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M$5 January 14, 2009 02:54 PM

How to do a realtime conference coverage, like Engadget did at CES, with photos and new text every min.

I would like to know:
- the camera used for pictures
- the laptop or netbook used for typing
- the software used to post the new text every minute

Does open-source or free systems for that exists? Is it possible to do it using a Wordpress.com blog?

Example: http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/08/live-from-palms-ces-press-conference/
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January 14, 2009 03:11 PM
1) The camera used for pictures
Still images are the easiest. Any camera that can connect to a laptop and comes with software to save the images on the laptop automatically works well. Think "Santa in the mall" setup.

All Canon digital cameras have this software included. My pick would be the Canon SD730

For live video, any small mpeg camera will work. Your results will vary widely based on the available light. Software that comes preloaded both with Windows and on Mac's can handle real-time encoding with a bit of tweaking.

Some events have very strict rules on cameras and video. You will want to check with the event organizers. I haven't come across a single event that minds "note taking" on a laptop, but cameras are a bit different.

In the case of a digitial camera, the inlcuded USB cable is all that you need. For best results with video, you should connect the camera with a FireWire cable for fast and skip-free transmission.

2) The laptop or netbook used for typing
Small, light and connected is best. Any laptop with an EVDO or WiMax connection (depending on the ISP available covering the event that you're at) will work well.

The Dell XPS 1330 with an EVDO card built in will work well.

The internet connection is the biggest concern for "live blogging". Internet connections at events can be flooded and slow at best. Determining the best way to get an Internet connection that is reliable and fast enough to enable liveblogging is often the most difficult part.

3) The software used to post the new text every minute

http://www.coveritlive.com/

and

http://www.scribblelive.com/

Both work well.

There is an excellent article on using ScribbleLive with Wordpress at:
http://www.keebler.net/blog/2008/09/24/howto-liveblogging-in-wordpress-using-scribblelive/

Included in that article is a good step-by-step screencast to get you going:
https://scribblelive-resources.s3.amazonaws.com/Crosspost+Screencast.swf

I hope that this helps!
Asker's Rating:
• I could imagine I would get such a complete answer. Thanks a lot. PS: The other answer, was very good also.


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January 14, 2009 03:01 PM
The easiest way is to create a post, and manually add it every minute, but that is probably not what Engadget does. They don't use Wordpress, they use a proprietary service.

The best service, the one I use, is called Cover it Live. It is really simple, and works with most sites, even non-Wordpress ones.

http://www.coveritlive.com/

As for the camera, they can use any one, as long as it accepts Eye-fi, so you can transfer the pictures you took to your computer wirelessly.

http://eye.fi

The notebook is normally a Mac, for really, in particular the Macbook, which is powerful and light at the same time.

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