Marc Policani's Digital Media Blog: Next Generation Devices

Multi-touch display can 'see' objects too

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 16:02:20 GMT

Microsoft labs in the UK has developed a POC LCD screen with multi-touch, infrared and low resolution scanning capabilities. In an article for NewScientist.com, Tom Simonite writes:

Users can interact with ThinSight using two hands. A grid of infrared emitters and detectors sit behind the LCD (Image: Microsoft)

A computer screen that also acts as a two-handed touch interface and a crude infrared camera has been developed by researchers at Microsoft's labs in the UK.

Users can operate the display with both hands, in a similar manner to the display in the film Minority Report. But this screen can also recognise particular hand gestures as well as objects placed within a centimetre of its surface.

"It can sense much more than fingers, and is essentially a low resolution scanner and camera," says lead researcher Shahram Izadi. The screen can even communicate wirelessly with other devices nearby using the same infrared technology it uses to see.

The technology – dubbed ThinSight – was developed by adding an extra layer of electronics behind a normal laptop screen. This adds a couple of centimetres to the overall thickness, but completely transforms its abilities (see a video, top right).

The screen "sees" by using a grid of paired infrared sensors and transmitters that sit just behind the backlight of the laptop's LCD panel. The sensors can form crude images when infrared light bounces off an object (see images, right). This could allow the screen to identify hand gestures or to see objects, and let them interact with onscreen images.

A multi-touch display that can 'see' objects too

Watch the full-size video

Sharp LCD screen doubles as a scanner

Mon, 15 Oct 2007 01:23:58 GMT

A recent article posted on Newlaunches.com reports that Sharp created a nice Proof of Concept LCD screen which could doubble as a scanner or as a method of capturing multi-touch input.

"It's all of 3.5-inches but this LCD Screen from Sharp features an integrated optical scanner that could be used to scan business cards, but also be used as a method for multi-touch input. The prototype was seen at the Ceatec exhibition. Possible uses include the ability to recognize fingers or other objects and as biometric lock on your phone. And since each pixel has a scanner it may as well be a multi-touch screen."

500GB DVD Sized Discs on the horizon

Sun, 08 Jul 2007 15:27:08 GMT

In a recent article for ars technica by Todd Haselton, Todd writes that a group of scientists working with the Institute of Optics and Optical Technologies at the University of Berlin have come up with a way to store up to 500GB of data onto a DVD sized disc. Todd Writes:

"The Project aims to implement a microholographic recording techniques which record data to nanostructures in the recording process. By combining multilayer storage and holographic multiplexing, "microholography" allows data to be stored in three dimensions. The technology works by replacing the two-dimensional pit-land structures currently found on CDs and DVDs with microgratings, which are "holographically induced" using two laser beams. In other words, instead of recording to a series of bumps and pits like standard CDs, the new technology creates three-dimensional holographic grids that can be used for reading and writing data throughout the physical structure of the disc.

In order to store data in multi-layer form, the beam is "focused to different depths inside the photopolymer layer," which means that the beam can actually be raised and lowered to write to different altitudes of the three-dimensional holograohic grid.

As you might expect, the project is bullish on its prospects. The discs are predicted to be inexpensive to produce, which the project hopes will translate into manufacturer interest. Of course, there's no word on what the recording devices would cost, and that's a major part of the equation.

Blu-ray discs currently store 50GB of data on a dual-layer disc, whereas HD-DVD can store 30GB on its dual-layer offering. Both formats have greater storage potential thanks to the possibility of adding additional layers. By 2010, we expect to see 100GB and 60GB Blu-ray and HD DVD discs (respectively) available for recording use on PCs.

Microholographic discs (MHD) are transparent and are the same physical size as CDs and DVDs, but the discs being created by the Microholas Project effectively have ten layers with five different wavelengths. The "prototype" discs are recordable and sport a 50Mb/s data rate, but the group expects an "Advanced Device" with 1TB of storage and data transfer speeds in excess of 200Mb/s by 2010."

How Big Will the Apple iPhone Be?

Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:35:59 GMT

In an article for Business Week, Peter Burrows writes, "Few stocks trade on emotion the way Apple Inc. does. Its rip-roaring initial public offering in 1980 created the template for modern tech mania, while making Steve Jobs a gazillionaire. When the company fell on hard times in the mid-1990s, no amount of good news could pierce the cloud of doom hanging over investors. Now, with the launch of the hugely hyped iPhone in a few weeks, momentum investors are driving Apple (AAPL) shares to unexplored territory. The stock has doubled in the past year, to 122. Apple's market cap recently topped $100 billion for the first time.

Hard as it is to believe, all the excitement surrounding Jobs and his new toy may actually understate the impact of this device on Apple's fortunes. Beyond the hysteria surrounding its June 29 launch, the iPhone has the potential for adding a totally new, $10 billion-a-year business within just a few years. If Apple can expand so-called smartphones from a luxury carried by corporate road warriors into an everyday tool for the masses—combining the functions of a BlackBerry and an iPod—Apple could soon see a new growth tear."

Apple Inc.'s highly anticipated iPhone will be available June 29, 2007. The combination cell phone, media player and wireless Web-surfing device will retail for $499 and $599, depending on configuration. It will be offered exclusively by AT&T Inc.'s wireless division, formerly known as Cingular.

Microsoft Surface (a.k.a. Milan) and Similiar Touch Sensitive Applications

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 19:27:59 GMT

This week several news outlets carried articles about Microsoft Surface, a new touch sensitivie tabletop product with compelling enterprise, retail and consumer applications (see Popular Mechanics; MSNBC; FileFront; Engadget; Ars Technica; Computerworld; The Tech Report; USA Today; The Seattle PI; Telegraph; and much, much, more).

Similiar products have been developed or are being researched but have not received anywhere as much press - so for the sake of comparison and to help provide a bigger picture as to what is possible, here are a handful of links and resources to check out:

CityWall, Helsinki Finland

Reactable | Wiki | Press Release | Demos

Helsinki Institute for Information Technology - Ubiquitous Interaction (Uix) Research Group

New York University Computer Science Department Multi-Touch Interaction Research

University Pompeu Fabra - Music Technology Group

Peronsally, I'd love to see something like this integrated with an existing home theater system. Imagine an always on server networked with terminal emulations for both PCs and embeded extenders which could be installed behind bathroom mirrors, kitchen countertop surfaces, refriderators, etc.. Also imagine how much money your going to have to spend on Windex and paper towels!

100Mbit Bluetooth Coming in 2008

Wed, 29 Mar 2006 01:44:42 GMT

The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) on Tuesday paved the way for the next-generation of Bluetooth, which will be capable of transferring data over 100 times faster than current devices. The wireless technology will be used for the streaming of audio and video in the home.

The WiMedia Alliance's multiband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (MB-OFDM) version of ultra-wideband (UWB) was chosen for the new Bluetooth standard. Tech industry heavyweights such as Intel, Microsoft, Sony and Nokia are among those supporting the effort.

Despite the upgrade, Bluetooth will retain its current low-power uses in devices such as cell phones, keyboards and mice. The updated technology, which will operate at frequencies above 6 GHz to avoid regulatory issues, will remain short-range at 10-15 meters and serves a different purpose from Wi-Fi. | Source: BetaNews

Sony sets date for rollout of next-generation DVDs

Wed, 01 Mar 2006 00:08:43 GMT

Sony Pictures on Tuesday said it aims to deliver its new Blu-ray DVD format to U.S. stores on May 23 to coincide with the entry of compatible disc players, a new step in an industry war for control of home movie viewing.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and MGM Home Entertainment will first release eight Blu-ray titles, followed by another eight in mid-June. The first movie titles include "50 First Dates," "The Fifth Element," "Hitch" and "House of Flying Daggers."

Blu-ray is locked in a multibillion-dollar standards war against a rival DVD format known as HD DVD. The technology companies supporting HD DVD, championed by Toshiba Corp. (6502.T), plan to start rolling out movie titles and disc players in March.

Each side hopes to reignite a sagging $24 billion home video market with new players and discs that offer greater capacity and interactive features. [ more... ]

New Microchips Shun Transistors

Tue, 14 Feb 2006 18:17:11 GMT

For the first time researchers have created a working prototype of a radical new chip design based on magnetism instead of electrical transistors.

As transistor-based microchips hit the limits of Moore's Law, a group of electrical engineers at the University of Notre Dame has fabricated a chip that uses nanoscale magnetic "islands" to juggle the ones and zeroes of binary code.

Wolfgang Perod and his colleagues turned to the process of magnetic patterning (.pdf) to produce a new chip that uses arrays of separate magnetic domains. Each island maintains its own magnetic field.

Because the chip has no wires, its device density and processing power may eventually be much higher than transistor-based devices. And it won't be nearly as power-hungry, which will translate to less heat emission and a cooler future for portable hardware like laptops.

Computers using the magnetic chips would boot up almost instantly. The magnetic chip's memory is non-volatile, making it impervious to power interruptions, and it retains its data when the device is switched off.

The magnetic architecture of the chip can be reprogrammed on the fly and its adaptability could make it very popular with manufacturers of special-purpose computing hardware, from video-game platforms to medical diagnostic equipment. [ more... ]

ATI All-In-Wonder X1900

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 18:11:25 GMT

ATI's latest All-in-Wonder card, the AIW X1900 uses the company's latest and great GPU, borrowed from the X1900 series gaming cards, and includes video capturing and editing capabilities as well as an integrated television tuner complete with PVR and TV On-Demand functions. The X1900 GPU is a remarkable processor that performs extremely well in 3D environments; perfect for gamers. We have always been impressed with the premise behind the All-In-Wonder philosophy and we are still surprised to see ATI the only video card company to implement a product-line behind a video card that basically does everything. Previous All-In-Wonder cards that we have reviewed have pretty much been hit or miss, so we are excited to see what ATI has brought to the table this time around. [ more... ]

IBM produces new high-bandwidth wireless chip

Wed, 08 Feb 2006 15:47:18 GMT

IBM has produced a wireless chip based on the evolving 802.15.3c specification, which is capable of passing high-definition files and other content at distances of up to 10 metres.

Current samples of the chip now run at more than 600 megabits per second (mbps). IBM said it aimed to get these speeds up to 1.5 gigabits per second (gbps). [ more... ]

Sharp develops 'two-way viewing' LCD

Wed, 27 Jul 2005 15:06:57 GMT

TOKYO — Will the digital age bring an end to squabbles over which TV channel to watch? Sharp Corp. is coming out with a new product that may help. The Japanese electronics firm has developed a liquid-crystal display that shows totally different images to people viewing the screen from the left and the right.


		A model holds up a mirror, demonstrating Sharp's innovative new LCD,.
		Toshifumi Kitamura, Getty Images

The "two-way viewing-angle LCD," announced by the Japanese consumer electronics maker Thursday, can send light from the backlight separately to the right and left.

And so one person can be surfing the Internet, using the display as a PC screen, while another watches a downloaded movie or TV broadcast. It also works for watching two TV channels: one person can watch baseball while another watches a soap opera.

The display, which costs roughly double the standard kind, will go into mass production this month. Sharp will offer the product for worldwide sale, but the Osaka-based firm will also supply other manufacturers with the new displays for various products expected later this year, said spokeswoman Miyuki Nakayama. She declined to disclose specifics.

Sony To Drop Home Router From PS3 Design

Mon, 11 Jul 2005 19:01:40 GMT

"Sony Computer Entertainment head Ken Kutaragi has announced that the PlayStation 3 will no longer feature the ability to act as a home network router, with the functionality being dropped due to cost issues.

Speaking with Japanese publication Nikkei Electronics, in remarks reported by website GamesIndustry.biz, Kutaragi has admitted that the use of the console's three Gigabit Ethernet ports as a home router would have made the console in general too expensive to manufacture.

Kutaragi did not make it clear whether the extra Ethernet ports would now be removed, but additional peripherals using these ports, such as an IP-enabled camera, have already been hinted at." | Source: Gamasutra

DVD Insider: Optical Storage Update

Thu, 07 Jul 2005 16:17:44 GMT

We have actually been keeping score on which Hollywood studio and which content owner "signed up" for the HD- (HD- DVD ) and Blu-ray Disc (BD) camps. We actually wondered which wanted to limit their creativity with 15GB (HD) or expand their horizons with 25GB (single layer) and 50GB (double layer) capacity for their fantastic next generation video content and extras.

We thought about all the TV folks planning fantastic entertainment what they can beam to our digital TV sets with thrilling effects we can time-shift, copy and enjoy anywhere in the house or on the road.

We studied the HD and BD format approaches and tried to see how Hollywood and the TV folks could force the two parties to the table and hammer out a compromise.

As we slowly stepped back from our hours of research and stared at the papers strewn across the floor we had an epiphany: Those folks not only don't care which blue write-once and rewritable technology the industry delivers…they don't want either one!

All they want is a high definition ROM – a disc you can buy, rent or borrow that allows you to view their movie, their TV series, their music audio and not copy.

Does the consumer care? Sure, eventually. But at the present time a next-generation storage device/medium is low on his and her priority list because they need/want to buy new DTV sets, new cam-phones, new game systems, new PCs. Then they need to struggle to interconnect them to share devices/content…even if it is the use of the printer." [ More... ]

Google, partners to back broadband venture - WSJ

Thu, 07 Jul 2005 15:55:02 GMT

"NEW YORK, July 7 (Reuters) - Google Inc. (GOOG.O: Quote, Profile, Research), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Hearst Corp. are investing about $100 million in Current Communications Group, a start-up that offers high-speed Internet connections over electricity lines, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

Current Communications, of Germantown, Maryland, uses a technology that sends Internet signals over regular power lines, the newspaper said, citing people familiar with the situation.

Current, a closely held company, offers its high-speed service in the Cincinnati area and is expected to use its new investment to expand, the Journal said." | Source: Reuters

Chicago pairing surveillance cameras with gunshot recognition systems

Thu, 07 Jul 2005 15:19:07 GMT

"The police are watching. And in Chicago, they're listening, too. City officials are using new technology that recognizes the sound of a gunshot within a two-block radius, pinpoints the source, turns a surveillance camera toward the shooter and places a 911 call. Officials can then track the shooter and dispatch officers to the scene.

"Instead of just having eyes, you have the advantage of both eyes and ears,'' said Bryan Baker, chief executive officer of Safety Dynamics in Oak Brook, which makes the systems.

After a successful pilot program, Chicago officials have installed 30 of the devices alongside video surveillance cameras in high-crime neighborhoods, with 12 more on the way, and dozens more to follow, Baker said." | Source: Illinois Wire

Digital TV Transmitter Using a VGA card

Mon, 13 Jun 2005 20:33:34 GMT

An anonymous reader writes "Yet Another Project from Fabrice Bellard : with any PC and a standard VGA card, you can build a real Analog or DVB-T Digital TV transmitter by directly generating the VHF signal. The provided example shows a Lena picture transmitted as a real Digital TV channel."

Hardware: Video for Skype Users

Tue, 31 May 2005 15:01:45 GMT

Kozmik writes "Looks like the first of likely many video plugins for Skype has arrived. Dialcom claims the plugin which works with Skype, will provided end to end encrypted video that will work behind NATs, proxies and firewalls. Currently only supports Windows."

Euro-TV tuner-peripheral does everything and will shortly be illegal

Fri, 27 May 2005 16:13:29 GMT

Here's a fun new toy...

* Supports any notebook PCs as well as desktop
* Bus-powered (No power adapter required)
* Small form-factor and fancy design which can fit even your pocket
* High resolution, crystal clear picture quality
* Provides ultimate picture quality experience on PC
* Crisp, clear picture quality even on LCD and low resolution monitor
* Record digital HDTV directly to your hard drive like a VCR
* Supports native mode .MPG capturing as well as “AS IS” transport stream format.
* Cut streaming files "on-the-fly" with the APP software
* Record one channel while watch another with FusionHDTV PCI
* USB application can run side by side with PCI
* Supports recording one channel while watch another if you already have FusionHDTV PCI.
* Supports fastest DVD/Divx conversion for burning and archiving
* Supports ultra fast native mode .MPG conversion
* Bundles DVD authoring and burning software

Link (via Red Ferret Journal)

Iomega Patents 850GB DVD Nano-Technology

Wed, 25 May 2005 16:44:03 GMT

Mike writes "US Patent & Trademark Office recently issued a patent to Iomega Corp. for its work with nano-technology and optical data storage. New technology, called Articulated Optical - DVD will allow 40-100 times more data (upto 850 Gb) to be stored on a DVD with data transfer rates 5-30 times faster than today's DVDs, and at similarly low costs. AO - DVD is a novel technique of encoding data on the surface of a DVD by using reflective nano-structures to encode data in a highly multi-level format."

Toshiba says: unifying DVD formats may prove too difficult

Mon, 16 May 2005 15:33:03 GMT

Exactly one week after getting some good news on the prognosis of a solution to the impending Blu-ray/HD-DVD format war, it now appears there’s some bad news — Toshiba’s top negotiator, Yoshihide Fujii, was quoted as saying that unifying the formats “would be extremely difficult at this stage.” His comment comes after a weekend of negotiations between Toshiba (in the HD-DVD camp) and Sony/Matsushita (Blu-ray) — which we’re picturing as the ultimate geek summer camp with Toshiba and Sony facing each other across the lake and duking it out via tug-of-war and canoe racing — and couldn’t be confirmed by a Toshiba spokesperson. Regardless, they appear to be continuing talks, but it’s not the best of signs for peace in the home theater. | Source: Engadget.com

Remington 870

Sat, 30 Apr 2005 18:02:08 GMT

Take a look at the new Remington 870, "With increased terrorist threats, natural disasters and potentially hostile situations, first responders have a need for improve readiness, response and recovery.

Remington’s Eye Ball R1 is easily deployed and provides officers with "360° tactical vision" required by entry & operations teams."

The MPEG 4 video recorder

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 15:12:22 GMT

"A company called Taxane will start selling this video recorder in Japan. It records videos in MPEG4 straight onto Secure Digital and Memory Stick memory cards, rendering the content compatible with the PSP, GBA SP and DS. The machine will offer 2 quality levels: 320x240 15fps or 210x145 15fps. 320x240 seems to be acceptable, but what's with the 15fps? This is really not enough. You can expect a price below 130 EUR for this device." | Source: Akiha bara News

Mind-reading machine knows what you see

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 14:50:31 GMT

"It is possible to read someone’s mind by remotely measuring their brain activity, researchers have shown. The technique can even extract information from subjects that they are not aware of themselves.

So far, it has only been used to identify visual patterns a subject can see or has chosen to focus on. But the researchers speculate the approach might be extended to probe a person’s awareness, focus of attention, memory and movement intention. In the meantime, it could help doctors work out if patients apparently in a coma are actually conscious.

Scientists have already trained monkeys to move a robotic arm with the power of thought and to recreate scenes moving in front of cats by recording information directly from the feline’s neurons (New Scientist print edition, 2 October 1999). But these processes involve implanting electrodes into their brains to hook them up to a computer.

Now Yukiyasu Kamitani, at ATR Computational Neuroscience Laboratories in Kyoto, Japan, and Frank Tong at Princeton University in New Jersey, US, have achieved similar “mind reading” feats remotely using functional MRI scanning. " [ more... ]

Shrinking camcorder gets tinier

Mon, 25 Apr 2005 14:18:10 GMT

Camcorder makers have performed incredible shrinking feats with their product designs in recent months, so much so that just about the only thing preventing them from diminishing their wares further is the size of the video cassette itself. [ more... ]

SED TVs to hit the market in March 2006

Fri, 22 Apr 2005 22:30:45 GMT

"Toshiba expects its joint venture with Canon, SED, to start producing surface-conduction electron-emitter display (SED) TVs this August and the products will begin hitting the market next March, according to Kazunori Fukuma, managing director of Display Devices & Components Control Center of Toshiba.

SED will initially market 36-inch SED TVs, according to the Chinese-language Economic Daily News. However, SED will focus on the 50-inch segment, Fukuma indicated.

SED TV will first be marketed in Japan, with the Europe and the US following later, Fukuma said.

SED has high contrast ratio and low power consumption; therefore, it is most suitable for the over 40-inch FPD (flat-panel display) TV market, he added." [ more... ]

On again, off again? Sony, Toshiba Mull Unified Format to Avoid DVD War

Thu, 21 Apr 2005 17:24:34 GMT

"Japan's Sony Corp. and Toshiba Corp. are in talks to develop a common standard for next-generation DVDs and end a fierce battle over formats that has been threatening to stifle the industry's growth.

Sony and Toshiba, heading rival groups, have waged a three-year battle to have their new technology standards adopted by the industry and gain pole position in the multi-billion dollar markets for DVD players, PC drives and optical disks.

While a final deal is still far from certain, both camps are well aware that a drawn-out fight would likely confuse consumers and hinder the industry's development, just like the famous spat between the VHS and Betamax video tape formats two decades ago.

"Toshiba believes a single format will benefit consumers. We are in talks (with the rival camp and related parties) and we will continue engaging in the talks," a Toshiba spokeswoman said.

Sony's Blu-ray technology is backed by a group including Dell Inc., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Philips Electronics NV, and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. Ltd., maker of Panasonic brand products.

Toshiba, with NEC Corp. and Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd., has been promoting a technology called HD DVD." [ more... ]

Compromise Unlikely in HD Optical Disc Battle

Wed, 20 Apr 2005 15:52:08 GMT

Recent comments by Sony executives raised consumer hopes of a truce in the next-generation optical video disc battle between Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD. But closer questioning of companies on both sides points to no significant change in their positions, and the continued likelihood that consumers will be forced choose between two competing formats.

Sony is the main backer of Blu-ray Disc, a format that has picked up the support of many major consumer electronics makers, while HD-DVD counts NEC and Toshiba as its main backers. Both formats have been designed to hold high-definition movies, and both are being promoted as a replacement for current DVD-Video, which cannot support high-definition TV.

HD-DVD is promised before the end of this year, while Blu-ray Disc based players and movies aren't expected until sometime in 2006.

With no compromise in sight, consumers are faced with a battle between the two formats that has been repeatedly compared to the VHS versus Betamax competition in the early days of the video cassette. [ more... ]

'Minority Report' interface created for US military

Fri, 15 Apr 2005 15:22:39 GMT

New Scientist is carrying an article from The Wall Street Journal stating that, "A computer interface inspired by the futuristic system portrayed in the movie Minority Report, starring Tom Cruise, could soon help real military personnel deal with information overload.

The film sees characters call up and manipulate video footage and other data in mid-air after donning a special pair of gloves. Now defence company Raytheon, based in Massachusetts, US, is working on a real version and has even employed John Underkoffler, the researcher who proposed the interface to the makers of the film.

Underkoffler is a science and technology consultant for Treadle and Loam Provisioners in California, US, and previously developed radical computer interfaces at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He says the new system should help military experts sift through large quantities of information quickly and efficiently.

"Keystrokes and mouse clicks limit your degree of freedom,"" [ more... ]

Next Xbox for $299?

Wed, 13 Apr 2005 21:43:45 GMT

The Seattle PI reports that, "Following up on the MTV/Xbox news, Goldman Sachs predicts in a research note today that the next-generation Xbox could be released as early as October or November at a retail price of "perhaps about $249-$299."

David Becker of CNet News.com points out that the prediction is a departure from other analysts who "have been predicting Microsoft might try to push it up to $400."

All told, Goldman Sachs analysts say they expect Microsoft to ship about 3 million units of the next Xbox in the fourth quarter of this year, while continuing to ship the current Xbox console, to address the lower end of the market, even after releasing the new console. The analysts write that it would "seem imprudent" for the company to discontinue the current Xbox "given that Xbox 2 would probably not be available in sufficient quantities to meet demand for the seasonally strong December quarter." They note that their conversations with the company suggest it is, in fact, "unlikely" that Microsoft will stop shipping the current Xbox after releasing the new one.

Meanwhile, Xbox Live's Major Nelson is literally counting down the seconds until the program airs."

Forrester Research Says that 12.3 million people will be listening to podcasts in 2010

Wed, 13 Apr 2005 21:40:00 GMT

Thomas Hawk writes, "Forrester Research Defines The Future Of Digital Audio -- New Report Forecasts Growth Of Satellite Radio And Podcasting: "Podcasting, which is the newest entrant into the digital audio mix, will see significant growth by 2010 -- reaching 12.3 million households -- as MP3 adoption climbs and broadband reaches 62 percent of households." Personally I think that it will be higher than this -- but then again a lot of this depends on when Howard Stern and Sirius will begin offering podcast downloads of his day old content. Seems like a no brainer."

Efficient manufacturing cuts LCD production cost in half

Wed, 13 Apr 2005 21:29:26 GMT

"Market research firm Displaysearch expects manufacturing costs for LCD panels to drop by 62 percent ... " [ more... ]

Video Projectors: Evolving Towards High Definition

Wed, 13 Apr 2005 20:15:22 GMT

Now that the first wave of 16:9 video projectors has passed, new models are arriving, all of them able to display High Definition (HD) signals. HD is in fact a generic term for all types of signals whose resolution is higher than standard video images with a resolution of 720 pixels wide by 480 (NTSC) or 576 (PAL) lines. For the moment, there is no real HD standard - the US uses a system called ATSC, whereas Europe uses DVBS. To better understand the difference between an NTSC 525-line or PAL 625-line signal and the HDTV format, you have to keep in mind that the resolution is doubled horizontally as well as vertically. So theoretically the image is four times better in terms of resolution. [ more... ]

NEC Japan unveils All-in-one PC TV

Wed, 13 Apr 2005 20:13:20 GMT

"NEC presented a desktop version of their AV PC (Audio Video PC) W900. The first thing to notice is its TV-like design and the size of the screen - a 26-inch 1360 x 768 pixel TFT LCD. NEC offers two processors to go along with the PC: The W900 integrates a 2.80 GHz Pentium 4 520 and 300 GByte harddrive space; the the W700 comes witha Celeron 340 2.93 GHz CPU and 250 GByte.

Both models are based on Intel's i915V chipset with integrated video functionality and a hardware MPEG2 decoder, a TV tuner, a DVD R/RW/RAM and DL burner. Pricing is expected to be just under $3000." [ more... ]

Sony 'open' to Blu-ray Disc/HD DVD bonding talks

Wed, 13 Apr 2005 20:11:44 GMT

Sony has held an olive branch out to proponents of the HD DVD blue-laser optical disc format, inviting them to discuss how their preferred format could come together with its choice, Blu-ray Disc.

Speaking to Reuters, Sony's head of next-generation DVD development, Yukinori Kawauchi said the company wanted to avoid a clash of formats. "From the point of view to provide the best service to the consumer one format is better than two," he said. "We're open to discussions." [ more... ]

Walking Human-Shaped Robot Going on Sale

Tue, 12 Apr 2005 17:49:30 GMT

A small walking man-shaped robot for home security and entertainment is going on sale in Japan for 588,000 yen ($5,450).

The 15-inch tall, 5.5 pound robot called nuvo from ZMP Inc. also comes in a fancier $8,200 version with the same functions and a design inspired by lacquer-ware painted on its body.

The robot can walk, get up and respond to voice commands such as "turn right." It links to mobile phones so that people can check on images of their homes taken on a digital camera inside the robot's head. It can be controlled by a remote and is programmed to do a dance. It also makes musical sounds. [ more... ]

Interview and Pictures: JVC's ProHD Camcorders

Tue, 12 Apr 2005 16:39:51 GMT

JVC plans to introduce ProHD, a new line of HDV -based products at NAB 2005. The new line of products includes two pro-level camcorders , an HDV videotape machine and more. In this exclusive DMN interview, Dave Walton, National Marketing Communications Manager of JVC Professional Products Company talked to Digital Media Net’s Charlie White about JVC ’s HDV initiative and its implications for content creators. As an added bonus, inside you’ll see the first group of high resolution photos of JVC ’s GV-HD100 HDV camcorder to be published anywhere in the world. [ more... ]

Ritek, CMC poised to produce blue-laser HD-DVD discs

Tue, 12 Apr 2005 16:34:12 GMT

Ritek and CMC Magnetics are preparing to begin production of HD-DVD (High-Density Digital Versatile Disc), a blue-laser DVD standard of the next generation developed by Toshiba and NEC, discs in the third or fourth quarter of this year, according to the two companies.

Since blue-laser HD-DVD is compatible with the current DVD technological specifications, existing DVD production lines with addition of some advanced equipment can be used to manufacture HD-DVD discs, Ritek pointed out. Trial production of HD-DVD discs has been finished at its test lab and volume production will be started next quarter at the earliest, Ritek indicated.

CMC plans to start volume production of blue-laser HD-DVD discs by the end of this year, the company noted.

As production of Blu-ray Discs, currently the other next-generation blue-laser DVD format, entails different manufacturing equipment, Ritek plans to begin volume production in the first or second quarter of 2006, the company said. } Source: DigiTimes daily IT news

Intel Announces New Embedded Chipset

Tue, 12 Apr 2005 14:42:45 GMT

"Intel has announced a new consumer electronics (CE) and mobile platform chipset, the Intel® 854. The platform and software solution will help enable faster time-to-market and ensure that CE devices, such as IP-digital set top boxes (IP-STB) and digital media recorders (DMR) work well together.

The Intel® 854 Development Platform includes the new Intel® 854 chipset and is a scalable, high performance building block for CE applications and platforms. The Intel 854 platform enables CE developers to bring flexibility and application-handling performance of Intel® Architecture computing to the world of CE devices.

"Intel's vision of the digital home is an environment where consumers can easily access content wherever and whenever they want in the home, using a variety of PC and networked devices that easily communicate and work together," said Glenda Dorchak, vice president, general manager, Consumer Electronics Group, Intel's Digital Home Group. "The Intel 854 platform and software solution enables CE developers to address many of the design and performance needs and deliver more advanced devices to consumers while helping reduce total system cost."

Intel works closely with CE developers worldwide to bring advanced features to CE devices. These developers include: Eriya, Gigabyte, Handan BroadInfoCom, Hopen, Media Excel, Neusoft, Oregan Networks, Samsung, Tatung, Thomson and Toshiba Corporation." [ more... ]

Microsoft Teams With MTV to Provide Exclusive Sneak Peek at the Debut of the Next-Generation Xbox

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 15:30:12 GMT

Microsoft Corp. released a press release today stating that, "Music Television and Microsoft Corp. today announced a global marketing alliance to unveil the next-generation Xbox® video game system on MTV channels in the United States, Asia Pacific and Europe, all within a 24-hour window -- a first for the video game industry. The highly anticipated console will be revealed to video game fanatics, music lovers and MTV viewers via a high-energy half-hour program titled "MTV Presents: The Next Generation Xbox Revealed." The special will be hosted by entertainment icon, seasoned gamer and Xbox fanatic Elijah Wood, known globally for the Academy Award-winning "Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Island Records' renowned Las Vegas rockers The Killers will deliver electrifying performances throughout the special. The global broadcast will premiere Thursday, May 12, at 9:30 p.m. EDT in North America and on Friday, May 13 in other regions around the globe (local air times below).

Viewers will get an exclusive look at the Xbox vision for the next generation -- one that ensures that the user experience is always connected, always personalized and always in high definition. The special will feature never-before-seen, action-packed gameplay of future Xbox games, a peek into the future of the Xbox Live (TM) online gaming service, backstage celebrity interviews and exclusive insider footage on the making of the next-generation console.

The inside look at the next-generation Xbox will continue at MTV.com, where after the special, viewers will find extended event coverage including behind-the-scenes video, photos and other special extras. MTV.com will also provide ongoing in-depth coverage of the next-generation Xbox highlighting the latest news, product details and previews of hot next-generation games."

MS, Sony pick 16 May for next-gen console launches

Mon, 11 Apr 2005 14:11:47 GMT

In an article for The Register, Tony Smith writes, “The waiting will be over on 16 May. On that day, at 3PM PST, Sony will take the wraps off PlayStation 3. Three hours later, Microsoft will unveil Xbox 2.

Well, that's the hope. Certainly, Sony has scheduled a press event at its Culver City, Los Angeles Sony Pictures facility on that date and time. Microsoft, meanwhile, has booked a venue in downtown LA with a view to a 6PM opening time, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

That either company intends to announce its next-generation console at their respective events hasn't been confirmed, but with the E3 games industry show due to kick off the day after, 17 May, it's a pretty good bet that both companies have big gaming announcements to make.”

All-Star Publishers Commit to Deliver Content for Next-Generation Xbox Platform

Fri, 08 Apr 2005 20:28:45 GMT

Microsoft Corp. today unveiled its all-star lineup of award-winning publishers committed to making the leap into the HD Era on Microsoft's next-generation Xbox® platform.

The future Xbox will deliver on the company's vision of the HD Era -- an era fueled by consumer demand for experiences that are always connected, always personalized and always high-definition -- through the amazing clarity of high-definition graphics, extraordinary benefits of constant connectedness and exceptional personalization abilities. To help make this a reality, Microsoft has assembled some of the most powerful publishers to drive the industry into the high-definition gaming revolution. Together, these publishers have sold more than half a billion copies of current-generation Xbox console video games worldwide and represent approximately 70 percent of all current-generation console games sold in 2004.*

"The key to bringing the vision for the HD Era of gaming to life is our partners: world-class publishers and developers that have molded and shaped the history of interactive entertainment for tens of millions of gamers worldwide," said Peter Moore, corporate vice president of Xbox global content and marketing at Microsoft. "This stellar lineup of publishers and developers is poised to deliver games experiences our customers only dreamed were possible, and is ultimately committed to elevating video games to be the No. 1 form of entertainment." [ more... ]

STUDIOS: For Now VOD is DOA

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 15:41:24 GMT

New technology might capture headlines, but so far it's not doing much for the bottom lines of the studios or their parent companies, a panel of media moguls said here last week.

Appearing together at the National Cable Show, sponsored by the National Cable and Telecommunications Assn., top execs from Disney, NBC-Universal, News Corp. and Time Warner all but dismissed video-on-demand as a serious competitor to DVD for the next five years.

"You can't put any food on the table today with VOD," NBC-Universal chief Robert Wright said. "Maybe five years from now, VOD will develop into something. But we have a long way to go before we get there."

Incoming Disney CEO Robert Iger put the timetable for VOD at closer to 10 years. [ more... ]

Sony patent takes first step towards real-life Matrix

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 14:50:38 GMT

IMAGINE movies and computer games in which you get to smell, taste and perhaps even feel things. That's the tantalising prospect raised by a patent on a device for transmitting sensory data directly into the human brain - granted to none other than the entertainment giant Sony.

The technique suggested in the patent is entirely non-invasive. It describes a device that fires pulses of ultrasound at the head to modify firing patterns in targeted parts of the brain, creating "sensory experiences" ranging from moving images to tastes and sounds. This could give blind or deaf people the chance to see or hear, the patent claims.

While brain implants are becoming increasingly sophisticated, the only non-invasive ways of manipulating the brain remain crude. A technique known as transcranial magnetic stimulation can activate nerves by using rapidly changing magnetic fields to induce currents in brain tissue. However, magnetic fields cannot be finely focused on small groups of brain cells, whereas ultrasound could be. [ more... ]

Cable and Tech Bigwigs Make Nice

Thu, 07 Apr 2005 14:33:17 GMT

Strange bedfellows met this week in San Francisco as cable companies and tech gurus put their suits and pocket protectors together in a concerted effort to make boatloads of money.

The event was the National Cable Show, the cable industry's annual convention. At stake is the melding of broadband pipes and digital television into a new series of products that leverage the strength of Hollywood, Silicon Valley and Wall Street.

The cable industry wants consumers to use their cable service to record and time-shift TV programs, play online video games, call up video-on-demand, or VOD, content on a whim, access the internet and replace their old telephone company with voice over internet protocol, or VOIP, service.

In many cases, consumers may have trouble discerning between the different services. And that seems to be the point.

"We're going to see that the internet and television are really two sides of the same sheet of paper," said Gary Stein, a senior analyst at Jupiter Research.

Such talk of "convergence" has been bubbling for years within the cable industry with limited results to show for it. But if comments this week were any indication, cable operators and tech companies are starting to project renewed confidence -- along with the realization that they need each other to turn visions into reality. [ more... ]

A Billion Bits Per Second

Wed, 06 Apr 2005 15:31:49 GMT

As we recently noted, DOCSIS 3.0 should be the cable industry's weapon of choice in fighting off bell next gen DSL and fiber deployment (provided they get off their duffs and deploy it). USAToday explores how the standard should increase cable broadband speeds by 400% to 1,600%, and quotes Comcast CEO Brian Roberts as saying "a billion bits per second is completely doable." [ more... ]

Challenging cable, U.S. phone firms plan to offer television

Wed, 06 Apr 2005 03:17:16 GMT

U.S. telephone companies are desperate to be seen, not just heard.

In the coming months, the Bell telephone companies, including SBC and Verizon, will start selling television programming, their latest effort to crack a market in which they have had almost no presence.

The cable industry, meeting here this week for its annual trade show, is already bracing for the assault on its prime turf.

To offer paid TV services, the Bells are spending billions of dollars to expand their fastest fiber optic networks and improve technology that can send video to their phone and Internet customers. [ more... ]

Rochester's Sewer Fiber

Tue, 05 Apr 2005 18:27:44 GMT

The city of Rochester, NY is considering opening the 40 miles of fiber-optic cable in the county sewer lines (used to monitor the system) to broader residential and city use, reports the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. As with every other muni-effort, the local incumbent (Time Warner Cable) is first on the scene with dire warnings about competing with the private sector. [ more... ]

Calling all TVs

Tue, 05 Apr 2005 18:07:27 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO--Cox Communications and Cablevision have in mind the ultimate feature for couch potatoes: answering the phone with your TV.

As described this week by executives attending the National Cable & Telecommunications Association's annual show here, someone watching TV will soon be able to answer incoming calls, direct them to voice mail, or even screen them using caller ID, all through their televisions.

Cox's service is expected by the end of the year. Time Warner Cable executives didn't specify a debut date.

Managing phones calls using TV is made possible, in part, by new developments in on-screen telephony from Moxi, Scientific-Atlanta, Motorola, Digeo and other providers of set-top boxes, which cable operators distribute to customers. A caller ID feature is also available within many PCs running Windows XP Media Center Edition, an entertainment-oriented version of XP that has sold about 1.4 million copies. [ more... ]

Discs Are So Dead

Tue, 05 Apr 2005 15:58:29 GMT

Two new formats aim to bury the DVD, but web distribution will kill them all. By Robert Capps from Wired magazine. [ more... ]