News posts from 2006 Q4

[Biel Bestue]

look at this: http://www.engadget.com/2006/11/02/c...video-is-here/

[Garrison Hayes]

Thats pretty interesting...it doesnt look that advanced to me honestly. Although the concept of being able to look at it from any angle will make alot of people very happy when going to the movies.

Pretty Cool...

[Jack Zhang]

Sorry for bumping this thread up but here's the media advisory on this:

http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006...6176_HDTV.html

[Wayne Morellini]

It is hard to understand exactly what these are about, the translation is not good.

JVC H264 codec for VTR, 12-24Mb/s (sounds familiar). It looks like they have expertise in H264. I wonder if the cameras will get it (remember the 2/3rd inch 7000 camera, we haven't seen).

http://translate.google.com/translat...language_tools

http://www.watch.impress.co.jp/av/do...16/victor2.jpg

The other things, including a picture of the 2/3rd inch AVC-1 camera.

http://translate.google.com/translat...language_tools
.

[Boyd Ostroff]

http://yahoo.businessweek.com/techno...122_155295.htm

Wide-screen, 50-inch plasma televisions from makers such as Toshiba and Hewlett-Packard can be purchased online for less than $2,000 this holiday season. In the days before Thanksgiving, Sony's entry-level, 50-inch LCD was listed as low as $1,348, and Samsung's 50-inch Digital Light Processor (DLP) set was advertised for $1,135 over the Net. As recently as two years ago, 42-inch sets were selling for prices in the neighborhood of $4,000.

On average, HD television prices have declined 50% over the past two years, according to ConsumerReports.org.

[Paulo Teixeira]

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news...,_Giveaway/363

[Wayne Morellini]

I have a list of relevant links here. It appears to available for just about every medium in lossy, even medical imaging at great lossless compression ratios.

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=36034

http://www.eventechnologiesinc.com/p..._psi_code.html
http://www.eventechnologiesinc.com/products_psi_x.html
http://www.eventechnologiesinc.com/products_psi_tv.html
http://www.eventechnologiesinc.com/technology.html
http://www.eventechnologiesinc.com/products_psi_rx.html
http://www.eventechnologiesinc.com/demos.html
http://www.eventechnologiesinc.com/p...s_psi_web.html
http://www.eventechnologiesinc.com/products_psi_cd.html

I have skimmed through it, I don't know what techniques it uses, my guess from the security photo, is that it is using shaping techniques, which I have previously been considering using.

[Harrison Murchison]

http://www.proximitygroup.com/index.php

We are pleased to announce that all Proximity technology and intellectual property, including artbox workgroup and artbox enterprise, was recently acquired by Apple.

Existing Proximity customers with current support contracts will be contacted by Apple with details regarding their specific agreements and support requirements.

We remain a dedicated leading provider of creative media asset management and production workflow software. Our cutting edge production workflow solutions are widely considered the defacto standard for the ingestion, retrieval, browsing, editing, management, cataloging and storage of broadcast rich-media assets. Proximity solutions empower the customer to Protect, leverage and extend media with the best-of-breed equipment available in broadcasting toda

Wow! Apple buys a product that cost 20k on the avg. This is most definitely a shot across Avid's Bow.

[Gary Bettan]

Comprehensive Blu-ray Disc Authoring Software for Video Professionals and Enthusiasts

NOVATO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Roxio®, a division of Sonic Solutions® (NASDAQ:SNIC - News), the leader in digital media software, today released DVDit® Pro HD, the latest version of the company’s pioneering DVD authoring solution, which now makes it possible for video professionals and enthusiasts to create high-definition Blu-ray Disc (BD) movies on their PC for the first time. Based on the same technology used in the development of Hollywood titles, DVDit Pro HD enables users to produce rich Blu-ray Disc titles with stunning HD menus that truly showcase and complement the breathtaking realism of high-definition video content and burn them to Blu-ray recordable discs for playback in Blu-ray players. Roxio DVDit Pro HD is available today at www.roxio.com for $599.99.

“Videographers have been shooting HD footage with affordable HDV and DVC ProHD camcorders for well over a year and, until now, have not had a way of delivering that HD content to their customers,” said Gary Bettan, VP of marketing at Broadfield Distributing Inc. “DVDit Pro HD finally adds the missing piece of the HD delivery puzzle. A powerful, easy to use HD authoring solution for Blu-ray Disc, Sonic DVDit Pro HD represents the smoothest possible entry point to the world of high-definition.”

Roxio DVDit Pro HD offers an intuitive user interface and straightforward workflow that makes it easy for event and corporate videographers to achieve professional results with minimum effort. These users will also appreciate the application’s support for both DVD and Blu-ray Disc, giving them the flexibility to work seamlessly with both standard and high-definition content within a single application. For independent filmmakers and post-production facilities, DVDit Pro HD includes a number of features such as a 32-track subtitle editor, support for DLT and CMF and content copy protection traditionally found only in high-end authoring programs.

“With HDTV sales at record levels and shipments of Blu-ray players, including PlayStation ® 3, already over the million mark, consumers are experiencing first hand the pristine picture quality and superior audio of the Blu-ray Disc format,” said Rolf Hartley, general manager of the professional products group at Sonic Solutions. “With DVDit Pro HD, video specialists can now affordably output HD content using the Blu-ray format, delivering an exceptional end-product to their customers while simultaneously enhancing their business.”

Feature Highlights

True HD Disc Creation
With DVDit Pro HD, authors can deliver 1080p, 1080i or 720p output on writable or replicated Blu-ray Discs. DVDit Pro HD transcodes high-definition MPEG-2, AVI, QuickTime and Windows Media Video into stunning Blu-ray Disc compatible video for playback on today’s most advanced HDTVs.

HD Menu Compositor
Content producers can build 1080p, 1080i or 720p still or motion menus from scratch with the product’s built-in HD Menu Compositor. Users can also import HD menus created in Adobe Photoshop or modify the application’s pre-built, professionally designed HD menu templates.

HD Slideshows

Users can maximize the quality of their digital pictures by creating HD slideshows with up to 999 high-resolution images. With DVDit Pro HD, they can choose from 65 transitions, add an uncompressed PCM soundtrack and output slideshows at any Blu-ray Disc supported resolution or frame rate.

Multiple Audio and Subtitle Track Support
Authors can take advantage of Blu-ray Disc’s massive disc capacity and high maximum bit rate by using DVDit Pro HD’s powerful movie timeline which can include as many as eight uncompressed PCM audio tracks and 32 smooth rendered subtitle tracks per movie.

Professional Mastering
Authors can provide DVD (DLT) and Blu-ray Disc (CMF) mastering services, and add CSS and AACS content protection for replication.

Roxio DVDit Pro HD & Pioneer BDR-101 Blu-Ray Burner Bundles

Videoguys Exclusive bundle gives you everything you need to start creating your own Hi Definition Productions!

Click here for more info and to order
http://www.videoguys.com/dvditprohd.html

Gary

[Yi Fong Yu]

i think we're about to run out of forums to put up!!!! there's going to be so many HD video camcorders!!!

[Steve Maller]

Wow...IMHO the most outrageous part of this technology is this: the screen boasts 310 dpi of resolution.

Think about it: that's the resolution of a laser printer on a TV screen.

[Stephen M. Crawford]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Milton Keynes, UK (December 9, 2006)

The UKs Association of Professional Videomakers (APV) are very pleased to be able to announce that we are helping to sponsor the UK Leg in a worldwide Seminar Tour of the Internationally-renowned film editor and director Larry Jordan.


Contact:
Bill Frank
Larry Jordan & Associates, Inc.
(818) 879-5105
bill@larryjordan.biz


Larry Jordan Presents Power Up with Final Cut Studio in Great Britain

Agoura Hills, CA (December 7, 2006) Internationally-renowned film editor and director Larry Jordan is launching his new two-day “Larry Jordan Presents: Power Up with Final Cut Studio!” worldwide seminar tour in Great Britain February 6 through 17, 2007. During his visit, Jordan will present in Manchester, Birmingham and Bristol. He will be showcasing Final Cut Studio, the editing software suite comprised of Final Cut Pro 5, Motion 2, LiveType 2, DVD Studio Pro 4 and Soundtrack Pro. This production suite is widely recognized as the professional choice for high-performance digital nonlinear video and film editing. Please visit www.larryjordan.biz/uk for more information about these seminars.

"I love teaching. I love watching the light go on, when someone suddenly understands how to do something new," Jordan explained. “In each seminar tour, I emphasize different key points of the program suite so someone who attended my last seminar series will gain completely new insights and practical applications to apply during their next editing session.”

Jordan will be in each city for two days, presenting “Optimize Your Editing with Final Cut” the first day and “The High-End of Final Cut Studio” the next. The four-hour “Optimize Your Editing with Final Cut” is specially designed for novice and self-taught Final Cut Pro users to help them get better organized and edit more efficiently. “The High-End of Final Cut Studio” is an eight-hour immersion that delves into color correction techniques and effects, special effects in Final Cut Studio, and podcasting. In both seminars, Jordan will designate ample time for answering the attendees hardest technical questions to provide them personalized solutions. Seminars 1 and 2 are priced at $185 and $425 dollars1 per person respectively and include take-home workbooks and other valuable editing tools. Special student pricing and group discounts are available.

Jordan acknowledged the support the tour’s sponsors that include The Association of Professional Videomakers, Peachpit Press, Digital Heaven, and Lynda.com.

For more information about the “Larry Jordan Presents: Power Up with Final Cut Studio United Kingdom Tour,” including cities, dates and registration, visit www.larryjordan.biz/uk.

About Larry Jordan & Associates, Inc.
Based in Southern California, Larry Jordan & Associates, Inc. provides consulting, training and support for editors and post-production firms using Apple’s Final Cut Studio suite of products. The company was founded by Larry Jordan, a producer, director, editor, consultant, and an Apple Certified Trainer, with over 25 years video production and post-production experience. He is a member of both the Directors Guild of America and the Producers Guild of America. In addition to authoring over a dozen tutorials and books on Final Cut, Jordan is also the founder and editor of Edit Well, the rich-media newsletter for Final Cut Studio, published by Peachpit Press. Jordan combines his extensive production experience with his teaching skills to bring a wide-ranging, real-world perspective to his seminars.

About the APV
The Association of Professional Videomakers (APV) was founded in 1993 and is one of the largest trade associations representing video industry professionals in the UK. The APV is non-profit making and exists to promote professionalism and skills development within the professional video industry. They uphold standards; promote high quality of service and aim to make it easier for professional videomakers to operate their businesses properly, efficiently and effectively in today's ever-changing marketplace. The APV actively promotes its members services to potential clients by providing; free impartial advice, advertising and by maintaining strong links with other websites, industry linked businesses, government departments and related organisations.


1 Registration fees will be billed in US dollars for credit card transactions at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of registration.

Please Note: The APV will not be directly taking or processing bookings, this should be done through the Larry Jordan website.

[Paulo Teixeira]

http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/home-...ony-220996.php

Pioneer also makes the Sony Blu-Ray player?

[Jeff Kilgroe]

Interesting...

I've seen various versions of the Sony player on several occasions and would be rather surprised if the two were identical (I haven't seen the Pioneer yet). OTOH, if this is true, it doesn't necessarily mean that Pioneer makes the Sony player. It could be that Pioneer is using several of Sony's components, including the Sony interface and control software... Meaning they struck a deal somewhere like Pioneer supplies the drive mechanisms / laser diodes while Sony provides the software and sound hardware, etc...

I guess we'll just have to see. I'm rather shocked that Pioneer is still sticking to their $1500 MSRP given that every other manufacturer of BD players has been lowering their MSRPs on release. Samsung is now $800, Panasonic was supposed to be $1100MSRP, but released at $999. We'll see what Sony does, they'll probably hold to their $999 though. LG is sticking to their $899, but says they will have a more affordable / budget player ("under $500") in the first half of next year. ...Then again, there's lots of people who will pay a premium for the Pioneer Elite label.

[Harrison Murchison]

Pioneer does indeed manufacture the Sony player. Sony has concentrated their efforts on getting the Playstation three delivered.

The Pioneer is the most full featured BD player there is with DLNA support and the only other BD player other than the PS3 that has ethernet.