Ooyala releases next wave video player

Larry Kless · June 2, 2009 · Short URL: https://vator.tv/n/8aa

"Swift" features improved video playback and a new modular design

Ooyala, an online video platform provider has launched version 2.0 of its advanced video player, code-named Swift. The player features improved video playback while incorporating a new, modular design. The modular framework appears to be part of the "next wave" in video player technology. Brightcove incorporates this in their player and Adobe recently announced an open source plugin framework.

The upgrades are intended to give content publishers the flexibility to add feature modules as needed, as well as to improve the overall viewing experience. The modularity is quite innovative. Ooyala says the new player can dynamically load code modules on the fly and that the player only loads modules that are required - resulting in more efficient video playback. A faster loading player offers a better user experience, and thus decreases the likelihood that viewers will abandon the video.

A few months back, I offered a preview of their soon-to-be released next generation player and met with their engineers and co-founders who were excited about the upcoming release. CTO and co-founder Sean Knapp told me that the player was completely rewritten from the ground up and is a fraction of the size of the other players with a plug-in architecture that allows for on-demand loading of modules and the seamless integration of new custom modules to extend the player's functionality with the ability to add surveys, polls or other extensible modules. I've republished the interview with Sean below.

The Swift player will also improve video delivery for their already popular adaptive bit rate video delivery feature. With the new player, it has refined the algorithms for bandwidth detection, resulting in a more accurate model of the user's bandwidth. The player dynamically and continuously checks the bandwidth and delivers the best video for the user at all times.

As a side note, Ooyala says it is the only company able to offer online video delivery in Flash using adaptive technology, without requiring Flash 10 or Flash Media Server 3.5. Their modular framework already includes live streaming and synchronized playback, support for many new ad networks, including VAST-based ad systems, integration of Visible Measures analytics.

Ooyala will likely incorporate Strobe, Adobe's open standard for media player creation, says Will Richmond who spoke with Knapp last week about the new Swift player.

A few of the featured highlights introduced with Swift include:

Reduced player size resulting in faster load times and lower abandonment rates
Modular architecture enabling faster innovation and easier integration of new functionality
Higher quality playback driving greater video consumption and engagement
Enhanced UI and flexible controls producing a highly customized viewing experience
Improved bandwidth detection providing seamless playback

See their Swift FAQ page for an overview describing the new features and functionality of Swift.

Larry Kless

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Ooyala

Startup/Business

Joined Vator on April 30, 2008

Ooyala is a video technology company that provides an integrated platform enabling the delivery, management, and monetization of high quality video content. Focused on innovation and scalability, Ooyala is committed to providing the most comprehensive video solutions to companies worldwide.Ooyala is headquartered in Mountain View, Ca with sales operations in New York, NY and London, UK.

"Ooyala" means cradle in Telugu, a Southern Indian language. We like the name because it demonstrates what we are doing -- cradling a new form of innovation.

Ooyala was founded in early 2007 by Sean Knapp, Belsasar Lepe and Bismarck Lepe - all former Google employees. While at Google, they worked on the development and launch of various monetization and content distribution products such as AdSense, AdWords and Google Web Search. After four years of engineering and product development at the biggest Internet company in the world, the three left Google to start Ooyala. Ooyala has raised over 10 million dollars in funding and has in excess of 5000 publishers using its syndication platform - Backlot. Ooyala's goal is to build a successful technology company that focuses on delivering the best video experience to video content providers, advertisers and most importantly consumers.