Tech Tuesday: LIVE Streaming Platforms ///Quick REVIEW///

Posted on 15. Dec, 2009 by Birdsong in Community

This week I set out to review the different options available for LIVE internet broadcasting. There are a number of options and platforms available. The best advice is to determine YOUR needs and pick the one that suits you best.

Here is my best of list

1. USTREAM.tv
2. livestream.com
3. justin.tv
4. Qik.com
5. Kyte.tv

Some of these platforms don’t offer services that others do…for example Qik is meant only for mobile phones. while USTREAM allows streaming from a PC or mobile (iphone).

USTREAM

Right now USTREAM is my favorite. It’s really popular and offers some high profile content as well as a ton of user generated LIVE and archived content.

Pros

1. You can use flash media live encoder (if you have a fast PC) for HQ broadcasts.
2. Easy. Like really f%#ing easy.
3. New broadcaster app for iphone allows for spontaneous LIVE streaming (don’t forget to jailbrake and install ‘mobile substrate’ so you can stream over 3g).

Cons

1. Limited quality with mac (no plugin).
2. Messy UI sort of reminds me of myspace (not a good thing).
3. Player app for iphone doesn’t work (that sucks).
4. The ‘youtube’ of LIVE internet broadcast (at least for now).

Livestream.com

Pros

1. Gorgeous design. Site is beautiful, and easy to navigate.
2. Standalone app for mac (can broadcast using h.264).

Cons

1. Annoying (video) ads.
2. Unreliable recording (archiving) with mac app (to be fair: the mac app is still in beta)

Justin.TV

Pros

1. Says it’s compatible with Quicktime Broadcaster (HQ broadcasting for mac)
2. Very experimental (lots of lifecasting going on here).
3. Nice design.

Cons

1. I only got QT Broadcaster working for a minute…(crap).
2. Have you ever heard of justin.tv? (now you have).

Qik

Pros

1. Qik is pretty awesome.
2. Live video from your iphone (jailbroken), and certain Nokia handsets.
3. Syndicates really well. Press the red button and it posts to facebook (live and archived video) posts to youtube, twitter, tumblr, etc.

Cons

1. Only works on mobile phones.

Kyte

Pros

1. OK site design.
2. Offers mobile and PC broadcasting.
3. Quality seems good.

Cons

1. Have you ever heard of kyte?
2. Site seems heavily geared to their pay model and a little hard to navigate because of it.
3. Hard to navigate to FAQ and other HELP info.

Come back here every tuesday for more technology related reviews and best of lists.

Cheers,

-John Birdsong

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