Multimedia, AV Archive

Six Months with Sony Vegas

Eugenia Loli 2007-11-14 Multimedia, AV 30 Comments

Having this recent infatuation with video, I embarked on a trip in the video editor world for Mac, Windows and Linux a few months ago. After days of intense searching and testing last June, I decided on the Windows platform and Sony Vegas. Vegas is one of the quickly rising video applications on the market today. This is an introduction of the application and the features that sets it apart from all the rest.

The New School of Videographers

Eugenia Loli 2007-11-03 Multimedia, AV 40 Comments

At OSNews we are committed on being geeky. However, "being a geek" does not always constitute a person who just loves technology. There are geeks about literature (who do you think wrote "Shrek"?), and of course, art geeks. This last kind enjoys a new booming lately with the commoditization of HD camcorders. The following editorial includes suggestions on camera choices, video editors and delivery formats, and has HD video samples of hobbyist cameramen that many professionals could be jealous of.

The Linux-based Neuros OSD

Eugenia Loli 2007-10-26 Multimedia, AV 15 Comments

Neuros Technology did it again: one more of their interesting media products hits the market, and this time it uses Linux. We used the Neuros OSD this past week and here's what we think about it.

The Helios-Labs H4000 DVD/DivX Player

Eugenia Loli 2007-10-24 Multimedia, AV 21 Comments

Helios Labs sent us in their H4000 Upscaling DVD/DivX player for an introduction. While at OSNews we are mostly focused on system software, it is interesting to check out such devices from time to time, because of their added video features over the stock products usually found in the market.

Review: The JVC GR-D347US Camcorder

Eugenia Loli 2007-09-26 Multimedia, AV 22 Comments

Geeks.com sent us in the JVC GR-D347US camcorder for a review. Read on for more and check some test footage for this cheap digital camcorder, possibly the cheapest miniDV model in the market today.

Gnash, the GNU Flash Player, 0.8.1 Released

Submitted by deanna 2007-08-29 Multimedia, AV 34 Comments

The fourth alpha release of Gnash has just been made at version 0.8.1. Gnash is a GPL'd Flash movie player and browser plugin for Firefox, Mozilla, Konqueror, and Opera. Gnash supports many SWF v7 features and ActionScript2 classes. Gnash also runs on many GNU/Linux distributions, embedded GNU/Linux, FreeBSD, NetBSD, OpenBSD, non x86 processors, and 64 bit architectures. Ports to Darwin and Windows are in progress for a future release. The plugin works best with Firefox 1.0.4 or newer, and should work in any Mozilla based browser. There is also a standalone player for GNOME or KDE based desktops.

‘Linux Media Center Better Than Windows Media Center?’

Submitted by irbis 2007-08-29 Multimedia, AV 65 Comments

"With the release of Windows Vista, using your PC to watch and record TV has become a whole lot easier. Now, for the first time, Windows Media Center comes bundled with Home Premium and Ultimate versions of the standard Desktop operating system. However, Vista is pricey, and its form and function are of course dictated by Microsoft. If you want full control over your Home Theater PC, and don’t want to have to pay Microsoft for it, then Linux is a more than capable alternative base for building a system of your own."

Review: iLO LCT32HA36 HDTV

Eugenia Loli 2007-08-02 Multimedia, AV 26 Comments

Let's back up for a moment. It's 2007. Most geeks like you and me already use dual monitor setups with their multi-purpose desktop machines. However, have you ever asked yourself if that second monitor should be that old XGA LCD monitor from your previous PC, or a big, impressive flat panel television? Geeks.com sent us in an iLO 32" HDTV and we review it exactly as such: a computer monitor!

Multimedia Impressions of the GeForce 8600GTS Card

Eugenia Loli 2007-07-19 Multimedia, AV 47 Comments

Geeks.com sent us over one of the best video cards on the market today: the GeForce 86000GTS with 256 MB VRAM and a crazy fast 675 MHz engine clock. The card is on the high side of the middle-end graphics cards compared to others available and it's currently selling below $200. In this article we will test the multimedia performance of the card as used in video playback and rendering support rather than its already well-benchmarked multiple times so far and well-known gaming abilities.

Open Sound System To Be Released Under CDDL/GPLv2

Submitted by Dubhthach 2007-06-07 Multimedia, AV 38 Comments

From information posed on the OpenSolaris discussion boards 4Front Technologies plan to offer the source code of OSS v4 under both the CDDL and GPLv2 licenses. "The rumors are true, we're planning on open sourcing Open Sound (on June 14th). We will be offering the source code under CDDL to Solaris and GPLv2 for Linux BSD, OpenServer etc."

Review: The OGG-Compatible iRiver E10

Eugenia Loli 2007-05-06 Multimedia, AV 45 Comments

Everytime we feature a multimedia device review here at OSNews the question is always the same: "...but does it support OGG?". Well, this time we do have such a device in our lab to test out for you. Geeks.com sent us in the iRiver E10, a powerful multimedia music and video player.

Ask OSNews: What’s Your Favorite Movie?

Adam Scheinberg 2007-04-28 Multimedia, AV 240 Comments

From time to time, we like take a break from technology news to query our readers to find out details about our community. Previously, we asked you to show us your desktop. This time, we ask "What's your favorite movie?" Is it sci-fi or comedy? Action or maybe drama? Share your favorites so we can check them out! I'll start: while I'm tempted to say The Red Violin, I'm not sure there's a better screenplay than The Usual Suspects.

Windows Media Player Firefox Plugin

Submitted by diegocg 2007-04-17 Multimedia, AV 42 Comments

Microsoft has released a Windows Media Player plugin for Firefox. The plugin obviously only works on Windows. "We couldn't respond as quickly as we would have liked to (we had to get Windows Vista out the door!), but now that it's shipped, the team has moved its attention to getting Firefox users up and running. This week we are happy to say that we have a new plug-in for Firefox that makes WMP work once again."

VLC: Beyond the Basics

Submitted by FreeRhino 2007-03-26 Multimedia, AV 30 Comments

Linux.com takes a look at one of our favorite media players, VLC. They write "VideoLAN's VLC is a cross-platform media player with a simple interface that doesn't require a degree in rocket science to operate. That doesn't mean, however, that VLC is a simplistic application: it has a few tricks up its sleeve that can significantly extend its functionality and enhance your user experience. Here are a couple of VLC's nifty features you might want to try."

Open Sound System v4.0 announced

Submitted by 4front 2007-03-16 Multimedia, AV 27 Comments

"4Front Technologies is announcing the availability of Open Sound System version 4.0 for Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, Open Server6 and UnixWare7. Open Sound System is a cross platform audio architecture that provides drivers for most consumer and professional audio devices and comes with an API that allows applications to be simply recompiled on any of the supported operating systems."

Jobs: Apple Would Embrace Abolishing DRM

Submitted by Francis Kuntz 2007-02-06 Multimedia, AV 74 Comments

Steve Jobs writes: "Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat."

Fluendo Media Decoders Sound Bad to Open Source Advocates

Submitted by Dolores Parker 2007-01-31 Multimedia, AV 13 Comments

Thanks to Fluendo, Linux and Solaris users on a variety of processor architectures can now purchase playback support for patent-encumbered audio and video formats. Similar support from free alternatives, whether they rely on copying Windows DLLs or use original code, all violate existing patent law. The mere existence of Fluendo's plugins needles a bevy of critics, but Fluendo is prepared to answer them all. And in an ironic twist, sales of these decoders for non-free formats are funding the development of free alternatives.

Tutorial: Get Your Movies on Your Cellphone

Eugenia Loli 2007-01-18 Multimedia, AV 42 Comments

This small tutorial will show you how to transcode your videos and movies to be suitable for viewing on an mpeg4-capable cellphone.

HD-PVR Out of Any Firewire-Equipped Apple Mac

Submitted by Governa 2007-01-18 Multimedia, AV 10 Comments

"I found that any Firewire-equipped Mac can be made into an HD-PVR for unencrypted content at the expense of an appropriate firewire cable. Apple even provides the necessary capture software that you need, provided that you know where to look." More here.

Fluendo Announces Windows Media, MPEG Support for Linux, Solaris

Submitted by JCooper 2007-01-16 Multimedia, AV 27 Comments

"Fluendo is expanding its offerings with the general availability of a wide range of codecs for the GNU/Linux and Solaris desktop and server systems. The Fluendo codecs plug directly into the popular and widely used GStreamer multimedia framework available on all the major GNU/Linux and Solaris systems. Users of GNU/Linux and Solaris operating systems have previously lacked solutions which enabled them to license and use popular media formats such as Windows Media, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 in accordance with the laws of their country. Through Fluendo's agreements with Microsoft and MPEG LA such a solution is now available."