Archive for the ‘video’ Category

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Force Skype HQ Video Mode with any webcam

Monday, December 1st, 2008

force-skype-high-quality-video.jpg

So you want Skype High Quality (HQ) video, but aren’t willing to shell out for a nice dual-core processor and a high-end Logitech camera, eh? Well, no worries - Nodewave has a Force ‘Skype’ HQ Video app that allows you to Enable/Disable (and even configure) High-Quality Video in Skype, and even High-Definition Video regardless of your camera or processor.

So if Santa doesn’t stick a high-end Logitech Orb AF webcam (my favorite webcam) in your stocking for Christmas, then this hack might just be the way to go!

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Original post by nafiz

Posted in Computer Software, webcam, hq video, p2p, Orb AF, Logitech, Computer Hardware, Digital Cameras, Skype, VoIP, Gadgets, video, Video Hardware & Software, TMCnet | No Comments »

Need more Terabytes this Christmas?

Wednesday, November 26th, 2008

Looking for a faster, bigger hard drive this Christmas? (Two days till Black Friday sales by the way) Well, I came across this funny Youtube video of the day - filmed at famous Mac Store Tekserve in Manhattan, New York and paid for by drive manufacturer Seagate. It’s a tad long, but it features a hip-hop office drama and the desire for “A new disk drive. 1.5 Terabytes….” (don’t let that little jingle get stuck in your head) Just in time for the Christmas holiday season.

Via 9to5mac.com

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Original post by nafiz

Posted in Mac Store, funny, Christmas, Manhattan, NYC, drive, Tekserve, youtube, black friday, video, Gadgets, Video Hardware & Software, Apple, Computer Hardware, Accessories, Home Entertainment | No Comments »

Broadband-enabled Game Consoles: Bye-Bye Pay TV?

Friday, November 21st, 2008

A report from research consultancy TDG predicts that portals like Microsoft’s Xbox Live and Sony’s PlayStation Network will soon become formidable competitors to incumbent Pay TV services.

Leveraging broadband-enabled game consoles as the next-generation video platforms — and bypassing cable and satellite TV operators, these companies will offer a compelling alternative to traditional TV programming by providing a more immersive, interactive video experience.

The launch of Microsoft’s Experience and the Xbox Live Netflix streaming video service is a perfect example of how potent these services will soon become. There is little doubt these services are finally ready for prime time.

Even before the launch of Experience, Microsoft’s Xbox Live had amassed some 15,000 movies (1,000 of which are HD) and some 13,000 TV shows for download-to-own. The Netflix partnership adds 12,000 movies and TV programs to the mix, all for free streaming to Netflix subscribers.

Sony’s PlayStation Network has collected close to 1,000 movies and hundreds of TV programs for download-to-own. It has also announced plans to expand dramatically its video library in the next few months in order to compete with Xbox Live. 

Many thanks to Advanced-Television.

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Original post by nafiz

Posted in xbox live, Movies, download-to-own, experience, playstation network, netflix, Video Games & Gaming, video, Video Hardware & Software, sony, Services, Microsoft | No Comments »

High quality YouTube Video Hack

Friday, November 14th, 2008

youtube-logo.jpgSick and tired of cr**py YouTube video quality? Well, check out kottke.org’s tips on how to enable HQ video on YouTube. It’s not HD quality, but much better than the default.

The specs for the Youtube HQ video is mp4 encoded using H.264 and stereo AAC sound at 480×360 resolution.

Also you need to do to link to a high quality video on your blog is simply append &ampfmt=18 onto the end of the YouTube URL, i.e.:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuqiGrWBRqE&ampfmt=18

And if you want to embed the code on your blog/site you add &ap=%2526fmt%3D18, i.e.:

<object width=”425″ height=”344″><param name=”movie″ value=”http://www.youtube.com/v/MuqiGrWBRqE&amphl=en&ampfs=1 &ap=%2526fmt%3᪢“></param><param name=”allowFullScreen” value=”true”></param><param name=”allowscriptaccess” value=”always”></param><embed src=”http://www.youtube.com/v/MuqiGrWBRqE&amphl=en&ampfs=1&amp;ap=%2526fmt%3D18” type=”application/x-shockwave-flash” allowscriptaccess=”always” allowfullscreen=”true” width=”425″ height=”344″&gt&lt/embed&gt&lt/object&gt

Now head on over to Kottke to see the before and after video quality comparisons. Good stuff!

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Original post by nafiz

Posted in youtube, stereo, param, quality, embed, kottke.org, hq video, Video Conferencing, Internet, HD, AAC, H.264, video | No Comments »

TMC Launches NGN (Next Generation Networks) Magazine

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

Today, TMC announced the launch of NGN Magazine focused on next generation networks and how service providers and carriers can build these networks and what they will need to know to maximize savings and ARPU (average revenue per user).

“We’re in an interesting time,” says TMC President and Group Publisher, Rich Tehrani. No, he’s not referring to the American political scene or the chaotic American economy. Rich is referring to Next Generation Networks, which Rich believes will be critical to the future of service providers and carriers. Certainly, in these tough economic times, squeezing the most efficiency and most value-add services is critical. Verizon is probably the best example of that. They’ve been investing billions in their fiber-based FiOS service which supports high-speed Internet, voice, and TV/video/HDTV.  They are no doubt also looking to tie in their considerable wireless/cellular network with their FiOS network to offer customers a competitive advantage over competing solutions.

In his video interview with TMCnet Group Managing Editor Erik Linask, Rich discusses NGN Magazine. [click to visit video link]

erik-rich-ngn-magazine-launch.jpg

The topics TMC’s NGN magazine will address, some of which Rich mentions in the video interview:

» How do you deploy new services and applications ?
» What technology should you consider ?
» How do you integrate new technologies with legacy elements?

Erik points out that a lot of publishing companies have been cutting down on staff and even folding print publications. Rich addresses this point by pointing out that 2-3 million executives visit tmcnet.com to read the content digitally. He also discusses how TMC offers digital (PDF) versions of the print magazines which greatly reduces costs. Thousands of people subscribe to the digital PDF format.

While all facets of the economy seem to be slowing down, TMC continues to grow — not only launching a new magazine, but recently adding new telecom/wireless industry talent such as Carl Ford, Scott Kargman, and more. Newspapers may die, print magazines may fold, but good information and news will always be needed. And where there is a need for good information, people will pay for it. Publishing companies which are nimble enough to adjust to the trend towards online news dissemination will survive, while those that can’t will die.

Case in point is the NY Times, which must deliver $400 million to lenders in May of 2009 or face bankruptcy. But if you’re a New York Times fan, don’t worry. I’m sure President-elect Barrack Obama will add them to the $700+ billion bailout. Can’t have the NY Times go bankrupt, can we? Don’t answer that question…

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Original post by nafiz

Posted in Rich Tehrani, NY Times, NGN Magazine, next generation networks, service providers, generation networks, print, times, magazine, networks, ARPU, video, VoIP, TMCnet, Mobile Phones, Technology and Science, Erik Linask, Video Conferencing, Unified Communications, Wireless | No Comments »

Opera Mini 4.2 beta mini-review

Tuesday, November 11th, 2008

opera-mini-skins.jpgOpera Mini 4.2 beta just launched today. Opera Mini is one of my favorite mobile phone Internet browsers. It’s a tough call between Opera Mini and Skyfire. Skyfire supports Flash and video, so it’s better at multimedia, however, I find Opera Mini better suited to regular web pages with just graphics and text. Opera Mini is much faster at loading web pages and scrolling than Skyfire. Still, I use both on my Windows Mobile.

That said, today Opera Mini is trying to add video streaming support. Ironically, yesterday I was trying to figure out how to copy/paste my Orb TV streaming links from Opera Mini 4.1 to Pocket IE so I could stream live TV. I prefer browsing via Opera Mini, but I have to use Pocket IE to stream video/audio. I could use the popular MortScript to add copy/paste functionality, but unfortunately, it only allows pasting into Opera Mini and not from Opera Mini. In any event, in 4.2 when you are browsing video content, such as Youtube, Opera Mini will launch your regular Windows mobile browser (Pocket IE) with a prompt that says “Open URL? Yes / No” with a link similar to this - http://server4.operamini.com/hr02-14/5oxerx…/2/196. I figured out that this is like Opera Mini’s version of tinyURL to point directly to the Youtube video. If you click ‘Yes’, it then launches Pocket Internet Explorer with a single URL on the web page “Start Stream”. When I clicked this link it then said “Running a system command on this item might be unsafe. Do you wish to continue? Yes / No” with on option to save my preference for the future. (Pocket IE’s fault not Opera Mini).  My default media player launched and then I got “An unknown error 0�D has occurred.” I looked at the URL it was trying to open and it looked similar to this:
rtsp://prug.rtsp-youtube.I.google.com/CkcLENy73wIaPgn43DiE8… (bunch more letters and numbers)

I’m guessing Windows Media Player couldn’t handle the long string. It probably has a character limit.

Even if it did work, it’s a bit of kludge, though I′m glad they’re finally working on video support. I toggle to Skyfire when I need video. Opera said, “We are working to make video content available on more phones through Opera Mini. If you have a new Sony Ericsson or Nokia phone, the chance is high that you can take Opera Mini for a spin on m.youtube.com”. So I guess Ericsson and Nokia users might have better luck than me.

Some other benefits of Opera Mini 4.2 over 4.1:
- Opera Mini 4.2 can use their newly established server park in the U.S. for faster performance.

- Sync your notes. The handy Notes functionality from the Opera Desktop Web browser just got more portable through Opera Link. All of your notes are available in Opera Mini directly from the Bookmarks menu.

- Personalize Opera Mini by choosing a new colorful skin. They reintroduced the popular skinning feature from Opera Mini 3.

Overall, I like the new version, especially the speed bump. No need for my Opera Mini browser to connect to Opera’s servers in Norway and then back across the Atlantic. Still, I wish they allowed me to copy/paste links for cases when I need to use my alternate browser.

more info here.

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Original post by nafiz

Posted in , , , , , netbook, macbook, Gadgets, TMCnet, video, Internet, Mobile Phones, Wireless | No Comments »

Rosy Future for Wireless — Both Audio and Video

Monday, November 10th, 2008

bluetooth logo.gifShipments of four classes of wireless audio and video connectivity products for the home will increase nearly 500% by the end of 2013, according to a new study from ABI Research.

The four technologies involved are named as Bluetooth, WiFi, ultra-wideband (UWB) and 60 GHz. The last one is described by ABI Research as the “likely standard-bearer” for in-home wireless distribution of uncompressed high-definition video.

The research firm adds that as the wireless home electronics market grows, these technologies will coexist and become closely integrated according to their strengths and specialities.

More at Connected Home News. 

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Original post by nafiz

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Sametime and Microsoft OCS integration

Monday, November 10th, 2008

Rumor has it that Microsoft and/or IBM will announce integration between Office Communications Server 2007 and IBM’s Lotus Sametime “Unified Telephony″ platform at this week’s VoiceCon show. If true, this would combine approximately 20 million Sametime users with Microsoft’s fast growing OCS 2007 user base creating the largest unified communications user base.

There are ways of getting OCS and Sametime to integrate via 3rd party gateways, however it is somewhat limiting. I don′t believe you can do video for instance.

If Sametime and OCS can interoperate and offer IM/presence, voice, and video, that would be HUGE.

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Original post by nafiz

Posted in , , , , VoIPshield, Office Communicator, VoIP, Microsoft, video, TMCnet | No Comments »

SkyStone Video Enables Video Skype Gateway

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

skystone-video-skype-gateway.jpg
Stonevoice has created SkyStone Video, a unique Skype-gateway product that allows video communications between enterprise video solutions from vendors such as Cisco, Sony, and Polycom and the popular Skype software. There are several voice over ip-to-Skype gateways, but this marks the first time someone has created a Video-to-Skype gateway that “bridges″ the gap between high quality enterprise video conferencing solutions and Skype.

“Video has become a fundamental need in the day-by-day communications. The technology is now ready to handle video calls and conference calls; however, one fundamental element was missing to take it to the next level: simplicity - says Christian Bongiovanni, CEO of StoneVoice - today, ahead of competition, Stonevoice, has demonstrated its technical excellence and strategic thinking by releasing a unique product worldwide: SkyStone Video that allows standard based video solution interfacing with the Skype world, bringing excellent quality, rich and mobile communications, with extreme simplicity!”

With Skystone Video, Stonevoice has eliminated the Business-to-Consumer and Business-to-Business barriers. Today a user can call a business partner, a mobile employee or a customer on their Skype account and do video calls and conference calls, as simply as if they were placing a standard call (for instance through speed-dials). Furthermore, combining Skystone Video with Meetnow, Stonevoice branded software MCU, conference calls can be done with internal and external parties without the security - VPN barrier, providing a WEB 2.0 service accessible from anywhere with any device to everybody.

Skystone Video is available for early testing on http://skystone.stonevoice.com.

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Original post by nafiz

Posted in , , , , , , Unified Telephony, VoIP, Skype, video, VoIPshield, TMCnet | No Comments »

What’s New in Administration and Management with Office Communications Server 2007 R2

Friday, October 31st, 2008

With Microsoft OCS R2’s pending release, I thought you’d be interested in seeing a video interview of Microsoft’s Ananad Lakshminarayanan about some of the new features in Office Communications Server R2, which is Microsoft’s popular unified communications platform. In the video you’ll see some of the IT Admin specific features in OCS R2, which includes an OCS architecture planner to make OCS much easier to deploy. Essentially, it includes a wizard that you provide with your locations, users, and feature requirements and it spits out a detailed Visio style architecture for you, including recommendations for number of servers and locations, as well as bandwidth requirements. The wizard will even list out all the ports & IPs that you need to open.

They’ve added load balancing for Edge Servers for scalability. Another change is they’ve reduced the number of ports you need to keep open. They’ve changed the archiving feature so that it stores instant messages archives separately from CDRs or voice call records. This assists with compliance using 3rd party compliance utilities.

To Virtualize or not to Virtualize, that is the question…
A hot topic in the Office Communication Server community is virtualization for some of the OCS server roles. In the video, Ananad mentions they are looking at supporting some virtualization for some of the OCS roles. Specifically the roles that don’t support real-time media (audio, video, conferencing, etc.). Although the video doesn’t mention it, Microsoft told me that the voice & video quality and performance in virtualized environments just isn’t up to business-grade quality. Nevertheless, I’d still like to see support for virtualization of all the roles for testing in a lab or pre-deployment testing environment. in any event, excluding those roles that require real-time media they will be able to be virtualized very soon. In fact, in the video Ananand says support for virtualization will be likely be post RTM, which is basically plus 90 days from when OCS R2 RTMs.

Click to go watch the in-depth video including a demo of OCS ̶:
microsoft-ocs-edge-planning-tool.jpg

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Original post by nafiz

Posted in belkin, , , , Unified Telephony, VoIPshield, VoIP, Microsoft, video, Office Communicator, TMCnet | No Comments »

Logitech Acquires SightSpeed

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008


I’m a huge fan of SightSpeed and so I was pleasantly surprised this morning to read that Logitech has acquired SightSpeed for approximately $30 million in cash. I’m a fan of both companies actually, and my favorite webcam is the Logitech Quickcam Orbit AF, The acquisition is expected to close in early November. Just check out my favorable review of SightSpeed here and how SightSpeed carried out their patriotic duty in offering SightSpeed videoconferencing for online gameplay between Pros and G.I. Joes.

SightSpeed supports up to an amazing 9-way videoconferencing. Take that Skype! Even Dell jumped on the SightSpeed bandwagon by offering SightSpeed preloaded onto all Dell consumer PCs (called Dell Video Chat).

No doubt with this acquisition, Logitech will bundle the SightSpeed software onto their software CD that ships with every webcam they sell. This will no doubt boost the number of SightSpeed users. My heart congrats go out to the SightSpeed team, including SightSpeed’s VP of Marketing Eric Quanstrom whom I have spoken to many times.

Founded in 2001, SightSpeed has approximately 25 employees and unlike Skype which is proprietary, SightSpeed leverages the industry standard SIP protocol.

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Original post by nafiz

Posted in NetQoS, , , , Unified Telephony, VoIPshield, VoIP, video, Office Communicator, TMCnet | No Comments »

New Xbox Experience videos let you vicariously play dress up

Monday, October 27th, 2008

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You already know the Xbox 360 is getting new community features, a revamped dashboard, Avatars, and of course Netflix video — all things we’ve been excited about since we saw them in action at ʵ this year. There hasn′t been much to go on since then, but we recently came across some short videos exhibiting Parties (which let users socialize and make plans while engaging in separate games and activities) and Avatar customization options hopefully they’ll hold you over until the features go live November 19th. We won′t be held responsible for the brain deterioration caused by the vacuous marketing-speak accompanying the moving images, however. “It is where you get to enjoy entertainment — that’s the vision.” Yes, it is.

EngadgetNew Xbox Experience videos let you vicariously play dress up originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Original post by Samuel Axon

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Toshiba’s decade-old automated volleyball bot resurfaces: where’s ours?

Sunday, October 26th, 2008

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If this here press releases didn’t have a date of February 1997 on it, we’d swear this was some sort new fancy new development. Sure, robots have been playing sports for ages, but seeing this here creature revived begs the question: why don’t we all have one or two of these laying around the house by now? The prototype seen in the video linked below can recognize spoken commands, react to incoming spheres, identify actions of nearby humans and spike volleyballs in your grille all day long. In all honesty, Tosh probably converted this into some sort of elderly assistant bot that didn’t catch nearly as much press, but we’re still holding onto a sliver of hope that this thing is just about ready for commercial release.

Read - Volleyball robot video
Read - Original volleyball robot press release

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Original post by Darren Murph

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How-to video shows 3G implant into Aigo P8860 MID

Saturday, October 25th, 2008

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Aigo’s P8860 MID was already a potent, handsome piece of machinery in its factory form, but adding in 3G is like adding melted chocolate to a glazed hot doughnut from Krispy Kreme — it’s just better, even though it’s tough to accomplish and potentially harmful to your health. Far-reaching metaphors aside, our pals over at jkkmobile have put together an all-telling 18 minute video that explains how to add 3G HSDPA to this here MID. For seasoned DIYers, the process of opening it up, soldering a mini PCI-e connector / SIM card slot and tossing in a 3G card / antenna won′t seem that difficult. For everyone else, we’d recommend watching thrice to make sure your confidence level is at the appropriate position before delving in. Vid’s after the break, per usual.

Continue reading How-to video shows 3G implant into Aigo P8860 MID

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Original post by Darren Murph

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Nikon D90’s 720p movie mode gets critiqued

Saturday, October 25th, 2008

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While being the first DSLR to shoot HD video sounds mighty excellent on paper, it’s not worth much if the execution isn’t there, right? The general consensus was that Nikon’s D90 was a stellar DSLR, but the 720p movie mode was simply a so-so cherry on top. The gurus over at CamcorderInfo decided to take things one step further and actually write up an in-depth review on the movie mode alone. The long and short of it is this: the ᫪’s movie mode simply can’t produce the same results as a dedicated HD camcorder, and while it was “often able to produce impressive results (especially in moderately low light),” the unfortunate “wobble effect″ really put a damper on things. In essence, the aforementioned problem causes objects to look like Jell-o when the user pans quickly from left to right, and the only real way to avoid it is to utilize a tripod or slow down your pans — neither of which are terribly convenient. Critics did find quite a bit to praise, and they certainly appreciated the inclusion in an otherwise amazing camera, but it’s still far from being ideal in all scenarios.

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Original post by Darren Murph

Posted in , , , , video, PspBrite,