Archive for February, 2008

Momentum Builds for New Online Video Commerce Technology

Content Owners Embrace ‘klickTab’ Micro-Payment Technology, Begin Generating Revenue with Simple, Convenient Way for Viewers to Buy and Download Shows

LOS ANGELES, CA (February 20, 2008) – Since the debut of Open Television Network (www.openTVnetwork.com) last month, content owners, online video producers and online news organizations have clearly embraced this new unmediated online video marketplace model and have been eagerly signing up to take advantage of the opportunity to begin generating revenue for their online video and audio content. In addition to the myriad enthusiast and hobbyist content providers signing up, Open Television Network has also attracted news organizations and influential bloggers looking to generate revenues for premium content. more

Directed by Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega, Film Looks at an Annual Beauty Pageant Held at Colombia’s Largest Women’s Prison

San Francisco, CA (February 20, 2008)—Phoenix Editorial & Designs recently completed film titles, color correction, and finishing on the Oscar nominated documentary short “La Corona.� The 40-minute film is directed by Amanda Micheli and Isabel Vega and produced by Runaway Films and Vega Films. “La Corona� is up for Best Documentary Short at the 80th Annual Academy Awards®, and also won an honorable mention from the Shorts Jury at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. more

XL Video has won its fifth Total Production International Award (TPi) for ‘Favourite Video Services Company’ of the Year.

The 2008 TPi Awards – which recognise the industry’s most innovative and ambitious technical, creative and production achievements – were presented at London’s Grosvenor House venue on February 17th. more

Former Senior Manager at Sony Computer Entertainment of America Brings Over Ten Years of Motion Capture Pipeline and Animation Production Experience

Los Angeles, CA (February 20, 2008) —VICON, developer of Academy Award®-winning motion capture systems, today announced that Brian Rausch has joined the company as Vice President of Production for VICON and VICON House of Moves. Rausch comes on board from Sony Computer Entertainment of America (SCEA) where he most recently served as Senior Manager of the Visual Arts Services Group. more

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, FEBRUARY 20, 2008 — Auralex has become the go-to manufacturer for acoustical treatments on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. In each episode, the Makeover team undertakes the monumental task of completely rebuilding a family’s home in a one-week timeframe. NYC dealer Dale Pro Audio once again recommended Auralex’s state-of-the-art products when acoustical treatments where needed for one of the family member’s rooms. This episode marks the third time Auralex is involved in an acoustical renovation on the show. more

Iroquois, ON, Canada-February 20, 2008 – The longest continually operating television station in the world, WRGB chose a Ross Synergy 4 MDX Multi-Definition Production Switcher to enter their 80th year of broadcasting in HD on January 13, 2008. more

Academy Award®-winning company adds HD capability for more accurate effects creation

TEWKSBURY, Mass., February 19, 2008 – Avid Technology, Inc. (Nasdaq: AVID) today announced that Weta Digital, an Academy Award-winning visual effects facility based in New Zealand, has expanded to offer clients HD VFX workflows using Avid DNxHD®36 media – resulting in faster and more accurate VFX review processes for productions working in HD. Because the Avid DNxHD 36 delivers HD image quality at data rates only 50% larger than standard definition DV25, visual effects artists at Weta Digital can now exchange high-resolution media with production teams in real time over an Ethernet network and work with a better visual reference for VFX creation. more

Simple account set up; email to 2pad@2pad – automates gallery set up and media upload

Ranaana, Israel – February 19, 2008 – 2pad, the first private online media sharing service, today announced the world-wide launch of the 2pad private online photo and video gallery. Ideal for organizing, sharing, and storing photos and videos, 2pad provides the most user-friendly approach to managing and exchanging media. Further, the 2pad environment is completely protected. State-of-the-art 2pad privacy processes ensure user photos and videos are protected. 2pad account owners define who can view and access media held in their account. Ary Tebeka, CTO of 2pad, states: “We removed all the pain to create an online gallery – all you need to do now is email photos or videos to 2pad@2pad.com!” more

SUNNYVALE, CALIF. — FEBRUARY 19, 2008 — Harmonic Inc. (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced that its market-leading Rhozet™ Carbon Coder™ video transcoding solution will support Panasonic’s high-performance AVC-Intra high definition (HD) compression technology. Rhozet Carbon Coder will provide real-time transcoding of HD material using the AVC-Intra codec as a standard feature. Developed to provide greater image quality and flexibility in broadcast HD production, this intra-frame compression technology enables highly efficient compression without compromising HD quality. Carbon Coder with AVC-Intra support will be available in April 2008. more

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 19, 2008 — Autodesk, Inc. (NASDAQ: ADSK) today announced reduced pricing for Autodesk Maya Unlimited 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software – the tool of choice for designers and artists working in film, television and games. Autodesk also announced Maya 2008 Extension 2 software, which provides enhanced creative control over polygon modeling and UV texturing, as well as significant improvements to the Maya Muscle toolset. Maya was recently inducted into the Game Developer Front Line Award Hall of Fame for its outstanding contribution to the game development industry. more