any plan to add autoplay of video's in a slideshow in 2010?

If not. Consider this:

1. Every one of your video capable competitors support this.

2. You are missing a great marketing opportunity. A I distribute links to your beautiful galleries my feedback from my regular viewers (and your potential customers) are consistently it looks great but. Not one of those viewers have, to my knowledge become a smugmug member.

Given the positive reception smugmug had in it's blogs etc for video advances in DSLRs it's suprising that such a tech savy hosting services has, when it comes to videos, the worst slideshows of any photo/video sharing service.

Thanks in advance for any updates on this feature.

Malte

Apr-16-2010, 01:16 AM

TBT

Apr-18-2010, 08:39 AM

This would make some use cases of the Animoto feature redundant. Maybe that partnership is holding this feature back? :dunno

I agree though, would also like to hear something. This is high on my list too.

Malte

Thanks for the referal to Animoto. I just checked it out and it's way way overkill for what I need.

My workflow is:

Upload using "Stamp"
Review in Picasa "Star"/annotate good stuff
Upload to smugmug
Email smugmug gallery link to family and friends.

As a dad juggling two kids I don't have time for snazzy stuff. I just need a hosting services with a slideshow that just works.

Unfortunately I don't seem to be smugmugs core market as smugmug seems reluctant to add such "family friendly" features

Has anyone tried Phanfare lately?

TBT

Apr-26-2010, 08:43 PM

Comment: If the animoto partnership is causing smugmug to hold off on improving the slideshow..... what a big mistake. After paying $150 a year to get HD video online, I'm not going to pay for another service just to make a slideshow work the way it should.

With my current year running out I thrashed around looking for other services and ended up trying out phanfare.

It has some rough edges. Galleries are not as nice, and the picasa plugin is totally unusable (no video support)

However the slideshows w. video are great and the site will host HD video for much less than smugmug.

I've transfered all of my pictures to phanfare and will be shutting down my smugmug account soon.

Thanks for all the help here. I'm sorry to be leaving after two years but as I stated above I need a slideshow that "just works" with video and pictures. If smugmug ever decides to give some love to their slideshow I may smuggler everything back when/if that happens.

TBT

Apr-27-2010, 07:27 AM

Since the smugmug heros are no longer contributing to this thread, here's the official response I got from smugmug:

"I'm sorry that we were unable to create a slideshow that works with videos. Were you familiar with out integration with Animoto? It's not quite what you're asking for but, you may be interested in them if you like slideshows with video clips. While our integration makes it super easy to use with SmugMug there's no need to have a SmugMug account to Animoto. If you're interested in checking them out some information can be found on our help page: http://smugmug.com/help/animoto"

I wonder why videos in a slideshow are so hard for smugmug? Pehaps they need better programers, or maybe "Unable" has to do with limitations imposed by the animoto relationship?

The free version of Animoto only supports 5 second clips and a total of 30 second long slideshow. Almost unusable. To get "unlimited length" slide shows it's $30 a year (raising the smugmug cost to $180 to host HD videos with videos in slideshows). After spending that much you get a cludgy solution where your slideshow is a separate video in your gallery. Reading the blogs smugmug is head over heals in love with amimoto. Given how cludgy/clunky the solution is, this very confusing unless this is another attempt to woo the wedding photographer crowd with another product they can sell?

Malte

Apr-27-2010, 09:10 AM

SamirD

Apr-30-2010, 05:24 AM

If there's not a way to get the videos to play in the slideshow, is there a way to have the 'play' button overlay to show in the slideshow like it does on the thumbnails?

This way, when people see that and we have click2img enabled, they'll click on the image thinking the slideshow is stopped or something and then get sent to the full gallery and the video in the lightbox. :thumb