Kickapps develops first social site with iPhone-friendly videos

[Edward Kirk]

Perhaps one of the most confusing decisions made by Apple was the decision to exclude Flash media support from the iPhone. As a result, just about all social media sites on the web (almost all of which are Flash-based) were off-limits to the many iPhone users. Well no more. NY-based KickApps has devised a solution.<!--break-->They announced recently that any video uploaded to KickApps’ powered social media sites will be encoded into both Flash and H.264, meaning you can now watch uploaded videos on the iPhone directly through its browser.

Here's how it works. When a user plays a video, KickApps instantly detects which format is required (probably via operating system or browser) and delivers the video via the compatible video player. This means that if you are on an iPhone and visit one of the videos, it will sense that and it will be displayed via QuickTime. You can see an example of the technology at work for yourself at <a href="http://www.kickflix.net/" target="_blank>www.KickFlix.net</a>.

<blockquote>“Our platform is driven largely by the goal of eliminating barriers of entry to social media,” said Alex Blum, CEO of KickApps. “By supporting the iPhone browser, we’re providing our affiliates and their audiences with the flexibility to deliver and consume online video via one of the most exciting and innovative mobile devices on the market today.”</blockquote>

So, this is pretty handy technology. Are you interested in using it yourself? If so, Kickapps has posted information on how to implement the functionality at their <a href="http://www.kickdeveloper.com/tutorials_iphone.html" target="_blank">KickDeveloper</a> site.

[via <a href="http://macenstein.com/default/archives/772" target="_blank">Macenstein</a>]

[Pepper]

This is great news! I wish they would just come up with a way to get flash to work so we wouldn't have this issue.

[Unregistered]

What's so confusing? Have you payed attention to how poorly optimized the flash plug-in is for Macs. Just looking at some youtube vids now on my 2.4ghz MBP and the processor usage is >60%. You expect to be able to run flash video off the iPhone and have any semblance of battery life? Most mobile devices that do have flash are using version 7 or earlier which won't work with the majority of popular flash enabled sites present today.

Methinks people clamoring for full flash support on the iPhone have no idea of it's effect on battery life, and processor consumption. If adobe can't even get us a decent implementation on the desktop, what makes one think they have some super optimized iPhone version in the wings!

[Bernie]

Yeah, what UnReggie said. Sometimes I think my browser has crashed. My G4 Duallie really bogs down when that new flash is being loaded. :eek:

[Pepper]

Yeah, what UnReggie said. Sometimes I think my browser has crashed. My G4 Duallie really bogs down when that new flash is being loaded. :eek:

ah, i've never had that issue. I am only on a G5 (ppc)