I just opened a free account with ComVu’s PocketCaster:
In other words, I can broadcast video live (with a delay) directly from my cell phone to any Internet equipped computer worldwide.
I suppose this shouldn’t be a surprise. I already upload every piece of video I shout with my cellphone directly to YouTube (in a private, not public, directory) using simple and free software from Shozu.
Where this is different is, if you’re looking at the right web page and I start ‘broadcasting’, you’re going to see it right then and there. It doesn’t make any difference where I am or what’s going on. At the ballgame, at a concert, overloooking the nuclear sub base- it makes no difference. You see it (reasonably close to) live.
The quality isn’t all that great. What I see, coming through at&t’s G3 data network, is pixelated and choppy. However, if it’s a situation where content trumps technical quality, this is perfect.
With this software up and running, I realize more than ever my Samsung Blackjack wasn’t designed to be a video camera! It’s a cellphone with a camera added on as an afterthought. Why else would the screen go blank (as all cell screens do after a while) while I’m shooting video?
For TV stations, this definitely unlocks the ability to have cheap and dirty live coverage for minimal cost. Luckily, the poor quality will keep this from being overused, except where the story itself is compelling.
Anyway, I’ll keep playing with it and let you know if I figure anything out… like how this company plans on making money.
“For TV stations, this definitely unlocks the ability to have cheap and dirty live coverage for minimal cost. Luckily, the poor quality will keep this from being overused, except where the story itself is compelling.”
Nooooooooooooooooooo! Don’t give the managers any ideas! It’s bad enough some stations are going to OMBs, but now cell phones?!
-A
If you like all of these things then you will really love blogTV.com!
Come check it out and let the site speak for itself. If you have any questions about it then you can feel free to contact me (community developer) at community@blogtv.com
I keep saying it, and I’m still waiting – instead of offering me a good phone with a crappy camera built in, I’d like to see someone bring to market a good camera with a crappy phone built in.