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No, but a player can. We have made some slight, yet significant changes to our player recently, and I thought I'd take a moment to share with you all exactly what is new and different.

1. We have branded our player. It's a subtle inclusion, but an important one. It means not only do people know it's our player, it is also a way back to our site just by clicking on it, no matter where it is embedded.

2. We have put our chat tool right in the player. Our previous version of the chat tool was as a widget that you had to add to your Overlay, until some bright idealist said "hey why not just always have it as an option in the player?" Now you can chat in any Overlay you watch, or create. Smart.

3. The player is now a study in grey. We had splashed some red in the previous version, but felt that shades of grey would make it that much more complimentary to any site it's embedded on.

4. What was previously know as the EDIT tab, is now a CREATE tab. Why? Because we want you to use your imagination and create stuff, not just edit it. And the tab to turn off the targets in an Overlay is now known as HIDE.

Et voilà! Our new and improved player. Oh and there's some stuff inside the player that ain't so bad either ...

As usual Amber dishes on current news in the online video world. This week on The OverView: 30 Rock on hulu, some spooktacular eCards, a chimp and his Segway, Overlay.TV chats with Kevin Brown aka Dot Com, and a lesson on how mics capture sound.

This week on The OverView, Amber shares some news on how to "video your vote," why we won't be getting mail from Ringo anymore, and some tips for how use audio in your videos. And oh yeah, some stuff about Overlay.TV

MTV2's self described "best in alternative and indie music" site Subterranean, kicked off it's live blogging from the CMJ Music Marathon, by writing a bit about their booth neighbours Overlay.TV. They talked with our CMJ booth babes, Keith and Faisal, about our tool and even got them to dish on few secrets ... [MORE]

We are pleased to announce to the hundred million plus users of MySpace that you can now showcase Overlay.TV on your MySpace profile, using the Overlay.TV MySpace application.  Host one Overlay, or create a list of Overlays that have been individually selected by you. You don’t even have to be an Overlay.TV member to use the application. Simply add the application and then add the URLs of any of Overlays you like found on Overlay.TV.If you would like to make a more personal connection to your MySpace community, then sign-up to Overlay.TV to create and post your own Overlays on your MySpace page. You know your community better than anyone else. Let your inner producer out, and soon you’ll find Overlay.TV fast becoming your favorite MySpace application. Only Overlay.TV gives you the flexibility to add rich interactive online video content to your profile just the way you want it. Continue reading »

This week on The OverView (click for all episodes) Amber Mac talks about The Webby Awards, Lisa Kudrow's new gig with Lexus, and shares some tips on how to make videos with or without a tripod, and of course all the latest at Overlay.TV. And don't forget to check out the official OverView page.

Today is Blog Action Day. This is an annual nonprofit event that aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters, to post about the same issue on the same day.... to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion. This year, the issue is Poverty.

Poverty isn't just debt, or not being able to afford a big house. Poverty is deep and pervasive. Learn about it at Make Poverty History and so many other places. Read the facts, like how 1.2 billion people in the world live in abject poverty, most of them women. Learn how more than 800 million people go to bed hungry and 50,000 people die every day from poverty-related causes. Find out how children from low-income families are at higher risk for health and learning problems in childhood, adolescence and adulthood. They are also less likely to achieve their full potential as contributors to Canadian society.

On the Blog Action Day site, it lists 88 ways to Take Action Against Poverty Right Now. Here's our Overlay.TV list of things you can do right now, in Ottawa, to help those in need.

Volunteer or donate to the Shepherds of Good Hope in Ottawa, while they provide support services such as the soup kitchen and grocery and clothing programs and the Shelter services for those who have nowhere else to go.

Volunteer with or donate to the Ottawa Mission, who housed over 1500 people in 2007 and served over 400,000 meals to those who would otherwise go hungry.

Work with the Alliance to End Homelessness while they work to ensure every Ottawa resident has an appropriate home.

Support the School Breakfast Program in Ottawa, so that children who came to school hungry can be fed and thus have a better chance at making a better life for themselves.

Volunteer at Community Health and Resource Centers in Ottawa, to help those in need.

Donate cash or food to the Ottawa Food Bank, who provides 40,000 people each month with emergency food assistance, 40% of whom are children.

It's so easy to make a massive difference in someone's life. $20 is a take out dinner for you, but it could mean warmth and shelter to someone else who would otherwise be out in the cold. Think about it - and take action.

Just wanted to get one of my fave spokespeople on the blog today for Blog Action Day.  We will be posting more throughout the day.  Together we can all make poverty history.