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Blackbird (software)

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Introduction

FORscene is a complete internet video platform, covering editing and publishing for web and mobile. [1][2][3][4]

FORscene is a web application which utilises a Java applet as part of its user interface. [1][2] Its video codec, Blackbird, is designed for internet editing rather than video streaming. [5] Both the underlying compression technology and the user interface are being protected by patents. [6][7][8][9][10]

Major UK production companies have used it in multiple broadcast productions. [11] It has also been recognised by the Royal Television Society and won their award for Technology in the Post Production Process in December 2005. [12][13]

History

FORscene is a natural development from an editing system made by Eidos plc in the 1990s by a similar team. [14] The history starts from the first public showing of this product, at the International Broadcasting Convention in Europe in 1990.

Date Version Platform Significant features
Sep 1990 Eidos Edit 1[15] Dual Acorn Archimedes
  • Proprietary software codecs
  • Removable MO discs
Dec 1990 Eidos plc floats on LSE
1992 Eidos Edit 2 Single Acorn Archimedes Software-only editing system
1993 Eidos Optima replaces Edit 1 and Edit 2 Acorn Archimedes Complete revision of GUI
1994 Eidos Optima Acorn Risc PC Increase in colour resolution to 15bpp
1996 Eidos Optima
  • Acorn Risc PC
  • 200MHz StrongARM CPU
 Faster CPU allowed cheaper digitising solution
Feb 2000
  • London float for Forbidden Technologies plc
  • Shares rise 5000% in first week
Feb 2001 Java video streaming on website Java
  • 384x288 pixels
  • 25 fps
  • 40kb/s for talking heads.
  • Picture quality "cartoon-like"
May 2002 Live video streaming to mobile phone [16] Java / GPRS Picture quality poor eg monochrome
Dec 2002 Broadband web streaming [5] Java 384x288 pixels, 25 fps
Sep 2003 FORlive launched [5] Linux compression / Java player
  • Live video compression
  • 384x288 pixels, 25 fps.
Nov 2003 FORmobile launched [5] Symbian Series 60
  • Mobile phone player application
  • 160x120 pixels, up to 12.5 fps, colour.
Nov 2003 FORscene project announced [5] Java
  • FORlive compression
  • Optima-style editing
  • FORmobile/FORweb publishing
Sep 2004 FORscene launched [5] Java Simple Java editing and publishing tool
Feb 2005 GMTV first broadcaster to sign up [5][17] Java International access to GMTV
May 2005 Logging added to FORscene [5] Java Java logging, editing and publishing tool
Sep 2005 Upload over-the-air from mobile phones [5] Symbian
  • Video: up to 352x288 pixels
  • Photographs: phone resolution
Sep 2005 IBC TV news use FORscene/FORmobile [5] Symbian Branded player
Sep 2005 First broadcast TV series uses FORscene [5] Channel 5 (UK) Trust me, I'm a holiday Rep
Jan 2006 New video codec designed for editing [5] Blackbird 1 codec
Jan/Feb 2006 First prime time broadcast TV series uses FORscene [5] BBC1 (UK) Super Vets
Apr 2006 Podcasting released [5] Video iPod, iTunes
Apr/May 2006 British Army uses FORscene mobile player [5] Symbian mobile phones Ascent of Everest published on mobiles

Summary

FORscene is an internationally used[18][19][20], cross platform internet video solution with review, log, edit, and web/mobile publishing capabilities. Being Web 2.0, FORscene is constantly evolving.

Third party reviews

Review of video streaming solutions which discusses FORscene.

Showreel FORscene review.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b FORscene web page
  2. ^ a b Showreel article
  3. ^ GFS projects use FORscene for web publishing
  4. ^ Cellular news article on British Army use of FORscene for mobile
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Forbidden Technologies news archive
  6. ^ PCT patents
  7. ^ PCT patents
  8. ^ PCT patents
  9. ^ UK patents
  10. ^ UK patents
  11. ^ Regional Film and Video news story
  12. ^ Royal Television Society awards
  13. ^ Video of Royal Television Society award ceremony
  14. ^ Netimperative article
  15. ^ IBC 1990 programme guide
  16. ^ AGM 2002 Live streaming to mobile phone
  17. ^ Hardware depot online article about GMTV signing up to FORscene
  18. ^ Radio & televisiopne Monitor Mediaconcept Italian partnership
  19. ^ Regional Film and Video article on Vizor partnerhip in Nordic region
  20. ^ Regional Film and Video article on Formidable partnership in Canada
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