Conversion to JavaScript frees the Blackbird

Posted: 14/09/2018

September 14, 2018, London – Forbidden Technologies plc (AIM: FBT), the developer and seller of Blackbird, the workstation experience in the cloud, has launched its editing platforms, Ascent and Forte in JavaScript.

This ground-breaking development allows Blackbird’s intuitive cloud video editing to be used in browsers without additional configuration or installation of plugins or applications. The powerful features already available in the Java version of Blackbird, including ultra-quick logging, clipping, editing, publishing and distribution of live and non-live video content in the cloud, are now implemented in the JavaScript version. The Blackbird editing platforms support editing resolutions of up to 540p and up to 60 frames per second, with publishing from original sources supported up to 4K.

This significant breakthrough in the development of Blackbird, which Forbidden first previewed in March this year, has been made possible by the company’s partnership with Leaning Technologies, a leading provider of web application tools. Forbidden Technologies used Leaning Technologies’ powerful CheerpJ compiler to convert Java byte code directly into its JavaScript web application.

Blackbird enables secure, ultra-fast, frame-accurate editing and distribution of video content by anyone, anytime, anywhere on web and mobile devices using bandwidth as low as 2Mb per second. Delivering a true incredibly responsive workstation-like experience in the cloud, Blackbird has worked on over 8m hours of professional video to date. This has been across multiple sectors globally including news, sports, eSports, events and broadcast post-production.

Since the start of the year, Forbidden Technologies plc has announced Blackbird contracts and partnerships with leading technology and media companies including TownNews.com, Veritone, Leaning Technologies, Our House Media, Dragon Touch Systems, Middlechild, Fanview, ESP Gaming, and Von Johnson Associates.

Forbidden CEO, Ian McDonough said: “We are thrilled to announce we now have our rich set of cloud-based Blackbird production tools translated into JavaScript while retaining all of our lightning quick performance. It is a boundary pushing technical feat that many people initially thought impossible. Our customers will now have access to our entire suite of digital production tools for use through a browser on any hardware that can be operated as low as a 2Mb/s bandwidth connection. This hugely increases the addressable audience and, as we move to mass take up through our OEM strategy, it increases the efficiency of new customer onboarding enormously.”

Together with the Mac^® version of the Blackbird Edge, announced this week, the Blackbird proxy can also be created remotely on something as widely available as an Apple^® laptop which is then immediately available in the cloud to be edited, enriched or published.

Forbidden Technologies will be demonstrating Blackbird at IBC 2018 (Hall 1, C27) from 14 -18 September. For more information visit: www.blackbird.video/ibc

About Leaning Technologies

Leaning Technologies provides its customers with development tools and professional services to develop large-scale, high-performance web applications in Java and C/C++. Its professional services include full porting services, optimisation and WebAssembly consulting, and enterprise support.

Leaning Technologies offers CheerpJ, a Java-to-JavaScript compiler, and Cheerp, a C/C++ to JavaScript/WebAssembly compiler. These solutions enable its users to convert desktop and mobile applications into web applications effortlessly. Leaning Technologies was founded by Stefano De Rossi, Massimo Grava, and Alessandro Pignotti in 2012. It has offices in London, United Kingdom; and Amsterdam, Netherlands.

About Forbidden Technologies plc

Forbidden Technologies plc (AIM: FBT, www.forbidden.co.uk) floated in February 2000.

Forbidden develops, markets and licenses a powerful cloud video platform using our patented Blackbird technology. The technology underpins multiple applications which are used by rights holders, broadcasters, sports and news video specialists, eSports live events and content owners, post-production houses, other mass market digital video channels and corporations.

The Blackbird technology allows full visibility on multi-location digital content, improves time to market for live content such as video clips and highlights for social media distribution, and results in much more effective monetization.

Blackbird® is a registered trademark of Forbidden Technologies plc.

Mac® and Apple® are trademarks of Apple Inc.