Account and Registration

Is BlogStar free and will it remain free?
Yes! For the moment BlogStar is 100% free.
Why can't I create an account?
If you have already signed up for BlogStar you cannot sign up again using the same e-mail address. If you are having other problems please contact our support team at support@BlogStar.com and let us know what error you are receiving.
How do I change my password?
Log in to BlogStar. Go to your profile, click on edit your account, and enter your new password.
I forgot my password? What do I do now?
Click on forgot your password link on the login page and enter your nickname and the email address you used to register, then click "Reset Password". Your new password will be emailed to you.
How do I change my email address?
Log in to BlogStar, Go to your profile, click on edit your account, enter your new email address and click "Update Account".
How do I stop receiving emails from BlogStar
Go to edit your account and uncheck the boxes in the email settings pane.
Can I have more than one BlogStar account?
Yes, you can have more than one BlogStar account. You cannot use the same username though.
Can I edit my username?
No, it is not possible to edit your username for the moment.
Are there rules and restrictions on netcasting live?
Yes. Please read our Terms of Use for details.
Is there an age restriction for users?
Yes, BlogStar is only available for users 14 years of age and older.
How do I delete my account?
Please send us an e-mail at support@BlogStar.com to process your request.

Features and Functions

Can I use BlogStar as a video conference tool, so that it can only be viewed by team members?
You cannot create private shows on BlogStar, everybody can see all of the shows anytime. Of course that does not mean you cannot use BlogStar as a conference tool.
Which Image formats does BlogStar support?
Compatible image types (file extensions) are .gif, .png and .jpg formats and the maximum image upload limit is 2MB. You can upload images into your profile or as a show picture. The "Upload image to your Library" function is not yet available.
How much storage space and bandwidth can I use on BlogStar?
There are currently no limits on storage space and bandwidth.
What other languages are supported on BlogStar chat?
BlogStar supports Unicode text encoding to use multilingual text.
If I have an BlogStar player on my website, will I be using my own bandwidth?
No, you can netcast shows without using up your own bandwidth resources.
Will my files ever be deleted?
As long as you don't upload illegal or copyrighted material, your files will always stay saved on our servers. Please read our copyright policies for details.
What is a video comment?
A video comment is recorded right into someone's profile or episode comment wall. It is posted and playable alongside traditional text comments. You can share your enthusiasm about the show or episode you just saw by video recording a comment to someone. If you do not have a webcam, you can still leave text comments.

Uploading

How do I upload a video?
Uploading your video to BlogStar couldn't be easier. Login to BlogStar, go to your library and Click Upload. Most file formats are accepted (AVI, MOV, FLV, MPEG, MP4 and MPG). Your Library also contains your entire video history on BlogStar. Your comments, past episodes and video profile messages are all saved there.
What kind of video can I upload?
You can upload just about any video you want. However, we cannot accept anything illegal or obscene including content that contains hate speech and/or violates decency laws and/or which we deem inappropriately offensive. BlogStar does not allow nudity or any form of pornography.
Which movie formats does BlogStar support?
For now you can upload AVI, MOV, FLV, MPEG, MP4 and MPG. We do have a size restriction of 200MB though.
What are the size limits on videos?
We do not have an upper limit on length of video, as long as your file is under 200MB.
Is there a limit on number of videos I can upload?
You can currently Upload as many videos as you like.
Where is my video after upload?
Once you upload a video, you will see it in your library in a folder called "video bin". You can create new folders in your library to organize your videos. When netcasting your show Live, you will find your videos in the online studio under the same tab.
I uploaded a file but I can't preview it.
Please allow some time for the uploaded video to be converted. The conversion can sometimes take as long as 15 minutes, depending on the size of the file you uploaded. If the problem persists, try uploading the file again.
Can I download shows and episodes from the site?
For the moment this feature is not available. But, we are working on implementing it in the nearby future. You can embed them anywhere though.

Watching and Sharing

How do I find cool shows or episodes to watch?
If you know what you're looking for, you can type keywords into the Search box at the top of every page. Or you can click on the Showguide tab to browse the shows and episodes. You can see the shows that are live now and watch them in real time as they are being netcasted or you can browse the previously netcasted shows and episodes. Shows with high-ratings or views are usually on today's top 11 shows.
When you find blogstars whose videos you like, you can subscribe to their upcoming shows or episodes, so that you're notified whenever their next netcast is about to go live.
Can I share my Show or episode on a blog or a webpage?
Yes, you can. You can use the Post/Embed button under the player to copy the codes and paste them in the HTML of wherever you want to embed the show. By clicking the envelope button on the player you can e-mail any show you like to your friends.
Can I only embed recorded shows in another webpage or also LIVE shows?
If you embed the BlogStar player before your show starts, your show will automatically start to netcast on the hour you scheduled it, and people can watch you LIVE outside of BlogStar.
How do I subscribe to shows?
You can subscribe to shows by clicking the tab on the showpage of the show you want to subscribe to.
There is a show live and I see a chat window, whom am I chatting with?
You are in the outside chat, chatting with users who are watching, with participants in the live videofeed, and with the director.

Creating Shows

What happens when I schedule a show and I am late in the studio?
You will have to reschedule your show for a later date or go right in to the studio. You can do this from the "edit episode" section.
I am in the online studio, how do I start a show?
From the moment you click the red "netcast" button under one of the preview windows, you are LIVE. To switch to other partipants, drag and drop them from the participant box into one of the 6 preview windows and click their red netcast button. To switch to a video clip drag and drop the clip to one of the preview windows and hit netcast.
What does preview mean?
When previewing a clip or a participant, you do not netcast them LIVE. As the director, you are the only person who can see the clip or webcam of the participant. You can use this tool to choose whether or not you want a person to participate live in your show.
I am in the online studio but I don't see my camera?
By clicking the settings button, you can choose your camera, make sure you have the right one configured.
A Live participant is harassing me, while I am netcasting my show.
You can BAN anyone from your live participants by clicking the bomb icon in the studio.
How many people can participate at the same time on my Show or episode in the Studio?
There is a limit of 10 participants per show. If you are super-blogstar, you have a limit of 20 participants.
How do I reduce the length of a video clip?
When the video is in a preview window, you can drag the trimmers (arrows on left and right) to set the points at only a particular segment of the video that you want to show.
Can I upload content when I am in the online studio?
No, all uploading is done from your library.
What are tags?
Tags are like keywords or labels that you add to your show or episode to make it easier to find later. You can tag you show or episode with "Rose likes flowers" and if you or someone types "rose" in the search box later, then your tagged show will appear in the search results.

Rankings and Levels

What are the Blogtar levels?
Levels indicate how active a Blogstar is. Everything you do on BlogStar counts toward your "Blogstar level", be it watching shows, directing, participating, or rating. A higher Blogstar level generally equates to special functions, like increased show length or more allowed live participants into your shows.
How do show rankings works?
Every day all shows and episodes are checked and high ratings, live views, and overall views count towards the determination of today's top 11 shows.

System Requirements

What are the system requirements to use BlogStar?
Internet connection (DSL or T1 connection recommended) plus a microphone and webcam if you intend to go live or record video comments. A modern CPU (like Intel Core 2 or AMD Athlon 64 X2) and a healthy amount of memory are also recommended but not required.
Do I need a broadband connection to use BlogStar?
It is not required but it is strongly recommended.
What kind of plug-ins should I have, and what browsers are supported?
In order to use BlogStar, please install Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher. Also, please use Firefox 1.5+/Opera 8.5+/Safari 3+/Internet Explorer 6+ on Windows, Firefox 1.5+/Safari 2+/Opera 8.5+ on Mac, Firefox 1.5+/Opera 8.5+ with Flash 9 on Linux and other systems.
What else should I check?
Please enable Javascript if you haven't already, and your browser security level should be set to "Medium" level or lower. If you use a pop-up or AD blocker, please disable it if you are still having problems. A Firewall may also block the connection depending on the setting. If you have a problem while using the video chat, close any other applications to free up more system resources.
The video screen is all black and does't show anything.
Please check the settings of your Flash plug-in.
  1. Right-click anywhere on the BlogStar flash interface.
  2. Choose "Settings...".
  3. A small dialog window will appear. Check "Allow" and "Remember" and the click "Close".
My video screen isn't showing anything but I hear audio noise.
There may be a conflict among the devices that are connected to your computer. If the driver software of your camera is working properly and recognized by your computer, then check to see if there's any conflict among the devices. In many cases, computers with TV tuners have this kind of problem.
  1. Right-click on "My Computer" and then choose "Properties".
  2. Click on the Hardware tab, then open "Device Manager".
  3. Look to see if there's any conflict among devices.
  4. Disable the device that is causing the trouble.
* You may also want to close some communication software, such as Windows NetMeeting.
What web cams are compatible with BlogStar?
Almost all webcams are compatible with BlogStar.

Other

I see RSS all over the site, what is it and how can I use it?
RSS is a webfeed that contains a summary of content from an associated website. To read RSS you need a feed reader or aggregator. By subscribing to the feed you will receive updates about BlogStar. Read more about RSS
How do I report an error?
If you consistently keep receiving and error message and cannot resolve the issue, please contact us at support@BlogStar.com so that we can help you find a solution for your problem.
Where can I report copyright infringements?
Please report any copyright infringements to copyright@BlogStar.com
How do I advertise on BlogStar?
Please contact our marketing team at marketing@BlogStar.com
How do I report inappropriate content?
Please report any inappropriate content to abuse@BlogStar.com
Somebody is harassing me, what can I do about it?
First of all, stop any form of contact with that person. Banning them from your shows, chat windows, and deleting any comments is possible. Ignoring the person is probably the best way to have that person stop harassing you. If this person continues with his actions or makes any threats please contact your local law enforcement immediately, and contact us at abuse@BlogStar.com so that we are aware of the situation and user.
How do I cancel my account?
You can cancel your account by emailing your username to support@BlogStar.com