Clowdy is a new platform for sharing photography, film and video, and music in the same place. Unlike most cloud platforms that let you access music or movies only, Clowdy wants to be your one-stop destination for all types of creative media. Clowdy is specifically for creators - any of the content that you upload to Clowdy has to be made by you. It's free to sign up, so keep reading to get started with Clowdy.


Getting Started With Clowdy

To get started with Clowdy you have the option to create a new account or connect with your existing Google, Facebook or Twitter account. Once you're connected, Clowdy will help you get involved by suggesting other Clowdy users to follow (just like Twitter). In addition, Clowdy will let you rate different content to get an idea of your taste preferences. 

Get acquainted with your new profile by checking out the gear icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen. Clicking on your name will take you to your Clowdy Dashboard of activity. Here you can see a list of what all of your Clowdy friends have been up to, including any new uploads or followers. You can also keep tabs on your clouds, which consist of content that you've uploaded to Clowdy, and manage your likes and playlists. 

Discover New Clowds and Content

After you feel comfortable with the Dashboard, check out the Discover page. This section arranges a variety of Clowdy media for you to browse based on popularity, your taste preferences, and what's trending now.

Just like with Twitter, you can manage a list of hashtags to determine what kind of content gets filtered to your page.

Click on a video or song to check it out. You'll be directed to a new page with a player window that lets you like and share the Clowd. In addition, you can follow the user who posted the media if you're into what's playing. The unique thing about Clowdy is that every piece of media can be downloaded by anyone. Since users have to own the rights to their Clowds or be the creators, Clowdy is a free sharing space that promotes creativity and collaboration.

Upload a Clowd

To upload a Clowd click on the Upload tab at the top of the page. Next, you'll need to agree to the Upload guidelines which basically state that you own the rights to your media, and that you won't post offensive or explicit material. Then, simply drag files from your file browser onto the Clowdy upload tool, or click the plus sign to search your browser directly. You can upload up to ten files at a time. 

Then hit Upload. Your files will begin uploading immediately. After your files have uploaded you can publish the Clowd. Each set of files that you select will exist together in a set, or Clowd, and you can merge or rearrange Clowds after the files are uploaded to your profile. Just add a Title, description, and cover image, and you'll be ready to publish your Clowd. If for some reason you change your mind, you can cancel the upload or remove the files at this time. 

Managing Your Clowds

To rearrange and adjust the settings for your different clouds, go to the My Clowds section of the Dashboard. Then, click on the Manage menu on the right side of the screen. Here you can edit, delete, or feature the Clowd. In addition to editing the information you entered upon initially uploading the content, you can adjust the sharing and branding controls for your media. You get to choose if other users can download your media or embed it on another site. 

Saving Media To Playlists

So what if you really like something on Clowdy, and want to be able to access it again? Just go to the My Lists section of the Dashboard to create a new Playlist. Next, give your new list a name, and enter the URL of the Clowd you want to add to the list. You can refresh the Playlist to check out content you've added directly from a user's site, and you can get rid of media at any time.

Final Word on Clowdy

Clowdy is a versatile platform and a great place for creatives to share content. By supporting a variety of content including video, photography, and music, users can mix and match their Clowdy experience. It's free to sign up, so check out Clowdy to become a part of this new online community.