Apple announced Tuesday plans to unveil iOS 5 and “iCloud, Apple’s upcoming cloud services offering” at the keynote address for its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco next week. The company noted that Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who’s currently taking a break from day-to-day duties, and “a team of Apple executives” will be on-hand [...]

With the public beta of Office 365 now in full swing, many are looking at the benefits of moving to SharePoint online. Here’s a look at some of the benefits of going to the cloud.

Read full story…

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With the public beta of Office 365 now in full swing, many are looking at the benefits of moving to SharePoint online. Here’s a look at some of the benefits of going to the cloud.

Read full story...

The Drupal (news, site) open source web content management system is developed by thousands and used by millions of people around the world, powering a diverse range of websites. In this interview, I visit with Drupal’s creator, Dries Buytaert, who explains how Drupal evolved over the past ten years, out of a simple message board written in a college dormitory in Belgium. He discusses how his company, Acquia (news, site), has impacted his ability to focus on Drupal, weighs in on some of the new features in Drupal 7 and looks toward the next decade of progress.

Read full story…

Go to Source

The Drupal (news, site) open source web content management system is developed by thousands and used by millions of people around the world, powering a diverse range of websites. In this interview, I visit with Drupal’s creator, Dries Buytaert, who explains how Drupal evolved over the past ten years, out of a simple message board written in a college dormitory in Belgium. He discusses how his company, Acquia (news, site), has impacted his ability to focus on Drupal, weighs in on some of the new features in Drupal 7 and looks toward the next decade of progress.

Read full story...

 

YouTube, YouTube, YouTube. If you want to upload a video on the Internet, pretty much anyone will default to the web’s standard. And why shouldn’t they? YouTube has been the platform for viral sensations, from huge brands (Old Spice) to kid musicians (Justin Bieber).

The wisdom: “Go where the people are.” It makes YouTube tempting, especially as it continues to expand its features and reach. But there are some things that YouTube can’t do, or doesn’t do so well. There are plenty of other high-quality video platforms with competitive features or specialized markets.

We picked out seven of those options with a brief breakdown of what it is, and why you should use it. There are obviously more options out there — so let us know in the comments which video platforms you use and why.

---

The Contenders

---

1. Blip.tv

 

 

What it is: Online video with a strong slant toward webisodes, web series, and other serial content. Blip users rarely post one-off videos — in fact, Blip encourages regular content — so quality is usually pretty high.

Features: Supports most video formats and has 1 GB of storage per user. There is a pro account for more storage and better conversion rates. Any user can sign up for an advertising account that splits ad revenue 50/50. There’s a dashboard to let you plan your web series in advance, share your videos, and use analytics. Blip also distributes through most major video platforms (including YouTube), so maximizing reach is less of a concern.

Why Blip.tv?: Use it if you’re planning on starting a series and want a suite of tools to help you create, manage and promote your work.

2. Vimeo

 

 

What it is: Vimeo is the artsy cousin of YouTube. Home to many creative-types, Vimeo users usually aim for high-quality content over fails or cat clips.

Features: It comes with the standard suite, plus the ability to create and share videos to groups or channels. There’s also a video school to help you make better videos. A pro account will let you bump up your weekly upload capacity from 500 MB to 5 GB with unlimited HD uploads.

Why Vimeo?: It’s a solid platform if you feel more serious about video as creative outlet or are just looking for a more constructive community (i.e. less trolls, more feedback).

3. Flickr

 

 

What it is: Didn’t see this one coming, right? Flickr actually lets you upload videos — just click on the Explore tab. The team still sees photo uploading as its main game, but it is also “gently” building out its video abilities. It calls videos “long photos” and limits their length to just 90 seconds.

Features: Basic users can upload two 90-second videos a month. Pro users have unlimited access. Options are a little sparse at the moment, with basically the same feature set as Flickr’s photo uploads.

Why Flickr?: It may seem restrictive, but users willing to embrace short-form video will have access to Flickr’s massive and active user base. It may not be a great option for your home video collection, but video experiments abound. Flickr’s video space is going to keep growing.

4. Veoh

 

 

What it is: On the flip side, Veoh lets you upload enormously long videos. The site, much like a YouTube for long-form videos, actually doesn’t have a size restriction for uploading. It’s become a space for full-length films and short clips alike.

Features: Unlimited upload capacity and a smart UI make it easy and relatively quick to load huge files. While it may not have the same audience as YouTube, the lack of restrictions has attracted some top-quality videos and shows.

Why Veoh?: If you’re feeling hamstrung by size restrictions but still want a quality platform, Veoh is your best bet.

5. Viddler

 

 

What it is: Billed as a way to build your brand, Viddler is more geared to companies and corporations than homemade video.

Features: With the business focus comes business tools — Viddler lets users access analytics, customize their video players, distribute to iTunes, place comments within the video and even monetize with Viddler’s adworks tool.

Why Viddler?: If you’re a brand looking to up your video content, Viddler provides a stable starter kit with an array of support features.

6. DailyMotion

 

 

What it is: Organized more like a content aggregator, DailyMotion offers videos of varying length organized by category. There’s plenty of user-made videos, but professional, quality clips are more prominently featured.

Features: The site supports the most common video formats but restricts storage capacity to less than 150 MB and less than 20 minutes per video. The emphasis is on community, with the ability to add other users in a contact list and send feedback. Most high-powered features, like HD uploads, are locked behind pro accounts.

Why DailyMotion?: It’s not the most intuitive site for uploaders, but it’s easy for curious viewers to browse. If you can manage the backend, there’s a good chance your video will reach new eyes.

7. yfrog

 

 

What it is: Finally, the dark horse. Yfrog is better known as a photo-sharing site for Twitter, but it also has the capacity for video, with a healthy and growing selection.

Features: You can upload short videos and post to Twitter all from one place. You can also see what videos (or photos) your network has posted using the site. There isn’t much of a search function, instead relying on news feed-style postings as your friends upload videos.

Why yfrog?: Don’t care about video hosting? Want a more personal take on online video? Yfrog lets you get your videos up and out through your social network faster than any of the sites above. There may be fewer features, but it’s really about uniting your own social community around video.

---

Interested in more Video resources? Check out Mashable Explore, a new way to discover information on your favorite Mashable topics.

 

Image courtesy of Flickr, Genista

More About: blip.tv, dailymotion, flickr, social media, veoh, viddler, video, Vimeo, web video, yfrog, youtube

For more Video coverage:

• Follow Mashable Video on Twitter
• Become a Fan on Facebook
• Subscribe to the Video channel
• Download our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad

Go to Source

YouTube, YouTube, YouTube. If you want to upload a video on the Internet, pretty much anyone will default to the web’s standard. And why shouldn’t they? YouTube has been the platform for viral sensations, from huge brands (Old Spice) to kid musicians (Justin Bieber).

The wisdom: “Go where the people are.” It makes YouTube tempting, especially as it continues to expand its features and reach. But there are some things that YouTube can’t do, or doesn’t do so well. There are plenty of other high-quality video platforms with competitive features or specialized markets.

We picked out seven of those options with a brief breakdown of what it is, and why you should use it. There are obviously more options out there — so let us know in the comments which video platforms you use and why.

---

The Contenders

---

1. Blip.tv

What it is: Online video with a strong slant toward webisodes, web series, and other serial content. Blip users rarely post one-off videos — in fact, Blip encourages regular content — so quality is usually pretty high.

Features: Supports most video formats and has 1 GB of storage per user. There is a pro account for more storage and better conversion rates. Any user can sign up for an advertising account that splits ad revenue 50/50. There’s a dashboard to let you plan your web series in advance, share your videos, and use analytics. Blip also distributes through most major video platforms (including YouTube), so maximizing reach is less of a concern.

Why Blip.tv?: Use it if you’re planning on starting a series and want a suite of tools to help you create, manage and promote your work.

2. Vimeo

What it is: Vimeo is the artsy cousin of YouTube. Home to many creative-types, Vimeo users usually aim for high-quality content over fails or cat clips.

Features: It comes with the standard suite, plus the ability to create and share videos to groups or channels. There’s also a video school to help you make better videos. A pro account will let you bump up your weekly upload capacity from 500 MB to 5 GB with unlimited HD uploads.

Why Vimeo?: It’s a solid platform if you feel more serious about video as creative outlet or are just looking for a more constructive community (i.e. less trolls, more feedback).

3. Flickr

What it is: Didn’t see this one coming, right? Flickr actually lets you upload videos — just click on the Explore tab. The team still sees photo uploading as its main game, but it is also “gently” building out its video abilities. It calls videos “long photos” and limits their length to just 90 seconds.

Features: Basic users can upload two 90-second videos a month. Pro users have unlimited access. Options are a little sparse at the moment, with basically the same feature set as Flickr’s photo uploads.

Why Flickr?: It may seem restrictive, but users willing to embrace short-form video will have access to Flickr’s massive and active user base. It may not be a great option for your home video collection, but video experiments abound. Flickr’s video space is going to keep growing.

4. Veoh

What it is: On the flip side, Veoh lets you upload enormously long videos. The site, much like a YouTube for long-form videos, actually doesn’t have a size restriction for uploading. It’s become a space for full-length films and short clips alike.

Features: Unlimited upload capacity and a smart UI make it easy and relatively quick to load huge files. While it may not have the same audience as YouTube, the lack of restrictions has attracted some top-quality videos and shows.

Why Veoh?: If you’re feeling hamstrung by size restrictions but still want a quality platform, Veoh is your best bet.

5. Viddler

What it is: Billed as a way to build your brand, Viddler is more geared to companies and corporations than homemade video.

Features: With the business focus comes business tools — Viddler lets users access analytics, customize their video players, distribute to iTunes, place comments within the video and even monetize with Viddler’s adworks tool.

Why Viddler?: If you’re a brand looking to up your video content, Viddler provides a stable starter kit with an array of support features.

6. DailyMotion

What it is: Organized more like a content aggregator, DailyMotion offers videos of varying length organized by category. There’s plenty of user-made videos, but professional, quality clips are more prominently featured.

Features: The site supports the most common video formats but restricts storage capacity to less than 150 MB and less than 20 minutes per video. The emphasis is on community, with the ability to add other users in a contact list and send feedback. Most high-powered features, like HD uploads, are locked behind pro accounts.

Why DailyMotion?: It’s not the most intuitive site for uploaders, but it’s easy for curious viewers to browse. If you can manage the backend, there’s a good chance your video will reach new eyes.

7. yfrog

What it is: Finally, the dark horse. Yfrog is better known as a photo-sharing site for Twitter, but it also has the capacity for video, with a healthy and growing selection.

Features: You can upload short videos and post to Twitter all from one place. You can also see what videos (or photos) your network has posted using the site. There isn’t much of a search function, instead relying on news feed-style postings as your friends upload videos.

Why yfrog?: Don’t care about video hosting? Want a more personal take on online video? Yfrog lets you get your videos up and out through your social network faster than any of the sites above. There may be fewer features, but it’s really about uniting your own social community around video.

---

Interested in more Video resources? Check out Mashable Explore, a new way to discover information on your favorite Mashable topics.

Image courtesy of Flickr, Genista

More About: blip.tv, dailymotion, flickr, social media, veoh, viddler, video, Vimeo, web video, yfrog, youtube

For more Video coverage:

• Follow Mashable Video on Twitter
• Become a Fan on Facebook
• Subscribe to the Video channel
• Download our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad

Microsoft’s announcement Tuesday of its $8.5 billion acquisition of Skype elicited a broad spectrum of reactions–incredulity at the audacity of the deal and its price and, for some, concern that Microsoft’s bold move to claim a leadership position in Internet telephony heralds the end of Skype as we know it today. The fear is that the company will somehow screw Skype up, ending or limiting support for the service on non-Microsoft products.

But CEO Steve Ballmer says that’s not going to happen. Skype for iPhone and Android and Mac–those products aren’t going anywhere. Microsoft will continue to develop for those platforms, because it’s really in the company’s best interests to do so. “We will continue to invest in Skype on non-Microsoft client platforms,” Ballmer said during a conference call Tuesday.

Pressed on the issue later during a Q&A with reporters, Ballmer was even more adamant.

“I said it, I mean it: We will continue to support other platforms,” he replied. “We are one of the few companies that has the track record of doing this beforehand. We have done a lot of work bringing Office to the Mac and we’ve done a lot of great work with other Apple devices. Fundamental to the value proposition of communications is to reach people whether they’re on your device or not.”

Skype, then, will remain as cross-platform post-acquisition as it was prior. Welcome news for millions of Skype users concerned that Microsoft’s deal to acquire the telephony service meant its cross-platform days were over. 

Microsoft just spent $8.5 billion for Skype, its 170 million connected users, 600,000 new daily registrations and 40 percent year-over-year growth. It’s not going to purposely screw it up by suddenly limiting its appeal to Windows users.