I finally got the iPhone 3GS. So long 2006 era Treo. Once I had it in my hand, I pretty much fired up Safari and checked out the mobile video application that we helped The Humane Society get launched.

Then, a day or two later, another FeedRoom customer, Barnes

and Noble, launched their iPhone video application. Didn’t take long for me to download that and begin to explore. Fantastically designed app that accompanies their Website perfectly.  And my favorite part is the mobile video that we’re powering for them.  Just go to the “B&N Studio” option, then pick what you want to watch. An interview with author Eric Bogosian? A 60-second preview for a book you may have just discovered?  Or best yet,

the weekly book-themed show “Tagged!” that they produce in-house?

Regardless, it goes to show how existing video they have on their Website can be seamlessly repurposed for the growing mobile market.  Would you like to do the same? Just give us a call or email. -Brian K.

If you’re looking to build brand equity, add cache to your team, or simply put some really good, informative content on your site, look no further than Aviation Week and Construction for some prime examples. These guys have transformed their print journalists into top-notch video journalists.

In a time when the media industry is going through unprecedented transformation, these properties have led the way in harnessing the real power of video. They’re not just re-purposing existing content by adding a new voiceover to their b-roll, but are actually giving their journalists the tools and knowledge they need to create their own unique and original content. I’ve sat in their offices, and watched them work laptops and cameras. Once a piece is shot and edited, they simply upload their content via our software, no matter how remote they are (hotel, coffeeshop, train), add final metadata touches, and publish it on the spot.

These are great, informative stories, and their passion and efforts are worth watching. Below is one of my favorites.  Have a good weekend.  -Brian K.

My New York: Daniel Libeskind, Pt. 2

I’ll admit it: I’m an iPhone addict. You would be hard pressed to find me without my trusty phone in my pocket - or, more likely, right out in front of me. Because of this it was only natural that I fielded most of our customer’s questions about how to get their FeedRoom-powered video onto these devices.

In a way we’ve been doing this for a long time. We already enable podcasting for many of our clients, including pushing those podcast files and metadata out to the iTunes Store. You’ve been able to search and browse this content via iTunes on your computer or the iTunes app on your phone for years. Most people don’t realize it, but we manage the exchange of information to the iTunes Store on our client’s behalf, so that they can work with their video in one single location - FeedRoom Studio.

However, there was a missing piece of the puzzle - the ability to view these videos within the phone’s Safari browser itself. This is mostly because the iPhone doesn’t play well with Flash video. Keeping that in mind, we worked with the Humane Society to build an in-browser application specifically for iPhone users.

Just point your iPhone to: http://video.hsus.org/

The page will automatically detect that you’re using an iPhone and redirect you. This allows you to browse the content on your phone and watch it with a tap of your finger. The Humane Society took it a step further, allowing the user to browse photos and other content and they even give you the opportunity to donate right from your phone. Now that’s slick!

Another client of ours is working on building a native iPhone application which you’ll be able to download from the App Store. While I can’t provide many details right now, they decided to use XML feeds generated by our system to dynamically update the video content within the app itself. I can’t wait to download it! - Andrew B.

As I head to Vegas for my 18th consecutive NAB, I am curious to see how this economy has affected Sin City.  Sure, I’ve heard occupancy is down, and restaurant reservations are easy, but I’m less concerned about the Strip, and more about the aisles of the convention center.  Who’s downsized?  Who’s pulled out of the show?  Will customers show up?  Or just us vendors?

Each year the show has a theme, (thankfully we’ve finally accepted “convergence”) and do doubt this year’s theme will be ROI.  It’s always been important to any company, and any customer, but it’s the first priority now.  No more “cool” purchases.  We don’t need 100” Plasmas.  We need 42” plasmas for less than the price of airfare to Vegas. And the companies who will send attendees are sending them there with one mission:  find technology that will save us money.  Not just when we buy it, but when we use it.   No doubt they’ll be checking out Web video.  

For a fraction of the cost of satellite feeds or air travel, companies are using online video to reach worldwide employees at a time when communications are critical.  They’re also saving money and time reaching journalists, analysts, investors and customers over the Web.  CEOs are taking stands, defending brands, and explaining strategies.  Check out this great example from Yum! Brands. It’s their 2008 video annual report:  http://www.yum.com/annualreport.  It allows you to do more than just read about their results, you hear from their management team directly.

It’s a tough market out there.  But a very good time for Web video.  See you in Vegas.
-Matt D.