Zoopy launches new brand, new site, Zoopy TV and Zoopy Mobile
30 Nov 2008 
15 Comments
Almost a year ago to the day, we launched the second version of Zoopy; the Zoopy that many of you have come to know and use over the last 12 busy months. The site was a massive overhaul of the first Zoopy, with loads of learnings built in. We redesigned everything and took the Zoopy platform to a whole new level.
Today, we’re launching the Zoopy that our team has dreamt about for a very long time. It’s completely redefined in almost every way and takes into account the feedback we’ve received from users over the last 12 months, and lays a strong foundation for the exciting things we have planned for the next 12.
The first and most obvious change is our rebranding
The old Zoopy logo was blatantly fun and we loved our illustrated characters. But as we’ve grown, we’ve found ourselves becoming a service with many more applications than we had first imagined. We needed to match our identity with where our company is going, and our new logo does a great job of reflecting the more advanced Zoopy brand, while keeping a fun feel in a far more subtle way.
Our new site
We went back to the drawing board, page by page, function by function. We rebuilt the things that were working and reinvented the things that weren’t. Our new site now gives the media uploaded to Zoopy a cleaner, fresher environment in which to shine. Where some functionality used to be three clicks away, they’re now right there, where you intuitively want to find them.
We’ve also made two new distinctions in our four media types. We used to describe our media as videos, photos, podcasts and blogs. We’ve now reshaped the last two into audio and notes. We believe this removes the expectations of the media types and opens users up to more freedom in the way that they use sound and text.
Where a podcast had to be in a specific format and structure, audio is something everyone understands – with many more types of files fitting into that category. In the same way, we realised that notes were a far easier way for our users to add context to their media in a few words (or paragraphs) without the requirement of it fitting into what a blog should be. Many of our users already have their own blogs so we’ve deconstructed the functionality to be a simple text tool that’s quick and enjoyable to use.
Some other highlights
The new Zoopy features a smarter and faster upload and processing system, with multiple uploads (how does 20 at a time sound?) and separate publishing for users who want to upload now but enter description details later.
There are now two slideshow options for embedding any set of search results on your site or blog. Say hello to two-click photo sharing with friends and family, all in one happy slideshow. And because we’ve increased the size of media on viewing pages, you’ll enjoy more detail at a glance.
We’ve introduced Topics – a dedicated area that combines content produced by users with content produced by Zoopy, all around a central topic that’s impacting the world in some way. Our first topic is something that’s constantly in the news, and that most people have opinions about: South African Elections 2009.
Zoopy Pages were introduced about a year ago but they’ve always been loosely connected and hard to find, unless you knew the URL. Pages are custom branded media hubs created for brands, events or competitions. And they have a central place on Zoopy that’s easy to find and follow.
Speaking of following, you’ll notice a huge difference in your profile area. There are more tabs and so much less confusion. You can now easily follow other users’ media and keep track of who’s following you and yours. Same for comments. And private items. And videos being processed. It’s all right there, simply and with lots of nice space so that you see things clearly without bouts of claustrophia.
Zoopy TV
This is some something we’ve been building since Zoopy began. We’ve always believed in adding interesting content to the community. Content that a user ordinarily wouldn’t have access to. Thabo Mbeki’s knighting and the on-the-field Springbok victory parade, for example. But until now this content has never been clearly distinguished from media uploaded by our users.
Zoopy TV is now a separate platform within our site that showcases the content produced by our multimedia content teams. As we continue to grow Zoopy TV, there will be much more content to enjoy that involves collaboration and partnerships with other interesting people and producers.
Zoopy Mobile
Just about everything you can do on Zoopy from your computer is now also available on your phone, using our brand new WAP site at m.zoopy.com. It’s compatible with 99% of handsets and even lets you watch videos at a download size that suits you and your airtime package.
Zoopy Mobile will continue to grow in line with Zoopy’s website and will give our users many ways to interact, be seen and win.
If you spot a bug
Our site is still brand new, so please use the Bug Report footer at the bottom of every page to let us know about anything that doesn’t quite work the way it should.
The Zoopy Team
The bigger, better, faster, more entertaining Zoopy you see before you is the result of some very hard work by an incredible group of people on the other side of the screen.
Neil, our Lead Developer, is undoubtedly the man of the match in the construction of Zoopy version 3. His determination to make every inch of the new site as good as it can be is visible throughout, right down to the most stringent of HTML standards using XHTML 1.1 strict. Barry, our web developer in Neil’s team, has turned Zoopy Mobile into something many of our users will love to use anywhere, anytime; and Roy, our sysadmin, has applied beautiful linux wizardry to back up our new code with the architectural cement it needs for stress-free scalability.
Our content teams in Johannesburg (led by the inspired Nic Haralambous) and Cape Town have worked incredibly hard to add as many groundbreaking and compelling stories as possible to Zoopy TV. It’s a formidable start and we can’t wait to show you more.
Lastly
Thank you to our users. To you. For using and enjoying and complimenting and complaining about Zoopy. Your contribution to the community has been invaluable. Everything on Zoopy is for you, so enjoy, come back often and look out for more to come.
P.S. Some coverage:
Bizcommunity
Zoopy relaunches service and adds TV and mobile offerings
Appfrica
Zoopy Reinvents Everything But the Wheel
Startup Africa
Zoopy shines and redesigns
The first new day of a brand new future for Zoopy
I love how fast and clean the new site is. Incredibly good work chaps!
Awesome work guys. I definitely think the new logo is a step up from the old – I can easily see it moving into new directions a lot easier than the old, playful one.
As for the site, I still need to explore a bit more, but it is looking good – going for the Vodacom blue skin I see. (Haha! just kidding)
Big ups to the Zoopy team!
You chaps really have come a long way in a short time
Excellent work Zoopy.
I really think that this is a huge leap which can make zoopy a serious international player. The logo is ’shmarvelous’ too, I am sure you will have a lot less integration headaches with the new logo
from one South African 2.0 to another, here’s to 2.0 in SA taking off in a big way. Great job guys! Can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
@Dave We tried for both, so glad to hear you’ve ticked both boxes!
@JBagley Haha. C’mon, Zoopy’s core colour has always been blue
You’re right – our logo definitely needed to grow up a little. We’re really happy with where it’s at, and where we’re going.
@Galen Thank you for being such a supportive and active Zoopy user Mr Funalaakie
@David Obox Really appreciated, thank you. Our aim is to make the world a smaller place, and this was an important step in that direction. Keep FtC goodness coming!
@Eric Thank you! And absolutely, here’s to 2009 and beyond
ok
i am glad to join zoopy please invite me