SmugMug is one of those rare Web 2.0 companies that has the temerity to charge for their photo-hosting and sharing service. A poster child among startups that are utilizing Amazon.com’s Web Services, SmugMug has built a reputation as a quirky but well-managed startup that is profitable and is said to have annual revenues of around $10 million a year.
How do they do it? By offering a dead simple and easy-to-use service, which starting today includes HD video-hosting as part of the power user and pro-package. SmugMug is going to allow you to upload and share HD videos via its service, which can be played back using QuickTime. The new higher-definition video support means that videos will be accessible over a plethora of devices, including PlayStation 3, the iPhone and the iPod. The maximum size of video support: 1280×720 video, which makes it easy to watch on those lush plasma screens in the living room.
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They will roll out a Flash version relatively soon. Up until recently, they were allowing limited MPEG-1 video playback support. The service isn’t cheap: $150 a year. The benefits include clips that last up to 5 minutes and can be uploaded. There is also a $60-a-year power user package that allows you to upload DVD-quality videos that are up to 2.5 minutes long.
Now this is not a YouTube-like video-sharing service; it is meant to be used more as a personal multimedia vault. From that perspective, SmugMug is worth the price. It is built for uploading memories, and sometimes those memories include stupid pet tricks.
Om: I have a video demo (and tour of the company) with SmugMug here: http://www.podtech.net/scobleshow/technology/1706/smugmug-brings-us-mugnormous-photos-and-videos
Oh sweet. thanks robert.
Wow, $150 seems pretty expensive with clips limited to 5mins. I’ve been using http://www.phanfare.com for a while for video/photo hosting. They’re service is only $50 per year and supports 10 min clips! Now its not HD (yet), but it is Flash at 1Mbps, and has 16:9 support. I think as a “personal multimedia vault” that’s a pretty good setup.
its not $150 that for the PRO version.
I been using smugmug for about 4 years and have over 5000 photos all in ORIGINAL size 10mp camera etc.
the printout service are perfect.
and been uploading my videos which look awesome better then ANYTHING ON THE WEB since Stage6 I think even better then stage 6
I pay around $49 a year for the poweruser tier