Dolby and Philips to Demo Proposed Dolby 3D HD Format at NAB

  • Dolby and Philips are proposing a new 3D HD format dubbed “Dolby 3D,” which will be demoed this week at NAB in Las Vegas.
  • The format is “aimed at delivering full HD 3D content to enabled devices, including glasses-free displays,” writes Carolyn Giardina for The Hollywood Reporter.
  • “We believe that Dolby 3D can help drive the adoption of 3D — creating a comfortable, customizable, truly enjoyable glasses-free 3D viewing experience while enhancing 3D display performance,” said Dolby’s Ramzi Haidamus, executive vice president, sales and marketing.
  • “The Dolby 3D format would effectively be used for encoding/decoding, transmission and rendering to 3D-ready displays and mobile devices. Dolby and Philips have started to engage standards bodies and have an eye toward licensing the technology,” writes Giardina.

Canon to Demo New Lenses and 4K Cameras at NAB in Las Vegas

  • Canon will preview its EOS-1D C, a digital SLR camera with 4K support, at the NAB show in Las Vegas next week. The camera is priced at $15,000.
  • “The company is also developing new cameras for its Cinema EOS system — launched last November targeting motion picture production — including a 4K-capable Cinema EOS C500 for use with EF-mount lenses, and Cinema EOS C500 PL for use with PL-mount lenses,” Carolyn Giardina writes for The Hollywood Reporter.
  • “Currently expected to cost around $30,000, these Cinema EOS cameras would be capable of recording 4K resolution with 10-bit uncompressed ‘Raw’ output with no de-Bayering, according to Canon.”
  • “These Cinema EOS cameras will offer a new Super 35mm-equivalent approximately 8.85-megapixel CMOS sensor,” adds Giardina. “A prototype of the C500 camera will be at NAB.”
  • Canon will also unveil new prototype lenses for EF and PL mounts at the show.

Conference Exec Outlines Strong Presence of 3D Tech at NAB 2012

  • This month’s NAB Show (April 14-19, Las Vegas) promises to feature the latest in 3D technology products and trends, according to Chris Brown, NAB’s executive VP, conventions and business operations.
  • James Cameron and Vince Pace, for example, will share their insights in a session entitled “The Secrets of Making 3D Profitable.”
  • “Cameron and Pace will reveal the strategy behind 5D productions, including the ESPN Winter X Games where 35 rigs were used to accomplish the largest 5D production in history. Attendees will see how the 5D methodology enables broadcasters to increase revenue by integrating 3D into their existing 2D business model,” writes Brown in Post Magazine.
  • “Independent voices will be heard in 3D filmmaking,” adds Brown. “As previously out-of-reach equipment and techniques permeate the marketplace, watch for up and coming creators to push beyond the expected and into new territory.”
  • Among the planned 3D offerings at this year’s show: a number of glasses-free 3D HDTVs (including 4K models) will be on display; the first U.S. demo of a 200-inch, glasses-free projection system will be featured at the show’s International Research Park; an April 15 session on “Higher Frame Rate 3D,” which promises a cinema-like experience; and discussions of the tech requirements for over-the-air broadcast 3D (one component of the half-day engineering conference).

NAB: International Research Park to Demo 200-Inch Glasses-Free 3D TV

  • At the National Association of Broadcasting conference, International Research Park (IRP) will debut a 200-inch glasses-free projection TV from Japan.
  • “The first U.S. demonstration of a 200-inch, glasses-free 3D projection system will be presented by the Japanese national research lab, National Institute for Information and Communication Technology (NICT),” reports TVNewsCheck. “As the world’s largest display of its kind, the viewing zone for the demonstration is large enough for 30 people to optimally view 3D images without eyewear.”
  • “IRP, presented by NAB Labs, is a venue designed to highlight advanced projects underway in academic, government and commercial research laboratories worldwide,” notes the article.
  • IRP will be in the North Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center during the NAB Show, April 16-19.
  • Other IRP demos scheduled: “hybrid TV broadcasting proposals (including converged broadcast/wireless-telecom systems), multi-sensory media presentations, 4K video streaming, high-dynamic range and multi-spectral video, enhanced media accessibility for visually and aurally impaired users, 2D and 3D multi-viewpoint video, advanced file-based workflows, advanced interactive gesture control and data visualization technologies.”

Mobile Devices Enabling New Economies: Tablets to Outsell PCs in 2013

  • A post on research-based blog Asymco shows some trends in technology that suggest tablets may outsell PCs by the third quarter of next year.
  • Some of the speculations include: the annual sales growth of the iPad will double this year as well as next; Android sales will have 80 percent growth each year; and “Windows 8 tablets will account for 7 percent of all Windows PCs in the final quarter of 2012, jumping to 20 percent by 2013,” GigaOM reports.
  • “Tablet hardware is improving quickly, which brings software innovation as app developers take advantage of more processing power and graphics capabilities,” the article states.
  • “Input on tablets can be a challenge, but one look at the Asus Transformer Prime and its keyboard dock offers a glimpse of current and future solutions. Remote desktop solutions abound, and some, such as OnLive, don’t even require you to have your own PC; you simply connect to one in the cloud.”

MAM Systems Will Be Demoed at NAB: Flexible, Automatic, Compatible

  • Media access management is expected to be a catchphrase at this year’s NAB Show.
  • Vendors will be showcasing MAM tools that help facilitate more efficient interaction among TV stations’ news, promotion, sales, graphics and engineering departments.
  • “At the 2012 NAB Show, the top MAM vendors will introduce still more features and greater workflow efficiencies, with an emphasis on automation; more flexible control of media at the station and through mobile devices; and playout to a wide range of video platforms,” reports TVNewsCheck. “Some vendors will even stretch the definition of media management to automatically confirm commercial runs and generate client invoices.”
  • An early snapshot of some of the top products scheduled to be on display: Invenio MAM software by Harris integrated with its NewsForce server/editing platform; the latest from Avid emphasizing “improvements in workflow orchestration, innovative control of automation and remote access over mobile devices;” advances in scalable long-term storage from SGL; Grass Valley’s channel-in-a-box product; NVerzion’s “systemwide controls, cross-platform operation, automatic ingest from media services and automated commercial traffic and client billing;” and a new cloud-based service for media storage and emergency restoration from Front Porch Digital.

Cloud Wars Continue: Dropbox App for Android Enables Image Uploads

  • Dropbox released their Android app that enables users to wirelessly upload pictures to the cloud from their smartphones. CEO Drew Houston said he hopes third-party developers will expand upon the app to include photo editing or manipulation features.
  • Users get 500 megabytes of storage following their first upload and are allowed up to 3GB of free space. An iOS version will be released soon, according to Dropbox.
  • The company faces fierce competition in the cloud from Microsoft, Apple’s iCloud and Google’s Drive.
  • James Staten, an analyst at Forrester Research said the new app is intended to “secure and solidify their position as the best file-sharing service and trying not to go beyond that, which I think is a smart move.”

AllJoyn Tech Enables Multi-Platform Development for Smartphones

  • In an effort to facilitate the creation of peer-to-peer apps across multiple mobile platforms, Qualcomm has created AllJoyn, a software developer kit that enables design and output to Android, iOS, Windows Phone and even Linux.
  • The technology enables “proximity-based, device-to-device communication without the use of an intermediary server,” according to the company.
  • “Typically developers have not been able to use things like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi in devices to enable their applications to work across different platforms in the same room, or nearby. Applications that wanted to enable multiplayer games in proximity haven’t had an easy way to do that,” said Qualcomm’s Brian Vogelsang.
  • The beauty of the approach is that none of the activity goes through the cloud — it’s all local, device-to-device — which makes it cheaper for developers (who don’t have to invest time and resources in cloud compatibility) and allows quicker response time for the end-user.
  • What’s in it for chipmaker Qualcomm? “Qualcomm believes in an Internet of everything — that all devices need to be connected. That if people create better mobile experiences it will sell more devices.”

Wireless Video: LG and Intel Team Together for WiDi-Enabled 3D TVs

  • LG is working with Intel to incorporate wireless digital video over Wi-Fi, known as WiDi, into its Cinema 3D Smart TV line.
  • The WiDi-enabled sets, expected to be featured at CES, will be built into the TVs and will not require a receiver box.
  • “WiDi was developed by Intel to stream video content from an Intel-based laptop, notebook or other external mobile device to a TV, projector or display monitor,” explains TWICE. “Currently, the system requires a receiver box or dongle be connected to a TV’s video input, but the agreement would enable the system to be built into LG’s Cinema 3D sets.”
  • “The WiDi system uses point-to-point connectivity and features a wireless interface for instant viewing of content on the wirelessly connected display,” adds the article.
  • According to LG, the system also supports streaming online content accessible through mobile devices, including YouTube videos and streaming TV shows from broadcast sites.

CEA Chief Describes New Era of Sharing Enabled by the Web

  • Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, provides a compelling commentary on America’s ownership culture and the trends that are steering it toward a new shared ownership strategy.
  • “First, America’s declining wealth requires we cut costs where possible,” Shapiro writes in Forbes. The recent credit crunch has impacted purchasing and many young people are more likely to share housing with family or friends than in previous years.
  • “Second, our declining wealth means we need to find creative ways to get the same item or service for less,” he adds, citing examples such as vehicle sharing through ZipCar, emerging bicycle sharing programs, and educational videos shared online.
  • “Third, the Internet allows those with similar needs to connect quickly, easily and efficiently. More, mobile devices, such as smart phones, tablets and the plethora of apps, allow us to share information with each other and with retailers — increasing efficiency and putting together buyers and sellers.”
  • Shapiro explains that the Internet is a powerful tool that helps facilitate sharing and provide access at a lower cost. “After all, sharing is a far more efficient method of resource distribution than owning, and perhaps we will all have ‘more’ in the end.”

New Apple Store App Enables Online Orders and Self Check-Out

  • Apple’s new retail store app for iOS is expected to launch today, and will include two major features: 1) Online ordering with retail store pick-up, and 2) Self check-out at retail locations.
  • The new services have already started at a number of Apple locations in California and New York City.
  • A customer will be able to order an in-stock product online and pick it up approximately 12 minutes later — skipping lines and registers, then simply picking up and signing for the product.
  • If customers order an item that is not in-stock, they’ll be a given a pick-up date right after the online purchase is completed. All products sent to an Apple store will include free shipping.
  • With self check-out, customers are encouraged to launch the Apple Store app on an iOS device to purchase in-store items. “You scan the product with the camera on your device in the app, click purchase, and it will charge whatever credit card is associated to your Apple ID,” reports BGR.
  • The company expects the new program will generate a 30 percent increase in sales.

Shall I Buy Enables Social Shopping: Foodspotting for Everything Else

  • Shall I Buy is a free iPhone app with the goal of combining instant social feedback for shoppers to make better purchasing decisions and possibly combat buyer’s remorse.
  • A shopper can share a video, picture, price and location to engage potential followers and incite comments, and allows sharing of links through Facebook and Twitter.
  • “The app is done simply, taking heavy styling cues from Instagram, but in doing so it’s effective and easy to use,” reports TheNextWeb.
  • The post cites two potential downsides: 1) By default, users receive a great number of push notifications, and 2) It would be helpful to have “a way to configure notifications inside of the app itself,” rather than going to the website.
  • Robert Scoble equates it to “Foodspotting for everything else.”

Pandora Embraces HTML5 as Key Enabler for Connected Devices

  • Pandora now claims more than 100 million registered users. CTO and EVP of Product Tom Conrad credits the success of his company’s Internet radio service with the decision to embrace both Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android mobile operating system. Conrad spoke at this week’s GigaOM Mobilize conference.
  • However, Pandora had a rocky start regarding growth on mobile platforms until the iPhone came along to help turn things around. And at one point, Conrad had little interest in Android. Pandora shipped its app through the iTunes store and watched its user base explode from 13 million to what it is today.
  • “Conrad has also since made peace with Android, about which he had previously said that he needed the platform ‘like I need a hole in my head,’ referring to the confusing state of Android fragmentation. On Monday, Conrad didn’t want to go into the specifics of Android vs. iOS market share amongst Pandora users, but he called Android’s growth ‘nothing short of remarkable.'”
  • Now Pandora is embracing HTML5 as it looks to what’s next.
  • “The company launched a new HTML5-powered website last week, and Conrad said that using HTML5 helped to both dramatically increase the performance of the site as well as implement new social features,” reports GigaOM.
  • Conrad calls HTML5 a “key enabler for connected devices,” hoping that it will provide opportunities for Pandora on connected TVs and car dashboards.
  • Currently, 70 percent of Pandora’s listening occurs on mobile devices. “In the future, the majority of Pandora listening will happen in the car and on the connected device,” predicts Conrad.

Will Sony Tablet S Set itself Apart from iPad Wannabes?

  • Walt Mossberg suggests that one reason Apple’s iPad dominates the market is that most other tablet offerings come across as imitations that do not ultimately provide the same superior experience.
  • Sony aspires to change that perception with the release of its 9.4-inch Sony Tablet S, which Mossberg describes as a “handsome tablet with an unusual, asymmetrical design and some software tweaks and content services it hopes can set it apart from the pack.”
  • Sony’s new device, launched over the weekend, uses Google’s Android OS and costs the same as the Wi-Fi-only iPads ($500 for the 16GB version and $600 for the 32GB model).
  • The Tablet S has no cellular data option and tested weaker than the iPad in terms of battery life, but has a design like no other competitor: “One of the long sides of its rectangular, plastic body has a thick, rounded edge that makes the device look like a folded-back magazine.”
  • Mossberg sees this as a positive, even suggesting the device feels lighter than the iPad (it isn’t), based on how the weight rests on your palm. “While this design makes the Tablet S much thicker than many competitors, it has several advantages. When you hold the device one-handed in portrait, or vertical, mode, it feels much more comfortable and balanced than any other tablet I’ve tested. When you lay it on a flat surface in landscape, or horizontal, mode, the rounded edge creates a natural angle for typing, without a case or stand.”
  • Additionally setting it apart is an SD memory card slot (useful for transferring media), a customizable row of frequently used app icons, a Favorites feature (ideal for recently accessed media and Web bookmarks), and a universal remote control app with built-in infrared transmitter. “Sony also is bundling services for buying music, TV shows and movies, e-books and games to create a content ecosystem like Apple’s,” writes Mossberg.
  • We’ll see if these new features and unique design will be enough to attract consumers. If not, another tablet is on its way: “Sony is planning a second, even more radical tablet for later this fall, called the Tablet P. It’s a much smaller and lighter device that has no visible screen until you unfold it to reveal twin 5.5-inch displays that can either be used as one large screen or can have separate content in each.”

Adobe Demos Flash Video Streaming at NAB

Adobe previewed its new video streaming technology at NAB, built on the Adobe Flash Media Server. The new features and capabilities are designed to help stream protected video to mobile devices such as the Apple iPad and iPhone, Motorola Xoom, Samsung TVs and Atrix smartphone.

Last year Adobe introduced HTTP Dynamic Streaming (HDS) for the Flash Platform, which leverages the MPEG-4 fragment container format using H.264/AAC codecs. The company is now adding support for HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), an MPEG2 transport stream used by devices including the iPad 2. Adobe explains that HLS support within the Flash Media Server reduces “the publishing complexity for broadcasters who need to reach browsers supporting HLS through HTML5 (such as Safari) or devices where Adobe Flash is not installed.”

Adobe also demonstrated its next version of the Flash Media Live Encoder, that enables users to “capture a live broadcast stream and publish out to multiple devices including Android, Apple iOS and Samsung TVs.”

You can check out a seven-minute video demo on the Adobe blog.