This one doesn’t require much explanation. Basic rule of thumb when you want your video to look good as H.264 – DON’T USE APPLE’S VERISON IN COMPRESSOR. It sucks big time. Most editors have several other options, but I’ve found the best in my toolkit is Adobe Media Encoder’s version of Main Concept’s H.264.
These are identical data rates of the same frame (approx 1mbps at 1080×1920).
Learn how to download video from websites that give you permission.
This is a tip that I received a couple of years ago from engineers at Justin.tv and I use it very frequently. The limitations are basically the big video sites. Those include ABC, Fox, Netflix, Youtube, Hulu, MTV, etc… Those sites are either streaming or mask the location of the served video. Either way it shouldn’t matter, because you don’t have a right to any of the programs on those sites.
This technique works particularly well with swf video players. The URL for the firefox add on is:
Today, in what was probably the worst time for Netflix, they announced they are creating a new brand to split their DVD and online streaming services. This news comes right after users (like myself) have dealt with increased pricing and the loss of their major online content provider – Starz.
You can make judgements for yourself on the deal, but this continues to solidify my understanding of the near future – DVDs will be dead (and soon). Netflix has kept their bread and butter, powerful brand name with the streaming service. They have given an aging DVD platform a dot com bust name like Qwikster so that when it dies – it will have less association with its’ parent company.
I know, I know, everyone is up in arms with the price changes and the lack of current content. I believe it is only a matter of a few months before Netflix streaming signs some other great deals to get premium shows again. People forget that it was Starz that got greedy (not Netflix). Netflix reportedly offered 300 million, which was 10x the original contract to Starz and then Starz rejected it.
Anyway, for me and my family – I will stick with Netflix until Starz runs out at the end of February 2012, and then play it by ear. One thing is for certain – I will never sign up for DirecTV, Dish Network, or Comcast TV service ever again.