Satellite TV on mobile devices

[Steve Bildermann]

Seems that TV is indisputably the next killer app for mobile devices (in the sense that it kills more braincells, if nothing else). Vodafone Japan's launching handsets with analogue TV tuners as fast as it can get them out of the door, and now a company with satellites dedicated to broadcasting for mobile devices is getting ready to launch. Mobile Broadcasting successfully put its first satellite into orbit last month, and says it will have 40 channels of multimedia TV and radio broadcasting ready to go in July this year.

http://www.mbco.co.jp/english/index.html

Mobile Broadcasting Corporation (MBCO) is going to provide world first multimedia broadcasting service for mobile users throughout Japan.

After completing IOT (in orbit test) and its review meeting, MBSAT, a satellite for the world's first mobile multimedia broadcasting service, was officially delivered to MBCO on 27th April from U.S. satellite manufacture Space Systems/Loral. The satellite was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on March 13th.

MBCO will start technical evaluation using the satellite from the end of April and launch the service in July throughout Japan.

In Japanese

[Big Booger]

Will they offer CNN, the BBC, Fox, Discovery Channel? If so, I am on it.



THough I am a bit concerned about their advert.. i mean ketai use while driving is bad enough, but watching TV on your ketai while driving, well, that is a bit much.

[kidrock12xp]

seems like a very sweet item. I just might have to pick it up. hehe thanks for showing it off.

[GuyJean]

Seems that TV is indisputably the next killer app for mobile devices (in the sense that it kills more braincells, if nothing else)

Now THAT is cool.. Two problems I foresee][/url]
(the clip is labelled wrong; they're not plasmas)

I was aroused..

GJ

[GomiGirl]

Will they still have to use the mosaic on the porn channels for mobiles?

Battery life is the main thing, but honestly the user experience is going to be limited due to the small screen. There is nothing that bugs me more than people thinking that mobile content is simply a cut down version of the full size version.. that is simply NOT compelling IMHO.

When we develop content for mobiles, we start with the platform and build based on the user experience to ensure maximum effect with a small device.

Trying to make a mobile phone act like a TV is simply crazy and will leave users dissatisfied and not wanting to keep using after the novelty has worn off.

What may and should happen is for TV content to be developed with the small screen in mind. Trying to fit a full action movie onto a small screen is like* trying to fit an elephant into a moris minor... impractical and will only cause poor performance.. you need to genetically engineer a smaller elephant....

*I was going to use the analogy of being a cock tease.. but I am not that sort of girl

[GuyJean]

When we develop content for mobiles, we start with the platform and build based on the user experience to ensure maximum effect with a small device.

I agree 100%.

Content will have to be specifically made for 4 inch screens. Which, in reality, changes everything, from camera angles to graphics. Wide shots become whaaa? shots..

Actually, Japanese baseball might work, since EVERY FRICKIN' SHOT IS A CLOSE UP!! Including watching the ball fly through the air.. Maybe they're ahead of their time... Or maybe they think seeing a ball fly through the air with no visual references makes it appear to fly farther, and 'makes drama'...?

GJ

[GomiGirl]

When we develop content for mobiles, we start with the platform and build based on the user experience to ensure maximum effect with a small device.

I agree 100%.

Content will have to be specifically made for 4 inch screens. Which, in reality, changes everything, from camera angles to graphics. Wide shots become whaaa? shots..

Thought you would agree - I am sure that Rob Pongi and Dr Pongi would also agree..

This opens up a HUGE new market for people interested in both media and mobiles. It is really tough in the video space as there are so many talented (and not so talented people with camcorders) competing in a space with practically no copyright protection..

but people who pay attention to the special needs of a small screen have an emerging niche market which is just waiting for the talent to be realised.

The best thing about working in mobile is that the business model was around before the distribution model so it is possible for people to get paid for their creative efforts if they so desire. Actually make a living for creative work??? OMG!!!

Plus all of the devices that are being produced have inbuilt DRM and other protection methods so it is easier to protect yourself from pirates - unlike the internet at present where anybody can basically steal anything. That is fine if you are putting your work out there to add to the collection of creative work of the universe, but when you actually want something that you have created to remain your property, the model is there.

[004Ninja]

Welcome to Victims Remembered

[Failsafe]

I'm sure the mobile NHK man will have a grand time because there are no doors to shut in his face

[mr. sparkle]

[mr. sparkle]

Being a Mac guy, I'm interested in the functionality of 3GPP2 and Quicktime. I want to be able to pump content out of my editing app and into a simple environment to author interactive video--perhaps this can be achieved with Flash?

Ah! I've found a nibble in this regard.

From: http://www.apple.com/mpeg4/3gpp/professional.html

Final Cut Pro
...And because Final Cut Pro is built on the QuickTime architecture, the release of QuickTime 6.5 automatically makes Final Cut Pro your professional 3GPP and 3GPP2 content creation tool of choice.

QuickTime Pro
QuickTime Pro is an excellent complement to Final Cut Pro when creating 3GPP and 3GPP2 content. Or use it on its own on either a Macintosh or Windows PC to encode high-quality audio and video, transcode existing media, make simple edits, and add 3G Text all in one low-cost tool. With its extensive set of authoring capabilities, QuickTime Pro is the perfect all-in-one multimedia creation tool.

3rd-Party Professional Mac and PC Authoring Tools
Because 3GPP and 3GPP2 are now a part of the QuickTime architecture, applications built on top of QuickTime inherit the ability to author and playback 3GPP and 3GPP2 content. That means the most popular media creation software, including discreet cleaner and Adobe GoLive, can now create mobile multimedia content.

cool...

I would add that Final Cut Express or even iMovie in combination with QT Pro would get you into Cleaner or GoLive for authoring and programming.



I'd like to see an Apple App do authoring specifically for 3GPP/phones. Or maybe even build it into Apple Compressor??

Anyway. If anyone is into QuickTime stuff, a good jumping off point is here:

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/tools_tips/
or
http://developer.apple.com/quicktime/

Fascinatin' stuff to a novice like me. I won't rest until we get Rob Pongi on cell phones all over the world!

[Video-Link Japan]

On the content end, how do you see the producers hooking up with the folks serving it up onto the phone network? Do you think phone networks will actually try to create specific content? I don't. I think it'll be farmed out, much in the same way as "new media" companies functioned in the first internet boom.

I agree that there are opportunities for small media companies that want to specialize in delivering mobile content, however they need to have access to phone network companies looking for that content. I'm wondering how that whole model will work? I assume it's going to go the way of how internet video is presented.

Do you think that it should be any different than how web video is created? Perhaps it should be more interactive?? What skills would one want to have on the creative side to deliver content in an ideal way for phones? Being a Mac guy, I'm interested in the functionality of 3GPP2 and Quicktime. I want to be able to pump content out of my editing app and into a simple environment to author interactive video--perhaps this can be achieved with Flash?

Well folks - coming to this thread a little late - its been a hyper busy Golden Week. Yes, the 3gpp codec looks like will be the world standard for streaming on ketai, and thanks to those nice people at Apple the encoding utility is easily obtained. At this point all the newer DoCoMo 900i FOMA phones have the ability to play (and record) these files and the latest Vodafone models do as well, not sure which units on KDDI are ready to roll with that codec but at least 2 or 3 anyway. As usual certain device specific issues apply in that screens are not all the same size. However, going forward we'll see this available on newer handsets in Europe and the U.S as well.. so once you have content coded it can 'sell' pretty much anywhere. As for Flash.. yes, I have seen certain handsets that have it factory installed.. but the video does not look very good by comparison.

One point though is that the recent couple of handsets with tuners builtin are actually picking up signal out of the air just like a Sony Watchman and therefore are not costing the users any connection fees. Which like adding a camera option a few years back, is more like a 'hook' to get customers to choose one handset (therefore carrier) over another..!!!

I've posted a couple links below too stories we did on Wireless Watch that relate to this as well. The SD Memory card recorder from Solid Alliance looks like a prettty cool app. for those 'non-tech' types that just wanna record (in 3gpp) something to take on the road, and the TMC folks really have the best looking video on a cell-phone I've ever seen, which is a hybrid version of Mpeg-4 and H.26410. They showed us a demo that 'Really Kicked' for quality and file size, which is an issue when it comes to people actually getting clips over-the-air.. remember it costs them $$ to download to their phone too.

Pyramid Power Records TV for Mobile
http://www.wirelesswatch.jp/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=676

MPEG-4 Mobile Video Evolution
http://www.wirelesswatch.jp/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=667

A final note about the challenges for video on mobile]transaction based services like FeliCa[/url].

Just my 2yen worth.. these are interesting times no doubt.

BTW - Mr. Sparkle: I'm looking forward to hook-up for a few pints when you get to town (I didn't forget, honest). The Pongi Army will dominate the mobile web-video world if we put our minds to it..!!!

[GomiGirl]

(paraphrased) Lots of really cool and accurate stuff!!

Mr Video-Link is an absolute guru!! He has been filming WWJ since forever so not only is he a video guru, he really understand the Keitai Biz.. what he doesn't know about Keitai, just isn't fit to film...



So the 3GPP codec is standard, but I encourage people to think about how they shoot so that it will be compelling viewing on the small screen..

But also, people have different needs when they use their phones - they do not want to watch a full feature film.. so I see a new genre of short film emerging.

Plus, fixed packet rates will make streaming MUCH more affordable so while the huge carriers will not make as much per user (like me) they will attract more customers into the wonderful world of the mobile internet.

[GuyJean]

Mr Video-Link is an absolute guru!! He has been filming WWJ since forever so not only is he a video guru, he really understand the Keitai Biz..

No kidding. I was wondering when the keitai king was going to chime in..

GJ

[Video-Link Japan]

Mr Video-Link is an absolute guru!! He has been filming WWJ since forever so not only is he a video guru, he really understand the Keitai Biz..

No kidding. I was wondering when the keitai king was going to chime in..

GJ

Gee Thanks guys..

Yes, .3gp clips will have an impact for all mobile players who are along for the ride. I actually posted this blog entry back in January about having fun with a loaner cam-phone on our annual New Years eve visit to Hakone Shrine:

"On this years ritual trip out to Hakone shrine for New Years eve to drink Amasake by the fire, and listen to the ancient trance-like GaGa-ku music.. I didn't bother to bring my mini-dv camera and *shoot the scene*. How relaxing to just be normal, almost like everyone else, it really was a pleasant change. Even still, being slightly geekish.. I've been playing with the new V601sh cellphone from Vodafone made by Sharp, and had it along to shoot this quick clip. What an impressive little unit - and popular story- with a full 2 mega-pix camera that actually records video in .3gp format, which in effect is readable for most desktop players..!!! I'm thinking that it will become the tool of choice for my next handset sometime soon. I must be becoming more like a local and less like a tourist..!!!"

The original video clip taken from SD Memory card was a .3gp file but I scrubbed it through Premiere to make Win. Media version.. sorry G.J. !!!