J-Q.com

JQ on Technology
For the most recent articles, see the Latest Stories listings on the home page
For analysis of recent tech news and reviews visit JQ's Blog.

   
Untitled Document
 
 
 
Untitled Document
 
 
 
Untitled Document
 
 
For JQ's speaking engagements, click here.
 
 
 

Notable Contenders

 

Looking to carve out their own niche in the burgeoning user supported video marketplace are dozens of smaller sites. Many are targeted at specific interest groups, however, we avoided the many mature sites and those touting objectionable material in order to highlight notable specialized sites.

Blip.tv (blip.tv)

Synopsis: A sharing site for (somewhat) more serious minded vloggers and bloggers, Blip.tv has a promising design and is easy to use for visitors and members alike. The site encourages would-be directors to create more polished, independently produced shows in the hopes of gaining a toehold in the market. However, users can expect to encounter the odd technical glitch and lost page.

Blip.tv, looking to feature more than talking heads recorded on Web cams, hosts many independently created programs, including the Fearless Cooking show.

Two additional aspects of Blip.tv make it noteworthy: clips and shows can be uploaded to the site directly from Windows Movie Maker and members can store video in a high-quality, non-streaming avi format at the site.

Logline : For vloggers who have something to say.

See Also: Clipshack, Vimeo (www.vimeo.com)

Clipshack.com ( www.clipshack.com )

Synopsis : Purely a me-too play, Clipshack is a simple upload-and-share video site. One differentiating factor is its emphasis on Web cam, talking-head commentaries, which include movie and book reviews from users. In spite of such efforts, however, it generally fails to distinguish itself from other sharing sites.

Bottom Line : Copycat sharing site.

See Also : Blip.tv, Vimeo

Juicecaster.com ( www.juicecaster.com )

Synopsis: Ostensibly, this site's raison d'être is to make it easier to blast video and pictures directly from a cell phone to blogs and social networking sites. It is supposed to work with a Web site or pages on services such as MySpace, Xanga, and Blogger, via a small free application called MediaBox that you download to a phone.

Unfortunately, neophytes will find the site and its Mediabox software difficult to use. The absence of proper instructions and help pages, not to mention an upfront list of compatible phones, means this site is best suited for teens who live on their cell phones and don't ask such silly questions.

Logline : If you have to ask how it works, you don't get it.

See Also: Veeker.com ( www.veeker.com )

Ourmedia (www.ourmedia.org)

Synopsis : A not-for-profit, open source media sharing site, Ourmedia is designed to help users create and share their multimedia productions. Supported by volunteers and like-minded organizations, such as the Internet Archive, Ourmedia gives members of the site as much storage space as they want with the proviso that they make their efforts public. Unfortunately, while touting a noble purpose, Ourmedia hasn't yet created a compelling reason to join.

Logline: “Open source” doesn't necessarily mean “different” or “interesting.”

Stickam.com ( www.stickam.com )

Synopsis : An example of a site strictly focused on the social networking aspect of online video, Stickam does more than let you post your video profundities on the Web. It also allows members to put up live Web cam feeds to satisfy exhibitionist cravings (remember CuSeeMe?). Many of the videos are, shall we say, flirtatious, but even more are of blank-faced members just working on their computers.

Logline : For the Me Bored generation.

See also: Myheavy.com ( www.myheavy.com )

   
J-Q.com
Copyright © 1994 - 2010 John R. Quain. All rights reserved.
Co-designed by BlueTrendy.com