The Associated Press demonstrated SNAPfeed at NAB2003. SNAPfeed is a new software application that allows journalists to transmit video back to their newsrooms from remote locations without requiring satellite video links.
SNAPfeed manages video compression on a PC-based laptop, along with transmission to a companion SNAPfeed server through standard dial-up telephone lines, ISDN, DSL, cable modems, or satellite phones. The patent-pending AP-developed technology is designed to help field reporters and photographers respond to news deadlines based on combinations of quality settings, video file sizes and connection bandwidth.
SNAPfeed enables field staff to edit, compress and transmit video while using the same laptop and data connection to simultaneously write stories, read news wires, and exchange messages with other users of its Electronic News Production System (ENPS).
Producers waiting for incoming video receive constant status updates from ENPS, and, once received, it can be accessed via any ENPS workstation and manipulated as part of scripts and program playlists.
SNAPfeed is based on Microsoft’s Windows Media Encoder 9 Series and Windows Media Video 9 streaming codecs, which the software company claims offers faster speed and better quality than MPEG-based technology.
SNAPfeed will be available this fall.
For more information visit www.enps.com.
