Hauppauge just introduced a new HD video streamer. The StreamEez hub (not yet pictured) connects to an HD camera and will live-stream events such as concerts, church masses, or other kinds of congregations. The video is compressed thanks to a built-in H.264 encoder that then allows it to stream on sites such as Ustream and Justin.tv.
YouTube wrapped up its week by making YouTube Live a permanent fixture of its service. The once test-only service will now always be available and both show whichever shows are live now as well as allow marking events on the calendar to watch later. Subscriptions here work to notify viewers of streams that are coming up, not just once they've been posted.
Yahoo's Americas mobile VP David Katz in a discussion today promised that it would bring a version of Yahoo Messenger with 3G or 4G video chat to smartphones. Those with an iPhone 4 as well as Android phones with front cameras, such as the Samsung Epic 4G or T-Mobile's new myTouch, will have the option of a two-way chat regardless of which network they use. It uses the same transmission format as the desktop app and should let owners make video chats between mobile and the desktop.
YouTube this morning made its live streaming plans official with word that it would start trials. The approach works through a user's existing YouTube channel and follows the same approach as a service like Justin.tv, Qik or Ustream: users need only a FireWire or USB video camera and have access to live comments for any ongoing show. It's not stated but is implied that finished shows will be archived as regular YouTube clips.
Google's popular video hosting site, YouTube, will support live streaming by the end of 2008, according to one of the site's originators. Co-founder and chief technology officer Steve Chen disclosed the information at a recent party in New York City, insisting that "We'll do it this year." The news is significant in that despite the dominance of YouTube, it has been beaten to the availability of streaming by sites such as Ustream and Justin.tv. YouTube may thus need live technology to retain market control.
Yahoo this morning took steps to up-end Google with Y! Live. The first service of its kind from a major web company, the feature aims to bring the same live recording seen from more focused sites such as Justin.tv or Ustream. Users can link a webcam or any other connected camera to the site and host live performances viewable from any Mac or PC with Adobe's Flash installed; show hosts can also interact with as many as four other primary guests as well as a much larger number of live chatters.
