Business News Holding

Category: hdtv

  • Apple TV To Get a Wii-like Remote?


    Apple     has filed a set of patents for a Wii-style remote control for Apple TV.

    In the two patent applications Apple describes a "wand" for controlling the operations of a media system, suggesting the iPhone-maker may be considering games for Apple TV.

    That would involve distributing them to the device through the iTunes App Store, as is currently the case for the iPhone.

    In January, it was suggested that NVIDIA’s Ion platform is likely to be included in the next Apple TV.

    Among the uses proposed by Apple for the wand are zoom operations, a keyboard application, an image application, an illustration application and a media application.

    Other possiblities for the wand include it being used to call up a dock, and then to select an option from the menu by moving the wand across the screen.

    The controller could also scroll through a CoverFlow display and be used to manipulate photos by zooming in and out and rotating.

    It will be interesting to see how this develops – and how Nintendo reacts to the Apple application.

  • On Demand Group Wins Greek VoD Contract for IPTV launch


    On Demand Group has won the VOD and subscription VOD contract from OTE for its upcoming IPTV service in Greece.

    ODG is Virgin Media TV’s content management partner for its VOD service in the UK, which is the largest VOD service outside of North America with over 50m views per month.

    Tony Kelly, CEO of ODG said the TVOD and SVOD offering would help kick-start the IPTV launch.

    "The range of movies, TV series, kids programming, documentaries and music videos will help to underpin the successful launch and regular and sustained viewing of VOD in Greece,” he said.

    OTE’s FilmExpress transaction VOD (TVOD) service includes blockbuster movies from major Hollywood studios including Disney-ABC-ESPN Television, Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros.

    Subscribers to the service can select a movie of their choice for a 24-hour rental period with full DVD-like features including control to pause, fast forward, rewind or watch over again.

    OTE’s FilmClub subscription VOD (SVOD) service includes a wide range of TV series from CBS, HBO, HIT, Lions Gate and Warner Bros, as well as documentaries from National Geographic.

    The SVOD service also includes library movies from HBO, Lions Gate, Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros, and hundreds of international and local music videos from EMI, Universal Music and Sony Music.

    Subscribers will also receive more than 30 digital broadcast channels.

  • Sony Not Cutting PS3 Price – or Planning Non Blu-ray Version


    Sony has no intention of releasing a PS3 without a Blu-ray drive.

    The suggestion that the Japanese company would ditch the high-def format was scotched by Sony’s marketing manager Kim Nguyen.

    "That would pretty much destroy the PS3’s backbone, our games were built on Blu-ray." Kim told Silicon Alley Insider. "Quote that: Blu-ray will always be part of PS3."

    Speculation about the console’s Blu-ray drive and a possible price cut began a few weeks ago.

    However, the Sony executive told SAI there were no immediate plans to reduce the price tag.

    This is despite renewed pressure from industry figures, including Electronic Arts exececuties.

    They say only 3 per cent of the PS1’s sales were at its launch price of USD $299 – and it only began selling when the price dropped.

    They also point to the Xbox 360’s growing market share, suggesting it is largely as a result of a price drop.

  • Panasonic's VHS/Blu-ray Combo Upconverts SD Video to 1080p


    The world’s first Blu-ray-VHS dual player is to go on sale in the US from next month.

    Made by Panasonic, the DMP-BD70V has a multi-format playback that allows users to play VHS, CD, DVD and 1080p high definition Blu-ray Discs.

    It also allows standard DVDs and VHS tapes to be up-converted to 1080p resolution.

    While the picture quality of VHS tapes obviously doesn’t rival Blu-ray, it does produce an impressive picture – something certain to appeal to the many households with stacks of VHS tapes lying around.

    The DMP-BD70V has been available in Japan since last year.

    The combo VHS/DVD/Blu-ray/SD Card Player is to be priced at USD $399.

  • 1080p Video Possible With Intel's New Atom Chipset


    Poor video acceleration – stuttering and frame rate drops – is something of a blight for netbooks when it comes to playing HD video.

    Now Intel has confirmed that the GN40 chipset for Atom chips, when paired with the Atom N280 processor, is capable of playing 1080p video.

    That doesn’t, however, stretch to Blu-ray HD footage.

    An Intel product manager has told Fudzilla that the GN40 is "designed to do 1080p HD playback for typical broadband internet content".

    The semiconductor firm says the more advanced graphics acceleration in GN40 can decode most common bitrates of the full HD resolution without the problems of poor video acceleration encountered with the 945 chipsets used with most Atom-based netbooks.

    It is likely that Microsoft’s own compressed HD format, 1080p WMV, will be playable through the GN40.

    The same may not be true for H.264 and VC1 decoding.

    This will be encouraging for NVIDIA, which has its Ion platform – capable of bringing Full HD-capabilities to the netbook.

    However, Intel says the chipset wasn’t engineered to enable full Blu-ray capability "where the bitrates and demands of multi-layer content are significantly higher than that of internet HD content" – as high as 24Mbps for the video as well as extra layers like picture-in-picture commentary.

    So when are we likely to see a successor to GN40 that is capable of Blu-ray video?

  • HD Version of iPlayer Expected Soon


    The BBC is planning on offering a high-definition version of its iPlayer – possibly by April.

    While the move has been mooted since the online catch-up TV service was launched in 2007, it seems likely the HD service will shortly become a reality.

    Jana Bennett, director of BBC Vision, confirmed that the HD edition was imminent during a panel discussion at the recent FT Digital Media and Broadcasting Conference.

    Other developments with the iPlayer include being added to Freesat, a move expected to take place later this year.

    While the step-up to HD may be welcomed by viewers, it’s unlikely to be viewed favorably by the UK’s broadband Internet Service Providers.

    The popularity of the iPlayer has already put strains on bandwidth – so the arrival of higher resolution video is certain to make the download situation worse.

  • TI Unveils Video Processor Aimed at Removing Format Concerns







    Texas Instruments has launched a new video processor specifically aimed at removing video designers’ concerns about video format support, network bandwidth or system storage capacity limitations.

    Called the TMS320DM365 DaVinci, the processor includes production-qualified H.264, MPEG-4, MPEG-2, MJPEG and VC1 codecs.

    The DM365 also has an integrated image signal processing (ISP) solution for intelligent video processing capabilities and a suite of on-board peripherals.

    TI says this has the potential to save developers up to 25 per cent on their system cost.

    The company is aiming the processor at video designers of media playback and camera-driven applications, such as video doorbells and portable media players.

    According to TI, by using the DM365 it will allow them to expand their product portfolio on one platform with the ability to select the right HD video codec for multiple product designs – 1080p MPEG-4 at 24 fps or 720p H.264 and MPEG-4 at 30 fps.

    An example is video security applications supporting 1080p H.264 at 10 fps to provide high-quality video with greater compression efficiency.

    As a result, TI says developers can attain increased video storage without straining network bandwidth.

    In addition, by having a built-in ISP with capabilities including face detection, developers can focus on differentiating their products with smart video features.

    These include enabling intelligent digital signage to detect its viewers and display relevant advertising or video doorbells to instantly recognize family members and automatically unlock the door.

  • Expansion Planned as Csathy Named President and CEO of Sorenson Media







    Sorenson Media has named Peter Csathy as its president and chief executive officer (CEO).

    Csathy is a 20-year veteran of the digital media industry with significant expertise in the online video arena.

    Sorenson Media specializes in online video compression and encoding technology and solutions.

    Csathy said he was looking forward to driving the company into new high growth areas.

    "Internet video is still in its early innings, and we see an opportunity to become a significant player in this multi-billion dollar and transformative industry," he said.

    Peter Csathy, CEO Sorensen Media

    Csathy worked in C-level roles at three successful high-growth companies, including most recently as CEO of SightSpeed, president and chief operating officer (COO) of Musicmatch, and COO of eNow.

    SightSpeed was acquired by Logitech late in 2008, in the midst of the current economic meltdown; Musicmatch was acquired by Yahoo in 2004; and eNow was acquired by AOL-Time Warner in 2006.

    Prior to these positions, Csathy served as senior VP at Universal Studios, with responsibility for driving and executing all national and global new business opportunities, M&A activity, strategic partnerships and initiatives for that company’s Recreation Group.

    He has also worked as a senior executive at Savoy Pictures Entertainment and New Line Cinema, after launching his career as a media and intellectual property attorney for clients in the motion picture and music industries.

    Csathy obtained his JD from Harvard University and his bachelor’s degree in political science, summa cum laude, from the University of Minnesota.

    He will direct all areas of Soreson Media’s operations and strategic initiatives.

  • Hi-Den Launches First HDMI 1080p Photo Viewer







    It seems peculiar that with the drive towards making HDTVs all-singing, all-dancing Internet-connected marvels, little had been done to improve something as simple as enjoying your photos on the big screen.

    Now Hong-Kong-based Hi-Den Vision has popped up with what it claims is the world’s first HDMI 1080p digital photo viewer.

    The HD-0310 is a compact, slim and easy-to-use device that allows photos, video clips and music to be displayed directly from memory cards onto HDTVs.

    Hi-Den are – sensibly, I suppose – making the comparison between a digital photo frame and their device, both in terms of the price and the screen size.

    "Digital photo frames are one solution to viewing photos," said a spokesman. "But for a quality digital photo frame, it will cost around USD $150-250.00.

    "We are offering consumers the ability to view photos on a large HDTV but at a cheaper price."

    The HD-0310 features 16 transition effects, slide interval time, random or sequential playback for photo viewing.

    Its remote control also allows play/pause, next/previous, rotate, zoom in/out, select between photo/video and music.

    The suggested retail price is USD $59.90.

  • Can Rising HDTV Prices Be Sustained?












    After a period of steadily dropping HDTV prices the cost of sets to consumers appears to be climbing again.

    The average selling price for HDTVs in the US jumped by more than 10 per cent in February, according to data from the Retrevo CE Index.

    TV prices started a downward shift around May last year, ultimately dropping approximately 35 per cent in January 2009.

    Vipin Jain, CEO of Retrevo, said the price cuts had come as the economy and consumer spending weakened.

    He said this prompted manufacturers and retailers to offer steep discounts during the holidays and leading up to the Super Bowl – two important seasons for HDTV sales.

    "This meant great deals for consumers, but hurt the bottom lines of TV makers," he said.

    "The bankruptcy and liquidation of Circuit City may have also played a factor in keeping prices down.

    "Now that deep discounts from the all-important holiday and Super Bowl seasons are over, excess inventory is clearing out of the channel and merchants are returning to running their business at more sustainable price levels."

    Jain questioned whether the upward price trend was sustainable but said deals were still to be had.