An Enterprise OVP Blog
Posted by AlanTone on September 13, 2011 under ProVDN | 
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Hello ProVDN users,
We are having trouble with the Review system. Our review application partner has changed their format and we are trying to reprogram our application to fit the new format. No ETA yet, but hopefully soon it’ll be back again.
Posted by AlanTone on February 8, 2011 under QRCodePros | View Comments
We are venturing into a brave new world, mixing dynamic QR Codes, with video streaming, micro-sites, detailed analytics and more. We have partnered with Akamai, Rackspace, and Zencoder along with our deep knowledge of video encoding, hosting and streaming to offer our Total QR Code Solution. Here’s a video about our service, and a more in-depth video is also in the works:
QR Code Explanation
Check it out at: www.qrcodepros.com
Posted by AlanTone on under ProVDN | View Comments
Despite an overall decline in spending on home entertainment, online movie downloads increased 38 percent in 2010, earning more than downloaded TV shows for the first time ever.
IHS Screen Digest said Americans spent $385 million on movies they bought or downloaded on the Internet last year, up from $280 million in 2009; TV shows downloaded or purchased totaled $366 million last year, up over the $295 million spent in 2009.
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DVD sales, meanwhile, continued to spiral downward. According to IHS, DVD sales were $14 billion in 2010, a drop of 11 percent from a year ago.
Across the board, purchases of media for home entertainment use declines to $18.8 billion, off some 3 percent on the year.
The report also showed that Microsoft rode the back of its Xbox portal to an increase in market share, claiming 17.9 percent, up from 11.6 percent last year. Apple’s iTunes, on the other hand, saw its share decline; while it’s still the segment leader with 64.5 percent of the market, it’s down from last year’s 74.4 percent.
PlayStation 3 and Vudu rounded out the top four spots.
For more:
- see this L.A. Times article
Posted by AlanTone on November 29, 2010 under ProVDN | View Comments
The last few weeks have been very busy here at ProVDN! We embarked on our first major upgrade since launching almost a year ago. Probably the most significant upgrade was the move from flixcloud to the Zencoder encoding engine, but there were numerous client requested additions as well.
Along with significantly improved encoding and 50 percent faster encode times, moving to Zencoder now allows us to offer WebM and 3gp options. This opens our platform to HTML5 programmers and allows us to stream to legacy phones like older Blackberrys.
The next feature you’ll notice is that we have added playlists to the platform! This was our most requested feature. Now you can create one embed code that will play any number of your uploaded videos. We designed the playlist feature in such a way that it is also possible to configure it to play pre/post roll ads too, which was our second most requested feature. (This feature will launch Dec 15)
Our third most requested feature was for enhanced video statistics. Since most web sites already use Google Analytics, it only made sense for us to partner with Google to offer in-depth video information within your existing Google Analytics account. All of your stats, web and video, are now available in one place!
Additionally we have made numerous minor interface tweaks and we updated our upload page such that now you can upload videos with two clicks of the mouse instead of five.
What’s next? Please let us know of anything you’d like us to change or add and we’ll start compiling a list. In the meantime we’ll be updating our videos and help page to reflect all the new modifications.
Oh yeah, I almost forgot! In Q1 we will be launching an encoding service similar to HeyWatch.com and encoding.com. The service will be called ProTranscoder.com.
Posted by AlanTone on September 12, 2010 under ProVDN | View Comments
ProVDN uses Zencoder to do it’s encoding. The following was copied from Zencoder’s Blog addressing HTML5 VP8, and WebM. Very soon we will be offering both traditional embed codes that play in most browsers and iDevices and an HTML5 embed code that uses VP8. Keep in mind though, that HTML5 is in its infancy and as such, playlists and adaptive bitrate streaming won’t be available.
VP8, WebM, and HTML5 video
Google announced a new open-source video project today: WebM, which uses the VP8 codec. This is a big deal for digital video. Zencoder is excited to announce that we’ve launched VP8 transcoding support today as well, and we’re committed to offering the best VP8 transcoding on the market.
What is WebM? VP8?
VP8 is a video codec, like H.264, VP6, Theora, etc.
WebM is two things: a container format (based on Matroska), and the name for an open-source video project. Presumably, WebM could contain other open video and audio codecs down the road.
Does Zencoder support VP8?
Yes! We’ve been working with Google for the last few weeks to build VP8/WebM support into Zencoder. Try it out!
Where does VP8 come from?
Before Google bought them, On2 was one of the few companies in the world that made proprietary video codecs.
Most video and audio codecs are industry standards, combining patents from a few dozen companies. So MP3 audio, for instance, contains 100+ patents. Anyone can read the MP3 spec, but to implement an MP3 encoder, or to decode or encode MP3 audio, you have to license these patents. Conveniently, the patents are grouped together into a patent pool, so you only have to sign one license, not 50, in order to do something with MP3.
But On2 was different. They were a commercial company that created their own video codecs, like VP6, VP7, and (now) VP8. And their codecs were pretty good; VP6 became a big deal on the web when Macromedia licensed it for Flash 7 and 8. At the time, it was a major step forward from H.263, the Flash 6 video codec. It was even _almost_ as good as H.264 for a little while, before H.264 encoder implementations matured.
Overall, though, H.264 is a better codec than VP6. So when Flash 9 got H.264, the need for VP6 was diminished a bit. Not that it went away; it’s still the second most watched video codec on the web (after H.263, not H.264, if you can believe that).
What’s the deal with HTML5 video?
Fast-forward a bit. HTML5 includes a
Firefox and Opera backed Theora, an open source codec, but a generation or two behind the best video codecs available today. Theora is actually based on On2 VP3, which On2 released under a BSD-like license several years ago. Apple and Microsoft won’t include Theora support in their browsers because it’s worse than H.264, and because they’re concerned about submarine patents.
Safari and IE backed H.264, which is the best codec on the market, but not free. H.264 requires a license from MPEG-LA (who manages the patent pool). The terms aren’t currently onerous; H.264 is free or cheap for most users, at least in 2010. But that could change down the road, and even if it doesn’t, the folks behind Firefox and Opera don’t want to use a patent encumbered codec for philosophical and pragmatic reasons.
So at the moment, HTML5 video is at an impasse. Firefox and Opera won’t support H.264, and IE and Safari won’t support Theora. (Google Chrome, incidentally, supports both.)
Why does VP8 matter?
VP8 is a good video codec, and it is open. That makes it unique in the world. Theora is open, but not a great codec. H.264 is a great codec, but patent encumbered.
Firefox, Chrome, Opera, and Adobe currently support VP8, and Safari and IE may at some point.
So at best, VP8 will completely solve the HTML5 video problem. At worst, it is major step forward for open video. And either way, a high quality open-source video codec is a Good Thing for everyone, even H.264 users.
How good is VP8?
It’s really early, but it appears to be good. H.264 is probably still better, but VP8 is better than most other codecs (including Theora, VP6, MPEG-4, etc.).
Also, VP8 will get better as its encoders get better. Even with the same codec, the difference between one encoder and another can be huge. When H.264 was first released, it wasn’t that much better than VP6 or MPEG-4 ASP (e.g. DivX and XviD), because the first H.264 encoders were rushed to market. But five years later, H.264 encoders have gotten significantly better. Give VP8 a year (let alone five), and it’s going to get better and better.
What doest his mean for H.264?
Competition is good. H.264 has liberalized their licensing terms a bit in the last year, and part of this is probably due to pressure from Firefox and Opera. VP8 will only accelerate this; a credible competitor to H.264 will encourage the H.264 patent holders to offer favorable licensing terms.
Is H.264 going away?
No. A lot of companies are committed to H.264, including Apple, and many devices (like the iPhone) include hardware-based H.264 decoders. Beyond that, H.264 is still the best codec on the market, so bandwidth-conscious businesses will continue to use it.
Where can I find a technical analysis of VP8?
Check out Jason Garrett-Glaser’s post, or skip to the TL;DR summary at the end if you’re lazy. Granted, as a lead developer on the open-source x264 project, he’s biased. But he’s a clear writer, and he really knows what he’s talking about. Just make sure you find a VP8-biased post to balance out his perspective. 
What audio codec do I use with WebM/VP8?
Ogg Vorbis. Unlike Theora, which is quite a bit behind H.264 in quality, Vorbis is actually quite good as an audio codec. It’s competitive with MP3 and AAC.
How do I play VP8 video?
Download Chromium, Firefox, or another browser. Other players will pop up soon.
How do I add VP8 to my website?
Checkout our video.js project, an open-source universal video player. Video.js provides a single embed code for HTML5 video, Flash video, and iPhone and other mobile devices.
Posted by AlanTone on August 29, 2010 under ProVDN | View Comments
Posted by AlanTone on August 23, 2010 under ProVDN | View Comments
The Web Is Dead, Says Wired – But Video Is Alive And Kicking.
Posted by AlanTone on June 23, 2010 under ProVDN | View Comments
Reprinted from http://www.reelseo.com/attorney-video-marketing/
Imagine that you needed to hire an attorney and you decided to search out one online. For those attorney’s that have web video, which one would you choose if you were to base your decision off their video? Would you choose the lawyer who tells you how great they are and what a fantastic law school they went to?
On the other hand, maybe you’d prefer a lawyer who tells you how wonderful their firm is and how much money they’ve obtained for their clients over the last ten years? Better yet, would you prefer a lawyer who does nothing more than say “Come to me because I’m a lawyer and I’m here?”
There is a recurring theme when you watch attorney video; most attorneys’ videos are quite poor. I don’t mean technically bad, I mean their content is bad. What’s so terrible about their content? Let me count the ways:
Why would anyone look for a lawyer online? The answer is simple. They don’t know a lawyer and they don’t know someone who knows a lawyer. They’d rather search online to see if someone can help solve their legal problem. That’s where 99.9% of lawyers miss the boat. This also applies to other professionals who use the Internet to market their services. People going online and searching attorney videos are people who have a problem. They are looking for someone to fix their problem.
How can you be the one that resonates with them and compels them to pick up the phone to call?
When an attorney creates an online video to market his or her services, he does so hoping that an online viewer will:
Let’s go through these one at a time.
Many attorneys rely on their video production company to optimize their video for the search engines. Some producers know how, others don’t. You can see which ones ‘get it’ by reading the description of any attorney video on YouTube.
Those do-it-yourselfers may not fully understand why it is so critical to have a compelling headline, a summary of the video in the description and relevant keywords.
It goes without saying that even with a technically perfect video, if nobody can find your video, you’ve wasted a lot of time and money creating your video.
Just because a video is listed on page one of YouTube in the search results, does not mean it will be watched. Unless you have a compelling headline and content, nobody will care about your video.
Think about it again. Why would anyone beside your spouse, mother and best friend watch your video? Unless it’s a hilarious viral video, most people will not be interested in watching your attorney video. Then who will watch it? People who have a legal problem. People who need help. People who are searching for an attorney to solve their particular problem. Unless your viewer has a legal problem like the one you handle, your video will not be watched. It’s that simple. That’s why most lawyer videos never go viral. If you follow REELSEO’s Jeremy Scott’s viral video roundup every Friday, you see detailed reasons why video goes viral. Attorney videos never fit the pattern for widespread viewing of their video.
Attorney video is never funny, unless it’s a parody or a spoof. Lawyer video is pretty boring and never ‘cutesy’ in the way you might see in a viral video.
“Objection! Judge…that video has no information. The lawyer just talks about himself.”
“Objection sustained. You’re right. Next video please, and make it snappy, I want to go to lunch…”
A video doesn’t need to go viral in order to be watched. In fact, for an attorney, if it does go viral, it’s likely a mistake. But, a video that’s unwatched is wasted marketing dollars.
That seems easy right? You spend your time making a good video. You think you have content that people want to watch. You upload your video and then watch your analytics. You can’t understand why your videos are not watched till the end. Most people are leaving after 15 seconds. Huh? Some stay to watch a full minute. One or two linger for 2 1/2 minutes. Yet nobody got to the five minute mark. “What’s up with that?”
Do you know why you must evaluate your analytics? So you know what you’re doing right, and more importantly, what you’re doing wrong! If nobody is watching your video till the end, you need to ditch that video and start over. You need to edit and trim your content and fix your description and headline.
Here’s a little secret that most online viewers inherently know but attorneys do not. Many lawyers talk way too much and don’t listen enough. If that’s how you come across on your video, you’ve lost your viewer forever. Lawyers talk for a living. Lawyers give advice on a daily basis. Yet, it is the video producer’s job to control the attorney by guiding him and focus what he’s trying to say.
Remember, anyone can create a technically excellent video once you learn how. However, it takes an experienced video producer to know what your online viewer is looking for and how to get your talent, in this case the attorney, to convey that message in a way that the viewer will want to watch.
Why would someone want to call you after seeing your video? Do you tell them something they don’t already know? Do you explain something to them that shows you’re an expert without coming out and saying “I’m the expert!” Or, do you tell them about your credentials; where you went to school; that you graduated in the top of your class at Harvard law school; that you clerked for a Federal judge for a few years, and that if they’re lucky, you might just talk (down) to them?
Guess what? If you’re a professional offering your services and using video to market your services, do you really think a viewer cares about you? They don’t. 99% of attorneys using video online today don’t understand that. A viewer who is taking the time to search for a lawyer doesn’t know a lawyer and is looking for someone to help solve their problem. Talking about yourself too much simply gives them a reason to look elsewhere. Ironically, the fault lies not with the attorney for talking about themselves, but rather his video producer, who should know better and understand what a viewer wants and needs to watch.
The only way to get a viewer to pick up the phone and call, is to create a compelling video that a viewer needs to watch. If you can learn how to do that, you’ll be way ahead of your competition.
So, how do you create a compelling video that a viewer will want to watch? Simple. Don’t talk about yourself; explain how you can help solve a viewer’s problem (without giving any legal advice); give information that nobody else is providing online; give the information away for free. Why do that? So that you are viewed as the wise man on the totem pole, and viewers will want to call you for more information.
Posted by AlanTone on under ProVDN | View Comments
Five Essential Video SEO Tips and Techniques | OnlineVideo.net.
Posted by AlanTone on June 3, 2010 under ProVDN | View Comments
Good news everyone! Finally IE6 share rate has fallen and now it has under 5% in the U.S. top 12 browser list according to StatCounter – you may have heard of this fact from the news during the past couple of days. And we can almost hear developers from all over the world shouting “Finally” in a single ecstatic rush (except Africa and Asia – those guys still love using IE6 and current share rate is about 20% in this region, according to the stats).
Definitely despite all those bad things that you may find by googling IE6, it was (and still is) an epic event in lives of Microsoft fans and other people that have any relation to the web. Everybody will agree that it is really a notorious browser – even Wikipedia can’t find better words than these: “This version of Internet Explorer is widely derided for its security issues and lack of support for modern web standards, making frequent appearances in “worst tech products of all time” lists, with some publications labeling it as the “least secure software on the planet”. It’s needless to say more.
Of course it is a rather old software and the main reason of its popularity was the Microsoft’s browser policy (remember that old case when IE was a part of Windows software – that was when IE hegemony started). But now we can ask a reasonable question – is it really bad that one of IE versions is going to become a part of the web history? Actually it’s obvious that even Microsoft is glad that IE6 is finally going down but what about other IE versions? Here is latest data about Top 12 browser versions as of the period of May 2010 – those are the global stats where the IE6 share remains rather high unlike the U.S.
Source: StatCounter Global Stats – Browser Version Market Share
Anyways IE6 (along with Vista and few other products) has taught Microsoft that they should be more careful in creating new software versions and products. The lesson was obviously learned and as the result we can see Windows 7 as well as many interesting things about the forthcoming IE9. It is necessary to remind you that Internet Explorer 9 will support HTML5 and CSS3, will have new Java Script Engine called Chakra, Direct X video acceleration and so on. Summing up everything we’ve said it’s clear that IE is alive and kicking. But it’s a good thing we’re not the ones it’s kicking – web designer community is quite happy with alternatives that they’re used to (Firefox and growing Chrome). IE will never become a browser for developers – it’s a browser for moms, in-laws, housewives etc. Whoever but the web developers. At the same time IE will be quite happy with what’s left for it – a huge piece of Internet audience will stick to it for years and years. That’s the equilibrium, IE version of it.