Update: New Pinkbike Video Player Features

Dec 4, 2013
by Radek Burkat  
[YT=https://www.youtube.com/embed/an5o3roWLZM]


Recently we created a video player that is simple, fast and works on the majority of browsers old and new. Here are some features...

1. Highest Quality on the Internet

Added 1080p quality and increased the bit rate of our conversion to show the best quality of your videos. Four versions of all videos will be created when you upload.

1080p = 1920 x 1080 at 4.0 Mbps
720p = 1280 x 720 at 2.5 Mbps
480p = 640 x 480 at 1.2 Mbps
320p = 480 x 320 at 0.5 Mbps

2. Short Cuts

Click on video - starts/stops video
Space bar - starts/stops video

3. Slow Motion Controls

We added the ability to view the video frame by frame. This is especially useful when you are viewing a jump or trick and want to analyze how it's done.

Right arrow - Very slow sub frame slow motion forward.
Left arrow - Slow motion back by keyframe.

4. Faster Video Conversion

We reworked how our conversion system functions and added extra servers to speed up and handle the growing popularity. When you upload a video, four separate convert jobs are spawned on different servers to convert the video into different qualities in parallel.

5. Html5/Flash Embed

Iframe default embed, so when you embed Pinkbike videos they will auto-detect mobile devices and play correctly on devices that don't have flash.

6. New Embed Options

You can now alter certain elements of an embedded video.

Color: Select a different color for the video accents/controls to match the site you're embedding to.
Autoplay: Add an autoplay option to start the video immediately when page loaded
Loop: Will loop to the beginning when video gets to end
Show/Hide : You can show or hide the headshot, byline, and title

Embed colors and options

7. Larger Video Format

You can now click the expand button on video pages and have all the videos you watch expand to a wider format. Your choice will be remembered.

Expand button

Click to expand


8. Personal playback settings

When you go to "Edit Profile" for your user, you can set a few playback settings that work for your account.
Video image

We will be adding additional features so stay tuned.

Posted In:
Pinkbike Announcements Pinkbike Development


Author Info:
radek avatar

Member since Jan 1, 2000
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125 Comments
  • 220 2
 Thanks Radek/PB coding team! Really appreciate all your hard work on this.
  • 19 1
 Looks like the hard work paid off aswell.
  • 3 29
flag almostalx (Dec 4, 2013 at 10:22) (Below Threshold)
 Vimeo, is that you? Very appreciated tough.
  • 5 0
 Uploaded vids seem to be much better quality. Mint! Thanks very much.
  • 4 0
 This is sweet! Thank you!
  • 1 1
 Next can you guys please increase the bit rates up a little more?
  • 16 0
 Radek must be the most responsive developer of any website! Just look at the number of changes he made directly from comments on this page:

1. lack of a quick mute button (fixed 7 hours after comment)
2. cursor disappearing in full screen on photos (fixed 1 hour after comment)
3. PB Roku channel (not yet fixed, but replied instantly)
4. Remove PB logo in bottom right corner on videos (fixed 7 hours after comment)
5. Gave info on best video codec (h.264) for highest quality playback

Well done!!
  • 21 2
 The new player is actually pretty good, there is only one problem with it, the lack of a quick mute button. i.e. if you click the sound button then up comes the volume slider if it had an extra button to mute the sound. Then the player would be perfect.
  • 23 0
 yeah but not as if we are watching porn or anything
  • 23 0
 Bike porn though
  • 8 0
 Can't get me enough of that bike porn
  • 57 0
 As you wish. Now if you simply click the speaker icon it will toggle between 0 volume and what you had it set to before.
  • 21 0
 It really says something when a coder responds to a suggestion so quickly! Thanks for all your hard work! Making PB a better site one step at a time.
  • 4 0
 Good man, much respect for that
  • 2 0
 great job sorting that so quickly!!
  • 14 0
 Pinkbike, thank you so much for always doing a great job updating your website! Every time other websites update, they tend to make it worse. This just isn't the case here and every time you update something it is for the better. Thanks again Smile
  • 14 1
 Thank you PB. Your video player just went from one of the worst to one of the best. This time the change is good!
  • 12 0
 Now redbull player needs to do the same!
  • 4 0
 In the end, all the "improvement" to pinkbike over the years have been or the better, even if met with frustration at first! But you guys (the pinkbike crew) out did yourselves with this one, beautiful, didn't even leave us reason to miss the old one!
  • 4 1
 Nice one PB . I wonder is it posible to make photos slide rather than pressing next all the time ? By this I mean when going to someone's profile when you hit there pics you can only see one by one . It would be bloody great if you could slide over to the next pic just like that bull peeeeep site FB . Any chance ?
  • 3 0
 Hover your mouse over the picture and you should be able to switch to other picture. There is these kind of zone where if your mouse is at the top, it goes back to the album, on the left goes to previous picture, and on the right to the next picture. If this is what you mean!
  • 8 0
 you can also press the left/right keyboard arrows to go prev/next
  • 5 0
 a disappearing cursor would be the only thing I would add. it annoys me a bit, but I'm kind of strange when it comes to that.
  • 2 0
 I'm with you on that one jzPV, would be great if the cursor disappeared in full screen...
  • 16 0
 Ok, updated. Now mouse cursor disappears in full screen and actually we also made it disappear with controls on non full screen.
In full screen there is a limitation that when you initially go full screen, you have to move the mouse, before it disappears. This looks like a browser/flash security "feature".
  • 2 0
 I remember with the old player you would lose the controls when going full-screen and they were hard to recover!
  • 6 0
 wow, that's what I call service friendly! thanks!
  • 4 0
 Looks great!
Only thing i miss is the ability to easily share videos across other sites/boards etc... For instance a "share" button with various options.
  • 2 0
 I second and beg for the ROKU channel idea. Less frustration than staring at my tv and wondering why I have so many useless channels and switching to youtube to guess at vids. And the playlist or next video up idea. Great job.
  • 3 1
 Looks like some pretty great improvements. Thanks for making things even better. That said, Auto-play should be banned from the interwebs imho, and i know i'm not alone in that sentiment. I'm fairly sure everyone knows how to start a video.
  • 3 0
 Thanks PB.
The addition of smart tv share functionality like youtube has would be amazing.
Being able to watch videos in hd on a 65" plasma at the click of a button would be amazing.
  • 1 0
 Sounds awesome!!!! I hope it works. What about buffering? Like YouTube only buffers a bit ahead & then stops, so you know, you don't waste data on your plan downloading something that may be a piece of shit. That happens on here sometimes.
  • 7 0
 We never throttle the video, so we deliver it as fast as you can get it. I find that there are always issues with the buffer throttling so we opted not to do it.
  • 3 0
 Thank you! Nice to hear that you care about user experience over bandwidth reduction! Everyone complains about the pinkbike video player, but I've found it to be MUCH more reliable than youtube, which has become less and less responsive over the years.
  • 1 0
 good work on the player. just wondered if its possible to set the playback quality for all videos i watch. i have a fast internet connection but my laptop is a bag of crap, it can handle 720p as long as its loaded first but not 1080p. so is there a way that i can set the default to only play in 720p rather than in 1080, 480 or 240
  • 2 0
 Yes, so if you select 720p on your laptop, it will remember this, and attempt to play 720p or lower (if 720p not available ) always.
  • 1 0
 ahh cheers
  • 3 0
 The team does a great job implementing new features, unlike some sites...i'm looking at you YouTube.
  • 2 0
 You may want to test more across browser platforms. I'm seeing strange rendering in Safari 5.1.10 (6534.59.10); Message me if you want a screenshot.
  • 2 0
 I have that version as well and i'm having problems too
  • 2 0
 yeah, mine is also having problems, cant see the comments.
  • 2 0
 Try now guys. We just made some changes to try to correct issues on older browsers.
  • 1 0
 works perfect! thanks man
  • 2 0
 great work PB.
i suggest this:
1- personal saved embed options.
2- Watch later button feature.
3- Create and embed playlists.
  • 3 0
 When I first read this I totally thought it was a pinkbike video game. What a let down.
  • 3 0
 How long until PinkBike gets a Roku channel? I'd love to be able to watch more videos on the big screen.
  • 16 0
 I actually bought a Roku the other day specifically to test and program a channel for it. So soon.
  • 4 0
 Pinkbike videos work amazing with an Apple TV
  • 1 0
 How do you get them on apple tv? I can stream them from my iphone but there is no apple tv channel is there? That would be awesome!
  • 1 0
 I stream from my iPad or phone also. There is no channel....yet!
  • 1 0
 Does the Apple TV still work? I can only get it for videos that aren't using the PB player.
  • 2 0
 I'm curious how the Roku Pinkbike Station is coming along...
  • 1 0
 Still works great for me. No channel yet though.
  • 1 0
 +1 Smile
  • 1 0
 Am I the only one who can no longer watch videos on my android? Used too work perfect but now it says I need to update flash player.
  • 1 0
 I got the player to work on my 2013 Nexus 7 with Android 4.4 installed. You need to install an adobe flash package and use a browser called Dolphin (which is actually nice).

You need to use Dolphin web browser (free and safe from Google Play store) with an additional quick Adobe Flash player APK install.

1. Install Dolphin browser from Google Play store (free) then install Dolphin Jetpack add on from Google Play store (also safe and free)
2. Allow APKs from unknown sources "Settings > Security - Unknown sources Settings-> " check box (this is so you can install the adobe flash player, which google stopped supporting)
3. Download the latest Flash Player for Android ht tp://helpx.adobe.com/de/flash-player/kb/archived-flash-player-versions.html (scroll down to "Flash Player for Android 4.0 Archive" )
4. install the just downloaded Flash Player (without Google Play verification)
5. Start Dolphin and click on the dolphin icon in the lower left corner and select the right menu icon.
6. Select Settings > User Agent > "Desktop"
7. Select (still Settings) > Web Content > Flash Player > "Always On"
8. Step 2 requires that users allow install of packages from sources other than the google play store… after installing the FlashPlay APK it is a good idea to return this setting to the default “do not allow”

I found this solution on this page forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1774336-- SCROLL DOWN TO “NEW Flash player android 4.4” located at the end of the first post in the thread.

Remember, you can just use the Dolphin browser to view this one site (or other flash stuff), so you do not need to feel like you have to abandon chrome. I just put a bookmark on my homescreen to pinkbike and set the default open program for the ONE page to "use Dolphin". It even looks like there is a pinkbike app on my homescreen now...
  • 1 0
 EDIT to above post: I think that all you really need to do to view Pinkbike in Chrome is to scroll down to "view full site". Then you get the html5 and can view videos. Unfortunatley you need to do this every time you open the browser again. Dolphin allows you to select "always show desktop (full) site", which is a bit easier. Still, the above mentioned fix does work for all flash-based sites as well. My bad- i had not realized the PB player was html5 and not flash.
  • 1 0
 Hey so I just posted a video and the link brings me and everyone else right to it but I can't search the video when I do nothing comes up? Any help??
  • 6 5
 get rid of that PB button on the bottom right, we are already on pinkbike. its useless and some hit it thinking it is the expand screen to full screen! nice kid, nice!
  • 5 0
 Just updated things, so now on pinkbike video pages the PB logo is not there. We still have it on embedded location on other places, and on pinkbike because if you are viewing a video, and you want to go to the actual video page, the only way to do that is via the pb button.
  • 1 0
 Thank you, it was nice to get that addressed! PB rules!
  • 3 0
 "Turn off autoplay of videos" - been waiting for that one for ever!
  • 1 0
 Agreed. And I like that they made it a personal setting and not a global rule.
  • 1 0
 The right and left arrows on the keyboard for slo-mo?? What about people on Mobile? I can't find any slo-mo arrows in the player....
  • 3 0
 Catching up with the universal standard of spacebar to stop. Thanks!
  • 10 0
 We made ours a bit better. For example i HATE on youtube when i press space sometimes and the page scrolls down past the video instead of stopping the video. ARGHH!! This is fixed on pinkbike Smile
  • 2 0
 Usually changes turn out to be bad, but you guys made this one very well. Nice job.
  • 2 0
 Hah I am so familiar with that Youtube problem.
  • 3 0
 best video player on the internet!
  • 1 0
 So stoked on the higher quality 1080p, should make things way more rad. Now if only pictures will be bigger than 1600x1000 like the have been for years now.
  • 1 0
 Will the videos ever be sorted an categorized like photos? It would be nice to search within certain types of videos, or videos filmed in certain areas, cities, or countries.
  • 1 0
 About time, for a well serious international biking type thingy you've really struggled with this innit !! ..... The redbull player really makes my piss boil though !!!
  • 3 0
 What about an app next?
  • 2 0
 Thank you sooo much guys Big Grin
  • 1 0
 is there like a pod or vod type thing you can give to an update if so this is it....
  • 2 0
 Thanks Radek and Team. Lovin all the features.
  • 2 0
 Great update! Keep up the good work tup
  • 1 3
 Big thanks Radek and co. THat old player was such a thorn in my side. it was a pain to even pause a vid! Also, if we can choose when to go slomo, maybe the folks editing won't do all slomo with a bit of realtime mixed in. SIgned Keepitrealtime.
  • 1 0
 Brilliant, Pinkbike is now my default site for all my videos, and these upgrades improve an already great system. Thanks PB
  • 2 0
 Keep this at the top of the homepage for a few days! Good job PB!
  • 2 0
 I really enjoy the expand feature; noticed it a couple days ago. Thanks!!!
  • 2 0
 And here I thought it was about a video game. I was initially bummed.
  • 1 0
 Nice one ! Another good feature would be if you can download the videos ... Smile
  • 2 1
 and there is still no effective method for watching pinkbike videos on an android....
  • 4 0
 Getting an iPhone is effective
  • 1 0
 haha yes, but that's expensive
  • 2 0
 Try downloading Chrome Beta.
  • 1 0
 okay, will do
  • 1 0
 I play videos fine on my android tablet, through chrome And the standard player. tho it would be nice if it had some options like the flash player. And the option to use the flash player instead.
  • 1 0
 you lost me in digital land, I play in the woods,,sounds killer though ....
  • 1 0
 This is awesome! PB has really come a long way from what it once was a few years back
  • 1 0
 Running Chrome on my iPad and the player is trying to push flash video so I can't watch anything. Is this a known issue?
  • 1 0
 Check now. We changed things so it works better on an ipad. You can also now select the quality you want to see on an ipad up to 1080p. There is a quality drop down box below the video area.
  • 2 0
 cool
  • 1 0
 It's the little things that set sites apart! Good Job PB!
  • 1 0
 The great time will be come later
  • 1 0
 its different.... fuck, every body rage
  • 1 0
 Maybe my gopro videos wont take an hour to upload now.
  • 1 0
 They sure will. That's your slow internet.
  • 1 0
 Ugh... I see myself using the loop button way too often Big Grin
  • 1 0
 Thank you PB. I bet everyone read Slo-Mo----nuff said.
  • 1 0
 Soooo cool ! Thank you guys Smile
  • 1 0
 Good job PB team, you are doing us well.
  • 1 0
 What do you suggest for an upload resolution? Is MP4 the best format?
  • 6 0
 So our 1080p will use a maximum of 6 Mbps which would mean that you should at least upload something that has a bitrate a couple of Mbps higher. So if you are uploading 1080p with h264 codec, I would at least do 8Mbps
  • 1 0
 Thank you sir.
  • 1 0
 soo cool ! - looking fresh ! Smile
  • 1 0
 ok who else tried to play the video?
  • 1 0
 Thansk !
PB is really the best website on earth ^^
  • 1 0
 Hey Youtube... pay attention
  • 1 0
 it`s definetly faster and not freezing as often. good job
  • 1 0
 it's great, but I can't play on my tablet any pb video anymore.
  • 1 0
 well done pinkbike!
  • 1 0
 Hell ya! Go Pinkbike!
  • 1 0
 sick good job pinkbike
  • 1 0
 Top work PB
  • 1 0
 Yeah!!!

Salute
  • 1 0
 Cheers Pinkbike!
  • 1 0
 Very cool! Good work PB
  • 1 0
 Good work devs, love it
  • 1 0
 great job PB
  • 1 0
 Great ! thanks PB !
  • 1 0
 awesome u guys rock!!!!!
  • 1 0
 wonderful







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