Laws on web broadcasting?

Streaming Concercens

Updated May 1, 2012

Web broadcasting and web streaming are new technologies allowing for you to gain access to your favorite TV shows from you computer, internet TV, and mobile phones. I have spoken recently in my blog about all the perks that come along with using these devices. It gives you the opportunity to take entertainment outside of your home.

In recent news a new company called Aereo says they have made an antenna small enough to be placed on your finger. Allowing you to get channels on the go, in your home, and even record it to a DVR. Aereo says the antenna can be placed on a tiny interface on any device you want, without cable cords or cable boxes. Sounds like the perfect package for only 12 dollar a month after a free trial right?

Wait on second! Just after two weeks after its launch. Two federal lawsuits were filed on Aereo for violating copyright laws and seeking to shut it down before any profit is given to the company this according to wired

Dont worry yet.

Now do not worry not all of your favorite sites like Netflix are closing down. The copyright above has to deal with the way the shows are being transmitted to their user’s devices. The antenna or tiny antennas pictured left is suppose to let Aereo to retransmit their over the air broadcast. This is where organizations like FOX and ABC find they are violating the copyright law.

Should this be something we should worry about? I think looking at the way that Aereo is using the antennas to provided channels for users is convenient. The down side we would have to look at is losing major cable providers. Broadcastenergering noted

“the service can potentially erode high-level contracts that major networks have with cable operators, since it’s unlikely the channels are seeing much profit from the creative repurposing of content that Aereo is providing.”

I think the best message that comes out of this lawsuit being followed is major company and cable providers are not going to make this easy transition to mobile TV and other services unless they get a cut of the money as well. Techcruch reported that the service Netflix brought in third quarter revenue of 822 million dollars. You can see how companies like Verizon are trying to team up with a company to provide stream videos and television shows the right way. There is a lot of money in a booming business of web broadcasting. A business like Aereo could really change the world of streaming if they law suit falls through.

Video Chating

Web Chatting

updated May 1, 2012

Web broadcasting has been used for news castings, radio stations, and for personal use to use for blogs, etc.. Technology has been on the rise from land lines, to cell phones, and now giving users the ability to chat face to face.

Face to face communication allows you to see face expressions and read peoples body language. New technology has allowed users to communicate face to face through device like web broadcasting. One software system that is used by a lot of users is Skype.  Skype allows you to video chat through your tell phone, computer and even through your computer if you have the set up. Skype website allows you to access other advantages with the network. It mentions how it can bring you closer to work clients, celebrations, and in-depth converstaitions, when you are not able to be there.  This is one popular system for video chatting

Paltalk is a video chatting system that blows Skpe out of the water.

·         Paltalk gives you:

o    Access to thousands of video chat rooms

o    SuperIM: free video calls with up to 10 people

o    SuperIM URL: free, customizable URL where friends and family can reach you directly from their browser

o    Access to all your chat buddies:

o    Our community of over 4 million members. Meet friendly people in your area or people around the world with similar interests.

FFrom paltalk.com

Paltalk gives you access to ten of your friends at once. This is gives you the chance to have a party chat with ten of your closes friends. Unlike Facebook chat that allows you to access a number of friends through basic text chats. Paltalk lets you see the expressions of your friends to understand exactly what they are trying to say. This is similar to the party chat line that you could use with your land line phone back in the years. This shows you how media has changed over the years.

Now I don’t want to make you think that Facebook does not allow you to video chat. Facebook as recently teamed up with Skype to bring video chatting to Facebook users. It gives you advantages similar to Paltalk. If you are curious you can check out the Facebook bring your conversations to life.

Chat video I believe will be on the rise in the years to come. Iphones already allow you to use Sykpe through your cell phones when you are on the go. I can see every phone in the near future to be on the same track as the iPhone.  

HDMI Cables

updated May 1, 2012

HDMI cables are a link to computer to TV’s it allows you to connect your computer to your television. Thinking of web casting you can get the feed from your computer. The best part about HDMI cables is you can put the picture from your computer on to your television. In my previous blog I spoke about televisions that already have the perk of getting the internet. Those televisions are ideal for getting web cast feed from all type of networks. If you have already spent the money on a TV that does not have the network feed HDMI cables are the best way to stream the feed. HDMI cables allow you to get internet access to the programs you have already purchased like Netflix and hulu. The best part about HDMI cables is you have the portability of your lab top to class, work and other functions. HDMI hook ups are usually included in a lot of new TV’s if you were to got to someone else’s home and hook up your computer you would be to watch anytime of video or movie without going to the rent store to watch the video. You would probably be the man or girl of the hour with the hook up to watch movies.

HDMI cables cost a reasonable price. The connection is the main thing. It can be a pain paying for a cable to find out it does not work for you computer or TV. Yes, there is  some down sides. Not every TV is set up for an HDMI hook up. If you have a TV that is not made after a certain time period it can be difficult to try to hook your computer. It maybe be an inconveicens to carry your HDMI cable around where every where you go. That is where the upside to having TV’s with the internet built in can be a plus no messy cords. If you look at it in the long run you will be able to hook up your computer to a TV where ever you go. You do not have to worry about your hulu or Netflix account being stuck on your TV at home your HDMI cable gives you the portability to take you live stream anywhere you go. Now if you can show your family friends the new technology of having a simple cable to connect to numerous outlets to view the web and movies.

Is Cable becoming obsolete?

updated May 1, 2012

Looking through the feedback I received from my students in my digital media class. A question was raised that I decided to do some research on. Is cable becoming obsolete? TV’s are now becoming equipped with internet access making it easier to surf the web and connect to movies and TV shows.

U-Verse

Figure from At&t.com

U-Verse is a new programming package from At&t. It provides TV coverage and internet access. Now you might be thinking TV coverage? Is that not the same a being hooked up to cable? I thought the same thing. U-Verse is a system that allows you to retire cable. This service provides you with a DVR, multie view channel browsing and streaming for numerous HD channels.  It even gives you the opportunity to stream pictures and music directly to your TV for your own personal use. You can view all the opportunities with U-Verses at Wikipedia it offers a variety of uses if you’re interested in taking a further look into U-Verse.

Verizon’s Vision

Figure from googl images

Verizon is not looking to be out did by its competitors. It was announced on Feb. 6^th, in the wall street journal. That Verizon will be teaming up with Red Box a company where you can rent movies for two dollars at a drop box. Will be working together to give users an ability to stream a assortment of movies with the break of renting a free movie from a red box drop box each month. It is assumed that Verizon is also working with Comcast Crop. and Hollywood, which would supply Verizon a larger number of streaming rights.

Internet Connected TV’s

The improvement with Internet TV’s is it allows you to surf and stream the web with your television remote. Instead of having to sit on the on the floor with your HDMI cable hooked to your computer. You can relax on the couch doing everything you could do from your computer. Internet TV’s do not only provided you with the ability to use these new products above. On Squidoo it provides you with the top of the line TV’s you can purchase. Including a selection of options internet TV’s offer. It mentions how you can be connected to all of your social media sites, weather, and even stocks at the click of your remote.

With business like Verizon and At&t you have to think that cable one day will be obsolete. What do you think? If you could contact all of your friends without getting your computer do you even need regular cable?

Bulid Your Own Web Cast

Updated May 1, 2012

Have you ever thought about starting your own radio or TV show? If your answer is yes then you do not need to go to a radio station or a television studio to make that dream come true. 

In Teaching‘N Technology, a technology site used to give web technology advice, they mentioned that all you need to start a web cast is a web camera and a microphone.

You might be thinking, “Why you would want to start your own web broadcast?” Web broadcasting provides a variety of benefits for businesses and individuals who might not have the cost to use regular radio or video broadcasting. In the blog, Talk Point, it provides five reasons to why it is a good idea to use a web broadcast. An increase in attendance is the number one reason from talk point. A broadcast can reach a wide variety of people. If a fan is not able to attend your event or make your live cast; the web allows you to store your cast in archives. This way your fans are able to watch your cast on their own time.

Whether you are interested in making a career out of web broadcast or using it to voice your opinion, it can be a successful venture. Lex and Terry, a radio station I listen to, streams a web cast during their live shows. This gives listeners the opportunity to catch their shows at any time. The live stream also lets viewers watch the skits live.

One advantage to web casting is having less censorship on what you can say or can not say. As quoted in The Right to Freedom of Thought , “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.”

This statement sounds like web casting would be the best media to voice all types of issues, right? However, new laws like SOPA (Stop Online Privacy Act) are looking at stopping users from useing copyrighted material. In web broadcasting it can be easy to post a video on your stream or website. It is important to know that this law could close your site if the material is not your own.

Web broadcasting is a service that is beneficial to everyone from sports commentators who have their own shows to University television/radio shows. Web broadcasting is not a particularly new medium, but it is one that has potential and opportunities.

Web Casting

Video streaming has become an increasingly accessible way to view your favorite TV shows, music videos, and movies. Dish network has come out with a DVR that will allow you to record up to six shows during one slot. This allows users to watch their favorite shows at their own convenience. DVR’s can be a great thing for people that watch a lot of TV; however, when asked around campus, many students said that they did not have cable. Cable One offers these rates for internet and cable. Wi-Fi is available all over the NDSU campus, and many cell phones serve as a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Web Streaming

Updated May 1, 2012

Figure from espn3.com

                Now you might be thinking, “Yes, there are advantages to services like Netflix, Hulu, and YouTube, but how do I watch my favorite sports team play?” The answer is from webcasts or streaming live video. Outlets like ESPN3 allow you to watch a wide variety of sporting events from your mobile device, xbox360, and computer. It may seem like streaming video is a simple task, right? There are radio broadcasters turning streaming videos into career opportunities. John Wekkin, a sports broadcaster, has been working with a site called MN Sports Network. John covers multiple sports like football, basketball, volleyball, hockey and wrestling. This gives family and friends a chance to watch high school and college sports from the comfort of their own home. John’s service can range anywhere up to one thousand dollars. Schools usually end up paying for the service. You might think that’s a lot of money to cover a sporting event; however, the schools paying for the service also provide web broadcasting classes for high school kids looking to get into the profession.

                Streaming video is not only for watching your favorite videos or sports teams, but it can also do things like getting you in touch with a personal trainer. LouisianaState University has been streaming workout routines and healthy diet tips since 2008. This makes it possible for individuals, who do not have time to get to the gym, a chance to work out at home. The possibilities are endless when it comes to streaming video and web broadcasting. Is it possible that cable may become a thing of the past?