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Ustream viewer makes it to app store just in time

by Mel Martin Jan 19th 2009 at 11:15PM

There has been quite a bit of excitement over the last few weeks with the announcement that Ustream would be offering a live video viewer so people could watch the Obama inauguration on their iPhones and iPod touches. It didn't look like it was going to make it, but the free application [app store link] slipped into iTunes today with just hours to spare. While the Joost app should also allow streaming of the festivities, the Ustream viewer is unique because it allows live TV streams, and registered viewers can join a chat room creating a community around any video stream.

Video can be viewed horizontally or vertically, but many of the sources are not 16 by 9 so it won't make a great deal of difference. The app appears to be WiFi only, which is a bit of a drag. My cell reception here in the wilds of Arizona is not too great, but I got an error message trying to run the video streaming under 3G.

With WiFi most of the channels looked pretty good. I even got a quick look at Chris Pirillo doing his live bit from his desk at home. The real test will be tomorrow with the swearing in ceremonies. It will be a good test of the Ustream distribution system.

Ustream wants lots of players out there, because they are creating a content network and are actively courting people who will create videos on their home computers and laptops. The firm says they will soon have an app that allows live streaming of video and audio from the iPhone, in the same vein as the Qik tool currently running on jailbroken phones. If so, that will be a very big game changer for the iPhone. The big question is, will Apple allow it into the app store?

Looking toward the future, Ustream will need more and better content deals, and streaming via the 3G network. Tonight is a great first step, and I expect by swearing-in time a lot of iPhones will be tuned in, if you'll pardon the archaic term.

Here are some screen shots hot off the presses (thanks AppleUniverse):

Ustream Screen shots



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There has been quite a bit of excitement over the last few weeks with the announcement that Ustream would be offering a live video viewer...
 

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Jeff

This would have been good for us who did attend the Inauguration but were not in the upfront seats if it had worked on 3G. However the data network was so overloaded on The Mall that no data transfer was even possible.

January 21 2009 at 12:19 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Seth Amott

Not sure if anybody saw this, but it seems that it only makes the WiFi check when you start the App. For me, I started it in WiFi area and then walked away, and it continued to work. So I guess thats a nice little "hack" Start the App in WiFi and then walk outside. I only have EDGE where I am now, so the video became prettymuch un watchable, but it still worked.

January 20 2009 at 7:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Adam

Hey just to let you know, if your iPhone is jailbroken, VoipOver3G from Cydia works with this app. This allows the app to work over 3G as well as WIFI.
To do this, add

tv.ustream.player

as an entry to this file:

/Library/MobileSubstrate/DynamicLibraries/VoIPover3G.plist

Hope this helps,
Adam


January 20 2009 at 6:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
4 replies to Adam's comment
Brian

Look through the comments for a alternative way to do this as well. I found that way easier and faster.

http://www.alexwhittemore.com/?p=65

January 20 2009 at 5:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian

You can change a config file on a jailbroken iPhone to tell WIFI apps (i.e. uStream, Joost) to ignore the WIFI requirement and use just 3G.

January 20 2009 at 3:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Brian's comment
HUB

Brian, Thanks for the response man. Can you provide a link to the instructions?

January 20 2009 at 4:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian

I just applied some magic. Works over 3G :-)

January 20 2009 at 2:04 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Brian's comment
HUB

Brian,

Durrrr Uhhhhh what magic did you apply?

January 20 2009 at 3:23 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Brian

For some reason I had issues with getting the app started on my iPhone 3G, While over WIFI (at home) I received an error that said I must have an active WIFI connection. I do?!?! I was able to get it running on my non-service first gen iphone fine. Which is connected to the same WIFI.

January 20 2009 at 1:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
frankie

You know what i find funny. You have apps like newber and icall that have been waiting months for approval and here comes Ustream in a nick of time to showcase its product before the new pres takes over. I bet the submitted their app yesterday and got it approved already. Apple is full of it. They approve apps based on what is good for them.

January 20 2009 at 11:50 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
zach

I've got it working okay on my original iphone. For those with crashing problems, restart your phone. I can't believe people still complain about every downloaded app crashing when they don't power down and back up again first. I guess Apple needs to spell it out more prominently.

As for the app itself... it works, but is a little buggy. I keep losing the stream after 10 minutes or so. It hogs power and has no option to disable the auto-lock, which is kind of a pain when the phone is docked.

I also really wish there was an options screen where I could disable the chat and maximize the screen usage for video viewing.

Overall, a decent first effort. Kudos to ustream for getting it approved in time for today's events.

January 20 2009 at 10:48 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Johnny

Was excited.

Installed.

3G not supported.

Deleted.

Rated 1 star.

January 20 2009 at 10:46 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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