Spinnaker Supports Live Streaming to iPhone

Inlet Technologies, the leading provider of live streaming and on-demand solutions for digital media, announced that the company is one of the first encoding technology providers to publicly demonstrate and support live streaming to the Apple iPhone. Inlet was the first to showcase iPhone streaming at Apple’s World Wide Developer’s Conference last month in San Francisco.

Using iPhone OS 3.0 and the latest release of Inlet’s Spinnaker live streaming solution, real-time streaming of live sports, news or other events can now reach an iPhone. Additionally, capabilities similar to Apple’s Stream Segmenter will be built directly into Spinnaker, simplifying the customer’s workflow and eliminating additional hardware from the system. The level of interoperability provided by Spinnaker allows content creators to stream live to the iPhone in popular formats including H.264 video and HE-AAC audio. These new advances enable any broadcaster, sports league or entertainment provider to deliver live content to the iPhone with a minimum of effort.

“We are proud to add this to a long list of industry ‘firsts’ from Inlet. By supporting live streaming to Apple’s iPhone, Inlet is once again at the forefront of the digital media revolution. The iPhone is clearly a pervasive consumer device, offering compelling opportunities to reach viewers.” said John Bishop, senior vice president of strategy and business development, Inlet Technologies. “This also reflects our continued commitment to helping companies increase the reach of their content, in any format to any screen, through intelligent media infrastructure solutions.”

Inlet’s Spinnaker family of live streaming appliances delivers stunning picture quality (in HD or SD), allowing content creators to offer viewers a “living room” experience over the Web. Spinnaker supports all of the major formats, including H.264, VC-1, Silverlight and Flash VP6, and allows content creators to stream multiple formats simultaneously from one source. Spinnaker is ideal for live sports, as it can create real-time highlights without the need for additional file preparation. Users can switch between multiple games or multiple camera angles during a single event. URLs or captions, such as scores and statistics, can also be inserted directly into the live stream. Spinnaker also offers calendar-based scheduling (ideal for recurring events), 24/7 reliability, and is designed to be used remotely, in fleets, or locally.

In addition to support for streaming to Apple’s iPhone, Spinnaker also includes support for other adaptive streaming protocols, including Microsoft Smooth Streaming and Adobe Dynamic Streaming. Other updates include multi-encoder synchronization and numerous audio enhancements.

Digital Rapids Announces Support for Microsoft Silverlight 3

Digital Rapids -- the leading provider of tools and solutions for bringing television, film and web content to wider audiences -- announced support for Microsoft Silverlight 3 in Digital Rapids' comprehensive range of studio encoding, transcoding and live streaming systems. Silverlight 3 support further extends the proven abilities of Digital Rapids' award-winning solutions for delivering unparalleled, high-quality, live and on-demand online video experiences.

Silverlight 3 is the newest version of Microsoft Corp.'s powerful platform for creating and delivering rich Internet applications (RIAs) and media experiences on the Web. Digital Rapids' solutions will enable content owners and distributors to take advantage of the video-related enhancements and features in Silverlight 3 to deliver rich, high-quality online viewing experiences.

Highlights of the new feature set include support for Microsoft Internet Information Services 7.0 (IIS7) Smooth Streaming, an HTTP-based platform that enables adaptive delivery of live and on-demand content to Silverlight-based video media players. IIS7 Smooth Streaming dynamically detects the best quality a viewer can receive based on their current bandwidth and local computer conditions, seamlessly switching between multiple streams at different bit-rates to deliver consistent, high-quality viewing experiences up to true HD even under changing connectivity and playback conditions. Live and on-demand IIS7 Smooth Streaming support will be available in the upcoming version 3.1 software for Digital Rapids' StreamZ and StreamZHD encoding systems. IIS7 Smooth Streaming will also be available in updates of the Digital Rapids Transcode Manager enterprise-class transcoding software and select models of StreamZ Live dedicated streaming encoders.

Silverlight 3 also augments its existing support for the VC-1 video format and Windows Media Audio with new native support for H.264 (also known as AVC, or MPEG-4 Part 10) video and AAC audio, allowing users to choose their preferred compression standard. Digital Rapids' encoding, transcoding and streaming solutions offer robust standard or optional support for H.264 and AAC encoding.

"As consumers raise their expectations for Web video and the surrounding experience, it's imperative that content owners and distributors create offerings that increase viewer engagement. The enhancements in Silverlight 3 bring Web viewing experiences far closer to the quality and reliability expectations of television while wrapping them with rich interactive capabilities, and we're pleased to support these new features in our solutions," said Brian Stevenson, Director of Product Management, Digital Rapids Corporation. "Support for live and on-demand IIS7 Smooth Streaming is a natural extension of our systems' long-standing ability to create outputs in multiple formats, sizes and bit rates simultaneously, and extending our H.264 encoding capabilities to Silverlight lets our customers choose the format that best serves their multi-platform distribution strategies."

"Microsoft is pleased that Digital Rapids is supporting Silverlight across its encoding, transcoding and streaming portfolio," said Steve Sklepowich, group product manager for Silverlight at Microsoft Corp. "The addition of Silverlight 3 support in Digital Rapids' hardware and software solutions, together with support for HTTP-based Smooth Streaming, enables users to experience true stutter-free HD online via efficient, automated media production workflows."

Video Streaming and Compression Training (2 Days)

Class Summary: This Video Streaming and Compression Training will help you with the overwhelming task of getting familiar with streaming and compression. Your instructor will guide you through the process of adding streaming video to your website. Our training will give you a better understanding of streaming video, compression, real-time streaming, downloadable streaming and live streaming. You will learn important concepts and techniques for compressing your videos. Participants will be educated on how to convert videos to Windows Media, QuickTime, Real Media, Flash video, and H.264. Students will become familiar with the various applications for compressing video for the web and streaming server delivery. This class is a great introduction for video professionals, IT Professionals, multimedia developers, web designers, government producers and educational professionals that need to start adding video and audio content on-line. During Day 1 of the Video Streaming and Compression Training focuses on video compression and preparing content in various formats and flavors for delivery. During Day 2 students will get a better understanding of the web authoring process for streaming video. Students will learn first-hand how to use Dreamweaver to set-up FTP to their web server and streaming server for uploading video and audio files. Secondly, participants will learn how to author QuickTime, Windows Media, Flash and H.264 downloadable streaming videos. Our Video Streaming and Compression Training class is available On-site or On-line. Contact us for more details.

In this training students will learn:

• How to encode Downloadable streaming videos
• How to encode Real-time streaming videos
• Best Practices for Compression and Streaming
• How to encode to QuickTime, Windows Media, H.264 and Flash video formats
• What the best CODECS are for their streaming formats
• How to author QuickTime, Windows Media, H.264 and Flash downloadable streaming videos
• How to author Flash videos using Linked .SWF and .FLV files
• How to author Flash .FLV files using Dreamweaver .SWF players
• Benefits of 1-Pass CBR, 1-Pass VBR, 2-pass CBR and 2-Pass VBR compression
• Knowledge of Deinterlacing, Key Frame Every, Frames Per Second, Cropping and other items
• Knowledge of QuickTime codecs
• How to encode videos using Sorenson Squeeze Compression Suite and Episode Pro
• How to analyze log files using Sawmill Professional
• Webcasting for the iPhone (HOT TOPIC)

Featured Software for the class:

• Sorenson Squeeze 6
  
• Episode Encoder Pro
  
• Wirecast
• Dreamweaver
• Sawmill Professional

Day 1 Overview - Compression and Encoding

1. Streaming and Compression Overview

Do you need a web server or streaming server to host your video content on-line? Are you putting downloadable streaming videos or real-time streaming videos on your website? Find out what will work best for your streaming needs. Learn the benefits of providing downloadable streaming or real-time streaming videos on your website. See how different streaming and compression tools can assist you in getting your streaming content on-line. Also learn various Best Practices for Streaming and Compression

The most important element of the video compression process is working with CODECs. Learn what CODECs are and which CODECs should be used when compressing to Windows Media, QuickTime, Flash and H.264. This class will help you understand how to choose the right Video and Audio CODECS for your projects. This class will also cover the differences between MPEG-4 Part 2 and MPEG-4 Part 10 (AVC/H.264).

2. Overview of Streaming Media Formats

In this portion of the class we will go over the streaming formats and talk about the good and bad of each. We'll cover QuickTime, Windows Media, MPEG-4/H.264, Flash Video and Real Media. Not only will you learn about each format's advantages and disadvantages but you will learn first-hand which CODECS to use for you media projects.

3. Hands-on Compression with Sorenson Squeeze Compression Suite

Students will learn basic and advanced tips for encoding their videos with Sorenson Squeeze 6. Students will learn advanced tips for compressing H.264, Windows Media and Flash videos using Sorenson Squeeze 6. Students will also learn how to capture video, create watch folders, trim videos, customize format compression settings, and customize filter settings. In this training section, class participants will also learn how to automate the process for uploading videos to the Streaming Server. Deinterlacing video and adjusting audio levels during encoding with Squeeze will also be covered in this training module.

4. Hands-on Compression with Episode Encoder Pro with Flash 8 Encoding

Students will work hands-on with Episode Pro to compress videos to QuickTime, Video iPods and Video Podcasts in this portion of the class. Students will learn tips for getting optimal quality with Episode for encoding to other popular streaming formats such as Windows Media, Real Media and Flash. Students will learn about the features of Episode Pro such as: Profile Adjustments, Deinterlacing Options, Cropping, Filters, Bumpers and Trailers.

6. Hands-on Compression for the Video iPods, Video Podcasts and Audio Podcasts

Students will learn how to compress video content for the Video iPod, Video Podcasts and Audio Podcasts using Sorenson Squeeze 6 and Episode Encoder Pro. Participants will also learn how to adjust their compression settings to get high quality result by selecting the following: Frame Size, Datarate, Video CODEC, Audio CODEC and other settings.

7. Encoding Downloadable Streaming Videos

You will encode videos for downloadable streaming in formats such as: QuickTime, H.264, Windows Media, Real Media and Flash Video. You will use tools such as Sorenson Squeeze 5 Compression Suite and Episode Pro 5 to compress videos in class. This class will teach you how to get the quality you desire for your streaming videos by teaching you how to adjust the various compression settings. Learn how to take a compression preset and customize it for better quality.

8. Encoding Real-time Streaming Videos

This part of the class covers encoding real-time streaming files for Windows Media, Flash and Real Media files. Get familiar with hinted QuickTime and H.264 real-time streaming files in this training module. Learn how to take a compression preset and customize it for better quality.

Day 2 Overview - Authoring Streaming Video

1. Authoring Streaming Videos with Dreamweaver

This portion of the class provides a hands-on walk through on how to author streaming videos with Dreamweaver. You'll learn how to set-up FTP to your web server and streaming server. In addition, you will learn the necessary EMBED and OBJECT tags you need to make your streaming web pages work.

2. Authoring Downloadable Streaming Videos

Students will compress to QuickTime, H.264 and Windows Media downloadable streaming videos using encoding presets. After encoding, students will embed videos in a web page and will author them for a downloadable streaming using the proper EMBED and OBJECT tags.

3. Authoring Real-Time Streaming Videos

Students will compress to QuickTime, H.264 and Windows Media real-time streaming videos using encoding presets. After encoding students will embed their real-time streaming videos in a web page using the proper EMBED and OBJECT tags

4. Authoring Flash Downloadable Streaming Videos

Class participants will learn how author web pages for Flash downloadable streaming videos. Students will learn how to author already encoded Flash .FLV files using Dreamweaver .SWF players and how to author Flash Linked .SWF and .FLV files.

5. Authoring Flash Real-time Streaming Videos

Class participants will be educated on the process for authoring Flash real-time streaming videos for use with a Flash Streaming Server. Learn the proper parameters to input such as: RTMP, Server Name, Application Name, Instance Name and Stream Name.

6. Live Streaming Overview

This training module walks students through the Live Streaming set-up process and how it works. You'll learn how the Live Encoder works with the Streaming Server and about software and hardware live encoding tools.

7. Overview of MPEG-4 and H.264 Licensing

In this portion of the class the instructor will provide details as it relates to MPEG-4 and H.264 Licensing. You'll learn what you need to do to make sure you're covered by the MPEG-4 and H.264 license programs. Some organizations based on how they use MPEG-4 and H.264 have to pay licensing fees to the many patent holders of the MPEG-4 and H.264. Learn what you need to do to be covered by these licensing programs.

Call Instructor Derrick Freeman at 407.477.5837 for more information about training classes or email him at derrick217@gmail.com

Video Streaming Training Classes

Our video streaming training classes feature Wowza Media Server 2, Sorenson Squeeze, Episode Encoder Pro, Dreamweaver, Wirecast and Sawmill Professional.

Wowza Media Server Pro

This application is the flagship software for the Wowza Media Server 2 Training class and allows organizations and companies to have their own streaming server that supports Flash real-time streaming for on-demand and live streaming applications. Using this software, you'll learn the key features of streaming server set-up, streaming Flash On2 Vp6 content, streaming Flash H.264 content , and how to set-up live streaming. You'll also learn how to stream live content with the On2 VP6 and H.264 codec.

Sorenson Squeeze 5 Compression Suite

Sorenson Squeeze 6 is featured in our Wowza Media Server 2 Training classes and our 1-Day Sorenson Squeeze Training. Squeeze is a simplistic yet powerful compression application that boasts features such as automatic FTP to a Web Server or Streaming Server, Compression for the the Video iPod, DVD authoring and compression to Windows Media, QuickTime, Real Media, Flash Video, MP3 and MPEG-4/H.264 formats. Learn how to take advantage of this application for encoding Flash content for Wowza Media Server 2.

Episode Encoder Pro

Episode Pro is an amazing compression tool and has ultra fast encoding speeds. This tool is available on the Mac and PC platforms and provides encoding to Windows Media, Real Media, Flash Video, QuickTime, MPEG-4/H.264 and many other media formats. Episode Pro is designed for the user that wants more control over the video compression process and their compression settings. The many different options and filters available in Episode Pro are amazing! Attend our 1-Day Episode Encoder Pro Training class to get familiar with this compression tool.

Wirecast

Wirecast is an amazing tool for live webcasting from the desktop on Mac and PC. This application is loaded with features. You'll learn how to stream Flash content using Wirecast. Students learn how to input the necessary information into Wirecast to create Flash streaming experiences on the Mac and PC in the Wowza Media Server Pro training class. Wirecast is also featured in our 1-Day Wirecast Training.


Sawmill Professional

Sawmill Professional helps users take advantage of their steaming media investment. As part of the Wowza Media Server 2 Training your instructor will teach you how to process the streaming server log files from your Wowza server to create detailed streaming reports. The streaming reports are beneficial in giving supervisors, management professionals and technical staff a better understanding of the viewing habits of your on-line audience. Log file analysis is extremely important and logs are stored on many streaming servers as well as hardware devices and software applications. That's why Sawmill Professional is feature in our 1-Day Sawmill Professional Training in addition to our 1-Day Wowza Media Server 2 Training.


2-Day Video Streaming and Compression Training

Learning about streaming video and compression can be an overwhelming experience but this class will guide you through the process of adding streaming video to your website. This training will give you a better understanding of streaming video, compression, real-time streaming, downloadable streaming and live streaming. You will learn important concepts and techniques for compressing your videos. Participants will be educated on how to convert videos to Windows Media, QuickTime, Real Media, Flash video, and H.264. This class is a great introduction for video professionals, IT Professionals, multimedia developers, web designers, government producers and educational professionals that need to start adding video and audio content on-line. During Day 1 of the Video Streaming and Compression Training focuses on video compression and preparing content in various formats and flavors for delivery. During Day 2 students will get a better understanding of the web authoring process for streaming video.


1-Day Wowza Media Server 2 Training (PC)

This class is designed to help you set-up your Wowza Media Server 2 streaming server which supports Flash Streaming. Students will get a better understanding of how on-demand streaming and live streaming works for the Wowza Media Server 2. This training will cover Flash encoding using the On2 VP6 codec as well as Flash encoding using the H.264 codec and how to deliver these files from Wowza Media Server 2. Learning to stream Flash video using Wirecast with the Wowza Media Server 2 is a special topic that is included in this training class. Flash video is one of the most exciting developments in streaming video and you'll learn how to take advantage of it with the Wowza streaming server. Take advantage of cross-platform, cross-browser video playback that the Flash format provides with the Wowza Media Server 2.

1-Day Wowza Media Server 2 Training (Mac)

This class is designed to help you set-up your Wowza Media Server 2 streaming server which supports Flash Streaming. Students will get a better understanding of how on-demand streaming and live streaming works for the Wowza Media Server 2. This training will cover Flash encoding using the On2 VP6 codec as well as Flash encoding using the H.264 codec and how to deliver these files from Wowza Media Server 2. Learning to stream Flash video using Wirecast and QuickTime Broadcaster with the Wowza Media Server 2 is a special topic that is included in this training class. Flash video is one of the most exciting developments in streaming video and you'll learn how to take advantage of it with the Wowza streaming server. Take advantage of cross-platform, cross-browser video playback that the Flash format provides with Wowza Media Server 2.

1-Day Episode Encoder Pro Training

Learn how to compress videos in this 1-Day Episode Pro training to formats like QuickTime, Real Media, Flash, Windows Media and H.264. As one of the best applications for craft encoding, Episode Pro 5 gives users the power to make a wide number of adjustments and changes to compression settings, filters and many other settings. With Episode Pro users have total control over the adjustments that they would like to make for their encoding jobs. This one day class gives users hands-on tips and tricks for utilizing this video compression tool. Students will learn how to encode to all the popular video formats for Web Server and Streaming Server delivery. In addition attendees will learn how to encode to 25 Mbps and higher MPEG-2 files, how to encode Multiple Bit Rate Real Media video files, and how to add and adjust filters. Our Episode Encoder Pro Training class is available On-site or On-line. Contact us for more details.

1-Day Wirecast Training

Get familiar with Live streaming for Flash, Windows Media and QuickTime. This class will have you up and running with Wirecast quickly. This training is great for non-technical professionals as well as video editors, web developers, producers and other media professionals. Whether you're using a a Wowza Streaming Server, QuickTime Streaming Server or Windows Media Streaming Server this class will benefit you. Our class will also get you familiar with Wirecast live streaming to the Top Content Delivery Networks as well as Ustream and Mogulus . This class is amazing and you'll gain all kinds of ideas for delivering your live streaming events.

1-Day Sorenson Squeeze 6 Training

This class is designed to give you a better understanding of Sorenson Squeeze 6. Sorenson Squeeze is one of the best kept secrets and this class will help you unlock its many benefits. In addition to learning about the Sorenson Squeeze interface, students will learn about the different video input options, how to compression to various formats, how to compress content for video ipods/video podcasts, how to adjust compression settings and the process for encoding a DVD inside the Sorenson Squeeze application.

The Wowza Media Server 2 training class, Sorenson Squeeze 6 Training, Wirecast Training and Episode Encoder Pro Training are available in Orlando, On-line or On-site at your location. View the upcoming Video Streaming Training Schedule. Call Instructor Derrick Freeman at 407.477.5837 for more information about training classes or email him at derrick217@gmail.com

Episode Series 5.2.1 is now available

The newest version of Episode is now available as a free update. This is an update for Episode Encoder, Episode Encoder Pro, Episode Engine, Episode Engine Pro and Episode Podcast media encoding software products.

Version 5.2.1 adds several enhancements and fixes, including:

Episode Encoder:

* Improved H.264 quality and stability
* Improved quality when encoding XDCAM HD from 4:2:2 sources
* Improved MPEG-1 audio and video support

Episode Engine:

* Improved stability when using input monitors
* Fixed audio issue when using QuickTime components in Split-and-Stitch mode
* Fixed Split-and-Stitch issue when encoding to Windows Media

Episode Pro Training

Class Summary: Learn how to compress videos in this 1-Day Episode Pro training to formats like QuickTime, Real Media, Flash, Windows Media and H.264. As one of the best applications for craft encoding, Episode Pro 5 gives users the power to make a wide number of adjustments and changes to compression settings, filters and many other settings. With Episode Pro users have total control over the adjustments that they would like to make for their encoding jobs. This one day class gives users hands-on tips and tricks for utilizing this video compression tool. Students will learn how to encode to all the popular video formats for Web Server and Streaming Server delivery. In addition attendees will learn how to encode to 25 Mbps and higher MPEG-2 files, how to encode Multiple Bit Rate Real Media video files, and how to add and adjust filters. Our Episode Pro Training class is available On-site or On-line. Contact us for more details.

Episode Pro training class schedule

In this training students will also learn:

• How to encode to QuickTime, RealMedia, Flash, Windows Media and H.264 formats
• How to encode Real-time and Downloadable streaming videos
• How to set-up Filters for Encoding Projects
• The process for encoding multiple videos using Watch Folders
• How to choose the proper codec for your output format
• How to compress videos for Video iPods, iPhones and Video Podcasts
• How to encode Multi Bit Rate Windows Media Files
• How to add watermarks when encoding
• The process for including bumpers and trailers on video output files

Featured Software for Class

Episode Pro 5 with Flash 8 encoder

Class Overview

1. Interface Overview

Your instructor will show you the different features of the interface to get you familiar with the application quickly. This part of the class will cover Bookmarks, Compression Settings, the Job Batch, the Settings Editor, and the various Tabs within the Compression Settings. This part of the training will also cover the Source and Preview windows along with how to choose a custom output location for your encodes.

2. Encoding Downloadable Streaming Videos

You will encode videos for downloadable streaming in formats such as: QuickTime, H.264, Windows Media, Real Media and Flash. This part of the class will teach you how to get the quality you desire for your downloading streaming videos. Learn how to adjust the various Compression Settings for your desired format and how to choose the proper codec in Episode Pro 5. You'll also learn how to take a default compression preset and customize it for better quality.

3. Encoding Real-time Streaming Videos

Learn how to encode real-time streaming videos for streaming server delivery to QuickTime, H.264, Windows Media, Real Media and Flash file formats. Also learn about hinting and how to deliver real-time QuickTime and H.264 files for a QuickTime Streaming Server, Flash Streaming Server or Helix Universal streaming Server. You'll learn what you will need to consider when compressing your videos for Streaming Servers such as: bandwidth considerations, target audiences, frame size, frames per second and other items.

4. Compression for Video iPods, Video Podcasts and Audio Podcasts

Students will learn how to compress video content for Video iPods, iPhones, Video Podcasts and Audio Podcasts using Episode Pro 5. Participants will learn how to adjust their compression settings to get high quality results. The instructor will also show you how to get encoded videos onto the video iPod and how to display them onto your TV. This class will teach you the best codec to use for compressing your videos for Video iPods, Video Podcasts, iPhones and Audio Podcasts with Episode Pro 5.

5. Compression Settings

This portion of the class will cover the details of adjusting the many compression presets. Learn how to set parameters such as: Data rate, Sample Size, Sample Rate, Encoding Method, Frame Size, Frame Rate, Frames Per Second, Profile, Key Frame Every. Also learn which codecs to use with your desired output format.

6. Adding and Adjusting Filters

You will learn how to add and adjust filters for your compression presets. Learn how to add and adjust Deinterlace, Noise Reduction, Contrast, Fade, Smoothing, Burn Timecode and Watermark filters along with many others.

7. Encoding 25 Mbps and higher MPEG-2 files

Many video editors need to create high bit rate MPEG-2 files for services such as DGFastchannel. Episode Pro is the perfect encoding tool for this. Learn how to create an encoding preset that will allow you to encode 25 Mbps or 50 Mbps MPEG-2 files with Episode Pro 5.

8. Creating Multiple Bit Rate Windows Media and Real Media files

Students will learn how to create multiple bit rate Windows Media files for playback on a Windows Media Streaming Server or a Helix Universal Server. Class attendees will also learn how to encode Real Media files for a a Helix Universal Server. With the MBR files the player will automatically detect the best data rate to use for the end user based on their Internet Connection.

Call Instructor Derrick Freeman at 407.477.5837 for more information about this training class or email him at derrick217@gmail.com

New Encoding Algorithm dicasVICO Unveiled

dicas, the German MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 encoding specialist, has unveiled a new revolutionary quality enhancing algorithm called dicasVICO. In order to attain the same picture quality like current H.264 encoders, streams modulated with dicasVICO get by on bit rates being lower by 30 per cent. dicasVICO helps broadcasters and providers of WebTV, MobileTV and IPTV services to overcome bandwidth restrictions and dramatically enhance the picture quality of their programs.

dicasVICO allows for a more efficient use of the available transport capacity by optimising the distribution of bits among the image sections of a video picture during the encoding process. Unlike most current encoders, the algorithm by dicas is not based on prevalent statistical measures but on the properties of the human visual system.

“Most H.264 encoders use variance algorithms to modulate the quantiser”, explains Klaas Schüür, co-founder and CTO at dicas. “Although you may get great measuring results by applying complex operations based on rate distortion, this does not reflect the latest state of scientific knowledge on the visual perception of man.”

dicasVICO, on the contrary, takes advantage of the gradual fault tolerance of the human visual system against varying optical phenomena. For example the human brain hardly notices errors occurring in high-frequency sections, i.e. fast movements or fine-textured patterns, whereas it is very attentive towards errors within regular structures or slow-motion sections.

To what extent a higher encoding accuracy is applied on the particular image sections is controlled by dicasVICO in accordance to the picture’s visual complexity. Such a selective quantisation may lead to lower statistical results, especially when current technical measurement standards like signal-to-noise-ratio (PSNR) are used. Mere statistical measuring methods, however, are hardly significant concerning the subjective picture quality.

Perception tests show that the visual complexity approach has an enormous impact on how a video stream is perceived by its viewers. Subjectively the stream with dicasVICO algorithm applied on appears to be much more brilliant and clearer. “Especially at low bit rates videos encoded with dicasVICO show substantially less artifacts”, says Schüür. dicasVICO is now part of all dicas encoder hardware products and mpegable software packages.

Sorenson Media Announces Direct-to-iPhone Video Publishing

In conjunction with the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference June 8-12, Sorenson Media announced the immediate availability of new iPhone video publishing for its Sorenson 360 Video Delivery Network (VDN). This new solution enables small- to medium-sized businesses, video professionals, bloggers and other content creators to quickly and seamlessly encode and publish the highest quality video content on the Internet for direct viewing by Apple iPhone users (i.e. through the iPhone's Web browser and without the need to install a separate app). The enhanced Sorenson 360 VDN represents a significant step forward in one-stop online video publishing across major platforms and devices, including the recently announced iPhone OS 3.0 and the iPhone 3G S.

“With the addition of iPhone publishing for Sorenson 360, Sorenson Media is greatly expanding the reach and power of what is already the most cost-effective and user-friendly online video publishing solution in the marketplace,” said Peter Csathy, CEO of Sorenson Media. “Up to this point, video playback on the iPhone has simply been out of reach for video professionals. This new release reinforces the hallmarks of Sorenson 360 - unparalleled quality, innovation, flexibility, ease-of-use and affordability. It is now easier than ever for anyone to publish iPhone-ready video content over the Internet.”

In contrast to the one-format-fits-all approach used by many online video publishing services, in which the user has little flexibility in the video format and player used, Sorenson 360 offers specific iPhone presets, enabling users to easily encode video content in the iPhone-compatible H.264 format and deliver that content using the iPhone's native video player. This is a significant development because, while the majority of online video content is encoded in Adobe Flash format, the iPhone does not play Flash content, meaning most videos featured on Web sites are not viewable using the iPhone's Web browser. With Sorenson 360, video professionals can reach their audiences virtually anywhere the Internet is available, including on the iPhone.

“Sorenson 360 simplifies the experience of the video publisher and the iPhone user alike through its ability to automatically detect how the user is accessing a video file - whether through a traditional browser on a desktop or laptop computer, or through the iPhone's Web browser,” said David Dudas, vice president of product management. “Based on this information, Sorenson 360 then automatically delivers the video file using the appropriate player - a Flash player for users on desktops or laptops, or the iPhone’s native video player for iPhone users.”

The Sorenson 360 VDN enables users to encode and upload video content either seamlessly through the industry-leading Sorenson Squeeze software or directly via their browsers using the Sorenson 360 interface; both processes significantly reduce upload time and provide automatic access to the iPhone presets. Through its unique browser-based encoding tool, Sorenson 360 users simply drag and drop their video files from their hard drive or record new videos via their webcams and, with one step, publish and make them playable directly on an iPhone.

Sorenson 360 is compatible with all versions of Apple iPhone - iPhone 3G S, iPhone 3G and prior versions 1 and 2 - as well as Apple iPod Touch via WiFi. This includes the iPhone OS 3.0 and the Safari 4 browser. Video specifications for the Sorenson 360 iPhone presets are: H.264 video codec - MP4 output, up to 1 Mbps, 640 x 480 pixels, 30 frames per second.