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Posts with tag HD

Filed under: Internet, Video, Web services

DailyMotion goes HD

DailyMotion HD
DailyMotion has joined the ranks of online video sites offering high definition content. Any time a user uploads HD content, DailyMotion will automatically encode to stream as a 720p resolution video.

You'll need a computer with a fast processor and a fast internet connection to watch HD videos on DailyMotion. That's not particularly surprising, but we found that DailyMotion's HD videos were much choppier than HD content from competing services like Vimeo and Stage6.

DailyMotion has also launched an updated version of its video player with support for HD and standard definition video, realtime seeking, and keyboard shortcuts.

[via DailyMotion Blog]

Filed under: Fun, Internet, Utilities, Video, Open Source, Social Software, Podcasts

Miro gets refreshed to version 1.1, Bit Torrent dramatically improved

Miro
The open source, cross-platform video platform, Miro, recently released version 1.1. The new update offers two main improvements. First, Miro has significantly improved BitTorrent performance by giving the user more control and settings for BitTorrent downloads. Miro's support of BitTorrent has always set itself apart from other media players with it's BitTorrent support and we're glad to see them enhancing this important feature.

Second, Miro 1.1 has made it easier to find the search results you're looking for by instituting a combined search across all 5 of their search engines. Users who want to only search the engines one at a time can still do so by choosing the engines they're most interested in seeing results from.

If you're not a user of Miro yet, we encourage you to take a look its way. Miro is a media viewing software package that allows you to view almost any video file format, search for and view YouTube videos, and access video podcasts via BitTorrent. Additionally, Miro is an open source video platform that lacks any DRM and allows unrestricted viewing of their materials. Also, they Miro takes pride in it's selection of HD content.

[via Miro's blog]

Filed under: Internet, Video, Adobe

Adobe releases Flash Player with H.264 support

Hulu HD
Adobe has launched a much anticipated update to its Flash video player. Adobe Flash Player 9.0.115.0 includes support for the H.264 codec. The upshot is that web publishers can easily embed HD videos on their site.

One of the first web sites to do that is Hulu, NBC and News Corp's new online video site. Right now there's not much in Hulu's HD gallery. But if watching Alivin & The Chimpunks trailers in 1280 x 720 resolution is your thing, you're all set.

You'll need to download the updated Flash Player in order to watch HD content. But the upgrade is a pretty painless process. Adobe isn't the first company to offer high resolution streaming video. But considering how widely adopted the Flash format is, this is a major development. Does this mean we'll be seeing full high-def videos on YouTube anytime soon? No. But YouTube does at least plan to offer videos with higher bitrates soon.

Filed under: Internet, Video, Web services

Vimeo launches HD streaming video player

Vimeo HD
Online video site Vimeo has just launched a new "high definition" video player. Essentially, if you upload a video with a 1280x720 (also known as 720p) resolution, Vimeo will transcode that video and play it back at its native resolution.

Now, this doesn't mean you're seeing the same video quality you'd get from an HDTV signal or a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD disc. Vimeo's still compressing the heck out of your video in order to stream it across the internet. But the end result is a video that plays back at a much higher bitrate than anything you'll find on YouTube.

You can definitely tell the difference between Vimeo's HD videos and their standard definition videos. While you're watching any high definition video, you can click a button to turn HD off and you'll get a lower-resolution version. We'd have included an HD video in this post, but right now there's no way to embed an HD quality video, so you'll just have to check out Vimeo's HD site and browse through the small collection of user-submitted videos.

[via Kottke]

Filed under: Photo, Windows, Macintosh, Microsoft

JPEG 'XR': courtesy of Microsoft.

Earlier in the year, on the Windows Media HD photo format. According to Computer Buyer UK, the JPEG group is now working on a successor to the venerable JPEG image format - and making extensive use of Microsoft's HD Photo standard within the format.

According to the site, "JPEG says it has received assurances from Microsoft that it will make patents necessary for implementation available free-of charge" - a surprising move, but definitely a welcome one, given the huge "proprietary standard" reservations people generally had toward HD Photo not too long ago. Don't expect to see this new format any time soon, however: it could be the better part of 18 months before the standard is finalised.

Filed under: Video

ABC announces HD online plans, bends meaning of 'high definition'

In an industry where the list of HD formats and sizes has already expanded beyond the arguable boundaries of sensibility, Multichannel News has dug up some interesting details on how ABC will be flexing this format just a little more with a new HD online venture. With full episodes of some shows set to debut online in July, ABC will be bending the rules of HD by providing their shows at 1280 x 720 (the minimum dimensions to warrant the HD label) and 24 frames per second - but compressed between 850 Kbps and 2 Mbps. As Multichannel News points out, the HD you get at home via cable and satellite providers is typically compressed at 12-19 Mbps in MPEG-2, with the new and more efficient MPEG-4 standard (which uses the H.264 codec) requiring at least 5 Mbps.

Unless there is some serious other video voodoo going on here, compressing shows to files sizes that are less than half the required specs could backfire on ABC's first foray into online HD content. There's a fine line between doing things efficiently and doing things right, and when it comes to providing video content to consumers who are specifically looking for high quality content, quality is one of the few things you can't sacrifice. Subaru might as well introduce a lineup of "rally-tuned" sports cars but check the all-wheel drive at the factory in the name of shaving budget costs; it just isn't right.

Filed under: Business, Design, Developer, Utilities, Video

Microsoft announces Silverlight, a Flash competitor

microsoft silverlightMicrosoft Silverlight, in Microsoft's wording, is a next-generation, cross-platform, cross-browser web client runtime. In other words, a Flash competitor.

This is a runtime that will allow the playback of files using various forms of interactivity on both PC and Mac platforms. Silverlight will essentially deliver rich interactive applications for the web that incorporate video, animation, and interactivity. It also has the ability to run in fullscreen HD video mode while supporting 720p video, and through mobile devices.

Will this be a flash killer? Only time will tell, but Microsoft sure looks like they are pushing the whole rich and compelling web experience angle. There are more details as to Silverlights capabilities in an MSDN blog post. No word as to whether Microsoft will add support for Linux as of yet.

Check out the competition which also just launched this past weekend, Adobe Media Player, a standalone flash video player.

Filed under: Audio, Fun, Video, Microsoft

Microsoft's HD video clip library

Microsoft HD clips
Microsoft has a collection of HD video clips, many in both 720p and 1080p to showcase their WMV 9 format and why it is better. I know what you're thinking, "Microsoft does HD?" I can hear the jokes now. Anyway, there are several clips for you to download to play on your PC, if you feel so inclined. Most are hefty downloads, which of course makes me smile. These clips also serve an audio purpose, and because they are HD video, the audio is also very good, so they make a great way to test out that new surround sound system you just got for your PC as well. Either way, if you are looking for a conversation starter for New Year's or just something to wow the kids, this might be a fun idea to try. There's a good chance these videos are something they haven't seen. You'll also need to crack out that new computer you just got too, cause these videos require a bit of muscle to run the videos, but wait, what am I saying, your machine is probably armed to the hilt with HD-everything and like 18GB of RAM right? Oh well.

Filed under: Audio, Photo, Utilities, Video, News, Windows, Podcasting

Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 released

Roxio Easy Media Creator 9Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 released! The new version includes support to burn up to 50GB onto a disc, even on Blu-Ray discs. Roxio Easy Media Creator 9 now supports media for iPod, PSP, cell phones, and Windows Media compatible devices. Not clear whether this means you can save media to the correct format, or if Roxio includes a way to transfer the media as well. Secure 128-bit encryption, burning and creating an ISO at the same time, and mounting virtual CD files are now included as well. HD video support and even 16:9 DVD creation features round out version 9.

[Via eHomeUpdate]

Filed under: Video, News, Windows, Microsoft

Clarification: HD has been stripped from all versions of Vista

Clarification: 32-bit Vista can play HD - just not out of the boxYesterday, Jordan blogged an announcement from Microsoft's Steve Riley that Vista users will need to have 64-bit superpowers if they want the ability to play HD video. It turns out this isn't entirely true, as Engadget is reporting that Microsoft has clarified the complication: 32-bit versions of Vista can play HD - but not without help from third party folk like CyberLink and InterVideo. The blame game still places the ball in the big media studios' court, as it is they who dictated that HD support be stripped out of Media Player 11 across the board, not simply one version of Vista or another.

While the blame and complications are shifting around, I agree with Jordan's statement that the victims still remain the same: PC users, 32-bit and otherwise. Engadget is holding out that someone's going to cave before Vista ships, but I'm not so sure. Time will certainly tell, but for now it seems like Microsoft has had to strip yet another feature from Vista's drawing board.

Featured Time Waster

Forumwarz - a potentially offensive time waster

I pwn UAfter spending the better part of an hour on Forumwarz I still can't decide if it's just sick or if it's kind of fun. It's a bit like a car wreck on the highway. I know I shouldn't be looking but I can't quite turn away.

It's sick, it's twisted, it's the internet on it's worst level and darn it, it's kind of fun. At least for a little while.

Forumwarz is a parody role-playing game that takes place on the internet - or at least the Forumwarz version of it. Your goal is to complete missions that are given to you through a mock up of GoogleTalk called Sentrillion.

Your first "friend" is ShallowEsophagus who begins giving you missions to pwn various forums by being a troll. Depending on the character type you are assigned at start up, you have tools like drooling on the keyboard or bashing your head on the keyboard that you can use to destroy forum threads and eventually, pwn a forum.

Future missions involve buying illegal software from the Russians, pwning more difficult forums and other internet oddness.

Completing missions gives you cash, called Flezz in game, and items that you can pawn or use in other missions. The game is NOT for those easily offended. It's crass, coarse and there are frequent f-bombs in the fake chat sessions.

This is also a game for a more mature audience as it requires you to shop at the Drugs R Fun store to get various concoctions to improve your playing, engage in certain cyber activities to get more Flezz and just generally use a more adult perspective.

If you can get past that, here are the more enjoyable and time-wasting aspects.

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