Downloading and watching videos on your mobile device always involves a trade-off between quality and file size (i.e. bandwidth cost). The higher the quality, the higher the file size and therefore the cost. Lower-quality videos, conversely, are cheaper. We’re now giving you two more options which may better suit your mobile needs.
Streaming
If your mobile device supports RTSP, we’ve created a 108kbit, 176×144 streaming option just for you. Streaming videos allows you to start watching a video before it is fully downloaded. If you choose to stop streaming the video before that, you only pay for the portion of the video you’ve downloaded.
This option will suit you best if your mobile data costs are a concern, and you are willing to sacrifice quality for cost.
MP4
On the other end of the spectrum, we’ve introduced a downloadable MP4 version of new videos. The MP4 files we produce are high quality:
16:9 videos: 640×360
4:3 videos: 480×360
Other: 480 width, variable height
These dimensions have been specifically tailored for the iPhone 3G and 3GS, though the MP4 videos will play on a range of devices, from desktop computers to lower-end mobile phones, without difficulty.
This option will suit you if you are less concerned about mobile costs, and are willing to pay a little extra for superior audio and visual quality.
For a side-by-side visualization of all the options, click on the thumbnail below:
What now?
You can try all our video download and streaming options by pointing your phone’s browser to http://m.zoopy.com now. As a start, you can explore the latest On Screen episodes at http://m.zoopy.com/tv/on-screen.
As we continue to grow Zoopy, we’re looking to welcome another senior developer to the team.
If you can tick all the boxes below, please give us a shout. If you make the shortlist, you’ll need to be available for a personal interview at Zoopy HQ in Cape Town in the very near future.
Here’s who we’re looking for:
Senior Developer
Working together with Zoopy’s Lead Developer, you’ll be responsible for:
Maintaining existing codebase and extending current functionality
Deployment and general health of codebase
Researching, evaluating and implementing new technologies to support codebase
Turning ideas into solutions and solutions into super-tight-deadline actions
Upholding Zoopy’s culture of innovation and can-do spirit
Here’s what you need to bring with you:
A professional level of verbal and written communication and presentation skills
5+ years of relevant development experience
Substantial LAMP experience, with MVC an enormous advantage
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
Ability to work on projects with minimal supervision but lots of team work
Technically-speaking, you need to be able to demonstrate proficiency in working with:
Linux, Apache, MySQL and object-orientated PHP
Javascript frameworks (Prototype, JQuery etc)
XML, JSON, REST, SOAP, XML-RPC and other related technologies
Please send your application to info@zoopy.com as soon as possible. We’re looking to fill this position by the end of August 2009, so we’re going to begin shortlisting quickly and then move to final interview stages.
On Screen, Zoopy TV’s online and mobile movie review show, hit the movie page in the entertainment sections of The Star, Cape Argus and Daily News newspapers today.
Cape Argus and Daily News
The Star
If you haven’t already seen Jay and Dave’s unique take on the the movie world at large, start watching On Screen now: online | mobile
nior developer to the team.
