News Stories

Trend: Internet Televisions

1.7.2009

If this year’s CES is any indication, the crossover of content available via the Internet and TV is getting more interesting.

adobe_flash

Broadcom and Adobe announced plans yesterday to integrate Adobe’s Flash multimedia platform into Broadcom’s latest digital television and set-top box system-on-a-chip platforms.  Adobe’s Flash is currently used for leading Internet TV sites such as Hulu and Google’s YouTube.

Adobe made a similar announcement this week regarding an agreement with Intel.  The chip giant plans to embed the Flash player into its media-processor chip.

Broadcom also announced that its set-top box system-on-a-chip is being used in 2Wire’s MediaPoint digital media player, the same player Blockbuster publicized last November it would sell as part of its Internet-based on-demand service.

Meanwhile, ActiveVideo Networks has signed a deal with blip.tv to stream traditional TV programming and Web-based content to digital set-top boxes and Web-connected CE devices.

We’ll report more this week on Internet-enabled televisions (including some interesting agreements between Yahoo! and some major CE manufacturers).

Where to see it:

  • Broadcom Corporation, South 4 35679MP
  • Adobe, North 6716MP
  • ActiveVideo Networks, Renaissance 8

World’s First Internet Car Radio

1.7.2009

In June 2008 miRoamer introduced its media platform for accessing Internet radio stations on portable music players, mobile phones, MP3 players and home theater systems.

This week at CES, miRoamer announced a partnership with Blaupunkt to introduce “the world’s first Internet car radio,” providing access to a diverse selection of Internet radio content through car stereos.  Drivers with new Blaupunkt stereos can now tune in to miRoamer’s tens of thousands of radio stations from around the world.

miRoamer is giving live demonstrations in the North Hall

miRoamer is giving live demonstrations of its technology in the North Hall

Where to see it:

  • miRoamer, North 5418

 

And in HD Radio news…

iBiquity Digital, the developer and licenser of HD Radio technology, is highlighting progress in adoption of the technology and the subsequent growing number of new receivers entering the market.

hd_radio_bmw

iBiquity Digital reports the number of available receivers is fast approaching 100, nearly double what was on the market during CES last January.  And that’s not all … 11 automakers have announced their backing of HD Radio and some 1,800 U.S. stations are now broadcasting in digital, with more than half featuring HD2 and HD3 multicast channels.

This year’s HD Radio Booth in the LVCC Central Hall features the following:

  • HD Radio-ready receivers from Alpine, JVC, Kenwood, Pioneer and Sony.
  • New tabletop HD receivers from Acoustic Research, Gigaware, iLuv and Teac.
  • New automotive HD receivers from Dual, Jensen Mobile and JVC.
  • Home HD Radio receiver lines from iLuv, Coby, Denon, Onkyo/Integra and Yamaha.

hdradio2

 

Where to see it:

  • HD Radio Booth, Central Hall 9034

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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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