For years, you guys have been bugging me for a list of all the Extended Cut videos. And for years, I've had to give new members basically the same explanation.
A lot of people first join because they find one of my TechHelp videos on YouTube or here on my website that has an Extended Cut. They sign up, watch it, and then naturally ask, "Okay, where are the rest of them?"
Well... there really hasn't been a good answer to that.
Extended Cuts are attached to the individual TechHelp videos that have them, and not every TechHelp video has an Extended Cut. So I've always told people to browse the TechHelp videos they're interested in, and if there's an Extended Cut available, you'll see it there. That works, but it doesn't help someone who specifically wants to browse all of the Extended Cuts I've made over the years.
I decided to fix that today.
I've been trying to spend a little time once or twice a week making small improvements to the website. I can't record videos all day long, and there are a lot of little things like this that people have requested over the years. This one has probably been overdue for quite a while.
It gives you one place where you can browse all of the Extended Cuts currently on the site. You can sort the list by age, category, or description. The default is by age with the newest videos first, so it's also an easy way to check once in a while and see if there's a recent Extended Cut that you might have missed.
I also added a little Seen indicator. If you're logged in, you'll see a green check next to Extended Cuts that you've already viewed and a red X next to ones you haven't.
There's one important caveat with that feature, however. I haven't always kept page-view history indefinitely. Some of these Extended Cuts go back six years or more, while for most members I only have reliable viewing history going back roughly two or three years. So if an older video shows that you haven't seen it, that may not necessarily be accurate. You may have watched it years ago after that older viewing information was removed.
Going forward, I'm going to keep this particular viewing information around longer, so the Seen indicator should become increasingly useful. And even with the older history missing, it's still handy if you want to work your way down the list or periodically check the newest Extended Cuts to see what you've missed. Plus, if it's been a few years, it might be worth a re-watch.
I think it's a nice little addition to the site, and it's another example of something that came directly from member feedback. I'm trying to spend some of my non-recording time knocking out these little quality-of-life improvements that you guys have been asking for. If there's anything that you want to see added to the site, let me know. Remember, I don't use my website as a user, so I need your feedback to make things better.
After all, I can't record videos all day.
All recording and no fun programming makes Rick a dull boy. :)
Kevin settle down, we're not getting that crazy today, lol.
Bruce Vivash
@Reply 27 hours ago
That's a great addition
Jerry Fowler
@Reply 19 hours ago
Kevin, I don't thank God). But I just added if there was anything in the code vault, I haven't been able to automate that yet. I also store the Intros, summaries, transcripts, quizzes, and levels, and, if I have watched them, both website and YouTube URLs. I know there are other things I'm missing. Oh, and video type (TechHelp, Alex Vids, Quick Queries, and the new Video Quiz), whew. I would be happy to show screenshots.
Kevin Yip
@Reply 6 hours ago
Are any of the extended cuts on YouTube? If they are, you can playlist them.
Yeah, there is a playlist for Extended Cuts on YouTube, but you have to be a YouTube member to view that playlist.
There are really two separate membership systems going on. YouTube members can watch the material on YouTube, and once I know about them, I set them up with an account here on my website so they can watch here too.
Unfortunately, it doesn't work in reverse. If you're a member on my website, you have to watch the videos here. I can't just make someone a YouTube member. YouTube handles the billing and keeps that whole membership system inside their own ecosystem.
So yes, the playlist exists, but you've got to be a YouTube member to see it. I know it's a pain in the... beep.
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