SDK Release Highlights

Revision as of 20:02, 26 May 2010

In this SDK release we proudly present the new Character Generator filter - our latest product, designed to take titling capabilities of your applications to a new level and simplify development at the same time. Most importantly, the new filter allows you to work with all overlay item types (text, graphics, images and Flash) via a generic interface. The previously available Text & Graphics Overlay and Flash Overlay filters will be replaced by this new product.

What's new:

• Generic interface for text, graphics, image and Flash overlay items
• Built-in support for news tickers (including crawls and rolls) with automatic file tracking
• Support for item groups & compositions
• Smooth change of item size, position, transparency, background or view area
• Item movement, acceleration, fade in/fade out and entrance/exit effects, animation sequences
• New text and image effects: Shadow, Glow, Motion Blur, Rotation, etc.
• New graphic figures: rectangle, ellipse, triangle, star, etc.
• XML-based configuration
• .SRT subtitles support

For a detailed list of features and a comparison chart see the product page:

http://www.medialooks.com/products/directshow_filters/chargen.html

The filter is included into the new SDK installer, so there's no need to download it separately. However, deploying it will require a new license file. Since you are an SDK customer, you will be provided with this license file automatically: it is possible to download it from our online Support Center.

Our licensing was designed in such a way that would make the migration seamless and even provide some benefits:

• If you have a valid SDK subscription and no subscription for the Flash Overlay Add-On, your CG license will have a limited set of features (see features marked with "In any SDK" in the comparison chart). To obtain the license file for CG, download the full license files pack for your SDK edition.

• If you have both an SDK and Flash Overlay Add-On subscriptions, your license will have all options enabled ("SDK Add-On" edition) meaning that you will instantly gain access to all of the new professional features. In this case, download the separate Character Generator license (no need to download the license files for your SDK).

If you need help downloading the license files, please refer to this FAQ post:

http://wiki.medialooks.com/Downloading_license_files

Since the new filter implements new interfaces, it will be necessary to make certain changes in your code. Please read the FAQ entry below to get a quick understanding of what to do:

http://wiki.medialooks.com/Migrating_to_the_Character_Generator_filter

If you have any further questions (including questions about the new license files), please use our Support System:

http://support.medialooks.com

If your SDK or Flash Overlay SDK Add-On subscription has expired and you would like to renew it, please contact our sales team at <sales@medialooks.com>.

Other notable updates:

• Critical but rare problem with gapless file switching fixed. Playout stability has been greatly improved.

• RTMP streaming has been added (Flash Media Live Encoder still required but no need to run it's GUI). This update also requires a new license file, which is also available via the Support Center.

• New playlist format and parsing routine leading to a significant speed-up in playlist loading (1-2 seconds for a 1000 files playlist)

• An option to specify crop & borders for each file in list or for all files has been added.

• MG Preview and MG DeckLink objects now support cropping, borders. MG Preview also supports and basic deinterlacing.