HTC will be the first smartphone manufacturer with Sony’s PlayStation Certification, allowing its devices access to the cross-platform gaming network PlayStation Suite.
Originally, the PlayStation Suite was only available on Sony’s smartphones, but that business has been struggling — and expanding the PS Suite to HTC expands the customer base for Sony’s software.
The service will work to make HTC smartphones more appealing to gamers, but may hurt sales of Sony’s PlayStation Vita.
According to Mobiledia: “The Vita’s primary competition is smartphones. Casual gamers, one of the fastest-growing segments in the market, are highly unlikely to spend big money on a dedicated portable gaming system when they can play games on a device they already own, and even some hardcore gamers are getting their fix on their iPhone and Android devices. The PlayStation Suite pays particular attention to this audience, allowing users to play classic console games of the past on a device that’s already in their pocket.”
Bram Cohen, the developer of BitTorrent, has developed BitTorrent Live, a peer-to-peer live-streaming technology that has been modeled to serve a million peers.
BitTorrent Live uses the torrent theory and applies it to a live stream. All one needs is an executable file for Windows, Mac or Linux that has been pointed to a site running BitTorrent Live. The result is a low-latency, high-reliability stream that has a 4.5 second delay for up to one million peers.
The technology will be rolled out later this year and include an SDK and a website. A freemium model has not been confirmed.
“Live streaming is a big challenge that people have been trying to solve,” says Cohen. “We’re hoping that this is a fundamental technology that will change how people use the Internet.”
“Libraries age; we have to become advocates for the library,” urged Sara Duran-Singer, VP studio operations at Disney during an HPA Tech Retreat panel on remastering and restoration.
“In a perfect world we would be scanning everything at 4K,” she said. “The reality is there are budget constraints.”
Duran-Singer noted that Disney has three levels of remastering processes for its library titles, and the highest category of films will be restored and remastered in 4K. She noted that in addition to uses such as Blu-ray and broadcast, Disney has also converted some of these titles to 3D. She cited as examples the 3D conversions of “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Lion King” and “Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.”
Before-and-after clips of 4K restorations of “Lawrence of Arabia” (from Sony Pictures Entertainment) and “Pollyanna” (from Disney) were screened as part of the session.
“There are tools that make the sum of the storytelling process potentially better,” said Garrett Smith, commenting on the protection of the vision of the filmmakers.
He proposed an API that would “track the filmmakers vision and plug it into the database of the future.”
Ron Burdett, GM, DI restoration and mastering at Technicolor Cahuenga, moderated the session. Lou Levinson and Josh Pines additionally made presentations.
During the wrap-up of the day — dedicated to the topic of “snowflake” workflows — members noted that take-aways include the fact that moving data is a key technical challenge and the iPad is becoming an increasingly important tool in production, perhaps “more popular than the craft service truck.”
Sean Cooney of Warner Bros. introduced an R&D project — dubbed “The Metadata Project” — which is exploring how to efficiently integrate many systems, including scripts, asset management and editorial.
The studio is working with various vendors. Its prototype system relies on API integration and incorporates a cloud component.
It is also developing prototype field apps including “DP Room,” a collaboration with the ASC.
“To create a flexible system that others can plug into — everybody wins,” said Kirsten Thayer, product manager of Final Draft, which is involved in the effort.
“I got tired of writing the same information on set,” said David Stump, ASC. ‘This is finally the tipping point that I hoped we’d get to — turning ‘metapaper’ into metadata.”
He added: “People are going to say ‘how did we ever make movies without this?’”
“Success would be centralizing the data,” allowing filmmakers to focus on the creative process rather than the technology, said Steve Cronan, CEO of 5th Kind.
Summed up Stump of what such a metadata project would mean: “No film is ever finished — but we can abandon them a little closer to finished.”
The 2012 HPA Tech Retreat kicked off today with a full-day session on “snowflake” workflows — the name referring to the fact that is seems no two are alike.
“We are caught up in the blizzard,” said HPA president Leon Silverman. “Nobody in film uttered the word ‘workflow.’ Nobody needed to… Digital cinema led us on the path to these new digital workflows.”
“We need to capture dynamic range, bit depth…and (know) that it can be consistently used without compromise across the entire workflow. So if it never stops snowing there is a way to enjoy the winter.”
Citing the promise of IIF-ACES, Silverman noted that there is still work to be done so that the industry can “embark on the digital age without creating the digital ice age.”
The first speaker of the day was Light Iron CEO Michael Cioni, who noted that with changing IT, the industry needs to avoid complacency and challenge the status quo.
Cioni believes that among the changes are it is no longer “who” you know, rather “what” you know; “rental houses are starting to know more about post than some post houses;” and black boxes and secret sauces are no longer unique selling points.
He suggested that snowflake workflows require a unique approach with one person dedicated to overseeing the entire process. “I believe snowflake workflows are a liberating way to customize…and raise the ceiling,” Cioni said. “Creatives don’t like to feel restricted. Workflow needs to work with them.”
Cioni believes challenges to the current way of working are happening on the camera maker side more so than the post production side of the business. He cited as examples Sony with its F65, but also Peter Jackson’s workflow on “The Hobbit.”
Looking ahead, he introduced some concepts including: Totalcode (“the idea that we take the original idea of timecode and integrate it into the motion picture industry”); Geosync Clocking (“we need a single source”); “Triple-System” Capture (camera, sound and metadata); Tablet Dailies; Improved Fidelity (“I believe we’ll move toward higher sensor technology”) and The Cloud.
Cioni urged service providers to stop retrofitting, and instead create something completely new.
In its latest annual mobile data traffic forecast, Cisco predicts an estimated 10 billion mobile connections by 2016.
The company expects the majority of these connections to come via cell phones, but also foresees a significant rise in tablets. The forecast does not include Wi-Fi-only models; Cisco will release Wi-Fi traffic in a separate forecast later this year.
“If the market does indeed swell to 5 billion cellular-connected tablets, that would represent a 25 percent jump over today’s global figure,” explains Engadget. “Moreover, Cisco estimates that by 2016 21 percent of those 5 billion tablet owners will be relying solely on mobile data to get their Internet fix.”
“All told, whatever the mix of smartphones and tablets, we’re going to be chugging down an insane amount of data: 10.8 exabytes per month, worldwide, or 130 exabytes annually,” indicates the post. “4G will account for only six percent of mobile connections by 2016, but is expected to generate 36 percent of mobile data traffic.”
IMAX has announced it will partner with Barco to co-develop new laser projection technology for IMAX theaters.
According to the press release: “The new IMAX digital laser projector will present greater brightness and clarity, a wider color gamut and deeper blacks, and consume less power and last longer than existing digital technology. This state-of-the-art solution, which will implement the patents IMAX exclusively licensed from Eastman Kodak Co. last year, will allow IMAX’s entire global theater network to show the highest-quality digital content available.”
Under the 7-year agreement, the companies plan to develop next-generation laser projection tech “based on IMAX intellectual property in image quality, Barco’s unique laser innovations and the Kodak digital laser patents, which IMAX will sub-license to Barco.”
IMAX and Barco expect to deliver a market solution in the second half of 2012 while also working to “manage the transition from Xenon-based to high-performance, laser-based projectors, which are expected to be deployed in 2013,” explains the release.
A new study from media research firm Nielsen suggests that only 44 percent of U.S. households have none of the current gaming consoles that have been on the market for over five years.
The data indicates that 56 percent of households currently own an Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or Nintendo Wii.
“According to Nielsen, overall gaming activity increased by 7 percent, a number that also included smartphone and tablet games,” reports SlashGear. “That is what the company sees as a potential major trend for 2012. It also expects cross-platform connectivity between different devices to explode this year. And its last prediction for the future — in-game monetization will be a big trend.”
Additionally, Nielsen reports that 39 percent of homes have an iOS device, “and close to 50 percent of children aged 6-12 own a Nintendo DS portable,” reports GameSpot.
However, not all platforms have experienced a surge. The survey suggests that time spent on the Wii was down 22 percent over the past year.
U.S. wireless carriers are reportedly struggling with the cost of offering iPhones to their customers.
Sprint Nextel, for example, began selling the Apple phone during the recent quarter and saw a net loss of $1.3 billion, a major factor of which was the cost of purchasing 1.8 million iPhones.
“Companies like Sprint purchase the iPhone from Apple Inc., then resell it to their customers at steep discounts — essentially swallowing the difference,” reports the Los Angeles Times. “Carriers hope to make an eventual profit from users’ monthly subscription fees, but Sprint, AT&T and Verizon have found that big profits from the popular phone are hard to come by.”
AT&T “found that its profit margins were being squeezed by subsidizing the cost of the device,” explains the article. AT&T told investors last year that profits would recover, but by late January, the company experienced a drop in stock “largely because it was selling so many iPhones to customers.”
“We continue to believe the iPhone will bring significant value to Sprint over the long term, and early results are in line with or better than our business case assumptions,” said Daniel R. Hesse, Sprint’s chief exec.
Samsung is readying its Galaxy Tab 2, a 7-inch tablet that will be the company’s first to run Google’s Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich).
“Available in both 3G and Wi-Fi varieties, this redux doesn’t mark a huge departure from its predecessor, packing a 1GHz dual-core processor, 1GB of RAM and a 1024 x 600 LCD,” reports Engadget. “The big changes, however, come in the software department, with the Galaxy Tab 2 shipping with Android 4.0 straight out of the box.”
New features include a Video Hub, which offers over 1,000 film titles for purchase or rental; S Suggest, a new service that offers recommendations on apps; AllShare Play, which allows users to play or stream content on their Galaxy Tab from PCs or other smart devices and compatible third-party services; and built-in voice calling that can be used for Google+ Hangouts.
Pricing has yet to be announced. Shipments are scheduled to begin in the UK in March.
The Engadget post includes a 5-minute video of the keynote announcement for the new Galaxy Tab.
An updated app for Google TV will offer an improved user experience, but behind the scenes YouTube is changing the way it deals with its content owners in an effort to go cross-platform.
“YouTube is now insisting on the ability to play all videos from content ‘partners’ — video owners that share ad revenue with the site — on all platforms, including mobile phones and connected TVs,” reports AllThingsD.
According to the Google TV blog, the new app “works faster with smoother navigation” and includes features such as Discover, for browsing channels; new channel pages, for navigating playlists and subscribing to channels; increased social interaction and quicker access to related videos. Good news for users, but what about the providers?
The changes to the content partners agreement does not affect those working with the new “channels” program, and may not impact big media companies.
However, AllThings D suggests, “there is still a group of video-makers who have millions of subscribers and have generated hundreds of millions of video views, and YouTube’s change will affect them.”
“But it’s certainly good for consumers,” the article adds. “There’s a logic behind media companies’ efforts to distinguish a PC screen from an iPhone screen, or a tablet screen from a TV screen. But only if you’re in charge of making biz dev deals for a media company. If you watch video, a screen is a screen is a screen.”
The Metropolitan Opera’s HD broadcasts began in 2006 in fewer than 200 theaters worldwide. The live broadcasts have exploded to 1,600 venues in 54 countries, which earned $11 million in the 2010-2011 season.
The Met’s success has other theater producers creating their own HD performances. The National Theater in London will have six shows this season. Some shows will broadcast live and others delayed from hours to weeks.
While the hope is for additional income for everyone involved in theater production, there are concerns that audiences will be cannibalized. Moreover, there are still challenges obtaining the rights from all the stakeholders.
Still, at least two companies are specializing in theater broadcasts hoping to capitalize on the emerging market opportunities.
Digital Trends is impressed with the Olympus OM-D E-M5, the company’s latest micro four thirds camera.
“Probably the most surprising thing about the E-M5 was its size and weight,” indicates the review. “We have had a lot of experience with the PEN series, particularly the E-P3. The E-P3 was — until now — the most sophisticated of Olympus’ MFT cameras, and upped the ante with a considerable amount of features, as well as a larger, heavier build.”
The reviewer was surprised by the amount of features packed into a body this size: “…it increased the sensor’s effective pixel number, added an EVF, and kept the OLED screen, adding a tilt mechanism. We expected this thing to be a lot bigger and bulkier and were happy to see that it’s not.”
The post cites the responsive EVF, “functional yet vintage” design, viewfinder and centered weight as attractive features, but points out that critics may have something to say about the sensor size.
Trying to make your article popular on Twitter? A new white paper by HP Labs reveals how.
Researchers analyzed 40,000 articles posted to Twitter, focusing on content rather than just the rates or numbers of tweets. ReadWriteWeb lists some of the results:
“Source was the biggest indicator. The more reliable the source, the better chances of a tweet.”
“Stories in popular categories will spread more rapidly.”
“Mention a known person, place or organization and you’re also more likely to get your story tweeted (which explains why celebrities’ names often litter the trending topics column whenever I log into Twitter).”
“Emotional articles were no more likely to be spread than objective articles.”
Digital Trends reports a new Kickstarter record for the highest amount of funding generated for a single project.
As of last Thursday, ElevationLab’s Elevation iPhone Dock had attracted $971,000 from investors. The project was originally seeking $75,000.
“If you haven’t seen it already, the Elevation Dock is an iPhone dock made from a single piece of aluminum, and is happy to accept iPhones in-or-out of a case, plus offer little resistance when you need to remove your phone from it,” explains the post. “There’s an option to add a Line Out to connect the dock to an audio system, and a chance to buy a limited run of different colored models.”
According to Digital Trends, innovative Apple-related products regularly attract the highest levels of funding on Kickstarter.
The post also suggests that simplicity and a focus on convenience has driven the device’s early interest. “The Elevation Dock is seeing success because it doesn’t offer something only a few people want, but something everyone wants — life to be a bit easier.
