The Streaming Monkey

www.10minutebreak.co.uk - New Beta Version Launched!

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Noppe) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 14:13:00 +0000

The newly introduced website http://www.10minutebreak.co.uk, a news release website and online events calendar for the UK, proudly announces the launch of the brand new Beta version in August 2008, offering new features and functionalities.

10 Minute Break has been established in November 2007 and has since developed into a very popular tool for PR Agencies and Promotion companies to announce product launches and events covering covers Arts, Lifestyle, Music, Entertainment, Literature, Movies, Live Events plus much more.

With new the launch of the new Beta version, users can now:

• Add a Press Release/News Article including YouTube Videos and images

• Add their business into the new Map Directory with plenty of features

• Add an event such as Live Shows, Theatre and Fashion Shows

• Add product launches/reviews for Books, DVDs, CDs, Movies etc.

• Bookmark their favorite links and stories from the Internet

10 Minute Break, owned by the London based Internet Consultancy Company LTS Media Ltd., is playing an essential part in the online world and online promotion. The site, which is powered by the AQUA Content Management system, will undergo regularly updates as well as new features being added in the near future.

For more information:
LTS Media Ltd.
6 Water Lane
London NW1 8NZ
Ph: 0845 257 0778
info@thestreamingmonkey.com
http://www.thestreamingmonkey.com
http://www.10minutebreak.co.uk

Aqua 2 Progress

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Noppe) — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 10:10:00 +0000

Finally completed the functionality of the new on page editor. Still have a few cosmetic changes left to do but we are aiming to finish it today. The new on page editor is built using javascript and Ajax eliminating the need to refresh the page to see changes.

Posted with LifeCast

Aqua 2 Development Started

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Noppe) — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:28:00 +0000

Work on Aqua 2 on page editors have started and we are almost finished with the add content module for paragraphs.

We are using javascript and Ajax to replace the current system. This allows for true what you see is what you get editing. It also eliminates the need to refresh the page to see the changes.

Posted with LifeCast

LTS Media Ltd. Launches New Version Of 10 Minute Break!

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Noppe) — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 07:36:00 +0000

LTS Media Ltd. proudly announces the re-launch of www.10minutebreak.co.uk, the Online Event Calendar and News Release platform for the UK.

10 Minute Break has been introduced on the web in November 2007 and has since developed into a popular tool for events listings and bookmarking.
It is the perfect platform for PR Agencies and Industries to promote new product launches, product reviews as well as spreading the word on what’s out on the street.

10 Minute Break covers Arts, Music, Entertainment, Literature, Movies, Live Events and is also supported by a brilliant calendar based template which can be updated by the users once they have registered for the site. Further, 10 Minute Break can be enjoyed in a new design with a brand new look and feel.

In addition, 10 Minute Break is powered by AQUA CMS, a sophisticated Content Management System owned by LTS Media Ltd. The system is already used by many PR Agencies and clients throughout the UK and considered a powerful backbone for Online Social Media.

Besides LTS Medias Internet Consultancy work and long standing clientele, the firm is determined to translate their expertise of the web into online portals and systems which support the way people interact in the future as well as being on the forefront of their own product development. The launch of their AQUA CMS Content Management System has received a stunning response with a growing user base on a daily basis. With 10 Minute Break, LTS Media Ltd. is playing an essential part in the online world and online promotion. The company will continue do optimise and adapt to the changing landscape of the web which is very valuable to their future clients and essential to explore new business opportunities.

For more information:
LTS Media Ltd.
6 Water Lane
London NW1 8NZ
Ph: 0845 257 0778
info@thestreamingmonkey.com
http://www.thestreamingmonkey.com
http://www.aquacms.net
http://www.10minutebreak.co.uk

Aqua CMS Content Management System Launched April 2008!

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Noppe) — Sat, 10 May 2008 15:26:00 +0000

LTS Media Ltd, the London based Online Consultancy Firm, has launched its latest technology prodigy, AQUA Content Management System, on April 9th 2008.

AQUA CMS is a powerful Content Management System perfect for Design Agencies, PR & Marketing Agencies as well as Communication Departments, delivering ease of use, great features and comfort in administering any type of website.

Aqua CMS is incredible easy to use, enabling clients to quickly control the potential of the various functionalities without the need of any knowledge of programming. In addition, the system includes a build in e-commerce solution that easily integrates with PayPal, Protx, Barclays EPDQ and World Pay. Among the many features, including a very advanced user management system, Aqua CMS also offers support for Google Sitemaps and RSS. A lot of interesting and useful elements have been put in place with Aqua CMS allowing any changes made to be displayed in real time. Finally, the system provides a powerful Publish Anything Anywhere engine (meaning that you can put content almost anywhere on the page). Aqua CMS is a web-based system that allows users and editors to administer a site from any location as long as they have access to an Internet browser.

In terms of creativity and web design, Aqua CMS simplifies the management of images, documents and videos and provides a powerful template creator allowing for almost any type of design. Aqua CMS is build on the popular PHP and Mysql and enables a basic PHP programmer to expand the functionality of the system exponentially via a droplet system.

LTS Medias Creative Director Ray Noppe created Aqua CMS, originally known as Widgetsprocket, 7 years ago. Working hand in hand with their clients, the system has since undergone progressive transformations with impressive results. The name change to Aqua CMS and new launch on April 9th 2008 underlines the solid and consistent performance the system has already delivered to many satisfied clients aiming at dedicated website owners and managers.

Aqua CMS is downloadable for free at http://www.aquacms.net
Different support packages are also available including monthly maintenance for alterations, data entry and general management of website content.

For more information:
LTS Media Ltd.
6 Water Lane
London NW1 8NZ
Ph: 0845 257 0778
info@thestreamingmonkey.com
http://www.thestreamingmonkey.com
http://www.aquacms.net

New version of Aqua CMS released

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Noppe) — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 09:26:00 +0000

Version 1 (230408)

Changes
Complete rebuild of the User Groups and User Management system. You can now set which users can manage certain parts in the admin area. The fix allows allows management of the on page content.

To upgrade from previous version.

Replace the following folders
admin
droplets (if you have custom droplets installed make sure you don't replace them)

Replace the aq_editor.php file

Make change to to the following file:
application.php
Replace:
$extfile = $folappstep."ws8_extensions.php";
$funfile = $folappstep."ws8_functions.php";

With:
$extfile = $folappstep."droplets/functions/extensions.php";
$funfile = $folappstep."droplets/functions/base.php";

Rebuild all your pages for the new changes to take effect

To download the new version
http://www.aquacms.net/docs/AquaCMS_230408.zip

For more information on Aqua CMS
http://www.aquacms.net/

5 Tips to build an affordable Video On Demand website

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Noppe) — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 21:21:00 +0000

The new streaming technology and new ways of accessing large movie files via the internet has brought exciting changes to industries and end consumers. But what are the obstacles a small business can face when planning to expand into digital distribution via streaming technology? What can be done to make this new technology more affordable to smaller entities? This article will help you to get an insight into important aspects of how to save costs when setting up a streaming web site.

Setting up a Video On Demand website requires a technical understanding of the streaming technology involved and having dealt with the old school ways of doing distribution, rest assured that a natural resistance towards technology will arise. Aspects such as streaming technology, content delivery network, media file encoding, encryption, digital rights management, payment solution, online royalty reporting, streaming costs (welcome to the world of megabytes and megabits) and different technical parts of the website - all this seems to turn your project into rocket science. Many have given up half way through. As a result, most companies entrusts specialist providers to lead the sophisticated task of providing streaming technology to their services. In this article, we list some important aspects of what to do in order cut costs.

1. Finding the right Streaming Provider

In order to run a highly sophisticated streaming website with full business integrity you will have to team up with a specialist streaming provider who operates a Content Delivery Network. This is, in short terms, server rack space combined with Windows Media Streaming software ensuring that your content is being delivered to the end consumer as well as hosting your content. If you do your research properly, you will realise a huge pricing difference in streaming and hosting costs offered by various providers. In addition, a lot of companies do charge set-up costs as well as insisting that you also use their media file encoding service which can come as a very high cost. Avoid this. In addition, the development and programming of the website and the connectors can turn into a very costly affair when leaving this to a streaming specialist provider. Parts of it are unavoidable; a lot can be done for much less costs if you are willing to source this in-house.

2. Media File Encoding

Speaking from experience in dealing with clients, the encoding of a media file seems to cause a great deal of confusion. If you are, for example, a medium sized film production/film distribution company eyeing the prospect of setting up a Video On Demand site, take control of the file conversation in-house. It is anything but rocket science. Depending on the volume of titles you wish to offer, all it needs is a few PCs, enough DVD drives and affordable software which enables you to convert your movies into any file you want at any bit rate you want plus the possibility to set scene selections plus much more. Supply your streaming provider with all files in the format requested and you can safe a lot of money.

3. Digital Rights Management

DRM is already pre-provided in most server solutions but be aware that a lot of companies charge you extra for this and make it sound a bigger deal than it actually is. For example: Windows media server has DRM build in and all you need is a third party script or a VB.net script that sits between your web application and your Windows Media server to check if a client has paid and if the session is still valid. A good solution for this is a combination between Windows Media server, Hoyasoft and Aqua CMS. Do your research, it will pay off.

4. Web Development & Payment Solutions

Does your streaming provider offer the payment solutions you wish to offer your customers, such as Pay Per View and Pay Per Minute? Don't be surprised to find specialist providers who offer you the best content deliver network and streaming services but cannot provide the payment solution you desire. Some might only be able to offer downloads and Pay Per View but you also want Pay Per Minute. Some are not in a position to offer any payment solution but offer to develop this for you for costs which can easily exceed your budged. Again, look at content management solutions such as PHP Nuke, Aqua CMS and Mumbo. You will often find that they have these payment modules (Pay Per View, Pay Per Minute) pre-build.

5. Last but not least - Are you brave enough to build it all?

If you are lucky and you have a very experienced friend/colleque from the web development world with enough time and enthusiasm at hand, you can go all the way on your own. Before you start, look at content management solutions, they are often overlooked and often supply pre-built expansions that can meet your requirements. This can reduce your development costs dramatically. If you are willing to invest, you can buy your own streaming servers and just get rack space with hosting companies that offer streaming bandwidth (Do your research and you will realise that most streaming providers use third party facilities which you can perfectly use as well). You can safe tens of thousands of pounds as well as reducing your running costs to a minimum.

For more information:
LTS Media Ltd.
6 Water Lane
London NW1 8NZ
Ph: 0845 257 0778
info@thestreamingmonkey.com
http://www.thestreamingmonkey.com
http://www.aquacms.net

LTS Media Ltd. Offers Streaming Technology

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Noppe) — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 09:15:00 +0000

LTS Media Ltd., the London based Online Consultancy Company, is operating a fully operational Content Delivery Network for streaming Media since February 2008. The new streaming service is a valuable edition to LTS Medias online services, expanding their expertise in the world of digital media distribution and online communication strategies.

LTS Media’s Streaming Solutions also offer Pay-Per-Minute, Pay-Per-View and subscription, allowing their clients great flexibility with regards to revenue streams as well as giving customers alternative ways of accessing and paying for DRM protected content. In addition, the system comes with a robust Content Management platform that has a full e-commerce system, also suitable for cross selling of other products. This system is purpose built and not an adaptation of a “freebie” system.

In addition, the new streaming technology supports the new way people want to enjoy their chosen media. “Watch what you want when you want” is the key phrase and the trend is unstoppable.

The constant rise in computer networking combined with affordable broadband has contributed in providing easy access to streaming media to every household, be it film or music. While downloading a video used to take hours, the streaming solution delivers large data streaming real time, enabling the end consumer to enjoy watching movies online in high quality as well as downloading music files to the computer in a matter of seconds.

“2 years ago, streaming was still left to a few specialists but in 2007 it became obvious that this new technology will become more and more part of the media world as well as mainstream websites, be it in form of distribution, advertising or presentation”, Managing Director Ben Recknagel asserts, while announcing the move towards offering Streaming. “With online consultancy still being our core business, we are very excited that our clientele can now also benefit from the full services for streaming media”.

For more information:
LTS Media Ltd.
6 Water Lane
London NW1 8NZ
Ph: 0845 257 0778
info@thestreamingmonkey.com
www.thestreamingmonkey.com

Un-solicited e-mail and the small business

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Noppe) — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 10:39:00 +0000

This whole issue about receiving un-solicited e-mail when it comes to businesses is a bit hypocritical you get these big corporate companies and bored IT professionals that drone on about how bad it is to receive un-solicited e-mails and spamming is bad etc etc but at the same it's ok for them to send out printed material to physical addresses from a list they bought from BT. Now to me receiving junk mail through the post is worse than an e-mail.

Phone them first, how is this better? Getting cold calls is ten times worse as often you can't even understand their english and nine times out of ten these calls are not even remotely targeted. But hey this is ok according to the corporates and anti-spam evangelists.

Rather do Google keywords and SEO etc I see on forums allot. It's not that easy for small businesses trying to get off the ground to do this, a lot of them can't afford to hire expensive SEO and online consultancy companies to do it right. To appear in the top search results organically takes knowledge, time and lots of money which more often than not a start-up can't afford.

If an e-mail from one business to another that is targeted (ie don't try and sell bricks to a florist) and setup correctly (clearly laid out, full address and contact details plus clear instructions on how to stop receiving further correspondence) it is not in my opinion evil. I for one have found great suppliers that have saved us lots of money as well as some that has turned in to clients from so called spam. I often get un-solicited e-mails forwarded to me with useful information in them.

Don't get me wrong I get hundreds of e-mail with inappropriate content of a sexual nature and they are a nuisance and there is no way to stop it as they contain no un-subcribe information, but to put a small business trying to get much needed work, under the same umbrella is wrong. Often it is the best option for their limited budget available to them.

open_basedir restriction in effect error in PHP

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Noppe) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 08:48:00 +0000

This must be one of the most annoying errors to get when working with php. This error occurs when PHP can't find the specified file in the include statement. This often occurs when a developer has built an application on their machine and uploaded the application to a shared hosting account or if they move the application to a sub folder.

An easy work around is to determine the path to the called file dynamically.


$folcnt = substr_count($_SERVER["PHP_SELF"], "/");
$folappstep = "";
if($folcnt > 1) {
 for($i=2;$i<=$folcnt;$i++) {
  $folappstep .= "../";
 }
} else {
 $folappstep = "";
}

$extfile = $folappstep."ws8_extensions.php";
$funfile = $folappstep."ws8_functions.php";

include $extfile;
include $funfile;

Check to see if a cfwindow exists

noreply@blogger.com (Ray Noppe) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 19:16:00 +0000

Check to see if a cfwindow exists
When a window gets created by <cfwindow> coldfusion gives it a unique name and not the name you assigned it.
I have found a work around in the way of checking for the title of the window as when you create a cfwindow the window title div get the id of yourwinname_title.

Example javascript
<cfajaximport tags="cfwindow"/>
<script language="javascript">
function createphloadwin() {
if(document.getElementById('mywindow_title')) {
var x = "true";
// Show the window
ColdFusion.Window.show("mywindow");
} else {
var x = "false";
// Create a new window
ColdFusion.Window.create("mywindow", "Upload Photos", "", {height:250,width:400,closable:true,draggable:true,resizable:false,center:true,initshow:true,modal:true })
// Put your content in the window or you can assign the url in the ColdFusion.Window.create()
document.getElementById('mywindow_body').innerHTML = 'My Window content';
}
alert(x);
}
</script>

<a href="javascript:createphloadwin();">Check for window</a>