Monthly Archives: June 2012

Wowza Transcoder AddOn test report

Curated on by

Following our latest review of the features of Wowza Media Server, let’s now look at how to transcode video streams using this plugin. This feature is helpful when you only have a single source of high quality video and you would like to deliver the video to multiple devices. Yet another example is video stream failback to audio only in an iOS application (AppStore’s requirement), where you need an additional stream with cut-off video. A typical approach to this problem requires a transcoder (you can also generate an audio only stream using the new Adobe Media Server 5.0). Usually, a transcoder is a separate server optimized for video handling. Wowza offers an alternative: transcoding at the media server level. Let’s look at how it works in more detail.

 

Wowza Transcoder is a paid addon to the Wowza Media Server. It can transcode incoming video to H.264 (MPEG-4) streams tailored for different viewing devices. To run a transcoder, please install a 64-bit version of Java. Wowza Media Server supports the hardware transcoder technologies: Intel Quick Sync hardware acceleration and Nvidia CUDA hardware acceleration.

See original here

Adaptive Streaming’s Primetime Challenge – lightreading.com

Curated on by

Video service providers have become enamored of adaptive bit rate streaming as a way to deliver video to tablets and smartphones, but not everyone believes the technology will become the primary way video is delivered to the home.

 

HTTP Adaptive Streaming (HAS) “is not ready for primetime TV,” declared Pieter Liefooghe, chief solution architect and solution line manager at the video solutions and integration organization of Alcatel-Lucent, during a panel on the topic at last week’s Managing & Monetizing OTT Video event in Boston. HAS is “okay for a single-stream, OTT-style of service, but as a basis of a primetime TV service, it’s a challenging proposition,” he added.

 

But this doesn’t mean HAS will never be suitable for primetime TV, as the shortcomings identified by Liefooghe relate to “out-of-the-box” HAS technology. He said, for example, that AlcaLu has identified some technologies and techniques that can be done on the routing platform and the content delivery network (CDN) to boost HAS performance enough to address some of its technical shortcomings. And he insisted there are ways to pare delays down to six seconds while still guaranteeing continuous playback.

 

“There’s a future for HAS as the new RTP,” Liefooghe concluded.

See original here

YouTube for Android Lets You Watch Videos Mostly Offline [UPDATED] – MAshable

Curated on by

“Amid the hoopla of Google IO, a few Google-related items sailed by almost unnoticed — such as a cool update to the Android version of YouTube.

 

For the first time, YouTube will start downloading videos it thinks you might want to watch, whenever you’re plugged in and on Wi-fi.

 

That’s great news for commuters, for example, who can now watch videos when outside their mobile coverage zone (or without paying for costly video downloads over 3G)”

See original here

Adobe confirms it won’t support Flash on Android 4.1, stops new Flash installs from Google Play on August 15th – Engadget

Curated on by

“Adobe was very public about dropping mobile Flash last fall. In case that wasn’t clear enough, the developer just drew a line in the sand: Android 4.1 doesn’t, and won’t ever, get certification for Flash. The company is stopping short of saying that Flash won’t run, but it’s evident that Adobe won’t help you if the web browser plugin doesn’t install (or breaks in spectacular fashion) on that Nexus 7.”

See original here

Google Nexus Q review – The Verge

Curated on by

“Six months ago former Google CEO Eric Schmidt predicted that Google TV would be embedded on the majority of new televisions by this summer. That hasn’t happened, but it’s not stopping Mountain View from entering the living room from a different angle — with its own branded media streamer, the Nexus Q. The Q acts exclusively as a receiver for audio and video content from Google’s online media services, all controlled with your Android tablet or smartphone. At $299, it’s positioned as a US-made premium product with a premium price.”

See original here

Anthony Wood: How Roku Prospers In An Apple-Google TV Invasion – Forbes

Curated on by

“NOTE: This week, I have profiled entertainment leaders who use technology to form new models for their industry. See the other profiles here, here and here.

 

These days there’s a lot of buzz about Apple, Google and Microsoft in the TV space. But while they are all crawling the carpets of TV disruption, Anthony Wood’s product, Roku, is now ten years old.”

See original here

Editor’s opinion: Why YouView matters | Videonet

Curated on by

“YouView will be launched next week, according to the FT (the UK’s leading business newspaper). When it was first envisaged, this next-generation Freeview platform, designed to converge broadcast and Internet delivered content and services (most notably streamed catch-up TV) was ahead of its time. Now it will be the latest in a long list of connected TV or HBB (Hybrid Broadcast Broadband) services and because it is neither early or unique (at least as a concept), it has been dismissed in some quarters. I think the pessimism is misplaced and YouView will play a major role in bringing Connected TV to the masses.”

See original here

Google Unveils Nexus Q Streaming Media Player – pcworld.com

Curated on by

“Google debuted a new orb-shaped media streaming device called the Nexus Q before it took the stage for its Google I/O keynote. The Nexus , what the company calls ‘the first social streaming media player’ first appeared on the Google Play website store.

 

Closer look at Nexus QGoogle’s Nexus Q uses your Android smartphone or tablet in conjunction with Google Play to stream music and videos to your HDTV, sound system, or a pair of speakers. What sets the Nexus Q apart from similar media streaming devices, such as Apple TV, is that it allows you to collaborate with friends via your Android device to create playlists of music and video clips.”

See original here