We’re getting ready to move Cathe Live from the IBM platform to the Akamai platform (this is the same platform we use for our Cathe OnDemand videos). We’ve been working on this change for several months and it involves a massive amount of work and changes as it affects all of our Cathe Live apps and web services.
Going forward we should have a lot fewer problems with Cathe Live on the Akamai platform than we have had recently with the IBM platform, but there are bound to be some major speed bumps and potholes for a few weeks after we first launch. On your end may have to clear your browser’s cache, update your Cathe Live apps (for most this should be automatic), force close your apps and reboot your router. On our end, we may have to make code changes and tweaks to some of the apps after we launch to correct any problems found after launching.
This more than just a platform change. We’re also changing how we deliver the content to you and using our own customized Cathe player which will let us customize how you play your Cathe Live videos. Here are some of the changes:
We’re hoping to make the switch to Akamai on either this Thursday evening or on Friday depending on how things go the next few days. We will update you further as we know more.
Going forward we should have a lot fewer problems with Cathe Live on the Akamai platform than we have had recently with the IBM platform, but there are bound to be some major speed bumps and potholes for a few weeks after we first launch. On your end may have to clear your browser’s cache, update your Cathe Live apps (for most this should be automatic), force close your apps and reboot your router. On our end, we may have to make code changes and tweaks to some of the apps after we launch to correct any problems found after launching.
This more than just a platform change. We’re also changing how we deliver the content to you and using our own customized Cathe player which will let us customize how you play your Cathe Live videos. Here are some of the changes:
- We will begin streaming Cathe Live using HLS streaming. This means it will no longer be necessary to offer a “High Quality” and a “Low Quality” stream. With HLS we will send out seven different quality streams at the same time to everyone. Our system will detect which is the best quality stream your system can handle and will deliver the best option to you. If your internet speed drops during the broadcast our system will automatically detect this and begin serving, without interruption, our broadcast at a bitrate your system can handle.
- iOS users will now be able to use Chromecast, but as always with Apple products, we recommend using only Apple products when feasible.
- Better quality videos. We will now offer higher quality versions of our Cathe Live videos and these will automatically be sent to you as our HLS system will automatically detect what your system is capable of handling.
We’re hoping to make the switch to Akamai on either this Thursday evening or on Friday depending on how things go the next few days. We will update you further as we know more.