Archive notice: This article was originally published on December 5, 2007. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Adobe Systems has announced the Adobe Flash Media Server 3 product family. Flash Media Server 3 makes video streaming and real-time communication possible for everyone. The new product family supports the H.264 video standard and High Efficiency AAC (HE-AAC) audio and offers content providers improved protection for high-quality video streams. Providers can also deliver interactive media applications that can be used consistently across different browsers and operating systems. Adobe Flash Media Server 3 can be used to create appealing video experiences that are accessible anytime and anywhere: with Adobe Media Player on the web and desktop, and with Adobe Flash Lite 3 on mobile devices. The new pricing model offers customers a wide range of options for distributing high-quality video streams. The software is expected to be available from January 2008 and will be delivered with pre-installed services for streaming videos that are compatible with Flash Player.
“Our Flash technology plays an important role in the shift away from traditional media consumption towards stimulating, interactive experiences,” says John Loiacono, Senior Vice President of Creative Solutions at Adobe. “With Flash Media Server 3 and the new pricing model, we are lowering the barrier to entry for providers who want to distribute their content via streaming video or real-time communication. Regardless of whether they opt for interactive social media services or linear streams, they can rely on their offerings being secure and reaching their customers in the highest quality.”
The new product line contains two products: Adobe Flash Media Streaming Server 3 for on-demand and real-time video streaming, and Adobe Flash Media Interactive Server 3 for customisable, scalable video streaming services and interactive social media applications. Both products contain a range of new functions that allow media providers to deliver efficient solutions for leading web video formats. The new functions include: almost twice as many streams per server, support for the H.264 video standard and HE-AAC audio format in Flash Player 9 (see separate press release), upgrades to Adobe’s patented protocol for delivering protected content, and improved support for live videos for news, concerts, sporting events and social media services. Flash Media Server 3 also supports recorded and live-produced streams for Flash Lite 3, so that a consistent video experience is also possible on mobile devices.
“With their end-to-end workflow, Adobe’s video solutions have changed our business model from the creation to the delivery of content,” says Erik Huggers, Future Media and Technology Group Controller at the BBC. “With the improvements in performance and protection functions, Flash Media Server 3 offers us flexible new ways of distributing streaming media on as many platforms as possible. We are pleased about the collaboration with Adobe and the opportunity to provide our viewers with secure, instantly available content via the BBC iPlayer.”
With Flash Media Streaming Server 3, customers can offer high-quality, encrypted videos without licensing restrictions regarding bandwidth or the number of connections. The lower price makes video streaming via Flash, Adobe AIR, Flash Lite 3 and Adobe Media Player accessible to a broader audience. Adobe AIR is a cross-operating-system runtime environment that allows Rich Internet Applications (RIAs) to also be used on the desktop. Adobe Media Player, expected in early 2008 and the first Adobe application based on AIR, will support both H.264 video and HE-AAC audio, allowing viewers to enjoy high-quality television offerings both online and offline.
Flash Media Interactive Server 3 builds on Flash Media Streaming Server. The new software combines the capabilities of the Edge and Origin Editions of Adobe Flash Media Server 2 Professional in a single stable streaming product including interactivity that is scalable to any installation size in the enterprise. Flash Media Interactive Server 3 supports a new plug-in architecture and can be integrated into rights-management systems for real-time access controls.
Prices
Adobe Flash Media Interactive Server 3 is offered at a price of just under 4,800 euros, while Adobe Flash Media Streaming Server 3 will cost a little over 1,000 euros. More information about the new software is available on the website. For customers who want to outsource their media installations, Flash Media Server 3 will also be distributed through a network of selected content providers.
Further links:
- Adobe Flash Media Server
