(I received a tip-off about this unique initiative and so thought of sharing it on this blog. )
Open Video Player is a community site dedicated to sharing best practices around video player development. Promoted by Akamai, the global leader in online content delivery networks, Open Video Player is a resource for developers wanting to build online video players using Adobe Flash or Microsoft Silverlight. Resources on the site include source code to build video players using ActionScipt 3 for Adobe Flash / Flex and .Net for Microsoft’s Visual Studio. Other resources include – expert video tutorials on how to utilize Internet standards to build professional-grade players, code & documentation to connect Open Video Player based projects to leading advertising technologies.
Participating in the project are leading advertising technology companies, ad servers, video solution providers and platform companies : 24/7 Real Media, Adobe Corporation, BlackArrow, Clickability, EyeWonder, KickApps, Microsoft Corporation, OpenX, Panache etc.
So why is Akamai doing this? Well, video is a phenomenon on the web and CDNs have been deeply instrumental in getting videos to spread around on the internet. In the process they have had the opportunity to work with top video websites, ad networks etc and collate a knowledge base of delivering high quality consumer video experiences. By utilizing an open source licensing model, branded players can be incorporated into commercial applications without any lockin requirements. And if video spreads, the growth of CDN networks would happen in parallel. In that sense, this initiative can be seen as an attempt by Akamai at promoting PRIMARY demand in video content/delivery- in the hope that its trickle down affect will mean business gains for them in the long term. Not a bad strategy at all. A little removed from the usual quick gain marketing/branding activities that one can think off…
Go here if you want to check out examples of video player applications developed with the Open Video Player project files.
Key Site Components include
Media Framework : This is a resource for the rapid development of video player applications using either Adobe Flash Player or Microsoft Silverlight. The framework is a developer toolkit with player source code, which leverages best practices and open technologies to enable the creation of video player applications for both streaming and progressive download content. Akamai is contributing the Media Framework under an Open Source license to be extended and improved upon by the community.
Media Framework Connectors : Openvideoplayer.com offers sample code-based reference implementations from leading advertising technology companies for easy integration and support of ad formats, ad servers and ad networks.
Developer Forum : A forum staffed by interactive designers and developers within the Adobe Flash Player and Microsoft Silverlight developer community for an open exchange of ideas and expert advice on player development.
Developer Resources : A library of documentation and video tutorials on how to utilize Internet standards to build professional grade online video players.
Quick thoughts: Why is Adobe Flash participating in this? Because they are the overriding choice for online video delivery and would like to be omnipresent. But why is Microsoft SilverLight in this? Probably because they have no other choice. With the kind of head start that Flash has, SilverLight has to latch on to any opportunity that comes their way. Makes sense for both actually.
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Hey Amit,
Funky new layout – congrats! I take it that Webyantra will have more frequent posts from this edition on? All the best!
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