My picks from audio and video trends for 2016:
Smartphone have increased screen sizes and have finally become mobile TVs: Smartphones have overtaken the tablets as the most popular mobile device for viewing videos. The most watched content were targeted at teenagers videos and animation series for children.
Smartphone cameras are great, or at least close enough to great that you don’t notice the difference. We’ve reached the point where you’ve got to work pretty hard to find a phone with a mediocre camera. Compared to a DSLR, smart phone cameras are lousy because they use tiny sensors, but still the camera in your pocket is crazy good considering the limitations manufacturers work under. The vast majority of top-tier smartphones use Sony sensors for their main cameras. The molded plastic lens elements in many cameras have reached the point where they’re essentially perfect. Smart phones are already deployed in many newsrooms for mobile journalism video shooting as it is easier (and cheaper) to learn how to film and edit on your phone than it is to use a big camera.
For new smart phone camera technologies you could see array of lenses to enable Lytro-like refocusing, create 3-D depth maps, and improve image quality in low light. In many cases smart phone cameras and DSLR are complimentary: Although the smartphones have decimated the point-and-shoot segment, sales of DSLR and other high-end rigs remain.
Live streaming video from smart phone becomes mainstream. Periscope was one of the first apps to really make live streaming events simple and easy enough that people wanted to do it. Many other apps are following the trend. Facebook begins testing live video streaming for all users.
Drone videography will ger more popular as drones become more popular. Many people will learn basic and creative aerial filming techniques for drone video cameras.
Whether or not the 2016 International CES holds any big surprises remains to be seen. This year’s CES will focus on how connectivity is proliferating everything from cars to homes, realigning diverse markets. It is quite probable that 4K TV will be big at this years’ CES show due to growing demand and falling prices. 4K becomes mainstream in 2016. CES will also have some 8K sets, though the market for 8K is at least five years away if not more (Tokyo Olympics in 2020 may be broadcast in 8K). Some new display technology is coming. LG has already demoed rollable 55, 66 and 77-inch OLED-based panels. Avegant’s Glyph technology literally beams video content onto your retinas. Analysts Predict CES 2016 Trends article gives you more ideas what to expect.
We can finally declare that 3D image in TV was a flop. Five years ago, it was estimated that the 3D technique can occupy the rapid pace of living cinemas addition. Then slowed different with technologies. But why the technology is virtually failed even though every new TV set has been added to display the 3D image as an option? Analysts said some people lack the ability to stereoscopic vision and for many, the 3D image caused eyestrain or nausea. Stereo image is to be left to various virtual reality applications.
After a year in which the weakness of smart TVs were exploited, Samsung goes on the offensive in 2016. Samsung’s new Tizen-based TVs will have GAIA security with pin lock for credit card and other personal info, data encryption, built-in anti-malware system, more. Samsung’s betting big on the internet of things and wants the TV to sit at the heart of this strategy. Samsung believes that people will want to activate their lights, heating and garage doors all from the comfort of their couch. If smart TVs get a reputation for being easy to hack, then Samsung’s models are hardly likely to be big sellers.
Whole TV industry need to go through a major transition as in most major developed markets, TV growth is slowing and in some cases stagnating. TV will account for 38.4 percent of the $503 billion global ad market in and will drop to 38 percent of the market in 2016. Digital ad spending will overtake TV as biggest category by 2017 or 2018.
Streaming video will be big in 2016. Almost all of the networks are streaming their content and streaming media is going mainstream fast. Third, 15% of American adults report they have become “cord cutters” – meaning they have abandoned paid cable or satellite television service. Many of these cord cutters say that the availability of televised content from the internet and other sources is a factor in their move away from subscription television services.
There seems to be a strong nostalgic audio trend going in. Whether it’s a sweet portable record player, a tabletop wooden radio or a full-size jukebox, the market for vintage-inspired electronics remains strong. Aside from record players, the vintage trend carries over to radios and speakers.
It seems that Americans were willing to spend on vinyl records. Nielsen numbers show that vinyl record sales rose 260 percent between 2009 and 2014, and sales for 2015 are on track to beat 2014’s total vinyl sales of 9.2 million units. Vinyl records generated more revenue in the first half of 2015 than free-to-use streaming services, but that’s not the full story. Despite vinyl sales increase it’s clear that the future of the music industry is digital. Total revenues from the digital music sector is expected to rise while physical sales will drop. Future is filled with streaming music services – both subscription services and free.
On the other end of audio spectrum High resolution audio tries to push to market at CES (again). Hi-Res Audio is the fastest growing category in music. Apple Music is planning to launch new its Hi-Res music streaming in 2016.
W3C group formed in the summer of 2015 a new working group: The Music Notation Community Group consists of representatives from some of the biggest names in the music notation software business who’ve come together to create a standardised way to display western music notation in your browser. It believes are achievable goals that can be met in 2016.
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Tomi Engdahl says:
Eastern Europe Pay TV to Grow … Mostly
http://www.btreport.net/articles/2016/09/eastern-europe-pay-tv-to-grow-mostly.html?cmpid=videotechnology09192016&eid=289644432&bid=1530994
According to Digital TV Research, 44 of eastern Europe’s top 64 pay TV operators will increase their subscriber bases between 2015 and 2021.
Simon Murray, principal analyst at Digital TV Research, said: “So 20 of the top operators will lose subscribers – or 31% of the total. Perhaps this is not that unpredictable given that the region still had 24.5 million analog cable TV subscribers by end-2015.”
Often paying low subscription fees, most of these homes are expected to convert to digital pay TV platforms, but some are expected to move to free-to-air digital terrestrial TV (DTT), especially in countries such as Russia, Romania and Poland that have been slow to convert to digital terrestrial.
Skinny Bundles a Double-Edged Sword
http://www.btreport.net/articles/2016/09/skinny-bundles-a-double-edged-sword.html?cmpid=videotechnology09192016&eid=289644432&bid=1530994
According to Altman Vilandrie, “skinny bundles” are a mixed blessing for video service providers. The research house says the bundles, TV packages composed of selected channels targeting specific customer segments, have the potential to attract elusive younger consumers to pay TV. However, the survey also indicated that two-thirds of older consumers, pay TV’s most reliable subscribers, say they are wasting money for channels they don’t use, meaning skinny bundles could end up cannibalizing the existing subscriber base.
Tomi Engdahl says:
SVA, CTA Aim for Streaming QoE Standards
http://www.btreport.net/articles/2016/09/sva-cta-aim-for-streaming-qoe-standards.html?cmpid=videotechnology09192016&eid=289644432&bid=1530994
The Streaming Video Alliance and the Consumer Technology Association are collaborating to develop industry-wide guidelines to formalize metrics, associated terminology, and event and attribute access as it pertains to streaming media quality of experience (QoE).
QoE
Quality of experience technologies, based on perceived quality at the end device
http://www.btreport.net/metrics/qoe.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
4K UHD TVs Are Being Adopted Faster Than HDTVs
https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/16/09/19/2046202/4k-uhd-tvs-are-being-adopted-faster-than-hdtv
Now this may surprise some: 4K Ultra HD televisions are expected to double sales to 15 million units in the U.S. in 2016, and the next-generation TVs are now being adopted at a faster rate than predecessor high-definition TVs. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players are also selling at a fast rate, according to Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, the big tech lobbying group, VentureBeat reports.
4K UHD TVs are being adopted faster than HDTVs
http://venturebeat.com/2016/09/19/4k-uhd-tvs-are-being-adopted-faster-than-hdtvs/
4K Ultra HD televisions are expected to double sales to 15 million units in the U.S. in 2016, and the next-generation TVs are now being adopted at a faster rate than predecessor high-definition TVs. Sales of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players are also selling at a fast rate, according to Gary Shapiro, CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, the big tech lobbying group.
By 2017, 4K UHD TV sales will hit 20 million a year in the U.S. That number will grow to 23 million in 2018, and 26 million by 2019, Shapiro said. The 2016 growth rate is 105 percent above the units sold for 2015.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Lucas Shaw / Bloomberg:
RIAA report: US music streaming revenue grew 57% to $1.6B in the first half of 2016 and accounted for almost half of industry sales — Popularity of online listening offsets plunging album revenue — U.S. industry poised for second straight year of sales growth
The Music Industry Is Finally Making Money on Streaming
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-20/spotify-apple-drive-u-s-music-industry-s-8-first-half-growth
Popularity of online listening offsets plunging album revenue
U.S. industry poised for second straight year of sales growth
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After almost two decades of relentless decline caused by piracy and falling prices, the music business is enjoying a fragile recovery thanks to the growth of paid streaming services like Spotify Ltd. and Apple Music.
The U.S. industry is on pace to expand for the second straight year — the first time that’s happened since the CD sales peaked in 1998 and 1999. Retail spending on recorded music grew 8.1 percent to $3.4 billion in the first half of 2016, according to a midyear report from the Recording Industry Association of America that was obtained by Bloomberg News.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sandisk (now part of Western Digital) has announced an SD memory card, which is suitable for terabytes of data. Thus, a small card has more capacity than any laptop or computer that you have ever owned.
1TB SD card is only a prototype, which was presented at the Photokina show. Incidentally, Sandisk introduced a 512-gigabyte SD card, just in the same Photokina two years ago.
This capacity is the need, as soon as 4K and 8K video also is increasing at a rapid pace.
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5074:sd-kortilla-enemman-tilaa-kuin-koneesi-kiintolevylla&catid=13&Itemid=101
Tomi Engdahl says:
TV Manufacturers Accused of Gaming Energy Usage Tests
https://hardware.slashdot.org/story/16/09/21/2219202/tv-manufacturers-accused-of-gaming-energy-usage-tests
The Natural Resources Defense Council has issued a new report accusing Samsung, LG and Vizio of “misleading consumers and regulators about how much energy high-definition screens devour, alleging that the televisions were designed to perform more efficiently during government testing than in ordinary use.” The report “estimates that the collective electricity bills during a decade of watching the high-definition TVs will be $1.2 billion higher than the energy ratings imply,” and that “the higher energy usage generates an additional 5 million metric tons of carbon pollution.”
TV Manufacturers Accused Of Gaming Energy Usage Tests
http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2016/09/21/samsung-lg-vizio-tv-energy-usage-nrdc/
An environmental group on Wednesday accused three major TV manufacturers of misleading consumers and regulators about how much energy high-definition screens devour, alleging that the televisions were designed to perform more efficiently during government testing than in ordinary use.
The report by the Natural Resources Defense Council said the TVs made by Samsung, LG Electronics and Vizio saddle households with an extra $120 million in electricity bills each year and generate tons of additional pollution.
None of the manufacturers immediately responded to requests for comment.
“It appears that some major manufacturers have modified their TV designs to get strong energy-use marks during government testing but may not perform as well in consumer homes,”
Tomi Engdahl says:
TV industry gets its own ‘dieselgate’ over ‘leccy consumption tests
Software that detects government tests, where have we heard that before?
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/09/22/nrdc_and_cta_in_tv_industry_dieselgate_spat/
The idiot box is smarter than it seems: a spat has broken out between America’s Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the Consumer Technology Association about the energy consumption of televisions.
The NRDC reckons TV makers are configuring sets to perform well on government tests, while in the living room they become energy hogs.
Its specific claims are:
The TVs perform well on the US Department of Energy-mandated energy use test – but that’s based on a clip that doesn’t match real-world video content (that seems like a slip-up by the DoE to El Reg);
TVs from Samsung, LG and Vizio are designed to disable energy-saving features if the user changes their screen settings, but there’s little or no warning about this. This, the NRDC says, can as much as double the power consumption; and
UHD TVs turn into energy hogs when they’re playing high dynamic range (HDR) content, but HDR isn’t included in the DOE’s test (again, surely that means the DOE needs to update its tests?).
Tomi Engdahl says:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
Netflix CFO David Wells says company wants original content to make up 50% of its catalog within a few years, is currently “one-third to halfway” toward target — Netflix is driving toward having half the content on its streaming service be original productions over the next few years …
Netflix Targeting 50% of Content to Be Original Programming, CFO Says
http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/netflix-50-percent-content-original-programming-cfo-1201865902/
Netflix is driving toward having half the content on its streaming service be original productions over the next few years, with the other 50% representing licensed TV shows and movies, CFO David Wells said.
“We’ve been on a multiyear transition and evolution toward more of our own content,” said Wells, speaking at Goldman Sachs’ Communacopia conference Tuesday.
In 2016, Netflix expects to launch 600 hours of original programming, up from 450 hours in 2015, content chief Ted Sarandos said at the start of the year. The company has projected content spending on a profit/loss basis to rise from $5 billion this year to more than $6 billion in 2017.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wall Street Journal:
Facebook says it overestimated average video viewing time metric by 60%-80% for 2 years, according to information Publicis Media says it obtained from Facebook — Social network miscalculated the average time users spent watching videos on its platform — Big ad buyers and marketers …
Facebook Overestimated Key Video Metric for Two Years
Social network miscalculated the average time users spent watching videos on its platform
http://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-overestimated-key-video-metric-for-two-years-1474586951
Big ad buyers and marketers are upset with Facebook Inc. after learning the tech giant vastly overestimated average viewing time for video ads on its platform for two years, according to people familiar with the situation.
Several weeks ago, Facebook disclosed in a post on its “Advertiser Help Center” that its metric for the average time users spent watching videos was artificially inflated because it was only factoring in video views of more than three seconds. The company said it was introducing a new metric to fix the problem.
Ad buying agency Publicis Media was told by Facebook that the earlier counting method likely overestimated average time spent watching videos by between 60% and 80%, according to a late August letter Publicis Media sent to clients that was reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.
The news is an embarrassment for Facebook, which has been touting the rapid growth of video consumption across its platform in recent years.
Due to the miscalculated data, marketers may have misjudged the performance of video advertising they have purchased from Facebook over the past two years. It also may have impacted their decisions about how much to spend on Facebook video versus other video ad sellers such as Google’s YouTube, Twitter, and even TV networks.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Scott Moritz / Bloomberg:
Sources: DirecTV Now to become AT&T’s primary video delivery platform, eliminating need for a cable hookup or satellite dish for broadband users in five years — Bloomberg Anywhere Remote LoginBloomberg Anywhere Login — Service will limit streams to two devices simultaneously
AT&T Said to Plan Web Streaming as Primary TV Platform by 2020
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-09-22/at-t-said-to-plan-web-streaming-as-primary-tv-platform-by-2020
AT&T Inc.’s online streaming TV service, DirecTV Now, will become the company’s primary video platform in three to five years, according to people familiar with the plans.
The largest U.S. pay-TV provider has been working for more than a year to build a video-delivery system that can carry multiple live feeds to broadband-connected homes, said the people. Such a platform would eliminate the need for a cable hookup or satellite dish in five years or less, the people said.
DirecTV Now, set to be introduced by the end of this year, will try to appeal to a national audience of so-called cord-nevers — some 20 million households that have no cable or satellite service — with 100-plus channels and a choice of streaming to one or two devices simultaneously.
Service will limit streams to two devices simultaneously
Price to be competitive with Sony’s PlayStation Vue service
Tomi Engdahl says:
Seth Stevenson / Wall Street Journal:
Snap Inc., formerly Snapchat, unveils Spectacles, sunglasses that record 10 seconds of video at a time with a tap of a button, to be sold this fall for $130 — IN AN UNMARKED BUILDING on a quiet side street just off the beach in Venice, California, 26-year-old Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel stands in a small conference room.
Snapchat Releases First Hardware Product, Spectacles
Evan Spiegel, CEO of renamed Snap Inc., calls the video-sharing sunglasses “a toy” but sees an upside to freeing his app from smartphone cameras
http://www.wsj.com/articles/snapchat-releases-first-hardware-product-spectacles-1474682719
IN AN UNMARKED BUILDING on a quiet side street just off the beach in Venice, California, 26-year-old Snapchat CEO Evan Spiegel stands in a small conference room. He’s draped a towel over a mysterious object sitting on a table. He is eager to the point of jitters.
What initially appears to be a normal pair of sunglasses turns out to be Spectacles, the first hardware product from Snap Inc., as the firm has been newly christened (Spiegel is refreshing the company name because its offerings now go beyond the Snapchat app). When you slip Spectacles on and tap a button near the hinge, it records up to 10 seconds of video from your first-person vantage. Each new tap records another clip.
Why use a pair of video sunglasses—available this fall, by the way, one-size-fits-all in black, teal or coral—instead of holding up your smartphone like everyone else? Because, Spiegel says, the images that result are fundamentally different. Spectacles’ camera uses a 115-degree-angle lens, wider than a typical smartphone’s and much closer to the eyes’ natural field of view. The video it records is circular, more like human vision. (Spiegel argues that rectangles are an unnecessary vestige of printing photos on sheets of paper.)
WHEN YOU ASK PEOPLE in the tech industry about Spiegel, and how it is that by age 26 he’s built a company with more than 1,000 employees and offices on three continents, one thing they often cite is Spiegel’s aptitude for product design. It’s what he studied at Stanford, before dropping out just shy of graduation to focus on Snapchat.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Casey Newton / The Verge:
How Snap’s Spectacles work: 115-degree lens shoots circular videos up to 30 seconds long that are wirelessly transferred to the app, lights indicate recording — Your questions answered — The company formerly known as Snapchat surprised the world last night by unveiling Spectacles, its first hardware product.
Here’s how Snapchat’s new Spectacles will work
Your questions answered
http://www.theverge.com/2016/9/24/13042640/snapchat-spectacles-how-to-use
The company formerly known as Snapchat surprised the world last night by unveiling Spectacles, its first hardware product. The sunglasses, which record videos in 10-second increments, are expected to be available for sale sometime “soon.” Snap Inc., as the company is now called, says it will be producing the glasses in small quantities.
They’re connected sunglasses that record video snippets that get saved to your Snapchat Memories. Its camera has a 115-degree lens meant to more closely approximate how humans see. The glasses will cost $130, come in one size, and be available in three colors: black, teal, and coral.
Tap the button on the top left-hand corner of the sunglasses to begin recording a snap. It will automatically stop recording after 10 seconds — but if you want additional recording time, you can tap again to add another 10-second increment.
How do I get my snaps onto my phone?
If you have an Android device, you have to transfer them via Wi-Fi. If you have an iOS device, they will transfer by default via the glasses’ Bluetooth connection. Or, you can choose to can transfer them at a higher resolution over Wi-Fi.
You can use the glasses as a standalone device — they’ll store the snaps until you return to your phone.
What format do the glasses record in?
They’re in a new “circular” meant to mimic the way the human eye sees. When you’re watching your snaps back on your phone, they can be played back in either landscape or portrait orientation. (Snapchat crops them accordingly.)
Isn’t this just Google Glass all over again?
Opinions here are all over the map.
Is this really Snap’s first hardware product?
No
Tomi Engdahl says:
Aaron Souppouris / Engadget:
Google debuts YouTube Go app for Android with offline viewing, expands free Wi-Fi program Google Station beyond public transport sites in India — At an event in New Delhi, India, Google laid out plans to better serve users in the country. These efforts broadly focus on two areas: data usage and language support.
Google India debuts offline YouTube app, public WiFi expansion
Compressed videos and a 2G Play Store are also part of the company’s “next billion” plan.
https://www.engadget.com/2016/09/27/google-for-india-2016-youtube-go/
At an event in New Delhi, India, Google laid out plans to better serve users in the country. These efforts broadly focus on two areas: data usage and language support.
The company highlighted the work it has done so far to reduce the need for high-speed data. Rahul Ro-Chowdhury, Google’s VP of Chrome, said Indian users save 337TB of data every week thanks to Chrome’s data saver feature. It’s recently updated data saver to also reduce the size of videos by as much as two thirds.
But the best way to save data, obviously, is to negate the need to use it at all. Features like Google Maps offline, now popular around the world, were tailor made for India and other developing markets. The new Chrome for Android update will offer the ability to download entire webpages, and a wide range of video and music files, for consumption offline.
Tomi Engdahl says:
The most popular streaming device Google Chromecast gets facelift after a week, when Google has promised to upgrade their devices to 4K.
new Chromecast price will be $ 69, which means it is a little more expensive than the older devices. Google also plans to keep both models for sale, since the original Chromecast 1080p resolution for a number of a long time.
Web content streaming to Apple TV devices had the upper hand for a long time. However, this year’s first quarter Chromecast rose for the first time ranked first. According to IDC, the Chromecast sticks were sold in January-March, 3.2 million. The number is significantly higher than the Apple TV’s 1.7 million pieces.
Source: http://etn.fi/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5118:4k-kuvaa-lahettavan-chromecastin-nimi-muuttuu&catid=13&Itemid=101
Tomi Engdahl says:
Blue Raspberry Gives You a Solid USB Mic on the Go
https://www.wired.com/2016/09/blue-raspberry-gives-solid-usb-mic-go/
With the podcasting boom has come a comparable explosion in desktop microphones. The Blue Yeti has long been one of the most popular (and capable) home mics, and it now has a tinier, powerful cousin with a name like a killer Slurpee flavor: Blue Raspberry.
At $200, the Raspberry is more a bit expensive than the Yeti, but you’re paying for portability. It’s not intended to be a handheld mic; it looks awkward to grip for on-the-street interviews and such, and Blue strongly suggests you use it on a tabletop or other flat surface. It’s definitely small enough, though, to toss into a bag, or carry around the house for those mornings you’d rather broadcast from bed than from the office. Like other Blue products, it’s also plug-and-play, with USB and Lightning compatibility for the iOS faithful.
Tomi Engdahl says:
How Photographers Get the Perfect Shot—and Your Attention
https://www.wired.com/2016/09/how-to-capture-perfect-photograph/
If you’ve ever tried to snap a photo of a perfect cocktail, chances are the result was not at all perfect. Photography is an art form most of us iPhone-wielding amateurs do not understand. But that doesn’t mean we can’t learn. Here, three professionals reveal how they transform everyday objects—a glass of whiskey, an elegant shoe—into images that make you want what you see. You may not be able to replicate the exact shots, but you can use these strategies to significantly up your Instagram game.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Home> Tools & Learning> Products> Product Review
Valencell and Jabra team up to create the most accurate wireless earbud device
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/electronic-product-reviews/other/4442740/Valencell-and-Jabra-team-up-to-create-the-most-accurate-wireless-earbud-device?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_productsandtools_20160926&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_productsandtools_20160926&elqTrackId=5634c27d45a149f19415fba6daf7f50c&elq=9534f765b0674bdf97094bb2007384f3&elqaid=34026&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=29750
With the Apple news on September 7 and recent announcements from Jabra it’s obvious that the new trend in next generation earbuds is to get rid of the wired-jack and go “truly wireless.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hackaday Prize Entry: Bypassing TV broadcasting restrictions
http://hackaday.com/2016/09/28/hackaday-prize-entry-bypassing-tv-broadcasting-restrictions/
It’s a common problem faced by TV viewers, the programming they want to watch is being broadcast, but not to their location. TV content has traditionally been licensed for transmission by geography, and this has sometimes put viewers at odds with broadcasters.
The viewing public have not always taken this restriction of their programming choice lying down, and have adopted a variety of inventive solutions with varying degrees of legality and success. Many years ago you might have seen extreme-length UHF antennas to catch faraway transmitters, more recently these efforts have been in the digital domain. It was said in the 1990s that Sky’s Videocrypt satellite TV smart cards were cracked because German Star Trek Next Generation fans were unable to buy subscriptions for non-UK addresses
[Solenoid]’s project is an off-air streamer using a Raspberry Pi 3 with a USB DVB-T tuner. It uses Tvheadend to power the streaming, and OpenVPN to provide security.
Bypassing TV broadcasting restrictions
https://hackaday.io/project/10821-bypassing-tv-broadcasting-restrictions
Tomi Engdahl says:
Home> Tools & Learning> Products> Product Brief
EMCCD sensor enables low-light imaging
http://www.edn.com/electronics-products/other/4442745/EMCCD-sensor-enables-low-light-imaging?_mc=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160929&cid=NL_EDN_EDT_EDN_today_20160929&elqTrackId=514c2a66288748328098e161317f3195&elq=290ef1896d4b4691ac581df3b4812a16&elqaid=34086&elqat=1&elqCampaignId=29797
An interline transfer EMCCD (electron multiplying charge-coupled device) image sensor, the KAE-08151 from ON Semiconductor, provides 8-Mpixel resolution for very low-light applications. With a a sub-electron noise floor and a 4/3 optical format (22 mm diagonal) that matches the imaging path of professional microscopes, the KAE-08151 is useful for both scientific and medical imaging, as well as surveillance equipment.
Each of the sensor’s four outputs incorporates a horizontal CCD register and a high-gain EMCCD register. The device is capable of detecting up to 20,000 electrons with a small-signal noise floor of 1 electron all within one image
The KAE-08151 sensor is available in monochrome and Bayer color configurations, housed in a 155-pin ceramic pin-grid-array package. On Semiconductor also offers an optional thermoelectric cooler integrated into the package design.
KAE-08151: Interline Transfer EMCCD Image Sensor, 8.1 MP
http://www.onsemi.com/PowerSolutions/product.do?id=KAE-08151
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google Research Blog:
Google releases YouTube-8M, a dataset of 8M video URLs representing over 500K hours of video, along with 4800 distinct labels, for machine learning — Posted by Sudheendra Vijayanarasimhan and Paul Natsev, Software Engineers — Many recent breakthroughs in machine learning and machine perception …
Announcing YouTube-8M: A Large and Diverse Labeled Video Dataset for Video Understanding Research
http://research.googleblog.com/2016/09/announcing-youtube-8m-large-and-diverse.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Peter Kafka / Recode:
YouTube hires Lyor Cohen as Global Head of Music; Cohen helped build Def Jam label, ran Warner Music, and founded 300 Entertainment in which Google invested $5M
YouTube just hired music legend Lyor Cohen to make peace with the labels
He’s going to hold on to his 300 label, which Google backed three years ago.
http://www.recode.net/2016/9/28/13097724/youtube-lyor-cohen-300-fetty-wap
Apple Music has Jimmy and Dre. Spotify has Troy.
And now YouTube has Lyor.
Google’s video service has hired Lyor Cohen, a longtime music executive who helped build the legendary Def Jam label and went on to run Warner Music Group.
Most recently, Cohen founded 300 Entertainment, a music label best known as the home of rapper Fetty Wap.
Cohen will be YouTube’s first “Global Head of Music.” YouTube doesn’t spell out what that role will entail, but presumably he will work as an emissary to both music acts and music labels, in the same way that Jimmy Iovine does at Apple, and Troy Carter does at Spotify.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hallucinating Machines Generate Tiny Video Clips
http://hackaday.com/2016/09/29/hallucinating-machines-generate-tiny-video-clips/
Hallucination is the erroneous perception of something that’s actually absent – or in other words: A possible interpretation of training data. Researchers from the MIT and the UMBC have developed and trained a generative-machine learning model that learns to generate tiny videos at random. The hallucination-like, 64×64 pixels small clips are somewhat plausible, but also a bit spooky.
Generating Videos with Scene Dynamics
http://web.mit.edu/vondrick/tinyvideo/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cable TV Companies Could Lose Nearly $1 Billion in the Next Year From People Ditching Their Subscriptions
https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/16/09/29/1636230/cable-tv-companies-could-lose-nearly-1-billion-in-the-next-year-from-people-ditching-their-subscriptions?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot%2Fto+%28%28Title%29Slashdot+%28rdf%29%29
Cable TV companies could lose nearly $1 billion to people cutting the cord over the next year, according to a new study by management consulting firm cg42. The firm estimates that 800,000 cable customers will ditch their subscriptions in the next 12 months. Cg42 expects each customer to be an average loss of $1,248 annually, and losses to approach $1 billion over the year. Cg42 also found that the average cord-cutter saves $104 per month by canceling.
Cable TV companies could lose nearly $1 billion in the next year from people ditching their subscriptions
http://www.businessinsider.com/cord-cutters-could-cost-industry-nearly-1-billion-2016-9?r=US&IR=T&IR=T
The firm estimates that 800,000 cable customers will ditch their subscriptions in the next 12 months. Cg42 expects each customer to be an average loss of $1,248 annually, and losses to approach $1 billion over the year.
Cg42 also found that the average cord-cutter saves $104 per month by canceling. Some in the industry have argued that cutting the cord doesn’t actually save you money if you subscribe to a bunch of streaming services like Netflix, HBO, and so on. But that point of view neglects the reality that many cable subscribers pay for those streaming services already.
Rising prices
A loss of cable subscribers, and the revenue that comes with them, doesn’t mean a completely equal loss in total revenue for the industry, however. That’s because pay TV providers will likely continue to wring more money out of each subscriber.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Jon Brodkin / Ars Technica:
FCC delays a vote on its plan to open the TV set-top box market after objections by cable industry and disagreements on details among commissioners — You’ll have to wait longer for free TV apps that replace rented set-top boxes. — The Federal Communications Commission has delayed a vote …
FCC delays cable TV apps vote, needs time to work out licensing
You’ll have to wait longer for free TV apps that replace rented set-top boxes.
http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/09/fcc-delays-cable-tv-apps-vote-needs-time-to-work-out-licensing/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Greg Kumparak / TechCrunch:
Amazon announces Twitch Prime with ad-free streaming and other perks for Amazon Prime members; Twitch adds video uploads, loyalty badges, HTML5 support, more — Twitch, the video game live-streaming service acquired by Amazon for nearly a billion dollars back in 2014, kicked off …
Twitch announces Twitch Prime, Loyalty Badges and video uploads
https://techcrunch.com/2016/09/30/twitch-announces-twitchprime-loyalty-badges-and-video-uploads/
Twitch, the video game live-streaming service acquired by Amazon for nearly a billion dollars back in 2014, kicked off its annual TwitchCon conference this afternoon with a keynote. With keynotes generally come a bit of news… and sure enough, here’s what’s new
Tomi Engdahl says:
Janko Roettgers / Variety:
Sources: Google is telling home audio vendors they won’t be allowed to add competing smart assistants like Alexa if they want to continue to use Google Cast — At its press event in San Francisco next week, Google is expected to not only unveil new flagship phones, but also officially launch Google Home …
How Google Plans to Take Down Amazon’s Echo (EXCLUSIVE)
http://variety.com/2016/digital/news/google-home-amazon-echo-chromecast-1201874125/
At its press event in San Francisco next week, Google is expected to not only unveil new flagship phones, but also officially launch Google Home, a Wifi-connected smart speaker that can be best described as Google’s answer to Amazon’s Echo — but it’s just a first step in an ambitious plan to battle Amazon for dominance in the home.
Google has already started to talk to consumer electronics manufacturers about building other devices that will work just like Google Home, Variety has learned. Key to these efforts is another device that has been built by the same team as Google Home: Chromecast, and its music-loving sibling Chromecast Audio.
Google has already started to talk to consumer electronics manufacturers about building other devices that will work just like Google Home, Variety has learned. Key to these efforts is another device that has been built by the same team as Google Home: Chromecast, and its music-loving sibling Chromecast Audio.
How Casting Became A Trojan Horse
Google revealed key details of this plan during a closed-door meeting with industry insiders about a month after publicly unveiling Google Home. The meeting was attended by around 50 participants, and held in Google’s Mountain View offices. It brought some of the biggest names of home audio together in one room.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google announces Chromecast Ultra, a 4K version of its streaming device
http://www.theverge.com/2016/10/4/13098438/google-chromecast-ultra-4k-youtube-streaming-device-announced-price
During Google’s Pixel event today, Google announced the Chromecast Ultra, a 4K version of its very popular streaming device. The Chromecast Ultra will be able to stream 4K content from YouTube Netflix, and Vudu at launch, with films from Google Play Movies gaining support in November. HDR content — both HDR10 and Dolby Vision formats — is also supported by the Ultra.
improved Wi-Fi connectivity. The company is also including an Ethernet port on the power adapter for users whose Wi-Fi connections may not be able to handle 4K streams.
The design of the Ultra is very similar to the standard Chromecast; a flat hockey puck design with the ” G” logo instead of the Chrome badge, and a small attached HDMI cord so the device can easily hide behind your TV.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sony’s new cameras show just how drastically photography is changing
Rewriting the meaning of the ‘decisive moment’
http://www.theverge.com/circuitbreaker/2016/10/6/13187348/sony-rx100-mark-v-a6500-digital-mirrorless-camera
Sony held an event in Manhattan today to announce two new cameras: the RX100 Mark V and the A6500. It was a relatively low-key event as far as Sony events tend to go — the A6300 launch featured basketball players and sparring matches, for example — and that’s probably because both cameras were ostensibly just upgrades to existing lineups.
First, the cameras. Sony made tweaks to each camera so that they improve on their predecessors,
The A6500 gains a touchscreen
The RX100 Mark V’s ability to shoot full-resolution stills at 24 frames per second is practically unheard of in a camera of this size and price. High-end DSLRs have offered fast shooting speeds for a few years now, but the ability to shoot this fast in cameras that hover around the $1,000 mark is exciting. We’re talking about the same frame rate that movies are shot at, one that’s considered a good baseline for how fast images need to be played in succession for our brains to interpret it as a video.
A number of competing cameras, especially ones from Panasonic and Olympus, have offered modes that let you shoot at up to 30 frames per second. But unlike the RX100 Mark V, those cameras pull it off in a different way. Instead of firing the shutter 30 times in a second, they essentially capture a 30-second video and chop it up into individual frames. This typically results in lower-resolution stills (usually around 8 megapixels), and they are more susceptible to motion blur since the user has less control over the shutter speed and aperture.
Sony’s cameras, on the other hand, are approaching that speed at full resolution — 20.1 megapixels with the RX100, and 24.2 megapixels with the A6500.
this type of feature is changing the basic exercise of photography, which is to capture a subject in a particular moment. This idea was famously framed by French photographer Henry Cartier-Bresson as “the decisive moment.” It’s the kind of tenet that gets beaten into the heads of anyone who takes photography classes in grade school and college, and it is on the verge of being wiped out by the pace of technology.
To be clear, I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. But we live in a moment where, after almost two centuries of photography, one of the most basic foundations of the medium is changing.
This kind of photography is not without its problems.
Shooting this many full-resolution files in such rapid succession means photographers will have to be ready to handle more gigabytes and terabytes of data than ever before. It also means they’ll have to spend more time picking the right photo. The fast-shooting modes offered by the A6500 and RX100 Mark V make me wonder how close we are to cameras and editing software that use AI to do that work for you — or at least narrow down the selection — similar to what some smartphones and cloud services are already capable of.
Six years ago, Canon showed off a prototype called the “Wonder Camera.” With it, the company proclaimed that the future of photography would simply involve capturing a constant video stream. Photographers would then be able pick the best full-resolution frame from that stream. There would be no “decisive moment,” but there would also be no sacrifice on quality.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Lady Gaga album leaks through Amazon’s Echo speaker
“Alexa, play previews of unreleased songs.”
https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/10/lady-gaga-album-leaks-through-amazon-echo/
Lady Gaga is starting to reveal some of the songs on her upcoming album Joanne, but it might not be quite the controlled release she was hoping for. Fans with Amazon’s Echo speakers recently discovered that they could listen to 30-second previews of currently unavailable songs from the album just by asking Alexa to “play Joanne by Lady Gaga.” You couldn’t do that on Apple Music, Spotify or even Amazon’s own website. The trick only worked in the US and has since been shut down, but it’s a reminder that it’s no longer enough to hide store listings these days.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Disney aims for Netflix. If the deal was made, it would shoot itself in the foot
That’s the prediction, anyway
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/10/10/disney_aims_for_netflix_we_predict_it_would_shoot_itself_in_the_foot/
People that invest in Netflix and people that invest in Disney should never meet each other – they would not get on. But it seems there is a danger, according to the Wall Street Journal, that the two shall be thrown together in an unholy Alliance.
While we can totally see the logic of such a deal, and how theoretically it could benefit both of their strategies, all it would really end up doing is paying off those nice guys at Netflix a ton of money and let them go off and think about something else to invest in. It would eventually kill Netflix through a culture clash.
Tomi Engdahl says:
James Trew / Engadget:
Review: GoPro’s Hero5 cameras bring upgrades like voice controls, touchscreen and waterproofing on Black, 4K video on Session, but battery life is lacking
GoPro’s Hero5 Black and Session bring overdue improvements
Some much-needed features finally make an appearance.
https://www.engadget.com/2016/10/07/gopro-hero5-black-session-review/
Tomi Engdahl says:
Ken Yeung / VentureBeat:
Google acquires FameBit to better connect YouTube creators with brands — Google announced on Tuesday that it has acquired FameBit, with plans to leverage its technology platform to help YouTube creators better connect with brands. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Google acquires FameBit to better connect YouTube creators with brands
http://venturebeat.com/2016/10/11/google-acquires-famebit-to-better-connect-youtube-creators-with-brands/
Google announced on Tuesday that it has acquired FameBit, with plans to leverage its technology platform to help YouTube creators better connect with brands. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“We believe that Google’s relationship with brands and YouTube’s partnerships with creators, combined with FameBit’s technology and expertise, will help increase the number of branded content opportunities available, bringing even more revenue into the online video community,” said Google vice president of product management Ariel Bardin in a blog post.
FameBit started out as a service that let creators network with brands in order to strike up sponsorship or partnership deals.
Helping creators connect with brands
https://youtube.googleblog.com/2016/10/helping-creators-connect-with-brands.html
Tomi Engdahl says:
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:NEW!
Amazon’s “Music Unlimited” music streaming service launches, costs $7.99/month for Prime members, $3.99/month for Echo owners, and $9.99 for everyone else — Rumors have been swirling around Amazon’s plans to launch its own, standalone music streaming service …
Amazon Music Unlimited debuts with discounts for Prime members, cheap “Echo-only” plan
https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/12/amazon-music-unlimited-debuts-with-discounts-for-prime-members-cheap-echo-only-plan/
Rumors have been swirling around Amazon’s plans to launch its own, standalone music streaming service, and now those reports have been proven out: the company is today announcing the launch of Amazon Music Unlimited. This new, on-demand streaming service offers access to tens of millions of songs, and is available for $7.99 per month for Prime members, or $9.99 per month for non-Prime members. Amazon has also launched a “for Echo” subscription plan that lets you listen only on its connected speakers for just $3.99 per month.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/dmusic/promotions/AmazonMusicUnlimited
Tomi Engdahl says:
Second presidential debate-related videos rack up 40 percent more views than the first
https://youtube.googleblog.com/2016/10/second-presidential-debate-related.html
Sunday’s highly-anticipated debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump drew new levels of interest from the YouTube community. The closely watched live debate and on-demand videos surrounding it generated over 124M views since Sunday, representing a 40 percent increase compared to the first presidential debate, which drove 88M views.
Of course many viewers came to YouTube to watch the debate live and we saw over 1.5M peak concurrent viewers, five times higher than the second presidential debate in 2012, and over 2.5M live watch hours, nearly six times higher than 2012.
Those viewers were highly engaged as well. On average, they watched the debate for nearly 25 minutes.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hillary Grigonis / Digital Trends:
Google to shut down location-based photo sharing platform Panoramio on November 4, 2016, gives users until November 2017 to export photos
Photo-sharing site Panoramio falls off the map, discontinued in favor of Google Maps
Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/photography/panoramio-to-close-for-good/#ixzz4MxereJGg
Tomi Engdahl says:
Kurt Wagner / Recode:
Periscope launches Periscope Producer, letting select users stream any live-video feed on Periscope without using Periscope’s mobile app — So now you can stream stuff from places other than your phone. — Twitter-owned Periscope wants more high-quality video content — the kind of video that’s not usually captured on a smartphone.
Twitter wants more TV producers and YouTube stars livestreaming on Periscope
So now you can stream stuff from places other than your phone.
http://www.recode.net/2016/10/13/13267610/twitter-periscope-producer-livestream-tv
Twitter-owned Periscope wants more high-quality video content — the kind of video that’s not usually captured on a smartphone.
So on Thursday it announced Periscope Producer, a way for broadcasters to stream any live-video feed directly to their Periscope following.
That means video producers can capture footage on higher-quality cameras or use editing software to add multiple camera angles, graphics and pre- or post-roll advertisements to their Periscope stream. You can’t do any of that through the app today.
That makes it possible for NBC to stream a local news broadcast directly to Periscope, for example. Louis Vuitton, a beta partner for the new product, used it earlier this month to stream a fashion show from Paris.
The update is a clear sign that Periscope wants more high-quality content that doesn’t come from your average Periscope user. It’s an update intended for organizations and people already producing TV-style video.
That’s (primarily) what people want to watch, and it’s why Facebook pays media organizations, including Recode parent company Vox Media, to use its live product. It’s also why both Facebook and YouTube also offer broadcasters the ability to pump in a stream that’s been captured and edited on something other than a smartphone.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Pluto TV, a free streaming service for cord cutters, raises $30 million more
https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/13/pluto-tv-a-free-streaming-service-for-cord-cutters-raises-30-million-more/
Pluto TV, a video streaming service targeting cord cutters by offering a TV-guide like experience that connects you to hundreds of online channels, has raised $30 million in Series B funding, valuing the business at $140 million.
Unlike other online streaming services, which also cater to those who still subscribe traditional television, Pluto TV from the start has more narrowly focused on acquiring consumers who are abandoning their cable and satellite TV subscriptions. However, instead of offering on-demand TV and movies like Netflix, Pluto TV attempts to replicate the TV experience through online streams that you can “tune into” much like TV broadcasting.
In the U.S., the company has over 75 content partnerships with TV networks, studios, publishers and digital media companies, including Sky, NBC, A&E, CBSi, Bloomberg, Paramount and others.
“Pluto TV has already aggregated over 5 million [monthly active users] in one place and a lot of these niche services are already looking to us to help them get their content discovered and drive users to their platforms,” Ryan adds. “We believe most consumers don’t want to go in and out of different apps for their entertainment.”
To some extent, this is Amazon’s strategy as well, but with paid networks. The company now allows users to add on subscriptions to channels like Showtime and Starz through Amazon Video. The difference is that Pluto TV is focused on free video, not premium channels.
Free TV Is Here
http://pluto.tv/
Download the app now to start watching 100+ live TV channels, full of the TV shows, movies and internet videos you love.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Facebook Now Lets You Use Google Cast or AirPlay To Stream Video On Your TV
https://news.slashdot.org/story/16/10/13/2333224/facebook-now-lets-you-use-google-cast-or-airplay-to-stream-video-on-your-tv
Facebook has made it a high priority over the years to improve its video platform so that it can better compete with the monolithic video service that is YouTube. Today, the company has added another feature, one that allows users to stream Facebook video content to the Apple TV via AirPlay and to various Google Cast-enabled devices.
Facebook now lets you use Google Cast or AirPlay to stream video on your TV
http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/facebook-cast-airplay/
Facebook is taking a cue from Google. The company wants you to turn to the News Feed when it comes to watching video. To make things a little easier on those who prefer to enjoy video on the big screen, the company has started allowing users to stream content to the Apple TV via AirPlay and to Google Cast-enabled devices.
Skip ►
muted
The feature is available on the Facebook iOS app and, according to Facebook, it will be available on Android soon. The best thing about it, however, is how easy it is to use. Simply find a video you want to watch, then tap the TV button and select which device the app should stream to.
Read more: http://www.digitaltrends.com/social-media/facebook-cast-airplay/#ixzz4N400lkLN
Tomi Engdahl says:
April Glaser / Recode:
Tencent launches $299 Ying drone that can capture 4K video and live stream it to WeChat at 720p
WeChat made a drone that flies around and streams video to your friends
The most popular social messaging platform in China now has its own foldable drone.
http://www.recode.net/2016/10/14/13285604/wechat-drone-tencent-social-media-video
Tencent, the maker of WeChat, has a new drone on the way, expected to be available for sale by the end of October for $299.
The Ying drone will stream video directly to WeChat, the most popular messaging platform in China, which boasts over 800 million active users. The drone’s camera can capture 4K video and will stream at 720p HD quality.
It’s the first drone made by a large social media platform for the purpose of sharing footage directly with other users. Tencent partnered with Qualcomm — the company recently started making drone software — and the Chinese drone maker Zerotech to build the tiny aircraft.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Darrell Etherington / TechCrunch:
Google Pixel camera review: fast and takes impressive photos, video stabilization works very well, though it has some quirks like choppy focal length adjustment
The Pixel’s camera proves Google is a smartphone imaging leader
https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/18/the-pixels-camera-proves-google-is-a-smartphone-imaging-leader/
Google’s new Pixel is an attempt by the Android maker to showcase the very best of Google, and that includes its imaging chops. Both on the hardware and software side, the Pixel has some neat photographic tricks up its sleeve. But is it enough to satisfy your inner shutterbug?
The short answer is yes – Google has delivered a terrific photo and video experience on the Pixel (I tested the XL, but both contain the same camera hardware and software). Pixel snaps photos quickly and easily, and its automatically-enabled HDR+ smarts ensure even exposure throughout the frame in most conditions.
Video stabilization works astonishingly well, with the caveat that it’s a tool you have to learn to use in order to get the maximum benefit (just like a gimbal for a DSLR or mirrorless camera, in fact). Basically, the average Pixel owner will be more than satisfied with camera performance (and if you’re curious about the rest of the phone, check out Brian’s full review) and won’t have to think about settings or what’s happening on the software side.
You can see from the gallery below that the Pixel camera has no problems at all with street shooting, in either bright sunlight or overcast conditions. These are all taken with the stock settings, which includes the HDR+ feature enabled by default. Colors are rich and balanced, without being oversaturated (to my eye, at least) and even in direct sunlight it manages fairly
Likewise with close-up, macro-style shots, the camera does well.
Another place where the Pixel does well in bright light is freezing action
Indoors, the Pixel still performs pretty well in most settings
In very low light, I find that it leans too heavily on software to try to salvage an image, resulting in a final picture that has lower noise than you might get from other smartphones, but that also looks very heavily processed.
Stills vs. the competition
On their own, the Pixel and Pixel XL are definitely impressive cameras. Prospective buyers might want to see how they stack up against the competition
Pixel XL, a Samsung Galaxy S7 and an Apple iPhone 7 Plus
Outdoors, you can see that while all three are very capable cameras, there are some differences that might sway personal opinion regarding which is “best.”
Indoors, the differences between the three cameras are more pronounced, especially in very low light. Here, the Galaxy S7 appears to have the edge when it comes to color balance, as well as noise and even possibly detail. The iPhone 7 Plus does appear to be more accurate in terms of its color capture, but it’s still tough to pick an outright favorite. The Pixel XL, to its credit, does very well in the portrait under adequate, but not bright, indoor lighting.
Ultimately, numbered ratings from third-party analyst sites aside, this is a race so close that it’s impossible to call, except by personal preference. Each of these smartphone cameras excels in some regard, but the best end result is in the eye of the beholder since none exhibits any serious flaws.
Video is another area where the Pixel claims a significant edge on the competition, owing mostly to its software-based stabilization effect.
The software stabilization is not without its quirks, however. Google’s artificial camera smarts seem to identify a central focal point around which it centers the view, but if you move the camera around, it shifts that focal center somewhat abruptly, leading to a kind of staccato effect of punctuated panning as you point the device at different places. This even triggers if you aren’t careful about keeping the smartphone pointed in a fixed direction.
While it isn’t perfect, it still allows a shooter to capture really great, stabilized video provided they’re aware of these quirks in the software and learn how to work around them. This is actually super similar to working with a gimbal, so a learning curve here is acceptable in exchange for what you get in return. In portrait, stabilization works equally well.
In terms of completion, Apple’s video stabilization on the iPhone 7 Plus, which includes optical stabilization using the physical camera module itself, also offers a smooth final product, while the Galaxy S7 is the rockiest of the bunch.
No more excuses for bad photos
In today’s smartphone market, if your camera can’t cut it, you’re basically dead in the water. The Google Pixel runs no risk of falling into that category
Tomi Engdahl says:
Josh Constine / TechCrunch:
Facebook debuts live video scheduling, scheduled broadcast sharing, pre-broadcast lobbies to verified Pages, with plans to expand to all Pages in coming weeks — Facebook is helping broadcasters plan and promote their Live streams ahead of time, and assemble their audiences in a waiting room …
Facebook Live unlocks scheduling and pre-stream lobby, first for verified Pages
https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/18/facebook-live-unlocks-scheduling-and-pre-stream-lobby-first-for-verified-pages/
Facebook is helping broadcasters plan and promote their Live streams ahead of time, and assemble their audiences in a waiting room so they have viewers the second the camera starts rolling. Today Facebook is rolling out Live video scheduling, scheduled broadcast sharing, and pre-broadcast lobbies to verified Pages. The plan is to roll out Live scheduling to all Pages in the coming weeks, and to developers of third-party Live API tools soon.
The features could eliminate some of the most annoying things about Live broadcasting. Instead of having to spontaneously start a stream, or pre-announce it with no link to share, you’ll be able to create a link up to a week in advance. This should make it easier to get bigger audiences since users will be able to plan to watch.
Scheduling a broadcast triggers a News Feed post where potential viewers can opt to get a one-time notification reminding them that the stream is starting. To schedule a broadcast, Page admins can go to “Publishing Tools”, then “Video Library”, then “Live”, copy their stream’s credentials like a Steam key or server URL, write an announcement post for the scheduled broadcast, and publish the announcement to the News Feed.
Creators can then promote their links ahead of time
Together, these features could give Facebook a new advantage in its battle with Periscope and YouTube Live for stream creators and viewers. Periscope recently launched its Periscope Producer feature that can pipe in more polished content from professional cameras and editing rigs, similar to Facebook’s Live API.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Amir Efrati / The Information:
Source: Amazon weighs offering internet service in Europe in order to bundle broadband access with Prime Video — Amazon.com is considering offering internet service directly to consumers in Europe, said a person briefed on the discussion. That would allow Amazon to bundle internet access …
Amazon Eyes Internet Service Offering
https://www.theinformation.com/amazon-eyes-internet-service-offering
Amazon.com is considering offering internet service directly to consumers in Europe, said a person briefed on the discussion. That would allow Amazon to bundle internet access with its Prime streaming video offering, the person said, making it more competitive with cable operators which already offer a similar broadband-video package.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Think virtual reality is just about games? Think again, friend
Why we may all be calling movies ‘flatties’ in a few years
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/10/18/virtual_reality_is_not_just_about_games/
With the launch of PlayStation’s VR headset, we are clearly entering a brave new world of virtual reality – everything from the low-end Google Daydream to the far-too-expensive Oculus Rift.
But while interest has been focused on the gaming possibilities, an undercurrent of filmmakers has started exploring the storytelling possibilities that VR brings.
Most famous is Iron Man director Jon Favreau, who has created a “preview” story called Gnomes & Goblins. But at the Austin Film Festival this weekend, a number of other filmmakers took the stage to tell an excited crowd about their experiments with the form, and what they had learned so far.
First up: Deepak Chetty, a director, cinematographer and VR nerd who has won awards for his 3D short films and has been paid by the Washington Post, among others, to explore what VR can mean for real-world stories.
Chetty drew a distinction right away between virtual reality – through which games are experienced – and “immersive” content where your perspective is fixed but the content is “non-framed.”
And that expression – “non-framed” – is perhaps the easiest way of understanding the distinction between the world of cinema as it is now and the world of VR storytelling that people like Chetty hope to create in future.
Cinema – the movies we watch today – are “framed.” The director decides what fits within a given rectangular space in front of you. With VR, that space is all around you. And it requires a completely different approach.
“I like to call them ‘flatties’,” said Emily Best, the CEO of Seed&Spark, a crowdfunding site for independent filmmakers. “It also helps you think about VR as a completely different medium.”
Tomi Engdahl says:
Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Google reaches deal with CBS to carry network on Unplugged web TV service on YouTube, to debut early 2017; talks ongoing with 21st Century Fox, Disney — New service, to be housed on YouTube platform, is likely to debut in early 2017 — Google Inc. has reached an agreement …
Google Signs Up CBS for Planned Web TV Service
New service, to be housed on YouTube platform, is likely to debut in early 2017
http://www.wsj.com/articles/google-signs-up-cbs-for-planned-web-tv-service-1476902412
Google Inc. reached an agreement with CBS Corp. to carry the broadcast network on its soon-to-be-launched web TV service, people familiar with the matter said.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Peter Kafka / Recode:
Amazon has exclusive rights to stream and sell Garth Brooks’ music on its Music Unlimited service, a major get in the streaming wars against Spotify and Apple
Now Amazon has a music exclusive, too: It’s the only place to stream Garth Brooks
He’s not Beyoncé, and that’s okay with Amazon.
http://www.recode.net/2016/10/19/13327420/amazon-garth-brooks-streaming-exclusive-ghosttunes
Last week, Amazon launched a new streaming music service and tried to differentiate itself from the competition by using lower prices.
Now it’s using Garth Brooks.
Amazon Music Unlimited — the service Amazon sells for $10, $8 and $4 a month — will be the only service streaming songs from the country star, who until today was one of the last big music acts who didn’t stream their work.
Amazon will also be the only digital service to sell digital downloads of Brooks’s music. It says almost all of Brooks’s back catalog will be for sale via its Amazon music store.
But Brooks is still a very big deal with a very large fan base — he has sold more albums in the U.S. than anyone except the Beatles — and Amazon may be correct in betting that many Garth Brooks fans have yet to sign up for a streaming music service.
So his presence on Amazon may be an effective marketing tool.
The deal is also a reminder of the rare leverage a handful of music acts enjoy when they, rather than a music label, own the rights to their music. Brooks controls the rights to almost all of his back catalog
Tomi Engdahl says:
Google To Launch Streaming TV Service In Early 2017
https://news.slashdot.org/story/16/10/19/210206/google-to-launch-streaming-tv-service-in-early-2017
It looks like the internet search giant is expected to beat Apple to the punch by releasing its streaming TV service early next year. The Wall Street Journal notes that CBS has agreed to bring content to the service, while 21st Century Fox and Walt Disney are in the final stages of talks to add their content to the service
The service, to be called “Unplugged,” aims to be a “low-cost option targeting customers who either have resisted subscribing to traditional pay-TV or cut the cord due to rising costs.” While Google sells traditional TV service in its Google Fiber footprint, subscriber numbers have been low for the service. An over the top service might be well received by the general public, but it also might provide promising if bundled with Google FIber’s existing broadband offerings. Google is looking to offer a “skinny” bundle of live TV channels with a price in the range of $25 to $40 a month, states the Journal.”
“The report also notes that the service will be entirely separate from YouTube Red, a subscription service ($10 or $13 for iOS users) that offers ad-free YouTube video viewing.”
Google to Launch Streaming TV Service in Early 2017
https://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-to-Launch-Streaming-TV-Service-in-Early-2017-138149
You can add Google to the laundry list of companies planning an “over the top” streaming TV service. According to a new report in the Wall Street Journal, Google has finalized an agreement to bring CBS content to the service, which is expected to launch sometime in early 2017.
That said, Google’s Unplugged service is joining an increasingly crowded field. In addition to looming live TV services from Hulu and Apple, AT&T also intends to jump into the streaming video market later this year with three different streaming video services under the DirecTV Now brand.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Fitch: Video Disruption Favors Content Owners
http://www.btreport.net/articles/2016/10/fitch-video-disruption-favors-content-owners.html?cmpid=videotechnology10172016&eid=289644432&bid=1558360
According to Wall Street analyst firm Fitch Ratings, increasingly fragmented audiences resulting from the rise of on-demand video content continue to disrupt traditional media models, presenting both risks and opportunities for media and entertainment companies. Fitch believes content owners are best positioned to capitalize on the paradigm shift as demand for high quality content is expected to remain strong across the board.
“Traditional media platforms aren’t dead, but evolving,” said David Peterson, Fitch’s senior director, U.S. Corporates. “Relevance will be determined by platforms that can capture large audiences with compelling content, target them specifically, and measure their success.”
In the United States and Europe, sports content is king. Live sports programming remains one of the few opportunities for broadcast and cable networks to generate large viewing audiences.
With time-shifted, on-demand content growing in popularity, Internet-based, or over-the-top (OTT), video distribution now represents the fastest growing method of video content consumption. Traditional cable networks have responded to increased competition by launching their own OTT services like CBS/Showtime, HBO, DISH Network’s Sling TV, and Hulu, which is owned by Disney, Twenty-First Century Fox, Comcast and Time Warner.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Cisco Powers OTT Sports Apps
http://www.btreport.net/articles/2016/10/cisco-powers-ott-sports-apps.html?cmpid=videotechnology10172016&eid=289644432&bid=1558360
FloSports, a subscription-based OTT sports media company, has tapped Cisco (NASDAQ:CSCO) to power its new free-to-download multiscreen apps for Roku and Apple TV platforms. The apps are intended to give FloSports customers more ways to watch live events, VOD and a range of original video content from a variety of devices, across its network of sports web sites.
The new FloSports apps are powered by Cisco’s Infinite Video Platform, a cloud services platform for operators and broadcasters to process, secure, distribute and monetize multiscreen video.
Tomi Engdahl says:
Hack: Adding Bluetooth to Car Stereos and Sound Systems
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRMmth6itGc
Tomi Engdahl says:
Television Needs To Be Reinvented, Says Apple SVP
https://entertainment.slashdot.org/story/16/10/20/2011208/television-needs-to-be-reinvented-says-apple-svp
Eddy Cue, Senior Vice President of Internet Software and Service at Apple, isn’t happy with the current state of how people watch TV. He said we currently live with a “glorified VCR,” the interface of our current TV is the problem and we need to reinvent it.
Apple’s TV boss: ‘Television needs to be reinvented’
http://nordic.businessinsider.com/apple-eddy-cue-television-2016-10?r=US&IR=T
Apple’s head of internet software and services Eddy Cue discussed the problems with the current television landscape during an interview at Vanity Fair’s conference in San Francisco on Thursday.
It’s particularly notable because Cue leads Apple’s television efforts, including its Apple TV and the shows currently available through iTunes.
“I do think television needs to be reinvented. Today, you live with a glorified VCR,” Cue said. “The problem is the interface.”
“It’s really hard to use [a cable box or satellite TV]. Setting something to record, if you didn’t watch something last night, if you didn’t set it to record, it’s hard to find, it may not be available. There may be some rights issues,” Cue said.
“It’s great to be able to tell your device, ‘I wanna watch the Duke basketball game, I don’t care what channel it’s on.’ I just want to watch the Duke basketball game. Today you got to bring in the TV, go through the guide, find which sports programs or whatever – it’s just hard to do.”
Since 2009, Cue had led on-and-off negotiations with content owners to build an Apple-made live TV package that would be delivered over the internet to Apple devices.