Researchers at MIT have taken an important step toward creating tiny circuits using molecules that automatically arrange themselves into useful patterns resulting in chips smaller than traditional manufacturing processes can support. The features on computer chips are getting so small that soon the process used to make them, which has hardly changed in the last 50 years, won’t work anymore. One of the alternatives that academic researchers have been exploring is to create tiny circuits using molecules that automatically arrange themselves into useful patterns. Currently, chips are built up, layer by layer, through a process called photolithography. A layer of silicon, metal, or some other material is deposited on a chip and coated with a light-sensitive material, called a photoresist. Light shining through a kind of stencil — a “mask” — projects a detailed pattern onto the photoresist, which hardens where it’s exposed. The unhardened photoresist is washed away, and chemicals etch away the bare material underneath. The problem is that chip features are now significantly smaller than the wavelength of the light used to make them. Manufacturers have developed various tricks to get light to produce patterns smaller than its own wavelength, but they won’t work at smaller scales. The obvious way to continue shrinking chip features would be to use beams of electrons to transfer mask patterns to layers of photoresist. But unlike light, which can shine through a mask and expose an entire chip at once, an electron beam has to move back and forth across the surface of a chip in parallel lines, like a harvester working along rows of wheat. “It’s like the difference between writing by hand and printing a page all at once,” says Karl Berggren, the Emanuel E. Landsman Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, who along with Caroline Ross, the Toyota Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, led the new work. The slow, precise scanning of electron-beam lithography makes it significantly more expensive than conventional optical lithography. Berggren and Ross’ approach is to use electron-beam lithography sparingly, to create patterns of tiny posts on a silicon chip. They then deposit specially designed polymers — molecules in which smaller, repeating molecular units are linked into long chains — on the chip. The polymers spontaneously hitch up to the posts and arrange themselves into useful patterns. The trick is that the polymers are “copolymers,” meaning they’re made of two different types of polymer. In their attempts to segregate themselves, the different types of polymer chain arrange themselves into predictable patterns. By varying the length of the chains, the proportions of the two polymers, and the shape and location of the silicon hitching posts, Ross, Berggren, and their colleagues were able to produce a wide range of patterns useful in circuit design. One of the two polymers that the MIT researchers used burns away when exposed to a plasma (an electrically charged gas), while the other, which contains silicon, turns to glass. The glass layer could serve the same purpose that a photoresist does in ordinary lithography, protecting the material beneath it while that around it is etched away. According to the researchers, much more work is required before self-assembling molecules can provide a viable means for manufacturing individual chips. In the meantime, Ross and Berggren are working to find arrangements of their nanoscale posts that will produce functioning circuits in prototype chips, and they’re trying to refine their technique to produce even smaller chip features. The new findings were published in a paper that appeared this week in Nature Nanotechnology.

This week at ShoWest 2010, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. announced it is working with Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios to deliver a new audio format, Dolby Surround 7.1. The company said the new format comprises 8 channels of audio and has the following channel layout: Left, Center, Right, Low-Frequency Effects (LFE), Left Surround, Right Surround, Back Surround Left (new), and Back Surround Right (new). Dolby Surround 7.1 provides content creators four surround zones to better orchestrate audio channels in a movie theatre environment. The four surround zones incorporate the traditional Left Surround and Right Surround with new Back Surround Left and Back Surround Right zones. The addition of the two Back Surround zones enhances directionality in panning 360 degrees around the theatre. In order for exhibitors to deliver the new format, Dolby will be providing Dolby Surround 7.1 playback capabilities in the Dolby CP650 and Dolby CP750 digital cinema audio processor lines. According to Dolby, Surround 7.1 brings a more exciting sensory experience to audiences for 2D and gives content creators control over audio placement in a theatre when mixing 3D movies. The ability to compose audio with visual elements of 3D allows content creators to immerse the audience deeper into the movie with dramatic realism. "For 40 years Dolby has not only provided content creators with the tools to create a more realistic audio experience, but has also enabled the exhibitor to deliver audiences the ability to experience the content as the creator intended," said Page Haun, Senior Director, Marketing, Cinema Market Segment, Dolby Laboratories. "The release of Toy Story 3 in a discrete 7.1 mix will raise the bar for movie theatre owners and their patrons." At ShoWest, Dolby is demonstrating to exhibitors a discrete 7.1 mixed demo reel of past Pixar movies to showcase the advanced audio solution. After the show, exhibitors will be able to access the content to test and demonstrate in their theatres. Disney and Pixar have stated that Dolby Surround 7.1 will be launched in select theatres with the release of Toy Story 3 in 3D this June. ShoWest 2010, currently underway, runs March 15 - 18, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Sony Corporation has announced the development of a RGB laser light source module suitable for large screen projectors such as digital cinema projectors. The module, , among the industry's smallest, incorporates high power lasers of the three primary colors: Red, Green and Blue (RGB) with a combined output power of 21W (equivalent to 5,000 lumens), in a single package measuring just 530cc. The newly developed RGB laser module uses semiconductor diodes for the red and blue lasers, and a compact, high power solid-state SHG laser for the green. Both the red and green lasers were developed internally by Sony. The three lasers generate output power of 10W for red, 6W for green, and 5W for blue, resulting in a total of 21W. Furthermore, energy conversion ratios for the lasers range from 15 to 22% (18% on average), representing extremely high efficiency for power visible lasers. This high energy conversion ratio also realizes low energy consumption within the module itself. This module can be used as the light source for a range of projectors, from 1,000 lumen home theater projectors to 10,000 lumen large screen projectors, and even digital cinema projectors. According to Sony, this is due to the scalability of the module design, which outputs collimated light beams for each of the three colors, enabling multiple modules to be stacked. When used in place of the xenon lamps which are the light source for projectors today, this module realizes the following key advantages based on the strengths of its advanced laser technology:

1. Realizes high light output power of 21W with a package size of just 530cc.
Semiconductor diodes are used for the red and blue lasers, while a compact and high power solid state SHG laser is used for the green. Both the red and green lasers were developed internally by Sony. The output power of the three lasers are 10W for red, 6W of green and 5W of blue, realizing a total output power of 21W.

2. Low power consumption achieved through high energy conversion efficiency. Realizes energy conversion ratio of 15 to 22% (18% on average), representing very high efficiency for high power visible lasers. In the red and blue semiconductor lasers, this is achieved through the high quality of the semiconductor laser crystal, and thermally efficient laser chip mounting technology. In the green laser, it is achieved through a proprietary laser structure which enhances wavelength conversion efficiency. As a result of these developments, low power consumption of 110W at 5,000 lumen output has been achieved. Furthermore, the reduction in heat emissions resulting from this high efficiency enable the cooling mechanisms required for the operation of the lasers to be simplified and reduced.

3. Extended lifetime of over 10,000 hours. A further advantage of this laser-based light source is that it delivers a lifespan of over 10,000 hours (between 3 to 20 times longer than xenon lamps). By limiting the need for lamp replacement and exchange, this enables maintenance costs to be reduced.

Following consultation with the Department of Defense (DoD), the team developing the Federal Communications Commission’s National Broadband Plan has included a recommendation that the DoD equip select military installations with ultra high-speed broadband connections that would provide military personnel and their families with improved access to enhanced broadband connectivity. “The nation’s military installations house, train, educate, heal, and support tens of thousands of service personnel and their families,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. “These military communities should be first in line to benefit from the latest technologies and ultra high-speed connectivity. This initiative also has the potential to help spur development of the next generation of broadband applications that take advantage of ultra-high speeds.” "I'm extremely pleased that the National Broadband Plan will recognize the central role that communications technologies play not only in the training and education of military personnel, but also in that of their families," said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Network and Information Integration)/DoD Chief Information Officer Cheryl J. Roby.” The FCC’s Plan outlines strategies for providing robust, affordable broadband to the entire nation and integrating broadband fully into the American economy and the daily lives of Americans. The DoD and FCC have discussed the merit of this proposal and agree this particular recommendation will be aligned with the missions of the Armed Forces. The recommendation reflects a tactic in the plan to investigate using federal facilities as a powerful way to push broadband more deeply into all corners of the nation. Military installations typically already have broadband connectivity but are ideal communities for ultra high-speed broadband connectivity, due to their scale and the variety of services they provide to military personnel and their families. The National Broadband Plan will recommend that the Defense Department create a task force, in consultation with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, to make recommendations on the selection, level of connectivity, and applications that could be deployed and supported. The military would retain operational control over the requirements and project implementation. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 directed the FCC to submit a National Broadband Plan to Congress that addresses broadband deployment, adoption, affordability, and the use of broadband to advance solutions to national priorities.

The National Association of Broadcasters announced today the debut of a new digital video workflow presentation stage, complete with a networking lounge and series of mini sessions, which will be held on the show floor at the 2010 NAB Show. Located in the South Lower Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Post Pit brings together user groups and individuals who use post-production and other digital story-telling software and hardware products on display at the NAB Show. Produced in partnership with Final Cut Pro User Group (FCPUG) Network SuperMeet, fxguide, Digital Production Buzz and Future Media Concepts (FMC), Post Pit will offer attendees and exhibitors an interactive experience in which to showcase creative content, while top talent take the stage to share tips and tricks to aid digital video creators and editors in navigating the various tools used in the trade. "We applaud NAB's decision to add the Post Pit as an exciting new venue to the NAB Show exhibit hall and appreciate our active role in providing speakers from within our community as highlights to the Post Pit schedule," said SuperMeet co-producers Daniel Berube (Boston FCPUG) and Michael Horton (Los Angeles FCPUG) in a joint statement. "We expect the networking prospects and guru talk offered within the Post Pit to be a big draw for content creators and digital filmmakers. Think of the Post Pit as our central gathering spot for the creative community at this year's NAB Show," they said. A networking lounge within Post Pit will provide an intimate space for attendees to meet with other content professionals, see interactive demonstrations and mingle with a broad representation of vendors including Adobe, Avid, AJA Video, Blackmagic Design, Canon, GenArts, Inc., The Foundry and JVC. Post Pit will also feature networking receptions during the day and after hours. "We're targeting serious production pros," said fxguide Co-Founder Mike Seymour, whose Post Pit program addresses high end digital capture to final feature film post production. "We've lined up directors and visual effects supervisors to share real world production techniques using the latest gear." The 2010 NAB Show runs April 12-15 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.

If you’re one of the 57 million Americans who ride a bike, mapping your daily commute, exploring new trails, and planning recreational rides just became a little bit easier. Unveiled at the National Bike Summit in Washington, DC, Google announced today that it has added biking directions in the U.S. to Google Maps. The new feature provides step-by-step, bike-specific routing suggestions – similar to the directions provided by the driving, walking, or public transit modes. Simply enter a start point and destination and select “Bicycling" from the drop-down menu. You will receive a route that is optimized for cycling, taking advantage of bike trails, bike lanes, and bike-friendly streets and avoiding hilly terrain whenever possible. You can also access the other features in Google Maps, such as Street View, so you can tell exactly where you might need to turn on your route or preview how wide a bike lane is, and Local Search, so you know where you can take a water break or where the bike shops are along your route. Biking directions provides time estimates for routes based on an algorithm that takes into account the length of the route, the number of hills, fatigue over time, and other variables. According to Google, thousands of miles of trails in the US have also been added directly onto the map. This helps cyclists better plan their routes, and can also expose the availability and convenience of bike trails to a new audience. Google has partnered with the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, a nonprofit that creates networks of trails from former rail lines, to provide information on bike trails in more than 150 cities. “The demand for trail maps and information has never been higher, especially as more people recognize biking as a viable, inexpensive and healthy alternative to driving,” says Rails-to-Trails President Keith Laughlin. “Sharing our trail data is an exceptional way to introduce the world to what 150,000 RTC members and supporters already know—biking is the ideal way to get where you’re going. The addition of biking directions to Google Maps makes life easier for bikers, whether they are commuting to work or biking for fun, and it can introduce our network of trails to a whole new audience of cyclists-to-be.” Biking directions is currently in Beta available on desktop versions of Google Maps for the United States, but a mobile version is planned.

According to the latest data from digital marketing intelligence and measurement company comScore, U.S. Internet users watched 32.4 billion videos in January with Google Sites ranking as the top U.S. video property with 12.8 billion videos. YouTube.com accounted for nearly 99 percent of all videos viewed at the property. Hulu ranked second with 903.1 million videos, or 2.8 percent of the all online videos viewed. Microsoft Sites ranked third with 491.8 million (1.5 percent), followed by Yahoo! Sites with 435.5 million (1.3 percent) and Viacom Digital with 361.2 million (1.1 percent). More than 173 million viewers watched an average of 187 videos per viewer during the month of January. Google Sites attracted 136.5 million unique viewers during the month (93.9 videos per viewer), followed by Yahoo! Sites with 51.5 million viewers (8.5 videos per viewer) and CBS Interactive with 41.2 million viewers, (5.3 videos per viewer). The average Hulu viewer watched 23.5 videos during the month, representing an all-time high for the property. In January, Tremor Media ranked as the top video ad network with a potential reach of 86 million viewers, or 49.6 percent of the total viewing audience. BBE ranked second with a potential reach of 78.3 million viewers (45.2 percent penetration) closely followed by Advertising.com Video Network with 77.9 million viewers (45.0 percent). comScore also noted that the top video ad networks in terms of their actual reach delivered were: BrightRoll Video Network with 27.2 percent penetration of online video viewers, SpotXchange Video Ad Network with 19.8 percent, and Tremor Media Video Network with 16.6 percent. 135.4 million viewers watched 12.7 billion videos on YouTube.com (93.4 videos per viewer) while the average Hulu viewer watched 23.5 videos, totaling 2.3 hours of videos per viewer. The company also noted that the duration of the average online video across all properties was 4.1 minutes.

The Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Thomson Licensing, Toshiba Corporation and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment have announced that the companies have commenced a worldwide joint licensing program. Known as the BD4C Licensing Group, which begun on March 1, 2010, the group will offer licensing for Blu-ray ("BD") and DVD patents essential for BD decoders, BD encoders, BD players, BD read-only discs, BD recordable discs, BD drives, BD/DVD hybrid discs and BD recorders ("BD Products"), including BD Products that incorporate DVD functionality. According to BD4C, potential licensees will benefit from one-stop shopping for the essential patents owned or controlled by the four companies, which will facilitate the development of the BD market. The license portfolio consists of BD and DVD patents, owned or controlled by the four companies, that are essential for BD Products. Licenses for the portfolio will be available for products that comply with the specifications for the BD formats promulgated by the Blu-ray Disc Association. The group said interested parties are also free to negotiate separate license agreements, rather than taking a single portfolio license, with each of the four companies, which have committed to provide such licenses for their respective essential patents under fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory terms and conditions. The companies have authorized Toshiba to act as licensor for the BD4C Licensing Group in licensing their essential BD patents for this joint licensing program. Royalties under the terms of the portfolio license will be as follows:

HDMI Licensing, LLC, the agent responsible for licensing the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) specification, this week announced, on behalf of the HDMI Founders, the release of HDMI Specification Version 1.4a featuring key enhancements for 3D applications including the addition of mandatory 3D formats for broadcast content as well as the addition of the 3D format referred to as Top-and-Bottom. The latest HDMI Specification adds key enhancements to support the market requirements for bringing broadcast 3D content into the home including the addition of Top-and-Bottom to the Specification as well as the addition Side-by-Side Horizontal and Top-and-Bottom mandatory formats for broadcast content. According to HDMI with the addition of these two mandatory formats, the HDMI Specification Version 1.4a provides a level of interoperability for devices designed to deliver 3D content over the HDMI connection allowing devices to speak a common 3D language when transmitting and receiving 3D content. The complete HDMI Specification Version 1.4a, along with the 1.4a version of the Compliance Test Specification (CTS), is available to Adopters on the HDMI Adopter Extranet. An extraction of the 3D portion of Specification Version 1.4a is available for public download on the HDMI Web site. The purpose of the extraction document is to provide public access to the 3D portion of the HDMI Specification for those companies and organizations that are not HDMI Adopters but require access to this portion of the Specification. "We published these latest enhancements to support the market need for broadcast 3D content," said Steve Venuti, president of HDMI Licensing, LLC. "When we launched 1.4 in June of 2009, we deferred the selection of mandatory 3D format(s) for broadcast content until the market direction was more clearly defined. The market has spoken and the HDMI Consortium has listened and responded to accommodate those market needs." HDMI Adopters will have 90 days from the publication of the Specification Version 1.4a to build and sell products that are compliant with 1.4a as well as pass the CTS Version 1.4a. This also applies to legacy set-top boxes that may have upgraded to use Specification Version 1.4 signaling.

Cupertino, California based Apple Inc. this week filed a lawsuit against fellow consumer electronics and smartphone maker High Tech Computer (HTC), for infringing on what Apple calls 20 patents related to the iPhone's user interface, underlying architecture and hardware. The lawsuit was filed concurrently with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) and in U.S. District Court in Delaware. "We can sit by and watch competitors steal our patented inventions, or we can do something about it. We've decided to do something about it," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "We think competition is healthy, but competitors should create their own original technology, not steal ours." According to HTC, the Taiwanese company, the world’s largest maker of smartphones that use Google’s Android mobile operating system, including the Nexus One, has been building mobile devices including smartphones for 13 years, “and so HTC is not only a mobile technology innovator, [we] also hold a large number of patents,” the company said in a filing to the Taiwan Stock Exchange. Apple’s filing includes smartphones from HTC that use Google’s Android OS as well as some that run Microsoft’s Windows Mobile OS. HTC will work with the U.S. justice system to protect its own innovations and rights, it said, adding that it does not believe the Apple lawsuit poses a threat to its business in the short-term. Apple is credited with having reinvented the mobile phone in 2007 with its revolutionary iPhone, and again in 2008 with its pioneering App Store, which now offers more than 150,000 mobile applications in over 90 countries. Over 40 million iPhones have been sold worldwide. It is not unusual however, for technology companies to file lawsuits against each other. As popularity of smartphones increase, smartphone vendors have been actively filing lawsuits. Sometimes for legitimate claims and sometimes as a ploy to harm a rival’s business. Nokia, the world’s largest mobile phone vendor, sued Apple last October over the alleged infringement of 10 patents. Apple turned around and sued Nokia over claims of its own.

Hollywood's hopes for a future built on digital film downloads have been severely undermined by new research showing cooling consumer demand for movies online. The film industry was banking on digital distribution eventually replacing the income it generates from sales of DVDs, which have been in steep decline for the past two years. But while sales of digital films rose sharply in 2007 and 2008 growth stuttered in 2009, according to a recent report by Screen Digest. The media research group had forecast total online movie sales in the US of $360m for 2009, based on the sharp growth of 2007 and a near doubling of sales in 2008 to $219m. Yet after a slowdown in the second half of the year, US revenues for 2009 were substantially lower than forecast at $291m. "The market just cooled off," said Arash Amel, a research director with Screen Digest. "This wasn't caused by economic factors . . . the level of interest in digital downloads just isn't there." He believes consumers have been deterred by an array of competing online platforms that prevent viewers from watching digitally downloaded films on the devices of their choice. A consumer buying a film from Apple's iTunes store is unable to watch it on their Microsoft Xbox console, for example. "Digital downloading is characterised by its restrictions – it's all about what viewers can't do, rather than what they can do,"added Mr Amel. Hollywood has moved to address problems associated with digital distribution yet the industry is divided on the best way forward. Disney has created Keychest, which it describes as "enabling technology" that allows consumers to buy a film once and watch it anywhere. But the rest of the industry is supporting the rival Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem coalition, which is backed by Sony Pictures. With no immediate solution in sight, the Screen Digest report is likely to make grim reading in Hollywood. The private equity and hedge fund money that poured into the industry fuelling a production boom has evaporated following the financial crisis, leaving the studios desperate for new revenue sources. While studios have made efforts to cut the pay offered to top stars, the number of films going into production in 2009 fell almost 20 per cent to 520 and is forecast to fall again this year. Screen Digest has slashed its growth forecasts for digital film sales by 30 per cent after the smaller-than-expected rise last year. 

South Korean giant, Samsung Electronics this week announced it has begun mass producing a super-wide LCD panel for out-of-home advertising and informational displays. The new 43-inch LCD panel produces images with a panoramic aspect ratio of 4:1, compared to conventional standard (4:3) or widescreen (16:9) panels. Featuring Full HD-ready (1920x480 resolution), this new super-wide panel can be utilized in subway stations, airports, shopping malls and schools, where existing standard panels are unable to effectively deliver information. In addition, the Samsung super-wide digital information display (DID) panel allows for effective delivery of related information in various formats through split screens. With the capability to run three VGA (640x480) screens at once or individually, the panel can present different combinations of video and text in contiguous displays. According to Samung, the company has already converted some of its facilities to mass-produce the super-wide LCD panels. It expects to produce 12 super-wide LCD panels per substrate on its 7th generation production line. According to DisplaySearch, a global market research firm, the market for DID LCD panels is expected to grow from 1.33 million in 2010 to 6.57 million units in 2015. It is also projected that LCD panels will account for nearly 90 percent of the DID market in 2015.

According to a new survey conducted jointly by the Pew Research Center’s Internet & American Life Project and Project for Excellence in Journalism, the overwhelming majority of Americans (92%) currently use multiple platforms to get their daily news. The internet is now the third most-popular news platform, behind local and national television news and ahead of national print newspapers, local print newspapers and radio. Getting news online fits into a broad pattern of news consumption by Americans; six in ten (59%) get news from a combination of online and offline sources on a typical day. The internet and mobile technologies are key in understanding how people’s relationship to news is changing. According to the report, in today’s new multi-platform media environment, news is becoming portable, personalized, and participatory:

• Portable: 33% of cell phone owners now access news on their cell phones.

•Personalized: 28% of internet users have customized their home page to include news from sources and on topics that particularly interest them.

•Participatory: 37% of internet users have contributed to the creation of news, commented about it, or disseminated it via postings on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter.

In a step toward comprehensive reform of Video Relay Service (VRS), the Federal Communications Commission’s Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau issued a Declaratory Ruling to reaffirm the FCC’s rules and policies concerning VRS reimbursement and calling practices, and maximize efficiency and effectiveness of this program to ensure that the communications needs of deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers are met. VRS is a form of Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS) that enables deaf and hard-of hearing persons who use American Sign Language (ASL) to communicate with voice telephone users through video equipment, rather than through typed text. Video equipment links the VRS user with an operator who understands ASL and can serve as an intermediary between a person using ASL and a hearing person using his or her voice. Because the conversation between the VRS user and the operator flows much more quickly than with a text-based TRS call, VRS has become an enormously popular form of TRS. However, the Commission also recognizes that VRS is vulnerable to both fraud and abuse. As the Commission moves forward with VRS reform to address these issues, it emphasizes that the Commission is committed to ensuring that VRS continues to be readily available in accordance with the Act for those who depend upon it to access the nation’s telephone system. Bureau Chief Joel Gurin said: “Today’s action is a first step in fixing a system that is broken. It is essential to keep VRS on a sound footing. Consumers who are deaf or hard of hearing have come to rely on VRS as a service that lets them communicate easily, fluently, and expressively. The Telecommunications Relay Service Fund was established to support exactly that kind of communication. But the Fund can’t be used to support practices that are designed only to increase payments to VRS providers, rather than providing a necessary service for people who need it. We’re taking a strong first step today to stop these practices and ensure that the Fund is always used to benefit the deaf and hard-of-hearing consumers it was designed to help.” In the Declaratory Ruling, the Bureau addressed three specific reimbursement and calling practices. Specifically, the Bureau emphasized that:

· Calls made by or to employees of VRS providers and their subcontractors are not eligible for compensation from the TRS Fund on a per-minute basis. Instead, costs of these calls are compensable as a business expense – and only if the VRS provider can demonstrate that they are legitimate business calls. In the past, some providers sought compensation for these costs twice, both at the per-minute rate and as business expenses
submitted to the Fund administrator. The ruling emphasizes that these costs are compensable only as business expenses, that the expenses must be justified, and that the costs cannot be recovered twice.

· VRS Voice Carry Over (or VCO) is a service that allows a person who is deaf or hard of hearing to use his or her own voice to speak to a hearing party on a VRS call. The VRS
operator will then translate the hearing person’s response into ASL for the deaf person on the call. It is possible to abuse VCO to make free long distance calls between two
people using their voices. Today’s ruling states that such calls cannot be paid for by the Fund.

· VRS calls that both originate and terminate outside of the United States are not compensable from the Fund.

New York based, Cablevision Systems Corp. this week announced the development of what the company calls a new, first-of-its-kind service, named PC to TV Media Relay, that will allow its digital cable customers to relay whatever information or images currently appear on their computer screen to their television in real-time, without any additional equipment in the home. Cablevision says the service will enable the customer to securely send information on their PC in real-time through Cablevision's network facilities to a dedicated channel viewable only by that customer. The service eliminates the need to change input settings on the TV, or the need to purchase and install additional equipment. A simple one-time software download to the computer will enable the PC to TV Media Relay service. According to the company, some example uses of the new service include:

• Personal stored media such as photos, home videos and music
• Internet content including streaming video sites and audio such as Internet radio
• Some productivity applications including email, documents and spreadsheets
• And, other Desktop applications such as widgets

At the end of 2008, the outlook for 2009 TV sales worldwide was radically scaled back after the global economy suffered a massive setback. The expected downturn in consumer demand seemed likely to make 2009 a bleak year for TV shipments. However, shipments far exceeded initial expectations as consumers snapped up discounted products. According to a recent report from DisplaySearch, global TV shipments grew 2% overall to 211 million units, and flat panel TV technologies like LCD enjoyed better growth in 2009 on a unit basis than during 2008, rising 37% vs. 34%, respectively. The final quarter of 2009 showed even stronger year-over-year (Y/Y) unit shipment growth, rising 17% Y/Y overall with LCD TVs climbing 50% Y/Y, the strongest growth in LCD TV units since Q4’07, although Q4’08 was very weak. Strong flat panel TV shipment growth in emerging markets like China (more than 100% Y/Y) led the flat panel share of total annual TV shipments to pass 75% for the first time, with more than 90% of all TV revenues. One of the key drivers of growth was the acceleration of average selling price erosion driven by cost reductions at the component level, but also by decreasing margins at the brand and retail level. Coupled with greater consumer price sensitivity that resulted in much slower average screen size growth, the global volume-weighted ASP declined more than 8% worldwide and fell as much as 24% Y/Y for LCD TVs, the largest decline since DisplaySearch began tracking the TV marketplace. “The better-than-expected 2009 results clearly demonstrate that consumers still have a strong desire to purchase flat panel TVs, but at the same time are willing to shift their buying behavior to match their budget in a recession-plagued year,” noted Paul Gagnon, Director of North America TV Market Research for DisplaySearch. “We saw a lot more compromise on size and features in 2009, with a greater number of consumers perhaps opting to upgrade smaller secondary sets and postpone getting a larger living room set than we would have seen in a normal economy.” Samsung achieved their highest revenue share ever, reaching a record 23.6% of global TV revenues in Q4’09. This high revenue share is the result of being the global leader in units as well as having a strong mix of larger screen sizes as well as leading positions in advanced technologies like LED backlit and high frame rate LCD TVs, all of which support higher average prices. Samsung has been #1 in both TV units and revenues worldwide every quarter for more than three years now, achieving a 22.6% share of 2009 full year TV revenues. LGE was the #2 brand worldwide in TV shipment revenues and demonstrated the strongest annual growth among the top five brands, an indicator of the aggressive market share growth campaign the brand undertook in 2009. Sony was #3 in global TV revenues during Q4’09 at 11.5%, up sharply from 9.9% in Q4’09, as sales for Sony surged during the holidays, typically a strong quarter for the company. Sony had the largest Q/Q shipment growth among the top five in Q4’09. However, Sony’s full year 2009 total TV revenue share was down almost 2 percentage points from 2008, to 11.5%, and is at the lowest level since 2005 when it last led the overall TV market. Panasonic and Sharp ranked fourth and fifth for global revenue, respectively.

Retail giant, Walmart announced this week a definitive agreement to acquire VUDU, Inc., instant access provider of digital movies and TV shows directly through broadband connected televisions, Blu-ray players and set top boxes. Currently, VUDU has licensing agreements with almost every major movie studio and dozens of independent and international distributors to offer approximately 16,000 movies, including the largest 1080p library of available video on-demand movies. According to VUDU, the company will continue developing entertainment and information delivery solutions such as VUDU Apps, a platform that delivers hundreds of streaming Internet applications and services to TVs and Blu-ray players with built-in Internet connectivity. Since its founding in 2004, the company has partnered with some of the biggest names in Internet and media entertainment to offer applications on its platform including Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, The New York Times and The Associated Press. "We are excited about the opportunity to take our company's vision to the next level," said Edward Lichty, VUDU executive vice president. "VUDU's services and Apps platform will give Walmart a powerful new vehicle to offer customers the content they want in a way that expands the frontier of quality, value and convenience." VUDU, based in Santa Clara, Calif., will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walmart. The company is not disclosing financial terms of the agreement as the acquisition is not material to its first quarter earnings for fiscal year 2011. The deal is expected to close within the next few weeks.

The National Association of Broadcasters has announced the 2010 NAB Show will debut Destination Broadband, a dynamic new exhibit area focusing on advances and applications for broadband technology. Featuring more than 50 leading-edge companies and a presentation theater, Destination Broadband will examine the entire online video experience within the broadband ecosystem from back end infrastructure to revolutionary technologies for the home. According to NAB, a pavilion within Destination Broadband will feature three specialized areas - Broadband Innovations, Mobile Solutions and Broadband Lifestyles, a living room-like setting for consumer products and services. The pavilion will comprise more than 25 companies showcasing the latest in content delivery network solutions, online video, IPTV, video streaming and advertising and monetization platforms enabled by broadband. "The ability of broadband technology to increase audience reach across multiple platforms, expand monetization options and make anytime, anywhere content a reality will profoundly impact the future of media and entertainment," said NAB Executive Vice President of Conventions and Business Operations Chris Brown. "We are excited to present Destination Broadband as a showcase for the companies that are leading innovation in this important area."

Some of the companies featured in Destination Broadband include:

AdJuggler, Inc.
Level-3 Communications
Ankeena Networks
Limelight Networks
AT&T
Opera Software
Backchannelmedia
MobiClip
Brightcove
Neulion
Cisco
TVUNetworks
Digisoft tv
Vericorder Technology
Internap
Verizon Wireless

Thanks to its huge sales and high memory usage, Apple Inc.’s iPhone is expected to generate insatiable demand for NAND-type flash memory in 2010, helping to strain supplies for the year, according to market intelligence company iSuppli Corp. Partly owing to demand driven by the iPhone and competitive products, global NAND flash revenue will rise to $18.1 billion in 2010, up 34 percent from $13.5 billion in 2009, according to a preliminary forecast. This compares to a 14.8 percent increase in 2009. “An average of 35.2Gbytes of NAND will be used in each iPhone sold in 2010, iSuppli estimates,” said Michael Yang, senior analyst for memory and storage at iSuppli. “Furthermore, iPhone shipments are set to rise to 33 million in 2010, up 31.5 percent from 25.1 million in 2009. With the iPhone already the largest application for NAND, this huge growth is likely to lead to some periods of undersupply for the year.” Beyond the smart-phone segment, a number of other new products are driving the NAND market in 2010, including eBooks and tablet PCs. However, while eBooks such as the Amazon Kindle may follow a similar growth path as Apple’s iPods, they don’t use nearly as much NAND flash memory. eBooks contain a mere 512MBytes to 2GBytes of embedded NAND included in each device. And although density will no doubt grow in the coming years as wireless Internet enables more features and functionality, NAND usage in eBooks will remain low in 2010, iSuppli predicts.

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and redbox today announced a new multi-year distribution agreement that will make Warner Bros. new release DVD and Blu-ray titles available to redbox customers after a 28-day window. The agreement also marks the end of the lawsuit that redbox filed against Warner Home Video in August 2009. According to redbox, the new arrangement provides the company with reduced product costs, sufficient quantities of product and optimal stock levels four weeks after street date as well as extends redbox’s access to Blu-ray titles, which redbox is currently testing in select markets. The agreement also provides Warner Bros. the opportunity to maximize the sales of new release titles as well as video on demand and other forms of digital distribution. “This agreement enables redbox to fulfill our commitment to providing consumers affordable and convenient home entertainment,” said Mitch Lowe, president, redbox. “By agreeing to a delayed release date, redbox can now acquire Warner Home Video titles at a reduced product cost, preserving value for our consumers and increasing customer access to Warner titles at redbox locations nationwide.” Warner Home Video and redbox will be implementing delayed availability during the month of March and will reach a four-week window by March 23, 2010. The new agreement will run through January 31, 2012. Redbox has also agreed to destroy Warner Home Video content following its life span in kiosks.

The Federal Communications Commission has made what the agency calls an important step toward promoting competition and innovation in the video distribution market by establishing a process for considering, on a case-by-case basis, complaints about the availability of terrestrially delivered, cable- affiliated programming, addressing what is commonly referred to as the “terrestrial loophole.” These new rules allow DBS providers, telcos and other competitors to obtain more of the “must have” programming they need to offer viable alternative video packages to consumers and an opportunity to file complaints if the programming is withheld. The Order promotes competition, fosters innovation and empowers consumers, all while creating a fair process for the Commission to handle pending and new claims in a speedy and just manner. The Order concludes the Commission has authority under Section 628(b) of the Communications Act to take action if a cable operator engages in unfair acts with respect to terrestrially delivered, cable- affiliated programming that significantly hinder a multichannel video programming distributor from providing satellite cable programming to consumers. The Commission adopts a rebuttable presumption that an unfair act involving a terrestrially delivered, cable-affiliated regional sports network has the purpose or effect set forth in Section 628(b). The Order adopts rules permitting complainants to pursue program access claims similar to the claims they may pursue involving satellite-delivered, cable-affiliated programming. Because the claims involving terrestrial programming require an additional factual inquiry regarding whether the unfair act significantly hinders the complainant from providing satellite cable programming to consumers, additional time will be given to present rebuttal information. The Commission has before it a number of specific complaints alleging that cable operators have significantly hindered competition by withholding from their rivals terrestrially delivered regional sports networks. The Order does not decide those complaints but describes how they can be handled going forward. It provides that complainants may continue to pursue their complaints as filed. If, instead, a complainant wants a currently pending complaint to be considered under the new rules, it may submit a supplemental filing alleging that the defendant has engaged in an unfair act after the effective date of the rules. The Order also establishes procedures for the Commission’s consideration of requests for a temporary standstill of the price, terms, and other conditions of an existing programming contract by a program access complainant seeking renewal of such a contract. "Today’s action represents a major step toward realizing the promise of a competitive marketplace for video services -- while also supporting innovation in the video marketplace. Our new rules are structured to preserve incentives for cable operators to develop innovative programming such as local news networks. The new rules also create a fair process for the Commission to adjudicate claims" said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski in an official statement.

Satellite pay-TV provider, DISH Network along with Oberon Media and The Tetris Company, this week announced the launch of Tetris TV, a new interactive TV game service. According to DISH, Tetris TV features two popular Tetris games: Marathon and 40-Lines. Marathon has 15 challenging levels of game play, and 40-Lines is a race to clear 40 lines in as fast a time as possible. With a 25 year history, the Tetris game continues to be one of the most widely recognized video games of all time. According to some researchers, the game is an excellent tool for neuroscience research and has been used in over 30 scientific studies. Research published in 2009 in BMC Research Notes found that study participants who played Tetris showed increased brain efficiency and, relative to controls, an increase in brain tissue. "Working with Oberon Media to release Tetris TV allows us to reach millions of our fans in yet another way," said Henk Rogers, CEO of Blue Planet Software, the company that manages the exclusive licensing rights to the Tetris game. "Interactive TV is an exciting venture for us, as we're always hoping to give Tetris players a unique way to enjoy the game on their own and while interacting with each other. What's better, a study published this year by BMC Research Notes showed how playing Tetris can create positive changes in our brains--so we're happy to say that now, with the release of the Tetris TV service, TV could be good for you!" DISH said future releases of the Tetris TV service will allow subscribers to be able to compete with other DISH Network subscribers by posting their names and scores to national leader boards managed by Oberon Media's iTV community as well as tournaments and prizes for top players. Tetris TV is currently available to all North American DISH Network customers for $2.99 per month. Oberon said it is planning to roll out the service with additional partners worldwide.

As mobile phones and digital devices have become higher-performance and continuously feature higher functionality in recent years, there has been demand for A/D converters that are concurrently compact and more power-efficient. In digital equipment, the A/D converter often accounts for a large share of the equipment's total power consumption, making it an obvious target for technologies that can reduce power consumption. Most A/D converters used in digital devices and mobile phones today are pipelined A/D converters used to amplify signals. Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. last week announced the development of a successive-approximation-register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (A/D converter) that detects variations in electronic characteristics and automatically compensates for them, achieving performance on par with existing pipelined A/D converters, while reducing both the size and power consumption by 90% or one-tenth (1/10) that of previously-developed A/D converters. Smaller, more efficient A/D converters have ramifications beyond the performance of the A/D converter itself. The system LSI device that the A/D converter is a part of can also be made smaller and more power-efficient, having a significant effect on the power efficiency of the device overall. According to the company, the new SAR A/D converter features 10-bit resolution and a 50 megasamples-per-second (MS/s) conversion rate. This attained the lowest power consumption (highest power efficiency) of any A/D converter in this class of 820 µW. Fujitsu said it will proceed to further develop this technology for application in digital home appliances, mobile phones and digital TV tuners and will also work on adapting the technology to further miniaturization processes, and plans to use the technology in various other analog circuits as well. Details of this technology were presented at the IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference 2010 (ISSCC 2010) being held in San Francisco from February 7-11.

Despite the growing amount of video available online, less than 8% of U.S. broadband households are considering canceling their pay-TV services in favor of online video, according to a recent report from research and analysis firm Parks Associates. According to Parks, the results from the report, All Eyes on Video are in line with previous Parks Associates studies, which do not show an appreciable likelihood of subscriber churn in favor of online video services. A 2008 study reported 11% of U.S. broadband households were considering canceling pay-TV services, and in an earlier 2009 survey, the number was 10%. The report found approximately 5.5 million homes would be open to canceling pay TV due in part to the availability of online video. At the same time, one-half of these households are also considering a switch to a new pay-TV provider, indicating the primary threats to companies such as Verizon, Comcast, DirecTV, and Cablevision are still their traditional competitors. The households likely to switch or cancel their services watch a whopping 10 hours of online video each week, much higher than typical video consumers. They express strong interest in having online access to pay-TV channels (e.g., TV Everywhere), which highlights an opportunity for traditional pay-TV providers to solidify their base through the deployment of such features. Offline video consumption is also higher. Their median number of DVD rentals from the last six months is 18, compared to two rentals among other households. "The threat of cannibalization is real but misunderstood," said John Barrett, director, research, Parks Associates. "Nobody is going to rely on online video alone—households likely to cancel their TV services are going to use a mixture of online video, free-to-air broadcasts, and DVDs, including rental services such as Netflix and redbox." Barrett also discounted the immediate threat of migration to online video. "Very few households have made the switch, a sign that the alternative is not yet compelling. Just 0.5% of broadband households (350,000 homes) had pay TV, cancelled it, and now watch five or more hours of online video per week. People who have made the switch to online video are few in number, and they don’t watch much TV anyway." All Eyes on Video surveyed U.S. and Canadian broadband households to gauge current consumer usage and attitudes for advanced video devices and services. Parks Associates will release results and analysis of the Canadian survey late February 2010.

Everything giant, Google has announced this week that the company is planning to build and test its own ultra high-speed broadband networks in a small number of trial locations across the United States. At a speed of 1 gigabit per second, the fiber-to-the-home connections from Google will deliver Internet connectivity nearly 100 times faster than what most Americans have access to today. According to Google, its goal is to experiment with new ways to help make Internet access better and faster for everyone. The company has urged the FCC to look at new and creative ways to get there in its National Broadband Plan. Here are some specific things Google has in mind:

Next generation apps - We want to see what developers and users can do with ultra high-speeds, whether it's creating new bandwidth-intensive "killer apps" and services, or other uses we can't yet imagine.

New deployment techniques - We'll test new ways to build fiber networks, and to help inform and support deployments elsewhere, we'll share key lessons learned with the world.

Openness and choice - We'll operate an "open access" network, giving users the choice of multiple service providers. And consistent with our past advocacy, we'll manage our network in an open, non-discriminatory and transparent way.

Nintendo of America Inc. and Netflix, Inc. have announced an agreement that will allow Netflix members who are also owners of Nintendo’s Wii home console to instantly watch thousands of movies and TV episodes streamed from Netflix directly to their televisions. The partnership between the two companies will extend the reach of content streamed from Netflix farther than ever before, thanks to the mainstream popularity of the Wii console. Wii remains the fastest-selling home console in history, and according to Netflix, reaches more consumers than any other device that currently supports streaming movies from the company. In December 2009, Nintendo sold well in excess of 3 million Wii consoles in the United States. “Our research shows that 86 percent of all U.S. Wii consoles are located in the living room,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “The Wii console is the social hub around which friends and family members gather to play games and have fun. Soon both new and longtime Wii owners will enjoy the benefits of Netflix – and a variety of informational and entertainment options – by being Netflix members and connecting their consoles to the Internet.” To enable their systems to stream content from Netflix, Wii owners will need a Netflix instant-streaming disc for the Wii console, which will be available at no additional cost to Netflix subscribers. The free disc looks and operates the same as a disc-based Wii game, and the entire user experience and is intended to feel natural and intuitive to Wii console owners. Using the Wii Remote controller, members will be able to choose a movie or TV episode to watch from their instant Queues or pick one directly from any of the lists. They will also have the ability to read synopses and rate movies, and will have the option of fast-forwarding and rewinding their selection. While no exact date was mentioned, Netflix said it is scheduled to go live on the Wii console this spring in the United States at no additional cost to Netflix members who have a plan starting at $8.99 a month, a Wii console and a broadband Internet connection.

This week, Sharp Corporation and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. signed a settlement agreement to end ongoing patent infringement disputes over LCD panels and modules. Since 2007, each company had brought lawsuits against the other in the U.S., Japan, Korea, and Europe, alleging that each company infringes on the other's patents for LCD panels and modules. In March 2008, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) instituted an investigation based on a complaint filed by Sharp. Sharp's complaint alleged violations of its LCD patents and was seeking to ban the imports of certain liquid crystal display devices and products produced by Samsung into the United States. The Commission later announced in favor of Sharp. As a result, the Commission banned the unlicensed entry of Samsung's LCD devices, including specific display panels and modules and products to the U.S.. Samsung was also not allowed to advertise and distribute products that infringe Sharp's patents. The latest lawsuits were filed against Sharp for "infringing 3 patents related to liquid crystal technology," with Samsung not willing to disclose more details. However, based on this settlement, all lawsuits will be promptly withdrawn, bringing an end to all patent infringement litigation between the two companies. According to Sharp, this settlement will allow the two companies to mutually utilize the disputed patents relating to LCD panels and modules, owned worldwide by each company. The company said it will continue to further strive for innovation in the field of advanced LCD displays to meet market demand.

Tokyo based Sony Corporation today announced the development of millimeter-wave wireless intra-connection technology that realizes high speed wireless data transfer inside electronic products such as television sets. By replacing complicated wires and internal circuitry with wireless connections, this technology enables a reduction in the size and cost of the IC and other components used in electronics products, delivering advantages such as size and cost-reduction and enhanced reliability of the final product. The advancing functionality of today's electronics products requires ever increasing quantities of internal data transfer. Once wired connections approach the limit of their data capacity, additional circuitry is required to facilitate larger data transfers, however this leads to the issue of increasingly complicated IC packages, intricately printed circuit boards, and larger IC sizes. According to Sony, this new wireless intra-connection system is based on millimeter-wave wireless data transfer technology. Millimeter-wave refers to electromagnetic waves with a frequency of 30GHz to 300GHz, and wavelength between 1mm to 10mm. With their high frequency, millimeter-waves are suited to ultra high speed data transfer, while a further advantage is their ability to transfer data using only very small antennas. The high frequency technologies used in this system also draw on the company's years of experience in the field of wireless communications and broadcast products. Specifically, Sony has integrated highly energy efficient millimeter-wave circuits on 40nm-CMOS-LSIs (with an active footprint of just 0.13mm2 including both the transmitter and receiver), to realize high speed, 11Gbps data transfer over a distance of 14mm using antennas approximately 1mm in size. By replacing physical circuitry in electronics products with high speed wireless connections, this new data transfer technology reduces the number of wired connections and minimizes IC use, to simplify the IC package and printed circuit board. Furthermore, because the data transfer occurs without contact, this enhances the reliability of movable and detachable parts within the product. Sony said it will proceed with efforts to adopt this technology in a range of electronics products, while continuing its development to meet ever-increasing data-rate requirements. The new technology will be presented at ISSCC 2010, to be held in San Francisco, California from February 7th - 11th 2010.

In a just-published paper in the magazine Science, IBM researchers demonstrated a radio-frequency graphene transistor with the highest cut-off frequency achieved so far for any graphene device - 100 billion cycles/second (100 GigaHertz). This accomplishment is a key milestone for the Carbon Electronics for RF Applications (CERA) program funded by DARPA, in an effort to develop next-generation communication devices. The high frequency record was achieved using wafer-scale, epitaxially grown graphene using processing technology compatible to that used in advanced silicon device fabrication. "A key advantage of graphene lies in the very high speeds in which electrons propagate, which is essential for achieving high-speed, high-performance next generation transistors," said Dr. T.C. Chen, vice president, Science and Technology, IBM Research. "The breakthrough we are announcing demonstrates clearly that graphene can be utilized to produce high performance devices and integrated circuits." Graphene is a single atom-thick layer of carbon atoms bonded in a hexagonal honeycomb-like arrangement. This two-dimensional form of carbon has unique electrical, optical, mechanical and thermal properties and its technological applications are being explored intensely. Uniform and high-quality graphene wafers were synthesized by thermal decomposition of a silicon carbide (SiC) substrate. The graphene transistor itself utilized a metal top-gate architecture and a novel gate insulator stack involving a polymer and a high dielectric constant oxide. The gate length was modest, 240 nanometers, leaving plenty of space for further optimization of its performance by scaling down the gate length. It is noteworthy that the frequency performance of the graphene device already exceeds the cut-off frequency of state-of-the-art silicon transistors of the same gate length (~ 40 GigaHertz). Similar performance was obtained from devices based on graphene obtained from natural graphite, proving that high performance can be obtained from graphene of different origins. Previously, the team had demonstrated graphene transistors with a cut-off frequency of 26 GigaHertz using graphene flakes extracted from natural graphite.

Outdoor advertising firm, CBS Outdoor and 3D display and visualization product maker N4D have teamed up to launch Grand Central Station's first 3D digital signage campaign. A first in digital outdoor advertising, the centerpiece of the campaign is a 14 foot screen displaying commercials in physiologically correct 3D. According to CBS Outdoor, brand ambassadors will be distributing special 3D glasses to the approximately 70,000 commuters that pass by the display every day. N4D estimates that over 1,000,000 viewers will see the 3D spots, which feature a voice-over performance by Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. To develop the famous Manhattan terminal's 3D display, N4D partnered with digital projection experts Christie and Lightspeed Design Inc's DepthQ. Christie is providing a true high definition 3D active stereo projector, the Christie Mirage HD6. CEO of N4D, Clif Parker explained "N4D's goal is to change the way the world views information. N4D's 20 years of research offer a new paradigm - 3D for extended daily use. This 3D technology provides CBS Outdoor with a definite edge in the signage industry. It also ensures that their customers and viewers of the 3D advertisements will enjoy the world's most comfortable 3D experience." There will also be 3D dioramas scattered throughout the station that will be running throughout the day and appear dimensional to the naked eye, giving the impression you can see around certain elements of the creative. The campaign, which will span the entire month of February, includes more than 100 pieces of client media elements throughout the station. The 3D commercials will be shown daily from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM while other broadcast commercials will be shown at all other times.

- Continuing the work of the National Broadband Plan and broadband map;
- Implementation of a spectrum inventory initiative and emergency response interoperability
center;
- State-of-the-art consumer information programs, seizing the opportunities provided by new
media and advanced information technology;
- New investment in the people and technology necessary to overhaul the agency’s antiquated
systems for data collection, processing, analysis, and dissemination;
- New expertise and new tools required to ensure that the FCC is able to be a model of excellence, openness, and transparency domestically and internationally.

The request would also provide funds to cover mandatory increases in salaries and benefits and inflationary increases for contractual services. The complete copy of the Commission’s FY 2011 budget submission is available on the FCC’s Web site at: www.fcc.gov.

Improved navigation - The NAB.org redesign boasts improved navigation that helps users find content faster, including new Radio and Television pages accessible from the main navigation bar.
Legislative and regulatory issues pages - An online Advocacy section, featuring an overview of key regulatory and legislative issues, is now accessible from the main navigation bar. Updated content from the NAB.org Newsroom, including news releases and position statements, is seamlessly integrated into each issue page.
Newsroom upgrade - News releases, position statements and multimedia resources, including high-resolution photographs, are accessible in the NAB.org newsroom. New to the online newsroom is a filter function that allows visitors to view news releases related to a specific topic or issue. Visitors can also subscribe to a RSS feed for updated NAB news releases and legal filings.
NAB member offerings - NAB members will be given password-protected access to exclusive member-only content, including newsletters and counsel memos.

According to the association, these latest changes are just a few of the significant enhancements it has planned for the site, and there are plenty more coming in the next few weeks. In the meantime, the NAB asks that you please feel free to share your comments, suggestions and questions by emailing them at nab@nab.org.

A U.S. team is on-the-ground in Haiti evaluating the status of the country’s communications infrastructure and services following the devastating earthquake that struck Haiti on January 12th. The team was deployed in response to a request from Director General Montàigne Marcelin of Conseil National des Télécommunications (Conatel), the communications agency in Haiti, in coordination with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). “The resilience of the Haitian people through this devastating disaster has been remarkable,” said USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah, M.D. “The ability for the government, small businesses, medical providers, relief workers and families to communicate easily is essential going forward. We appreciate the generosity of the FCC to immediately lend its expertise in assessing the damage and working alongside the Haitians to accelerate the rebuilding.” FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, “I am grateful that the FCC can lend a helping hand in the Haitian relief effort by providing on-the-ground support and expertise. The FCC team, led by International Bureau Chief Mindel De La Torre, will continue to work with Conatel and local Haitian telecommunications providers to come up with practical and sound options for restoring communications services to the people of Haiti.” Speaking from Port-au-Prince, Ms. De La Torre said, “After seeing the destruction of the country, and particularly the telecommunications infrastructure, I have a much better understanding of the monumental task to keep communications up and running in such a difficult environment. What is clear is that the communications sector is making a huge difference on a day-to-day basis for Haitians struggling with tremendous personal and property losses. We are honored to be working hand-in-hand with Conatel on the critical task of restoring communications services to our neighbors in Haiti and to all sectors of the country’s economy.” International Bureau Chief De La Torre, along with Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB) Chief Engineer, William Lane, Ph.D., is working closely with Conatel to identify the communications needs and priorities of the Haitian government, to assess damage to key communications facilities and services, and to evaluate options for restoration of services. In addition to the IB Chief and PSHSB Chief Engineer, the FCC team includes three staff who initially deployed to Haiti days after the earthquake to support a FEMA Mobile Emergency Response Team, two additional FCC engineers, and two industry experts. Combined, the communications sector assessment team brings decades of technical, regulatory and disaster- recovery experience across the communications sector to the people of Haiti. The FCC will provide periodic updates on the team’s activities on the “Helping Haiti” blog at www.fcc.gov/blog.

• Ads that run early in the game are better remembered and better liked than those airing later in the game.
• A “winning” spot can vary depending on an advertiser’s goals and target demographics.
• Traffic to advertiser Web sites spiked on the day after last year’s Super Bowl.
• In the last five years, the biggest Super Bowl advertiser is Anheuser-Busch, which spent over $100 million on its Bud and Bud Light brands alone.
• Motion Pictures form the biggest category of ad spending, which leads to an immediate surge in online buzz for the advertised films.

“This survey reinforces the value of the Super Bowl as a marketing bonanza, featuring one of the most receptive TV audiences in the world,” said Randall Beard, executive vice president of Nielsen IAG. “With so many viewers waiting for the pitch, the pressure is on advertisers to create and place ads that will have a lasting impact.” According to Nielsen, results were based on a sample of over 25,000 households in Nielsen’s Homescan panel. This year's big game (and commercials) airs Sunday, February 7, 2010.

AJA Ki Pro Tapeless Video Recorder In Stock!

Post-production redefined...during production.

Everyone from broadcasters to indie filmmakers can probably agree on one thing: the possible choices for image acquisition are daunting. Different cameras, different formats, different recording media and different compression schemes. Wouldn't it be nice if there was a way to simplify acquisition so that virtually any camera, digital or analog, could record the same format and resolution? Enter the AJA Ki Pro.

The AJA Ki Pro is a tapeless video recording device that records high-quality Apple ProRes 422 QuickTime files onto computer-friendly media. Because it features SD/HD-SDI, HDMI, and analog inputs, you can interface with virtually any type of camera you might own or rent. Enjoy monitoring flexibility through Ki Pro's numerous simultaneous outputs, connecting to both professional and consumer monitors.

Ki Pro is portable and rugged; designed for real production environments. With the optional exo-skeleton it can sit below your camera-out of the way of your battery adapters, wireless mics and other accessories. Integration with your other production gear is seamless.

Ki Pro is intuitive to operate. Alongside the camera, the familiar VTR-like buttons provide immediate controls for basic operation. From a distance, use a web browser via ethernet or WiFi to control operations from a laptop or iPhone...

Click the 'Email Me a Better Price' link to Save $$$ on the AJA Ki Pro!

comScore's qSearch analysis is based on the five major search engines including partner searches and cross-channel searches. Searches for mapping, local directory, and user-generated video sites that are not on the core domain of the five search engines are not included in the core search numbers...

• Clean up their products by eliminating hazardous substances.
• Take back and recycle their products responsibly once they become obsolete.
• Reduce the climate impacts of their operations and products.

A perfect score is 10.0 -The latest rankings are as follows:

Nokia (7.3)
Sony Ericsson (6.9)
Toshiba (5.3)
Philips (5.3)
Apple (5.1)
LG Electronics (5.1)
Sony (5.1)
Motorola (5.1)
Samsung (5.1)
Panasonic (4.9)
HP (4.7)
Acer (4.5)
Sharp (4.5)
Dell (3.9)
Fujitsu (3.5)
Lenovo (2.5)
Microsoft (2.4)
Nintendo (1.4)

According to Greenpeace, each score is based solely on public information on the companies website. Companies found not to be following their published policies will be deducted penalty point in future versions of the guide. The guide is updated every few months. The current edition was published on January 7, 2010.

• Free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls
• Pay Calls to landline or mobile phones
• The option to receive inbound calls via a user's online Skype number
• Skype voicemail
• Being invited to participate in voice conference calls with up to 24 other parties

To conduct a Skype video call on a VIERA CAST HDTV, a specially-designed Panasonic camera, which is sold as a separate accessory, is connected to the television. The camera includes a microphone system that can easily pick up sound from couch-distance. According to Panasonic, it will deliver up to 720p high definition video quality depending on the consumer's internet bandwidth. "The addition of Skype to our VIERA CAST offerings truly takes HDTV connectivity to a whole new level," said Bob Perry, Vice President, Panasonic Consumer Electronics Company. "VIERA CAST was created to offer Panasonic VIERA HDTV owners a new level of entertainment by giving them access to some of the most popular content-driven web sites. Panasonic VIERA HDTV owners can now not only share photos and videos online; with Skype they can also talk to family and friends from the comfort of their living room." The new televisions are expected to be available spring 2010. The International Consumer Electronics Show runs January 7-10, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Belden’s new Solar Cable family features:
• 18 to 8 AWG, single soft annealed tinned stranded copper
conductors
• XLPE insulation and sunlight-resistant Black PVC jackets
• Temperature rating from -40o C to 90o C
• Maximum Operating Voltage; 600 or 1000 VRMS (UL PV) or 1000 VRMS (CSA RW 90). Optional construction available for 2000 VRMS RHW-2
• Standard Lengths of 1000 ft (304.8 m) and 5000 ft (609.6 m)

In addition to being rated UL Type PV (photovoltaic) UL 4703 and USE-2, Belden’s new Solar Cables are meet VW-1 flame test, are CE approved and RoHS compliant. "Our new line of Solar Cables is just the beginning, signaling an ongoing plan to develop and bring to market additional green technology products over the coming months. All of our alternative energy solutions will, of course, reflect Belden’s long-standing commitment to quality and consistency in product design and manufacturing.” added Koditek...

The WiGig version 1.0 specification includes the following key elements...

Delvcam Body or Helmet Worn Micro Video Documentation Camera
Goes Anywhere !
The DELVACM HDLCAM is a ultra small high performance body worn mini-camera that records up to 20 hours of video on a compact SDHC 32GB card that fits right into the camera. Operating on 2 AA batteries, the camera can be worn around your head using the provided strap or on your extended arm. It is perfect for scouting locations, POV, recording sporting events, lab experiments and test results. This super compact camera is equipped with a laser spotter to pinpoint locations and can be started with a simple one-button record...
DELV-HDLCAM-HC - $339.00

1080p Up to 1000' !

The Projector Connector HDMI over IP allows you to simultaneously send out HDMI 1.3 Signals (up to 1080p) supporting all aspects of HDMI 1.3 including Deep Color to one or more HDMI video projectors or LCD Panels up to 1,000 feet. Return an IR Control Signal to the source using CAT5/6/7 cable over a standard Ethernet infrastructure. Can be used to distribute HD digital content to 100 or more remote displays on a closed loop LAN by cascading Ethernet switches up to 3 levels, allowing the farthest display to be located up to 1,000' away from the 1080p source device while sustaining excellent picture & sound quality. Each device is...

VBS-HDMI-308A - $299.00

Galaxy Audio PSER/52LAV 16 Channel UHF Lavalier Wireless Mic System

Super Low-Cost !

The PSE is a UHF diversity receiver with 16 selectable channels. Features volume control, channel display and IR Sync. Diversity antennas. The TRC has an XLR 1/4" output and squelch adjustment. 300' range. Bodypack runs on two AA batteries for up to eight hours. Single rack mount included...

GXY-PSER-52LAV - $199.99

Zacuto Zgrip iPhone Jr iPhone Video Shooters Handle

Firm Grip !

Having many of the same features of its big brother, Zgrip iPhone Pro minus the adjustability. The Zgrip iPhone Pro has more adjustability but both give you the key feature which is stability when shooting with the iPhone 3Gs. Zgrip iPhone Jr. is a handgrip system for shooting professional stable video using the iPhone 3Gs. The iPhone 3Gs snaps into the iPhone cradle which is attached to the handgrip. The handgrip has a 1/4 20" thread on the bottom so you can mount it to a tripod. It also has a 1/4 20" thread on the top for mounting accessories such as a light...

Z-ZG-IPJ - $65.55

Audio Technica BPHS1 Broadcast Stereo Headset

Broadcast Series !

Created especially for on-air news & sports broadcasting, announcing & interviews, this rugged stereo headset offers natural, highly intelligible and focused vocal reproduction, closed-back circumaural (around-the-ear) ear cups to seal out background noise, and a high-output dynamic microphone mounted on a flexible gooseneck boom. The headset's microphone has a cardioid polar pattern tailored for pickup of speech with maximum voice intelligibility over a wide range of frequencies. It is more sensitive to sound originating directly in front of the element, making it useful in reducing pickup of unwanted sounds. The flexible gooseneck boom swivels for easy positioning on either the right or left side...

AT-BPHS1 - $199.99

Premium RCA !

Premium 3-piece RCA crimp connectors. Nickel/Brass construction with gold center pin. Use in all broadcast video SPDIF digital audio applications. Use Paladin PAL-1389 Crimp Tool...

TN-RCAV4D - $2.19

Sonifex LD-40F1REC Single Flush Mounting 40cm RECORD Sign

Unique !!!

The SignalLED range of illuminated RGB LED signs are a new range of signs designed for installers. Because the sign itself contains the control electronics, and RGB LEDs are used, the signs can be simply configured onsite for your particular requirements. The signs are supplied with a 6V wall-wart power supply & lead. Simply wire up your control signal(s) and DC input to the `screw terminal block' inside the sign, route the cables through the integral cable clamp and mount the unit on the wall. The display mode and colour options are set-up using an 8 way DIP switch, accessible after installation...

SON-LD-40F1REC - $289.99

Remote Mix Sport Phone Line Hybrid Interface

Combo Phone !

A combined phone line hybrid mixer and universal handset interface featuring an audio mixer, headphone amplifier, telephone hybrid and PBX telephone interface in one. Perfect for remote broadcasts, sport events, and field reporting.

Features:

•Three microphone inputs and three headphone outputs

•Use RemoteMix Sport as a front end mixer for your ISDN or POTS codec

•The 1/4" cue input on RemoteMix Sport bypasses the output and feeds only the headphone jacks

•Connect to a phone line to receive IFB feeds, switch the balanced XLR output to a clean mic mix and connect to your camera input for monitoring

•On board PBX jack with three position switch for type select

•RemoteMix Sport can emulate electret, dynamic and carbon handset microphone types. This will allow you to use your professional microphones and headphones during the broadcast

•New 2.5mm Wireless Interface for wireless phones that accept third party headsets (adapter cable included)...

REMOTEMIX SPORT - $874.95

On Stage Stands Mic Table/Stand Clamp

For Tight Spots !

The clever design of the TM01 allows it to be mounted horizontally or vertically, on round or flat surfaces. It quickly and securely attaches to microphone stands, cymbal stands, boom arms, trusses and tables. It's great for miking an acoustic guitar while singing, or getting a drum mic into a tight spot. This is a perfect solution for Sound Engineers to discreetly mount microphones on-set. In the studio, or in the field, the TM01 gets your mic where you need it...

Get Vertical !!!

The Ringo Head allows an operator to easily mount their camera at a right angle and operate with existing tripod heads, jibs, and Steadicams. The Ringo Head keeps the camera's center of gravity and lens aligned over the center of a tripod head. The Ringo Head consists of a horizontal plate that attaches to a tripod wedge plate, a fixed vertical support that holds a camera's quick release plate, and an adjustable vertical support that holds the camera handle...

SPD-RH1 - $389.00

Datavideo DAC-7 Analog to SDI Converter

Innovative !

Datavideo DAC-7 is a small but powerful mini converter that enables users to convert the output from any camera, including prosumer level cameras, to professional SD-SDI for easy connection to existing professional or broadcast equipment; for example SDI switchers such as Datavideo's SE-900 or SE-1000.

The DAC-7 can accommodate two channels of audio input via RCA or balanced XLR and embed them both in the SDI signal, requiring only one SDI cable for both video and audio transmission. The DAC-7 is extremely portable, can easily and quickly be mounted between a tripod and a camera, or directly on the camera...

DV-DAC7 - $413.00

TC Electronic Level Pilot Monitor Level

Add this Volume !

Level Pilot is a high quality, analog, stereo volume control that works independently of the computer or audio interface, so no matter what happens during tracking or mixing, you now have complete control over your levels in all situations and at all times. It features a solid and compact `slip-free' design that fits into any active recording- or live setup without the need for an extra power supply, and employs quad-core cabling to minimize clutter. Its sturdy and luxurious aluminum design makes it bold enough to remain within sight and reachable at all times, and it fits practically and beautifully into any music creation- and editing setup, simplifying and enhancing your workflow wherever it may take you...

TC-LP - $79.00

Henry Engineering USB Matchbox II USB-XLR Multi-Mode Stereo Codec

MatchMaker Extreme !

The USB Matchbox II is a professional USB-to-XLR multi-mode stereo audio codec. It provides unparalleled audio performance with the ease of USB connectivity. The USB Matchbox II is ideal wherever computer audio needs to interface with a professional analog or digital audio system. The USB Matchbox II provides balanced analog inputs and outputs, an AES/EBU digital output, plus a Headphone output for monitoring. The USB Matchbox II solves the myriad of problems caused by using common sound cards in a broadcast or professional audio environment...

USBMATCHBOX2 - $519.00