For those who are not satisfied with YouTube, there is a service that many say surpasses Google's. It is Ustream and turns the mobile into a live TV station with solutions for streaming from Android. They have just reached the 2,5 million downloads for the Android platform. And to celebrate, they are launching the version 2.0 with quite a few new features.
Among the novelties of this new version, stands out a significant interface improvement, sporting a darker and more elegant appearance than version 1.0. In addition, version 2.0 supports the device rotation in panoramic mode, slider navigation and has improved the usability of the action bar.
Furthermore, although this does not affect us Spaniards, It now supports the Korean language. Which is in line with Ustream's partnership with Korea Telecom, previously announced.
But more importantly, version 2.0 allows you to remove advertising of the site. Ustream is free but, to maintain itself, it deploys banners and ads which can sometimes be annoying. Now, it can be be a premium member For a small income, you can avoid ads while watching a video.
Lastly, the new version comes with a widget called QuickBroadcast, that allows you to put a small record button on the screen. By just clicking on it, you can start broadcasting what we are watching and Stream from your mobile camera. Of course, you'll first need to be logged in and assigned to one of the categories. But it has never been so easy become our own TV station.
As we have already said, Ustream for Android has already been downloaded 2,5 million times. Also available in web version and for iOS, it is the main service for live event streaming, while they are passing through their own protagonists. It offers up to 10 different themes to tag the event and thus make it easier to search and view.
Via CNetNews
Google Play.
Ustream Today: HLS, APIs, and a Professional Approach (IBM Cloud Video)
Ustream evolved into an enterprise-oriented offering under the brand IBM Cloud Video, maintaining its essence of live streaming and VOD. Among its key features are the use of HLS (HTTP Live Streaming) for playback compatible with computers, mobile phones, tablets, smart TVs and more, as well as self-archiving of emissions, social integration y without rigid limits on bitrate or resolution in higher plans.
In advanced plans it offers APIs (channels, content management, player) and extensive options for channel customization y brand control. The orientation towards large organizations translates into levels with multiple live channels, analysis, embedding restrictions and corporate packages with internal video, OTT and marketing, although certain capabilities are reserved for high levels.
Why is HLS important for your live show?
The protocol Hls has been consolidated as de facto standard due to its cross-platform compatibility and dynamic adaptation to the user's connection. Compared to obsolete technologies, HLS provides to maximise security and your enjoyment., Scalability y consistent experience on most devices. For any streaming strategy, bet on HLS maximizes reach and quality, especially when Streaming on Android.
OVP alternatives to Ustream: what each one offers
If you need to compare before deciding, these are online video platforms (OVP) They are references with different approaches:
- DaCast: platform B2B SaaS with streaming and VOD, White brand in all plans, SVOD/TVOD/AVOD monetization, API at higher levels and 24/7 support. Ideal for starting with low costs and scaling with multi-user, AES encryption y video galleries.
- Vimeo (Livestream): live and VOD from Full HD quality, adaptive player, monetization options and video management; very professional image, designed for large audiences.
- JW Player (JW Live): famous for his HTML5 player, adds directly with HLS and DASH, analytics y advertising VAST/VPAID; Player API and Enterprise Plans with DRM.
- brightcove: emphasis on advanced analytics, server-side ad insertion and marketing; multiple integrations and OTT flows.
- wowza: two proposals, Streaming Cloud (managed) and Streaming Engine (self-hosted), with REST API, 4K and extensive security controls.
- StreamShark: enterprise approach with multi-CDN, HLS intake and complete event cycle management; privacy and audience reporting.
- Return Policy: comprehensive solution with encoders and its own software, bets on reliability and automation.
- Kaltura: very high customization via API/SDK, robust security and all models of monetization; more complex to operate.
- Move: platform Turnkey OTT (web, apps, DRM, transcoding) with White brand and flexible business models.
- Cincopa: multimedia hosting (video, audio, photos) with live, monetization, CDN and analytics; useful if you manage a large volume of assets.
- Panoptic: focused on education and corporate (LMS, lecture capture, video search) as an “internal YouTube”.
Social platforms to amplify audiences
As a showcase and brand reinforcement, combine an OVP with social media multiplies the reach:
- LinkedIn Live: access on request, designed for professional public and events with RTMP or partners.
- YouTube Live y Dailymotion: free and massive, with content restrictions y visible brand.
- Facebook Live e Instagram: great commitment and virality; time limits and limited monetization.
- Twitch: leader in Gaming and real-time content with chat; strict rules and monetization subject to proprietary programs. For mobile broadcasts, please consult Streaming on Twitch from your phone.
Quality guaranteed: network, telco APIs and AI compression
For demanding live shows (sports, cloud gaming, remote assistance) the network stability is crucial. With Telefónica Open Gateway and its API Quality on Demand it is possible to negotiate latency, jitter and throughput in real time. The case of Cinfo (solution TiiVii with AI-controlled autonomous cameras) illustrates how a Dynamic QoS prevents freezing and maintains resolution throughout the broadcast.
Video compression with Artificial Intelligence allow lower latency y more quality optimizing scene by scene. Initiatives such as ENHANCEplayer demonstrate the real-time super-resolution on the user's device, reducing the bandwidth that the sender must send without sacrificing clarity.
Good practices to avoid cuts and buffering
- Decongests the local network: Limits connected devices and prioritizes broadcast equipment.
- Use Ethernet cable or select less congested Wi‑Fi channels from your router.
- Clear browser cache and temporary files if you broadcast from the web; tools like system cleaners help.
- Adjusts hardware acceleration from the PC if you detect incompatibilities with the reproduction.
There is no doubt that video is gradually gaining more prominence on the Internet, which is why we find ourselves in Ustream.tv a complete social network, with what that implies at the level of contacts, for the Establishment and/or viewing of online video broadcasts in real time through the webcam itself.
In it, users have a tool to schedule an event To broadcast through our own webcam, within a category of our choice, in which we can make access public, only to friends, or to whomever we choose, indicating the maximum number of people allowed in our broadcast, which can be unlimited. It also allows us to choose the code to insert so that our website users can follow the broadcasts from there.
Allows subscription to other channels, which you can rate, add to favorites, participate in real-time chats, and even leave comments. We can also add them to our websites.
It has cat salas where users can enter and interact with other users, although we can also create new rooms, both public and private.
And of course, as a social network, each user has their own profile where other users can rate us, add us to their favorites, add us as friends, send us messages, and all that stuff. And speaking of messages, it also allows us to generate messages recorded on videos to send them to our friends and even, of course, to include them on our website. We can also invite any user to establish text or video conversations.
While waiting for more activity, I will be attentive to what happens within this system, although we can highlight that bands have additional options for their broadcasts.
Via | MoMB
Link | Ustream TV
If you're looking to broadcast from your mobile with the least possible friction, Ustream 2.0 adds usability, options premium without ads and shortcuts like QuickBroadcast; and if your project grows, understand the ecosystem of HLS, OVP, Networking, and AI Compression It will allow you to compete with professional quality and global reach without sacrificing the simplicity that made Ustream popular.
