Welcome, to the late April update on Theta Network! We’re so excited for the next phase of the Theta decentralized streaming network, and there’s more to come ahead of Theta Mainnet 2.0 launch! It will happen on Wednesday, May 27th. Can’t wait!
One of the silver linings of pushing Mainnet 2.0 launch to May is that it gives Theta community time to get involved in building tools and applications for the Theta ecosystem. The team has enlisted DevPost, the leading hackathon community (they are currently running hackathons for Facebook, Samsung, and EOS among many other top names), to host the first Theta Network virtual hackathon beginning today, on April 22nd. The hackathon will run for two months and feature project feedback from Theta team, as well as other marquee advisors and supporters of the Theta Network.
Good news is, last week, the team introduced the Theta Edge Node (beta) — the latest evolution of the Theta Edge Cacher. The Edge Node allows you to relay video streams over the Theta Network and earn TFUEL, providing support to THETA.tv and other upcoming video platforms using the Theta Network. With the latest update, you can now also broadcast your own video streams and have them distributed over the Theta Edge Network! This allows you to stream entirely peer-to-peer without any centralized CDN involved.
For those who are not familiar, a few weeks ago, the Theta team announced the launch of THETA Live Embed, a new turnkey product that allows 24/7 THETA.tv Esports live streaming content to be added to almost any website, blog, or social media platform with minimal technical effort. Popular games like Fortnite, League of Legends and CS:GO streamed through THETA Live Embed are fully integrated with the Theta Network blockchain, allowing viewers to relay streams to their peers and earn Theta token rewards, TFUEL, just for watching and sharing their bandwidth resources. The first partner to integrate the product was GFUEL, the Official Energy Drink of Esports. Now you can watch THETA.tv live on CruzCtrl website using Theta Live Embed. And don’t forget to check out THETA.tv embed now on Sweeps and EasternMediaGG. More THETA Live Embed partners coming soon with their streamlined new integration process!
Can’t wait to see you in two weeks with more exciting updates!
Development
GitHub metrics:
THETA has public repositories and private repositories. Overall, the Project has frequent commits to the collection of repositories.
Developer activity (from Coinlib.io):
Theta Edge Node released
The latest evolution of the Theta Edge Cacher — the Theta Edge Node (beta) released. The Edge Node allows you to relay video streams over the Theta Network and earn TFUEL, providing support to THETA.tv and other upcoming video platforms using the Theta Network. With this update, you can now also broadcast your own video streams and have them distributed over the Theta Edge Network.
To start using the Theta Edge Node, download the app for Windows or Mac. If you have an existing version of the Theta Edge Cacher / PGN app, your software will automatically update to this newest version. This also means that for the first time, Mac users can natively relay video over the Theta Network, which should boost the number of Theta Network nodes well over 1,000 and make for a more robust edge network.
When the Edge Node app starts up, if you are a brand new user you’ll be asked to enter your Theta wallet address:
Once you’re set up, you’ll see the Edge Node dashboard:
If you just want to relay other users’ video streams and earn TFUEL, then you’re all set! The “Edge Cacher” section shows your current relaying Status and your Balance (earnings to date). In this beta version of the Edge Node, earnings are distributed at the end of each month. In the production version of the app, earnings will be distributed to your Theta address in real-time.
To broadcast your own stream, you’ll need to use a streaming app like OBS Studio (Open Broadcaster Software, which is free and open-source). If you are using OBS, in the Stream settings set your Service to ‘Custom’, your Server to “rtmp://localhost:1935/stream/”, and make up a Stream Key.
Then set up your Streaming source and click “Start Streaming”. (If you haven’t used OBS Studio before, you can find a quick tutorial here.
Once you are set up and streaming through OBS, your stream is now being broadcast over the Theta Edge Network! Anyone running the Theta Edge Node can now watch your stream by accessing the Theta Edge Player and entering your unique stream ID. Your stream can also be accessed directly at the URL “https://edge-player-beta.thetatoken.org/?streamId=[STREAM ID]”, where [STREAM ID] represents the address indicated as “My Stream ID” in the Theta Edge Node app. In the example pictured above, that would be “https://edge-player-beta.thetatoken.org/?streamId=0x9d8ffb2924c980d2843b7c780ad5963dbb9a87a3”. Watching via the direct URL requires an HLS stream player like the Chrome extension Native HLS Playback or VLC player.
You can also watch a demo stream the team has set up here as long as you’re running the Theta Edge Node app.
It is normal to take a few seconds for the stream to load; since this is purely peer-to-peer streaming, it takes some time for a peer to connect and buffer the stream.
The Theta team appreciates the community’s continued support and help testing the Theta protocol, and if you have any feedback/questions on the Edge Node or otherwise, please contact them at support@thetatoken.org.
Notice on launch of Theta Mainnet 2.0
After careful deliberation, the Theta team has decided to move the official launch of Theta Mainnet 2.0 to Wednesday, May 27th. Roughly two weeks prior to that date, the exact block height will be announced that Theta blockchain will switch to Mainnet 2.0 code.
Stress testing will tentatively follow this schedule between now and the release of Mainnet 2.0:
Testing of peak concurrent viewers on Theta Network:
- April — 500k concurrent viewers
- May — 1m+ concurrent viewers
Testing of number of Guardian Nodes participating in Theta consensus
- April — 600 Guardian Nodes
- May — 750+ Guardian Nodes
Got a project idea? Email them at support@thetatoken.org, or reach out to Wes on Telegram at @wlevitt so we can make sure you have the tools you need!
Theta Mainnet 2.0:
Why the team is creating the Theta blockchain?
The team’s long-term vision for the Theta Network is a decentralized end-to-end protocol for processing and delivering data, not just video but all types of data. Decentralized data delivery, at the edge, powered by you. That vision encompasses three main components that are to be powered by Theta edge nodes, run by the community:
Data Delivery — Initially focused on video delivery, and implemented on THETA.tv and multiple other video platforms coming soon. But the scope of decentralized data delivery goes beyond video into file updates, game patches, OS and app updates, web content, and any other form of data delivery.
Data Storage — As Theta expands from livestreaming applications to Video-on-Demand (VoD), app updates, and game patches, it becomes necessary to have a decentralized solution to data storage. Theta nodes can cache the most in-demand live and static content and files to ensure they are able to contribute to the network and earn TFUEL.
Data Encoding — By allowing Theta nodes to perform ingest/encoding of raw video and data as close to the source as possible, particularly for live events (professional sports, concerts, conferences, for example), the Theta Network will truly become an end-to-end solution for video and data. Building out this functionality is a natural extension for the Theta team, based on the team’s experience encoding live VR events in 2016 for SamsungVR, Intel IEM, ESL, and others.
Awareness and social encounters
April 22nd, 2020: Theta hackathon hosted by DevPost
One of the silver linings of pushing Mainnet 2.0 launch to May is that it gives Theta community time to get involved in building tools and applications for the Theta ecosystem. The team has enlisted DevPost, the leading hackathon community (they are currently running hackathons for Facebook, Samsung, and EOS among many other top names), to host the 1st Theta Network virtual hackathon beginning in early April.
The hackathon will run for 2 months and feature project feedback from Theta team, as well as other marquee advisors and supporters of the Theta Network. Additionally, Theta Labs is setting aside a hackathon prize pool of $25,000 in tokens, 100% of which will be awarded to the top 3 community projects at the end of the hackathon. The team has got a few ideas of Theta blockchain tools and apps they’ll propose, but want to also give the Theta community the flexibility to build the projects they want to.
Upcoming events:
Theta Network was recently featured by NEC at a private enterprise forum as a potential 5G use case for streaming VR and other bandwidth-intensive content. Coming soon the team will have a more public exhibition at NANO OPT Media in Tokyo in April.
The team also had planned a major marketing push in the lead up to Mainnet 2.0, including a marketing tour through South Korea, Hong Kong, and Vietnam and a meetup held with a Korea-based partner. With the unfortunate and tragic spread of the COVID-19 virus, their travel plans to these countries had to be postponed. While these travel restrictions may still be in place in May, this at least gives them time to re-tool the marketing efforts for Mainnet 2.0 in other directions, and give it the push that the release and the community deserves.
Finance
Live Network Statistics
April 22nd, 2020
You can now see the distribution of Pre-Guardian Nodes, Edge Cachers, and Enterprise Validator Nodes in real-time at thetatoken.org! Scroll down to “Live Network Stats”, which will update each time you refresh the page.
Edge Cachers: 777
Guardian Nodes: 361
Enterprise Validator Nodes: 11
Information from Theta explorer:
For information on Theta Guardian Nodes and how to join, see the announcement blog.
A step by step video on how to install the PGN/UEC.
Latest PGN client download link for Windows only.
If you want to become a Guardian node click here.
Theta markets
Information from Coinlib.io:
Network
Theta.tv, formerly known as Sliver.tv, is an e-sports live streaming site that has already implemented the Theta Network and are now able to offload ~50%+ CDN costs on an ongoing basis. TFuel has been integrated into the site platform and is earned by viewers streaming content to peers, can be donated to streamers, or used to purchase goods in the Theta.tv store.
THETA.tv Launch AMA:
THETA.tv statistics (April 22nd, 2020):
The information is taken from Similarweb.com.
Roadmap
Theta Roadmap:
Q2 2020
- Beta launch of decentralized data storage
- Beta launch of decentralized file delivery of any content type, such as game patches, applications, OS updates
- Beta launch of Theta protocol adapted to Smart TVs and IoT devices
H2 2020
- Release of generalized Turing-complete smart contract support
- Beta launch of decentralized encoding protocol
- Production release of the end-to-end Universal Edge Cacher
THETA.tv Roadmap:
Partnerships and team members
Theta Live Embed
More THETA.tv Live Embed partners are being added all the time, with several more on the way this month! You can now watch your favorite THETA streamers live 24/7 on CruzCtrl website.
Theta Live Embed is a new turnkey product that allows 24/7 Theta.tv e-sports live streaming content to be added to almost any website, blog, or social media platform with minimal technical effort. Developers need only add a few lines of JavaScript to their site. Theta developers made their product seamlessly integrate with any site’s infrastructure. Popular games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and CS:GO streamed through Theta Live Embed are fully integrated with the Theta Network blockchain.
Theta.tv is now embedded on:
Recently, Theta Network partnered with Contentos, a decentralized global content ecosystem:
Contentos, a public-chain project for the global digital content industry, has partnered with the decentralized video delivery protocol Theta Network, which will be integrated with the COS.TV video platform to improve user experience and reduce the bandwidth cost of video content delivery.
COS.TV platform has achieved huge growth in 2019. According to Alexa ranking, in January 2020, the traffic of COS.TV has surpassed Steemit.com. However, the issue coming is the rapid rise in content delivery costs. By adding Theta Network to Contentos’ video infrastructure, we can reduce these costs by 50% or more, thereby enabling COS.TV to achieve more stable and sustainable growth, and adding a new way to increase user engagement through token rewards.
Earlier, Samsung and CJ Hello, two of the largest media companies in South Korea, have also agreed on a partnership with Theta Labs, which will use Theta’s decentralized video delivery.
Also, Theta collaborated with Suterusu to add privacy features to Theta blockchain:
Suterusu brings ZCash-level privacy to any blockchain platform or application. It integrates a state of the art trustless ZK-SNARK scheme with nearly constant size proofs, and efficient proof generation /verification. Suterusu provides privacy protection for several major blockchains and dapps, such as BTC and ETH, as well as DeFi products like Standard Tokenization Protocol and SWFT. Other public blockchains such as Neo and IOST have also negotiated with Suterusu to build layer-2 protocols to support privacy protection on their networks.
Adding robust privacy features will be just part of the continued technical improvements made to Theta Mainnet 2.0 throughout 2020, all designed around the primary goal of adoption — making the Theta protocol easier for platforms to use and more aligned with their goals and needs.
Theta Network x NASA
The Theta Network team is working with the NASA teams to bring you a livestreams of ROCKET LAUNCHES!
Watch Rocket Launches. Earn TFUEL. To the Moon! NASA.THETA.TV
MISC
Social media metrics
Social media activity:
Social media dynamics:
Theta community continues to grow. However, there is a slight fluctuation in the number of subscribers of Theta social media channels these weeks.
Official Telegram group — Discussions on development, possible partnerships, etc.
See also Official Telegram Theta trader, the channel for price and trade-related discussion.
Official Chinese Telegram group and Official Korean Telegram group.
Follow Theta on Facebook.
Check out Theta Twitter page.
Join the discussion on Bitcointalk.org — since November 23rd, 2017.
This is not financial advice.
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