Google Labs has created a sort of a visual Google News, a new reading experience called Fast Flip. The goal is to combine the best elements of print and online articles, and create a natural magazine-style navigation.
"One problem with reading news today is that browsing can be really slow. What we need instead is a way to flip through articles really fast without unnatural delays, just as we can in print," the Official Google Blog explains.
Now Google Fast Flip features three dozen launch partners who share in the ad revenue.
In addition to the flipping through content experience, Google proviedes aggregation and search over many top newspapers and magazines, and the ability to share content with friends and community. It also takes cues from user's selection, in order to show more content from sources, topics and journalists.
Google has also made a mobile version of Fast Flip with tactile page flipping for the iPhone and Android-powered devices. This mobile version is available by simply navigation to the Google Fast Flip homepage on your phone.
So the natural question is: Will Fast Flip save or kill the publishing industry? Google's answer: "The publishing industry faces many challenges today, and there is no magic bullet. However, we believe that encouraging readers to read more news is a necessary part of the solution."
New York-based Livestream video company unveiled its new device that enables live, mobile, and almost HD-quality broadcasts.
It is a backpack-sized and ruggerized device, called "Livepack". it does not requiere laptop, and it comes with a touchscreen and six integrated 3G/EVDO modems from AT&T, Verizon and Sprint, that are bound together in a way to provide the highest possible available bit rate -usually between 300kbps and 700kbps depending on the phone coverage quality.
The core technology is being provided by LiveU, an Israeli cutting-edge company. I knew company's main executive this year in NAB show in Las Vegas. There I had the opportunity to test LiveU technology, and I was a bit dissappointed, due to the many errors it presented. Now it seems it has been improved and ready to be market.
Livestream explains here how it works. Monhtly rental price starts at $2,500, and it includes 30 hours of streaming uplink time.
Hewlett-Packard has introduced this week, at the DEMOfall 09 conference in San Diego, a yourger cousin of Halo, branded as SkyRoom. This launching reflects how consumer video chat services are getting ever closer to the quality of enterprise video conferencing services.
SkyRoom offers affordable video conferencing with screen-sharing for $149 (oops, only for Windows). This software allows up to four individuals to connect face-to-face in a secure, high definition video coference right from their workspaces. Also it accommodates rich media sharing.
It updates images as much as four times a second. You need to have a minimum of 2.5 GHz dual core processor, 2 GB of ram, and be connected to a network running at 1 Mbps or fas
It will be included for free on all HP workstations sold, starting Oct. 1. Obviously it won't replace the high-end video conference rooms that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Magnify.net social video hosting and sharing site has launched a free iPhone app to let 3GS users submit videos to any Magnify video site. Later on, the app will be developed for other smartphones, including the Blackberry and Android.
Magnify's platform has social networking features, meaning that it can integrate video from YouTube, Vimeo, and other sites. (At Amigot's we have this technology, too).
This company uses these features to create white-label video platforms and communities for various businesses, including Zappos, New York Magazine, Mediaite, and The Weather Channel.
Remember the story I wrote about eduFire and the phenomenon of taking classes via live video? Well, now eduFire is getting down to business and entrepreneurship classes. In this challenging economy, eduFire's Business Channel will provide courses for those looking to transition to a new career, or those who want to be entrepreneur.
These classes to learn new business skills will be taught by working professionals from across the business landscape. Classes will be held via online video, as said, and students will be able to interact with the teacher and each other. Classes are capped at 100 students, and can be purchased on demand.
Doing my weekly research this recent funding got my attention. Vuclip has raised an additional $6 million, bringing the total amount of VC capital gotten to $14 million.
This company lets mobile phone user search fro and playback video. Vuclip does the transcoding on the fly and on the back-end. The service is getting 4 million unique users a month, mostly from India, China and the U.S.. It delivers 1 million videos a day to 3,000 different handsets in 150 different countries.
Revenue model is based both on geography and other criteria-based ads, as well as white-label service for the enterprise.
Based in Milpitas, California, Vuclip currently has 40 employees in the U.S., China and India. Competitors include Skyfire and mSpot.
Hulu is definitely jumping into de social media game. This month released its Hulu: Watch Now Facebook app. It allows users to view and comment on shows.
Google’s Android platform is getting another live-streaming service that gives it functionality iPhone users don’t have. This time it’s Ustream, a mobile app that let users broadcast video directly from the phone, using either a WiFi or 3G connection. Qik launched its own version in June.
Ustream says its app is better because it handles latency in a more efficient way. Ustream uses a low latency connection and optimization both client and server side to keep lag time to a minimum (3 seconds over a 3G connection according some experts), and, more importantly, to avoid that the delay doesn’t grow over time.
The Ustream app shows up the number of viewers, and supports both its integrated chat and Twitter chat. It also supports local recording, which let users to take higher quality video for upload later.
As we reported, Ustream also offers an app for the iPhone, but because of Apple’s restrictions, users cannot broadcast straight to the web.
A thin and energetic Steven Jobs, with his characteristics outfit of jeans and black turtleneck, reappeared this week in a Apple news conference, and among other things announced a new version of its iTunes (iTunes9), and a new line of iPod Nano music player with video camera and built-in mic, speaker, FM radio tuner and pedometer. It starts at $149.
Jobs compared the Nanos, which are the size of a five-pack of chewing gum, and Cisco's popular Flip video cameras, which are the size of a pack of playing cards. However, Flip records video in HD.
"This is perfect for emailing or posting on Facebook, YouTube or MobileMe", Apple says. It comes with fifteen video effects, such as film grain or motion blue. Sync is via computer. On a Mac, user can browser or edit video in iPhoto.
"All which means your indispensable music player is now your indispensable video camera," claim ads.
There are 8 or 16GB version, for 8 or 16 hours of video, at 640x480 pixels, at up to 30 FPS, H.264 VGA formatted with ACC audio. It means that it is not required a third-party conversion when sending it to YouTube, Facebook or MobileMe.
YouTube announced this week new tools for better measuring audience performance. This effort has been called YouTube Insight (video).
The new features are "Discovery over time", "Mobile views" (views coming from mobile phones or platforms that use their APIs), and "Views from subscribers".
In addition, YouTube rolled out a new social feature that recommends other YouTube users user may know.
Taking classes via live web video is a new phenomenon. A company like eduFire.com has raised, in a second round of capital, $1.3 million, for his educational marketplace.
This company has expanded beyond its initial focus on learning languages to offer classes in standarized test preparation and technology training. Now classes on how to use Facebook and Twitter are catching on with audiences.
Also there is an emergence of almost-real-time classes. For example, when Iran protesters were on the spot, classes on the modern history of Iran started popping up on the site.
Launched a year ago, eduFire has now 5,000 teachers and 30,000 students have signed up so far.
Students can take unlimited classes for $29 a month.
The main idea is that a visitor to eduFire community can either jump into a spontaneous session with a teacher that's already online, or schedule a lesson for a later date. Prices for each session are determined by the teacher. Cost is no less than $10 an hour, of which eduFire takes a 15 percent cut.
Anyone can sign up to be a teacher. The community rates them. Teachers can provide an intro video to help sell their services. The first 10 minutes are free. So far only one-to-one sessions are offered, but there are plans to roll out one-to-many sessions as well.
Apple has allowed for the first time an on demand music streaming program on iPhones and iPod Touches different that iTunes. And that is Real and its Rhapsody. This service lets exlore every style of music without paying per son.
The initial download will be free but new subscribers will have to pay $14.99 a month if they want to try for longer than seven days.
Rhapsody will allow users to queue up around 8 million songs, and create custom playlist that will stream to the device when the user receives 3G or WiFi signal.
Real has currently 750,000 subscribers of its unlimited song streaming service, who pay around $15 bucks a month.
Rhapsody app users will be able to listen any song. They will also be offered the ability to buy songs from the iTunes stores. Real will share in the revenue from such sales.
Important point is that songs will be streamed at 64 kilobits per second, which is lower quality than the 256 kbps for sons offered on iTunes. But using less bandwidth will help prevent interruptions.
Almost very American TV operator is working on launching an online distribution service for this fall. This initiative has adopted the name of ‘TV Everywhere”, that is, a kind of on-demand online service.
But also telcos, satellite providers, and Internet media businesses want to be in the game. AT&T has launched a new streaming platform called “AT&T Entertainment”, and YouTube this so called “YouTube Fall TV Preview”.
Many times these authentication required systems send users to others participating web services like Hulu or Fancast.
The Entertainment.att.net/tv site has a clean layout, with options to browse TV shows and movies by title, creator, and network/studio, and a rotating slide show of top content. This platform doesn’t host so far any videos on its own. It redirects traffic to Hulu, CBS, MTV, etc.
YouTube Will Offer Rental Movies
Apple’s iTunes, Amazon VOD, and other online rental services watch out! Now it comes Google/YouTube. This week it has been reported that YouTube is in talks with Hollywood studios Lions Gate, Sony and Warner Bros, about renting movies.
In some cases, some titles might be available on YouTube on the same day that they come out on DVD. Movies would be streamed at $3.99 like iTunes. Some experts speculate that some movies could be even streamed for free with advertising.
This partnership allows Google AdWords advertisers to create in-stream video ads that can be placed within video on YouTube or the Google Content Network. Users can create 15 or 30 second ads that can be distributed as pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll spots.
This technology automatically converts an advertiser’s AdWords copy into a customized video ad template, that can be tailored with photos, video and voiceover.
Businesses Video Presentation Platforms Get VC Attention
Venture capitalists are paying attention to the online design/presentation/storytelling space. It seems they are attracted by the fee-based revenue model, once the ad-based environment has blown up.
One latest sample is startup Faculte.com, who has raised $2.8 million in a first round of funding.
Faculte makes money by selling subscription licenses to its platform, and transactions fees.
Faculte’s web based “Broadcast Studio” platform is aimed at businesses that want to set up interactive video presentations.
The U.S. Open Live Online -With Picture-in-Picture Match Viewing
Lots of Americans spent working time watching the U.S. Open online. This year, USOpen.org launched a cool player that gave users the ability to switch between five different courts.
Plus, the media console included a PIP (picture-in-picture) watching, so people can keep an eye on two matches at once. Also, you had the possibility of commenting.
In terms of advertising, there was a pre-roll ad when launching the player, but they weren't cutting away to commercials in between games.
The U.S. Open coverage has been significantly better than NBC's Wimbledon online.
Last year more than 300,000 viewers tuned in online the watch Federer's final.
A Need-To-Know Google SEO Video
Google News' SEO tips is a must-watch video from Google. Anyone involved in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) at a news organization should see it.
It is said that Content is Key, but Keywords are keys to the kingdom.
Among the "need-to-know" things is that it is convenient to include transcripts and descriptions with video (since Google is looking for relevant keywords). To get the full scoop best thing is check out above featured video.
A thin and energetic Steven Jobs, with his characteristics outfit of jeans and black turtleneck, reappeared this week in a Apple news conference, and among other things announced a new version of its iTunes (iTunes9), and a new line of iPod Nano music player with video camera and built-in mic, speaker, FM radio tuner and pedometer. It starts at $149.
Jobs compared the Nanos, which are the size of a five-pack of chewing gum, and Cisco's popular Flip video cameras, which are the size of a pack of playing cards. However, Flip records video in HD.
"This is perfect for emailing or posting on Facebook, YouTube or MobileMe", Apple says. It comes with fifteen video effects, such as film grain or motion blue. Sync is via computer. On a Mac, user can browser or edit video in iPhoto.
"All which means your indispensable music player is now your indispensable video camera," claim ads.
There are 8 or 16GB version, for 8 or 16 hours of video, at 640x480 pixels, at up to 30 FPS, H.264 VGA formatted with ACC audio. It means that it is not required a third-party conversion when sending it to YouTube, Facebook or MobileMe.
YouTube announced this week new tools for better measuring audience performance. This effort has been called YouTube Insight (video).
The new features are "Discovery over time", "Mobile views" (views coming from mobile phones or platforms that use their APIs), and "Views from subscribers".
In addition, YouTube rolled out a new social feature that recommends other YouTube users user may know.
Taking Classes Via Live Web Video
Taking classes via live web video is a new phenomenon. A company like eduFire.com has raised, in a second round of capital, $1.3 million, for his educational marketplace.
This company has expanded beyond its initial focus on learning languages to offer classes in standarized test preparation and technology training. Now classes on how to use Facebook and Twitter are catching on with audiences.
Also there is an emergence of almost-real-time classes. For example, when Iran protesters were on the spot, classes on the modern history of Iran started popping up on the site.
Launched a year ago, eduFire has now 5,000 teachers and 30,000 students have signed up so far.
Students can take unlimited classes for $29 a month.
The main idea is that a visitor to eduFire community can either jump into a spontaneous session with a teacher that's already online, or schedule a lesson for a later date. Prices for each session are determined by the teacher. Cost is no less than $10 an hour, of which eduFire takes a 15 percent cut.
Anyone can sign up to be a teacher. The community rates them. Teachers can provide an intro video to help sell their services. The first 10 minutes are free. So far only one-to-one sessions are offered, but there are plans to roll out one-to-many sessions as well.
Almost very American TV operator is working on launching an online distribution service for this fall. This initiative has adopted the name of ‘TV Everywhere”, that is, a kind of on-demand online service.
But also telcos, satellite providers, and Internet media businesses want to be in the game. AT&T has launched a new streaming platform called “AT&T Entertainment”, and YouTube this so called “YouTube Fall TV Preview”.
Many times these authentication required systems send users to others participating web services like Hulu or Fancast.
The Entertainment.att.net/tv site has a clean layout, with options to browse TV shows and movies by title, creator, and network/studio, and a rotating slide show of top content. This platform doesn’t host so far any videos on its own. It redirects traffic to Hulu, CBS, MTV, etc.
YouTube Will Offer Rental Movies
Apple’s iTunes, Amazon VOD, and other online rental services watch out! Now it comes Google/YouTube. This week it has been reported that YouTube is in talks with Hollywood studios Lions Gate, Sony and Warner Bros, about renting movies.
In some cases, some titles might be available on YouTube on the same day that they come out on DVD. Movies would be streamed at $3.99 like iTunes. Some experts speculate that some movies could be even streamed for free with advertising.
This partnership allows Google AdWords advertisers to create in-stream video ads that can be placed within video on YouTube or the Google Content Network. Users can create 15 or 30 second ads that can be distributed as pre-roll, mid-roll, or post-roll spots.
This technology automatically converts an advertiser’s AdWords copy into a customized video ad template, that can be tailored with photos, video and voiceover.
Businesses Video Presentation Platforms Get VC Attention
Venture capitalists are paying attention to the online design/presentation/storytelling space. It seems they are attracted by the fee-based revenue model, once the ad-based environment has blown up.
One latest sample is startup Faculte.com, who has raised $2.8 million in a first round of funding.
Faculte makes money by selling subscription licenses to its platform, and transactions fees.
Faculte’s web based “Broadcast Studio” platform is aimed at businesses that want to set up interactive video presentations.
The U.S. Open Live Online -With Picture-in-Picture Match Viewing
Lots of Americans spent working time watching the U.S. Open online. This year, USOpen.org launched a cool player that gave users the ability to switch between five different courts.
Plus, the media console included a PIP (picture-in-picture) watching, so people can keep an eye on two matches at once. Also, you had the possibility of commenting.
In terms of advertising, there was a pre-roll ad when launching the player, but they weren't cutting away to commercials in between games.
The U.S. Open coverage has been significantly better than NBC's Wimbledon online.
Last year more than 300,000 viewers tuned in online the watch Federer's final.
A Need-To-Know Google SEO Video
Google News' SEO tips is a must-watch video from Google. Anyone involved in Search Engine Optimization (SEO) at a news organization should see it.
It is said that Content is Key, but Keywords are keys to the kingdom.
Among the "need-to-know" things is that it is convenient to include transcripts and descriptions with video (since Google is looking for relevant keywords). To get the full scoop best thing is check out above featured video.
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