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Karen Brown
Media 100 Inc. wants to take streaming media production and put it directly into the hands of Web content providers with a new product unveiled this week.
The iFinish family of streaming media production systems is designed to give PC-based Web designers the tools to create their own audio and video content. That becomes particularly important as streaming media content proliferates on the Web and the demand for quality rises, according to Mike Savello, director of marketing for iFinish.
Savello noted there are now some 100,000 Internet sites dedicated to video clips, and estimates are that number will bounce up to 300,000 by the end of 2000.
"We're seeing the creation of a whole new model for the Internet where high-end production values are required," he said.
iFinish builds upon Media 100's Finish product used in video broadcasting production. But it comes in a Windows format and adds the Internet elements for streaming media, with new functions to increase post-production editing.
"iFinish is the convergence of editing, effects and streaming to finally produce an integrated product," said Charlie Mascari, product line manager.
The iFinish hardware includes a standard IEEE 1394 port to link audio/video equipment. But more importantly, its software is geared to act as a conduit, taking in video files in a variety of formats, enhancing its color and picture quality and transforming them for output in any desired format.
"We have the opportunity to take content in from myriad sources, edit and then enhance it with effects," Mascari said. "Effectively what we've done is give (users) the tools to manipulate, manage and massage these files."
Once the user has made the color and quality changes, the system can then output the video files to a specific size and bitrate for viewing. By making these standard tools easy to use, the iFinish won't require content providers to get a degree in video editing, Mascari said.
"We're trying to minimize the complexity and let the user identify what they need," he said.
With versions ranging from $2,995 to $14,995 per unit, iFinish is targeted for Web commerce and commercial Web content providers. But the price does put it within reach of ordinary Webheads who want to spice up their personal pages, Mascari noted.
"Establishing a new market segment we think is critical, which is streaming media production," Savello said. While other products provide a handful of tools piecemeal, "we combine everything into a total solution," he said.
* Telepix
* Skynet Communications
* Epsylon Technologies
* eShare Technologies
* Bill's Games
* KwikWeb.com and Headhunter.net.
* Gist.com
* DoubleCLick
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