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Startup Otter Network launched new tools in its product suite, Otter Director 2.0 and Teleport. (Otter Network)
In the summer of 2020, Nick Tangborn got up close and personal at concerts. As CEO of Otter Network, a local video production tech startup, he and his team live-streamed video at ACL Live at 3TEN showcasing soul band Tomar & the FCs, rock 'n' roll band Western Youth and indie band Moving Panoramas, among others.
At the time, the Otter Network team was using an early version of a video creation tool they were developing. “The responses that we got were ‘wow, it looks like a TV show,’" Tangborn said. “Because we had movement. We had lights. We had a sophisticated image. We had real shooters… so you get sort of a Steadicam feel. And the second obviously, was that it sounded really good.”
Earlier this week, the Austin-based company had its product suite debut of Otter Director 2.0, the tool used at ACL Live, and Teleport, which is a content management system of sorts. It gives solo creators the ability to shoot footage on their own, with Tangborn describing it as a "mobile production suite." With it, creators can take up to four cameras and are able to switch between them, to accomplish something like traditional HD broadcasting. Still, Otter Network offers production services for brands if needed.
It’s been a long time coming, with the tools being in the works for about three and half years.
“It’s a lot of functionality crammed into a couple of platforms, but we really see it as an ecosystem,” Tangborn said, adding that it allows what’s essentially pay-per-view events to take place.
Tangborn founded Otter in 2017 as the next step in his long career in the arts. He was managing editor of an early online music magazine founded in the 90s called Addicted to Noise, later renamed Sonic. He said that led him down a path to Rhapsody. And he also founded a record label, Jackpine Social Club. His passion for music eventually landed him in Austin where he’s been for more than a decade now.
While Austin is key to the work, the ultimate goal is empowering creators and helping them share art with people.
“We thought if we build these tools, we can then partner with any of these other creators or creator platforms to enable them to get that content out to people,” Tangborn said.
Next for Otter is an expansion of the 16 person team that works mostly from an office on South Lamar, with the flexibility to work from home and some other team members living in Fort Worth. Tangborn says there are plans to hire development and product talent and growing marketing efforts.
With that, the team will execute projects that Tangborn describes as a “feature roadmap a mile long.” It’ll include a graphics engine so that there can be titles, credits, lower thirds and other features. Another key part is making improvements to the quality of the video.
“I hate the word content. I don’t like reducing a movie or art or writing to just this bucket word content. I think it’s important to embrace the art itself,” he said.
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(Pexels)
Austin Nicholson was ahead of the curve when he got his vasectomy in September 2021, saving himself a long line as Austin-area doctors say the demand for sterilization has seen a “significant” spike since Roe v. Wade was overturned on Friday.
Nicholson, 25, said he would prefer to adopt children, had felt the Supreme Court decision coming for a while, and, wary of the consequences, he decided to pull the trigger and make an appointment.
“A big part of it was the political climate. We could both potentially face consequences and she would definitely face more consequences, which I also personally would not want,” Nicholson said. “I didn't want to be stuck in Texas and have a potential abortion on the mind when it's illegal.”
(Austin Nicholson)
According to vasectomy specialist Dr. Luke Machen of Austin Fertility and Reproductive Medicine, the clinic received over 150 vasectomy appointment requests combined on Friday and Monday following the ruling. Typically, the clinic performs 45-50 vasectomies per month.
The Austin Urology Institute reported that they received about 70 calls in the first hour after the ruling was released. OBYN at Women’s Health Domain reported receiving over 100 requests from women interested in getting their tubes tied.
“I would say a significant number of patients who scheduled recently have mentioned the Supreme Court case,” Machen said. “A lot of guys have said they were thinking about having a vasectomy over the last year or so, and the ruling was the final push to get it done.”
The average patient at Austin Fertility who receives a vasectomy is about 37, though Machen said he has started to see an increased number of patients with zero children choosing to get a vasectomy. While they put together a study, Machen expects demand for the procedure to plateau but stay higher than before the ruling.
Machen said vasectomy is the most effective form of permanent birth control, requires only about a week of recovery time, is reversible with success rates of up to 95% and has no effects on sexual function or testosterone.
Nicholson said the procedure was less than $700, he was never in any pain, had very little recovery time and has never regretted the decision—in fact, he has happily recommended the procedure to friends.
“It helps me feel better knowing that I won't put a woman in that situation where she'd have to be faced with a potentially life-altering decision, or consequence even,” Nicholson said. “I actually have had three of my friends ask me questions about it and tell me that they were considering it.”
(Valencia Hotel Group)
Live music and beer? Say no more. With a location in Austin, and others throughout Texas, the court hotels by the Valencia Hotel Group have a new offering for weekend stays: Live Music & Longnecks.
Enjoy live music all weekend long and check out the hotels’ state-of-the-art amenities between sets. Make a splash in the pool, enjoy outdoor fire pits, or challenge your friends in a yard game while enjoying a weekend full of live music! Did we mention the package includes deluxe accommodations and a bucket of beer? Oh, and if you needed more convincing, this pet-friendly hotel means the whole family can join in on the fun.
The hotels
Explore any of the Court Hotels by Valencia Hotel Group for a memorable escape. Each property offers a unique experience remnant of yesteryear but with all of the modern amenities that make for a fun and comfortable stay. With acres of landscaped courtyards, relax and unwind in an outdoor environment perfect for doing everything or absolutely nothing at all. With locations in Austin, College Station, Irving, and Lubbock your urban retreat has never been so close.
The music
Locals and travelers alike are invited to enjoy the deep roots of Texas music all summer long with a robust lineup of live performances. From the banks of the San Antonio Riverwalk to Irving’s manicured streets, Valencia’s hotels are a place to gather and reconnect, offering uniquely Texan settings for the weekly performances.
“We’re proud of the community we’ve fostered among Texas musicians and the many rising stars who perform at our properties,” says Amy Trench, corporate director of brand marketing & PR for Valencia Hotel Group.
In Austin, you can catch good ol’ fashioned Texas country by Drew Moreland and Clayton Gardner, bluegrass by Reagan Quinn, and much, much more.
With unique programming at each of Valencia’s properties, there’s something for everyone to enjoy all summer long.
The perks
If you’re a Valencia Hotel Group Rewards member, the perks are plentiful. Enjoy up to 10% off the Best Available Rate, and for a limited time, members can save up to 15% off a stay of 2 nights or more, for select stays in 2022.
But that’s really just the beginning. At select locations, you can enjoy discounts on weeknight stays, a complimentary third night, or curated packages for a romantic getaway or a night of watching the Verde at Q2 Stadium. You’ll also find special rates for AAA and AARP Members, educators, and front-line heroes including military, law enforcement, fire, and rescue workers.