Nintendo Activates TVii Media Entertainment Service for Wii U Gamers

Nintendo activated the Wii U’s Nintendo TVii functionality this week. The service will directly integrate Amazon Instant Video and Hulu Plus, and will upgrade its Netflix and TiVo applications in early 2013. Wii U wants to become not just a gaming device, but a device through which families run all of their entertainment. This includes gaming as well as television and video chatting, explains Steve Moffitt, Nintendo’s executive VP of sales and marketing. Continue reading Nintendo Activates TVii Media Entertainment Service for Wii U Gamers

Virtual Holographic 3D: zSpace Display Technology from Infinite Z

A new display technology called zSpace by California-based Infinite Z allows users to “feel” 3D images by tracking user’s eyes and hand movement. The technology can also create effects where users can move their heads around 3D video objects to see what is behind them. “The zSpace display could be revolutionary for designers and animators, but could also inspire innovation in computer gaming and augmented reality,” writes Technology Review. Continue reading Virtual Holographic 3D: zSpace Display Technology from Infinite Z

Crowdsourced Cinema: Tugg.com Borrows a Page from Kickstarter

Kickstarter has helped establish an effective crowdsourcing model for startups, and now Tugg.com has begun to show how filmmakers and exhibitors can benefit from a similar approach. Tugg.com allows people to set up movie screenings where customers pay for reserved tickets, and the screenings only happen after the advanced sales cover expenses. Indie filmmakers are using the online booking site to organize screenings of their projects. Continue reading Crowdsourced Cinema: Tugg.com Borrows a Page from Kickstarter

Happy Holidays from the ETCentric Publishing Team

  • We’ve had a spectacular year at ETCentric and thank everyone in our community for your ongoing participation, generous support and helpful feedback.
  • ETCentric will not publish next week in order to migrate content to our new site and prepare for the Consumer Electronics Show. If there is any breaking news in the interim, we’ll be sure to provide you with an update.
  • In the meanwhile, we wish you and your families a joyous holiday season.
  • The new ETCentric site and The Daily Bullet email alert will return on January 2nd with an exciting redesign just in time for our live CES reporting from Las Vegas, January 7-11.
  • We look forward to providing you with the latest media tech news and opinion in 2013.

Royalties for Satellite Radio Companies to Increase Through 2017

The Copyright Royalty Board has ruled to increase royalties for satellite radio services. Sirius XM Radio currently pays 8 percent of its gross revenue in royalties, but this will increase to 11 percent by 2017, reports The New York Times. The satellite radio companies will pay the royalties to nonprofit SoundExchange, which then distributes the royalties to labels and musicians. Continue reading Royalties for Satellite Radio Companies to Increase Through 2017

Will Failure of Internet Self-Regulation Lead to Do-Not-Track Option?

“If you want to see how industry self-regulation can fall short, take a look at the online advertising business and the fight over a do-not-track protocol to protect consumer privacy,” suggests the Wall Street Journal. “It would seem to be in business’s interest to keep customers happy,” notes the article, “to give those who want it the guarantee that they aren’t being tracked on the Internet.” Continue reading Will Failure of Internet Self-Regulation Lead to Do-Not-Track Option?

Kodak Sells 1,100 Digital Camera Patents to Group of Tech Giants

Eastman Kodak announced on Wednesday that a group of leading tech firms has teamed together to acquire 1,100 digital imaging and processing patents from the company for $525 million. “Once a thriving camera and photo company, Kodak filed for Chapter 11 in early 2012, hoping to restructure,” reports Wired. “Intellectual property aggregators Intellectual Ventures and RPX organized a consortium of 12 tech companies — Adobe, Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Fujifilm, Google, HTC, Huawei, Microsoft, RIM, Samsung and Shutterfly — to make the purchase.” Continue reading Kodak Sells 1,100 Digital Camera Patents to Group of Tech Giants

CES 2013: Wireless and Apps Must-Have Features for Cameras

Despite camera manufacturers shifting much of their focus to overseas events, Engadget still expects some announcements at January’s CES, especially with heavy-hitters such as Canon, Nikon, Samsung and Sony investing in significant floor space.

“Last year’s show brought consumer and advanced amateur models,” notes the post. “Fujifilm introduced the X-Pro1 mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, Canon showed off the PowerShot G1X with a 1.5-inch sensor, Samsung boosted its SMART line of point-and-shoots, while Polaroid delivered the SC1630 Android hybrid.”

“By the end of 2012, all of these additions faded from memory, overshadowed by more powerful ILCs, advanced compacts from Sony and the Samsung Galaxy Camera, respectively,” explains Engadget. “That’s not to say that any of these products were insignificant, but they surely weren’t blockbusters, despite CES-fueled excitement at the time.”

Wireless connectivity and downloadable apps are expected to be the must-have features in 2013. Also anticipated are larger sensors, smaller bodies, lower prices, in-camera filters and new touchscreens (particularly in high-end models). “And while Android may make an appearance in another compact or two, it won’t be the star of the show,” suggests the post.

Cameras with updated sensors and optics will also appear in a larger variety of other devices including TVs, tablets, laptops and smartphones. “Eye-tracking may also have a more substantial presence within select laptops and desktop computers, bringing additional cameras into the picture. We could also see camera-equipped robotic vacuums (for remote monitoring and navigation), and maybe even some home appliance surprises.”

CES 2013: Display Tech Expected to Highlight UHD and Connectivity

Engadget provides an overview of what it expects we’ll see at CES in early January in regards to display technologies. “The list of tech we’re expecting to see (Ultra HD — aka 4K/8K, OLED, connected TV and second screen interaction) is almost an exact mirror of the high-profile launches from last year’s show,” suggests the post. “The good news, however, is that there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic that this is the year we’ll actually see the technology become available and/or more useful in our daily lives.” Continue reading CES 2013: Display Tech Expected to Highlight UHD and Connectivity

New York City Introduces the Reinvent Payphones Design Challenge

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg introduced the Reinvent Payphones Design Challenge in early December — “an open call for ideas to bring the payphone into the 21st century — and maybe beyond,” writes Businessweek. What might these new payphones look like? “City officials can envision payphones that are solar charging stations or places to do limited commerce — purchase tickets, say, for the theater or mass transportation. Think Internet café on the corner where anyone can look up local attractions — or the closest green market — and get directions for walking or taking public transportation,” notes the article. Continue reading New York City Introduces the Reinvent Payphones Design Challenge

Android Devices On the Rise in China, But Stripped of Google Play Store

As China continues to expand its smartphone market, edging past the U.S. for the title of world’s largest, “the rise of the Android mobile operating system should be a huge success story for Google, which developed and maintains Android,” writes Technology Review. However, even as shipments of the more affordable Android devices are on the rise in China, it’s often overlooked “how little Google itself is benefiting from Android’s growth in China,” according to the article. Continue reading Android Devices On the Rise in China, But Stripped of Google Play Store

New Book Suggests 3D Printing Could Spell Trouble for Toymakers

Former Wired editor Chris Anderson believes current 3D printers are the equivalent of the 1980s dot-matrix printers. And just as we now have sleek full-color inkjets with impeccable resolution, he anticipates 3D printers will dramatically improve in the coming years, potentially spelling trouble for toymakers. In an excerpt from his new novel “Makers,” made available on Business Insider, Anderson tells a story of printing dollhouse furniture for his daughters, who wanted a unique variety like that within the ‘Sims’ video game. Continue reading New Book Suggests 3D Printing Could Spell Trouble for Toymakers

Instagram Users and Privacy Advocates Riled by New Terms of Service

Despite panicked reports regarding recent changes to Instagram’s terms of service, The Verge notes that the Facebook-owned photo-sharing service always had an expansive license to use and copy images, not unlike the agreements of other Web services that store user data. There has been an uproar to the following sentence, released earlier this week: “You agree that a business may pay Instagram to display your photos in connection with paid or sponsored content or promotions without any compensation to you.” Continue reading Instagram Users and Privacy Advocates Riled by New Terms of Service