ACCELERATING ACCESSIBILITY
As I discussed in last month's column ("New Camera ‘Gadgets' Network and Edit." Videography, December 1999), there's a divergence of specialized hardware that is enabling new kinds of video on the web from all kinds of sources. A new example is a low cost camcorder from Sharp, the Inet-Viewcam which is being integrated into a service offering from PopCast.com (see below).

Of course, DV and Firewire/iLink/IEEE1394 ports are already having a huge impact by providing a high-quality, low-cost "path" from camera to desktop. Now, easier to use DV editing and compression systems are also facilitating the video Web. Most of you are already aware of the leadership example that Apple has set with its new iMac DV models and Apple's extremely easy to use iMovie software (see David Leathers' "iCame, iSaw, iMovie," Videography, November, 1999).

At the Streaming Media West show, I was also impressed with Pinnacle's Studio DV. This PC-PCI capture card also includes software that features a very simple, entry-level software interface. But this package also includes integrated RealPlayer compression for posting clips to the web. In addition, Studio DV is apparently the only product in its class to offer a DV "preview resolution" that lets you do a low-resolution "rough cut" edit and then to do a re-capture of only the footage you need for your final production. As most professionals know, this helps to optimize the use of precious hard drive space. I was astounded to see this feature in a capture card, editing software, and web compression package that sells for less than $200!

And there's more easy to use software coming. Mr. Gates announced a new low-end digital video product of his own, Windows Moviemaker which will be bundled free (of course) in the next consumer version of the Windows OS (currently known as "Windows Millennium") which is due out sometime this year.

WORKIN' THE VIDEO WORKFLOW
On a more professional level, Media 100 is leveraging its acquisition of Terran Interactive by incorporating Media Cleaner Pro into some of its products. As a result, producers can do professional (i.e. tweaked and optimized) compression for the Web via an application-linked export command that is built into the latest Media 100 software.

Even more dramatic is the way that Media 100 seems to be becoming more and more of an Internet company. They are now offering free software products via the web and they are also starting to sell directly to customers.

Media Cleaner EZ for Windows Media is now offered free on the Microsoft web site including a Mac version of Media Cleaner EZ of Windows Media. In fact, Terran claims that the various forms of Media Cleaner (from "EZ" to "Pro" to the new hardware accelerated "Power Suite" versions) are the only Macintosh applications capable of compressing Windows Media content. Note that the free versions of EZ are Windows Media only. The more professional versions of Media Cleaner support a wide selection of Real, QuickTime and Microsoft media file types and codecs.

"iFinish," the newly released versions of Media 100's "Finish" NT product line, now start at only $2,995 and include various versions of Media Cleaner depending on the version of iFinish. iFinish also includes type effects via a nifty CG animation tool called "Title Motion" that's based on the Enscriber software.

And, in another very Internet-like development, Media 100 has announced that it will be following in the footsteps of e-commerce hardware vendors like Dell, Gateway and Apple by breaking its exclusive dependence on traditional resellers. Media 100 will now be selling complete NLE systems (as well as other products) itself, directly to consumers, via its Web site. These offerings include turnkey Compaq-based iFinish systems called PowerGrade.

ALL-IN-ONE, ONE FOR ALL
With the addition of Media Cleaner Pro products, Media 100's evolution toward "turn-key workflow" for Internet video underscores another important video Web trend. It seems that every hardware, software and service company is somehow moving their offering toward "full service," "turn-key" services or "all-in-one" products.

On the hardware side, a good example of this approach is Pinnacle's new StreamGenie, a portable live webcasting system. This compact "luggable" is a single-unit that incorporates one or two PIII 600MHz CPU's, a 15-inch monitor, professional multi-camera inputs (6 switchable inputs -- 3 composite, 3 S-Video -- with 2 "live" at any given time for mixing) and pretty much everything else you would need for live webcast production. The units, which start at about $17,000, provide compression on the fly; but they do not include a streaming video server. Pinnacle says that these new field production boxes will be available in the Spring. The target market is professional live webcast producers.

Another product in this category, but more studio-oriented, is the Play Globecaster which is roughly the Internet version of Play's Trinity production system. However, as a result of a new initiative announced at the Streaming Media West show, this piece of Play Inc.'s hardware has now been completely assimilated into an innovative new turn-key Internet video business model targeted to producers. In fact, in a development that I think few professionals would have anticipated the Globecaster "all-in-one" webcasting video production system is no longer for sale.

Rather, Play Inc. has spun-off the Play Streaming Media Group (PSMG) as a separate company, and Play has turned the Globecaster into a "value-add" that is just one small part of the PSMG service offering. PSMG is an "Affiliate Program" that "seeks to empower thousands of new content producers" by offering not only Play hardware, but also services such as content aggregation (partially through its PlayTV.com web site, among others), distribution, syndication, ad sales, e-commerce and more. Play Inc.'s marketing and public relations director, Ben Yoder told me, "In the streaming world, just selling boxes is not enough."

Another example of expanded service offerings is Encoding.com, which grew from 27 to 170 employees within the last year. Among other new offerings, this streaming industry leader has acquired Alive.com, an easy-to-use webcast presentation software and service provider, while also developing strategic relationships for streaming hosting services so that they too can provide "turn-key solutions." Of course, encoding.com was the first to provide web-based encoding services via its "mediaUpgrade.com." (See "New Service Shortcuts for Putting Video Online," Videography, March, 1999)

On a more modest level, "personal webcasting" services have also emerged. These "application service providers" (ASPs) combine web-based encoding with hosting in a turnkey package. Popcast.com claims that "Personal webcasting is now a mouse click away" because of its streamlined package of encoding, content management, ad delivery and playback services.

In another variation of bundling services with hardware, "YourVideoontheWeb.com," a new division of ViewCast.com, offers the entry-level of its service free to purchasers of its $99 Osprey-50 PCI or USB video capture cards. I sat down at their booth at the Streaming Media show and delivered a very brief on-camera video report that appeared on their web site via an embedded RealPlayer in a matter of seconds. The company promised that my report would be featured on the YourVideoontheWeb.com home page by the time you read this. I hope to see you (and myself) there. :)

A FINDING FRENZY
Another major trend is Web sites that help people find the video they want amongst the thousands of clips on the web. These video "portals" have become valuable, necessary and a competitive strategy for streaming vendors. For example, Real.com is now pushing content via a revamped web site, as part of its new RealPlayer7 as well as with the RealPlayer's new "Take 5" content highlight feature.

Mr. Gates is jumping on that bandwagon too with the new "Windowsmedia.com" broadband portal; and he also said that the next version of the Windows Media Player would have "programmable featured content buttons." (Remember the Windows Channels? Sort of like the new QuickTime Player's buttons?) And, as you may know or might certainly expect, Excite @Home, Yahoo Broadcast and others are now offering their own broadband video directories as well.

More innovative is ChannelSeek, an independent "convergence guide" which claims to have participation from 65% of the home-based broadband connection providers including many of the cable modem companies (i.e. RoadRunner, Media One, etc.). ChannelSeek offers an attractive and highly interactive "3rd generation" Flash-based interface, and this company also recognizes the value of old-fashioned print media. In addition to their web site, they also produce a cable bill insert-sized version on paper (remember paper?). The ChannelSeek web site also claims to provide the only video cross-search engine (to date) that will find both on-demand as well as live content as the result of a single search request.

MORE TO COME
And, of course, I haven't even covered distance learning, training-on-demand, the vast variety of new content forms, new kinds of video interactivity, community-building (a.k.a. live video chat) and so much more. Stay tuned for future Video Web columns.

For now, suffice it to say that the world of streaming media is growing faster than most of us can imagine, while it is still changing in ways that no one can really anticipate. For me, these rapidly morphing developments not only never cease to amaze, but they inspire the hope that online video communications will find a new mode of relevancy in the Millennium ahead.

As usual, let me recommend to any video producer (or to any other creative professional for that matter) who has read this far, it's in your own best self-interest to get involved, to stay involved, and to stay tuned. The world of webcasting is just starting to get ready for second gear.

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