Thursday, April 26, 2007

ABOUT: Equilibrium Media

It has been a very busy time here at Equilibrium Media. We have been simultaneously: testing our new webcasting and archiving system; launching the new EQ.TV website; developing series concepts for major networks; and so much more--all with the intention of informing and entertaining the shift to sustainability. And in response to a comment by a reader of this blog (thanks Chris, someone is watching!) we are taking this opportunity to share our vision in this form. A future post will cover the technical aspects of this endeavor, and this post will concentrate on this multi-headed vision we are birthing here in Ashland, Oregon.

ABOUT: Equilibrium Media

Harnessing new-media communication technology and strategy, Equilibrium Media is a multi-faceted vision for informing, educating, and inspiring the shift to a Global Culture of Sustainability.

EQ Media Studios is the production facility for Equilibrium Media, located in Ashland Oregon. This space--also known to locals as a venue; The Mobius--is equidistant from San Francisco and Portland, making for a great stop for artists and performers looking to play an intimate show for a receptive community. The Mobius serves as a well of cultural and educational content, and EQ Studios is soon to begin regular programming on topics relating to the culture, art, and science of Sustainability. Stay tuned for updates to our programming.

EQ.TV is our home on the internet. With a fiber optic connection capable of 100mbs uplink, in addition to capturing and archiving performances, seminars and workshops, we can webcast events and broadcast them on our website, Equilibrium Television (http://www.eq.tv). Newly developed and soon to launch, EQ.TV will become the internet destination for those seeking to find and discuss all topics relating to Sustainability.

Beyond capturing studio events, Equilibrium Media produces professional "communication pieces" for organizations and businesses seeking to tell their story. Examples of our work can be found on http://www.eq.tv (see Trans-Fair and Pura Vida Coffee Co., e.g.). We can deliver the piece via the Internet and DVD. Typically around 10 minutes, these engaging and entertaining films are often just what a business or organization needs to distinguish itself from other claims of green, sustainable, and socially just.

In addition to contracted work with 3rd party organizations, Equilibrium Media works in partnership with Equilibrium Institute (a 501c3) to identify, facilitate, and document ecologically restorative and community enhancing projects. Rather than working in isolation and repeating the same lessons of others who have done similar projects, by documenting the work of sustainability, we can therefore share the experience and grow off of the work of others, pushing the evolution in an informative, entertaining, and inspiring manner.

Equilibrium Media is presently securing a new round of funding, and is continuing the climb toward realizing this grand vision. These are exciting times for us and for the movement to a Global Culture of Sustainability. Stay tuned...

Links:

Equilibrium Studios, aka The Mobius: http://www.themobius.com
Equilibrium Television: http://www.eq.tv
Equilibrium Institute: http://www.eqinstitute.org

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Ustream.tv, the future of live video in action - Download Squad

The state-of-the-art EQ Media Studios is capable of webcasting events captured with multiple camera, live edits uploaded @ 100mbs.

While not the prosumer caliber of the above, USTREAM.TV looks like a great addition to the videoblogger's bag of tricks. With hot-spots becoming ever more ubiquitous, this is live coverage for web-journalists.


Ustream.tv, the future of live video in action - Download Squad


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Friday, April 20, 2007

The Edge Is Not About Content [Like It Matters]

Some great comments to this post re: the difference between content and context in User Generated-Social Media.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

How Green Are You? - Riverwired.com | RiverWired

a dramatic entrance. eco-reality. one of many to come.

How Green Are You? - Riverwired.com | RiverWired

iTWire - Adobe poised to take media player market from Microsoft

"In a nutshell, Adobe intends to take its ubiquitous Flash technology widely used to play video in web browsers and enable users to download videos to a Flash player on their desktops. What's more the desktop player will provide superior quality video to what users are currently gettting in their browsers, including full screen video.

"But wait there's more! The new Adobe Media Player, currently on show at the NAB 2007 expo, will enable content producers to embed advertising in downloaded videos, thus enabling them to monetize and protect the value of copyrighted content."

Podcast Hotel

"I have not seen this kind of passion in people since the first days at CNN when we were given video cameras and realized how we could change the world."
— former CNN executive about Podcast Hotel

Two things to note:
1) The gathering itself. Be there if you can.
2) The slideshow-banner delivery of the sponsors with embedded links (at the bottom of the page); a nice way to maximize page real-estate and deliver more impressions without relying on new-page-loads.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

BBC NEWS | Technology | 'Fatal' blow to web broadcasters

From a developing front:

BBC NEWS | Technology | 'Fatal' blow to web broadcasters: "'If these rates stand... I believe we'll see a virtual shutdown all of US webcasting,' wrote Kurt Hanson, CEO of AccuRadio, on the SaveInternetRadio.org blog.

'That will be bad for listeners, webcasters, musicians, and the record industry alike.'

But SoundExchange, the not for profit group which will collect the fees on behalf of labels and artists, welcomed the decision.

'Our artists and labels look forward to working with the Internet Radio industry - large and small, commercial and non-commercial - so that together we can ensure it succeeds as a place where great music is available to music lovers of all genres,' said John Simson, executive director of the group....

The new fees, which will apply until 2010, will charge a flat fee per-song, per-user in addition to a $500 fee for every channel owned by a station. Fees will increase every year until 2010.

Radio stations with multiple channels, such as NPR, would be charged thousands of dollars, which they claim will cripple them.

Previously, stations paid an annual fee plus 12% of their profits."

NBC, News Corp. sign video deal with Comcast | Tech News on ZDNet

NBC, News Corp. sign video deal with Comcast | Tech News on ZDNet: "The distribution deal builds on the recently announced joint venture between News Corp. and NBC that aims to take on Google's YouTube, the wildly popular video-sharing site that often features unauthorized programming from the two media powerhouses.

"Under Monday's agreement, Comcast said it will feature NBC and News Corp. programming on its upcoming video site Fancast.net, as well as on Comcast.net. In turn, Comcast will distribute its own video content, such as from E! and the Golf Channel, onto the joint video site of News Corp. and NBC. As part of the deal, the two companies plan to use video distribution and media management technology from ThePlatform, which is owned by Comcast."

Midnight blogger exposes a scandal

The power of citizen media:

Midnight blogger exposes a scandal: "Fellow bloggers frequently said if a Pulitzer were awarded for online commentary, the contrarian professor would win. 'There is absolutely no doubt that Johnson's blog, Durhamin- Wonderland, was the single best source of information about what happened in that house in March of 2006 and what has happened with the case since,' one sports blogger wrote this week."

Friday, April 13, 2007

Green is gold at Cool Product Expo | CNET News.com

Green is gold at Cool Product Expo | CNET News.com: "[M]any of the other exhibitors at the expo were on hand to showcase products that are turning traditional business models upside down. And more than anything else, environmental sustainability was the overriding concept among the roomful of budding entrepreneurs, some who are just getting their inventions off the ground, and others who are established in their chosen businesses."

No surprises here, just more examples of the rising tide. Communicating about the benefits of individual innovations in the coming cacophony of proposals will be of utmost importance in standing out from the green-crowd. "We can help you with that."

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Equilibrium Media

Worldwide Developers Conference 2007

WWDC June 11 - 15, San Francisco, CA

The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC07) has a whole session track dedicated to Content and Media developers, designers, information architects, graphic designers and web producers.

You’ll learn how to implement best practices to harness digital content for delivery to the Web, applications and devices such as the iPod or Apple TV. Whether you’re creating next-generation rich-media portals or leveraging the latest AJAX toolkits to develop hybrid/Web integrated OS X applications, the Content and Media track provides the latest information on how to build modern, platform-optimized experiences for Mac OS X Leopard.

WWDC07 is your opportunity to connect with Apple engineers, get a firsthand look at the latest technologies and spend a week getting the information you won’t find anywhere else.

http://developer.apple.com/wwdc/

Apple Invites Video Podcasters to Update their Video at The Apple Blog

From The Apple Blog:

"Apple has apparently emailed to all podcasters registered with iTunes a note encouraging them to upgrade their video podcasts to at least 640 pixels wide:

Greetings from the iTunes Podcasting Team:

Apple TV is here, and podcasts are making a big move into the living room. We want all of them to look as good as possible, so we have three video formatting recommendations for you. Also note that we have just posted a revised and expanded technical spec. Finally, the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference is coming up. There’s a major focus on developers of content in addition to developers of software."

Monday, April 9, 2007

Homemade Album Tops iTunes Charts

"The 23-year-old [acoustic guitarist Kate Walsh] recorded her album in a friend's bedroom and named it Tim's House in his honour.



"The homemade album has proved a unexpected hit with iPod fans who had downloaded it from the iTunes website in their thousands...



"'I set up my own record label called Blueberry Pie and just got the music out there. It's pretty easy. Anyone can do it.'



"The classically trained pianist from Brighton said she built up a fan base by putting her music onto her MySpace page and eventually persuaded iTunes to sell it.



"Commenting on the internet phenomenon where unknown artists can become stars overnight, she said: "It's amazing. It's great news for all the people who can have the confidence to go out there and do it themselves.



"You don't need loads of money to make an album and they don't need the backing of a record label. There's no advertising or marketing involved, you don't go on how much money has been spent."





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Thursday, April 5, 2007

NewTeeVee Creative Commons Content for Your Videos

Good list of resources for where you can find content that’s DRM-free, copysafe and even usable in your own creative efforts.

Happy editing!