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May 01, 2006
Invisible Flash video
Invisible Flash video: The link goes to the American Broadcasting Company's new "watch TV in your browser" site (currently US only)... congrats to Schematic and Robert Reinhardt for their UI/Flash role in this... Mike Davidson evalutes the user experience. Why my title "invisible Flash video"? Because with all the recent attention on web video, YouTube, Google Video and many more, the underlying enabling technology isn't mentioned much. I'm coming to realize that the new Adobe's position in technology conversations may be something like this... we don't get into OS-vs-OS battles like Microsoft, Apple and Linux... don't get into "battle of the social services" like Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and more... Adobe just provides neutral enabling technology to the range of the world's devices. The early days of PostScript and fonts were very competitive, but now we print and read with about as much controversy as which brand of electricity you use. Macromedia Flash sparked much controversy over the past decade, but in today's video push the convergence on Flash passes without mention. I don't know whether this will hold true over all the technology Adobe will introduce, but it certainly seems like Flash is getting a nice, taken-for-granted invisibility in the recent video rush. I'm not sure I'm sold on this idea yet, though... you have thoughts in this area...?
Posted by JohnDowdell at May 1, 2006 02:46 PM
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Contrariliy, Slashdot plays the Flash angle high on the ABC story, although it's in context of Flash Player 8 not yet being available on any Linux.
Posted by: John Dowdell at May 1, 2006 03:26 PM
"Adobe just provides neutral enabling technology to the range of the world's devices"
I have an issue with this statement because while it may be true in this instance for Flash it certainly not the case elsewhere. For instance look at Adobe Reader; the hyperlinks inside pdf's open in IE instead of the default browser. [jd sez: I'll doublecheck if there's a browser request list in Adobe Reader... are you sure IE isn't set as your computer's default browser?]
Certainly a great piece of news for Flash but I wouldn't be promoting this statement as it is simply not the case. [jd sez: sorry, I didn't catch your name, have we met...?]
Posted by: IsK at May 1, 2006 04:28 PM
The Flash Player evolution is primarily based on the community of Flash Designer and Developer.
The "buzz" around Flash Video is overhelming. First it was intended to implement low hanging fruits functionality in the vector format player. But the new streamlined process to create, produce and distribute videos provided by Adobe Assets is indeed a cash cow.
The hype around Flash Video will give Adobe Breeze better support. In the long run, there will be substitute formats with DRM implementation. The flash video bandwagon plays its monopoly for now in the short video niche.
The title "Invisible Flash video" is an important notice. Today's websites provide three options to view video: Windows Media Player (OS), Apple Quicktime (OS) and Flash Video (Web). In the sense, that the web is naturally invisible: Flash Video is invisible providing instant access. But Flash can't be neutral according to the proprietary format belonging to Adobe. Google Video use Flash, but they use no Flash Media Server or any Assets of the Adobe Value Chain. The big video monetizer are waiting for the next Digital Right Management solution implemented in Windows Vista.
Until then, you can watch Flash Video on mobile phones, psp, pocketpc, cams, connected pc, car navigation device and music players.
Go well, Go far, Go Flash.
Posted by: David Urech at May 2, 2006 01:37 AM
Hey
so when will I be able to save these TV shows on my Adobe Apollo ABC Media Player Application to watch offline? :)
[jd sez: I'm not sure... I know there's a team on Apollo, working hard, but I haven't heard much public guidance out of the group yet. But those shows stream, don't they? ]
Posted by: nz at May 2, 2006 02:05 AM