Clearview Flex for iOS

Hyperlaunch Develops Clearview Flex iOS App for Tokyo Digital and Sohonet

Overview

Hyperlaunch partnered with Tokyo Digital, a digital agency working for SohoNet, to develop the Clearview Flex iOS app. Tokyo Digital selected Hyperlaunch for this project because of our proven expertise in developing real-time streaming services. The app, built using React Native, seamlessly integrates with the wider Clearview Flex platform through its API. It enables directors, such as Peter Jackson, to collaborate on film edits from anywhere globally, streaming high-quality video directly from the edit suite. The Clearview Flex platform, of which this app is an integral part, was honoured with an Engineering Emmy Award, recognising its significant contribution to the television industry.

Screenshots of the Clearview Flex player

The Challenge

Tokyo Digital needed to extend Sohonet’s Clearview Flex—an Emmy Award-winning remote collaboration tool—to iOS devices. While Clearview Flex successfully streams high-quality video using WebRTC in browsers on desktops and Android devices, iOS did not natively support this technology. The challenge was to provide the same powerful functionality to iOS users, ensuring a consistent, high-quality experience across all platforms.

The Solution

Hyperlaunch used its deep expertise in real-time streaming services to deliver a robust, user-friendly app using React Native. Key steps in the development process included:

Custom URL Scheme Integration: The app was designed to launch directly via a dedicated URL scheme. Users invited to a session could easily join by clicking a link in an invitation email, which would automatically open the app and initiate the WebRTC stream with data passed through the URL.
Secure Streaming: The app securely streams sessions using the data embedded in the launch URI. Continuous polling of the Clearview server ensures that user activity is monitored, maintaining the integrity of the session.
Enhanced User Engagement: A news feed was integrated based on the Sohonet News RSS feed, providing additional value to users and supporting the app’s approval process for the App Store.

In addition to the app’s core functionality, Tokyo Digital provided the UI design and necessary artwork, including icons and splash screens, creating a cohesive and visually appealing user experience.

Screenshots of the Clearview Flex home screen

Technical Details

React Native Framework: Chosen for its cross-platform capabilities, allowing rapid development and maintenance. Using familiar React libraries, such as Redux Toolkit and Enzyme, ensured a streamlined development process with well-tested, maintainable code.
WebRTC Integration: The app was engineered to use WebRTC technology to facilitate real-time streaming from a Janus server. This required precise handling of stream data, security, and user authentication.
Fastlane Suite for Deployment: Used to streamline continuous delivery, using Fastlane’s Scan and Pilot tools to manage app testing and deployment efficiently.
Device Compatibility: Focused testing was conducted for iOS 10, including various iPhone and iPad models, ensuring broad compatibility and optimal performance across supported devices.

Results

The Clearview Flex iOS app successfully expanded the reach of Sohonet’s Emmy Award-winning platform to iOS devices, enabling creative professionals to collaborate effectively regardless of location. This solution was particularly impactful for high-profile directors and editors, such as Peter Jackson, who required the ability to review and collaborate on edits remotely without sacrificing video quality or security.

Hyperlaunch’s agile development approach, combined with our expertise in streaming technologies, ensured the app was delivered on time and to the highest standards. The app’s success contributed to the wider recognition of the Clearview Flex platform, including its receipt of an Engineering Emmy Award, demonstrating its importance and impact on the media and entertainment industry.

Conclusion

The Clearview Flex iOS app project exemplifies Hyperlaunch’s capability to deliver complex, high-performance applications under challenging conditions. By extending the reach of SohoNet’s premier remote collaboration tool to iOS, Hyperlaunch played a crucial role in enhancing global creative workflows. Our collaboration with Tokyo Digital and Sohonet highlights our commitment to innovation and excellence in app development, solidifying Hyperlaunch as a leader in delivering cutting-edge solutions for the media industry.