Video cameras are one of the hottest back-to-campus gadgets this season, and let's face it, college has so many video-worthy moments. There are a ton of video-sharing sites out there, but Vimeo ("movie" with the letters rearranged) has managed to make a name for itself by offering unique social-networking features that make it extra easy to share videos only with specific people (whether they're Vimeo members or nonmembers you invite by typing in their e-mail addresses). This way, you can opt to only share those Mardi Gras party videos with trusted friends.
Even more appealing is Vimeo's small and tight-knit community; users actively comment on each others' videos and a feed of site activity lets you see which clips are getting the most buzz. It may seem a little cliquey and tough to break into at first, since there's a distinct "cult of Vimeo," (What the heck is a "lip dub," and why does 1990s alternative-rock band Harvey Danger have such a following?) but the avid users tend to be nice. Plus, the interface is really cool.
Vimeo is part of the InterActiveCorp-owned Connected Ventures, which also encompasses CollegeHumor--a site that you'll probably get to know very well at 3 a.m. when you just can't do any more work on that philosophy paper.
Photo by Staff, CNET News.com
Caption by Caroline McCarthy
