Philips new PicoPix 2480 projector is capable of projecting images up to 120 inches, according to the manufacturer.
The $480 compact projector uses light-emitting diodes and has an integrated MP4 player and built-in speaker. The device is ideal for use with laptops, smartphones, cameras and tablets.
“Compact enough to fit in a small bag, the PicoPix 2480 has USB, HDMI, VGA, component and composite connectivity, an SD/SDHC slot and 2GB of internal memory,” reports Pocket-lint.
“With two hours battery life you might want to have a power source nearby if you’re projecting a feature-length film, for example, but for boring — we mean showing — your friends and family your holiday snaps blown up, it should do the job,” adds the post.
According to Philips, the PicoPix 2480 uses LED tech for 854 x 480 resolution and 1000:1 contrast ratio at its maximum projection of 120 inches.
Market research firm IHS iSuppli predicts that ultrabooks priced in the $700 range will not directly compete with Apple’s MacBook Air, since they will have smaller displays and hard-disk drives instead of solid-state drives.
Higher-priced ultrabooks will feature touch screens and Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors later this year, but so will the MacBook Air, notes IHS iSuppli.
“More compromises will come in display, storage and memory. Cheap ultrabook screens will stay stuck at 1366 x 768, compared to the 13-inch MacBook Air’s 1440 x 900,” reports ReadWriteWeb. “Perhaps most significantly, storage will likely be handled by a conventional 2.5-inch hard drive instead of the pricier solid-state drives that make using a high-end ultrabook such a fast, seamless experience. Memory capacity will also be less: 2GB versus 4GB in higher-end systems.”
In order to make a profit on a $700 ultrabook, manufacturers need to get the cost of materials and production down to $500 per unit. As a result, some may seem no different than a low-end laptop.
“An ultrabook in a plastic enclosure just looks like a thin laptop, as opposed to an entirely new product,” says Kevin Keller, senior principal analyst for iSuppli.
“The real question, perhaps, is not whether PC makers can come up with $700 ultrabooks to appeal to cheapskates, but how much they’ll have to charge for upcoming high-end Windows 8 ultrabooks that really can take on the MacBook Air,” comments the article.
Despite predictions that cameras will be made obsolete by smartphones, Japanese manufacturers report that they shipped nearly three times as many cameras in January as they did during the same period in 2003.
“For several years, it has been predicted that smartphone adoption would cut into digital camera sales,” said Prashant Malaviya, associate professor of marketing at Georgetown University. “In fact, the exact opposite has happened.”
“Surveys by NPD In-Stat last November show that while more than a quarter of all American photos were taken by a smartphone, more people were buying cameras with detachable lenses or cameras with optical zooms of 10x or more,” notes Reuters.
The quality of images and the development of mirrorless cameras are among the strengths of the camera industry. However, point-and-shoot cameras are vulnerable to recent improvements in smartphone cameras.
NPD In-Stat senior digital imaging analyst Liz Cutting also notes that people generally don’t trust phones or point-and-shoots for important personal images and family photographs.
“It’s part of who you are, showing the kind of brand of camera you have,” she says. “But it’s also trusting the quality of that memory because that’s how you remember your life.”
“Camera photography is certainly not dead,” Cutting adds. “We’re just seeing a skewing towards what the smartphone can’t deliver. People are recognizing that and are going for a higher end camera.”
Microsoft plans to introduce a streaming music service at the E3 Gaming Expo in June, which is expected to be a replacement for Zune.
The Xbox-branded product, code-named “Woodstock,” will reportedly work across a range of platforms, including Android and iOS devices as well as the new Windows 8 system.
“Previously described as ‘Spotify-like,’ the service won’t require any browser plugins and is said to integrate deeply with Facebook, allowing friends to build group playlists and share tracks,” notes The Verge.
“Microsoft’s service will also include a ‘scan and match’ feature, similar to iTunes Match, which will let users find songs from their current library within the platform,” reports CNET.
Sony has announced plans to introduce its cloud-based Music Unlimited service this year, featuring a catalog of 15 million songs.
“Music content could be a key factor to revive Sony,” said Takashi Watanabe, an analyst at Goldman Sachs Group in Tokyo.“The time is over where an electronics company can excel just because it has a good device. You have to have a very good platform to capture your clients within your system.”
Content from Sony’s own music units includes songs from artists such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston and Bruce Springsteen. The catalog offerings also include tracks from Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group.
Apple’s iTunes currently offers approximately 20 million titles, while Spotify offers more than 16 million songs.
“Music Unlimited lets users stream songs via Web-connected Bravia televisions, some Walkman models, PlayStation game players, personal computers and Android-based mobile phones. The service was expanded to the PlayStation Vita in March after being enabled on Sony Tablets and other Android-based tablets in October,” according to Bloomberg.
LinkedIn launched its much-anticipated iPad app on Wednesday. “Redesigned from the ground up, the tablet version looks nothing like the LinkedIn website; it’s more akin to a social news aggregator,” comments Mashable.
The professional social network’s 150 million users can now use the Flipboard-influenced design to access three options: updates, profile and inbox.
While profile and inbox are self-explanatory, updates will include stories shared by friends and details regarding friends changing jobs.
Additionally, the app provides info from a user’s Google Calendar or Exchange calendar.
“More than 22 percent of LinkedIn traffic comes from mobile devices; a year ago, that figure was 8 percent,” reports Mashable.
Yahoo! and VEVO presented Digital Content NewFront events yesterday in New York City, each announcing original programming scheduled for the coming year.
Katie Couric will host her own ABC News show on Yahoo! called “Katie’s Take,” a weekly online-only series debuting May 1 that will have its own page dedicated to the program. This will be one of several shows on Yahoo! that will be offered to ad buyers to get them to spend TV ad dollars on digital. The launch sponsor will be Nestle’s Poland Spring Natural Water.
Yahoo! also announced: “Electric City,” an animated sci-fi series produced by Tom Hanks; “Cybergeddon,” a feature length film to be released in segments, written and directed by Anthony Zuiker; a talk show hosted by Jeff Goldblum and produced by Yahoo! Studios; “Stunt Nation,” a weekly five-minute show; and “KaBOOM!” a three-minute show featuring “ridiculously fun objects getting blown to smithereens.”
Primarily known for music videos, VEVO announced six new series, including: a singing competition program, a scripted musical comedy series, a dating show, a comedy series about album covers, a show that searches the country for talented female musicians, and a show detailing the music culture of specific cities.
Higher frame rates have been the talk of CinemaCon in Las Vegas this week where notable filmmakers have been discussing the shift to 3D production for more than just “the right kind of movies.”
“Right now, we still need an excuse to watch 3D. Someday we won’t need those excuses,” suggested Ang Lee who was joined onstage by Martin Scorsese. “I just think you have to accept it as a part of storytelling,” added Scorsese.
The two directors “took the unequivocal position that very soon, 3D will be the standard not just for the ‘right’ films but for all films. Scorsese, Lee and Baz Luhrmann are among filmmakers taking the format beyond tentpole fare. Luhrmann’s 3D footage from ‘The Great Gatsby’ was warmly received at the confab, even without the benefit of color correction or vfx,” reports Variety.
Scorsese pointed out that depth was one of early filmmakers’ pursuits, and that technology has finally reached the point of achieving that dream. Scorsese’s team on “Hugo” screened Alfred Hitchcock’s 3D thriller “Dial M for Murder” for inspiration. “It was this whole other approach to something that was not a horror genre, that was literally a stage play in 3D,” he said. “I decided I wanted to go more that way (with ‘Hugo’).”
Directors such as Peter Jackson and James Cameron have been touting higher frame rates, the next cinematic innovation that has taken center stage at this year’s convention.
“Scorsese said he did not see the 48 frames-per-second demonstration of ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ that divided viewers at Caesars — but he defended it sight unseen, comparing it to the change from nitrate to regular black-and-white film — another cinematic evolution that was initially controversial,” reports Variety.
Samsung has announced three new compact cameras with Wi-Fi connectivity for instant photo sharing. The NX series offers the first compact system to feature Wi-Fi connectivity.
“Each new NX has a Samsung-developed 20.3 megapixel CMOS sensor, with the ability to record 1080p high definition video, plus they’re all compatible with the NX range of accessories, including lenses and flash units,” reports Digital Trends.
Once connected to a Wi-Fi network, photos can be shared via social networks and email, or uploaded to a cloud storage service.
“Samsung’s selection of ten Smart Filters may sound small in comparison to mobile applications like the iPhone’s Camera+, but all the old favorites are here, including a retro, vignette, old-style film and even a cartoon filter,” explains the post. “If you’re using a Samsung smartphone to provide a Wi-Fi Hotspot, there’s also the option to use the phone as a remote viewfinder too.”
The new Samsung series includes the $699 NX1000, the $899 NX210, and $1,100 NX20. All three cameras will be available in May.
Apple is making a push for smartphone business users by launching a new page on its site for iPhone’s use in the enterprise market.
“The info-packed page shows how the iPhone is used in the business setting to organize days, manage projects, setup meetings, read mail, set calendar appointments, keep contacts organized, and more,” reports 9to5Mac.
The company is highlighting related apps available in the App Store including MicroStrategy, OmniFocus, GoToMeeting, and TripIt. Another Apple page highlights businesses using the iPhone, including Lowe’s, GE and Gap Adventures.
Over the last year, Apple has been working to better compete with Microsoft and RIM in the enterprise space.
“At the end of the day, I think more and more businesses are starting to realize where they need to put their money,” comments the post. “Apple’s new page should help IT heads to choose the products from Cupertino, rather than the plastic phones from up north.”
Sony announced on Friday that it will launch “PlayMemories Online” this week, a photo and video sharing service that will offer 5GB of free storage.
“The service will allow users to upload photos and videos taken with Sony cameras, using its ‘PlayMemories Home’ software for Windows and Macintosh,” reports PC World. “Photos can also be uploaded from smartphones and tablets using an Android app that will be available from the Google Play store.”
The service is part of Sony’s efforts to link its products online, similar to how Apple allows sharing via its iCloud service. Other companies such as Samsung will also be rolling out cloud platforms.
Sony is developing other online offerings as well. “It has grouped many of its online music, movies, and games into its Sony Entertainment Network, and is developing a PlayStation platform that will expand the brand beyond Sony-made consoles, on approved devices made by other hardware manufacturers,” according to the post.
At Upfronts 2012 last week, Hulu announced to potential advertisers that it plans to produce four new original Web-based programs.
“Original television content made for the Web is a new market, with several technology powerhouses at the helm including Hulu, Yahoo and YouTube,” reports Digital Trends. “All three companies hope to capture the elusive mainstream audience, but we’re inclined to place our bets on Hulu after the announcement of its new line-up of Web-based shows.”
Hulu’s initial jump into original programming included the critically acclaimed “League of Extraordinary Dancers” and “The Confession” starring Kiefer Sutherland. New programs will feature the likes of Danny Leiner, Seth Meyers and Adrian Grenier.
Hulu says it will be investing $500 million in licensing content and producing original programs.
“Between original Netflix renewing shows like ‘Lillyhammer,’ YouTube’s original content channels, and now Hulu, competition among Web-based services to offer original programming is just beginning to heat up,” suggests the article.
Avid Technology announced at NAB that it will be providing the “most comprehensive system in the history of NBC Olympics” for the network’s upcoming coverage of the summer games.
“Marking NBC’s Olympics division’s and Avid’s sixth consecutive Summer or Winter Games working together, the effort centers on Avid Interplay Media Asset Management (MAM) system,” writes Carolyn Giardina for The Hollywood Reporter.
“Installed as part of a system that includes technology from third party vendors Sony and Harmonic, the Interplay MAM will be used to create two simultaneous feeds for use in London and at NBC Olympics in New York, according to Avid,” explains the article.
London’s International Broadcast Center will be outfitted with Avid Symphony and Media Composer editing systems that will be connected to ISIS shared storage and Interplay.
The Future of Broadcast Television Initiative (FoBTV) launched at the NAB Show last week with 13 international broadcast and engineering groups.
The goal is to create a global standard for digital broadcast TV, one that will enable future services such as ultra high-definition television, 3D, and mobile and Internet services.
“The challenges of a global specification may seem daunting, but the benefits of achieving such a goal are enormous,” said Phil Laven, chairman of the Digital Video Broadcasting Project in Switzerland.
The world standard is intended to replace current incompatible digital standards including ATSC in North America, DVB-T and DVB-T2 in Europe, and others.
“Over the years multiple standards around the world have cost the industry and consumer billions in any currency,” said Lavin. “Consumers now expect that their portable devices will be able to receive TV signals anywhere in the world. Thus, a single global standard is becoming essential.”
FoBTV does not plan to write the standard on its own, but hopes to work with standards-setting organizations around the world, including the Advanced Television Systems Committee in the U.S.
Social media innovation for TV was making inroads at NAB last week, but the interest in integration is even greater, according to Sam Decker, CEO of Mass Relevance.
“There are so many technology providers here, and the interest in social TV is disproportionate to the innovation,” he said during the show. “It’s such a small part of all the real estate and discussions that are happening.”
Decker notes that the tech crowd is “beginning to react to demands from producers who want more social functionality in the production process,” reports Lost Remote.
The comments suggest that social media may be where the Internet was in the late 1990s regarding TV, writes Cory Bergman in the post, adding that now “we can feel the beginning of a shift to infuse social in just about every TV production product.”
The article cites some interesting innovation in this space, including the new Engage platform from TV graphics firm Chyron, a social media prompter for TV talent from Never.no, automatic content recognition (ACR) solutions from Audible Magic and Civolution, and more.