An item came up in the Figgyleaf Flashcom list of how to manipulate a flash video to allow for slow motion and fast forwarding/rewinding.
Now I can understand how you'd want to do it all in flash/FCS with one video but forcing the player to seek to certain points in the video to simulate the speed/direction you want the video to go at seems a bit rough.
"When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail". I got this saying from a book a while back and it stuck with me, and I think that is what is happening in this instance too. You may be able to hammer in a screw, but it's not going to work as well if you went through the effort of actually screwing it in right?
Anyways, all I did was bring the video into After Effects and manipulate the speed/direction and then encode all the videos (4 in all) to flv.
The proof of concept example I made doesn't take advantage of FCS's streaming abilities but is instead using progressive streaming. This means that the videos need to be slightly preloaded to be a smooth transition. In other words, when you play this example, it'll work better the second time around :)
Proof of concept Flash Video manipulation example
Not to say this is the best way of doing things (especially for long big movies), but it feels better to me in the long run. Not only that, the code can be reused.. just need the 4 vids to play.
*Update (the next day..)*
FCS version works much better. I'd post the example but it's pretty much the same just faster and not quite worth the risk of having my FCS server jacked by somebody. If you want to see it, you most likely know how to contact me so do so with an email and I'll send a link.
I hate to admit it but I'm pretty hooked on this game. Especially the karkand map because of the close combat that is involved and that you really have to be a well-oiled team to get in and take over all points as quick as possible.
Anyways...
As I run around looking for new maps for BF2 I came across a site that showed how to find pink teddy bears in the game.
How do people find this crap? It's amusing, that's for sure.
On a bright note, it looks like an expansion pack is coming out this year for the game. It's going to be good I think, and I can't wait for it to come out. The lack of maps in the current game has been a down point for me in it as some of the maps just aren't interesting enough to keep me playing.
I've just finished reading over a whitepaper from Fabio Sonnati and found it fascinating as there are quite few items in there that I either didn't know nearly enough about, or just didn't plain occur to me, yet seem so obvious now...
I strongly suggest anyone who is remotely interested in how flash video/video for FCS works to check it out.
Fabio's blog site is here. (expect to see more from him in the near future I think)
The whitepaper can be downloaded from here.
At long last a golden egg from our dev/des team has hatched and made it out into the world wide web. Vidipost is a site that offers video recording with your webcam straight to the server by taking advantage of Flash Communication Server and Flash. This video then get's paired with a custom video player that you can then link to and place anywhere on your blog or site!
We're very proud of this release to be honest and really can't wait to see how huge it's going to be. Go check it out because they are offering a one week free trial right now!
Here is the press release:
VidiPost Launches Easy-to-use Web-based Video Publishing Service
Westlake Village, CA (PRWEB) July 6, 2005 -- VidiPost in partnership with Solid Thinking Interactive, announces the official launch of an easy to use web-based Audio/Video Publishing and Emailing service. VidiPost is a web-based, Flash Video service that allows users to easily record and publish audio and video to any website. All that is required to use the application, is the latest Macromedia Flash Player, which is installed on 96% of all browsers.
VidiPost allows users to easily record Video Blogs and Podcasts and publish them to Blogs, WebPages, Auction Sites, as well as email videos to family, friends. and business associates.
Also included on the service is an RSS 2.0 feed generator allowing users to easily publish a Rich Media RSS 2.0 feed. This feed can be subscribed in leading Rich Media RSS Aggregators such as MediaTuner.com.
The VidiPost Video Publishing service "will revolutionalize how audio and video is easily published and emailed on the internet." Lead developer Graeme Bull, who led the VidiPost development team says that this application, "follows the new wave of Rich Internet Applications using top-notch Flash Video technology to assure a great experience to end users."
About VidiPost
VidiPost is a Rich Internet Applications company focused on increasing communications and media user-experiences on the Internet and mobile devices, using easy-to-use web-based services.
Sister sites of VidiPost are VidieMail.com and MediaTuner.com
About Solid Thinking Interactive
Solid Thinking Interactive (STi), a Japan/Canada based multidisciplinary design and development studio that specializes in the creation of Flash based Rich Internet Applications. STi was responsible for not only the creation of the VidiPost Recording and Player applications, but also the VidiPost logo design, web site design, dynamic programming and database integration. You can visit their site at www.solid-thinking.com.
# # #
Press Contact: David Cronshaw
Company Name: VIDIPOST
Email: david@vidipost.com
Phone: 818-519-6721
Website: http://www.VidiPost.com
More Information: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/7/prweb258152.htm