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Currently, nice-looking HD video can be delivered at a
minimum of 1.25 Mbps at 960x540 (slightly smaller than native 720p)
resolution. It is, after all, web-based HD video, but the better the
available data rate, the better the resolution. There is no set standard
defining “HD video” on the web.
To meet the imminent demand—and reach the thousands of people using
applications built on Adobe Flash technology—one company now offers a
single-box encoder capable of streaming live, HD H.264 (MPEG-4) video to users
of Adobe Flash Media Streaming Server software. The Adobe software allows
content distributors to stream protected, high-quality video on the web and
to mobile devices. Using the Flash media format provides access to these HD
files for millions. (Adobe reports that 85 percent of its users have upgraded
to the new H.264 version of Flash since it was introduced last year.)
Inlet Technologies, based in Raleigh ,
NC , has added support for the
format in its Spinnaker line, according to director of product management
Andy Beach. The model 7000 is a real-time streaming encoder that works with
Adobe Flash Media Server 3 to deliver streaming content to Adobe Flash Player
users. Designed for streaming live feeds, the product is a result of
Inlet’s work with Adobe as a member of the Flash Media Solution
Providers Program. Major League Baseball uses the SD version of the Spinnaker
encoder for its online games feeds.
Accommodating a wide variety of users, Spinnaker takes in a single live feed
and outputs Flash H.264, VP6, VC-1 and Silverlight streams simultaneously,
allowing content providers to reach virtually any user on any device. The
encoder also supports multiple bit rates, allowing users to simultaneously
deliver content streams to up to four different devices, such as a set-top
box, computer and mobile device.
Users can also automate streaming for regularly scheduled events or remotely
schedule streams in advance for special live events. In addition, the box
features signal monitoring capabilities, providing automatic alerts to
problems with picture, audio and more. Alerts are displayed on the Spinnaker
device and can be emailed to remote users.
At $18,000 for HD streaming capability, the technology does not come cheap,
but it looks to be popular with sports broadcasters, corporate video
departments, government agencies and small-to-medium-sized media production
companies.
For more information, visit www.inlethd.com/encoding/20/18/Spinnaker/.
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