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Samsung’s new Windows Tablet – the Sliding PC 7

Samsung announced a tablet that runs on Windows instead of Android, and it’s drawing a lot of attention at CES. The Sliding PC 7 is a touch-screen device with its own slide-out keyboard, giving users the option of a multi-touch display or full keyboard and mouse.

Larger than an iPad but smaller than many Netbooks, the 10.1-inch Sliding PC 7 features a multitouch screen so it can operate in both tablet- and Netbook-like formats. This could be the Netbook/tablet hybrid that many have been hoping for…

“With the proliferation of tablet devices, there is a demand from consumers that want the elegance, ease-of-use and portable form factor of a tablet but also the familiarity of a notebook,” said Scott Ledterman, director of mobile PC product marketing at Samsung. “The Samsung 7 Series is creating a category unto itself, with a total solution that is not only chic and convenient for content consumption, but also versatile enough for more intensive computing and content creation.”

The tablet has front- and back-facing cameras, a MicroSD slot and 3G card insert. In order to maintain its trim dimensions, the full-sized USB port has been replaced with a mini-HDMI port (although a mini-HDMI-to-USB 2.0 adapter is available). Other specs include: an Intel Atom Z670 CPU, 2GB RAM, 32 or 64GB SSD drive, along with 3G and WiMax connectivity.

The unit being demonstrated on the show floor is still pre-production, although Samsung suggests the Sliding PC 7 Series will be available starting at $699 in May.

BlackBerry tablet ‘PlayBook’ goes 4G

Research in Motion (RIM) hasn’t kept the BlackBerry PlayBook much of a secret, but there was one specification it saved to announce at CES — the PlayBook will be a 4G device.

Wireless carrier Sprint Nextel will offer a version of the BlackBerry PlayBook that runs on Sprint’s next-generation network. The 4G PlayBook is expected to be available this summer. A release date for the Wi-Fi-only version has yet to be announced, but RIM indicated it would be available early this year.

Unlike most of the iPad competitors, PlayBook does not use Android, but will run on the BlackBerry Tablet OS that uses QNX technology. The tablet has a touch screen smaller than that on the iPad, and is geared toward business users.

Other specs include:

– Multi-touch capacitive screen (7-inch, 1024 x 600).
– Measures 5.1 x 7.6 x 0.4-inches and weighs 0.9 pounds.
– Features a 1GHz dual-core processor and 1GB of RAM.
– Front-facing camera shoots 3MP.
– High-definition rear-facing camera takes 5MP shots.
– Adobe Flash 10.1 enabled, built-in HTML 5 support.

Video reports and commentary are available on the BlackBerry blog.

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Specification for Naming VFX Image Sequences Released

ETC’s VFX Working Group has published a specification for best practices naming image sequences such as plates and comps. File naming is an essential tool for organizing the multitude of frames that are inputs and outputs from the VFX process. Prior to the publication of this specification, each organization had its own naming scheme, requiring custom processes for each partner, which often resulted in confusion and miscommunication.

The new ETC@USC specification focuses primarily on sequences of individual images. The initial use case was VFX plates, typically delivered as OpenEXR or DPX files. However, the team soon realized that the same naming conventions can apply to virtually any image sequence. Consequently, the specification was written to handle a wide array of assets and use cases.

To ensure all requirements are represented, the working group included over 2 dozen participants representing studios, VFX houses, tool creators, creatives and others.  The ETC@USC also worked closely with MovieLabs to ensure that the specification could be integrated as part of their 2030 Vision.

A key design criteria for this specification is compatibility with existing practices.  Chair of the VFX working group, Horst Sarubin of Universal Pictures, said: “Our studio is committed to being at the forefront of designing best industry practices to modernize and simplify workflows, and we believe this white paper succeeded in building a new foundation for tools to transfer files in the most efficient manner.”

This specification is compatible with other initiatives such as the Visual Effects Society (VES) Transfer Specifications. “We wanted to make it as seamless as possible for everyone to adopt this specification,” said working group co-chair and ETC@USC’s Erik Weaver. “To ensure all perspectives were represented we created a team of industry experts familiar with the handling of these materials and collaborated with a number of industry groups.”

“Collaboration between MovieLabs and important industry groups like the ETC is critical to implementing the 2030 Vision,” said Craig Seidel, SVP of MovieLabs. “This specification is a key step in defining the foundations for better software-defined workflows. We look forward to continued partnership with the ETC on implementing other critical elements of the 2030 Vision.”

The specification is available online for anyone to use.

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