CREATION
Boris FX has announced the release of Boris Graffiti 5.2. Boris Graffiti is a 2D/3D titling solution with extensive title animation capabilities including support for; EPS import and extrusion, resolution independent vector text, advanced type-on title animation, text on a path and automated rolls, crawls, fades and zooms. A plug-in package for 20-plus non-linear editing systems, the new release is offered free for existing Boris Graffiti 5.0 customers via electronic distribution and adds support for major operating systems Leopard (Apple OS X) and Vista (Microsoft), as well as extended Sony Vegas 8.0 and Adobe CS 3.0 host integration with full validation for the Intel-Mac versions of After Effects and Premiere Pro and After Effects for Windows Vista. The point release also optimizes several features including Preview to Monitor which now supports Firewire as well as AJA video cards and an enhanced Boris Title Container with better control over sub titles—Marlborough, Massachusetts
CREATION
Just released by Gertrudis Graphics is their new Gertrudis Pro 3.4. This is stand alone software with the ability to transform your digital photographs into artistic paintings. A variety of styles are possible, from watercolor to crayon or oil paintings. The software also offers users the option of rendering the output at any resolution, without loss of quality or pixelation. The software works with two images… the original and the resultant. Also provided are a set of tools that allow the user to create a stylized version of the original image. Color variations in brushstrokes may be specified and the user interface is easy to use and intuitive. The software requires a Windows-based PC with 128MB RAM. A free demo is available here.
CONTENT
Music 2 Hues has just released their Flagship Series premiere music CD line, with each CD specializing in a distinct music style. The tracks are for use in film, video, documentary, multimedia projects and more… the CDs include full length tracks plus :60 and :30 second versions, when available. All of the tracks were performed by pro musicians and have been digitally mixed and mastered. Plus, existing Flagship Series clients receive discounts on all future royalty-free CD titles. There are currently 73 Flagship CD titles available. Head to the websites to learn more…
DELIVERY
Omneon, Inc. has acquired Castify Networks, a provider of software-based solutions for managing the distribution of digital content over the Internet and private Intranets. Castify’s end-to-end software solutions enable enterprises and service providers to build scalable, easy-to-manage, and cost-efficient service delivery platforms for content distribution over public and private networks. Castify’s EBN and CBN products, built on SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) principles, allow companies to virtualize services across globally distributed locations, enabling fast service access, high performance, and high availability. Castify’s modular product suite forms the foundation of a digital content delivery platform to distribute, monitor, and manage media assets from any location—Sunnyvale, California
DELIVERY
Oregan Networks now has available a customizable white label device foundation solution and a system integration toolkit for the creation of multiroom media gateways with web and broadcast connectivity. Oregan developed Moka as a modular near-turnkey platform that will power competitive hybrid strategies of digital broadcasters and convergence consumer electronics vendors. Moka features the blend of Internet content browsing capabilities with the functionalities of playback, recording and multi-room distribution of digital cable, satellite and terrestrial interactive programming. The hybrid architecture of the solution enables use of broadcast media for linear programming. The architecture also preserves broadband pipelines for the higher margin IP video on demand, gaming and infotainment. Moka has been designed as a flexible, customizable, and hardware-independent set of synergistic digital TV modules allowing the operator to deliver program search and EPG as integral parts of the interactive TV experience. Instant data and graphics updates to the user interface, as well as push-advertising, will become accessible via Oregan’s AJAX browser. The Moka solution is based on a single-chip STi7109 multimedia decoding solution developed by STMicroelectronics. The chipset enables high definition digital video and graphics or audio to be delivered from multiple IP and broadcast sources of entertainment – inside and outside the home—London, United Kingdom
CREATION
Starting this month, Panasonic will be shipping all new AG-HVX200 P2 HD camcorders with a free 16GB P2 card (model AJ-P2C016RG). Customers that purchase a new HVX200 from an authorized U.S. Panasonic reseller will receive one 16GB P2 card (a $900 value) plus a copy of The HVX Book by Barry Green, both items included inside the box at the time of purchase. On a single 16GB P2 card, professionals can record for 16 minutes in DVCPRO HD, 40 minutes in DVCPRO HD in native 720/24p, 32 minutes in DVCPRO50 and 64 minutes in DVCPRO. With the HVX200, which has two P2 card slots, users can double record times. The HVX200 records in 1080i and 720p in production-proven 100 Mbps DVCPRO HD quality, with the ability to capture images in 21 record modes. The DVCPRO HD format offers users intra-frame compression, where each frame stands on its own for editing. The camera’s full 4:2:2 color sampling allows the image to hold up under color correction. The HVX200 can capture fast or slow action in 720p at various frame rates—the first time this function is available in a hand-held camera. The shooting frame rate in 720p native mode can be set for any of 11 steps between 12fps and 60fps including 24fps and 30fps—Secaucus, New Jersey
DELIVERY
Volicon has announced that CBS affiliate KFMB-TV in San Diego has implemented the company’s Observer desktop monitoring system. At KFMB, the Observer provides around-the-clock recording and monitoring of off-air content to support the station’s efforts to comply with ASCAP and BMI contracts as well as to troubleshoot transmission errors. KFMB has installed a two-channel Observer system with 180 days of total storage. The Observer provides a fully digital, file-based replacement for the station’s previous VHS-based system, which did not provide the recording capabilities that KFMB requires to meet broadcast compliance needs. Within a single system, KFMB is able to record and monitor video from its HD broadcast on one channel and SD off-air content on the other channel. The Observer records the aired audio track as well as the director’s private line intercom track. This allows operators to determine later whether a transmission fault is due to a technical error or a missed cue from the director. When a fault occurs, the system automatically notifies operators via e-mail with an attached clip of the video displaying the fault. In addition, the Observer provides the video documentation KFMB needs to demonstrate to performance rights organizations ASCAP and BMI that the station is paying the proper licensing fees—Burlington, Massachusetts
digiBits
AT&T is going to purchase 400 million shares… of their own stock. The price will be around $15.2 billion, if based on Monday’s stock closing price. That’s about 7 percent of their stock… AT&T has raised their dividend to $0.40 per share and if you want a piece of this action, you’ll be eligible for the dividend if you purchase your shares prior to January 10th, 2008…
A new marketing campaign by the BBC will promote the new look of the bbc.co.uk website, especially now that a new version of iPlayer has been created, allowing for use by Macintosh users for the first time…this also applies to Linux system users, as well… this means Macs, PCs and Linux machines can now access content downloading and streaming…
Blockbuster‘s Movielink service will host the premiere of the hour long feature Jackass 2.5 from Paramount Pictures… this will be a free, ad-supported streaming opportunity via Movielink and, after the debut, the film will be packaged as a DVD and then downloadable on Amazon and iTunes… rentals will also be available via satellite and cable VOD services…Paramount won’t be the ONLY one watching the stats on this project…
Charles Osgood, anchor of CBS News Sunday Morning and of CBS Radio Network‘s The Osgood File, will be honored with the NAB Distinguished Service Award during the NAB Show. The award will be presented during the All Industry Opening Keynote, sponsored by Accenture, Monday, April 14 in Las Vegas…
Discovery Communications will now see the combined stakes from both Discovery Holding Company (DHC) and Advance/Newhouse Programming Partnership… both firms just signed a non-binding letter of intent to this end… DHC will now have to create a wholly-owned sub holding the nets and creative services business of Ascent Media Group which, once spun off, will be combined into a new holding company. The stockholders of DHC will then receive common stock shares of the new, publicly-traded holding company…
Just ’cause Google’s OpenSocial app standard has been activated is pretty good reason for Facebook to initiate their Facebook Platform… other sites will also be able to implement this technology through a licensing program by Facebook, with BEBO doing so…
A new FCC commissioner has been appointed by President Bush… he is Jonathan Adelstein who is a strong believer in rural companies and issues… he has a five year term and the nomination is also supported by the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association…
ITV has revealed their digital channels should reel in more than $200 million (289 million euros) this year, with ad revenues up 32 percent year-on-year… the channels responsible for this charge upwards are ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, CITV and Men & Motors… ITV1 continues with audience decline and lagging revenues…
MTV videos will be available on AOL Video in their short form format… CMT, Logo and MTV2 videos will start showing up this week…
Ovum is a firm replete with research specialists and that firm has been teamed up with FierceMarkets to deliver the recently published “IPTV: challenges and opportunities: The opportunity to develop a successful value-added service business“. Despite the long title, this report offers insights into one of the most discussed topics in consumer telecom space over the past year—IPTV. By 2011, Ovum estimates there will be more than 55 million IPTV subs worldwide, but such still represents just a small portion of the TV industry. Through FierceIPTV, there is a 20 percent discount available on this report… Click here for further details…
Telus‘ software-as-a-service package is going to be marketed by Jamcracker to small U.S. telcos…this will allow a great number of tier 2 and tier 3 carriers to offers competing biz and IT apps, as well as customer support, as the larger telcos can offer…
The Nielsen Company will measure the ratings for HBO‘s on-demand offerings as well as Cinemax On Demand… this will be the first time a broadcaster will obtain ratings on those services… Nielsen will use its National People Meter VOD Audience Measurement services to accomplish this task…
Verizon has expanded their IP trunking so that large enterprise clients can deploy a far broader range of IP PBxs and also enjoy shared trunking… they have also stated customers can use Ethernet as a VoIP transition path…
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