February 3rd, 2008
I’ve now had quite a bit of time to explore the abilities of AppleTV. There are many things I like and, of course, some quirks that I think could be improved.
For those who haven’t read any of my previous posts or been watching the news, AppleTV is a small box that sits next to any widescreen television in the same way that you hook up your DVD player or cable box.
The main difference is that there is no slot for DVDs. There is no cable in connector. The only way to watch content is from a hard drive either inside the device or on another computer on your home network. It hooks up to your iTunes library and will play all your content in your library.
Want to watch a movie or TV show that you purchased from iTunes? You simply use the very simple remove and pick the show or movie you want to watch and click play. The show then streams from your main computer onto your television.
What makes this device different from a cable box or DVD player is that it has the ability to play movies in HD. And this is the big one: it has the ability to play podcasts.
As I’ve written before, podcasts are truly a wonderful thing for independent content creators. We are now in an age where anyone can record a show, edit it and broadcast it to the world.
The problem up until now was that content would be seen on a small iPod screen or computer screen. Now, these video podcasts are side by side with content from the big three networks and all the cable networks. Pretty big change!
So how well does the AppleTV work?
Hooking it up was a breeze. You simply plug in either an HDMI or Component video cable to your tv. It looks for any iTunes libraries on your home network and asks to which one (if you have more than one) you want to connect. From there, you can watch YouTube, any podcasts and any movies/tv shows on your main computer.
The quality varies depending on the content you are watching. At this moment, the podcasts are shining. Many podcasts are being filmed in High Definition (for example, MacBreak and The Washington Post). They are downloaded to the main computer automatically and are ready for you to watch at any time.
The HD content looks spectacular on our set. I have an older Sony HD set that is capable of 1080i. The AppleTV can connect to a 1080i set, but is only capable of playing 720p at 24 frames per second.
While this seems like a black eye on the AppleTV, it isn’t too much of a difference. Most people cannot tell a difference between 1080i and 720p unless the screen is larger than 60 inches and they are closer than 10 feet. I’m safe. I’ve got a 42″ screen and sit back pretty far.
Movies look great also. There is an optical digital audio cable in the back of the Apple TV to hook it into your existing sound system. Sound is very good. Not all of the movies on iTunes are surround (I’ll have to look up details on this).
In the end, the AppleTV provides the average person the ability to stream their content to the world instantly.
So we can go out and create films, episodic shows, documentaries and much more. And this can be delivered in HD for free to the world. This sidestep of Blu-ray and HD-DVD is a great boost to the independent producer. Blu-ray and HD-DVD are, technically, a higher resolution, but Apple TV offers something today that is infinitely cheaper and faster for most people to implement.
Categories: Distribution, Reviews, Technology |
Tags: digital distribution, podcast | No Comments
December 21st, 2007
&&As I wrote in my previous entry, there is a huge shift in how video is published. During the past several months, I have been using my iPhone more and more to watch videos. This is true for video podcasts, news, television shows and much more.
Reels in Motion has been producing these types of videos for clients for quite some time and we’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. Here are some things we’d like to share:
Keep it Short
Our audio-only podcasts have been averaging around one hour. This is a happy medium for several reasons. However, when producing content that will be delivered as video, the best time we’ve found is around 3 to 5 minutes. And even 5 minutes is pushing it a bit too long.
People (myself included) can listen to longer form audio only forms while driving, jogging, biking, etc. These activities lend themselves to longer blocks of time. This is why talk radio and long form radio shows like NPR work.
Video is a different beast. We watch video in short pauses in our day. While waiting in lines, quick breaks at lunch at work, etc. This is why most popular YouTube videos are in this shorter time frame. Anything longer takes much more commitment of time and we begin to ask, “is this video worth my time?” At three minutes long, we don’t think about it. We watch it.
So when you decide to make a video, keep the show to around 3 minutes.
Flash Me!
I entirely Mac based. I edit all my videos in Final Cut Studio and everything is in the Quicktime format. It is a great format. However, not everyone has the H.264 “flavor” of Quicktime on their machine. They can download it for free, but that’s an extra step.
So I post my videos as Flash videos so anyone can watch them on the website. However, I also advocate encoding the videos as H.264 Quicktime files. These files end in .m4v and can be played on portable players like iPods and iPhones.
And the bonus? With Flash’s newest player (version 9), you can play H.264 Quicktime files INSIDE a Flash player. What does this mean?
From a web visitor’s point of view, they appear to be watching a Flash video. 99% of all machines will play it. On the backend, you’ve got one Quicktime file (H.264) that can be fed into that Flash video and also be fed into an RSS feed for iTunes, iPhones and other players.
So you get twice the market penetration. You are now catering to the PC world and the Mac world.
Conclusion
These are just a few suggestions from what we have learned when producing video for the Internet. Broadcasting video online can be tricky to do correctly.
We’ll be posting more tips in this series as well as launching our new show, “Angie’s Phalangies” in the coming weeks. Stay tuned! In the meantime, please have a very Merry Christmas!
Scott
Categories: Distribution, Technology, Tutorials |
Tags: flash, h.264, internet video, podcast, tutorial, video production | No Comments
September 6th, 2007
It is a very hot topic this week. So what about this sudden price cut to the iPhone and introduction of the iPod touch? How does this fit into the larger picture?
At Reels in Motion, we’ve been watching a trend in increasing video podcasts, online video and other new methods of distribution. And we should know: Reels in Motion has been producing many shows for quite some time. And we’re getting busier and busier in this arena.
Companies Are Talking in a New Voice
Companies have been finding new methods to talk with their customers and digital distribution has become the answer. This isn’t just uploading their 30-second spots as an online video. No. We’re able to communicate new ideas and create more innovative messages with digital distribution.
Without the constraints of traditional media, we can now be more creative and tell more involved stories.
For example, imagine a local restaurant who wants to stand out from the competition. Now, they can create a show that is broadcast bi-weekly. Each show teaches about how to make a standard dish more appealing. These shows range from 5 minutes to 30 minutes for the ambitious.
Another example: hardware stores that found it difficult to compete with national chains can become local celebrities in their own shows teaching home repair or home improvements each week. Customers (and fans) can subscribe to the shows and learn at their convenience.
Digital Distribution Growth
At Reels in Motion, we’ve become quite efficient at creating campaigns, show designs and hosting options for companies deciding to innovate. After all, this is where the industry is heading, so we decided to get the kinks worked so you don’t have to.
For example, we have been shooting, editing, adding visual effects and posting shows for multiple programs (including our own, by the way .. at Reels in Motion .tv) for companies, organizations and individuals.
This demand has been growing steadily for awhile. And with the recent price drop with the iPhone, we’re going to see many more people getting their content on a portable device. The companies we are working with producing these shows have already told us about how many comments they’ve been receiving from their customers. They are no longer just a “store.”
They are becoming local celebrities and building a very special rapport with their audience and customers. And that is the secret.
That is why we’ll see this trend continue and why Reels in Motion has decided to set up a pipeline to handle this demand and prepare for the growth in Q1 and Q2 of 2008. Join us for the ride!
Categories: Uncategorized |
Tags: digital distribution, iphone, podcast | No Comments
August 1st, 2007
I’d just like to say thank YOU for helping to make our Reels in Motion broadcast site a success (over at ReelsinMotion.tv).
We’ve been keeping track of the subscriptions and they have been growing steadily ever since our launch of the site.
Why is this important, though?
A company can react to what is going on in today’s world or a company can go where few others are going and be there as others catch up. It is similar to Wayne Gretzy’s quote:
“I skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.”
At Reels in Motion, we’ve built that infrastructure for the new media and are excited to offer it to you. What is involved with this new infrastructure at the Reels “central command”?
Over the course of the next few days, we’ll be posting several articles about this and how you can also move ahead to where “the puck is going to be.”
We’ll see you there!
Scott
Categories: Uncategorized |
Tags: podcast, reels in motion, video production | No Comments
June 16th, 2007
This evening I decided to write a widget for all you Mac users! For anyone using OS X, you can download the Magic Lantern Podcast Widget to keep up to date with the shows.
You’ll be able to listen to any of the 10 most recent episodes, read a brief show summary and subscribe (which I KNOW you don’t need to do since you are already! *grin*
And you can do all this from Dashboard, without opening iTunes. It isn’t a revolutionary app, but for 1 hour of work, it isn’t too shabby! Plus you can’t beat the price… it’s free!
Download Magic Lantern Widget for Mac OS X
Enjoy!
Scott
Categories: Uncategorized |
Tags: mac, magic lantern, podcast, widget | No Comments
May 30th, 2007
Just announced a few hours ago:
YouTube Coming th Apple TV
http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2007/05/30appletv.html
Well gang, this is exciting news and is consistant with the direction of web video that we have been following and featuring here on the Reels in Motion site.
What is the big deal? Up until now, we all had to sit at our little computer monitors (even 17″ and 21″ monitors are tiny compared to our big HD flatpanel screens. 
Now, with Apple TV being able to stream YouTube videos, we can enjoy these videos on our televisions. Just like anything in iTunes will be able to play on our Apple TVs.
One reason this is BIG news is that it takes “internet video” from something cheap to something that is watched on the same device that we watch network television and our blockbuster movies. These shows are now “bigger” and respected much more.
Your video podcast is now one menu away from “Lost” or “24.” How’s that for legitimate. This isn’t to say the videos we watch from YouTube are going to be any better than they are now. No.
With this move, it will stress how easy it is for anyone to be a producer. We are seeing a multitude of podcasts (audio and video) that are very high quality and some are even shot in better resolution than the stuff you can buy from Apple, plus these podcasts are FREE!
Little by little, the mainstream media is being sidestepped. There are already dozens of broadcast quality television shows available as a podcast only. Now, they download to my Apple TV and I can watch them when I want, and this is the key.
The TV Shows I Want, When I Want
Remember the days when if you wanted to be on TV you had to either get a show produced, pitch it through one of the networks (or on cable) or else just purchase the airtime? And what were the chances your target audience would be watching at that time?
With the increase in these podcasts and the news from Apple, we will see the shift in the next three to four years of people watching the shows that they want, whenever they want. Since podcasts downloaded to Apple TV or iPods can be watched anytime, not just during their “broadcast” time, and since we’ll have the power to watch specialized shows that interest us, devices like Apple TV are going to become very popular.
Where is it headed?
This also means that you will be able to reach your customers and your clients much faster and much cheaper than you can now. You can produce an audio or video podcast about topics in your area of expertise, or just fun shows. You’ll become a regular guest in their house as they watch or listen to your show each week.
Own a restaurant, produce a show about interesting meals. Own an auto shop? How about a weekly Q&A about car questions. There’s already a national radio show on NPR called “Car Talk” that I listen to reguarly. You’re a magician? Produce a weekly or bi-weekly magic show that features a “trick of the week.”
Be creative and start producing something that your clients would find interesting, valuable, entertaining or all of the above.
And when they get hungry, they will stop by your restaurant. When they have a problem with their car, they’ll stop by your auto shop. When they are having an event that needs entertainment, they’ll hire you.
The ground is shifting as you read this. The question is, will you have the foundation ready or will you still be looking for a map after the city is built?
To get an idea of what can be done, visit our “netcasting” site: Reels in Motion .tv or visit us on iTunes and subscribe to our podcast.
Categories: Distribution |
Tags: internet video, podcast, podcasting, trends | No Comments
May 27th, 2007
The “New Media” is digital media. It is podcasting. It is video production and web video. It is exciting.
One of our podcasts, The Magic Lantern can be found at Reels in Motion .tv, and is a perfect example of the direction media has shifted.
We have buit up quite a pipeline for producing podcasts (both audio and web video) becuase of this demand. What sort of things have we learned? I’ll try and cover a few:
Video Production Isn’t Just Television Anymore
Constantly, we are producing high definition video for delivery on the web. Companies are realizing the power of being able to get something shot and then distributing their High Definition video to a worldwide audience later that day.
The show is shot in high definition, edited on-site using a Macbook Pro (editing High Definition video on a laptop has become much more common), uploaded to the server and is broadcast to the world instantly.
I’ll add more shortly. In the meantime, just remember that the ground is shifting under our feet. Will you be ready or will you be left behind?
In the coming days, I’ll descibe in more detail how you can use this new media to grow your business and reach clients faster, cheaper and further away than ever before.
Until then!
Scott
Categories: Uncategorized |
Tags: new media, podcast, podcasting, video production | No Comments
May 8th, 2007
Yikes! I’ve updated quite a bit on the two sites.
For those of you who may not know, I’ve launched ReelsinMotion.tv to serve as the “broadcasting” site for Reels in Motion. The main show is a podcast called The Magic Lantern. You can listen to the show at ReelsinMotion.tv and you can also subscribe on that site or on iTunes.
Also, I’ve launched a forum at forums.ReelsinMotion.tv for discussion on the various shows as well as other, related topics, including some extras that we are going to add. So head on over there and join in the conversation!
See you there!
Scott
Categories: Uncategorized |
Tags: forum, podcast, reels in motion | No Comments
December 6th, 2006
For everyone checking in on The Magic Lantern, I’ve just published show 005 today. This interview includes magician Clint Riedel talking about Howard Thurston, the stage illusionist from the early 1900’s. It’s a great interview, which you can check out here:
http://magiclanternblog.blogspot.com/
If you have any ideas for future episodes, please email me and we’ll see how we can include it into the Lantern’s podast. In the meantime, enjoy the show!
Warm regards,
Scott
Categories: Uncategorized |
Tags: lantern, magic, podcast, thurston | No Comments
