RIA – Rich Internet Applications are the talk of NAB.
We are rapidly moving toward an era in rich-media user interfaces replace text. With MS Silverlight, Microsoft introduces a video format which includes an “interactive and programmatic control” – available as a multi-platform, multi-browser plugin – a step that will if adopted allow it to compete on availability with Flash – along with a powerful tool called Expression Media Encoder enabling developers to create rich interactive UIs. MLB.com, Netflix and Brightcove have already signed on to use Silverlight.
Sean Alexander of Microsoft demos Silverlight below:
Meanwhile Adobe announced it’s own player, building on flash to provide higher quality video, enhanced DRM and analytics, and adds live-event streaming, protected downloadable playback and monetization features such as custom player design and ad-insertion. Like Microsoft it includes interactive features though these appear to be less advanced than those offered by Silverlight.
Adobe also announced the Flash Media Solution Provider service, a consulting and implementation service specializing in assisting customers with setting up live-event streaming, one area in which Adobe has lagged behind Microsoft.
At this point there is a great deal more focus on Microsoft than on Adobe and the potential of the VC-1 codec used in Silverlight. It is possible that this format – capable in advanced modes of 1080p 24fps playback at 45MBps and with a maximum resolution of 2048 x 1536 24fps over 135MBps could become the standard on which future IPTV is based.
And when you think about the potential of interactive HDTV interfaces, that’s pretty exciting. For now, both PC and mac users should be happy to know they will have a lot more options when it comes to watching online video in the near future.
5 comments to Microsoft Silverlight vs. Adobe Media Player
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Cool roundup. The video player is actually Apollo, not Flash (but it’s also sort of Flash, so you’re not incorrect). Which announcement do you think is bigger?
Ryan, thanks for your comment. When I wrote this I was still waiting for more from Adobe. They have provided a little more information on the player since then and I’ve been meaning to write more on that.
I think both announcements are equally big because it represents the beginning of both companies competing in areas of the other one’s strength in online video.
Microsoft has the live streaming market cornered so far and I think has the advantage at this point. Windows media player is on every PC and Mac users have long been frustrated by the Flip4Mac plugin and lack of ability to watch wmv files consistantly.
On the other hand, if Flash can lead with better content and better quality in its new product – something that their DRM and downloadable playback options could allow then they will be in good shape. It will be interesting to see which platform is preferred by developers.
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Streaming Video…
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