By Aldo Cugnini DisplayCentral Google has announced that it is investing more in their two popular platforms — Android and Chrome — with the goal of making it easier to move content and functions between one’s phone, tablet, laptop, TV, car or bodyware. Two weeks ago, Google welcomed 6,000 developers to their 7th annual Google […]
By Aldo Cugnini Display Central Earlier this year, we saw the introduction of curved displays from a growing set of manufacturers — Sony, Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Haier, Konka, to name a few — and are motivated to explore how useful (or desirable) such displays can be. The answer is somewhat complicated, involving as it usually […]
By Aldo Cugnini DisplayDaily Two court cases attempting to block DISH Networks’ use of certain DVR features have generated rulings this month in favor of the satellite content provider. The first ruling, issued by Judge Laura Swain of the Southern District of New York, United States District Court, has denied the ABC Network’s efforts to […]
The inevitable is about to happen, perhaps sooner than anyone thought. The DVD format, first introduced in 1996, and its 2003 successor Blu-ray, as well as legacy VHS, are about to be passed in viewing volume by online paid video downloads. The legal, paid consumption of movies online in the United States will reach 3.4 […]
Improved TV receivers with higher-performance tuners may be on the way, if receiver manufacturers agree with the FCC. The Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012 (often called “the Spectrum Act”) was signed into law a year ago, and authorized the use of “incentive auctions” of broadcast spectrum. Included in the Act […]
By Aldo Cugnini As Insight Media’s Chris Chinnock described last week in his column, several companies are now working on enhanced audio reproduction that goes beyond 5.1 channels. With 3D video, the developers maintain that a new “virtual” sound placement must be created to augment the 3D experience. Cinema technology providers Barco and Dolby are among the companies pushing […]
By Aldo Cugnini zeebox, a UK-based startup, has launched a second-screen app in partnership with some of the most influential media companies in television. In an unprecedented alliance, Comcast Cable, NBCUniversal, HBO and Cinemax are all teaming with zeebox in an endorsement of a universal, cross-channel TV viewing companion app for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, Android, and […]
Manufacturers appear to be gearing up to produce 4K displays, with a resolution of 3840×2160 — each dimension having twice the number of pixels of an HDTV display, providing an astounding 8 million pixels. Is bigger always better? Sony recently announced that it will begin a worldwide phased launch of its latest Bravia LCD television […]
No, I’m not referring to some new form of advanced-digital high-definition-whatever. I do mean the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. According to a recent study by the Nielsen Company, 88 percent of U.S. tablet owners and 86 percent of smartphone owners said they used their device while watching TV at least once during a 30-day period. […]
Taking a look back at some of the big stories and topics last year, let’s use that information to put a slightly different spin on prognostication. At the risk of portraying a naïve or idealistic 2012, how about we define how we’d like things to develop, i.e., what goals should players set to realize growth […]
After recently spending four days at the 2010 National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) conference in Las Vegas, I’d like to offer my exhibit-hall perspective on what’s hot in the world of video content production and distribution. This year’s attendance was up — 88,044 registered attendees vs. last year’s 82,650. I don’t think this represented a […]
