I want Flash, boss needs convincing. Got links?

[CNO]

OK, so we're looking at doing some streaming video here at work, and having tried to work with Windows streaming media before, I'd really prefer to use the Flash Comm Server, especially given the great things Sorenson did with their codec.

My boss is open to the idea, and I've been collecting some data and samples (ie. the Use Cases White Paper), but I was wondering if you all might have some good info/links/etc. to help sell the idea in a corporate environment.

[Jonathan_B]

Hi.
You may want to check out our site.
We have a lot of Flash video available for viewing at:
http://www.wildform.com/demos/index.php
You can see Flash MX video that plays in the Flash 6 player as well as Flash 3-6 video that plays in any Flash player version 3-6.
There are also demos of our software, Flix, that you can check out and encode your own video to see if it's what you want.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me.
jb
http://www.wildform.com

[CNO]

Thanks, but if I wanted Spam I'd eat it from a can.

I'm looking for some relevant data about the Flash comm server versus other streaming servers - I will be delivering video in Flash MX/6. Any help (that's not an infomercial?)

[phreakdevil]

BUUUUUUUUUUURRNNN, ejm ejm.. . .
anyways. .im trying to get that info also, so far this is what i`ve got, dont know if it helps in anyway -my guess is you allready read it- http://www.macromedia.com/desdev/mx/.../odopod04.html
http://www.macromedia.com/desdev/mx/.../odopod05.html
http://www.macromedia.com/desdev/mx/.../odopod07.html

however havent found anything from it versus other streaming servers, i WILL be checking this thread out see if we can find something about that.
Let me know.
That was one of the coolest things i`ve seen here at FK jejeje BUUUUUUUUUURNNN jejeje, u r my heroe (at least for a second) CNO jeje.
Take care.

[Jonathan_B]

Hi.
Sorry. I thought you wanted to see examples of Flash video, not the communication server.
If you do a search through the Flash MX board you will find several posted links for people who are using the communication server. Just search for the server or "tin can" which is what it was called before release.
I think you can find one here:
http://www.flashkit.com/movies/Basic...7203/index.php

jb
http://www.wildform.com

[Wheels]

CNO, I haven't been able to find much info on the Communication server for use with video. I just attended a Flash seminar last week and saw an example of the server in use with live video. The two presenters did a little banter back and forth while we filled out our eval forms. It was pretty weak, but it worked. I guess that's why they did it while we had our heads down.

Sorenson is offering a hosting service that ties in tightly with their Flash MX Spark Pro suite. You can prepare .flv's and FTP directly to their Communication Server (not sure if it's Macro). It's cheap too, $20 a month.

Good luck, let us know what you find out. We really haven't covered much on that subject here, it would be nice to get some info.

BTW - I was born in Spam-town (Austin, MN), it's best when fried with brown sugar and a slice of pineapple. You really shouldn't eat from the can anyway, you might cut your lip - and that clear jelly they pack it in will run straight down your chin.

5G

[CNO]

Thanks Wheels. I'm sold on the capabilities of the Flash Communication Server, and will push for at least the developer edition for internal communications if it doesn't get approved on a wider scale.

In evaluating all sorts of different streaming server technologies (WMV, Quicktime, Real, FLV), Flash seems to have all of the strengths without many weaknesses (apart from player penetration, which I'm convinced will be around 50-60% for F6 by Christmas). I've been going through a bunch of white papers, both on Macromedia and Sorenson (and checking out Flashkit, natch), and I did check out the desdev center (thanks for the heads-up tho, phreak. A little over 4meg for 15 minutes of quality video/audio and slides is a great selling point).

The real difficult part will be selling people on the idea that we should migrate to a new technology when they typically associate video only with things like Windows Media. So I suppose what I'm looking for is some glowing articles in trade publications or similar documents which say that Flash video is ready for prime time. Especially since this is a first-generation release (though Sorenson has been in the codec business for ages).

I've also checked out the Sorenson hosting - it's a great deal for a site with smaller needs, and since they support all the video formats, they might be a likely choice if we were to outsource again.

[Frets]

The selling on the idea of flash over other formats is quite simple (in my humble opinion)
Windows media can not be played in browser on mac.
The windows media player has to be opened up.
also timeline scripting is more effective via flash with actionscripting then thru wmv/asf format.
As well wmv8 is not supported by either 9x kernal windows operating systems nor mac. Microsoft refuses to support 98 or ME for updates for the player.

As for quicktime the files size even with sorenson codec's is much larger then fv or other swf video formats.

swf streamed videos have greater clarity in image then real or windows for same file size and can be integrated seamlessly into a total swf environment.

SWF travels over http unlike other file types which can travel mms:// such as windows media servers meaning the port is already there.

Finally there is the no sales pop-up issue such as real or quicktime when a user tries to connect to a file.
Each time I use quicktime they want me to buy the full version.

[Wheels]

There's a real simple way to get rid of that QuickTime popup, buy it for $30 - if you are developing video, it will be the best $30 you ever spent.

There's actually a hack to get rid of that thing, you just have to change the date file in QT to 2050, or something along those lines. I don't recall exactly how to do it.

5G

[Frets]

I just don't use it unless it's a .mov I'm running.

I've got plenty of video editors that will port to .mov

As well as avi, real and wmv/asf

[CNO]

Thanks Frets, those are all great points.
I also wanted to share this article with you all:
http://www.serverwatch.com/stypes/se.../17083_1454371

An unbiased review of the Flash Commserver by Serverwatch - not entirely focused on video, but it might be good to point out that they gave it 4 1/2 stars despite being a new technology.