Chippy's Hiblue Lab

Is it the iphone4? A netbook? Honeycomb on a quad core tablet? Or is it going require 2kg of Windows laptop?

I’m on a mission to find a way to improve the video setup I use for my YouTube posts while retaining mobility.

I currently record in VGA using the mjpeg format at well over 10mbps. The results are smooth and free of common artefacts . The mjpeg format is also easy to chop around because there’s no frame-frame compression. With a fast ssd and 2Gb of ram its easy to work on, say, a 15 minute long set of clips. Encoding to 2mbps in WMV knocks the size down and ensures a reasonable HQ experience in YouTube. It works well.

The problem is that VGA, while perfectly good with a touch of zoom for details, isn’t acceptable any more. 4:3 is out! For YouTube sake, I need to move to 16:9 which means a minimum of 480p. That’s about 40% more bits of information per frame (and very little extra value to the viewer.) If you go to 720p, its many times more bits of information and at that point mjpeg become unusable because of the file sizes (storage and transfer times) and so you have to introduce mpeg2 or, more likely, mpeg4. The most common option, H.264, an Mpeg 4 standard, requires many many more times the processing power per frame than MJpeg so you’re in a situation where Atom, one of the more common mobile cpus that can be used with common video editing software, just doesn’t cut it.

There are choices.

Highly optimized software
More powerful CPU
GPU assistance
Cloud-based editing

The solution for mobile video requires a careful balance of source quality, format and bitrate and a partnership with optimized software on a platform that can do as much in dedicated codecs as possible. OR you get a big fat mobile pipe and do the crunching in the cloud.
There’s only so much that can be done in GPUs and hardware codes though. Fades, overlays and other per-frame changes can only be done in CPU and remember, video editing requires decoding and encoding, you don’t often find that in a mobile computing platform.

So here’s the challenge:
A basic video editing solution that includes watermarking, titles, clip editing, fades and crossover, audio track editing and voice-over. It should be able to take common formats in without having to convert them to a working format. It should output a format that is YouTube friendly. Minimum 480p with a bitrate of 2mbps and 25fps.
The hardware should not weigh more than 1.5kg but should last for about 4hrs of editing, 6hrs of general computing. The screen can be up 12.1″ to allow for a resolution of 1366×768 or similar. 10″ is acceptable if the resolution is good enough. Thinner and lighter is better than smaller screen in my opinion.
Cost – Under €600.

This is a huge challenge.

A quick brainstorm this afternoon has me starting with keywords like CUDA, Intel core, H.264 (source and output) 480p

The interesting part of this challenge is that I will have to buy a new camera. 720p recording is common but I rarely see cameras that can record a real 480p 16:9 source. Ideally I would combine my digital camera with the video camera but I know that’s going to be very very difficult to achieve.

Your input is welcome on any aspect of this. I’ll be updating when I’ve made discoveries and decisions. Wish me luck!

Posted from WordPress for Android with the Galaxy Tab

Tags: editing, mobile computing, video

X-Fi Pro Go allows ‘What You Hear’ recording on netbook.

Originally uploaded by umpcportal.com

For anyone looking for a way to record Skype audio (or other two-way audio conversations) without special software, you might be aware that creative offer a ‘what you hear’ recording solution in their soundcards. You rarely find it on built-in audio chipsets.
For the MeetMobility podcast I tend to use two soundcards and a mixer to record the audio across two PCs but when i’m out and about I don’t have that luxury. Skype audio recording via paid plugins is a possibility but I’d rather have something more flexible. Obviously I cant drop a PCI card into my netbook but there’s a USB solution that works.

Introducing the solution i’m going to use at CeBIT next week for our MeetMobility.com podcast next week. The Create X-Fi Pro Go USB sound module. It’s not cheap (I paid around 40 Euros) but it solves the problem by offering ‘What You Hear’ recording.

I just tested it with Skype and Audacity and it worked. Skype seems to want to mute the headphone i’m using on the start of a call but I supect I can solve that problem. If not, all that’s needed is a manual un-mute from the control panel after you’ve started the call.

Everything is confirmed working on a single-core netbook too. Try doing that on an Android Tablet!

Tags: audio, creative, podcasting, x-fi

Why, you may ask, did I just buy a USB audio stick? The answer – ‘What-you-hear’

This is going to allow me to record Skype conversations by using a netbook without Skype plugin software. At least that’s the plan!

At about 40 Euros it wasn’t that cheap but I can’t think of a better way to record our next Meetmobility podcast at Cebit next week.

Posted from WordPress for Android with the Galaxy Tab

Tags: audio, creative, podcasting, USB, x-fi

Here’s a video I did demonstrating how I used the Galaxy Tab and Nokia N8 for rich photo blogging at MWC. The combination is the best I’ve ever used and as the WordPress app matures, so does the process. For example, this post was created from a ‘share’ from the YouTube app to the WordPress app on the Galaxy Tab. I just love the Android sharing system!

Posted from WordPress for Android with the Galaxy Tab

Tags: moblogging

This is a simple demo post that I’m using to create a video demonstration of Photo Blogging using the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

The photo was taken with the Nokia N8, transferred via Bluetooth and posted using the WordPress application on the Tab.

The whole process is quick and clean.

Tags: demo. moblogging, photoblogging

Surely there has never been a time in technology history since the last World War where products have advanced so quickly. The difference then was that the products weren’t aimed at the consumer and, even if they were, the consumer didn’t have the money anyway. This time round there are millions of relatively rich people able to buy whatever they want.

The thing is, there are some amazing products and services out there already but industry insists on changing, churning and cultivating new ones. The end user isn’t getting a chance to really get to grips with the current products and learn before they are told they need ‘better’ ones.

I feel a bit greedy when I think of how to improve the Galaxy Tab I’m using right now. The fact is that it’s a superb product for me and I should be spending time optimizing it rather than wanting more. After 4 years with my digital camera I’m still learning how to get more out of it. The same goes for phones, laptops and any other tech.

We need a break, and yet my business is to track down and test new technology and then present it to the end user. I’m one of the ones in the middle of all this.

Carrypad is 5 years old today and I’ve been thinking about the future. No, I don’t want to give up writing about technology but I feel I must strengthen my articles with a better perspective about longevity. I need to improve the way that I think about the potential customer (although I do feel I’ve been doing a good job at that in my reviews already) and to somehow put more emphasis on how-to, software and upgrade articles that can help users get more out of what they’ve already got. I’m also determined to call out any bullshit I see and to think carefuly about carrier control; something that could get out of hand.

Unless there’s a major world meltdown, there won’t be any changes in the pace of technology and product development so all I can do is to try and keep a better perspective and try and bring that to my posts. Add honesty, a cornerstone of the way I already write, and I think ill be happy to go on into the next five years.

Anyone else feeling they need a break from ‘new’ tech?

Tags: development, pace, technology

My masterful plan to use the Nokia N8 and the Galaxy Tab for some photoblogging for Carrypad and UMPCportal via the wordpress application failed at CES in Las Vegas. Internet connectivity was terrible (despite having a Sprint MIFI) and so I abandoned it quickly. Barcelona should, if last year is anything to go by, be a lot better so stay tuned for a lot more posts. I’m going to be trying hard no to post photo after photo without any information. That would be boring.

Again I’ll be dragging along my trusty old Canon S2IS with its simple video capability that allows me to edit on Windows Movie Maker and to connect via USB for live blogging. I still can’t find a combination that beats it. It should allow me to upload some videos fairly quickly too.

Total kit list goes something like this:
Nokia N8
Samsung Galaxy Tab
Gigabyte Touchnote netbook (with ssd and 2Gb upgrade)
Canon S2IS
Universal power pack (50wh)
USB cables
SD cards

Total weight is still going to be in the ‘backpack’ range unfortunately.

One extra service I want to try out this time is Audioboo. I’ve been testing it on the Galaxy Tab and I’m impressed. The audio quality is fine and it slots nicely into my Twitter stream. I won’t be including it on the website though as I want it to be something unique for my Twitter followers. If you haven’t heard of Audioboo,  check it out. It allows you to record a piece of audio, in my case through the Samsung Galaxy Tab built-in Mic, and send it to their servers in a single press. They then send it into your Twitter stream and make it available, with RSS, in your own channel. You can find a few segments I’ve done with the Galaxy Tab here

Join me over at Carrypad and UMPCPortal over the next week. It will he fun!

[This post written on the Galaxy Tab]

Tags: galaxy Tab, moblogging, MWC, N8

With the temperature at 7 degrees it’s difficult to sit outside for too long although the sun, the atmosphere, the smiles on peoples faces make it difficult to head indoors. Tea always calls me at some point though so off to Starbucks we go. Their big mugs of black tea aren’t expensive and here in the middle of Bonn, sitting at the window, there’s lots to see.

As I walked through town it was tempting to check out the latest in the mobile phone shops but just one glance inside reminds of the experience. A bunch of out-of-date phones in non-working plastic dummy versions attached to ‘free’ price tags and 2-year contract commitments. TWO YEARS! I just can’t bring myself to go inside. Even if they had something new, I can’t face the sales staff!

As I sip my tea my thoughts drift back to MWC. Serious things are going to happen to one of the operating systems I have followed closely since it grew its first roots. Both Nokia and Intel will make announcements that affect the future of Meego. Nokia can’t drop it from their strategy because Intel need them and there are probably agreements in place that secure this. Intel have platforms in production that don’t support Windows so if Meego fails, 5-10 years of strategy needs re-working. Intel can’t just switch IADP and Appup over to Android or hope for massive take-up on Netbooks.

What I really hope happens over the next week are three things.

1 – Nokia re-affirm their commitment to Meego and Meego products at the high end, the advanced, leading edge.
2 – Intel announce product partners for Meego on Intel
3 – HP joins the ecosystem by sharing software and engineers, making the WEBOS user interface work with the Meego core and embracing Qt as a development platform.

HP will make an announcement about WEBOS and WEBOS products today. The ex head of Maemo at Nokia (Ari Jaaksi) now works for HP so theres some good connections there too. HP, Intel and Nokia need to stimulate a developer ecosystem and can’t do it on their own. I can’t think of a better partner for Meego.

What Nokia does in the meantime is of no interest to me whatsoever. Symbian will be a mid-tier OS and whatever Nokia decides to do as a bridge will be forgotten in a year. Putting Windows phone 7 in as the corporate offering and freeing up symbian for non corporate focus makes sense. Using Android doesn’t. Meego still needs to be the 2-5 year high-end solution though.

At least thats what I think.

My tea is nearly finished now (but not cold, showing you how damn easy and quick it is to thumb-type on the Galaxy Tab) and its time for me to head back home to spend some hours with the family. Until the HP event starts that is!

Pics from the Galaxy Tab. The 3.5MP cam works well when there’s a lot of bright light around!

Tags: moblogging

The sun is out, the Galaxy Tab is charged and I have a few things to do in town so its time to hit the road and go mobile today. I want to do some more Galaxy Tab photography too so stay tuned for that along with a few posts via WordPress. All this practice will help with my work at MWC next week.

Tags: galaxy Tab, moblogging

I’ve had a Nokia N8 (thanks to Nokia for the loan) for about 2 months now and it’s about time I wrote a summary of my feelings about it. Remember I’m a mobile/internet camera nut, a long-time Nokia user and also a user of many mobile devices through my work at Carrypad.

The original idea of testing the N8 was to see if it would be the perfect partner for another mobile buddy I have in my life – the Samsung Galaxy Tab and to a large extent it has done that by being the phone, the camera and the offline navigation device but when the Galaxy Tab isn’t around and I want to do something with social media, the web or with a particular application in mind, the frustration levels quickly rise with the N8 highlighting that it really isn’t up to the task of being a smartphone for a mobile user like me.

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