Blu-ray Is Cracked

From Slashdot:

HDCP Master Key Is Legitimate; Blu-ray Is Cracked

"Intel has confirmed that the leaked HDCP master key protecting millions of Blu-ray discs and devices that was posted to the Web this week is legitimate. The disclosure means, in effect, that all Blu-ray discs can now be unlocked and copied. HDCP (High Definition Content Protection), which was created by Intel and is administered by Digital Content Protection LLP, is the content encryption scheme that protects data, typically movies, as they pass across a DVI or an HDMI cable. According to an Intel official, the most likely scenario for a hacker would be to create a computer chip with the master key embedded it, that could be used to decode Blu-ray discs."

Open Source VLC Media Player Coming To iPad

From Slashdot:
The people behind VLC, quite probably the most useful media player available right now, have submitted an iPod version to the Apple software police. VLC — which is rightfully famous for having a go at playing just about any kind of audio or video file you care to throw at it — should appear some time next week, if it makes it through the often unfathomable approval process implemented by Apple. The Open Source Video Lan Client has been tweaked to run on the iPod by software developer Applidium

High Dynamic Range (HDR) video

HDR Video A Reality

HDR Demonstration Using Two Canon 5D mark II’s from Soviet Montage
Press Release

HDR Video A Reality
Soviet Montage Productions releases information on the first true High Dynamic Range (HDR) video using DSLRs
San Francisco, CA, September 9, 2010: Soviet Montage Productions demonstrated today the first true HDR video sourced from multiple exposures. Unlike HDR timelapse videos that only capture a few frames per minute, true HDR video can capture 24 or more frames per second of multiple exposure footage. Using common DSLRs, the team was able to composite multiple HD video streams into a single video with an exposure gamut much greater than any on the market today. They are currently using this technology to produce an upcoming film.
Benefits of Motion HDR

HDR imaging is an effect achieved by taking multiple disparate exposures of a subject and combining them to create images of a higher exposure range. It is an increasingly popular technique for still photography, so much so that it has recently been deployed as a native application on Apple’s iPhone. Until now, however, the technique was too intensive and complex for motion. Soviet Montage Productions believes they have solved the issue with a method that produces stunning–and affordable–true HDR for film and video.
The merits of true HDR video are various. The most obvious benefit is having an exposure variation in a scene that more closely matches the human eye–think of filming your friend with a sunset at his or her back, your friend’s face being as perfectly captured as the landscape behind them. HDR video also has the advantage of reduced lighting needs. Finally, the creative control of multiple exposures, including multiple focus points and color control, is unparalleled with true HDR video.
“I believe HDR will give filmmakers greater flexibility not only in the effects they can create but also in the environments they can shoot in” said Alaric Cole, one of the members of the production team, “undoubtedly, it will become a commonplace technique in the near future. ”
Contact:

See also:
http://www.sovietmontage.com/2010/09/09/hdr-video-a-reality/
http://hardware.slashdot.org/story/10/09/09/2342218/HDR-Video-a-Reality

Apple's 2010 iPod, Apple TV Event

Steve Jobs gave his iPod keynote this morning.
The new Apple TV –– a tiny set-top box –– is priced at $99, down from $229.  1/4th the size, no purchases — only rentals. 99 cents for TV rentals (Disney, News Corp, ABC & Fox), Netflix on Demand built in.
Movies will cost $2.99 to $4.99 to rent.

Wired
PCmag
SFGate
Reuters: Factbox: Apple TV versus Google TV

US Spends $11M To Kick-Start Video Search

From Slashdot:

"The US military is inundated with video from airborne unmanned aircraft, remote monitoring systems and security outposts. In an effort to speed up the processing and analyzing of all this video, researchers at Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) this week awarded an almost $11 million contract to open source software vendor Kitware to help develop what DARPA calls its Video and Image Retrieval and Analysis Tool (VIRAT) program."

Giving an IR transmitter some strength

Good article on hack a day

Hong Kong China Sourcing Fair/Security products

Hong Kong China Sourcing Fair/Security products
Oct 12-15, 2010

http://www.chinasourcingfair.com

Linda Huang                                                           

 Sales manager   

                                                               .   

 ShenZhen    Wekomp Technology Co.,Ltd                                                                      

                                                                                                         

Tel.:086-755-89366102                                                                          www.wekomp.com

Mob: +86-13640946210                                                                                                      

Fax : +86-755-86028818                                                   

Msn:lindawek@hotmail.com                                                   

Mail : linda@wekomp.com

Sky:lindaeinnov                                                      

 www.wekomp.com

Netflix Comes to the iPhone and iPod Touch

Netflix announced Thursday the release of a free Netflix application for the iPhone and iPod Touch that allows streaming of movies over Wi-Fi or a 3G cellphone connection.

This has been expected since April when Engadget fisrt wrote about it.

Netflix is becomming ubiquitous with its streaming offering not only supporting Windows and Mac, but a number of BlueRay player, set top boxes, game consoles such as the Xbox, PS 3 and Wii.

It's based on Microsoft's Silverlight which is very heavily DRM oriented.

As such there is NO Linux support! Microsoft did share most of the Silverlight code as Moonlight but without DRM support so Netflix will not play on it.

Netflix is basically following Microsoft's Silverlight support on to these different platforms. I think this strategy is to allow Microsoft to easily add support to devices based on Linux such as many BlueRay players while not allowing open source Linux Desktops to compete. This also will allow them to support large a hardware base as Adobe's flash player which now dominates Internet video streaming.

When you consider that Apple is not allowing flash on it's iPhone and iPad, and that Steve Jobs is openly speaking out against Adobe Flash it could actually place Microsoft at and advantage over Adobe in the Internet streaming market.

* Personally I think watching TV on the iPod is the killer app.

I have disconnected my Cable TV a while ago and live off Netflix, Hulu and BitTorrent for most of my viewing pleasure.


Netflix iPhone App Video

Real-Time, Detailed Face Tracking On a Nokia N900

from Slashdot:
"Researchers at the University of Manchester this week revealed a detailed face tracker that runs in real-time on the Nokia N900 mobile phone. Unlike existing mobile face trackers (video) that give an approximate position and scale of the face, Manchester's embedded Active Appearance Model accurately tracks a number of landmarks on and around the face such as the eyes, nose, mouth and jawline. The extra level of detail that this provides potentially indicates who the user is, where they are looking and how they are feeling. The face tracker was developed as part of a face- and voice-verification system for controlling access to mobile internet applications such as e-mail, social networking and on-line banking."



This prototype from the University of Manchester (UK) shows an Active Appearance Model tracking 22 facial features (superimposed in yellow and red) in real-time on a Nokia N900 mobile phone. This demo was developed for the EU-funded 'Mobile Biometrics' (MoBio) project as part of a face verification system for access control (e.g. instead of a password to access your social networking profile) on mobile devices such as smartphones.

For more information on this video, see http://personalpages.manchester.ac.uk... or contact philip.tresadern@manchester.ac.uk

For more information on the MoBio project, visit http://www.mobioproject.org

MPEG LA Announces Permanent Royalty Moratorium For H264

MPEG LA has announced that free h264 content (vs. paid h264 content which will still have royalties) will be royalty free forever. With ubiquitous h264 support on mobile devices, personal computers and all other types of media devices, this assures that h264 will remain the de facto standard for video playback for the foreseeable future."

See: Slashdot Discussion

How To Index and Search a Video By Emotion

This is rather disturbing implications, it could optimize video for it's addictive effects.
Maybe this is just a little to intimate. 


Also there is no reason this couldn't be done with just a web-cam. 

From Slashdot:

"Here's a a demonstration video of EmoRate, a software program that uses the Emotiv 14-electrode EEG headset to record your emotions via your facial expressions. In the video you'll see EmoRate record my emotions while I watch a YouTube video, then index that video by emotion, and then navigate that video by simply by remembering a feeling. The web page for EmoRate explains how I used Emotiv's SDK to build the software program, and how I trained the system by watching emotionally evocative videos on YouTube while wearing the headset."

120-megapixel CMOS sensor

 Canon's newly developed CMOS sensor,
featuring approx. 120 megapixels

The sensor is the so-called APS-H size and measures 29.2-mm by 20.2-mm and contains 13,280 by 9,184 pixels (121.96 million pixels).


Most DLSRs use one of 3 different sensor sizes: APS-H (Canon only), APS-C and Full Frame.  Generally speaking the larger the sensor the less digital noise.   

According to the press release, the sensor can output 9.5fps HD frames from any subsection of the sensor.


The sensor also supports full high-definition video (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) output. The sensor can output full HD video from any approximately one-sixtieth-sized section of its total surface area.

Canon's highest-resolution commercial CMOS sensor of the same size contains about 16.1 million pixels, the company said. Therefore the newly developed sensor features a pixel count that is nearly 7.5 times larger and offers a 2.4-fold improvement in resolution.

As CMOS sensors increase in resolution high pixel counts can result in problems with bandwidth getting signals off chip, large pin counts and signal delays and minor deviations in timing. By modifying the method employed to control the readout circuit timing, Canon has achieved a maximum output speed of approximately 9.5 frames per second on the latest sensor, supporting the continuous shooting of ultra-high-resolution images.

* I am thinking you can build an all digital PTZ with something like this. One with no moving parts. 

Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) protocol.

CEC is a 1-wire bus running on the HDMI interface providing automatic control in HDMI-interfaced systems.

It's based on AV.link known as the CENELEC EN 50157-1 standard also known under the trade names nexTViewLink, SmartLink, Q-Link, EasyLink.  AV.link was used on the old SCART (EIA Multiport) connectors.


CEC will connect up to 10 Audio Visual [AV] devices. 

PCWorld: The Secret Feature on Your HDTV: HDMI CEC
 From Hackaday:

The CEC protocol is a 1-wire serial bus built into the HDMI standard. The solution he settled up required one solder connection on the motherboard as well as the internal USB translator module seen above. That translator box, called the RainShadow, is a PIC 18F87J50 controlled board that translates incoming commands from the USB connection and sends them out as CEC hex codes. A bit of code writing and [Valkyrie-MT] is in business. You can see in the video after the break that it’s not just controlling audio, he can now control the entire entertainment center including turning on the TV and setting it to the appropriate input.

From Wikipedia:

Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) is a one-wire bidirectional serial bus that uses the industry-standard AV.link protocol to perform remote control functions. CEC wiring is mandatory, although implementation of CEC in a product is optional The feature is designed to allow the user to command and control multiple CEC-enabled boxes with one remote control and for individual CEC-enabled devices to command and control each other without user intervention.

Trade names for CEC are Anynet (Samsung); Aquos Link (Sharp); BRAVIA Sync (Sony); HDMI-CEC (Hitachi); Kuro Link (Pioneer); CE-Link and Regza Link (Toshiba); RIHD (Remote Interactive over HDMI) (Onkyo); SimpLink (LG); HDAVI Control, EZ-Sync, and VIERA Link (Panasonic); EasyLink (Philips); and NetCommand for HDMI (Mitsubishi)

HDMI Connector Pinout

Pin Number	Signal Name	Pin Number	Signal Name
1	TMDS Data 2+	20	SHELL
2	TMDS Data 2 Shield	19	Hot Plug Detect
3	TMDS Data 2-	18	+5V Power
4	TMDS Data 1+	17	Ground
5	TMDS Data 1 Shield	16	DDC Data
6	TMDS Data 1-	15	DDC Clock
7	TMDS Data 0+	14	No Connect
8	TMDS Data 0 Shield	13	CEC
9	TMDS Data 0-	12	TMDS Clock-
10	TMDS Clock+	11	TMDS Clock Shield

Update:
http://www.kwikwai.com/

3D video illusion.

3D Illusion brought to you by VideoBash.com

This is one of the best demo's of Digital Video Mapping I have yet to see.

Here is another clip of this building.

Samsung was introduced a large-scale commercial 3D-Outdoor projection in the Netherlands, was demonstrated at the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam this past May.

This is very similar to some of the tricks Disney and other were doing with PANI projectors but with still images. They take images of the building and then compensate in the projected image for the difference in the surface colors, texture, reflectivity and distances they where projecting on to. (Example)



Here are some other examples of video mapping.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UAVFod6bXg

Canon Abandons SED TV Hopes

From Slashdot:

"Canon has decided to liquidate a subsidiary developing a flat-panel display technology called SED, effectively bringing to an end once high hopes that the screens would replace LCD panels and plasma displays in living room TVs. Development of SED (surface-condition electron-emitter display) screens began in 1986 at Canon and was joined in 1999 by Toshiba. SEDs combine elements of both CRT (cathode ray tube) and LCD (liquid crystal display) technologies. As with CRTs, electrons hit a phosphor-coated screen to emit light. But instead of being shot from an electron gun, electrons are drawn out of an emitter through a slit that is only a few nanometers wide. The result is a picture that is as bright as a CRT and does not suffer a time lag sometimes seen on LCD panels with rapidly moving images."

Video quality less important when you’re enjoying what you’re watching

From ScienceBlog: Video quality less important when you’re enjoying what you’re watching

"Rice University researchers say new studies show that if you like what you're watching, you're less likely to notice the difference in video quality of the TV show, Internet video or mobile movie clip, putting a lie to some of the more extravagant marketing claims of electronics manufacturers. 'If you're at home watching and enjoying a movie, we found that you're probably not going to notice or even concern yourself with how many pixels the video is or if the data is being compressed,' said the lead researcher. 'This strong relationship holds across a wide range of encoding levels and movie content when that content is viewed under longer and more naturalistic viewing conditions.'"

THX and BluFocus join forces to certify the quality of 3-D content

THX and BluFocus, the latter of which is a Blu-ray testing company, are joining forces on a certification program for 3-D content. The program involves evaluating audio-video quality, Blu-ray player interoperability and even the effects of 3-D on viewers.

I posted a link a while back Why Bad 3D, Not 3D Glasses, Gives You Headaches this move could help keep  headache causing 3D content from spoiling the market.

“The long-term success of 3D in the home depends heavily on content producers and consumer electronics manufacturers delivering a comfortable and compelling experience for today’s first wave of consumer adopters,” said Rick Dean, senior vice president at THX.

THX®-BluFocus 3D certification sets authoring and production guidelines and testing procedures for evaluating 3D Audio-Video quality, 3D Blu-ray disc and player Interoperability, and the physiological effects of 3D on home viewers.

Read more at:
*http://hdguru.com/thx-announces-a-3d-content-certification-program/2145/
*http://www.homemediamagazine.com/high-def/thx-blufocus-partner-3d-bd-quality-control-20254

ChromaKey

ChromaKey,the technology of combining images, is widely used in the movie Videos, TV production. As a "key" color is most often used green and blue only by the fact that these colors are not found in the spectrum of complexion and hair.

Video Barbie

Barbie Video Girl Doll

• 320x240 Video camera is Windows/MAC compatible
• internal memory (256MB) stores 27 minutes in AVI format.
• Comes with pink USB plug-in cord
• Add music, graphics, and special effects with free Video Girl™ editing software www.barbie.com/videogirl (editing software for Windows only)

This seems like the ultimate weapon to catch child molesters.

Why Bad 3D, Not 3D Glasses, Gives You Headaches

From Slashdot:

"The most common complaint about 3D is that the glasses give you a headache, but that's not actually true, according to the man who teaches the pros how to make better 3D. Speaking at the BBC in London, Buzz Hays, chief instructor for the Sony 3D Technology Center in Culver City, California, explained: 'It's not the technology's fault, it's really the content that can cause these problems. It's easy to make 3D but it's hard to make it good — and by "good" I mean taking care to make sure that this isn't going to cause eyestrain.' He went on to detail some of the mistakes made by inexperienced 3D film makers, from poor composition of shots, through uncomfortable convergence settings, to overuse of on-set monitors without viewing their content on a big screen. But the biggest admission Buzz made was that not even the 'experts' know all the tricks yet, which is why 3D should only get better from here. In the same seminar, Buzz also explained why 3D glasses are here to stay — at least for the next few years."