Biographical Information

Articles for Timothy Fore-Siglin

SMNYC 2024: United Cloud's Boban Kasalovic Talks End-to-End Streaming and Content Security

Streaming Media's Tim Siglin interviews United Cloud's Boban Kasalovic at Streaming Media NYC. Kasalovic discusses United Cloud's development of an end-to-end streaming solution and an anti-piracy platform called Gladiator. The platform uses machine learning and AI to analyze data and identify critical behavior that could lead to piracy. The company has also implemented Widevine CAS for its hybrid solution.

Is Live Streaming Stagnating? Give Us Your Feedback!

A new survey takes a critical look at the live-streaming ecosystem.

The State of Streaming Sustainability 2024

How do others see us, and how do we measure our progress? New data on streaming power consumption will al­low the industry to target further reductions in power consumption while working toward longer-term solu­tions that reuse old technologies alongside current best practices as a way to extend the life of streaming tech for years to come.

Progress Towards Giving the Gift of Streaming: Help Me Stream’s 2023 Research Highlights

Year full of research preps significant 2024 acceleration to give "the gift of streaming" globally

State of Streaming Autumn 2023 Survey Report Launches

Newest version of twice-annual report expands on "pain points" and growth patterns, available for download now.

State of Streaming Snapshot: Pinpointing Streaming’s Pricing Pain Points

Rising fundamental costs morph into rising platform costs for content owners and consumers

Everything in Streaming Has Its Price

This column isn't meant to be a downer, especially because the overall economy seems to be plugging along. But it is meant to ask those of you in the industry to share anecdotes and stories about the pain points you're facing. We know that everything in streaming has its price, but you are in a better position to help us fully understand what that price entails.

Evidence That Survives Time

From war crimes to war crime tribunals and war commemorations, how do we guarantee that content is available to play?

Rob Collins of Starz Talks D2C Streaming App Development & Delivery

Streaming Media's Tim Siglin sits down with Rob Collins, Director of Software Development at Starz, to discuss streaming app development and delivery in this exclusive interview from Streaming Media East 2023.

System 73's Daniel Perea Strom Talks Improving Content Delivery

Streaming Media's Tim Siglin sits down with System 73's Daniel Perea Strom to discuss improving content delivery in this exclusive interview from Streaming Media East 2023.

Dom Robinson Talks Streaming Sustainability and the LESS Accord

Streaming Media's Tim Siglin sits down with Greening of Streaming Founder Dom Robinson to discuss streaming sustainability and the LESS Accord in this exclusive interview from Streaming Media East 2023.

id3as CEO Adrian Roe Intros Norsk Low Code Live Video SDK

Adrian Roe of id3as sits down with Tim Siglin to introduce Norsk low code live video SDK in this interview from Streaming Media East 2023.

CDN77's Juraj Kacaba Talks Low-Latency Streaming and the Edge

CDN77's Juraj Kacaba sits down with Tim Siglin to discuss low-latency streaming and the edge in this interview from Streaming Media East 2023.

Estrella Media's Christina Chung Talks Expanding AVOD Channels' Targeted Reach Via Media Partners

Estrella Media's Christina Chung talks with Tim Siglin of Help Me Stream Research Foundation about expanding AVOD channels' targeted reach via media partners in this Streaming Media East 2023 interview.

Practical Approaches to Sustainable Streaming

In this article I'll expand on prior sustainability approaches, detail reasons to consider additional areas of power-consumption optimisation, and invite diverse stakeholders across streaming workflows to engage with Streaming Media magazine, GoS, and like-minded stakeholders in a mid- to late-2023 initiative around the LESS Accord, with an overall goal of readers recommending measurable best practices for consideration by September 2023.

Vindral CEO Daniel Alinder Talks Latency, Sync, 8K, and Vindral

Tim Siglin of Help Me Stream Research Foundation sits down with Daniel Alinder of Vindral to discuss latency, sync, 8K, and Vindral in this Streaming Media East 2023 interview.

Take Streaming Media's Spring 2023 State of Streaming Survey

The teams at StreamingMedia.com and Help Me Stream Research Foundation are getting a jump on spring by releasing the Spring 2023 edition of the State of Streaming survey. This survey is our twice-annual look at the overall streaming industry. Take the survey today and help us understand just how the streaming landscape has shifted in the past six months.

Enterprise Video Usage Report Launches

Second annual survey highlights trends in hybrid work environments

State of Streaming Autumn 2022 Report Launched

New report expands on details provided during recent Streaming Media West keynote

RealSprint's Daniel Alinder Talks Sub-Second Latency and AV1 Encoding

Streaming Media's Tim Siglin interviews RealSprint AB CEO Daniel Alinder in the NETINT booth at IBC 2022 in Amsterdam.

An Industry Welcomes Itself Back, Amsterdam Style

Anticipation is mounting for this year's IBC. After a reasonable-size crowd at the April 2022 NAB event in Las Vegas (by most estimates, about half of normal attendee count), we've had smaller events take place—including our own Streaming Media East 2022, held in Boston—from May onward that seem to have returned to normal.

Pros and Cons of On-Prem, Cloud, and Hybrid Workflows

Where you host your workflows can make all of the difference. Experts from Signiant, Warner Bros., TV 2, and CNN break down the pros and cons of on-prem, cloud, and hybrid.

Why the Edge Matters in Streaming

The term that summed up Streaming Media East this year was "edge computing," a nascent idea that draws from streaming architectural concepts from the late 1990s but also has its roots firmly planted in the middle of the pandemic era we've just passed through.

Survey: Enterprise Video

Annual survey of enterprise video asks readers to update us on use of video in the workplace

Vimond's Megan Wagoner Talks Acceleration of Cloud Broadcasting

Megan Wagoner of Norway-based OTT Video CMS provider Vimond discusses the current state of cloud broadcasting and how the pandemic has accelerated migration to the cloud in this interview with Streaming Media's Tim Siglin at Streaming Media East 2022.

id3as' Dom Robinson and Help Me Stream's Tim Siglin Talk Greening of Streaming

id3as' Dom Robinson and Help Me Stream's Tim Siglin discuss the latest Greening of Streaming developments--including taking the conservation case to Parliament--in this interview from Streaming Media East 2022.

Cloud vs. On-Prem vs. Hybrid Streaming Workflows

Everything streaming is moving to the cloud, right? Not so fast. Where you keep your content and do your work depends on your own particular circumstances. And on-prem is by no means dead.

Survey: The Business Value of Real-Time Streaming

Real-time streaming at global scale has long been the holy grail for live delivery, and a new Streaming Media survey looks to gain insight into both the current state of real-time streaming and where it's headed in the near future, particularly for sports and betting.

Take the Spring 2022 State of Streaming Survey

Every 6 months, we gauge the state of the streaming industry with a survey looking at monetization, audience sizes, video quality choices, and more. Take the survey and be entered into a drawing for an Oculus Quest 2.

Beyond Software: Hardware Processing for Streaming at Scale

Whether you use the cloud or a hybrid solution to encode your live or on-demand streaming content, high-efficiency hardware-based encoding has come of age. This article explores the math and science behind these at-scale solutions that are not only good for business, but also good for the environment.

The Algorithm Series: QUIC Ways to Stream

Will 2022 be the year UDP finally shows its streaming mettle? The Quick UDP Internet Connections (QUIC) protocol might make the difference. First, though, OTT platforms need to make technical decisions about HTTP/3 that could further fragment the market.

Take the Content Delivery and Edge Compute Trends Survey

New survey explores the current content delivery landscape, with a focus on security and edge compute

Take the State of Enterprise Video Survey

New survey offers you a chance to tell us how your use of video for work has changed, and what you think the next few months will bring

Take the "OTT Trends 2021" Survey

Our latest Streaming Media survey looks specifically at the opportunities and challenges in the OTT space. Take it and register to win a live streaming bundle worth $300!

The Algorithm Series: Digital Rights Management (DRM)

The math behind the magic of protecting live and on-demand streaming video content

The Algorithm Series: Video Player Performance

Multiple algorithms for encoding, transfer, and playback intersect in the end user's player. So how can you make the numbers work in your favor?

Take the State of the Streaming Autumn 2020 Survey

How has the streaming industry changed in the last 6 months, and what's in store for the future? Take our Autumn 2020 State of the Streaming Industry survey and get a copy of the exclusive report before anyone else.

The Greening of Streaming

The time has long since passed to turn our attention to making the streaming delivery ecosystem more environmentally friendly. Here are some of the key challenges, as well as some suggested first steps towards solutions.

Achieving Zero Latency for Video and Audio Is a Zero-Sum Game

In the AV world, zero-frame latency isn't just a pipe dream—it's a requirement. Here's why the streaming industry would do well to pay attention.

Streaming Innovation in Manufacturing: Building the Future

The assembly line has changed. Streaming video and audio, as well as machine learning and computer vision, are helping manufacturing become smarter and leaner.

For Thought-Provoking Video, Forget About Slick Production Values

In a previous age, videoconferencing was bright, sterile, and unpleasant. It lacked the multi-sensory input that makes face-to-face meetings valuable.

Announcing the State of Streaming 2019 Survey

StreamingMedia.com is undertaking the first-ever survey calculating the size and health of the entire streaming industry. Take a few minutes to answer our questions and you just might win a prize!

Streaming Forum: DAZN's Fan-First Sports Service

Fans watched 265 million hours of live content on DAZN in 2018, and that's just the beginning, said CTO Florian Diederichsen in his Streaming Forum keynote.

Streaming Forum: Sky Not Taking Competition Lying Down

Sky's Deepa Kutty talked about the competition from Netflix, YouTube, and Amazon as part of a deep dive into the importance of innovative approaches to advertising at Streaming Forum

How Australia's Optus Missed the Goal at the World Cup

Optus claimed it experienced "unprecedented demand" for live video streaming during the 2018 World Cup, but what else would it expect?

Portable Streaming Encoders Shrink and Grow

As companies launch small-form-factor encoders (SFFEs) for live streaming and (sometimes) recording, one of the biggest questions potential users ask is whether these devices offer the same encoding functionality as larger units.

Streaming Video Exploration Makes the World a Little Smaller

Both armchair explorers and scientists are making use of new video technologies that are able to see more deeply than human vision can.

Help Us Help Others Stream: The Online Video Industry Gives Back

This is the birth of a non-profit that could make a difference in the lives of many. If you have streaming skills and you'd like to help NGOs working in economically distressed areas, read on.

Next-Generation Content Delivery: The Shift Is Underway

What will it take for live streaming to finally match the global scale of traditional TV? A look at the next 18 months of next-gen video delivery.

Buyers' Guide to Encoder Appliances

Sometimes software-only solutions just don't cut it. Here's how to understand the tradeoff between hardware and software encoding, and how to select the best appliance when low-latency and delivery matter.

Streaming Forum: Metaliquid Innovates with AI and Metadata

New AI implementations allow for content analysis to detect everything from faces to brands and even the type of content, offering value for content owners, brands, and consumers

Streaming Forum Keynote: Sky Spins Up New Channels in Minutes

Sky principal streaming architect Jeff Webb shared how a move from appliance-based workflows to container-based workflows now means that the broadcaster can spin up new channels in minutes, a process that used to take up to 4 weeks

Streaming Forum: Building an HTML5 Video Workflow

HTML5 video workflows are being more widely deployed, but missing components are slowing further adoption, says Streamroot's Erica Beavers

Buyers' Guide to Content- and Context-Aware Encoding 2018

A new generation of encoders looks at the context of content to deliver better video playback and higher efficiency. Here's what publishers need to know about CAE.

The Chinese Streaming Market Rife With Possibilities and Pitfalls

Western publishers that want to stream video to audiences in China need to overcome unique hurdles that are more political than technical.

IMF: One Format to Rule Them All or Just One More Format?

The Interoperable Master Format (IMF) offers the appeal of a universal distribution format for all video, but it's not quite there yet. Here's where development stands today.

HDR: The More Bits, the Better

Apple's new Macs feature 10-bit HEVC decoding for HDR video viewing. To understand why that's important, it's worth a look at an old technology—film cameras.

Beyond TCP: Meet the Next Generation of Transport Protocols

Lower latency while increasing reliability: That's the promise of alternate transmission protocols that expand on TCP or simply replace it as the streaming transmission champ.

Cut the Cord, Plug In an Antenna: It's Prime Time for Subchannels

TV Everywhere is plagued by connection difficulties, while quality is improving on over-the-air digital subchannels. The home antenna is making a comeback.

Streaming Meets Unified Communications: Convergence Is on the Way

Social media, online video platforms, and knowledge management systems are coming together to create the future of enterprise communications.

Buyers' Guide to Content Delivery Networks 2017

Contrary to popular belief, CDNs aren't going away—for good reason—but their pricing models are changing. Here are the costs companies need to consider.

Latency Sucks! So Which Companies Are Creating a Solution?

It's one of the biggest challenges facing live video streaming today, and it's remained frustratingly stubborn. Explore the technical solutions that could finally bring latency down to the 1-second mark.

NewTek and Wowza Release MediaDS

Encoder offers NewTek proprietary IP inputs, world-class color correction, and an integrated Wowza Streaming Engine for live delivery

How to Monetize: AVOD, TVOD, or SVOD?

In quotes from a Streaming Media/Unisphere survey, our readers talk about the biggest monetization opportunities and challenges facing them today and tomorrow

Measuring Success: The Multiplatform Analytics Challenge

Counting viewers has always been a difficulty for streaming publishers, and today's multiplatform world makes the issue more demanding than ever. The answer is to radically rethink video analytics.

Infographic: Next-Gen Video Formats

OTT decision-makers are bullish on HDR, HFR, VR, and 4K, according to results of a survey by Streaming Media and Unisphere Research

A Stitch in Time: How Stream Stitching Beats the Ad Blockers

Ad blockers are the bane of online video publishers everywhere. Can stream stitching, also known as server-side ad insertion, save the day?

Buyer's Guide to CDN Services 2016

From pure-play to piecemeal, CDN services offer significant benefits. Here are the major features to look for at a time when the lines around CDN services are getting blurred.

Testing the Vitec MGW Ace and MGW D265 for HEVC Encode/Decode

While Vitec's latest encoder and decoder are strong products by themselves, they're even more impressive when used together in a complete end-to-end solution.

Implementing Real-Time Video Collaboration in the Enterprise

For many companies, the path is clear: understanding, championing, and leveraging video collaboration for more efficient business models.

Authentication Remains a Challenge, and Not Just for Streaming

Broadcast snafus for pay-per-view events show ongoing authentication flaws, but seamless authentication via intelligent request routing might save the day for both broadcast and streaming.

Skype TX: Could Skype's New Offering Create a News Revolution?

The NewTek TalkShow VS-100 is based on Skype TX, which brings simple videoconferencing to the broadcast video workflow.

The Challenge for Next-Generation Enterprise Video Platforms

Are video platforms geared toward the enterprise more than just repackaged entertainment platforms? Here's how to make a choice.

The Challenge for Next-Generation Enterprise Video Platforms

Are video platforms geared toward the enterprise more than just repackaged entertainment platforms? Here's how to make a choice.

StreamZilla: What’s in a Claim? Is this Regional CDN the Largest?

At CDN World Summit, StreamZilla announced it has created the largest CDN in the world. Its federated approach offers flexibility for customers big and small.

Netflix in the Nordics: What Can Other Countries Learn?

Without the burden of shiny disc delivery, Netflix's streaming-only approach is cannibalizing physical media content sales in countries where internet penetration and mobile device usage is way above average.

Don't Just Compress the Video, Compress the Content

Researchers are creating algorithms that remove non-essential information from a video, allowing viewers to watch it faster than in real-time.

How to Build a Multiscreen Online Video Workflow

It's important to think ahead when preparing content for different screens in different environments. Read on for best practices from experts.

Streaming Forum Preview: How to Leverage a "Corporate Tube" for Maximum ROI

How can businesses balance the need for corporate security with the ease-of-use employees expect from consumer-facing video portals? This Streaming Forum session will explore the issues and offer answers to this vexing challenge.

Streaming Forum Preview: The Second Screen—More Important than the First?

Tim Siglin will present the findings of a survey he conducted with Piksel and Unisphere Media, one that reveals some surprising results when it comes to people in our own industry feel about second-screen apps, and what those results might bode for the future.

Streaming Forum Preview: Media Servers—Who Needs Them?

With the advent of HTTP-based delivery, do you really need a media server? Panelists at this year's Streaming Forum will discuss the benefits that dedicated media servers offer.

Forget 4K, Think 4D: Time Could Be a New Wrinkle in Online Video

Science fiction or science fact? 3D video was a bust with consumers, but 4D could add an exciting new dimension to streaming video.

DASH: It's All About Interoperability

At NAB earlier this month, the DASH Talks delved deep into the ways that the standard calls for conformance and allows services like HbbTV to move forward

A Buyer’s Guide to Multiformat Media Servers

4K and DASH muddy the waters, but the need for servers that can deliver multiple formats and handle closed captioning and ad insertion has never been clearer.

A Buyer’s Guide to Enterprise Video Platforms

The BYOD trend, closed captioning, and cloud services present three key areas that enterprises should address when purchasing an enterprise video platform.

Take Our Second-Screen Application Trends Survey and Win an iPad

StreamingMedia.com and Unisphere Research want to know what streaming insiders think of companion viewing apps. Let us know and you could win an iPad Mini.

Videoconferencing Grows With Rich Media Preservation

Educational institutions and businesses are creating innovative solutions that combine online video instruction and interactivity.

Videoconferencing Meets Streaming -- Finally

It's taken almost 20 years, but enterprise video solutions are finally integrating with videoconferencing tools, and everybody wins.

For UltraHD Streaming, Studios Need to Forge a Desperate Alliance

Consumers will never go for 4K video that stumbles on the last mile. Here's what the major studios can do about it.

Streaming Forum: Streaming Schools the Enterprise

Panopto co-founder Eric Burns discussed best practices that can be applied to both educational and corporate video

Streaming Forum: Is CDN Just a Marketing Term?

Discussion with CDN.net, Deutsche Telekom, Jet-Stream, Limelight, and Mirror Image reveals shifts in how CDNs see themselves and their customers

Streaming Forum: HEVC and OTT

Thomson Video Networks' Alain Pellen broke down HEVC/H.265 improvements by the numbers

Streaming Forum Preview: Expanding Your Market from Europe to the USA

Session at Streaming Forum will examine case studies of companies that have branched out from Europe to the United States, as well as examine technical and certification issues involved with entering the USA market

Fore! European Tour TV Tees Off With Windows Azure

Ready to hit the links? Microsoft partners with the European Tour association to launch a Euro-centric live and on-demand golf site.

2K and 4K Televisions: Will Consumers Show an Interest?

Can 2K and 4K TVs generate the excitement that 3DTVs lacked? Manufacturers hope so. Here's what it will take.

Qualcomm, LG Show Off 4K Content at Mobile World Congress

The Consumer Electronics Show teased 4K recording and content, but Mobile World Congress delivered. Is 4K streaming next?

A Buyer's Guide to Streaming Appliances

When is a streaming appliance a good addition to an online video workflow? Read on for the answers, as well as the different types of streaming appliances.

A Buyer's Guide to Format Conversion Tools

Do you need to transrate, transcode, transmux…or all three? Here are four essential questions to ask before making a purchase.

A Buyer's Guide to Non-Real-Time Hardware Transcoders

File-based hardware solutions present a unique set of decision points. Some offer faster-than-real-time encoding, even with ad insertion.

A Buyer's Guide to Multiformat Streaming Media Servers

MPEG DASH is the biggest factor to consider -- or is it? Here are the key features to know about before making a decision.

Preparing for IPv6, a New System for Internet Addressing

The move to IPv6 is certain to be painful. Here's what the streaming industry needs to know about device-level addressability in an everything-connected world.

Fibre to the Home Europe: Entertainment at the Speed of Light

Fibre confab touts premium entertainment as key content driver, suggesting that the time has come for studios to start investing in network infrastructure, including last-mile delivery to the consumer

Will the EC Continue to fund Broadband Infrastructure?

European Commission strategy on funding may stimulate high-speed services—if investment funds materialize.

Wowza Media Server 3.5 Includes Support for Closed Captioning, Transcoder Overlays, and More

Modifications to the server also include HTTP origin delivery of ABR content into caching networks

Streaming Servers 2012: New Features, New Opportunities

Adobe, Anevia, CodeShop, Microsoft, and RealNetworks talked last week at the Video Infrastructure Summit about their servers' latest features and what we can look for next

Olympics, Red Button, and Tablets: BBC Future Media at Streaming Media Europe

With more than 111 million total video requests, the London 2012 games reached over 65 percent of the adult UK population

Tactics to Combat Video Piracy Are Shifting, Finds VIS Panels

Google now receives over 1.5 million DCMA takedown notices per week; piracy takes 24 percent of all bandwidth.

The Widespread Use of Metadata Is Almost Here. Almost.

We've only scratched the surface of offering useful features powered by metadata. When will the promise finally become a reality?

The Game Changers of 2012

Cisco acquired NDS. Tesco acquired We7. Read about the mergers and acquisitions, fragmentation, and game-changing trends that have disrupted the streaming media industry so far this year.

French MPEG DASH TV Requirements Have IBC Buzzing

The French TNT 2.0 connected television specifications now include MPEG DASH support, but is it a mandate or an update?

Le Tour de France: Live Stream it All Online

Providing nonstop live streaming coverage of marathon-level sports events might increase audience size.

Google TV Preps for its European Debut

At long last, Sony will bring Google TV to Europe starting July 22. Hardware and interface improvements should help it find an audience.

Tesco Acquires We7

The retail giant purchases 91 percent of Peter Gabriel's music service, with the goal of buying the other 9 percent soon.

Diving in Deep with Digital Rapids Kayak and Azure Media Services

Digital Rapids transcoding and workflow platform complements Windows Azure Media Services.

Connected TVs: Still Unplugged?

New study shows that 1 in 4 smart TV buyers in the UK have never connected the set to the internet

Buyer's Guide: Live Encoders

When it's got to be streamed live, you can't cut corners. Here's a list of questions to ask when selecting a live encoding solution.

Buyer's Guide: Live Transcoders

What to look for when you need to transcode and transrate more than just one format

Buyer's Guide: Hardware and Cloud Transcoding

Sometimes a software-only solution won't do the trick. Here's what to look for when you need to do your transcoding via hardware or in the cloud.

2011's Online Video Acquisitions Set the Stage for an Interesting 2012

Acquisitions and mergers in 2011—including Cisco-Inlet, Polycom-Accordent, Akamai-Cotendo, and Thoma Bravo-Telestream—will have a significant impact on the online video landscape in 2012 and beyond.

Mobile World Congress Puts an Emphasis on Video Streaming

The Samsung-Apple rivalry continued, even though Apple wasn't in attendance. Google put the fun of Ice Cream Sandwich on display with a carnival-like booth.

Buyer's Guide: Player Technology

Since there's no single player that works on all devices, you've got questions to answer before you settle on one for your content.

Buyer's Guide: Metadata

Video indexing and metadata extraction services help viewers find the clips they want to see. Here are key questions to ask before making a purchase.

Flash Into (Not so) Thin AIR

Adobe Flash Player for Mobile's demise doesn't mean Flash on mobile is dead, but the transition to AIR brings its own challenges

MPEG DASH: The File Format of the Future?

A common file format for HTTP video delivery might be just around the corner, according to panelists at Streaming Media West

Will Streaming Kill Netflix? 800,000 Members Flee this Quarter

Earnings report offers cautionary tale on streaming-only services as company sheds subscribers.

What CDNs Are Missing

Application Trends panel at Content Delivery Summit 2011 Europe explores enhanced CDN delivery.

Compact Upload Solutions Create a Live Video Revolution

How fast will technology replace the camera truck or the news crew? A Streaming Media Europe panel looks ahead.

Free Online Video Can Change Lives, Even a World Away

While technology has brought changes across the United States, its power to connect is touching even those in less-developed nations.

Microsoft Launches Transform Manager

Tie-in to Expression Encoder 4 Pro allows conversion of existing libraries to IIS Smooth Streaming

Online Video Collaboration Tools: A Buyer's Guide

Tools from Accordent, Adobe, Brainshark, HP, Market7, Mixmoov, VUELIVE, and Watchitoo each offer a different take on online video collaboration

Wowza Media Server 3: Any-Screen Delivery Done Right

Wowza revamps architecture and adds transcoding and DVR modules, offers free upgrade to Wowza Media Server 2 licensees

Adobe to Bring Flash Access to Mobile Devices

Adobe's Flash Access DRM solution is coming to Android tablets and other mobile platforms later this year

AT&T and T-Mobile: What's Behind the Deal?

The proposed AT&T/T-Mobile merger is more than just a quick way to leverage new technologies and grow AT&T's subscriber base: It could have a serious impact on HD video streaming growth.

Adobe Wallaby is No Magic Bullet for Flash-to-HTML5 Conversion

As much a vision statement as a technology preview, Adobe's Wallaby Flash-to-HTML5 converter doesn't eliminate all the heavy lifting required to get Flash content to play in non-Flash-compatible devices

Assuring Video Quality

When we're at the point where all encoders work just as well, how do we measure quality? From PSNR to SSIM to ‘golden eyes,' here's a look at how video quality can be assessed.

How to Set Up a Streaming Server, from A to Z

From ABR to Zeri, here's what you need to know to get started with your streaming server.

The State of Digital Television (DTV) in Europe

Digital TV transition across Europe is moving along slowly—and that may be a good thing for internet-connected TVs.

2011 Streamticker: Online Video Mergers, Acquisitions, and Investments

2010 proved to be a banner year for companies looking to bolster their strengths or move into new markets.

Technicolor Sells Off Thomson Video Networks

Following the sale of the Grass Valley Group, Technicolor is now selling the Thomson Video Networks assets to a strategic investment fund backed by the French government

Adobe Releases Flash Player 10.3 Beta

The latest Flash Player beta, released only a month after the full version of Flash Player 10.2, offers media measurement, local storage/privacy integration, and acoustic echo cancellation for video chat applications

Irdeto Introduces ActiveCloak: DRM May Be Only Half The Battle

Irdeto turns obfuscation into a dynamic solution via its new ActiveCloak platform

Apple and Intel’s Thunderbolt Could Revolutionize Portable Live Streaming Production

Apple announced today that it's the first to implement Intel's 10Gbps connector in its new MacBook Pro machines, allowing multiple uncompressed HD video streams to flow in and out of the laptops

Securing the Enterprise Against Smartphones

As more and more employees use their smartphones on enterprise networks, security firms are taking a cue from content protection and controlled-access media technologies

Mobile World Congress Highlights LTE Advances

Whether you call it 3.5G, 4G, or just LTE, the Long Term Evolution standard is reshaping data delivery to mobile devices.

Google's WebM to Face Patent Challenge?

Last week, MPEG LA issued a patent pool request, which Google brushed off as "old news"

Nokia Abandons Symbian, Focuses on Windows Phone 7

Nokia's platform shift also drops Linux-based MeeGo in favor of Microsoft's mobile OS

Android On the Rise, Apple iOS Steady; Whither Symbian?

In the latest market studies, Android ascends and Apple's iOS remains solid, while Nokia's Symbian Drops

Google's Rejection of H.264 in Chrome Means a Unified HTML5 Video Tag is Now a Pipe Dream

Google's attempt to clarify its decision to drop H.264 from Chrome in favor of WebM creates even more questions than it answers

Italy's AGCOM Moves to Regulate YouTube, Other Video Sites

"YouTube is like a TV" statement may bode ill for user-generated content sites that operate in Italy

Mac App Store Launches Thursday

Say goodbye to demos, trials and maybe even bundles as Apple's Macintosh a App Store platform launches

CES Warm-Up: Whither Google TV?

In advance of this week's Consumer Electronics Show, expectations and rumors about about Google's nascent set-top box platform

Streams of Thought: The European Sensibility

Cisco TelePresence: Radical Collaboration

At Net:Work 2010, Cisco execs VP talk about fiscal benefits of internal enterprise video collaboration

Making Sense of the Google/Widevine Deal

Longstanding DRM and video optimization company gives Google solid controlled access technology for the Google TV and Android ecosystem

New Strategies for Measuring Video Success

Brainient, GoViral, and Ooyala offer insights into the social graph and how they're using it to help brands like Volvo, Nike, and Coca-Cola evaluate the impact of their video campaigns

Streams of Thought: The European Sensibility

First Look: Flash Media Server 4

The Transformation Transcoding

First Look: Microsoft IIS Media Services 4

Moving beyond Windows Media—and Silverlight—to bring multi-platform, multi-device, multi-protocol goodness, the new IIS Media Services 4 is part of a suite of offerings set to vault Microsoft's media delivery offerings into the future

The Search vs. Recommendation Conundrum

Online Video Strategies and Streaming Media Europe panels offer content owners deeper insight into this growing dilemma

Anthony Rose Talks YouView in London

Address predicts a convergence of viewing models, with more people turning to the Internet to view shows and events.

Online Video Through Broadcasting Eyes

A three-hour discussion at IBC reveals how traditional broadcasters see the online video industry.

Front Porch Digital Moves Online with DigitalSmiths

By building on DigitalSmiths' VideoSense, Front Porch Digital is pushing its "three M"—migrate, manage, market—strategy into the realm of online video

First Look: Flash Media Server 4

Today Adobe announced the immediate availability of Flash Media Server 4, including Flash Media Enterprise Server, which includes "Fusion," an approach to multicasting that combines IP multicasting with what the company calls "application multicasting." Here's a detailed look at what's available in each of the three new FMS products, including a look at a test implementation by MediaPlatform.

IBC 2010: Here Comes 3DTV

If there's any buzz word for IBC 2010, it's 3D. But will it make it beyond the television set?

Streams of Thought: WebM Strategies for the Hacking Crowd

Review: Wowza Media Server 2

Apple's HD Streaming Gamble

Whether Apple delivers from in-house or via CDN, Apple's new approach sets streaming bar high. But yesterday's Apple TV announcement suggested they might not always be able to reach it.

To Infinity and Beyond: MPEG LA Extends H.264 Internet Video Moratorium Indefinitely

The standards body extended in perpetuity the royalty-free license on internet video that's free to users from 2015

The Transformation of Transcoding

What was once an easily defined process has become much more complex, as have the solutions that perform it

Back to Basics: What Is Open Source Software?

Now that Google has open-sourced VP8 as part of its WebM initiative, the once-esoteric question "What is open source anyway?" takes a highly tactical turn

DRM: The Big Two

When it comes to digital rights management and content protection, Microsoft PlayReady and Adobe Flash Access aren't the only names in town, but they're the biggest. Here's a look at the latest features in each.

RGB Networks Acquires RipCode

Private deal consolidates three-screen solution on to carrier-grade chassis

DigitalSmiths Releases VideoSense 3.0; Metadata Geeks Rejoice

User interface optimized to let users drill down through customized time slices

Octasic Announces New 1080p-Capable DSP Transcoding Series

New OCT2200 series capable of two 1080p HD transcodes without additional hardware assistance

A Look Inside Flash Player 10.1

Adobe promises more stability and better performance for Flash on the Mac, but for now, only Windows gets hardware acceleration

Google's WebM Strategy: Open-Source Approved or Patent Exposure Minefield?

Google seems more concerned with modifying its WebM FAQ than it is with helping the online video world understand the practical and financial benefits of an open-source competitor to H.264.

Apple Announces iPhone 4 with Front-Facing Camera, Video Calling

At Apple's WWDC, Steve Jobs announced the iPhone 4, which has an improved display and a front-facing camera that allows for video calls

Apple's iPhone 4: A Tale of Two Platforms—HTML5 and The Other One

Steve Jobs prefaced his Apple WWDC announcements with HTML love, but...

WebM: Not Ready for Prime Time?

A few weeks into Google's "open sourcing" of VP8, the move has generated more questions than answers

An ISP's Edge in the CDN Game?

Edgeware and MediaMelon Attempt to define next-generation CDN with a "federated" approach to content delivery

Does Interphone Report Spell Trouble for Mobile Streaming?

GSMA welcomes report saying link between mobile phones and brain cancer is "inconclusive," yet researcher admits potential flaws and calls for further study

A Look at Adobe's Flash Access and Player Roadmap

Flash Access is another step in the path leading to HTTP Streaming and Flash Player 10.1

Streaming Media East Keynote: Kodak's Jeffrey Hayzlett

Eastman Kodak's chief marketing officer talks about the company's embrace of digital video

SeaWell Launches Lumen1000 Appliance

Scalable video coding company sheds light on its hardware-software combination

The Economics of Live Events

The advent of the 21st century's second decade offers the opportunity to look back to gauge the newsmakers and news breakers of 2000-2009. In the streaming world, where we're now into the 14th year, the pace of innovation means that new technologies are being tried, and old technologies are being retested-some for the third or fourth time, depending on the corporate and individual memories of these technologies and on previous business execution attempts.

Octasic Moves Transcoding to the Core

Low-power, clockless DSP at heart of system claiming to be twice as inexpensive as x86 transcoding solutions.

Back to Basics: Hardware Acceleration

As more and more high-definition (HD) content is acquired, edited, and pushed out to the web, mobile, devices and set-top boxes, the demand for a higher-quality user experience is rapidly followed by a need for hardware acceleration. But what exactly is hardware acceleration?

Widevine Expands Its DRM, Video Optimization Offerings

Once a pure-play DRM solution provider, Widevine's video optimization may be its strongest competitive advantage

Adobe to Launch Flash Access 2.0 Next Month; Irdeto Announces Hosted Flash Access Service

Even before launch, Flash Access 2.0 ecosystem enhancements by Irdeto are intended to speed adoption

Level 3 Talks Vyvx, Expansion

Expanded capabilities of the Vyvx VenueNet live broadcasting standard go hand in hand with Level 3's growing global reach

NAB 2010: It's All About the Workflow

Despite the buzz about 3D TV, the true star of the show was workflow automation, as exemplified in new releases from ViewCast, Telestream, and Microsoft

iPad - Dead End for Flash?

On the eve of Adobe's official unveiling of CS5 at NAB, the announcement of the Apple iPhone 4.0 SDK might spoil the party

Commentary: Working Around the Web

This week's iPad launch ushers in new workarounds and developer challenges at the same time it poses a threat to Adobe's web video dominance with Flash.

Commentary: HTML5 Video—Must It Be Free?

Now that Microsoft has announced HTML5 support, the question remains: Will HTML5 video end up being open source or standards-based?

HTML5's Open Source Solution?

Kaltura provides a toolkit for HTML5 embedded video, with a fallback to Flash or Ogg Theora when H.264 isn't available in a user's browser

HTML 5 and Internet Explorer 9: What We Know, What We Don't

Yesterday's announcement that Internet Explorer 9 supports HTML 5 set off a tech media frenzy. So which video codec will Microsoft choose?

Blackwave's New Chorus Harmonizes High-Output Delivery

Blackwave's R7 release adds redundancy and Flash Media Server 3.5 to its high-performance streaming software.

FTTH: It's More Than TV

A panel at last week's Fiber to the Home Conference in Portugal explored the impact of online video on broadcasters from the perspective of media companies in the Netherlands.
Mon., March 1, by Tim Siglin

FTTH Council Europe Promoting Fiber to the Home in Portugal and Beyond

Broadband is about more than just infrastructure, FTTH Council declares, setting its sights on video as a way to push adoption
Wed., Feb. 24, by Tim Siglin

On2 Shareholders Approve Google Acquisition

On2 announced today, after suspending two previous special meetings, that it has enough shareholder votes to complete a merger with Google.
Wed., Feb. 17, by Tim Siglin

Mobile World Congress 2010: New Mobile Operating Systems From Microsoft, Samsung, Symbian, and Nokia/Intel

Fragmentation in the mobile OS category may be a play to gain additional application revenues, with improved and open source operating systems potentially acting as loss leaders.
Tues., Feb. 16, by Tim Siglin

Mobile World Congress 2010: GSMA Attempts To Counter Apple With Device And App Initiatives

The GSMA's embedded device, API, and app store consolidation push raises ongoing innovation questions, especially with lack of Apple presence at the Mobile World Congress.
Tues., Feb. 16, by Tim Siglin

Mobile World Congress 2010: The Move To LTE For 4G

Will your next phone—or pacemaker—work on any one of the world's mobile networks? As more carriers move towards the Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard for 4G, the answer may be "yes."
Mon., Feb. 15, by Tim Siglin

Blackwave Takes On Asian CDN Market, Asian Style

A different market approach allows U.S. company Blackwave to prosper in Asia, where it's recently opened headquarters in Tokyo and Seoul.
Wed., Feb. 10, by Tim Siglin

Free Enterprise

Corporate video solutions are moving away from centralized, rigid structures to give users more freedom and flexibility

HTTP Streaming: What You Need to Know

Understanding this hybrid delivery approach is key to advancing robust streaming solutions.

Commentary: An iPad By Any Other Name

From the name to its lack of video features - including camera and Flash support - Apple's new iPad deserves equal parts criticism and praise.

The Devil's in the Details

When it comes to reporting and analytics, make sure you’re getting all the information you need.

Live Streaming of Large Events: Is it Worth It?

Last week's "Hope for Haiti" telethon was streamed to PCs and mobiles, as well as broadcast on dozens of TV channels. But a close look at the numbers reveals both the promise and the potential pitfalls of webcasting large events.

Futurewatch: Media and Entertainment

Learning How to Scale, Integrate, and Digest Digital Media

Review: video.Market7.com

The annotated player Market7 provides sets it apart from other collaboration tools, even if those other tools might do a better job with collaborative scripting and resource allocation.

Futurewatch: Mobile

CES 2010: Streaming Leads Consumer Electronics Growth

At this year's Consumer Electronics Show, integration and service are the name of the game, with increased emphasis on mobile video and the digital living room.
Thurs., Jan. 7, by Tim Siglin

2009: A Breakthrough Year for Online Video

A look back at the significant events of 2009, from large-scale webcasts to mobile HD and Flash to the latest initiatives from Sky and the BBC.
Mon., Jan. 4, by Tim Siglin

Streams of Thought: When HD Isn’t HD

Metadata: What You Need to Know (And Why You Need to Know It)

Want people to be able to find your video online? Then you need to pay attention to your metadata.
Thurs., Nov. 18, by Tim Siglin

Elemental Server Provides Enterprise-Class GPU Transcoding Acceleration

The GPU versus CPU debate begins in earnest with the shipping version of Elemental Server, which the company is making available today.
Thurs., Nov. 12, by Tim Siglin

An Olympic Feat

Technology vendors—Microsoft, Akamai, iStream Planet, Vertigo, and Inlet—line up to create HD Olympic moments
Tues., Nov. 10, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Invades The Living Room (Again)

New initiatives from Sling, Sonic Solutions, Roku, and ioko herald a third wave of home entertainment streaming devices.
Tues., Nov. 3, by Tim Siglin

Streams of Thought: Streaming Media's Fall Events: Great Expectations

ATSC Adopts Mobile DTV Standard

The ATSC's Mobile DTV has the potential to seriously impact and disrupt both traditional broadcasting and online video, even beyond mobile devices.
Mon., Oct. 19, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Europe Keynote #4: Creating Original Online Video Content—Where is the Funding?

ITN On managing director Nicholas Wheeler talked about a newer, more speculative modelof content creation.
Fri., Oct. 16, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Europe Keynote #3: Disney's Anytime, Anywhere Strategy

Myles MacBean of Disney Online EMEA explained the studio's integrated, converged approach to delivering content to multiple devices in multiple iterations.
Fri., Oct. 16, by Tim Siglin

Live Events Online: Getting Used to Mediocrity?

The England vs Ukraine football match provides fodder for Streaming Media Europe discussion on live events streamed online, as reaction from the general public is lukewarm at best.
Thurs., Oct. 15, by Tim Siglin

Navigating the Enterprise Video Workflow

Four multinational corporations—CA, Lockheed Martin, Merck, and QAD—are taking enterprise video beyond the basics.

Adobe MAX: Flash for the iPhone? Not Quite

While not the full Flash solution everyone's been hoping for, several developers have created applications for the iPhone that are pushing the potential boundaries of the mobile device.
Mon, Oct. 5, by Tim Siglin

Adobe MAX Day 1: HTTP Delivery, Flash Player 10.1, Bit Encryption, and More

Adobe announces bit encryption DRM, HTTP delivery, Flash Player 10.1 and RTMFP at its annual MAX user conference, which kicks off today in Los Angeles.
Mon., Oct. 5, by Tim Siglin

Cisco, IBM, and Tandberg: Telepresence's Shrinking Presence

IBM adds Cisco Telepresence to its offering, while Cisco gobbles up Tandberg.
Mon., Oct. 5, by Tim Siglin

Review: Flumotion Streaming Server

As Fluendo goes commercial with its Flumotion Streaming Server technology, it may have created a product that will rival Wowza's Media Server Pro.

Akamai Announces HD Network

Delivering on CEO Paul Sagan's vision from Streaming Media East, Akamai delivers HD for Flash, Silverlight, and iPhone via HTTP.
Wed., Sept. 30, by Tim Siglin

Intel's Moblin 2.1 Linux Operating System to Support AIR, Silverlight

Moblin 2.1 can run on anything from mobile phones to full PCs, and its Silverlight and AIR support offers a compelling alternative to the iPhone OS. Also announced were a new GPU and chip enhancements.
Wed., Sept. 23, by Tim Siglin

HP SkyRoom Offers High-End Streaming, Collaboration

New SkyRoom offering from HP combines high-quality videoconferencing with full-motion and multiple display collaboration, including both 2D and 3D graphics.
Tues., Sept. 22, by Tim Siglin

Sky Takes On-Demand Content To New Viewers With ioko's Help

Sky content will soon be available on Xbox and Wii, using a player designed by ioko.
Tues., Sept. 15, by Tim Siglin

Aprico, Elemental, and ViewCast Highlight New Offerings at IBC

Aprico showed off its recommendation and and targeting technology, Elemental demonstrated its Adobe CS4 plug-in, and ViewCast highlighted its all-in-one H.264 encoding solution, the Niagara 2120.
Tues., Sept. 15, by Tim Siglin

IBC 2009 Starts with a Bang

Adobe announces bit-level encryption, Envivio provides live iPhone encoding tools, and much more
Thurs., Sept. 10, by Tim Siglin

Adobe Announces Story Scriptwriting Collaboration Tool

Adobe Story, which runs on the web or via a synchronized AIR application, allows multiple users to collaborate on script creation, making Creative Suite a full-fledged production software package.
Thurs., Sept. 10, by Paul Schmutzler and Tim Siglin

Mobile Data Roaming Rates Drop, But Confusion Follows

The drop in data roaming charges is good news for subscribers, but the consensus is that it's not enough to spur an uptick in mobile video innovation.
Mon., Aug. 31, by Tim Siglin

Extreme Media Player Makeover: OS Update Edition

With Apple and Microsoft launching new operating systems soon, media players will get long-awaited updates.
Fri., Aug. 7, by Tim Siglin

Google To Acquire On2

Innovation mentioned as key reason for acquisition
Wed., Aug. 5, by Tim Siglin

Can Streaming Offset Losses In Traditional Revenue?

For those of us in the industry, the answer to that question is "Yes, and then some." But a series of recent earnings reports and research papers demonstrate that both the question and the answers are significantly more complex.
Tues., July 28, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #32: Mirror Image and Wowza Media Systems

In this episode, Tim Siglin explores the benefits of a single codec, H.264, for mobile delivery from two perspectives: a single media server (Wowza, represented by Dave Stubenvoll) and a content delivery network (Mirror Image Internet, represented by Martin Hayward).
Fri., July 24, by Tim Siglin

Starbak HDDE: High-Definition Digital Signage Converges With Streaming

New set-top box allows additional quality and functionality as Starbak enters the digital signage market from an enterprise content delivery network angle.
Tues., July 21, by Tim Siglin

Remembering Neal Page, Industry Pioneer

Inlet CEO Neal Page passed away last night after a long battle with cancer.
Tues., July 7, by Tim Siglin

HTML5 Video Tags: Inevitable or Pipe Dream?

Activism, Working Groups and the dream of a single online video codec
Tues., July 7, by Tim Siglin

The Past, Present, and Future of Metadata

Metadata might be really boring, but the things that can be done with metadata are very cool and absolutely crucial to the future of online video. A recent panel discussion at the Open Video Conference exposed the challenges and opportunities metadata poses.
Wed., July 1, by Tim Siglin

Nokeena Raises $6.5 Million In New VC Funding

Nokeena Networks says it will use the new funding, led by Mayfield Fund, to step up its sales and marketing efforts as well as expand infrastructure to appeal to CDN partners.
Thurs., June 25, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #31: Adobe, Akamai, and Level 3 on Open Source Video

What exactly are content creation and content delivery network representatives doing at an open source "open video" conference, and is it relevant to the streaming media business? Tim Siglin sits down with representatives from Adobe, Akamai, and Level 3 to find out.
Tues., June 23, by Tim Siglin

Video Culture: The Potential Reshaping Of The Online Video Landscape

Content owners, content distribution networks, and real business opportunities are all part of the discussion at the Open Video Conference in New York
Fri., June 19, by Tim Siglin

Adder and Avocent Branch From KVM Solutions To Streaming Delivery

At this year's InfoComm, the AV and streaming industries are finding ways to talk to each other, as new products from Adder and Avocent demonstrate.
Thurs., June 18, by Tim Siglin

CQ And SVSi Showcase Streaming Digital Signage Solutions at InfoComm

CQ is massively scaling delivery across traditional Gigabit managed switches, while SVSi is using H.264 to deliver content to digital signage in a variety of key verticals
Thurs., June 18, by Tim Siglin

Streams of Thought: Too Much of a Good Thing?

A supply-demand imbalance between advertisers and content distributors has inundated the web with ads. So what does this mean for the future?

Streaming Media Podcast Episode #30: Nokeena Co-Founder Prabakar Sundarrajan

Tim Siglin sits down with Prabakar Sundarrajan, Co-Founder and CTO of Nokeena Networks, for a wide-ranging interview on the topics of defining "television quality" on the web, adaptive streaming and the difference between quality of service and quality of experience.
Mon., June 15, by Tim Siglin

iPhone Envy Brings Out Innovation

Prior to Apple's WWDC event that kicks off today, the Palm Pre and a doubleTwist are making waves.
Mon., June 8, by Tim Siglin

QuickTime X: Rebuilding the Player and the Backend

Apple announced today that the next version of QuickTime will include HTTP streaming and hardware acceleration, as well as editing tools in the new player interface.
Mon., June 8, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #29: Datmedia's New Enhanced Podcasting Tool

An interview with Jay Pritchard, CTO of Datmedia Ltd., about a new enhanced podcasting service and Datmedia's take on the U.S. market. Recorded during the recent Streaming Media East show.
Wed., May 27, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #28: Ooyala Updates Its Platform

Ooyala CTO Sean Knapp talks about the company's respect for other platforms, metrics, and a new player for Ooyala's online video platform.
Thurs., May 21, by Tim Siglin and Jose Castillo

Review: Jet Stream VDO-X

Jet Stream's CDN code, written in the late 1990s and early 2000s, was becoming a bit dated, so the company rebuilt its system from the ground up, releasing the results as Jet Stream VDO-X.

Streaming Media East: Verizon and boxee Want In To Your Living Room

Keynotes from Verizon and boxee pushed forward the concept of getting online video into the living room, though each company takes a radically different approach.
Wed., May 13, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media East: Pre-Conference Workshops Provide Practical Solutions

Workshops focusing on Silverlight, H.264, Flash, and video blogs provided attendees with detailed insights and hands-on experience.
Tues., May 12, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media East: Day 1 Keynotes Highlight Entertainment and Enterprise Challenges

Akamai CEO Paul Sagan talked about the HD "tipping point" while Bank of America's Gregg Moss addressed issues faced when streaming within enterprise environments.
Tues., May 12, by Tim Siglin

Hitchhiker's Guide to Streaming Media: Making Flash Play

Flash files are everywhere, and most consumers play them back without giving them a second thought. If you're a content creator, though, making sure they play back correctly can be a tricky proposition. Here's a look at the different Flash file formats and how to use them.
Thurs., May 7, by Tim Siglin

Review: Stream UK Stream Connect

Stream UK Stream Connect is a simplified yet powerful interactive streaming platform that can be managed by the presenter through a series of seven steps.

NAB 2009 Highlights

Attendance was down, but that was good news for people who made the trip to NAB this year. Easy access to vendors provided plenty of "eureka" moments, particularly in the areas of mobile video and automated transcoding.
Tues., April 28, by Tim Siglin and Eric Schumacher-Rasmussen

Streaming Media Podcast #27: Wowza Media at NAB

Wowza's NAB show floor preview of its upcoming Pro Advanced server raised several questions about the combination of Flash and Silverlight, so Tim Siglin sits down with Wowza CEO Dave Stubenvoll to address those questions.
Mon., April 27, by Tim Siglin

Flash and Silverlight, Together at Last

Wowza Media Server Pro Advanced will allow H.264 encodes to be played back in Flash, Silverlight and other players.
Mon., April 20, by Tim Siglin

Review: Adobe Photoshop and Premiere Elements 7

Adobe's Elements 7 bundle is an easy-to-use Windows platform, though it couldn't convince our reviewer to abandon his MacBook.

Streaming Media Podcast #26: Inlet's Armada Version 3.0

Tim Siglin talks to Andy Beach and John Bishop of Inlet Technologies, about the version 3 release of Armada, Inlet's automated transcoding and quality control system, which will be demonstrated at NAB starting this weekend.
Tues., April 14, by Tim Siglin

Streams of Thought: Back to Basics

So far in 2009, competitive strategies are shifting, innovation is continuing, and a tipping point of new users appears to have been reached. All three trends mean good things for the streaming media industry.

Intel's Nehalem Provides Boost for Single and Multi-Core Transcoding Tools

Released today, Intel's new Nehalem chip should benefits workstation users of every type of transcoding tool and video editing platform, and is already in use at DreamWorks Animation.
Mon., Mar. 30, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #25: Intel's New Nehalem Processor

A discussion with Intel's Kirk Skaugen about the company's new Xeon 5550 Nehalem processor, and its implications for transcoding and video editing.
Mon. Mar. 30, by Tim Siglin

Microsoft MIX 09: Live Smooth Streaming, Silverlight 3 and Internet Explorer 8

Microsoft held its annual developer confab in Las Vegas last week, rolling out new opportunities in streaming, most notably live Smooth Streaming and Silverlight 3.
Tues., Mar. 24, by Tim Siglin

iPhone 3.0 Software To Feature Streaming And HD Video For iPod touch and iPhone

Apple finally plans to expand video capabilities of both the iPhone and iPod touch, though exactly what form that will take isn't entirely clear.
Wed., Mar. 18, by Tim Siglin

How to Choose an Encoding Solution

Increases in CPU power and the advent of portable appliances mean there are more encoding options than ever before.
Fri., Mar. 6, by Tim Siglin

Going Mobile in Barcelona

Despite a slightly smaller show floor than in the past, this year’s Mobile World Congress in Barcelona offered up plenty of mobile streaming news, including new solutions from On2, Media Excel, Mirial, and MobiTV, as well as the Adobe-backed Open Screen Project.
Mon., Feb. 23, by Tim Siglin

The H.264 Licensing Labyrinth

Confusion and consternation abound over H.264 licensing terms. Here's a brief overview.

Cue the Strangelove Moment: Media & Entertainment Year in Review

2008 was the year that big media learned to stop worrying and love—or at least accept—online video.

Distributed Social Networks: Promises and Pitfalls

As users attempt to maintain identities and assets, including video, across multiple sites, the W3C held a workshop to address opportunities and challenges offered by distributed social networks.
Fri., Jan. 30, by Tim Siglin and Christine Perey

Reviewed: Adobe Creative Suite 4 Production Premium

Each and every one of the suite’s features and technologies has been improved in CS4, some significantly. With an eye toward accelerating encoding workflows and an initial foray into mission-critical metadata entry and retrieval, the product offers noteworthy improvements that merit attention.
Thurs., Jan. 8, by Paul Schmutzler and Tim Siglin

Streams of Thought: Give!

With the holiday season upon us, streaming professionals should consider giving their time to a good cause.
Tues., Dec. 30, by Tim Siglin

The Year in Review: Mobile Video

Europe continues to lead the way in mobile video usage and innovation. Here's a look at some of the new startups and developments in the market from 2008.
Tues., Dec. 23, by Tim Siglin

Review: Datmedia Datpresenter

While imperfect, Datpresenter is a good choice for those looking to create and deliver internet TV channels.

Review: Gomez Active Streaming XF

Gomez's first foray into large-object and streaming-delivery testing for CDNs seems to be a good initial launch.

Sun's JavaFX Sets Out to Challenge Flash and Silverlight

The JavaFX Production Suite, targeted at web developers and designers, offers integration with Adobe tools while potentially offering competition to Adobe's AIR efforts. Meanwhile, On2 plays both sides of the fence.
Mon., Dec. 8, by Tim Siglin

Back to Basics: H.264 Transcoding for Flash

At Adobe MAX in Milan earlier this week, Flash developer Fabio Sonnati presented a session packed with suggestions for transcoding H.264 video for Flash delivery.
Fri., Dec. 5, by Tim Siglin

A Closer Look at Adobe Flash Media Server 3.5

Two new features—Dynamic Streaming and Digital Video Recorder functionality—are the culmination of Adobe's latest attempts to maintain video quality in the face of network unreliability.
Wed., Nov. 19, by Tim Siglin

Everything Changes In (A) Flash

Adobe's Flash Media Server 3.5, used in beta by CDNs like CDNetworks, competes with Wowza's newly announced pay-as-you-go streaming server subscription service.
Mon., Nov. 17 by Tim Siglin

HItchhiker's Guide to Streaming: Advertising Rates and Metrics

This installment of our Back to Basics series looks at some common terms used when discussing advertising rates and metrics, as well as why they matter.
Fri., Oct. 31, by Tim Siglin

Hitchhiker's Guide to Streaming Media: HTTP Streaming

The term "HTTP streaming" got tossed around quite a bit at last week's Streaming Media Europe as a way to get through corporate firewalls. But not all "HTTP streaming" is created equal, nor is it always actually streaming.
Fri., 24 Oct., by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Europe Day 1

Sessions on a variety of topics from mobile video to content delivery to viewership habits show why Europe is the streaming growth leader
Thurs., Oct. 16, by Tim Siglin

Streams of Thought: Creative Suite Turns 4

Adobe's Creative Suite 4 features improvements in the areas of native tapeless workflows, encoding, metadata, and Flash/After Effects integration and finally land just in front of Final Cut Studio.

Review: The Video-Enabled Adobe Acrobat 9

With deep Flash integration, including the ability to convert multiple video formats for Flash Video playback, the new version of Acrobat 9 isn't your grandma's e-paper.
Fri., Oct. 3, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #23: Making Video Simple

Tim Siglin talks with Robert Manoff, CEO of Jambo Media, LLC, about the way the Jambo Video Network provides simple video services to mid-size web publishers—what Jambo calls the "upper-middle-class" of video publishers with relatively small, but very loyal, audiences.
Thurs., Sept. 18, by Tim Siglin

IBC 2008 Kicks Off

Highlights in the early announcements from Amsterdam—from companies like Microsoft, Digital Rapids, HaiVision, and Motorola—emphasize the growth in H.264 and set-top box penetration.
Fri., Sept. 12, by Tim Siglin

Streams of Thought: H.264 Wins—Now What?

WIth Microsoft's announcement that it's adding H.264 playback to Silverlight, some would argue that H.264 has emerged triumphant in the codec wars. So what does that mean for the future of online video?
Tues., Sept. 9, by Tim Siglin

NBC Has a VHS Olympic Moment

Just as VHS didn't kill the multiplex, record-setting streaming audiences during the Beiijing Games appear to have actually translated into a boost to TV viewership.
Fri., Aug. 22, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #22: The Olympics

Tim's daughter talks about staying up late and watching the Olympics while Jose shares tips on how she can illegally watch the Olympics whenever she wants. Tim kicks Jose under the table. We all decide that Microsoft Silverlight looks great and was easy to install. Tim promises to watch the opening ceremonies before the games end on NBCOlympics.com
Wed., Aug. 20, by Tim Siglin and Jose Castillo

Streams of Thought: The Patent Wars

As CDNs commoditize and streaming grows up, companies are gobbling up patents in an attempt to stay competitive. Who will come out on top?

Technicolor Dreams

Through acquisitions and partnerships, Thomson’s Technicolor is growing its business smartly in the United States and Europe, with an eye on Latin America and Asia for 2009.

Streaming Media Podcast #21: Benjamin Wayne, Fliqz

In this week's podcast, Tim Siglin talks to Benjamin Wayne, CEO and Founder of Fliqz, who shares his opinions about what's wrong with video advertising CPM rates, agencies and the cost of content production.
Thurs., July 31, by Tim Siglin

Highwinds Lands Commitment from Technicolor

Highwinds RollingThunder CDN has chops, but also doesn't compete with its customers, as proven by recent deals with Castfire and Technicolor.
Tues., July 22, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #20: All-Stars and Format Wars

The first in a series of podcasts with Streaming Media All Stars, this spirited discussion with Nico McLane includes Jan Ozer and several opinions on Windows Media, Flash, H.264 and the needs of enterprise user.
Fri., July 11, by Tim Siglin

Interoperability and Simplicity the Key Trends at Connections 2008

This year's Connections conference highlighted the paths and pitfalls to streaming in the home, with competing approaches offering simplified user experiences. And while there's a push towards a unified standard, its realizations seems a long ways off.
Tues., July 8, by IdaRose Sylvester and Tim Siglin

Google and Yahoo Roll out Flash Search

Adobe has released code to search engine giants Google and Yahoo! that allow them to index content ins SWF files, including metadata about Flash Video embedded in the SWF file.
Tues., July 1, by Tim Siglin

BBC To Begin Streaming BBC One Live

BBC One will be the first major channel in the UK to be streamed live in its entirety, building on the success of the iPlayer. The news comes on the heels of a BBC Trust audit that severely scolded bbc.co.uk for overspending.
Mon., 16 June, by Tim Siglin

Streams of Thought: Everything Old Is New Again

A "where are they now?" look at some of the names associated with the early days of the Streaming Media shows.

Apple's 3G iPhone Adds Increased Speed and Video Capabilities

At Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference 2008, Steve Jobs promised the new iPhone is twice as fast at about half the price. Other announcements included a revamp of QuickTime, while Sling showed off its new SlingMobile across the street.
Tues., June 10, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #18: Microsoft's New Video Tools

Tim interviews Chris Knowlton and Charles Finkelstein, both with Microsoft, regarding the new Expression Encoder 2, Silverlight 2 and IIS 7's ability to handle multiple video formats.
Mon., June 2, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #17: Streaming Media East Wrap-Up

Tim Siglin wraps up Streaming Media East 2008 coverage with a series of interviews: Angelina Ward with Focal Press, Gerard Virga, COO at CDN Powerstream and Dr. Harsh Verma from R Systems.
Tues., May 27, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #16: Streaming Media East 2008

Jose Castillo and Tim Siglin talk about highlights from Streaming Media East in New York, including AT&T's re-emergence as a CDN, a jaw-dropping mobile video webcasting demo by Steve Garfield, and interviews with show attendees.

H.264 Adoption Creating an International Broadcast Muddle

With more and more broadcasters simulcasting content online in H.264, issues of licensing and piracy are once again coming to the fore.
Fri., May 9, by Tim Siglin

Telepresence: Are Rising Oil Prices Videoconferencing's Best Hope?

Today’s confluence of environmental, financial, and political issues—along with new solutions from Polycom, Tandberg, and LifeSize—have breathed new life into the world of videoconferencing. That’s good news: Ultimately, more videoconferencing leads to more webcasting.
Mon., May 5, by Tim Siglin

Streams of Thought: Where Are They Now?

A few years ago, VH1 ran a program called Where Are They Now that tracked down artists that had faded from wider public view. So I thought it only fitting that, as part of this “Decade of Streaming Media.com” issue, I track down a few people who had played varying roles in the advent of streaming media.

Review: Inlet Technologies Spinnaker S3000

Another winning real-time encoder from Inlet

Streaming Media Podcast #15: NAB Day Two

Tim Siglin interviews two more companies at the National Association of Broadcaster's show (NAB) in Las Vegas: Akamai talks about its partnership with transcoding companies, while Wowza talks about competing with Adobe on a whole new price-point playing field.
Fri., April 18, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #14: NAB Day One

Tim and Jose explore topics of interest at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) show, talking with companies about piracy, high-definition streaming and the disappearance of two major companies—Apple and Avid—from the show floor.

Streaming Media Podcast #13: Broadcasting from 3G Mobile Devices

In this interview from the 2008 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Cristoforo Mione of the Milan-based Mirial discusses the PSE Broadcast Genie, which takes video sent from a 3G mobile phone and converts it for television broadcast and web streaming.
Thurs., April 10, by Tim Siglin

Adobe Media Player Now Available

The new player—called AMP for short and first announced almost a year ago—will let viewers watch Flash Video content while online or offline, and lets content owners apply Flash Media Server Rights Management rules to their video.
Wed., April 9, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #12: Snacking on Mobile Content

An interview with representatives from mobile TV solutions provider NuNet on the implications of video "snacking" for consumers, content creators, and carriers alike.
Thurs., April 10, by Tim Siglin

Alternative Flash Servers Follow H.264 Path

Last week Wowza introduced live H.264 capability in a preview version of Wowza Media Server Pro; Red5 promises live H.264 to come in an upcoming release of Red5 Server.
Tues, March 25, by Tim Siglin

Adobe Offers DRM with Flash Media Rights Management Server

New product offers protection and controls for FLV, F4V, and H.264, as well as attendant graphics and advertising, both online and offline.
Wed., March 19, by Tim Siglin

Operation MySpace and Kulabyte Bring Live HD Flash to the Web

The MySpace webcast of a concert for U.S. troops in Kuwait marked the debut of live HD Flash streaming. It wasn't perfect, but as a first test of Kulabyte's live encoding, it was an almost unequivocal success.
Tues., Mar. 11, by Tim Siglin

Apple’s iPhone Courts Enterprise, Disses Flash

The good news this week is that the APIs in the iPhone SDK boost audio and video options. The bad news is that it still won't support Flash.
Fri., March 7, by Tim Siglin

Adobe Ships Flex 3; Microsoft Shines Light on Silverlight 2

Things are heating up in the run-up to NAB, as Adobe completes the trilogy of Flash, Flex 3, and AIR , while Microsoft talks about what’s in Silverlight 2.
Tues., Feb. 26, by Tim Siglin

And Then There Were Three: RIP HD DVD

Toshiba’s decision to end HD-DVD production—leaving Blu-ray the clear leader and only the scarcely used EVD and VMD as the other HD alternatives—widens the window of opportunity for streaming media entertainment delivery, if only just a bit.
Mon., Feb. 18, by Tim Siglin

More Flash Brings More Light

Undoubtedly the biggest news in online video for 2007, the Silverlight/Flash battle is one that finds both Microsoft and Adobe significantly shifting their fundamental approaches, although in both cases, there’s historical precedent.

The Big Bang: Media & Entertainment Year in Review

Despite deterioration in the broader economic indicators, nonadvertising-driven entertainment models remain robust and advertising-supported media are feeling the pressure of web advertising.

Almost Grown: Advertising Year in Review

Rich media advertising continued to thrive in 2007, taking on its more established counterparts and holding its own.

Streamticker 2007: The Year in Mergers, Acquisitions, and Fundings

2007 proved to be the year of legitimate peer-to-peer networking and high-definition streaming, but the bigger news was that the "big kids" got involved in the streaming space in a way that left some smaller companies in awe of their larger siblings.

Streaming From the Mobile to the Newsroom and Game Show

At this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, several companies are showcasing mobile products that fit into standard broadcasting workflow.
Wed., Feb. 13, by Tim Siglin

The Battle for Your Address Book May Involve Streaming for Social Networks

Social networking reworks the mobile address book into a rich media aggregation tool, with new offerings from Zyb, Yahoo, and others highlighted at this week's Mobile World Congress.
Wed., Feb. 14, by Tim Siglin

The Mobile Broadband Battlefield

Yahoo and Google getting into the mobile as broadband wireless web and rich media dominate growth discussions at global mobile phone event in Barcelona this week.
Mon., Feb. 11, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #10: Super Sports and Politics Edition

Jose and Tim discuss the Super Bowl, Super Tuesday, and the implications of streaming media on sports advertising and the political process. No, it's really not THAT boring!
Fri., Feb. 8, by Jose Castillo and Tim Siglin

Microsoft's Yahoo Offer Part of A Major Online Play

The tech giant likely sees Yahoo's effective rich and streaming media advertising success as a weapon against Google's text ads, which are proving less effective on social networking sites.
Fri., Feb. 1, by Tim Siglin

Commentary—Macworld 2008: The Week That Copy-Protection DRM Dies?

Despite marked incredulity, the signs of the demise of copy-protection DRM in audio content seem to be everywhere.
Tues., Jan. 15, by Tim Siglin

CES 2008, Day 3: Podcasting

Products to capture and deliver podcasts abound at this year's Consumer Electronics Show.
Wed., Jan. 9, by Tim Siglin

CES 2008, Day 2: Home and Business Surveillance

Video camera systems, from the simple to complex, stream video content to home and business owners.
Tues., Jan. 8, by Tim Siglin

CES 2008, Day 1: HD Streaming

High-definition video streaming, both inside and outside the home, is all the rage at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Mon., Jan. 7, by Tim Siglin

CES 2008 Keynote: Bill Gates' Last Hurrah

Microsoft’s chairman reminisces on the past, pokes fun at the present, and pushing streaming as part of the company’s future—including a partnership with NBC to deliver video of the 2008 Summer Olympics with Silverlight.
Mon., Jan. 6, by Tim Siglin

CES 2008 Preview: Streaming the Show

With almost 150,000 attendees at the Las Vegas Convention Center and associated hotels, it might be better to stay home and watch the highlights from the Consumer Electronics Show.
Sun., Jan. 6, by Tim Siglin

So You Got a New Computer for Christmas. Now What?

Here’s a brief overview of the basic tools everyone needs to stream content from Flash, Windows Media, QuickTime, and Real sources.
Fri., Jan. 4, by Tim Siglin

Brighter Days Ahead for Internap’s CDN Service?

The company has set in motion a series of events that provide a compelling case—if the customers buy in.
Fri., Dec. 21, by Tim Siglin

Let's Work Together

Combining streaming, videoconferencing, instant messaging, and desktop or application sharing, collaborative computing has come of age.

Streams of Thought: Altering Course—The Adobe Warship Begins to Turn

Everywhere you look, Adobe shows signs of turning into a relatively successful hybrid company that uses the web and the desktop as equal platforms.

CDNs Rush to Add High-Definition Flash Streaming

With Adobe's announcement of Flash Media Server 3 last week, content delivery networks including Level 3, Limelight, and Swarmcast are announcing formal support for HD Flash.
Tues., Dec. 11, by Tim Siglin

Flash Media Server Spawns a Family

Released today, the new Flash Media Server 3 contains not just one but three server options. Also released today was Flash Player 9, which supports H.264 and On2's VP6-s. Read the story and listen to the accompanying podcast.
Tues., Dec. 4, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #9: Flash Media Server 3

Tim Siglin and Sam Mays of Fresh Punch, who is standing in for Jose this week, talk about Flash, including several tools showcased at Adobe's MAX 2007 conference that have found their way into the newly announced Flash Media Server 3.
Tues., Dec. 4

Apple Settles Burst Lawsuit

$10 million settlement gives Burst second major out-of-court patent defense win in as many years.
Tues., Nov. 27, by Tim Siglin

Changes At The Helm At Adobe and Avid Reveal Changes In Strategy

With both of their CEOs leaving, Adobe and Avid are resetting high-level management for the next phase of growth and, perhaps, significant changes in corporate direction.
Tues., Nov. 20, by Tim Siglin

Collaborating With Streaming

Accordent’s partnership with Tandberg is just one of many initiatives to bring the worlds of videoconference, telephony, and streaming video closer together.
Thurs., Nov. 15, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #8: Speaking Encode

A look back on the highlights of the Streaming Media West show, and a talk with encoding specialist Jan Ozer about the latest video encoding tools.
Thurs., Nov. 15

Streaming Media Podcast #7: Bebo Partners With Video Content Providers

Jose Castillo talks to Bebo's Jose Hernandez about the company's new partnerships.
Tues., Nov. 13

Streaming Media West: The 50,000 Foot View From 6 Feet

This year's Streaming Media West exhibited a diversity of both attendees—from the C suite to the creative class—and exhibitors, many of whom were there for the first time.
Fri., Nov. 9, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media West: Keepin' It Real

Wednesday morning’s Streaming Media West keynotes explained some of the mysteries behind both user-generated content and professionally produced programming. For both Metacafe and National Geographic, a degree of authenticity has been key to success.
Wed., Nov. 7, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #5: Misadventures in Video Conferencing

Jose and Tim reflect on videoconferencing's past and ponder its future with LifeSize Communications' Craig Malloy.
Mon., Nov. 5

BitTorrent's Gone Legit, But Still Faces Obstacles

As we lead up to one of Streaming Media West 2007's most anticipated keynotes—by BitTorrent President Ashwin Navin—we take a look at the company that's been both an innovator and a lightning rod for controversy.
Fri., Nov. 2, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Podcast #3: Home-Brewed Media Transmissions

In Episode 3, Tim Siglin and Jose Castillo talk with Sling Media's Brian Jaquet.
Fri., Nov. 2

The New Streaming Media Podcasts

Tim Siglin and Jose Castillo have taken over the podcasting helm, and bring you insightful and lively interviews with some of the biggest names in online media. In the first two episodes, they talk with IdaRose Sylvester of IDC and Ripcode's Brendon Mills.
Tues., Oct. 30

Leopard Release Takes Cues From Online Video

Besides all the bells and whistles that you’ll read about (and use, if you upgrade to Leopard or make the move to a Mac) one thing struck me: the way Leopard handles media now—including images, audio and video—is mimicking the online world in a way that is a first for a desktop operating system.
Fri., Oct. 26, by Tim Siglin

Mobile Device Control, Streaming On Display At CTIA

Announcements from Microsoft, Vantrix, and Symbian highlight a show that's putting increasingly more emphasis on video.
Tues., Oct. 23, by Tim Siglin

EchoStar Plugs Into IPTV Via HomePlug Connections

The satellite company’s strategy came into clearer focus at the HomePlug Powerline Technology Alliance, where an EchoStar spokesperson outlined how set-top boxes from recently acquired Sling Media might move content around the home.
Thurs., Oct. 11, by Tim Siglin

Flash: Here, There, and Everywhere

The Moviestar engine will power more than Flash playback on the web—much more. At Adobe MAX 2007, the company offered some sneak previews of just how much.
Fri., Oct. 5, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media Europe: It's About Quality, Not Quantity

London—on its best weather behavior—was the setting for this week’s European event. Though the show is considerably smaller than its U.S. counterparts, the quality of the conference sessions themselves often surpassed what we get stateside.

Streams of Thought: Gettin' High (Def) in Amsterdam

IBC 2006 was heavy on high-definition hype.

Adobe Media Player Beta Now Available

It's not the full-blown version--it doesn't support H.264, for instance--but Adobe announced the availability of its long-awaited media player at Adobe MAX 2007 in Chicago.
Mon., Oct. 1, by Tim Siglin

Second Life Gets . . . A Second Life

Origin Digital’s Odaptor platform serves as underlying technology for Second Life's new, improved video capabilities.
Tues., Sept. 18, by Tim Siglin

More Details on Microsoft's VC-1 Ecosystem Emerge at IBC

In addition the introduction of Microsoft's VC-1 SDK, IBC brought big news from the likes of Tarari, Dayport, Thomson,and SyncCast.
Thurs., Sept. 13, by Tim Siglin

IBC Offerings Expand Digital and Streaming Infrastructure for Broadcasters

Whether you’re a traditional broadcaster, a cable giant, or just a video podcaster, something new is waiting for you at this year’s IBC in Amsterdam.
Mon., Sept. 10, by Tim Siglin

IBC Demos Reveal Advances Across IPTV Ecosystem

Whether it’s acquisition on solid-state media, encoding, or delivery, streaming in the IPTV space continues to move steadily forward, as proven by announcements from the likes of Digital Rapids, ViewCast, and Akamai.
Mon., Sept. 10, by Tim Siglin

Adobe Demonstrates Flash Media Server 3, Adobe Media Player, and Cisco Integration at IBC

Ability to stream H.264 and AAC Plus, along with a tie-in to Cisco’s Content Delivery System, reveal more of Adobe’s larger plan to get video to three screens, even if it’s not FLV.
Thurs., Sept. 6, by Tim Siglin

Nokia Breaks Ranks With Network Operators, Targets iPhone/iTunes

The handset manufacturer’s Ovi music portal leverages last year’s Loudeye acquisition to launch music and entertainment ecosystem in Europe and Asia.
Thurs., Aug. 30, by Tim Siglin

Vista Network Degradation Bug Linked to Streaming

Notice that your network transfer rate goes down when listening to audio or watching video in Vista? The bad news is you're not alone; the good news is that Microsoft says it's working on a fix.
Wed., Aug. 29, by Tim Siglin

Review: Adobe Production Premium CS3

Integration among all products in the CS3 suite is exceptionally strong, and Adobe Media Encoder—an example of a program that spans several CS3 applications—is a solid product putting Adobe firmly in the running against other more established video software suites.
Thurs., Aug. 16, by Tim Siglin

Players and Codecs Come Under Hacker Scrutiny

Several sessions at Black Hat 2007 showed the need to continue to develop lean code and close potential vulnerabilities in media players that might be exploited by hackers.
Friday, Aug. 10, by Tim Siglin

Akamai’s Troubles: Much Ado About Nothing

Akamai continues to lose valuation—and Internap just reported a 2Q 2007 net loss of $1.7 million—but that doesn’t mean the entire CDN market is in trouble. In fact, if you’re really paying attention, you'll see that the space is stronger than ever.
Tues., July 30, by Tim Siglin

Latency: The Next Frontier

Now that the major codecs can deliver quality that is acceptable—or better—for most video, the next challenge to be overcome for streaming is latency. New products from HaiVision and W&W Communications aim to bring latency down to the point where streaming becomes tenable for high-speed surveillance apps

How To Convert Videos To Play On The iPhone

Whether you're one of the masses who bought one, or just need to deliver content to people who have, getting video on the iPhone isn't quite as simple as it looks. Here’s are some tips on how to create videos that can play on the new device.
Wed., July 18, by Tim Siglin

Adobe’s Visual Communicator 3 Integrates with Flash Media Server

New version of Serious Magic’s flagship product adds multicamera preview and seamless Flash Video output at a reduced price.
Mon., June 25, by Tim Siglin

Commentary: Apple iPhone—A Browser’s Best Friend or Streaming Engine?

Apple realized they needed to allow third-party apps on the iPhone, and they finally heeded the call for a software development kit. And—surprise, surprise—it’s called Safari.
Tues., June 19, by Tim Siglin

Akamai Monitoring Tool Becomes Marketing Magnet

Akamai's internet monitoring tool shows both the big picture-the ebb and flow of net traffic in general-as well as a close-up on media content usage.
Tues., June 12, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media East 2007: What’s Next for Online Video Advertising?

The final panel of the show—which topped 3,400 registered attendees, a 25% increase over 2006—focused on one of the most contentious issues facing the media and entertainment sector: Just what kind of advertising works best?
Thurs., May 17, by Tim Siglin

Streaming Media East 2007: For The New York Times, Video Now Just as Important as Print

Keynote by The Grey Lady’s Martin Nisenholtz reiterates Times is in the journalism business, and video is now part of that business, even for publications with roots in print.
Wed., May 16, by Tim Siglin

NAB 2007: Real-Time H.264 Compression Options Abound at NAB

Announcements from Digital Rapids, Envivio, and others continue to push forward the state-of-the-art for traditional, mobile, and net broadcasting.
Sun., April 15, by Tim Siglin

NAB 2007: Apple Expands Production Tools, Now Offers VC-1, Windows Media Video, and Flash Encoding

Even though they weren’t the focus of Apple’s NAB press conference, there are a few key benefits for content streamers in the company’s new Final Cut Studio 2.
Sun., April 15, by Tim Siglin

How to Choose the Best Settings for Delivering Video in Adobe Flash

Flash offers a variety of ways to display video content, each with its own particular benefits and drawbacks. Here are five questions you should ask before you begin encoding.
Wed., April 11, by Tim Siglin

EMI's Rejection of DRM May Help Apple Overcome Its European Woes

EMI deserves a hand for pioneering a return to consumer choice when it comes to the music they download. At the same time, the move may ease some of the pressure Apple is facing in the EU.
Tues., April 3, by Tim Siglin

How to Choose a Video Capture Card

For both live and on-demand content, proper capture is key to successful delivery. Here are the questions you need to ask in order to select the right one for your needs.Mon., April 2, by Tim Siglin

Adobe Creative Suite 3: New Launch Throws in the Kitchen Sink, Too

With implications for digital video professionals and web developers alike, CS3 offers major updates to just about every Adobe product, including Mac compatibility on almost all of them. Here’s a high-level look at the biggest product launch in the company’s history.
Tues., Mar. 27, by Tim Siglin

NSCA: Sounds Like Streaming

Systems contractor show once again proves that streaming is penetrating traditional analog audio strongholds, with implications that may benefit the entire streaming industry.

Linux Streaming Wins Respect in Europe

European Commission awards UK council that created “transparent” system to stream to constituents running Linux.
Wed., Mar. 7, by Tim Siglin

Streamticker 2006: The Deals That Reshaped the Online Video Space

Google, Adobe, Vitalstream, and more bring mergers and acquisitions of tech companies back to center stage in the mainstream media

The Perfect Storm: 2006 Media & Entertainment Year in Review

2006 was a turning point for streaming media, but which direction is it headed in now?

This Week in Streaming: New Approaches to Mobile Content

From both the programming and technology sides, announcements from ESPN, Media Excel, and ExpertVillage.com suggest the ways that mobile video is moving to the next level.
Wed., Feb. 14, by Tim Siglin

Digital Rights Management Takes Center Stage

From the unexpected—Steve Jobs coming out in favor of unprotected music—to the absurd—a man sued by the RIAA for downloading a paltry five songs—recent events highlight the fundamental problems with DRM.
Wed., Feb. 7, by Tim Siglin

Commentary: YouTube to Share Revenues—But With Whom?

YouTube's announcement that it will begin some sort of revenue-sharing program opens a Pandora’s Box of legal, ethical, and business questions.
Tues., Jan. 30, by Tim Siglin

Apple Drops the Computer, Picks up the Phone, and Streams to the Living Room

Steve Jobs's keynote at MacWorld was short on the Mac but long on mobile media and home entertainment, with the announcement of the iPhone and a demo of Apple TV.
Wed., Jan. 10, by Tim Siglin

World Trade Centers Association Hopes Streaming Turns Education into a Revenue Source

Global 100 ties together vendor-sponsored education, streaming capabilities, and market experts for educational initiatives worldwide.
Wed., Dec. 20, by Tim Siglin

Commentary: Cisco, TI "Go Video"

The big boys are embracing video, and not without warning. But it was the smaller, scrappy players that got them back in the game.
Tues., Dec. 5, by Tim Siglin

Review: NewTek TriCaster Pro

NewTek’s TriCaster Pro builds on the solid base of the initial TriCaster but adds features that make it worthy of use in a professional environment. The $6,995 price point positions the product well below the price of other all-in-one products currently on the market, most of which have been created by streaming-centric companies. Given NewTek’s background in video, audio, and RGBHV, the TriCaster product line—with a few tweaks—could rival and outdo products of many times its cost.

Review: Grass Valley REV Pro

As an acquisition, editing, and playback format, this newest Iomega mass-storage cartridge has potential, and Grass Valley has done a fine job augmenting Iomega’s product with its own brand of video hardware expertise. The drive and media both performed well; they have a sturdy, rugged feel, and, for an external device, the REV Pro is quiet during operation.

Review: Inlet Technologies Semaphore Pro 2

Semaphore is a positive first step in allowing an average user to accurately assess the quality issues that file-based broadcasting creates. As a standalone product, Semaphore allows for consistent quality control in the field; coupled with FathomPro, Semaphore creates a much more compelling scenario for enhancing mid-sized and large broadcasters’ workflows.

Streams of Thought: Passing It On: Recording (and Consuming) Our Hobbies and Habits

Several sites have sprung up recently that feature consumer-generated, how-to video content, a trend that carries with it deeper social meaning than initially meets the eye. Each of these sites—ViewDo.com, VideoJug.com, and ExpertVillage—have several social drivers in common.

First Look: Adobe Soundbooth

Easier to use than Audition but nearly as powerful, Adobe’s new audio software sets its sights on streaming video producers and Flash developers.
Mon., Oct. 30, by Tim Siglin

Commentary: A Serious Acquisition Creates More Magic for Adobe

Adobe’s recent acquisition of Serious Magic is good news for current Adobe video customers, and bodes well for streaming users. And while Adobe’s thinking about acquisitions, here are some other companies it might be considering.
Wed., Oct. 25, by Tim Siglin

Review: Digital Rapids StreamZ

If your workflow requires both a transcoding and an encoding solution, and speed is paramount, strongly consider putting a StreamZ system on your short list.
Mon., Oct.9, by Tim Siglin

Licensing Sweetens Deal as Google Buys YouTube

YouTube’s deals with Universal and Sony BMG may have been the deal-clincher, as they could help reduce Google’s risk of taking on copyright infringement liability along with the user-video startup.
Tues., Oct. 10, by Tim Siglin

Mobile Video in the Spotlight at IBC 2006

This year’s show demonstrates that the mobile video market is maturing rapidly, with an emphasis on DVB-H.
Thurs., Sept. 14, by Tim Siglin

IBC 2006: Is HD Coming, or is it Already Here?

Pre-IBC announcements show flurry of activity in HD streaming and broadcasting space
Fri., Sept. 8, by Tim Siglin

How-To Video Sites Gaining Traction

The appearance of UK-based Videojug.com suggests that the appeal of DIY video is growing, but potential investors in such sites would do well to consider three factors before signing the dotted line.
Wed., Aug. 30, by Tim Siglin

Cisco Solidifies VOD Footprint Through Arroyo Acquisition

Along with the Scientific Atlanta acquisition, the Arroyo deal positions Cisco to be a major player in the video-on-demand market.
Tues., Aug. 22, by Tim Siglin

Nokia’s Loudeye Acquisition Points to New Mobile Business Models

Since it gives Nokia control over encoding, distribution, and devices, it gives the company an end-to-end solution that may free mobile service providers to focus on their core competencies.
Tues., Aug. 15, by Tim Siglin

Telestream adds Popwire Tools to its Product Base

Acquisition solidifies Telestream’s place in the Mac encoding market while positioning both companies to pursue next-generation encoding tools.
Tues., Aug 8, by Tim Siglin

Case Study: Video Interpreter Services at the Alameda County Medical Center

Tandberg and Cisco help non-English-speaking patients get the care they need by providing video communcations technology for interpreters.
Tues., July 11, by Tim Siglin

A Storage Area Network Primer

With the advent of lower-cost drives and ubiquity of 1GB Ethernet connectors, the cost and complexity of creating a storage area network (SAN) is falling. Is a SAN right for you?
Mon., July 3, by Tim Siglin

Parallels Desktop Lets Mac Users Do Windows (Media) Too

New virtual machine tool allows near full-speed access to processors on Intel-based Macs. And, unlike Apple's own Boot Camp beta, it lets users run Windows and OS X at the same time.

Texas Instruments Provides Code Enhancements for DaVinci

DaVinci Technology Development Kit includes bundled codec package and software modules, taking some of the heavy lifting off the shoulders of developers.
Friday, June 9, by Tim Siglin

The Changing Digital Music Landscape

Announcements in the last week by Apple, Loudeye, and MTV show just how fluid the digital music delivery space has become.
Tues., May 16 by Tim Siglin

NAB 2006: Finding the Right Business Models

While the "big three"—subscription/pay-per-view, advertising, and promotional–still dominate, industry leaders at NAB suggest it's time to consider additional approaches.
Tues. April 25, by Tim Siglin

Review: On2 Flix Pro 8 for Flash 8

An easy-to-use interface, myriad output options, and relatively fast transcoding make Flix Pro worth considering.
by Tim Siglin

CeBIT 2006: Americans in Hannover

The world’s largest technology show didn’t disappoint this year, with compelling advances in VoIP, display, and optical storage pointing towards the future.
by Tim Siglin