Animoto
Animoto is a cloud-based video creation service that produces video from photos, video clips, and music into video slideshows,[2] and customized web-based presentations.[3] It is considered one of the scalable web applications that were developed from the early phases of cloud computing by companies with limited IT infrastructure.[4] It is available in both online and mobile platforms and offers both free and paid upgraded accounts.[5]
Screenshot of online Animoto video editor | |
Type | Private |
---|---|
Industry | Photo Slideshow Software |
Founded | August 2006 |
Founders | Jason Hsiao, Brad Jefferson, Stevie Clifton, Tom Clifton |
Headquarters | , |
Number of employees | 100 (2020)[1] |
Website | animoto |
Animoto is based in New York City with an office in San Francisco.[6]
Company history
Animoto was founded in August 2006 by Jason Hsiao, Brad Jefferson, Steve Clifton and Tom Clifton because of the poor video quality found on the internet.[7] Animoto’s patented Cinematic Artificial Intelligence technology allows users to turn photos, video clips and music into video slideshows.[8] Animoto’s founders include former producers of ABC, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central and the Documentary Group.[9]
Animoto launched a Facebook application during the 2008 SXSW Interactive Festival. The application experienced viral growth in April 2008. According to The New York Times, by mid-April, Animoto's Facebook application had nearly 750,000 people sign up in three days. At the peak, almost 25,000 people tried Animoto in a single hour.[10] Animoto decided to use Amazon's cloud computing servers in order to meet the growing number of subscribers.[11] The surge of its growth required it to increase its previous IT infrastructure 100-fold.[4] The use of cloud services allowed it to cope with the uptick in demand but also scale back services easily and cost-efficiently when demand slackened.[4] In June 2009, the Animoto launched an iPhone app, allowing users to create video using pictures on their mobile phone.[12]
By January 2013, the company had reached 6 million users and received a patent for its Cinematic Artificial Intelligence technology.[6] In July 2018, the company was hacked, leading to unauthorized access of Animoto user personal information.[13]
Awards
In 2009 Animoto received the Webby Award as Best Web Service & Application of the year.[14]
References
- "Animoto Company Profile". Craft. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
- Animoto raises $25M to invest in mobile video creation — Tech News and Analysis
- Esrock, Yale; Munoz, Richard; Neal, Douglas (2010). Cloud Revolution. Falls Church, VA: CSC. p. 118. ISBN 9780578051161.
- Baun, Christian; Kunze, Marcel; Nimis, Jens; Tai, Stefan (2011). Cloud Computing: Web-Based Dynamic IT Services. Heidelberg: Springer Science & Business Media. p. 63. ISBN 9783642209161.
- Covili, Jared; Provenzano, Nicholas (2015-10-09). Classroom in the Cloud: Innovative Ideas for Higher Level Learning. Corwin Press. ISBN 9781506301662.
- Animoto celebrates its fifth birthday with 6 million users
- Animoto: The No-Infrastructure Startup | Fast Company | Business + Innovation
- Summers, Nick (14 January 2013). "Reporter for The Next Web". The Next Web. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- Wilson, Sara (18 December 2008). "The Animoto Revolution: How this band of hipsters is taking photo sharing into the 21st century". Entrepreneur.com. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- Fitzgerald, Michael (May 5, 2008). "Cloud Computing: So You Don't Have to Stand Still". The New York Times. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
- Animoto: When scalability becomes a matter of prosperity or death - The Next Web
- Chang, Alexandra (19 December 2011). "Animoto's new mobile app promises easy video slideshow creation". MacWorld. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
- Whittaker, Zack (20 August 2018). "Animoto hack exposes personal information, location data". TechCrunch. Oath Inc. Retrieved 25 August 2018.
- "Animoto -- The Webby Awards". Retrieved 2020-04-16.