FixMyMovie forsakes the cloud for PC software
MotionDSP's technology combines data from multiple video frames to reduce jerkiness, reduce noise, and increase resolution.
(Credit: MotionDSP)FixMyMovie, an online service that let people improve the quality of their videos, is going offline.
"We're shutting down FixMyMovie.com on December 31, 2008. In its place, we're launching a new Windows desktop application, code-named Carmel, which will be released in the first quarter of 2009," said MotionDSP, which runs the site, in an e-mail to site members Friday. "If you have uploaded any videos to FixMyMovie that you'd like to keep, we recommend that you use the 'Download' option before December 31 for each fixed movie that you'd like to save."
FixMyMovie launched in 2007 and won a Webware 100 award. MotionDSP added a premium version in July.
Also this week, Yahoo idled Jumpcut, a site where people could upload, share, and combine multiple videos. It steered video-sharing enthusiasts to its Flickr site, but suggested those who want to edit movies use Windows Movie Maker or Apple iMovie.
Together, the moves illustrate that cloud computing business aspirations notwithstanding, selling software that runs on people's computers can look like safer economic haven.
MotionDSP has been funded by In-Q-Tel, the Central Intelligence Agency's venture investment arm, which is interested in technology that can extract more information from photos and videos.
The technology works by combining information from adjacent frames of video or multiple photos of the same subject. The result is video that's less jerky, with cleaner and more detailed imagery, better performance in dim conditions.
The Carmel software will improve on the Web-based product, according to MotionDSP's Web site:
• Even more video-fixing options than you can currently find on FixMyMovie.com.
• Faster processing of your enhanced videos.
• Super-fast processing when you've got an Nvidia graphics card.
• New features that'll help you easily edit and share your fixed videos.
This low-resolution image shows the greater detail that can be shown in the license plate by combining data from several frames of a video. The lower view of the plate is enhanced.
(Credit: MotionDSP)
Stephen Shankland writes about a wide range of technology and products, but has a particular focus on browsers and digital photography. He joined CNET News in 1998 and since then also has covered Google, Yahoo, servers, supercomputing, Linux and open-source software, and science. E-mail Stephen, or follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/stshank. 
