One of the problems with web apps is they get updated on the server end. The user has no choice to “upgrade” to the new features or hold back – you’re upgraded whether you like it or not. This becomes particularly difficult when you have many different kinds of users using a popular service.

The news is out. Flickr now does video. The last 18 hours have been a buzz with tweets and blog posts regarding the new feature. Pro photographers are outraged that Flickr is not “remaining true to the photograph”. Some are disappointed over the implementation – having 150MB and a 90 second limitations. I understand where that frustration is coming from. It’s hard to watch one of your favourite social networks go through a change. After taking some time to look at it over the past few hours, I for one am very impressed over the implementation.

Before we go any further, let’s make something clear.

It’s not a Youtube competitor. If you want an alternative to Youtube, use services like Vimeo, Viddler, or BlipTV. These services have much less restrictive limitations. You can upload HD footage, and not be worried about the duration.

Part of the problem is in the way it was covered by the media. Really, it should not even be called Flickr video. It should be called Flickr with video. Their focus is still the same – photos. Video is simply meant to compliment the photos. As I think back to many of the photos I’ve uploaded to Flickr from concerts and events, I imagine how some video could have helped to compliment the pictures. With the increase in the number of consumer cameras and cell phones that take video, it is a surprise Flickr hasn’t done this so this sooner.

Flickr isn’t “caving into the pressure” and “abandoning true photography”. If we thought like that, we’d all still be using film. No, Flickr is merely expanding the definition of what photography is, by adding another element – video.

Why 90 seconds?

Undoubtedly, the most complained about limitation of this new service is the 90 second time limit. Actually, the change to 90 seconds was a last minute decision as revealed by Paul Stamatiou who was one of the few early beta testers. Originally, the time limit was set to 60 seconds.

The million dollar question is why?

For the same reason that I love Twitter. There is a certain value in brevity that can not be defined easily. The major problem with videos on Youtube is that there is no editing. People just ramble on and on. Twitter is different though. You only have 140 characters to get your point across. You only mention the most important things and cut out the garbage.

Inevitably, the same thing will happen with Flickr. It will not become a place for video shows or music videos. Instead, it will become a place that, much like twitter, where you are free to express yourself and what you are doing visually. Before, you could only do this through photos. Now, you have photos and video.

I’m sure there will still be those who hate the idea of having video mixed with their photos on Flickr, and will somehow find a way to blame this on Microsoft. But I, for one, am excited about Flickr video, and cannot wait for it to come to devices like the AppleTV and the iPhone.

Good job on this one Flickr.