We are excited to announce the Beta 0.8 release of Magnify.net.

We've incorporated lots of feedback and suggestions from our beta testers and team in to this release, which includes a number of new services and features to kick off the new year.

Network Tools: (ADVANCED Tab in Site Admin Console)

Enables site owners to combine multiple channels into a network Simplifies administration of multiple channels Allows for consolidated advertising management New Search & Auto Search Focus: (CONTENT Tab in Site Admin Console)

Negative search allows you to block certain search results. Set global negatives (words that will never be returned in search results) Edit scheduled searches lets you fine tune scheduled searches New Content ADD/Delete bulk (CONTENT Tab in Site Admin Console)

Allows 'bulk' publish or or delete of clips, with a new check box for quick selection of items. Admin Email Notifications: (ACCOUNT Tab in Site Admin Console)

Set your site to notify you when any of the following events take place: A video has been marked as objectionable A number of user-submitted videos are waiting for your approval. Custom Home Page Features: (DESIGN Tab in Site Admin Console)

Now you can use drag and drop... [More]

It's the week before Christmas - and there are new Channels sprouting up like Candy Canes - ok, well you get the idea.

A few sites that are growing fast worth checking out this week:

First, want to see seeing incredibly interesting videos make sure to see Wayne Porter’s Second Life Videos . The concept behind Second Life is a 3-D virtual world; imagined, created and owned by its residents. Second Life Videos showcase videos created in Machinima, which is a form of filmmaking in 3-D. You quickly become mesmerized by how realistic they digital animation looks and how interesting the content behind it is. Say goodbye to MTV’s Real World, Second Life Videos will have you wanting to live in their Virtual World.

For a dose of Holiday Cheer - Tired of seeing your NFL team lose? (sorry Oakland, Detroit and Tampa Bay fans) Come check out the extraordinary women on NWFA Women’s Football Site. The NWFA is a all women’s league with 34 teams across the country. Believe me this isn’t sissy Powder Puff, flag football. Take a look for yourself, and getting ready for some Football!!!

And finally - Introducing The KIN....I know you might have already bou... [More]

December 4, 2006 Have Camera Phone? Yahoo and Reuters Want You to Work for Their News Service

By SAUL HANSELL Hoping to turn the millions of people with digital cameras and camera phones into photojournalists, Yahoo and Reuters are introducing a new effort to showcase photographs and video of news events submitted by the public.

Starting tomorrow, the photos and videos submitted will be placed throughout Reuters.com and Yahoo News, the most popular news Web site in the United States, according to comScore MediaMetrix. Reuters said that it would also start to distribute some of the submissions next year to the thousands of print, online and broadcast media outlets that subscribe to its news service. Reuters said it hoped to develop a service devoted entirely to user-submitted photographs and video.

“There is an ongoing demand for interesting and iconic images,” said Chris Ahearn, the president of the Reuters media group. He said the agency had always bought newsworthy pictures from individuals and part-time contributors known as stringers.

“This is looking out and saying, ‘What if everybody in the world were my stringers?’ ” Mr. Ahearn said.

The project is among the most ambitious efforts in what has become know... [More]

Ok, so how's the for diversity - Hell, Budism, and Britney. Really - it's been a busy week here.

Created by Steve Loyola (of BestWebbuys.com) Laura Foti Cohen, Hellish Hollidays launched - well - just in time for the most Magical Time of the Year. And juding from the traffic, there are than a few of you that think that the Holliday Season isn't all its cracked up to be. Check it out for yourself: www.HellishHolidays.com, and see what the folks at Poynter have to say about HH - and Mangify.net.

BTW - for those of you looking for some cool tips and tricks - Steve L has done some pretty cools stuff with CSS on Magnify - moving around menues and creating some pages you won't see anywhere else. he's promised to post some tips on the Discussion Boards, so keep a look out for Steve L's tips and tricks.

Next - for a seasonal palet cleanser... great traffic this week for the folks at buddhism.magnify.net. Intersting because they've posted just a few videos... but had many visitors. Clearly, the season requires the Buddah Monk Ringtones for sale on the site.

But, lest we forget. 'Tis the seaons to celebrate Britney! Our friend Rajiv Doshi continues ... [More]