Multimedia:Domain research/Upload

How do similar websites work? What could we learn from them?

Criteria

Besides a general evaluation, we try to answer the following questions:

What is the minimum information required to upload a file?
Is multiple upload possible? If so, is there a limit?
Do they provide large batch upload tools? Are there unofficial such tools?
Do they care at all about copyright? What do they do to avoid copyright violations?
Do they allow/facilitate mobile uploads?
How do they categorize content? (if at all)
How do they rate content? (if at all)
Do they have a review workflow?
Do they facilitate reuse?

Some general indicators also help contextualize information:

number of users (at least one media file)
number of active users (TBD) (may be difficult to get and/or make figures consistent)
total number of media files
growth rate (total number of files / time since creation, brought down to 1 day)

Flickr

Description: Flickr is an image and video hosting website, web services suite, and online community platform. In addition to being a popular website for users to share personal photographs, the service is widely used by bloggers as a photo repository. As of October 2009, it claims to host more than 4 billion images. (source)

General usability: Large invitation to upload photos & videos, both for logged-in and new users (who are prompted to create an account). The interface is simple enough, with good discoverability and many invitations displayed only at the appropriate time. The drop-down menu toolbar imitates desktop applications menus.

Upload

Minimum information required to upload a file: Only the actual file.

Additional information: Privacy settings are proposed on the upload page. It is possible to show more upload options to specify safety level, content type etc. Once the upload is finished, the user can either be done with it, or add a description as they are prompted to.

Multiple upload: It is possible to upload multiple files at the same time using the default web interface? No limit with the normal (Flash) uploader. Six items at a time with the basic uploader.

Mobile uploads: They allow and facilitate uploads from mobile devices [1]. It is done by e-mailing a special address. They also provide an official iPhone application including an upload feature; other third-party companies provide applications for other platforms (e.g. Blackberry).

Batch upload tools: Flickr offers two desktop uploaders, one for Windows and one for Mac. On the same page you find informations about third-party upload tool plug-ins: FlickrExport, a plugin for iPhoto and Aperture (Mac), and jUploadr, which is cross-platform (Windows, Linux and Mac) and cross-site (Flickr and Zooomr). It is also possibile to upload by email.

Review

Copyright: Users are asked not to upload "anything that isn't [theirs]" (Flickr Community Guidelines). Flickr is not really interested in copyright complaints; Commons must maintain a list blacklist of Flickr users making false or erroneous copyright claims.

Content classification: Users can tag their photos and videos. They can decide if other users can, too (friends or family, contacts, every Flickr user). Uploaders may also use personal sets & collections to organize their works, or add their pictures to topical groups.

Content rating: Any registered user can add a picture that isn't theirs to their "favorites". Some groups also serve as a rating system.

Review workflow: For accounts: Flickr staff review people's uploads and flag the account according to whether the owner is able to moderate their content. For content: registered users can "flag" a picture and ask Flickr to review its "safety level"

Impact & reuse

Statistics & metrics: Everyone can see on photo pages how many times a photo was viewed. Pro Users can also see referrers information for the last 28 days.

Reuse: It is generally possible to view photos at different sizes and download them. Original size is available only for photos by Pro Users. Users can "prevent" (make it more difficult for) others to download their photos, or they can limit the possibility to other users, contacts, friends or family. It is also possible to select a Creative Commons license.; They also facilitate reuse of their pictures elsewhere on the web b y providing code snippets to be inserted in web pages. Registered users can also use the one-click "blog this" feature to use a picture on their blog (if the author has not disabled the feature).

Other notes and resources

YouTube

Description: YouTube is a video sharing website on which users can upload and share videos. [...] The company is based in San Bruno, California, and uses Adobe Flash Video technology to display a wide variety of user-generated video content, including movie clips, TV clips, and music videos, as well as amateur content such as video blogging and short original videos. Most of the content on YouTube has been uploaded by individuals, although media corporations including CBS, the BBC, UMG and other organizations offer some of their material via the site, as part of the YouTube partnership program. Unregistered users can watch the videos, while registered users are permitted to upload an unlimited number of videos. (source)

General usability: Fairly visible invitation to "add a video"

Upload

Minimum information required to upload a file: Any registered users can upload a file. OGV files are ok. Only the file is needed to upload.

Additional information: After the upload, the user is prompted to add a title (suggested from the file name), a description, tags and a category. It is also possible to add additional information such as geotagging later. After the first video is uploaded, YouTube sends an e-mail to the user to help them go further and discover features.

Multiple upload: It is possible to upload multiple files at the same time using the default web interface. After a file has been selected for upload, another "add a video" field appears. It is also possible to use the "multi-upload plugin" and to provide a list of videos that will be uploaded in the background while the user does something else.

Mobile uploads: It is possible to upload videos via their mobile gateway or by e-mail.

Batch upload tools: None known of.

Review

Copyright: There is a warning on the upload page, telling people they shouldn't upload videos for which they don't own the copyright.

Content classification: The uploader may specify a general category (People, Education, etc.) and free tags. YouTube also displays "Similar videos" next to each video.

Content rating: Registered users can give a rating from 1 to 5 stars. The rating is systematically displayed with each video, including in search results.

Review workflow: Registered users may "flag" videos for review by YouTube staff.

Impact & reuse

Statistics & metrics: Any user can see video views numbers and its evolution with time. They also provide anonymized statistics about the sex, age and location of viewers.

Reuse: Youtube's terms of service legally prohibit downloading and reuse outside of youtube. Practically, they have not yet been known to enforce this agreement but downloading must be accomplished via third-party tools which periodically break as the Youtube site operation changes. However, Youtube encourages the embedding of videos they host in third party websites. They provide code snippets that can be customized (color of the player, size of the video, etc.) with immediate preview

Other notes and resources

Facebook

Description: Facebook is a social networking website where users can add friends and send them messages, and update their personal profiles to notify friends about themselves. (source)

General usability: It is pretty straightforward to upload pictures through the 'Photos' > 'Upload photos' path.

Upload

Minimum information required to upload a file: Only the actual file

Additional information: caption, tags, people

Multiple upload: Not when sharing a picture on one's wall. However, a user may create an album and then upload several pictures at once using a Java interface. The "simple" uploader allows to select up to 5 files to be uploaded together.

Mobile uploads: It is possible to upload photos from mobile devices via e-mail upload.

Batch upload tools: None official. Some 3rd-party apps exist.

Review

Copyright: When uploading through the Java interface, the user implicitely states that he has the right to upload the picture(s). It is then possible to "report a photo" if it is inappropriate. It it infringes the author's copyright, the author may file an automated DMCA notice.

Content classification: A user may create albums.

Content rating: Facebook provides a general "like" feature.

Review workflow: "Report this photo" (see 'copyright').

Impact & reuse

Statistics & metrics: None.

Reuse: No.

Other notes and resources

Fotopedia

Description: Fotopedia claims to be "the first collaborative photo encyclopedia."

General usability: dark background, very "photo" look. Photos are the real stars of the website. Smooth slideshows. No prominent invitation to participate to the general website (it doesn't seem to be possible), but there is an invitation to add pictures on each topic page. However, a large emphasis is put on adding existing pictures from Fotopedia or Flickr, and the "upload from computer" link is carefully hidden. General appearance is clean and pretty, but general usability is not-so-good.

Upload

Minimum information required to upload a file: The file (from Flickr or one's computer) + the page it should be added to.

Additional information: None.

Multiple upload: No.

Mobile uploads: No.

Batch upload tools: Yes, available for MacOS & Windows only.

Review

Copyright: Users can specify a default license in their preferences (All rights reserved, PD & all 6 CC licenses). The default license is CC-BY-NC.

Content classification: Upload is possible only in relation to a page / article.

Content rating: Registered users can "vote up" or "vote down" for a picture to be added to a page. Fotopedia puts a huge emphasis on the quality of their content.

Review workflow: Any user may file an "abuse report" for inappropriate content or copyright violation.

Impact & reuse

Statistics & metrics: No.

Reuse: Download is possible. They offer a "widget editor" to customize embedded pictures and then provide the associated HTML code snippet.

Other notes and resources

When a page doesn't already exist, the user is prompted to create it. Fotopedia imports the first sentences of the Wikipedia article of the same name and asks the user to confirm that the subject is the same.

Picasa Web Albums

Description: Picasa Web Albums (PWA) is a photo sharing web site from Google, often compared to Flickr and similar sites. It allows users with accounts at Google to store and share 1 GB of photos for free. (source)

General usability: Users need a Google account. The main way to upload pictures to Picasa Web Albums is to use the Picasa desktop application. clarity, explorability, invitation to participate

Upload

Minimum information required to upload a file: Google account + album

Additional information: Tags

Multiple upload: Up to 5 files at once.

Mobile uploads: Yes, mainly by e-mail [2].

Batch upload tools: Picasa (Windows, Linux, MacOS)

Review

Copyright: No proactive check.

Content classification: Users add pictures to their own albums.

Content rating: Like/unlike for registered users

Review workflow: Anyone can "report abuse" via a link on the image page

Impact & reuse

Statistics & metrics: None known of.

Reuse: They provide a "link to this photo" widget that allows to link to or embed the picture in a web page.

Other notes and resources

Photobucket

Description: Photobucket is an image hosting, video hosting, slideshow creation and photo sharing website. It is usually used for personal photographic albums, remote storage of avatars displayed on internet forums, and storage of videos (source)

General usability: The main page contains many invitations to join and participate.

Upload

Minimum information required to upload a file: the file

Additional information: tags, description

Multiple upload: "Bulk uploader" as a Java applet

Mobile uploads: Possible by e-mail or using a dedicated commercial applications depending on the service provider & phone used (example).

Batch upload tools: None known of.

Review

Copyright: No proactive check

Content classification: User albums, title, description, tags

Content rating: ?

Review workflow: "Report inappropriate content" wizard

Impact & reuse

Statistics & metrics: Basic users can see statistics for 5 photos/videos; Pro users have unlimited stats.

Reuse: direct link, code snippet, derivative products such as mugs, cards, etc.

Other notes and resources

Dailymotion

Description: (source)

General usability: clarity, explorability, invitation to participate

Upload

Minimum information required to upload a file: only the actual file? additional information?

Additional information: information that is recommended to be added before or after the upload

Multiple upload: is it possible to upload multiple files at the same time using the default web interface? If so, is there a limit?

Mobile uploads: Do they allow/facilitate uploads from mobile devices? (PDAs, cell phones, smart phones, etc.)

Batch upload tools: official? unofficial? cross-platforms?

Review

Copyright: What do they do to avoid copyright violations? Do they care at all?

Content classification: How do they categorize content? (if at all)

Content rating: Is it possible to rate the content? Who can do it??'

Review workflow: Do they have a review workflow? For accounts? content?

Impact & reuse

Statistics & metrics: what kind of statistics do they provide? To whom?

Reuse: Do they encourage / facilitate reuse of their content? If so, how?

Other notes and resources

Panoramio

Description: Panoramio is a geolocation-oriented photo sharing website. Currently, some of the photos uploaded to the site can be accessed as a layer in Google Earth and Google Maps, with new photos being added at the end of every month. The site's goal is to allow Google Earth users to learn more about a given area by viewing the photos that other users have taken at that place. (source)

General usability: The main page features a big invitation to join.

Upload

Minimum information required to upload a file: Only the actual file.

Additional information: geotagging, title, tags, description

Multiple upload: yes, up to 10 at once (selection file by file)

Mobile uploads: No.

Batch upload tools: "Panoramio doesn't support batch uploads. Each photo must be individually uploaded to ensure the best quality and geolocation accuracy." [3]

Review

Copyright: No proactive check.

Content classification: Classification is mainly done by location

Content rating: Registered users can flag as "the best" picture.

Review workflow: Registered users can report as "inappropriate or offensive"

Impact & reuse

Statistics & metrics: Anyone can see the number of page views for each image.

Reuse: No.

Other notes and resources

Internet Archive

Description: The Internet Archive (IA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building and maintaining a free and openly accessible online digital library, including an archive of the World Wide Web. (source)

General usability: There is an invitation to upload but it isn't that prominent.

Upload

Minimum information required to upload a file: The file, title, description, keywords

Additional information: author, Creative Commons license

Multiple upload: yes, using the Flash in-browser uploader

Mobile uploads: No.

Batch upload tools: For batch upload, the Internet Archive provides an FTP server. This solution is considered "old" and doesn't work very well, and maintenance and improvements are given low priority. It is an official alternative, not deprecated, but not exactly encouraged either.; From the website, you log in, follow the upload link, and click the FTP alternative. You pick a name for your new "item". The item name will become part of the URL, so it must be unique. Then you are given the login details to the FTP server. You can use any FTP client. When you have logged in, there is a subdirectory having the name of your new item. You can upload one or more files to this subdirectory. When you are finished, you click a submit link on the website. The Internet Archive now moves the contents from the FTP subdirectory to its internal storage architecture. This can take some time if there were many files. After this, you arrive at a web form where you add metadata for your new item, including optional descriptions for each uploaded file.; When uploading the Wikipedia visitor statistics logfiles to the Internet Archive, one such "item" was created for each month (e.g. December 2007). Each item contained some 1440 files, totaling tens of gigabytes. The biggest problem was that FTP transfer bandwidth appeared to be limited to 3.5 megabits per second per session. Nobody could explain why this was so. By opening three parallel FTP sessions, a total of 10 megabits per second was reached, but the upload for each item took in the range of 24 hours. It felt like a reliable but clunky "web 1.0" solution, still waiting to be replaced by a modernized web 2.0 batch uploader.

There is also a batch upload tool called CcPublisher provided by Creative Commons for Windows, Mac and Linux platforms. It is not under active development any more.

Review

Copyright: They ask to "contribute books, audio, and video files that [users] have the right to share."

Content classification: with tags

Content rating: Registered users can write reviews of collections.

Review workflow: None known of.

Impact & reuse

Statistics & metrics: None known of.

Reuse: None known of.

Other notes and resources

Kongregate Collabs

Description: (source)

General usability: clarity, explorability, invitation to participate

Upload

Minimum information required to upload a file: only the actual file? additional information?

Additional information: information that is recommended to be added before or after the upload

Multiple upload: is it possible to upload multiple files at the same time using the default web interface? If so, is there a limit?

Mobile uploads: Do they allow/facilitate uploads from mobile devices? (PDAs, cell phones, smart phones, etc.)

Batch upload tools: official? unofficial? cross-platforms?

Review

Copyright: What do they do to avoid copyright violations? Do they care at all?

Content classification: How do they categorize content? (if at all)

Content rating: Is it possible to rate the content? Who can do it??'

Review workflow: Do they have a review workflow? For accounts? content?

Impact & reuse

Statistics & metrics: what kind of statistics do they provide? To whom?

Reuse: Do they encourage / facilitate reuse of their content? If so, how?

Other notes and resources