Home
>
Video Streaming
>
Independent Video in the Information Age

Independent Video in the Information Age

One of the primary obstacles for video content distribution over the Internet is the cost of specialized software required to encode video. Video encoding consists of converting video content into compressed digital data that can be easily distributed electronically.

There are several software development companies that sell closed source software for video encoding and content distribution. The cost and available features of the different software packages vary. Some software companies require additional royalty payments for use of their encoding software.

Thanks to the efforts of several software developers, there is free software that does not require royalty payments. This software can be used for both commercial and non commercial projects.

NullSoft Video

Justin Frankel, the creator of the Winamp media software player, also developed NullSoft video. This format was specifically designed for distributing video media through the Internet and is based on the Shoutcast Internet protocol.

Both open source and closed source video codecs are supported by NullSoft video. Codecs are software programs that allow media to be digitally encoded or decoded using a specific compression architecture. These video codecs include the VP3 open source and the VP6.1 / VP6.2 closed source. The MP3 and AAC audio codecs are supported as well. The VP3 video and MP3 audio codecs are included with the NullSoft video tools download.

A free set of tools for encoding and streaming video through the Internet using NullSoft video was also created. You can download the NullSoft video tools package direct from the NullSoft web site. (http://www.nullsoft.com/nsv). You can download a updated version of the NullSoft video tools here : (http://www.scvi.net/software.htm). This update includes the latest Lame MP3 audio encoder, software improvements and access to a updated version of the VP3 video codec.

NullSoft video content can be streamed through the Internet with the following free media server software :

Shoutcast DNAS (http://www.shoutcast.com/download) Icecast (http://www.icecast.org) Steamcast (http://www.steamcast.com)

(http://www.scvi.net) is the unofficial information resource website for NullSoft video. You can find many tutorials, guides and third party software tools to download here.

There are several media software players that can view the NullSoft video format. These include :

Winamp : (http://www.winamp.com)
Video Lan Client : (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/)
Mplayer : (http://www.mplayerhq.hu)
Xine : (http://xinehq.de)
X box : (http://www.xboxmediacenter.com)
NullSoft video can also be deployed with ActiveX components for web site use. This will allow people to watch NullSoft video without the need for installing additional player software.

Theora Video

The Theora video project is being developed as a complete open source video solution. The group behind this project is (http://www.xiph.org.) This format uses the Theora video codec (http://www.theora.org) and the Ogg Vorbis audio codec (http://www.vorbis.com).

The Theora video project uses the Theora video codec which is based upon the VP3 video codec developed by ON2. The Theora video codec offers core architectural improvements to provide better video encoding and playback performance.

Both live and pre recorded video can be distributed via the Internet using Theora video.

Theora video content can be streamed through the Internet with the following free media server software :

Icecast (http://www.icecast.org)
JRoar (http://www.jcraft.com/jroar)
Flumotion (http://www.flumotion.com/download)
Steamcast (http://www.steamcast.com)

There are several media software applications that can play the Theora video format. These include :

Video Lan Client : (http://www.videolan.org/vlc/)
Mplayer : (http://www.mplayerhq.hu)
Xine : (http://www.xinehq.de)
Xbox Media Center : (http://www.xboxmediacenter.com)
Real (Player) Alternative : (http://www.free-codecs-com/download/Real_alternative.htm)

Theora video can also be deployed with Java components for web site use. This will allow people to watch Theora video without the need for installing additional player software.

Tim Gnatek of the New York Times wrote a article entitled "Internet TV: Don't Touch That Mouse!".
(http://www.friends.ca/News/Friends_News/archives/articles07010402.asp)

This article highlights some of the problems associated with content delivery via the Internet. These problems include how independent broadcasters will be able to "keep up with viewer demand, given the cost of the servers and Internet connections required" in addition to "How do you get it (video content) from your garage to the Web?''

These barriers on the information superhighway are being removed by Internet video stations using alternative media distribution methods.

Some of these alternative methods include :

P2P video streaming

P2P video streaming does not require a centralized server architecture for content distribution. Each client that views the video content automatically relays it to the next person requesting access to the video. This greatly reduces the need for large amounts of bandwidth for content delivery.

Unlike P2P file trading, P2P video streaming can be used to broadcast live video content using several encoding formats and is supported on various computer operating systems.

Video podcasting

Video podcasting allows people to publish video content via a web host with no specialized server software. A specialized data client using Really Simple Syndication provides users access to the most current video content. The video content can be downloaded on a computer or hand held media device for viewing at a later time.

You can use both NullSoft video and Theora video for video podcasting.

Dave Childers is a freelance Internet broadcast consultant, writer and the webmaster of http://www.scvi.net, the Winamp TV / NullSoft video information website.

kitchen deep cleaning Mundelein ..

In The News:

Cybersecurity experts warn about a ShadowLeak vulnerability that weaponized ChatGPT's Deep Research agent to steal personal data from Gmail accounts through hidden commands.

Tesla's Full Self-Driving system faces federal investigation following 58 reports of crashes, with six vehicles running red lights before colliding with other cars.

The Fox News AI Newsletter brings you the latest developments on artificial intelligence, with news on OpenAI moving to soon allow erotica for adult users.

Eric Schmidt alerts that hackers can reverse-engineer AI models to bypass safety measures, citing examples like the jailbroken ChatGPT variant called DAN.

Cybercriminals exploit Microsoft Teams through impersonation, malicious links and fake profiles to gather intel and deliver ransomware to personal and work devices.

Google, Dior, Allianz and dozens of other companies lost sensitive customer data in Salesforce-related breaches affecting millions of records across multiple sectors.

Apple launches iOS 26 with new Preview app that combines document editing, PDF annotation and scanning features into one streamlined iPhone experience.

New AI road monitoring system uses sensor-embedded fabric to predict infrastructure problems, potentially reducing maintenance costs and traffic disruptions for cities.

Holiday charity scams target retirees through lookalike organization names, untraceable payment requests, and data broker information to steal donations.

The Federal Trade Commission says criminals are posing as IRS agents, law enforcement officers or other officials, often over the phone or online, to steal thousands of dollars at a time.

AI phishing scams now use voice cloning and deepfake technology to trick victims, but Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson reveals warning signs to watch for.

Inversion Space unveils Arc, a reusable reentry vehicle that can deliver up to 500 pounds of cargo from orbit to anywhere on Earth in under an hour.

Red flags like processing fees, urgent countdowns and requests for full Social Security numbers expose fraudulent settlement sites targeting consumers.

Comprehensive analysis of Google Maps, Waze and Apple Maps examines usability, routing accuracy, data handling and features across the top navigation platforms.

Expert analysis reveals whether wired Ethernet or wireless Wi-Fi connections are safer for home internet use, plus practical steps to secure your network from attackers.

Australian construction robot Charlotte uses sand, crushed brick and recycled glass to 3D print fireproof, floodproof homes with reduced carbon footprint.

Cybercriminals are using fake invitation emails to trick recipients into downloading malware and stealing personal information and data.

Flying drones could help retailers fight a 93% increase in theft rates as Flock Safety promotes airborne security systems to track suspects and deter crime.

The Fox News Artificial Intelligence Newsletter brings you the latest news on the emerging technology every Saturday, highlighting top stories.

Hacker group Radiant stole data from 8,000 children at Kido nursery chain, demanding ransom and directly contacting parents with intimidation tactics.

As 18 states implement bell-to-bell cell phone bans, creative students use Google Docs, iMessage on MacBooks and Post-It notes to stay connected in class.

A sheriff's captain says deputies often spend hours writing reports between calls, but Axon's AI program, Draft One, helps them save crucial time in the field.

Sora 2, OpenAI's new video-generation app, can create AI-generated videos based on a singular prompt. The results are both mind-blowing and terrifying.

iPhone and Android users can reduce Wi-Fi calling battery drainage through settings adjustments, background app limits and stronger Wi-Fi connections.

Work email scams are becoming harder to detect as criminals use AI and spoofed addresses to trick employees into opening malicious attachments and links.

Independent Video in the Information Age

Video Streaming