- VReel
Infobox Website
name = VReel
commercial = Yes
caption = VReelscreenshots
url = [http://beta.vreel.net/ http://beta.vreel.net/]
type =Video sharing
registration = Free
owner = Eoghan Hayes [ [http://blog.llnw.com/2008/06/limelight-networks-cdn-powers-vreel/ Limelight Networks comments from Vreel CEO Eoghan Hayes] ]author = Eoghan Hayes
launch date =31 May 2008
current status = Offline
current version = 1.0b
employees = 1VReel is a video sharing
Web site that allows users to upload, share and view high quality videos by use of a proprietaryvideo codec . The site is currently under construction in an effort to replace the now defunctStage6 site with a viable alternative. Using a similar style to the defunct site, VReel has received a licence fromDivX, Inc. to use their codec, and has signed an agreement with Limelight Networks, Inc. to host the Web site globally. Recent development issues include, the Web site's outsourced programming team failing to deliver a beta release of the project on time; the team has since been replaced.VReel was taken offline on August 3, 2008 [http://vreel.net/board/showthread.php?t=1371 Downtime: it's time to regroup - Vreel.net ] ] due to bandwidth theft, and to prepare for the Beta 2 launch. VReel then announced that the Web site would be back online on August 30th, but due to several reasons the new launch date has been postponed.
Early Development
VReel began under the title DivXIt.net. Drawing attention from the Internet community by means of social bookmarking Web sites such as
Digg , DivXIt.net's inbound traffic gained the attention of DivX, Inc., who immediately issued a cease and desist order against the Web site for copyright infringment [ [http://www.ghacks.net/2008/04/25/stage6-clone-divxit-becomes-vreel/ VReel article on GHacks.com] ] . Following this event, DivXIt staff responded to the order offering to sign the domain name over to DivX, Inc. in return for a free licence for the Web site [ [http://www.downloadsquad.com/2008/04/25/stage6-clone-divxit-becomes-vreel/ VReel article on Downloadsquad] ] . This arrangement was met, and the domain DivXIt has been transfered to DivX,Inc. [ [http://www.divxit.net DivXIt domain] ] .Having moved to a new domain (VReel.net), the site continues to steadily grow. A short time after interacting with DivX, VReel was contacted by Limelight Networks, and was offered a hosting plan on their network. [ [http://vreel.net/ The VReel homepage showing information on the hosting plane with LimeLight] ]
The original beta test of VReel.net was scheduled to begin on 18th May, with the full release occurring at the 31st of the same month. However on the 23rd, VReel released a statement in its updates forum stating that its development team was late in releasing the
beta version of the site, and that as of that date, they legally had 2 more days to deliver the beta release. This did not occur however, and the site's lead developer is currently in anarbitration process with the development team. Towards the end of the update, the lead developer states that a new development team was to be selected "in the next 5 days", a period which would end on the 27th. [ [http://vreel.net/board/showthread.php?t=5 VReel's latest update release] ]The site underwent an Open Beta test stage which started on
June 19 ,2008 after a delay of 4 days.Downtime
VReel servers went down on Saturday
31 May due to the recent fire at the The Planet data center, and returned on Wednesday4 June . [http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/06/01/the_planet_houston_data_center_fire/]Because of multiple leech sites stealing their bandwidth during the contruction of beta V2, and the extensive testing needed for new features, Vreel has gone temporarily gone offline.
Recent Development
Vreel's traffic share has continued to rise since its launch. Currently the site is taking in more than 500,000 unique hits per day and will continue to rise. [ [http://www.vreel.net The VReel news feed] ] .
On October 8th, Vreel announced a partnership with Lavasoft. Eoin stated "VReel.net, the home of high definition and high speed online video hastoday announced its software partnership with Lavasoft, for their highly acclaimed and award winning Ad-Aware anti-spyware software. [ [http://vreel.net/board/showthread.php?t=1938 October 8th Press Release] ]
In addition to the new partnership, Vreel has now started accepting applications for their 500 person closed beta. [ [http://vreel.net/board/showthread.php?t=1943 Oct 8th - Closed beta: applications now being accepted ] ] Users who want to join the beta, have to be members of the forum. If you wish to sign up to the beta, Eoin asks that you send a private message to him on the forums, containing the information below.
*Have you been involved in the closed or open beta testing of VReel v1? If so, what was your account name?
*Do you intend on uploading any videos to VReel? If so, please give a detailed description of what you intend on uploading.
*Are you involved with any blog/website which wishes to report on VReel? If so, please include a link to your website.
*What country do you currently reside in?Future Features in Beta 2
VReel Beta 2 will introduce several new features. These include expanded community features, premium accounts, a new web player being developed by Vreel, and two premium account types. In addition to the new features, Vreel has announced that they are completely removing Zango, permanently.
Vreel-Player
Vreel has been working on their own webplayer, based off of VLC, to replace DivX. With the new webplayer, Vreel will now natively support 4 formats.
*DivX5.x encoded video
*DivX6.x encoded video
*XviD1.x encoded video
*h.264 encoded videoNew Account Types
Vreel has overhauled their account system for V2, and the new information is as follows.
Free Accounts
*1gb upload limit
*1 Image upload (avatar)
*max 2 minute wait before watching a video (pre-roll advertisement)
*Can view videos up to 2gb in size
*Banner, Interstitial, Pre-roll and pop-up adverts
*Full Profile/Community featuresGold Accounts
*2gb upload limit
*No pop-up adverts
*Image gallery (unlimited image storage - 5meg max filesize per image)
*Option to set a video as "Private" (does not appear on search, requires either an invitation or a user-set password to watch video)
*Name displayed in gold, user icon turns gold
*Can view all videosPlatinum Accounts
*No advertisements at all
*Image gallery (unlimited image storage - 5meg max filesize per image)
*Music gallery (unlimited mp3 storage - 30meg max filesize per track)
*Private media options (video, images and music which require either an invite, or a password to view)
*custom user icon
*custom name colour
*100GB Embed-ready bandwidthReferences
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
