Akamai launches HD content website
by Steven Kim 
posted Oct 30th 2007 at 6:57PM
Akamai has launched a "proof of concept" portal for demonstrating online HD content. The site shows off their edge delivery technologies designed around HD streaming. Anyone can try out the site, but you'll need some healthy bandwidth to get the full experience. Recommended specs include 7.5Mbps for the 720 feeds, 13.5Mbps for the 1080; if your connection doesn't meet spec, expect hitches. It's a tantalizing view of the future, but those bandwidth requirements are steep! Still, we're on board with Akamai's reasons for putting this site up, especially "engage audiences with higher quality video experiences" and "show industry support and leadership around the move toward high-definition video." We've seen it and we want it, so the only question left is when will the industry players let us get it?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Wilson @ Oct 30th 2007 10:52PM
Looks real good, especially the 1080. I have a 20Mbps connection with RCN so the playback is great. It'll be interesting to see what they start providing in the near future.
sr @ Oct 31st 2007 12:13AM
Yeah I got myself 20Mbps from RCN also.
GhostDoggy @ Oct 31st 2007 6:15AM
This is exactly what the telephone companies deploying IPTV are fearing the most. While they ramp up broadband for their consumers, third party content providers skirt the telcos and compete head-on. In fact, it would not surprise me that cable companies that covertly engage in bandwidth caps will get law suits when consumers try to use their high-bandwidth connections with streaming content sites like this.
I should have been a lawyer.
TDG01 @ Oct 31st 2007 10:23AM
OK...so this is funny....Being a FIOS business customer w/30Mbs I figured I'm golden....Pop on the site...nice site and sure enough there's FIOS advertisement everywhere, as the "fiber leader" who can provide the kinda bandwidth you need for this site...
the first thing the site does is a bandwidth test and it comes to a screaching halt...."Our testing indicates that your connection speed does not meet the threshold...You may expecience difficulty..."
gotta love it...
Steven Kim @ Oct 31st 2007 2:30PM
@TDG01: I think they're doing other checks besides just the bandwidth of the connection. If you check out the "Technical Requirements" link at the top of the page, it spells out some other specs. It does require client-side horsepower as well.
UnnDunn @ Nov 1st 2007 8:19AM
I've been waiting for a site like this to show up ever since I got my FiOS hookup.