LG plans to introduce two smart TV models later this month based on Google TV software. They are the first among a series of Google TVs expected from manufacturers such as Sony, Samsung and Vizio.
The 3D-capable LG sets will feature Web access and gesture-based remote controls that include a QWERTY keyboard.
“Priced at $1,699 for a 47-inch model and $2,299 for another measuring 55 vertical inches, LG’s so-called ‘G2 Series’ televisions were unveiled in January at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas,” notes paidContent.
“Google is hoping that Korea-headquartered LG, which is the second biggest manufacturer of TVs, can help kickstart its Google TV platform, which saw one of its two initial hardware partners, Logitech abandon the technology after disappointing early sales last year,” explains the article. “LG, meanwhile, is hoping that connected TVs based on the popular Android software architecture will boost TV sales.”
The post includes a 17-minute video featuring Mario Queiroz, VP of product development for Google, at last year’s paidContent Entertainment conference.
Walmart and Disney have launched an in-store augmented-reality campaign incorporating the studio’s upcoming movie “The Avengers.”
Customers can download the Super Hero Augmented Reality app that includes social media links, and engage in an in-store scavenger hunt for images of the super heroes.
While in Walmart stores, players can point their smartphones at super hero images to unlock that hero’s powers. “Users who collect all five Super Hero powers will have a chance to defeat the bad guy and win the game,” reports Mobile Commerce Daily.
“The idea of augmented reality shopping is one that is coming, whether through a smartphone or Google glasses, it is going to happen as a way for finding the way around a store,” said Tom Nawara, vice president of emerging solutions and innovation at Acquity Group, Chicago. “So getting customers used to this type of functionality is good overall and if you can do it in a way that tied into a campaign, all the better.”
According to a new report from the Digital Entertainment Group, U.S. consumers spent $1.22 billion in the first quarter of 2012 to watch video they streamed or downloaded from the Internet.
This figure represents a 74 percent increase over the same period last year. The study also found a 25 percent drop in the number of people renting DVDs and Blu-ray discs.
“That shouldn’t come as much of a shock when you factor in Blockbuster’s continuing woes and the migration of Netflix subscribers to digital streaming,” comments The Verge.
“Still, it’s not all doom and gloom in rental land, as Redbox brought in $523 million, which represents growth of 30 percent compared to 2011 and accounts for nearly half of the entire segment,” adds the post. “It would seem those studio-imposed delays haven’t had poised much of a financial burden after all.”
Retailers sold 2.4 million Blu-ray players during the quarter, while sales of Blu-ray discs increased 23 percent to $541 million.
The Q4 2011 Nielsen Cross-Platform Report is out, and according to the ratings firm television is still king, but video delivery may be shifting.
Nielsen found that the number of homes with an HDTV grew by more than 8 million in the past year to 80.2 million. Traditional television viewing (live and/or timeshifted) still accounts for more than 33 hours per week.
However, gaming consoles are becoming a “secondary gateway to TV content” — consoles can be found in 45 percent of TV homes — and 33.5 million mobile phone owners now watch video content on their phones.
Interestingly, while time-shifted content experienced an increase in viewing time, mobile phone and Internet viewing were flat year-over-year.
“There are a lot of different ways to look at Nielsen’s data, but one thing is abundantly clear — its research shows that most people still watch traditional TV, and spend a lot more time watching there than on other products,” comments The Verge. “Perhaps the cord-cutting revolution is still a ways off.”
According to IMS Research, Internet-connected television sets will represent 70 percent of all TVs shipped in 2016. CE manufacturers are forecast to earn $117 billion in revenue as a result.
The report notes that Internet-connected sets accounted for one-quarter of global TV shipments last year.
IMS also forecasts that 80 percent of TVs shipped in 2016 will feature built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and nearly 30 percent will incorporate gesture, motion or voice recognition controls.
V2M adds, “the opportunity for video service providers of all stripes is not to be underestimated. Take, for instance, the opportunity to drive upper-tier broadband sales. Higher usage of connected TVs to access, say, Netflix or VUDU, will require increased bandwidth availability. Increases in consumers opting for higher broadband tiers can aid in the quest for OTT monetization, while offsetting increased investment in broadband infrastructure.”
Nvidia has announced its dual-chip GeForce GTX 690 graphics card, featuring two GK104 graphics processors with Kepler architecture, using 28-nanometer process technology.
“Based on two GeForce GTX 680 graphics processors, the model GTX 690 essentially doubles their power with 3072 stream processors, 256 texture units, 64 raster operating units as well as two 256-bit memory buses,” reports X-bit Labs. “The chip is clocked at 915MHz, whereas 4GB of memory operate at whopping 6.008GHz.”
The card supports “DirectX 11.1, OpenGL 4.2, OpenCL 1.2, stereoscopic-3D, multi-monitor capability, PhysX, 4-way multi-GPU, PCI Express 3.0 and so on,” explains the post.
The GeForce GTX includes an array of innovative features such as efficient cooling using dual vapor chambers, a durable exterior frame made from trivalent chromium-plated aluminum, and a a 10-layer copper printed circuit board.
Priced at $999, the card will be available in limited quantities this week.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has announced that it plans to keep the Academy Awards at the former Kodak Theatre located at Hollywood & Highland.
Additionally, Dolby Laboratories has signed on as the 3,400-seat complex’s new name sponsor, in a 20-year deal with owner CIM Group.
Dolby replaces Kodak, which filed for bankruptcy earlier his year. CIM began looking for a new sponsor when Kodak asked to be let out of its contract.
Although AMPAS had entertained offers to relocate the Oscar ceremony, the board voted unanimously in March to stay in Hollywood.
“As part of Dolby’s 20-year naming rights deal with CIM, which begins this summer, the theater will be renamed the Dolby Theatre and the technology company will upgrade it with its latest equipment, including a new sound system,” reports the Los Angeles Times.
“Along with getting its name mentioned frequently in the Oscars broadcasts and coverage leading up to the show,” reports CNN in a related article, “Dolby will use the theater as a ‘world class showcase for Dolby innovation,’ said Ramzi Haidamus, Dolby’s sales and marketing executive vice president.”
The Digital Content NewFronts have featured Web platforms pitching their original content in addition to marketers that are ready to invest in online video and digital ads.
AOL, Google (YouTube), Hulu, Microsoft, Vevo and Yahoo were among those that held major events at the NewFronts. It’s not yet clear how much of the $70 billion brands spend on TV advertising will be diverted, but online video is already being perceived as a powerful marketing tool.
The NewFronts (or new upfronts) were originally conceived as a way “to beat a drum for change,” explains Mark Beeching, chief creative and strategy officer at Digitas, but “now, it’s servicing a need.”
“To woo Madison Avenue, the participants in the NewFronts are playing up similarities between television shows and digital content, particularly online video,” reports The New York Times. “There have been numerous announcements of new original programming, emulating the series format of TV; branded entertainment, in which products are woven into plot lines; and alliances with famous names.”
Ross B. Levinsohn, executive VP for global media at Yahoo, described the NewFronts as “a watershed moment” that he expects will be followed by new trends in online video content and a subsequent shift of ad dollars.
In the wake of cloud storage offerings from HTC, Apple, Amazon, Walmart and most recently Google, LG has announced its new LG Cloud, which offers 5GB of free space and syncing between PCs, Smart TVs and Android phones.
It is expected that storage up to 50GB will be offered, although pricing has not been announced.
“To send a file to the LG Cloud you can use the website, a downloadable client for Windows computers, or via a dedicated Android application,” reports Digital Trends. “The app is free to download from the Android Market, but needs either Android 2.2, 2.3 or 4.0 installed. LG adds that an iPhone and iPad app is in the works, too.”
The PC client includes Folder Sync for duplicating files in the cloud to be shared with other devices. Auto syncing is also available with the Android app for use with photos taken by smartphones.
“Videos uploaded to the cloud can be streamed to your TV or phone, including HD, 2D and 3D content, and all files are converted on-the-fly to match your device,” indicates the post.
In response to consumers who have been quick to embrace the tablet PC, there is a push to make the television experience more like the tablet experience. We’re seeing rapid development of apps from video providers, cable channels and broadcast networks.
“While still in its early stages, the idea has taken off among tech-loving consumers, and companies are trying to satisfy them,” reports The New York Times.
“Already, apps for Hulu Plus, Netflix and Wal-Mart’s Vudu streaming service, among others, are built into Internet-enabled televisions,” explains the article. “Devices like Microsoft’s Xbox 360 and the streaming video player Roku let viewers watch apps that mimic channels. New sets by Samsung and others come with built-in apps loaded with television shows, movies and sports.”
However, how these apps will impact the TV experience is not yet known.
“The question that hasn’t yet been answered is whether television viewing will consist of a single app that mimics the pay TV bundle or a series of different apps that together form a content experience,” suggests Jon Miller, chief digital officer at News Corp.
“A model built around TV apps, however, could let viewers use favorite apps on the screen on an á la carte basis, thus bypassing cable subscriptions and all the extraneous channels they don’t watch,” adds the article. “And therein lies the tension that has the television industry delicately assessing how to balance the current system with an Internet-based future that some feel is inevitable.”
Regardless, development of TV apps is expected to increase. “I’ve told my bosses, ‘This is beachfront real estate. Buy in now,’” says Lisa Hsia, executive VP of digital media at NBCUniversal’s Bravo channel.
Hollywood studios are reportedly concerned that Google’s development of a super-high-speed Internet service in Kansas City may encourage users to illegally download content.
Google has strung more than 100 miles of cable in Kansas and Missouri with plans to connect homes in the next few months. Meanwhile, its test network in Palo Alto has been providing download speeds of 922Mbps and upload speeds of 883Mbps.
“The search giant has said it hopes to spur innovation among cable companies and Internet service providers by demonstrating what’s possible with Internet speeds 100 times faster than the U.S. average,” reports Businessweek. “The project could also foreshadow dramatic changes for Hollywood, both because of the specter of piracy and Google’s possible experiments with new ways to distribute content legally.”
“Google Fiber will definitely be a disruptive force. The studios know that if we stick our heads in the sand, we will fail, pure and simple,” said Mitch Singer, chief digital strategy officer for Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Consumers are increasingly turning to mobile devices to watch video, which is creating opportunities for content providers.
However, fear of forfeiting retransmission fees or running into copyright problems has prevented most local TV stations from leveraging the technology.
As a result, companies such as FilmOn, Ivi and Aereo have emerged, causing TV networks to seek legal action.
“That doesn’t mean broadcasters are ignoring the demand for their content on mobile; they’re just taking another route,” reports Variety. “The solution is much more of a technical feat: Delivery of dedicated mobile TV signals to portable devices specially equipped with receivers. That includes news, sports, traffic, weather and emergency alerts. Some 120 stations are transmitting mobile digital TV signals, according to the Open Mobile Video Coalition.”
Aereo believes its streaming of New York stations via thumbnail-sized antennas for capturing broadcast signals is a legal option, but the issue of violating copyright law has been raised. In Portland, Skitter is streaming channels to Roku boxes, “with an eye to offering them via mobile apps,” indicates the article. “Skitter is believed to be on more solid footing because it has obtained retrans licenses from broadcasters to stream their signals.”
Discovery service StumbleUpon passed the 25 million user milestone last week, gaining approximately one million users per month since reaching 20 million users in October 2011.
StumbleUpon was purchased by eBay in 2007 and then became independent again two years later. It has nearly quadrupled its user base in the last three years.
“For all intents and purposes this is a new company since the spin out from eBay,” explains Marc Leibowitz, StumbleUpon VP of business development and marketing. “Virtually all of the 120 employees we have today have joined since then [when there were about 30 employees].”
Although its numbers pale in comparison to those of Facebook and Twitter, at its current growth rate StumbleUpon is poised to become a mainstream social network.
“The recommendation engine, by one StatCounter study’s measure, is already responsible for referring more traffic to websites than any other social network in the U.S. It has more than 75,000 advertisers,” reports Mashable. “And its users are active — according to Leibowitz, on average they spend about seven hours every month hitting the Stumble button.”
NHK (the Japanese Broadcasting Corporation), working in conjunction with Panasonic, has developed a 145-inch Ultra High Definition plasma display — or Super Hi-Vision TV as NHK calls it.
Digital Trends reports that the set is innovative for two reasons: “First, the television is among the few of its kind that does not a require backlight like most televisions do today. Second, to avoid emitting flickering images on its 4,320 x 7,680 pixel screen, it employs a novel drive system that stabilizes its 34 million pixels.”
“Even when viewed from 1.6 meters away, this Ultra High Definition display makes you feel as if you’re looking at a real screen,” claims Panasonic CTO Hideo Toyoda. “It doesn’t use 3D technology, but the picture is so realistic, you feel truly immersed in the scene.”
The 16:9 TV delivers images at 60fps, while the pixel pitch is 0.417mm horizontal and 0.417mm vertical. The article suggests the image “rivals IMAX theaters in detail.”
Last year, NHK unveiled an 85-inch LCD display in conjunction with Sharp. Unfortunately, both sets are prototypes and are not expected to be available anytime soon.
“Roger Mosey, the BBC’s Director of the 2012 London Olympic Games coverage, who is responsible for testing three Super-High Vision 50-feet high screens, revealed that the Sharp 85-inch screens will not be made available until at least 2022,” explains Digital Trends.
The post includes a 2-minute video demo of the 145-inch Ultra High Definition display.
DirecTV has updated its Android app to offer streaming movies and TV shows on smartphones and tablets.
“Similar to the DirecTV ‘Everywhere’ iPad application currently in beta, DirecTV subscribers can access selected programming from Cinemax, Encore, HBO, the Sony Movie Channel and Starz assuming that these premium network subscriptions are bundled into their monthly package,” reports Digital Trends.
“While users could already stream content from HBO and Cinemax in the respective HBO GO and MAX GO Android applications, this allows DirecTV subscribers to browse through all premium content in a single app,” explains the post.
The app is available on the Google Play store for Gingerbread, Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich operating systems. Subscribers can also stream pay-per-view movies and manage recordings on their home DVRs.
“Subscribers can stream content over Wi-Fi, 3G and 4G connections, but Android owners without an unlimited data plan should be wary of data caps when watching streaming video,” warns the post.
The app includes a discovery tool for checking out content others are viewing and the ability to pick up where a video stops (for example, watch a movie or show on your morning commute, stop it and close the app, and continue watching where you left off at a later time).
An updated iPad app is slated for release in the next three to four months.