Hey All,
Long time, no update. We have some nice major changes going on here at the Org. First off, there is now a new video option: Date Available. This option will allow you to enter all of a video’s information and keep it hidden from lists and searches until that date. This comes in handy when you want to premiere a video at a major convention but keep the video information hidden until after it actually premieres. You can enter the video information, upload the video, but then keep it under wraps until the con is under way or over. Once the date available has been reached, the video automatically becomes available for download.
The next big thing is that we are getting a new additional storage server. The current ~1TB server has about 150G of space left. We’ve been saving up donations for a while and we have ordered an additional 2TB storage server! In addition to keeping more “distribution” quality video files like we have so far, we will be able to allow limited “convention” quality files for use by convention coordinators.
Convention coordinators will have new tools to help them organize AMV contests and expositions, collect video entries, and even (hopefully) author a DVD for the con to use to view the contest videos. (If you happen to know how to author a simple DVD using Linux command-line tools, please contact me.) Coordinators will also be able to edit convention information as needed, verify video participation, and confirm winning vids. More info on this as it develops.
Finally, we are going to try a bit of extra benevolence to see how it goes: New members will no longer have a two week probation period from accessing local videos. This has been the most frequent negative email we get. If donations stay constant with the new freedom, the probation removal will likely be permanent. But, if bad things happen like we get an increase in members defaulting on their pledges, donations drop off, or bandwidth usage skyrockets, the two week probation may have to return.
I hope you guys enjoy the new toys. We couldn’t do it without you! Thanks again and have fun!!
Phade.






