Stream TV Networks — a Philadelphia-headquartered new media business founded in 2009 — is showing prototype “Ultra-D” 3D without glasses technology. It combines proprietary hardware, firmware and software.
The company said it intends to partner with CE manufacturers with an eye toward seeing its technology begin to be used in the market during Q2.
It hopes to integrate the technology in set-top boxes, PCs, tablets, TVs and other displays.
Stream TV Networks reports that the technology includes 2D-to-3D autostereoscopic conversion, and 3D stereoscopic to 3D autostereoscopic conversion.
The company also aims to offer 2D-to-3D conversion services to content producers and owners, using its technology.
GoPro is previewing its new BacPac Wi-Fi attachment for its HD HERO and HERO2 cameras, which weighs less than one pound. It fits into the camera’s waterproof housing.
GoPro’s HERO is a wearable and gear mountable HD camera popular with outdoor enthusiasts.
The camera can be operated via remote control or via an app (iOS or Android) that also allows the user to see the video and stream it via a mobile device.
The company says that the Wi-Fi Remote can be used to control up to 50 HERO cameras at a time.
Available in February, the GoPro BacPac will list for $99.
Sony provides a demo of its new network media player powered by Google TV.
The video shows Sony’s new scrolling remote, features of the Google TV UI, and the ability to directly download apps from the Android Market.
“We give you a lot of apps already installed on it, but we can take it a step further and go to the Android Market and find other apps that you might want to download that are optimized for your television.”
“It really gives you a very customized approach to finding all that content and information that you’re looking for.”
There are two Sony products: a standalone Google TV box and a second unit that has a Blu-ray player built into it.
No pricing yet, but they should be available by late spring, early summer.
Los Angeles-based Neustar Media demos its UltraViolet-ready Catalyst system in this video report.
Catalyst is Neustar’s working title for its white label and completely customizable retail storefront.
This turnkey solution includes a storefront, media player application, and content distribution capabilities.
According to Neustar, Catalyst also provides “retailers the ability to offer custom merchandising and promotions, social media integration and the opportunity to upgrade physical DVDs or Blu-ray purchases to digital.”
Technicolor has unveiled M-GO, a free app that offers cloud-based streaming rental or download-to-own movies.
It launches in the U.S. this spring with a catalog of 10,000 Hollywood movies and an international launch inked for 2013. The studio signatories will be announced in the next few days. The service is UltraViolet compliant.
M-GO also provides cloud-based access to music, apps, live TV and other media across connected devices.
The app will be available on Intel Ultrabook devices through Intel AppUp.
It will come pre-loaded on Samsung’s 2012 Smart TVs and Blu-ray Disc players and will be accessible on Galaxy tablets. Additionally, with M-GO while watching a movie on the TV, consumers can simultaneously get bonus content.
M-GO will come pre-loaded on Vizio TVs, tablets, Blu-ray players and stream players that are part of Vizio Internet Apps Plus.
At CES, Dolby is highlighting Dolby Digital Plus across a range of CE devices.
Dolby Digital Plus (Enhanced AC-3) is “an advanced surround sound audio codec designed specifically for evolving media.” The company says it available on 430 million HDTVs, smartphones, tablets, PCs, game consoles, and Blu-ray players.
HBO Go will adopt Dolby Digital Plus to deliver content to connected TVs and Blu-ray players.
Samsung will use Dolby Digital Plus to support its Acetrax application for Blu-ray players in Europe.
Samsung, HP, Acer, Lenovo, and others are using Dolby in their products.
Dolby demo material includes “The Art of Flight,” which was mixed in 7.1 and graded on the Dolby PRM-4200 professional reference monitor.
Dolby is providing technical assistance for Boomdizzle co-founder LL Cool J’s CES demos.
Helsinki-based MultiTouch Ltd. is demonstrating its MultiTaction platform for large-scale interactive screens.
The company says its integrated sensor technology allows slim designs for more than 100-inch displays, a concept illustrated by its demo of the MT550W7 MultiTaction Oblique Wall.
Comprised of MultiTaction Cell 55-inch HD LCD displays with embedded Windows 7, MultiTouch is billing it as “the world’s largest asymmetric multi-user touch wall.”
The interactive display runs on Intel Core i7 processors and is designed for single-display installations for museums, retail spaces, universities, medical, corporate communications and exhibitions.
MultiTouch is also demonstrating its 2X Stacked MultiTaction Augmented Reality Table.
JVC’s GY-HMQ10 4K camcorder incorporates the company’s Falconbrid large-scale integration chip for high-speed signal processing and a 1/2-inch CMOS imager with 8.3 million active pixels to provide 3840×2160 footage at 24p, 50p, or 60p.
According to JVC, the LSI processing can dematrix the raw image data in real-time, and “is able to output 4K images to a monitor or projection system in real-time with virtually no latency.”
Suggested applications include cinematography and live event coverage.
Using MPEG-4 technology and an H.264 codec operating at up to 144Mbps, the GY-HMQ10 records up to two hours of 4K video to SDHC or SDXC memory cards.
The camera lists for $4,995 and is slated for availability in March.
Where to see it: Central Hall 8225, North Hall N105
It features a 3.2-inch touchscreen, 3x optical zoom and can shoot 720p video.
The SC1630, expected to ship by April, is being developed with an eye toward also serving as a smartphone, so the $300 price could drop if a U.S. carrier picks it up.
Polaroid also showed what is effectively a digital version of its classic Polaroid camera. The 14-megapixel Z340 instant digital camera has a 2.7-inch color LCD, zoom and light options, and accommodates still and video images.
The $299 Z340 produces 3×4 prints on Polaroid ZINK paper.
During Tuesday’s 3D panel Vince Pace, co-chairman of Cameron Pace Group, addressed the current 3D business model, noting that the aim is to “maintain quality and get the cost of 3D production down to the cost of 2D production.”
CPG is addressing that issue with technologies including its Shadow, which allows a production to generate 2D and 3D from a single camera rig.
ESPN, working with CPG, has started to work with what it calls 5D — or extracting the 2D from a 3D shoot. “That is a way to get two shows out of one,” said Bryan Burns, VP strategic business planning & development, ESPN.
Robert Zitter, executive VP and CTO of HBO, pointed out that with the HD transition, one could go back and use films as they were already HD. “We can’t do that affordably in 3D.”
Tom Cosgrove, president and CEO, 3net, is seeing a growing 3D appetite in international markets, notably in the UK, Italy and parts of Asia. “Particularly in the UK we are seeing a fast adoption.”
Said Zitter: “We don’t believe in charging extra for 3D. We are in the business of enhancing product to drive our subscription business.” He added that HBO is eyeing the opportunities of offering 3D on demand.
Burns suggested that next year, higher resolutions will be a topic, but “the mobile units that can produce that kind of quality really don’t exist today… Where does the money come from to build that kind of infrastructure?”
Several panelists expect to soon see proliferation of 3D on mobile devices.
Slightly more than 750,000 households now have UltraViolet accounts, Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) announced at a press conference on Tuesday.
Nineteen UltraViolet titles are now available, and DECE expects that more than 100 will be released during 2012.
Sony, Universal and Warner Bros. have already released UltraViolet content. Paramount Home Media Distribution will release UltraViolet-embedded “Paranormal Activity 3″ later this month.
In the first half of 2012, DECE will introduce its Common File Format for downloads.
Samsung revealed that its 2012 Smart Blu-ray player would allow consumers to upload their content to the UltraViolet cloud. Panasonic plans to support UltraViolet in select Blu-ray players and connected TVs.
UltraViolet launched in the UK in late December; international expansion will continue in 2012 into countries including Canada.
During the panel, it was revealed that Netflix is no longer a member of DECE. However, DECE has partnered with DEG to promote UltraViolet.
Amazon inked a deal with a studio to support UltraViolet but the studio was not named.
Sir Howard Stringer opened the Sony press event, then introduced Sony Deputy President Kazuo Hirai who discussed the company’s connected strategy — both to the Internet and across Sony devices.
Sony is showing a 4K home theater projector and Blu-ray player with 4K upscale capabilities. It is also developing 4K TVs.
Sony Ericsson will become known as Sony Mobile Communications.
Sony is expanding its Internet TV line with the Google TV platform.
Netflix will be available on PlayStation Vita, which launches February 22.
The company introduced a new balance technology for the Handycam that it suggested could cancel handshake blur up to 13 times more than is currently possible.
The new Bloggie Live is a Full HD camera with built in Wi-Fi for live video streaming.
The Sony Open will be shot in 3D, and highlights will be featured this week at CES.
Sony will host a technology demo of a Crystal LED display at its CES booth.
Star power: Will Smith, director Barry Sonnenfeld and recording artist Kelly Clarkson appeared at Sony’s press conference.
Half of Samsung Smart TVs will offer 3D in 2012. Product line highlights include a 55-inch Super OLED TV and ES8000 LED TV.
TVs will come in sizes as large as 75-inches with thin bezels. The company also previewed voice control and a gestural interface for its display technology.
To future proof its TVs, Samsung announced plans to offer an evolution kit that would allows users to add new features and increase performance.
New feature “All Share Play” is designed to allow content to move seamlessly across devices.
Samsung Mobile launched the Galaxy Note 4G-enabled smartphone with 5.3 inch HD AMOLED screen and “SPen” control; and 4G LTE-enabled Galaxy Tab 7.7, a new tablet that the company suggested could be used as a universal remote.
In digital imaging, the company launched Samsung Smart cameras and camcorders with Wi-Fi.
Samsung will also offer a technology demo of a 4K TV.
