AP Broadcast

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Benefits and features of SNAPfeed

SNAPfeed

Stuck without a truck? No problem. Feed video back to the newsroom from just about anywhere with a camera, laptop, net connection and AP’s SNAPfeed.

Provided as part of ENPS, SNAPfeed guides journalists through a straightforward, non-technical, four step process to encode and transmit their video. No matter where you are, if you have a connection to your company’s network, via telephone line, ISDN, DSL, cable modem, even Inmarsat link, SNAPfeed gets the video delivered on time and removes the technical distractions.

“What’s my deadline?”
SNAPfeed uses patent-pending technology to boil the transmission process down to this single question. SNAPFeed optimizes compression to transmit the best possible quality in the time available. As a result, the story is received on time and at the lowest cost.

When transmission time is secondary to quality, SNAPfeed can encode files using specific quality settings and bit rates predefined by administrators. This guarantees producers that the material received from the field will meet a known standard of technical quality.

In addition, SNAPfeed can broadcast live at a quality unparalleled by traditional videophone technology, even from a dial-up telephone connection.

Transmission is a SNAP

Transmits live video or store-and-forward media files.
Uses standard connection types — DSL, wireless hot spots, ISDN, Inmarsat, dial-up telephone.
Optionally selects compression settings based on available bandwidth and time constraints, automatically.
Superior quality transmission using the latest Windows Media 9 video compression technology.
Options to transmit video in ‘native’ DV-25 or MPEG files.
Works with standard PC-based laptop, DV cameras, NLEs and file servers.
Live capability works with almost any ‘firewire’ (IEEE 1394) or USB video devices.
Simultaneous feeds can be sent to station from multiple remote users.

Integration with ENPS is a SNAP

The SNAPfeed interface launches when a completed media file is detected.
Remote crews see assignment information to match slug and transmitted story.
When deadline time is entered into SNAPfeed, the system automatically sets compression parameters for media delivery prior to deadline.
Remote journalists can access full features of ENPS during file transmission.
Real-time feed status seen dynamically in ENPS rundown.
Received media is immediately available for use.
Interrupted feeds can be resumed at a later time, even from a different location.
Partial file transmissions can be played before transmission is complete
Optional automated transfer to production and on-air media servers.
Can operate in mixed newsroom environments: MOS or non-MOS, analog or digital, with or without production media file servers.
Metadata tagged to clip can facilitate improved asset management.

What’s my deadline?

That’s the only thing you need to ask when using SNAPfeed, the store-and-forward video program from the Associated Press. Used in conjunction with ENPS, AP’s news production system walks you through a non-technical four-step process to encode and send your video back to the newsroom.

How does it work?

SNAPfeed determines the length of your video package, how much time is available before broadcast, and how long it will take to send using the selected transmission method. There are a number of transmission options available: EVDO, Satellite phone, WiFi from a cyber café are among them. Utilizing the Windows Media 9 video codec from Microsoft, it then compresses the video to the highest quality resolution possible for transfer in the allotted time.

What do I need?

SNAPfeed is designed to supplement broadcasters’ remote capabilities. A laptop, video editing software, a video camera and a connection to transfer the media back to base are all that’s needed.