Business News Holding

Tag: video

  • West & Central African Com: MTN Nigeria Targets Customer Satisfaction to Expand Market Reach


    VIDEO INTERVIEW: Ahmad Farroukh, CEO of MTN Nigeria, was interviewed at the recent West & Central African Com conference held in Abuja, Nigeria.
    He talks about plans for increasing market share by targeting customer satisfaction. Farroukh also discusses infrastructure sharing and MTN’s Community Phone Service.

  • CAST Releases H.264 IP Core for HD Video Compression


    Silicon Intellectual Property (IP) provider CAST has launched a new H.264 encoder core intended for applications that require the transmission of the highest quality video over low bit-rate channels.

    The company claims that the CAST H264-E Encoder Core delivers some of the best looking compressed video available.

    Possible uses include remote medical diagnostics, military targeting, satellite reconnaissance and advanced surveillance systems.

    The core offers this quality for screen sizes from handheld (CIF, 352 x 240 pixels) to full HD (1080p30, 1920 x 1080 at 30 frames per second).

    It fully supports the Baseline Profile, Level 4.1, of the H.264 specification (MPEG-4 Part 10, also known as MPEG-4 AVC, Advanced Video Coding).

    The company said that every design decision in the CAST H264-E development process was made in favor of improving video quality.

    "This uncompromising approach led to excellent output and nearly constant-quality video for even the most demanding compression challenges: high-motion scenes, quick camera panning, rapid scene changes, artificial motion, and frequent zooming," according to a CAST statement.

    "Achieving this video quality with just Baseline Profile support means the CAST H264-E generally requires fewer resources—processing time, chip area, and power consumption—than competing cores that support higher-level profiles."

    The H264-E Encoder Core was developed by long-time CAST partner Alma Technologies in Greece.

    The core is available now, in RTL source code for ASICs or optimized netlists for programmable devices.

  • Vuzix First With Wrap-Around Specs for iPhone 3GS


    Vuzix has announced the first wearable display glasses compatible with the new iPhone 3GS.

    The iWear AV310 gives users the virtual equivalent of a 52”, 16:9 widescreen display as if viewed from a distance of nine feet.

    Vuzix says the specs are compatible with both 2D and stereoscopic 3D video.

    David Lock, director of Vuzix’s European operations, recently told smartphone.biz-news that the company’s new Wrap glasses would transform the whole video eyewear from "geek to chic".

    Certainly the AV310 wouldn’t be a problem to wear in most situations.

    Weighing just 4 oz, the specs are worn like regular glasses.

    As well as being compatible with the new Apple handset, Vuzix says they also support all audio/video devices with composite video-out.

    A single removable AA battery gives up to 11 hours of viewing.

    The AV310 retails for USD $249.95.

  • I-MOVIX Announces New Deal with CANAL+ France


    I-MOVIX has announced a new contract with CANAL+ France to use its ultra slow motion SprintCam solution for sports broadcasting.

    The SprintCam Live V2.1 and SprintCam V3 HD offer broadcast integration and have the ability to work at 500 fps under restricted lighting conditions.

    The V3 – the first broadcast-integrated, native HD, ultra-slow-motion solution offering with instant replay – was launched in March.

    It produces slow-motion output equivalent to 20 to 40 times slower than normal speed.

    Coralie Piton, head of sports production at CANAL+ France, said the collaboration between I-MOVIX and CANAL+ France is not new.

    Both partner teams have worked together on several occasions this year, including football matches between Olympique de Marseille and Girondins de Bordeaux, Real Madrid and Liverpool, Paris Saint Germain and Olympique de Marseille and more recently, Olympique de Marseille and Olympique Lyonnais.

    Depending on the stadium, with only a little bit more than 700 LUX, CANAL+ was able to make the most of the SprintCam system unique capacity from 500 to 5,000 frames per second.

    "The I-MOVIX technology matches our expectations in terms of innovation and stunning images," said Piton.

  • Game Consoles Main Driver in Online Video Growth


    Networked video game consoles are the most used devices for bringing web video to the TV in the US – and look set to remain so until 2013, according to an In-Stat report.

    It found that 29 per cent of US 25 to 34 year olds with game consoles already use the devices to watch streaming video off the Internet.

    That’s going to keep growing and by 2013, over 10.7 million consoles will be used as Web-to-TV mediation devices in the US.

    The range of connected consumer electronics devices delivering web video into the living room is also growing.

    Device types include digital media adapters (DMAs), pay TV set top boxes, Blu-ray player/recorders, HDTVs and media-center PCs.

    Keith Nissen, In-Stat analyst, said that while still at the early adoption stages, the impact of bringing web video to the TV will bring both opportunity and threats to a range of companies in the electronics and TV markets.

    He said that by 2013, the revenue from Web-to-TV streaming services will grow to US $2.9 billion.

    "Currently Web video is largely additive to traditional TV revenue streams," he said.

    "However, ultimately web video to the TV will force a complete restructuring of today’s video distribution ecosystem."

    Other findings of the In-Stat research include:

    • Two separate in-home content delivery networks (CDNs) are evolving in the digital home—one for broadcast media services (e.g., cable TV), the other for Internet-based broadband services
    • Within five years, the number of US broadband households viewing Web-to-TV content will grow to 24 million
    • Video content will be optimized for broadcast or Web-to-TV based on content type

  • Movavi Expands Free Online Media Conversion Service


    Movavi has announced an expansion of its popular online video conversion service.

    The upgraded Online.movavi.com service now enables users to fine tune a number of conversion parameters – codecs, resolution, video and audio quality, bitrate, and other key elements demanded by more sophisticated users.

    The multimedia processing tool developer said all new functionality is accessible through a new Customization link, which opens a separate window, enabling users to make the necessary changes without leaving the main site.

    Natalia Khudyakova, Moscow-based Movavi’s CEO, said the functionality extension is a part of our strategy for the development of Online.movavi.com.

    She said the goal is to create the most fully-functional and easy-to-use free online video conversion service.

    "In line with this goal, we have removed the requirement for users to register with an email address before starting the conversion, and have also added support for HD video," she said.

    Additional enhancements to Online.movavi.com planned for the near future include image manipulation and online storage for users’ media files.

  • WWDC: New iPhone 3Gs Twice as Fast, Video Camera


    Apple has unveiled a new version of the iPhone – the iPhone 3Gs – at WWDC 2009.

    Among the key improvements are a 3 megapixel camera with autofocus and VGA video capture at 30fps, improved battery life, voice control, a faster processor and 7.2Mbps HSDPA-compatible radio.

    The new iPhone 3Gs comes with either 16GB or 32GB of internal storage, doubling the previous offerings of 8GB and 16GB.

    It will go on sale June 19 in the US. The 32GB model will be USD $299 and the 16GB model will be USD $199.

    iPhone 3Gs will also be available in more than 80 countries in the coming weeks.

    Apple is also dropping the price of the iPhone 3G to USD $99 and the iPhone 3G 16GB model to $149 starting immediately.

    The latter, USD $50 short of the new 8GB 3Gs model, may not be of great appeal.

    The iPhone 3Gs includes the new OS 3.0, which includes over 100 new features such as Cut, Copy and Paste (finally), MMS, Spotlight Search, and landscape keyboard.

    The new autofocus camera has a "tap to focus" feature, allowing users to touch the display to select an object or area of interest and the camera automatically re-adjusts focus and exposure.

    Although there’s still no flash, Apple has added auto-focus and geotagging support.

    Video clips can be edited on the handset by trimming the start and stop points – and then sent by email or MMS and posted to MobileMe or YouTube with just one tap.

    The voice control feature in iPhone 3G S offers hands free operation for both iPhone and iPod functions.

    These include a command that activates the Genius feature by saying "play more songs like this".

    iPhone 3Gs has the OpenGL ES 2.0 standard for high-quality 3D graphics, which should further enhance its gaming reputation.

    Battery life has been improved to give five hours of 3G talk time and up to 24 hours of music playback — according to Apple.

    Announcing the new handset, Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of WorldWide Product Marketing, said it was on average up to twice as fast as iPhone 3G.

    He said it opens web pages quicker and launches applications faster.

    "iPhone 3G S is the fastest, most powerful iPhone yet and we think people will love the incredible new features including autofocus camera, video recording and the freedom of voice control," he said.

    Other new features include:

    • digital compass
    • the OS now supports tethering
    • integrated hardware encryption

  • Mobile TV "Reaching Tipping Point": MobiTV


    MobiTV has added two million new subscribers in less than six months, taking its total to more than seven million.

    The company says that better viewing experiences, advances in technology and higher awareness are all helping boost adoption levels.

    Charlie Nooney, chairman and CEO of MobiTV, described the figures as a milestone for its live mobile television and video-on-demand service, which he said now streams billions of minutes a year.

    "We are clearly seeing an increase in mobile television consumption," he said.

    "We are about to hit the tipping point for mobile media, one that will move it from a novelty to the mainstream."

    Available on more than 350 handsets across 20 carrier networks, including Sprint, AT&T and Alltel in the US, MobiTV launched in November, 2003.

    Nooney attributes the latest subscriber spike to intense interest in first-of-its kind, interactive mobile content, personified by its "tournament pass" application that brought March Madness to the iPhone in partnership with CBS Sports this spring.

    Capturing top-seller status in the iTunes store, he said the application underscored the increased consumer appeal of innovative mobile television entertainment.

    In a separate announcement, MobiTV said it has been shortlisted for an award in the best TV & video category at the 2009 Meffys Mobile Entertainment awards.

    The prestigious Meffys awards hosted by the Mobile Entertainment Forum, focuses on a wide range of different categories that provide a cross section of the latest trends and innovations in mobile media and entertainment.

    MobiTV is among the list of finalists in the TV & video category which also includes the BBC’s iPlayer service.

    The awards coincide with the Mobile Entertainment Forum’s official annual conference, Mobile Entertainment Market.

    The winners will be announced at a special gala dinner that will take place in London, on June 23.

  • WD Adds 2TB Hard Drives As Demand Grows


    WD has expanded its WD AV-GP line of hard drives to include a 2 TB capacity, which it claims is the industry’s largest available drive to-date.

    The company said the move was in response to growing demand for higher capacity storage continues to increase due to large video applications, including high-definition video.

    Jim Welsh, senior vice president and general manager of WD’s branded products and consumer electronics groups, said consumer electronics consumers require hard drives that consume less power, generate less heat and operate quietly.

    He said audio and video recording applications, such as DVRs, media servers, media centres and mainstream surveillance systems, often demand 24×7 operation from hard drives.

    "Our drives meet the demanding requirements of these markets including higher reliability, universal compatibility, low power consumption and the ability to simultaneously record multiple audio and/or high-definition video streams," he said.

    The WD AV-GP 2 TB hard drive (model WD20EVDS) is available now for USD $299.00.

  • Consumers Prefer Discs Over Downloads At Home


    Watching movies and other video content on DVD and Blu-ray Disc accounts for 88 per cent of home entertainment spending – even although newer digital methods are beginning to gain a foothold in the consumer market.

    The average US home video consumer reported spending an average of USD $25 per month on all types of home video purchases and rentals, according to NPD Group.

    The researchers found that when it comes to spending on home video content: 63 per cent was spent on DVD purchases; 7 per cent on BD purchases; 18 per cent on DVD/BD rentals from retail stores, subscriptions or kiosks; 9 per cent on video on-demand (VOD); and 3 per cent on digital downloads and online streaming.

    Most consumers don’t use digital options to watch a full-length movie, although the numbers have grown over the last year.

    Digital movie downloaders also tend to buy and rent Blu-ray Discs more than the average consumer: 25 per cent of them bought or rented a Blu-ray Disc in the last three months, versus 5 per cent overall.

    Russ Crupnick, entertainment industry analyst for NPD, said discs are still and by far the dominant way Americans enjoy home video.

    "But there is an increasing appetite for digital options," he said. "The good news is that the consumers engaging with digital video today also tend to be heavy consumers of DVDs and Blu-ray Disc, but it remains to be seen just how long physical discs and digital formats can co-exist."