News Stories

Sony Blu-ray Player adds Wi-Fi

1.7.2011

Sony’s latest Blu-ray Disc player, the BDP-S780, has been enhanced with 3D capability and is the first of its category to offer Skype.

The built-in Skype app allows users to connect a USB TV camera and then talk face-to-face with others. It is Wi-Fi enabled (802.11n) and features Sony’s HomeShare Network speaker compatibility and access to online content.

It offers access to over 40 free movies along with video and music services via the Bravia web video platform which also includes Sony’s VOD and Music Unlimited which are powered by Qriocity.

The new model is compatible with Blu-ray 3D as well as DVDs, CDs, and SACDs.  It can convert 2D content to simulated 3D and is said to enhance SD and web quality video via IP Content Noise Reduction technology and Precision Cinema HS Upscaling technologies.

3D Gesture-Based Remote Control from Philips

1.7.2011

As the amount of possible content and services accessible from a connected device grows exponentially larger, designers must come up with new ways to interact with it beyond the familiar keyboard or up/down remote controls.

uWand, an offshoot of Dutch tech giant Philips, has a handy solution. Its software, which it is looking to license to operators and TV suppliers, features not just the familiar X and Y (up/down/left/right) controls but also the ability to rotate and flip images and to work in depth along the z axis.

It’s a direct pointing optical-based remote control technology that allows users to directly interact with the TV and it features gestural control such as the ability to flip images along the screen (familiar from any iPhone), drag and drop to record programming and to zoom into images by simple hand movements. By operating in the depth plane or z-axis the technology is suitable for gestural control of 3D stereo user interfaces. (Philips offers an online video demo.)

Navin Natoewal, general manager, uWand, explained that the technology had been tested by 200 connected TV users in Amsterdam.

“In tests we proved that the interactivity and user interface of the screen has a huge impact on consumer’s satisfaction with the service and ultimately on the revenue generated by that service.”

The first products embedded with the technology are expected at the end of this year.

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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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