Tonight, Google’s Android platform is getting another application that gives it functionality iPhone users can only gaze at longingly. This time, it’s Ustream, a mobile streaming application that lets you broadcast video directly from your phone. The application will be available on the Android Market by 9 AM PST tomorrow morning.
Ustream isn’t the only option available for streaming video on Android — Qik launched its own version in June. But it’s a very solid debut that comes with some features that Qik doesn’t. CEO John Ham says that one key differentiator for the new Ustream app is the way it handles latency. While competitors can build up a ‘lag time’ over the course of an extended broadcast, Ham says that Ustream uses a low latency connection and optimization both client and server side to keep this to a minimum — in other words, the lag doesn’t build up. In my testing I got a lag time of around three seconds over a 3G connection (nothing to scoff at), and perhaps more importantly the delay didn’t grow over time, which is especially important if you’re going to interact with your viewers through the app’s various community features.
And there are plenty of those: the application allows you to poll your views live during the broadcast, and also supports both Ustream’s integrated chat and Twitter chat. It also supports local recording, which lets you take higher quality video for upload later.
Another great feature: Ustream for Android lets you ‘overtake’ a currently broadcasting stream, provided you’re the owner of the account. For example, we could use the mobile application to take over our CrunchCam stream while we’re on the go and have some breaking news. Then, when we finished our mobile broadcast, the feed would revert to the camera that’s constantly streaming from inside TechCrunch headquarters (you can see a demo in the video below). Very slick.
Ustream also offers some apps for the iPhone, but these don’t let you broadcast straight to the web because Apple has restricted this functionality, despite the fact that the 3GS actually supports video.
ANDROID!
YESSSSSSS
this app rocks! live broadcasting from android is amazing…definitely the future
Has Google bought Ustream yet?
Ustroogle? Googstream?
Goostream.
Sounds like a internet company the Ghostbusters started
ustream isn’t accessible from China.
that overtake feature is awesome!
Ustream on the iPhone, Nokia phones, and now Android?!?!?!
I’ve been waiting for this my whole life.
Downloading now.
<3
I love Ustream.
BIG NEWS! This is the app that everyone has been waiting for on the iphone. I think Android’s open posture will serve them well.
Ustream & Android is a winning combo!!
overtake feature rocks!! I want this NOW!!!!
I hope this does not have region restrictions , i am in India and frequent flyer to different countries…
Damn it. I have to wait until tomorrow? ARGHHHHH
I want it now.
win.
will this work on Nokia N900 ?
Major!
It does look good…
yes.. Bring more android apps reviews plz
Sooo when are we going to be able to run Android on iPhone 3GS hardware?
Something really exciting ! I hope this will change the way we see and watch….
Really like that <3<3<3<3
IMHO ustream brings better quality on Symbian, happy to have it also on Android.
Right. Much better than qik stuff.
that wouldn’t beat the iphone
What about Bambuser? That’s been available for quite a while now.
Hi All,
Android had announced that Adobe Flash is supported. Does UStream use Adobe Flash or another platform for streaming?
Anyone knows?
Regards,
Haluk
Bambuser (bambuser.com) launched a live video streaming app for Android about a month ago… No growing latency over time and even lower latency than Ustream. Why not mention that in this post?
…because the story is a plug for upstream not for bambuser?
…but for Qik?
I just tried the app on my MyTouch, and with a decent 3g connection, the streaming wasn’t usable. The video froze in my web browser after 2-3 seconds.
works well for me….
Your device must not have enough memory
I installed it on the HTC Hero, but app crashes as soon as I try to login.
Shawn Hill’s Google Android phone doesn’t get great reception in Longview, Texas.
what is the cost for this service?