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."

Nokia signs video deals with CNN, Sony, others

Nokia has signed partnership deals with seven companies including CNN and Sony Pictures to bring video content to its top-of-the-range multimedia phones. [via Reuters]

"... Nokia said it would also bring video content from India's IBN news channel and videos from Jamba, RooftopComedy, ROK and Versaly Entertainment to its N95 models.

It has previously signed similar deals with Google's YouTube and Reuters."

Beheading cameraphone video seized

Police have found video clips showing the beheadings of a soldier and a Buddhist, while three men were shot dead by suspected Islamic rebels in Thailand's restive south, officials said today. Herald Sun reports

"One video clip showed a militant holding the head of the slain soldier," said an army official who declined to be named.

The gruesome clips had been taken by mobile phones which were seized by authorities during a raid Sunday on militant hideouts in Yala, one of three Muslim-majority provinces bordering Malaysia."

Nokia links up to direct-dialed video

News Corp., Sony Pictures and CNN have struck a deal to distribute video directly to Nokia handsets, sidestepping mobile carrier decks, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"Nokia has quietly started embedding links on its N95 multimedia phone around the globe that connect users with mobile sites run by the media giants and other content providers.

A Nokia spokeswoman confirmed that the company plans to announce additions to its Video Center as early as this week ahead of the MIPCOM conference in Cannes. She added that Nokia eventually will include the links on phones other than the N95.

In the case of News Corp., users can travel straight to the company's Jamster and Jamba sites and get free access to Fox "mobisodes" like "24" as well as to video clips and outtakes from such films as "The Simpsons Movie" and "Borat," Fox Mobile Entertainment president Lucy Hood said."

Video goggles for your small screens

Watching a full length feature on your cell phone or iPod screen can be tiring to the eyes. ABC7 News sugests you try out some video goggles.

"Just a few years ago, the first video goggles cost more than a thousand dollars, were so big and cumbersome they covered your face, and the video players were the size of a shoe box. Things have changed. Today, they're as light as eyeglasses, cost less than $500, and the video players will fit in your pocket.

One model called myvu sells for less than $200 and works with any video player, even camcorders, DVDs and some cellphones."

"Pop Up Video" in mobile format

Music cable network VH1 is resurrecting back its "Pop Up Video" series in a mobile-only format starting Monday, reports Reuters.

"The original "Pop", which stopped airing in 2002 on the Viacom-owned channel, featured music videos with informational bubbles that popped up with facts and trivia about the artists, song or related subject matter.

The new installment of original videos, "Pop Up Video to Go," will be offered cross carrier exclusively on VH1's mobile network and will be updated weekly."

Me-On-TV. User-Gen Mobile Video Service

Ericsson has launched a white label user-generated video service dubbed Me-On-TV , which will be network and device independent and allow people to upload, publish and share live or pre-recorded video content via any mobile device. Moco News reports.

"People will be able to transmit the content to websites, TV broadcasts or a community, and the service allows broadcasters, internet sites, and mobile network operators to directly manage live and on demand content via state-of-the-art editorial management tools.

Ericcson hopes to sell the hosted service to broadcasters, internet sites and network operators, and has already signed up Endemol - UK's largest 'non-broadcaster' producer of entertainment formats."

2007 MTV Video Music Awards

MTV: Music Television is throwing out all the rules with the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, ushering in unprecedented access and interactivity beyond what any awards show has ever done.

From VMA.MTV.com to MTV Mobile on Sprint TV to the Virtual VMAs to MTV On Demand, MTV is setting a number of important firsts: the first viewer-inspired remix; the first mobile simulcast of the VMAs; the first awards show ever recreated virtually, and the first nearly instantaneous VOD updates.

For the first time ever, MTV Mobile will air a live simulcast of the main show on video-enabled Sprint Vision and Power Vision phones."

Press release

All Videos Will Soon Play On iPhone

Just like AT&T, YouTube will soon lose its exclusivity on the iPhone.

When it does, you’ll be able to use the phone to watch videos from all over the Web, thanks to Veveo, an Andover, Mass.-based startup has developed essentially the equivalent of a T9 predictive text input system commonly found on mobile phones that works with their video index.

[via GigaOM]

AT&T launching cell phone video service

According to The Daily Herald, AT&T Inc. today is launching VideoShare, which provides live video service over wireless 3G mobile phones while you talk.

"Video Share will be available for personal use, such as showing off a baby’s first steps or other special moments.

It also will be for business users, such as showing real estate or retail displays or for insurance adjusters to process claims, said AT&T spokeswoman Cara Birch."

ABC-Owned Stations Launch Mobile Video

ABC-owned TV stations will now offer free video content for cellular phones, reports
Broadcast Newsroom

"The network's owned-and-operated stations launched free mobile-video services in all 10 of their markets, offering advertiser-supported streaming news clips."

iPhree hands free - to watch iphone videos on the go

File under fun. iPhree is the ultimate hands-free device for iPhones enabling you to watch videos on the go.

Spotted on MobileMag. In their's own words, "It's phreedom".

"Do everything as you are used to and enjoy your iPhone Hands Free every minute of the Day … Just put on your iPhree, attach your iPhone and start your Day."

Watch the video.

Put your favorite DVDs on your iPhone

DVD to iPhone kets iPhone users upload video content from DVDs, home movies, YouTube... to their phone. [Popgadget]

According to their website: "You can take blockbuster movies from DVD, but also recorded TV, downloaded Youtube content, or videos from your camcorder, and with 2 clicks convert those into a high quality compressed file, which will play on the iPhone's built-in video player. Enjoy movies with an amazingly crisp picture and stereo CD-quality sound.

New Cyberspeed technology allows up to 400% faster DVD-to-iPhone conversions. In 45 minutes you can put a feature film on your iPhone. So whatever you would've watched on the sofa, you can watch elsewhere instead."

Surprisingly though, points out Popgadget , the full version of DVD to iPhone is not Mac-compatible.

Hollywood seeks opening in iPhone

In Hollywood, where Jobs' convention-defying tactics are all too familiar, media executives are eagerly preparing for a new era as they hope to position more content where consumers want it: in their hands. News.com reports.

"... For years, mobile phone carriers like AT&T, Verizon Wireless and Sprint have closely controlled what cell phone users watch, when they watch it, and on what kind of screen they watch it--much the way the networks did with television before new technologies loosened their grip. Many in Hollywood and Silicon Valley hope the iPhone's multimedia features will make it easier for any mobile-crazed consumer to do the same things they do on the Web: watch their favorite television shows, download maps, send e-mail messages to friends and swap videos.

In what is the beginning of many attempts to make the cell phone more Web friendly, Apple has designed its own application so consumers can receive YouTube videos through a Wi-Fi network. Industry executives predict that as it becomes easier to get information via Wi-Fi networks, more consumers will bypass traditional wireless networks altogether. That prospect, while helpful for phone makers and media concerns, is frightening for service providers if consumers begin to regard them as irrelevant."

AT&T launches Video Share

AT&Thas announced the launch of AT&T Video Share, a service that allows users to share live video over their wireless devices while participating in a voice call.

Consumers can now share moments with family and friends while the moments are happening.

The service also enables a range of innovative, time-saving business applications, from viewing real estate or retail displays to facilitating insurance claims or troubleshooting efforts.

[via Light Reading ]

Rogers launches video calling service that turns cellphones into webcams

With a new service launched Monday by Rogers Wireless Inc., cellphone users will for the first time in North America be able to use video calling on their handsets, allowing them to see and hear the person they're talking to in real-time via webcam. cbc.ca reports.

"To see each other, callers at both ends of the conversation have to use the Rogers Vision Samsung A706 handset model.

The webcam is set up so that users have to face the screen and talk over a speakerphone. Users can also click a button to activate a camera on the opposite side of the phone to show the person on the other end of the line what they're seeing.

The phones also offer high-speed Internet and multimedia services, including mobile television and downloadable radio and video-on-demand clips from sources like YouTube.com, XM Satellite and Rogers MusicStore."

Cingular Promotes Video Sharing For Business

AT&T’s Cingular is promoting Video Share at CTIA, which it will launch this summer, reports Moco News.

"The service “lets a mobile phone caller send a live video stream from the camera on their cell phone to whomever they’re calling. The other user will have to be using a phone that supports the service and be in an area where it’s offered.

The recipient can choose to accept the stream and later reverse it, sending video from their camera to the other caller. The video can also be saved”.

Microsoft plans range of video phones

According to The Telegraph, Microsoft is preparing to launch a range of audio and video phones in an attempt to carve itself a slice of the global business telecoms market.

"One set of devices is designed to replace bulky old-fashioned desk phones and makes free calls over the internet using Microsoft software, for which public trials begin tomorrow.

The new kit consists of a discreet wireless earpiece and a USB stick about the size of a pack of chewing gum that plugs into a PC or laptop.

Microsoft is also working on a Bluetooth-enabled version of the earpiece that will automatically connect to the users' mobile phones when they walk away from their desk.

Another product is designed for video conferencing. Called Roundtable, it looks like an air traffic controller's microphone.

It houses four high-resolution digital cameras providing a 360-degree view of the room, and works over the internet."

WBGH series to provide video phones to Native Americans

The PBS “American Experience” program, which is produced by WGBH, is planning a five-part series telling the history of Native Americans. Boston Herald reports.

"The series plans to hold workshops teaching people how to use the video cell phones to make short videos, which it then hopes to pass along through a mobile phone network.

The videos will also be included on a Web site for the series and possibly on DVDs, said Sharon Grimberg, series producer for “American Experience.

The amateur documentarians will be asked to focus on a place, whether it be a reservation or a house or even a tree."

Man wins £20,000 playing poker on his mobile phone

I'm not sure I want my son to hear about this, as Poker is all the rage amongst teenagers here - both online where as friends they get together at virtual tables, or IRL in our living room.

Video Poker game Wild Jack Mobile Casino has apparently just paid out £20,000 to a player – ‘Colin B.’ – who bet the maximum stake.

[via Pocket Picks]

NY Fashion Week Struts Its Stuff on AT&T Cell Phones

Cingular Wireless, announced today that it will once again be providing full, same-day coverage of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on its cell phones.

During Mercedes- Benz Fashion Week in New York (February 2-9, 2007) top designers from America and around the world will show off their 2007 fall runway collections to buyers, celebrities, and members of the media.

AT&T will feature exclusive video coverage of all the shows under the tents at Bryant Park as well as offer customers access to back stage reports, celebrity parties and more.

"Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is one of the most celebrated and attended events of the year among the 'who's who' of the fashion world. Now our wireless customers can enjoy a sneak peak of the latest designer creations and fashion trends for the upcoming fall season long before anyone else -- just like the chic elite".

[via Huliq]

Vodafone prepping new mobile video service

Vodafone is planning on expanding its Live! portal with a new user-generated mobile video service enabling subscribers to upload and view their own clips, reports FierceMobile Content.

"Scheduled to premiere in March in conjunction with the Cebit trade show in Hanover, Germany, the as-yet-unnamed service will also afford users the opportunity to profit from their videos: Vodafone said it will introduce a plan offering premium compensation according the number of times a particular clip is downloaded."