Monday, June 29, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Facebook Launches A Live Stream Box, Partners With Ustream
Today, Facebook is launching a new “Live Stream Box” feature which allows for Facebook Pages to offer their own live video and chat area. And Ustream will be the first to take advantage of it with Ustream on Facebook, a new service to provide live video support to select Facebook users.
This functionality is an extension of what Ustream and Facebook did with some Jonas Brothers concerts last month — events which drew huge numbers. How huge? This huge, according to Ustream:
■1.5 million unique posts were made via Facebook Live Feed
■23K average posts per minute
■More than 100K users joined the webcast after seeing their friend’s comment on Facebook
■974K total unique viewers watched the one hour webcast
■Ustream reports the Jonas Brothers webcast on Facebook surpassed the largest live video event they have hosted for any music artist
So clearly, there’s a big demand for certain live events via Facebook, and Ustream is jumping on it, as Facebook’s preferred partner.
Apparently, how this will work is that on Facebook Pages there will now be a way to add a “Live” tab, which will house things such as the Ustream on Facebook feature. Previously, beyond the Jonas Brothers, Facebook has tested this with CNN and the NBA All-Star game. Here’s what Facebook has to say:
Today, Facebook is launching the Facebook Live Stream Box as a feature that any website owner or developer can use to enable Facebook users to connect, share, and post updates in real-time as they witness an event online. Websites can run the Live Stream Box next to live streaming videos of concerts, speeches, sporting events, webcasts, TV shows, presentations, or webinars. Sites can also run the Live Stream Box in multi-player games, or with any other experience where many people are visiting a website at the same time.
But Ustream’s funtionality is not for everyone yet, due to what will undoubtedly be high demand, we’re told. Any artist or person who thinks they could benefit from the Ustream functionality, can apply to have the feature turned on here. With it, you’ll get not only the live player, but a customizable banner that can link to places like iTunes or Amazon (obviously important for artists).
Right now, there are two versions of the player: A free ad-supported version, and a white-label version. The free version is the one with limited sign-ups allowed right now, so click that link above quickly if you think you need the feature. The white-label version comes with a one-time development fee of $15,000. But you also get an ongoing subscription to Ustream’s white-label platform, Watershed.
Find out more information here. Eventually, Ustream hopes to port this Facebook experience over to its main site as well using Facebook Connect, we’re told.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Microsoft Silverlight puts the shine into online TV experience
“An ageing sports star” was how Setanta Sports saw its previous pay-per-view portal — and what drove this Irish Internet and pay-TV sports broadcaster to develop one that would also deliver HD content faster. Setanta, which wanted the new site to provide its subscribers with greater functionality for a more customised engagement, recognised that the portal would need a premium content-delivery system.
In another situation, MTV Network saw that its enterprise asset-management system, ALIAS (Archive Library Information Access System), a static application supporting only videotape-based assets, needed a make-over. It sought to transform the system into one that could support both digital and tape assets. In -addition to this, the new solution would need to enhance system efficiencies and streamline the workflow for users.
Both companies found their solutions in suites of technologies based on the Microsoft Silverlight.
Silverlight is the next-generation cross-browser, cross-platform and cross-device plug-in for delivering Microsoft .NET-based media experiences and rich interactive applications for the Web. The .NET framework is an integral component of the Microsoft Windows operating system that provides a programming model and manages the runtime for Web services, Web applications and smart client applications.
Scoring for Setanta Sports
To create a content-delivery system, -Setanta engaged Microsoft and Microsoft partner EMC Conchango, as well as Irdeto and Swarmcast, to build Setanta-i using the Silverlight, the .NET framework, and partner technologies from Swarmcast and Irdeto.
This new delivery system has a premium front-end interface that is backed by a powerful back-end. It enables Setanta to deliver HD video with cost-effective, advanced streaming and provides subscribers with high-resolution interactivity.
With Setanta-i, Setanta said that its subscribers now have video-streaming services akin to having the best seats in the house. Avid sports fans can now watch their favourite matches in HD Windows Media Video (VC-1) format without the frustration brought on by buffering, espe-cially during the most crucial moments of the games. And, if they have missed a particular match, or simply want to relive the winning moments, a huge library of on-demand content awaits their selection.
This new system also offers a wide array of personalisation options that not only add to the entertainment value but also increase the excitement of watching the games online.
On the UK homepage, for example, subscribers can watch live streams of four channels simultaneously on miniature display or watch one on full screen.
Sports fans following and keeping tabs of various events taking place at the same time can, while watching a live match in one window, open -another window showing real-time scores in other matches. They can also select the games they wish to follow and only the scores from those matches will be displayed. Moreover, these subscribers can -select upcoming sporting events that they would like to record for later viewing and create video playlists of favourite sports moments.
With the modern, slick Setanta-i service developed by EMC Conchango, subscri-bers are not only spoilt for choice, but also enjoy a greater scope to cus-tomise viewing options without detracting from their experience of the content.
Setanta has also added to this sophisticated, feature-rich interface, a second one that presents free content to casual visitors and a third, which can be used for the Web pages of other sites to present syndicated news and content from Setanta.
These front-end interfaces are sup-ported by an effective back-end. With software from Irdeto and Swarmcast, Setanta has upgraded and enhanced the content-delivery infrastructure that would stream content to the new interfaces. The software from Irdeto enabled Setanta to build a new infrastructure for ingesting sports content and preparing it for distribution over the Internet, while the software from Swarmcast optimises streaming media for delivery using hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).
Setanta, EMC Conchango and Irdeto are thus able to create a client-server connection that ensures a smooth, buffer-free, high-quality video stream. Furthermore, emanating from this powerful back-end content-management system is a linear channel that feeds sports content to external websites using the syndicated Setanta interface.
The software from Irdeto also integrates with the Setanta customer care-and-billing systems, ensuring that customers can access the protected content to which they have subscribed, and are billed appro-priately for the services used.
With its new content-management -system feeding content to the station’s different channels, Setanta has gained better content-delivery efficiency and greater flexibility to bundle services, and cross- and up-sell these services.
Stephen Michael, director of New Media for Setanta Sports, said: “As a broadcaster, I think we’re fairly bold in embracing these new technologies. The Silverlight and Swarmcast are both fairly new, but I think people will see that what we’ve created in Setanta-i is a market-leading product.
“We hope our customers will agree that we’ve built a great interface. One of the things ... really great about it is that it doesn’t get in the way of your enjoyment of the content. That’s one of the things that will make Setanta-i a great service for sports lovers.”
In another situation, MTV Network saw that its enterprise asset-management system, ALIAS (Archive Library Information Access System), a static application supporting only videotape-based assets, needed a make-over. It sought to transform the system into one that could support both digital and tape assets. In -addition to this, the new solution would need to enhance system efficiencies and streamline the workflow for users.
Both companies found their solutions in suites of technologies based on the Microsoft Silverlight.
Silverlight is the next-generation cross-browser, cross-platform and cross-device plug-in for delivering Microsoft .NET-based media experiences and rich interactive applications for the Web. The .NET framework is an integral component of the Microsoft Windows operating system that provides a programming model and manages the runtime for Web services, Web applications and smart client applications.
Scoring for Setanta Sports
To create a content-delivery system, -Setanta engaged Microsoft and Microsoft partner EMC Conchango, as well as Irdeto and Swarmcast, to build Setanta-i using the Silverlight, the .NET framework, and partner technologies from Swarmcast and Irdeto.
This new delivery system has a premium front-end interface that is backed by a powerful back-end. It enables Setanta to deliver HD video with cost-effective, advanced streaming and provides subscribers with high-resolution interactivity.
With Setanta-i, Setanta said that its subscribers now have video-streaming services akin to having the best seats in the house. Avid sports fans can now watch their favourite matches in HD Windows Media Video (VC-1) format without the frustration brought on by buffering, espe-cially during the most crucial moments of the games. And, if they have missed a particular match, or simply want to relive the winning moments, a huge library of on-demand content awaits their selection.
This new system also offers a wide array of personalisation options that not only add to the entertainment value but also increase the excitement of watching the games online.
On the UK homepage, for example, subscribers can watch live streams of four channels simultaneously on miniature display or watch one on full screen.
Sports fans following and keeping tabs of various events taking place at the same time can, while watching a live match in one window, open -another window showing real-time scores in other matches. They can also select the games they wish to follow and only the scores from those matches will be displayed. Moreover, these subscribers can -select upcoming sporting events that they would like to record for later viewing and create video playlists of favourite sports moments.
With the modern, slick Setanta-i service developed by EMC Conchango, subscri-bers are not only spoilt for choice, but also enjoy a greater scope to cus-tomise viewing options without detracting from their experience of the content.
Setanta has also added to this sophisticated, feature-rich interface, a second one that presents free content to casual visitors and a third, which can be used for the Web pages of other sites to present syndicated news and content from Setanta.
These front-end interfaces are sup-ported by an effective back-end. With software from Irdeto and Swarmcast, Setanta has upgraded and enhanced the content-delivery infrastructure that would stream content to the new interfaces. The software from Irdeto enabled Setanta to build a new infrastructure for ingesting sports content and preparing it for distribution over the Internet, while the software from Swarmcast optimises streaming media for delivery using hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP).
Setanta, EMC Conchango and Irdeto are thus able to create a client-server connection that ensures a smooth, buffer-free, high-quality video stream. Furthermore, emanating from this powerful back-end content-management system is a linear channel that feeds sports content to external websites using the syndicated Setanta interface.
The software from Irdeto also integrates with the Setanta customer care-and-billing systems, ensuring that customers can access the protected content to which they have subscribed, and are billed appro-priately for the services used.
With its new content-management -system feeding content to the station’s different channels, Setanta has gained better content-delivery efficiency and greater flexibility to bundle services, and cross- and up-sell these services.
Stephen Michael, director of New Media for Setanta Sports, said: “As a broadcaster, I think we’re fairly bold in embracing these new technologies. The Silverlight and Swarmcast are both fairly new, but I think people will see that what we’ve created in Setanta-i is a market-leading product.
“We hope our customers will agree that we’ve built a great interface. One of the things ... really great about it is that it doesn’t get in the way of your enjoyment of the content. That’s one of the things that will make Setanta-i a great service for sports lovers.”
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Watch Free Streaming Movies Online
The internet is becoming more and more advanced. There are quite a number of things that you can do online today that would not have been possible a number of years ago. The web is becoming an important place for commercial transactions and trading ventures. Bills are settled online, and products are bought online on commercial web sites such as e-bay. Instead of joining the usual long queues that are mainly present in banks, a large number of customers are opting to carry out their tasks online in what is commonly referred to as online banking by the I.T. people.
The internet is also educational in that a lot of information can be accessed from it. Scholars and students benefit greatly from it, in that the information is accessible 24 hours a day, ready to be utilized. This was not possible before the internet came into being. If you wanted information or viewpoints from a person in Australia in an in-depth form, the only option would have been to fly to Australia to hear it from that person.
Also, communication has been greatly improved through the internet. There are many services available, including e-mailing, video conferencing and chatting. You can also use a web cam to see and talk to the other person.
Of late, the internet has become a very big source of entertainment material. You can access blogs, chat rooms and movie web sites for very little in terms of payment. Movies are being uploaded on the web at an alarmingly fast rate. In fact, some movies debut on the internet first before they open to cinemas and other places.
It is possible to watch movies online through streaming. The movies are uploaded onto a server anywhere in the world. Through multimedia streaming, you can view just about any movie available online. There are those that are blocked and you might need special permission in order to access the website on which the movie is loaded.
There are a number of stages involved in the streaming process. When a user follows a link to a particular movie clip on the web, your browser software will send out a request to the server on which the clip is held anywhere in the world.
In response, the server will stream the clip to your computer continuously, forming the stream. Once the data is received by your computer, it will automatically open the media player software contained in your computer. Once the player is open, the data being streamed to your computer is stored in a buffer. It may take a while for all the data to be received, depending on your bandwidth and to some extent the speed of your computer. This requires you to be patient.
The internet is also educational in that a lot of information can be accessed from it. Scholars and students benefit greatly from it, in that the information is accessible 24 hours a day, ready to be utilized. This was not possible before the internet came into being. If you wanted information or viewpoints from a person in Australia in an in-depth form, the only option would have been to fly to Australia to hear it from that person.
Also, communication has been greatly improved through the internet. There are many services available, including e-mailing, video conferencing and chatting. You can also use a web cam to see and talk to the other person.
Of late, the internet has become a very big source of entertainment material. You can access blogs, chat rooms and movie web sites for very little in terms of payment. Movies are being uploaded on the web at an alarmingly fast rate. In fact, some movies debut on the internet first before they open to cinemas and other places.
It is possible to watch movies online through streaming. The movies are uploaded onto a server anywhere in the world. Through multimedia streaming, you can view just about any movie available online. There are those that are blocked and you might need special permission in order to access the website on which the movie is loaded.
There are a number of stages involved in the streaming process. When a user follows a link to a particular movie clip on the web, your browser software will send out a request to the server on which the clip is held anywhere in the world.
In response, the server will stream the clip to your computer continuously, forming the stream. Once the data is received by your computer, it will automatically open the media player software contained in your computer. Once the player is open, the data being streamed to your computer is stored in a buffer. It may take a while for all the data to be received, depending on your bandwidth and to some extent the speed of your computer. This requires you to be patient.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Five Allows Viewers To Embed Streaming TV Shows On Websites
In a major revamp to its online offerings, broadcaster Five will now facilitate its viewers to integrate full episodes of their favourite programmes from the channel onto their blogs, social networking portals, and websites.
The broadcaster has inked a deal with the online video portal Brightcove, and has become the UK's first broadcaster that will enable users to embed and share channel's content on third party websites.
The company asserted that the move, which is expected to materialise later this year, will offer the ability to enhance the distribution of ad-supported video content over the web, and thereby help in generating more advertising revenues.
Five's digital controller Paul Thornton-Jones touted the new move by saying, “Our syndicated player initiative significantly extends the reach of our online video programming in a way that’s secure, high quality and which generates additional ad revenue”.
Several partner sites and Five's own online services, including Five.tv and FiveFWD, a portal containing info on cars and gadgets, will be among the first websites to take advantage of the initiative.
The average length of the content will be around 45 minutes, and initially viewers can embed some of the prominent shows, including Home & Away, Neighbours, and Fifth Gear.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Is Internet TV A Step Backwards?
Some people are saying that watching TV streams on a PC screen is a step backwards and why would anyone want to watch TV online?
Having to wait whilst a TV stream loads, watching it on a tiny screen, having to be connected to the net. Why do it? However, in contradiction to this argument, how comes every TV network and large organisation on the planet is pushing video and TV content onto the internet and into our homes?
There are so many websites now that give us the content that would traditionally be found on a television set, full length TV shows and movies complete with commercial breaks.
The big question is though, will this TV streaming on our PCs uproot us from sitting on the couch in front of the television set? There are many people now that have thrown out the TV in favour of watching TV via their computer screen.
The reason for the prolification of websites such as Hulu, Youtube and all of the Television Networks coming online, is because they all know that this is where the future belongs.
Wether you like it or not, the television in your front room is becoming obsolete. Although you may well still have a big screen on the wall, it will be connected to a device such as a PC, cable device, set-top box, games console, TiVo amongst others. And that solitary experience of watching a TV show at 7pm on a Saturday night will be gone forever.
You will now use that big screen to watch TV and movies on demand. At a time of your choosing. You will interact with other fans around the world of 24 or House. Cameron Diaz fans will all chat and make comments while watching her latest movie. Bomb or a hit? You decide.
You will be able to play games and music, program shows, browse Ebay or Facebook. Order a pizza. And that is something you would never associate TV with 5 years ago.
The Networks are all involved and the public interest is high. So why arent we all watching online yet?
There is a bandwidth issue and the slow loading times of some streams have been an issue. But with the leaps and bounds in technology and internet TV development, soon everyone will be literally forced to start watching online.
With the new wave of Internet enabled TV sets and the massive interest and money being poured into the sector, you can bet your life that rather than being a step backwards. It is a redefining moment in our history and something we should all be welcoming.
Having to wait whilst a TV stream loads, watching it on a tiny screen, having to be connected to the net. Why do it? However, in contradiction to this argument, how comes every TV network and large organisation on the planet is pushing video and TV content onto the internet and into our homes?
There are so many websites now that give us the content that would traditionally be found on a television set, full length TV shows and movies complete with commercial breaks.
The big question is though, will this TV streaming on our PCs uproot us from sitting on the couch in front of the television set? There are many people now that have thrown out the TV in favour of watching TV via their computer screen.
The reason for the prolification of websites such as Hulu, Youtube and all of the Television Networks coming online, is because they all know that this is where the future belongs.
Wether you like it or not, the television in your front room is becoming obsolete. Although you may well still have a big screen on the wall, it will be connected to a device such as a PC, cable device, set-top box, games console, TiVo amongst others. And that solitary experience of watching a TV show at 7pm on a Saturday night will be gone forever.
You will now use that big screen to watch TV and movies on demand. At a time of your choosing. You will interact with other fans around the world of 24 or House. Cameron Diaz fans will all chat and make comments while watching her latest movie. Bomb or a hit? You decide.
You will be able to play games and music, program shows, browse Ebay or Facebook. Order a pizza. And that is something you would never associate TV with 5 years ago.
The Networks are all involved and the public interest is high. So why arent we all watching online yet?
There is a bandwidth issue and the slow loading times of some streams have been an issue. But with the leaps and bounds in technology and internet TV development, soon everyone will be literally forced to start watching online.
With the new wave of Internet enabled TV sets and the massive interest and money being poured into the sector, you can bet your life that rather than being a step backwards. It is a redefining moment in our history and something we should all be welcoming.
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