VP8 and the Open Web Media Project

Google’s open video compression format VP8 and WebM, the open web media project, are challenging MPEG-4 AVC (H.264) as Internet standard for video content and the new HTML5 video element.

WebM is based on the Matroska container MKV and encodes video with VP8 with audio with the Ogg Vorbis codec.

Development versions of Firefox, Opera, Chrome and Chromium already support WebM. Patches for FFmpeg, GStreamer, filters for DirectShow and a VP8 SDK are available. The latest built of VLC plays VP8/WebM as well.

YouTube offers HTML5 content, too. You can test it after joining the HTML5 Beta at youtube.com/html5. A search for webm on YouTube will return several demos available as HTML5, for example this WebM Demo, or Free Fall, the amazing film with world champion freediver Guillaume Nery.

Microsoft announced that IE9 will support VP8/WebM in addition to H.264.

Source: c’t issue 13, 2010

Links:

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Windows and Linux – Quest for Best Practices

In a few days I’m going to update two of my computers. One of them (Athlon X2) used to run as a server with Ubuntu 9.04, the other one (Intel Core 2 Duo) was configured as a dual-boot system with Windows XP and Ubuntu 9.10. The Athlon will get a Ubuntu upgrade, the Intel will get Windows 7 and Ubuntu. Windows mostly for video and graphics work and things that don’t work in Ubuntu. Ubuntu for development and everything else.

Previously

When I set this system up for the first time a few years ago I tried to find a good solution to access Windows files and resources while I’m working in Ubuntu, and Ubuntu files and resources while I’m working in Windows. I wanted to avoid booting from one OS into another all the time. Once I experimented with virtual machines and configured Windows with two Hardware profiles (one for the physical hardware, one for the virtual hardware) and I was able to boot Windows regularly as well in a virtual machine when I was working in Ubuntu. I don’t remember doing the same in the other direction. It was an impressive (looking) solution but it I didn’t find it very useful in the end. If I needed Windows, I really needed it with all resources and all memory available. Graphics and Video in a virtual machine just wasn’t optimal. And considering how much time I would normally spend in one or the other OS working on the one or other project, I realized that it really will not hurt me to boot Windows or Ubuntu once or twice a day.

But I still wanted to find a good way to share files and documents across both platforms. A few years ago I used a single folder as a shared directory, but I quickly grew tired of having to copy files from and to this folder all the time. I wanted everything in one place, easy to access and easy to backup. I wanted my documents to share the same partition and folder in Linux as well as Windows. The first question was which file-system to use for this drive D:\. Given the ext2-IFS driver for Windows I decided to use ext2 for this partition, native to Linux whenever I work there, and accessible from Windows when I work there. So I set up the following:

  • Disk 0, Partition 1 (78GB NTFS) — C: for Windows and software
  • Disk 0, Partition 2 (74GB ext2) — Linux
  • Disk 0, Partition 3 (28GB ext2) — I: incoming partition for downloads, unsorted stuff
  • Disk 0, Partition 4 (6GB swap) — Linux Swap
  • Disk 1, Partition 1 (300GB ext2) — D: user-/home directories, web-server, projects, both for Windows and Linux

Both Linux, D: and I: used the ext2-file system, only C: is an NTFS partition. When I worked in Linux I had native access to these partitions mounted in /home and /incoming. When I worked in Windows, I had access to them with drive D: and I:. I figured that a driver would be more likely to fully support an open source file system than a driver that had to reverse-engineer a closed-source file system. I set this system up a year or two ago, and it’s been working pretty well for me since then. After a while and a few Windows crashes, however, I found ext2 with some corruption I had to fix manually. I’m not sure if anything or how much got lost in the process, but I didn’t like this at all.

Ext File System in Windows, or better NTFS in Linux?

When I was surfing the web a few days ago to find some thoughts on file-systems and recommendable backup-software I stumbled on a discussion about this issue. Somebody asked the same question: Is it better to use ext2 and the ext2-IFS driver on Windows, or NTFS and FUSE/NTFS-3g on Linux?

One of the answers made a pretty good point and confirmed the issue I encountered myself: If Windows crashes it can corrupt ext2/3 partitions after a while. Linux, however, doesn’t do the same with NTFS. Without fsck you won’t be able to check or repair ext2/3 filesystems in Windows, but Linux on the other hand has ntfsfix if you need to fix an NTFS partition. NTFS-3g (which I don’t think existed when I was first looking into this a few years ago) is supposed to handle NTFS better than Windows with ext2-IFS can handle ext2/3.

I’m wondering if I should reconsider my configuration and just keep all Windows files on a single NTFS partition C: and mount it as a /windows folder in Ubuntu. That won’t be a problem at all. But what should I do about Linux documents when I work in Windows? I’m not sure I would want to mount the Linux home with ext2-IFS again. What are your experiences and preferences? What route would you take if you needed a shared Windows/Linux system?

Cross-Platform Network Backups

Which tools would you recommend to create automated backups of Windows as well as Linux files, perhaps even across the network? I don’t want to create drive images but run quick frequent file backups for everything that changed in a day. I’d love to be able to do this automated, across the network, using the Athlon as a backup server, and each household computer as a backup client regardless of the operating system.

Originally I wanted to back things up on a remote site and wrote a script to gpg-encrypt zipped archives of files I wanted to save. But the web hosting providers don’t like it when hosting space is used as a backup drive. And providers that offer storage space for backup purposes charge ridiculous amounts of monthly fees for this service. I have about seven Gigabyte at GMail, I wonder if Gmail could be used as a backup drive for important things, and how safe and reliable it would be in terms of data-loss.

Anyway, if you stumble across this and want to share some ideas or best practices, go ahead! Every thought is appreciated. :)

Update: Voted for Simplicity

Update: I finally entered the 21st century by installing Ubuntu 10.04 and Windows 7 on PC #1 and Ubuntu 10.04 on PC #2. I installed 64-bit versions on both machines. I decided to not overconfigure the dual-boot system and went with the easiest route: Windows (NTFS) on one harddisk, Ubuntu (ext4) on a second. If I need any files from Windows when I’m in Ubuntu, I will just mount the Windows partition. If I need files from Ubuntu when I’m in Windows, well.. then I will just deal and copy everything I need to the Windows partition before I start Windows. I want to avoid the ext2-IFS driver. I also don’t know if or how well it could handle the ext4 file system. A clear separation will also make it easier for backups.

Amanda Network Backup

I found Amanda Network Backup and Zmanda which might be just what I was looking for to backup all systems across the network to my AMD server. It also supports cloud backups to Amazon S3 which might be worth for a smaller subset of the most important files. If I keep the volume small enough it could be very affordable at $4.95 monthly licensing fee plus $0.20 per GB data transferred in/out and $0.20 for backup storage. When I upload and store, say, 2 GB it should be $5.75 per month unless there are some hidden costs. And 2 GB is more than enough for the most critical data that would have to survive a disaster.

Do you know and use Amanda/Zmanda? What are your experiences with it? I installed it and went through a painful configuration procedure, but I finally made it work and was actually able to run a backup across the network. However, after a few gigs it appeared to have crashed. I don’t know if the network was overwhelmed or if I made a mistake with the configuration. I will have to read more about it. I found it a bit cumbersome to configure, but I think once it’s done properly I will never have to touch the configuration again. So this may be worth the effort. What’s most important though: I need to make sure these backups can be restored as safely, easily and quickly as possible when needed. As soon as I know more I will write a separate post about Amanda/Zmanda.

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MFF2010 Day 2: Saturday

In this post I’m going to write a little about the movies we saw on Saturday, the second day of this year’s Maryland Film Festival. I wish I’ve had a bit more time to write earlier when my impressions were still fresh. But I still remember these movies well. One that especially moved me was

Mama

From Russia, by Yelena and Nikolay Renard with Ludmila Alyohina and Sergey Nazaro.

Mama

Ludmila Alyohina

With the film Mama, Russian husband-and-wife directing team Yelena and Nikolay Renard have achieved something quite remarkable: they have crafted an emotionally resonant and deeply insightful film out of the completely unremarkable lives of the two main characters, all without the use of dialogue. The story revolves around the complex co-dependent relationship between a mother and her morbidly obese 40-year-old son.

This spare film uses the camera to achieve an almost painterly quality in each shot. The static camera frames a scene and then waits patiently as the actors come and go, often leaving the scene devoid of characters, but never empty. In keeping the camera firmly rooted in one position and letting it dwell on the scene, the Renards achieve a smoldering intensity of feeling that many flashier films would die for. Exquisitely long takes, few edits and a complete lack of dialogue (although wonderful use of sound) allow the viewer to become engrossed in the lives of the two main characters and afford an almost extra-sensory glimpse into their thoughts and feelings. [...] (J. Scott Braid)

Mama was one of the most intimate and beautiful movies I have seen in a while. I’m eternally grateful the filmmakers allowed me the time to rest in these long scenes, and take in the images, details, mood and unspoken expressions. Continue reading

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MFF2010 Day 1: Friday

Mundane History

The first movie we watched on the first full day of the film festival was Mundane History from Thailand, directed by Anocha Suwichakornpong:

Mundane History

Mundane History

Ake, a young man recently paralyzed from the waist down, sits sullenly in bed all day long in his family’s declining mansion, refusing even the little pleasures available to him. His mysterious and stern father Thanin hires a male nurse, Pun, to care for Ake and keep him company. But a jaded Ake rebukes and ignores Pun’s quietly good-natured attempts to cheer him up, challenging Pun to find new ways to distract his patient. When the thaw finally comes, secrets and changes emerge – both personal and cosmic.

The film community in Thailand was a completely unknown entity to me until we saw Syndromes and a Century in 2007. I enjoyed Syndromes and a Century a lot, and I had the feeling I might like Mundane History as well. Continue reading

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12th Annual Maryland Film Festival 2010

Prologue

The Charles Theater

The Charles Theater

During this year’s film festival I once again realized how much I love the Charles Theater and the Maryland Film Festival. I always appreciated classic, independent or international movies and documentaries and was eager to see them on the big screen, but when I grew up I didn’t have easy access to them. My hometown in Germany used to have a hand full of screens for the big mainstream releases, and everything used to be dubbed in German, so if I wanted to see something the way it was intended I had to import videos from other countries, and make sure my vhs-player was able to handle the foreign video-formats. In those days it would have taken years to download a video. Occasionally I could tune to arte, a French/German tv-channel that sometimes presented movies with subtitles and original audio tracks. This channel helped me discover a number of interesting and unusual movies, but I also imported many of my favorite movies and directors from the UK, Belgium, Canada, and the US.

When we attended the Maryland Film Festival for the first time in 2002 I knew what a priceless treasure we had found with the Charles Theater — not only during the film festival, but also all year long. Where else would you ever get an opportunity to watch a dozen Ingmar Bergman movies on the big screen? Where else could an event like the film festival take place if not at the Charles? Continue reading

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Good Things Come to Those Who Wait

I purchased this giant Ashes and Snow poster back in autumn of 2008 and was going to have it framed, but with a quote of over $300 I didn’t pursue it further at the time. Of course then came the holidays and New Years, my birthday, and the poster tube moved further into the background. When I ordered the Death & Taxes poster I thought I should finally get frames and release my posters from their prisons. With WholesalePosterFrames.com I found exactly what I was looking for and could get all the custom sizes I needed, including the 50.5 x 35.5 frame for Ashes and Snow. The material was delivered quickly, easy to assemble, and it cost less than half the original quote I got before. Awesome — I’m very pleased about the poster’s new home!

Ashes and Snow

Ashes and Snow - Boy reading to Elephant. New York Exhibition.

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Long Time No See

I‘m not sure if my blog has any subscribers left after I have neglected it for such a long time. But thank you if you stayed! Very soon I can reward your patience with a completed site-layout and more regular posts to follow at least once a week. Promised.

So what happened in the last few weeks and months? To be honest, mostly work and not much play. My day job as graphic designer has become very busy approaching the end of the year. Not only is it the biggest season for sales and advertising with Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas and New Year, but everybody is trying to tie up their loose ends before the new year. And this crashes down onto my desk like an avalanche.

In addition to my regular day job I have done some freelance graphic design work and also taken on some programming work again: some osCommerce customizations for one client, two custom WordPress plugins for another. I hope this work will eventually lead to a full-time role as web-developer again.

Will 2010 become a new year as a web-developer? I really hope so, it’s been much too long to be out of touch with technology. :)

I haven’t posted any pictures yet, but I did carve a movie-themed pumpkin again last Halloween. This year it was based on Pan’s Labyrinth. I wasn’t able to carve more during the week. And I have to admit that I never got into the right Halloween mood this year. I think next year I should start thinking about pumpkins a bit earlier.

In the little spare time I found I started to knit! It’s the perfect way to relax and forget about the work and computers after a long day. Slowly but surely I managed to complete my first scarf. Next I will work on a hat, then a simple sweater, and eventually I would like to attempt an Icelandic sweater.

I also started playing with a NerdKit to learn about practical electronics, microcontrollers and how to program them. In the near future I plan to share more posts about this as well, including photos, diagrams, perhaps also a few videos and screencasts. I would like to add more technical and educational content during the next year. While it feels good to share some impressions and thoughts with the world, it’s even more rewarding if I’m able to help somebody with an article.

My bicycling and fitness journey has moved a bit into the background. I still ride my bike every day (rain or shine) for transportation and commute, but I didn’t have the right mindset for an extensive exercise regimen in addition to my daily rides. I did complete the 100 (consecutive) push-up challenge. I actually enjoyed and appreciated the little time required to do them.

So this is a brief summary of what has moved my world for the last few months and what will come up on my blog very soon. If you are interested in PHP, WordPress, osCommerce, Java, Javascript and some C/C++ development, Ubuntu Linux, hardware-/software, electronics, graphic design, music, film, photography, knitting, bicycling, and fitness, or just in a bit more about me personally… this space will hopefully not disappoint you. Stay tuned for more in the next few weeks! :)

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Celebrate Bastille Day with 10 French Movie Favorites

On the occasion of the French national holiday I thought I would dedicate today’s post to a few French movies I love. Classic or modern, funny, thrilling, dramatic, sad or serious… I find so much beauty, realism, openness, elegance, magic or ambiance in French movies that I often miss in other movies. It is not only the language I appreciate, but also the surroundings, photography, cinematic tradition, history, culture, everything that gives the French movie its unique signature. I find a lot of disappointment in Russian, German or other countries’ movies that, for example, completely adopt the American film-making school and lose their own identity. But this is a entirely different story :) The following are just a few of many French movies I love, in no particular order. I’m certain there are so many more I’m not even aware of yet. Enjoy! Continue reading

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