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NETWORK WORLD NEWSLETTER: NEAL WEINBERG on
PRODUCT REVIEWS 01/17/02 Today's focus: Vantum's video appliances Dear Wincenty Kaminski, In this issue: * Vantum's video appliances make video capture and streaming a breeze * Links related to Network World product reviews * Featured reader resource ____________________________________________________________ PRODUCT INFO IN ONE CONVENIENT LOCATION! Heard about a new product launch? Curious to find out if the features and benefits of this new product will meet your critical business needs? Network World Fusion's Product Central section includes all the info you need to make informed decision about new products and also includes a product finder function. Check it out at http://nww1.com/go/ad216.html ____________________________________________________________ Today's focus: Vantum's video appliances By Neal Weinberg We recently tested Version 1.1 of Vantum's C1d and M1d video appliances, and found that the systems are ideal for impromptu video content-capture and streaming. The Vantum video appliances are compact video recording, storage and streaming devices: one model has a threaded mount in its base and comes with a lens; the other relies on third- party video- and audio-capture devices and mounts into a rack. Just add power and a network, and you can capture or stream in minutes. Both video appliance models behaved exactly as promised - it was just like plugging in a toaster. We liked how easily the devices adapted to our network, then recorded at specific intervals or in response to scripts, and how they let us manipulate digital video files from their browser-based user interface. Despite these attributes, we were disappointed in the choice of MPEG-1 for video compression, which, at 30 frame/sec, could be a bandwidth or storage hog on the network. MPEG-1 also doesn't take advantage of the potentially exciting object-based properties available with the MPEG-4 file format. The Vantum C1d weighs 2 lbs., 12 oz., and it has a mount in the middle of its base so it can be attached to a U bracket hanging from the ceiling or to the top of a piece of furniture. Once the appliance was mounted, connected to a network via a standard Ethernet connection and powered up, we could either assign a fixed IP address or use Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol. Although the user manual is almost 80 pages, the information contained was not necessary to use the device's components. A video appliance-discovery tool finds all the appliances on the network and when you hit a hotlink, the application launches a new browser window set to the resolve home page on the appliance's built-in Web server. Once you've configured the video appliance, you can see the media streaming from the appliance almost in real time. If a network is multicast-enabled and the appliance is configured to send its stream to a multicast-addressable server, the stream can be viewed anywhere on the enterprise LAN or WAN. For the full review, go http://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/2002/0107rev.html _______________________________________________________________ To contact Neal Weinberg: Neal Weinberg is features editor at Network World, in charge of product reviews, Buyer's Guides, technology primers, how-tos, issue-oriented feature stories and the Technology Insider series. You can reach him at mailto:nweinber@nww.com. _______________________________________________________________ Get your wireless service from the carrier ranked #1 by Forbes magazine. Now get Unlimited Night & Weekend Minutes, plus up to $165 in savings when you activate on select calling plans and purchase a Nokia 3360 or 8260 from AT&T Wireless. To learn more go to http://nww1.com/go/ad207.html _______________________________________________________________ RELATED LINKS Start-up gear zooms in on streaming video Network World, 05/21/01 http://www.nwfusion.com/archive/2001/ 120802_05-21-2001.html EyeCast service delivers remote video feeds Network World Fusion, 01/17/01 http://www.nwfusion.com/news/2001/0117eyecast.html The archive for Reviews is: http://www.nwfusion.com/reviews/index.html ______________________________________________________________ FEATURED READER RESOURCE Network World Fusion's Net.Worker site Whether your company is growing larger or scaling back, corporate managers are looking for ways to cut costs while retaining and recruiting star employees. One smart solution - at least on paper - is to let some employees work from home. Network World's Net.Worker Web site bridges the gap between the telework concept and the hardware, software and services needed to make it happen. We bring you news and reviews, sound advice and keen insight into the technologies and solutions you need to manage a remote and mobile workforce. Visit http://www.nwfusion.com/net.worker/index.html _______________________________________________________________ May We Send You a Free Print Subscription? You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered at your fingertips each day. Now, extend your knowledge by receiving 51 FREE issues to our print publication. Apply today at http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/nl ______________________________________________________________ SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World e-mail newsletters, go to: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/news/scripts/notprinteditnews.asp To unsubscribe from promotional e-mail go to: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/ep To change your e-mail address, go to: http://www.nwwsubscribe.com/news/scripts/changeemail.asp Subscription questions? Contact Customer Service by replying to this message. Have editorial comments? Write Jeff Caruso, Newsletter Editor, at: mailto:jcaruso@nww.com For advertising information, write Jamie Kalbach, Director of Online Sales, at: mailto:jkalbach@nww.com Copyright Network World, Inc., 2002 ------------------------ This message was sent to: vkamins@enron.com
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