Apple Rocks With Webcast
Apple Computer announced this week that it will be hosting a variety of upcoming webcasts, beginning September 27.Apple has broadcast audio programs in the past, but this webcast season will be launched using new and improved audio-streaming technology developed by Telos Systems called AudioActive.
The Cleveland, Ohio-based developer of technological tools claims AudioActive is an audio compression technology that "uses MPEG audio coding to squeeze the audio down to less than 10% of its original size."
AudioActive is fully compatible with Macromedia's Shockwave plug-in and audio streaming capabilities, so that those visitors using a Shockwave-enabled Web browser will be able to receive the AudioActive broadcasts. Users will have the choice of either downloading the AudioActive player (beginning September 20) or using a Shockwave plug-in to receive the live broadcasts.
Those users equipped with 28.8 modems will reportedly be able to hear better than AM quality sound; those connected via single-channel ISDN will receive near -FM quality audio, and those via two-channel ISDN will receive near-CD quality audio.
"I think people are going to be blown away when they hear this," said Steve Church, president of Telos Systems. "We're going to demonstrate that audio on the Internet can have quality that rivals traditional broadcasting. A lot of doors are going to be blown open."
To show just how far audio technology has improved on the Web, Apple is broadcasting a variety of concerts and programs, beginning with the first webcast on September 27--the Cranberries "Free to Decide" concert from Mountain View, Calif. The event is the first of a few rock concerts that will be broadcast from Bill Graham Presents locations, including the Fillmore, and the Warfield in San Francisco, CA; the Strand in Providence, RI; and the Fox Theatre in Boulder, CO.
"Last year we pioneered the webcast and learned that it's a lively, intriguing way for us to interact with our loyal customers, as well as meet new ones," said Steve Franzese, vice president Apple Interactive Marketing and Online Services. "This season the volume knob goes up as we expand our programming schedule and on many levels improve the webcast experience."
Other programs of the upcoming season include the Black Crowes on September 29, the Samples on September 30, and the Reejers on October 1, all from the Fox Theatre. In addition, on October 3, Apple will broadcast live from Webster Hall in New York the "Cool Site of the Year" Awards.
In addition to hearing live music, users will be able to interact with band members prior to the show and view continuous video feed as well. The first concert will run from 7:00-11:00 p.m. PT, and will then be rebroadcast at 1:00 a.m. PT on September 28.
