Category: Streaming and Multi-Media

Repurpose that disposable camcorder

Boing Boing: Pinouts for CVS’s “disposable” camcorder
From Boing Boing:
CVS Pharmacies sell a one-time-use camcorder that you have to bring to their shop once you’re ready to get your videos, which are delivered on DVD. Enterprising hackers are racing to reverse-engineer the camcorder so that they can extract their own video and make multiple uses of the camera without paying repeatedly.

David Pogue describes Akimbo

Technology > Circuits > TV’s Future Is Here, but It Needs Work” href=”http://tech2.nytimes.com/2005/06/02/technology/circuits/02pogue.html?”>The New York Times > Technology > Circuits > TV’s Future Is Here, but It Needs Work
In short Akimbo is developing a new set top box that allows downloads of TV shows off of the internet. David describes the issues, such as lack of content due to piracy concerns and so on..

I like the statement:
“This is piracy paranoia run amok. It’s insane to think that anyone would pay so much for cheesy cable reruns and oddities like three-minute how-to videos for new mothers.”

What he doesn’t mention is the serious amount of content being created by non-commercial interests and being distributed on the internet for free. For any set top box to make it they have to offer what the cable/tv companies don’t, media for the people by the people. What good is using the internet without it?

Mason and company throw down the gauntlet on JMF. Let’s hope Sun is listening.

Mason Glaves’s Blog: JMF, wherefor art thou?
In summary:
So, how about it, Sun? Where is JMF going from here?

More on the issue from Chris Adamson:
Chris Adamson’s Blog: Java Media without Mediocrity

Don’t forget, the reader comments in both of these articles, including a comment from jdinkins of the Sun Java Swing team regarding them taking over JMF. Let’s hope they put some real resources on this.