Koinup
Encyclopedia
Koinup is an image
and video hosting
website
, web portal
and online community
for virtual worlds users. It is used both as a photo and video repository
platform and as tool to share virtual worlds screenshots, photographs and machinima
.
As of November 2008, it claimed to host more than 100 thousands stuffs uploaded by its members and reach about 100 thousands visitors monthly.
The two founders are Pierluigi Casolari and Edoardo Turelli, which serve respectively as CEO and Chief technical officer
. After a period in beta version, in the first half of 2007 Koinup upgraded the service to the official version.
The emphasis of the website is around the concept of “Share your Virtual Life”. Together with GamerDNA
and other websites, Koinup offer a social networking platform for all virtual world inhabitants
Some analysts are observing that social networks for online games are part of a new trend in the social network scenery.
Although, Koinup claim to be open to all virtual worlds and mmorpgs, it seems to be a sort of predilection for the areas of social worlds as Second Life
, IMVU
, The Sims Online
and OpenSimulator
and the major part of the members seems to upload contents from these worlds.
of photos and videos. Currently, Koinup doesn't support a premium account for paid users.
Uploaders have the chance to add tags
to their entries and create photo or videos galleries. They have also the chance to create widgets with their contents or share their Koinup stuffs outside the website by using a set of Gigya-powered sharing tools.
Koinup features also some tools aimed at creating a bridge between the virtual worlds and the website. These tools allow users to interact with their Koinup account, while they are in virtual worlds. Particularly, members can send postcards directly from the clients to their Koinup galleries, without leaving the virtual worlds.
One of the most popular features on the website is the Koinup Places Section. Koinup Places allow users to geotagging
virtual worlds locations and upload them on Koinup; the aim of the project is the creation of a user generated directory of the best places hosted in virtual worlds. According to a recent publications, it seems that more than 1000 virtual places have been already suggested by the Koinup Community.
between virtual worlds.
Right now, the virtual world scene is made up by numerous walled gardens which are stand-alone and miss to communicate each others. At the moment, there aren't standardized tools for move and share the Avatar
identity from a world to another, nor is there the chance to interact with more virtual worlds from a single dashboard. An open source "Education Grid" approach is in the pipeline (The Open File Formats Technology Working Group (OFF.TWG) is responsible for defining, evolving and maintaining open, platform-neutral file formats that enable learning objects and experiences to be seamlessly deployed across Immersive Education technology platforms "Create Once, Experience Everywhere"). One of the goals of Koinup is to allow users to manage with a single account both the contents and the friends they have in various virtual worlds.
Ovi Store
distribution channel on April 22, 2010.
Quoting their description:
Image hosting service
An image hosting service allows individuals to upload images to an Internet website. The image host will then store the image onto its server, and show the individual different types of code to allow others to view that image....
and video hosting
Video hosting service
A video hosting service allows individuals to upload video clips to an Internet website. The video host will then store the video on its server, and show the individual different types of code to allow others to view this video...
website
Website
A website, also written as Web site, web site, or simply site, is a collection of related web pages containing images, videos or other digital assets. A website is hosted on at least one web server, accessible via a network such as the Internet or a private local area network through an Internet...
, web portal
Web portal
A web portal or links page is a web site that functions as a point of access to information in the World Wide Web. A portal presents information from diverse sources in a unified way....
and online community
Online community
An online community is a virtual community that exists online and whose members enable its existence through taking part in membership ritual. An online community can take the form of an information system where anyone can post content, such as a Bulletin board system or one where only a restricted...
for virtual worlds users. It is used both as a photo and video repository
Repository (publishing)
A repository in publishing, and especially in academic publishing,is a real or virtual facility for the deposit of academic publications, such as academic journal articles....
platform and as tool to share virtual worlds screenshots, photographs and machinima
Machinima
Machinima is the use of real-time 3D computer graphics rendering engines to create a cinematic production. Most often, video games are used to generate the computer animation...
.
As of November 2008, it claimed to host more than 100 thousands stuffs uploaded by its members and reach about 100 thousands visitors monthly.
History
Koinup was developed by Koinup srl, a Brescia, Italy-based company created in July 2006.The two founders are Pierluigi Casolari and Edoardo Turelli, which serve respectively as CEO and Chief technical officer
Chief technical officer
A chief technology officer is an executive-level position in a company or other entity whose occupant is focused on scientific and technological issues within an organization....
. After a period in beta version, in the first half of 2007 Koinup upgraded the service to the official version.
The emphasis of the website is around the concept of “Share your Virtual Life”. Together with GamerDNA
GamerDNA
gamerDNA Inc. is a social media company for computer and video game players founded on 2006-09-21, acquired by Crispy Gamer in December 2009. The name is usually spelled with a lower case g: gamerDNA...
and other websites, Koinup offer a social networking platform for all virtual world inhabitants
Some analysts are observing that social networks for online games are part of a new trend in the social network scenery.
Although, Koinup claim to be open to all virtual worlds and mmorpgs, it seems to be a sort of predilection for the areas of social worlds as Second Life
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
, IMVU
IMVU
IMVU, Inc. is an online social entertainment destination in which members use 3D avatars to meet new people, chat, create, and play games created by Fydor Guthenschlag. IMVU has over 50 million registered users, 10 million unique visitors per month and three million monthly active users...
, The Sims Online
The Sims Online
The Sims Online was a massively multiplayer online variation on Maxis's highly popular computer game The Sims. It was published by Electronic Arts and released on December 17, 2002 for Microsoft Windows. In March 2007, EA announced that the product would be re-branded as EA-Land and major...
and OpenSimulator
OpenSimulator
OpenSimulator is an open-source server platform for hosting virtual worlds. It is compatible with the client for Second Life and can host alternative worlds with differing feature sets with multiple protocols.-Features:...
and the major part of the members seems to upload contents from these worlds.
Features
Koinup is a free service. Members can upload up to 1,5 gigabyteGigabyte
The gigabyte is a multiple of the unit byte for digital information storage. The prefix giga means 109 in the International System of Units , therefore 1 gigabyte is...
of photos and videos. Currently, Koinup doesn't support a premium account for paid users.
Uploaders have the chance to add tags
Tag (metadata)
In online computer systems terminology, a tag is a non-hierarchical keyword or term assigned to a piece of information . This kind of metadata helps describe an item and allows it to be found again by browsing or searching...
to their entries and create photo or videos galleries. They have also the chance to create widgets with their contents or share their Koinup stuffs outside the website by using a set of Gigya-powered sharing tools.
Koinup features also some tools aimed at creating a bridge between the virtual worlds and the website. These tools allow users to interact with their Koinup account, while they are in virtual worlds. Particularly, members can send postcards directly from the clients to their Koinup galleries, without leaving the virtual worlds.
One of the most popular features on the website is the Koinup Places Section. Koinup Places allow users to geotagging
GeoTagging
Geotagging is the process of adding geographical identification metadata to various media such as a geotagged photograph or video, websites, SMS messages, QR Codes or RSS feeds and is a form of geospatial metadata...
virtual worlds locations and upload them on Koinup; the aim of the project is the creation of a user generated directory of the best places hosted in virtual worlds. According to a recent publications, it seems that more than 1000 virtual places have been already suggested by the Koinup Community.
Interoperability
One of the main challenges faced by Koinup is the issue of interoperabilityInteroperability
Interoperability is a property referring to the ability of diverse systems and organizations to work together . The term is often used in a technical systems engineering sense, or alternatively in a broad sense, taking into account social, political, and organizational factors that impact system to...
between virtual worlds.
Right now, the virtual world scene is made up by numerous walled gardens which are stand-alone and miss to communicate each others. At the moment, there aren't standardized tools for move and share the Avatar
Avatar (computing)
In computing, an avatar is the graphical representation of the user or the user's alter ego or character. It may take either a three-dimensional form, as in games or virtual worlds, or a two-dimensional form as an icon in Internet forums and other online communities. It can also refer to a text...
identity from a world to another, nor is there the chance to interact with more virtual worlds from a single dashboard. An open source "Education Grid" approach is in the pipeline (The Open File Formats Technology Working Group (OFF.TWG) is responsible for defining, evolving and maintaining open, platform-neutral file formats that enable learning objects and experiences to be seamlessly deployed across Immersive Education technology platforms "Create Once, Experience Everywhere"). One of the goals of Koinup is to allow users to manage with a single account both the contents and the friends they have in various virtual worlds.
3D Wallpapers
Koinup published 3D Wallpapers application in NokiaNokia
Nokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki...
Ovi Store
Ovi (Nokia)
Ovi by Nokia is the brand for Nokia's Internet services. The Ovi services can be used from a mobile device, computer or via the web. Nokia focuses on five key service areas: Games, Maps, Media, Messaging and Music. Nokia's aim with Ovi is to include third party developers, such as operators and...
distribution channel on April 22, 2010.
Quoting their description:
3D Wallpapers brings the AMAZING Avatar Art Collections of Koinup to your Nokia phone! The application allows you to download[s] tons of wallpapers. You can set as wallpapers wonderful images of virtual worlds (Second Life, The Sims, World of Warcraft), avatars, city landscapes, fantasy images and breathtaking 3D artworks. Moreover, each month, the editors of 3D Wallpapers will add new categories and new photos for your enjoyment!