SmugMug adds HD, iPod video sharing
updated 10:45 am EST, Fri December 7, 2007
SmugMug HD iPod Sharing
Online media sharing site SmugMug today rolled out a major upgrade that provides an edge over Flickr and other media sharing sites, including .Mac. The site is now one of the first to provide both photos as well as HD video: users can upload QuickTime-ready video up to 720p (1280x720) that can be played at native resolution. High-resolution videos are automatically downsampled for extra editions that will scale properly for DVD players and iPods; the iPhone and iPod touch are supported as well and now play video directly from the website, SmugMug says.
Podcasting is also a new addition for videos. Publicly shared video catalogs are turned into RSS feeds that can be imported into iTunes and other player software, ensuring that friends always have access to the latest video (including on supporting handhelds).
The page interface itself has also received an upgrade, says SmugMug. Both photo and video view windows now dynamically resize the main image to preserve as much quality as possible whether the user is on an iPhone or a large desktop display. More thumbnails are added to the left of the main content as size increase to give a clearer overview of a collection as browser size goes up.
SmugMug does not expect to charge extra for the new features, which are live today. Accounts start at $40 per year but include unlimited storage space and bandwidth. A pro service is also available that allows stock photographers and others to sell prints while collecting the majority of the revenue for themselves. [via TechCrunch]
