News Stories

Camera start-up GoPro secures funding

5.6.2011

[by , CNET]

The camera market might be dominated by giants such as Canon and Panasonic, but a small start-up founded by a surfer in Half Moon Bay, Calif., has persuaded venture capitalists to invest.

GoPro, maker of the diminutive Hero line of cameras geared to record action video of snowboarding, base jumping, mountain biking, scuba diving, and car racing, announced the funding today. The “substantial strategic investment” of undisclosed magnitude is from Riverwood Capital, Steamboat Ventures, Sageview Capital, Walden International, and U.S. Venture Partners.

The company has found a niche for its products–including a range of accessories such as suction cups, chest harnesses, helmet straps, handlebar clamps, and adhesive brackets to mount the cameras. Most recently, it released a camera housing that fits two cameras side by side for shooting 3D video and acquired CineForm, a video encoding company whose software GoPro supplies to process the 3D videos.

GoPro also announced a major distribution deal: Best Buy will carry its products.

The cameras are basic–fisheye lenses that don’t need to be focused, automatic exposure, one button to start and stop video and another to cycle through settings. A bubble-shaped plastic lens is designed to be replaced if you scratch it during your parachute landing. Though they’re basic, they’ll shoot HD video for people who don’t have a spare hand to hold a camera.

Among the prices: The HD Hero 960 camera costs $180 with a waterproof housing that works down to 180 feet deep and shoots 720p and 960p video. The HD Hero shoots 1080p, and with a helmet mount included, costs $300. The 3D housing costs another $100 but also is waterproof.

See the original story here:  http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20060071-264.html?tag=mncol;1n

Latest Windows 8 leaks reveal 3D support, cloud-based settings, more app store evidence

5.6.2011

 

[By Donald Melanson, Engadget]

We’re sure Microsoft is going to announce some more official details about Windows 8 one of these days, but until then we’ll just have to make do with the seemingly unending stream of tidbits being unearthed from the leaked version of the OS. Most notably, this latest batch includes the most conclusive evidence yet of a Windows 8 app store, including the logo pictured above, and a slew of other references at the code level — things like the ability to download a trial app and then unlock the full version (rather than re-download it), for instance, and the existence of things like screenshots and system requirements in the app store listings. Another recent leak has also revealed some new cloud-based settings options that could let you take your desktop profile and other personalizations from one computer to another, and even give you the ability to sync apps from that aforementioned Windows Store between PCs. All that, plus support for 3D displays and WiFi Direct.

See the original post here:  http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/03/latest-windows-8-leaks-reveal-cloud-based-settings-more-app-sto/

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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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