XSTREAM PRODUCTS

VBrick MPEG-2 Transcoder
www.vbrick.com
VBrick Systems has unveiled what it claims is the world's firstreal-time MPEG-2 to Microsoft's Windows Media transcoder. The VBXcoderenables customers to deploy one-way or two-way MPEG video with trueDVD-quality throughout their existing enterprise networks and streamthat same video over the Internet.
VBXcoder includes advanced features that enable streaming video via theInternet automatically, on a scheduled basis or at will. The product istargeted at enterprises that demand high-quality MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 livevideo for education, security and monitoring, and other criticalapplications, but also need to reach employees, customers or others whohave less than full broadband connectivity.
VBXcoder supports more than 1,000 simultaneous viewers and supportsInternet streaming rates from 28.8 Kbps for dial-up viewers to 384 Kbpsfor Cable and DSL viewers. VBXcoder is fully compatible with MicrosoftWindows Media server and can be used as the source for streaming videoto third-party Web-hosting companies.

Pinnacle StreamFactory X2 Pro
www.pinnaclesys.com
This top-of-the-line model of Pinnacle Systems’ StreamFactory WebMedia Encoder ($18,995) is a premium-level encoder that adds a DV inputand HiQ audio/video pre-processor as standard equipment. In addition,the system comes bundled with Sorenson Broadcaster for Windowsstand-alone application, including support for Sorensen Video3Professional Product. With this addition, StreamFactory X2 Pro can beconfigured to stream in QuickTime and Windows Media and RealNetworksformats – all from a single, compact 1-RU chassis.
“The StreamFactory X2 Pro reduces a rack full of disparateoutboard gear into a sleek, powerful streaming engine,” says GregLowitz, general manager of webcasting solutions at Pinnacle Systems.“Now CDNs, telcos, broadcasters and corporate enterprises can usePinnacle’s compact solution for all their real-time broadbandencoding needs – on or off the road.”
The HiQ pre-processor drives up streaming quality while reducing CPUload, especially when processing noisy or high-motion video. Images arecleaner and lines are sharper with HiQ’s precision de-interlacerand median noise filters. HiQ also includes an embedded audio signalprocessor to provide real-time QuadBand™ audio dynamicsprocessing rivaling far more costly standalone units. A client andremote-side application, HiQ AudioMaster™, lets users createcustom audio presets with control over dozens of parameters includingdigital parametric EQ, automatic gain control (AGC), noise gating,compressing, limiting and more. HiQ is ideal for live webcasts andcorporate events and improves sound quality and voice intelligibilityat all bit rates.

SGI Origin 300 Server
www.sgi.com
The SGI Origin) 300 server is a high-performance, low-cost Unixsupercomputer targeted at technical midrange and media applications,including streaming applications.
With its modular design, the server is able to pack tremendousperformance into compact, rack-mounted systems. The base server moduleholds two or four MIPS® 64-bit processors, up to 4GB of memory andtwo disk drives in only 3.5 inches of rack space, or about the size ofa briefcase. Optional components add I/O bandwidth, high-throughput SGITotal Performance 900 (TP900) storage arrays, or additional systembandwidth for scalability up to 32 processors in a single,shared-memory system. Two 32-processor SGI Origin 300 systems fit intoa single, industry-standard rack.
Digital content providers can use the SGI Origin 300 server and the newSGI Total Performance 900 storage system to offer video streamingcapabilities on demand over networks. The new solution reportedlyoffers the greatest stream density in the industry, with up to 3,600hours of video-on-demand-the equivalent of 1,800 two-hourmovies-available from a single full-size rack.
With a base configuration of two processors, 512MB memory and twofront-accessible system drives, the new SGI Origin 300 server startsunder $24,000 (U.S. list price) and offers independent scalability ofI/O bandwidth, in-rack storage and computational power. A fullyconfigured SGI Origin 300 system with 32 processors, 32GB memory andover a terabyte of storage sells for approximately $500,000 (U.S. listprice).

Strata 3Dpro Version 3.6
www.strata.com
Branded by the company as the Rich Media Edition of Strata 3Dpro,Version 3.6 features the ability to render 3D images and animations andexport them as Macromedia Flash files and other vector formats for theweb or for print. The program produces images in both pixels (jpeg andvideo) and now vector formats such as Macromedia Flash that are smallenough to stream even over modem connections.
Strata 3Dpro’s new capabilities are gained by the incorporationof the Swift 3D PowerModule, which utilizes RAViX II renderingtechnology from Electric Rain Inc. RAViX II is the industry leadingsolution for creating high-quality, low bandwidth, scaleable 3D vectoranimations for Flash-enabled Websites.
Strata 3D has the most intuitive, elegant interface in the industry andis the natural choice for designers who need full-up 3D capabilitiesright out of the box and want to be producing work right away. Theentire Strata 3D product line offers the perfect balance between powerand simplicity, and now Strata 3Dpro opens the door to the ongoing richmedia explosion. For more information about Strata 3Dpro visit ourwebsite at www.strata.com.

Digital Island 2Way Web Services
www.digitalisland.net
Digital Island’s 2Way Web Services are designed to helpenterprises increase the profitability and performance of their onlineoperations while decreasing the costs. As the 2Way Web Services arm ofCable & Wireless, Digital Island will operate and manage astandardized portfolio of Web services that include all the managedhosting and content delivery needs of current and future customers.Digital Island is also announcing new customers of its 2Way WebServices including Cisco Networking Academy, Pearson and Walt DisneyInternet Group.
2Way Web Services are reliable, secure and global infrastructureservices that support multiple Internet business models including addriven, pay to view, pay to download and subscription based services.2Way Web Services are modular in nature and can be assembled touniquely meet the needs of customers with highly interactive andtransaction-oriented application requirements. Because 2Way WebServices are modular and able to be customized, other web services fromDigital Island or other companies can be easily accommodated, whichfurther lowers the development costs associated with ongoing e-businessinitiatives. As a result, 2Way Web Services help reduce lifecycle costsassociated with conducting e-business.

Envivio ISO/MPEG-4 complete media player
www.envivio.com
EnvivioTV is reportedly the world's first ISO/MPEG-4 complete mediaplayer, supporting streaming, local playback and digital rightsprotection of MPEG-4 audio, video, and mixed media streams for theInternet and broadcast networks. The EnvivioTV player is availabletoday for download from the Envivio web site.
EnvivioTV is the first MPEG-4 player available implementing the MPEG-4Advanced2D graphics profile, providing content designers with theability to create standards-based mixed media content. Standards-basedmixed media provides content providers with the capability to stream orlocally play rich media content based on the ISO/MPEG-4 open standard.Existing content such as audio, video, graphics, text and 2D animations(such as Macromedia Flash) can be easily converted into a single MPEG-4file with the software solution Envivio sells today for production anddistribution of MPEG-4 content. The MPEG-4 file or stream can then bedistributed over virtually any network and played on any MPEG-4compliant device, which gives content providers and distributionnetworks a single, non-proprietary standard for worldwide multimediadistribution.
EnvivioTV is also the first MPEG-4 standards based plug-in to theQuickTime and Real players. This allows MPEG-4 media to play in theleading streaming media player platforms without requiring the viewerto necessarily download new viewing programs. Content distributors canensure users will experience the same presentation if they use eitherReal or QuickTime. By providing a layer of interoperability that worksbetween clients, content providers have the capability to decreaseencoding and distribution costs.

Amnis LivePlayer 2.0
www.amnisinc.com
Amnis Systems Inc. (formerly Optivision, Inc.) has introducedLivePlayer 2.0 Streaming Media Desktop Player, a software-only livestreaming, broadcast-quality playback application that delivers desktopaccess to live or stored video content. LivePlayer 2.0, with its newestGUI interface, enables enterprises to receive, play, and record live,multi-cast and stored video content that meets both the Motion PictureExperts Group (MPEG)-1 and MPEG-2 industry standards, without addingdesktop PC hardware.
"There is pent-up demand for broadcast quality streaming video in theenterprise," says Michael Liccardo, Amnis Systems chairman, presidentand CEO. "We see companies requiring a playback system that can deliverbroadcast quality video to the desktop. With LivePlayer 2.0, Amnishelps enterprises to tap the full potential of their networks withoutrequiring major infrastructure modifications. This is a giant stepforward for the network video industry."

DPS dpsNetStreamer Expandable Web Encoder
www.dps.com
The dpsNetStreamer is a stand-alone, professional, web encoding systemthat enables users to encode live video and audio in real time,providing as many as six simultaneous streams in RealNetworks RealVideoand Microsoft Windows Media formats through a single, intuitive, remotecontrollable user interface. dpsNetStreamer features comprehensiveprofessional I/O, input video proc amp controls, and input audiocontrols with VU meters. Dual processors are standard, providingmaximum performance. The rugged 1RU and 2RU configurations featureoptimized ventilation and a heavy-duty power supply, ideal formission-critical professional rack-mount applications.
The dpsNetStreamer is fully expandable, with support for new encodingformats through software upgrades. By adding the dpsVelocity(tm)non-linear editing and webcasting software and other optional systemcomponents, dpsNetStreamer is easily upgradeable to a complete, livewebcasting production system or an on-demand content creationworkstation, with the ability to combine live sources with pre-recordedfootage, transitions and titles during a live webcast.

LiveWave All-in-One, Remote-Controlled Streaming Video Encoderand Server
www.livewave.com
The LiveWave CC-100-LE™ system is barely larger than a handheldCD player but enables businesses and consumers to quickly and easilyset up their own remote-controlled video camera and server/encodersystem to broadcast high-resolution streaming video over the Internetor private networks.
The complete CC-100-LE package is available for $4995 and includes allthe server/encoder hardware and LiveWave's innovative compression,streaming and remote control software. The compact LE is aneasy-to-implement solution for video conferencing, distance learningand telemedicine applications as well as a content generation tool forbroadcasters or Internet entertainment sites. The LE can also be usedfor businesses wanting to upgrade and enhance their existing security,monitoring or surveillance applications delivering streaming video toeither their existing web site or private network. The LE systemsupports numerous broadcast, industrial and CCTV robotic video camerapackages.
LiveWave's patent-pending remote control software allows the camerasto be driven by remote users over IP with full motion features, such assmooth zoom, focus, pan and tilt. The LE can be managed and operated byan administrator or director with password protection to overridecamera control, set "camera driver" durations, or adjust camerafunctions. The LE controls several videoconferencing cameras and can beupgraded to support several CCTV/industrial and broadcast cameras fromleading manufacturers.

Eyematic Xpression
www.eyematic.com
Built upon Eyematic’s patented biometrics and computer visionsoftware engine, Xpression is a new 3D facial animation program thatmakes it easy to create 3D characters for the Web. Using a camcorder orany standard video camera attached to a Windows PC, users can create ananimated character simply by looking into the attached camera andspeaking. The facial movements captured by the camera are transferredin realtime to a 3D animated face. Human eye, eyebrow, nose, mouth,chin, and head movements are automatically animated without facialmarkers, motion-capture systems, or rendering. The resulting animationcan be saved to disk or sent in real-time over the Web, even overlow-bandwidth connections.

RichFX Version 3.0
www.richfx.com
This latest version of RichFX’s tool for creating interactive 3Denvironments on the web offers a number of enhancements that make iteasier for users to create, update, and manage rich media websites. Forexample, the new version lets users dynamical configure and update both3D and 2D representations of products within a 3D environment; quicklymodify product displays or change in-store banners, posters, or othermerchandising materials within a 3D environment; and create and deliversingle product presentations using a standard HTTP server, eliminatingthe need for any customized server software.