NHK smashes the 4K barrier
In
today’s world of broadcasting and commercial display technologies,
video resolution seems to be the name of the game as we progress from
full-HD to 4K (3,840 x 2,160 pixels), and now 8K (7,680 x 4,320 pixels)
ultra-high-definition format. Developed by NHK, this Japanese prototype
system is capable of displaying 32 megapixels' worth or 16 times more
details than any consumer panel.
The
theater on demonstration at CommunicAsia comprises two LCoS projectors
with a combined 8,000 lumens brightness and a towering 6.6m x 3.7m
300-inch projection screen. If you think that is impressive, wait
till you have a go at its triple-tier 22.2-channel cinema sound system.
We're talking dual subwoofers, three, 10 and nine speakers at the
bottom, screen level and overhead.
To
reproduce the brilliant image clarity, the Japanese broadcaster has
also developed a matching 8K studio camera, hard drive recorder and
a high-bandwidth optical transmission system via IP networking. If
you've missed this once-in-a-lifetime experience, you could visit
Japan's Kyushu National Museum and pop by its Theater 4000 equipped
with the same 300-incher instead.
Sony
intros flash-based HD camcorder
As
it inevitably had to do, Sony today announced the flash-memory version
of its HDR-SR11 hard-disk-based HD camcorder, replacing the older
CX7. A tad smaller than the CX7 by one or two tenths of an inch in
every dimension, it uses the same 12x zoom lens and 5.6-megapixel
ClearVid CMOS sensor that drives the SR11 (and its line mates, the
SR10 and SR12). Since it's smaller than the SR models, it uses the
same 2.7-inch LCD as its predecessor.
Going
head-to-head with Canon's HF10, the HF10 still looks like a slightly
better deal based on specs alone. It's very similar--both are SD-based
models which produce 1920x1080 AVCHD video from approximately 1/3-inch
sensors, though the HF10's is lower 3.3-megapixel resolution, and
sport 12x zoom lenses. But for the same $900 Sony plans to charge
for the CX12, Canon includes 16GB built-in memory for the HF10 while
Sony plans to bundle a smaller 4GB Memory Stick Duo Pro Mark2. The
actual street price may be cheaper, of course.
According
to Sony, the CX12 will be able to record 25 minutes of highest-quality
HD video (16 megabits per second) on the 4GB card. Unfortunately,
it will still come with the inadequate (and horribly named) Picture
Motion Browser software rather than a real video-editing application,
like Sony's own Vegas Video Movie Studio.
Shockproof
Shooter
In
theory, you can fix most cameras onto your helmet or bicycle by using
an excessive amount of duct tape. Sure, you'll look like a mess, but
your camera will look even worse if you dropped it.
A
better option would be Oregon Scientific's ATC5K. Designed to capture
adventurers' conquests on the most dangerous trails, the shockproof
shooter can be mounted onto helmets or bicycles to record those awesome
first-person perspectives on video.
Like
conventional digicams, the video resolution is 640 x 480 pixels at
30 frames per second, which is good enough to view on most displays.
The internal memory holds 32MB of still pictures or videos, and the
SD expansion slot supports up to 4GB. Unless you've brought enough
AA-sized batteries for your expedition, we suggest you keep the viewing
on the 1.5-inch LCD to a minimum.
The
ATC5K will be available from August and will be priced at $199.
Go
3D without goofy glasses
The
next big thing after extremely high-resolution displays is, of course,
3D technology. And we're not talking about those dated 3D glasses
of yesteryear, as proven by French company Alioscopy here at CommunicAsia
in Singapore. Onsite and attracting quite a crowd is its $10,526 40-inch
3D monitor capable of reproducing the same enticing visual depth without
cumbersome glasses.
The
trick lies in an optical filter-coated panel and specially encoded
3D videos, derived from eight independent points of view, with up
to a staggering bandwidth of 9GB per minute. The 3D footage can be
premixed before playback or processed on the fly using a dedicated
encoder. For added versatility, the display is also compatible with
plain vanilla 2D programs.
Its
spokesperson indicated that larger 46- and 56-inch displays are next
in the pipeline. So if you're into digital signage, marketing, communications,
and 3D application spaces, this may be exactly what the doctor ordered.
But for now, home consumers will have to rely on products like the
latest Samsung plasma TVs based on the goofy 3D glasses.
HOME
Headlines
Officer
and Photog Scuffle
TV
reporter, cameraman plead guilty to trespassing charges
Black
Anchor Out After Using "N" Word
TV
news helicopter violates Presidential airspace, says FAA
Kitten
Rescued from Fox 17 Station Car
Final
hour for newscast
Suspect
in fatal crash found in TV vehicle
NBC11
Reporter Robbed While Covering Story On Smash-And-Grabs
LA
TV news stringers to become TruTV series
Wilmington
to be digital TV test market
Barrington
To Slash Staff
WNBC
Plans 24-Hour News Channel
ABC
News to launch on-campus bureaus
Some
Pappas Telecasting Stations file for Chapter 11
Deputies
use Taser on sportscaster in jai
l
Jane
Fonda Slips C-Word Past NBC Today Censors
CBS
Lays Off CSTV Staffers
Man
charged in snowmobile crash that killed TV anchor
Former
Tampa Reporter busted for Child Porn
Former
Boise TV anchor arrested for domestic abuse
Former
Meteorologist Wants Jail Sentence Tossed
Davenport
TV station lays off 12, cancels 2 newscasts
Can
Columbus' famously combustible news director be tamed?
GM
apologizes for weatherman's goof
L.A.
mayor's girlfriend demoted by TV station
FCC
urges fine for Comcast
BBC
to integrate news operation
NFL's
new vest policy is out of line
Another
news chopper incident
Ex-forecaster
insists she's not guilty of shoplifting
'Early
Show' bails on flooded studio
Pit
bulls attack TV, radio station workers
Police
review actions of TV crew at office protest
Voice-over
actor tapped as traffic reporter
Family
files civil suit against anchor
Eyewitness
News back on after fire
Broken
Pipe Cripples TV News
Philly
shooter slugged
Photog
arrested
Camerawoman
files claim against Los Angeles
Global
TV cameraman saves toddler
Pittsburgh
station sorry for misplaced news tease
Hopefuls
jam station's traffic-reporter tryout
News
anchor jailed, charged with felony
Man
accused of threatening TV reporter
Another
TV News Copter Goes Down
TV
Station Fires Worker Over Porn Prank
TV
Reporter Found Guilty Of Contempt
TV
Helicopter Pilot Saves Stranded Deer
*Watch
video
Pols
Call For Warning Labels on Analog-Only TV Sets
No
charges in arrest of 'Car Czar' reporter
Former
Channel 7 analyst arrested on child sex charges
Philly
station launches mostly unscripted newscast
Boston
TV's Ansin defends mass firings
Charity's
director sues WFLA-TV reporter
Boston
radio giant fires entire news team
Roanoke
TV station fires meteorologist over MySpace photo
'Borat' duped TV producer
Former TV Reporter Indicted For Cruise Ship Conduct With Boys
KTMD
losing most of news staff
Broadcast
Workers Oppose Dereg
TV
Takes a Page Out of Newspaper Hardships
Students
make 'Point' on TV news
Fox
journalists released in Gaza Strip, ending nearly two week hostage ordeal
Cincy
TV stations settle sideline-camera flap
Death
stuns, angers reporter's family
Bossier
City businessman accused of attacking TV crew
Wife
of kidnapped Fox cameraman makes tearful plea for release
Ex-news
anchor arrest
Popular Weatherman
Passes
Former
TV personality charged with soliciting a child
Voice
of the Razorbacks Dies in Car Accident
Sentence
in crash that kills photog
Cameraman
tossed from tour
TV
station editor beaten up over report about broken privatisation promises
Chopper
4 crashes during search
Once again a near death incident. Glad everyone's safe...but
here's another reason why I've given up helicopters for good.
Cameraman
Claims He Slept With Princess Diana
Now that's what I'm talkin' about. You go get 'em
cameraman!
Broadcasters'
audience size sets new low
The least-watched week in history. Going downnnnn....
Bank
robbery foiled by TV reporter
Fox,
AP Settle Photog Flap
"Miraculous
Recovery" for CBS' Dozier
Holdin'
Globes
New
pandemic fear as cameraman falls ill in bird flu village
Reporter
killed in head-on collision
NBCU
Puts Four Stations Up for Sale
PGA
Announces New Agreements With CBS, NBC
Fire
kills anchorman
Former
TV reporter charged with shoplifting
Anchorwoman
Accepts Proposal on Air
Ex-TV
reporter Barth joins race for seat in Congress
ABC
Cameraman shot dead in Baghdad
Shootout
video cameraman drops out of sight
Spitting
at TV cameraman earns suspension
Pittsburgh
TV Reporter Cited For Trespassing
TV photogs attacked outside court
Break-in
delays W. Va. newscast debut
Viacom lays off 11 at KOVR, KMAX
Colo.
station suspends local news
NFL
won't act on Benson altercation with TV crew
Cameras
Captured a Disaster but Now Focus on Suffering
Cameraman Assaulted
