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Microsoft is about to create a competitor of YouTube ! Tim Sneath, Group Manager of the Silverlight development team, aims to create a new experience for users, enabling them to handle 720p video "broadcast-quality clips online"!

Adobe, for its part, is certainly not to look and re-launches with a spectacular new Flash Player update (build 9.0.60.120) , surpassing Microsoft and pointing directly to 1080p !

Multi-threaded video decoding. The VP6 video codec will now run in a separate thread if a multi-core system is detected Which leaves the main thread to do rendering and post processing of the video. With this true 1080p video is now possible on Most modern dual core machines. Also, the responsiveness is improved with this change. The Sorenson codec on ​​the other hand did not get this change for technical reasons.

The latest Flash Player update contains several improvements: enhanced rendering during scaling, support for multi-threaded vector renderer (4 Cores / CPUs), full-screen mode and hardware support for DirectX and OpenGL on Windows on OSX, and much more !

A competition, that between Silverlight and Flash, which is definitely benefits both developers and end users. The progressive approach to high-definition re-opens, however, issues related to DRM (prazialmente already addressed in other posts). The high quality videos, in fact, concerned about the large producers and the studios who fear losing the one hand an opportunity to enter the age of the imported video on the Internet and Net TV, and on the other are terrified by a 'worrying lack of DRM, "only means" capable of ensuring their survival!

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Audio

Continuing the discussion on DRM I would like to do now some considerations on the file formats and what can be "actually bought" and how the Internet and a PC.

First you need to keep in mind that not everything can be "really" bought with the Internet, at least not with the rapid and efficient formula for the download. When the MP3 format began to become popular, it went from 20Mbyte of a song, excerpt from an audio CD, compressed file to 2M, a time-saving download 10 times lower (with variations depending on the length of the song original and the type used MP3 compression). At the time, then, was the standard dial-up modem or 56K, so the MP3 format was a real revolution that has produced all that we see today in music on the Internet radio streaming, iTunes , P2P Applications, ability to listen to hundreds of songs in our car and mobile phone, etc. ...

MP3s downloaded to a PC, these can again be converted to audio CDs and burn, so be played just like an original audio CD and without obligation to the particular devices that can read MP3 compressed format (even though today all latest devices and not only recognize MP3, DivX, AVI, JPG, etc ...). At the same time the network has been able to even find all the kit to play an original disc coopertine so who had time and inclination, could "rebuild" at home a remarkable facsimile of an audio CD, similar to that found in any store. The evolution and the low cost of inkjet printers (as is happening with photography-digital) of blank CDs and cases, have resulted in an increase of Piracy Audio esponensiale is that the "do-it-yourself production" of CD! You can even recreate the print on the blank CD superfiecie, making the final product substantially identical to the one purchased in the store (or purchased by mail)!
In practice, in short, with minimal expense to recreate the complete package of an audio CD at home, without discotics too original. We understand how all this has had and still has a considerable impact on the entire recording industry worldwide. Hence the protective systems become a central element, probably lagging the phenomenon itself.

Software Applications

I purchase and download the procedure has its maximum expression with the software applications. When you purchase software, of course, what matters most is just the "file" box and kit, in this case, are completely irrelevant. In the DRM software applications are conducive atmosphere as the only device that can work is the Personal Computer. At the time of purchase, in addition, the end user indicates the type of personal computer and operating system that has, so "verticalization" all security procedures: how the activation keys, often working only for that special "edition "application.
In the near future, however, the inclusion of operating systems in mobile devices (see the Apple iPhone) could impact on the procedures for software protection. It is clear that, in short, you can use, for example, Adobe Photoshop on our phone (or something similar, given the evolution of next generation mobile phone)! In this thing we will be forced to purchase separate licenses for use on personal computers and various mobile devices (and not) in our possession?
The breath of fresh air brought by Web 2.0 has given way to a series of "beta" designed to "move" the software, as we know, directly on the network. Adobe, for example, has announced a version of Photoshop can be accessed via your Internet browser. Different devices accessing the network will have the opportunity to use the same software. And the licenses? How is this managed?

Film video

For video, or a movie praticolare, the speech is very different! First of all, you have not found a compression format that it can be really compared to MP3. Although significant progress has been made, the video, at least to a certain quality (comparable to the famous VHS), is "heavy" and difficult to treat, both in terms of memory usage both in terms of computing time. A piece of music lasts a couple of minutes, the second less than the second, a film, by contrast, reaches an average of 90 minutes! In the end it was the reason for the development and dissemination of the elder brother of the CD: the DVD. The CD was designed for music, so basically 700Mb were sufficient, but with the video we wanted something bigger and the DVD was the answer!
When we have to do with the video the only task of scanning (conversion from raw format to a compressed video format such as AVI or MP4) computation time required machines and out of the reach of most people. Download a movie from the Internet to be able to burn still requires discrete time, which often discourage the most from even trying.
In the movies in DVD format, then digital has opened up new forms of presentation and content. In a DVD, in fact, is not normally present only the film but are placed in support subtitles in various languages ​​(which occupy space), audio tracks in different languages ​​(which take up space ..), special inserts, additional content, final altertnativi , custom framing, cards of the characters, usable sections of a normal PC! So a great amount of data that, if they should be downloaded from the Internet quickly, require a banda "dream"! However with time, when the connection speed will increase and the computers will be faster, but these obstacles are overcome and the ability to "buy" a movie from the network may become feasible. Do not forget, however, that the era of high definition is practically begun. A high-definition movie evidently contains much more information than those available today. We witness, therefore, to a spiral between the increase in the size of the video and the Internet bandwidth available.

The metamorphosis of the CD into DVD, which has initiated the era of digital video, is to be found today in the transition from DVD to Blu-Ray (Sony) or HD-DVD (Toshiba), technological advances required by the amount of data that high definition brings with it!

Most likely, therefore, in the short term, the convergence of the Internet / DVD will be difficult, at best restricted to a few privileged users, as already happens with Sky (which offers its high definition) in respect of DTT, without the traditional resolutions.

The first steps, then, moved by the latest Microsoft Xbox 360 and Sony Playstation 3, indicate that HD is ready to spread like wildfire, helped by information already disseminated in PC monitors 19-inch resolution 1280 × 1024 a little 'everywhere!

Publishing

The publishing industry, on the other hand, has certainly suffered less damage than everyone. Replicate a book, in fact, it is not convenient. A book lives because of its shape, the quality of its paper, the size of layout, for the peculiarity of the press, all features difficult to replicate in today's home environment. Recreating a book, after downloading from the Internet, is far from simple. Also "digitize" a book is not so easy, unless someone invents a "3D scanner" able to "copy" a text without opening it! Despite these characteristics peculiar happen to find some "chunk" of text on the net! But the damage is minimal, even on the Internet, because it is still very uncomfortable, at least for certain content: essays, novels, comics and more.

Experience of publishing in the end we see some indication of the possible solution to the problem of DRM in audio, video and software in general. Protecting a file compartment has long been a result. There is always someone ready to undermine the sophisticated safeguards are used. It is obvious that if you can not protect a file from the copy, then worth prevent the use, forget it and concentrate instead on the "why" you buy an original product. Entice the end user to purchase a legal copy of a CD, a DVD or software, can be done by offering those features that can not be replicated by a "pirate copy"!
For software, for example, assistance, access to restricted areas on the network, gadgets, special promotions on other products, free invitations to events and presentations are some of the "technical" or activities that can lead to ' purchase of an "original" an end-user.

So I think that the solution of the problem may lie in the same end user. This must be willing to buy a product, make sure you get the "service" at the end, could not possibly get because they do not "replicable."

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Premise

Since the topic long enough, I decided to divide it into several posts I will publish as.

Introduction

From the IT point of view, and in relation to new technologies, advertising and DRM (Digital Right Management) have much in common, especially today where they both play a key role in building the Net TV platform. In particular, they need to exist, to play an active yet non-invasive.

Both try to not be "bypassed"!
Both protect investments!

These problems, in the end, there have always been, but what has changed today?
Why is it so difficult to protect a resource or place an adv of a brand?

The main feature of the Net TV is to be an Internet-based technology, is extremely accessible for those who do, both for those who are benefiting. The absence, therefore, of particular devices for its existence make it a very open system, subject to the known rules of the Network.
The tools to deliver Net TV are all available directly on the Internet: Video Player, streaming systems, director of rooms, etc. ... Capture a video, then, with a webcam or mobile phone, an activity that is within everyone's reach. In this beta, so everyone can contribute to the evolution of Net TV, developing components or simply giving their views on whether or not a particular system.

DRM

Protecting digital content from copies indiscrimanate is an ancient problem, going back to the early days of computing. If at first the issue was essentially the so-called applications, computer programs to be clear, today - in an era of mass digitization - where everything is precisely Digitized (photos, movies, music, books, ...) the problem is taking on the appearance of a nightmare, both for the authors of the Work and for end users!
Although it is possible to protect digital content, new forms of use of these contents have completely disjointed system that, despite some limitations, has allowed so far to limit illegal copies of movies on DVD or Playstation games, and has guaranteed economic transitions on the Internet or ATM citizens. The question, therefore, is not so much in the protection system, intended as a cipher, but in its location.

The software (understood as an application), contained in an environment like the Internet has completely changed the system of standards adopted to date. The standards, in fact, have provided a real opportunity to market a product while helping security systems.

When Philips invented the Compact Disk (CD), to understand, this was adopted as the new standard for support - and listening - music. Any electronics company could create their own CD players (paying the patent to Philips), but had to respect certain formats: standard indeed! If the electronics industry to adopt each of our standards, that is, its unique features and techniques in the production of a CD - and therefore also for the discs themselves - no one would listen to more music! Depending on the type of CD you purchased, you should find the corresponding disc and the end ... hell!
The standards are therefore essential for the market and the spread of a product, as they ensure the end user. Any CD player will be able to read our favorite record without forcing us to change the whole - or almost - stereo!
Recently, for example, the controversy Blu-Ray (Sony) and HD-DVD (Toshiba), focused in the right direction to create systems that, although different, would allow not to require such a drastic end users. Moreover, not always the best technology is the one that will prevail in the market. There are so many, in fact, the variables that come into play in the affirmation of one standard over another, as happened, for example, with the system in VHS VCRs!

To date, however, despite the electronics companies are certainly not a few, proposals for new technologies and standards are maintained in a control. Not all companies, in fact, investing in "research push" and "pure research". So in the end, are a little 'always the same companies to innovate in a swing that gives time to the market to consume the old technologies and open doors to new ones.

In doing so, it has an important opportunity to agree on where to put the protection systems and choose what type of protection taken. All CD, for example, are equal, as they are in fact the readers. It becomes, therefore, quite natural to find an agreement to enter code and controls in these devices.

What would happen if each of us to realize a new standard?

In fact it is exactly what is happening today in the Internet age. Technology has simplified both in terms of Hardware and Software from the point of view. The audio formats available today (such as video) are numerous, nonstante - then - only a few can really define standards.

If we add that the "real world" has gone to the "virtual" - or digital - the Internet, we understand how easy it is for anyone to access, quickly and globally, to technologies previously unthinkable. Today anyone with a little effort, can achieve its Video Player on the Internet. At one time, on the contrary, make their own laser reader in the garage was an investment to say the least risky, both in terms of cost and time!

Last but not least, then, all this is added the problem of cross-media, or the possibility of using the same digital content across multiple physical devices and various even once! The explosion of this exceptional ability was occasioned by the spread of the MP3 music format (and derivatives) and the simultaneous increase of devices able to read it. An MP3 file, in fact, can be heard on a personal computer, a gaming console, a DVD Video, a stereo with CD player, portable CD player, an Apple iPod, a cell phone and all other devices - mobile - in continuous production (USB keys with built-in headphones, like iPod, ...). In short, a real boon for the end user, a nightmare for Authors!

Attempts to put the DRM in the neo-musical world has proven quite disastrous. The use of protective systems, such as that offered by Apple's iTunes, in fact limit the freedom of the end user can use the "purchased product" as it sees fit: if you buy a song on a particular store, I can not be forced to listen only with special tools (hardware or software), the only ones to determine its authenticity. This way is not the concept of "acquisition of rights of use" of the song, in this case, it would be more correct to say that you buy a service (limited) listening to a song with special hardware and software . All this brings with it the additional problem: the guarantee - minimum - the temporal continuity of what you bought! Some people, for example, can still hear the "old vinyl" to 33 laps, paradoxically, are proving more longevity than you might think. If the store I must provide the player (that binds me to certain ways of listening to validate the DRM), when the player is no longer available what happens to the piece I bought? If I find myself in circumstances, which can not meet the required mode of listening, how can I listen to my song? From this perspective it would be more correct to speak of "throwaway songs", with a maximum charge of 5 cents and the euro - and more - today!
This scenario is devastating in cross-media perspective: if you buy a piece of music I want and pretend to listen to him on the phone instead of on your home stereo, or any other device available. If not "kill" this era of mobile daughter fantastic opportunity! Mobile, therefore, does not mean "mobile" or "phone". More and more devices "mobile" laptops, iPods, notebook, pen-drive, etc. ... It is therefore not possible in this scenario, buying the same piece of music for different devices, just to give "credit" to DRM . No one and no one would, in fact, it will.

Today it is not possible to know with certainty where and with what content will be enjoyed! (A matter of extreme importance that invests, as we shall see later, is the type of content that advertising)

Moreover, all these mobile devices, along with the fixed (such as personal computers, next-generation TVs, DVD / CD / DivX / xxx-Player), are interconnected in various ways: through the Internet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, P2P with a lead in peer-to-peer!

Mobility also becomes co-operation between devices or aggregation of different devices, so you can use the iPod as the audio player and send the music to a notebook or un'impianto stereo!

It is therefore unlikely to find the uniqueness of the device in this era!

That alone would be sufficient to demolish the DRM forever, as rights to operate the system must be present on both the device and the digital content. On this last element, then the question becomes even more complex. First of all, we speak broadly of files, they both audio, video, applications, PDF documents or whatever. Second, by definition, a file copy, and is extremely easy to carry anywhere, as we have already mentioned. Third, the attack of a hacker, then altering the file itself, it is more affordable than ever!

At the end of the scenario that you paint the eyes of the authors is as follows:

• Inability to act on the device, as this is too diverse and changing the lock would be the end of the hall portability understood as mobility
• Inability to act on the file, as this too can be manipulated and accessible

In short, being a human being, in the end, the purchaser (the person, the end user, who buys the rights to use), for having to engage fineremo under the skin (or take with us) to validate an RFID Our digital content! This way only someone who has this "digital-signature" can enjoy that content on any device. However, even this solution, which apparently simplifies the issues of device and file-content, may have important drawbacks, such as to prevent the use of the content in our absence - that is, in law and therefore the approval of DRM. In practice, if someone wants to enjoy the content we buy, we are forced to lend our RFID-DRM, colleague, friend or relative who is! But depriving yourself!

All devices, therefore, should support RFID, performing a cross-check between digital content and information contained in RFID itself. A third inconvenience, however, that does not solve the problem! It would not take much to hack the system, either on the file-content, or RFID.

Moreover, in case of software devices, as Player on your Internet browser for example, the 'hacking would be immediate!

The experience gained from years of software piracy (piracy in general or in any case, the DVD and other formats) now makes it possible to know, at least in advance, what can be bypassed or not. Excluded, therefore, proprietary systems or weak diffusion (such as Freeview or Sky prepaid card), which are now a world apart, protect digital content from the network, it is audio or video, which seem difficult, if not impossible.

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Update: Not Available

After the huge success of BlogBabel Rank (joke ) - I propose a new antipixel able to display the Google PageRank. On the web there are many services that offer the display and check the Google PageRank. Often, however, "give numbers" or do not work for several reasons. I had entered one myself, but lately, a little 'because of Dreamhost (my provider), a little' strange for reasons connected to the network, he started to not work!

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The group HTML.it offers a truly interesting that binds, although it is not explicitly mentioned, the new Net TV now invades the Web site The new ictv.it just released itself as "free-on-demand video platform focused on technology and digital life. "

Contributions videos are really interesting, well produced, each with useful and accessible text transcript. There are all Web 2.0 tools, such as the ability to comment on a video, search for TAG and the list of related videos. Finally point out the short, but interesting presentation of the new and extraordinary, Adobe Flash CS3:

- Link to Video

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There are two ways to use the very useful function setInterval() in ActionScript 2.0:

This is the most used, at least before you try this, also remember (nearly identical) the Javascript function of the same name (all ECMA). This mode is also easy to remember and requires a few lines of code - function name, number of milliseconds, ...

However, when we stop to take and pass tests to develop a consistent, the procedures set forth above may be uncomfortable, especially when running the code of our function.

Initially more expensive alternative is to use this mode:

In this case we pass to the function setInterval() an object and not a "pointer" to a function. The second parameter, in this case, is the name (it is a String) method to invoke the object passed. The rest is the same ... The benefit is immediately apparent in these two examples:

EXAMPLE 1

EXAMPLE 2

. The 'partial function as 1, the pointer in the sense that this will be undefined . che gli abbiamo passato! The 'example 2, however, leads as a context ( this ) object obj that we spent! . This can be extremely useful as it allows us to add - at will - Methods and - above all - property object obj , so you can access this information by our function (or method) call to setInterval() . For example:

If you prefer this method, that we prefer not to remain without this valued, we are necessarily forced to create an object? Absolutely not! Assuming that the top level (or _root _level0) is an object that behaves like a global context (or parent) when we insert the example code in the first frame, we can use this pointer to get a behavior "objects" without creating any , because when we create a new object or an already beautiful ready?!
Here's how to write the 'example 1 so much better:

Of sonseguenza:

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It is an interesting research output on the amount (not to mention some of the quality) of Ajax tools, in particular Frameworks , which have been developed in the last years, both as a pure client-side JavaScript to server-side layers engineered, the original page, continuously updated, you can find it here on Google Spreadsheet . The research starts from AjaxPatterns where are listed all the Frameworks were examined.
As the author points out ( 210 Ajax Frameworks and Counting ) data are not precise to the thousandth, then We will now see as indicative, however, provide some interesting data.

In terms of pure Javascript is interesting to note the 19 remoting, which shows a strong focus on the Ajax technique in the strict sense, therefore to use libraries that have concentrated control of XMLHttpRequest . The Multipurpose, of course, are the favorites, as they ensure the inclusion of a package that - in theory - it's a bit 'all over.

On the Server even large software companies and computer giants have indeed indulged lately, it wins on all Java! However the people of the Internet meets with PHP, open source excellence. Microsoft and are thus similar to the technologies behind PHP. NET etc. ...

I took the trouble to link the various categories so you can see the data aggiornari and have Frameworks also a commentary on the individual listed. A look can be interesting and instructive.

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Update: BlogBabel closed - all the services, widgets and plugins are no longer active

Sotto consiglio di P|xel ho creato un Plugin per WordPress dell'antipixel di BlogBabel , così da poterlo usare in modo standard. Visto che a P|xel gli sono venute in menu alcune modifiche interessanti, passo a lui il testimone.

• Download BlogBabel Rank Plugin 1.0 (blogbabelrank.zip)

Installazione
All'interno del pacchetto zip è presente un solo file (blogbabelrank.php). Copiare questo file sotto la classica cartella wp-content/plugins ed attivarlo.
Il codice da inserire in WordPress (nella sidebar o altrove) è il seguente:

Al posto di “undolog” inserite il vostro codice identificativo recuperandolo dalle vostre statistiche di BlogBabel .

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What's up? Internet impazzisce? MyBlogLog emette pagine di Yahoo ! Bravi, molto probabilmente le voci su una loro acquisizione erano più che fondate!

Ma quello che mi interessa è sottolineare quanto la rete 2.0 sia fragile , almeno per noi comuni blogger. Da ieri, infatti, sono stati riscontrati dei problemi con il BlogBabel Rank che ho realizzato. What has happened? Il servizio viene fornito da undolog.com, che è posizionato su un Web Server di DreamHost . Da ieri, senza avere spiegazioni sensate dall'assistenza tecnica, il sito di BlogBabel ( http://it.blogbabel.com ) non è più raggiungibile dai server DreamHost !!

Ho dovuto, quindi, spostare temporaneamente i file di servizio su un altro Hosting, in particolare su un mio altro dominio ( http://www.e-lementi.com ).

All'inizio pensavo fosse un problema di librerie curl/php, quelle usate per “catturare” il rank di BlogBabel . Ma poi – insieme all'assistenza tecnica di DreamHost – mi sono reso conto che solo BlogBabel era irrangiungibile (e forse qualcun'altro), come se fosse stato “bannato” dai Web Server di DreamHost . Lo stesso identico codice, infatti, funzionava fino a qualche giorno fa e continua a funzionare sui server di HostingVirtuale – il provider del dominio di salvataggio che ho dovuto usare.

Morale di questa orrenda favola è che fino a quando DreamHost non “sbanna” la connessione verso BlogBabel (e chissà a quanti altri domini) dovrò lasciare i servizi su HostingVirtuale ! Tuttavia per chi utilizza il BlogBabel Rank non cambia nulla!! Ho “patchato” tutto e re-diretto verso HostingVirtuale , quindi tranquilli.

Comunque non fornirò mai più un servizio a nessuno finchè non cambierò Hosting!!

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Aggiornamento: Blogbabel ha chiuso – tutti i servizi, widget e plugin non sono più attivi

Voglio raccontarvi come è nato l'antipixel di BlogBabel , le tecniche di programmazione utilizzate e il prezioso contributo, diretto e indiretto, di voi Blogger, che ha reso tutto questo particolarmente divertente!

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