AOL has quietly entered the user-gen video realm with the soft launch of UnCut Video beta, powered by VideoEgg. Tag line: “See it. Shoot it. Share it.” According to a contact at AOL, more features will go online during a second phase of beta while they work toward a late June/early July full launch. Mobile uploads, video search and tagging are among the phase two features. Also coming: integration with Aim Pages and AOL Journal. What’s up now is fairly bare bones as video sites go: upload from PC, web cam, camcorder; user ratings; comments. The player is Flash 8 and just about every form of video can be uploaded with the exception of MPEG-2, usually used for DVDs.
AOL or AIM screennames are required to add video or post comments, which means users agree to the terms of service. They also have to agree to an upload license and release agreement that sets out standards and gives AOL the right to use the content in other channels—which AOL has plans to do. The age limit for uploading is 18 and up. Unlike some services, AOL is working on preventive maintenance from the start. Uploads are limited to five minutes, in part for because of copyright. MPEG-2s aren’t accepted. The biggest difference between AOL and some of its predecessors may be this: No one at AOL will interfere editorially with posted content but third party LiveWorld has contracted to scan the site on a regular basis for illegal or offensive content that breaches the terms of service and to take action.