Iran public execution outrages human rights groups

The Guardian reports on footage shows 'disturbing normality' of public executions with convicts hanged from bridge in front of crowds, including children.

This video, which was supplied to Amnesty by an Iranian human rights activist, Fazel Hawramy from kurdishblogger.com, highlights the use of public executions, in which officials publicly hang convicts from a large crane or a high place in front of crowds.

Activists said two weeks ago that Iran has executed an average of almost two people a day in the first six months of this year. Iran insists the executions are related to serious crimes such as drug-trafficking although at least two political activists have been identified among those hanged in the first half of 2011.

Amnesty International said Iranian authorities have acknowledged public executions of at least 28 people so far this year.

Read full article.

iPhone's New Face Time Commercial

Spotted on TUAW, Apple's new commercial on FaceTime on the iPhone.

Facebook-to-Facebook video calling powered by Skype

Yesterday Facebook confirmed they were launching a new video chat feature powered by Skype, which means you can now see your Facebook friend's face in real-time.

Mark Zuckerberg spoke on stage about why mixing Facebook's social infrastructure with new apps like video chats will create new scenarios for their users.CNET's Rafe Needleman gets a demo from Facebook officials at the company's headquarters in Palo Alto, Calif. It basically looks like Skype video chat, in a room with all your Facebook buddies.

[via Cnet]

Previously: Facebook Will Launch In-Browser Video Chat Next Week In Partnership With Skype

Related: - Four Reasons Businesses Should Start Using Facebook Video Chat

Video Chat on Your Android Phone

To help you stay in touch with your friends and family, Goole is launching Google Talk with video and voice chat for Android phones.

In their own words:

You can now video or voice chat with your friends, family and colleagues right from your Android phone, whether they’re on their compatible Android tablet or phone, or using Gmail with Google Talk on their computer. You can make calls over a 3G or 4G data network (if your carrier supports it) or over Wi-Fi.

Google Talk with video and voice chat will gradually roll out to Nexus S devices in the next few weeks as part of the Android 2.3.4 over-the-air update and will launch on other Android 2.3+ devices in the future.

[via Google Mobile Blog]

HTC Phone Adds Video as Makers Go Past Apps

According to the WSJ, smartphone venders are integrating content and services in their devices, in what is poised to be the next phase in the mobile wars.

HTC Corp. Tuesday released its first smartphone, the HTC Sensation 4G, that comes with the company's own video service. Using the service, owners will be able to rent or purchase more than 600 movies or TV shows via their phone.

... Analysts say manufacturers are increasingly adding more in-house capabilities to integrate into their smartphones to stand out as the space heats up. Apple with its iTunes service is the farthest ahead in the race, especially when it comes to integrating the content across multiple devices such as televisions and PCs, they say.

Read full article.

Mobile Video Reaches Few Users, Puts Huge Strain on Network

One out of ten mobile users are watching video content on their devices. But the video they consume accounts for a staggering 38% of all data volume on mobile networks. Mashable reports.

These stats and more were released Monday in mobile services company Bytemobile‘s Mobile Minute Metrics report. The company also found that by the end of this year, video content will jump to 60% of all network data volume.

And as one might expect, much of this volume comes from a core of power users; the report states that 10% of mobile data users generate 87% of total traffic.

Read full article.

Is Skype about to release video-calling for mobile devices?

Accordingt to MobileBeat, Skype should be announcing at CES, a video calling feature for cell phones equipped with a front-facing camera and running Skype. Mobile users instead have to use applications like Tango and Apple’s Facetime for video calling.

The service already has video conferencing built into its PC and Mac applications. The application uses webcams and can connect to other Skype users. But video calling isn’t available on Skype’s mobile app.

Read full article.

Pew Report: Skype, Apple FaceTime, Google Chat Spur Video Calling

Roughly 20 percent of online U.S. adults have conducted video calls via the Web or their cell phones, according to Pew Research Center's Internet & American Project. Apple FaceTime, Skype and Google Chat will fuel the rise. eWeek reports.

Users joined video calls, chats or teleconferences from the Web via their computers to the tune of some 23 percent, while 7 percent have used their phones for such tasks.

Often, people placed video calls on both the Internet and their cell phone, but Pew only counted those who said they had used both mediums to participate in video calling once.

Read full article. Pew report: "Video calling and video chat".

Steven Levy on FaceTime and Sharing the View

A great read from Steven Levy in Wired on the the iPhone 4's Facetime feature, making everyone a potential live-video broadcaster.

... For now, FaceTime is available only when both parties are using iPhone 4s over Wi-Fi connections. But let’s assume that those restrictions fade away. (Apple says that it sees FaceTime as an open standard, so users might eventually be able to connect with heretics peering into Droids or BlackBerrys.) Will we want to make FaceTime calls? Personally, I found using FaceTime to transform a phone call into a video conversation rather stressful. The effort might be worthwhile for couples separated by vast distances, but for most chats, who needs (or wants) to see the other party? Besides, phone calls are much more pleasant and productive when you preserve the illusion that the other party is giving you their undivided attention, a deception that’s impossible to maintain under the unblinking gaze of a camera.

Also, using FaceTime in public places is awkward. You have to hold the phone at arm’s length—otherwise, your face fills the screen like some Diane Arbus outtake. To observers, this maneuver makes you look like a dork.

I’m still really excited about FaceTime, though. But it’s because of what happens when you use it with the other camera—the one on the rear of the phone. When you do that, FaceTime turns your phone into a live videofeed.

So instead of seeing you, the other person on the call can see what you’re seeing. I expect people to use FaceTime when they go to concerts, meetings, or the zoo. (“Look, Grandma, Timmy’s taunting the tiger!”) Another inevitable development will be a FaceTime equivalent of the iPhone’s Send to YouTube video option: a one-click way to share your current reality with the world.

This makes everybody a potential live-video broadcaster.

Read full article. Image from Daily iPhone Blog.

VisualFriend: A dating site for iPhone 4 owners

VisualFriend is a dating site which takes advantage of the iPhone 4's Facetime feature.

In their own words:

Our easy to use search tool allows you to view pictures on member’s profiles and their answers to our out-of-the-“norm” questions. Or, you can head over to our interactive chat forum where you can meet with members from any city of your choice. The chat rooms are packed with people ready to meet you now! As soon as you step into one of our chat rooms, you will quickly be greeted by other members.

[via intoMobile]

Porn Industry Successfully Commercializes iPhone’s FaceTime

According to Mac Observer, adult Web site company iP4Play.com, which announced Tuesday that it has successfully brought commercial porn to Apple’s FaceTime with the iPhone.

According to the company, the first paid adult video call over FaceTime on the iPhone took place on August 13th, 2010, and that it is now closing in on its 1,000th such call.

... The company said that 93% of its customers so far are male, and that most of the calls have been five minute calls. In addition, the company said that most of the calls have been from the U.S., but that many have also come from China.

Related: - iPhone 4' Facetime appeals to Porn Industry

[via @mobile fringe]

Google rolls out faster mobile YouTube to the world

The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Google rolled out the latest version of its mobile YouTube site outside the U.S on Tuesday, a browser-based application that is as fast as a client application for mobile devices, according to a product manager.

The upgraded site became available in the U.S. last month but is now available worldwide. Google wanted to improve how YouTube functions through a mobile browser since the site is being accessed about 100 million times a day that way. Traffic to YouTube through mobile devices was up 160 percent in 2009 over 2008.

Read full article.

FaceTime 3G data consumption tested: about 3MB per minute

A 5-minute call resulted in 14.7MB of data transfers -- including both uploading and downloading -- for the 3G-riding iPhone, which breaks down to a rate slightly lower than 3MB per minute.

[via engadget]

Phone 4' FaceTime appeals to porn industry

Apple may keep the app store safe from adult content, but according to this article by the AP, the porn industry is jumping on the the iPhone 4' FaceTime videoconferencing feature, with video-sex chat ads appearing on Craigslist.

Here's one ad found under New York:

SEEKING ATTRACTIVE WOMAN FOR FACETIME VIDEOCHAT MEETING AND SAFE FUN

Date: 2010-07-01, 10:47AM EDT

Hi there. I am an attractive, sincere, fit, 40 year old gentleman. And I have a new toy. my Iphone 4! As you know, this has videochat (facetime). So, i am seeking an attractive woman who also has an iphone 4 for meeting and progressing to some hot iphone facetime fun. Are you open-minded and willing to give this a try? If so, please email me with "facetime" in the header so I know you are real. I would love to give this a go! I am happy to exchange pics first before connecting live if you want. I am for real and sincere. I hope you are too. I am seeking someone who is any age, just physically fit and likes safe, exhibitionist fun.

PostingID: 1820574448

Apple - iPhone 4 - TV Ad - FaceTime

Spotted on TechCrunch, Apple's Face Time commercial.

FCC cuts could cut video phone services for the deaf

Video phones are something the deaf and hard of hearing have come to depend on in recent years, but the service is now in jeopardy of losing federal money and going silent. WDBJ7.com reports.

... The FCC says it reduced the amount of subsidy to video relay companies in a reaction to fraudulent billing from some service providers.

Virginia lawmakers Senator Mark Warner and Congressman Rick Boucher have written letters to the FCC asking it to rethink the subsidy reduction.

Read full article.

Smartphones: 30 times as much bandwidth as regular mobile phones to run apps

The popularity of feature-rich smartphones such as the BlackBerry, Apple's iPhone, and Motorola's Droid has surged, but they use as much as 30 times as much bandwidth as regular mobile phones to run the applications, or "apps," that make them so popular. Reuters reports.

The surge in traffic triggered by video and other apps has led to more dropped calls and choppy service. As video on smartphones becomes more popular, it is leading to more congestion, and forcing carriers to spend billions to upgrade networks and buy more wireless spectrum.

Read full article.

Consortium backs mobile interface for high def video

Nokia, Samsung Electronics, Silicon Image, Inc., Sony and Toshiba Corp. have formed the MHL Consortium, reports the EE Times.

The group has created a draft specification for the Mobile High-Definition Link (MHL) for sharing high-definition video between mobile devices and televisions.

Details of the spec are available only as a $100 download from the group's Web site to anyone willing to sign a confidentiality agreement. The group plans to release before July a final spec along with costs of adopting it and procedures for testing compliance.

Video-stitched cellphone streams go widescreen

Researchers from Microsoft's labs in Cairo, Egypt, have developed a way to combine video from multiple phones capturing views of the same scene into larger, more detailed footage to be broadcast live online. New Scientist reports.

Video: See how the system combines video streams

Adobe pushes Flash video on mobile devices

Adobe Systems has garnered the support of mobile heavy hitters such as Google, Motorola, Nvidia, Palm, RIM, and Qualcomm for its new Flash Player 10.1 software for smartphones, Netbooks, and other mobile devices. The company plans to announce the support Monday at its developer conference in Los Angeles.

[via CNet]

Nielsen: Mobile Video Use Lags Behind

For all the promise of mobile video as a new media platform, in the second quarter, there were about 15.3 million active mobile video users, according to a recent Nielsen Mobile Video Report.

-- This represents just 7% of all those who have mobile phones -- roughly 220 million people in the U.S. The silver lining, of sorts, is that this number is up 70% versus 2008's 10-million subscriber mobile video mark.

-- Half of U.S. mobile subscribers -- 52% -- still carry phones that aren't even capable of viewing video, and that's just a bit better than the 62% number a year ago.

-- Almost all current mobile video users -- 78% -- are first-year users.

[via Mediapost]

Even in Mobile Video, the Action Is on the iPhone

A conversation with the head of a video technology company helps to explain why, in mobile video and other areas, so much attention is paid to the iPhone.

Read New York Times Bits Blog.

Streaming TV Episodes Coming to Blackberry

RIM is planning to announce a full-episode television service for BlackBerry users as early as next week at CTIA. The service is part of RIM’s effort to turn itself into an attractive multimedia option for non iPhone users. The streaming videos would most certainly coincide with the release of Blackberry App World.

[via GigaOM]

YouTube Mobile App: 90% faster

Yesterday, YouTube posted a blog entry about their new Mobile YouTube app. It's been optimized for Windows Mobile and Symbian Series 60 devices, enabling the YouTube page to load 90% faster with simplified search, navigation, selection after search, and video playback features.

The application can be downloaded at m.youtube.com. Watch video demo on YouTube.

[via TG Daily]

12seconds.tv: Video Twitter

In a sign of our times, a video version of Twitter that allows anyone to share moments of their lives in short, 12 second video clips is gaining traction among the geek crowd. From The Sydney Morning Herald.

"We're all about status updates and we're all about sharing short bursts of video moments ... you don't need to watch a 10 minute video of your friends at the bar - broadcasting 12 seconds is plenty, " according to 12seconds.tv founder Sol Lipman.

... Users simply record a 12 second video using their PC webcam or mobile phone and send it straight to the site via email or MMS. The site takes care of the rest and can automatically publish a link to the video on the user's Facebook page, Twitter account or blog.

Most recent phones are supported - even the iPhone, which is not capable of taking video. A free 12seconds iPhone app available on Apple's iTunes App Store lets people take three photographs and record a short audio clip, which is then processed into a pseudo-video.

Previously: - 12seconds.tv: The real video Twitter

Cisco Forecasts Dramatic Mobile Video Traffic Growth

Despite a bleak economic climate, Cisco's latest Visual Networking Index predicts global mobile traffic will increase 66 times over the next five years with mobile video accounting for nearly 64 percent of traffic by 2013. eWeek reports.

The primary driver of this surge in mobile traffic will be driven by laptops, netbooks and smartphones connecting to the network.

Almost 64 percent of the world's mobile traffic will be video within the next five years, according to Cisco's latest VNI (Visual Networking Index) Mobile Forecast for 2008-2013 released Feb. 10. They key driver of the mobile traffic will be laptops, netbooks and smartphones connecting to the network.

Read full article.

Apple Planning Video-Call iPhone

According to Information Week, Apple is considering adding a video record feature to the iPhone -- an omission users have long complained about -- and it may soon become a handheld videophone platform, with support for mobile video-conferencing calls.

Those are the inferences you can make if you believe that the claims Apple has put into its patent relates to stuff it intends to turn into products. The video-call feature is the boldest one; a potential market game changer, which could knock competitors like Palm's Pre orDell ( Dell)'s planned smartphone back off the front pages. (The other feature, video record, is just a natural extension of the current still camera, and is probably something it could do now, if Apple so chose.)

Sex Soap Opera distributed via cellphone videos

A soap-opera style film shot this month is not intended for entertainment — it’s part of a research project designed to change attitudes about safe sex among young women. And the finished product will be distributed via cellphone videos. The New York Times reports.

In the New Jersey project, 250 women will be recruited from Jersey City and Newark and will be given cellphones. Half will receive weekly safe-sex text messages. The other half will receive weekly 20-minute episodes of the soap opera via cellphone video.

Before, during and after the 12-week study, Dr. Jones said, the women will be surveyed about their H.I.V./AIDS risk behaviors. Dr. Jones said one of the benefits in using cellphones is that it will allow women to watch the soap operas repeatedly and in private.

Read full article.

Flickr Adds Video Playback to Mobile Site

Yahoo-owned Flickr on Friday rolled out a revamped mobile Web site that now allows users to play Flickr videos on their phones. PCMag reports.

Flickr added video capability to m.flickr.com in April, and while users could upload short videos from their cell phones, they could not actually watch them from their mobile devices.

The offering has been available in beta to select iPhone users since October and was opened to all iPhone and iPod Touch users on Friday. Support for additional handsets with streaming capabilities will be added in the coming weeks, Flickr said.

MySpace Sets Video for Mobile

MySpace plans to announce Wednesday that users who access the site via certain mobile devices now will be able to watch video there, too. The move makes MySpace the first social network to enable mobile video streaming.

[via the WSJ and News.com ]

Reducing the clicks in uploading from mobile phones

You are now able to shoot a video with your mobile phone and then - click, click, click - upload your latest exploits to YouTube. The IHT reports.

The new Sony Ericsson W595 selling in Italy by 3 Italia is the first cameraphone to offer a YouTube uploader function.

After uploading a video, the user receives a text message with the Internet address where the video can be accessed. There is also a key with the YouTube logo that links directly to the site's vast array of videos.

No Money in Wireless Video Calls

According to The Korea Times, wireless video calling is not the next big thing.

SK Telecom and KTF have been pushing video as the main feature of their third-generation (3G) services first introduced last year, but video calling has yet to create any excitement either among consumers or business users.

The two companies have gathered a combined 12 million plus subscribers for their 3G services, according to industry figures. However, as the low revenue from video calls and data transfer can attest, consumers, although attracted by the ultra-cool handsets, aren't prepared to spend their money on anything other than voice.

Read full article.

Qik Launches First Live Mobile Video Streaming on Mass Market Phones

Qik, Inc, the live mobile video streaming platform, today announced that it is the first live mobile video product to launch on mass market mobile phones.

"Available today in alpha, Qik's service is now ready for use on more than a dozen Nokia and Sony Ericsson mass market mobile handsets.

With Qik's free service, users can stream video live to the Internet in just two clicks from their mobile phone. Those watching the videos on the web can engage in live interactive chat with the person broadcasting. "

[via MarketWatch]

KTF to Release 'Seo Tai-ji Phone'

A phone named after Korean top musician Seo Tae-ji is coming out. KTF announced its plans to launch a music phone and a video phone made in collaboration with Seo next month, reports Digital Chosunilbo.

"There have been phones named after celebrities, but this is the first time a star actually participated in the making of contents such as video clips, alarm tone, fonts, and ringtones. Seo composed the ringtones and the sound that comes out when turning the phone on and off and made an alarm tone featuring his voice. Images of Seo are also on display.

The phone features unreleased clips of a music video of Seo’s new single “Bermuda Triangle.” Despite being sold as limited edition, the company expects sales of at least 30,000 units. "

YouTube co-founder on YouTube Future: On any screen

YouTube co-founder Chad Hurley wrote a post this morning about the future of online video and YouTube specifically. TechCrunch reports.

"Hurley notes that 13 hours worth of videos are uploaded every minute to YouTube.

... Hurley’s vision of the future, though, pretty much describes the world as it is today. You can watch YouTube on your TiVo, iPhone, or PC. But if you read between the lines, he does hint that mobile might be the next really big step for YouTube:"

"Our goal is to allow every person on the planet to participate by making the upload process as simple as placing a phone call. This new video content will be available on any screen - in your your living room, or on your device in your pocket. YouTube and other sites will bring together all the diverse media which matters to you, from videos of family and friends to news, music, sports, cooking and much, much more."

Qik. Live video from your cell phone

Time writes up Qik, a free Web based service that takes video from mobile phones and broadcasts it instantly via the Internet.

"Broadcasting live video used to require a huge satellite truck, thousands of dollars in equipment and several strong souls to lug around bulky machines. Then YouTube came along, and all you needed was a camera, a computer and a little bit of Web savvy. Now Web video has gotten even easier.

With Qik.com, a free Web service launched in public test mode on July 21, all you need is a cell phone."

Related article: - Live from your mobile. The next big thing?

User-generated content growing rapidly in S'pore

The demand for user-generated content has been growing rapidly among Singapore's 'netizens' in recent years with video-sharing sites, social networking sites and blog sites remaining the most sought after, according to a new study by Frost & Sullivan. Asia Business Online reports.

"The Frost study noted that mobile operators around the globe are enthusiastically exploring UGC in a bid to make money through low-cost, but effective, entertainment services.

Singapore's MobileOne last year launched a user-generated video-sharing service called MeTV. The service allows mobile subscribers to upload their videos through MMS-enabled handsets for other users to view and download.

The service allows users on the Internet, mobile, broadband TV, and residential fixed-line service to view photos and videos.

... Uploading a video clip is as simple as sending an MMS to a designated number with no charges involved.

Users are rewarded when other users download their uploaded videos. Hence, the service was launched to attract users to share their photos, videos, comments with others, and in the process be rewarded for their efforts."

Who's That Girl on your mobile phone?

Madonna fans in the UK and 13 other countries will be able to watch her perform live in New York on their mobile phones, reports scotsman.

"Streamed live from the Roseland Ballroom, the concert will celebrate the release of the star's new album, Hard Candy.

Tomorrow's performance will be the first time Madonna plays live songs from her new album.

Vodafone customers will have access to the show via their mobile phones and computers."

Nokia to Offer Grammy Awards Multimedia on Phones

Nokia is planning to offer Grammy Award winning music and video programming to Nokia customers around the world, also available for download from the Nokia Music Store as well as preloaded on selected Nokia devices in key markets.

"For the 50th Anniversary of the Awards, we are excited to offer the best of the Awards in exclusive video programming via the Nokia Video Centre, Medeo and other entertainment channels to millions of Nokia device owners around the world."

[via Mobiledia]

Motorola Z10 features in-phone video editing

One of the best innovations spotted at CES so far by Eric's Cell Phones Blog, the Motorola Z10 which features in-phone video editing: Add a soundtrack and text to your videos right on your cell phone.

You can even send the final cut directly to YouTube.

Image and more specs on intomobile.

Al-Qaida videos now on cell phones

Al-Qaida video messages of Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahri can now be downloaded to cell phones, the terror network announced as part of its attempts to extend its influence. The Associated Press reports.

"The announcement was posted late Friday by al-Qaida's media wing, al-Sahab, on Web sites commonly used by Islamic militants. As of Saturday, eight previously recorded videos were made available including a recent tribute to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the former al-Qaida in Iraq leader killed by U.S. forces in Iraq in June 2006.

In a written message introducing the new cell phone videos, al-Zawahri, al-Qaida's No. 2 figure, asked followers to spread the terror group's messages.

... The eight videos currently available to download to cell phones by al-Sahab range in size from 17 megabytes to 120 megabytes, requiring phones to have large amounts of free data capacity. Al-Sahab has promised to release more of its previous video messages in cell-phone quality formats.

Nokia sees HD video on cellphones in a few years

Video recording on cellphones is set to reach high definition (HD) quality in a few years' time, an executive at the world's top cellphone maker Nokia said on Wednesday, reports The Guardian.

"It's coming. Technically, we are a couple of years away," Nokia's Chief Technology Officer Tero Ojanpera told Reuters in an interview. "It's still a few years away."

Lauren's (The Hills) Life Goes Mobile

Did you know that you can check on what Lauren "LC" Conrad is up to, live, on TMZ and on your mobile phone? Geek Sugar reports.

Lauren'ts life usually unfolds on television as she is one of the players in MTV's hugely successful reality series The Hills.

"By using an AT&T Video Share Phone, Lauren is able to stream live videos to her friends while shopping, partying or attending events. To instantly stream video from one phone to another, both phones need to be video compatible and connected to a 3G network."

Streaming Cell Phone Video

AT&T if offering a service called Video Share that allows users to stream live video while still carrying on a conversation. [via cbs 3]

"It's sort of like video chatting," said Ellen Webner with AT&T Wireless. "You can see the pictures and chat about them at the same time."

Video search makes phone a 'second pair of eyes'

Video-equipped cellphones could soon offer simple way to find useful information about the surrounding world. New Scientist reports.

"Currently, the best way to use a cellphone to find information about, for example, a product or an ad on a wall is by entering an internet search query with the keypad. Soon, however, it may be easier to simply record a video clip of an item of interest and have your phone tell you about it instead.

Researchers at Accenture Technology Labs in France have developed technology that makes this possible using any ordinary 3G cellphone equipped with a video camera.

The prototype system, dubbed the Pocket Supercomputer, offers a simple way to seek out useful, hard-to-find information, says Fredrik Linaker who led the system's development at Accenture."