PRICING AND GETTING STARTED:

How much does Storyplanet cost, can I use it for free?
The current beta version of Storyplanet is completely free. However in the future we will start charging a low monthly subscription to use more advanced features.

Can I use Storyplanet for my business or is it only personal?
Our service is designed to be used by individuals like photographers, journalists, artists, activists and others how believe in changing the world through intelligent storytelling. But our Storyplanet can perfectly well be used by organizations and businesses also. We believe that creating great enterprise products starts with creating software and services that excite individuals.

How many users can I have on one account?
The Storyplanet account is personal and should only be used by you. Sharing one account with multiple users could give you trouble like different users overwriting each others work and messing up content and stories. Having said that, we don't monitor if more individuals are using one account,

How do I set up an account?
Currently Storyplanet is in "private beta" which means we let select storytellers use and test our service. You can apply to become a beta tester on the homepage or by going here: http://www.storyplanet.com/contact

How do I change my user name and password?
After you lock in you click "account" in the upper right corner. In the account info you can change the name and password.

How do I close my account?
After you lock in you click "account" in the upper right corner. At the bottom of the account info page there is a button called "close account".

What if I forgot my user name or password?
Click the button "Forgot user name or password" in the bottom of the Sign In window. If you know your user name you can put this in, if not you can use the email, that you used when you signed up for Storyplanet. If you are not sure about the email either, you can contract us on contact+support@storyplanet.com

 

UPLOADING AND IMPORTING CONTENT:

Can I import content directly from Flickr, YouTube and other online archives?
Not currently. But this is feature will be included in one of the coming versions of Storyplanet.

Are there limits to how much content I can store on Storyplanet?
Currently there is no limit to your personal library. When we introduce a premium subscription based version of Storyplanet, the free version will have limited storage space.

Are there any restrictions in the file size I can upload?
There is a maximum file size of 800mb for video, 100mb for audio and 2mb for images. If you want to upload larger files like long videos you will have to cut the content into smaller chunks and reassemble them after import.

Should I convert photos, video and audio before importing?
When you import content it is first uploaded over the Internet to our server, and then converted to a format that is optimal for editing and streaming online. The larger the original files the longer the upload and conversion will take. So it is a good idea to do a some converting and compression, if you are familar with this - however you don't want to make your beautiful footage pixelated and ugly by compressing too much. Generally we recommend the following formats:
Video - Format: H264, Mov or Avi / Size: 1280x720 pixels / Framerate: 24 / Audio:  44.1Khz, 16bit.
Audio - Format: Mp3, Aiff or Avi / Kbps: 64/ Khz: 44.1 / Sample size: 16bit.
Photo - Format: Jpeg, PNG or Gif / Size: 1280x720 pixels (or which ever dimensions fit inside a 1280x720 pixel box).

Will my photos, video and audio loose quality when I import?
After you upload the content will be converted on our server. In order to make content stream online there will usually be a slight loss in quality compared to what you see when watching DVD's and listening to CD's offline. But high quality is key to us, and we are constantly working on improving the quality of our content. Currently video will be converted to H.264 playing with 24 frames a second, 450 kilo bits per second and with a maximum size of 1280x720 (HD size). Audio will be converted to Mp3 playing with 64 kilo bits per second, and photos will be kept in Jpeg or PNG with a maximum size of 1280x720 (HD size). We think this is pretty good.

My the audio and picture on my video is out of sync, what should I do?
All video on Storyplanet playback with 24 frames per second. So before you import make sure that your original footage runs at this framerate. This should solve any sync problems.

What kind of information (metadata) can I add to my content?
When you import content you will be asked to fill out a form with basic information on who made the content, what it is about, special rectrictions and how to contact you. You can also select a Creative Commons License that informs other storytellers about how they are allowed to use your content. We are currently working on implementing more advanced metadata and allowing you to keep the metadata embedded on the files you upload (like EXIF data from Jpeg photos).

 

EDITING AND PRODUCING STORIES:

Can Storyplanet replace editing software like Finalcut, ProTools and Photoshop?
At this stage Storyplanet is still an infant. But we are growing up fast and before long we will be able to replace traditional desktop software in some cases. However our goal is not to replace special software like Finalcut for video editing and ProTools for audio editing - we want to be a last step in the production process where you assemble your content and add all the interactive things that makes it a true online project. Secondly since all your content are kept online, it will be easier for you to collaborate with other Storytellers using our services. However most storytellers will still be doing the advanced editing in speciality software, and then exporting and uploading to Storyplanet - but for the simple and speedy tasks like doing a audio-slideshow Storyplanet will be the only tool you need.

What is the difference between Storyplanet and a video editor?
Storyplanet is designed to do interactive projects where users can click on interactive content like motion graphics and hotspots - and choose their own way through stories with chapters and buttons. A video editor is designed to do linear movies, where you watch a story from beginning to end without using your mouse and engaging.

Can I use Storyplanet to build an entire website?
Currently no. When we add more advanced widgets and features in the future you could in theory do a simple website with Storyplanet. However this is not what Storyplanet is designed for, and you will most likely run into limitations pretty quickly. We recommend that you combine Storyplanet with software like Wordpress, MovableType or Dreamweaver to create a page structure where you embed your Storyplanet stories. In the future we will launch several plugins that will make this easier to do.

Can I run ads on Storyplanet?
We are currently not supporting direct integration with any advertising services, but you can manually insert photo and video ads to the timeline of your story. In addition to this you can embed your story on any blog or web page and display ads around the story. 



What is objects?
Objects are items that appear on top of the video or photos in your story (on on top of a black gap between content). Objects can appear either as the story plays underneath, or by pausing the playback. They can be as simple as a button enabling the user to jump to another chapter, to an entire page template with photos, text and interactivity. You can build new objects by combining existing objects like text boxes, buttons and hotspots. We currently have a limited number of objects but you will soon have a wide range to play with - we are also exploring how to let outside developers create their own objects.

Can I divide my story into chapters?
Yes you can. Inside the story editor you simple click the chapter drop down menu located over the timeline. You can give chapters a custom name, and have the story stop or continue when it reaches a chapter.

What is sub chapters?
Sub chapters enable you to link to a specific point on the timeline of your story, to make a direct link to this space. Lets say you have a chapter with 20 images and you want the user to be able to navigate and jump to each image using the main navigation, this is one way to use sub chapters.



Can I add transitions, titles and effects to my stories?
Absolutely. You can fade between visuals and audio by clicking the little "envelope" tool at the right of the timeline layers. Titles are added by creating an overlay with a text box, you can also add special, customized titles by creating and importing an image (jpeg, png or gif). We are not big believers in flashy effects as we think it diverts attention away from the content. However in the future we will be adding some essential effects like "typewriter" for text and "ken burns" for visuals. If you need advanced effects you can also create them in software like Adobe After Effects and Apple Shake, and import into Storyplanet as video.



Can I adjust the levels of audio tracks?
Yes. It works similar to software like Garage Band and Audacity. If you click the little enevelope icon at the left side of the timeline layer, you will see a line appearing on the audio layer indicating the levels. If you click and drag the line you will adjust the volume. 


What size will my final story be?
This depends on the length and dimensions of your story, and on the kind of content you are using. A HD size story of 20 minutes with loads of video can be several hundred megabytes, while a simple slideshow with only photos and a short duration can be under 10 megabytes.

Will the size of my story affect playback?
The size of your story will most likely not affect the playback of your story, as all content is streamed to the user. Storyplanet streams around 500 megabit per second, so as long as the user has a connection that is faster than this, the story will play back smoothly. If you need to deliver content to users with slower speeds, you can make the dimensions of your story smaller and avoid using video.

 


 

ORGANIZING, SHARING AND PUBLISHING CONTENT:



Where will my published stories show?
Once you publish a story you will receive a direct link and an embed code to the story. The direct link opens the story directly in a browser window. The embed code can be used to display the story on any kind of blog or site which will make it look like it is an integrated part of a page (the photos, video and other assets are still playing from the Storyplanet server).



Can I embed a story on any kind of blog or site?
Yes you can. When you publish the story you receive an embed code. The embed code can be used to display the story on any kind of blog or site which will make it look like it is an integrated part of a page (the photos, video and other assets are still playing from the Storyplanet server).



Can I download content and stories?

At the moment this is not possible, but this is a feature we are working on and plan to enable soon. 


Can I delete content and stories?
Yes, you can delete content and stories you have made, and you can delete everything in your own library. However if you delete content that you have put in the shared library you will also remove it from anyone who used it in their stories, which is not the nicest conduct to your fellow storytellers. 



What is the difference between private and shared content?
Private content can only be used by yourself while shared content can be used by anyone on Storyplanet. Using the content for new stories or remixes is not the same as viewing it - When you publish private content it can be viewed by others and found through Google and similar services. 


If I share content can I make it private again?
Yes this is possible, but we encourage you to think it over carefully both when sharing and unsharing content. if you unshare or delete content that you have put in the shared library you will also remove it from anyone who used it in their stories, which is not the nicest conduct to your fellow storytellers. 



Can I see who is watching my stories and other statistics?

Currently we have not implemented statistics in the Storyplanet service, but we are planning to do this in the future. We will also add an option to put codes on stories so they can be monitored using third party software like Google Analytics. What you can do however, is to embed your story on a webpage, and track this page with your own statistics software. 
 



 

SECURITY, PRIVACY AND SUPPORT:



Is my content secure and backed up regularly?
We know how painful it can be to loose creative work when equipment fails so we do everything we can to secure your content. Everything you import and create using Storyplanet is constantly backed up on multiple servers different places in the world.



What kind of support do you offer?
Currently you can get support by emailing "contact+support@stoyrplanet.com" - under normal circumstances you should have a response within 24-hours. Our ambition is to create a service that is so easy to use and well documented that you will only need very little support directly from us. This will make our costs lower and enable us to offer you cheap prices for our service.

How do you protect my private content and user data?
Your privacy is essential to us. We don't give out any information about our users to any kind of third party entities, and we don't sniff around in our users private data. Period. If you want all the legal details, you can read them here: http://www.storyplanet.com/legal

How can I trust that Storyplanet will be around in the future?

No company can guarantee that they will live forever. But we think that we can make a pretty good case that we are here to stay. Storyplanet has chosen to build a sustainable business by keeping operating expenses low, growing with our income instead of through loans and other external funds, and by actually having a solid business model where users pay for our product. However if we should fold, god forbid it, you can always download all content and stories to your local computer or server.



 


HOSTING, CUSTOMIZING AND TECHNOLOGY:



What browsers and systems are compatible with Storyplanet?
We aim at being platform independent, so basically Storyplanet will work on both PC and Mac and in all modern browsers as long as you have the Flash plugin installed. Our application is build using Adobe Flex and Flash, and our website uses standard, open source technology. 


Do I need to install special software to use Storyplanet?
You need to install the Adobe Flash plugin, which you can find here: 

http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

Can I use Storyplanet without being connected to the Internet?
This is not supported currently but in the near future we will launch a version of our editing application that can be installed on your local PC and run offline. When you go online changes with sync to your online account (similar to web based and local email etc).



Can I host my stories and the Storyplanet service on my own server?
Not currently. But we are working on implementing a feature that will let you download all assets from a story to your PC, so you can host it on your own server, burn it on CD and DVD etc. 



Can I customize the look and functionality of Storyplanet?
No, Storyplanet is not customizable at the moment. In the near future we will open our player, so it can be customized using Flash, and we are also considering a white label version of our application that will enable you to run your own storytelling service. 


Are my stories and content indexed by Google and other search engines?
Yes, all text content is indexed by Google including metadata like image captions and tags. 


Is Storyplanet open source and what about API's?

As a principle we are big believers in open source, and we will try to make as much of Storyplanet open source or accessible through API's. We have not launched any of these services yet, as we want to support this in the best way possible. But hang in there it will not be too long 



 

CONTENT AND LICENSING: 



Do I loose my ownership over content when I upload to Storyplanet?
No, we are all about respecting authorship. When you upload your content you can add Creative Commons licensing rights, that ensures your authorship (and ownership) and specifies how others can use your content if you choose to share it. This way you can both own your content and enable others to use it.



What kind of licensing rights does Storyplanet use?
We use Creative Commons rights which we think are perfectly suited to ensure authorship while maintaining the option of sharing and collaboration. Learn more about Creative Commons here: http://creativecommons.org/about/ 



What if I find content that violates copy rights?
If you think you have come across content that violates copyright you can report it by emailing "contact+content@storyplanet.com" and we will research the case and take the nessesary measures. 



What if I find inappropriate or explicit content? 

If you feel you have come across content that is inappropriate or explicit you can report it by emailing "contact+content@storyplanet.com" and we will research the case and take the nessesary measures. 
 



 

THE PEOPLE AND THE COMPANY:



Who are the people behind Storyplanet?
Our core management are CEO & founder Bjarke Myrthu, CTO Pete Barr-Watson and Creative Director Jacob Kahlen. In addition to this Joichi Ito serves as investor and business angel. All of us have had storytelling, blogging, photography and journalism as our passion for a long time. Read more about the team here: http://www.storyplanet.com/team 


What is your purpose as a company?
We support intelligent, enganging and sensitive stories by creating tools that enables creatives to push the language and perception of storytelling. We created Storyplanet because we felt that the current tools and technology all limit what online storytellers can do, and we want creativity, not technology, to be the limit. Secondly we want to take the best from social media: Thousands of people around the world connecting on ideas and becoming not only viewers but participants - And pair it with the best from traditional media: The a respect for the subject and the culture of authorship. Read more about our purpose and story here: http://www.storyplanet.com/about

I have an idea for a business partnership, what do I do?
Send an email that outlines the idea to contact+partner@storyplanet.com. We will treat everything as confidential information, but we do not do NDA's 


What is the physical location of Storyplanet?
We have offices in New York USA and Brighton UK and servers in USA, UK and Japan. We are a very virtual company working via online collaboration tools with employees in several countries in Europe, USA and Asia.