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  • The iPhone takes on new role as universal remote control


    A new application is to go on sale in July that turns the iPhone into an all-purpose remote control capable of operating everything from your HDTV to audio, video and lighting.
    While the iPhone is popular as an interface for home-control systems such as home automation (HAI, Savant), multiroom audio (SpeakerCraft) and media servers (Sooloos), so far there hasn’t been a low-cost solution for using the iPhone (or iPod Touch) as an ordinary universal remote control.
    Now London-based integrator, Steve Moore, has launched the AirRemote application which he modestly describes as “the greatest little TV remote you’ve ever used”.
    The setup includes the AirRemote software and a communications box from Global Cache, which can turn the iPhone’s IP commands into signals to operate an array of home electronics devices.
    “The beauty of the iPod Touch or iPhone versus other tablets is that it has bullet-proof Wi-Fi, doesn’t need to wait for Windows to boot up, and can be held in a hand,” Moore told CE Pro.
    “And they sell loads of them so they cost almost nothing.”
    AirRemote will be available from July 11th exclusively from the iPhone App store for $99. The Global Cache transmitter will retail for about $100.

  • Geek Brief star calls for low-cost live streaming hardware to satisfy growing network of internet broadcasters


    First there were YouTube videos and podcasts made on webcams and camcorders, now there’s a growing network of video-podcasters streaming out near-professional HDTV quality live shows.
    Some – like Leo Laporte and Diggnations’s Kevin and Alex – attract many thousands of viewers to their live network-style webcasts using portable productions systems such as Tricaster.
    Yet while this technology has plumetted in price it’s still out of the reach of the new generation of low-budget producers – everyone from churches and community organisations to individual bloggers.
    Now the American internet podcaster Cali Lewis has launched an appeal on her popular Geek Brief show.
    She is calling for someone in the industry to come up with switching hardware aimed at this emerging market.
    On her latest webcast Cali explained about technical problems they have encountered while streaming live using multiple cameras and admitted they had hit a “roadblock” in terms of finding a solution.
    Having researched options such as Sony’s AnyCast (“too expensive”) and Datavideo SE-800 (cheaper but doesn’t “fit the mission”) Geek Brief is currently testing different software set-ups.
    These include Mike Versteeg’s VidBlaster, which he is working so it can be used with streaming services like Ustream.TV.
    But Cali said what was really needed was an “elegant solution that works for us and folks not able to drop $10,000 on a Tricaster”.
    She added: “We are interested in streaming because it’s fun and difficult to do well. It’s especially hard to do well without spending some pretty big bucks.
    “But there is a real opportunity for someone to build a hardware solution specifically for this emerging market.”
    It would seem like a reasonable call and one that offers great opportunities for anyone able to offer a solution.

  • Hispanics in the US more likely to buy HDTV in next 12 months than non-Hispanics


    Twenty-eight per cent of Hispanics questioned in a US survey say they will buy a large-screen television or HDTV in the next 12 months.
    They also say that TV advertising is the medium that mostly influenced their decision, according to research by Vertis Communications.
    This compares to just 23 per cent of non-Hispanics planning to purchase a large-screen or HDTV in the next 12 months.
    The study – Customer Focus® OPINIONES – also showed that Hispanics found inserts and circulars to be the second most influential form of advertising.
    Internet marketing was the third-most selected medium.
    Scott Marden, director of marketing research for Vertis Communications, said the data proved that multi-channel campaigns were marketers’ best options for swaying Hispanic consumers.
    “Hispanics are increasingly becoming more reliant on the Internet and other forms of technologically advanced marketing—including cell phone and e-mail campaigns—to gather information on products prior to making buying decisions,” he said.
    “While this portends a greater focus on online media, it is crucial for marketers to consider a multi-channel effort when motivating Hispanic consumers to make purchase decisions.
    “Television and direct mail should be cornerstones, along with Web advertising, of any multicultural marketing plan.”

  • Wireless high definition transmitter removes clutter of cables


    Monster Cable has unveiled a transmitter that wirelessly sends HD video signals from a device such as a Blu-ray player to a high definition TV up to 10m away.
    The transmitter sends the video signal using ultra-wideband, or UWB, technology from Sigma Designs Inc.
    It will also upscale non-HD signals to high-def resolution before displaying on screen. A receiver plugs into a HDMI port on the back of the TV.
    To back up the short-range wireless capability, the boxes can also connect via coaxial cable to reach each other in different rooms, up to 110m away.
    Noel Lee, president of Monster Cable, which is better known for its expensive video and audio cables, said: “We had opportunities with lots of other systems that just didn’t have the quality of service.
    “Sigma is the first partner we found … that has a robust enough technology.”
    The Monster Digital Express HD boxes will be available in the US in October for $299.95 each.
    UWB is just one of several technologies being utilised for wireless HD connections, an area that has presented problems in maintaining a steady flow of wireless data at very high speeds.
    A consortium that includes Sony, Toshiba and Intel is promoting another wireless technology called WirelessHD, with transfer speeds that are even higher than UWB.

  • Up close and personal – porn industry turns on to high definition


    A leading maker of adult movies is to release all new titles on Blu-ray Disc as well as on standard definition DVD.
    Digital Playground says it is the first mainstream studio to opt for the “same day” treatment for HD discs.
    The porn maker will also begin converting one previously released title to Blu-ray every week.
    Such a move is likely to lead to a dramatic increase in the number of adult titles available on Blu-ray.
    Samantha Lewis, CEO of Digital Playground, which has already released 21 HD sex films, said it was the first adult studio to make dual releases.
    “DP has become the first adult studio to make all their Blu-ray releases day and date with standard DVD,” she said,
    “This is something no mainstream studio has done yet, so it’s quite noteworthy for the future of the Blu-ray format."
    The studio’s library includes such films as Pirates and Cheerleaders.

  • Doubts cast on Autumn launch of Tru2way television set


    Industry experts have played down reports that Panasonic’s Tru2way TV has failed to pass tests after being submitted for certification.
    The manufacturer was expected to introduce Tru2way sets at selected retail outlets in test markets in September.
    It had submitted units for certification testing at the industry’s R&D consortium, CableLabs.
    Reports then emerged of “bugs” in the implementation which had resulted in the sets being failed.
    CableLabs issued a statement saying it was unable to comment on specific test results.
    However, it went on to say it was common for devices to require multiple test runs before achieving CableLabs Certification.
    “Manufacturers generally account for such timing in their product plans,” said the statement.
    “CableLabs conducts multiple test waves throughout the year in order to accommodate additional testing.
    “Panasonic has entered an upcoming certification wave, which provides ample time for products to reach the marketplace to meet the company’s rollout schedule.
    “Other tru2way products, including products from Samsung and ADB, have already been Certified by CableLabs.”
    Tru2way technology is the inclusion of set-top technology inside the TV set units themselves, so removing the need for an external box.
    Later, Panasonic released a statement saying they still expected to be selling the TVs for the Christmas season.
    "Panasonics Tru2way-enabled VIERA HDTV is in the certification process at CableLabs. Panasonic expects to deliver Tru2way-enabled VIERA HDTVs to the market in time for the holiday season," the statement said.

  • High Definition footage of action adventure game for iPhone released

    Apple has released HD footage of a demonstration of the upcoming iPhone fantasy game Krull created by Barcelona-based Digital Legends Entertainment.
    The 3D mobile game uses a combination of touch-based controls and accelerometer mechanics.
    Dynamic shadows and other handheld-level effects are also on display in the footage received by Shacknews.
    Xavier Carillo Costa, CEO of Digital Legends, said his team only got the iPhone SDK two weeks before the demo, and that the port itself took just four days to create.
    Krull is expected to be available available from the upcoming iPhone App Store in September, following the July launch of the new iPhone 2.0. Based on Apple founder Steve Jobs’ WWDC keynote address other original games should also be available, which iPhone users should be able to download wirelessly from their phones.
    Earlier this month it was announced that iTunes will be launching movie rentals and sales via iTunes in the UK, with 100 being available in HD.
    The move, as with that for Canada, is a result of deals signed with 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney, Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., MGM, Sony Pictures and Lionsgate.
    Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of iTunes, said the iTunes Store in the UK would have over 700 films for purchase and rent.
    “We think customers in the UK are going to love being able to enjoy their favourite movies on their iPod, iPhone or on a widescreen TV with Apple TV,” he said.

  • Signs point towards rising output of Blu-ray Discs as production capacity grows


    The market leader in the manufacture of optical disc production lines has upgraded its 2008 forecast for Blu-ray machines by 50% after receiving strong orders in the first three months of the year.
    Along with “numerous orders” for Blu-ray lines from Europe and Asia, the company received its first major order for Blu-ray from the US.
    Stefan Baustert, CEO of Singulus Technologies, said its order projections had been upped from 20 Blu-ray machines to “about 30 machines” for 2008.
    He said a market share of more than 65 % was targeted for the Blu-ray segment.
    “This means that the orders for Blu-ray in the first year of the dual layer technology already by far exceeded the volume at the start of the DVD eleven years ago with 17 machines,” he said.
    “It is also very promising that recently the first Dual Layer Blu-ray disc machine was accepted by one of our key customers in the US.”
    Singulus is the only manufacturer globally to offer the complete range of optical disc production line products: mastering, molding and replication lines.
    Speaking at the company’s AGM in Frankfurt am Main, Baustert said orders for 21 Blu-ray dual layer machines were received in the first quarter of 2008 and that additional orders followed in the 2nd quarter.
    Singulus’ ability to cope with increased demand had been considerably strengthened by the acquisition earlier this year of the Blu-ray disc activities of Oerlikon Balzers in Switzerland.

  • More HD titles needed to boost up-take of Blu-ray players


    With Blu-ray sales still not setting the heather alight much has been made of the high cost of HD players and continued viewer satisfaction with standard-definition DVD.
    Paul Erickson, director of DVD and HD Market Research at DisplaySearch, is in no doubt these are big factors contributing to Blu-ray’s slow shift into the living room.
    Adding to the picture is the emergence of online content delivery as a viable source of HD programming, something that is seen as posing a real threat to Blu-ray’s long-term survival.
    “As online delivery services from Netflix, Microsoft and other players continue to evolve and mature over these next few years, and consumer bandwidth increases, there is considerable pressure for Blu-ray to make its mark on the mainstream,” said Erickson.
    “Price-based accessibility has remained a significant constraint. Therefore, the recent introduction of a sub-$300 Blu-ray player (by Wal-Mart) is a step in the right direction.”
    But what is also needed, according to Erickson, is for more HD programming to be made.
    “Should the collective companies and studios with a stake in Blu-ray Disc engage in price aggression on both hardware and software over 2008 and 2009, it will greatly increase the format’s representation in the eventual mix of video content delivery options being utilized by the consumer of the future.”

  • Europe must think globally if it wants to catch up with the US and Japan in HDTV


    If Europe wants to benefit from the growing HDTV market, broadcasters and production companies must take a broader view.
    That is the advice of Jaume Rey, director of Professional & Broadcast IT Systems Business Unit (PBITS), part of the Panasonic group.
    Speaking at a conference on “HD content in Europe”, he urged those involved in producing TV programmes to look beyond local markets.
    He noted that while European consumers have embraced HD acquisition technology, many viewers are still watching television on SD sets.
    “HD has expanded extensively throughout Europe in recent years and is now present almost everywhere,” he said.
    “The US and Japan are ahead of us in Europe though some European countries, such as the UK, France, and the Scandinavian countries have already invested and adopted the HD technology.
    “In countries such as Spain, broadcasters and production companies must show a lead in the introduction of HD.
    "In a growing market, manufacturers need to think globally instead of locally where content production and distribution is concerned.”
    Mr Rey said examples of innovative video distribution such as YouTube illustrated the wider view required and European countries should play a key role on this development because of the rich resources of the European cultural heritage.
    “Spain, in particular, with a 400 million potential market of Spanish speakers globally, should play a leading part,” he said.
    He was delivering the keynote speech at the Universitat de València CONTD Conference in València, Spain.
    Mr Rey ended his speech by pointing to a future in which HD technology will feed into a much wider range of productions, including videogames and virtual reality content production, as well as archive AV solutions.