Michael Kimb Jones

Microsoft sent me this email today:

It’s time to tune in. We’d like you to try MSN’s new user-uploaded video service we’re calling Soapbox on MSN Video. Before we take the service to prime time we’re looking for beta testers who are into watching and uploading videos to help us put the service to the test.

Soapbox is Microsoft’s much anticipated YouTube rip off.

Is it any good? Not yet. As with any video site its the community that makes it work and Soapbox has no community, not yet anyway.

The question is, will Microsoft be able to pry users away from YouTube/MetaCafe/Etc?

If they can address these key issues they could pull it off:

• Speed videos should load a hell of a lot faster than on YouTube.
• Copyright admins removing video is not fun.
• Returns PAY users who upload videos that bring visitors to the site. Set up some kind of ad-sharing program.
• Easy make uploading easy, like Mac user easy.

Even with these in place its the quality of the content that will eventually “sell” the site. At the moment its full off re-hashed comedy videos and some un-amusing Microsoft stuff.

One interesting video I did find is below:

Video: Girl Photoshoped - beauty is distorted