TalentTrove
Encyclopedia
Lafango is a social media
website that allows users to create profiles, upload and share unlimited media (audio, video, images, and text), communicate in user created communities, compete in contests, create free electronic press kits
, and blog. Previously named TalentTrove, the website was named one of the top 10 Internet companies to watch out for in 2009 not only in terms of the idea but for its technology and adoption. It serves as a multimedia platform for talents and talent seekers and provides an artistic community for like-minded individuals to share and grow.
Lafango boasts original, user-generated media content. This differentiates it from other social networking and media sharing sites because users only upload media that they have attested to creating themselves.
Lafango is a social networking site built around user-generated content
. Whereas users of YouTube
might upload any video they find interesting, the focus of Lafango is each person’s individual talent, regardless of what kind of content he or she creates. That means only original works are shared on the site. TalentTrove users can upload a variety of multimedia
types. Once media is uploaded, it is then associated with the uploading user's stage.
Users can also create text documents which will be displayed in Lafango's text reader with the purpose of online self publishing. The reader application presents text to the viewer like a book.
, a digital media player developed by Apple Inc.. It is listed in the Alternative category and has three available streams: 32 kbit/s, 64 kbit/s, and 128 kbit/s.
.
Social media
The term Social Media refers to the use of web-based and mobile technologies to turn communication into an interactive dialogue. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as "a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0,...
website that allows users to create profiles, upload and share unlimited media (audio, video, images, and text), communicate in user created communities, compete in contests, create free electronic press kits
Electronic Press Kit
An electronic press kit is a press kit equivalent in electronic form. An EPK usually takes the form of a website or e-mail, though they are also known to exist in CD and DVD form....
, and blog. Previously named TalentTrove, the website was named one of the top 10 Internet companies to watch out for in 2009 not only in terms of the idea but for its technology and adoption. It serves as a multimedia platform for talents and talent seekers and provides an artistic community for like-minded individuals to share and grow.
Lafango boasts original, user-generated media content. This differentiates it from other social networking and media sharing sites because users only upload media that they have attested to creating themselves.
Media Sharing
Lafango is a social networking site built around user-generated content
User-generated content
User generated content covers a range of media content available in a range of modern communications technologies. It entered mainstream usage during 2005 having arisen in web publishing and new media content production circles...
. Whereas users of YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
might upload any video they find interesting, the focus of Lafango is each person’s individual talent, regardless of what kind of content he or she creates. That means only original works are shared on the site. TalentTrove users can upload a variety of multimedia
Multimedia
Multimedia is media and content that uses a combination of different content forms. The term can be used as a noun or as an adjective describing a medium as having multiple content forms. The term is used in contrast to media which use only rudimentary computer display such as text-only, or...
types. Once media is uploaded, it is then associated with the uploading user's stage.
| Media | Formats |
|---|---|
| Video , HD Video (720, 1080) | .AVI, .DV, .MOV, .QT, .MPG, .MPG2, .MPEG, .MPEG2, .MPEG4, MP4, 3QP, 3G2, .ASF, .FLV, .WMV (more) |
| Image | .JPG, .JPEG, .GIF, and .PNG |
| Audio | .MP3, .M4A, .WAV, and .WMA |
| Text | Direct Input, Copy & Paste |
Users can also create text documents which will be displayed in Lafango's text reader with the purpose of online self publishing. The reader application presents text to the viewer like a book.
Stage
A user's stage on Lafango is a virtual portfolio which contains background information as well as a browser for media viewing. Each stage has a unique URL based on user name of the individual. Within Stages, users can group their media together by media file type. The presentation of each collection of files changes based on the file type associated with that collection. Video, Audio, Images, and Text collections all have unique layouts that make the viewing and browsing experience very easy on the visitor.Media Discovery
Tag, title, description, and categorizing system all allow for users to specify how they prefer their media to be found. Singers, musicians, painters and dancers are represented, alongside more niche talents like extreme stunts, hair styling and culinary arts. This allows users the option to portray themselves in more than one category and display their talents in the correct classification. A location search can also be executed, allowing for talent seekers and agents to find particular types of performers for a specific location.Stage Of The Day
Lafango highlights users on the homepage through Stage. Stage of the Day is an honorary award given to a different registered user on a daily basis. This user is chosen because of their contribution to the site, participation in the community, media quality, and presentation.Contests
To promote user interaction on the site, Lafango also offers free contests with varying themes and prizes with the winners usually being picked by way of community voting.Recurring Contests
| Contest | First Prize |
|---|---|
| Mashup Mondays | Prize Pool |
| Writers Wednesdays | Prize Pool |
2009 Contests
| Contest | First Prize |
|---|---|
| Michael Kelly Best Guitar Solo Contest | Electric Guitar |
| Best Electronica Song | $250 Sam Ash Gift Card |
| What's Your Story? Writing Contest | $250 |
2010 Contests
| Contest | First Prize |
|---|---|
| Photography | $1000 |
| Most Photogenic Child | $1000 |
| Best Comedy Skit | $100 iTunes Gift Card |
| Bollywood Singer | Rs. 5 Lakh ($10000) |
| Miss eWorld | $10000 |
| GoGreen College Essay | $1000 Scholarship |
| Photography: Action! | $500 in Cash Prizes |
| Singing Sensation | $350 in Cash Prizes |
| Gospel Singer | $1000 Church Donation |
| World's Cutest Pet | $150 in Cash Prizes |
| Student Photography | $250 Scholarship |
Lafango Radio
Lafango Radio is the online streaming radio station of Lafango.com. It launched in December 2008 and broadcasts 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It solely plays original, user-generated content. On January 28, 2009, Lafango Radio was picked up by iTunesITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
, a digital media player developed by Apple Inc.. It is listed in the Alternative category and has three available streams: 32 kbit/s, 64 kbit/s, and 128 kbit/s.
Lafango TV
Lafango TV is the online streaming television station of Lafango.com. Similar to the radio station, it only features original user content and is accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The channels that are offered are comedy, sports, models, chefs, actors, and vocalists.Company history
TalentTrove.com was launched in July 2008 and is based out of the New York Metropolitan areaNew York metropolitan area
The New York metropolitan area, also known as Greater New York, or the Tri-State area, is the region that composes of New York City and the surrounding region...
.