Filed under: Fun, Photo, Podcasting, Productivity, Web services, Social Software, AOL, Beta, web 2.0
AOL launches BlueString personal media management service
AOL has announced the launch of BlueString, an online personal media management service that allows users to upload and store up to 5 GB of pictures, music, and videos all in one place. BlueString users can also create and manage content right on the Web site and even collaborate with others to make movies and multimedia shows. Move over iLife (Oh, and Flickr. And you too, YouTube). There's a new kid on the block.
Everyone uses media these days but, unfortunately, it usually ends up tossed all over the Internet. Say you've got a batch photos at Flickr, a few videos at YouTube and a bunch of podcasts at iTunes, plus all the stuff on your computer that you've been meaning to upload but can't figure out just where to put. Not only is it a pain in the neck to figure out what you've stored where, it's really a hassle for others to sort through your media to find interesting things. Sound familiar?
BlueString just might be the answer you've been looking for.
Anyone with an active email address (it doesn't have to be AOL address, either) can register for free at the site and upload up to 5 GB of content into a secure account. 5 GB not enough? Bump it up to 50 GB for $99 per year. Now you can access all your media from any computer with an Internet connection and a Web browser.
Once you've uploaded your personal LOLcat pictures and videos of your pet peacock doing the polka, use BlueString's media editing tool "String It" to create a mashup or movie. Then email your friends and invite them to add their own music or pictures. Like a scaled down version of iLife, you can even drag and drop images, reorder clips, and add some simple transitions.
All kidding aside, this is a terrifically useful tool for, say, siblings looking for a way to create a keepsake video for mom and dad using all the video and pictures they took at last month's 50th anniversary party. Business users can use String It to assemble a presentation and let remote workers participate in its creation. Later this fall, users will also be able to link directly other media sharing sites without having to upload content anywhere else.
It seems AOL (this blog's parent company) is trying to shed their old stodgy image, and this breakout Web site is a terrific step in that direction.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JP said 9:16PM on 9-17-2007
Tag: Squadvertisement
An interesting service though.
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Victor Agreda, Jr. said 9:44PM on 9-17-2007
Oh JP, if only we had been asked to blog about this. If only we had been given prior knowledge. If only we had access to the team who created this. If only... Well, TC has the video, the presentation, and the Q&A and expert panel, so you do the math.
Download Squad bloggers are independent, they blog about what is interesting. This, by your own admission, seems interesting.
I know, it's a lot easier to wait for the moment when we mention an AOL service and jump around causing a ruckus, pretending there are conspiracies where there are none. Human nature, I get it.
Anyway, the jury is out. This space Bluestring is moving into is crowded, although they bring some interesting items to the table. The biggest being "connect the dots"-- that is, they've taken a number of ideas from other places and actually put them together. Google hasn't done a great job of this (I mean, what's up with Jot? where's our PPT killer? whither Google Video?), and others (like Yahoo) seem more intent on incremental business deals...
The devil is in the details, and whether people will really engage with the product.
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robotrock said 7:49PM on 9-18-2007
I like the tool that automatically uploads whatever is added to the "my photos" or "my videos" folder. Slick.
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