Archive for January, 2007
New Status Display
After successfully logging-in to sevenload you’ll now see a new status display on the start page. We hope that by displaying only a single info box instead of three separate boxes will help to keep current user profile information easier to refer to.
I also wanted to get a chance to check out this box and used it on my own profile. In the adjacent photo you will see how many times your photos and videos have been called for with the according links to the particular area of your user account. In addition, we also will display your Inbox and sevenload friends there. A couple other changes from yesterday’s Coding Night, which include some cool things which we have done to enhance sevenload will also be elaborated on here soon.
All Photo Sizes
We’ve been asked several times now how someone can easily access different sizes for a particular photo. You can generally accomplish this by using the “use externally” button for photos (and videos) in order to embed them, but it is especially helpful to see the different embeddable sizes for yourself. In order for you to be able to do this we’ve introduced a new function “all sizes”. Just to get an idea of what the function looks like when you click on “all sizes”, here’s an example of what you will see:
Something’s going on at sevenload!
His comics have already been evidence of unbelievable ingenuity, but this time, Johannes aka Beetlebum has outdone even himself on hisToonblog (in German). Who is able to pick themselves out of this sevenload group?
Quelle und Copyright: Johannes Kretzschmar
Almost naturally there is also a pretty cool film of Johannes while he’s designing. keep it coming Johannes! 
Contest: Meet Nevio!
The new single from Nevio Passaro, “Amore per Sempre” is full of love. Valentine’s Day is only 2 weeks away and we’ve got something very special for you all: Tickets for Nevio’s 2007 Tour with a personal Meet & Greet with Nevio himself!
What you need to do in order to win this contest is to take a photo of your Valentine’s gift and upload it onto the sevenload Contest Special. So get tinkering, spraying and gluing-your creativity should know no bounds.
And just to tide you over until the big day, you can watch a special sneak peak of the Making of the Music Videos for “Amore per Sempre” on the Special page. Just don’t forget: Valentine’s Day is February 14th!
We’re looking for 7 cool developers (m/w)!
Yes, it’s true! We’re looking for 7 developers to strengthen our sevenload team. Take a look for yourself:
Still interested in the job after taking a peek at our tag cloud? Then send us your application including a brief description of yourself to jobs@sevenload.com!
*Right now we are only looking for German speaking applicants however, as time progresses, we may also have a need for English speaking ones.
7 new Channels on the Alpha Version
Television was yesterday! sevenload’s community is creating programs with the new sevenload Special Channels and the new sevenload TV has a total of 7 channels, all of which have formats that offer current information that’s broadcasted on a regular basis.
- Premium
Pure entertainment – get your kicks with shows like “Germany’s 11 Backstage” (in German) based on Germany’s National Football Team made into claymation figures and with the new portal to “sevenload twii” for Nintendo Wii™. - Contests
We’ll keep you on your toes with the chance to win prizes- check things out with our latest contests for Opel GT’aime and Office-Dummy! - Shows
Newsmagazines, cooking shows and Saturday night talk shows are what it’s all about- check out these ones to get to know some upcoming internet stars: Mindtime Show, Alex TV, Crazy Online Show, GFkf, and total cooking. (all formats are in German). - Initiatives
If you’re interested in supporting political or social causes, this is definitely the place for you to be – check out Change the World with Martin Varsavsky! - Reports and Interviews
Discover, learn and get informed- this is where you’ll find current reports, interviews and documentaries: Electric Reporter (some interviews are in English) or Buschka discovers Germany. - Lifestyle
A look at life from a new perspective – get a glimpse into some of life’s more important things, like work and free-time with JobTV24 and die Mobelithe-WG(living together). (both currently only available in German) - Sport
Play, relax and have fun while getting some exercise – and do it all while sitting in front of a computer monitor Check out the Golf Forum.(in German).
Coming soon – users will be able to subscribe to RSS Feeds in order to get directly hooked up with the sevenload Special Channels. The Special Channels will also be integrated on the sevenload twii site soon. sevenload TV is already being constantly enhanced– and more channels are being planned for the near future. And don’t forget, we’re still only in the “Alpha” version – just wait till we get to the Beta…
What are sevenload Specials?
sevenload Specials are a modern version of internet videos which are shown on various micro-sites. This gives our fabulous sevenload stars (straight out of our Community) a chance to flex their talent muscles. In addition, we will also have new area where different specialized channels are available and the different Specials can be sorted through by users based on their contents.
Creative Commons Liscense Integration
We’ve just made it possible for users to create a Creative Commons license for all of their own contents saved on sevenload. CC licenses currently need to be made for each photo and video individually. According license information can be found on the same page as the photo or video in a small box below it. This box will give users options to comfortably make selections for their own license:
The CC licenses will be allotted on the Creative Commons Server via an according API. The license information will be saved on sevenload as an additional tag for the photo/video together with a visible note about the license. Below are examples of what the Creative Commons license looks like in sidebar and tag form:
CC-License in the Sidebar
CC-License as a Tag
Selected contents can be found more easily in searches via the standardized tags which are created. We are also planning on restructuring the upload process so that a CC license can be created during the file’s upload.
sevenload on wii (Why wii love Wii)
Our team has recently been discussing how we could possibly put the enormous number of videos on sevenload onto a TV screen using relatively simple means. It was almost jokingly that we came across the idea of using the practical advantages the new Nintendo Wii (TM) offers. Because we know a lot of people decided to purchase the new console for Christmas, we figured that it could be a great means for us to put to use. In order for us to satisfy this new emerging market, sevenload has become the world’s first provider to create their own video portal:http://wii.sevenload.com
From the new portal we are able to select and present our Community’s Top Videos. So now, sevenload just might turn up in your own home on the TV, to be used for hours of fun and entertainment for friends and family alike. And though most of our features will be available on Wii, not all of them are yet. This is because it is just a first Alpha version, and some of our better known features had to be cut down. One example of this is that it is not yet possible to sign-in and rate or comment on particular videos. But don’t let that discourage you from trying it out! Whoever isn’t already hooked up with a Wii can still take a look at our customized portal by clicking on this link- http://wii.sevenload.com!
Release of Saddam Husseins Execution Video
The uncensored film which shows Saddam Hussein’s execution has recently polarized the media scene in Germany. Since the execution of Iraq’s ex-dictator’s, a full length video showing his death has begun circulating on the internet. The video was uploaded onto numerous online video platforms which made it available to the public, uncut and uncensored. Subsequently, some of the platform providers have decided to disable and prohibit the film in order to make access of this controversial yet historical documentation impossible.
Coverage of this topic turned up in the February issue of the Spiegel and sevenload was mentioned on pg. 174 as the video platform in Germany which is allowing access to the film. Within a couple of hours, the uncensored version of the film became one of the most viewed videos on the sevenload Community.
We asked ourselves, as employees of a growing media company: How far should we go with something like this? What should we do about it? And what is the right way to respond to it? After much deliberation, we came up with only one solution: We’ll provide our users with a media platform and its contents will be generated and adjusted by users from the Community.
At this point, we would like to emphasize that we agree with a statement made by Claudius Seidl on January 7, 2007 in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Sunday edition): “There is no better way to argue against capital punishment, than to become a witness to an execution.”
However, while we may personally be opposed to capital punishment, sevenload stands for open-mindedness, enlightenment and freedom of speech and thereby, believe that access to political information and contemporary historical documents should not be forbidden. It is exactly for this reason that we cannot and will not take measures in censoring this new form of public exposure and promulgation, even of such questionable media contents.
“Freedom of speech can be threatened in a variety of ways. Exercising freedom of speech can be circumscribed by bans, the threat of repression, sanctions or even by requiring prior permission be obtained (pre-censorship). This has such a significant impact that sometimes it is only the expressly desired opinions of government bodies which are permitted.” – – Quote taken from Wikipedia on Jan. 10, 2007 and translated from the German version Meinungsfreiheit (Freedom of speech)
The right to freedom of expression and opinion of user generated contents has recently been a very heated topic. Video platforms such as sevenload.com will likely be increasingly used for quick propagation of uncensored photo and video materials with regard to having a duty to enlighten the general public about particular topics. In this situation we feel that only the Community should be allowed to decide what is appropriate and therefore, do not wish to adjudicate this ourselves, but rather would like to ask our users the following question:
Is it appropriate to release Saddam Hussein’s execution video?
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Yes, it is appropriate.
Yes, but only to those of an appropriate age. (18+)
No, it is inappropriate.
Note: You will not be able to watch this video in its entirety, it will only play for approximately 1 minute.
sevenload Special: Electric Reporter
Mario Sixtus is one of Germany’s best known journalists who specializes in pieces about the internet and web culture. His articles about current and rousing topics can often be found in renowned print media. As of late, he has also decided to add video reports to his portfolio of work: his new format “Elektrischer Reporter” (Electric Reporter) is quickly becoming an integral part of the German speaking Blogsphere and information culture on the internet. Today, we’re proud to present and broadcast “ER” as a part of the new sevenload Special.
Link: sevenload.com
This modern form of news-casting gives you the chance to get to know a forward thinking internet mastermind, through regular episodes. Some of the topics covered will include themes about the economy and science (but filmed in a cult-like fashion) and you can be sure to see some interesting interviews in the upcoming episodes.
*(If you want to watch them in English, check out numbers 5, 7, 10, 13, 14 and 16, you will have to wait about 1 minute for the intro to get finished, but the main content is all in English).
