Thursday, December 30, 2010

1080p HD over WiFi or wired Ethernet






Cube is the world’s first camera-top wireless HD video encoder. Cube streams up to 1080p over WiFi or wired Ethernet. Cube is the ideal solution for guerilla filmmakers who need on-set video monitoring without the cost or complexity of a full VTR rig. Cube is also a great solution for full-scale film productions to eliminate camera tethering on long dolly moves, running footage, steadicam shots, hand-held operation, jib-arms, and crane shots.


Cube’s ad-hoc networking mode creates a network and streams directly to a decoding device such as a Laptop or iPad with no other equipment required. Using Cube’s infrastructure network mode Cube’s IP video stream can be distributed over a LAN/WAN or over the Internet. Cube uses the world’s most advanced video compression – H.264 High Profile Level 4.1 and provides Blu-ray video quality. Cube’s end-to-end latency is approximately 1/8-1/2 second.*


Cube is tiny (about the size of a deck of cards), uses only 2.5W of DC power, and weighs only 7 ounces, and mounts easily to a rail system, cage, hotshoe, or camera baseplate. Cube’s line-of-sight WiFi range is approximately 300 feet when used with a high quality WiFi access point. Cube has been tested extensively with RED ONE**, Arri Alexa, Panavision Genesis, Canon 5Dii, Canon 7D, various handi-cams and more.


Latency measured by independent third party testers. iPad’s native video decoder adds approximately 10 seconds of latency. An RTP solution for iPad will be available shortly to eliminate the latency issue.

Cube is not compatible with RED ONE’s HDMI output as its output is non-standard. Cube works beautifully with RED ONE’s HD-SDI.

Download Cube Spec Sheet


Supported Input Resolutions
• 1080p/PsF @ 23.98/24/25/29.97/30Hz
• 1080i @ 50/59.94/60Hz
• 720p @ 50/59.94/60Hz

Streaming Output Resolutions
Cube features a built-in scaler to downscale to lower resolutions.
• 1080p/PsF @ 23.98/24/25/29.97/30Hz
• 1080i @ 50/59.94/60Hz
• 720p @ 50/59.94/60Hz
• 480p @ 50/59.94/60Hz

Video Codec
• Compression Algorithm: High Profile H.264 (L4.1), MJPEG
• Bit Rate: 250 Kbps to 10 Mbps

Audio
• Embedded Stereo over HD-SDI or HDMI
• 1/8” Stereo TRS Line Level input
• Audio Compression: AAC-LC, MPEG Layer 2

Network
• Ethernet: 10/100BASE-T
• Network Protocols: TCP/IP, UDP, HTTP, DHCP, NTP, SSL, IGMP
•Transport Protocols: RTP, RTSP, RTP over HTTP, MPEG-TS*, HTTP Live Steaming
• Feature-rich WebUI for configuration and control
• Point to Point (TCP or UDP), Multiple Unicast (UDP), or
• Multicast (UDP+IGMP)*

Physical
• Dimensions: 2.5”W x 3.5”D x 0.9”H
• Weight: 7 oz.
• Nominal Power Consumption: 2.5W
• PoE: 802.3af Compliant
• Auxiliary Power Input: 9-24V DC

Price
• $1,490 to $2,190 depending on model.

Teradek

FLV-Scrubber for lighttpd

This has been around for a while, but I just learned about it.

It's a simple flash video player that works with the lighttpd webserver

FLV-Scrubber is a small light flash web app does a pseudo-streaming, progressive download and playing of FLV-files.

Scrubbing  meaning that you can move a slider and jump to any part of the video, which YouTube can do too.


FLV-Scrubber 3.x This is as close to a home page that I can find for it.
FLV-Scrubber for lighttpd V.1.0 released
flv streaming with lighttpd

Panasonic HDC-SDT750

This is possibly the first high-def 3-D camcorder
 
A hybrid camcorder that records two images with one sensor, the SDT750 makes 3-D practical. The 2-D camera comes with a dual-lens accessory that separates what the left and right eye see before the image sensor merges them as one file. The resulting video is the same format as 3-D cable broadcasts, which combine the left and right images side by side in one frame.

The lens separation seems a little small, for most people eyes are 2.5" apart, and some of the profession camera seem to use that too.  If anyone has used this please comment, also please upload a youtube clip and send me a link to it.


Product Highlights

  • - 1920 x 1080/60p HD
  • - 3D Video Recording
  • - SD/SDHC/SDXC Flash Memory
  • - 3 x 1/4.1" 3.05MP CMOS Sensor
  • - 3" Touch Screen LCD
  • - Leica Dicomar Built-In Lens
  • - VW-CLT1 3D Conversion Lens
  • - 18x Intelligent Zoom
  • - Hybrid Optical Image Stabilization
  • - Digital Still Capture
 Engadget

 Available from B&H for $1,174.89

See also:
http://www.3d-display-info.com/panasonic-vw-clt1
http://3dvision-blog.com/tag/panasonic-vw-clt1/
Panasonic VW-CLT1 3D Converter Lens for SDT750
3D Camera Test Panasonic TM750 + VW-CLT1

Surveillance society

American Civil Liberties Union warned that the said phenomenon is no longer a fiction. “Many people still do not grasp that Big Brother surveillance is no longer the stuff of books and movies," explains Barry Steinhardt in an interview. (Published January 2003)


Many people still do not grasp that Big Brother surveillance is no longer the stuff of books and movies," said Barry Steinhardt, former Director of the ACLU's Technology and Liberty Program and a co-author of the report.
"Given the capabilities of today's technology, the only thing protecting us from a full-fledged surveillance society are the legal and political institutions we have inherited as Americans," he added. "Unfortunately, the September 11 attacks have led some to embrace the fallacy that weakening the Constitution will strengthen America."
The ACLU said that its report, Bigger Monster, Weaker Chains: The Growth of an American Surveillance Society, is an attempt to step back from the daily march of stories about new surveillance programs and technologies and survey the bigger picture. The report argues that even as surveillance capacity grows like a "monster" in our midst, the legal "chains" needed to restrain that monster are being weakened. The report cites not only new technology but also erosions in protections against government spying, the increasing amount of tracking being carried out by the private sector, and the growing intersection between the two.
"From government watch lists to secret wiretaps -- Americans are unknowingly becoming targets of government surveillance," said Dorothy Ehrlich, deputy executive director of the ACLU. "It is dangerous for a democracy that government power goes unchecked and for this reason it is imperative that our government be made accountable."
A recent illustration of the danger, according to the ACLU report, is the Pentagon's Total Information Awareness (TIA) program, which seeks to sift through a vast array of databases full of personal information in the hunt for terrorism. "Even if TIA never materializes in its current form," Steinhardt said, "what this report shows is that the underlying trends are much bigger than any one program or any one controversial figure like John Poindexter."
Steinhardt said that Americans haven't yet felt the full potential of the new technology for invading privacy because of latent inefficiencies in how government and businesses handle information. "Database inefficiencies can't be expected to protect our privacy forever," said Steinhardt. "Eventually businesses and government agencies will settle on standards for tying together information, and gain the ability to monitor many of our activities -- either directly through surveillance cameras, or indirectly by analyzing the information trails we leave behind us as we go through life."

VidTrim for Android Lets You Edit Videos on Your Phone

Some camera phones  can now capture video in 720p. If you’re going to be capturing video on your phone, though, it’s very likely that you might at some point want to snip out just a portion of your video before you send it as MMS or upload it to youtube.  Xda-developers member neoMJ has written a tool for Android that can do exactly that.  VidTrim will allow you select start and end points of any video and trim it to just the section you want, and then save the new section as its own video, or overwrite the old video. Due to different manufacturers using different encodings, it doesn’t work on ALL phones yet, but it has been tested and shown to work with the Galaxy S phones.

http://www.xda-developers.com/android/vidtrim-a-video-editor-for-android/

London Police Credit CCTV Cameras With Six Solved Crimes Per Day

From Slashdot:

"CCTV cameras across London help solve almost six crimes a day, the Metropolitan Police has said. According to the article, 'the number of suspects who were identified using the cameras went up from 1,970 in 2009 to 2,512 this year. The rise in the number of criminals caught also raises public confidence and counters bad publicity for CCTV.'"

Not sure I believe it.

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The HDcctv Alliance

The HDcctv Alliance is the global industry consortium for High Definition surveillance equipment interoperability. Here are some of the companies already committed to making HDcctv a reality.

http://www.highdefcctv.org/

HDcctv is a standard for transmitting 720P and 1080P video over coaxial cable uncompressed and non-packetized. The technology is based on the work of SMPTE for broadcast studios, and behaves much the same way analog does, video starts streaming out of the source line by line to a receiver with next to no latency.

It's based on HD-SDI adapted from broadcast HDTV

Animoto: Generate Video Slide Shows.

I was surprised to learn about Animoto, that the White house is using it and how Amazon Cloud was scaling it.

“patent-pending Cinematic Artificial Intelligence technology and high-end motion design”

They say the Cinematic A.I. analyzes users’ photos and music like an actual director and editor. For instance, to analyze music the genre, song structure, energy, rhythm, instrumentation, and vocals are all taken into consideration.


Once completed, videos can be emailed, downloaded and embedded into other sites. The company says no two videos are ever the same.

Animoto’s founders have a good amount of experience in the entertainment industry having produced shows for MTV, Comedy Central and ABC among other things. The company is based in New York City, but also has an office in San Francisco.


The end of slideshows.
Automatically produce beautifully orchestrated, completely unique videos from your photos, video clips and music. Fast, free and shockingly easy.

http://animoto.com/


From Slashdot:
"Dave Winer was already upset that Amazon Web Services (AWS) pulled the plug on WikiLeaks for posting classified U.S. government documents. So, he wasn't exactly thrilled to receive email three weeks later from an AWS PR flack boasting that 'the U.S. federal government continues to be one of our fastest growing customer segments'. Writes Winer: 'It makes perfect sense that the US government is a big customer of Amazon's web services. It also makes perfect sense that Amazon wouldn't want to do anything to jeopardize that business. There might not have even been a phone call, it might not have been necessary.' Amazon, which wowed the White House with its ability to scale video slideshow site Animoto, was able to get its foot in the Federal door as a Recovery.gov redesign subcontractor."

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

SafeSky Bank ATM DVR in D1 resolution


Merry Christmas And
Happy new Year!
ATM DVR



ATM DVR  SD-R6104

FEATURES:

Could conect with ATM and support  card text overlay.
Stand-Alone DVR,  H.264 Compression
Multiple Recording/ Search Categories:Date/Time, Event, Manual, Schedule,alarm, motion detection
Real time recording support: 120 Fps for NTSC at D1 image (100 Fps for PAL)
4CH Video recording at the same time
Pentaplex: Live, Record, Playback, Back-up and Network at the same time
Backup: CD-RW (Option: DVD-RW), USB 2.0 and NET backup supported

PTZ camera control in local and remote area
Network Viewer:
Static, Dynamic IP and DDNS , Support Internet Explorer and special client software
Remote Live Monitoring, file searching, Backup, Playback and PTZ camera control
Remote Configuration, Firmware Upgrade and Event (Alarm, Motion) Notification
Full duplex two way audio transmission

SafeSky

About SafeSky:

For 18 years, we've been focusing our efforts on manufacturing reliable CCTV
security products. That's why over 20 major banks worldwide, including Bank of
China, China Construction Bank and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China
partner with us. We have experienced engineers - some of whom have trained
at Sony and Huawei - to work on your projects. By allocating 15 percent of our
annual revenue for R&D, we release up to five new products every month.
Utilizing two ISO 9001:2008-certified factories, one for the production of CCTV
cameras and another for DVRs, we're able to turn out 95,000 units monthly.
These facilities house advanced SMT machines for more efficient order
processing. We've also built long-term relationships with Sony, Sharp and Texas
Instruments to source premium components at competitive prices.
To ensure the quality of our goods, we assign 30 QC technicians to oversee the
manufacturing process. They conduct random 48-hour aging and temperature
tests on all finished products. As a result, the repair rate for our items is
0.1 percent. Call our English-speaking representatives today.

Alice Wang
Overseas Sales Manager
SafeSky Technology Co.,Ltd

Add: 10A JinRun building ShenNan Road Futian Area ,ShenZhen ,Guangdong ,China. 518000
Tel: +86-755-82830586
Fax:+86-755-82830582


Email: overseas@safeskycn.com       Service:service@safeskycn.com                          
MSN ID: safeskycn@hotmail.com
SKYPE ID: Safeskycn

Monday, December 27, 2010

Logitech stops production of Revue box for Google TV

Logitech told Taiwan-based Gigabyte Technology to suspend production of its Revue set-top box -- the companion to Google's new Google TV service -- until sometime next month, according to a published report. A Logitech spokeswoman declined to comment, but the latest Internet reports indicate the stoppage may have been prompted by Google. TG Daily, eWeek.com, CNET/Media Maverick blog.


Shortly after Google launched Google TV in October via the Revue companion boxes and Internet TVs and Blu-ray players from Sony it became clear to many reviewers that the product felt unfinished.

Although all of the Google TV launch devices have their differences, at their core they're all running Android on an Intel CE4100 media processor, which is essentially a 1.2GHz Atom core that's been beefed up with some extra graphics hardware capable of capturing and decoding 1080p video  This is a big win for Intel in this space -- and in fact, Intel claims to have written half of Google TV's code.


http://www.engadget.com/2010/10/29/google-tv-review/

Sunday, December 26, 2010

3D jpeg formats.

Most 3D still images in either JPS, MPO or PNS format.



JPS FORMAT

JPS is really just two separate images in a JPEG file with a different extension. It contains two identically sized pictures arranged side by side. If you view this picture in a JPG viewer, you'll see the right eye view on the left and the left eye view on the right.

Mime type="image/x-jps"

DepthCharge is a free plug-in for Netscape and Internet Explorer. It allows you to view JPS files in web pages. I find it does a great job and it allows you to display pictures in a large number of different formats.

How to take in-game 3D Stereo screenshots in JPS format
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JPEG_Stereo

http://www.nuvision3d.com/software.html

http://ephehm.com/jps/



MPO FORMAT
Multi Picture Object (MPO)
used by the Fuji FinePix 3D W1 camera and the Nintendo 3DS

Mime type="image/mpo"

The format is proposed as an open standard by CIPA (Camera & Imaging Products Association) as CIPA DC-007-2009. It contains multiple JPEG images with respective thumbnails and metadata

Here is the standard that defines it:
http://www.cipa.jp/english/hyoujunka/kikaku/pdf/DC-007_E.pdf




PNS
The PNG Stereo (.pns) format consists of a side-by-side image based on PNG (Portable Network Graphics).

Mime type="image/pns"




HDMI 1.4

Video standard connection to 3D TV's, if your going to view these images on your tv.



NVIDIA 3D Vision supports both JPS and MPO format
http://www.nvidia.com/object/3d-vision-photo-viewer.html



Other links:
http://www.geforce.com/#/Optimize/Guides/Geforce-3D-Photos-Guide

StereoMirror Display Technology Basics



This seems to be for professional 3D video and still image work.
I think there's better put there like the Stereographics CrystalsEyes or Zscreen technology.

http://www.planar3d.com/3d-technology/stereoscopic-101/

http://www.planar3d.com/3d-configuration/configure-stereoscopic-content

StereoPhoto Maker 3D Still image tool

Study: 3D TV Viewers Need to Take a Break

Research showed that consumers preferred true 3D compared with televisions that have the 2D-to-3D conversion feature.

Viewers are comfortable with 3D and enjoy it more than programming in HD, according to research from ESPN Research + Analytics.

A key part of the study — which was conducted at the Disney Media & Advertising Lab in Austin and revealed Thursday — involves the potential for adverse viewing effects. Said Duane Varan, executive director and chief research officer of the lab: “We found no statistically significant adverse effects for stereopsis over a five-day period.”

Click www.hollywoodreporter.com for the whole story.

Wikipedia: stereopsis

Aerial Video Footage of New York Taken By RC Plane

From Slashdot:
"Expert remote control pilot Raphael 'Trappy' Pirker recently took his 54 inch Zephyr model plane on a harrowing tour of Manhattan and the surrounding area. The best part: his RC vehicle was fitted with a camera that wirelessly transmitted an amazing recording of everything it saw – Pirker was piloting his craft with this visual feed. As you can see in the video, the results were spectacular. The plane looks to be flying within a few feet of buildings and whizzing past bridges with ease. You have to check out around 2:01 when he starts to buzz right by the Statute of Liberty."



http://singularityhub.com/2010/12/21/breath-taking-aerial-video-footage-from-new-york-city-taken-by-a-rc-plane/

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1279141

 http://www.rangevideo.com/index.php?main_page=products_new

 http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1257311

Finding Independently Produced TV Shows?

From Slashdot:
"Slashdot recently reported that Stargate Universe was canceled, taking with it yet another of the vanishingly smaller network Sci-Fi shows to watch on TV. In the comments of that story someone mentioned Pioneer One as an alternative to traditional network series. I'm downloading it now and looking forward to seeing it, but I'm wondering what else is available that is independently produced and has a greater emphasis on plot and actually finishing the story? I'm already a fan of efforts like Batman: City of Scars, Starwreck: In the Pirkinning, and Star Trek: Phase II so I know that great things are possible, I just don't know where to find them! Can you help by making some recommendations?"

http://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/10/12/17/1943224/Stargate-Universe-Cancelled 
http://www.comicsalliance.com/2010/06/18/batman-fan-film-city-of-scars/
http://www.starwreck.com/ 
http://www.startreknewvoyages.com/ 
http://www.pioneerone.tv/


Miro [getmiro.com], previously called Democracy Player (as previously [slashdot.org] noted [slashdot.org] on [slashdot.org]), is an aggregation of independent TV programs. I believe it is exactly what you are looking for.
See also the Wikipedia articles on Web series [wikipedia.org] and the (now defunct) Open Media Network ... and YouTube.
Other recommendations would include Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog [drhorrible.com] and The Guild [watchtheguild.com] as well as others listed on Wikipedia's Internet television series [wikipedia.org].

http://www.journey-quest.com/ 

- Continuum, scifi: http://www.facebook.com/ContinuumTV (shot with a Canon 7D dSLR)
- Pink http://www.pinktheseries.com/
- http://mindseyeseries.com/ 
- http://www.minglemediatv.com/CursedWebSeries.html 
- http://www.crackle.com/c/Trenches
- http://www.crackle.com/c/Fear_Clinic 
- http://www.asylumseries.com/ (shot with a RED One)
- http://www.crackle.com/c/The_Bannen_Way
- http://www.crackle.com/c/Urban_Wolf
- condition:Human http://vimeo.com/user1160921
- http://compulsions.tv/

 and of course, the videos in these two Vimeo Channels: http://vimeo.com/channels/hd and http://vimeo.com/channels/staffpicks if you have a Roku, or a GoogleTV you can view most of these shows above via RSS, or via the Vimeo application for these two platforms. The videos in these two Vimeo channels, are really, really good indie work.

http://current.com/shows/bar-karma/ 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollywood_Stock_Exchange [wikipedia.org] to fund upcoming films.
Then "we" could all help fund sci-fi ideas we liked.

http://www.theforce.net/
http://www.fanfilms.net/index.php





Saturday, December 25, 2010

AT&T To Pay $1.93 Billion For FLO TV Spectrum

FLO TV -- Lower 700 MHz D and E block spectrum 716-722 MHz, which was previously allocated to UHF TV channel 55. It covers more than 300 million people across the U.S., with 70 million located in five major cities -- New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

FLO TV will be shut down in March, 2011

Qualcomm's MediaFLO was a competitor to the Korean T-DMB, the Japanese 1seg and the European DVB-H standards.

From Slashdot:
"AT&T on Monday announced it is buying from Qualcomm $1.925 billion worth of wireless spectrum that it plans to use for a 4G network. The spectrum was bought by Qualcomm for $125 million and had powered FLO TV."

More info:
FLO TV
MediaFLO home page
Wikipedia: MediaFLO
RabbitEars.Info MediaFLO Transmitter List

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Digital Cinema Open System Alliance

The Digital Cinema Open System Alliance is an industry group committed to promoting interoperability between digital cinema equipment from different vendors

DCOSA

Dolby Laboratories, MikroM, USL, and XDC Collaborate on Interface Specifications to Lower Development Costs, to Increase Flexibility, and to Support Innovation for the Digital Cinema Industry
Digital Cinema Open System Alliance Announces Launch of Interoperability Effort

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Tron: 82% of viewers watched in 3D; 24% in IMAX

The week before Christmas is notoriously bad for movies.
"Tron: Legacy," brought in an estimated $43.6 million in it's  first 3 days.

 Of 3,451 locations, 2,424 were 3D-equipped, including 234 Imax runs.

 Many theaters were offering both 2D and 3D showings.

Tron earned an overwhelming 82% of its weekend gross from 3D, 24% for digital or large format IMAX.

While "Yogi Bear" saw 57% from 3D, slightly higher than Disney's "Tangled."

Keep in mind this is for around $3 extra per ticket to see it in 3D.

"Tron" earned 24% of its weekend gross from Imax, for the exhib's largest opening share ever, with $10.3 million: Imax per-screen average was $44,000. Pic's Imax take even beat the $9.5 million bow for "Avatar," though it launched at 55 fewer Imax theaters.

It's no secret that 3D causes problems for a lot of people. Some people can't even see 3D, such as Cinemalogue's Rubin Safaya. But even Rubin, who gets a headache when attempting to watch any 3D movie admits that Tron: Legacy was better for him than most. He says, “I got a pretty intense headache with Avatar, I can tell you that. for the first 1/3rd of the film. Tron wasn't nearly that bad.” In part this may be because the opening minutes of the film are actually in 2D, which gives your eyes some relief before launching into all the 3D scenery. But for people who, unlike Rubin can see 3D, a lot of the time it has to do with brightness, and whether you have to strain to see the movie's 3D effects as they're projected. None of that's a problem with Tron: Legacy and, unless you're like Rubin odds are you won't have any problem with it at all. Even if you are like Rubin, it sounds like Tron: Legacy's 3D will treat you better than most. Leave the Tylenol at home.


To 3D Or Not To 3D: Buy The Right Tron: Legacy Ticket


'Tron' is tops at weekend B.O.

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Who is Lenny Lipton?

Lipton wrote the lyrics to the song Puff the Magic Dragon in 1959.

He is also the most prolific inventor in the field of 3D video and film with at least 31 patents  and another 40 pending applications in the area of stereoscopic displays. Lipton almost single-handedly created the electronic stereoscopic display industry.

Starting  in 1980 he founded StereoGraphics Corporation and in  1981 was granted a patent the first flicker-free electronic stereoscopic display (U.S. Patent No. 4,523,226)


In 1996 he received an award from the Smithsonian Institution for this invention of CrystalEyes, the first practical electronic stereoscopic product for computer graphics and video applications. StereoGraphics was acquired by Real-D Cinema in 2005.



In July of 2007 Lipton was the featured physicist in Physics World magazine because of his contributions to stereoscopic displays.

Lipton served as Chief technical officer of RealD through 2008 and has  The RealD 3D system now showing in theaters uses technology he invented. It is based on the push-pull electro-optical modulator called the ZScreen. More recently, he left RealD to start a new venture, Oculus3D, that has developed a low-cost 3D theatrical format that works with the installed base of 35mm movie projectors.


LennyLipton.com

Wikipedia: Lenny Lipton

Oculus3d™ Announces 3D Projection Solution for Existing 35 Millimeter Film Projectors

Oculus3d™ Announces 3D Projection Solution for Existing 35 Millimeter Film Projectors

Oculus3D vies to be the greener solution in disposable 3D shades


The Stereoscopic Cinema:From Film to Digital Projection

Toshiba Aims To Release Larger Glasses-Free 3-D TV

As Toshiba Corp. prepares to start selling the world’s first glasses-free 3-D televisions in Japan this week, the Japanese electronics and industrial conglomerate says it plans to go global with a larger model of over 40 inches in the coming fiscal year.

“Glass-less REGZA 3D TV”, the 20-inch 20GL1



12-inch 12GL1


The 20-inch LCD will feature a resolution of 1,280×720 (both for 2D and 3D images). It also comes with a special version of Toshiba’s Cell processor (which is a key element in the PS3, for instance) and has LED backlight. Buyers can expect an HDMI interface, a USB port, LAN, and REGZA Link.

The 12-inch model is considerably weaker, featuring 466×350 resolution and no CELL engine. It also comes with LED backlight, an HDMI interface, a USB port, LAN, and REGZA Link. What’s special about it is the SD card slot (for viewing JPEGs and AVCHD files) and the possibility to view 1Seg programs on it (1Seg is Japan’s digital mobile TV standard).

In Japan, Toshiba plans to sell the 20-inch TV for $2,900 and the 12-inch version for $1,450 (no word yet on international availability).

Head of Toshiba’s TV operations Masaaki Osumi said the new TV, due sometime in the coming fiscal year starting in April 2011, may offer the option of watching 3-D with or without glasses. The company plans to reveal more details on the new glasses-free TV at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in early January 2011, he said.

Tokyo-based Toshiba continues to push ahead with glasses-free  autostereoscopic TV development even as the company and its competitors plow money into marketing 3-D televisions requiring glasses. Competitors have said the technology is still several years from being market-ready for TVs, but Toshiba’s efforts could deter consumers from switching to 3-D sets immediately, based on expectations for glasses-free models to come soon.

The 3D effect.

  Toshiba promises that buyers will be able to view 3D images in high quality and without glasses – provided they look at the screen in one of nine distinct viewing angles (more technical background can be found here). The company’s recommended viewing distance is 90cm in the case of the 20-inch model and 65cm in the case of the smaller one.


Toshiba says these TVs are the first of their kind, but generally speaking, naked-eye 3D displays aren’t new. Nintendo’s 3DS will have one, Hitachi has shown one, and NEC has been working on it, too. Sharp prepares a model for e-readers and tablets and announced a glasses-free 3D smartphone for later this year. Japanese maker NewSight even offers a naked-eye 70-inch 3D display.








See Press Release:

Toshiba Unveils World First[1] 3D LCD TVs without Dedicated Glasses
-Toshiba's new Glasses-less 3D REGZA GL1 Series to be available
from end of December -

Tokyo-Toshiba Corporation (TOKYO: 6502) today unveiled the world's first[1] LCD TVs that offer comprehensive 3D[2] capabilities without any need for dedicated glasses. The new "Glasses-less 3D REGZA GL1" series offers two models with screen sizes specifically designed for personal use: the 20-inch 20GL1 and the 12-inch 12GL1. Both TVs will be available in Japan from the end of December.

The new 3D TVs with no need for glasses employ an integral imaging system[3] and a perpendicular lenticular sheet[4] to display smooth, natural images, and Toshiba's image processing technology to create nine parallax images[5] from the original content and create to 3D images. The result is precise rendering of high quality 3D images whatever the viewing angle within the viewing zone[2].

The 20GL1 integrates a high definition LED backlit LCD panel specially designed for 3D capability without any need for glasses that offers approximately four times the pixels of a standard Full HD panel. It also integrates the Cell REGZA Engine designed for 3D capability without glasses and based on the Cell Broadband Engine™[6] to deliver superior multimedia processing. The result of this combination is stunningly sharp, dynamic 3D images.

Toshiba will respond to various needs from the users for LCD TV with 3D capability. This will include larger screen models that use dedicated glasses and personal use LCD TVs without glasses, all offering dynamic, stunning image depth and high image quality. Toshiba will continue to draw on synergies of its semiconductor and image processing technologies to advance REGZA series as the cutting-edge of TV technology, and to create and deliver new value to the market by continuing to expand its line-up, and by anticipating and responding to user needs.

Background to Development

Toshiba introduced the REGZA series as state-of-the-art TVs that make full use of synergies between its semiconductor and image processing technologies. Originally a 2D platform, REGZA TVs now deliver 3D images with superb quality to achieve an unsurpassed 3D experience.

Current 3D TV is based on active shutter glasses that deliver separate images to the left and right eyes. However, the market wants TVs that deliver the 3D experience without dedicated glasses across all content. In responding to this, Toshiba has adopted an integral imaging system that reproduces smooth, natural stereoscopic pictures, without any need for dedicated glasses. The company has channeled its initial efforts into personal-use 3D LCD TVs without glasses and is now commercializing 12- and 20-inch models. With these new TVs, Toshiba will seek to lead the market in 3D TV without glasses and to further increase its market share.
Key Product Features
1. The technology of 3D capability without glasses reproduces smooth, natural high quality 3D images

The new Glasses-less 3D REGZA GL1 series employ an integral imaging system and perpendicular lenticular sheet that can display natural and smooth high quality 3D images.

The integral imaging systems is based on the principal of sampling and collecting form several directions the light reflected from an object, and then faithfully reproducing the light through the display to realize smooth, natural images. Until now, conventional 3D technology without glasses has produced a fall off in image resolution and increased blurring[7] that has prevented practical use. Toshiba employs an LED backlit LCD panel specially designed for 3D content that systematically aligns pixels, and has also adopted a perpendicular lenticular sheet in order to realize precise rendering and natural, high quality 3D images.

Toshiba's technology simultaneously delivers nine parallax images to the LCD panel and controls and optimizes light emission and direction from the center, right and left of the screen to secure a wide viewing angle. The result is optimized display of high quality 3D images whatever the position and angle to the screen of the viewer[2].

This technology is the recipient of the 21st Century Invention Prize for 2010, one of the National Commendations for Invention, from the HATSUMEI KYOKAI, Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation.
2. LCD panel designed for 3D capability without glasses

The 20GL1's high definition LED backlit LCD panel, specially designed for 3D capability without glasses, has approximately four times the pixels of a Full HD panel, approximately 8.29 million pixels. It can combine and display nine parallax images carrying information from nine images created in real time from a single frame. It transmits the final 3D image with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels.

Toshiba's LED backlight control system positions 1,440 LEDs directly under the LCD panel to realize bright 3D images. Moreover, each pixel can support the display of red green and blue (RGB) in a layout expressly designed for 3D imaging. Image data from each pixel is replicated nine times and the direction in which they are transmitted is controlled by the lenticular sheet. The result is smooth, natural 3D images that can be viewed from multiple angles without glasses.

The 12GL1 supports the same approach for approximately 1.47 million pixels and integrates an LED panel that can display 466 x 350 pixels.

The 20GL1 LCD panel is the fruit of research with Toshiba Mobile Display Co., Ltd. This was supported in part under the revised budget for FY2009 from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications for "Research and Development on Glasses- Free 3D Image Technologies."
3. Newly developed engine designed for 3D capability without glasses

The 20GL1 integrates the Cell Broadband Engine™[6] and the Glasses-less 3D CELL REGZA Engine, newly developed multi-parallax conversion LSIs designed for superior multimedia processing. High speed arithmetic processing creates nine parallax images from original content and converts it to 3D images with real depth, allowing Toshiba to achieve precise rendering of natural, high quality 3D images.

For the 12GL1, the newly developed engine designed for 3D capability without glasses combined with Toshiba's image processing LSIs and multi-parallax LSIs creates the 3D image.
4. Focus on Environmental Considerations

(1) Integration of LED backlight

The Glasses-less REGZA GL1 Series TVs are environmentally conscious products that integrate energy-saving LED backlighting. The backlights are free of mercury, which occurs at trace levels in cold cathode fluorescent (CCFL) backlights.

(2) Energy-saving features

The 20GL1 offers a number of energy-saving features:
- Power consumption is controlled by maintaining optimum image brightness.
- Automatic stand-by if no command is received from the remote controller for approximately three hours.
- Automatic stand-by mode if, when the TV is set to external input, no signal is received for approximately 15 minutes.

(3) Effective use of resources

All components that use over 25g of plastic indicate the materials used and are designed for recycling. Use of polylactic resin, a biodegradable, vegetable-based plastic 100% derived from corn, contributes to reduced consumption of petroleum and to lower CO2 emissions.

(4) RoHS[8] and J-Moss[9] (Green Mark)compatible

The REGZA GL1 Series contributes to moves toward environmentally conscious products by achieving full compliance with the EU's RoHS and Japan's J-Moss.
About Toshiba Group Environmental Vision

Environmental Vision 2050 guides Toshiba Group in achieving a ten-fold increase in overall eco-efficiency by 2050, compared to 2000, in order to contribute to the future of a sustainable Earth as a "corporate citizen of planet Earth". Toward this goal, we promote initiatives aimed at realizing a world where people lead affluent lives in harmony with the Earth, based on the concept of three "Greens": Greening of Process (environmentally conscious manufacturing process), Greening of Products (environmentally conscious products), and Greening by Technology (contributing through environmental technology). Toshiba Group promotes its environmental initiatives under the global brand "Toshiba eco style."

Friday, December 17, 2010

3 reasons why MasterImage may win the 3D Cinema wars.

1.) Low cost recyclable / disposable Glasses

Glasses need to be sterilized before handing then out a second time to customers.
This is a laborious process that will significantly increase the cost of man power to operate a theater. It this cost that I think will limit the Dolby system to only the most high end theaters.

One of the more successful business strategies is "Give away the razors..sell the blades" It's taught at every business school in the country.

Well with the MasterImage glasses this seems to be the case, where they recycle the glasses over and over can keep reselling sterilized and sealed packaged glasses to theater operators. It's a brilliant strategy with glasses being the blades



The plastic glasses to cost under 0.50 a pair new.  With cleaning and reuse it's totally down to cleaning, packaging and shipping costs. What this means is even buying new glasses from China for each viewing isn't competitive with recycling.


Packaging on MasterImage recyclable plastic Glasses

2.) RealD uses a perpetual licensing agreement while MasterImage sells systems to theater chains, allowing them to own the 3-D technology outright.

3.) Low tech light polarizer on the projector. These are the razors. This is used to turn each film/video frame from clockwise and counterclockwise polarization. Real-D uses a transparent LCD panel, which is high tech with no moving parts while the master image uses a synchronized rotating wheel with low cost plastic filters.  I suspect it is much lower cost to produce then the Real-D system.

The custom Polarizing LCD panel called is Z-Screen that Real-D depends on can only be produced by a few companies at best, and maybe only one.   The MasterImage system is something that someone who can repair a projector could probably fix.

The Dolby system uses the most advanced filter system that filters out narrow bands of light. This filter is made of very thing vacuum deposited metal layers to form an Interference filter. These are only made by one company JDSU is the world's largest producer of optical coatings. It must be built in to the projector itself and placed between the light source and the DLP or LCOS light valves.



Thursday, December 16, 2010

Freeviewpoint

What's next beyond 3D? Free viewpoint video is the ultimate 3DTV.

This will be the next hottest technology.

Free viewpoint video offers the same functionality that is known from 3D computer graphics. The user can choose an own viewpoint and viewing direction within a live scene. They are free to move around and interactive navigate as if they could control the camera.

What's different from your 3D video-game Virtual environment is, Free viewpoint video targets real world scenes as captured by real cameras. This could be live, streaming or recorded.

This is interesting for consumers where you could now where the viewer could freely chose the viewpoint as well as for professional production and post.

Tools for post-production are already being used (e.g. for sports, movies, EyeVision, Matrix-effects).

I have seen this described as Virtual Cameras, and Synthetic views.

The secret is setting up a many cameras around the "event" and taking video from all angles, then compiling them together to form the virtual space.

With sufficient video coverage off all surfaces and enough data to construct accurate 3D models this data can then be used to drive a standard PC graphics card to renders it in full 3D from any position and angle.

This would allow a user to zoom around like it were a virtual room in a video game.

One things about this technology is it could render better quality images then the source cameras by fulling pixels from one camera with pixels from other cameras.

Not all cameras would need to be identical, so some could be SD and other HD and even low frame rate very high def like digital still cameras. All of this image data can be integrated together and use to refine the texture maps in the 3D Model.

The applications of this live sports could change everything. We could see the game from the perspective of any player on the field, from the referees or even the the ball.

New cameras would not be needed to produce high quality 3D content, the saving to studios would be incredible. In addition post production techniques could be used to correct for eye separation and perspectives making 3D content easier on the eyes and helping to eliminate headaches and fatigue.

In CCTV and surveillance also it would allow an operate to do far more then just zoom in. Cameras could be strung like Christmas lights and placement and reliability of a single camera wouldn't be as critical.

In Military, AUV and fixed cameras could be integrated to provide total battle field awareness.

By tracking an objects position with several cameras and determining it's 3D position with sub pixel accuracy it becomes possible to integrate video from several cameras across many video frames to produce super resolution images and 3D models of faces and objects.

When this technology is applied to Head Mounted Displays (HMD) in a VR / AR type headgear you would literally be able to walk around in a live action scene like the
Star Trek Holodeck or Matrix construct as a ghost. You could see them, but they will not see you unless they are wearing AR Goggles too. A fly on the wall.

VR / AR = Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality

Free viewpoint television - Wikipedia

Viewpoint - Technologies - Viewpoint Media Player

3D VIDEO AND FREE VIEWPOINT VIDEO – TECHNOLOGIES, APPLICATIONS AND

FIFA World Cup in Full Court 3-D Vision

Free-Viewpoint TV (FTV) System

FIFA World Cup in Full Court 3-D Vision : Update

Holographic TV dreams in Japan 2022 World Cup bid



Forget 3D TV, Japan was promoting the idea of ultra-realistic holographic broadcasts and the ability to zoom a virtual camera in behind players on the pitch if it was given the 2022 World Cup. Japan proposed expanding the World Cup to all 208 FIFA member nations through fan-fest events that will feature live, holographic coverage of the games. Fans will gather in stadiums thousands of kilometers from the action and watch the games as if they are taking place in front of their eyes.


For more info see original Article: FIFA World Cup in Full Court 3-D Vision

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Dolby Digital 3D vs Real D / Master image systems.

It's interesting to watch this evolutionary battle play out.

Dolby 3D Digital Cinema / INFITEC Glasses

VS.

Real-D / Master Image Circular Polarized Glasses

Dolby's 3D is clearly superior, I mean just breathtaking 3D, but in the end it's the costs and not just the image quality that may end up determining the winners in this game.

Glasses

I am told the Dolby glasses are $38 a pair, which is an amazing deal for 2 precision interference filters.

The Real D / Masterimage system using inexpensive plastic polarizers. This make them almost disposable.  But this lower cost in glasses comes at a cost.

 
American Paper Optics Even make disposable paper glasses for 3D movies that I am sure the theaters really have consider deeply.  I think they went for the recyclable plastic just because the paper seemed too cheap.

I wonder if they ask their customers, "Would you like that in paper or plastic?"



There is also a shutter goggle system that nearly identical to what they are now pushing with 3D HDTV's. These are my least favorite as they require batteries, and are bulky and don't work 1/2 the time.  I have not seen these use in a normal theater setting ever, only in amusement parts, older IMAX system and trade show demos.

It's getting push with HDTV's only because it required no changed to existing TV designs and they can charge more.   Just the addition of an IR LED to provide a sync signal to the glasses and a sticker and double the price. I will discuss shutter goggle technology in more depth in a later article.


Screen

3D projection using polarization requires non-depolarizing screens. What this means in that the screen must be coated with a special polarization preserving material, usually silver or aluminum metals in paint.

Regular white matte theater screens cost normally around $6000 for an ordinary screen which the Dolby system and shutter glasses can use.

But not just any screen will work with polarized light it cost $13000 or more for an old fashion silver screen or specialized 3D Polarization preserving screen.

Da-Lite 3D Silver Matte or Virtual Grey front projection material

Silver screen in general don't give as good of an image as the high reflectivity white matte plastic screens.  You can see an almost metallic luster and they have more of a Grey appearance.


Maintenance

But there is a hidden cost with the Dolby system, with the increased cost of the glasses this brings about several other problems.

The need to keep to employees by the theater doors when the film ends to collect the glasses even with the anti-theft RF tag.

Also the cost of washing and sterilizing the glasses and the manpower needed to do this.

When they recycle the polarizing glasses the issues are the same they can order many pair of glasses and eat the cost of the ones that aren't returned.

The glasses can be sterilized in one of two ways.
1.) UV sterilization system but most UV sterilizers are only small capacity and usually used for laboratory safety goggles.

2.) A commercial washer that uses a special disinfectant detergent.

Both take about 1 hour and some man power to load and unload the glasses.

 UV sterilizer

Projectors & Filter Wheels.

Both systems use synchronized wheels in front of a digital projector.

In the Dolby system they provide now is a sealed Barco SUPERKONTRAST projector system with the filter wheel inside. The Theater operators can not open it and if they do an Alarm system prevents the projector from running till a technician comes out and resets it.

Dolby 3D filter wheel


JDSU is the world's largest producer of optical coatings, developed the 3D filter wheel technology for use in an exclusive partnership deal with Dolby.

I just can't tell you how cool this technology is. Some of the most impressive optical interference filters to split the RGB into and upper and lower spectrum for each eye. 


Master Image also has a rotating wheel system, with alternating Clockwise and Counterclockwise circular polarizers.

I see is both of these as some sort of throwback to the film days with all the the clockwork and moving parts.


The Real D system uses "Z Screen" basically an electronic polarizing filter but for the most part is 100% compatible with the Master Image system.







Summary


$38 Glasses, expensive to clean
Uses existing screens
Special Projector, cost unknown.
Needs special digital cinema server.


Glasses almost disposable. They are recycled, meaning washed and repackaged.
Needs special screen at 2x the cost.
Can use any standard projector and digital cinema server.



Glasses almost disposable. They are recycled, meaning washed and repackaged.
Needs special screen at 2x the cost.
Can use any standard projector and digital cinema server.



$50+ Glasses, expensive & difficult to clean, (can't get electronics wet),
The glasses are also prone to malfunction, with batteries dying, contact failing etc.
Uses existing screens
Can use any standard projector and digital cinema server.


OPINION

It's my opinion that even though the Dolby system is superior, the circular polarized systems will win, the glasses are lighter, cheaper and disposable. (really important with small kids)

I think in the end they will also win the battle on the HDTV front also for this very same reason.



More Reading:

I explain in some depth how the Dolby system work here.
Dolby 3D Digital Cinema
MasterImage site
Chinese source for Circular Polarized glasses

Eye Wear

Through the 3D looking glass

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=953978&page=5


http://www.reald.com/

3D projection in cinemas

Digital 3D-Systems

American Paper Optics

Dolby 3D Glasses Training Video

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Rear Window Captioning

Rear-window captioning system displays reversed captions on a light-emitting diode (LED) text display screen that could be fastened to the back of a theater seat. The plexiglass device looks like a rear-view mirror that fits into a viewer's cup holder and reflects words from a display board in the back of the theater so that they appear superimposed on the movie screen. The reflective panels are portable and adjustable, enabling the caption user to sit anywhere in the theater. The 'rear-window' reflectors are made available at the theater's customer service desk.

Theater can be outfitted for this 'rear-window' captioning system for around $10,000.








Rear Window Captioning System

http://ncam.wgbh.org/mopix/

http://www.designboom.com/portrait/rufus_rear.html

Cinemark Sued Over Closed Captions

Descriptive Video Service (DVS)

Monday, December 06, 2010

Camera implanted in the back of the head



The camera, which will be stuck to the NYU photo professor Wafaa Bilal's head via a "piercing-like attachment" when he goes through surgery in the next couple of weeks according to the WSJ, will take photos every 60 seconds and beam them to monitors at the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art in Qatar.


This is quite mild compared to the one in this other story from last year.
A one-eyed filmmaker get a camera eye

More info on
This Professor Is Surgically Implanting a Camera in the Back of His Head
NYU art professor to take photos with camera implanted in the back of his head

The official Web site: http://www.3rdi.me/

LG Display, Chi Mei, others face EU fines

LG Display, Chi Mei, others face EU fines: source

Mon, Dec 06 10:44 AM EST

By Foo Yun Chee

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU regulators are set to fine LG Display, Chi Mei Optoelectronics Corp and three other firms up to 700 million euros ($928 million) in total for fixing prices of display panels used in consumer devices, a source close to the case said on Monday.

The European Commission, the EU antitrust watchdog, charged the companies in July last year with breaching EU laws on restrictive business practices, while other regulators around the world have also investigated the sector.

"The total fine will be between 600 and 700 million euros," the source told Reuters.

The EU executive will levy the biggest fine on Taiwan's Chi Mei, the source said, declining to provide details of the individual fines.

Chi Mei paid $220 million in fines last year after pleading guilty to U.S. charges of price-fixing. The company later merged to form Chi Mei Innolux, a combination which now comprises Taiwan's largest maker of LCD panels.

The Commission is expected to announce its decision on Wednesday, sources told Reuters previously.

The Commission can penalize companies up to 10 percent of their global turnover for infringing EU laws.

The watchdog did not identify the companies at the time, but LG Display, 3 AU Optronics and Chi Mei confirmed the charges.

Taiwanese firms Chunghwa Picture Tubes and HannStar Display Corp were also named in a Commission document obtained by Reuters.

World No.1 LCD maker Samsung Electronics will not be fined as it alerted the Commission to the cartel.

Dutch company Philips received a copy of the charge sheet as a former shareholder of LG Display, but said it was not directly involved. It sold the rest of its shares in the joint venture with LG Electronics in March 2009.

The EU Commission's case had centered on thin-film liquid crystal display panels used in computers, mobile phones, televisions, digital watches, pocket calculators and MP3 players.

In the U.S. Department of Justice investigation, eight companies, including LG Display, Chi Mei, Chunghwa, Japanese company Sharp Corp and Hitachi Displays, paid more than $890 million in criminal fines for price-fixing.

Japan's Fair Trade Commission slapped fines on Sharp Corp and Hitachi Ltd in 2008 for price fixing in the market for LCD panels.


I have written about them previously. 

Chimei Innolux Corporation (CMI)   奇美电子


Chi Mei

Friday, December 03, 2010

What's been happening with Barbie Video Girl!

Barbie Video Girl Doll (Mattel, $45 at Toys “R” Us) seems like clever idea — put a video camera inside a doll — until you try to find the tiny Phillips screwdriver needed to fit the AAA batteries into Barbie’s legs. Your child soon will discover that Barbie has no speakers, so all the videos are silent until the doll is tethered to the computer.



Canon 7D vs. Barbie Video Girl from Brandon Bloch on Vimeo.

Canon 7D vs. Video Barbie.


Wire Magazine: Video Barbie in FBI Cross Hairs