Internet Video Magazine's 4Video Interviews Jonathan Blank, CEO of Wildform
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4Video: You're the CEO and one of the founders of Wildform. What can you tell us about why and how you started the company?
Jonathan Blank - CEO of Wildform - I created an mp3 download, music and video streaming website that had the first interactive radio on the Web - where you could automatically link to purchase, download or get more information about an artist while listening to a stream of their music. At the time I was using Real's streaming technology and I found there were many problems with compatibility, firewalls, stability, quality and so on. It was really because I was frustrated with the existing solutions that I started to look for alternative ways to stream video and audio content. That's where the idea for video in Flash came about. I ended up selling that website and putting my energies directly into the technology side of the business which is how Wildform began.
4Video: Wildform originated the FLIX video encoder to embed video into Flash 4 years ago. What improvements and advancements from the first version to the present day Flix Pro Version has Wildform accomplished?
Jonathan Blank ~ Flix has come a long way since v.1. At the time Macromedia had not implemented any video codec support in their player. So we used image sequences and added various types of memory management to handle Flash player RAM issues and image processing to reduce file size and improve quality. The result was a video format that streams to virtually any computer connected to the Internet since it plays in any Flash player version 3 and up - which is about 99% of all computers. It also streams through firewalls, the player starts very quickly, and it allows for a variety of Flash functions like links, preloaders, variables and so on.
it is a very user-friendly way of streaming video on the web or putting video onto a CD or into a presentation. The one downside was that the quality was lower than Real or Windows Media. However, as of Flash 6 we implemented a new video codec, for MX video, that offers vastly improved video quality (it requires Flash 6 or higher to view that video - but since Flash player distribution is so high and grows so fast, that hasn't been much of an issue).
Flix also still encodes the older Flash 3-6 video and it is also the only software available that can convert standard video into a vectorized animation using our auto-tracing vector video output. In addition, Flix offers a host of easy to use automated Flash functions, so even novice encoders can add complex Flash features like customized players, preloaders, projectors, links and a variety of actions. We're now up to version 3.2 and are always working on the next one.
Flix is also available now as a COM object that can be used to add Flix functionality to a website or another application, and we are seeing a tremendous amount of interest in that. In fact, Sony has licensed the Flix Engine for inclusion in their new video software coming out this Fall.
4Video: You mentioned a "pre-loader". What is that?
Jonathan Blank~ A preloader is a way to instruct a .swf file to literally preload a certain amount prior to playing. The purpose of using preloaders is to ensure smooth playback of larger videos for users on slower web connections. In this way, users on slower speed connections (e.g., dial up modems) can view larger, higher quality video files without buffering or the video stopping and starting once it begins.
For instance, if someone on a 56k connection tries to view a video that was encoded for a 256k connection, the video is still going to play, but the amount of information contained in each frame of the video will be much larger than it would be for a video specifically encoded for a 56k connection. This will cause an inconsistent and choppy playback experience for the 56k user. The purpose of a preloader is to ensure that enough of the video has loaded so that there will be no interruption once the video begins to play. While there is a delay while the user waits for the video to begin playback, if you preload enough of the file, once it starts to play, it will continue to play uninterrupted until it finishes.
Flix offers two kinds of built in preloaders: a fixed preloader which preloads a fixed amount and an adaptive preloader which is an "intelligent" preloader that will preload a variable amount of your video based on the size of the video and the viewer's internet connection speed.
4Video: How can someone use Flix on their website? Do they need to be hosting their own web site?
Jonathan Blank~ You can post Flix video the same way that you would an HTML page. In fact, Flix will automatically output the HTML code you need to play a video on a web page. So you just output a .swf and the HTML code from Flix and post both files on a web page. All you need is a webpage that you have access to.
4Video: How does Flix work with an authoring program like FrontPage?
Jonathan Blank~ You can import Flix output into any program that imports .swf files, including programs like Powerpoint and Frontpage. In fact we have a tutorial on using Flix with Frontpage:
http://www.wildform.com/tutorials/flashvideoandfrontpage/index.php
4Video: What other products does Wildform offer in addition to FLIX?
Jonathan Blank~ We license: The Flix line of Flash video encoders as well as the Flix Pro Power Players; The Wild FX line of text animators and titlers, which is a really easy way to generate stunning text animations in both the .swf Flash format and video, as well as the Wild FX Power Effects; Linx, which is an easy to use Flash editor/assembler - it's a great way to combine, edit and organize Flash files into presentations, slide shows, etc.; and The Wildform Video Library which is a collection of downloadable video files.
4Video: Do you have to be a Flash expert to use your products?
Jonathan Blank~ No. Our products are specifically designed so that no knowledge of Flash, or any other software for that matter, is required to use them.
4Video: Why do you recommend that content creators use flash video instead of Real, Windows Media or QuickTime?
Jonathan Blank~ There are many reasons. Here are a few: Ease of use: Flix is probably the easiest way to create video for web, presentations, or CD. Ubiquity: the Flash player is the most widely distributed media player on the Web. Compatibility: Flash plays on all platforms and browsers - even through firewalls. There are also versions of the Flash player for Pocket PC.
Convenience: you can output self-executing projector files that will play on a computer without requiring the viewer to have any player at all. Customization: Flix Flash video offers users a very easy way to customize and personalize your video. Try creating a custom player for Windows Media, QT or Real. With Flix you can output your video in a custom player with a click of your mouse. Interactivity: no format offers the level of interactivity that Flash does. If you want to embed any links or actions of any kind into your video, Flash is the way to go. Flash functions: Flix allows you to automatically use advanced Flash functions like preloaders.
In these points I'm really referring to Flix Flash video and not just Flash video in general, because Flix is designed to enable users to get the most out of using Flash video without having to know any Flash.
4Video: Your products work on both PC's and Macs - is that correct?
Jonathan Blank~ Flix and Wild FX are available on both Windows and Mac. Linx is currently Windows only.
4Video: Will Wildform's Flix product accept MPEG 4 video and AAC - (Advanced Audio codec)?
Jonathan Blank~ Flix can encode any file that plays in the free QuickTime player or the free Windows Media Player on a user's computer.
4Video: Can the Flix flash video files be downloaded off the net or copied to CD?
Jonathan Blank~ Yes they can, if you want them to. As I mentioned above, if you want to play Flix video on CD, you can export Windows and Mac self-executing projector files that contain both the file to be played and the player so the end user doesn't need any additional software. If you don't want them to be downloaded there are ways of protecting them as well.
4Video: Are there any new products on your roadmap that we can look forward to seeing soon?
Jonathan Blank~ The Wild FX Pro text animator and titler, which is the video exporting version of the Wild FX, is a brand new product, available now. See Press Announcement
4Video: What kind of support and guarantees does Wildform offer?
Jonathan Blank~ We offer an unconditional 15 day money back guarantee on all our downloadable software. We also have free demos of our products that interested customers can try out. And all our software comes with free email technical support. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive help file with each program and we have a large resources section on our site with tutorials, examples, and sample code.
4Video - Thanks for your time today, I have used Wildform's Flix product and it is really great!
See 4Video's Review of Wildform Flix
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