~terry
Wed, Jul 24, 1996 (12:16)
seed
StreamWorks -- Xing offers an amazing technology with its
combined real-time audio and video player. ISDN users and direct
'net connectors will rejoice at the ability to check out continual A/V
signals from StreamWorks servers, but 28.8 Kb and 14.4 Kb users
will likely find the waters quite a bit rougher. In fact, at 14.4 Kb,
real-time video is actually closer to a still image than a movie, and
audio, while decent, is nowhere near the quality heard on the radio.
28.8 Kb users will fare better with few delays and audio quality
nearly on the level of RealAudio and TrueSpeech. Ten different
servers are available for use with the current version of
StreamWorks and the possible choices of signal range from REM
to Garth Brooks audio feeds, from NBC video feeds to rock and
classical radio stations, and many more. Most feeds are available in
a variety of formats in order to meet the different needs of users
(14.4, 28.8, and ISDN). This is an app on the cutting edge of
technology and will only get better in the future. It should be
extremely interesting to watch as StreamWorks evolves.
Pros: Real-time audio and video on demand, tons of cool feeds
available
Cons: Can be dreadfully slow for 14.4 Kb users, audio quality could
be better
New:
New configuration utility, diagnostics report, bug fixes
Version Reviewed: 1.0.2532
Date of Review: 11/9/95
~terry
Tue, Jul 30, 1996 (05:54)
#1
Note - the above review by Forrest Stroud.
Streamworks has an impressive set of programming options and may very
well be the precursor to the next age of television, which will pull
people off of their traditional tv sets and onto a new generation of
"smart", internet ready hybrid computer-tvs.