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Browser vendor squabbles cause W3C to scrap codec requirement | Developer World – InfoWorld

The latest rewrite of the Web’s mother tongue won’t recommend the use of specific audio and video encoding formats that could make it cheaper and easier for people to distribute multimedia content.

The major browser makers have been unable to agree on an encoding format they will support in their products, wrote Ian Hickson, editor of the HTML 5 specification for the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C).

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Plans have been discussed for years to incorporate two new tags — – <audio> and <video> — into HTML 5, the next specification under development. The original HTML specification never included those tags.

Because of that, people have to download plugins from various vendors to play audio and video content. If browsers support the audio and video tags, however, as well as a common encoding format, Web users wouldn’t have to use third-party applications for that content.

The browser would play the content natively, which makes Web development somewhat simpler and would not require users to download a raft of plugins.

But the issue of what codec to use has been a hot potato. The codecs likely to have been recommended would have been Ogg Vorbis for audio and Ogg Theora for video, both of which can be implemented without paying royalties unlike with other formats.

Supporters for the use of those formats argue that no one company should profit or hold the power over a particular codec, which could influence its development and use depending on a company’s business plans.

If browsers supported those codecs, Web developers could use open-source tools and encoders for those formats to put multimedia on their site for free, potentially striking a blow against vendors such as Adobe, Microsoft, RealNetworks and others that sell multimedia software tools.

Apple won’t support Ogg Theora in QuickTime, the company’s multimedia player, Hickson wrote. Apple has also expressed concern over patents associated with Ogg Theora. Even though the codec can be used royalty-free, Apple has been concerned that some party could make a claim if it ends up implemented in its products.

Opera and Mozilla oppose using the H.264 video compression standard for various reasons, including the cost of licensing the relevant patents as well distribution issues, Hickson wrote. Google uses H.264 and Ogg Theora in Chrome, but also has a problem in how it can distribute the browser through third parties due to licensing issues with H.264, he wrote. Microsoft hasn’t made a commitment to support the video tag, he wrote.

“After an inordinate amount of discussions, both in public and privately, on the situation regarding codecs for <video> and <audio> in HTML 5, I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that there is no suitable codec that all vendors are willing to implement and ship,” Hickson wrote.

“I have therefore removed the two subsections in the HTML 5 spec in which codecs would have been required, and have instead left the matter undefined, as has in the past been done with other features,” Hickson concluded.

Browser makers, however, can always make their own decision on what they want to support in their products. Mozilla’s latest browser, Firefox 3.5 which was released this week, supports the audio and video tags as well as the Ogg Theora and Ogg Vorbis codecs.

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and — into HTML 5, the next specification under development. The original HTML specification never included those tags.

Because of that, people have to download plugins from various vendors to play audio and video content. If browsers support the audio and video tags, however, as well as a common encoding format, Web users wouldn’t have to use third-party applications for that content.

The browser would play the content natively, which makes Web development somewhat simpler and would not require users to download a raft of plugins.

But the issue of what codec to use has been a hot potato. The codecs likely to have been recommended would have been Ogg Vorbis for audio and Ogg Theora for video, both of which can be implemented without paying royalties unlike with other formats.

Supporters for the use of those formats argue that no one company should profit or hold the power over a particular codec, which could influence its development and use depending on a company’s business plans.

If browsers supported those codecs, Web developers could use open-source tools and encoders for those formats to put multimedia on their site for free, potentially striking a blow against vendors such as Adobe, Microsoft, RealNetworks and others that sell multimedia software tools.

Apple won’t support Ogg Theora in QuickTime, the company’s multimedia player, Hickson wrote. Apple has also expressed concern over patents associated with Ogg Theora. Even though the codec can be used royalty-free, Apple has been concerned that some party could make a claim if it ends up implemented in its products.

Opera and Mozilla oppose using the H.264 video compression standard for various reasons, including the cost of licensing the relevant patents as well distribution issues, Hickson wrote. Google uses H.264 and Ogg Theora in Chrome, but also has a problem in how it can distribute the browser through third parties due to licensing issues with H.264, he wrote. Microsoft hasn’t made a commitment to support the video tag, he wrote.

“After an inordinate amount of discussions, both in public and privately, on the situation regarding codecs for and in HTML 5, I have reluctantly come to the conclusion that there is no suitable codec that all vendors are willing to implement and ship,” Hickson wrote.

“I have therefore removed the two subsections in the HTML 5 spec in which codecs would have been required, and have instead left the matter undefined, as has in the past been done with other features,” Hickson concluded.

Browser makers, however, can always make their own decision on what they want to support in their products. Mozilla’s latest browser, Firefox 3.5 which was released this week, supports the audio and video tags as well as the Ogg Theora and Ogg Vorbis codecs.

See more here:
Browser vendor squabbles cause W3C to scrap codec requirement

LOS ANGELES, CA, January 16, 2007–Virtual Connections and Mega Web Conferences have found that there are countless applications for utilizing MegaMeeting.com’s browser based web and video conferencing services, and by reselling the products they are reaching more and more businesses and individuals who are greatly benefiting from the technology.

Due to MegaMeeting.com’s aggressive pricing and willingness to share on-going revenues, the sky is the limit for its resellers. In addition to offering traditional reseller margins on its core products, MegaMeeting.com also offers a private label video and web conferencing solution that is “branded” as if it was created by the reseller. This version allows the reseller to resell “seats” from what appears to the end-user to be the reseller’s very own web & video conferencing product.

Virtual Connections and Mega Web Conferences currently use MegaMeeting in their Training and Sales departments, as well as for their Administration. They are utilizing MegaMeeting products for product sales and demonstrations to prospects, training of employees and to resell to end-users.

Lucy Smorto, a Sales Consultant for Virtual Connections and Mega Web Conferences, stated, “I’m very impressed with the MegaMeeting web conferencing system. Its features are simple to use and quite user-friendly. Everyone I’ve dealt with at MegaMeeting has been extremely friendly, helpful and eager to please. I have full faith in the MegaMeeting system and the company.”

When asked why they chose MegaMeeting over other web and video conferencing systems, Smorto went on to say, “I’ve investigated other web conferencing companies and they were not nearly as helpful. In fact, one web conferencing system required that I install software which created serious problems with my computer and I had to uninstall it immediately. Plus, there were no qualified staff available or willing to help with questions or provide a demo.”

The specific features of MegaMeeting that Virtual Connections and Mega Web Conferences implement most often are the video conferencing capabilities that allow meeting attendees to see each other, the built-in audio (VoIP), the audio via integrated teleconferencing, the ability to share a PowerPoint presentation via the Internet, and screen sharing capabilities.

The rest is here:
Resellers Find MegaMeeting.com Web & Video Conferencing to be

LOS ANGELES, CA, December 13, 2006– Kojo Worldwide currently uses MegaMeeting.com’s browser based web and video conferencing services in its Marketing and Sales departments, specifically to conduct sales meetings for their employees located throughout the world. The implementation of video and web conferencing has greatly reduced their travel expenses and is a more efficient use of their time. In the future, Kojo anticipates utilizing MegaMeeting to conduct customer presentations to assist in their sales.

Kojo Worldwide, a leading manufacturer of hotel bed covers and draperies, has been servicing the hospitality industry for over 28 years—from concept to completion. Kojo Worldwide offers a unique collection of high quality fabric furnishings.

Philip Haness, Kojo’s Marketing Director, states, “MegaMeeting has allowed our company to develop a sense of community with our outside sales team that has resulted in a more cohesive sales force.” Prior to implementing the MegaMeeting products, Kojo relied on expensive teleconferencing to conduct meetings.

The specific features of MegaMeeting that Kojo implements most often are the video conferencing capabilities that allow meeting attendees to see each other, the built in audio (VoIP), the audio via integrated teleconferencing, and screen sharing capabilities.

The main reason Kojo chose MegaMeeting over other web and video conferencing systems was due to the cost savings they experienced.

Read more here:
MegaMeeting.com Video Conferencing Helps Kojo Worldwide Develop a Community Within Their Sales Force

MegaMeeting.com Introduces Free Toll Audio Conference Calling &

9.9 cents per Minute Toll Free Conference Calling

Improved teleconferencing offered as stand-alone product, as well as fully integrated with new web conferencing services

Los Angeles, California – “This is the age of immediate connectivity, “ says Dan Richmond, as his firm, MegaMeeting.com, announced two new services designed to improve the ease and lower the cost of telephone conferencing for businesses and organizations.

Megameeting.com, a Los Angeles based company which provides browser based web conferencing services for businesses, organizations and educational institutions, now offers enhanced teleconferencing as part of its latest Web Conferencing offerings.

“Up to 100 people can take part in these teleconferences” explained Richmond. ”The toll based service is provided as a fully integrated, standard feature of our overall web conference systems and there is no extra cost for it,” Richmond added.

The telephone conferencing is done on a toll-based number that is dialed by all meeting participants. Participants are charged their carrier’s standard long distance rate for dialing a toll-based number. The use of the service is completely unlimited but this option is only available to MegaMeeting.com clients.

MegaMeeting also offers toll-free participation in teleconferences. The host is charged 9.9 cents per minute for each participant that takes part in the conference call. This option is available to both MegaMeeting.com clients (as a fully integrated service), as well as non MegaMeeting.com clients (as a stand-alone product).

Richmond points out that by offering a stand alone audio conferencing product, MegaMeeting can benefit all businesses. “Organizations that are only seeking efficient teleconferencing, and not really interested in web conferencing, can save money using our new service,” explained Richmond.

“The stand alone service features an instant, easy online setup,” said Richmond. “All you have to do is go online and sign up.”

“Some companies will save hundreds and even thousands of dollars each month using this system,” Richmond said.

The conference call is managed through an online control panel that enables the host to dial up participants who have forgotten to call in, to mute or hang-up on callers or to put them into sub-conferences. Conference organizers are billed 9.9 cents per minute, per participant.

MegaMeeting.com is a leading provider of 100% browser-based Video & Web Conferencing solutions. Being browser based and working on all major operating systems – Windows, Mac & Linux, MegaMeeting.com provides all parties the ability to effectively communicate via the Internet with each other, without the need to download, install or configure software. MegaMeeting.com web conferencing products and services include powerful collaboration tools that provide for robust Video & Web Conferences, including advanced features such as desktop/application sharing and PowerPoint presentations (without the necessity to upload any files). MegaMeeting is ideal for multi-point sales meetings, virtual classrooms, employee trainings, product demonstrations, company orientation and remote control desktop support. MegaMeeting provides solutions hosted on its own servers, as well as on the clients’ servers, including a fully customized Private Branded version that removes all references to the MegaMeeting.com brand, giving the client a Web & Video Conferencing Solution they can truly call their own. For more information, please visit http://www.MegaMeeting.com or call (818) 783-4311.

Read more here:
MegaMeeting.com Introduces Free Toll Audio Conference

There are two technologies that are making a revolution in intra-organizational communications: They are telephone conferencing and web conferencing. Using either web or telephone conferencing, companies and non-profit organizations are now able to hold many more meetings than ever before. The newest web conferencing systems incorporate both online and telephone conferencing and this will surely speed up the growth of virtual conferencing.

Most online conferencing systems allow participants to see one another using web cams and monitors, and to speak and hear one another via Voice over Internet Protocol (VOiP) using a headset or a microphone and speakers.

But what happens if one of the would-be participants does not have the right kind of headset or microphone? And what happens if one of the would-be participants does not have a high speed Internet connection or is away from his/her computer? In previous conferencing set-ups, the person who didn’t have the right equipment might miss the audio or even the whole conference entirely.

This particular problem has now been overcome by integrating telephone conferencing along with video conferencing. For example, if participants do not have the right kind of headset or microphone, in addition to everyone being able to watch the conference online, a teleconference can be used that will allow all participants to hear and talk to each other via standard telephone connections. With some systems, the call-in number and security code for the conference call are even posted within the video/web conference meeting room.

Similarly, when a company holds a combined telephone and web conference, an employee or staff member can take part in the audio portion using the telephone conference connection even if they are away from their computer or away from a broadband Internet connection.

The combined service will make it easier for companies that are already accustomed to telephone conference calling but have not yet made the jump to online web conferencing.

Online web conferencing adds many more features to a normal telephone conference call such as Powerpoint presentations, instant polling and surveys, application sharing and real time notepads for online brainstorming, but some organizations may be holding back from going to web conferencing due to the possibility of leaving behind some of their participants. The new combined teleconferencing and web conferencing systems solve this particular problem and will probably help to accelerate the already rapid growth of web conferencing around the world.

Please visit http://www.MegaMeeting.com or call (818) 783-4311.

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How to Use Integrated Audio Conference Calling to Enhance Your Video & Web Conference Meetings