U.K. moblog/vlog hosting company GNEE adds features, establishes U.S. service

Marc Vicario of U.K. moblog and video blog site GNEE has just established a U.S. site.

GNEE's most recent improvements are:  Increased file upload size from 150K to 500K, added monthly and weekly views of "Top Rated" and "Most Viewed" videos, added a "Save This File" function for easy downloading of video and added an "Enlarge" view function to allow viewing video at expanded size.

GNEE does not work directly with MMS files sent from a camera phone.  Here's what Mike says about that:

"At the moment the site is quite dependent upon getting video off the mobile, generally to a PC then uploading it to the site.  The other option is emailing it to the site.

"I realize both these methods can be somewhat obtuse for users especially in the US. However, once video is on the site, it is easy to browse through and download (to a computer).

"The other limitation at this time is the size and types of files.  As you probably know, most phones are very limited with the file size and type they allow, not to mention 'walled gardens' of the mobile carriers and limits on email attachments even in the UK. 

"All this greatly hampers the usability of my site, I know.

"All this said, users are managing to upload genuine camera phone clips, even though many are just mpegs that have been converted 3gp or mp4.  The problem with MMS is it's so expensive that few people are willing to use it.

"So far I have not invested time into developing for things like MMS because I believe the eventual convergence will be with the phones relying more computer related methods of transfer.  This is true of digital cameras, audio systems with mp3, conventional telecom with VOIP and even television with DVRs.

"The mobile is no different because that's where flexibility and true convergence lie.

"I think as the year plays out, more capable phones with more methods of easily transferring video will begin to turn the tide.  Eventually with so many leaks in the walls of the 'walled gardens' with content flowing back and forth to sites like mine, the walls will come down entirely."