Introducing… Animoto Downloads
We’re really excited to be releasing this feature. In fact, we’re so excited that we’re totally partying huge right now by treating ourselves to a ton of Thai food and beers. You ask, “So how does that make this different from any other night at the Animoto office?” Well, yeah. I guess it doesn’t really. Except that we ordered extra spring rolls, and… the beers are pretty much more for stress management.
Starting today, you will be able to download any full-length Animoto video (at no additional cost). You can play it offline, upload it to YouTube, put it on your iPod or iPhone, or use it as a video projection for performances, concerts, presentations, weddings, conferences, and other events. Use your video however, whenever, and on whatever you want. And if you have an All-Access Pass, you can download any video of yours, including Video Shorts.
Animoto videos created from this point forward can be downloaded as .MP4 (H.264 Quicktime) format. We’ve done all the proper conversions in advance so that the file can be immediately downloaded. The file size is roughly 5 to 6 MBs per minute of video. Videos created prior to today will also be available for download but will need a few minutes to convert and re-render into a downloadable format.
Here’s our fancy-schamcy press release page: http://biz.animoto.com/pressrelease/121807.html
There were a ton of challenges we had to work through to make Downloads possible. Like how do we handle sudden spikes? How do we scale without hemorrhaging massive processing costs? What file format do we use that allows us to not only support all Mac & PC users, but portable and mobile devices? How we make sure we’re not rendering and storing several versions of the same media? How do we deal with older legacy videos? How do we make videos as high quality as possible but keep the files within a reasonable download size?
And as if that wasn’t enough, we still had yet another question to answer: What are we suppose to call these download things? A pretty daunting question for techies who don’t know the first thing about marketing except for what we read in that book “The Tipping Point” about East Village graffiti artists and Doc Marten shoes. Or was that Hush Puppies? Anyway. Originally, we were thinking of calling them “Downloadables”… and for about four and a half minutes we actually convinced ourselves we were total geniuses. “Downloadables” sound oh so fun and collectible, right? But Tom snapped us out of our delusions and made us realize that it’s way too hard to use, too cutesy/trying-too-hard, and just kinda lame in general. So we decided on Animoto Downloads. Pretty straight forward; nothing fancy. We agreed on trying to not be one of those companies that needlessly invents stupid verbiage where perfectly acceptable words already exist.
Anyway, enjoy your Downloads ’cause we need to get back to our insanely off-the-hook office celebration…
As we sit intensely glued to our computers.
With headphones on.
Pass the peanut sauce and party on.
Finally !!!
Thanks guys.
Keep the good work !
Time to buy the full access !!!!!
So coool. Great feature.
Wooohooo!
Just like a duck; calm on the surface, but below the water line paddling away furiously.
Thanks alot!
Love your service. Been waiting for the download!
Good luck!
Fantastic! What a Great Christmas Gift! Keep up the great work.
Yesterday evening, when remixing another movie, we suddenly and unexpectedly discovered this great new feature. For us it is “the end of grabbing tools”. We are so curious what will be next …
btw: call it “Downloadables” or “Downloads” – only keep your “street cred”, your originality. And eat more spring rolls.
This is a great feature that I have been waiting for. I have an older Ipod and I used a free program called videora to reformat my Animoto video after I downloaded it. Now it plays perfectly and I can show off my cool videos to my family and friends.
Eat, drink, and be merry guys; you deserve it.
So happy! Refer previous emails about the lovesex. All happening now baby!
I’ll find a way to get myself the All-Access Pass even if I dont have a credit card yet. Oh dang I want to feature Animoto on my website :/ Happy holidays!
Blasting new feature!
Merry christmas and a happy new year to the whole animoto-team. Take your time and enjoy some days off with your beloved.
Sebastian
Hush Puppies!
Nice work Animoto. Keep the new features coming!
Thanks for this!!
I’ve just registered today, right after testing the app for 10 minutes. It’s so sweet!
I’m loving it, and you saved my life… I’ve just put together a music video for a new year party tomorrow. Thanks!! Keep up the good work!!
Thanks, guys! This makes animoto more feature-complete and usable for me. Congratulations, and happy New Year!
WOO HOO!!! Thank you
Thanks a lot for this long time awaited faboulous service!
Keep up the good work, I LOVE IT!!!
I am just starting to use the free videos but am really excited about being able to download when I upgrade. You guy’s have done an awesome job so far.
Dudes…I wish I could have bought the beers for ya. Well…at least the first 2 cases.
Animoto downloads seriously ROCK!!!
Muito bom!… Bom mesmo! Já estava até desanimado de usufruir do Animoto, mas agora… Estou hiper-feliz.. Valeu!