[videoblogging] Re: Flash video not suitable for iPhone, Apple CEO says
Interesting, cheers. Its a shame Apple hardware always hogs the limelight, I'l try to compare the archos spec with the iphone sometime and see what variations in CPU etc there is. Does it just handle flash .flv's or can it do flash in general in the browser? The latter is probably harder to get right, and would be something Apple would likely avoid unless it felt the same as desktop flash. Either way I gues there are business motives at work, the real technical issues may be used to justify this but not be the true reason? Cheers Steve Elbows --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Lisa Harper [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Flash video looks great on my Archos 605. Drop it in and it plays. Lisa On Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 8:27 PM, Steve Watkins [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Technical and business reasons both seem plausible. One technical reason would be that iphone UI is smooth because it uses hardware acceleration. Not trivial to allow flash to take advantage of that, or multitouch etc. And looking at how much cpu flash uses on the desktop, and previous experiences with flash on other mobile devices, its easy to imagine very poor framerates and quick battery loss. So Apple wont want things to run badly on its flagship mobile device, so they will stay away from flash unless the performance lives upto what people expect = not easy. Im convinced theyd rather not have flash than have flash at crappy framerates. Business side, I dont know what their relationship with Adobe is like, seems these days that they are not special friends, and also probably the kind of control-freakery Apple want to exert over what apps can run on non-hacked iphones ipod touch's, also plays a part. If the overriding urge for flash is because of video, then the gradual move over of a lot of flash video to flash h264 video will ease the problem, it isnt that hard to make a player that will use flash to encapsulate a mp4 in the browser on desktops, and embed the same mp4 directly for iphone browser playback, automatically. The iphone SDK announcement was interesting today but anybody who probes deeper isnt allowed to talk about the details, so we'll have to wait some months to see what apps come out, and how restrictive Apple are about sorts of apps (as they are acting as gatekeepers over what can be installed). Cheers Steve Elbows --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com videoblogging%40yahoogroups.com, Charles Iliya Krempeaux supercanadian@ wrote: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/03/05/tech-adobe-iphone.html Wonder if this is just business maneuver or if there's something (that's not a Red Herring) to the claims. -- Charles Iliya Krempeaux, B.Sc. http://ChangeLog.ca/ Motorsport Videos http://TireBiterZ.com/ Vlog Razor... Vlogging News... http://vlograzor.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[videoblogging] Re: Flash video not suitable for iPhone, Apple CEO says
Technical and business reasons both seem plausible. One technical reason would be that iphone UI is smooth because it uses hardware acceleration. Not trivial to allow flash to take advantage of that, or multitouch etc. And looking at how much cpu flash uses on the desktop, and previous experiences with flash on other mobile devices, its easy to imagine very poor framerates and quick battery loss. So Apple wont want things to run badly on its flagship mobile device, so they will stay away from flash unless the performance lives upto what people expect = not easy. Im convinced theyd rather not have flash than have flash at crappy framerates. Business side, I dont know what their relationship with Adobe is like, seems these days that they are not special friends, and also probably the kind of control-freakery Apple want to exert over what apps can run on non-hacked iphones ipod touch's, also plays a part. If the overriding urge for flash is because of video, then the gradual move over of a lot of flash video to flash h264 video will ease the problem, it isnt that hard to make a player that will use flash to encapsulate a mp4 in the browser on desktops, and embed the same mp4 directly for iphone browser playback, automatically. The iphone SDK announcement was interesting today but anybody who probes deeper isnt allowed to talk about the details, so we'll have to wait some months to see what apps come out, and how restrictive Apple are about sorts of apps (as they are acting as gatekeepers over what can be installed). Cheers Steve Elbows --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Charles Iliya Krempeaux [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/03/05/tech-adobe-iphone.html Wonder if this is just business maneuver or if there's something (that's not a Red Herring) to the claims. -- Charles Iliya Krempeaux, B.Sc. http://ChangeLog.ca/ Motorsport Videos http://TireBiterZ.com/ Vlog Razor... Vlogging News... http://vlograzor.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash video not suitable for iPhone, Apple CEO says
Flash video looks great on my Archos 605. Drop it in and it plays. Lisa On Thu, Mar 6, 2008 at 8:27 PM, Steve Watkins [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Technical and business reasons both seem plausible. One technical reason would be that iphone UI is smooth because it uses hardware acceleration. Not trivial to allow flash to take advantage of that, or multitouch etc. And looking at how much cpu flash uses on the desktop, and previous experiences with flash on other mobile devices, its easy to imagine very poor framerates and quick battery loss. So Apple wont want things to run badly on its flagship mobile device, so they will stay away from flash unless the performance lives upto what people expect = not easy. Im convinced theyd rather not have flash than have flash at crappy framerates. Business side, I dont know what their relationship with Adobe is like, seems these days that they are not special friends, and also probably the kind of control-freakery Apple want to exert over what apps can run on non-hacked iphones ipod touch's, also plays a part. If the overriding urge for flash is because of video, then the gradual move over of a lot of flash video to flash h264 video will ease the problem, it isnt that hard to make a player that will use flash to encapsulate a mp4 in the browser on desktops, and embed the same mp4 directly for iphone browser playback, automatically. The iphone SDK announcement was interesting today but anybody who probes deeper isnt allowed to talk about the details, so we'll have to wait some months to see what apps come out, and how restrictive Apple are about sorts of apps (as they are acting as gatekeepers over what can be installed). Cheers Steve Elbows --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com videoblogging%40yahoogroups.com, Charles Iliya Krempeaux [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2008/03/05/tech-adobe-iphone.html Wonder if this is just business maneuver or if there's something (that's not a Red Herring) to the claims. -- Charles Iliya Krempeaux, B.Sc. http://ChangeLog.ca/ Motorsport Videos http://TireBiterZ.com/ Vlog Razor... Vlogging News... http://vlograzor.com/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
I'll experiment with this format issue tonight. Meanwhile another option are things like this recently announced product that is a PC built into a TV: http://www.pocket-lint.co.uk/news/news.phtml/7029/8053/rock-meivo-lcd-computer-tv.phtml Not a very big screen for a TV, it strikes me that this device is actually a PC equivalent of the iMac, so it will be interesting to compare price as I still believe Apple is a little pricey, and its not just a case of their spec being above the PC to justify that extra price. They are certainly a lot more competitive in the last few years, but my brain still thinks Im paying an Apple style tax in the same way Sony stuff carries a premium. Anyway if one with a suitable screen size was available at the right price then that'd certainly be an interesting option to put media center on. Cheers Steve Elbows --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Rupert [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: They *say* that what works in the Player works in the Center, and their troubleshooting guide certainly gives that impression... but we'll see. As for the energy saving thing... I thought I was being good by multitasking the one computer rather than having separate Mac Mini or PC. Oh God, I have so many devices on right now. I'm going to turn them off and go to bed in moral despair. Goodnight :-) Rupert http://www.fatgirlinohio.org http://www.crowdabout.us/fatgirlinohio/myshow/
[videoblogging] re: flash video
Thanks for all of your responces since I originally posted this question. I guess my real question was why not use flash to publish a video using a .swf file? I thought 80 - 90% of the computers had the flash plug in in their browser to play a swf file. Would this not be easier than having to save your video file in so many different versions so everyone can play what you post, in one post? Daryl
Re: [videoblogging] re: flash video
Daryl, Some other people like will give you different and probably better answers about why people use anything other than Flash, and views about quality/downloadability versus streaming, etc. I'll stick to the Flash version / compatibility thing because I happen to have the numbers to hand. It's true that most people have *A* version of Flash - but it's a question of what version and how techie your audience are. Adobe say 98% of computers have Flash player. Something like 90-95% worldwide have Flash 7, which is what YouTube plays on, but it uses an old compression format and isn't very good quality. So a lot of people might like to provide a higher quality (say Quicktime) alternative if streaming with Flash 7. Flash 8 and the new Flash 9 offer *much* better quality, but far fewer people in the general population have them. Flash 9 has only 56% penetration in 'Mature Markets' (rich countries). That's less than Quicktime or Windows Media Player or even Real. See: http://www.adobe.com/products/player_census/flashplayer/ version_penetration.html and http://www.adobe.com/products/player_census/flashplayer/ (These are optimistic, and I think they've made a mistake in their Emerging Markets Flash 9 figure) To use a Blip.tv video, a lot of people will have to download an updated player - and even though it's only a couple of meg, it's too much for many non techie people. I'm amazed how many of my family and friends (in their 30s!) call me up and say It tells me I need Flash 9 player, so I couldn't see it. or You'll have to install it next time you're round. The phone call has involved more time and effort than clicking the link to install Flash 9, but they don't know that. They're used to clicking a YouTube link and seeing the video, no effort. Giving all the formats means you widen the options for your audience. Just one reason to do this is so that they can set an aggregator such as iTunes to download high quality QT files and use them in things like iPods. I watch most vlogs on an iPod at the moment, travelling between clients on the tube and bus. (No doubt I'll soon get mugged.) It's possible to convert a flv file to iPod and transfer it, but too much hassle. This way, they just come in automatically. By using a program like VisualHub, you can do multiple format conversions, upload them to Blip (who let you upload multiple versions) and give your audience the choice. Then, if you see some formats are not getting enough hits to justify the effort, stop providing them. Rupert Rupert http://www.fatgirlinohio.org http://www.crowdabout.us/fatgirlinohio/myshow/ On 15 Mar 2007, at 13:19, Daryl Urig wrote: Thanks for all of your responces since I originally posted this question. I guess my real question was why not use flash to publish a video using a .swf file? I thought 80 - 90% of the computers had the flash plug in in their browser to play a swf file. Would this not be easier than having to save your video file in so many different versions so everyone can play what you post, in one post? Daryl [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[videoblogging] re: flash video
Rupert, thanks for comments. With flash you can add navigation buttons if you want to have a little more than a video, you can have an interactive video. Also, with flash you can save out a quicktime and still have some of the navigation capabilaties. Coming from a flash perspective, as I am, what kind of file formats would you make available on your vblog site to keep the most viewers happy? I am working on a mac so would probably use Imovie to to video editing, and also have pc accessability. Daryl
Fwd: [videoblogging] re: flash video
Daryl, I think, in the end, everyone agrees that Flash keeps most viewers happy. And i agree about the advanced features it offers - I have already professed my love for the buttons they've built into their flash players over at http://crowdabout.us and I think there's room for a whole lot more where that comes from. I also work on a Mac, so I'd say to you that it's easier to provide Quicktime and FLV - I just output in Quicktime and send it to Blip.tv who convert it to a flv file automatically. They also allow an automated cross-posting over to your blog with both formats linked. I want to make them available as wmv as well, but haven't got round to it. But then I only post about once a month, and mainly for my friends and family, and although I still get a few hundred passersby from somewhere or other, it's not a big deal. If it were my business or if I were trying to get a big audience, I'd probably make the effort to provide all sorts of formats including 3gp like Rocketboom Galacticast and many more. Rupert Rupert http://www.fatgirlinohio.org http://www.crowdabout.us/fatgirlinohio/myshow/ On 15 Mar 2007, at 15:27, Daryl Urig wrote: Rupert, thanks for comments. With flash you can add navigation buttons if you want to have a little more than a video, you can have an interactive video. Also, with flash you can save out a quicktime and still have some of the navigation capabilaties. Coming from a flash perspective, as I am, what kind of file formats would you make available on your vblog site to keep the most viewers happy? I am working on a mac so would probably use Imovie to to video editing, and also have pc accessability. Daryl [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
Hi Daryl, I know this conversation has kind of gotten far afield of the original question, but most of it is relevant to some degree or another. As a content creator, I prefer Flash .flv because of the additional flexibility it gives me in using so many other services that support flash video. But as a consumer of video online, I just want what I want, when I want it, without hassle. So, knowing that this is the attitude of everyone who encounters my content, I do try to provide multiple formats so that I can capture as many new people as possible. BUt among the formats I offer for my vlog through blip.tv (which will host the original version, as well as a flash version, if you set it to) I usually upload an mp4, and ALWAYS have them transcode it and offer the .flv as well. Blip.tv will cross-post to my vlog, and they use a flash player (swf) to play my video (.flv) so it is pretty no-hassle. Unless you have people, like Rupert mentioned, who are hesitant to update Flash Player on their computers...Mom, are you reading this??? Carter http://crowdabout.us --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Rupert [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Daryl, Some other people like will give you different and probably better answers about why people use anything other than Flash, and views about quality/downloadability versus streaming, etc. I'll stick to the Flash version / compatibility thing because I happen to have the numbers to hand. It's true that most people have *A* version of Flash - but it's a question of what version and how techie your audience are. Adobe say 98% of computers have Flash player. Something like 90-95% worldwide have Flash 7, which is what YouTube plays on, but it uses an old compression format and isn't very good quality. So a lot of people might like to provide a higher quality (say Quicktime) alternative if streaming with Flash 7. Flash 8 and the new Flash 9 offer *much* better quality, but far fewer people in the general population have them. Flash 9 has only 56% penetration in 'Mature Markets' (rich countries). That's less than Quicktime or Windows Media Player or even Real. See: http://www.adobe.com/products/player_census/flashplayer/ version_penetration.html and http://www.adobe.com/products/player_census/flashplayer/ (These are optimistic, and I think they've made a mistake in their Emerging Markets Flash 9 figure) To use a Blip.tv video, a lot of people will have to download an updated player - and even though it's only a couple of meg, it's too much for many non techie people. I'm amazed how many of my family and friends (in their 30s!) call me up and say It tells me I need Flash 9 player, so I couldn't see it. or You'll have to install it next time you're round. The phone call has involved more time and effort than clicking the link to install Flash 9, but they don't know that. They're used to clicking a YouTube link and seeing the video, no effort. Giving all the formats means you widen the options for your audience. Just one reason to do this is so that they can set an aggregator such as iTunes to download high quality QT files and use them in things like iPods. I watch most vlogs on an iPod at the moment, travelling between clients on the tube and bus. (No doubt I'll soon get mugged.) It's possible to convert a flv file to iPod and transfer it, but too much hassle. This way, they just come in automatically. By using a program like VisualHub, you can do multiple format conversions, upload them to Blip (who let you upload multiple versions) and give your audience the choice. Then, if you see some formats are not getting enough hits to justify the effort, stop providing them. Rupert Rupert http://www.fatgirlinohio.org http://www.crowdabout.us/fatgirlinohio/myshow/ On 15 Mar 2007, at 13:19, Daryl Urig wrote: Thanks for all of your responces since I originally posted this question. I guess my real question was why not use flash to publish a video using a .swf file? I thought 80 - 90% of the computers had the flash plug in in their browser to play a swf file. Would this not be easier than having to save your video file in so many different versions so everyone can play what you post, in one post? Daryl [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
Daryl, you mention that you would also have pc accessability while working with flash. Would the new Mac with the Intel chip that can run Windows qualify as pc accessability. I'm planning on buying a second computer. I considered a good pc but then decided the new Mac with the Intel chip would work just as well. I edit with iMovie but like programs like Microsoft Word in the PC. However, since switching to Mac, I view the PC as a slowly dying dinosaur. Is there any reason I should consider getting a top of the line pc instead of a new Intel Mac? Money is not an important consideration. I never worked with video on a PC because my old PC didn't have the strength. Randolfe (Randy) Wicker --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Daryl Urig [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Rupert, thanks for comments. With flash you can add navigation buttons if you want to have a little more than a video, you can have an interactive video. Also, with flash you can save out a quicktime and still have some of the navigation capabilaties. Coming from a flash perspective, as I am, what kind of file formats would you make available on your vblog site to keep the most viewers happy? I am working on a mac so would probably use Imovie to to video editing, and also have pc accessability. Daryl
Re: [videoblogging] Re: flash video
Randy, I'm a Mac fan and have both PC Macs (PowerPC G4 x2). One of my many freelancing jobs is helping people sort out their computer problems. I don't think the PC is a slowly dying dinosaur. PCs are here to stay because people like what they know. You could look at Mac's transition to Intel as a slow convergence towards a world of oneness where both exist together in a compatible PC world. Macs are now really just smart-looking high-spec PCs, with a slightly different OS. Vista has learnt from and copied OS X in its appearance and functionality.The next computer I'm going to buy is not a Mac - I've had too many hard drive failures on my G4s and my iPod to love Apple hardware any more. It's all about features. I have all the design and editing software I need on Mac already, but what I want from PC is Windows Media Center - integrated TV, HDR, Video on demand, Podcasting, RSS, Music, blah blah blah. This is traditional Mac territory, but Vista has done it better this time. Apple TV is seriously short on features. Rupert http://www.fatgirlinohio.org http://www.crowdabout.us/fatgirlinohio/myshow/ On 15 Mar 2007, at 17:39, humancloner1997 wrote: Daryl, you mention that you would also have pc accessability while working with flash. Would the new Mac with the Intel chip that can run Windows qualify as pc accessability. I'm planning on buying a second computer. I considered a good pc but then decided the new Mac with the Intel chip would work just as well. I edit with iMovie but like programs like Microsoft Word in the PC. However, since switching to Mac, I view the PC as a slowly dying dinosaur. Is there any reason I should consider getting a top of the line pc instead of a new Intel Mac? Money is not an important consideration. I never worked with video on a PC because my old PC didn't have the strength. Randolfe (Randy) Wicker --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Daryl Urig [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Rupert, thanks for comments. With flash you can add navigation buttons if you want to have a little more than a video, you can have an interactive video. Also, with flash you can save out a quicktime and still have some of the navigation capabilaties. Coming from a flash perspective, as I am, what kind of file formats would you make available on your vblog site to keep the most viewers happy? I am working on a mac so would probably use Imovie to to video editing, and also have pc accessability. Daryl [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
Reasons people in general would buy a PC: Cost (I know its not an issue for you but its a large reason that the PC isnt dying out significantly, and that most people I know dont even look at a Mac before buying a PC) 3D gamers probably want better graphics cards than most Macs dont have Certain other specific hardware may not run on Mac They havent seen or dont like OS X, or they dont know that windows works on Intel macs. They dont like Apple for some other reason, or there just doesnt seem to be a Mac with the right spec for them available. For your needs it sounds like a Mac would be a great fit. Parallels desktop will run things like Word very nicely, and if you needed higher performance for video editing or games or something, then Bootcamp works well. The Intel Macs are effectively at least 90% standard PC hardware so the performance should be about the same as an equivalently spec'd PC. Even Vista works mostly fine on the Macbooks, just have to fiddle about with drivers a bit and it really helps if you bung at least 2GB of RAM in whatever Mac you get. Did you ever see the demo Michael Verdi (I think) did of Parallels feature where you can have Windows programs appear in windows as if they were within OSX, with things like dragdrop working. Its wild and really starts to blur the lines. Maybe a good idea to wait till Leopard comes out before buying a new Mac, as I dont think it can be very far away now? Not that Leopard seems to have any 'killer' must-have features from what Ive seen, but inevitably software that needs Leopard will appear at some point. Cheers Steve Elbows --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, humancloner1997 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Daryl, you mention that you would also have pc accessability while working with flash. Would the new Mac with the Intel chip that can run Windows qualify as pc accessability. I'm planning on buying a second computer. I considered a good pc but then decided the new Mac with the Intel chip would work just as well. I edit with iMovie but like programs like Microsoft Word in the PC. However, since switching to Mac, I view the PC as a slowly dying dinosaur. Is there any reason I should consider getting a top of the line pc instead of a new Intel Mac? Money is not an important consideration. I never worked with video on a PC because my old PC didn't have the strength. Randolfe (Randy) Wicker
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
I dont think the PC is dying either. Its not impossible that Windows could die one day in the future, but as you pointed out, the Mac is mostly PC hardware these days. The ever changing set of standards for different bits that make up PC hardware, and make it 'PC compatible' is not going anywhere from what I can see. Here in the UK Apple had hardly any presence or market share or even brand awareness, until the last few years (eg they opened the second UK apple store just under 2 years ago). Until I got into VJing I didnt know anybody at all with a Mac. Now I have 3 Macs, and one reason for this is that I love how quiet they are. I love my macbook because it has no fans on the base, but then again maybe Apple products dont always live as long as PCs because Apple have different thermal standards maybe? Just speculation, My oldest Mac is not 2 years old yet and Ive been blessed with no failures so far, but they will certainly be harder to salvage when something goes wrong than the average PC. So anyways Im interested in Ruperts opinions of the Windows Media Center thang, why he thinks it is right. I havent tried it much but I was under the impression it was mostly compatible with wmv,a nd whatever microsofts format is for recording digital tv. So I assumed media of other formats has to be converted to be watched, which is an instant turnoff for me. Have I got this detail all wrong? I dont think a comparison between a computer with windows media center on it, and Apple TV, is comparing like for like. The equivalent Apple thing would be a full mac computer (eg mac mini) with front-row on it, and the Apple TV is more like what Microsoft promote as 'windows media center extenders'. These are devices such as the Xbox360 that are connected to the TV and can play media that is stored on the Windows Media Center computer, via network. Although I think they need to stream it live, wheras the Apple TV has a hard drive? Still at the end of the day personally it comes back to how loud the hardware is, and what formats it can support. As I got on quite well with eyeTV for recording, id probably get a mac mini, use eye-tv, itunes frontrow on it, and then use VLC to support more formats. Granted this is still too fiddley as only frontrow really has the right UI designed for distance TV use, but even if I went for a PC solution I think Id end up looking for 3rd party stuff I guess, to deal with format issues. Remote control is another issue, I think I prefer Apples simplistic approach, although it has limitations. Been experimenting with getting Wii remote to work with computers, seems more stable flexible on PC than Mac at the moment unfortunately, but really enhances the possibilities of what interaction if feasible from a distance with a remote, great stuff, and makes a full-blown computer with net surfing etc as well as media playback, an attractive thing to connect to a tv. Its a shame the Wii itself doesnt handle a wider range of media and have some nice storage options, as its dead quiet, probably doesnt use too much power, is small and the remote rocks. The web browser for it is interesting and the news/weather aggregators are very nice ways to interact with watch data from a distance. Youtube works on it (flash 7 in browser) but thats about the only commonly used vlog format I think I can watch on the Wii. Cheers Steve Elbows --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Rupert [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Randy, I'm a Mac fan and have both PC Macs (PowerPC G4 x2). One of my many freelancing jobs is helping people sort out their computer problems. I don't think the PC is a slowly dying dinosaur. PCs are here to stay because people like what they know. You could look at Mac's transition to Intel as a slow convergence towards a world of oneness where both exist together in a compatible PC world. Macs are now really just smart-looking high-spec PCs, with a slightly different OS. Vista has learnt from and copied OS X in its appearance and functionality.The next computer I'm going to buy is not a Mac - I've had too many hard drive failures on my G4s and my iPod to love Apple hardware any more. It's all about features. I have all the design and editing software I need on Mac already, but what I want from PC is Windows Media Center - integrated TV, HDR, Video on demand, Podcasting, RSS, Music, blah blah blah. This is traditional Mac territory, but Vista has done it better this time. Apple TV is seriously short on features. Rupert http://www.fatgirlinohio.org http://www.crowdabout.us/fatgirlinohio/myshow/ On 15 Mar 2007, at 17:39, humancloner1997 wrote: Daryl, you mention that you would also have pc accessability while working with flash. Would the new Mac with the Intel chip that can run Windows qualify as pc accessability. I'm planning on buying a second computer. I considered a good pc but then decided the new Mac with the Intel chip
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
Wow, just when I thought I'd finally reached a decision, you have totally changed everything. I started with Mac OX Tiger. In the past, I've had two crashes with Windows that were time consuming and expensive and disastrous. I'm thinking about starting a podcast because I like interviewing. I've also been interested in the discussion about the Windows media center, watching vlogs on the TV, etc. Is there a resource on the Internet that really discusses the Vista versus Mac features in greater detail? Thanks for the quick response and helpful observations. Randolfe (Randy) Wicker --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Rupert [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Randy, I'm a Mac fan and have both PC Macs (PowerPC G4 x2). One of my many freelancing jobs is helping people sort out their computer problems. I don't think the PC is a slowly dying dinosaur. PCs are here to stay because people like what they know. You could look at Mac's transition to Intel as a slow convergence towards a world of oneness where both exist together in a compatible PC world. Macs are now really just smart-looking high-spec PCs, with a slightly different OS. Vista has learnt from and copied OS X in its appearance and functionality.The next computer I'm going to buy is not a Mac - I've had too many hard drive failures on my G4s and my iPod to love Apple hardware any more. It's all about features. I have all the design and editing software I need on Mac already, but what I want from PC is Windows Media Center - integrated TV, HDR, Video on demand, Podcasting, RSS, Music, blah blah blah. This is traditional Mac territory, but Vista has done it better this time. Apple TV is seriously short on features. Rupert http://www.fatgirlinohio.org http://www.crowdabout.us/fatgirlinohio/myshow/ On 15 Mar 2007, at 17:39, humancloner1997 wrote: Daryl, you mention that you would also have pc accessability while working with flash. Would the new Mac with the Intel chip that can run Windows qualify as pc accessability. I'm planning on buying a second computer. I considered a good pc but then decided the new Mac with the Intel chip would work just as well. I edit with iMovie but like programs like Microsoft Word in the PC. However, since switching to Mac, I view the PC as a slowly dying dinosaur. Is there any reason I should consider getting a top of the line pc instead of a new Intel Mac? Money is not an important consideration. I never worked with video on a PC because my old PC didn't have the strength. Randolfe (Randy) Wicker --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Daryl Urig daryl@ wrote: Rupert, thanks for comments. With flash you can add navigation buttons if you want to have a little more than a video, you can have an interactive video. Also, with flash you can save out a quicktime and still have some of the navigation capabilaties. Coming from a flash perspective, as I am, what kind of file formats would you make available on your vblog site to keep the most viewers happy? I am working on a mac so would probably use Imovie to to video editing, and also have pc accessability. Daryl [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
Thanks Steve, I find what you say especially fascinating. I just wonder how far off is the new Leopard Mac? My current Mac Tiger has two internal 500 GB hard drives, one external 1000 GB (terabyte?) drive and room for one more 1000 GB drive. I really don't have to worry about space since I can always find some stuff to put back on tape. I have been reading comments about Vista. Most focused on Vista's requirement for room. I'll watch Verdi's video. A friend of a friend got Parallel had trouble with it. When he contacted Apple, even though it was/is advertised on their site (in a sidebar), they claim it is not their product and wouldn't help him with it. That was a surprise to me and a bit disappointing. Randolfe (Randy) Wicker Hoboken, NJ 07030 www.RandyWickerReporting.blogspot.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Steve Watkins [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Reasons people in general would buy a PC: Cost (I know its not an issue for you but its a large reason that the PC isnt dying out significantly, and that most people I know dont even look at a Mac before buying a PC) 3D gamers probably want better graphics cards than most Macs dont have Certain other specific hardware may not run on Mac They havent seen or dont like OS X, or they dont know that windows works on Intel macs. They dont like Apple for some other reason, or there just doesnt seem to be a Mac with the right spec for them available. For your needs it sounds like a Mac would be a great fit. Parallels desktop will run things like Word very nicely, and if you needed higher performance for video editing or games or something, then Bootcamp works well. The Intel Macs are effectively at least 90% standard PC hardware so the performance should be about the same as an equivalently spec'd PC. Even Vista works mostly fine on the Macbooks, just have to fiddle about with drivers a bit and it really helps if you bung at least 2GB of RAM in whatever Mac you get. Did you ever see the demo Michael Verdi (I think) did of Parallels feature where you can have Windows programs appear in windows as if they were within OSX, with things like dragdrop working. Its wild and really starts to blur the lines. Maybe a good idea to wait till Leopard comes out before buying a new Mac, as I dont think it can be very far away now? Not that Leopard seems to have any 'killer' must-have features from what Ive seen, but inevitably software that needs Leopard will appear at some point. Cheers Steve Elbows --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, humancloner1997 rhwicker@ wrote: Daryl, you mention that you would also have pc accessability while working with flash. Would the new Mac with the Intel chip that can run Windows qualify as pc accessability. I'm planning on buying a second computer. I considered a good pc but then decided the new Mac with the Intel chip would work just as well. I edit with iMovie but like programs like Microsoft Word in the PC. However, since switching to Mac, I view the PC as a slowly dying dinosaur. Is there any reason I should consider getting a top of the line pc instead of a new Intel Mac? Money is not an important consideration. I never worked with video on a PC because my old PC didn't have the strength. Randolfe (Randy) Wicker
Re: [videoblogging] Re: flash video
Sorry to mess wit yo hed :-) What you should really do is get Linux. Just kidding. I haven't seen a direct comparison resource yet but I haven't really really looked - and SO much of it is subjective and will be argued over passionately by Mac lovers and Mac haters (it's the Mac factor that polarises - you don't really get PC lovers in the same way) - often the discussions online are about as informative as people debating who's the best sports team. More and more it's just a matter of taste and comfort, I think, rather than which is better. I still like my Macs (although maybe my love has died), and I've suffered from Dell, Toshiba and Sony hard drive failures too, so you can't win. All crashes on any computer are disastrous and time consuming, even if you've backed up. The thing about Apple, though, is they are getting a bad rep for failing just after the warranty runs out... so you pay a lot for Apple Care - and then you hear horror stories about Apple Care refusing to cover stuff, even though you've paid. I personally have had both very bad and very good Apple customer service in the last 12 months. One of the reasons I'd never get rid of Mac completely is Final Cut Pro, which I know really well and which runs really well on my Macs. But... you know... you hear some pretty good things about Premiere and Vegas from people in this Group, too. If I lost everything in a fire, would I replace with Macs...? Probably only because I feel safe with FCP and I don't know the others. If there was a solid Linux editing app that people raved about, I think I might take the plunge and switch to that just on principle... because I don't really like the way either Microsoft or Apple do business. As far as Vista, all I've had is a few short plays on some of my clients' new computers, and it seems like a good fusion of OS X and XP. But I don't *really* know enough yet. It's the most important thing to bear in mind when you're buying a new PC now. There's poor driver support for old devices, and it's very hungry, so you need a high-spec PC, but even basic Macs have always been quite high spec to do the things they do (and subsequently perceived as over-priced, because the entry level is expensive). Maybe the days of cheap, grinding PCs are coming to an end - and maybe that's what Microsoft and the hardware manufacturers want. Most of the people I see who are being driven mad by slow computers (XP AND OS X) are suffering as a result of being sold too little RAM (usually 256MB) at the start. As for upgrading to Vista on an old PC... life is too short. Hope that's confused you sufficiently. Good luck. :) Rupert http://www.fatgirlinohio.org http://www.crowdabout.us/fatgirlinohio/myshow/ On 15 Mar 2007, at 19:12, humancloner1997 wrote: Wow, just when I thought I'd finally reached a decision, you have totally changed everything. I started with Mac OX Tiger. In the past, I've had two crashes with Windows that were time consuming and expensive and disastrous. I'm thinking about starting a podcast because I like interviewing. I've also been interested in the discussion about the Windows media center, watching vlogs on the TV, etc. Is there a resource on the Internet that really discusses the Vista versus Mac features in greater detail? Thanks for the quick response and helpful observations. Randolfe (Randy) Wicker --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Rupert [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Randy, I'm a Mac fan and have both PC Macs (PowerPC G4 x2). One of my many freelancing jobs is helping people sort out their computer problems. I don't think the PC is a slowly dying dinosaur. PCs are here to stay because people like what they know. You could look at Mac's transition to Intel as a slow convergence towards a world of oneness where both exist together in a compatible PC world. Macs are now really just smart-looking high-spec PCs, with a slightly different OS. Vista has learnt from and copied OS X in its appearance and functionality. The next computer I'm going to buy is not a Mac - I've had too many hard drive failures on my G4s and my iPod to love Apple hardware any more. It's all about features. I have all the design and editing software I need on Mac already, but what I want from PC is Windows Media Center - integrated TV, HDR, Video on demand, Podcasting, RSS, Music, blah blah blah. This is traditional Mac territory, but Vista has done it better this time. Apple TV is seriously short on features. Rupert http://www.fatgirlinohio.org http://www.crowdabout.us/fatgirlinohio/myshow/ On 15 Mar 2007, at 17:39, humancloner1997 wrote: Daryl, you mention that you would also have pc accessability while working with flash. Would the new Mac with the Intel chip that can run Windows qualify as pc accessability. I'm planning on buying a second computer. I considered a good pc but then
[videoblogging] re: flash video
Does anyone else have formats they would recomend for video blogging? On the mac PC question. I would go Mac. Always had a mac and you can always have a pc for the things you can't do on mac. Mac's have been reliable to me, I don't download lots of junk and do lots of experimenting, so that cuts me down from getting viruses and such. And they really don't design many viruses for macs, there are not enough of them to make it worth while. Just cazy designers like me. Daryl
[videoblogging] re: flash video
Does anyone else have formats they would recomend for video blogging? On the mac PC question. I would go Mac. Always had a mac and you can always have a pc for the things you can't do on mac. Mac's have been reliable to me, I don't download lots of junk and do lots of experimenting, so that cuts me down from getting viruses and such. And they really don't design many viruses for macs, there are not enough of them to make it worth while. Just cazy designers like me. Daryl
Re: [videoblogging] Re: flash video
On 15 Mar 2007, at 18:34, Steve Watkins wrote: So anyways Im interested in Ruperts opinions of the Windows Media Center thang, why he thinks it is right. I havent tried it much but I was under the impression it was mostly compatible with wmv,a nd whatever microsofts format is for recording digital tv. So I assumed media of other formats has to be converted to be watched, which is an instant turnoff for me. Have I got this detail all wrong? Steve, MS doesn't provide support out of the box, because they're evil bastards, but Windows Media Player will play MP4 if you download a decoder pack. So it's a relatively small hack. This is from the Windows Media Player multimedia file formats support page: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316992#34 Windows Media Player does not support the playback of the .mp4 file format. You can play back .mp4 media files in Windows Media Player when you install DirectShow-compatible MPEG-4 decoder packs. DirectShow-compatible MPEG-4 decoder packs include the Ligos LSX-MPEG Player and the EnvivioTV. http://www.ligos.com (http://www.ligos.com) http://www.envivio.com/products/ But no Quicktime, of course, under any circumstances, ever. Which is a drag. What's wrong with these people? Why can't they all just hold hands and be friends. If we all held hands, no one would be able to make a fist. I'm interested in my opinion, too :-) -- I haven't actually used WM Center yet, but the way I look at it, this is what the public will use if they use anything, so I'm intrigued... and I think Apple have shot themselves in the foot by not integrating TV and Hard disk recording. EyeTV is not integral to Front Row - you have to buy and install separately, and from the sound of the reviews of the latest version, it's a pain to use the remote to switch back between EyeTV and Front Row. Idiocy. Plus, WMC seems to make it easier to play one thing through your TV while using your PC as usual on your monitor. Whereas a Mac Mini or iMac solution is a dedicated media machine. Another attraction for the general non-techie public. As you say, comparing Apple TV and WMC is not like for like - but it was a golden opportunity for Apple. Who REALLY wants a box for hundreds of pounds that only lets them play their iTunes music and videos through their TV...? It's a gadget, not a utility. Comparing the Windows Media Center extender with the Apple TV, you seem to get almost full WMC functionality through the extender, even if it's an XBOX360 (which is useful in its own right). I don't know... I just don't *get* Apple TV - but I'm probably wrong. I have to say - I never thought I'd be advocating Microsoft in an online forum, particularly one devoted to media. Where did it all go wrong? I worked at MTV a few years ago, and the head of advertising had a poster of a blue-eyed blonde teenager on his wall, with a man in a suit standing on her shoulder and climbing into her ear. The caption was The MTV Generation: Get Inside Their Heads. Dark days. But I think that's what I want to do - get inside the heads of those people who will be starting to use V.o.D. on their couches, and WMC is the way that I think it might go. I want to see if it's possible to set it up in a way that my wife will like using it, the way she loves Sky+. A funny kind of inverse early-adopting. Rupert http://www.fatgirlinohio.org http://www.crowdabout.us/fatgirlinohio/myshow/ On 15 Mar 2007, at 18:34, Steve Watkins wrote: So anyways Im interested in Ruperts opinions of the Windows Media Center thang, why he thinks it is right. I havent tried it much but I was under the impression it was mostly compatible with wmv,a nd whatever microsofts format is for recording digital tv. So I assumed media of other formats has to be converted to be watched, which is an instant turnoff for me. Have I got this detail all wrong? I dont think a comparison between a computer with windows media center on it, and Apple TV, is comparing like for like. The equivalent Apple thing would be a full mac computer (eg mac mini) with front-row on it, and the Apple TV is more like what Microsoft promote as 'windows media center extenders'. These are devices such as the Xbox360 that are connected to the TV and can play media that is stored on the Windows Media Center computer, via network. Although I think they need to stream it live, wheras the Apple TV has a hard drive? Still at the end of the day personally it comes back to how loud the hardware is, and what formats it can support. As I got on quite well with eyeTV for recording, id probably get a mac mini, use eye-tv, itunes frontrow on it, and then use VLC to support more formats. Granted this is still too fiddley as only frontrow really has the right UI designed for distance TV use, but even if I went for a PC solution I think Id end up looking for 3rd party stuff I guess, to deal with format issues. Remote control
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
All the rumouring about Leopard suggests it will be out this month or next month. The last major update to Tiger just came out the other day. And apparently Apple have kept some of its best new features a secret, so they can do they proper 'wow' thing on launch. But Ive no idea what those features might be. So I guess your current Mac is a Mac Pro? Ive never had one of those, but I hear there may be an 8 cpu core edition coming soon, and that theres a new version of final cut that is going to want fast hardware. Your graphics card choices are also a bit more flexible if you are talking Mac Pro. Even if you dont use such things for games, increasingly Apple's creative apps are coming to use such hardware, think the next final cut has a 'hardware accelerated' version, not sure of detail. To be fair Apple arent going to tech support Parallels because it isnt their product, they cant support all the software written by 3rd parties, and in this case the support from the people who actually make it seems quite good. And Bootcamp doesnt officially support Vista I dont think, but maybe this will change with Leopard, and in practice Vista can work, Ive got it here on the cheapest macbook I could get my hands on, but witht he RAM upgraded to 2gb. Meanwhile I have windowsXP installed to work with parallels inside OSX, which I use for microsoft office etc. Im still not sure what I think of Vista. I certainly like it, I like that theyve made icons bigger and generally it looks nice at high resolutions. The 'aero glass' stuff is not bad but Im not sure its worth the 3d graphics power it uses. Still even though quite a lot of the design changes are inspired by OS X no doubt, it still doesnt really look or feel like OS X to me, so Im not sure how much more it will appeal to Mac users than Windows XP did, time will tell. I think maybe I prefer having a sidebar for widgets than the dashboard thing of Apple, but then again Im just not sure. Ive always preferred the fonts on the Mac, and maybe one reason I like it is that it doesnt remind me of my day job working with Windows PCs a lot :D --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, humancloner1997 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Thanks Steve, I find what you say especially fascinating. I just wonder how far off is the new Leopard Mac? My current Mac Tiger has two internal 500 GB hard drives, one external 1000 GB (terabyte?) drive and room for one more 1000 GB drive. I really don't have to worry about space since I can always find some stuff to put back on tape. I have been reading comments about Vista. Most focused on Vista's requirement for room. I'll watch Verdi's video. A friend of a friend got Parallel had trouble with it. When he contacted Apple, even though it was/is advertised on their site (in a sidebar), they claim it is not their product and wouldn't help him with it. That was a surprise to me and a bit disappointing. Randolfe (Randy) Wicker Hoboken, NJ 07030 www.RandyWickerReporting.blogspot.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Steve Watkins steve@ wrote: Reasons people in general would buy a PC: Cost (I know its not an issue for you but its a large reason that the PC isnt dying out significantly, and that most people I know dont even look at a Mac before buying a PC) 3D gamers probably want better graphics cards than most Macs dont have Certain other specific hardware may not run on Mac They havent seen or dont like OS X, or they dont know that windows works on Intel macs. They dont like Apple for some other reason, or there just doesnt seem to be a Mac with the right spec for them available. For your needs it sounds like a Mac would be a great fit. Parallels desktop will run things like Word very nicely, and if you needed higher performance for video editing or games or something, then Bootcamp works well. The Intel Macs are effectively at least 90% standard PC hardware so the performance should be about the same as an equivalently spec'd PC. Even Vista works mostly fine on the Macbooks, just have to fiddle about with drivers a bit and it really helps if you bung at least 2GB of RAM in whatever Mac you get. Did you ever see the demo Michael Verdi (I think) did of Parallels feature where you can have Windows programs appear in windows as if they were within OSX, with things like dragdrop working. Its wild and really starts to blur the lines. Maybe a good idea to wait till Leopard comes out before buying a new Mac, as I dont think it can be very far away now? Not that Leopard seems to have any 'killer' must-have features from what Ive seen, but inevitably software that needs Leopard will appear at some point. Cheers Steve Elbows --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, humancloner1997 rhwicker@ wrote: Daryl, you mention that you would also have pc accessability while working with flash. Would the new Mac
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
Cheers for the info. My fear is that what plays through media center is not exactly the same as what can be made to play through windows media player. I have sucessfully watched mp4 through windows media player, by installing a codec, and back in the days where I was always ranting about mpeg4 h264, I hoped that there would be plenty of less obscure ways that people could watch mp4's without quicktime or VLC, on windows. This was part of my call for people to consider using .mp4 not .mov and to get away from the idea that .mp4 is an Apple or quicktime specific format. In the end the player encoder that comes with nero burning rom suite of software proved to be a good alternative, but thats going way off topic as its nothing to dow ith media center or media player. So, need to check whether you can actually play all formats you have directshow codecs for, in media center, and that its not limited by file extension or something. Certainly I wouldnt expect the media xtender part of the xbox360 to be able to handle anything other than wmv, which is where the M$ solution starts to stink for me. I share your opinion on the Apple TV, I think its one of Apple's riskiest products in the last few years, but it did seem like a good fit with all the video theyve started selling on itunes. I think I was underimpressed with its maximum resolution, considering the emerging HD age, and I cant see it selling in huge numbers like ipods do. It either needs to do more, or cost less. Wit their current design they probably cant make it all that much cheaper, so it will remain on the fringes to a certain extent, or maybe not and I am s wrong. Im glad they are giving it a try anyway. Meanwhile I think microsoft have been trying to get onto set-top-boxes connected to televisions for very many years. Think they probably had trouble finding enough partners, getting the price right etc. There must be something good about media center PC's because I know a few people that use them, but I think Microsoft hoped in the past to conqeur this market from a different direction. Most Media Centers are being bought as new PC's with that capability, coming with the TV card and the remote and that version of Windows, and which traditionally were at the more expensive end of the PC market. Costs seem to have dropped and the software improved over the years, so now there are sub £400 media center PC's, so maybe it will catch on more. Plus Media Center stuff is included with some versions of Vista, so more people might build their own. I wonder how the range of purchasable video content that has DRM compatible with media center, compares to the apple tv. As I worry about the energy outlook in the future, I suppose I should factor that into my thinking. So I should not like solutions that require a PC to be on somewhere else at the same time to stream content to the extender. I guess the ipod would class as about as low powered a device as you can get to give a reasonable TV video watching experience, although these issues are rather overshadowed by the large wattage of many of todays large televisions. So maybe I shouldnt be trying to watch stuff on a big screen at all if I care that much! Cheers Steve Elbows --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Rupert [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On 15 Mar 2007, at 18:34, Steve Watkins wrote: So anyways Im interested in Ruperts opinions of the Windows Media Center thang, why he thinks it is right. I havent tried it much but I was under the impression it was mostly compatible with wmv,a nd whatever microsofts format is for recording digital tv. So I assumed media of other formats has to be converted to be watched, which is an instant turnoff for me. Have I got this detail all wrong? Steve, MS doesn't provide support out of the box, because they're evil bastards, but Windows Media Player will play MP4 if you download a decoder pack. So it's a relatively small hack. This is from the Windows Media Player multimedia file formats support page: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316992#34 Windows Media Player does not support the playback of the .mp4 file format. You can play back .mp4 media files in Windows Media Player when you install DirectShow-compatible MPEG-4 decoder packs. DirectShow-compatible MPEG-4 decoder packs include the Ligos LSX-MPEG Player and the EnvivioTV. http://www.ligos.com (http://www.ligos.com) http://www.envivio.com/products/ But no Quicktime, of course, under any circumstances, ever. Which is a drag. What's wrong with these people? Why can't they all just hold hands and be friends. If we all held hands, no one would be able to make a fist. I'm interested in my opinion, too :-) -- I haven't actually used WM Center yet, but the way I look at it, this is what the public will use if they use anything, so I'm intrigued... and I think Apple have shot themselves in the foot by not integrating TV and Hard disk
Re: [videoblogging] Re: flash video
They *say* that what works in the Player works in the Center, and their troubleshooting guide certainly gives that impression... but we'll see. As for the energy saving thing... I thought I was being good by multitasking the one computer rather than having separate Mac Mini or PC. Oh God, I have so many devices on right now. I'm going to turn them off and go to bed in moral despair. Goodnight :-) Rupert http://www.fatgirlinohio.org http://www.crowdabout.us/fatgirlinohio/myshow/ On 15 Mar 2007, at 21:25, Steve Watkins wrote: Cheers for the info. My fear is that what plays through media center is not exactly the same as what can be made to play through windows media player. I have sucessfully watched mp4 through windows media player, by installing a codec, and back in the days where I was always ranting about mpeg4 h264, I hoped that there would be plenty of less obscure ways that people could watch mp4's without quicktime or VLC, on windows. This was part of my call for people to consider using .mp4 not .mov and to get away from the idea that .mp4 is an Apple or quicktime specific format. In the end the player encoder that comes with nero burning rom suite of software proved to be a good alternative, but thats going way off topic as its nothing to dow ith media center or media player. So, need to check whether you can actually play all formats you have directshow codecs for, in media center, and that its not limited by file extension or something. Certainly I wouldnt expect the media xtender part of the xbox360 to be able to handle anything other than wmv, which is where the M$ solution starts to stink for me. I share your opinion on the Apple TV, I think its one of Apple's riskiest products in the last few years, but it did seem like a good fit with all the video theyve started selling on itunes. I think I was underimpressed with its maximum resolution, considering the emerging HD age, and I cant see it selling in huge numbers like ipods do. It either needs to do more, or cost less. Wit their current design they probably cant make it all that much cheaper, so it will remain on the fringes to a certain extent, or maybe not and I am s wrong. Im glad they are giving it a try anyway. Meanwhile I think microsoft have been trying to get onto set-top-boxes connected to televisions for very many years. Think they probably had trouble finding enough partners, getting the price right etc. There must be something good about media center PC's because I know a few people that use them, but I think Microsoft hoped in the past to conqeur this market from a different direction. Most Media Centers are being bought as new PC's with that capability, coming with the TV card and the remote and that version of Windows, and which traditionally were at the more expensive end of the PC market. Costs seem to have dropped and the software improved over the years, so now there are sub £400 media center PC's, so maybe it will catch on more. Plus Media Center stuff is included with some versions of Vista, so more people might build their own. I wonder how the range of purchasable video content that has DRM compatible with media center, compares to the apple tv. As I worry about the energy outlook in the future, I suppose I should factor that into my thinking. So I should not like solutions that require a PC to be on somewhere else at the same time to stream content to the extender. I guess the ipod would class as about as low powered a device as you can get to give a reasonable TV video watching experience, although these issues are rather overshadowed by the large wattage of many of todays large televisions. So maybe I shouldnt be trying to watch stuff on a big screen at all if I care that much! Cheers Steve Elbows --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Rupert [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: On 15 Mar 2007, at 18:34, Steve Watkins wrote: So anyways Im interested in Ruperts opinions of the Windows Media Center thang, why he thinks it is right. I havent tried it much but I was under the impression it was mostly compatible with wmv,a nd whatever microsofts format is for recording digital tv. So I assumed media of other formats has to be converted to be watched, which is an instant turnoff for me. Have I got this detail all wrong? Steve, MS doesn't provide support out of the box, because they're evil bastards, but Windows Media Player will play MP4 if you download a decoder pack. So it's a relatively small hack. This is from the Windows Media Player multimedia file formats support page: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316992#34 Windows Media Player does not support the playback of the .mp4 file format. You can play back .mp4 media files in Windows Media Player when you install DirectShow-compatible MPEG-4 decoder packs. DirectShow-compatible MPEG-4 decoder packs include the Ligos LSX-MPEG Player and the EnvivioTV. http://www.ligos.com (http://www.ligos.com)
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
Thanks, John, I wasn't aware of a couple of those links. The Nelly-Moser encoder is certainly optimized for the two-way requirements of Flash Player, but it's so proprietary I suspect even Adobe is regretting licensing it. It has locked out some really creative development in the area of getting audio and video in and out of the Flash environment into more portable and reuseable file formats, such as avi or wav. Don't get me wrong, I like what the encoder lets me do, but I am beyond frustrated with what it WON'T let me do as a developer. There is simply no legal way of getting something encoded using Nelly-Moser transcoded into another format without spending thousands of dollars. Unless you know of something I don't know... Best, Carter Harkins http://crowdabout.us --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, John Dowdell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: caroosky wrote: Any chance the next version of flash player will start supporting other formats besides mp3 and .flv? Maybe even do away with the pesky nellymoser codec for FMS recorded audio? (Please please please???) Sorry, I haven't seen any other announcements from Adobe's Flash Player team. (That press release came from Adobe's Mobile group, and they cook up the smaller Flash Lite engine for handhelds.) Here are some of the staffers on the Player team, if you care to put them on a watchlist for any news: http://weblogs.macromedia.com/emmy/ http://www.kaourantin.net/ http://blogs.adobe.com/penguin.swf/ Adding new codecs to the Player download has been hard, because every additional kilobyte reduces the clientside adoption. (Essentially we're trying to upgrade the world's consumer machines, so it's a carrot-and-stick approach of new functionality with minimal download/installation hassle.) I know that there's pressure this release for many improvements in audio/video, but me, I don't know how the team will balance all those desires yet. The Nelly-Moser audio encoder embedded within each download of Adobe Flash Player is invaluable for two-way communications -- it lets the audience speak as well as hear. For info on factors affecting codec choice, Tinic Uro's Aug05 essay is still the definitive resource: http://www.kaourantin.net/2005/08/quest-for-new-video-codec-in-flash-8.html Also, the whole chipmunk effect with mp3s encoded at unsupported bitrates is frustrating to us and tens of thousands of other podcasters who would more readily adopt flash player widgets...can you tell the powers that be to support more bitrates? I'm not sure how to describe this accurately enough to the product team to make sure they address the correct chipmunks scenario, but you can submit the change-request to the team yourself: http://www.macromedia.com/go/wish (It's an old address, but redirects correctly... choose Flash Player in the dropdown list.) jd -- John Dowdell . Adobe Developer Support . San Francisco CA USA Weblog: http://weblogs.macromedia.com/jd Aggregator: http://weblogs.macromedia.com/mxna Technotes: http://www.macromedia.com/support/ Spam killed my private email -- public record is best, thanks.
Re: [videoblogging] Re: flash video
caroosky wrote: Now, if only the portable device manufacturers would get on the ball. I'd love to load up a portable media device with a bunch of flash video from YouTube, Revver, Blip and others... This is coming, but it's not here yet. The next version of the Adobe Flash Lite engine will include support for regular web-video formats: http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200702/021207FlashVideo.html Right now Adobe Flash Lite 2 is being baked into phones, and this supports device video, where the Player asks the operating system to play a video, and where different devices could require different video formats. The next version of Adobe Flash Lite will smooth over the differences between pocket devices, and also smooth over the difference between pocket devices and laptop computers, so that you can focus more on your content, less on the formats. It will take awhile to finish and deploy, though. (Good point about the compression process itself being a key determinant in final video quality, thanks.) jd -- John Dowdell . Adobe Developer Support . San Francisco CA USA Weblog: http://weblogs.macromedia.com/jd Aggregator: http://weblogs.macromedia.com/mxna Technotes: http://www.macromedia.com/support/ Spam killed my private email -- public record is best, thanks.
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
Thats great news to hear John, the more formats get properly supported on mobile devices the better, and it sounds like you are taking a good approach in future which will keep things simple for those doing the encoding. To answer Daryl's question, what a lot of people do is encode their video to a mov, mp4 or wmv, and then upload it to a service that converts their video automatically to flash. So then they have 2 versions of the video available, flash and something else, which is a farily good balance for most. But of course there are plenty of videos that are flash only, and plenty that are in multiple formats, so there is not quite a 'golden rule' on this yet, dunno if there ever will be. If when you talk about navigation buttons, you mean like the timeline, play, pause controls for the video, these are taken care of for you if you use a service like blip.tv to make host the flash video. If you are making and hosting the .flv videos yourself, people normally put a .swf player file on their server and that loads the relevant .flv and handles the controls. I could of got some of this detail wrong though, not used flash myself for a few years. Cheers Steve Elbows --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, John Dowdell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: The next version of Adobe Flash Lite will smooth over the differences between pocket devices, and also smooth over the difference between pocket devices and laptop computers, so that you can focus more on your content, less on the formats. It will take awhile to finish and deploy, though. -- John Dowdell . Adobe Developer Support . San Francisco CA USA Weblog: http://weblogs.macromedia.com/jd Aggregator: http://weblogs.macromedia.com/mxna Technotes: http://www.macromedia.com/support/ Spam killed my private email -- public record is best, thanks.
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
John Dowdell, you are my new best friend! That's awesome news! Since CrowdAbout.us uses Flash extensively, and we have had reservations about jumping into the mobile market, I am always looking to find out more about what's being developed in new releases of the platform. Any chance the next version of flash player will start supporting other formats besides mp3 and .flv? Maybe even do away with the pesky nellymoser codec for FMS recorded audio? (Please please please???) Also, the whole chipmunk effect with mp3s encoded at unsupported bitrates is frustrating to us and tens of thousands of other podcasters who would more readily adopt flash player widgets...can you tell the powers that be to support more bitrates? Sorry, I'm gushing and we've only just met. =) It's just that I feel like I'm sitting in Santa's lap, telling him all the things I want for Christmas... Best, Carter Harkins [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, John Dowdell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: caroosky wrote: Now, if only the portable device manufacturers would get on the ball. I'd love to load up a portable media device with a bunch of flash video from YouTube, Revver, Blip and others... This is coming, but it's not here yet. The next version of the Adobe Flash Lite engine will include support for regular web-video formats: http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200702/021207FlashVideo.html Right now Adobe Flash Lite 2 is being baked into phones, and this supports device video, where the Player asks the operating system to play a video, and where different devices could require different video formats. The next version of Adobe Flash Lite will smooth over the differences between pocket devices, and also smooth over the difference between pocket devices and laptop computers, so that you can focus more on your content, less on the formats. It will take awhile to finish and deploy, though. (Good point about the compression process itself being a key determinant in final video quality, thanks.) jd -- John Dowdell . Adobe Developer Support . San Francisco CA USA Weblog: http://weblogs.macromedia.com/jd Aggregator: http://weblogs.macromedia.com/mxna Technotes: http://www.macromedia.com/support/ Spam killed my private email -- public record is best, thanks.
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
so is the best format for flash video a .swf file or are you talking a .flv file format? Daryl
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
.flv, definitely. The reason is simple. .flv is the bare media file, and .swf takes an .flv, adds a player to play it (and some other optional things that I won't get in to now) and makes a new packaged file that is executable, or will open and play in its own player when clicked. The reason that .flv is the format I prefer is because it gives me the most flexibility in picking players and services to use with my media. For instance, there are many .flv player plugins for WordPress blogs and other embeddable players that require an .flv. But using both is a good strategy too, come to think of it. swf works for getting a video up quickly. flv works when you want to use your video in other ways, such as additional services that require just the media file. Did any of that make sense? Someone else want to take a stab at it? I'm exhausted tonight. Carter Harkins http://crowdabout.us --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Daryl Urig [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: so is the best format for flash video a .swf file or are you talking a .flv file format? Daryl
Re: [videoblogging] Re: flash video
inevitable, but figured it would not begin until end of year. this is great to hear! thanks for the update. sull On 3/12/07, John Dowdell [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: caroosky wrote: Now, if only the portable device manufacturers would get on the ball. I'd love to load up a portable media device with a bunch of flash video from YouTube, Revver, Blip and others... This is coming, but it's not here yet. The next version of the Adobe Flash Lite engine will include support for regular web-video formats: http://www.adobe.com/aboutadobe/pressroom/pressreleases/200702/021207FlashVideo.html Right now Adobe Flash Lite 2 is being baked into phones, and this supports device video, where the Player asks the operating system to play a video, and where different devices could require different video formats. The next version of Adobe Flash Lite will smooth over the differences between pocket devices, and also smooth over the difference between pocket devices and laptop computers, so that you can focus more on your content, less on the formats. It will take awhile to finish and deploy, though. (Good point about the compression process itself being a key determinant in final video quality, thanks.) jd -- John Dowdell . Adobe Developer Support . San Francisco CA USA Weblog: http://weblogs.macromedia.com/jd Aggregator: http://weblogs.macromedia.com/mxna Technotes: http://www.macromedia.com/support/ Spam killed my private email -- public record is best, thanks. -- Sull http://vlogdir.com (a project) http://SpreadTheMedia.org (my blog) http://interdigitate.com (otherly) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Re: [videoblogging] Re: flash video
this is also good to have for quicktime to handle flv on mac: http://perian.org/ On 12 Mar 2007 20:19:59 -0700, caroosky [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: .flv, definitely. The reason is simple. .flv is the bare media file, and .swf takes an .flv, adds a player to play it (and some other optional things that I won't get in to now) and makes a new packaged file that is executable, or will open and play in its own player when clicked. The reason that .flv is the format I prefer is because it gives me the most flexibility in picking players and services to use with my media. For instance, there are many .flv player plugins for WordPress blogs and other embeddable players that require an .flv. But using both is a good strategy too, come to think of it. swf works for getting a video up quickly. flv works when you want to use your video in other ways, such as additional services that require just the media file. Did any of that make sense? Someone else want to take a stab at it? I'm exhausted tonight. Carter Harkins http://crowdabout.us --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com videoblogging%40yahoogroups.com, Daryl Urig [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: so is the best format for flash video a .swf file or are you talking a .flv file format? Daryl -- Sull http://vlogdir.com (a project) http://SpreadTheMedia.org (my blog) http://interdigitate.com (otherly) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
[videoblogging] Re: flash video
Hi Daryl, Not sure what you mean by using navigation buttons... In my experience, after testing the newest flash encoder (On2 Flix Engine with Sorenson encoders) used by Blip.tv and others, I have to say, I don't see any real disadvantages to Flash anymore. There was a time when the Flash video output looked awful, but it's getting to the point that I can't tell what's what except by the player that opens to play it. Oh, and the slightly smaller file sizes of Flash videos. Plus, there are a whole host of services popping up that make flash even more attractive for embedding custom players on your site, mashing up the video and adding metadata layers. Now, if only the portable device manufacturers would get on the ball. I'd love to load up a portable media device with a bunch of flash video from YouTube, Revver, Blip and others... Carter Harkins http://crowdabout.us --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Daryl Urig [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I have seen many versions of saving video files. Is it easier or better to just save them in a flash format so every body can use them? Does this work best? Can I use navigation buttons when saving my files as a flash video. Daryl
RE: [videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters
Josh 1. There is no magic workaround. If the duration is missing from the metadata of an FLV, then your only options are a) inject it yourself b) use FMS to query the file length. You cannot get or even estimatethe duration from the NetStream properties that are exposed, other than by playing it to completion. 2. If your app is a web app, then keep a local copy of FMS running and use it for nothing but querying the length of FLV files on your SAN. 3.If your app is a desktop app, then write your own very simple parser that would figure out the duration of a FLV file and build it into your app. Since FLV is an open format (see http://www.adobe.com/licensing/developer/),this should be simple and quick. In fact I know it's both since a guy at VitalStream wrote exactly this to figure out the duration of user-uploaded files (they have the same problem of missing metatdata from older encoders) and it only took him a morning to create. I doubt they would release that code, since its company specific, but if you approached your Fireant C++ guru, he may have as quick an answer. Cheers Will From: videoblogging@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Joshua KinbergSent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 8:50 PMTo: videoblogging@yahoogroups.comSubject: Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality?Yes, exactly. It currently supports FLV videos from RSS and XSPFplaylists. But the videos must be Flash 8 (or have proper FLV metadatainjected) until I can figure out a work around for the issue mentionedin this thread. Unfortunately, all the docs on Adobe simply suggest toeither re-encode the videos or inject the metadata...I'm having a hard time believing that there is just no other workaround. Come on, Adobe!-JoshOn 6/1/06, Bill Streeter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Josh, I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem but I would like to know more about the project. I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Bill Streeter LO-FI SAINT LOUIS www.lofistl.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, "Joshua Kinberg" [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is a question for the Flash developers out there... I'm creating a little side-project Flash application that plays Flash Video files (FLV) from a playlist. I've run into a documented bug in FLV versions prior to Flash 8 where the duration metadata is incorrect. This screws up the time progress bar and seeking functionality of my video controller. There must be a trick to get the duration for older versions of FLV since its obvious that other Flash video controllers can do this. Any advice from the Actionscripters out there? Here's some documentation of the bug (scroll to the bottom): http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=FLV_Video_Compression and here: http://www.sti-media.com/blog/archives/000111.html This documented bug is quite common since most video upload sites automatically compress with Sorensen (Flash Video 6/7 codec). I've used a tool called FLV Metadata Injector to correct the FLV metadata: http://www.buraks.com/flvmdi/ This does work, but I'd rather be backwards compatible with Flash Video 6/7.-Josh Yahoo! Groups Links__ NOD32 1.1574 (20060601) Information __This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.http://www.eset.com SPONSORED LINKS Fireant Individual Typepad Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters
Which is the lowest version of Flash you want to support (7 has several versions, I think the most recent is 7.2)? And how are you loading the FLVs? Is it with NetConnection and NetStream or the Media class? -- Enric -==- http://www.cirne.com http://www.cinegage.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Yes, exactly. It currently supports FLV videos from RSS and XSPF playlists. But the videos must be Flash 8 (or have proper FLV metadata injected) until I can figure out a work around for the issue mentioned in this thread. Unfortunately, all the docs on Adobe simply suggest to either re-encode the videos or inject the metadata... I'm having a hard time believing that there is just no other work around. Come on, Adobe! -Josh On 6/1/06, Bill Streeter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Josh, I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem but I would like to know more about the project. I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Bill Streeter LO-FI SAINT LOUIS www.lofistl.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg jkinberg@ wrote: This is a question for the Flash developers out there... I'm creating a little side-project Flash application that plays Flash Video files (FLV) from a playlist. I've run into a documented bug in FLV versions prior to Flash 8 where the duration metadata is incorrect. This screws up the time progress bar and seeking functionality of my video controller. There must be a trick to get the duration for older versions of FLV since its obvious that other Flash video controllers can do this. Any advice from the Actionscripters out there? Here's some documentation of the bug (scroll to the bottom): http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=FLV_Video_Compression and here: http://www.sti-media.com/blog/archives/000111.html This documented bug is quite common since most video upload sites automatically compress with Sorensen (Flash Video 6/7 codec). I've used a tool called FLV Metadata Injector to correct the FLV metadata: http://www.buraks.com/flvmdi/ This does work, but I'd rather be backwards compatible with Flash Video 6/7. -Josh Yahoo! Groups Links SPONSORED LINKS Fireant Individual Typepad Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters
Jeroen (developer of the standard flv player that most of us use) is also working on xspf and rss playlisting support. I have spoken with him a number of times but i am not sure where he is on this task or if he has started it. Not to discourage Joshua of course. Either way, more flv players with xspf/rss etc support the better.sullOn 6/1/06, Bill Streeter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Josh,I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem but I would like to know more about the project. I've been looking for a Flash player thatwill load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chancethat this project will have this functionality?Bill Streeter LO-FI SAINT LOUISwww.lofistl.com--- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is a question for the Flash developers out there... I'm creating a little side-project Flash application that plays Flash Video files (FLV) from a playlist. I've run into a documented bug in FLV versions prior to Flash 8 where the duration metadata is incorrect. This screws up the time progress bar and seeking functionality of my video controller. There must be a trick to get the duration for older versions of FLV since its obvious that other Flash video controllers can do this. Any advice from the Actionscripters out there? Here's some documentation of the bug (scroll to the bottom): http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=FLV_Video_Compression and here: http://www.sti-media.com/blog/archives/000111.html This documented bug is quite common since most video upload sites automatically compress with Sorensen (Flash Video 6/7 codec). I've used a tool called FLV Metadata Injector to correct the FLV metadata: http://www.buraks.com/flvmdi/ This does work, but I'd rather be backwards compatible with FlashVideo 6/7. -Josh Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~--Everything you need is oneclick away. Make Yahoo! your home pagenow. http://us.click.yahoo.com/AHchtC/4FxNAA/yQLSAA/lBLqlB/TM~-Yahoo! Groups Links* To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ -- Sullhttp://vlogdir.com http://SpreadTheMedia.org SPONSORED LINKS Fireant Individual Typepad Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters
Hello,I'm using this FLV player by neolao :http://resources.neolao.com/flash/components/player_flv/templates/multi exemple with my settings: http://demo.podesk.com/podesk/index.php?2006/05/29/54-vj-bertranol-zagros There is a lot of nice options, and there is a basic playlist support. It should be easy to ask the developper to add a rss support or to do it ourself as it is open source.Bertrand 2006/6/2, Michael Sullivan [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Jeroen (developer of the standard flv player that most of us use) is also working on xspf and rss playlisting support. I have spoken with him a number of times but i am not sure where he is on this task or if he has started it. Not to discourage Joshua of course. Either way, more flv players with xspf/rss etc support the better.sullOn 6/1/06, Bill Streeter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Josh,I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem but I would like to know more about the project. I've been looking for a Flash player thatwill load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chancethat this project will have this functionality?Bill Streeter LO-FI SAINT LOUISwww.lofistl.com--- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is a question for the Flash developers out there... I'm creating a little side-project Flash application that plays Flash Video files (FLV) from a playlist. I've run into a documented bug in FLV versions prior to Flash 8 where the duration metadata is incorrect. This screws up the time progress bar and seeking functionality of my video controller. There must be a trick to get the duration for older versions of FLV since its obvious that other Flash video controllers can do this. Any advice from the Actionscripters out there? Here's some documentation of the bug (scroll to the bottom): http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=FLV_Video_Compression and here: http://www.sti-media.com/blog/archives/000111.html This documented bug is quite common since most video upload sites automatically compress with Sorensen (Flash Video 6/7 codec). I've used a tool called FLV Metadata Injector to correct the FLV metadata: http://www.buraks.com/flvmdi/ This does work, but I'd rather be backwards compatible with Flash Video 6/7. -Josh Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~--Everything you need is oneclick away. Make Yahoo! your home pagenow. http://us.click.yahoo.com/AHchtC/4FxNAA/yQLSAA/lBLqlB/TM~-Yahoo! Groups Links* To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ -- Sullhttp://vlogdir.com http://SpreadTheMedia.org SPONSORED LINKS Fireant Individual Typepad Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group videoblogging on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service . -- Bertrand Gondouin, Mixnbrew StudiosVJ Bertranol live visuals: http://mjukma.free.frLaeterna Machina - digital dance : http://www.laeterna.netGrains Pixels Performance: http://www.mixnbrew.com/gpPodesk Software : http://www.podesk.com SPONSORED LINKS Fireant Individual Typepad Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters
Hey Will, This is great info! Just a couple notes... this is not part of the FireAnt desktop application, but just a small little web app I'm making. I don't have Flash Media Server (seems expensive for a small little side project like this). Re: FLV support in FireAnt, this is definitely something we wish to improve. The Mac version of FireAnt supports FLV playback, but it could be done in a much better way (we have this duration issue with FireAnt on the Mac too). On Windows, FireAnt plays Flash through the Flash OCX, but it does not yet handle FLV. This is something we plan to address soon. I've done some research here and think I have a good starting point for that problem on the C++ side. Perhaps we should also join the Adobe Developers Network. Thanks! -Josh On 6/1/06, Will Law [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Josh 1. There is no magic workaround. If the duration is missing from the metadata of an FLV, then your only options are a) inject it yourself b) use FMS to query the file length. You cannot get or even estimate the duration from the NetStream properties that are exposed, other than by playing it to completion. 2. If your app is a web app, then keep a local copy of FMS running and use it for nothing but querying the length of FLV files on your SAN. 3. If your app is a desktop app, then write your own very simple parser that would figure out the duration of a FLV file and build it into your app. Since FLV is an open format (see http://www.adobe.com/licensing/developer/), this should be simple and quick. In fact I know it's both since a guy at VitalStream wrote exactly this to figure out the duration of user-uploaded files (they have the same problem of missing metatdata from older encoders) and it only took him a morning to create. I doubt they would release that code, since its company specific, but if you approached your Fireant C++ guru, he may have as quick an answer. Cheers Will From: videoblogging@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Joshua Kinberg Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2006 8:50 PM To: videoblogging@yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Yes, exactly. It currently supports FLV videos from RSS and XSPF playlists. But the videos must be Flash 8 (or have proper FLV metadata injected) until I can figure out a work around for the issue mentioned in this thread. Unfortunately, all the docs on Adobe simply suggest to either re-encode the videos or inject the metadata... I'm having a hard time believing that there is just no other work around. Come on, Adobe! -Josh On 6/1/06, Bill Streeter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Josh, I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem but I would like to know more about the project. I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Bill Streeter LO-FI SAINT LOUIS www.lofistl.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is a question for the Flash developers out there... I'm creating a little side-project Flash application that plays Flash Video files (FLV) from a playlist. I've run into a documented bug in FLV versions prior to Flash 8 where the duration metadata is incorrect. This screws up the time progress bar and seeking functionality of my video controller. There must be a trick to get the duration for older versions of FLV since its obvious that other Flash video controllers can do this. Any advice from the Actionscripters out there? Here's some documentation of the bug (scroll to the bottom): http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=FLV_Video_Compression and here: http://www.sti-media.com/blog/archives/000111.html This documented bug is quite common since most video upload sites automatically compress with Sorensen (Flash Video 6/7 codec). I've used a tool called FLV Metadata Injector to correct the FLV metadata: http://www.buraks.com/flvmdi/ This does work, but I'd rather be backwards compatible with Flash Video 6/7. -Josh Yahoo! Groups Links __ NOD32 1.1574 (20060601) Information __ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com SPONSORED LINKS Fireant Individual Typepad Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group videoblogging on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. SPONSORED LINKS
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters
Which is the lowest version of Flash you want to support (7 has several versions, I think the most recent is 7.2)? I'd like to support FLV, and that means both Flash 7 and Flash 8 (and Flash 6?? not sure if FLV was part of Flash 6). And how are you loading the FLVs? Is it with NetConnection and NetStream or the Media class? I'm using NetConnection and NetStream. Currently getting duration metadata through the NetStream.onMetaData method. Older versions of FLV simply return undefined because they don't properly have the metadata inside. Hence the need for the metadata injection. -Josh On 6/2/06, Enric [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Which is the lowest version of Flash you want to support (7 has several versions, I think the most recent is 7.2)? And how are you loading the FLVs? Is it with NetConnection and NetStream or the Media class? -- Enric -==- http://www.cirne.com http://www.cinegage.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Yes, exactly. It currently supports FLV videos from RSS and XSPF playlists. But the videos must be Flash 8 (or have proper FLV metadata injected) until I can figure out a work around for the issue mentioned in this thread. Unfortunately, all the docs on Adobe simply suggest to either re-encode the videos or inject the metadata... I'm having a hard time believing that there is just no other work around. Come on, Adobe! -Josh On 6/1/06, Bill Streeter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Josh, I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem but I would like to know more about the project. I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Bill Streeter LO-FI SAINT LOUIS www.lofistl.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg jkinberg@ wrote: This is a question for the Flash developers out there... I'm creating a little side-project Flash application that plays Flash Video files (FLV) from a playlist. I've run into a documented bug in FLV versions prior to Flash 8 where the duration metadata is incorrect. This screws up the time progress bar and seeking functionality of my video controller. There must be a trick to get the duration for older versions of FLV since its obvious that other Flash video controllers can do this. Any advice from the Actionscripters out there? Here's some documentation of the bug (scroll to the bottom): http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=FLV_Video_Compression and here: http://www.sti-media.com/blog/archives/000111.html This documented bug is quite common since most video upload sites automatically compress with Sorensen (Flash Video 6/7 codec). I've used a tool called FLV Metadata Injector to correct the FLV metadata: http://www.buraks.com/flvmdi/ This does work, but I'd rather be backwards compatible with Flash Video 6/7. -Josh Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links SPONSORED LINKS Fireant Individual Typepad Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters
Jeroen (developer of the standard flv player that most of us use) is also working on xspf and rss playlisting support. I have spoken with him a number of times but i am not sure where he is on this task or if he has started it. Yes, I'm pretty much combining Jeroen's FLV player and his MP3 player that handles RSS/XSPF playlists. -Josh On 6/2/06, Michael Sullivan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Jeroen (developer of the standard flv player that most of us use) is also working on xspf and rss playlisting support. I have spoken with him a number of times but i am not sure where he is on this task or if he has started it. Not to discourage Joshua of course. Either way, more flv players with xspf/rss etc support the better. sull On 6/1/06, Bill Streeter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Josh, I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem but I would like to know more about the project. I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Bill Streeter LO-FI SAINT LOUIS www.lofistl.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is a question for the Flash developers out there... I'm creating a little side-project Flash application that plays Flash Video files (FLV) from a playlist. I've run into a documented bug in FLV versions prior to Flash 8 where the duration metadata is incorrect. This screws up the time progress bar and seeking functionality of my video controller. There must be a trick to get the duration for older versions of FLV since its obvious that other Flash video controllers can do this. Any advice from the Actionscripters out there? Here's some documentation of the bug (scroll to the bottom): http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=FLV_Video_Compression and here: http://www.sti-media.com/blog/archives/000111.html This documented bug is quite common since most video upload sites automatically compress with Sorensen (Flash Video 6/7 codec). I've used a tool called FLV Metadata Injector to correct the FLV metadata: http://www.buraks.com/flvmdi/ This does work, but I'd rather be backwards compatible with Flash Video 6/7. -Josh Yahoo! Groups Links -- Sull http://vlogdir.com http://SpreadTheMedia.org SPONSORED LINKS Fireant Individual Typepad Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group videoblogging on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. SPONSORED LINKS Fireant Individual Typepad Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters
--- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Which is the lowest version of Flash you want to support (7 has several versions, I think the most recent is 7.2)? I'd like to support FLV, and that means both Flash 7 and Flash 8 (and Flash 6?? not sure if FLV was part of Flash 6). And how are you loading the FLVs? Is it with NetConnection and NetStream or the Media class? I'm using NetConnection and NetStream. Currently getting duration metadata through the NetStream.onMetaData method. Older versions of FLV simply return undefined because they don't properly have the metadata inside. Hence the need for the metadata injection. -Josh I'm using the MediaDisplay control with the associated Media class. Although the documentation says the total duration is only available when the FLV completely loads, I'm abile to get it at the start of the FLV load in the Media.progress event. This seems to work on Flash 7.2 and 8, though I haven't thoroughly tested it. Here's a sample of the progress event: flvListener.progress = function(){ ... if (nPercentLoaded .01 nTotalTime = 0) { nTotalTime = [MediaDisplay instance name].totalTime; } ... } Let me know if this works. -- Enric -==- http://www.cirne.com http://www.cinegage.com On 6/2/06, Enric [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Which is the lowest version of Flash you want to support (7 has several versions, I think the most recent is 7.2)? And how are you loading the FLVs? Is it with NetConnection and NetStream or the Media class? -- Enric -==- http://www.cirne.com http://www.cinegage.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg jkinberg@ wrote: I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Yes, exactly. It currently supports FLV videos from RSS and XSPF playlists. But the videos must be Flash 8 (or have proper FLV metadata injected) until I can figure out a work around for the issue mentioned in this thread. Unfortunately, all the docs on Adobe simply suggest to either re-encode the videos or inject the metadata... I'm having a hard time believing that there is just no other work around. Come on, Adobe! -Josh On 6/1/06, Bill Streeter bill@ wrote: Josh, I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem but I would like to know more about the project. I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Bill Streeter LO-FI SAINT LOUIS www.lofistl.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg jkinberg@ wrote: This is a question for the Flash developers out there... I'm creating a little side-project Flash application that plays Flash Video files (FLV) from a playlist. I've run into a documented bug in FLV versions prior to Flash 8 where the duration metadata is incorrect. This screws up the time progress bar and seeking functionality of my video controller. There must be a trick to get the duration for older versions of FLV since its obvious that other Flash video controllers can do this. Any advice from the Actionscripters out there? Here's some documentation of the bug (scroll to the bottom): http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=FLV_Video_Compression and here: http://www.sti-media.com/blog/archives/000111.html This documented bug is quite common since most video upload sites automatically compress with Sorensen (Flash Video 6/7 codec). I've used a tool called FLV Metadata Injector to correct the FLV metadata: http://www.buraks.com/flvmdi/ This does work, but I'd rather be backwards compatible with Flash Video 6/7. -Josh Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links SPONSORED LINKS Fireant Individual Typepad Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters
Try downloading a video from YouTube and tell me if that works for you. Use http://keepvid.com to get the FLV from YouTube. -Josh On 6/2/06, Enric [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Which is the lowest version of Flash you want to support (7 has several versions, I think the most recent is 7.2)? I'd like to support FLV, and that means both Flash 7 and Flash 8 (and Flash 6?? not sure if FLV was part of Flash 6). And how are you loading the FLVs? Is it with NetConnection and NetStream or the Media class? I'm using NetConnection and NetStream. Currently getting duration metadata through the NetStream.onMetaData method. Older versions of FLV simply return undefined because they don't properly have the metadata inside. Hence the need for the metadata injection. -Josh I'm using the MediaDisplay control with the associated Media class. Although the documentation says the total duration is only available when the FLV completely loads, I'm abile to get it at the start of the FLV load in the Media.progress event. This seems to work on Flash 7.2 and 8, though I haven't thoroughly tested it. Here's a sample of the progress event: flvListener.progress = function(){ ... if (nPercentLoaded .01 nTotalTime = 0) { nTotalTime = [MediaDisplay instance name].totalTime; } ... } Let me know if this works. -- Enric -==- http://www.cirne.com http://www.cinegage.com On 6/2/06, Enric [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Which is the lowest version of Flash you want to support (7 has several versions, I think the most recent is 7.2)? And how are you loading the FLVs? Is it with NetConnection and NetStream or the Media class? -- Enric -==- http://www.cirne.com http://www.cinegage.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg jkinberg@ wrote: I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Yes, exactly. It currently supports FLV videos from RSS and XSPF playlists. But the videos must be Flash 8 (or have proper FLV metadata injected) until I can figure out a work around for the issue mentioned in this thread. Unfortunately, all the docs on Adobe simply suggest to either re-encode the videos or inject the metadata... I'm having a hard time believing that there is just no other work around. Come on, Adobe! -Josh On 6/1/06, Bill Streeter bill@ wrote: Josh, I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem but I would like to know more about the project. I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Bill Streeter LO-FI SAINT LOUIS www.lofistl.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg jkinberg@ wrote: This is a question for the Flash developers out there... I'm creating a little side-project Flash application that plays Flash Video files (FLV) from a playlist. I've run into a documented bug in FLV versions prior to Flash 8 where the duration metadata is incorrect. This screws up the time progress bar and seeking functionality of my video controller. There must be a trick to get the duration for older versions of FLV since its obvious that other Flash video controllers can do this. Any advice from the Actionscripters out there? Here's some documentation of the bug (scroll to the bottom): http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=FLV_Video_Compression and here: http://www.sti-media.com/blog/archives/000111.html This documented bug is quite common since most video upload sites automatically compress with Sorensen (Flash Video 6/7 codec). I've used a tool called FLV Metadata Injector to correct the FLV metadata: http://www.buraks.com/flvmdi/ This does work, but I'd rather be backwards compatible with Flash Video 6/7. -Josh Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups Links SPONSORED LINKS Fireant Individual Typepad Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from
[videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters
Nope, it doesn't work with FLVs encoded by YouTube (bottom of http://utilities.cinegage.com/vpip-test-page/ ). However, it works with FLVs encoded by blip.tv (http://www.cirne.com/vlog/2006/04/14/pixars-acquisition-by-disney-509/ ). -- Enric -==- http://www.cirne.com http://www.cinegage.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Try downloading a video from YouTube and tell me if that works for you. Use http://keepvid.com to get the FLV from YouTube. -Josh On 6/2/06, Enric [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg jkinberg@ wrote: Which is the lowest version of Flash you want to support (7 has several versions, I think the most recent is 7.2)? I'd like to support FLV, and that means both Flash 7 and Flash 8 (and Flash 6?? not sure if FLV was part of Flash 6). And how are you loading the FLVs? Is it with NetConnection and NetStream or the Media class? I'm using NetConnection and NetStream. Currently getting duration metadata through the NetStream.onMetaData method. Older versions of FLV simply return undefined because they don't properly have the metadata inside. Hence the need for the metadata injection. -Josh I'm using the MediaDisplay control with the associated Media class. Although the documentation says the total duration is only available when the FLV completely loads, I'm abile to get it at the start of the FLV load in the Media.progress event. This seems to work on Flash 7.2 and 8, though I haven't thoroughly tested it. Here's a sample of the progress event: flvListener.progress = function(){ ... if (nPercentLoaded .01 nTotalTime = 0) { nTotalTime = [MediaDisplay instance name].totalTime; } ... } Let me know if this works. -- Enric -==- http://www.cirne.com http://www.cinegage.com On 6/2/06, Enric enric@ wrote: Which is the lowest version of Flash you want to support (7 has several versions, I think the most recent is 7.2)? And how are you loading the FLVs? Is it with NetConnection and NetStream or the Media class? -- Enric -==- http://www.cirne.com http://www.cinegage.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg jkinberg@ wrote: I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Yes, exactly. It currently supports FLV videos from RSS and XSPF playlists. But the videos must be Flash 8 (or have proper FLV metadata injected) until I can figure out a work around for the issue mentioned in this thread. Unfortunately, all the docs on Adobe simply suggest to either re-encode the videos or inject the metadata... I'm having a hard time believing that there is just no other work around. Come on, Adobe! -Josh On 6/1/06, Bill Streeter bill@ wrote: Josh, I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem but I would like to know more about the project. I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Bill Streeter LO-FI SAINT LOUIS www.lofistl.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg jkinberg@ wrote: This is a question for the Flash developers out there... I'm creating a little side-project Flash application that plays Flash Video files (FLV) from a playlist. I've run into a documented bug in FLV versions prior to Flash 8 where the duration metadata is incorrect. This screws up the time progress bar and seeking functionality of my video controller. There must be a trick to get the duration for older versions of FLV since its obvious that other Flash video controllers can do this. Any advice from the Actionscripters out there? Here's some documentation of the bug (scroll to the bottom): http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=FLV_Video_Compression and here: http://www.sti-media.com/blog/archives/000111.html This documented bug is quite common since most video upload sites automatically compress with Sorensen (Flash Video 6/7 codec). I've used a tool called FLV Metadata Injector to correct the FLV metadata: http://www.buraks.com/flvmdi/ This does work, but I'd rather be backwards compatible with Flash Video 6/7. -Josh Yahoo! Groups Links Yahoo! Groups
[videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters
Even after the YouTube video completely loads, the FLV duration is not available from Media.totalTime . -- Enric -==- http://www.cirne.com http://www.cinegage.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Enric [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Nope, it doesn't work with FLVs encoded by YouTube (bottom of http://utilities.cinegage.com/vpip-test-page/ ). However, it works with FLVs encoded by blip.tv (http://www.cirne.com/vlog/2006/04/14/pixars-acquisition-by-disney-509/ ). -- Enric -==- http://www.cirne.com http://www.cinegage.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg jkinberg@ wrote: Try downloading a video from YouTube and tell me if that works for you. Use http://keepvid.com to get the FLV from YouTube. -Josh On 6/2/06, Enric enric@ wrote: --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg jkinberg@ wrote: Which is the lowest version of Flash you want to support (7 has several versions, I think the most recent is 7.2)? I'd like to support FLV, and that means both Flash 7 and Flash 8 (and Flash 6?? not sure if FLV was part of Flash 6). And how are you loading the FLVs? Is it with NetConnection and NetStream or the Media class? I'm using NetConnection and NetStream. Currently getting duration metadata through the NetStream.onMetaData method. Older versions of FLV simply return undefined because they don't properly have the metadata inside. Hence the need for the metadata injection. -Josh I'm using the MediaDisplay control with the associated Media class. Although the documentation says the total duration is only available when the FLV completely loads, I'm abile to get it at the start of the FLV load in the Media.progress event. This seems to work on Flash 7.2 and 8, though I haven't thoroughly tested it. Here's a sample of the progress event: flvListener.progress = function(){ ... if (nPercentLoaded .01 nTotalTime = 0) { nTotalTime = [MediaDisplay instance name].totalTime; } ... } Let me know if this works. -- Enric -==- http://www.cirne.com http://www.cinegage.com On 6/2/06, Enric enric@ wrote: Which is the lowest version of Flash you want to support (7 has several versions, I think the most recent is 7.2)? And how are you loading the FLVs? Is it with NetConnection and NetStream or the Media class? -- Enric -==- http://www.cirne.com http://www.cinegage.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg jkinberg@ wrote: I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Yes, exactly. It currently supports FLV videos from RSS and XSPF playlists. But the videos must be Flash 8 (or have proper FLV metadata injected) until I can figure out a work around for the issue mentioned in this thread. Unfortunately, all the docs on Adobe simply suggest to either re-encode the videos or inject the metadata... I'm having a hard time believing that there is just no other work around. Come on, Adobe! -Josh On 6/1/06, Bill Streeter bill@ wrote: Josh, I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem but I would like to know more about the project. I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Bill Streeter LO-FI SAINT LOUIS www.lofistl.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg jkinberg@ wrote: This is a question for the Flash developers out there... I'm creating a little side-project Flash application that plays Flash Video files (FLV) from a playlist. I've run into a documented bug in FLV versions prior to Flash 8 where the duration metadata is incorrect. This screws up the time progress bar and seeking functionality of my video controller. There must be a trick to get the duration for older versions of FLV since its obvious that other Flash video controllers can do this. Any advice from the Actionscripters out there? Here's some documentation of the bug (scroll to the bottom): http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=FLV_Video_Compression and here: http://www.sti-media.com/blog/archives/000111.html This documented bug is quite common since most video upload sites automatically compress with Sorensen (Flash Video 6/7 codec). I've used a tool called FLV Metadata
[videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters
Josh, I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem but I would like to know more about the project. I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Bill Streeter LO-FI SAINT LOUIS www.lofistl.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is a question for the Flash developers out there... I'm creating a little side-project Flash application that plays Flash Video files (FLV) from a playlist. I've run into a documented bug in FLV versions prior to Flash 8 where the duration metadata is incorrect. This screws up the time progress bar and seeking functionality of my video controller. There must be a trick to get the duration for older versions of FLV since its obvious that other Flash video controllers can do this. Any advice from the Actionscripters out there? Here's some documentation of the bug (scroll to the bottom): http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=FLV_Video_Compression and here: http://www.sti-media.com/blog/archives/000111.html This documented bug is quite common since most video upload sites automatically compress with Sorensen (Flash Video 6/7 codec). I've used a tool called FLV Metadata Injector to correct the FLV metadata: http://www.buraks.com/flvmdi/ This does work, but I'd rather be backwards compatible with Flash Video 6/7. -Josh SPONSORED LINKS Fireant Individual Typepad Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash Video question for Actionscripters
I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Yes, exactly. It currently supports FLV videos from RSS and XSPF playlists. But the videos must be Flash 8 (or have proper FLV metadata injected) until I can figure out a work around for the issue mentioned in this thread. Unfortunately, all the docs on Adobe simply suggest to either re-encode the videos or inject the metadata... I'm having a hard time believing that there is just no other work around. Come on, Adobe! -Josh On 6/1/06, Bill Streeter [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Josh, I'm sorry I don't have an answer to your problem but I would like to know more about the project. I've been looking for a Flash player that will load FLV files from a RSS feed and play through them. Any chance that this project will have this functionality? Bill Streeter LO-FI SAINT LOUIS www.lofistl.com --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This is a question for the Flash developers out there... I'm creating a little side-project Flash application that plays Flash Video files (FLV) from a playlist. I've run into a documented bug in FLV versions prior to Flash 8 where the duration metadata is incorrect. This screws up the time progress bar and seeking functionality of my video controller. There must be a trick to get the duration for older versions of FLV since its obvious that other Flash video controllers can do this. Any advice from the Actionscripters out there? Here's some documentation of the bug (scroll to the bottom): http://www.jeroenwijering.com/?item=FLV_Video_Compression and here: http://www.sti-media.com/blog/archives/000111.html This documented bug is quite common since most video upload sites automatically compress with Sorensen (Flash Video 6/7 codec). I've used a tool called FLV Metadata Injector to correct the FLV metadata: http://www.buraks.com/flvmdi/ This does work, but I'd rather be backwards compatible with Flash Video 6/7. -Josh Yahoo! Groups Links SPONSORED LINKS Fireant Individual Typepad Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[videoblogging] Re: Flash, video iPod and offering MP3 podcasts
Funnily enough, those sites with flash videos seem to be able to keep a lot of people hanging around. That sorta sounds like a community if you put enough comment fields there. I mean, it's not like RSS is this push technology which comes to you and does not inherently incite people to stay in one place. Oh wait. Nevermind. I'm just sayin', it's something to think about. Also, I use flash *and* RSS, and people use both, and more viewers prefer flash. My viewers are not millions of remixers. In fact, they take the media and run... that stupid little ipod and such playing video. /sarcasm! And I hate to sound all cranky, but don't tell me for a second that Strongbad, Homestar Runner, Happy Tree Friends, etc etc *don't* have a community that is cared about quite deeply. Unless by proclaim such adamant hatred of flash, we're invariably giving the finger to animators. Making MEDIA means just that. It's not about audio or video. Or animation. Or machinima. It's everything. EVERYTHING. And if some 10 year old kid uses flash to make the next Simpsons, well screw you, bucko. That technology sucks. Okay, back in my cave. I need decaf. Eric PS. I'm not attacking anyone in particular on these points, I'm genereally thowing up my hands and screaming GOOD GRIEF ALREADY for the 8 millionth time. --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Nerissa \(TheVideoQueen\) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: From: Jan [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Re: Flash, video iPod and offering MP3 podcasts Flash is popular with people who don't care so much about community, including (most important to me) allowing for mashups of their own or others' works. Jan Could it possibly be that.. ... people who display their videos in flash care more about their community because they know their flash videos can be seen by more of the community with far less hassles? Or people who use flash video don't worry so much about the tiny part of the community that want to reedit their videos and are in fact more in tune to the larger communty that just want to watch the videos faster and with far less hassle? Nerissa Nerissa Oden http://TheVideoQueen.com http://FreeMediaGuide.com http://FreeVideoCoding.com http://FreeVideoEditing.com http://Nebelungs.blogspot.com My Groups: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videobloggingbusiness/ http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/videowomen/ * __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash, video iPod and offering MP3 podcasts
On 12/21/05, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yes, FireAnt does play SWF files. But Flash video is not a SWF. It is an FLV loaded into a SWF.. often loaded externally via relative link within the Flash file. This type of scenario often breaks syndication because it cannot be viewed offline or from a local hard drive. this is an option the creator can change though? they can embed the movie file within the swf. i just import my footage straight into flash and export as SWF, don't even use FLV.d -- URL: http://29fragiledays.blogspot.com URL: http://www.kleindesign.co.uk SPONSORED LINKS Individual Fireant Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash, video iPod and offering MP3 podcasts
great reply, michael.we've been talking about flash video over on vlogtheory and the issues of it being closed right now... as per th epoints you made here only recently mostly since vsocial came about i started to change my tune and stopped pissing on flash. so despite all these negatives that I, you and others have pointed out about flash video i still see that it has a place in the vlogosphere, as one part of the total use of Internet -based video infrastructure. it makes sense to use flash video for what it is currently meant to be used for while concurrently using other formats, pref quicktime compatible formats, for distributing to local computers and mobile devices where it can be played, remixed, edited, repurposed, redistributed etc. If I were an organized videoblogger, which i'm currently not (i'm evil like that), and i launched a new vlog and seeked an audience. I would make my video content available in flash for the web-side (blog) as primary playback format my vodcast channels would have format filters for each relevent device video iPod (mp4,m4v), 3gp, divx, TiVo, PSP, XBOX and flv. FLV would hook into a slick and robust flash playback engine with all sorts of interactive features with a skin branded to my project. It would work with XML as its playlist and configuration control so it can easily be dynamc and customizable. This flash player would reside on my videoblog... a user could choose to just watch my videos in it, or browse my actual vlog posts like is done today. But the videoblog playlist will offer an easy and entertaining experience to watch the VIDEO which is the core content. Within each video, could easily jump to the vlog permalink etc... It can all be connected... even comments can be made within the flash player, and appear in the vlog post as usual connected. So, my vision is a balanced use of all technologies. It always comes down to balance for me. We can debate the good, bad and ugly of all the technology that floats around in the vlogosphere but at the end of the day, it is best to take what works, and make it work for you in creative ways.It doesnt even mandate much effort as we'll see services like vsocial continue to innovate in this area. If you are technically inclined, you can build all of what i talk about yourself. Either way, you would be using the best variety to bring your video content to an audience, wherever and whoever that audience is made up of. It's about taking a format and juicing it for all its worth to you.If this didnt have some truth to it, mefeedia wouldnt be pulling in and working with services that are focused on using flash. Anyone interested in what flash can do for a video content creator, please visit VSocial.comsullOn 1/10/06, Michael Meiser [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I must agree with Josh, though Mike I did find your fresh perspectiveand information very insightful. As I see it while the aquisition of Macromedia by Adobe and the video share market does bode well for theflash format I still see it as a niche tool which will have to fightdeperately to move beyond the web as a platform or even to keep upwith the web platform. Here are three specific points. 1) It's closed... it's got issues with accessibility andinteroperability... this to both developers (programmers and mediamakers) and end users. if Macromedia opened up the file format andmade a standard out of it and let others compete on that platform... and develop to it just as long as they supported macromedias spec...even if they didn't allow others to extend the specification I thinkit would be a very powerful move... that MIGHT get it included inQuicktime and other media players... AND especially in devices like Treo's, handhelds, Tivo's, the PSP, iPods and other future devices.Flash is the ONLY video player I know in fact that supports it... andI'm not just talking video RSS aggregator either... I mean ANYplayer. Not even VLC or Mplayer support it I believe... and they're becoming the stock and standard video players... though still work inprogress they support everything.In fact I think Flash is dying to bust out because there is so muchgreat flash specific content... stuff with light interactivity and especially animation work. There's no denying it's a great format,it's just not accessible and interoperable.Adobe for example hasbecome the defacto standard with PDF... and that's because theyopened it up... now other people can develop to it and publish to it... I see Macromedia Flash in very much a similar role. They needto focus more on making Flash accessible and interoperable.2) It's not for video... it is infact not a video tool... it is aniche tool... it doesn't function like video, it doesn't play like video... it doesn't play back in most video playback tools...FlASHIS A NICHE TOOL... it's carved out quite a niche for itself but it'smade it's bed and now it has to lye in it. As mentioned above it'sniche is interactivity
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash, video iPod and offering MP3 podcasts
Flash is used by service providers... upload your video here types of services. This is fine, but for an independent who wants to post their own video on the web, dealing with Flash is still for the most part too expensive and too complicated. Flash MX 2004 Professional is not a cheap program. Understanding actionscipt is not easy. Understanding the intricacies of Flash and how to make it work for both playback and syndication is not easy. I think Flash is great on the web. But it is not yet easy enough for an individual, low budget, one-person production unit without relying on a third party service. /rant -Josh Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash, video iPod and offering MP3 podcasts
but you can transcode other formats to flv.and you can use a flash wrapper/player which can provide some interactivity being discussed here. these are free or cheap. just need a server to upload it to so it can be used on the web. you dont have to buy or use expensive Flash MX 2004 Professional. the important point, to reiterate here is NOT to ONLY use flash. But DONT avoid it when you can feasibly incorporate it into your projects. DO provide mp4 etc... balance experiment dont be fooled by partial truths which can end up limiting your creativity and use of available technologies. sullOn 1/10/06, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Flash is used by service providers... upload your video here typesof services.This is fine, but for an independent who wants to post their own videoon the web, dealing with Flash is still for the most part too expensive and too complicated. Flash MX 2004 Professional is not acheap program. Understanding actionscipt is not easy. Understandingthe intricacies of Flash and how to make it work for both playback andsyndication is not easy. I think Flash is great on the web. But it is not yet easy enough foran individual, low budget, one-person production unit without relyingon a third party service./rant-Josh Yahoo! Groups Links* To visit your group on the web, go to:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/-- sull- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -The hybrid or the meeting of two media is a moment of truth and revelation from which new form is born - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://vlogdir.com - The Videoblog Directoryhttp://videobloggers.org - Free Videoblog Hosting / Vlogosphere Aggregator http://interdigitate.com - on again off again personal vlog SPONSORED LINKS Individual Fireant Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash, video iPod and offering MP3 podcasts
I agree with this. In fact I've posted a very elegant WordPress FLV plugin here several times. I think that is a great option for videobloggers. But Flash is not the be all and end all. Other format options for download/syndication are very important. -Josh On 1/10/06, Michael Sullivan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: but you can transcode other formats to flv.and you can use a flash wrapper/player which can provide some interactivity being discussed here. these are free or cheap. just need a server to upload it to so it can be used on the web. you dont have to buy or use expensive Flash MX 2004 Professional. the important point, to reiterate here is NOT to ONLY use flash. But DONT avoid it when you can feasibly incorporate it into your projects. DO provide mp4 etc... balance experiment dont be fooled by partial truths which can end up limiting your creativity and use of available technologies. sullOn 1/10/06, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Flash is used by service providers... upload your video here typesof services.This is fine, but for an independent who wants to post their own videoon the web, dealing with Flash is still for the most part too expensive and too complicated. Flash MX 2004 Professional is not acheap program. Understanding actionscipt is not easy. Understandingthe intricacies of Flash and how to make it work for both playback andsyndication is not easy. I think Flash is great on the web. But it is not yet easy enough foran individual, low budget, one-person production unit without relyingon a third party service./rant-Josh Yahoo! Groups Links* To visit your group on the web, go to:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/-- sull- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -The hybrid or the meeting of two media is a moment of truth and revelation from which new form is born - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://vlogdir.com - The Videoblog Directory http://videobloggers.org - Free Videoblog Hosting / Vlogosphere Aggregator http://interdigitate.com - on again off again personal vlog SPONSORED LINKS Individual Fireant Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group videoblogging on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. SPONSORED LINKS Individual Fireant Use Explains YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[videoblogging] Re: Flash, video iPod and offering MP3 podcasts
For those who don't have the time or inclination to dive into ActionScript, the value of Flash video is represented by the sites that use it. As I've said before, there is a growing number of sites using it, but these sites have only shown the tip of the iceberg of what can be done with ActionScript and Flash video. Off the top of my head, the only one that has done anything interesting at all is vSocial, and that's not an awful lot. So, for now, Flash video seems like it's gaining market share without delivering any benefits over what it's replacing. Stay tuned. There's sooo much that Flash can do for video that hasn't been shown yet. Specifically, I'm talking about rich interactive applications where using video isn't a simple matter of pressing play and kicking back. --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I agree with this. In fact I've posted a very elegant WordPress FLV plugin here several times. I think that is a great option for videobloggers. But Flash is not the be all and end all. Other format options for download/syndication are very important. -Josh On 1/10/06, Michael Sullivan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: but you can transcode other formats to flv. and you can use a flash wrapper/player which can provide some interactivity being discussed here. these are free or cheap. just need a server to upload it to so it can be used on the web. you dont have to buy or use expensive Flash MX 2004 Professional. the important point, to reiterate here is NOT to ONLY use flash. But DONT avoid it when you can feasibly incorporate it into your projects. DO provide mp4 etc... balance experiment dont be fooled by partial truths which can end up limiting your creativity and use of available technologies. sull On 1/10/06, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Flash is used by service providers... upload your video here types of services. This is fine, but for an independent who wants to post their own video on the web, dealing with Flash is still for the most part too expensive and too complicated. Flash MX 2004 Professional is not a cheap program. Understanding actionscipt is not easy. Understanding the intricacies of Flash and how to make it work for both playback and syndication is not easy. I think Flash is great on the web. But it is not yet easy enough for an individual, low budget, one-person production unit without relying on a third party service. /rant -Josh Yahoo! Groups Links -- sull - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The hybrid or the meeting of two media is a moment of truth and revelation from which new form is born - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://vlogdir.com - The Videoblog Directory http://videobloggers.org - Free Videoblog Hosting / Vlogosphere Aggregator http://interdigitate.com - on again off again personal vlog SPONSORED LINKS Individualhttp://groups.yahoo.com/gads? t=msk=Individualw1=Individualw2=Fireantw3=Usew4=Explainsc=4s=52.sig= _ypWGVVDWUSpuxYaJQCHhA Fireanthttp://groups.yahoo.com/gads? t=msk=Fireantw1=Individualw2=Fireantw3=Usew4=Explainsc=4s=52.sig=ZN 1ChvogeamDt5UU6pqRYQ Usehttp://groups.yahoo.com/gads? t=msk=Usew1=Individualw2=Fireantw3=Usew4=Explainsc=4s=52.sig=JJpiF0 el7XIZm7_UQJThew Explainshttp://groups.yahoo.com/gads? t=msk=Explainsw1=Individualw2=Fireantw3=Usew4=Explainsc=4s=52.sig=U JhUAw_ybLAhU1YhEOb9AA -- YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS - Visit your group videoblogginghttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/ videoblogging on the web. - To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]videoblogging- [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/. -- Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash, video iPod and offering MP3 podcasts
Obviously I'm out of town when this thread hits... Yes, I entirely agree with where this ended up. Flash is not an end-all-be-all -- there is *no* end-all-be-all. And I agree, innovation in this area is not done, it's barely started. Needless to say, we've got cool stuff on the go. =) The mantra we keep slamming -- *do* something with video -- is more than a hypeline, I live/breathe/sleep that every day (more than I care to actually admit); that being said, not every method is for everyone. Lots of folks are format zealots, and I totally appreciate that. This is why I usually do my talkbacks on most threads directly to folks.. I don't want to feel like I'm cramming some company line (format, the right way etc) down anyone's throat. Folks SHOULD and ARE trying different methods, services, formats, etc out, and I am totally supportive of other folks in the space who provide different, meaningful and valuable tools to the community... as I've said a few times, I personally (heart) blip, vlogdir, fireant, mefeedia and ourmedia/IA, and would love to work more with these folks. Mike Lanza wrote: For those who don't have the time or inclination to dive into ActionScript, the value of Flash video is represented by the sites that use it. As I've said before, there is a growing number of sites using it, but these sites have only shown the tip of the iceberg of what can be done with ActionScript and Flash video. Off the top of my head, the only one that has done anything interesting at all is vSocial, and that's not an awful lot. So, for now, Flash video seems like it's gaining market share without delivering any benefits over what it's replacing. Stay tuned. There's sooo much that Flash can do for video that hasn't been shown yet. Specifically, I'm talking about rich interactive applications where using video isn't a simple matter of pressing play and kicking back. --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I agree with this. In fact I've posted a very elegant WordPress FLV plugin here several times. I think that is a great option for videobloggers. But Flash is not the be all and end all. Other format options for download/syndication are very important. -Josh On 1/10/06, Michael Sullivan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: but you can transcode other formats to flv. and you can use a flash wrapper/player which can provide some interactivity being discussed here. these are free or cheap. just need a server to upload it to so it can be used on the web. you dont have to buy or use expensive Flash MX 2004 Professional. the important point, to reiterate here is NOT to ONLY use flash. But DONT avoid it when you can feasibly incorporate it into your projects. DO provide mp4 etc... balance experiment dont be fooled by partial truths which can end up limiting your creativity and use of available technologies. sull On 1/10/06, Joshua Kinberg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Flash is used by service providers... upload your video here types of services. This is fine, but for an independent who wants to post their own video on the web, dealing with Flash is still for the most part too expensive and too complicated. Flash MX 2004 Professional is not a cheap program. Understanding actionscipt is not easy. Understanding the intricacies of Flash and how to make it work for both playback and syndication is not easy. I think Flash is great on the web. But it is not yet easy enough for an individual, low budget, one-person production unit without relying on a third party service. /rant -Josh Yahoo! Groups Links -- sull - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The hybrid or the meeting of two media is a moment of truth and revelation from which new form is born - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://vlogdir.com - The Videoblog Directory http://videobloggers.org - Free Videoblog Hosting / Vlogosphere Aggregator http://interdigitate.com - on again off again personal vlog SPONSORED LINKS Individualhttp://groups.yahoo.com/gads? t=msk=Individualw1=Individualw2=Fireantw3=Usew4=Explainsc=4s=52.sig= _ypWGVVDWUSpuxYaJQCHhA Fireanthttp://groups.yahoo.com/gads? t=msk=Fireantw1=Individualw2=Fireantw3=Usew4=Explainsc=4s=52.sig=ZN 1ChvogeamDt5UU6pqRYQ Usehttp://groups.yahoo.com/gads? t=msk=Usew1=Individualw2=Fireantw3=Usew4=Explainsc=4s=52.sig=JJpiF0 el7XIZm7_UQJThew Explainshttp://groups.yahoo.com/gads? t=msk=Explainsw1=Individualw2=Fireantw3=Usew4=Explainsc=4s=52.sig=U JhUAw_ybLAhU1YhEOb9AA -- YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS - Visit your group videoblogginghttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/ videoblogging on the web. - To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]videoblogging- [EMAIL PROTECTED] - Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash, video iPod and offering MP3 podcasts
I must agree with Josh, though Mike I did find your fresh perspective and information very insightful. As I see it while the aquisition of Macromedia by Adobe and the video share market does bode well for the flash format I still see it as a niche tool which will have to fight deperately to move beyond the web as a platform or even to keep up with the web platform. Here are three specific points. 1) It's closed... it's got issues with accessibility and interoperability... this to both developers (programmers and media makers) and end users. if Macromedia opened up the file format and made a standard out of it and let others compete on that platform... and develop to it just as long as they supported macromedias spec... even if they didn't allow others to extend the specification I think it would be a very powerful move... that MIGHT get it included in Quicktime and other media players... AND especially in devices like Treo's, handhelds, Tivo's, the PSP, iPods and other future devices. Flash is the ONLY video player I know in fact that supports it... and I'm not just talking video RSS aggregator either... I mean ANY player. Not even VLC or Mplayer support it I believe... and they're becoming the stock and standard video players... though still work in progress they support everything. In fact I think Flash is dying to bust out because there is so much great flash specific content... stuff with light interactivity and especially animation work. There's no denying it's a great format, it's just not accessible and interoperable. Adobe for example has become the defacto standard with PDF... and that's because they opened it up... now other people can develop to it and publish to it... I see Macromedia Flash in very much a similar role. They need to focus more on making Flash accessible and interoperable. 2) It's not for video... it is infact not a video tool... it is a niche tool... it doesn't function like video, it doesn't play like video... it doesn't play back in most video playback tools... FlASH IS A NICHE TOOL... it's carved out quite a niche for itself but it's made it's bed and now it has to lye in it. As mentioned above it's niche is interactivity and animation. That said I think it's the preferred format of choice for viral media makers... i.e. jibjab... because it is so portable, light and quick to load... It's definitely the most portable of all media formats... accept for beyond the web browser... to date not a single non web browser device supports it... no portable video players, no cell phones... nada. In order to get out of this niche they're going to have to bust a cap in point number one this will over time change point number two when it's becomes more standard in video playback tools and they learn to make it function more like video... from allowing outside standardized playback control to supporting ID3 meta info. 3) DRM... it employs some sort of soft fucked up DRM... it pisses me off and it's enough to be a pain in the ass... but it has no hard core DRM aimed at Hollywood... Now I say this hating DRM... because DROM is law encoded through technology and inaccessible to basic HUMANS... and laws must remain accessible to humans in order for the planet to remain humane and fair (as in fair use that thing that people keep forgetting about) and I'm not just talking about fair use and playback for the end user... I also mean keeping markets and distribution open and accessible too... i.e. we should ALL have the same rights under the law... i.e. clearly apple's Fairplay makes law a commodity...if DRM should become the standard... than to the extent it becomes a standard it becomes tyranical, and anti-competitive... even racketeering... clearly it's pay up or you'll get no access to apple's marketplace... this will only get worse in the future But enough of my viewpoints on DRM... The point is macromedia needs to make some real policy on DRM to attract hollywood... My suggestion would be to simultaneously make the format more open and more closed... like apple's iPod... make a default publishing state that allows for editing, format shifting, sharing... and make one or two DRM states for increasing levels of evilness so so called big media or hollywood will be encouraged to use the platform. Let the DRM compete on the same platform with free and open as Apple is doing... clearly free and open content is winning... just look at podcasting as a business vs. Apple's music sales... I'll bet you a beer there's more revenue in podcasting and vlogging by the end of 2006 than there is in apple music sales... Yes, I'm saying little media is going to kick big media's ass on the ipod platform... crazy I know, but not only do open markets encourage innovation... but open markets distribute wealth far more equitably too... Big grin... :) It's the same
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash, video iPod and offering MP3 podcasts
I thought FireAnt accepted SWF files - I seem to remember mine showing up just fine. I mostly use SWF, and those files get the most downloads on my site, wherever those are coming from. I compress them with Sorenson Squeeze. I've only recently started using FLV in order to work with the elegant Flash video player that was recommended on this list. The downside is that I have to compress in both SWF and FLV. The upside is that I can now see how many people are viewing the video within the page (few) vs taking it as a feed from elsewhere. I also use QuickTime Pro to compress the files as M4Vs for iTunes. And some files I also do as high-quality WMVs for viewing on Nessuno.TV.Doing all this, plus the RSS feed, manually, because I don't use blog software (I like to have more control over my site's structure). It's a pain, but gets the results I want. -- best regards,Deirdré Straughanwww.beginningwithi.com (personal)www.tvblob.com (work) SPONSORED LINKS Individual Fireant Typepad Use YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
Re: [videoblogging] Re: Flash, video iPod and offering MP3 podcasts
Yes, FireAnt does play SWF files. But Flash video is not a SWF. It is an FLV loaded into a SWF.. often loaded externally via relative link within the Flash file. This type of scenario often breaks syndication because it cannot be viewed offline or from a local hard drive. Syndicating the raw FLV file is preferrable as it doesn't require any dependencies on networked resources, but it is a little more difficult to play as FLV doesn't play natively within Flash player -- it must be loaded inside a SWF controller. -josh On 12/21/05, Deirdre Straughan [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I thought FireAnt accepted SWF files - I seem to remember mine showing up just fine. I mostly use SWF, and those files get the most downloads on my site, wherever those are coming from. I compress them with Sorenson Squeeze. I've only recently started using FLV in order to work with the elegant Flash video player that was recommended on this list. The downside is that I have to compress in both SWF and FLV. The upside is that I can now see how many people are viewing the video within the page (few) vs taking it as a feed from elsewhere. I also use QuickTime Pro to compress the files as M4Vs for iTunes. And some files I also do as high-quality WMVs for viewing on Nessuno.TV.Doing all this, plus the RSS feed, manually, because I don't use blog software (I like to have more control over my site's structure). It's a pain, but gets the results I want. -- best regards,Deirdré Straughanwww.beginningwithi.com (personal) www.tvblob.com (work) SPONSORED LINKS Individual Fireant Typepad Use YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group videoblogging on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. SPONSORED LINKS Individual Fireant Typepad Use YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[videoblogging] Re: Flash, video iPod and offering MP3 podcasts
Currently, it is not possible to play flv's (Flash video files) on an iPod. However, Flash video is taking off like a rocket. Most of the major new big media sites are using it (e.g. video.google.com, espn.go.com, labs.reuters.com/video, www.brightcove.com, etc.). Most of these have come up in the last three months. For instance, Google just changed to Flash video less than two months ago. Someone I trust told me that a little over a year ago, Flash video accounted for 1% of all web video, but now, it's at about 20%.In addition, the acquisition of Macromedia by Adobe, completed a few weeks ago, bodes very well for Flash video. Adobe has a heck of a lot more muscle than Macromedia had.So, with Adobe, Google, ESPN, Reuters, and others all pushing Flash video now, I'd say that there's an awful lot of momentum behind it. I'm sure that more and more sites will adopt it, but it will be interesting to see if Apple is persuaded to adopt it for the iPod. It certainly does make sense because of its ubiquity on Mac and Windows (why keep fighting so hard to get QuickTime players on Windows?) and because of its fabulous environment for video-based application development.I videoblog for the Detroit News political blog -http://spartanedge.com/blogs/detroitnews/index.html -But because I use Flash, it seems that I can't get on on aggregators. Is that still true? Seems off to me because I really think Flash isa cool way to offer vid.Another concern - I am not sure how to offer up video for the iPod --I squeezed my video through Sorenson into a "small" MPEG-4 And thenI offer a link that allows people to download it. But I do not havean iPod and wondered if it works OK. I have no way to check.I also wondered how many of you also offer an MP3 podcast of yourvideoblog. I try to do that but don't know if it works well.Thanks -Bonnie B -Mike Lanza[EMAIL PROTECTED]http://family.lanza.net415-641-1985- YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS Visit your group "videoblogging" on the web. To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
[videoblogging] Re: flash video formats
Our research has, so far, led us to the conclusion that only FLV or SWF movies play in the Flash player... I'd love to hear if there are alternatives, though, as we don't much like either format! Yours, Mike Co-founder, blip.tv http://www.pokkari.com/blog/ --- In videoblogging@yahoogroups.com, Lucas Gonze [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Question for video gurus -- is there any way to get video into Flash without packaging it up as either a FLV file or embedding it within an SWF file? What I'm wondering is whether it's possible to have Flash launch a movie in some other, more generic/ open format. thanks in advance. - Lucas Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ~-- Fair play? Video games influencing politics. Click and talk back! http://us.click.yahoo.com/T8sf5C/tzNLAA/TtwFAA/lBLqlB/TM ~- Yahoo! Groups Links * To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/videoblogging/ * To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] * Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/