Storing images and video on-chain is expensive. To support media in a decentralized way it must be stored elsewhere. IPFS would be added to the current options (Imgur, Youtube, etc).
The difference being that IPFS can be supported natively - i.e. you could upload files through Memo website / app.
thanks for clarifying!
Question: Who runs the IPFS Servers? How do you then pay for the uploads? Again with BCH?
It's a good question and one of the drawbacks of IPFS. Yes, perhaps a good system could be added for using BCH to pay for hosting on IPFS.
Lets call it "BlockStorage" where you pay for the storage of large blocks of data in BCH. ;)
If you didn't use ipfs you would run a central server, right?
Yes, that was the original plan. If you look at the source of the protocol page there's an action commented out for setting a base URL, basically a content hosting provider.
what's the difference between running a central server and running an IPFS node? You need a server anyhow. With IPFS people can help hosting their own files.
One benefit is that it doesn't require DNS or even a public server. You can run a local Memo client that uses IPFS. Another nice thing is it has built in easily parsable hashes.
Can I run this local Memo client right now?
.. on IPFS?
You can run a local client. Not using IPFS though. Also lighter clients can be built.
Uploading directly integrates the media effort and the posting effort => will prompt more participation (less hesitation about going offsite to get URLs.
Question: Who runs the IPFS Servers? How do you then pay for the uploads? Again with BCH?
