The Role of Object Storage in Video
Backblaze B2 has earned a reputation as a highly cost-effective object storage solution, often serving as an affordable alternative to AWS S3 for archival data and backups. For static assets or simple file downloads, its price-to-performance ratio is exceptional.
However, storage is not streaming. Delivering adaptive bitrate video to devices like the Apple Vision Pro requires more than just a file hosting bucket. It demands a compute layer capable of real-time processing, varying bandwidth delivery, and content protection—features that raw storage providers do not natively offer.
The "Missing Middle"
To use Backblaze for spatial video, you cannot simply upload a file and share a link. You must construct a middleware layer. This often involves setting up a separate server (or using a service like Bunny.net) to pull the raw file, transcode it into MV-HEVC, segment it for HLS, and cache it globally. This fragmentation splits your billing and support across multiple vendors, negating the simplicity B2 promises.
Unified Infrastructure with SpatialGen
SpatialGen bridges the gap between storage and delivery. It is a vertically integrated platform where storage, compute (transcoding), and edge delivery (CDN) are unified into a single workflow.
By handling the entire lifecycle of the video asset, SpatialGen eliminates the latency and complexity of moving massive 16K master files between storage buckets and third-party encoders.
Cold Storage vs. Hot Distribution
Smart infrastructure teams often use a tiered approach. Backblaze B2 is excellent for cold storage—keeping raw master files or archival footage that is rarely accessed.
SpatialGen is the engine for hot distribution. It is the active layer that transforms those raw assets into streamable experiences for end-users, handling the heavy lifting of MV-HEVC encoding and global edge caching that passive storage cannot provide.
Integrated Compute
Backblaze stores bytes; it doesn't process them. SpatialGen includes a powerful encoding engine that automatically generates stereoscopic MV-HEVC profiles from your uploads, removing the need for external transcoding servers.
Apple-Compliant Packaging
Creating an HLS stream on Backblaze requires you to upload thousands of individual .ts segment files and manage the manifest manually. SpatialGen generates this structure automatically on the fly.
Universal Player
Raw storage doesn't come with a video player. SpatialGen provides a drop-in SDK that ensures your content plays correctly on the Vision Pro, Meta Quest, and web browsers, saving you from building a custom player.
Total Cost of Ownership
While B2 storage is cheap, adding external transcoding and CDN bandwidth often brings the total cost in line with or above integrated solutions. SpatialGen offers a simple pricing model that covers the full stack processing.
Infrastructure Capabilities
It is a question of "Build vs. Buy." Using Backblaze for streaming means building your own Netflix-style backend. Using SpatialGen means buying a finished, enterprise-grade engine that lets you focus on creating content, not managing buckets.
| Feature | Backblaze B2 | SpatialGen |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Function | Object Storage | Immersive Video Platform |
| Video Processing | None (Storage Only) | 16K MV-HEVC Encoding |
| Streaming Protocol | Requires External Server | Native HLS |
| Vendor Complexity | Multi-Vendor (Storage + CDN) | Single Vendor |