NBC said Telemundo will deliver a complete 360° Olympic experience across its multiple platforms including its broadcast network, www.NBCOLYMPICS.COM.com/TELEMUNDO and its cable network mun2, which will offer a daily half-hour special featuring behind-the-scenes from the Games. Also, for the first time in the network’s history, Telemundo will offer live streaming of broadcast coverage together with exclusive digital-only content of Olympic events, news, announcements and information totaling more than 200 hours of digital content.

“In London 2012 we will present the most ambitious Olympic coverage in Telemundo’s history,” said Jorge Hidalgo, Executive Vice President of Sports for Telemundo Media. “The experience gained by covering the Olympic Games since 2004, the caliber of our sports talent, the complete integration with the NBC Olympics team, and our commitment to our audience will make of London an unforgettable sports feast.”

Deportes Telemundo’s Olympic team, headed by sportscaster Andrés Cantor, will include Jessi Losada, Mónica Noguera, Sammy Sadovnik, Edgar Lopez, René Giraldo, Karim Mendiburu, Kaziro Aoyama, Oscar Guzmán, Leti Coo and Verónica Contreras, as well as several former Olympic champions.

Coverage will be live from both London and the network’s studios, bringing the stories of Hispanics participating in the Olympics and the main events both on the field and around the Games to the homes of millions of U.S. Hispanic viewers. With soccer being one of the biggest passion points for U.S. Hispanics, the Olympics’ soccer tournament will represent a major focus of Telemundo’s broadcast, as already-qualified Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, Spain and Honduras vie for the gold.

NBC also said features and storytelling will be a centerpiece of Telemundo’s Olympic programming, detailing the journey of Hispanic athletes on their quest for Olympic glory. Some of the top Hispanic hopefuls include Mexican diver and 2009 world champion Paola Espinosa, Cuban American multi-medal threat gymnast Daniel Leyva, Mexican American female boxer Marlén Esparza and Argentine NBA basketball player Manu Ginobili.

“Adobe Creative Cloud members receive full access to the entire portfolio of Creative Suite 6 tools, integration with our touch tools, file storage and sharing services and Web hosting – everything they need to go from idea to finished work, at a breakthrough monthly subscription price,“ said David Wadhwani, senior vice president, Digital Media Business, Adobe. “Creative Cloud will allow our product teams to unleash a constant stream of innovation, releasing new features, apps and services as they are developed.”

Adobe said Creative Cloud membership is available to customers in 36 countries and in multiple languages. Pricing for Creative Cloud membership for individuals is $49.99 per month based on annual membership and $74.99 per month for month-to-month membership. A special introductory offer of US$29.99 per month for CS3, CS4, CS5 and CS5.5 individual customers is also available. Education pricing is available.

This change is required by the standards of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the Universal Postal Union (UPU), both of which currently prohibit lithium batteries in mail shipments that are carried on international commercial air transportation.

According to the Postal Service, the change will not apply to packages containing lithium batteries and electronic devices containing lithium batteries when mailed within the United States on domestic commercial air or ground transportation.

International organizations apply different rules to the carriage of lithium batteries in mail shipments carried on commercial aircraft as compared to domestic requirements.
The USPS anticipates that by January 2013, international aviation rules will be changed to allow mailing of lithium batteries when installed in the personal electronic devices they are intended to operate.

USPS said it is working with expert organizations to determine if any new exceptions can be developed prior to January 2013 and further announcements will be made should it be able to accept lithium batteries in certain types of mail shipments as soon as any new options become available.

“Outsourcing is a win-win situation,” says Jim Eller, principal analyst, wireless infrastructure. “Network operators can reduce OPEX, improve service quality, and increase revenues. And network equipment vendors earn higher margins on services than on hardware and software, which is increasingly commoditized.”

The leading vendors in network managed services are the major network equipment vendors: Ericsson, Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN), Huawei, and Alcatel-Lucent. Ericsson has been number one in network managed services since the first offerings in the 1990s. However, NSN has won more managed services contracts than anyone else over the past couple of years and was a close second in terms of 2011 managed services revenues. Alcatel-Lucent, third in network managed services last year, has introduced a lot of innovations in managed services offerings, such as energy managed services for sustainability. Meanwhile, Huawei is fourth but gaining quickly, with successes in emerging markets due to low-cost service offerings.

Aditya Kaul, practice director, mobile networks, sees a fundamental change in network managed services. “It’s not just about reducing operational costs anymore,” says Kaul. “Most operators have already achieved cost savings through outsourcing, so they are now looking for managed services partners who can help them to transform their businesses and increase revenues. We call this new paradigm ‘Managed Services 2.0 (MS 2.0).’”

“Consumers are continuing to spend cautiously in developed regions, especially in countries with high rates of flat panel TV penetration, so price differences can have a strong impact and LCD is expected to continue narrowing the price gap with plasma,” noted Paul Gagnon, Director of North America TV Research for NPD DisplaySearch. Gagnon added, “In addition, many brands are taking a more conservative approach, focusing on profits over volume at all costs, so the rate of price erosion is not expected to be as strong as in previous years, which may have some impact on demand.”

Despite no growth in overall TV shipments for two years running, LCD continues to grow by taking share from both CRT and plasma technologies. LCD TVs are expected to account for more than 88.5% of total TV shipments worldwide in 2012, up from 82.5% in 2011, and rising to more than 90% by next year. By contrast, plasma TV will account for just 5.3% of shipment volume in 2012 after peaking at about 7.4% in 2010. LCD TV shipments will grow 7% to 220M in 2012, and rise to 241M in 2013. Plasma TV shipments will fall 24% in 2012 to 13.1M, dropping to less than 3M by 2015. The newest flat panel TV technology, OLED, will debut in large sizes in 2012, but volume will be very small, just 50K units or less.

In addition to growth in flat panel TV share, larger sizes continue to increase their share, lifting the average size of TVs shipped to almost 35” in 2012 from less than 30” just four years ago. The growing number of larger factories used to produce LCD TV panels has helped the average area price to fall rapidly. In developed markets, this is important because it encourages existing flat panel TV households to trade up to a larger size, driving a new replacement wave, and it also lowers barriers to first-time adoption in emerging markets when converting from CRT TVs.

The share of LED backlight LCD TVs is expected to increase to 70.1% in 2012, compared to just 45.3% in 2011. The primary reason for the higher outlook is the introduction of low-cost direct-LED backlight models, which have smaller premiums over CCFL backlit models. The new direct-lit LED models are bulkier than edge-lit models, but the lower premium will attract the most price-sensitive consumers. Even so, 5 times as many edge-lit LED backlight LCD TV will be shipped than direct-lit models, and the premiums for edge-lit LED LCD TVs are expected to start falling faster later in the year.

Despite a soft start in North America, 3D is proving a popular feature in other regions, helping to drive shipments of more than 24M units in 2011 and an anticipated 90% increase in 2012 to 46M units. Shipment penetration is expected to exceed 25% in both Western Europe and China and 20% in Eastern Europe. While North America is still expected to lag with 19% penetration in 2012, it should be the leading 3D shipment region by 2014, when most large screen sizes will include 3D capability as a standard feature and North America will be the top region for 40”+ TV shipments.

China became the largest overall TV market in 2009 and the largest LCD TV market in 2011. However, with household flat panel TV penetration reaching high levels in urban areas, growth is expected to slow until rural cities start seeing increased adoption. LCD TV shipments are forecast to grow 11% Y/Y in China during 2012, down from 17% Y/Y growth in 2011. Some of the first evidence of this slowdown was seen in recent May Day holiday sales results in China. According to Bing Zhang, Research Director in the China Market for NPD DisplaySearch, “Analysis of sales during the recent May Day holidays in China indicates that sell-through was below expectations with low- to mid-single-digit growth and slightly elevated inventories after the end of the holiday.”

Robust, affordable broadband has become essential to access jobs, education and economic opportunity. For example, more than 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies today – including Wal-Mart and Target – require online job applications. And students with broadband at home have a 7 percent higher graduation rate.

According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, the top three barriers to broadband adoption include digital literacy, relevancy and cost. Low-income households adopt broadband at much lower rates than the average household, even when access to high-speed Internet is readily available. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, fewer than 36 percent of families with incomes less than $25,000 subscribe to broadband at home, compared to nearly 92 percent of families with incomes over $75,000.

This competition uses $25 million in savings from major reforms earlier this year of the Lifeline program to launch pilot projects across the country to test best practices around issues of cost, digital literacy and relevancy. A Public Notice released today announces criteria for the competition and a deadline of July 2, 2012 for applications. Winners will begin their year-long projects in the fall of this year.

The Pilot will gather high-quality data that will guide long-term efforts to increase broadband adoption among low-income Americans. Applicants must be telecommunications carriers eligible to participate in Lifeline. But they are encouraged to partner with existing broadband adoption programs as well as schools, libraries, state and local governments, non-profits and others. The winners will reflect a diversity of geographic areas (rural, urban), technologies (fixed, mobile), and service plans. At least one project will explore providing support on Tribal lands.

"The results of this survey demonstrate again a significant and growing demand for radio-capable cell phones in the U.S.," said NAB Executive Vice President of Communications Dennis Wharton. "We're hopeful that as demand for this capability becomes more apparent, wireless carriers will voluntarily offer this feature or activate radio chips already in their devices. Radio-enabled cellphones are a standard feature in much of Europe and Asia. From a public safety perspective alone, there is a strong case to be made for wireless carriers to also voluntarily activate radio chips in cellphones in the U.S."

Poll results, as released by the National Association of Broadcasters, are available online and include data from a similar poll conducted by Harris August 31 - September 2, 2010 among 2,587 U.S. adults. Poll findings showed:

• Eighty-one percent of cell phone owners would consider paying a one-time only fee of 30 cents (the approximate cost of a microchip) to access local radio stations through a built-in radio chip, compared to 76 percent in 2010. For cell phone owners with children in the home, the number was 85 percent, up from 79 percent in 2010. The percentage of retirees who favor radio chips in cellphones rose to 76 percent from 66 percent in 2010.

• Local weather and music are the top two reasons survey participants would listen to their local stations on their cell phones.

• Seven out of 10 cell phone owners, 69 percent compared to 73 percent in 2010, indicated that having a radio built into their cell phone, capable of providing local weather and emergency alerts in real-time, would be "very" or "somewhat" important. The number was higher - nearly eight out of 10 adults, 78 percent - for those with children in the home.

• Three-quarters (76 percent) of U.S. adults, would use a radio built into their cell phone, up from 66 percent in 2010. Younger adults are even more likely to use such a feature. Eighty-six percent of 18-34 year olds, as well as 81 percent of single and never-married adults (up from 71 percent and 73 percent respectfully in 2010), indicated they would use a built-in radio to listen to local stations if their phone was equipped to do so without using mobile apps or their wireless provider's data plan.

"Like in 2010, this survey again shows that a strong majority of American cell phone owners would use a radio built into their cell phone," said Regina A. Corso, SVP Harris Poll, Harris Interactive. "Particularly in this day of ever-rising wireless data fees, four in five cell phone owners would pay a small one-time fee to access local radio programming."

The 2012 poll comes on the heels of heightened attention among policymakers who have indicated an interest in exploring the merits of equipping mobile devices with FM receivers. Last month, Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.), who chairs the House Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications, held a "roundtable" on Capitol Hill with members of the broadcast, cable and wireless industries to discuss how to work together to enhance the current system of alerting and informing the maximum amount of citizens in times of crisis.

Following a rash of severe weather and tornado outbreaks last summer, former FCC Commissioner Michael Copps said, "We share a duty to think creatively about how we can arm consumers with additional ways to communicate during disasters... I think the time is here for a thorough, calm and reasoned discussion about FM chips in handsets."

In February, several members of the Congressional Black Caucus also called on the FCC to hold a hearing to explore the benefits of including radio tuners in mobile phones.

NAB has noted that U.S. wireless carriers seem to prefer offering consumers exclusive bandwidth-consuming contracts with expensive streaming applications and data plans, as opposed to a broadcast radio alternative requiring only a minimal one-time fee. Indeed, even many so-called "free apps," require the use of data to operate on mobile devices. NAB has also pointed out the tendency for cell phone signals to jam during power outages and incidences of severe weather, while it is the robust 'one-to-many' transmission architecture of local broadcasting that keeps listeners and viewers in touch and informed.

Broadcasters are also moving forward with advanced technologies to support the integration of radio chips in mobile devices. At the NAB Show in Las Vegas in April, Emmis Interactive, iBiquity Digital Corporation and Intel announced that they have developed a new energy efficient, affordable, high-processing HD chipset with financial support from NAB Labs. The new technology offers song tagging features and delivers an enhanced HD Radio ad experience, leveraging the power of the HD Radio data capability with a smartphone's data channel to deliver a truly interactive advertising experience.

With the launch of the IEEE P1858 working group, IEEE is building on the CPIQ initiative of the International Imaging Industry Association (I3A), and making a strategic addition to the IEEE Standards Association (IEEE-SA) suite of mobile-video standards designed to improve the customer experience. IEEE has acquired I3A’s CPIQ program and other assets, and the new IEEE effort involves many of the same corporate members that contributed to I3A’s five-year-old groundbreaking activity.

“IEEE is the obvious choice to take CPIQ to the next level,” said Lisa Walker, president of I3A. “The overlap in membership between IEEE and I3A will allow for continuity in work toward a globally relevant CPIQ standard, and the competency that IEEE has built around assessing mobile-video quality provides an opportunity for an easy transition and expansion of the work to important, related areas such as video.”

Though they may possess identical image-resolution capabilities, today’s camera phones produce vastly different quality images. Vendors and consumers lack sufficient standardized metrics to compare one handset to the next. IEEE P1858 is designed to create a CPIQ rating system that will help consumers identify the camera phones that best meet their needs.

“Camera phones are the device of choice with consumers, but they need a more accurate and reliable way to ensure that the camera phones they purchase deliver the image quality they desire—it’s not just about the megapixels,” said George John, ad-interim chair of the IEEE P1858 working group and principal program manager with Microsoft. “This is the need that I3A uniquely identified in 2007, and we believe IEEE provides the ideal environment—tremendous worldwide and technological scope, proven abilities for building consensus and a globally respected standards-development process—for building on I3A’s groundbreaking work.”

I3A successfully identified the fundamental attributes that contribute to CPIQ, as well as existing standards and other useful information related to those attributes. The IEEE P1858 working group intends to continue that effort by defining a standardized suite of objective and subjective test methods for measuring camera-phone image quality, as well as tools and test methods to facilitate standards-based communication and comparison among carriers, handset manufacturers and component vendors.

“We applaud I3A for the crucial work that it accomplished in ushering the CPIQ specifications to where they are today,” said Karen Kenney, senior director, IEEE-SA. “This is an exciting new opportunity for IEEE that fits nicely with many of our other established standards activities. We look forward to driving the CPIQ standard to fruition and supporting its market implementation through a suite of available services, including access to conformity assessment programs.”

IEEE said PC, tablet, smartphone, camera component and sensor manufacturers; application developers; telecom service providers and other interested parties are invited to participate in the IEEE P1858 working group. For more information visit http://standards.ieee.org/develop/wg/CPIQ.html.

According to the charges, from approximately August 2006 until February 2009, HP hosted optical disk drive procurement events in which participants would be awarded varying amounts of optical disk drive supply depending on where their pricing ranked. According to court documents, Yang and co-conspirators participated in a series of conspiracies involving meetings and discussions to predetermine bidding strategies and prices of optical disk drives, resulting in the submission of collusive and noncompetitive bids for HP’s procurement events. Yang and co-conspirators also exchanged information on sales, market share and the pricing of optical disk drives to monitor and enforce adherence to the agreements.

Including Yang, the department has charged four individuals and one company as a result of its ongoing investigation into the optical disk drive industry. On Nov. 8, 2011, HLDS pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco to 14 counts of violating the federal antitrust laws between approximately June 2004 and September 2009. HLDS also pleaded guilty to one count of participating in a scheme to defraud in connection with an April 2009 procurement event. On the same day, HLDS was sentenced to pay a $21.1 million criminal fine and agreed to assist the department in its ongoing investigation into the optical disk drive industry.

“Today’s charges demonstrate the Antitrust Division’s commitment to prosecute and deter conduct that harms American businesses and consumers,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Joseph Wayland in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “The division will continue to pursue those who participated in these bid-rigging and price-fixing conspiracies so they are held accountable for their actions.”

“Amazon Studios wants to discover great talent and produce programming that audiences will love,” said Roy Price, director of Amazon Studios. “In the course of developing movies, we’ve heard a lot of interest from content creators who want to develop original series in the comedy and children’s genres. We are excited to bring writers, animators and directors this new opportunity to develop original series.”

Each month, Amazon Studios intends to option one promising new project and add it to the development slate where it will be tested for viability with an audience. If Amazon Studios elects to distribute a full-budget series, the creator will receive a $55,000 payment, up to 5 percent of Amazon’s net receipts from toy and t-shirt licensing, and other royalties and bonuses. Amazon Studios’ production company, the People’s Production Company, is signatory to the Writers Guild of America and to The Animation Guild, Local 839.

To submit, a project must have a five-page description, along with a 22-minute pilot script for comedies, or an 11-minute pilot script for children’s shows. Within 45 days of submission, Amazon Studios will either extend an option on the project for $10,000 or invite the creator to add the project to the Amazon Studios site. If a project is not optioned, creators may remove their idea from the Amazon Studios site or leave it to get community feedback.

Amazon Studios new series development is led by Joe Lewis, previously with 20th Century Fox and Comedy Central, and Tara Sorensen, formerly with National Geographic Kids.

Amazon Studios launched in November 2010. Since then, more than 700 test movies and 7,000 scripts have been submitted and 15 movie projects are currently under development. For more information about Amazon Studios, visit http://studios.amazon.com.

According to DEG’s the First Quarter 2012 Home Entertainment Report, overall consumer spending was up 2.5 percent compared to the first quarter last year, driven by a healthy consumer appetite for Blu-ray. Blu-ray Disc saw continued double digit growth (up 23 percent) in sales over first quarter 2011. Indeed, Blu-ray Disc now accounts for one out of four of all of the physical sell-through dollars spent by consumers compared to less than 15 percent two years ago. The progress in Blu-ray Disc sales is even more significant when viewed as growth off an ever-increasing base.

Highlights for the first quarter include:

– Blu-ray Disc and EST continued their steady gains with consumer spending on Blu-ray jumping 23 percent and EST up 17 percent compared to the same period last year.

– Physical sell-through of theatrical product was up two percent for the quarter, while catalog sales on Blu-ray Disc were up 27 percent, and TV on Blu-ray sales were up 54 percent, underscoring that Blu-ray Disc is the standard for quality home entertainment.

– With most major studios backing UltraViolet, and with the support of major retailers, consumers have embraced UltraViolet’s flexibility and value of ownership by opening nearly two million UltraViolet accounts to access and enjoy their movies and TV shows in the cloud.

– The number of Blu-ray homes continues to climb, with 2.4 million players sold in the first quarter (including BD set-tops, PS3s and HTiBs). Total household penetration of all Blu-ray compatible devices now stands at more than 40.8 million U.S. homes.

– Further, 6.5 million HDTVs were sold to U.S. consumers in the first quarter 2012. HDTV penetration to date is now at more than 77.6 million U.S. households.

To be considered for a 2012 NAB Marconi Radio Award, general managers may nominate their station in the categories of "Station of the Year by Market Size," "Station of the Year by Format," "Personality of the Year by Market Size," "Spanish Format Personality of the Year" and "Legendary Station." Stations may also submit nominations for the category of "Network/Syndicated Personality of the Year."

In an effort to help radio stations build stronger entries, new guidelines have been published.

Nominations must be submitted online and received by May 31. Finalists will be announced in July.

On September 20, the winners will be announced during the NAB Marconi Radio Awards Dinner & Show at the Radio Show, held in Dallas (September 19-21).

The new rules are geared to promote innovation and investment in mobile communications, and help ensure the United States keeps pace with the global wireless revolution. The rules are also designed to help preserve broadcast television as a healthy, viable medium.

Specifically, the Report and Order establishes a framework for how two or more television licensees may voluntarily share a single six MHz channel in conjunction with the auction process:

· While stations will need to retain at least one standard definition programming stream to meet the FCC’s requirement of providing an over-the-air video broadcast at no direct charge to viewers, they will have the flexibility of tailoring their channel sharing agreements to meet their individual programming and economic needs.

· Stations sharing together will employ a single channel and transmission facility but will each continue to be licensed separately, retain its original call sign, retain all the rights pertaining to an FCC license, and remain subject to all of the FCC’s rules, policies, and obligations.

According to the FCC, the new rules apply to full power and Class A television stations, including both commercial and noncommercial educational television stations. The rules neither increase nor decrease the cable and satellite carriage rights currently afforded broadcast licensees. Nor does the Report and Order act on the proposals in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to establish fixed and mobile allocations in the U/V bands or to improve TV service on VHF channels. The Commission said it will address the allocation issue in a future rulemaking, and may address the VHF issues at a later date as well.

The LCC said its role is to encourage existing standards organizations to work with the creative industries to use standards technology to identify, organize, communicate and license their rights more effectively. Participants in the project will identify what works, what doesn't work, what exists already and what is yet required. Technical work will be undertaken by experts from across the media industry and recommendations will be made to link the various strands of rights-management data needed for the modern management of online copyright. This approach will benefit business users and consumers trying to find and use material, and will be business-model neutral so will facilitate commercial and non-commercial/cultural use of content.

The Chairman of the LCC Project Board, Christoph Keese, President of Public Affairs at Axel Springer AG said, “Copyright is the cornerstone of the creative sector; the future success of businesses which invest in quality content the world over depend on it working for us online just as it has always worked for publishing books, newspapers, TV channels, films and music. As the internet and mobile platforms operate increasingly in a "machine to machine" environment, driven by data, the management of copyright must not be left behind”.

According to Dolby, Atmos introduces a hybrid approach to mixing and directs sound as dynamic objects that envelop the listener, in combination with channels for playback. Dolby Atmos enables adaptive rendering to ensure that the playback experience is as close as possible to the creator's original vision in any given environment, irrespective of the specific speaker configuration in the playback environment.

"Dolby Atmos is our most significant innovation in years and represents the future for entertainment sound in cinema," said Kevin Yeaman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Dolby Laboratories. "We have leveraged our deep insights into how people hear and experience sound to empower filmmakers, studios, and exhibitors with new technology that transforms storytelling."

Dolby said Atmos is an end-to-end solution that takes into account the entire content pipeline and brings together mixers, studios, and distributors to create dramatic improvements in the audio experience. The Dolby Atmos platform provides content creators with a new creative freedom to tell their stories. It simplifies movie distribution with a single universal package to deliver to audiences the full impact of the artist's intent, regardless of theatre configuration.

With the ability to transmit up to 128 simultaneous and lossless audio inputs (channels or objects), and the ability to render from 5.1 all the way up to 64 discrete speaker feeds, Dolby Atmos introduces a completely new audio capability for exhibitors. The inherent scalability and adaptability of Dolby Atmos allows exhibitors to manage their budgets and upgrade cinemas over time, yet improve the experience for audiences at each step.

To effectively support precise positioning and movement of sound around the theatre, speakers must be individually amplified and support a wide frequency response and dispersion. To help exhibitors with their upgrades, Harman Professional has been working with Dolby to design innovative and optimized solutions to simplify deployment of Dolby Atmos.

"After first previewing Dolby Atmos last year, we immediately recognized the tremendous potential," said Michael MacDonald, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Harman Professional. "Dolby Atmos is clearly the next-generation audio platform and will provide considerable performance advantages to our customers in the global cinema market."

According to Mitsubishi, the high-output GaN HEMT amplifier features a downsized configuration and a low-loss circuit. Output power is double that of the company's existing GaN HEMT amplifier and quadruple that of Mitsubishi Electric's GaAs amplifier. The new amplifier's ability to perform the tasks of four conventional units represents an important contribution to downsize transmitters to one sixth the size of a GaAs amplifier.

Vital satellite communications require robust systems that must work under adverse conditions, such as during natural disasters. High-power output is required for radio transmission from terrestrial stations to satellites in geostationary orbit 36,000 km above sea level. Also, terrestrial stations must be small enough to be transported by vehicles and installed.

Gallium arsenide (GaAs) amplifiers have been used commonly for satellite communication transmitters, but gallium nitride (GaN) amplifiers have become increasingly popular recently because GaN transistors can handle very high voltage.

In addition to his significant contributions to network email, he played a leading role in developing the first email standards. In 1972, Tomlinson was one of the participants in a meeting to enhance FTP to support email, which was used until 1982 when it was replaced by SMTP. In addition, Tomlinson was a co-author of RFC-561 (September 1973), the first standard for Internet email message formats. RFC 561 defined several of the email fields we still use today (e.g. From, Subject and Date).

Tomlinson's email program brought about a complete revolution, fundamentally changing the way people communicate, including the way businesses, from huge corporations to tiny mom-and-pop shops, operate and the way millions of people shop, bank, and keep in touch with friends and family, whether they are across town or across oceans. Today, tens of millions of email-enabled devices are in use every day. Email remains the most popular application, with over a billion and a half users spanning the globe and communicating across the traditional barriers of time and space.

In 2000, Tomlinson received the George R. Stibitz Computer Pioneer Award from the American Computer Museum. In 2001, he was honored with a Webby Award from the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences and was inducted into the Rensselaer Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2002, Discover Magazine awarded him its Innovation Award. In 2004, he earned the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Internet Award. He was named the Prince of Asturias Award Laureate for Technical and Scientific Research in 2009. In 2011, he was honored with the Eduard Rhein Kulturpreis Cultural Award. He is ranked number four on the MIT list of top 150 innovators and ideas from MIT.

The Internet Hall of Fame is an annual awards program that has been established by the Internet Society to publicly recognize a distinguished and select group of leaders and luminaries who have made significant contributions to the development and advancement of the global Internet.

According to Sony, the new system will deliver superior long-term storage capabilities, which are enabled through the use of media built to withstand changes in temperature and humidity, and is dust and water resistance. The system also provides guaranteed intergenerational compatibility and eliminates the need to re-archive copies of past archive data, offering a more user-friendly and dependable long-term storage solution.

By Fall 2012, Sony will be releasing various optical disc media for archive storage solutions into the market that is compatible with the “ODS-D55U” drive unit equipped with a USB 3.0 interface and storage capacities between 300GB-1.5TB Sony plans to consecutively enhance its product lineup upon this initial release.

Furthermore, in addition to the production of media and drive units, Sony will collaborate with a variety of other manufacturers in related business areas such as storage media, robotics (automated media exchange systems), middleware (hierarchical storage management and control) and application software for media asset management (including media management and search) for the purpose of developing system solutions for media archive applications.

Sony siad it will continue to promote its efforts through Optical Disc Archive Advisory Group activities. The establishment of an open platform so that the valuable video content stored in tape media can be archived and passed on to the next generation in an optimal format will help industry move toward creating a new market for archive solutions.

Smartphones will be the most purchased CE device this year. More than one in five (22 percent) U.S. households say they plan to purchase the device in the next 12 months. HDTVs (17 percent) and digital cameras (15 percent) are next on the list. Mobile computing will continue to be a popular purchase this year as well. Both tablet computers and notebook/laptop computers are expected to be purchased by 14 percent of U.S. households.

Tablet computers were also a leading growth category over the past 12 months. U.S. household penetration levels for tablets increased 14 percentage points from last year and represents the largest increase in the industry. Blu-ray players and digital media players also saw double digit growth in household penetration numbers.

“Consistent with past research and trends we are seeing, tablets and smartphones will continue their dominance in the marketplace over the coming year,” said Chris Ely, CEA’s manager of industry analysis. “As consumers continue to integrate these mobile connected devices into their everyday lifestyles, we expect to see an increase in ownership of all-in-one devices and related content.”

As ownership rates for connected devices increases, more households are subscribing to video rental and streaming services. Nearly 31 million U.S. households (26 percent) will be watching content streamed online and growth will continue this year as nine percent of new households are expected to subscribe to a video rental and steaming service this year.

Televisions remain the most commonly owned CE device, with 99 percent of U.S. households owning at least one TV. The average U.S. household owns 2.9 televisions. Nearly seven in ten (68 percent) U.S. households report owning at least one HDTV. In addition, half (54 percent) of U.S. households report they own at least one LCD TV and approximately one-third (32 percent) report they own at least one plasma TV.

Of the 37 CE devices surveyed, the average U.S. household owns 24, the same number as last year, and spent $961 on consumer electronics over the past 12 months, down more than $200 from last year. The average adult individually reports spending $552 on CE in the past 12 months, down $100.

“The average household continues to own electronics at a high rate, with ownership of all-in-one devices seeing significant growth,” said Ely. “Consumers continue to purchase electronics, but we see a decrease in overall spending as they are buying at a bargain, seeking deals and discounts on the devices they desire, and taking advantage of declining price points for certain product categories.”

According to DTS, the transaction combines two highly complementary product and technology portfolios, bringing together DTS' suite of audio solutions and SRS Labs' range of audio processing technologies. Through the transaction, DTS plans to expand its portfolio of audio-related intellectual property with over 1,000 registered and pending patents and trademarks. The combination is anticipated to fast-track DTS' expansion in the rapidly growing markets for mobile and other network-connected devices as well as current audio solutions ranging from voice processing through audio rendering, and from low bit rate applications to high-quality lossless audio delivery while significant operating, customer and licensing cost efficiencies are expected to be realized.

"This transaction represents an exciting extension of our strategic focus on the compelling long-term opportunities being driven by cloud-based entertainment delivery and the proliferation of connected devices, enabling DTS to accelerate our expansion in the key growth areas of mobile and other network-connected device markets, as well as to drive innovation and create significant near- and long-term value for our shareholders," said Jon Kirchner, DTS' chairman and CEO. "SRS Labs and its strong portfolio of audio processing technologies are a natural strategic fit for DTS, with complementary technologies, robust anticipated customer synergies, and significant economies of scale. This transaction will accelerate DTS' delivery of compelling end-to-end solutions to a broad base of customers, enable even higher levels of service, and provide the Company with a solid platform for continued growth."

"We are pleased to provide our shareholders an attractive premium," said Thomas C.K. Yuen, SRS Labs' chairman, CEO and president. "As consumers increasingly demand higher quality audio experiences everywhere from their mobile devices to their homes, this combination benefits our customers and employees by creating significant scale and penetrating new markets. We look forward to making the collective resources of a larger company available to our customers around the world, who will also benefit from superior customer service."

DTS expects the transaction to be accretive on a GAAP basis by 2013, supported by at least $8 million in estimated annual combined cost synergies. Combined pro forma revenue for the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011 was $129.8 million.

According to Dolby, the two companies have undertaken the joint project to improve the 3D viewing experience on displays of all sizes, including smartphones, tablets, PCs, and televisions. Dolby 3D is a complete system designed to work throughout the chain to deliver clear glasses-free 3D content that operates over existing distribution systems.

"Philips has a long history in 3D technologies and video innovation, and Dolby has a proven track record of enabling technologies to enhance entertainment experiences. Together, we identified a business need where we could bring a unique offering to the market that improves the end-user experience," said Ruud Peters, Chief Intellectual Property Officer at Philips. "By unveiling Dolby 3D, we introduce a 3D HD format capable of powering glasses-free 3D displays of any size, enabling broadcasters, operators, content aggregators, and device manufacturers to deliver HD-quality 3D on any device."

Ramzi Haidamus, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Dolby Laboratories, stated: "We believe that Dolby 3D can help drive the adoption of 3D—creating a comfortable, customizable, truly enjoyable glasses-free 3D viewing experience while enhancing 3D display performance. Armed with the innovative glasses-free 3D display technology from Philips, based on years of extensive research and development in the field, we plan to bring the same philosophy to 3D that Dolby has brought to the audio space—integrating our technologies and strengths throughout the entire content chain. Consumers will know that when they see Dolby 3D content on a 3D-enabled device, it will look its very best."

"Dolby and Philips are committed to taking the 3D experience to the next level and delivering a high-quality solution for all 3D display devices, including today's glasses-based devices and tomorrow's glasses-free displays. Working on cutting-edge technology with two leading companies is very exciting, and I'm thrilled to lead this unique joint effort," said Guido Voltolina, General Manager of the joint project.

Dolby said the focus of the project will be to work with original equipment manufacturers of display panels and entertainment devices to enhance the performance of 3D consumer devices to make viewing of 3D content just as convenient and appealing as viewing of 2D content on a high-quality screen is today. This project is uniquely positioned to enable the industry's adoption of 3D by working on standardization and licensing of the technology.

The Dolby 3D experience is intended to integrate into the use cases and viewing patterns of consumers on the go and in the home, making the use of 3D devices an enjoyable daily experience. Content owners and broadcast operators have the opportunity to differentiate their offerings by encoding 3D titles in Dolby 3D for maximum fidelity on Dolby 3D enabled devices while maintaining compatibility with existing 3D products. The system will enable a 3D HD format, including tools for 3D content creation and real-time 3D content conversion.

Dolby 3D is being demonstrated at the NAB Show (April 16—19, 2012) at booth SU1212.

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) and Digital Media Association (DiMA) are filing an industry-wide agreement that fully resolves the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) Rate Proceeding under Section 115 of the Copyright Act.

The settlement provides for the development of new digital music services and business models offering music to consumers by creating new rates and terms under Section 115 for five new categories, which include:

• Mixed service bundles (for example, a locker service, limited interactive service, downloads or ringtones combined with a non-music product such as a mobile phone, consumer electronics device or Internet service)
• Paid locker services (subscription-based locker providing on-demand streaming and downloads)
• Purchased content lockers (a free locker functionally provided to a purchaser of a permanent digital download, ringtone or CD where the music provider and locker have an agreement)
• “Limited offerings” (subscription-based service offering limited genres of music or specialized playlists)
• Music bundles (bundling music products such as CDs, ringtones and permanent digital downloads)

“This is a historic agreement that reflects our mission to make it easier for digital music services to launch cutting-edge business models and streamline the licensing process,” said Cary Sherman, Chairman and CEO, RIAA. “This is a major win for consumers, the music community, and entrepreneurs and investors in new music services.

The 25-page proposed agreement will be submitted to the CRB by the various parties and resolves the pending mechanical royalty rate proceedings without litigation. The agreement covers 2013-2017 and must be formally be approved by the CRB. It establishes a royalty rate category for these new business models and rolls forward, with limited changes, all existing rates and terms for CDs and downloads.

According to the Group, the USB power delivery specification will enable increased power delivery via USB cables and connectors, expanding cable bus power capabilities in USB applications. The specification enables higher voltage and current to deliver power up to 100 Watts. It also enables a switchable source of power delivery without changing cable direction. The specification is compatible with existing cables and connectors and will coexist with the USB Battery Charging 1.2 specification and existing USB bus-powered applications.

The SSIC specification will define a chip-to-chip USB based interconnect optimized for mobile device internal use. The specification will bring the MIPI Alliance’s M-PHY high bandwidth and low power capabilities combined with the performance enhancements of SuperSpeed USB.

“The USB 3.0 Promoter Group continues to develop practical specifications to support more platform types and new use cases, which benefit from SuperSpeed USB,” said Brad Saunders, USB 3.0 Promoter Group Chairman. “The industry reviews for the USB Power Delivery and SSIC specifications have proven successful, and it is exciting to see these specifications come to fruition.”

The USB Power Delivery and SuperSpeed USB Inter-Chip specifications will be discussed during a USB session at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) being held April 11-12, 2012 in Beijing. The USB 3.0 Promoter Group said it intends to transition the final specifications to the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) for publication and establishment of the ecosystems and associated compliance programs by the end of Q2 2012.

The USB 3.0 specification was developed by the USB 3.0 Promoter Group, which consists of Hewlett-Packard Company, Intel Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Renesas Electronics, ST-Ericsson and Texas Instruments.

Device owners in the U.K. also logged heavy usage for tablets (80%) and smartphones (78%) while watching TV. British daily usage of smartphones or tablets while watching TV rivaled that of the U.S.. Nearly a quarter (24%) of those surveyed claiming to use their device several times a day while watching TV.

Italians and Germans were the least likely to use a device while watching TV. In both countries, 29 percent of users said they never use a tablet and TV together and 34 of Italians and 35 percent of Germans said they don’t use their smartphone while watching TV.

The most frequent tablet or smartphone activity across all countries while also watching TV was checking email — either during a commercial break or during the show. Yet device owners also seem to engage with content related to the TV as well, either by looking up information related to the show or looking for deals and general information on products advertised on TV.

The international market last year accounted for 58.4 percent of the total revenue produced by the Top 100-grossing films in the United States, up from 57.3 percent in 2010. In comparison, the United States saw its share dwindle to 41.6 percent, down from 42.7 percent.

“Growth in international cinema markets is driving up the importance of non-U.S. releases to film studios, and new screen growth in territories like China, Brazil, Russia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East has fundamentally altered the dynamics of a film’s release,” said David Hancock, senior principal analyst for cinema at IHS. “The turning point came in 2003 when international revenues generated more than the American box office for the first time, taking a 50.2 percent share. The international market finally edged past the once-unassailable U.S. position, relegating it to a minority stake with 49.8 percent share. Only a year earlier in 2002, the United States had clung to what was to become its last year of dominance at 53.0 percent, compared to 47.0 percent for the international segment.”

Not surprisingly, some film genres traveled better than others, while those that performed well in the U.S. market could not be counted on to perform as well abroad.

For instance, American sports dramas were culturally predisposed to success in the United States rather than overseas, given the nature of their subject. In 2011, two films in the sample generated 84.8 percent of their revenues in the States, compared to 15.2 percent internationally. Another genre that does not travel well is U.S. comedy, which covers both comedy drama and action comedy flicks. In comparison, romantic comedies fare better, even if they are still slightly weighted toward the U.S. market.

At the other end of the spectrum, a genre that has less trouble navigating success abroad is animation, which took 62.8 percent of revenues in overseas markets. Science fiction in its various forms also travels well, either as sci-fi thrillers at 68.4 percent or sci-fi action at 58.8 percent. Likewise performing credibly in international markets are action films at 57.0 percent and horror titles at 56.9 percent.

"Selling these patents to Intel unlocks some of the substantial and unrealized value of RealNetworks assets," said Thomas Nielsen, RealNetworks President and CEO. "It represents an extraordinary opportunity for us to generate additional capital to boost investments in new businesses and markets while still protecting our existing business.

"RealNetworks is pleased Intel has agreed to acquire our next generation video codec software and team," said Nielsen. "Intel has a strong reputation as a technology innovator, and we believe they are well positioned to build on the development work and investment we've made in this area."

"As the technology industry evolves towards an experience-centric model, users are demanding more media and graphics capabilities in their computing devices. The acquisition of these foundational media patents, additional patents and video codec software expands Intel's diverse and extensive portfolio of intellectual property," said Renée James, Intel senior vice president and general manager of the Software and Services Group. "We believe this agreement enhances our ability to continue to offer richer experiences and innovative solutions to end users across a wide spectrum of devices, including through Ultrabook devices, smartphones and digital media."

In addition to the sale of the patents and next-generation video codec software, RealNetworks and Intel signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on future support and development of the next-generation video codec software and related products.

RealNetworks also said it retains certain rights to continue to use the patents in current and future products and does not expect the sale will have any material impact on its businesses.

"We look forward to working with Intel to support the development of the next-generation video codec software and to expanding our relationship into new products and markets," said Nielsen.

The Service to America Leadership Award recognizes individuals and organizations responsible for improving the lives of others through extraordinary public service. Considered NABEF's highest individual honor, the award will be presented during the Celebration of Service to America gala held Monday, June 11, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

"Ms. Close is an exceptionally talented actress whose work has entertained millions over the years and she is also a dedicated humanitarian. I applaud her creation of Bring Change 2 Mind and its grassroots efforts to better the lives of everyone affected by mental illness," said NABEF President Marcellus Alexander. "In addition to her work with Bring Change 2 Mind, her charitable efforts stretch from wildlife conservation to support for returning troops. We are proud and honored to present Ms. Close with this prestigious award."

In 2009, Close participated in the launch of Bring Change 2 Mind (BC2M), a not-for-profit organization dedicated to confronting the stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness. The idea that led to the establishment of BC2M evolved from her first-hand observation of battles with mental illness within her family.

The organization was created by Close together with her sister Jessie, her nephew Calen, The Balanced Mind Foundation, Fountain House and Garen and Shari Staglin of IMHRO (International Mental Health Research Organization). BC2M's mission is to emerge as the world's most effective organization working to eradicate the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness through widely distributed Public Education Materials based on the latest scientific insights and measured for effectiveness. BC2M also acts as a portal to a broad coalition of organizations that provide service, screening, information, support and treatment of mental illness. For more information about Bring Change 2 Mind, visit bc2m.org.

Consumer confidence in technology reached 88.9, its highest level since setting an all-time high of 93.6 in December 2011. The CEA Index of Consumer Technology Expectations (ICTE), which measures consumer expectations about technology spending, is up more than three points from February and is more than 10 points higher than this time last year.

"New model launches this month, including televisions, smartphones and notably the release of Apple's new iPad, are likely driving the increase in tech spending sentiment," said Shawn DuBravac, CEA's chief economist and senior director of research.

Consumer confidence in the overall economy dropped slightly in March. The CEA Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE) fell a percentage point to 173.6. The ICE, which measures consumer expectations about the broader economy, is up more than 12 points from this time last year.

"Overall consumer sentiment about the economy remains high and consumers are feeling more optimistic than they did throughout 2011," said DuBravac. "However the higher gasoline prices consumers are facing at the pump likely resulted in a slight dip in overall economic sentiment this month."

CCI was formed in September 2011 as part of a collaborative effort between U.S. content creators in the movie and music industries and leading Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to develop a ground breaking Copyright Alert System (“CAS”) and educational framework intended to inform the public about and deter copyright infringement through direct communication with consumers. Lesser will help lead the group in its work with the partner ISPs and content owners to implement the CAS, which is focused on the inadvertent or purposeful unauthorized distribution of copyrighted content through peer-to-peer networks.

“Jill has spent her career solving complex problems at the intersection of technology, copyright and consumer rights,” said Thomas Dailey, Chairman of the Executive Board of the CCI and Vice President and Deputy General Counsel of Verizon Communications, Inc. “CCI’s mission is to implement the most thoughtful and consumer friendly system to-date for promoting the lawful enjoyment of copyrighted material. Jill’s ability to find solutions that work for content creators, ISPs and their customers will be critical to this task.”

Lesser’s background includes serving as the Deputy Director of Public Policy and Director of the Civic Media Project at People for the American Way (“PFAW”) and as Senior Vice President for Domestic Public Policy for AOL Time Warner, Inc. She is also a Board Member of the Center for Democracy and Technology.

“I am excited to lead CCI as it begins this constructive effort to reduce and deter online copyright infringement in a way that is centered on education and deterrence, not punishment.” said Lesser. “This unprecedented collaboration demonstrates that when content providers and distributors work together we can protect copyright and empower consumers at the same time.”

The two patents asserted by HumanEyes—U.S. Patent Nos. 6,665,003 and 7,477,284—are both based on inventions made at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem by Computer Vision expert and HumanEyes co-founder Professor Shmuel Peleg and his students. Professor Peleg and his team discovered a breakthrough new method for generating 3D panoramic images by combining portions of multiple images recorded by an ordinary camera. This discovery makes it possible to bring inexpensive 3D photography to digital cameras and mobile devices and was the basis for founding HumanEyes Technologies.

According to HumanEyes, Sony’s decision to incorporate HumanEyes’ patented technology into its cameras and mobile devices comes after multiple communications between HumanEyes and Sony employees dating back to 2004 and after numerous citations by Sony in its own patents and patent applications to Professor Peleg’s work and the two asserted HumanEyes patents. HumanEyes explained in its ITC complaint that taking legal action to defend its intellectual property rights against Sony is necessary to protect HumanEyes’ own investments in the U.S. market for creating and displaying 3D images.

“HumanEyes remains committed to working with interested camera and other device manufacturers to incorporate HumanEyes’ innovative 3D imaging technology into devices under agreements that respect HumanEyes’ intellectual property rights,” said CEO Vered Levy-Ron.

"This will be a place for the Hollywood production community to share experiences with their peers and help make the transition from 35mm film to digital production as seamless as possible," said Alec Shapiro, PSA senior vice president. "Here, on one stage, filmmakers and other content creators can shoot 4K pictures, process them through a 4K workflow on site at ColorWorks and view the results on a 4K projector."

Shapiro, who is also assuming responsibilities as president of the Sony DMPC, added that the extensive expertise of the professionals on the Sony Pictures Studios lot will be invaluable in launching this breakthrough camera with its unprecedented 8K image sensor.

"Critical to our future success is listening to the industry for their ideas and input to further advance the state of the art in digital production," he said. "This new Center will offer those capabilities on a level unmatched by any other facility in the world."

Several F65 projects are already underway across the industry. The first two movies being shot with the camera are Sony Pictures' recently announced "After Earth," the latest film from the production company Overbrook Entertainment and acclaimed director M. Night Shyamalan, and the Universal movie "Oblivion."

"We're pleased that Sony is making this commitment to the filmmaking community and has chosen Stage 7 as its home," said Gary Martin, President, Production Administration at Sony Pictures. "The Center offers professionals an opportunity to see this exceptional camera in action and learn the best practices for using it."

Curtis Clark, ASC and chairman of the ASC Technology Committee, will play a critical role in directing the educational and training activities provided by the Center.
"The F65 is a sea change for our industry," said Clark. "We can shoot with this camera as we do with film. Since cinematographers and directors have decades of experience with shooting film, they know its capabilities and what they can expect from post finishing. With its 16-bit color and 4K spatial resolution, the F65 expands on these capabilities. This Center will help everyone become familiar with the tremendous potential of this new system and the workflow that supports it."

Sony also plans to make the DMPC available to local rental companies and resellers to conduct training for their respective customers as well as 3rd party workflow partners including: Assimilate, Avid, Blackmagic, Codex, ColorFront, FilmLight, MTI Film and YoYotta.

“In addition to more traditional use cases such as gaming, media entertainment and desktop productivity, it’s been exciting to see companies finding unique ways to implement MHL technology, such as in-dash receivers,”said Tim Wong, president of MHL, LLC. “Hitting the 100 adopter milestone within two years of inception is a remarkable achievement. This is another great validation of the many benefits of MHL technology, such as charging the device while connected and experiencing mobile content on a large screen without lag.”

Using only five wires, MHL technology delivers 1080p uncompressed video with up to eight channels of digital audio while providing charge to the mobile device. Consumers can connect their MHL-enabled devices to the big screen to watch HD videos, play video games or work on business presentations. Consumers are also able to control MHL-enabled mobile devices using the existing DTV remote.

For more information about the MHL Consortium or how to become an adopter, visit http://www.mhltech.org/.

"If companies adopt our final recommendations for best practices – and many of them already have – they will be able to innovate and deliver creative new services that consumers can enjoy without sacrificing their privacy," said Jon Leibowitz, Chairman of the FTC. "We are confident that consumers will have an easy to use and effective Do Not Track option by the end of the year because companies are moving forward expeditiously to make it happen and because lawmakers will want to enact legislation if they don't."

The final privacy report expands on a preliminary staff report the FTC issued in December 2010. The final report calls on companies handling consumer data to implement recommendations for protecting privacy, including:

- Privacy by Design - companies should build in consumers' privacy protections at every stage in developing their products. These include reasonable security for consumer data, limited collection and retention of such data, and reasonable procedures to promote data accuracy;

-Simplified Choice for Businesses and Consumers - companies should give consumers the option to decide what information is shared about them, and with whom. This should include a Do-Not-Track mechanism that would provide a simple, easy way for consumers to control the tracking of their online activities.

-Greater Transparency - companies should disclose details about their collection and use of consumers' information, and provide consumers access to the data collected about them.

The final report notes that the FTC received over 450 comments on the staff's preliminary recommendations. Based on technological advances and industry developments since the December 2010 staff report and in response to the comments, the agency is revising recommendations in three areas:

The final report changes the guidance's scope. The preliminary report recommended that the proposed framework apply to all commercial entities that collect or use consumer data that can be linked to a specific consumer, computer, or other device. Recognizing the potential burden on small businesses, the report concludes that the framework should not apply to companies that collect and do not transfer only non-sensitive data from fewer than 5,000 consumers a year. The report also responds to comments filed by organizations and individuals that, with technological advances, more and more data could be "reasonably linked" to consumers, computers, or devices. The final report concludes that data is not "reasonably linked" if a company takes reasonable measures to de-identify the data, commits not to re-identify it, and prohibits downstream recipients from re-identifying it.

The report refines the guidance for when companies should provide consumers with choice about how their data is used. It states that whether a practice should include choice turns on the extent to which the practice is consistent with the context of the transaction or the consumer's existing relationship with the business or is required or specifically authorized by law. These practices include product fulfillment and fraud prevention.

The report also contains important recommendations regarding data brokers. It notes that data brokers often buy, compile, and sell highly personal information about consumers. Consumers are often unaware of their existence and the purposes to which they use the data. The report makes two recommendations to increase the transparency of such practices. First, it reiterates the Commission's prior support for legislation that would provide consumers with access to information held by data brokers. Second, it calls on data brokers who compile consumer data for marketing purposes to explore creation of a centralized website where consumers could get information about their practices and their options for controlling data use.

While Congress considers privacy legislation, the Commission urges individual companies and self-regulatory bodies to accelerate the adoption of the principles contained in the privacy framework, to the extent they have not already done so. Over the course of the next year, Commission staff will work to encourage consumer privacy protections by focusing on five main action items:
Do-Not-Track - The Commission commends the progress made in this area: browser vendors have developed tools to allow consumers to limit data collection about them, the Digital Advertising Alliance has developed its own icon-based system and also committed to honor the browser tools, and the World Wide Web Consortium standards-setting body is developing standards. "The Commission will work with these groups to complete implementation of an easy-to-use, persistent, and effective Do Not Track system," the report says.

Mobile - The FTC urges companies offering mobile services to work toward improved privacy protections, including disclosures. To that end, it will host a workshop on May 30, 2012 to address how mobile privacy disclosures can be short, effective, and accessible to consumers on small screens.

Data Brokers - The Commission calls on data brokers to make their operations more transparent by creating a centralized website to identify themselves, and to disclose how they collect and use consumer data. In addition, the website should detail the choices that data brokers provide consumers about their own information.

Large Platform Providers - The report cited heightened privacy concerns about the extent to which platforms, such as Internet Service Providers, operating systems, browsers and social media companies, seek to comprehensively track consumers' online activities. The FTC will host a public workshop in the second half of 2012 to explore issues related to comprehensive tracking.

Promoting Enforceable Self-Regulatory Codes - The FTC will work with the Department of Commerce and stakeholders to develop industry-specific codes of conduct. To the extent that strong privacy codes are developed, when companies adhere to these codes, the FTC will take that into account in its law enforcement efforts. If companies do not honor the codes they sign up for, they could be subject to FTC enforcement actions.

The Federal Trade Commission works for consumers to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices and to provide information to help spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint visit the FTC’s online Complaint Assistant or call 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).

Sony plans to position digital imaging, game and mobile as the three core pillars of its electronics business, and going forward aims to concentrate its resources in these areas to further reinforce the businesses. Sony also plans to accelerate its efforts to drive innovation and new business creation. Mr. Nemoto will be assigned overall responsibility for technology strategies, and will work together with Tomoyuki Suzuki, Corporate Executive Officer and EVP, who will oversee Sony's core device technologies, to create new businesses and enhance the R&D operations that are the foundations for Sony's next generation of technological innovation. Mr. Nemoto will also implement a process of stringent selection and focus in the area of R&D, to enable the Company to optimize resource allocation. As Officer in charge of the User Experience (“UX”) & Product Strategy and Creative Platform, Kunimasa Suzuki will assume responsibility for planning and design in relation to all consumer related products and services, with the aim of strengthening horizontal integration and enhancing the user experience across Sony's entire product and network service lineup. He will also oversee the mobile business that Sony has identified as one of its core electronics business areas, including smart phones, tablets and PCs.

The Home Entertainment Business, including the TV business (which is continuing to address the challenge of enhancing profitability), will be overseen directly by the CEO, Mr. Hirai, who will also be Corporate Executive Officer in charge of these businesses. The device and semiconductor businesses, an area where Sony is excelling with its industry-leading image sensors and other device technologies, and the core device R&D activities which support these businesses, will now be led by Tomoyuki Suzuki. The area of medical technology is also expected to grow significantly in the future, and Sony's medical-related businesses that had been dispersed across multiple units will now be integrated into a dedicated medical business unit to be overseen by Hiroshi Yoshioka, Corporate Executive Officer and Executive Deputy President.

In the area of sales and marketing, Haruyasu Nagata, currently President of Sony (China) Co., Ltd will be appointed SVP and head of the Global Sales and Marketing Platform, with the aim of strengthening Sony's global sales and marketing activities, particularly within emerging markets where significant market growth is anticipated. Nobuki Kurita, currently President, Sony Marketing (Japan) Inc. will be appointed President, Sony (China) Co., Ltd. Hiroshi Kawano will be appointed President, Sony Marketing (Japan) Inc., while continuing his current role as President, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan.

The changes are effective April 1, 2012.

Smith, 59, joined NAB in November 2009 and oversees the advocacy efforts of thousands of local radio and television stations across America. Prior to being a two-term United States Senator in Oregon (1996-2008) Smith practiced law in New Mexico and Arizona before returning to Weston, Oregon to direct the family-owned Smith Frozen Foods business.

"NAB membership is happy to have Gordon Smith navigating our interests in Washington, and we're delighted that he's agreed to this contract extension," said Karpowicz, president of Meredith Corporation's Local Media Group. "Faced with two potential game-changing issues - the Performance Rights Act for radio and the spectrum bill for television -- Gordon demonstrated uncommon grace, savvy and determination in preserving a bright future for broadcasting."

"I'm thrilled by the vote of confidence by the NAB Board and membership," said Smith. "As president of NAB, I get a first-hand view of the indispensable role that local and network broadcasters play in serving communities every day with news, entertainment and life-saving weather warnings. Broadcasters take seriously our role as stewards of the airwaves, and it is a privilege to represent a diverse membership with a vibrant future."

During his tenure in the U.S. Senate, Smith's committee assignments included the Senate Commerce Committee, the panel that oversees broadcast-related legislation. He also served on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was respected as a pragmatic lawmaker able to successfully reach across party lines. Smith's role on the Commerce Committee and as the Chairman of a Senate High Tech Task Force helped foster his interest in new media and new technology issues.

After leaving the Senate in 2008, Smith joined the law firm of Covington & Burling LLP for 10 months before accepting an offer to head the NAB.

According to Adobe, Photoshop CS6 beta demonstrates Adobe’s focus on huge performance enhancements, imaging magic and creativity tools that offer customers a new experience in digital imaging. Key features include new additions to the Content-Aware tools: Content-Aware Patch allows greater control by letting users select and duplicate an area of an image to fill in or “patch” another, and Content-Aware Move lets users select and magically move an object to a new place in the image.

Upgraded performance is powered by the new Adobe Mercury Graphics Engine, enabling near-instant results from popular editing tools including Liquify, Puppet Warp, Transform and Lighting Effects; and a refined, modern interface featuring dark UI options to make images pop. New and re-engineered design tools make creating designs faster and more efficient. Vector layers allow users to apply dashed lines and gradient strokes, searchable layers quickly zero in on any layer, and new type styles let designers swiftly apply type treatments to their designs.

In addition, the Photoshop CS6 beta offers all the features of Adobe Photoshop CS6 and Adobe Photoshop CS6 Extended, such as new 3D editing features and quantitative imaging analysis capabilities. These features will be included in the shipping version of Photoshop CS6 Extended when it becomes available.

“Photoshop CS6 will be a milestone release that pushes the boundaries of imaging innovation with incredible speed and performance,” said Winston Hendrickson, vice president products, Creative Media Solutions, Adobe. “We couldn’t wait to share this beta of Photoshop CS6 with our customers and are looking forward to hearing from them and seeing the ways they are incorporating the beta into their daily creative workflows.”

The Photoshop CS6 beta is available immediately as a free download in English and Japanese. At installation, users will be required to provide an Adobe ID to complete a one-time login and online product activation. For information on how to install Photoshop CS6 beta, visit www.adobe.com/go/photoshopcs6.

Photoshop CS6 beta is available for the Mac OS and Microsoft Windows platforms. The final release is expected in the first half of 2012.

CSRIC is a federal advisory committee established at the direction of the FCC Chairman to provide recommendations regarding the security, reliability, and interoperability of the nation’s communications system. Currently, CSRIC is composed of more than 50 communications experts from the private sector (including ISPs), public safety, consumer organizations and tribal, local, state and federal governments.

Chairman Genachowski said, “The recommendations approved today identify smart, practical, voluntary solutions that will materially improve the cyber security of commercial networks and bolster the broader endeavors of our federal partners.”

CSRIC Chair and CEO and President of CenturyLink, Glen F. Post, III, said, “I commend the industry for recognizing the importance of these voluntary initiatives and the continued willingness to work cooperatively to seek meaningful solutions.”

Miriam Perlberg, Senior Director for Cybersecurity Policies on the National Security Staff, congratulated the CSRIC on its voluntary, multi-stakeholder and industry-based approach. She stated, “Successfully combating botnets is a whole of government and whole of industry approach. The White House believes, as the CSRIC's recommendations make clear and Commerce’s data supports, a multi-stakeholder approach is needed to notify, educate, remediate and measure botnet threats to consumers.”

Implementing a recommendation of the National Broadband Plan, CSRIC was tasked with developing measures for ISPs to mitigate three major cyber threats: botnet attacks, domain name fraud, and Internet route hijacking. Today, the advisory committee endorsed industry-based recommendations in each of these three areas, including:

- Anti-Bot Code of Conduct: To reduce the threat of botnets in residential networks, CSRIC recommended a voluntary U.S. Anti-Bot Code of Conduct for Internet Service Providers (Anti- Bot Code). Under the Anti-Bot Code, ISPs agree to educate consumers about the botnet threat, take steps to detect botnet activity on their networks, make consumers aware of botnet infections on their computers, offer assistance to consumers whose computers are infected and collaborate with other service providers that have also adopted the Anti-Bot Code.

- DNS Best Practices: CSRIC recommended that ISPs implement best practices to better secure the Domain Name System. DNS works like a telephone book for the Internet, but lack of security for DNS has enabled spoofing, allowing Internet criminals to coax credit card numbers and personal data from users who do not realize they are on an illegitimate website. DNSSEC is a set of secure protocol extensions that prevent such fraudulent activity. This recommendation is a significant first step toward full DNSSEC implementation by ISPs and will allow users, with software applications like browsers, to validate that the destination they are trying to reach is authentic and not a spoofed website.

- IP Route Hijacking Industry Framework: CSRIC recommended an industry framework to prevent Internet route hijacking, which is the erroneous routing of Internet traffic through potentially untrustworthy networks. CSRIC recommended that ISPs work to implement new technologies and practices to reduce the number of these events, thereby ensuring that users in the U.S. can be more confident that their Internet traffic will not be exposed to scrutiny by other networks, foreign or domestic, through misrouting.

Chairman Genachowski strongly reiterated that privacy must not be compromised for the sake of security. He also announced that CSRIC is being tasked with preparing future recommendations to ensure that the best practices endorsed today will protect the privacy of Internet users. Last month, Chairman Genachowski urged the multi-stakeholder Internet community to find industry-led, non-regulatory solutions to secure our nation’s networks.

In response, several of the nation’s largest ISPs participating in CSRIC, including AT&T, CenturyLink, Comcast, Cox, Sprint, Time Warner Cable, and Verizon, pledged today to implement the CSRIC recommendations. Other ISPs, such as T-Mobile, have agreed to implement those recommendations that apply to their network architecture. When fully implemented, these measures will strengthen the security of the networks of the ISPs that provide Internet access to over 50 percent of residential broadband users.

"Betty White is admired by generations of audiences," said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. "She has remarkable energy, at age 90, and an incredible ability to connect with viewers. Betty's contributions to television and entertainment as a whole are extraordinary. Our Hall of Fame would be incomplete without her."

White's first comedy series, "Life with Elizabeth," brought her first Emmy Award in 1952, followed by a daily NBC talk/variety show called "The Betty White Show." She was a recurring regular with over 70 appearances on "The Tonight Show with Jack Paar," and appeared on "The Merv Griffin Show" and "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson." She also subbed as host on all three talk shows. White was a regular with Vicki Lawrence on "Mama's Family," as sister Ellen, a role she created with the rest of the company on "The Carol Burnett Show."

Her recurring role as "Happy Homemaker" Sue Ann Nivens in the classic series "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" brought two Emmys for Best Supporting Actress in 1974-75 and 1975-76. She received her fourth Emmy for Best Daytime Game Show Host for "Just Men." Nominated seven times for Best Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Rose Nylund in "The Golden Girls," White won the Emmy the first season in 1985, and later appeared in the spin-off "The Golden Palace" for one season. She earned her next Emmy Award as Best Guest Actress in a Comedy Series on "The John Larroquette Show."

White was nominated for an Emmy in 2011 for her portrayal of "Elka," the snarky but lovable caretaker on the TV Land series "Hot in Cleveland," in which she stars alongside Valerie Bertinelli, Jane Leeves and Wendie Malick. Betty also won back-to-back Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by a Female in a Comedy Series in 2011 and 2012. When she hosted NBC's "Saturday Night Live" in 2010, it was one of the highest-rated episodes in the show's history, and earned her an Emmy Award for Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, bringing White's Emmy total to seven awards. Betty is also Executive Producer and Host of the NBC series Off Their Rockers, which is set to air April 4th.

In addition to charming sports fans with her role in the popular Snickers commercial shown during the 2010 Super Bowl, White has guest-starred on "Ally McBeal," "That '70s Show," "Boston Legal," and received Emmy nominations for guesting on both NBC's "Community" and "The Middle." She was also nominated for an Emmy as a guest actress on "Suddenly Susan."
Her numerous television movies include "Chance of a Lifetime," "Stealing Christmas," "Annie's Point" and "The Lost Valentine," for which she received yet another Emmy nomination. Betty also hosted the New Year's Day Tournament of Roses Parade for 20 years, and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for 10 years. Her big-screen credits include the Warner Brothers hit "The Proposal," with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, as well as "You Again," "Bringing Down the House," "The Story of Us," "Lake Placid" and "Hard Rain."

Previous NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame television inductees include Bob Newhart, Bob Barker, NBC's" Meet the Press," Regis Philbin, "The Tonight Show," "Saturday Night Live," Ted Koppel, "M*A*S*H," "60 Minutes," "The Today Show" and "Star Trek," among others.

“This announcement marks SpaceX’s first launch contract in Mexico. It is also the second launch contract in Asia that we have signed in the last month,” said Elon Musk, SpaceX CEO and Chief Technology Officer. “Asia and Latin America represent two of the world’s hottest markets for commercial satellite operators. SpaceX is ready to provide them with the solutions they need to add capacity and meet growing demand.”

“We are very pleased to have SpaceX, the world’s fastest growing space launch company, as our launch partner for Satmex 7. Satmex is positioned for a new era of growth with the anticipated launches of Satmex 8 in 2012 and Satmex 7 in late 2014 or early 2015. The addition of Satmex 7 (C and Ku band satellite) will expand our fleet to three satellites covering the Americas. Satmex 7 will be a cornerstone of the Satmex fleet designed to provide direct-to-home (DTH) and data services with increased power levels and improved elevation angles from any location within the coverage. These benefits will provide better performance to deliver media content directly to homes as well as broadband services,” said Patricio Northland, CEO of Satmex.

“Over the past decade, we have seen launch prices increase dramatically, making access to space out of reach for many programs. As one of the fastest growing satellite operators in the world, ABS requires access to space that combines affordability and lift capacity for our future satellite programs,” said Tom Choi, CEO of ABS. “Together with Satmex, our co-launch partner, we embark upon an innovative prospect of dual launching four medium-powered satellites on two launches on the Falcon 9. We are extremely happy to be working with Satmex and SpaceX to dramatically realign the cost structure of space access in order to bring the affordable capacity demanded by our customers.”

SpaceX said it will launch the two companies’ geosynchronous telecommunications satellites on two separate launches from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The launches will take place in late 2014 or early 2015 and the fourth quarter of 2015.

The CEA Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE), which measures consumer expectations about the broader economy, dropped 2.6 points from its all-time high in January to 174.7. This is nearly three points higher than this time last year, when the ICE measured 172.0.

Consumer confidence in technology spending also fell this month, with the CEA Index of Consumer Technology Expectations (ICTE) dipping to 85.6, down 2.4 points. The ICTE, which measures consumer expectations about technology spending, is up nearly 10 points from this time last year.

"February's results suggest that some uncertainty remains for consumers regarding near-term economic prospects," said Shawn DuBravac, CEA's chief economist and director of research. "With that said, indexes are higher than this time last year, which indicates we are moving further along in the path to economic recovery. Despite slight drops in both indexes this month, the trend remains intact - consumer sentiment continues to improve as the underlying economy strengthens."

"As the world's largest media and entertainment event, NAB Show draws attendees and exhibitors from all corners of the globe," said NAB Executive Vice President of Conventions and Business Operations Chris Brown. "Each year, around 30 percent of NAB Show attendees travel from outside the U.S. to this must-see event."

According to NAB, the NAB Show has once again been selected from among all shows by the U.S. Department of Commerce as the most critical business-to-business industry event to attend for this sector. NAB Show is a proud participant of the agency's International Buyer Program, which recruits International Trade Delegations to select U.S. trade shows and facilitates matchmaking services that connect international buyers with U.S. suppliers. Last year the program helped support numerous international attendees representing 153 countries.

In addition to a strong presence of international attendees, NAB Show's Exhibit Hall will host more than 400 international corporations. Companies will showcase cutting-edge technology and services for the electronic media and entertainment industry in each area of the exhibit floor. Many of these companies will be featured in seven international country pavilions, including the U.S. Export Pavilion, Bavarian Pavilion, Belgian Pavilion, Brazil Pavilion, French Pavilion, KOTRA (Korea Trace-Investment Promotion Agency) Pavilion, KBTA (Korea Broadcasting Technology Association) Pavilion and the UK Pavilion c/o Tradefair.

NAB Show also offers a variety of internationally-focused conference sessions as well as an International Trade Center (ITC) that features onsite services for international guests including Commercial Trade Specialists and multi-lingual staff in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

The 2012 NAB Show will be held April 14-19 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

EXCERIA, a combination of "excellent" and "experience" offers cards compliant with the SD Memory Card Standard Ver.3.0 UHS-I, and includes versions offering the world-fastest class data transfer speed.

The SD memory card has emerged as the data storage card of choice in all kinds of personal digital equipment. As the performance of digital equipment has advanced, SD memory cards offering faster data transfer speeds are necessary to support such functions as recording HD movies, continuous image shooting with digital camera and short transfer times when copying data to other devices.

According to Toshiba, the EXCERIA SDXC and SDHC memory cards will offer fast data read and write speeds and full compliance with the SD Memory Card Standard Ver.3.0 UHS-I. The minimum recording speed is compliant with UHS speed class 1 and SD speed class 10. Products will be launched in three series, EXCERIA Type 1, Type 2 and Type HD, each offering three versions with different capacities.

The Type 1 series products integrate new controllers that realize the world-fastest class of data transfers, with a maximum read speed of 95MB per sec and a write speed of 90MB per sec. Type 2 series products offer a maximum read speed of 95MB per sec and a write speed of 60MB per sec, while Type HD products have a maximum read speed of 90 MB per sec and a write speed of 30 MB per sec.

Toshiba said the new products will be launched from April in Japan and will continue to meet market demands by enhancing its line-up of high performance SD memory cards.

"The continuing popularity of music services is pushing consumers to find new ways to enjoy their growing libraries of audio content," said Kurt Scherf, VP, principal analyst, Parks Associates. "Consumers are using products such as smartphones and media tablets for music access and playback, and they want ways to distribute that content around the home. Networked audio products give them the ability to have a high-quality multiroom music experience."

By 2016, over 90 million home audio units, almost 60% of a worldwide market that includes A/V receivers, MP3 speaker docks, sound bars, and home theater systems, will ship with embedded networking solutions such as DLNA and Apple's AirPlay.

Scherf notes that Apple's decision to license its wireless music distribution technology – AirPlay – and DLNA's (Digital Living Network Alliance) uptick in use among vendors are among the key technology trends positively impacting growth. As manufacturers expand their networked audio products to point-to-point solutions such as MP3 speaker docks, lower-cost external speakers, and Internet radios, they will be well-positioned to take advantage of digital music consumption trends.

Powerline networking products are certified by HomePlug Alliance and HD-PLC Alliance for HomePlug AV or HD-PLC technology. By adopting powerline networking into its Interoperability Guidelines, DLNA will enable DLNA Certified® products to be connected anywhere in the home where there is an electrical outlet. These technologies are ideal for connecting DLNA Certified game consoles, network storage devices, TVs and other DLNA Certified® products far from a home router or modem for a high quality entertainment experience.

“Providing users the ability to use wired speeds without running new wires is a logical next step as more and more consumers add second and third TVs, game consoles and other DLNA Certified® products further away from their wireless router,” said Nidhish Parikh, chairman and president of DLNA. “DLNA continues to advance the connected home by allowing consumers to connect and enjoy their favorite content throughout their homes. Adding powerline networking as a DLNA approved solution for connectivity gives consumers expanded flexibility when setting up their home network and confidence they can enjoy their photos, music and videos on DLNA Certified products whether connected using electrical wiring, Wi-Fi, Ethernet or MoCA.”

“Consumers’ desire for high speed device connectivity throughout their home is growing,” said Kurt Scherf, Vice President, Principal Analyst, Parks Associates. “With an already strong deployed base of interoperable HomePlug AV products in the US and Europe and growing demand for connected services in China, including this technology in the DLNA Interoperability Guidelines is a great tool for delivering the Connected Home to consumers.”

“DLNA is carrying high expectations for leading digital media resources sharing in the home network. We are convinced HD-PLC certified products including IEEE 1901 Standard technology contribute a variety of applications and robust network solutions for DLNA.” said Michimasa Aramaki, president and chairman of HD-PLC Alliance.

“HomePlug has experienced exciting growth in 2011 and we are looking forward to a great 2012 as more people realize the benefits of using electrical wiring for device connectivity,” said Rob Ranck, President of HomePlug Alliance. “HomePlug’s inclusion in the DLNA Interoperability Guidelines, is a big win for consumers looking for higher speeds in more locations with no new wiring.”

Chairman Genachowski said, “For nearly two years, Josh Gottheimer has helped focus private and public sector actors on delivering innovative solutions to connect every American with high-speed Internet, drive job creation, and empower consumers. This entrepreneurial approach has delivered major advances in areas such as technology and education, broadband adoption, cybersecurity, and public safety.”

In addition, the Chairman announced that Jordan Usdan will serve as Deputy Director of the Public- Private Initiative. Mr. Usdan will continue to help coordinate the Commission’s public and private partnership efforts on broadband adoption, digital textbooks, cybersecurity, online safety, and broadband performance issues. He joined the Commission in 2009 from Howrey LLP, in Washington, DC, where he practiced after receiving his law degree from Georgetown. Previously at the Commission, Mr. Usdan served as an Advisor in the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau and as a Program Manager for the National Broadband Taskforce, where he focused on implementation, broadband adoption, international policies, and consumer transparency. He also led the development of the FCC’s fixed and mobile broadband speed tests and the Open Internet Apps Challenge.

According to the FCC, the initiative builds on the success of the Commission’s efforts to encourage public-private initiatives to advance the country’s broadband goals, including Connect to Compete, a broadband adoption program with national digital literacy and low-cost broadband offerings; the Digital Textbooks Initiative, between the Department of Education, the education technology industry, and nonprofit organizations; the FCC’s cybersecurity small business initiative, between government experts and private IT and security companies; Jobs4America, an initiative that has committed to bringing more than 100,000 new and repatriated call center jobs to the U.S. by 2013; and a joint effort with mobile carriers on a new nationwide public safety emergency alerting system.

Then:

(1960): 7% of households received cable.

(1990): 56% received cable and 66% owned a VCR.
(2006): 89% of TV content is viewed live.
(2006): DVR usage accounts for 1.6% of our TV time.

Today:

• 98% of homes own a TV and most have some kind of device hooked up to their television.
• 85% of TV content is viewed live.
• DVR usage accounts for 8% of our TV time.

Among the three major devices connected to our TVs (video game consoles, DVRs and DVD players), DVRs account for the greatest percentage of Americans’ watching time.  Since 2006 the percentage of time we watch live TV in the home has fallen from 89 percent to 85 percent.  However, the amount of time each person spends viewing TV content (live or timeshifted) actually increased by 19 minutes year-over-year in the first four weeks of the 2011 season. In short, we’re watching more, but more frequently on our own schedules.

The percent of DVR usage has grown fivefold from a mere 1.6 percent in 2006 to almost 8 percent in 2011, and DVRs are adding time to our TV day by allowing us to watch shows airing at the same time. Leading the trend in DVR usage are females 18-54, who allot almost 10 percent of their TV viewing time to a DVR.
In 2006, only 2.2 percent of people 18-49 tuned in to both American Idol and NCIS, the top two programs that both aired at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays.  However, in 2011, 7 percent of people 18-49 watched Castle and Hawaii Five-O on Mondays at 10 p.m.

While usage of DVD players has decreased across every demographic since 2007, video game consoles have seen a rise. Since 2006, video game console usage has increased almost 40 percent from 2.7 percent to 3.9 percent of total TV time.  The trend in console usage is driven by teens, who spend almost 11 percent of their total TV time engaged with a video game console.

Ethnic viewing trends:


While watching the least TV of any ethnic group at 49 hours and 14 minutes during the first four weeks of the broadcast season (Sept 2011), Asians 18+ substantially increased the amount of time they spent consuming traditional TV (Live TV and DVR playback), adding more than 50 minutes to the 2010 average.  By contrast, African-American and Hispanics 18+ actually spent less time watching TV in 2011 compared to 2010.

Asian homes also allocated the least amount of time to live TV (81% of total viewing) while leading all ethnic groups with the largest percentage of their TV interaction devoted to DVRs and DVD players.  Hispanic homes ruled the game console, however, as they dedicated more than 3 hours and 30 minutes of their TV interaction (5.4%) to a gaming system during the first four weeks of the broadcast season.  African-American homes, despite only spending 3.5 percent of their time utilizing a DVD player, led the way in total usage, devoting almost 3 hours of their 85 total TV hours to DVDs.

According to NAB, consumer desire for media content anywhere and anytime continues to tax telecom wireless networks' ability to deliver video via their one-to-one architecture. As a result, wireless companies are imposing data limits on services that have raised concerns among content providers and consumers. On the other hand, broadcasters' one-to-many architecture has an edge in terms of delivering video to mass audiences with few constraints, an advantage that could serve the industry well in terms of meeting consumer expectations.

Peggy Johnson, who heads global market development for Qualcomm, will deliver the session's keynote address. At Qualcomm, Johnson leads efforts to commercialize new business opportunities, nurture early stage initiatives and develop strategic relationships. In a previous role as executive vice president of Qualcomm's Americas and India division, Johnson played a key role in the global development and adoption of 3G wireless broadband technology and services in those regions.

Moderated by Jim Burger, member, Dow Lohnes PLLC, the session's panel will include Mark Aitken, VP Advanced Technology, Sinclair Broadcast Group; Peter Siebert, executive director, DVB Project Office; Jack Perry, CEO and founder, Syncbak; and Cedric Fernandes, VP technology, MobiTV. Panelists will examine various global technologies and potential business models for future mobile TV use in light of consumer demand. Discussion topics include the effects of data limits put in place by wireless providers, how broadcasters can leverage home grown technologies to their advantage and how the broadcast industry can meet consumers' changing expectations.

The 2012 NAB Show runs April 14 – 19, at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas.

Based on the findings of NPD’s “Annual Music Study,” after years of losing buyers, caused by many consumers who simply stopped buying music, the total number of CD buyers increased for the second consecutive year, growing 2 percent to 78 million. There were a variety of reasons consumers cited for purchasing more CDs, including a perceived improvement in the quality and value of the music available, and a greater ability to learn about music prior to purchase. Consumers also now have a wider variety of sources to discover new music -- from traditional AM/FM radio and online services like Pandora, Rhapsody, and Spotify. Even as Apple’s iTunes approaches its tenth anniversary next year, there are still nearly twice as many CD buyers in the U.S. as there are paid digital-music downloaders.

“CDs are the gift that keep giving, which proves that even in an increasingly digital age, consumers will respond to quality content and strong perceived value, even if it comes in a physical package,” said Russ Crupnick, senior vice president of industry analysis at NPD. “The CD still has a powerful attraction for both older, mainstream consumers who listen in their cars, as well as to super fans who enjoy owning the package and assortment of songs from their favorite artists.”

On the digital front, NPD noted healthy growth in the number of paid download buyers, which increased 14 percent in 2011 to 45 million customers. Digital buyers also spent more at iTunes Music Store, Amazon MP3, and other digital music stores in 2011; the average annual expenditure for digital music rose 6 percent in 2011 to $49.

“Despite all of the exciting online radio options, we are still seeing healthy growth in the market for digital-music downloads,” said Crupnick. “This growth is fueled by an increase in mobile devices, and a core base of consumers who want to own the music they listen to, despite all of the emerging radio options.”

In addition to improving economic conditions, and a continued appetite for music, the report also noted a decline in unpaid music acquisition, such as P2P file sharing and trading music on hard drives. NPD estimates that 13 percent of Internet users downloaded music from a P2P site, which is down from a peak of 19 percent in 2006. “Industry efforts to combat illegal file sharing, and increased options for listening and downloading legally, have resulted in a sharp reduction in the number of P2P music downloaders,” said Crupnick.

Along with the leveling off in the decline of CD sales, and the improved report card on digital downloads, NPD reported that the fastest growing form of music listening was online radio. While listening to CDs and AM/FM radio are by far the most popular ways Americans engage with music, online-radio listening has grown from 29 percent two years ago to reach 43 percent of the internet population in 2011.

“As long as consumers want to own digital tracks and continue to have a passion for the physical format and a way to play their CDs, online radio and paid-to-own music will live in harmony,” said Crupnick.

Generally, “jammers” - which include devices commonly called signal blockers, GPS jammers, cell phone jammers, text blockers, etc. - are illegal radio frequency transmitters that are designed to block, jam, or otherwise interfere with authorized radio communications.

A jammer can block all radio communications on any device that operates on radio frequencies within its range (i.e., within a certain radius of the jammer) by emitting radio frequency waves that prevent the targeted device from establishing or maintaining a connection. Jamming technology generally does not discriminate between desirable and undesirable communications. For example, jammers can:

- prevent a cell phone from making or receiving calls, text messages, and emails;
- prevent a Wi-Fi enabled device from connecting to the Internet;
- prevent a GPS unit from receiving correct positioning signals; and
- prevent a first responder from locating people in an emergency.

According to the FCC, jammers do not just weed out noisy or annoying conversations and disable unwanted GPS tracking. Jammers can prevent 9-1-1 and other emergency phone calls from getting through or interfere with police and other law enforcement communications. For example, the recent use of a cell phone jammer in an office building disrupted communications of a nearby Fire Department. When Enforcement Bureau agents investigated the incident, they found that a CPA who apparently did not want to be disturbed during the busy tax season was using a small, inexpensive cell jammer inside his office. But, the jammer was disrupting critical public safety communications outside his building as well.

The Enforcement Advisory states it is:

- Illegal to Operate Jammers in the U.S. Unless you are an authorized federal government user, you may not operate a jammer in the U.S., even on private property. This means that it is illegal to use a jammer on mass transit (e.g., train, bus) or in a residence, vehicle, school, theater, restaurant or in any other public or private place.

- Illegal to Import Jammers into the U.S. If you purchase a jammer online and ship it to the U.S., you have violated federal law. When you buy jammers from outside the U.S.—used or new —you become the “importer” of an illegal device. It does not matter whether you purchased the device from an established business or an individual selling the jammer in an online auction. Jammers imported from overseas are also subject to seizure at the border.

- Illegal to Sell or Advertise Jammers Online or in Stores. You may not sell or advertise jammers to individuals or businesses on online auction or marketplace sites, in retail stores, or even at your local flea market. Selling even a single jammer is illegal. You also are prohibited from shipping a jammer in the U.S.

Monetary Penalties Can Exceed $100,000 per violation. Violations of the jamming prohibition can lead to substantial monetary penalties (up to $112,500 for any single act), seizure of the illegal jammer, and criminal sanctions including imprisonment.

For additional information regarding enforcement of the jamming prohibition, visit www.fcc.gov/eb/jammerenforcement

“This sale is consistent with our objective of focusing Kodak on a core set of businesses in which we can most profitably leverage our technology and brand strengths, and provides a well-proven mechanism for ensuring that Kodak receives maximum value from these assets," said Pradeep Jotwani, President, Consumer Businesses and Chief Marketing Officer. “KODAK Gallery is a unique property, with more than 75 million users, and an ability to attract new members through innovative customer offerings such as its category-leading popular mobile apps.”

Jotwani emphasized that under the agreement, Kodak will work closely with Shutterfly to ensure a smooth transition and that customer photos will continue to be safeguarded throughout the process.

“We appreciate the loyalty of the KODAK Gallery customers in the U.S. and Canada who have entrusted us with their photo memories. We know how much they value their photos, so we will ensure that a transition is smooth and easy for them, and that their images will be preserved and protected,” Jotwani said. “We are pleased that under this stalking horse agreement with Shutterfly, our customers will continue to enjoy a rewarding on-line photo experience.”

Kodak will give customers who do not want their photos transferred to Shutterfly the opportunity to opt out of the transition process. Those customers could then retrieve their images through free downloads or by purchasing DVDs from KODAK Gallery.

Jotwani noted that Kodak is focusing its consumer business on retail and destination photo solutions as well as home printing products. “Those businesses have attractive and growing sales of consumables,” he said. “We are by far the leader in retail print solutions, with an installed base that has grown now to 105,000 picture kiosks, while our consumer inkjet printers offer high-quality, affordable ink.”

Under the terms of the Agreement, Kodak will seek U.S. Bankruptcy Court approval of sale and auction procedures by late March. Under these proposed procedures, other potential buyers may submit alternative bids to Kodak and seek to establish the superiority of their alternative bid. Kodak is targeting completion of the sale process this spring.

A long-time ENERGY STAR partner, LG Electronics increased its U.S. sales of products that earn the ENERGY STAR label, the government-backed symbol of energy efficiency, by nearly 30 percent in 2011. LG's accomplishments will be recognized at the EPA's awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 15, marking the 20th anniversary of ENERGY STAR.

"As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ENERGY STAR program, EPA is proud to recognize LG Electronics with the 2012 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year–Product Manufacturer Award," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "LG and all our ENERGY STAR award winners truly demonstrate how the leadership and commitment from EPA's partners has made a difference in the lives of Americans since 1992 saving them billions of dollars in energy costs and improving the health of our families, the planet and our future."

Underscoring its commitment to the ENERGY STAR program, LG Electronics embarked on nationwide public education and community outreach campaigns, helping empower consumers to make informed choices about their electronics and appliance purchases. Throughout 2011, LG's efforts resulted in billions of impressions through co-marketing and cooperative promotions to support the ENERGY STAR message.

LG said the company has also fully embraced the new, rigorous guidelines set by the ENERGY STAR Most Efficient program, designed to advance energy efficiency by awarding the designation to the top five percent of products in specific categories. Fifteen LG home electronics and appliance products earned this coveted designation in 2011, more than any other manufacturer.

Park explained that LG continues to promote energy efficiency of all kinds throughout its business. In November, the company announced a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by 50 percent by the end of 2020. As part of these efforts, LG purchases 100 percent green energy for its U.S. headquarters in Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

"LG enacted a company-wide effort to put environmental stewardship into the core of its business principles," said Wayne Park, president and CEO of LG Electronics USA. "We are dedicated to achieving ENERGY STAR ratings on more products, further increasing sales of ENERGY STAR products, continuing to expand sales training and employee engagement programs, and aggressively promoting the benefits of the ENERGY STAR brand to consumers."

The 2012 Partner of the Year Awards are given to manufacturers and retailers that successfully promote and deliver ENERGY STAR qualified products, saving consumers money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. LG and other honorees were selected from about 20,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program. Over the past 20 years, American families and businesses have saved nearly $230 billion on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to those from more than 350 million vehicles with help from ENERGY STAR.

According to the Group, PREMIER BD offers a worldwide "portfolio" license for Blu-ray ("BD") and DVD patents essential to make, use and sell 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 BD functionality. PREMIER BD's licensees benefit from "one-stop shopping" for all such patents that are owned or controlled by PREMIER BD's members.

PREMIER BD's members have authorized Toshiba to act as Licensor in licensing their essential BD and DVD patents as part of this joint licensing program.

Interested parties are free should they choose to negotiate individual license agreements (rather than taking a single portfolio license) with each of the members of PREMIER BD, which have committed to provide such individual licenses on fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory terms.

For further information regarding the PREMIER BD licensing program, please visit the PREMIER BD website.

WD also reported that it has agreed, subject to completion of the divestiture transaction, to purchase Toshiba Storage Device (Thailand) Company Limited (TSDT). TSDT manufactured hard drives but has not resumed operations after the recent Thailand flooding. The principal assets of TSDT are its Thailand property, facilities and employees. Subject to completion of the transaction, WD plans to integrate these facilities and employees into its Thailand operations. The financial terms of the two agreements were not disclosed.

According to Western, the closing of the transactions with Toshiba is conditioned on WD's closing of its planned acquisition of HGST, which remains subject to several closing conditions, including the receipt of certain remaining antitrust approvals. Subject to obtaining these approvals, the company is targeting the transactions with Toshiba to close in March 2012.

The UV initiative has made rapid progress since the first UV-enabled DVD and Blu-ray Discs (BD) were sold in October. At the Consumer Electronics Show in January, the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE) UV consortium disclosed that 750,000 U.S. accounts had been established. Since then, the number of UV accounts has expanded by another 50,000, IHS Screen Digest believes. Furthermore, for each account established, consumers have redeemed digital rights to 1.25 titles, meaning US consumers now have added more than 1 million films to their digital film collections via UV-enabled discs.

“One million may not sound like much compared to the 504 million movie discs sold in 2011,” noted Tom Adams, principal analyst and director, U.S. media, for IHS. “However, we have projected that only 19 million digital film files were sold during the entire year of 2011 by electronic sell-through (EST) vendors like iTunes, Xbox Live and Vudu. This suggests that if UV can continue to gain momentum this year, it could encourage consumers to buy more movies. Movie purchasing represents an important priority for movie studios, which have seen their film sales dwindle in the face of growing physical and digital rentals and streaming services like Netflix.”

The rental business has dramatically outperformed the purchasing segment in recent years, with the number of U.S. digital rentals amounting to more than three times the total for digital purchases in 2011.

Consumers spend more per movie watched when purchasing a film than when renting one, on top of which as much as 80 percent of consumer movie purchase spending flows through to studio top-line revenue, whether of physical discs or of digital versions. Retailers and distributors keep the majority of rental and subscription spending, rather than passing it back upstream to studios.

UV is a common file format and digital rights authentication system designed to allow a digital copy of a film or television show bought from any vendor—physical or electronic—to be played on any one of 12 devices owned by up to six members of a household, either via download or streaming from the cloud. The UV ecosystem is designed to allow users to view the content they have purchased – on disc or online – on a growing number of Internet-connected devices, including UV-enabled BD players, TVs and media tablets.

Beyond the large number of accounts achieved in less than four months, the quickening pace of commercial activity around the UV format has heartened studio execs in recent weeks. Recent developments include:

- Flixster–the Warner Bros.—owned web site and iPad app—announced that its UV-enabled movie application will be available on Panasonic’s line of Viera Connect devices, including HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc players later this year.
- Samsung, in conjunction with Flixster and Rovi, announced it would release BD players later this year that will offer consumers the option to put a copy of previously purchased non-UV-enabled BD and DVD programs into their UV collection in the cloud, for a nominal fee to be set by participating studios.
- Amazon announced that it has signed a deal with an unnamed studio to offer electronic sell-through (EST) of UV-enabled movies later this year. Paramount became the first studio to offer EST access to titles in late January, offering a high-quality slice of its catalog, including all three “Mission Impossible,” “Godfather” and “Beverly Hills Cop” movies, plus the most recent “Star Trek.”
- Neustar, the database-management company that developed and operates the digital-rights clearing house underlying UV, showed off its Catalyst white-label UV storefront, with which retailers can quickly put themselves into the business of providing UV streaming and downloading services.

Each of these announcements is a step in addressing one or more of the key challenges facing UV, Adams noted. These challenges include providing living room access, jumpstarting consumers’ UV collections by allowing them to put existing disc-based content into the cloud and expanding retailer support for the format.

According to NEC, the company is the first microwave radio systems provider to introduce 2048QAM, and can deliver up to 40% per-channel capacity increase to its customers, relative to the systems commonly in operation today which employ up to 256QAM. The new design also supports a full sequence of Adaptive Modulation in all steps from 2048QAM down to QPSK. This feature allows scalable addition of capacity without compromising the reach and availability of transmission links deployed in the network.

High modulation is the key component in enabling high capacity and eventually delivering 10Gbps microwave transmission in combination with multiplexing techniques such as XPIC, RTA and MIMO. Microwave capacities are not only comparative to those of optical access technologies, they can also be deployed on-demand, a critical attribute for the economical deployment of backhaul for LTE, digital broadcast, TETRA, and other types of communication networks. Innovation and flexibility are the reasons why network operators maintain their investment in microwave systems as they continue to match ever growing capacity needs.

Atsushi Noro, deputy general manager of NEC's Mobile Wireless Network Division, said: "In recent times we have seen a great deal of innovation in microwave technologies driven by the need to support next generation networks: high capacity, new carrier frequencies, packet transport, QoS aware adaptive modulation, smaller and more power efficient equipment, and others. Many of these technologies were pioneered by NEC thanks to our extensive research and development capabilities proven by years of market leadership. 2048QAM is the latest development from NEC and we are confident we will deliver further innovations."

The company said it will implement 2048 Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (2048QAM) within its iPASOLINK product family in the second half of 2012. NEC will demonstrate the performance of its 2048QAM implementation at the Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona, Spain, from 27th of February to 1st of March, stand 8A125.

Current MVC essential patent holders include Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation; Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.; Fujitsu Limited; Hewlett-Packard Company; Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd.; Koninklijke KPN N.V.; LG Electronics Inc.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation (NTT); NTT DOCOMO, Inc.; Panasonic Corporation; Sharp Corporation; Sony Corporation; The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York; and Thomson Licensing.

"MPEG LA is proud to play a role in delivering technology that enables consumers to receive the benefits of 3D video," said MPEG LA President and CEO Larry Horn. "This license gives renewed testimony to the ability of the MPEG LA® Licensing Model to address real world market demand for access to standard-essential patents owned by multiple parties through a convenient, fair, and efficient one-stop licensing alternative enabling users to focus their resources on developing new competitive products instead of uncertainty and conflict. We applaud these fifteen patent holders for their exemplary cooperation in coming together for the benefit of the marketplace to forge a voluntary market-based solution that benefits MVC consumers.”

Bill Geary, Vice President of Business Development at MPEG LA, will introduce the MVC patent pool license at the Asia-Pacific 3D Standards & IP Forum to be held on February 24 in Seoul, Korea. Mr. Geary said, “We are honored to introduce an efficient patent licensing solution for 3D MVC video and join a multi-national panel of speakers who will address IP and standards development for 3D applications in entertainment, medicine, and education.”

Copies of the MVC license agreement may be obtained at http://www.mpegla.com/main/programs/MVC/Pages/Agreement.aspx. A summary of the license terms is attached. In addition, MVC products may benefit from coverage under the AVC/H.264 Patent PortfoliLicense offered by MPEG LA. To obtain information about or request a copy of the AVC/H.264 Patent Portfolio License, go to http://www.mpegla.com/main/programs/AVC/Pages/Intro.aspx.

Since its commercialization of the world's first TransferJet LSI in 2009, Sony has promoted an intuitive approach to the high-speed transfer and sharing of high-resolution photos and video images whereby such high speeds are realized by simply bringing different devices, such as digital cameras and PCs, into closer proximity with each other. Meanwhile, the recent proliferation of smartphones and tablet devices has led to a consequential increase in the need for wireless communication LSIs with a lower power consumption and smaller size, together with increased demands from the mobile computing environment for further enhancements in high-speed communications and reception performance.

In order to accommodate these needs, Sony said it has developed the new TransferJet compatible LSI “CXD3271GW”, which achieves both a high transmission speed and the industry's highest receiving sensitivity, in addition to significantly reducing power consumption over previous models to better facilitate its implementation in mobile devices.

This LSI supports high-speed SDIO UHS-I as its host interface and introduces a new device driver design which provides a high-speed communications environment. These design enhancements have improved the new LSI's transmission speed to over 350Mbps, which is close to the theoretical maximum effective speed of 375Mbps based on the TransferJet standard. Furthermore, Sony's high-speed transmission technology and wideband RF-CMOS technology enables stable communications between devices, achieving the sensitivity of -82dBm (when receiving Rate65) which in fact exceeds the standard TransferJet value of -71dBm. Additionally, the RF balun, the RF switch for transmitter/receiver and the LDO and OTP-ROM, which used to be the externally embedded parts are now all pre-embedded into the new LSI, and a dedicated external crystal controlled oscillator will no longer be required by supporting a multi-reference clock. These factors contribute to a reduction in the number of parts implemented in the sets, a smaller footprint, and reductions in power consumption.

Sony said it will provide a software development kit for Android to facilitate the LSI's implementation in Android devices together with the software development kit for Linux which has been provided with the previous models to developers. The company will also continue to actively promote the adoption of its TransferJet LSIs by manufacturers from fast-growing markets such as smartphones.

“Sports, fitness, and well-being applications will be the key engine of growth in the wearable wireless healthcare market as demand for a new wave of devices will be driven not just by growing consumer interest and awareness but also by increased competition and support for a raft of new applications,” says principal analyst Jonathan Collins.

Strong growth will also take place within home monitoring applications for assisted living, remote patient care to help manage chronic conditions, and within hospitals and clinics. Over the next five years, the total market for wearable wireless devices in sports and healthcare will grow to 169.5 million devices in 2017, up from 20.77 million in 2011, a CAGR of 41%.

At the heart of this growth will be ultra-low power wireless connectivity from wearable devices to mobile phones through support for Bluetooth Smart in handsets and devices. “Leveraging mobile handsets to provide automated online data access opens up the wearable wireless market to real-time online connectivity. Although not the only option, standardization around Bluetooth Smart will be the bedrock of this market growth. A whole host of companies in the sports and medical device market, as well as online services companies, are going to have to add or extend their offerings and services to support a new wave of wearable sensor connectivity,” says Collins.

According to GE, the ICS-8580 can capture video inputs and archive or stream them over Ethernet, managing multiple streams and performing capture, manipulation, conversion, compression, storage, decompression and video display. The XMC form factor is compact, lightweight and consumes little power, enabling it to be easily deployed in systems destined for deployment in harsh environments that are constrained by size, weight and power (SWaP).

In video capture and transmission, the primary challenge is how to maintain video quality in order to maximize critical detail while minimizing the use of bandwidth by implementing highly efficient algorithms: transmitting ‘raw’, unprocessed high definition video data at very high speed requires bandwidth that is rarely available in, for example, air-to-ground applications. Similarly, storage of high definition video data – for later review and analysis, for example - in its uncompressed form can require terabytes of disk space.

The ICS-8580 features H.264 video compression/decompression (codec) technology, which is widely regarded as being the optimum solution: it is considered to be up to 3x as efficient as other codec solutions, allowing vital image detail to be retained while occupying the minimum possible bandwidth or storage.

At the heart of the ICS-8580 lies a combination of a versatile FPGA device coupled with powerful dual DSP signal processors, providing unparalleled compute power for video applications. The FPGA enables video switching, format conversions, scaling, blending and other processing functions while the dual DSP processors enable multichannel video compression and decompression for over 100x reduction in bandwidth with minimal impact on video quality. It can handle up to two channels of full HD (1,920 x 1,200 @ 30 frames/second) video, or up to four channels of standard definition video.

“The increasing deployment of unmanned vehicles by military organizations around the world is increasing demand for the use of video for intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance applications,” said Rod Rice, General Manager, Military & Aerospace Products, GE Intelligent Platforms. “The ICS-8580 provides a substantial step forward in its ability to stream video, and provides a solution for a new realm of sophisticated, demanding applications.”

The first Measuring Broadband America Report examined service offerings from 13 of the largest wireline broadband providers using automated, direct measurements of the broadband performance of thousands of volunteer broadband customers during March 2011. The study measured speed and performance as broadband is delivered to the home so that different service providers and technologies could be compared scientifically. The Report established for the first time that the majority of service providers were delivering performance approaching or exceeding the levels they advertised to their customers. It also identified Internet Service Providers (ISPs) that fell short of advertised speeds. A few months after the Report was released, the FCC noticed a significant improvement by a major ISP and announced the results in a blog post.

The Report was the culmination of a year-long effort involving the cooperation of 22 stakeholders that included academic researchers from MIT and Georgia Tech, technology vendors, consumer groups, and ISPs representing 86% of all residential wireline broadband consumers in the United States to measure broadband performance to the homes of a representative sampling of thousands of volunteers.

Expanding its effort to empower consumers, the FCC plans to issue two Measuring Broadband America reports in 2012. The FCC is also expanding the study to include more technologies, extending the study into new regions of the country, and planning to publish more kinds of data. The first round of testing for 2012 will begin in March. The FCC will continue its commitment to test and report broadband information transparently in collaboration with key stakeholders.

The FCC is also encouraging consumers to volunteer to be a part of this important effort to provide detailed and accurate measurements of consumer broadband performance on a national level. Volunteers will provide crucial real data to evaluate ISP broadband performance claims and empower the ability of consumers to compare ISPs in meaningful ways. Volunteers who sign-up will receive a free wireless router from SamKnows, the FCC’s contractor, which will be programmed to measure broadband speeds delivered to the home and detailed reports on the performance of their broadband service. Detailed instructions on participation and a sign-up page are available at http://fcc.us/testisp.

Issued by the Department’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the guidelines would establish specific recommended criteria for electronic devices installed in vehicles at the time they are manufactured that require visual or manual operation by drivers. The announcement of the guidelines comes just days after President Obama’s FY 2013 budget request, which includes $330 million over six years for distracted driving programs that increase awareness of the issue and encourage stakeholders to take action.

“Distracted driving is a dangerous and deadly habit on America’s roadways – that’s why I’ve made it a priority to encourage people to stay focused behind the wheel,” said Secretary LaHood. “These guidelines are a major step forward in identifying real solutions to tackle the issue of distracted driving for drivers of all ages.”

Geared toward light vehicles (cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, minivans, and other vehicles rated at not more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight), the guidelines proposed today are the first in a series of guidance documents NHTSA plans to issue to address sources of distraction that require use of the hands and/or diversion of the eyes from the primary task of driving.

In particular, the Phase I proposed guidelines released today recommend criteria that manufacturers can use to ensure the systems or devices they provide in their vehicles are less likely to distract the driver with tasks not directly relevant to safely operating the vehicle, or cause undue distraction by engaging the driver’s eyes or hands for more than a very limited duration while driving. Electronic warning system functions such as forward-collision or lane departure alerts would not be subject to the proposed guidelines, since they are intended to warn a driver of a potential crash and are not considered distracting devices.

“We recognize that vehicle manufacturers want to build vehicles that include the tools and conveniences expected by today’s American drivers,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland. “The guidelines we’re proposing would offer real-world guidance to automakers to help them develop electronic devices that provide features consumers want—without disrupting a driver’s attention or sacrificing safety.”

NHTSA is also considering future, Phase II proposed guidelines that might address devices or systems that are not built into the vehicle but are brought into the vehicle and used while driving, including aftermarket and portable personal electronic devices such as navigation systems, smart phones, electronic tablets and pads, and other mobile communications devices. A third set of proposed guidelines (Phase III) may address voice-activated controls to further minimize distraction in factory-installed, aftermarket, and portable devices.

The Phase I guidelines were published in today’s Federal Register and members of the public will have the opportunity to comment on the proposal for 60 days. Final guidelines will be issued after the agency reviews and analyzes and responds to public input.

NHTSA will also hold public hearings on the proposed guidelines to solicit public comment. The hearings will take place in March and will be held in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington D.C

The convergence of content, apps and technology is driving the evolving consumer electronics industry as evidenced by the 2012 International CES, where a large number of the more than 20,000 new product introductions were designed to unite CE and content.

"As the nation's largest technology trade association, CEA is the hub of innovation, and our new Device, Apps and Content working group will foster new business opportunities for manufacturers and content companies," said Jason Oxman, senior vice president, industry affairs, CEA. "Our aim is to transform content convergence so that consumers have better access to what they want directly from their electronic devices."

Chaired by Bryan Burns, vice president of strategic business planning, ESPN, the working group will be geared toward existing and prospective CEA members with an interest in content distribution and app development.

The first DAC working group meeting will take place as a teleconference on Wednesday, February 29, 2012. For more information, or to join the DAC working group, please contact Kinsey Fabrizio at kfabrizio@CE.org.

Consistent with its regulatory reform agenda, the FCC issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) and adopted an Order proposing to revise the licensing model for the Cellular Service from a site-based to a geographically-based approach. This proposal would first reduce regulatory requirements in the most licensed markets while preserving the current model for a period to foster the provision of service in less licensed markets.

Since its inception approximately 30 years ago, the Cellular Service has transformed the communications landscape by making mobile services broadly available to the American public. For many years, the Cellular Service’s licensing model helped successfully drive widespread construction and initial service to the public. Today, most Cellular Service markets are almost completely licensed, with only limited unlicensed Cellular Service area remaining; as such, the site-based model is yielding diminished returns. As regions become substantially developed, the significant administrative burdens on licensees associated with the site-based model may no longer outweigh the public benefits.

The proposal for a geographically-based model would bring the Cellular Service into harmony with more flexible licensing schemes used successfully by other similar mobile services, such as PCS, the 700 MHz Service, and AWS. This proposal would eliminate burdensome application filings for even minor technical system changes and would allow for greater licensee ability to adapt to technological and marketplace changes.

Specifically, the FCC proposes to issue geographic area “Overlay Licenses” authorizing build-out in all remaining unlicensed area and in any area vacated by existing incumbents through competitive bidding, in two stages. Stage I of the transition would include all Cellular Service markets that meet the FCC’s proposed “Substantially Licensed” test. In this stage, site-based licensing would end in those markets, and the Overlay Licenses would be assigned via competitive bidding. The site-based regime would continue, however, in all other Cellular Service markets for a proposed seven-year period until Stage II of the transition. This proposal includes continued protection of incumbents from harmful interference throughout all stages of the transition.

The FCC said it further proposes to streamline the Cellular Service rules, including, for example, updating application requirements and deleting seven outdated data collection requirements, such as certifications associated with stopping analog service, or the “analog sunset.” The elimination of these seven data collection requirements, if adopted, will bring to 32 the number of unnecessary data collections eliminated by the FCC. The Commission’s actions to end these data collections are consistent with two Executive Orders that called on federal agencies to review rules and regulations and ensure they are cost-effective and do not place unnecessary burdens on industry.

According to the FCC, the agency also adopted an Order imposing a freeze on the filing of certain Cellular applications while establishing interim procedures for currently pending applications. These steps will help ensure a more efficient and orderly rulemaking, consistent with numerous prior Commission actions, while allowing some flexibility for continued expansion of service to consumers in many markets.

The firm forecasts over 14 million units will sell in 2012. These strong device sales indicate increasing consumer interest in nontraditional approaches to video access. Value of Video: Shifting Consumer Dollars, a recently conducted consumer survey, reports 31% of U.S. broadband households regularly watch TV programs or movies accessed from the Internet on their TVs.

“In the 2011 holiday season, 4% of households bought one of these inexpensive, single-function devices, which enable households to view over-the-top (OTT) video from Internet-based services such as Amazon Prime Instant Video and Netflix," said Kurt Scherf, VP, principal analyst, Parks Associates. “Nearly 20% of these holiday-season buyers are over 45 years of age, so these devices have achieved relatively broad appeal among multiple consumer segments."

Apple reported 2.8 million unit sales of Apple TV in its fiscal 2011 and another 1.4 million coming in the holiday quarter. Roku also enjoyed a solid 2011, with 1.5 million sales.

“While this trend does not yet frequently equate to canceling pay-TV services, it can mean shaving some premium channels for a set of households,” Scherf said. “That is a risk that pay-TV providers must address and a trend that both manufacturers and content providers are following with eagle eyes and plans for defensive actions.”

In its comments, the NAB said elimination of these rules would "harm local broadcasters and localism" and "could accelerate the migration of popular sports programs from free to pay TV."

The sports blackout rules, along with network non-duplication and syndicated program exclusivity rules, provide "the foundation for local broadcast program exclusivity," the comments stated.

"None of these rules creates exclusivity on their own. Instead, they merely prevent pay TV operators from circumventing the exclusivity agreements through technology and the distant signal compulsory license on which these operators rely," the NAB comments stated. "Advertisers on local broadcast stations expect - and pay for - this exclusivity. If the Commission were to curtail broadcasters' ability to enforce that exclusivity, it would weaken broadcasters' capacity to attract advertising, thereby reducing their ability to pay for popular programming generally and to invest in local programming specifically."

If the FCC were to grant the Sports Fans Coalition's petition, the NAB argued, "fewer sports events would be accessible to all viewers, as sports fans would be required to pay for televised access to local games because those games would no longer be available free, over-the-air."

"Broadcasters understand and sympathize with fan frustration over sports blackouts," NAB's comments stated. "Ideally, no blackouts would ever occur. But elimination of the FCC's rules would not solve the problem, as Congress has codified sports leagues' rights to blackout home games."

Read the NAB's complete filing.

The Nikon D4 is the first FX-format DSLR to output an uncompressed, clean HD signal over HDMI.

"Thanks to Nikon, the Atomos Ninja is the killer product we designed it to be. We take our hats off to the D4 for its ability to deliver perfect sensor images over HDMI. Our goal of creating smarter production tools for creatives is becoming a reality.

"Ninja and Nikon D4 are the ultimate bang-for -buck combination for recording high quality images, in 4:2:2 Apple ProRes, directly to HDD, or to SSD if you prefer. We even include a monitor and extra audio inputs so you can play back your recorded footage instantaneously for review." said Jeromy Young, CEO and Co-Founder of Atomos.

Designed in collaboration with Apple, the Atomos Ninja is a field recorder which allows recording of uncompressed images straight from the HDMI connector of a DSLR or camcorder directly to Apple ProRes. According to Atomos, the Ninja implements Apple ProRes in hardware to deliver real-time, 10-bit recording anytime, anywhere. Taking \advantage of low-cost, modern technology, Ninja utilizes HDMI-capable pro-video and consumer camcorders as well as DSLRs. Many features from Atomos are designed with real productions and real situations in mind, to create smarter workflows, keeping the highest quality but also keeping running costs low. The Ninja was designed with a long battery life and Atomos' unique continuous power technology (patent pending) means that you never have to interrupt a Ninja recording to swap power cells.

Julian Hollingshead, NPS Business Support Executive at Nikon UK says: "The Nikon D4 camera is the ultimate tool for professional photographers thanks to its high ISO capabilities, incredible speed and responsiveness and advanced video capabilities that give both photographers and videographers the multimedia output options they require.

He adds: "We've responded to the changing needs of our customers by incorporating new features such as an audio monitoring socket, on-camera audio level monitoring and a clean uncompressed HDMI which can be maximized using the Ninja field recorder."

According to Nikon, the D4 is the company's latest flagship Digital SLR. Equipped with a 16.2-megapixel FX-format sensor, phenomenally high ISO and Nikon's powerful EXPEED3 image processing engine, the new model offers performance and versatility in extreme lighting and environmental conditions. Every aspect of the new Nikon D4 DSLR has been designed to emphasize rapid response and seamless operation to help professional photographers consistently capture incredible content.

Ninja is currently available from Markertek for $995.00 with free shipping. The Nikon D4 is expected to be available in late February 2012 for the suggested retail price of $5999.95.

According to Kodak, the company has contacted its retail partners, and is working closely with them to ensure an orderly transition. The company will also continue to honor all related product warranties, and provide technical support and service for its cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames.

“For some time, Kodak’s strategy has been to improve margins in the capture device business by narrowing our participation in terms of product portfolio, geographies and retail outlets. Today’s announcement is the logical extension of that process, given our analysis of the industry trends,” said Pradeep Jotwani, President, Consumer Businesses, and Kodak Chief Marketing Officer.

Upon completion of the phase out, Kodak expects to achieve annual operating savings of more than $100 million. Kodak expects to incur a charge related to separation benefits of approximately $30 million resulting from the exit of the business.

In addition to its Consumer Businesses segment, Kodak has a Commercial Businesses segment that includes the Digital and Functional Printing, Enterprise Services and Solutions, and Graphics, Entertainment and Commercial Films units. Kodak’s digital businesses now comprise approximately three-fourths of total revenues.

The researchers found they could record information using only heat – a previously unimaginable scenario. They believe this discovery will not only make future magnetic recording devices faster, but more energy-efficient too.

The results of the research, which was led by the University of York’s Department of Physics, are reported in the February edition of Nature Communications.

York physicist Thomas Ostler said: “Instead of using a magnetic field to record information on a magnetic medium, we harnessed much stronger internal forces and recorded information using only heat. This revolutionary method allows the recording of Terabytes (thousands of Gigabytes) of information per second, hundreds of times faster than present hard drive technology. As there is no need for a magnetic field, there is also less energy consumption.”

Dr Alexey Kimel, from the Institute of Molecules and Materials, Radboud University Nijmegen, said: “For centuries it has been believed that heat can only destroy the magnetic order. Now we have successfully demonstrated that it can, in fact, be a sufficient stimulus for recording information on a magnetic medium.”

Modern magnetic recording technology employs the principle that the North pole of a magnet is attracted to the South pole of another and two like poles repulse. Until now it has been believed that in order to record one bit of information – by inverting the poles of a magnet – there was a need to apply an external magnetic field. The stronger the applied field, the faster the recording of a magnetic bit of information.

However, the team of scientists has demonstrated that the positions of both the North and South poles of a magnet can be inverted by an ultrashort heat pulse, harnessing the power of much stronger internal forces of magnetic media.

The multinational team of scientists included researchers from Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, Russia, Japan and the Netherlands. Experimental work was carried out at the Paul Scherrer Institut in Switzerland, the Ioffe Physical Technical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Radboud University Nijmegen, Netherlands.

"When you consider the core elements the parties bring to this venture – our powerful brands; our national rental kiosk footprint; our anytime, anywhere network presence; and our mutual commitment to customer-focused innovation – it's clear that Verizon and Redbox are a powerful entertainment team," said Bob Mudge, president of Verizon consumer and mass business markets.

"Consumers rely on Redbox for the latest new release movies at a great value, and our joint venture with Verizon will enable us to bring them even more value by offering expanded content offerings and greater flexibility for how and when they enjoy entertainment," said Paul Davis, chief executive officer of Coinstar, Inc. "This alliance is the result of a deliberate and strategic process to identify a partner who shares our commitment to delivering innovative solutions to consumers. We look forward to rolling out the shared benefits this venture will bring to consumers, retailers, and shareholders."

According to Redbox, the joint venture plans to introduce the product portfolio in the second half of 2012. It will offer subscription services and more in an easy-to-use, flexible and affordable service that will allow all consumers across the U.S. to enjoy the new and popular entertainment they want, whenever they choose, using the media and devices they prefer. Additional brand and product information will be revealed in the coming months.

The joint venture is a limited liability company with Verizon holding a 65 percent ownership share and Redbox holding a 35 percent ownership share at the outset.

The new study found that women’s interest in technology has increased in the years since CEA’s 2007 The Truth About Women and Consumer Electronics study, with eight in 10 women now expressing an interest in CE products and nearly half of those (41 percent) saying they were “very interested” in CE. This is an increase of 10 percentage points over the previous study.

Men continue to outspend women on overall CE purchases, but the gap between genders is shrinking. On average, men spent $728 on CE purchases in the past 12 months, while women spent $667 during that same time period, a difference of $61. In the 2007 study, the spending gap between men and women was closer to $200. Women also exert a significant amount of influence in most CE purchases. Six in 10 (61 percent) women initiate or are involved in the process in which a CE product is actually purchased.

Women, however, are far less likely to claim ownership of most CE products. The study shows that women are more likely to consider CE products as “household” products, meaning they consider ownership of the device, such as TVs and DVD players, to be shared with a spouse, partner, roommate or child. However, when it comes to newer and mobile technologies, such as e-readers, notebook computers and smartphones, women were more likely than men to claim sole ownership.

“This Valentine’s Day, the way to a women’s heart just might be through electronics,” said Jessica Boothe, manager of strategic research, CEA, who oversaw this study. “Women want technology more than ever and they view electronics as very personal devices that can be toted around and customized with private information.”

When shopping for their next CE device, men and women both cite the same purchase factor as most important: price. Ease of use, warranty and multiple functionality are the next most important purchasing factors among both sexes. Also important to women is product size and weight, something that generally is less of a concern among men. Color ranks near the bottom as a factor among women when buying electronics.

“Forget pink. Women don’t want to be catered to with ultra-feminine looking products; they simply prefer lightweight devices that can fit smaller hands and smaller body frames,” said Boothe. “Women play many roles, like mother, spouse and career women, and CE products that can perform many functions are a necessity.”

The Women and CE study also concluded that women are more likely than men to find that electronics can simplify their life. More than three out of four women (77 percent) say “CE makes life easier,” compared with 69 percent among men. Eighty-four percent (84 percent) of women also agreed that “CE makes it easier to keep in touch,” compared with 78 percent for men.

The study, Women and CE, was designed and formulated by CEA Market Research.

Based on a recent NPD DisplaySearch report, OLED technology advanced rapidly in 2011, setting a trend that is forecasted to continue through this decade. They estimate that OLED display revenues will exceed $4 billion in 2011 (approximately 4% of flat panel display revenues), and will reach more than $20 billion (approximately 16% of the total display industry) by 2018.

According to Corning, the newly formed entity will supply OLED backplane glass substrates for Samsung Mobile Display, as well as for the broader Korean market.

Samsung said it is playing a leading role in this emerging market through its Galaxy mobile device products and Super OLED TV technology introduced in January at the International Consumer Electronics Show. Corning’s ongoing advanced glass technology development includes a strong focus on high-performance displays. Most recently, this focus has been demonstrated through Corning’s new Lotus Glass substrates, which are believed to deliver the higher processing temperatures and improved dimensional stability needed to produce the new high performance displays.

"Samsung Mobile Display has led the global display industry by constantly seeking innovations and challenging current technologies' limits. We are confident that combining our business powers with Corning's technology leadership will deliver greater value to our clients,” said Soo In Cho, Samsung Mobile Display’s president and chief executive officer.

“Corning and Samsung have a long and successful partnership in the display industry, dating back nearly 40 years to the early days of television,” said Wendell P. Weeks, Corning’s chairman, chief executive officer, and president. “The strength of our business relationship is built on Corning’s ability to develop and make high-technology glass with the key attributes that enable Samsung’s next-generation displays. Together, we have led the evolution of displays – from the high-growth years of CRT, to our current successful business supplying world-leading substrates for today’s high-definition LCD TVs, and now to the launch of this important new venture to advance OLED technology,” Weeks stated.

The new business will be located in Korea.

Blonder Tongue Laboratories, Inc. provides system operators and integrators serving the cable, broadcast, satellite, IPTV, institutional and professional video markets with solutions for the provision of content contribution, distribution and video delivery to homes and businesses. The company designs, manufactures, sells and supports an equipment portfolio of standard and high definition digital video solutions, as well as core analog video and high speed data solutions for distribution over coax, fiber and IP networks.

"As respected leaders in the field of Cable Television Communications, Blonder Tongue and Drake together offer customers more than 125 years of combined engineering and manufacturing excellence with solid histories of delivering reliable, quality products” said James A. Luksch, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Continuing with our strategic plan, by maximizing synergies amongst our highly respected engineering, manufacturing and marketing teams, customers will reap multiple benefits including additional new and innovative products delivered to market faster and more affordably.”

“For many reasons a void has developed in the CATV industry leaving even the largest cable MSO's searching for companies capable of developing and delivering innovative new products. Blonder Tongue and Drake plan to fill that void by shortening the development and manufacturing cycle to deliver the most complete compliment of business and product solutions in our industry,” added Luksch. “To maximize customer support, both companies will continue to operate separate entities in two locations- Blonder Tongue in Old Bridge, New Jersey, and R.L. Drake in Franklin, Ohio, respectively.”

The acquisition was for the purchase of substantially all of the assets of R.L Drake for a purchase price of approximately $6.5 million, subject to certain adjustments based upon a post-closing audit of the balance sheet of R.L. Drake and additional contingent purchase price payments of up to $1.5 million in the aggregate that may be made over the next three years if certain financial results are realized. R.L. Drake’s unaudited net sales for 2011 were approximately $10.0 million.

"Given that Time Warner Cable just announced a quarterly net income increase of 44 percent and annual profits of $1.3 billion, it's time for pay TV's poster child for skyrocketing rates to come clean on retransmission consent. Time Warner and its front group the American Television Alliance claim that broadcast retransmission consent fees are responsible for escalating cable rates. That claim is false. The fact is that local TV station carriage fees account for less than 1 percent of the cost of a monthly cable bill.

"It's laughable to suggest that broadcasters are responsible for higher cable rates."

According to data compiled by SNL Kagan, the average cable bill has risen at a rate faster than inflation. In addition, a filing submitted to the FCC by NAB found that in 2010 retransmission consent fees were approximately six-tenths of one percent of a pay-TV operator's revenues. That conclusion, reached by researchers Jeffrey Eisenach and Kevin Caves, can be found on page 22 of the filing's Attachment A. Read the NAB filing here.

Additionally, 48% of HDTV households have more than one HDTV. Overall, about one-third of all US households now have multiple HDTV sets -- up from about one-sixth of all households two years ago, and 4% five years ago. Yet, about 45% of TV sets in HD households, and close to 60% of all TV sets in the US, are not HDTVs.

The report also finds:

• 85% with annual household incomes over $75,000 have an HDTV -- compared to 67% with annual household incomes of $30,000-$75,000, and 48% with annual household incomes under $30,000

• Mean reported spending on an HDTV set was about $940 -- 23% less than two years ago, and about half the reported spending five years ago

• Among those getting HD programming from a cable, satellite, or Telco TV provider, the perceived mean number of channels of HD programming is 75 -- up from 53 two
years ago, and 28 five years ago

• Less than 3% of all US households currently have an HDTV set that is 3D-capable -- and 45% of this group do not watch any content in 3D

• Nearly 80% of adults in the US have heard of 3D TV -- of those who have heard of 3D TV, 5% are very interested in getting a 3D TV

• 21% of all households purchased a new TV set in the past 12 months, and 19% of all households plan to purchase a new TV set in the next 12 months

"In just the past five years, over half of all US households have adopted HDTV, bringing the total to nearly 70% of all households having at least one HDTV set" said Bruce Leichtman, president and principal analyst for Leichtman Research Group, Inc. "While lower prices have helped to expand the base of HD households, and those who have multiple HDTV sets, still close to 60% of all TV sets in US households are not HDTVs -- this provides ample opportunity for the sale of more HDTV sets going forward."

The findings are based on a survey of 1,302 households throughout the United States, and are part of a new LRG study, HDTV and 3D TV 2011. This is LRG's ninth annual study related to HDTV.

“Technology Support for Small Businesses” is a key component of an FCC partnership with a number of corporations, civic organizations, and other Federal agencies to help small businesses leverage technology to fuel their future success. Highlights of the event include two workshops, “Boosting Your Business Using Technology,” a presentation on creating an e-Commerce presence on the web and, “Getting in Tune with Your Customer Base,” a how-to on using social media to engage your customers. The event will also include sessions on such topics as cloud computing and technology tools to improve cash flow.

Ken Yancey, CEO of SCORE, states that the conference presents a rare opportunity for small business owners to obtain a great deal of information in a free, single day event. Following the event, SCORE will provide attendees with free, one-on-one mentoring on the latest business technologies and techniques. To register and to see the full event schedule, go to the website: www.ebusinessnow.org/events.

"Recognizing Garry Marshall for his extraordinary contributions to television history is a tremendous opportunity that NAB is honored to be a part of," said Marcellus Alexander, NAB executive vice president of Television.

Known for creating the television classics "Happy Days," "Laverne and Shirley" and "Mork & Mindy," Marshall began his career in the entertainment industry as a joke writer for comedians before signing on as a writer for NBC's "The Tonight Show" featuring Jack Paar. Marshall's staged musical of "Happy Days" is currently running in Italy.

In the 1960s, Marshall wrote for the "Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Joey Bishop Show," "The Danny Thomas Show" and "The Lucy Show." He also helped adapt Neil Simon's play, "The Odd Couple," into a successful television series in 1970.

An accomplish actor, Marshall appeared on the CBS comedy "Murphy Brown," as well as the movies "Soap Dish," "Lost in America," "Never Been Kissed," "Orange County," "Keeping Up With The Steins," "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "A League of Their Own." He is the director of the hit movies "Nothing in Common," "Pretty Woman," "Runaway Bride," "Valentine's Day," "The Princess Diaries" and "New Year's Eve."

Considered one of Hollywood's most respected writers, producers and directors of television, film and theater, Marshall is the recipient of several awards, including the TV Land Legend Award, the American Comedy Awards Lifetime Achievement Award, the Publicist Guild Motion Picture Showmanship Award for Film and Television and the Writers Guild of America's Valentine Davies Award. Marshall received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1983.

Information security technology to support safe and secure network access for customers has become indispensable in recent years in light of the increase in the wide range of network enabled devices. In particular, there is focus on lightweight cryptography technology suitable for ensuring the security of devices with low-power consumption requirements or those with limited hardware or memory. Under these circumstances ‘CLEFIA’ met the requirements of ISO/IEC 29192, as prescribed by ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 27 − the organization responsible for determining the International Standards for information security.

‘CLEFIA’ has the same interface as the US government's Advanced Encryption Standard (AES). This block cipher has a block length of 128 bits, while key length can be selected from 128 bits, 192 bits or 256 bits. The most impressive feature of ‘CLEFIA’ is its realization of implementation efficiency while maintaining a high level of security. The development of ‘CLEFIA’ maintains superior security based on the latest block cipher design theory. Furthermore, ‘CLEFIA’ adopts the general Feistel structure, which is suited for implementation in constrained environments. Also, the ‘Diffusion Switching Mechanism’ (DSM) is employed to reduce processing operations whilst ensuring security. In addition, components for data processing and key scheduling part are shared. These improvements have made it possible to achieve efficient implementations in hardware and software, which had been difficult with conventional encryption technologies.

This excellent implementation efficiency enables ‘CLEFIA’ to demonstrate high performance in devices with limited resources or those with low-power consumption requirements. Accordingly, CLEFIA is suited for lightweight cryptographic applications as indicated in ISO/IEC 29192 in smartcards, RFID tags, sensor networks, medical devices and more, in addition to conventional applications.

Having been recognized as an ISO/IEC International Standard on this occasion, Sony said it will strive to expand the application of ‘CLEFIA’ in a variety of devices and services. Furthermore, Sony will continue its research and development in the field of lightweight cryptography, in which further progress is anticipated.

According to Sony, the company will continue to be involved in delivering information security technology that customers can use safely and with confidence.

According to a new IHS iSuppli analysis, global AMOLED TV shipments are expected to reach 2.1 million units in 2015, up from just 34,000 in 2012. While this represents tremendous growth, AMOLED TV shipments still will account for only 1 percent of the global flat-panel market by 2015.

“AMOLED TV prices will remain dramatically higher than those of liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs during the next few years because of manufacturing yield issues, combined with inflated material costs due to the small pool of suppliers,” said Vinita Jakhanwal, director of small/medium and OLED displays at IHS. “A 55-inch AMOLED TV will be priced at $8,000 in 2012, more than twice the $3,700 average expense for an equivalent LCD TV. And although AMOLEDs deliver a dramatically superior viewing experience compared to LCDs, consumers are unlikely to buy large quantities of AMOLEDs until their prices fall to within a 20 percent premium of comparable LCD TVs.”

After years of effort and billions of dollars invested in AMOLED display technology development, South Korean firms LG Display (LGD) and Samsung Electronics at CES showcased what are currently the largest AMOLED 3-D TVs. These large, 55-inch displays represent a major departure from previous AMOLEDs, which mainly are focused on small/medium display applications like smartphones, at sizes smaller than 10 inches.

LGD’s 55-inch 3-D, ultra definition—i.e., 3840 by 1260—AMOLED TV boasts of features that exceed any other flat-panel TV now on the market. The television is only 4 millimeters thick and weighs 17 pounds. It also has a pixel speed that is 1,000 times faster and consumes only one-third of the power compared to conventional LCDs.

Samsung also showcased a 55-inch 3-D AMOLED television with similar specifications.

In comparison to these AMOLED sets, a currently available 3-D LCD-TV with a light-emitting diode ( LED) backlight offers a Full HD—i.e., 1,920 by 1,080—pixel format, with the thinnest being only 1.2-inches thick and weighing more than 50 pounds. LGD and Samsung are expected to begin shipping their OLED TVs to the market by the third quarter of 2012, in time for the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

Recent innovations in AMOLED backplane technology, materials and equipment and suppliers’ investments in newer-generation AMOLED fabs have made these AMOLED TVs possible. However, pricing remains much higher compared to current LCD TVs in the market.

This is because AMOLED manufacturing efficiencies and output yields are unlikely to match those of LCDs for the next three years. Furthermore, pricing for AMOLED materials will still command a premium because of the limited number of suppliers. Large-sized AMOLED panel production faces issues with scaling manufacturing to newer-generation fabs.

These factors are keeping AMOLED TV pricing high.

However, IHS iSuppli expects AMOLED display suppliers, equipment makers, material makers and TV makers to cooperate in developing more efficient and cost effective ways in order to make large-sized AMOLED panels. As a result, prices are expected to decline.

Early production of 55-inch AMOLED panels is likely to be conducted at existing eighth-generation amorphous silicon (a-Si) LCD fabs that will be converted to make the oxide silicon backplanes needed for AMOLEDs. Both LGD and Samsung plan to move mass production to eighth-generation AMOLED lines in the future. And as manufacturing matures, large-sized AMOLED panels have the potential of becoming cheaper.

LGD indicated the price for its 55-inch AMOLED TV is expected to decline to $4,000 by 2013, when comparable LCD TV prices are likely to reach a price point of less than $1,000.

"As an accomplished performer and on-air personality, we look forward to hearing Donny's perspective on radio," said NAB Executive Vice President of Radio John David. "His unique ability to connect with audiences is sure to energize attendees at the Radio Luncheon."

Since 2010, Osmond continues to host two internationally syndicated radio shows: The Donny Osmond Radio Show and Donny's 8-Track Playback. Formatted to fit both Hot AC and Classic stations, his lifestyle-driven music radio show delivers helpful and insightful information to listeners who are looking for "a friend to help them through the day."

In addition to his daily radio show, Osmond performs nightly with his sister, Marie, at the Las Vegas Flamingo Hotel in a show that is in its fourth-straight year running. Osmond also participated in, and won Dancing with the Stars: Season 9. His recently released 59th album, Donny & Marie, features a mix of country, rock and love ballads, including the number one hit single "A Beautiful Life."

Osmond's musical career began at age five. He quickly rose to fame, touring the world with sibling music group, The Osmond Brothers. His success continued as he co-hosted with his sister a wildly successful variety show, The Donny and Marie Show. As a solo artist, Osmond's music career received a boost when he recorded "Soldier of Love," which topped the Billboard Pop Charts at number two. In total, Donny has sold more than 80 million records over five decades and received 33 gold records.

The NAB Show Radio Luncheon will include the 25th annual presentation of the prestigious NAB Crystal Radio Awards, which honor local radio stations for community service. Also, Mr. Baseball, Bob Uecker, will be inducted into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame. The 2012 NAB Show runs April 14-19 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The popularization of smartphones and other devices in recent years has been accompanied by an increasingly diverse use of camera functionality. This has brought heightened demand for more sophisticated cameras, to ensure adaptability to a wider range of scenes and Sony developed this stacked CMOS image sensor to meet such demand. In addition to the higher pixel numbers, superior image quality and faster speeds which conventional image sensors pursued, the newly-developed image sensors further achieve more highly-advanced functionalities and a more compact size, thus paving the way for enhanced camera evolution.

As the first step towards the commercialization of its new CMOS image sensors, Sony said it has developed a model with built-in signal processing functionality, an element that usually requires external embedment. Samples will be shipped from March, 2012. Accordingly, models have been developed with Sony’s unique “RGBW Coding” function, which facilitates low noise, high quality image capture even in low light condition, and the proprietary “HDR (High Dynamic Range) Movie” function, which achieves brilliant color even when taking pictures against bright light.

Conventional CMOS image sensors mount the pixel section and analog logic circuit on top of the same chip, which require numerous constraints when wishing to mount the large-scale circuits such as measures to counter the circuit scale and chip size, measures to suppress noise caused by the layout of the pixel and circuit sections, and optimizing the characteristics of pixels and circuit transistors.

Sony claims the company has succeeded in establishing a structure that layers the pixel section containing formations of back-illuminated structure pixels over the chip affixed with mounted circuits for signal processing, which is in place of supporting substrates used for conventional back-illuminated CMOS image sensors. By this stacked structure, large-scale circuits can now be mounted keeping small chip size. Furthermore, as the pixel section and circuit section are formed as independent chips, a manufacturing process can be adopted, enabling the pixel section to be specialized for higher image quality while the circuit section can be specialized for higher functionality, thus simultaneously achieving higher image quality, superior functionality and a more compact size. In addition, faster signal processing and lower power consumption can also be achieved through the use of leading process for the chip containing the circuits.

Features of the stacked CMOS image sensor
- Large-scale signal processing circuits required for higher image quality and better functionality are built-in
- More compact image sensor chip size
- Even higher image quality of the pixel section by adopting manufacturing processes specialized for superior image quality
- Faster speeds and lower power consumption by adopting the leading process for the circuit section

The company said it plans to position the sensor as the next generation back-illuminated CMOS image sensors, and unwaveringly strive to further develop this image sensor and expand its product lineup, thereby contributing to the further development of user-friendly cameras and to shooting enjoyment.

The business reorganization is intended to bolster liquidity in the U.S. and abroad, monetize non-strategic intellectual property, fairly resolve legacy liabilities, and enable the Company to focus on its most valuable business lines. The Company has made pioneering investments in digital and materials deposition technologies in recent years, generating approximately 75% of its revenue from digital businesses in 2011.

Kodak has obtained a fully-committed, $950 million debtor-in-possession credit facility with an 18-month maturity from Citigroup to enhance liquidity and working capital. The credit facility is subject to Court approval and other conditions precedent. The Company believes that it has sufficient liquidity to operate its business during chapter 11, and to continue the flow of goods and services to its customers in the ordinary course.

Kodak expects to pay employee wages and benefits and continue customer programs. Subsidiaries outside of the U.S. are not subject to proceedings and will honor all obligations to suppliers, whenever incurred. Kodak and its U.S. subsidiaries will honor all post-petition obligations to suppliers in the ordinary course.

“Kodak is taking a significant step toward enabling our enterprise to complete its transformation,” said Antonio M. Perez, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “At the same time as we have created our digital business, we have also already effectively exited certain traditional operations, closing 13 manufacturing plants and 130 processing labs, and reducing our workforce by 47,000 since 2003. Now we must complete the transformation by further addressing our cost structure and effectively monetizing non-core IP assets. We look forward to working with our stakeholders to emerge a lean, world-class, digital imaging and materials science company.”

“After considering the advantages of chapter 11 at this time, the Board of Directors and the entire senior management team unanimously believe that this is a necessary step and the right thing to do for the future of Kodak,” Mr. Perez continued. “Our goal is to maximize value for stakeholders, including our employees, retirees, creditors, and pension trustees. We are also committed to working with our valued customers.

“Chapter 11 gives us the best opportunities to maximize the value in two critical parts of our technology portfolio: our digital capture patents, which are essential for a wide range of mobile and other consumer electronic devices that capture digital images and have generated over $3 billion of licensing revenues since 2003; and our breakthrough printing and deposition technologies, which give Kodak a competitive advantage in our growing digital businesses.”

Mr. Perez concluded, “The Board of Directors, the senior management team and I would like to underscore our appreciation for the hard work and loyalty of our employees. Kodak exemplifies a culture of collaboration and innovation. Our employees embody that culture and are essential to our future success.”

Kodak has taken this step after preliminary discussions with key constituencies and intends to work toward a consensual reorganization in the best interests of its stakeholders. Kodak expects to complete its U.S.-based restructuring during 2013.

The Company and its Board of Directors are being advised by Lazard, FTI Consulting Inc. and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP. In addition, Dominic DiNapoli, Vice Chairman of FTI Consulting, will serve as Chief Restructuring Officer to support the management team as to restructuring matters during the chapter 11 case.

More information about Kodak’s Chapter 11 filing is available at www.kodaktransforms.com.

The new study, Connecting the Dots Between Consumers, Content and Consumer Electronics in the Home, provides additional insights into how consumers are accessing content in their homes and their interest in media connectivity systems.

Like video consumption, more than half (54 percent) of online U.S. adults listen to digital audio in the home. But unlike video, the preference for digital audio content skews toward downloaded audio (43 percent) versus streaming audio (37 percent). Those consumers spent an average of 2.6 hours listening to downloaded files versus two hours for streaming audio.

“Technology allows consumers to access almost any content they desire instantaneously on Internet-connected devices,” said Chris Ely, manager, industry relations, CEA. “The rise of mobile broadband has resulted in the emergence of connected devices that are able to stream content directly from the Internet, and services that allow consumers to store and access content without the need of a hard drive.”

One in four consumers expressed an interest in purchasing a home media connectivity system. The study shows that new home purchasers can be a “sweet spot” in spurring adoption of connectivity systems. Sixty percent of those interested in connectivity systems indicated that they were considering buying a system with a purchase of a new home.

“Digital media consumption will continue to grow as the number of connected devices and services for accessing content improves and expands,” added Ely. “Manufactures, content providers, aggregators and service providers must work together to ensure the content customers want is accessible through different devices. The sooner the market is able to meet the consumers’ needs, the sooner the industry will reap the benefits.”

The study, Connecting the Dots Between Consumers, Content and Consumer Electronics in the Home was conducted September 19-25, 2011. It was designed and formulated by CEA Market Research.

Major Internet service providers (ISPs), home networking equipment manufacturers, and web companies around the world are coming together to permanently enable IPv6 for their products and services by 6 June 2012.

Organized by the Internet Society, and building on the successful one-day World IPv6 Day event held on 8 June 2011, World IPv6 Launch represents a major milestone in the global deployment of IPv6. As the successor to the current Internet Protocol, IPv4, IPv6 is critical to the Internet’s continued growth as a platform for innovation and economic development.

“The fact that leading companies across several industries are making significant commitments to participate in World IPv6 Launch is yet another indication that IPv6 is no longer a lab experiment; it's here and is an important next step in the Internet’s evolution,” commented Leslie Daigle, the Internet Society’s Chief Internet Technology Officer. “And, as there are more IPv6 services, it becomes increasingly important for companies to accelerate their own deployment plans.”
ISPs participating in World IPv6 Launch will enable IPv6 for enough users so that at least 1% of their wireline residential subscribers who visit participating websites will do so using IPv6 by 6 June 2012. These ISPs have committed that IPv6 will be available automatically as the normal course of business for a significant portion of their subscribers.

Committed ISPs are:

- AT&T
- Comcast
- Free Telecom
- Internode
- KDDI
- Time Warner Cable
- XS4ALL

Participating home networking equipment manufacturers will enable IPv6 by default through the range of their home router products by 6 June 2012. Committed equipment manufacturers are:

- Cisco
- D-Link

Web companies participating in World IPv6 Launch will enable IPv6 on their main websites permanently beginning 6 June 2012. Inaugural participants are:

- Facebook (www.facebook.com)
- Google (www.google.com)
- Microsoft Bing (www.bing.com)
- Yahoo! (www.yahoo.com)

Content delivery network providers Akamai and Limelight will be enabling their customers to join this list of participating websites by enabling IPv6 throughout their infrastructure.

As IPv4 addresses become increasingly scarce, every segment of the industry must act quickly to accelerate full IPv6 adoption or risk increased costs and limited functionality online for Internet users everywhere. World IPv6 Launch participants are leading the way in this effort.
For more information about World IPv6 Launch, products and services covered, as well as links to useful information for users and information about how other companies may participate, visit: http://www.worldipv6launch.org

“During 2011, HDMI technology expanded its reach in the consumer electronics space and started to penetrate new market segments such as automotive and portable handheld devices,” said Steve Venuti, president of HDMI Licensing, LLC. “With the launch of the HDMI Forum in October of 2011, we expect to see even stronger demand for HDMI technology in the coming years.”

The HDMI Forum, Inc. was launched in October 2011 to foster broader industry participation in the development of future versions of the HDMI Specification. The organization is responsible for all new standardization activities, including development of future versions of the HDMI Specifications. Open to any interested company wishing to become a member, the HDMI Forum currently has 43 members. To find out more about becoming a member, please visit www.hdmiforum.org.

The membership recently elected 11 members to the Board of Directors. Arnold Brown of Silicon Image was elected as Chairman of the Board and Rambod Jacoby of NVIDIA was elected as President. For more information about the Forum and its leadership, please visit http://www.hdmiforum.org/board_of_directors.aspx.

“We are very pleased that in just over 2 months, 43 leading consumer electronics, PC and mobile products companies have joined the HDMI Forum,” said Rambod Jacoby, president of the HDMI Forum, Inc. “With broader participation in the development of the HDMI Specification, HDMI will continue to be the leading consumer interface for HD devices.”

Current activities include ongoing meetings with the Technical Working Group as well as the Marketing Task Group. The HDMI Forum expects to release the next version of the HDMI Specification in the second half of this year. The next version, which is focused on meeting immediate market needs, will include increased bandwidth to accommodate higher resolutions as well as address new video timings and other features. In parallel, the HDMI Forum expects to develop a longer-term roadmap that will define the next generation of the HDMI interface.

According to Corning, Gorilla Glass 2 enables up to a 20 percent reduction in glass thickness, while maintaining the industry-leading damage resistance, toughness, and scratch resistance customers have come to expect from the world’s most widely deployed cover glass. The thinner Gorilla Glass 2 enables slimmer and sleeker devices, brighter images, and greater touch sensitivity. These benefits can provide electronics manufacturers with superior design flexibility as they address consumer demand for increasingly high-performing, touch-sensitive, and durable mobile devices.

“Corning Gorilla Glass has enjoyed tremendous market adoption in the high-growth mobile handset and computing device market, providing a replacement for plastic and legacy soda-lime glass as a protective cover and elegant design solution,” said James R. Steiner, senior vice president and general manager, Corning Specialty Materials.

“We knew Corning Gorilla Glass could get even better. So, in response to our customers’ drive toward thinner form factors, we designed this new glass to enable meaningful reduction in thickness without sacrificing the outstanding glass performance for which Gorilla Glass has become highly recognized. This glass, along with Windows operating system innovations from Microsoft, will help deliver exceptional beauty, performance, and toughness for new Windows PCs. You will see this early this year with Windows-based PCs which we expect to be the first in-market laptops designed to leverage the performance of our new second-generation glass,” Steiner remarked.

Corning said product qualification and design implementation for Corning Gorilla Glass 2 are underway with its global customers, a number of whom are expected to unveil new devices using Corning Gorilla Glass 2 during the coming months.

First introduced in 2007, Gorilla Glass set the industry standard for damage-resistant cover glass. Today it is the most widely deployed cover glass, used by more than 30 major brands and designed into more than 575 product models, spanning more than 500 million units worldwide.

As one of the company’s fastest growing businesses, the company said Corning Gorilla Glass is expected to reach more than $700 million in 2011 sales, nearly triple 2010 results.

“We’re witnessing the birth of what is destined to become a broad market for full 4K end-to-end production,” said Edgar Shane, general manager of engineering. “The GY-HMQ10 is a breakthrough product that opens up 4K imaging to users who previously wouldn’t have considered it.”

High resolution 4K still picture imaging has been around for several years in DSLR cameras. Motion video capture with these cameras has always been done at a lower video resolution because of lack of processing power. Likewise, high end digital motion picture cameras may capture 4K images, but often provide a raw data output to an external storage array for later processing—again due to lack of processing power in the camera. There just hasn’t been the ability to capture, process, display and record full 4K images in real time until now.

According to JVC, the exclusive Falconbrid LSI processing takes raw image data from the camera’s CMOS device and dematrixes (deBayers) it in real time. Unlike many high end 4K cameras, the GY-HMQ10 is able to output 4K images to a monitor or projection system in real time with virtually no latency. This capability opens up applications in cinematography, medical microscopy, telepresence, specialized observation / surveillance, and live wide-view event coverage.

Using MPEG-4 technology and a variable bit rate H.264 codec operating at up to 144 Mbps, the GY-HMQ10 records up to two hours of 4K video to economical SDHC or SDXC memory cards.

In addition to 4K imaging, the GY-HMQ10 also captures and records astonishing 1080i or 1080/60p full HD, with extraordinary detail provided by its 8.3 megapixel imager and superior lens. HD is recorded on a single memory card in a format compatible with most editing systems. This combination of superb 4K and HD imaging was requested by attendees of JVC’s 4K forums, conducted throughout North America last year, and is unique in the camera industry.

Another feature requested by forum attendees was the ability to crop an HD image from a 4K frame. This can be accomplished in post production, or in real time during camera playback. The “trimming” feature makes HD cropping easy using the camera’s touch panel LCD monitor.

Similar in size to JVC’s popular GY-HM150 ProHD camcorder, the GY-HMQ10 includes a build-in F2.8 10x zoom lens with optical image stabilizer, as well as a color viewfinder and 3.5-inch touch LCD monitor with a new, intuitive user interface. The GY-HMQ10 is built in a familiar, comfortable and lightweight form factor for hours of field production with minimum fatigue.

The GY-HMQ10 is equipped with manual level controls for audio, with audio metering in the LCD and viewfinder displays. A microphone holder and two balanced XLR connectors with phantom power are located on the handle. The camera is equipped with a built-in stereo mic for ambient sound pickup.

Other features include JVC’s patented Focus Assist, as well as manual and auto control of focus, iris, gain, shutter, gamma, color matrix, and white balance. Plus, the camera has the unusual capability of live 4K output via four HDMI terminals.

“Historically, JVC has been a leader in camcorder and display technology, and the GY-HMQ10 is our latest breakthrough,” added Shane. “It’s part of a larger move at JVC to bring 4K technology to a wide range of customers.” In September 2011, JVC introduced an affordable line of 4K projectors to the home theater market. The company’s high-end 4K projectors are widely used in commercial flight simulators and planetariums. “4K is the logical step beyond HD,” said Shane. “And JVC is uniquely positioned to lead the industry in this new direction.”

Market deliveries for the The GY-HMQ10 is expected to start March, 2012 at a retail selling price of $4,995.00.

Starting today, ICANN begins accepting applications for new generic top-level domains (gTLDs). The world of .com, .gov, .org and 19 other gTLDs will soon be expanded to include all types of words in many different languages. For the first time generic TLDs can include words in non-Latin languages, such as Cyrillic, Chinese or Arabic.

Applicants will use the TLD Application System (TAS) to submit their application, in which they answer the 50 questions detailed in the Applicant Guidebook. Links to register in TAS are provided on the ICANN New gTLD page.

Schedule:
12 January: ICANN begins accepting applications
29 March: The last day to register in TAS
12 April: Final day ICANN accepts applications

ICANN said an updated version of the Applicant Guidebook was posted with the opening of the application window. The updated version incorporates clarifications made through responses previously published by the gTLD customer service center. Main points of clarification are on topics such as batching, background screening, the applicant support program, Continued Operations Instrument, GAC advice processes, and the registry code of conduct. Additional information and answers to previously asked questions can be found in the Program's Supplemental Notes. These materials are not intended to introduce new requirements or criteria. Links to both the Applicant Guidebook and the Supplemental Notes can be found at the ICANN New gTLD page.

Also available now are changes to the Applicant Support Program: limited financial assistance is offered to qualifying applicants. Through this program, applicants, especially from developing economies, have access to financial assistance in the form of an evaluation fee reduction and other in-kind or community pro bono services. The financial assistance element of the program will allow a limited number of qualifying applicants to pay a US $47,000 evaluation fee instead of the full USD $185,000. This fee reduction has been made possible because ICANN's Board of Directors has dedicated USD $2,000,000 to the program. This is a seed fund to which other organizations can donate. In response to public comment, the draft program has been updated to increase availability of refunds, make the program available to certain trademark owners, and broaden the scope for those seeking to serve the public interest. More information on the Applicant Support program can be found on the ICANN New gTLD page.

ICANN encourages all interested parties, whether applicants or observers, to refer to the New gTLD section of ICANN's website for authoritative documents, helpful resources, and latest developments. The New gTLD site is found at http://newgtlds.icann.org.

A complaint filed with the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) specifically claims that certain of Apple’s iPhones, iPads, and iPods, and certain of HTC’s smartphones and tablets infringe Kodak patents that relate to technology for transmitting images. Kodak also alleges that certain of HTC’s smartphones infringe a patent that covers technology related to a method for previewing images which is already the subject of pending actions against Apple. Separately, Kodak filed suits today against Apple and HTC in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York alleging the same infringement.

“As we have stated before, Kodak is the leader in digital imaging innovation and we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars creating our pioneering patent portfolio,” said Laura G. Quatela, President and Chief Operating Officer, Eastman Kodak Company. “We’ve had numerous discussions with both companies in an attempt to resolve this issue, and we have not been able to reach a satisfactory agreement."

“Our primary interest is not to disrupt the availability of any product but to obtain fair compensation for the unauthorized use of our technology,” Quatela said. “There’s a basic issue of fairness that needs to be addressed. The failure of companies to appropriately compensate Kodak for the unauthorized use of our patented technology impedes our ability to continue to innovate and introduce new products.”

Kodak has licensed patents related to digital imaging technology to more than 30 companies, including such leading mobile-device companies as LG, Motorola, Samsung and Nokia, all of which are royalty bearing to Kodak.

In the complaint against Apple and HTC, Kodak is seeking from the ITC an exclusion order preventing the importation of infringing devices, including mobile telephones and wireless communication devices featuring digital cameras. In the suits against Apple and HTC in U.S. District Court, Kodak alleges infringement of the same patents and is seeking to permanently enjoin Apple and HTC from further infringement, as well as the recovery of damages.

The complaints against Apple and HTC assert infringement of the following patents:

U.S. Patent No. 7,210,161 – “Automatically Transmitting Images from an Electronic Camera to a Service Provider Using a Network Configuration File”
U.S. Patent No. 7,742,084 – “Network Configuration File for Automatically Transmitting Images from an Electronic Still Camera”
U.S. Patent No. 7,453,605 – “Capturing Digital Images to be Transferred to an E-Mail Address”
U.S. Patent No. 7,936,391 – “Digital Camera with Communications Interface for Selectively Transmitting Images over a Cellular Phone Network and a Wireless LAN Network to a Destination”

The complaints against HTC also assert infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,292,218 (“Electronic Camera for Initiating Capture of Still Images While Previewing Motion Images”), which is the same patent at issue in the pending ITC action initiated by Kodak in January 2010 against Apple and Research In Motion Limited.

“We remain open to negotiating a fair and amicable agreement with these companies, which has always been our preference and our practice with other licensees,” Timothy M. Lynch, Chief Intellectual Property Officer, said. “We seek to avoid litigation in our licensing programs whenever possible. But when the infringement is persistent, we will act to defend the interests of our shareholders and licensees, and to promote the fair compensation that is the bedrock of innovation.”

Last year, Panasonic Corporation, a long time Official Worldwide Olympic Partner in the Audio and Visual Equipment category, announced it would partner with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Olympic Broadcasting Services (OBS) to make the London 2012 Olympic Games the first ever 3D Olympic Games.

“NBC has a history of utilizing technological innovations to distribute the Olympics in new ways for viewers,” said Gary Zenkel, President, NBC Olympics. “We are proud to continue that tradition by partnering with Panasonic and Olympic Broadcasting Services to distribute the first 3D broadcast of the Games in the U.S. in partnership with our multichannel video programming distributors.”

The 3D broadcasts, which will be produced by OBS and shown on next-day delay, will span multiple competitions throughout the London 2012 Olympic Games, including the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, gymnastics, diving and swimming. OBS will produce more than 200 hours of 3D coverage during the London 2012 Olympic Games by utilizing Panasonic’s state-of-art 3D production technologies including the AG-3DP1, a P2HD professional fully-integrated twin-lens Full HD 3D camera recorder. Cable, satellite, and telco providers who receive the Olympics package may distribute the 3D broadcast via the Comcast Media Center.

"As a recognized leader in end-to-end 3D technology solutions and longtime Olympic sponsor, Panasonic is very excited to be partnering with the NBC Sports Group which is a leader and trailblazer in Olympic broadcasting,” said Joseph M. Taylor, Chairman & CEO, Panasonic Corporation of North America. “Panasonic’s expertise in 3D technology coupled with NBC’s unrivaled leadership in coverage of the Olympic Games will deliver to home viewers an unprecedented 3D Olympic experience that will make them feel as though they are right there with the world’s finest athletes as they compete. Full HD 3D is ideal for capturing the true spectacle of Olympic competition and the pageantry of Olympic ceremonies, and we are excited to be able to bring it to fans across the U.S.”

OLED emerged in the 1980s from laboratories at Eastman Kodak in the US and Cambridge University in the UK, and was first commercialized in the late 1990s. Enthusiasm has increased recently as Samsung Mobile Displays has started manufacturing active matrix OLED (AMOLED) displays in a Gen 5.5 fab and announced plans to build a Gen 8 fab (as did LG Display), and several other suppliers entered or re-entered OLED display manufacturing, including AUO, CMI, IRICO, Tianma, and BOE.

According to the report, OLEDs offer a solid-state solution for displays, lighting, and organic electronics. OLED displays can provide high contrast ratio, fast response time, wide color gamut, and wide viewing angle, while operating in a broad temperature range at low power consumption. In addition, OLED technology enables thin devices that can be both flexible and transparent.

“OLED displays operate through direct emission, as opposed to transmissive LCD or reflective displays, which enables area lighting,” said Jennifer Colegrove, PhD, Vice President of Emerging Display Technologies for NPD DisplaySearch. “The technology has made good progress and is ready to enter large-size applications, but low cost manufacturing for large sizes is still a challenge.”

OLED is now a mass-market technology in small/medium displays, particularly in smart phone applications. Investments in Gen 8 (2200 × 2500 mm) fabs indicate that AMOLED will compete in larger size applications, such as in TV and mobile PCs, within two years. Samsung released a 7.7” AMOLED tablet PC in December 2011, and more tablet and other mobile PCs are expected in 2012. LG is expected to enter the market in 2012 with a 55” AMOLED TV. With technology improvements, NPD DisplaySearch forecasts AMOLED will enter other applications as well. While nearly all AMOLEDs on the market are currently based on LTPS, several companies are developing AMOLEDs using oxide or a-Si TFT backplanes, and are likely to start production in 2012.

OLED display revenues are estimated to exceed $4 billion in 2011 (approximately 4% of flat panel display revenues), and are forecast to reach more than $20 billion (approximately 16% of the total display industry by 2018. In addition, OLED lighting gained momentum in 2011, and is forecast to reach revenues of approximately $6 billion by 2018.

According to Gibson, Onkyo's reputation of excellence for high quality audio equipment and home theater systems offers Gibson’s newly-formed Pro Audio Division substantial technology resources. Gibson said it will provide Onkyo with its marketing resources and expertise. The result being the ability to deliver a far superior audio experience to the consumer who has become more and more used to hearing only inferior compressed music through inexpensive ear bud headsets.

Through this venture, Gibson will acquire a majority of Onkyo USA (Onkyo’s exclusive distributor for North America and a distributor for Central and South America) and become the second largest shareholder in Onkyo Corporation. Gibson will make a strategic investment in the company, and Gibson Chairman and CEO Henry Juszkiewicz will be given a position on the Onkyo board of directors. Likewise, Onkyo will invest in Gibson, and CEO and President Munenori Otsuki will take a position on the company’s Board of Directors. Together, the two entities will form a Hong Kong-based joint venture focusing on design and development of unparalleled consumer audio products. Through this alliance, Onkyo USA becomes the latest addition to the Gibson Pro Audio division, which already includes KRK, Cerwin-Vega! and Stanton.

“Onkyo makes some of the world’s best audio equipment, and this partnership will give Gibson the ability to bring a deeper and more enhanced audio experience to music lovers around the world,” says Juszkiewicz. “While people may be listening to more music, they are listening to it primarily in a severely compressed format. The aural disparity between a real system and compressed sound is vast, and as a result, they are simply not hearing tremendously rich sounds. With Onkyo, our goal is to bring the same exceptional experience artists demand in the studio to a larger consumer base.”

“This partnership has significant positive implications for Onkyo as we are always seeking ways of creating new value,” says Otsuki. “Gibson is a leading global company with a massive fan base, best-in-class products and superior marketing skills. Coming together in this way opens the door for amazing opportunities for both companies and, more importantly, fans of Onkyo and Gibson.”

All agreements are subject to Japanese regulatory clearance, negotiation of definitive agreements and financing approvals of lenders.

The networks and services covered by the agreement include: ABC, ABC Family, Disney Channel, Disney XD, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, ESPN Deportes, ESPNEWS, ESPN Classic, ESPN Goal Line, ESPN Buzzer Beater, ESPN 3D, ESPN GamePlan, ESPN FullCourt and ESPN3; retransmission consent for seven ABC-owned broadcast television stations (WABC-TV New York, WLS-TV Chicago, WPVI-TV Philadelphia, KGO-TV San Francisco, KTRK-TV Houston, KTVD-TV Raleigh-Durham, and KFSN-TV Fresno) as well as more than 10 high-definition networks. Additionally, Comcast will launch Disney Junior, a new 24-hour basic channel for preschool-age children, parents and caregivers. Comcast will also provide its Xfinity TV customers with broad access to a suite of live Disney networks on an authenticated basis and expanded Xfinity On Demand content through Disney’s comprehensive TV+ initiative. In total, 70 services are covered by the broad scope of this new agreement. License fee schedules for different services under the deal will be phased in over time.

“Comcast was the first video provider to create technology that enabled us to deliver content to customers where and when they want it across any viewing experience,” said Neil Smit, President and Chief Executive Officer, Comcast Cable. “We are very pleased to have reached this unprecedented and innovative, long-term agreement with Disney which embraces the future of entertainment and allows Comcast to continue to bring our vision of TV Everywhere to Xfinity customers whether at home or on the go.”

Anne Sweeney, Co-Chairman, Disney Media Networks and President, Disney/ABC Television Group, added, “This landmark deal is a great example of what can be achieved when programmers and distributors collaborate and innovate together to meet the ever-evolving needs of consumers and enhance the viewing experience. By combining the best news, sports and entertainment content available today with cutting-edge technologies, we’re able to fully realize our comprehensive TV+ initiative, and introduce a brand new suite of authenticated services to Comcast subscribers.”

Added George Bodenheimer, Executive Chairman, ESPN, Inc., “Given the scope of assets Comcast and Disney/ABC/ESPN are making available to consumers, this agreement is unprecedented in our industry. It reinforces the value of the multichannel subscription and takes full advantage of new technologies, which serve all of our viewers.”

As part of the settlement, TiVo and AT&T agreed to dismiss all pending litigation between the companies with prejudice. The parties also entered into a cross license of their respective patent portfolios in the advanced television field.

"We are extremely pleased to reach an agreement with AT&T, which acknowledges the value of our intellectual property," said Tom Rogers, CEO and President of TiVo. "This settlement, on the heels of our recent operational success that has resulted in the growth of TiVo's overall subscriber base, is another major accomplishment for TiVo and we believe a great outcome for our shareholders. The combination of guaranteed payments and future additional fees paid to TiVo in the event that AT&T's pay TV business continues to grow in-line with consensus analyst expectations, represents hard-earned compensation for our IP enforcement efforts. The settlement also provides us rights to innovate TiVo products and services under license from AT&T and allows us to avoid significant legal expenses that we expect would have been incurred by us during and after trial."

Under the agreement, Samsung will acquire all of Sony's shares of S-LCD Corporation (S-LCD), the two companies' LCD panel manufacturing joint venture, making S-LCD a wholly owned subsidiary of Samsung. In consideration for the share transfer, cash consideration of approximately KRW 1.08 trillion will be paid to Sony by Samsung. Concurrently, the two companies have entered into a new strategic agreement for the supply and purchase of LCD panels with a goal of enhancing the competitiveness of both companies. The agreement also allows Sony and Samsung to continue cooperative engineering efforts focused on LCD panel technology.

Established in April 2004, S-LCD has continued to deliver advanced and cost-competitive LCD panels to both of its parent companies, contributing to the expansion of the respective parties' TV businesses, and the large-sized LCD TV market overall. However, LCD panel and TV market conditions have now changed. In order to respond to such challenging conditions and to strengthen their respective market competitiveness, the two companies have agreed to shift to a new LCD panel business alliance.

According to Sony, this transaction will enable it to monetize its shares in S-LCD and aims to secure a flexible and steady supply of LCD panels from Samsung, based on market prices and without the responsibility and costs of operating a manufacturing facility. With whole ownership of S-LCD, Samsung anticipates heightened flexibility, speed and efficiency in both panel production and business operations.

As a result of this transaction, a non-cash impairment loss of approximately JPY 66 billion is expected to be incurred by Sony in the third quarter of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, due to the reevaluation of its S-LCD shares. This loss includes an impact from the fluctuation of exchange rate. Despite this one-time loss, Sony estimates that the transaction will result in substantial savings on and after January 1, 2012 in respect of costs associated with its procurement of LCD panels. The current estimate of the yearly savings in respect of such costs is approximately JPY 50 billion, compared to LCD panel procurement costs estimated for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012. Neither the one-time loss nor the estimated cost savings were included in Sony's forecast of consolidated financial results for the current fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, announced on November 2, 2011. Sony said it is currently reevaluating this forecast, taking into account this transaction and other factors that might affect its full year FY2011 consolidated financial results forecast.

The share transfer and payment are targeted to close by the end of January 2012, subject to necessary approvals from regulatory authorities.

During the same forecast period, Pike Research anticipates that the electronics recycling movement will make strong progress, and the cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts that electronics recycling and reuse will rise from 122 million cubic feet (and 1.1 million tons) per year in 2010 to 789 million cubic feet (and 7.9 million tons) annually by 2025. By the early 2020s, the firm expects that recycling and reuse activity will surpass the annual volume and weight of electronic devices that become e-waste, and thus will play a large part in mitigating the e-waste crisis. However, these promising trends will still not be enough to solve the entire problem, as Pike Research anticipates that the total volume of e-waste in landfills will continue increasing throughout the period.

However, industry analyst Bob Boggio says that unwanted electronic equipment is still easily and inexpensively sent to landfill burial rather than being directed toward reuse or recycling. Trans-boundary shipments of e-waste from developed countries to developing countries continue, and the informal recovery of components and materials in developing countries remain a concern for human health and the environment. Boggio states that the gap may be narrowed in the coming years if national and regional governments modify their legislative mandates to close perceived loopholes and increase e-scrap diversion rates.

“Electronics recycling and reuse is expanding at a significant rate,” says Boggio. “The growth in responsible disposition of obsolete electronics is being driven both by environmental legislation around the world as well as the sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs of leading electronics manufacturers and service providers.”

About 95 Eastman Gel employees associated with the business will continue with the business following the closing. Included in the sale is 575,000 square foot of production space in Peabody, Mass.

Eastman Gel has been successfully managing the transition of the photographic market by increasingly expanding its sales into non-photographic categories, such as the pharmaceutical, edible protein and food/confectionary categories.

“Eastman Gelatine is a business that is well-positioned in this industry,” said Brad W. Kruchten, President, Film, Photofinishing and Entertainment Group, and Kodak Senior Vice President. “This sale is another step in our value creation program for our shareholders and enhances Kodak’s financial position.”

Kruchten noted that Rousselot is positioned to help Eastman Gelatine continue the recent growth in its sales outside the photographic industry.

“Rousselot is an ideal acquirer of Eastman Gelatine because it is strategic to them and the company is committed to growing the business for the benefit of customers and employees,” Kruchten said. “I’m very pleased that we have such a favorable outcome for all of our constituents.”

Dirk Kloosterboer, Vice Chairman of the Vion board, welcomes the acquisition of Eastman Gel as an important opportunity to strengthen Rousselot's position in both growing pharmaceutical markets and its current position in North America. "This acquisition contributes to our strategy of worldwide presence in gelatine and proximity to customers,” Kloosterboer said.

Financial details were not disclosed. Subject to customary closing conditions, the transaction is expected to close within 30 days.

The corporations — Chi Mei Innolux Corporation, Chunghwa Picture Tubes Ltd., Epson Imaging Devices Corporation, HannStar Display Corporation, Hitachi Displays, Ltd., and Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation, and certain affiliated entities of each corporation — agreed to pay over $538 million to settle antitrust claims brought on behalf of consumers, government entities, and other public entities by a multistate group of eight Attorneys General and private class action attorneys. Separately, five of the companies agreed to pay over $14 million to settle civil fine and penalty law claims brought by the States in their law enforcement capacities. The corporations also agreed to engage in antitrust compliance programs and to cooperate with the States' ongoing prosecution of other industry participants.

“This price-fixing scheme manipulated the playing field for businesses that abide by the rules, and left consumers to pay artificially higher costs for televisions, computers and other electronics,” said Attorney General Schneiderman. “Protecting the integrity of the marketplace is the only way to ensure the best outcome for New York’s consumers. That is why my office will aggressively police anti-competitive practices and hold accountable those who violate the law.”

According to New York's complaint, Japanese, Korean, and Taiwanese manufacturers of thin film transistor (TFT) LCD panels, together with their U.S. affiliates, engineered a conspiracy to fix prices of TFT-LCD panels, and sold into New York millions of TFT-LCD panels at prices fixed by the cartel. TFT-LCD screens are essential components of televisions, computer monitors, and laptop screens. The vast majority of TFT-LCD products sold in New York was sold at high prices illegally fixed by the conspiracy.

Under the agreements, the companies will pay up to $37 million to compensate government and other public entities for damages resulting from the purchase of TFT-LCD panels. Up to $501 million will be available for partial refunds to compensate consumers residing in 24 states and the District of Columbia who purchased products containing TFT-LCD panels during the period beginning January 1, 1999 and continuing through December 31, 2006. Notice of how to file for partial refunds will be provided to the public at a later date.

New York's lawsuit was filed in State Supreme Court in New York County, moved to the Southern District of New York, and transferred to the Northern District of California for pretrial proceedings. According to Attorney General Schneiderman, the state will continue to pursue his lawsuit against three other corporations charged with participating in the cartel.

There are nearly 2.9 billion CE devices in U.S. households and an average of 25 devices per household, including battery-operated CE devices. Home use of CE devices equaled 13.2 percent of overall residential electricity consumption and 9.3 percent of residential primary energy consumption. Within that 13.2 percent, televisions accounted for 34 percent, PCs 16 percent, and set-top boxes 13 percent.

According to the study, the estimated installed base of televisions rose to 353 million in 2010 from 342 million in 2009, though unit energy consumption declined slightly because of the shift from legacy cathode ray tube TVs to more efficient flat-panel TVs. The energy efficiency gains of this trend were detailed in a separate study earlier this year, "Power Consumption Trends in Digital TVs."

"This landmark study provides a recent and comprehensive assessment of CE energy consumption, which is helpful to policy makers and others interested in efficiency trends," said Douglas Johnson, CEA vice president of technology policy. "Energy efficiency improvements in consumer electronics are driven by innovation, competition and market-oriented programs such as ENERGY STAR."

The study was commissioned by CEA and conducted by the Fraunhofer Center for Sustainable Energy Systems to quantify the electricity consumption of CE products in U.S. households in 2010. Devices covered in depth in the study include: audio-visual equipment, audio video receivers, Blu-ray players, DVD players, televisions, video game consoles, set-top boxes (cable, satellite, telco and stand-alone), computers and peripherals, PCs, computer speakers, monitors, networking equipment and printers.
"Given the quick pace of change in our industry, it is important to have a comprehensive assessment from time to time," Johnson added. "Too often we have seen unnecessary government mandates advanced on the basis of poor data and analysis. We hope this latest study is a welcome contribution to current and future policy and program discussions."

The Fraunhofer report follows a study released by the Brattle Group last month that estimates U.S. energy consumption will drop five to 15 percent by 2020. According to the authors, economists Ahmad Faruqui and Doug Mitarotonda, the drop will occur due to an increase in ENERGY STAR appliances, less usage of incandescent light bulbs, incentives that encourage users not to consume as much energy during peak hours, and other programs that raise awareness of people's energy consumption.

Affectionately known as "Mr. Baseball," Uecker is entering his 42nd year calling play-by-play on the Brewers Radio Network and Journal Broadcasting Group's WTMJ in Milwaukee. The former-player-turned-broadcaster has completed 30 seasons as the club's lead announcer, and he will celebrate his 57th year associated with professional baseball in 2012.

"Bob Uecker is a cultural icon whose remarkable talent and love for baseball have touched generations of fans," said NAB Executive Vice President of Radio John David. "We are excited to have him join the many esteemed broadcasters in the NAB's Hall of Fame."

Uecker's popularity with baseball fans, both on radio and television, afforded him other opportunities. He did color commentary and play-by-play announcing on the NBC and the ABC networks covering Monday Night Baseball, the League Championship Series, the World Series and MLB All-Star Games.

In addition to Uecker's baseball work, he was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and hosted two syndicated television shows, "Bob Uecker's Wacky World of Sports" and "Bob Uecker's War of the Stars." He also appeared as a spokesman for Miller Lite Beer, as the star of ABC Television's hit series "Mr. Belvedere" and in six feature films, including Major League and Major League II.

Uecker was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 2001 and honored with the National Baseball Hall of Fame's Ford C. Frick Award for broadcast excellence in 2003. The five-time Wisconsin Sportscaster of the Year was also inducted into the Wisconsin Sports Hall of Fame. Uecker was also a member of the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals World Series Championship team.

Previous NAB Radio Broadcasting Hall of Fame inductees include: Gerry House, Ron Chapman, Vin Scully, Jack Buck, Harry Carey, Larry Lujack, Rick Dees, Dick Purtan and Dick Orkin.

Specifically, the revised licensing program provides for a reduced rate – from US$0.04 to US$0.0375 per disc – for Read-Only Discs (DVD-Video Discs, DVD-ROM Discs, and DVD-Audio Discs) for licensees in good standing, i.e., licensees who have no overdue or incorrect royalty reports or overdue or underpaid royalties (including back royalties) and are otherwise in compliance with their license agreement with DVD6C. This reduced royalty rate will be available to such licensees for Read-Only Discs sold or otherwise transferred during any reporting period beginning on or after July 1, 2011, provided that the licensee was in good standing as of the due date for payment of royalties for the immediately preceding reporting period or, to qualify for the reduced rate for the second half of 2011, that the licensee entered into a new license agreement incorporating the revised royalty terms and was in good standing as of January 31, 2012. Licensees shall not be considered in good standing for any period for which an audit has revealed an underpayment of royalties of greater than 3%.

According to the Group, new or existing licensees interested in receiving the reduced royalty rate may enter into a new license agreement incorporating the revised royalty terms. Only those licensees who enter into a revised agreement will be eligible for the reduced royalty rate, and only those who sign the revised agreement by, and are in good standing on, January 31, 2012, will qualify for the reduced rate for the second half of 2011.

Interested parties will remain free to negotiate individual license agreements with DVD6C’s member companies, rather than entering into a single portfolio license or license for a category of products. The member companies have committed to provide such licenses under fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms and conditions.
For further information regarding the DVD6C licensing program, please visit the 6C web site.

“Smart TVs are now pushing into the mainstream, whereas previously smart-TV buyers were largely early adopters and those from high-income households,” said Kurt Scherf, VP, principal analyst, Parks Associates. “The combination of a maturing product ecosystem with great holiday deals is putting smart TVs within the reach of the American middle class.”

The firm’s Consumer Decision Process: Holiday Intentions study reports middle-class households with annual incomes of $50,000-$75,000 are responsible for the spike in smart-TV purchase intentions. Twenty percent of middle-income households intend to purchase smart TVs this holiday season, compared to only 12% of households with incomes above $75,000.

While solid consumer interest in smart TVs may be good news for equipment manufacturers, increasing consumer access to over-the-top (OTT) video content, through sites such as YouTube, is worrisome for pay-TV providers. According to the report, consumers who intend to purchase a smart TV this holiday season are also more likely than average pay-TV subscribers to cancel or downgrade their pay-TV service within the next 12 months.

“Smart TVs expand a household's available content choices without raising content costs,” Scherf said. “Consumers pay a premium for the device now, but our research indicates these purchases could be part of a long-term plan for many budget-conscious households to reduce their overall expenditures.”

Parks Associates will present “Smart TV 2012 Outlook” at CONNECTIONS™ Summit at CES on Tuesday, January 10, 2012. Parks Associates analysts and speakers from Rovi Corporation, LG Electronics, Best Buy, and LEVEL Studios will discuss television's evolving role as the foundation of the connected home and its influence on the in-home entertainment/information experience.

“When listening to voice mail messages or other recorded content such as college lectures, people frequently complain that words are spoken far too fast to comprehend or write down and, often times, find themselves having to rewind and playback the content multiple times in order to get the information they need,” said Allen H. Gharapetian, Senior Vice President of Marketing for SRS Labs. “SRS TruSpeed is the answer to this very common complaint, allowing our manufacturing partners to add the valuable benefit of controlling the playback speed of recorded content on virtually any device that is capable of audio playback, giving consumers the ultimate control over their recorded audio content.”

According to SRS, TruSpeed is an advanced new technology that can seamlessly vary the speed of playback for recorded content from one-half to as much as two times the original speed. By slowing down the recorded content while maintaining the original pitch and tone, users can better hear individual words, numbers and details, resulting in better interpretation and intelligibility of recorded content. Designed primarily for use in mobile devices such as smartphones, media tablets, PCs, and digital voice recorders, SRS TruSpeed is beneficial for several everyday activities including playback of recorded conversations, meetings and voicemail messages, as well as for more complex tasks, like foreign language learning, or video post-synchronization of dialog in movies and commercials.

According to JVC, the LSI enables shooting and recording Full HD, including both 2D and 3D images, and also ultra-high-resolution 4K2K images of approximately four times the resolution of Full HD. High-speed photography with high-speed processing also is possible. The LSI achieves low power consumption and enables lower system costs by incorporating all image-processing technologies for HD shooting, including camera-signal processing and video/still image codecs.

Consumers are increasingly demanding HD-level TVs, camcorders and other consumer electronics products, requiring manufacturers to offer products capable of rapidly processing extra-high-resolution images of the latest standards, including 4K2K. JVC’s LSI will advance this trend by introducing next-generation image-processing technologies for both professional and consumer camcorders.

Main Features
- High-speed processing of camera signals and video/still image codecs, including Full HD 2D/3D, 4K2K and high-speed photographs. In addition to 2.7 times faster processing than previous CPU, the new CPU supports various signal-processing technologies (see below) that have been fully revised for superior high-resolution image recording
- Signal processing
- Camera-signal processing is 1.7 times faster than JVC’s previous technology, enabling 8.3-megapixel video at 60 frames per second
- H.264 video processing is double JVC’s previous technology, enabling compression of 2.07-megapixel images at 60 frames per second
- JPEG still-image processing is 5.5 times faster than JVC’s previous technology, enabling compression at up to 8.3-megapixel images at 60 frames per second
- In addition to its image-signal processor, advanced image codecs and other image-processing technologies assembled into one chip, the LSI incorporates leading-edge 40nm process technology for high functionality, 40% reduction of power consumption and 50% reduction of system costs compared to previous LSIs. The result is a high-level LSI suited to a wide range of both consumer and professional products;
- All hardware and software is integrated into one platform, enabling products that incorporate this platform to be commercialized highly rapidly.

JVC said it will exhibit a new consumer camcorder with the LSI at the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), which will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada from January 6 to 9.

Until now, existing technologies required numerous still images from a video in order to improve a subject's resolution and enable its magnification. However, these images blur when magnified by more than 2 or 3 times (4 to 9 times the number of pixels). Therefore, significant demand remains for technologies that improve resolution and enable images to be magnified with greater clarity.

NEC said its new technologies create a super-resolution image from just one shot of a subject, such as a person's face or a car's license plate, by utilizing a database (library) of categorized images. This enables images to maintain fine details even when magnified by more than 4 times (more than 16 times the number of pixels), making it possible to distinguish small and distant subjects, which was difficult with conventional technologies. These new technologies are expected to be applied with surveillance cameras that cover such large areas as airports or traffic intersections.

Key features of these technologies are as follows:

- Creates images with fine details when highly magnified

These technologies create a library of images for subjects that are used to carry out super-resolution processing of images. In order to deal with subjects with different sizes, the library stores images with a variety of resolutions, and the best resolution images are automatically selected.

- Small size image library data

A small size image library of data that can be deployed with a variety of equipment is created from a large set of image data. Redundant images are quickly eliminated from the library, which makes the library as small as possible without affecting image quality.

Looking forward, NEC said it aims to expand the use of these technologies into a broad range of fields, including the enhancement of satellite and medical images, as the company actively promotes development of technologies that contribute to the safety and security of daily lives.

According to IP&TV, the awards are a symbol of recognition and respect in the industry. By winning an award previous winners have been able to showcase their products and services, stand out as a market leader amongst their competitors and peers and generate a lot of free advertising through headlines throughout the world and through Informa Telecoms & Media’s dedicated marketing activities.

Tufan Unal, Senior Director of Digital Media at Turkish ISP TTNET, which won Best IPTV, Hybrid or Connected TV Service Growth Achievement Award for its Web TV service 'Tivibu' in 2011, spoke to IPTV News about what the award meant to TTNET. Tufan claims, “It showed the industry that it is possible to reach the mass market with an innovative service. It is also testament to our efforts that we are on the right track with our strategies. The award gave everyone involved in creating and maintaining the service greater motivation to produce and contribute more.”

2012 successful entrants will be competing for the following award categories:

- Best TV Service Innovation

- Best Service Growth Achievement

- Best Multiscreen TV Service

- Best Multiscreen TV Solution

- Best Network Technology for IP TV

- Best Quality Improvement Solution

- Best Rights and Asset Management for TV

- Best Service Delivery Platform for IP TV-

- Best TV App

- Best Component or Enabler

- Best TV Consumer Device

Another 2011 winner, Simon Frostad, Chairman and co-founder of Bridge Technologies, also speaking to IPTV News explains why winning the Best Quality Improvement Solution for IP, Hybrid or Connected TV Award was important to his company. Simon says, “Recognition like this does help to highlight that the microVB is a one-of-a-kind product, and it really drives home the message that true end-to-end monitoring is possible – all the way from the satellite to the STB. Many digital media operators are still trying to get by without an adequate monitoring strategy, sometimes because they don’t understand the issues, and sometimes because they don’t know what the latest technology is capable of, so this award helps spread the word.”

Unlike music CDs, video DVDs are usually encrypted. It is currently a violation of the DMCA to break the encryption in order to copy the video onto another device.

Public Knowledge asked the Register of Copyright to approve an exemption for breaking the encryption so that a DVD could be copied, for noncommercial use, onto a consumer's device, such as a tablet computer or other item that doesn't have a DVD drive.

Public Knowledge's filing said: "The combination of widespread DVD ownership and trends away from DVD drives in devices leaves consumers with a dilemma: having invested tens, hundreds, or even thousands of dollars in motion picture DVDs, they are unable to play them on their newest devices. The only reasonable solution for these consumers is to copy the motion picture contained on the DVD into a format that can be viewed on the new device. Without the requested exemption, critical steps in the copying process violate the DMCA."

Public Knowledge said it made the recommendation as part of the Copyright Office's proceeding that takes place every three years to evaluate suggested exemptions to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).

“Our mission is to identify a consistent approach to controlling perceived loudness and frequency response from installation to installation, and from position to position within Digital Cinema installations worldwide,” McCarty said. “And, for this to be adopted as the formal reference for all contemporary dubbing stage recording and mixing activities, and ultimately as the unified method for film reproduction at home.”

Originally addressed at AES Technical Committee meetings in London in 2010, the initiative was inspired by the AES historical involvement in film sound. The lack of electroacoustical response reference data for Digital Cinema systems was underscored by Dr. Floyd Toole’s statement, “It seems that no real science has been done in terms of Digital Cinema Sound.” Dr. Toole, Vice Chair of the committee, is developing a ½ day seminar on these issues to be held in L.A. in March that will serve as the first meeting of the committee.

McCarty underscores the point that global acousticians, engineers and systems installers have expressed the need for a working standard. “In simple terms, what is recorded digitally in the studio does NOT sound the same at the theatrical end,” McCarty says. “As an art form our goal should be consistency of sound quality. Acoustical design of theaters is typically incorrect for sound reproduction in large rooms. Current soundtrack EQ reproduction curves are inconsistent with large-room audio practice and, with the rest of the audio industry. And, loudspeaker technology typically used in theaters has yet to be optimized for proper playback of wide bandwidth soundtracks. Basically,” McCarty concludes, “the current Digital Cinema Audio System is simply not the best we can do. The AES is committed to improving this situation.”

To participate in this event or to join the AESTC-SDCTV Committee contact: Brian McCarty.

“The USB-IF is thrilled to have added the USB Audio/Visual Device Class Definition to its robust set of specifications,” said Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF President & COO. “This addition further establishes USB as an all-inclusive, comprehensive solution for manufacturers and consumers, while maintaining the affordability and ease-of-use that have made USB so successful. Continued USB advancements along with the technology’s scalability pave the road ahead for USB.”

According to the association, USB provides consumers with an affordable, backward compatible solution that supplies not only data transfer, but also simultaneously delivers seamless audio/video capabilities, power, mass storage and more. In comparison, other technologies are designed only for a primary application. For example, many specifications are designed to just connect mobile phones and portable devices to HDTVs and displays. Additionally, the USB licensing obligation for the new Audio/Video Device Class Specification is on a reciprocal, zero-royalty basis. USB brings to market a complete solution, providing consumers with a myriad of use cases.

For more information on USB and the A/V Device Class Definition, please visit http://www.usb.org.

Scheduled for Tuesday, December 13th from 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. (EST), this webinar will be hosted by Manfrotto Distribution Product Manager, Will Holowka and is supported by the Manfrotto School of Xcellence. A must attend for any photography enthusiast, it will be run in real time on the official website of the school, www.manfrottoschoolofxcellence.com.

Webinar participants will have access to a number of exclusive advantages, including one‑on‑one interaction with the guest speakers, and automatic entry in a raffle to win one of two Rigging Remote Kits. Each kit includes: one C1575B Superclamp, a 155 Tilt Top and a C155 Safety Cable.

Registration for this webinar is now underway. To register, please visit here.

Developed through Intel and Micron's joint-development venture, IM Flash Technologies (IMFT), the new 20nm monolithic 128Gb device is the first in the industry to enable a terabit (Tb) of data storage in a fingertip-size package by using just eight die. It also provides twice the storage capacity and performance of the companies' existing 20nm 64Gb NAND device. The 128Gb device meets the high-speed ONFI 3.0 specification to achieve speeds of 333 megatransfers per second (MT/s), providing customers with a more cost-effective solid-state storage solution for today's slim, sleek product designs, including tablets, smartphones and high-capacity solid-state drives (SSDs.)

The companies also revealed that the key to their success with 20nm process technology is due to an innovative new cell structure that enables more aggressive cell scaling than conventional architectures. Their 20nm NAND uses a planar cell structure - the first in the industry - to overcome the inherent difficulties that accompany advanced process technology, enabling performance and reliability on par with the previous generation. The planar cell structure successfully breaks the scaling constraints of the standard NAND floating gate cell by integrating the first Hi-K/metal gate stack on NAND production.

The demand for high-capacity NAND flash devices is driven by three interconnected market trends: data storage growth, the shift to the cloud and the proliferation of portable devices. As digital content continues to grow, users expect that data to be available across a multitude of devices, all synchronized via the cloud. To effectively stream data, servers require high-performance, high-capacity storage that NAND delivers, and storage in mobile devices has consistently grown with increased access to data. High-definition video is one example of an application that requires high-capacity storage, since attempting to stream this type of data can create a poor user experience. These developments create great opportunities for high-performance, small-footprint storage, both in the mobile devices that consume the content and the storage servers that deliver it.

Intel and Micron noted that the December production ramp of their 20nm 64Gb NAND flash product will enable a rapid transition to the 128Gb device in 2012. Samples of the 128Gb device will be available in January, closely followed by mass production in the first half of 2012. Achievement of this milestone will further enable greater densities and overall fab output, while also helping the companies' development teams cultivate the expertise required to design complex storage solutions and refine future technologies.

“For more than 20 years, I have had the privilege to see technological innovation change the landscape of the home entertainment industry, and I thank you for this honor tonight,” said Shapiro in prepared acceptance remarks. “Through CEA and the International CES, I have seen firsthand the possibilities the industry holds for the future. Together with our partners at Variety, we can continue to produce and support innovators that are creating jobs and driving our nation once again towards economic prosperity.”

Shapiro is one of five inductees, including Best Buy CEO Brian Dunn; Hastings Entertainment President and CEO John Marmaduke; Nintendo of America; and the “Harry Potter” franchise.

Returning to the 2012 International CES from January 10-13, the second annual Entertainment Matters at CES program will shine the spotlight on the important relationship between technology manufacturers and the entertainment industry. Developed by and for the Hollywood community, Entertainment Matters at CES is designed to help film, television and digital entertainment professionals navigate the largest, most influential technology show in the world, through special tours, conference sessions, and events critical to the Hollywood community.

Entertainment industry professionals interested in registering for Entertainment Matters at CES should visit EMatCES.com. For more information on the 2012 International CES, visit CESweb.org.

The new module’s thin profile has been developed in response to the demand for portable mobile devices with ever more slender designs. The module also addresses the need for embedded cameras in these devices to deliver superior image quality and camera functionality, including connectivity to AV equipment and personal computers.

According to Sharp, the optical image stabilizer in this camera module uses a lens-shift system to control the lens inside the module. Sharp said its proprietary high-density packaging technology has made it possible to achieve the industry’s thinnest profile in this type of camera module, which is expected to help reduce the thickness of mobile devices such as smartphones.

High-quality images can be captured in a wide variety of situations that are typically prone to blurring caused by camera shake, such as shooting under dim light conditions or shooting moving subjects. The module also supports full HD (1080p) video capture, which enables smartphone owners to take high-definition video with reduced blurring and transfer the video to an LCD TV for viewing on a large screen.

The company said sample shipments of the RJ63YC100 will begin from December 2, 2011 at a price of approximately $150.00 ea.

- Imaging element 12.1-Megapixel, 1/3.2-type back-illuminated CMOS image sensor
- Module dimensions (including flexible PCB) 11.0 (W) x 11.0 (L) x 5.47 (H) mm
- Optical functions Optical image stabilization; autofocus
- Output format RAW (4-lane MIPI*2 serial output interface)
- Lens F number F 2.5; horizontal viewing angle: 61°

The 2010 National Broadband Plan observed that the use of spectrum-agile radios and other techniques can significantly increase the efficient use of radio spectrum to meet growing demand for this valuable resource. MMNs illustrate how advanced technology can enable the more efficient use of spectrum to deliver innovative new services.
Each year, millions of Americans suffer from spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, strokes, and various neuromusculoskeletal disorders. MMNs can provide effective therapy for these debilitating conditions by taking the place of damaged nerves to restore sensation, mobility, and other functions to limbs and other parts of the body. As the FCC also recognized in the 2010 National Broadband Plan, wireless technology can improve the quality of life for individuals and lower the cost of health care. Today’s action advances this broadband health care agenda.

The FCC initiated this proceeding in response to a petition from the Alfred Mann Foundation, which has built prototype MMN systems and conducted extensive testing that demonstrates that this new medical technology can reliably operate in shared spectrum to deliver vital therapies. According to the FCC, the action the commission takes today will allow devices such as those being tested by Alfred Mann to proceed on the path to patient use as well as inspire researchers to begin work on the next generation of implanted medical radio networks.

After technical analysis, the PCI-SIG has determined that 16 GT/s on copper, which will double the bandwidth over the PCIe 3.0 specification, is technically feasible at approximately PCIe 3.0 power levels. The data also confirms that a 16GT/s interconnect can be manufactured in mainstream silicon process technology and can be deployed with existing low-cost materials and infrastructure, while maintaining compatibility with previous generations of PCIe architecture. In addition, the PCI-SIG will investigate advancements in active and idle power optimizations, key issues facing the industry.

“The PCI Express architecture has become the de facto I/O technology within the industry, in large part due to PCI-SIG’s dedication to I/O innovation and the insight of those who defined earlier versions in such an extensible manner,” said Nathan Brookwood, research fellow at Insight 64. “Like its predecessors, the PCIe 4.0 architecture is well positioned to preserve the industry's investments in earlier generations of PCI Express specifications while extending the technology in a manner that enables new applications and usage models.”

Approximately 24 billion lanes of PCIe have shipped in the marketplace since its introduction−a strong testament to the industry’s reliance on PCIe architecture as an open bus standard now and for the future. This next-generation PCIe architecture, while doubling the data rate, will maintain its position as a low-cost, high-performance I/O technology. PCIe 4.0 technology will maintain backward compatibility with previous PCIe architectures and provide the optimum design point for high-volume platform I/O implementations across a wide range of existing and emerging applications. The PCIe 4.0 specification will address the many applications pushing for increased bandwidth at a low cost including server, workstation, desktop PC, notebook PC, tablets, embedded systems, peripheral devices, high-performance computing markets and more.

“Experts in the PCIe Electrical Workgroup carefully analyzed a number of target bit rates for the next generation of PCIe architecture, taking into consideration several key factors, including our ability to continue using low-cost materials. We have concluded that 16 GT/s is a feasible technical solution that satisfies our member companies’ requirements,” said Al Yanes, PCI-SIG chairman. “While the preliminary analysis is encouraging, a lot more challenging work lies ahead in developing the specifications. The PCI-SIG looks forward to providing our members with a specification that not only satisfies their high performance requirements but also meets their power, cost and compatibility goals.”

According to the association, the final PCIe 4.0 specifications, including form factor specification updates, are expected to be available sometime in the 2014-2015 timeframe.

HDCP is now found in almost every HDMI or DVI-compliant TV or computer flat screen. It serves to pass digital content from a protected source media, such as a Blu-ray, to the screen via a fully encrypted channel. There have been concerns about the security of the HDCP system for some time. In 2010, an HDCP master key, which is intended to form the secret core element of the encryption system, appeared briefly on a website. In response, the manufacturer Intel announced that HDCP still represented an effective protection component for digital entertainment, as the production of an HDCP-compatible chip using this master key would be highly complex and expensive.

That caught the attention of Bochum’s researchers. “We developed an independent hardware solution instead, based on a cheap FPGA board” explained Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tim Güneysu, who set to work with the final year student Benno Lomb. “We were able to tap the HDCP encrypted data streams, decipher them and send the digital content to an unprotected screen via a corresponding HDMI 1.3-compatible receiver.” We used the commercial ATLYS board from the company Digilent with a Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA, which has the necessary HDMI interfaces and a serial RS232 port for communication.

In their studies, the aim was never to find a way of making illegal copies. “Rather, our intention was to fundamentally investigate the safety of the HDCP system and to financially assess the actual cost for the complete knockout” reported Prof. Güneysu. “The fact that we have achieved our goal in a degree thesis and with material costs of approximately 200 Euro definitely does not speak for the safety of the current HDCP system.”

This “man-in-the-middle” attack in which a middleman (the ATLYS FPGA board) manipulates the entire communication between the Blu-ray player and the flat screen TV without being detected is of little interest for pirates in practice due to the availability of simpler alternatives. The scientists do, however, envisage a real threat to security-critical systems, for example at authorities or in the military. Although Intel is already offering a new security system, HDCP 2.0, due to the backward compatibility, the weak point will also remain a problem in coming years, concluded Prof. Güneysu.

The team said it will be presenting their results next week at the international security conference ReConFig 2011 in Cancun, Mexico.

Bain’s survey of 3,000 consumers in France, the United Kingdom, the United States, China and India suggests that a high degree of consumer enthusiasm may have limited incremental profit potential for businesses unless new innovative ways for experiencing content are developed.

“The permanent media revolution continues,” said Patrick Behar, head of Bain’s Media & Entertainment Practice in Europe and lead author of the study. “But media and entertainment companies must pursue aggressive content development and diversification strategies to unlock new consumer spending.”

Bain finds that the biggest shift in the connected content experience will come in video. Half of respondents in the US and UK intend to rely more on search engines to find content, while one-third plan to use their network of friends to choose their favorite “must see TV.” The latter figure jumps to 45 percent for consumers in India and China, although lack of infrastructure will limit the ability of many to view video on connected devices, particularly in India. Fictional programming also lends itself particularly well to such a transition according to the survey, and our increasing connectedness with the Internet could also accelerate the development of short formats born on the web. Both amateur and professional webisodes have attracted sizeable, albeit still limited, audiences online. Thirty to 45 percent of those surveyed in Western markets expressed interest in such formats on connected devices, though nearly two-thirds are not willing to pay. In contrast, approximately three-quarters of those surveyed in India and China expressed interest in webisodes.

“A majority of consumers expressed an interest in Internet video at the expense of traditional TV channels,” said Laurent Colombani, head of Bain’s Media & Entertainment Practice in France and co-author of the study.

Video games are fertile ground for creating innovative content experiences. Forty percent of those surveyed in Western markets use a connected console or terminal and more than 60 percent of the occasional players surveyed said that they were likely to increase their game playing. Yet a generation gap will remain amongst gamers－while 60 percent of those under age 35 see themselves playing more on connected devices, fewer than 25 percent of those older than 55 agree.

Other cultural and entertainment activities, such as live entertainment and visual arts, currently have limited online options. While approximately two-thirds of Western consumers expressed strong interest in connected cultural experiences, fewer than one-third envision spending more time on such activities. Many live performances attract only small, niche audiences, which restricts the availability of options that can be produced profitably. Along similar lines, three-quarters of those planning to visit museums more frequently due to connected content are already regular visitors, whereas fewer than 18 percent of non-visitors intend to allocate more time to cultural institutions due to connected experiences. That said, roughly four times as many people said that they were willing to pay for a smart phone/tablet application as an improved museum audioguide than those paying for a museum audioguide today.

“Significant change lies ahead for the media and entertainment industry as content platforms, new entrants, and incumbents battle for profits and market share,” concluded Behar.

The CAF—with an annual budget set at no more than $4.5 billion, the same as the current universal service funding level—is expected to help connect 7 million Americans to high-speed Internet and voice in rural America over the next six years, generating approximately 500,000 jobs and $50 billion in economic growth over this period. Main Street businesses across the country will benefit from the opportunity to sell to new customers throughout the U.S.

The Order adopted by the FCC recognizes the growing importance of mobile broadband and makes it an independent universal service objective for the first time. Dedicated support to expand mobile broadband nationwide to tens of thousands of road miles where millions of Americans live, work, and travel will be provided through a new Mobility Fund.

The Order also phases down antiquated, opaque, regulated charges for the exchange of voice traffic among carriers—known as intercarrier compensation—and transitions to a simplified, uniform “bill-and-keep” framework, which removes hidden subsidies on consumers’ bills, increases efficiency, and eliminates impediments to the deployment of modern networks. Intercarrier compensation reform will provide benefits to all Americans through improved service and lower costs.

According to the FCC, the Connect America Fund will put America on the path to universal broadband and advanced mobile coverage without increasing costs. By eliminating waste and targeting support where it is most needed, these reforms keep universal service funding on a firm budget, and they will ensure rigorous accountability for Fund recipients.

The rules adopted as part of these reforms should take effect by January 1, 2012. The full Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking includes an executive summary highlighting key reforms.

According to Motorola, approximately 99 percent of the shares voting at the meeting voted in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement, which represented approximately 74 percent of Motorola Mobility’s total outstanding shares of common stock as of the October 11, 2011 record date for the Special Meeting.

Sanjay Jha, chairman and CEO of Motorola Mobility, said, “We are pleased and gratified by the strong support we have received from our stockholders, with more than 99 percent of the voting shares voting in support of the transaction. We look forward to working with Google to realize the significant value this combination will bring to our stockholders and all the new opportunities it will provide our dedicated employees, customers, and partners.”

As previously announced on August 15, 2011, Motorola Mobility and Google entered into a definitive agreement for Google to acquire Motorola Mobility for $40.00 per share in cash, or a total of approximately $12.5 billion. The Company previously disclosed that it expected the merger to close by the end of 2011 or early 2012. While the Company continues to work to complete the transaction as quickly as possible, given the schedule of regulatory filings, it currently believes that the close is expected to occur in early 2012.

Motorola added that the merger is subject to various closing conditions, and it is possible that the failure to timely meet such conditions or other factors outside of the Company’s control could delay or prevent the Company from completing the merger altogether.

NRSC-R300, Program Associated Data (PAD) Field Length Study, was developed by the Radio Broadcast Data System (RBDS) Subcommittee, chaired by Barry Thomas, vice president of engineering, Lincoln Financial Media. The principal effort was conducted within the Subcommittee's RDS Usage Working Group (RUWG), chaired by Steve Davis, senior vice president, Engineering and Capital Management, Clear Channel Radio.

An extensive PAD database developed by Clear Channel Radio was used as the basis for this study, from which over 149,000 program items were considered. The resulting Artist, Title and Album string lengths analyses are summarized in the Report using histograms and cumulative distribution functions (CDFs). This information is applicable to PAD usage in both HD Radio and RDS systems, and will help broadcasters and receiver manufacturers understand how to best transmit and display PAD.

This new NRSC Report is available free-of-charge on the NRSC's website. Additional information about the NRSC, including information on becoming a member, is also available on the website.

A team of engineers has created an electrode for lithium-ion batteries -- rechargeable batteries such as those found in cellphones and iPods -- that allows the batteries to hold a charge up to 10 times greater than current technology. Batteries with the new electrode also can charge 10 times faster than current batteries.

The researchers combined two chemical engineering approaches to address two major battery limitations -- energy capacity and charge rate -- in one fell swoop. In addition to better batteries for cellphones and iPods, the technology could pave the way for more efficient, smaller batteries for electric cars.

A paper describing the research is published by the journal Advanced Energy Materials.

“We have found a way to extend a new lithium-ion battery’s charge life by 10 times,” said Harold H. Kung, lead author of the paper. “Even after 150 charges, which would be one year or more of operation, the battery is still five times more effective than lithium-ion batteries on the market today.”

Lithium-ion batteries charge through a chemical reaction in which lithium ions are sent between two ends of the battery, the anode and the cathode. As energy in the battery is used, the lithium ions travel from the anode, through the electrolyte, and to the cathode; as the battery is recharged, they travel in the reverse direction.

With current technology, the performance of a lithium-ion battery is limited in two ways. Its energy capacity -- how long a battery can maintain its charge -- is limited by the charge density, or how many lithium ions can be packed into the anode or cathode. Meanwhile, a battery’s charge rate -- the speed at which it recharges -- is limited by another factor: the speed at which the lithium ions can make their way from the electrolyte into the anode.

In current rechargeable batteries, the anode -- made of layer upon layer of carbon-based graphene sheets -- can only accommodate one lithium atom for every six carbon atoms. To increase energy capacity, scientists have previously experimented with replacing the carbon with silicon, as silicon can accommodate much more lithium: four lithium atoms for every silicon atom. However, silicon expands and contracts dramatically in the charging process, causing fragmentation and losing its charge capacity rapidly.

Currently, the speed of a battery’s charge rate is hindered by the shape of the graphene sheets: they are extremely thin -- just one carbon atom thick -- but by comparison, very long. During the charging process, a lithium ion must travel all the way to the outer edges of the graphene sheet before entering and coming to rest between the sheets. And because it takes so long for lithium to travel to the middle of the graphene sheet, a sort of ionic traffic jam occurs around the edges of the material.

Now, Kung’s research team has combined two techniques to combat both these problems. First, to stabilize the silicon in order to maintain maximum charge capacity, they sandwiched clusters of silicon between the graphene sheets. This allowed for a greater number of lithium atoms in the electrode while utilizing the flexibility of graphene sheets to accommodate the volume changes of silicon during use.

“Now we almost have the best of both worlds,” Kung said. “We have much higher energy density because of the silicon, and the sandwiching reduces the capacity loss caused by the silicon expanding and contracting. Even if the silicon clusters break up, the silicon won’t be lost.”

Kung’s team also used a chemical oxidation process to create miniscule holes (10 to 20 nanometers) in the graphene sheets -- termed “in-plane defects” -- so the lithium ions would have a “shortcut” into the anode and be stored there by reaction with silicon. This reduced the time it takes the battery to recharge by up to 10 times.

This research was all focused on the anode; next, the researchers will begin studying changes in the cathode that could further increase effectiveness of the batteries. They also will look into developing an electrolyte system that will allow the battery to automatically and reversibly shut off at high temperatures -- a safety mechanism that could prove vital in electric car applications.

The technology could be seen in the marketplace in the next three to five years, the researchers said.

Pursuant to the definitive agreements, all of the issued shares of certain subsidiaries of Hitachi, Sony and Toshiba engaged in the small- and medium-sized display business (i.e., Hitachi Displays, Ltd., Sony Mobile Display Corporation and one other Sony subsidiary, and Toshiba Mobile Display Co., Ltd., collectively referred to as the “Subject Subsidiaries”) and other assets are planned to be transferred to Japan Display, in which each of the four companies INCJ, Sony, Toshiba and Hitachi will invest. INCJ, as a public-private partnership that provides financial, technological and management support for next-generation businesses, will invest a total of 200 billion yen in Japan Display in exchange for shares to be newly issued to INCJ by Japan Display as a third-party allotment.

According to INCJ, Japan Display is expected to utilize the world’s best high value-added technologies of the Subject Subsidiaries and establish new production lines by utilizing funds provided by INCJ, in order to meet the market demand for high value-added products. In addition, through efficient use of the existing production capabilities of the Subject Subsidiaries, Japan Display aims to improve its cost competitiveness to solidify its position as a global leading company in the small- and medium-sized display market.

The business is scheduled to begin operations in Spring of 2012, subject to the receipt of any necessary government approvals.

One-Blue administers the licensing program for patents essential to Blu-ray Disc products and is the joint licensing agent of its licensors. For hardware and software products, the product license covers Blu-ray Disc, DVD and CD essential patents; for disc products, the product license covers Blu-ray Disc essential patents. One-Blue promotes itself as an innovative patent pool that levels the playing field, reduces costs, and fosters fair use of the patent system in the entire optical disc sector.

“One-Blue is proud to announce that LGE has joined our licensing program as a licensor. LGE is a pioneer in the development and implementation of Blu-ray Disc technology and contributes many important patents to our pool”, says Roel Kramer, CEO of One-Blue.

“LGE is pleased to join One-Blue as a licensor. We take pride in the contribution that LGE has made in Blu-ray Disc technology and the many patents resulting from such technical contribution,” said Jeong-Hwan Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of IP Center of LG.

One-Blue added that any holder of patents essential to optical formats used in Blu-ray Disc products is invited to submit patents for evaluation and join the licensing program as a new licensor. Any company interested in obtaining licenses for one or more Blu-ray Disc products under the One-Blue product licensing program is requested to contact One-Blue.

The workshop, titled "Motion Imagery Strategies in Broadcast", will examine how broadcasters strategically plan and manage the production of content for complex "Pooled" events. The process involves sorting through content from multiple sources, producing, managing and distributing multimedia content and full motion video (FMV) in minutes.

Broadcast industry professionals (editorial and technical) will join government experts to discuss topics such as best practices, workflow, user generated content, hardware needs, staff training and more. Case studies will also look at strategic planning, coordination, tradecraft skills and infrastructure required to produce accurate and compelling content for various audiences.

Presenters will include:

- Paul DePietro, coordinating director, ESPN Event Operations
- Peter Doherty, senior producer, NAC/Telecon Operators News, ABC Television
- Gary Nadler, general manager digital & wireless, ABC TV
- Frank Governale, vice president of operations, CBS News
- Mel Olinsky, director of bureau operations, CBS News
- Donnie Self,chief, senior assimilation division, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency
- Donald Hudson, technical director, USAF

"Motion Imagery Strategies in Broadcast" will be held on December 1 from 8:00 - 5:00 at NAB headquarters in Washington, DC. For additional information and to register online go to http://www.nabshow.com/2012/about/motion-strategies.asp.

While PC remains the dominant screen for online viewing overall, transferring this experience to the big screen is becoming increasingly popular and is a key driver of consumption of filmed entertainment delivered via IP. Twelve percent of US households use games consoles to watch online content, more than the percentage of US households that connect PCs to TV via HDMI, according to a recent report from the Strategy Analytics Connected Home Devices (CHD) service, “Multiscreen Connected TV: Assessing Device Usage and Ownership.”

In the report, Strategy Analytics found that 65 percent of US-based weekly Xbox 360 users under the age of 25 access online TV shows and movies primarily via games consoles–even more than they do on desktop or notebook PC screens. “These findings indicate significant levels of consumer demand for such services. The upcoming Xbox TV launch for the holiday season will demonstrate an expansion of the partnership between the games consoles and the online TV and video industries,” says Jia Wu, Senior Analyst. Games consoles have already become the key media hub in US households.”

Ed Barton, Director of Digital Media Strategies (DMS) at Strategy Analytics, added, “Device-led digital content services are proliferating in the modern entertainment ecosystem. Both manufacturers and service providers are scrambling to optimize their strategies. Xbox Live content expansion addresses the desires of an increasingly demanding customer base and offers more reasons than ever to use the Microsoft box as opposed to its myriad alternatives. Competition will intensify through 2012 as rival opportunities are brought to market.”

While the financial details were not disclosed, Kodak will have continuing access to the image sensor technology involved in this transaction for use in its own products. Kodak has previously communicated that it would sell assets that are not central to its transformation to a profitable, sustainable digital company. This sale is aligned with that strategy to generate cash to complete the transformation.

Included in the sale is a 263,000 square foot facility in Eastman Business Park in Rochester, N.Y., that houses manufacturing and research facilities.

According to Kodak, the ISS business develops, manufactures, and markets the world’s highest performance solid state image sensor devices. Over the past 30 years, Kodak’s image sensors have delivered unrivaled image quality and innovative features for use in a broad range of demanding imaging applications. From precision manufacturing inspection to digital radiography, from earth imaging satellites to traffic monitoring, from the world’s highest performing studio photography cameras to DNA sequencing systems, customers around the world rely on high-performance products from ISS in the most mission-critical applications.

Platinum Equity is a global M&A& firm specializing in the merger, acquisition and operation of companies that provide services and solutions to customers in a broad range of business markets.

“Image Sensor Solutions is a business that is well-positioned in the high-performance imaging markets in which it participates,” said Pradeep Jotwani, President, Consumer Digital Imaging Group, and Senior Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. “This sale maximizes shareholder value by obtaining a full and fair valuation for this business, and allows Kodak to increase its financial flexibility.”

Jotwani noted that Platinum Equity brings significant financial and operational resources to the ISS business and a comprehensive plan to ensure its continued success.

“Platinum Equity is an ideal acquirer of Kodak’s ISS business because they are committed to the success of the business for the benefit of customers and employees,” Jotwani said. “I’m very pleased that we have such a favorable outcome for all of our constituents.”

Platinum Equity focuses on acquiring businesses that can benefit from the firm’s extensive in-house capability and expertise in transition, integration and operations.

“This is a great opportunity to acquire a business with an impressive record for delivering innovative solutions to customers around the world,” said Brian Wall, the partner at Platinum Equity who led the team pursuing the acquisition. “The ISS business has a strong management team with the right vision for leading the company into the future. We share their commitment to product development and customer service and are committed to helping the business realize its full potential.”

Wall said Platinum Equity’s experience managing complex transitions from corporate parent companies will benefit employees, customers and other partners.

“Our operations group will work hand-in-hand with the management team to ensure a seamless transition while allowing the organization to stay focused on delivering world class imaging products and solutions,” said Wall. “We are proud to have forged a unique divestiture solution in partnership with Kodak that serves the best interests of everyone involved.”

Compound solar cells utilize photo-absorption layers made from compounds consisting of two or more elements, such as indium and gallium. Because of their high conversion efficiency, compound solar cells have been used primarily on space satellites.

Since 2000, Sharp has been pursuing research and development of a triple-junction compound solar cell that achieves high conversion efficiency by stacking three photo-absorption layers. In 2009, Sharp succeeded in improving cell conversion efficiency to 35.8% based on proprietary technology that enabled efficient fabrication of a stacked triple-layer structure with InGaAs (indium gallium arsenide) as the bottom layer.

According to the company, this latest increase in conversion efficiency was achieved by improving the maximum power output of the solar cell by reducing the resistance of the junction areas necessary to connect the solar cell layers in series.

Sharp said it achieved the breakthrough as a result of a research and development initiative promoted by Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) on the theme of “R&D on Innovative Solar Cells.” Measurement of the value of 36.9%, which sets a new record for the world’s highest non-concentrating conversion efficiency, was confirmed at the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST).

In the future, processes for transferring ultra-thin photovoltaic layers onto film substrates will make lightweight, flexible solar cells possible. Sharp added that the goal in the years to come is to take full advantage of this latest development success for use in concentrator-type solar cells, as well as for practical applications such as on space satellites and for flight craft and land vehicles.

According to Canon, movie recording has been a standard feature in all newly introduced Canon EOS-series digital SLR cameras since the launch of the EOS 5D Mark II in November 2008. Coupled with the diverse array of lenses in Canon’s current interchangeable EF lens lineup, this feature has heralded rich visual expressive possibilities, delivering such characteristics as beautiful image blur and low noise while also garnering kudos for the mobility and maneuverability made possible through the cameras’ compact and lightweight body designs.

Canon said the impressive images created by the combination of Canon EOS digital SLR cameras and EF lenses, known as “EOS Movies,” have already earned their screen credentials on the sets of multiple productions, from television commercials and artist promotion videos to episodic dramas and even major motion pictures.

The announcement coincides with the launch of the Cinema EOS System, marking Canon’s full-fledged entry into the digital high-resolution production industry. The new professional digital cinematography system spans the lens, digital cinema camera and digital SLR camera product categories.

The company added that further details regarding the new EOS digital SLR camera currently under development, including the product name, specifications and scheduled launch date, have yet to be decided.

Bond is a camera-top cellular bonding solution that fits in the palm of your hand. The device supports up to five 3G or 4G modems simultaneously from multiple carriers worldwide and is designed to seamlessly integrate with Teradek's award-winning Cube video encoder. This combination incorporates cutting edge technologies such as low power hardware H.264 HD video compression, advanced streaming options like RTMP and MPEG-TS, and Teradek's Adaptive Internet Streaming technology, which dynamically adjusts bit rate and buffering in real time to handle volatile network conditions. To manage Bond's multiple data streams Teradek has developed Sputnik, a free proprietary de-bonding software solution that runs on any Linux server or is hosted in the cloud to reassemble data into a single RTMP or MPEG-TS stream. This allows users to transmit video to any broadcast decoder, including Teradek's SDI Cube decoder, or straight to the web via many popular CDNs.

"We designed Bond to overcome the bulky hardware and high cost commitments that are common with existing bonding solutions," said Nicol Verheem, CEO of Teradek. "Bond's small size, ease of use, and affordability makes it an ideal solution for ENG backhaul, sports broadcasts, and live events coverage. Bond allows enterprise content providers to expand the number of field reporters their satellite truck fleet can support and enables independent content producers to enter this market as well. We are very excited to liberate live video production this way."

According to Teradeck, Bond will be on display in Teradek's booth 14 & 15 at Streaming Media West and booth 342 for Worship Facilities Expo. Bond is available now for evaluation and will ship in quantity December 2011 for $2490 each. Sputnik is a free download available from Teradek.

The FNPRM seeks comment on proposals that would reduce burdens on the broadcast industry. The Further Notice proposes to streamline the information broadcasters will need to provide by requiring the Commission to import information already filed with the FCC, and exempts certain items from being posted online such as letters and emails from the public. It further seeks comment on posting sponsorship identification information, now disclosed only on-air, and shared services agreements online as part of the public inspection file hosted by the Commission.

The FCC’s said the action is consistent with the government-wide effort to increase transparency, and the FCC’s broader efforts to modernize data and move its processes from paper to digital. The Commission seeks comment on any other revisions or additions to its rules that would make the information about broadcast service more accessible to the public, improving the dialogue between broadcast stations and the communities they serve while reducing compliance burdens on broadcasters.

Facilitated by the National Association of Broadcasters, the Coalition unites organizations that have expressed concern that legislative and regulatory initiatives currently under discussion in Washington could jeopardize the future of over-the-air broadcasting. In addition to promoting local broadcasters' ability to reach all members of their communities, Coalition members promote policies that preserve viewer access to new initiatives made possible by the analog-to-digital transition. Completed two years ago, the DTV transition has enabled broadcasters to offer new services such as high-definition programming, digital multicast channels and mobile DTV.

"Broadcasters are just now unveiling the new innovative services made possible by the DTV transition, which has enabled the promotion of more community voices on local television," said National Association of Broadcasters President and CEO Gordon Smith. "The members of this coalition understand the importance and benefit of preserving this expansion of consumer choice on television. We look forward to working with the Coalition to help policymakers understand the enduring value of broadcasting and ensuring that our best and brightest days are still ahead."

The members of the Coalition are: Antennas Direct, Bounce TV, The Center for Asian American Media, County Executives of America, The Country Network, Digitenna, DLT Entertainment Limited, LATV Networks & American Latino Syndication, Luken Communications, MHz Networks, Native American Public Telecommunications, New York Television Festival, Open Mobile Video Coalition, Pacific Islanders in Communications, Qubo, This TV and Vme Media.

"The Coalition represents a broad range of interests invested in strengthening broadcasters' ability to deliver high-quality local news, weather, sports and emergency information," said Smith. "We anticipate the organization will grow considerably over time as broadcasting evolves onto new mobile platforms and local TV stations continue to expand programming choices."

The joint venture will be responsible for the design, manufacturing, distribution, marketing and sales of Philips’ Television worldwide, with the exception of mainland China, India, United States, Canada, Mexico and certain countries in South America. As part of this transaction, the Philips Television innovation and manufacturing sites, commercial organizations, headquarters and employee base of 3,500 will be transferred into the joint venture.

Key Terms and Conditions of the Transaction:

- Philips will grant the joint venture the right to use the Philips brand for an initial term of five years with an automatic
renewal for another five years, subject to the joint venture meeting certain key performance indicators.

- As of the second year of the license term, the annual royalty payable will be 2.2% of sales with a minimum of EUR 50
million per year.

- Upon completion of the transaction, TPV will obtain 70% of the shares in the joint venture for a deferred purchase
price. This price will be calculated as 70% of an amount equal to four times the joint venture’s average annual EBIT.
This right can be exercised at any time as of three years from the completion of the transaction. In addition, at any
time after six years from completion, Philips has an option to sell the remaining 30% shareholding in the joint venture
for a consideration calculated as 30% of the same formula.

- Both shareholders will provide funding to the joint venture on a pro-rata basis. This consists of a EUR 100 million
equity contribution and EUR 170 million subordinated shareholder loans. Depending on the funding need of the joint
venture additional EUR 200 million senior shareholder loans can be made available.

- Given that pre-closing customer receivables will remain with Philips, Philips will provide a nine-month EUR 100 million
senior bridge loan to the joint venture. Any potential extension beyond the nine months of this loan will be on a pro
rata basis.

- Philips will provide a EUR 100 million subordinated loan to TPV.

- Within the first two years, Philips will provide EUR 185 million one-off advertising and promotion support for the TV
business as an investment in the Philips brand. This amount is part of the deal result.

“I am pleased that we have now signed the Television joint venture agreement with TPV. This agreement is important for both Philips and TPV and provides clarity to our consumers, trade partners and employees,” said Philips Chief Executive Officer Frans van Houten. “This joint venture leverages the strengths of both companies to improve the position of Philips Television in the market. It enables Philips to focus on expanding market leadership positions across our Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting sectors.”

According to Philips, closing of the deal, which is expected at the end of the first quarter of 2012, will take place after necessary merger clearance, governmental and TPV shareholder approvals are obtained. As a result of this transaction, Philips will report a pre-tax negative deal result in the fourth quarter of approximately EUR 270 million in addition to approximately EUR 110 million that was already charged in previous quarters. This result includes separation costs of approximately EUR 100 million.

In the coming years Singulus said it expects significant growth in demand for Blu-ray discs. According to the German Association of Audiovisual Media, for the high-definition format exceeded the triple-digit million Euro mark for the first time in Germany with Blu-ray sales of € 104 million (€ 82 million in 2010) in the first half of 2011. Currently, more than every sixth Euro of sales is generated with sales of Blu-ray discs. Since most of the new movies like the new Harry Potter in 2D and 3D, the Star Wars Saga, X-Factor for example and many more are only released in the second half of 2011, the company projects a further increase of Blu-ray sales figures in the next couple of months. More than 5,500 movies are currently available on Blu-ray disc in Germany, by the end of the year, a further 849 Blu-ray discs are due to be released.

The US is currently the biggest sales market for Blu-ray discs. According to studies of Digital Entertainment Group (USA), the sales figures in the US Blu-ray market grew by 10% in the first half-year of 2011 compared with the same period one year ago. Futuresource Consulting forecasts a global production of 811 million Blu-ray discs in 2011 – an increase of 38% compared with 2010. In the US, the biggest Blu-ray market, the production volume is even set to expand by 49%. Similar growth figures are projected for Europe in 2011. In addition, the market research institute expects the minimum required global production capacity of machines for the manufacturing of Blu-ray discs to grow from about 1.274 billion discs in 2010 to 1.736 billion discs in 2011. Futuresource expects 2.952 billion discs by 2015.

The test will be conducted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The test will start at approximately 2 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) and may last up to three and a half minutes.

The purpose of the test is to help government organizations and EAS Participants (radio and TV broadcast stations, cable operators and satellite radio and TV) to determine the reliability of the EAS system. It is not a "pass-fail" exercise. However, the first National EAS Test will serve as a benchmark for measuring the effectiveness of the EAS system, and for improvements in the EAS system going forward. FEMA and the FCC intend to conduct National EAS Tests on an annual basis (although not always on November 9).

Broadcasters are the "backbone" of the EAS system. It is critical that radio and television stations put their best foot forward during the test. Therefore, all radio and television stations should prepare in advance for the National EAS Test.

To that end, here is a simple checklist of useful, important information to assist your station during every phase of the test.

Pre-Test

- Check your EAS equipment. Stations should immediately check the functionality of their EAS equipment (encoder/decoder, end-to-end connections).

- Check your EAS Sources. Stations should immediately review the sources they monitor for EAS messages, such as Primary Entry Point (PEP) stations, Local Primary (LP-1 or LP-2) stations or National Public Radio's EAS Cue (Squawk) Channel. Stations should check their ability to receive messages from these sources and retransmit those messages.

- Local Coordination. Stations should coordinate with their local EAS Participant community (such as your state broadcasters association) for any locally-relevant information related to the nationwide EAS test.

- FEMA EAS Toolkit. FEMA has produced an EAS Test Toolkit that provides useful information on the history and role of EAS, and key messages, talking points, and FAQs regarding the nationwide EAS test. Click here to download the toolkit.

- Public Awareness. The broadcasting industry has pledged to help increase public awareness of the nationwide EAS test. NAB has worked with FEMA and the FCC on the production and distribution of public service announcements (PSAs) designed to promote awareness.

EAS Test Day

- Nationwide EAS Test Handbook. The FCC has produced an EAS Handbook designed for use during the nationwide EAS test.

Please consult the FCC's Public Notice announcing the Handbook for further information. Stations should use this new guide, not the preexisting "EAS Handbook" you already have, for the National EAS Test on November 9, 2011.

- FEMA EAS Best Practices Guide
Television EAS Slide. The text crawl that is automatically generated by your EAS equipment when it receives the live code used for the National EAS Test will not indicate that the November 9 event is only a test. Television stations should insert a background slide behind the crawl clearly indicating that this is only a test. Stations may tailor their own graphic using similar text if desired.

Therefore, NAB has worked with FEMA and the FCC to design on-screen language for television stations to insert during the nationwide EAS test. Television stations should either insert this slide or tailor their own visual slide using the text indicated on this slide.

- Radio. Sample text of the EAS Test audio message can be found in the FCC's EAS Handbook.

Post-Test

- Reporting. All EAS Participants must report to the FCC on the results of their participation in the nationwide EAS test within 45 days after the test, including whether, and from whom, they received the alert message and whether they rebroadcast it. This information will remain confidential.

Please consult the FCC's Public Notice announcing the Reporting System for further information. This Public Notice also contains information on how to submit your test results data in paper form.

According to Sony, the transaction gives the company an opportunity to rapidly integrate smartphones into its broad array of network-connected consumer electronics devices – including tablets, televisions and personal computers - for the benefit of consumers and the growth of its business. The transaction also provides Sony with a broad intellectual property (IP) cross-licensing agreement covering all products and services of Sony as well as ownership of five essential patent families relating to wireless handset technology.

As part of the transaction, Ericsson will receive a cash consideration of EUR 1.05 billion.

During the past ten years the mobile market has shifted focus from simple mobile phones to rich smartphones that include access to internet services and content. The transaction is a logical strategic step that takes into account the nature of this evolution and its impact on the marketplace.

This means that the synergies for Ericsson in having both a world leading technology and telecoms services portfolio and a handset operation are decreasing. Today Ericsson’s focus is on the global wireless market as a whole; how wireless connectivity can benefit people, business and society beyond just phones. Consistent with that mission, by setting up a wireless connectivity initiative, Ericsson and Sony will work to drive and develop the market’s adoption of connectivity across multiple platforms.

“Ten years ago when we formed the joint venture, thereby combining Sony’s consumer products knowledge with Ericsson’s telecommunication technology expertise, it was a perfect match to drive the development of feature phones. Today we take an equally logical step as Sony acquires our stake in Sony Ericsson and makes it a part of its broad range of consumer devices. We will now enhance our focus on enabling connectivity for all devices, using our R&D and industry leading patent portfolio to realize a truly connected world” said
Hans Vestberg, President and CEO of Ericsson.

The transaction, which has been approved by appropriate decision-making bodies of both companies, is expected to close in January 2012, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

According to the association, the current HDMI licensing model provides access to critical intellectual property at a minimal cost for those who adopt and implement the HDMI Specification. For that reason, Adopters of the HDMI 1.4 Specification will see no change in their day-to-day business as it relates to their interaction with HDMI Licensing, LLC. Current Adopters who wish to license future versions of the Specifications will be able to do so under a similar model.

“With over 1,100 adopters of the technology, and over 2 billion HDMI-enabled products shipped since launching the standard in 2003, the HDMI Founders strongly believe that the next leap in growth will come with broader industry participation,” said Steve Venuti, president of HDMI Licensing, LLC. “Due to the overwhelming success of the HDMI Specification and the increased adoption of the standard in a wide variety of applications and industries, the HDMI Founders decided to establish the HDMI Forum, a new organization where interested companies can become an integral part of the development process.”

Membership in the HDMI Forum is open to any interested company wishing to become a member. To find out more about the Forum, the benefits of membership, membership fees, or to download a participation agreement, visit www.hdmi.org and click on the HDMI Forum link or visit http://www.hdmiforum.org/.

When the brightness of the new white LED, "CLL-050 Series," is at its maximum, the input power and luminous efficiency are 183.9W and 96lm/W - when light is continuously emitted from the LED and the case temperature is 77°F.

The LED has a general color rendering index (Ra) of 65 and a color temperature of 5,000K. The maximum brightness of Citizen's existing white LEDs that are designed to emit a large amount of light is 4,390lm. So, the company improved brightness by four times.

Also, Citizen said it will provide white LEDs whose Ra is 80 and color temperature ranges from 2,700 to 5,000K. Though they have lower brightnesses than the white LED with an Ra of 65, even the LED with a color temperature of 3,000K has a brightness of 14,290lm.

The dimensions and thickness of the CLL-050 Series are 38 x 38mm and 1.4mm, respectively. Its input power ranges from 24.6 to 183.9W. When the input power is 24.6W, the luminous efficiency of the LED with an Ra of 65 is about 117lm.

The CLL-050 Series has a circular light-emitting layer at the center of its quadrangular package. It has a structure in which multiple blue LED chips are mounted on an aluminum substrate and the entire device is covered with resin mixed with a fluorescent material.

For the former product, Citizen arranged blue LED chips in a quadrangular shape on the circular light-emitting layer. But, this time, the company arranged them in a circular shape so that light emission does not become spotty when the white LED is mounted on an apparatus.

In addition to the CLL-050 Series, Citizen also announced four series of white LEDs that have different packages. Their maximum brightnesses are 590, 1,970, 5,780 and 12,915lm, respectively. Because the five series cover brightnesses from 95 to 17,675lm, it is possible to replace a wide variety of lamps from a 10W incandescent light bulb to 300W mercury lamp, the company said.

Product demonstrations will be held during the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair 2011 from October 27, 2011. Availability of the new LED series was not immediately known.

The number of BD3D titles sold in retail to U.S. consumers is projected to reach almost 4.5 million units at the end of 2011, up from just 500,000 units in 2010 when BD3D first appeared. Prospects remain very bullish for the high definition 3-D format, with retail sales expected to more than double in 2012. High double-digit growth in the years ahead will ensue, and by 2015 over 25 million BD3D units will be sold annually. While BD3D will always remain a relatively small part of overall Blu-ray sales, the premium format project will enjoy rapid growth in the next five years.

A total of 64 BD3D title releases have been confi rmed so far for 2011, compared to 37 for all of last year, and the number of BD3D releases has remained fairly steady at approximately 25 every six months.

Meanwhile, the number of titles bundled exclusively with 3-D hardware has been falling steadily. Although “Avatar,” the most popular 3-D movie of all time, remains available just through 3-D hardware bundles with Panasonic, only “Megamind” chose to join the exclusive bundling route among the year’s entire crop of releases, joining “Shrek Forever” in a bundle deal with Samsung.

Given Disney’s recent announcement of the release of a further four BD3D titles—the “Toy Story” trilogy as well as “Cars 2”—the total number of retail BD3D films available in the United States this holi­day season will be close to 100. The release of movies on BD3D currently follows an average theatrical­to-video window of slightly more than 11 weeks, or about fi ve months.

While animation accounted for 20 of the 37 BD3D titles released last year, the pendulum is swinging in 2011 in favor of live-action films. The number of animated BD3D titles in 2011 is unchanged at 20, but live-action BD3D movies will more than double to 44, IHS Screen Digest research indicates.

Among live-action movies, IMAX documentaries make up the most dominant single genre, account­ing for 19 titles. However, if the action, adventure-horror and sci-fi genres were all combined into a single special-effects-laden category, the newly merged total would result in 27 titles overall. In comparison, just five live-action titles fall into the family/drama category.

The studio with the largest number of BD3D movies in its roster is Disney with 20, including 15 animated titles to date plus five live-action movies, followed by Warner Bros with 13, and Sony with 12.

All told, the number of BD3D titles being released remains small compared to the 135 titles delivered on the original Blu-ray Disc (BD) format during the BD launch year in the United States in 2006, and to the 295 BD titles that came the following year in 2007. Unlike BD, however, BD3D does not have ac­cess to the same depth of catalog. Movies being considered for release on the high-defi nition BD format could draw on the entire theatrical movie catalog—as well as on a growing list of dedicated movies, TV series and documentaries shot in high definition. In contrast, BD3D is restricted to titles filmed in native 3-D, or to those produced in 2-D and subsequently converted into 3-D—a combined category that so far amounts to no more than 100 titles, IHS Screen Digest estimates.

With such restrictions, BD3D is likely to remain a niche product for the foreseeable future—albeit one that should continue to be able to command a premium price. Nonetheless, 3-D-capable households in the United States will continue to grow in number, and retail shelves also can expect increased BD3D availability in the future.

Members are drawn from all sectors of the imaging ecosystem, and they include many household-name multi-nationals as well as small innovative technology companies. I3A said Intel will be an active member of I3A’s Mobile Imaging Interest Group and its Camera Phone Image Quality (CPIQ) Initiative, due to its role within the visual computing continuum.

"I'm very pleased to welcome Intel as an active participant in I3A. Intel’s contributions will be especially appreciated in this key phase of our CPIQ efforts," said I3A President Lisa Walker. "As an innovator in the semiconductor industry, Intel's participation will be a real asset to help drive I3A's future direction and strategy. I look forward to gaining the insights Intel will bring to our Board of Directors."

I3A Interest Groups map to the markets and technology that are of interest to specific groups of I3A members, and Interest Group Initiatives enable the rapid development of consortium standards and other programs, delivering quick and unique solutions to the market that are unavailable through other processes. The Mobile Imaging Interest Group was created to maximize the usability and performance of mobile images and to overcome any barriers created by combining image capture with mobile capabilities.

Within the Mobile Imaging Interest Group, I3A's Camera Phone Image Quality (CPIQ) Initiative is developing a standardized means of measuring and communicating image quality by producing a complete set of image quality testing metrics and methodologies, enabling a consumer-oriented image quality rating system. The rating system will provide a tool for translating and distilling the complex set of measurements into a rating that consumers can quickly and easily understand, to aid in selection of camera phones. The technical specifications developed by CPIQ to date are available from I3A's Resources Store, located at http://www.i3a.org/resources/.

Speaking at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce last week, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said: “The spectrum crunch is the single biggest threat to one of the most promising parts of our economy. There’s much we need to do to free up spectrum for mobile broadband, but the single biggest step is voluntary incentive auctions.

“Under this proposal from our National Broadband Plan, spectrum licensees like broadcasters could voluntarily contribute underused spectrum to an auction, in exchange for a share of the proceeds from the auction. It's an incentive-based approach, grounded in strong free-market principles, that would free up large blocks of beachfront spectrum for mobile broadband while preserving a strong and healthy TV business, and generating $25 billion in potential deficit reduction, plus at least ten times that in economic benefits.

“This proposal enjoys broad and bipartisan support. Companies representing a trillion dollars in revenue have supported it, from mobile to tech to consumer electronics. More than 110 of the nation’s leading economists have endorsed it, including Nobel Prize winners and former members of both Republican and Democratic administrations. It’s also won the support of a number of major TV networks and station owners that recognize that these auctions would be a win-win.”

Click here to view the new Infographic - "Spec it Out!".

It’s like packing your clothes in your suitcase when you travel. The neater you pack them the more you can carry. In the same way, the team of scientists has used nanopatterning to closely pack more of the miniature structures that hold information in the form of bits, per unit area. Dr Joel Yang’s IMRE research team, working with peers from A*STAR’s DSI and NUS, has used nanopatterning to create uniform arrays of magnetic bits that can potentially store up to 3.3 Terabit/in2 of information, six times the recording density of current devices. This means that a hard disk drive that holds 1 Terabyte (TB) of data today could, in the future, hold 6 TB of information in the same size using this new technology.

Conventional hard disks have randomly distributed nanoscopic magnetic grains - with a few tens of grains used to form one bit – that enable the latest hard disk models to hold up to 0.5 Terabit/in2 of information. The IMRE-led team used the bit-patterned media approach, where magnetic islands are patterned in a regular fashion, with each single island able to store one bit of information.

“What we have shown is that bits can be patterned more densely together by reducing the number of processing steps”, said Dr Joel Yang, the IMRE scientist who heads the project. Current technology uses very tiny ‘grains’ of about 7-8 nm in size deposited on the surface of storage media. However, information or a single bit, is stored in a cluster of these ‘grains’ and not in any single ‘grain’. IMRE’s bits are about 10nm in size but store information in a single structure.

The method has been demonstrated to achieve data-storage capability at 1.9 Terabit/in2, though bits of up to 3.3 Terabit/in2 densities were fabricated. “In addition to making the bits, we demonstrated that they can be used to store data,” explained Dr Yang.

The secret of the research lies in the use of an extremely high-resolution e-beam lithography process that produces super fine nano-sized structures. Dr Yang discovered that by adding sodium chloride to a developer solution used in existing lithography processes, he was able to produce highly defined nanostructures down to 4.5 nm half pitch, without the need for expensive equipment upgrades. This ‘salty developer solution’ method was invented by Dr Yang when he was a graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

This work is the result of a collaborative effort with Prof Vivian Ng’s group at NUS, and Dr Yunjie Chen, Dr Siang Huei Leong, and Mr Tianli Huang from A*STAR DSI’s 10 Terabit/in2 Magnetic Recording programme. The researchers are now looking at increasing the storage density further.

“We’re thrilled to announce that the first entertainment content for an over-the-top or broadcast environment has been released in 7.1-channel surround sound, the best possible audio experience available for this type of delivery. It’s great to collaborate with a leader in HD streaming like Vudu to enable consumers to enjoy the latest 7.1 films,” said John Couling, Vice President, Products and Platforms, Dolby Laboratories. “Today is just the first step. We look forward to having the opportunity to work with additional content providers to deliver premium-quality 7.1 surround sound to more consumers.”

According to Dolby, to date, more than 30 films have been mixed in 7.1 for theatrical release. Dolby Digital Plus 7.1 allows content providers to enable 7.1 surround sound mixes created for the movie theater to be experienced in the home via streamed media.

Dolby said Digital Plus is a sophisticated, bandwidth-efficient audio system based on Dolby Digital that is designed to adapt to the changing demands of entertainment delivery while retaining compatibility with existing home theater systems. It has been included in more than 430 million products worldwide, including TVs, set-top boxes, Blu-ray Disc players, audio/video receivers, and mobile phones.

That triple-digit year-over-year-growth caps a period in which U.S. BD sales already were starting to post the kind of robust growth rates the new format’s backers had hoped for following its 2006 launch. According to an IHS analysis of Nielsen’s VideoScan data, U.S. BD sales posted a 131 percent increase for the week of September 11, supported by the release of “X-Men: First Class,” and a 60 percent gain the week of September 4, supported by the release of “Tyler Perry’s Big Happy Family,” “Sons of Anarchy: Season 3,” and the continued strong sales of “Rio” which released on August 2 but was still the number one BD title for the week.

The surge in sales propelled the growth of the overall market for physical movies in the United States into positive territory for the week of September 18. Combined U.S. DVD and BD sales rose 1 percent for the week, compared to flat growth during the week of September 11 and a 3 percent decline during the week of September 4.

“X-men: First Class” kicked off the BD sales rally with a Friday release on September 9, selling an estimated 350,000 BD units in its first three days at retail and more than 600,000 by the end of its first full week on the market, according to an IHS analysis of Nielsen VideoScan data.

“Thor” and “Thor 3D” arrived on video September 13, and together sold half a million BDs during their first week of availability. 3-D Blu-ray (BD3D) represented 14 percent of the total units sold with BD/DVD combo packs making up the other 86 percent .

“Star Wars” fans greeted the Friday, September 16, arrival of the iconic series on BD enthusiastically, buying a total of 400,000 units in the U.S. in just its first three days of availability. The six-movie, nine-disc set represented 92 percent of total units sold, with the original and prequel trilogies making up the rest.

“Studios are starting to bring the crown jewels out of the vault for BD release,” observed Jan Saxton, senior U.S. video analyst for IHS. “That, coupled with the first releases from a very strong summer box office, has the potential to turn the movie disc market around. Weak DVD sales have continually dragged the market down in 2011, but with the strong showing of ‘X-men: First Class,’ ‘Thor’ and ‘Star Wars,’ the overall market may have hit an inflection point.”

According to the companies, Microsoft and Skype will remain focused on their shared goal of connecting all people across all devices and accelerating both companies’ efforts to transform real-time communications for consumers and enterprise customers. The completion of the acquisition also marks the official introduction of Skype as a new business division within Microsoft.

“Skype is a phenomenal product and brand that is loved by hundreds of millions of people around the world,” said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. “We look forward to working with the Skype team to create new ways for people to stay connected to family, friends, clients and colleagues — anytime, anywhere.”

Skype CEO Tony Bates will assume the title of president of the Skype Division of Microsoft immediately, reporting directly to Ballmer. The Skype division will continue to offer its current products to millions of users globally. Longer term, Skype will also be integrated across an array of Microsoft products to broaden Skype’s reach and accelerate its growth as a fundamental way people communicate online. Skype employees will continue to be located around the world in offices including Estonia, the Czech Republic, Russia, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Luxembourg, Japan, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States.

“By bringing together the best of Microsoft and the best of Skype, we are committed to empowering consumers and businesses around the globe to connect in new ways,” Bates said. “Together, we will be able to accelerate Skype’s goal to reach 1 billion users daily,” Bates said.

Negotiations were led by investor group Silver Lake and the transaction was originally announced on May 10, 2011. Boards of directors of both Microsoft and Skype previously approved the acquisition. The acquisition remains under review in a few countries, and will be completed in those countries when such reviews are closed.

As part of this four-year output deal, Netflix has licensed the rights to stream more than 700 hours of previous-season episodes of The CW’s young-skewing dramas as well as future programs. These rights extend for four years after each series, current or future, ends its broadcast run on the network. The CW content can also be made available via traditional syndication windows, electronic sell-through services and, on a partial-season basis, through authenticated cable providers.

Programming available to Netflix members will include the eight dramas on The CW’s Fall 2011 schedule, including new series “Ringer,” “Hart of Dixie” and “The Secret Circle;” returning hits “The Vampire Diaries,” “Gossip Girl,” “90210,” “Supernatural,” “Nikita” and mid-season series, “One Tree Hill.” Episodes of all scripted series airing on The CW this broadcast season will premiere for Netflix members in Fall 2012. In addition, all episodes of future scripted series appearing on The CW through the 2014-15 season will be available to stream from Netflix through a commensurate window.

“We have long admired the CW’s ability to connect so passionately and directly with a very important and difficult to reach demographic,” said Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer at Netflix. “This is programming for the on-demand generation and we hope this agreement deepens the relationships viewers already have with these powerful entertainment brands.”

“This agreement is a clear example of why content creators and providers can and will grow stronger through technology partnerships tailored to the consumer,” said Bruce Rosenblum, President, Warner Bros. Television Group and Office of the President. “It extends our traditional syndication windows with a strong, additive revenue play perfect for serialized dramas, and portends even greater growth opportunities for our studio as we continue to explore and define the marketplace.”

Wireless power technology streamlines the process of charging portable consumer electronics devices by eliminating the need to physically connect the device and the charger. CEA-2042.1 is available for purchase from IHS at http://www.ihs.com.

“Wireless power has the potential to change dramatically the way people charge their portable electronics,” said John Suh, director of Hyundai Ventures/Hyundai Kia Technical Center America, Inc. and chair of CEA’s Wireless Power Subcommittee. “CEA is helping turn this potential into reality by making it easier for systems from different manufacturers to work well together. This standard is the first step in that effort.”

CEA’s Wireless Power Subcommittee is also working on standards for highly resonant (also known as “loosely coupled”) wireless power transfer, tightly coupled wireless power systems, and energy efficiency measurements for wireless power systems. Companies interested in getting involved in this CEA work can visit http://standards.ce.org and join the R6.3 Wireless Power Subcommittee and its working groups.

ASMP sponsored seminars will include: Sales and Negotiating for the New Photo Business Reality with Speaker Blake Discher; Breaking Into the Biz: What Every Student and Emerging Photographer Should Know with Speaker Judy Herrmann; and What Every Photographer Should Know About Copyright with Speakers Richard Kelly and Susan Carr.

According to ASMP Executive Director Eugene Mopsik, “ASMP considers the Expo an exceptional networking and educational event. We invite those who are attending the show to take the opportunity to stop by the booth and talk with ASMP's leadership and staff. This year, we are pleased to again host a representative from the US Copyright Office, who will be available to answer questions and discuss issues on Friday."

ASMP’s Annual Member Meeting will take place Friday evening October 28th. The meeting will feature updates by ASMP President Jim Cavanaugh and Education Director Susan Carr, and a presentation entitled Photographers Helping Photographers, in which several members will share how they have leveraged changes in the industry and new technologies to create new channels of income.

The Expo will be held October 27 – 29, 2011 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York. ASMP will also have a presence at Booth #1276 where a representative from the US Copyright Office will be available on Friday the 28th.

Marketing professors Dinah Vernik of Rice and Devavrat Purohit and Preyas Desai of Duke used analytical modeling to examine how piracy is influenced by the presence or absence of DRM restrictions. They found that while these restrictions make piracy more costly and difficult, the restrictions also have a negative impact on legal users who have no intention of doing anything illegal.

Their findings, which will appear in the November-December issue of Marketing Science, add to the ongoing debate about technology that limits usage of digital content.

Because a DRM-restricted product will only be purchased by a legal user, …"only the legal users pay the price and suffer from the restrictions," the study said. "Illegal users are not affected because the pirated product does not have DRM restrictions."

"In many cases, DRM restrictions prevent legal users from doing something as normal as making backup copies of their music," said Vernik, assistant professor of marketing at Rice's Jones Graduate School of Business. "Because of these inconveniences, some consumers choose to pirate."

The research challenges conventional wisdom that removal of DRM restrictions increases piracy levels; the study shows that piracy can actually decrease when a company allows restriction-free downloads.

"Removal of these restrictions makes the product more convenient to use and intensifies competition with the traditional format (CDs), which has no DRM restrictions," Vernik said. "This increased competition results in decreased prices for both downloadable and CD music and makes it more likely that consumers will move from stealing music to buying legal downloads."

"Unlike in earlier literature, we examine consumers' choices among all the major sources of music," Desai said. "By analyzing the competition among the traditional retailer, the digital retailer and pirated music, we get a better understanding of the competitive forces in the market."

The research also revealed that copyright owners don't necessarily benefit from a lower amount of piracy. "Decreased piracy doesn't guarantee increased profits," Purohit said. "In fact, our analysis demonstrates that under some conditions, one can observe lower levels of piracy and lower profits."

Vernik, Desai and Purohit hope that their research paper, "Music Downloads and the Flip Side of Digital Rights Management Protection," will provide important insights into the role of DRM.

"[The late] Steve Jobs said it best: 'Why would the big four music companies agree to let Apple and others distribute their music without using DRM systems to protect it? The simplest answer is because DRMs haven't worked, and may never work, to halt music piracy.'" Vernik said. "And our research presented a counterintuitive conclusion that in fact, removing the DRM can be more effective in decreasing music piracy than making the DRM more stringent."

The research was funded by Rice and Duke universities.

Since 1970, companies producing items for computer and telephony equipment, processing units or laptop computers have been operating in Mexico. Today, Mexico is manufacturing electronic products that are in high demand around the world, including general home appliances, cell phones, computers, flat screen televisions and video games, among other devices.

Mexico has been responsible for exporting USD $71.4 billion in consumer electronics and devices in 2010, an increase of 20 percent over the previous year. Data for the Mexican consumer electronics industry were already impressive in 2009, when the sector's exports added up to USD $59.6 billion, representing 30 percent of non-petroleum exports. According to a recent Negocios ProMexico magazine article, between 2003 and 2009, Mexican electronic industry exports registered an average annual growth of 17.1 percent. The latest data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) informed that industrial activity in Mexico grew 4.1 percent from January to July 2011, in comparison to the same period in 2010. Industrial production in the country grew 0.51 percent this July, compared to the month of June 2011.

Additionally, Mexico is the third largest exporter of cell phones –where 65 smart phones are sold every minute in Latin America. Samsung, the leading Korean technology company known especially for its mobile technology, has taken advantage of this opportunity and currently holds 16.3 percent market share in Mexico.

Mexico is the country with the lowest industry component manufacturing costs. This, along with the country's young talented population –114,000 engineering and technology graduates– entering the job market each year have spurred outstanding growth and development in the electric and electronic industries in the country.

The Enforcement Bureau’s actions are intended to warn retailers and potential purchasers that marketing, selling, or using signal jamming devices in the U.S. is illegal and that the FCC will vigorously prosecute these violations.

Enforcement Bureau Chief Michele Ellison said, “Our actions should send a strong message to retailers of signal jamming devices that we will not tolerate continued violations of federal law. Jamming devices pose significant risks to public safety and can have unintended and sometimes dangerous consequences for consumers and first responders.”

In the Omnibus Citation and Order, the Bureau emphasized that because signal jamming devices work by indiscriminately interrupting or interfering with communications, the use of a jamming device in a classroom, theater, church, restaurant, or other public place could prevent someone in the vicinity of the jammer from making an emergency call to 9-1-1, the police, a fire department, or a family member in trouble.

Accordingly, the Bureau directed each online retailer to take immediate steps to cease marketing signal jamming devices to consumers in the United States and its territories. Such steps may include removing the illegal signal jamming devices from online display, expressly excluding consumers in the United States as potential customers, and declining to sell signal jamming devices or complete any sales transaction to consumers in the United States.

In a Request for Information attached to the Omnibus Citation, the Bureau also ordered the online retailers to provide information about their signal jammer suppliers, distribution channels, and sales including the manufacturer of each illegal signal jamming device, the websites that the online retailer has used to market the devices in the United States or its territories, and the corrective actions the online retailer has taken or will take to comply with federal law prohibiting the marketing and sale of jamming devices.

Because these enforcement actions were taken against retailers who are not otherwise regulated by the Commission, the Communications Act requires the Commission to first issue a “citation” describing the violation and warning against future misconduct. The Omnibus Citation and Order emphasized that a second violation could lead to monetary penalties of $16,000 to $112,500.

The Omnibus Citation and Order also noted, for example, that a separate penalty could be imposed for each jamming device sold or each day on which a jamming device is marketed, and that additional violations could result in the seizure of equipment and imprisonment.

Ellison said, “We expect that these retailers will take immediate steps to ensure future compliance. If they continue to offer jammers to consumers in the U.S., we will work closely with our law enforcement partners to prosecute them to the full extent of the law. Consumers deserve no less.”

The full text of the Omnibus Citation and Order is available at:
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-11-1661A1.pdf

Sporting a new, desktop-friendly, ergonomic design, the new Fast Track C-series interfaces combine multiple solutions into one by incorporating a studio-quality audio interface, unique hands-on controls and an integrated monitor management system. The end result is a new generation of music creation solutions that empower musicians to deliver better quality recordings in less time.

Features:
– All-new industrial design maximizes desktop space while providing hands-on access to key controls.
– An assignable Multi button delivers hands-on software control, enabling musicians to maintain the creative flow (Fast
Track C600 also features re-assignable transport controls).
– Superior converters, redesigned analog signal paths and 24-bit/96 kHz audio fidelity ensure recordings will sound
amazing.
– Intuitive monitor management system enables musicians to compare their mixes on multiple sets of studio monitors—
confirming mixes translate well.
– Onboard MX Core DSP technology supplies reverb and delay on headphone outputs, inspiring great performances
and delivering low-latency monitoring without taxing the host computer.
– Each interface is available as a bundle with industry-leading Pro Tools MP software, or standalone for use with other
popular audio software.

"Our product designers met directly with our customers, looked at how they create their recordings and constructed a desktop unit that would truly be the centerpiece of a home studio," said Tanguy Leborgne, Avid vice president of product solutions, creative enthusiasts. "With the Fast Track C-Series, musicians get an interface, hands-on controls, and a monitor management system – all in one lightweight, portable unit with incredible audio fidelity and performance specs. These exciting releases make it simpler than ever to transform ideas into professional-quality music by putting more control at your fingertips and giving you the freedom to make music at the speed of your creativity."

According to Avid, Fast Track C400 and C600 are available now for $309.95 USD and $499.95 USD respectively, and include Pro Tools SE streamlined music creation software. Pro Tools MP + Fast Track C400 is available for $499.95 USD. Pro Tools MP + Fast Track C600 is available for $699.95 USD. To learn more about the Fast Track C-series visit www.m-audio.com.

Inspired by Adobe Creative Suite software, these new apps bring professional-level creativity to millions of tablet users. The apps address multiple areas of the creative process: image editing; ideation; sketching; mood boards; website and mobile app prototyping; and presenting finished work. They are headlined by Adobe Photoshop Touch, a new app that brings the legendary creative and image-editing power of Photoshop to tablet devices for the first time.

Available soon as standalone apps, Adobe Touch Apps are essential components of Adobe Creative Cloud, a major new company initiative also at MAX 2011. According to Adobe, Creative Cloud will become a worldwide hub for creativity, where millions can access desktop and tablet applications, find essential creative services, and share their best work. Files created via Adobe Touch Apps can be shared, viewed across devices or transferred into Adobe Creative Suite software for further refinement – key features of Adobe’s vision for the Creative Cloud. With stylus capabilities expected to become a key feature on some next generation tablets, Adobe Touch Apps are designed to work with both finger and stylus input.

“Adobe Touch Apps deliver high-impact creative expression to anyone who has a tablet,” said Kevin Lynch, chief technology officer, Adobe. “With Adobe imaging magic coming to tablet devices, new apps like Photoshop Touch will open your mind about the potential of the touch interface for creativity and demonstrate that tablets are an essential part of anyone’s creative arsenal.”

Anticipating the way people are integrating tablets into their everyday lives, the new family of Adobe Touch Apps empowers users to create on tablet devices freeing them from the desktop or laptop computer. The new Adobe Touch Apps include:

– Adobe Photoshop Touch transforms images with core Photoshop features in an app custom-built for tablets.
– Adobe Collage combines inspirational images, drawings, text and Creative Suite files.
– Adobe Debut allows users to present designs to clients and stakeholders virtually anywhere.
– Adobe Ideas is an easy-to-master, vector-based tool for drawing.
– Adobe Kuler makes it easy to generate color themes that can inspire any design project.
– Adobe Proto enables the development of interactive wireframes and prototypes for websites and mobile apps.

Adobe Touch Apps will be available for Android devices in November 2011. Adobe expects to make an announcement regarding iOS availability in early 2012. Adobe Ideas is already available for the iPad. Introductory pricing is US$9.99 for each app. Access to the file viewing, sharing and transfer functionality of Adobe Creative Cloud is included in the price of each Adobe Touch App. Details regarding pricing of the Adobe Creative Cloud and its expanded capabilities around applications, services and community will be announced in November 2011.

According to ASMP Executive Director Eugene Mopsik, "ASMP has developed CameraCake as a service to imaging professionals to help them access the most useful information, all in one place. With every form of communication undergoing rapid transformation, CameraCake is a dynamic resource for those involved in photography, video, multi-media, audio and even print." There will be information on negotiating, sales, marketing, business trends, copyright, digital workflow, licensing, software, lenses, cameras, contracts, techniques and everything else that interests the photography community.

Judy Herrmann, CameraCake project director and a past President of ASMP, said, "Imagine a place where you could find the best resources for photographers with a single click – information that has been submitted, approved and reviewed by your peers; where you can see at a glance what others who share your interests find valuable. With CameraCake.com, we’ve provided an innovative framework that will go wherever its users dictate." Site users can submit, like/dislike and review any resource, search by topic, poster, reviewer, tag, category, or type, and browse the most popular or most recently posted resources. Future plans include integration with social media sites like Facebook and Twitter, expanded user profiles and interactivity, browser based resource submission and more. Herrmann adds, “CameraCake.com will evolve to support our community’s needs and we welcome suggestions on how to make it as useful as possible.”

The firm's Consumer Decision Process: Summer Update reports more than 10% of broadband households plan to purchase a smart TV in the second half of 2011, up from 6% in the first half. These households, representing 50% of the nearly one-fourth of U.S. broadband households planning to purchase a flat-panel TV, anticipate an average cost of $1,000 for the smart TV, defined as an HDTV with built-in Internet access capability.

“Advertising campaigns from manufacturers such as Sony, Samsung, and VIZIO have boosted consumer awareness and interest, making connectivity a must-have feature for new CE products,” said Tricia Parks, CEO, Parks Associates. “Younger consumers especially want the extra benefits on their new TVs of going to the web for social networking and on-demand video or subscription entertainment options.”

Consumers' preferred entertainment and social networking options on connected CE devices such as Blu-ray players, game consoles, and smart TVs include the ability to stream and download movies and TV shows as well as access to Facebook and online music.

The survey also shows 19% of broadband households intend to purchase a tablet in the second half of 2011.

“Apple is the preferred brand by far, capturing over 40% of planned tablet purchases for the rest of 2011,” Parks said. “Apple has a very strong reputation in consumers' minds, with over 70% of consumers familiar with the brand rating Apple as 'innovative' and 'cool,' although considerably fewer rate it as 'affordable.'”

Parks Associates analysts will discuss the impact of connectivity on CE and services at CONNECTIONS Europe, November 8-9, in Amsterdam.

The technology combines silicon nanowires with a "ferroelectric" polymer, a material that switches polarity when electric fields are applied, making possible a new type of ferroelectric transistor.

"It's in a very nascent stage," said doctoral student Saptarshi Das, who is working with Joerg Appenzeller, a professor of electrical and computer engineering and scientific director of nanoelectronics at Purdue's Birck Nanotechnology Center.

The ferroelectric transistor's changing polarity is read as 0 or 1, an operation needed for digital circuits to store information in binary code consisting of sequences of ones and zeroes.

"We've developed the theory and done the experiment and also showed how it works in a circuit," he said.

The FeTRAM technology has nonvolatile storage, meaning it stays in memory after the computer is turned off. The devices have the potential to use 99 percent less energy than flash memory, a non-volatile computer storage chip and the predominant form of memory in the commercial market.

"However, our present device consumes more power because it is still not properly scaled," Das said. "For future generations of FeTRAM technologies one of the main objectives will be to reduce the power dissipation. They might also be much faster than another form of computer memory called SRAM."

The FeTRAM technology fulfills the three basic functions of computer memory: to write information, read the information and hold it for a long period of time.

"You want to hold memory as long as possible, 10 to 20 years, and you should be able to read and write as many times as possible," Das said. "It should also be low power to keep your laptop from getting too hot. And it needs to scale, meaning you can pack many devices into a very small area. The use of silicon nanowires along with this ferroelectric polymer has been motivated by these requirements."

The new technology also is compatible with industry manufacturing processes for complementary metal oxide semiconductors, or CMOS, used to produce computer chips. It has the potential to replace conventional memory systems.

The work was supported by the Nanotechnology Research Initiative (NRI) through Purdue's Network for Computational Nanotechnology (NCN), which is supported by National Science Foundation. Findings are detailed in a research paper that appeared this month in Nano Letters, published by the American Chemical Society.

“We are very pleased that HP has joined our licensing program as a licensor. HP has made significant contributions to the Blu-ray Disc standard and therefore adds valuable essential patents to the program. We hope that this important step also encourages other industry leaders to follow and join our program”, says Roel Kramer, CEO of One-Blue.

“HP has helped to invent and develop the Blu-ray Disc format and currently ships many versions of Blu-ray Disc enabled notebooks and desktop PCs,” said Clifford Loeb, managing director, Standards Licensing, HP. “By joining the One-Blue patent pool, we show our commitment and belief that this program is beneficial for licensors, licensees and our end-users.”

One-Blue administers the licensing program for patents essential to Blu-ray Disc products and is the joint licensing agent of its licensors. For hardware and software products, the product license covers Blu-ray Disc, DVD and CD essential patents; for disc products, the product license covers Blu-ray Disc essential patents. One-Blue is an innovative patent pool that levels the playing field, reduces costs, and fosters fair use of the patent system in the entire optical disc sector.

Any holder of patents essential to optical formats used in Blu-ray Disc products is invited to submit patents for evaluation and join the licensing program as a new licensor. More information about the One-Blue licensing program and related royalty rates can be found on www.one-blue.com.

The Commission recognized the need to ensure the availability of reliable voice-based 911 service, while moving forward with a NG911 system that adds text and other information capabilities that will significantly improve emergency response, saving lives and reducing property damage. Enabling text, photos, video and data to 911 call centers allows consumers to communicate with 911 in the same way they communicate with others on a daily basis. It also enhances public safety by giving consumers the ability to text 911 when a voice call is difficult or dangerous. NG911 is also particularly beneficial to people with disabilities.

The text, photo, video, and data capabilities of NG911 will also provide 911 call centers and first responders with enhanced information and improved technological tools that can be synthesized with existing databases. This allows 911 call centers to dispatch the appropriate emergency response more quickly, a difference that can save lives during emergencies.

The Notice of Proposed Rulemaking examines short-term and long-term options for enabling consumers to send texts to 911, including the advantages and disadvantages of different approaches. The Commission is also seeking comment on long-term development of multimedia NG911 technology that would support delivery of photos, videos, and data to 911, in addition to texting. The Commission will consider the appropriate role for the agency in facilitating – and, if necessary, accelerating – the rollout of these capabilities, and encouraging the parallel development of NG911 capabilities in 911 call centers. The Commission also noted that the transition to NG911 is not likely to occur uniformly across the country and asked for comment on how best to educate the public about the availability, capabilities, and limitations of NG911 as it is deployed.

At the meeting, the Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau also presented a cost study on NG911 network connectivity costs, entitled, “A Basis for Public Funding Essential to Bringing a Nationwide Next Generation 911 Network to America’s Communications Users and First Responders.” Bureau staff analysis determined that NG911, because of its ability to leverage commercial off-the-shelf technology, has the potential to be more cost-effective to operate and upgrade than the legacy 911 system. The study offers two models for NG911 deployment: a baseline model and a cost-effective model that assumes cost savings from a reduction in the total number of 911 call centers nationwide and a greater percentage of call centers sharing NG911 infrastructure as opposed to operating their own dedicated systems.

Based on these assumptions, the baseline model concludes that the network connectivity and call routing costs to transition to NG911 will be approximately $2.68 billion over 10 years. In the cost-effective model, the transition costs are approximately $1.44 billion.

"From the challenges of ever-increasing front-panel capacities to continuing advances in processors, high-performance computing, and server virtualization technologies, the ability of systems to meet spiraling bandwidth demands remains challenging," said John D’Ambrosia, chair, IEEE P802.3bj Task Force and chief Ethernet evangelist, CTO Office, Dell. "By expanding on the solid foundational standards work already completed, IEEE P802.3bj will provide better options for system designers to minimize or eliminate the bandwidth bottlenecks facing end-users."

With the launch of the Task Force, members are ready to begin collaboratively defining four-lane, 25Gb/s electrical signaling architectures that will support 100 Gb/s Ethernet operation across backplanes up to one meter in length and copper cable operations up to at least five meters in length. Furthermore, IEEE P802.3bj will specify maximum compliance and compatibility with other IEEE 802.3 installations.

As the application of Ethernet increasingly becomes the preferred backplane interconnect technology for applications, such as modular servers and telecom networks, and over twinaxial copper cables for both intra- and inter-rack connections, IEEE P802.3bj will enable users to stay apace of rapidly increasing bandwidth demand. By facilitating higher speeds and greater densities, it holds broad relevance for multiple applications, such as blade servers and data centers. The task force is already supported by a diverse array of stakeholders, including semi-conductor, server, and network storage device manufacturers, component vendors, and telecommunications carriers.

"The industry and users alike are looking for creative, forward-looking solutions that will allow them to leverage today’s technology innovations, such as 100Gb/s Ethernet," said David Law, chair, IEEE 802.3 Working Group and distinguished engineer, HP Networking. "As the capabilities of 100 Gb/s Ethernet are enhanced with IEEE P802.3bj, the resources, expertise and leadership that are the hallmarks of IEEE will support the continuing evolution of Ethernet to higher speeds and capabilities."

"The NRSC is to be commended for its hard work in developing this important update that includes improvements to the HD Radio system that will benefit broadcasters as well as the listening public, as they provide for a more robust digital signal and improved coverage area," said Kevin Gage, executive vice president and chief technology officer, NAB. "NAB is a strong supporter of the transition to digital radio and looks forward to its continued success."

The more than 70 modifications in this new version include the ability to use asymmetric sidebands, new modes of operation, and updated RF masks. A major part of this work has been the update of "reference documents" by iBiquity Digital Corporation, which contain the technical details of the standard.

"HD Radio technology is gaining momentum in the marketplace," said Brian Markwalter, senior vice president of research and standards at CEA. "Recent announcements from automakers like Toyota, Lexus and Kia indicate that more consumers will be using this technology in their cars, and today's improvements to the standard will make the consumer experience even better."

NRSC-5-C, In-band/on-channel Digital Radio Broadcasting Standard, was adopted by the Digital Radio Broadcasting (DRB) Subcommittee, which is co-chaired by Andy Laird, vice president and chief technology officer, Journal Broadcast Group, and Mike Bergman, vice president of new digital technologies, Kenwood USA. It was developed by the subcommittee's IBOC Standards Development Working Group (ISDWG), which is chaired by Dom Bordonaro, chief engineer, Cox Broadcasting - Connecticut.

The updated Standard will be available free-of-charge on the NRSC's website, following a final, procedural review that will take approximately two weeks. Additional information about the NRSC, including information on becoming a member, is also available on the website.

“Between the East Coast earthquake, Hurricane Irene, Tropical Storm Lee, and wildfires in Texas and California, we have had a lot of powerful reminders lately that disasters can strike anytime, anywhere – and can often make it difficult for the public to communicate with friends, loved ones or emergency personnel,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “An important part of preparing for disasters includes getting ready for potential communications challenges, whether caused by power outages or heavy cell network congestion. These simple tips are easy for anyone to follow and could make a world of difference when it matters the most.”

FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, “When disaster strikes, the ability to communicate is essential. However, power outages and other issues can interfere with the way people ordinarily communicate, making it harder to reach loved ones or emergency services. The FCC is committed to ensuring the public’s safety through the reliability of our nation’s communications networks. But there are also simple steps that consumers can take to prepare for a disaster as well as practical ways to better communicate during and after an event. I encourage all Americans to become familiar these tips and share them with friends and family.”

To read the Tip Sheet for How to Communicate During Disasters, check out www.ready.gov/tech.

The Matrox Convert DVI family of scan converters lets broadcasters easily and economically take the computer-based content that is quickly becoming a key part of the nightly news to air. These products are ideal for creating broadcast video from computer applications such as Skype, YouTube, Google Earth, video games, and web browsers, as well as citizen journalists' mobile phone videos. They are also the perfect appliances to drive projectors and large displays at live events and in houses of worship.

Quality HD-SDI scan converters with genlock and upscaling typically cost thousands of dollars each and SDI audio embedders are often required. Costs balloon when facilities require multiple units. The Matrox Convert DVI products are very inexpensive by comparison and allow system audio to be embedded in the SDI signal. They provide the high-end features, outstanding quality, and ease-of-use necessary in broadcast and live event operations.

Now Mac users can also benefit from these easy-to-use HD-SDI scan converters to make the most of their computer-based content in broadcast and live event environments. Mac software release 1.0 provides support for Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and 10.7 (Lion). Download release 1.0 for Mac

And those so-called “Cord Cutters” are not the low value/low revenue “fringe” customers they have been made out to be, according to new survey research just published by Strategy Analytics. The report, “Endless Fun? Pay TV, Cord Cutting, and Churn,” finds that Cord Cutters place a high value on content—and are three times more likely to report watching paid Video on Demand (VOD) than “traditional” economically- motivated churners.

“The Pay TV industry has gotten it wrong on the topic of cord cutting,” said Ben Piper, Director of the Strategy Analytics Multiplay Market Dynamics service and author of the report. “For the second consecutive year, our survey research clearly indicates that those who intend to cut the cord are high value, high-revenue customers—not the deadbeats they have been made out to be.”

Cord Cutters are motivated less by price, and more by control of content, according to the report; Service Providers should view this as an opportunity.

“Forty percent of Cord Cutters—compared to twenty percent of economic churners—said they would be willing to pay more than they currently do for Pay TV if it meant they could pick and choose content on an à la carte basis,” noted Piper. “Pay TV providers should view this as an opportunity to customize and repackage content offerings to this growing segment.”

The report draws upon survey work fielded in Q3’11 of 2,000 US households, and provides detailed profiles of each segment, as well as insights into their churn motivations and their attitudes and opinions towards content.

"Education remains the most under-reported facet of American life by the traditional news media. The coverage it does receive is often shallow and scandal-focused, with too little attention paid to the intractable systemic failures of a broken education model. Choice Media will attempt to redress this imbalance," said Bob Bowdon, Founder of Choice Media.
Bowdon says the crisis in America's education system is all to apparent, as only 26% of high school seniors tested proficient in math on the most recent NAEP test, an exam administered by the U.S. Department of Education and given to 49,000 twelfth-graders in all 50 states. Just last week, according to the College Board, SAT reading scores fell to the lowest level on record.

"In many cities, local public education has become a bloated bureaucracy, more focused on job protection than the interests of children, with higher spending being the only type of reform acceptable to the establishment. But, in the wake of countless high-profile failures where this has been tried, the 'money equals quality' philosophy can no longer be plausibly argued," said Bowdon.

Drawing on Bowdon's experience in TV and film, ChoiceMedia.TV will provide original video news reports and exclusive interviews with those making waves in the education world. ChoiceMedia.TV currently features a video news piece on the under-reporting of violence in Philadelphia schools. Also featured is a discussion with Neerav Kingsland of New Schools for New Orleans about that city's charter school revolution in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

ChoiceMedia.TV will also offer video testimonials from students, parents and teachers around the country. Readers with a personal education story are urged to send a video testimonial or whistleblower email to ChoiceMedia.TV.

Improved from the current DVB-C digital cable TV broadcast standard adopted in Europe and various other countries and regions around the world, DVB-C2 is a next-generation standard which significantly increases data transmission capacity and optimizes use of the transmission channel to enable multichannel and high quality HD broadcasting. DVB-C2 adopts a multi-level modulation which is 16 times as dense as DVB-C and tolerance against reflections and interference caused within a cable network is required. According to Sony, the new DVB-C2 demodulator LSI incorporates Sony’s proprietary reception algorithms and error correction technology to achieve stable and highly sensitive reception, while also reducing power consumption and realizing package miniaturization by reducing the number of pins.

Sony said the two models, “CXD2835ER” is also compatible with the current DVB-C standard, while “CXD2836ER” is also compatible with current DVB-C, DVB-T and DVB-T2 standards. As the DVB-C2 standard spreads, compatibility with current standards will enable flexible hardware design, while also contributing to miniaturization and a reduction in the number of components.

The company plans to promote this new LSI to manufacturers of TVs, set top boxes and other applicable products targeting Europe and other regions where DVB-C2 is expected to expand. Availability is expected November of this year.

According to the Council, the new directive intends to increase the level of protection of performers by acknowledging their creative and artistic contributions. Performers generally start their careers young and the current term of protection of 50 years often does not protect their performances for their entire lifetime. Therefore, some performers face an income gap at the end of their lifetimes. They are also often not able to rely on their rights to prevent or restrict objectionable uses of their performances that may occur during their lifetimes.

The directive also foresees measures in order to ensure that artists who have transferred their exclusive rights to phonogram producers actually benefit from the term extension and may recuperate their rights subject to certain conditions.

Furthermore, the Coucil said the directive harmonizes the method of calculating the term of protection of songs and other musical compositions with words created by several authors. The term of protection will expire 70 years after the death of the last person to survive: the author of the lyrics or the composer of the music.

The decision was applauded by Plácido Domingo, chairman of IFPI, which represents the recording industry worldwide: "The decision to extend the term of protection for recordings in Europe is great news for performing artists. Artists at the start of their careers will benefit from an increased pool of revenue that will be available to invest in new talent. Established artists can benefit from their work throughout their lifetimes. This is especially important today when licensed digital services make music widely available online.

"Extension of protection also reflects the important role performers play in the success of songs by narrowing the gap between the protection offered to recorded performances and that offered to compositions."

Frances Moore, chief executive of IFPI, added: "This is a victory for fairness. With this decision, the European Union is giving artists and producers in Europe the fair treatment they deserve. The extension of the term of protection to 70 years narrows the gap between Europe and its international partners and improves the conditions for investment in new talent.

"Over 38,000 artists and performers petitioned for this extension, supported by right holders from across the European music sector. Their calls have been heeded, and we thank the European Commission for having the vision to table this Directive, the European Parliament for giving it resounding support and the Member States, led on this occasion by the Polish Presidency of the EU, for making term extension a reality."

The Belgian, Czech, Dutch, Luxembourg, Romanian, Slovak, Slovenian and Swedish delegations voted against and the Austrian and Estonian delegations abstained. Member states will have to incorporate the new provisions into their national legislations within two years.

The radio track on Understanding Digital Radio will discuss various concepts and best practices of digital radio and complexities in adding digital services. The presenters will be Nikki Marra of the University of London, Andrew Johnson of ITT Technical Institute, Kiersten Gurule of Napa Valley College and Amber Stilson of Hocking College.

The television track, entitled HD to 3D: The Future of Broadcast Television, will discuss updates for standardizing 3D Television, the pros and cons for HD vs. 3D and new technology proposals. Presenters include Mike West of Napa Valley College, Matt McMillan of Hocking College, Michael Bulatao of Napa Valley College, Maria Perez of Napa Valley College and Alexander Gitana of Napa Valley College.

The webcast will be held live from 9-10 a.m. ET and again from 2-3 p.m. ET on September 29th. This program will complete the TAP participants' six-month apprenticeship. Click here for more details and registration.

The John Lennon Educational Tour Bus travels around the U.S. throughout the year. Outfitted with traditional musical instruments as well as high-tech professional audio and video gear, the Bus has provided free hands-on programs since 1998 for hundreds of high schools, colleges, Boys and Girls Clubs, music festivals, concerts, conferences and community organizations. This year alone, the Bus logged tens of thousands of miles on the road, kicking off 2011 with stops that included the 2011 Winter NAMM Show, Friends and Family GRAMMY Event, SXSW, National Association of Broadcasters Show (NAB), Hangout Music Festival, multiple recording sessions across the U.S. and much more. Currently, the Bus is traveling with the Vans Warped Tour and is putting out daily online videos from the shows.

As part of its ongoing commitment, Audio-Technica said it will continue to serve as the official microphone provider of the Tour Bus, supplying a complete line of A-T microphone products for use on the Bus itself (including 40 Series, Artist Elite, Audio-Technica Wireless and other key A-T products and accessories). In addition, A-T will be contributing to the prize packages of the related John Lennon Songwriting Contest.

“It was clear to us that we wanted to renew our commitment to the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus and Songwriting Contest,” said Gary Boss, Audio-Technica Market Manager. “It has been extremely rewarding to work with them, as A-T shares the Bus’s goal of getting more young people involved in making music.”

According to Sony, over the past few decades movie studios, broadcasting networks and production houses across the world have accumulated a massive quantity of tape. To manage this growth, a reliable, easy-to-operate, cost effective archive system was required by the industry immediately.

Sony said its new Disk Archive Storage System offers a lower total cost of ownership through the use of long-life media, and includes inter-generational compatibility based on the same optical disc technology used in DVDs and Blu-rays. The archive solution puts 12 media discs in a firm cartridge enabling data to be handled on a per-file basis, by making the operating device recognize the system as a "single large volume storage unit" rather than by each individual disc. The cartridges are to be available in both a write-once format and a rewrite-able format, with various capacity options from 300GB capacity up to 1.5TB available according to the customer's requirements.

Sony also said it aims to support enjoyable entertainment by connecting content from the past to the future and developing high-quality products from production to archiving. The Disc Archive Storage System demonstrates Sony's commitment to listening and responding to the needs of its customers, having conducted extensive research into its customer's archiving needs when it was developing the system.

The company intends to work in an open platform environment with various component, middleware and software manufacturers, by disclosing the technical specifications of its Disc Archive Storage System.

Currently in the research and development stage, the Disc Archive Storage System is expected to be introduced to the market in 2012.

Blackmagic said Intensity Extreme is the first Thunderbolt technology based device to combine the high quality of HDMI capture and playback with the wide compatibility of analog component, NTSC, PAL and S-Video and analog audio capture and playback in a compact size that’s completely powered from the Thunderbolt connection on the computer. This means Intensity Extreme is the perfect solution for adding video to laptop computers as it powers from the laptop battery.

Intensity Extreme features a chassis machined out of a solid block of aircraft grade aluminum. This ensures an elegant look that’s compact, strong and looks great on the desktop.

The unit enables users to capture directly from the HD camera’s image sensor, bypassing the video compression chip for true uncompressed video quality. Now users can go beyond the quality limits of HDV or AVCHD for editing, design and authoring with Intensity Extreme.

Intensity Extreme can be connected to any big screen television or video projector for incredible edit monitoring. Current computers don't have the processing speed to render complex multi layer real time effects in HDV playing back to FireWire cameras. Intensity Extreme solves this problem by outputting video on HDMI and analog outputs for big screen monitoring in both SD or HD formats.

Intensity Extreme instantly switches between the 1080 HD, 720 HD, NTSC and PAL video standards. Intensity Extreme is fully compatible with Adobe™ Premiere™ Pro, Apple™ Final Cut Pro 7™, Adobe After Effects™, Adobe Photoshop™ and any QuickTime™ based software application.

"We think the combination of HDMI and analog on an extremely compact Thunderbolt bus powered design combined with an affordable price will change the lives of thousands of professional videographers," said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design Inc. "Intensity Extreme features an amazing design that’s machined out of a solid block of aluminum! Only Intensity Extreme gives you compact size, power efficient design, high quality and incredible strength, that is simply perfect as the ultimate portable video solution."

The new Intensity Extreme will be available worldwide Q4. Price is expected to be approximately $285.00.

The companies’ work can potentially leapfrog today’s current attempts at stacking chips vertically – known as 3D packaging. The joint research tackles some of the thorniest technical issues underlying the industry’s move to true 3D chip forms. For example, new types of adhesives are needed that can efficiently conduct heat through a densely packed stack of chips and away from heat-sensitive components such as logic circuits.

“Today's chips, including those containing ‘3D’ transistors, are in fact 2D chips that are still very flat structures,” said Bernard Meyerson, VP of Research, IBM. “Our scientists are aiming to develop materials that will allow us to package tremendous amounts of computing power into a new form factor – a silicon ‘skyscraper.’ We believe we can advance the state-of-art in packaging, and create a new class of semiconductors that offer more speed and capabilities while they keep power usage low -- key requirements for many manufacturers, especially for makers of tablets and smartphones.”

Many types of semiconductors, including those for servers and games, today require packaging and bonding techniques that can only be applied to individual chips. 3M and IBM plan to develop adhesives that can be applied to silicon wafers, coating hundreds or even thousands of chips at a single time. Current processes are akin to frosting a cake slice-by-slice.

Under the agreement, IBM will draw on its expertise in creating unique semiconductor packaging processes, and 3M will provide its expertise in developing and manufacturing adhesive materials.

“Capitalizing on our joint know-how and industry experience, 3M looks forward to working alongside IBM – a leader in developing pioneering packaging for next-generation semiconductors,” said Herve Gindre, division vice president at 3M Electronics Markets Materials Division. “3M has worked with IBM for many years and this brings our relationship to a new level. We are very excited to be an integral part of the movement to build such revolutionary 3D packaging.”

According to RVU, the demonstrations will showcase numerous Remote User Interface (RUI) solutions based on the publicly available RVU standard, including the first product certified by the RVU Alliance independent certification program, the C30 client is manufactured by Pace PLC for DIRECTV. The C30 thin client will be used with DIRECTV’s HR34 RVU server which will be launched in October 2011. The C30 and HR34 designs are based on Broadcom’s HD Set-Top Box System-on-Chip (SoC) family of products.

The publicly available RVU standard allows a single server in a household to serve multiple clients simultaneously, providing every TV in a household the same consistent User Interface and experience. RVU servers provide a single, easily upgradable central point in the home that enables service providers to present their UI on compatible CE devices with no additional hardware required, providing DVR features directly on that CE device. Demonstrations at IBC will include RVU servers, and TV, and set-top box based RVU client devices.

“The RVU Alliance is proud to announce their members’ demonstrations at this key industry forum,” said Henry Derovanessian, president of the RVU Alliance Board of Directors and SVP of Engineering at DIRECTV. “Showing certified products at IBC this year demonstrates the progress the RVU Alliance has made in completing the product specification, and the benefits of a fully independent certification program to ensure device interoperability. The demonstrations will clearly show how RUI technologies can extend the viewing experience throughout the home on a wide range of consumer devices.”

IBC2011 takes place at the Amsterdam RAI from 8 – 13 September.

The department’s lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, seeks to prevent AT&T from acquiring T-Mobile from Deutsche Telekom AG.

According to the complaint, AT&T and T-Mobile compete head to head nationwide, including in 97 of the nation’s largest 100 cellular marketing areas. They also compete nationwide to attract business and government customers. AT&T’s acquisition of T-Mobile would eliminate a company that has been a disruptive force through low pricing and innovation by competing aggressively in the mobile wireless telecommunications services marketplace.

The complaint cites a T-Mobile document in which T-Mobile explains that it has been responsible for a number of significant “firsts” in the U.S. mobile wireless industry, including the first handset using the Android operating system, Blackberry wireless email, the Sidekick, national Wi-Fi “hotspot” access, and a variety of unlimited service plans. T-Mobile was also the first company to roll out a nationwide high-speed data network based on advanced HSPA+ (High-Speed Packet Access) technology. The complaint states that by January 2011, an AT&T employee was observing that “[T-Mobile] was first to have HSPA+ devices in their portfolio…we added them in reaction to potential loss of speed claims.”

The complaint also states that regional providers face significant competitive limitations, largely stemming from their lack of national networks, and are therefore limited in their ability to compete with the four national carriers. And, the department said that any potential entry from a new mobile wireless telecommunications services provider would be unable to offset the transaction’s anticompetitive effects because it would be difficult, time-consuming and expensive, requiring spectrum licenses and the construction of a network.

The department said that it gave serious consideration to the efficiencies that the merging parties claim would result from the transaction. The department concluded AT&T had not demonstrated that the proposed transaction promised any efficiencies that would be sufficient to outweigh the transaction’s substantial adverse impact on competition and consumers. Moreover, the department said that AT&T could obtain substantially the same network enhancements that it claims will come from the transaction if it simply invested in its own network without eliminating a close competitor.

“T-Mobile has been an important source of competition among the national carriers, including through innovation and quality enhancements such as the roll-out of the first nationwide high-speed data network,” said Sharis A. Pozen, Acting Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division. “Unless this merger is blocked, competition and innovation will be reduced, and consumers will suffer.”

The FCC Technology Experience Center (FCC TEC) is an on-site technology lab that provides FCC employees and visitors to FCC headquarters hands-on experience with the latest communications devices and solutions.
During the September showcase, a range of state-of-the-art tools available to first responders and homeland security professionals will be exhibited. These include:

· Advanced handsets that allow users to talk and send or receive data on the same channel with just one radio;
· A "cell tower in a suitcase" designed to allow first responders and disaster recovery personnel to connect to cell phones by connecting to satellites for voice and data connectivity;
· Solutions to detect active cell phones and determine the location of a phone;
· 911 call location solutions that enable first responders to find those in need with even greater
precision; and
· The latest in advanced command and control solutions and situational awareness devices now available to local and state public safety and homeland security agencies.

Participants in the FCC showcase will include ITT Intelligence & Information Warfare, T- Mobile, Motorola Solutions, Cassidian Communications, GlobalStar, Alcatel-Lucent, GreatCall, AT&T, TeleCommunication Systems, OnStar, Harris Corporation, Verizon, Inmarsat, Juniper Networks, Intrado, and Elster Solutions.

Jamie Barnett, Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, said, “The world of public safety and homeland security technology is always changing, and we are excited to have the opportunity to showcase the latest technologies and solutions in the Commission’s Technology Experience Center.”

“The technologies being exhibited at the FCC in September demonstrate the many advances in public safety communications including Next Generation 911 and public safety broadband. This exhibit will enable FCC staff and the public to see firsthand and better understand the current state and future direction of technology in the public safety and homeland security arena,” Barnett said.

CEA‑861 establishes protocols, requirements and recommendations for the utilization of uncompressed digital interfaces by consumer electronics devices such as digital televisions (DTVs), digital cable, satellite or terrestrial set-top boxes (STBs), and related peripheral devices. CEA’s Video Systems Committee has begun developing specifications for signaling the presence of 21:9 aspect ratio video. As video displays with 21:9 aspect ratio are now appearing in the marketplace, adding this feature to the standard can more efficiently deliver such video to DTV receivers with native 21:9 displays.

“The introduction of video displays with 21:9 aspect ratio is an exciting development that can increase consumer enjoyment and satisfaction for video consumption,” said Wayne Luplow, vice president of Zenith R&D Lab, LG Electronics USA Inc. and chair or CEA’s Video Systems Committee. “We hope the proposed modifications to CEA-861 will help manufacturers build products that can signal their ability to display this extra widescreen video and invite input from other organizations involved in the creation and delivery of DTV content.”

The Video Systems Committee believes that other standards-related organizations might also want to consider the inclusion of methods for signaling and delivery of 21:9 aspect ratio content utilizing other transport systems.

Consideration of this increased aspect ratio addition will take place in CEA’s DTV Interface Subcommittee's Uncompressed A/V Digital Interfaces Working Group. Participation in CEA standards and activities is open to any company, organization or individual with direct and material interest. The Working Group’s next meetings via conference call will take place on August 31 and September 13. To get involved, or for more information, please contact Dave Wilson at dwilson@CE.org.

In early August 2011, Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, and XPAND first announced their intent to work together on the development and licensing of Bluetooth enabled radio frequency (RF) system 3D active shutter glasses technology, including RF system protocols between consumer 3D active shutter glasses and 3D displays such as televisions, personal computers and projectors, as well as 3D theaters with XPAND active shutter glasses. The standardization will also include several types of infrared (IR) system protocols between 3D active shutter glasses and 3D displays, ranging from the protocols jointly developed by Panasonic and XPAND 3D to the proprietary protocols of Samsung and Sony.

In late September 2011, the license program for the Full HD 3D Glasses Initiative is targeted to commence. With this, manufacturers of 3D displays, 3D synchronization emitters, 3D active shutter glasses or Bluetooth chip devices for such products can receive a license to begin developing and manufacturing products employing the Full HD 3D Glasses Initiative technology.

Furthermore, in late 2011, the Full HD 3D Glasses Initiative plans to begin officially certifying products manufactured under the Full HD 3D Glasses Initiative license. Upon a product’s certification, the Full HD 3D Glasses Initiative will allow the usage of a distinct logo, which will provide consumers an easy way to recognize interoperability among 3D active shutter products, such as 3D TVs and 3D glasses that each bear the logo.

According to Blackmagic, UltraStudio 3D is a compact and portable solution that uses the new Thunderbolt interface for dual link 3 Gb/s SDI, HDMI 1.4a and analog component/s-video/composite, as well as balanced analog and AES/EBU digital audio capture and playback. UltraStudio 3D is perfect for 3D workflows as it features interleaved, side by side, frame packed and dual stream capture and playback.

Dual stream 3D allows customers to use the UltraStudio 3D dual link SDI connections to capture and play back two streams, one for the left eye and one for the right eye. The two streams are recorded into two separate media files. Dual stream 3D is higher quality because each eye is full resolution video, but dual stream is less compatible with current editing software. To solve this problem, Blackmagic Design’s Media Express 3 has been upgraded to handle both interleaved and dual stream 3D for capture and playback of 3D media for a complete 3D solution.

UltraStudio 3D is also based on a new internal hardware design with support for 10 bit SDI video and full support for video rates up to 1080p60 via SDI, HDMI and analog component. Thunderbolt technology easily handles this quality, and allows high end post production quality and features in a portable design. It instantly switches between SD, HD and 2K, making it the ideal solution for all post production and broadcast users when working on design, editing, paint and effects tasks.

“We are so excited to release the world's first feature film quality Thunderbolt technology based capture and playback device. Working closely with Intel and Apple on this project, I cannot believe how many advanced industry leading features are packed into this single product,” said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. "UltraStudio 3D has finally provided a real, portable high quality solution at a price anyone can afford!"

Jobs has been elected Chairman of the Board and Cook will join the Board, effective immediately.

"I have always said if there ever came a day when I could no longer meet my duties and expectations as Apple's CEO, I would be the first to let you know. Unfortunately, that day has come," Jobs wrote in an open letter to Apple Board of Directors and the Apple Community.

Jobs submitted his resignation to the board and strongly recommended that the Board implement its succession plan and name Tim Cook as CEO.

"I hereby resign as CEO of Apple. I would like to serve, if the Board sees fit, as Chairman of the Board, director and Apple employee," Jobs wrote. "I look forward to watching and contributing to its success in a new role," Jobs he added.

Jobs fought and survived a rare form of pancreatic cancer.

"Steve's extraordinary vision and leadership saved Apple and guided it to its position as the world's most innovative and valuable technology company," said Art Levinson, Chairman of Genentech, on behalf of Apple's Board. "Steve has made countless contributions to Apple?s success, and he has attracted and inspired Apple?s immensely creative employees and world class executive team. In his new role as Chairman of the Board, Steve will continue to serve Apple with his unique insights, creativity and inspiration."

"The Board has complete confidence that Tim is the right person to be our next CEO," added Levinson.

As COO, Cook was previously responsible for all of the company's worldwide sales and operations, including end-to-end management of Apple's supply chain, sales activities, and service and support in all markets and countries. He also headed Apple's Macintosh division and played a key role in the continued development of strategic reseller and supplier relationships, ensuring flexibility in response to an increasingly demanding marketplace.

Confidence in the overall economy, however, dropped to its lowest level of the year.

Consumer's expectations for technology spending rose more than four points in August. The CEA Index of Consumer Technology Spending (ICTE) reached 84.4, an increase of 4.6 points. The ICTE, which measures consumer expectations about technology spending, is at its highest level since January and up 4.6 points from this time last year.

"Consumers continue to show interest in spending on technology despite an uncertain economic outlook," said Shawn DuBravac, CEA's chief economist and director of research. "As consumers pull back spending in other categories, technology continues to benefit."

Consumer confidence in the overall economy dropped for the fourth straight month. The CEA Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE), which measures consumer sentiment about the broader economy, dropped 0.3 points to 158.8. That?s the lowest level since reaching an all-time low of 157.8 in August of 2010.

"Consumer sentiment continued to fall this month as unrest with the economic landscape and volatility in the financial markets grew," said DuBravac. "Interestingly, despite the instability on Wall Street, consumers are showing some optimism that things will improve over the next year."

The CEA Indexes comprise the ICE and ICTE, both of which are updated on a monthly basis through consumer surveys. New data is released on the fourth Tuesday of each month. CEA has been tracking index data since January 2007.

Called cognitive computers, systems built with these chips won’t be programmed the same way traditional computers are today. Rather, cognitive computers are expected to learn through experiences, find correlations, create hypotheses, and remember – and learn from – the outcomes, mimicking the brains structural and synaptic plasticity. 

To do this, IBM is combining principles from nanoscience, neuroscience and supercomputing as part of a multi-year cognitive computing initiative. The company and its university collaborators also announced they have been awarded approximately $21 million in new funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for Phase 2 of the Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics (SyNAPSE) project.  The goal of SyNAPSE  is to create a system that not only analyzes complex information from multiple sensory modalities at once, but also dynamically rewires itself as it interacts with its environment – all while rivaling the brain’s compact size and low power usage. The IBM team has already successfully completed Phases 0 and 1. “This is a major initiative to move beyond the von Neumann paradigm that has been ruling computer architecture for more than half a century,” said Dharmendra Modha, project leader for IBM Research. “Future applications of computing will increasingly demand functionality that is not efficiently delivered by the traditional architecture. These chips are another significant step in the evolution of computers from calculators to learning systems, signaling the beginning of a new generation of computers and their applications in business, science and government.”

While they contain no biological elements, IBM’s first cognitive computing prototype chips use digital silicon circuits inspired by neurobiology to make up what is referred to as a “neurosynaptic core” with integrated memory (replicated synapses), computation (replicated neurons) and communication (replicated axons).  IBM has two working prototype designs. Both cores were fabricated in 45 nm SOI-CMOS and contain 256 neurons. One core contains 262,144 programmable synapses and the other contains 65,536 learning synapses. The IBM team has successfully demonstrated simple applications like navigation, machine vision, pattern recognition, associative memory and classification.  

IBM’s overarching cognitive computing architecture is an on-chip network of light-weight cores, creating a single integrated system of hardware and software. This architecture represents a critical shift away from traditional von Neumann computing to a potentially more power-efficient architecture that has no set programming, integrates memory with processor, and mimics the brain’s event-driven, distributed and parallel processing. IBM’s long-term goal is to build a chip system with ten billion neurons and hundred trillion synapses, while consuming merely one kilowatt of power and occupying less than two liters of volume.  

According to IBM, future chips will be able to ingest information from complex, real-world environments through multiple sensory modes and act through multiple motor modes in a coordinated, context-dependent manner. For example, a cognitive computing system monitoring the world's water supply could contain a network of sensors and actuators that constantly record and report metrics such as temperature, pressure, wave height, acoustics and ocean tide, and issue tsunami warnings based on its decision making. Similarly, a grocer stocking shelves could use an instrumented glove that monitors sights, smells, texture and temperature to flag bad or contaminated produce. Making sense of real-time input flowing at an ever-dizzying rate would be a Herculean task for today’s computers, but would be natural for a brain-inspired system.   

“Imagine traffic lights that can integrate sights, sounds and smells and flag unsafe intersections before disaster happens or imagine cognitive co-processors that turn servers, laptops, tablets, and phones into machines that can interact better with their environments,” said Dr. Modha.

Produced by the editors of DV and Videography magazines, Digital Video Expo said it is presenting a multi-tiered educational program that will focus on a number of key topics critical to the success of video professionals. Each of the conference program topics will be discussed in full-day programs, taught by the individuals who literally “wrote the book” in their areas of expertise, including Oliver Peters, Jay Holben, Ned Stoltz and Philip Hodgetts.

Topics include:
• Demystifying Digital
• Working with Large-Sensor Cameras
• Basic Tech for Producers
• Color Correction Options
• The Art of Micro-Budget Producing
• Indie Feature Film Production and Post – A to Z
• DIY Lighting 101: A Shot in the Dark
• NLE Comparison Shopping
• Using Metadata for Production and Asset Management
• Build Your Own Studio
• Mobile Production Apps
• Avoiding Postproduction Nightmares

Digital Video Expo will also present a number of free education programs on the exhibit hall floor, on such topics as Lighting for Digital Cameras, Post Sound for Digital Content Creators, and the New LTO Tape File System.

“As one can see from the subject matter in this year’s Digital Video Expo conference program, we are presenting much of our educational content with the independent production community in mind,” said Carmel King, NewBay Media Executive Vice President. “With up-to-the-minute information on building your own studio, independent film production and post, lighting and sound, along with hands-on training, we’re ensuring that participants will be given the knowledge and tools to help them bring their creative visions to reality.”

For complete event and registration information, visit http://www.dvexpo.com.

“It’s a huge honor to make the record books with this project,” said Spurlock. “A documentary about product placement setting the record for product placement carries a certain irony to it that fits in perfectly with my overall vision of the project.”

According to the film's creators, we live in an age where it’s tough even to walk down the street without someone trying to sell you something. It’s at the point where practically the entire American experience is brought to us by some corporation. Utilizing cutting-edge tools of comic exploration and total self exploitation, Spurlock dissects the world of advertising and marketing by using his personal integrity as currency to sell out to the highest bidder.

The film was directed by Morgan Spurlock and written by Spurlock and Jeremy Chilnick, the film was produced by Keith Calder, Jeremy Chilnick, Abbie Hurewitz, Morgan Spurlock and Jessica Wu.
POM Wonderful Present is currently available for digital download and debuts on Blu-ray ($35.99 SRP) and DVD ($30.99 SRP) August 23 from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

According to GoPro, in addition to course previews of key events, included BMX Big Air, Skate Big Air, Skate Vert, Rally Cross, and the Street Skate Park, each night, ESPN’s X Center would feature a daily GoPro highlight video, shot entirely with HD HERO cameras that captured some of the most dramatic moments of the games. These one-of-a-kind shots, such as from the bottom of the skateboard or from the seat post of the BMX bike, gave TV viewers a new and dynamic way to experience the X Games from the athletes’ perspectives. GoPro finished the games coverage with its two-minute highlight video that was used in the celebration and conclusion of the 2011 Summer X Games.

“The 2011 Summer X Games was a major milestone for GoPro,” said Nicholas Woodman, founder and CEO of GoPro. “We are beyond stoked with how our cameras were used in the televised broadcast of the X Games. It is incredible to think that this same camera that is available at a local skate or bike shop is being used for professional productions like the X Games. We are definitely looking forward to future productions like this.”

GoPro said the versatility of the HD HERO with its small size and mount-anywhere design enabled the cameras to be positioned in numerous ways, be it on the athlete, their equipment or trackside to capture the unique shots. The team also used a first-of-kind, handheld camera array consisting of 48 synched HD HERO cameras to capture and deliver dramatic action shot sequences, giving the viewer a continuous and flowing multi-angle view of the athletes as they performed their tricks. Even with 48 HD HERO cameras attached, GoPro’s experimental camera array is still light enough to be carried by one person and to be positioned in the middle of the action. To duplicate this type of set-up with traditional production cameras, the cost would reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars and would be too impractical to be used during a live sporting event. GoPro said it is excited to showcase the versatility of the HD HERO camera in this new and exciting way and is proud that footage from it's innovative camera array was used in ESPN's broadcast of the Summer X Games.

See the GoPro 2011 Summer X Games footage here.

The United States generated $134.1 billion in entertainment media spending last year, compared to $82.1 billion spent by European consumers. The top item of expenditure in both regions was pay-TV cable and satellite subscriptions, but a growing range of paid-for entertainment options was also open to consumers, helping to boost overall numbers. These other options included cinema, physical video pur chases, physical video rentals, physical games purchases, physical music purchases, TV-based pay-per-view and video on demand, online video/games/music, and mobile games/video/music.

Combined spending on these sectors has been rising every year in both regions throughout the past decade, as shown by Figure 4. The 10-year compound annual growth rate, ending in 2010, stood at 5.0 percent for the United States and 4.2 percent for Western Europe.

Aside from the significantly higher overall expenditures on entertainment media in the United States, one noticeable difference in spending habits between the two regions was the proportion of spending generated by cable and satellite TV services. Subscriptions in Europe to basic pay- and premium-TV channels ac counted for 47 percent of total entertainment outlay in 2010, or $38.8 billion. In the United States, however, pay-TV cable and satellite accounted for a much larger 62 percent of the entire spending, or $82.9 billion— slightly more than the combined entertainment budget for the whole of Western Europe.

For both regions, however, pay-TV played a central role in contributing to full entertainment media spending. And when pay-TV subscriptions are removed from the totals, two things become clear, IHS Screen Digest analysis reveals. First, the pay-TV sector is almost single-handedly responsible for the ongo ing growth in entertainment spending; and second, without it, spending patterns in the two regions appear remarkably similar.

Taking out the pay-TV component, spending on entertainment media equates to $51.1 billion in the United States and $43.3 billion in Europe. This means that with pay-TV excluded, U.S. consumers spent just 18 percent more than Europeans, compared with the 63 percent difference in overall expenditures if pay-TV was included.

Just the same, with the United States having 29 percent fewer TV households than Western Europe, average U.S. households spent far more in entertainment media spending each year than Europeans.

The Trade Association’s FireWire Reference Tutorial has been developed for engineers with no previous exposure to or understanding of FireWire. Its purpose is to familiarize the reader with FireWire and to build a complete understanding of how the FireWire bus operates.

The Design Guide includes details on how to implement FireWire ports on high-level devices such as PCs and on simple devices such as inexpensive consumer electronics products. It includes references to normative specifications and reference designs that can be used as is or, with the careful consideration of the trade-offs, as a starting point for a more optimized design.

"Having the FireWire Reference Tutorial and the FireWire Design Guide available in Chinese is a major benefit for customers in the world’s largest markets for manufacturers of PCs and peripherals that use 1394 technology,” said Dave Thompson of LSI, a 1394 Trade Association board member and chair of the Marketing Work Group. “In particular, the chapter in the FireWire Design Guide on late-VG protection is especially important and helpful for designers and manufacturers working with the FireWire standard.”

Dubbed “WhiteMagic” the module incorporates a 3-inch VGA low-temperature polysilicone TFT LCD module that adds a white (‘W’) pixel to the Red-Green-Blue (‘RGB’) pixels. By improving the brightness of the entire screen, Sony said it has been able to develop a module that offers one mode to reduce the power consumption of backlight by around 50%, as well as another mode that approximately doubles the brightness to improve outdoor visibility. Even adding the W pixel, the analysis of the input picture data and Sony's unique signal processing algorithm enable images to be displayed without any deterioration.

In recent times, devices such as digital cameras and Smartphones have been gradually calling for even larger screens and higher resolutions. There are also increasing demands to reduce the power consumption of the displays. The conventional RGB display, however, has a major difficulty in simultaneously achieving both high resolution and low power consumption. By incorporating the newly-developed ‘RGBW method’ that adds a white (‘W’) pixel to the conventional RGB pixels, Sony has succeeded in enhancing the brightness of the entire screen of its new LCD module.

According to Sony, the addition of a white pixel typically tends to result in deterioration of the image quality. However, Sony's “WhiteMagic” analyzes the input picture data and performs suitable signal processing (using its new algorithm), thus enabling a deterioration-free display. As a result, Sony has succeeded in equipping its LCD modules with a new ‘low power mode,’ which enables brightness equivalent to that of conventional RGB LCD modules, even the power consumption of the backlight is reduced by approximately 50%. There is also an ‘outdoors mode,’ which successfully improves outdoor visibility of the display by enhancing the display brightness to roughly double, even without the use of any additional power. Consequently, the ‘Low power mode’ increases the battery life of the devices, while the ‘outdoors mode’ facilitates focusing of the camera and/or checking of the images being filmed even under strong sunlight.

In addition to cameras, “WhiteMagic” is also applicable to displays for Smartphones. Sony said it plans for the module to meet the demands of customers across a wide range of imaging and mobile devices.

Details and specifications can be found at www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/201108/11-086E/index.html.

Availability is slated for early October, 2011 with a sample price of roughly $65.00.

According to Google, the acquisition of Motorola Mobility, a dedicated Android partner, will enable Google to supercharge the Android ecosystem and will enhance competition in mobile computing. Google said Motorola Mobility will remain a licensee of Android and Android will remain open. The company will run Motorola Mobility as a separate business.

Larry Page, CEO of Google, said, “Motorola Mobility’s total commitment to Android has created a natural fit for our two companies. Together, we will create amazing user experiences that supercharge the entire Android ecosystem for the benefit of consumers, partners and developers. I look forward to welcoming Motorolans to our family of Googlers.”

Sanjay Jha, CEO of Motorola Mobility, said, “This transaction offers significant value for Motorola Mobility’s stockholders and provides compelling new opportunities for our employees, customers, and partners around the world. We have shared a productive partnership with Google to advance the Android platform, and now through this combination we will be able to do even more to innovate and deliver outstanding mobility solutions across our mobile devices and home businesses.”

Andy Rubin, Senior Vice President of Mobile at Google, said, “We expect that this combination will enable us to break new ground for the Android ecosystem. However, our vision for Android is unchanged and Google remains firmly committed to Android as an open platform and a vibrant open source community. We will continue to work with all of our valued Android partners to develop and distribute innovative Android-powered devices.”

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the US, the European Union and other jurisdictions, and the approval of Motorola Mobility’s stockholders. The transaction is expected to close by the end of 2011 or early 2012.

Under the Chairman’s five-step action plan, the FCC will: (1) develop automatic location accuracy mechanisms for NG-911, (2) facilitate the completion and implementation of NG911 technical standards for the hardware and software that carriers and public safety answering points (PSAPs) use to communicate NG911 information, (3) work with state 911 authorities, other Federal agencies, and other governing entities to provide technical expertise and develop a coordinated approach to NG911 governance, (4) develop an NG911 Funding Model focused on the cost-effectiveness of the NG911 network infrastructure linking PSAPs and carriers and (5) enable consumers to send text, photos, and videos to PSAPs.

Next month, the FCC is expected to launch a rulemaking to consider how to accelerate NG911 adoption to help answer practical, technical questions about how to enable text, photo, and video transmission to 911, including how to ensure adequate broadband infrastructure to deliver the bandwidth PSAPs will need to provide NG911. As part of the proceeding, the FCC will examine interim solutions for ensuring that carriers and service providers support transmission of text-to-911.

Chairman Genachowski said, “It’s hard to imagine that airlines can send text messages if your flight is delayed, but you can’t send a text message to 9-1-1 in an emergency. The unfortunate truth is that the capability of our emergency response communications has not kept pace with commercial innovation – has not kept pace with what ordinary people now do every day with communications devices. The shift to NG911 can’t be about if, but about when and how.”
NG911 supports seamless, end-to-end IP-based communication of emergency-related voice, text, data, photos, and video between the public and public safety answering points. NG911 systems will continue to support the legacy 911 system on a transitional basis for as long as is necessary.

According to the FCC, the announcement builds on Chairman Genachowski’s strong public safety agenda, including launching of Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN), strengthening the FCC’s existing enhanced E-911 location accuracy rules, laying the groundwork for a nationwide, interoperable public safety network and granting waivers to build out the public safety network.

According to Panasonic, the companies intend to work together on the development and licensing of radio frequency (RF) system 3D active glasses technology, including RF system protocols between consumer 3D active glasses and 3D displays such as televisions, personal computers, projectors and 3D theaters with XPAND active shutter glasses.

Through the initiative, the four companies aim to widely introduce universal active 3D glasses to the market. The announcement marks a collaboration of the world’s leading 3D TV manufacturers and 3D technology providers. Glasses utilizing 3D active technology benefits consumers in that they enable Full HD 3D picture quality to be displayed to each eye, as well as a greater freedom of movement thanks to Bluetooth technology.

“Panasonic has been working to standardize 3D glasses technologies, and in March, we announced a joint licensing of IR system protocols with XPAND, backed by several participant companies. We are very pleased that today’s latest collaboration will incorporate our previous concept into these new standardization efforts,” said Masayuki Kozuka, general manager of Media & Content Alliance Office, Corporate R&D Division, Panasonic Corporation. “We hope the expanded collaboration on this 3D standardization initiative will make a significant contribution toward accelerating the growth of 3D-related products.”

The Bluetooth SIG supports the industry’s move to standardize on Bluetooth technology in 3D glasses.

“These market leaders are coming together to make the 3D experience better for the consumer. It makes perfect sense that Bluetooth technology would be a vital component of that solution, both for its mass market ubiquity and the freedom and convenience it provides," said Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director, Bluetooth SIG. “And while today's news is exciting, this is just the beginning—Bluetooth technology in the living room makes sense in 3D glasses, stereo surround systems, remote controls, and ultimately the hub of the living room—the TV.”

The license of the newly announced Full HD 3D Glasses Initiative is targeted to be released in September 2011, at which time the development of new standardization-applied active 3D glasses will begin. Universal glasses with the new IR/RF protocols are expected to be made available in 2012, and are targeted to be backward compatible with 2011 3D active TVs.

According to VESA, the DisplayPort Version 1.2 standard is a comprehensive extension to the original DisplayPort standard, significantly enhancing display performance. Capabilities added by DisplayPort Version 1.2 include the doubling of the maximum data transfer rate to 21.6 Gbps (Gigabits-per-second), increasing display resolution, color depths and refresh rates; multiple monitor support through a single DisplayPort connector; support for high-speed, bi-directional data transfer; audio enhancements including Audio Copy Protection and support for High-Definition (HD) audio formats such as Dolby, MAT, DTS HD, all Blu-Ray formats, and China’s DRA standard; and improved support for Full HD 3D Stereoscopic displays.

“VESA’s goal has always been to enable the electronics industry to deliver a superior visual experience,” said Bill Lempesis, executive director of VESA. “With both sink and source devices having now achieved DisplayPort 1.2 certification, we are seeing this goal come to fruition. We believe that this is just the tip of the iceberg, and expect the industry to grab hold of DisplayPort 1.2 to bring products to market that take display technology to new heights.”

“3DTV is confounding the skeptics and gaining traction with early adopters,” says David Mercer, Principal Analyst and the report author. “A significant minority of 3DTV owners now watch some TV in 3D on a daily basis, and this should be seen as an encouraging sign for content producers and the television industry in general.”

The survey also found that 3DTV owners typically own two pairs of 3D glasses, although a small minority (13%) claims not to own any 3D glasses. The research provides some evidence that the cost of buying additional pairs of glasses is seen as a barrier to 3D viewing: 53% of 3DTV viewers agree that they would buy more 3D glasses for family and friends if prices were lower.

“The glasses issue is very real,” says Jia Wu, Senior Analyst. “Naturally enough people would rather not have to wear them, but a majority of 3DTV viewers are prepared to put up with the inconvenience when the experience and entertainment value justify it.”

Strategy Analytics conducted an online survey, the 2011 ConsumerMetrix Survey fielded in July 2011. The sample consisted of 2,000 individuals in the US and 2,801 in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, UK) ages 15-74 years. The sample of 3DTV owners was 238.

According to iBiquity, single frequency networks utilize on-channel digital boosters to improve FM IBOC digital radio coverage. These boosters, strategically located within the coverage area of a radio station, transmit only the digital portion of the hybrid IBOC signal. The approach to digital booster development being undertaken by iBiquity is aimed at a booster design that is interoperable among the various transmission equipment manufacturers. The technology is backwards-compatible with existing receivers and supportable by existing FM IBOC broadcast products, such as exciters, through upgrading.

The technical report just released describes field testing of a single frequency network using Greater Media's Boston area station WKLB-FM and experimental booster station WKLB-FM1. Both digital-only and digital-plus-analog booster configurations were tested. Also included in the report are the results from experimental broadcast stations WD2XAB and WD2XAB-1, located near Baltimore, MD which were first reported on in November 2010. The full text of the final report and information on the NAB FASTROAD technology advocacy program are available at www.NABFASTROAD.org.

The CEA study, Notions of Quality: Audio Expectations of Consumers, also found consumers have varying opinions on which content formats provide the best sound quality. For example, 43 percent of consumers consider FM radio to provide superior sound quality while a similar number (46 percent) consider the audio from HDTVs to be high quality.

“Sound quality depends on both the audio source and listening device, and. manufacturers and retailers have the unique ability to educate consumers on what constitutes high-quality audio,” said Ben Arnold, CEA’s senior research analyst. “Similar to HD and 3D video technology, quality audio is experiential, so we encourage consumers to do in-the-field research. Hearing the difference among superior audio products can effectively sway consumers to consider and purchase high-quality audio technology.”

CEA will reveal further results and insights of the study in a webinar on Wednesday, August 10th from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. EST. Arnold will lead the webinar and will address topics such as the profile of audio enthusiasts, what consumers consider elements of a quality audio listening experience, which elements of the experience are most important, and perceptions of which audio formats and devices provide high quality sound.

The webinar is specifically recommended for individuals in the business of selling or marketing audio electronics or content. Webinars are free for CEA members and available for a fee for nonmembers at the CEA Store. Registration is limited - RSVP by Monday, August 8th. If you have any questions please email Webinar Team or call (703) 907-4354.

The study, Notions of Quality: Audio Expectations of Consumers was conducted between June 16 - 25, 2011. It was designed and formulated by CEA Market Research. The complete study is available free to CEA member companies at members.CE.org. Non-members may purchase the study at the CEA Store.

According to One-Blue, the company has been established for the purpose of administering a licensing program for patents essential to Blu-ray Disc products. For hardware and software products, the license covers Blu-ray Disc, DVD and CD essential patents; for disc products, the license covers Blu-ray Disc essential patents.

The comapny said that with the creation of One-Blue, the participating companies have founded an innovative patent pool for Blu-ray Disc products that levels the playing field, reduces costs, and fosters fair use of the patent system in the entire optical disc sector.

An important goal of the One-Blue product licensing program is the creation of a level playing field for all participants in the Blu-ray Disc product market. To this end the One-Blue licensing program will introduce a per-batch licensing system for high volume Blu-ray Disc products and labels to be put on the outer boxes of Blu-ray Disc products, which will enable retailers and other players in the value chain to determine readily which products are licensed under this program. One-Blue expects that after a short initial period all boxes of relevant Blu-ray Disc products will be provided with labels.

Since issuing its call for Blu-ray Disc product patents in October 2009, One-Blue has been working with potential licensors to ensure wide-spread adoption of its licensing program. For the past few months, One-Blue has acquired the necessary regulatory and governmental approvals for the establishment of One-Blue, LLC as the joint licensing agent of its licensors.

Any holder of patents essential to optical formats used in Blu-ray Disc products is invited to submit patents for evaluation and join the licensing program as a new licensor. More information about the One-Blue licensing program and related royalty rates can be found on www.one-blue.com.

Any company interested in obtaining licenses for one or more Blu-ray Disc products under the One-Blue product licensing program is requested to contact One-Blue at: info@one-blue.com.

“These arrangements will unleash investment and benefit consumers near the borders by enabling the rollout of 4G wireless broadband service and advanced systems for critical public safety and emergency response communications,” Chairman Julius Genachowski stated after signing the documents. “I appreciate the commitment and dedicated efforts of everyone who has been involved in these discussions to ensure that we are making the most effective use of this valuable spectrum.”

According to the FCC, the technical sharing principles reached on the 700 MHz band will facilitate the deployment of mobile wireless broadband systems near the U.S.-Canadian and U.S.-Mexican borders and will provide consumers in these areas with advanced opportunities for 4G high-speed mobile broadband access. Under the arrangements, licensees on both sides of the borders will have greater access to the 698-758 MHz and 776-788 MHz bands.

The technical sharing principles reached on 800 MHz will pave the way for completion of 800 MHz rebanding by U.S. public safety and commercial licensees operating along the U.S.-Canadian border. The FCC ordered rebanding to alleviate interference to public safety licensees in the band caused by commercial cellular licensees. The arrangement specifies (1) how primary channels will be allotted between the United States and Canada, (2) the technical parameters for operation on these channels within 140 kilometers (87 miles) of the common border, and (3) a schedule for transitioning facilities from the channels needed by the U.S. to complete rebanding along the U.S.-Canadian border.

The relevant documents are available on the International Bureau web site at http://transition.fcc.gov/ib/sand/agree/. They are also available for reference in the FCC Reference Information Center, Courtyard Level, and 445 12th Street, SW, Washington, D.C.

The KODAK KAI-2020 Image Sensor was selected by Malin Space Science Systems to serve as the “eye” of JunoCam, an instrument that will provide full color images of Jupiter as the spacecraft orbits the planet. The Juno spacecraft is designed to investigate Jupiter's origins, interior structure, deep atmosphere and magnetosphere from an innovative, highly elliptical orbit that will come as close as 5,000 km (3,100 miles) to the planet’s cloud tops.

After its scheduled August 5th launch, the Juno spacecraft will embark on a five-year cruise to Jupiter. Once the spacecraft arrives in 2016, JunoCam will be operated as part of the mission’s public outreach program, with imaging targets for the camera selected by the public working with the Juno science team. The camera will capture images for at least seven orbits, and then continue operation as long as possible in Jupiter’s intense radiation environment. With its 1600 x 1200 pixel array, the KODAK KAI-2020 Image Sensor will enable JunoCam to capture images of Jupiter’s cloud tops at up to 3 km per pixel, providing an unprecedented view of the planet.

KODAK CCDs will also be involved in two upcoming space missions currently scheduled to launch this November. Malin Space Science Systems selected the KODAK KAI-2020 Image Sensor for use in four separate camera systems of the Mars Science Laboratory rover Curiosity, including the MastCam, the science imaging “workhorse” of the rover. Scheduled to arrive at Mars in August 2012, Curiosity will help assess whether the red planet was (or still is today) an environment able to support microbial life. In addition, the Russian spacecraft Phobos-Grunt will use KODAK KAI-1020 Image Sensors for navigation and landing site selection on its mission to land on the Mars moon Phobos, collect samples, and return them back to Earth. Phobos-Grunt is scheduled to land on Phobos in early 2013, arriving back on Earth in August 2014.

In addition to these upcoming missions, KODAK CCD Image Sensors have also been deployed in a variety of other space missions to help us better understand not only the Earth but also our neighbors in the solar system. KODAK Image Sensor technology is used today in several Earth satellites that provide high-resolution images for commercial applications such as land mapping, agriculture, and municipal planning. KODAK CCD Image Sensors allow the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to provide unprecedented high-resolution images of the Moon, as well as in the Venus Monitoring Camera of Venus Express to study the atmosphere and surface of Venus. And several orbiters around Mars – including the Mars Odyssey Orbiter, the Mars Express, and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter – all use KODAK CCDs to provide new levels of information on the red planet.

"JunoCam is the eleventh time we have selected a Kodak CCD for a spaceflight imaging system," said Michael Ravine, Advanced Projects Manager, Malin Space Science Systems. "Being able to draw from the many options available in Kodak's commercial image sensor line has allowed us to tune the performance of each camera to each mission's specific needs. And our previous cameras that use Kodak sensors have logged more than 10 years of deep space operations, clearly demonstrating their reliability for space applications."

Conversely for Hulu, watching directly on a computer is the dominant way consumers connect. Eighty-nine percent of Hulu users watch directly on a computer, while 42 percent of Netflix users report watching on their computers.

One-fifth of Hulu users and 14 percent of Netflix users also report that they stream by connecting their computer to the TV. Other over-the-top, Internet-enabled devices, such as Roku Box, Google TV and Apple TV, were also cited as means for connecting with Hulu and Netflix. Respondents were able to select more than one viewing method to best reflect their viewing habits.

Hulu and Netflix users also trend toward different content types. Nearly three-fourths (73%) of Hulu users view primarily TV shows, compared to 11 percent of Netflix users. On the flipside, more than half (53%) of Netflix users watch primarily movies, while 9 percent of Hulu users say the same. Finally, twice as many Netflix users than Hulu users watch both movies and TV shows equally.

For the survey, Nielsen completed more than 12,000 online interviews in March 2011, focusing on usage and attitudes for over-the-top video, particularly Netflix and Hulu.

The rising popularity of smartphones in markets worldwide and increasing use of the Internet for activities like video distribution have boosted demand for fast, high-capacity communication networks. High-speed, low-loss optical technology enables broad application of fast, high-capacity communication, in submarine cable networks linking the countries of the world through to short-distance subscriber networks (FTTH) for offices and households. Optical communication is the transmission of data which has been converted into light signals. The medium is usually via optical fiber, which is exceptionally light and robust and has the advantage of low susceptibility to the effects of electromagnetic waves.

Transceiver modules employing glass lenses are used for optical communication, in submarine cables and base stations. Aspherical glass lenses, in particular, are ideal for transmitting light signals to optical fiber with low loss and have recently been incorporated into palm-size projectors. Consumer appliance applications are growing.

The FLGS3 Series is a highly efficient 1 × 1mm square aspherical glass lens which is compatible with wide-angle laser diodes and is believed to be the industry’s smallest.

Alps said it harnessed technologies accumulated through more than 20 years serving the optical communication market—in the areas of optical design, mechanical design, mold and die manufacturing, molding, and simulation—to expand the effective numerical aperture (NA) to 0.65 × 0.13 (from 0.5 × 0.1) while retaining the industry’s smallest size, and as a result raise optical coupling efficiency, which is a measure of light transmission efficiency, to 73% from 68%. With low loss, the light input required for a given output is smaller. This contributes to low power consumption, and also restricts heat generation, thereby enabling application in low-price modules that do not require Peltier devices or other cooling components. The company said thr lens is also ideal for high-brightness projector applications.

Made from lead-free glass, the FLGS3 Series lens is achieving compliance with both RoHS 6 and REACH regulations, contributing to reduced power consumption by optical communication modules helping to lower environmental impact.

Mass production and shipments of the new lens is to commence August 2011.

'Fundamentals of Color and Appearance' is a one-day seminar that instructs quality control and assurance professionals, lab technicians, parts suppliers, pre-media and digital pressroom personnel and manufacturing specifiers on how to evaluate and approve colors in their workflows. Taught by X-Rite color experts, FOCA provides practical information applicable to any industry dealing with color in easy-to-understand terms, including retail and apparel brands, business and consumer electronics, automotive, graphics arts, packaging and their related industries in plastics, coatings, and textile manufacturing. X-Rite color experts will give attendees a solid foundation in the basics of color and appearance, and provide instruction on how to measure, view and understand color data.

The $595 course requires no prior color training and will address color control for a variety of industries. X-Rite's FOCA seminar may qualify as continuing education under certain accreditation programs.

FOCA's fall dates and venues are as follows:

Detroit, MI: 09/22/2011 (Detroit Metro Airport Marriott, Flynn Drive Romulus, MI)

Atlanta, GA: 09/27/2011 (Courtyard Atlanta Airport North/Virginia Avenue, International Boulevard, Hapeville GA)

Los Angeles, CA: 09/29/2011 (FIDM 17590 Gillette Avenue, Irvine CA)

Boston, MA: 10/06/2011 (Residence Inn Boston Framingham, 400 Staples Drive, Framingham MA)

Chicago, IL: 10/13/2011 (Residence Inn Chicago Schaumburg, 1610 McConnor Parkway, Schaumburg IL)

Lyndhurst, NJ: 10/25/2011 (Courtyard Lyndhurst Meadowlands,1 Polito Avenue, Lyndhurst NJ)

Each attendee will receive an X-Rite Munsell Interactive Learning Kit to reinforce the lessons with worksheets, samples, and exercises, as well as X-Rite’s exclusive 'Fundamentals of Color and Appearance' book to be used as a reference on color in easy-to-read language.

'Going Beyond Density: Optimal Process Control for Printing' is a modular seminar featuring a morning and an afternoon session. Participants can opt to attend one session (for $395) or both (for $595).

This seminar is designed for any press operators, quality assurance or quality control managers, production supervisors, and prepress professionals looking to better understand how to improve efficiencies in the pressroom. Topics will include color theory, how to shorten make-ready time, lower consumable costs, increase efficiency throughout your workflow, and increase the return on your recent investment in color management equipment. Attendees will gain a complete understanding of the best practices for process control, be introduced to the key concepts of the G7 methodology, and also improve their understanding on spot color management from Pantone.

The morning session will look at offset press process control with a particular focus on process color. The afternoon session will focus on flexographic press process control with a particular focus on packaging and spot colors, including Pantone.

“The success of our 'Going Beyond Density' seminar this spring has led us to increase the number of locations for our fall tour in order to meet the needs of our customers. We have developed a curriculum, in coordination with Pantone that delivers superior value to our attendees. The marketplace is requesting tools to increase productivity and reduce costs and this seminar series supports this need,” explains Murphy Keeley, VP of Services at X-Rite.

Fall dates and venues for 'Going Beyond Density' are as follows:

Baltimore, MD: 9/13/2011 Courtyard Baltimore BWI Airport 1671 West Nursery Road Linthicum, MD

Los Angeles, CA: 9/15/2011 Los Angeles Airport Marriott 500 East First Street Long Beach, CA

Chicago, IL: 10/4/2011 Spring Hill Suites Chicago 1550 McConnor Parkway Schaumburg IL

Raleigh, NC: 10/6/2011 Courtyard Raleigh-Durham Airport 2001 Hospitality Court Morrisville, NC

To register and obtain further information about these seminars, please go to www.xrite.com/foca or www.xrite.com/processcontrol or call 888-439-4403. For a limited time, attendees can save 10 percent and get a free t-shirt by using the coupon code FOCA11 or GBD11 when registering.

The NAB analysis found that 672 of the nation's 1735 full-power TV stations must be "cleared" from channels 31-51 to accommodate the FCC's goal of reclaiming an additional 120 MHz of spectrum from broadcasters. During the analog-to-digital TV transition two years ago, only 174 stations had to be cleared from channels 52-69 and forced to move to a new channel.

"If the FCC's National Broadband Plan to recapture 20 more TV channels is implemented, service disruption, confusion and inconvenience for local television viewers will make the 2009 DTV transition seem like child's play," said NAB President Gordon Smith. "NAB endorses truly voluntary spectrum auctions. Our concern is that the FCC plan will morph into involuntary, because it is impossible for the FCC to meet spectrum reclamation goals without this becoming a government mandate."

Broadcasters returned to the government more than one-quarter of TV spectrum (channels 52-69 - or 108 MHz of spectrum) two years ago following a transition from analog to digital TV. That transition was conditioned on the promise that 46 million Americans exclusively reliant on over-the-air TV, along with pay TV viewers who watch local and network broadcast programming, would benefit from a DTV transition that would usher in HDTV programming, more viewer choice, and live and local mobile DTV. Many of those promises could go unfulfilled if the National Broadband Plan is implemented.

NAB's analysis of the FCC proposal to recapture 20 more TV channels reveals the following:

● Top Ten TV markets would be dramatically impacted by the FCC proposal, with 73 stations in the largest ten markets going off the air;

● More than half of all TV stations would likely need to disrupt service for millions of viewers for a few hours up to a few weeks to accommodate repositioning of those TV channels "repacked" into a lower channel assignment;

● Service disruptions would occur at more than 800 TV stations in large markets, mid-sized markets and small markets; the negative impact would be spread among network-owned stations and affiliates, Spanish and other foreign-language stations, independent, religious and public TV stations;

● Americans living in cities along the Canadian border would bear extra burdens because of international treaty obligations designed to minimize interference between Canadian and U.S. cities. Under the FCC NBP, all Detroit TV stations could go dark. Other border cities that could face severe disruptions and loss of service include Buffalo, Seattle, Syracuse, Cleveland, Spokane, Rochester and Watertown, NY and Flint, Mich.

NAB said it called on the FCC to immediately make public its analyses of the NBP's potential negative impact on viewers of free and local television. "We've waited patiently for over a year for FCC data on how the Broadband Plan impacts broadcasters, and more importantly, the tens of millions of viewers who rely every day on local TV for news, entertainment, sports and lifeline emergency weather information," said the NAB's Smith. "Even Congress can't get information from the FCC. All we are seeking is more transparency. We have but one chance to get this right if we are to preserve future innovation for broadcasters and our viewers."

According to Avid, at the heart of the workflow set-up is Avid Interplay Production Asset Management, which will be the largest such system Avid has delivered to date. Capable of storing up to 5000 hours of HD data online, the core system will also have the capacity to handle at least 76 incoming simultaneous HD file-based recordings, as well as contributions from remote venues. The system will provide facilities for the rights holders to directly access all events media and operational facilities such as editing, playout and web publishing. The solution also includes the use of Avid iNEWS Command and Avid AirSpeed Multi Stream for program distribution.

Gary Greenfield, CEO of Avid, said: “When it really counts—whether on a global stage or close to home—media enterprises know they can count on Avid, and we are committed to their success. Next year the whole world will be watching London, and to serve as the backbone for the digital workflows will really showcase Avid’s strengths and capabilities. It further demonstrates our commitment to delivering proven solutions that media enterprises can count on to get the job done, around the clock.”

According to the study, males ages 18 to 34 watch 7.8 hours of online video weekly, compared with 5.6 hours per week among all viewers ages 8 to 64. Many participants in the survey expect to watch 10% more online video within the next year. Short-form video content gets the views. About 66% of online video viewers regularly watch premium short-form content, such as music videos, movies trailers and clips, TV previews and clips, sports highlights, video game content, comedy sketches and original Web series.

The percentage of online video viewers for each genre has remained the same since 2008, except for a few exceptions during the past few years. For example, consumer-generated videos uploaded to sites such as YouTube rose from 33% to 46%. Full-length TV rose from 25% to 30%. Full-length movies rose from 10% to 22%.

Emerging technologies have begun to show promise when it comes to connecting with entertainment and video content. About 30% of online view viewers watch content on a mobile phone, Internet-connected television or wireless tablet. Internet TV continues to grow in acceptance, with 25% of online video viewers accessing the Internet through their TV set and an additional 34% interested in hooking in at a later time, according to the Frank N. Magid study.

About 158.1 million U.S. Internet users will download or stream video at least monthly via any device in 2011, representing 68.2% of Web users -- up to 76% by 2015, according to eMarketer.

It's not clear whether the device type can have an influence on recall of the video or the topic, but studies note the type of video ad unit does. In fact, the type of ad unit and the frequency with which consumers see a specific type of ad in a unit has a major influence on recall, according to eMarketer.

The research firm said 35% of viewers in a recent study could recall seeing a common static banner advertisement, but only 13% of viewers remembered seeing a more eye-catching video banner advertisement. Interestingly, it's not that the static banner ad proves to have a greater impact than the video banner ad, but rather the frequency with which consumers see them. The ad consumers are more commonly exposed to will have a higher impact on recall. Exposure influencing recall can also be found in streaming ad units. Pointing to stats from Break Media, eMarketer notes that 47% of respondents said they remembered the brand or product advertised after viewing a pre-, mid- or post-roll video ad unit.

“During the past two years, our research team has been focused on material improvements to increase the recording speed and making other key advances needed to ready GE’s micro-holographic technology for market,” said Lorraine. "With a speed to match Blu-ray's, discs made from GE's advanced micro-holographic materials are an attractive solution for both archival and consumer entertainment systems."

With higher recording speeds required in the professional archival industry, the company said that the latest breakthrough by GE researchers will advance the company’s interests in commercializing GE’s micro-holographic technology in the market space.

“During the past two years, our research team has been focused on material improvements to increase the recording speed and making other key advances needed to ready GE’s micro-holographic technology for market,” said Lorraine. "With a speed to match Blu-ray's, discs made from GE's advanced micro-holographic materials are an attractive solution for both archival and consumer entertainment systems."

Lorraine also noted that the breakthrough in recording speed could hasten the entry of GE’s micro-holographic technology into the consumer electronics market. Future micro-holographic discs using GE’s proprietary material will read and record on systems very similar to a typical Blu-ray or DVD player. In fact, the hardware and formats can be so similar to current optical storage technologies that future micro-holographic players will enable consumers to play back their CDs, DVDs and BDs.

Accoding to GE, in the months ahead, GE’s research and licensing teams will be sampling media to qualified companies interested in licensing its proprietary holographic data storage platform, a comprehensive portfolio that includes materials, discs, optical systems for manufacturing and optical drive technologies.

"This latest breakthrough in Holographic Data Storage represents a significant step forward on the path to commercializing this technology," said William Kernick, Vice President of Technology Ventures for GE. "We are looking forward to engaging with strategic industry partners to create an exciting new solution in the marketplace.”

• North American IP set top box revenue will increase by 22% in 2011.
• In 2011, 17% of all set top boxes will include a DVR.
• In 2011, 72% of all satellite set top boxes in Europe will be high definition.
• Nearly 670,000 cable set top boxes will be shipped in Latin America in Q3’11.

Average pricing in June for flat-panel TVs reached $1,133, up $10 or 0.9 percent from $1,123 in May. Overall average prices for LCD TVs increased $5 to $1,050, while those for plasma stabilized last month at $1,590. The price uptick in June—albeit slight—marked the third consecutive month of increase since April after four straight months of decline.

Among LCD televisions featuring the advanced light-emitting diode (LED) backlight technology, pricing in June fell for every size category by 1 to 5 percent, with the biggest declines occurring in the 20-inch-and-smaller group as well as in the 30- to 39-inch range. For the popular 32-inch LED model, pricing fell 7 percent from May and retreated a sizable 23 percent compared to June 2010. Meanwhile, U.S. LED shipments this year for the 30- to 34-inch range are expected to jump 96 percent.

Internet-enabled LCD TVs evinced mixed trends this month as the technology began penetrating smaller-sized TVs while at the same time continuing to compete with the medium- and larger-sized TV market. Pricing rose 2 percent in the 21- to 29-inch group for Internet-enabled TVs—considered a premium feature in this size range—but fell 4 percent in the 30- to 39-inch segment.

For plasma sets, clear-outs of older models as well as new-model introductions served to keep June prices in equilibrium. The 50-inch-and-larger group saw a price decline of 1 percent, but pricing rose 3 percent in the 40- to 49-inch category.

Overall for June, trends showed many premium features experiencing a price decline. Given that the U.S. TV market is mature, brands will need to keep offering attractive features like full high definition, LED, Internet-enabled capabilities and 3-D in order to continue moving forward—all the while keeping prices in mind, IHS believes. This is especially true as the country continues to grapple with the effects of a weak housing market, high unemployment and elevated gas prices.

“The biggest pricing increases for flat-panel televisions last month were among the new 3-D models employing active shutter glasses, the most popular type of three-dimensional set on the market today,” said Riddhi Patel, director for television systems and retail services at IHS. “There is an increasing number of models with 3-D capability in the product mix that have higher than average prices. These sets drove price increases for the entire flat-panel television market in the United States in June.”

The group, dubbed the Center for Copyright Information said that every year, content theft costs the U.S. economy more than 373,000 jobs, $16 billion in lost earnings, and $3 billion in lost federal, state and local government tax revenue.

Currently, many Internet Service Providers (ISPs) forward to subscribers notifications that they receive from content owners about alleged content theft – generally by email. Until now, however, there has been no common framework of “best practices” to effectively alert subscribers, protect copyrighted content and promote access to legal online content.

According to the Center, the Copyright Alert System is based on a consumer’s “right to know” when his or her Internet account may have been used improperly to download copyrighted content. Often, subscribers – particularly parents or caregivers – are not aware that their Internet accounts are being used for online content theft. Other subscribers may be unaware that downloading copyrighted content from illicit sources is illegal and violates their ISP’s Terms of Service or other published policies. Data suggest that, once informed about the alleged content theft and its possible consequences, most Internet subscribers will quickly take steps to ensure that the theft doesn’t happen again.

The new Copyright Alert System addresses these problems with a series of early alerts -- up to six -- in electronic form, notifying the subscriber that his or her account may have been misused for online content theft of film, TV shows or music. It will also put in place a system of “mitigation measures” intended to stop online content theft on those accounts that appear persistently to fail to respond to repeated Copyright Alerts. The system will also provide subscribers the opportunity for an independent review to determine whether a consumer’s online activity in question is lawful or if their account was identified in error. There are no new laws or regulations established as a part of this voluntary agreement. Termination of a subscriber’s account is not part of this agreement. ISPs will not provide their subscribers' names to rights’ holders under this agreement.

Both the Center for Copyright Information and the Copyright Alert System are voluntary collaborations between the entertainment and broadband business communities. Participating ISPs will begin implementing Copyright Alerts in 2011 and 2012.

The companies and associations collaborating on the framework include:

MPAA and MPAA members: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures; Paramount Pictures Corporation; Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc.; Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation; Universal City Studios LLC; and Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
RIAA and RIAA members: Universal Music Group Recordings, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and EMI Music North America.
ISPs: AT&T, Cablevision Systems Corp., Comcast Corp., Time Warner Cable, and Verizon.
IFTA: representing the Independent Producers & Distributors of Film & Television Programming.
A2IM: representing their 283 music label members, small and medium sized businesses located across the United States representing many different musical genres reflective of the cultural diversity of our country.

Founded in 2009 to commercialize research from the University of British Columbia, Veridae delivers three leading products for ASIC/FPGA prototyping debug, ASIC post silicon validation and FPGA-based system product validation into leading semiconductor and system product companies. These products are the first on the market to deliver a systematic "design for validation" approach as well as key features such as a synchronized view of multi-device systems both on- and off-chip, across devices, and timing domains. With the enhanced visibility delivered, customer's validation time is greatly shortened and key debug problems that previously required weeks, or even months, can be resolved in hours.

"Veridae is solving an ever increasing challenge faced by our customers -- debug and validation of their complex systems," said, Amir Aghdaei, President of Tektronix. "The combination of Veridae and Tektronix solutions will provide significant cost saving to our customers while accelerating their time to market."

Tektronix has made a long-term commitment to grow an embedded capture business unit in Vancouver, BC. "We're excited to be part of the Tektronix team and to establish a business unit for the company in Vancouver," said Jim Derbyshire, Veridae chief executive officer and mentor in residence at Simon Fraser University. "This allows us to maintain our close ties to the local research community, which were instrumental in the founding of Veridae."

Pantone said myPANTONE 2.0 incorporates feedback from more than 80,000 Pantone fans to extend the functionality of the original myPANTONE application and meet the growing needs of designers. myPANTONE 2.0 adds several enhanced features, including color calibration tools to improve the appearance of PANTONE Colors on screen, CMYK support for PANTONE PLUS SERIES Colors, access to ICC color-managed values, and the ability to print color palettes straight from the iPhone.

Each color swatch in the myPANTONE for Android application includes sRGB, HTML and L*a*b* values. myPANTONE for Android also automatically generates a variety of harmonious color combinations. Additionally, cross-referencing color capabilities make it simple for users to find similar colors among the various PANTONE Color Libraries. For example, users can identify the PANTONE FASHION + HOME Color that most closely matches any PANTONE PLUS Color.

Once created, users can share color palettes by email with their friends, colleagues and clients. Color palettes can be sent as PANTONE Color Chips, or as swatch files that can be used in Adobe® Creative Suite® (.ase) and QuarkXPress®. Designers can also share their color palettes by automatically posting notification of new palettes to Facebook or by sending them to the Pantone hosted website, www.mypantone.com.

A free update for current myPANTONE users, myPANTONE 2.0 provides designers with CMYK data for all PANTONE PLUS SERIES Colors. Another innovative feature myPANTONE 2.0 offers is the ability to connect to PANTONE COLOR MANAGER desktop software to upload color managed data for PANTONE Colors based on ICC color output device profiles.

Enhancing the way PANTONE Colors are displayed on the iPhone, iPod and iPad has been improved as well. Now myPANTONE 2.0 allows users to calibrate the iPhone display to view color-corrected PANTONE Colors within the application. An X-Rite calibration device is required for calibration, such as ColorMunki™ Photo, Design or Create, or the new ColorMunki Display, i1Pro or i1Display 2.

“We continue to see a fundamental shift in the way designers work and smartphones are increasingly acting as portable color studios,” said Andy Hatkoff, vice president of technology licensing for Pantone. “myPANTONE for the iPhone was our first mobile application. Since its release, our Facebook community has been passionate about telling us the features they would like to see in future versions, including CMYK values and display calibration for more accurate color representation on screen. And, as the mobile market continues to expand, requests for an Android version of myPANTONE could not be ignored.”

myPANTONE for Android is available for download at the Android Market store for U.S. $7.99. myPANTONE for Android is compatible with Android 2.2 or higher.

myPANTONE 2.0 is a free upgrade for current owners and is available for download to new users in the Apple App Store for U.S.$9.99. Current myPANTONE users will be prompted to download a free upgrade. myPANTONE 2.0 is compatible with iPhone OS 4.0 or higher, and can be used on the iPad, iPhone or iPod touch.

According to the company, Adobe Creative Suite 5.5 Production Premium is a fully featured video suite with tools that deliver massive productivity enhancements and enable video and audio pros to dramatically accelerate their post production workflows. The powerful Adobe Mercury Playback Engine, introduced in Adobe Premiere Pro CS5, allows users to open projects faster, get real-time feedback for more GPU-accelerated features, and work more smoothly at 4k and higher resolutions on both laptops and workstations.

Adobe states that Premiere Pro CS5.5 boosts performance for powerful editing with a toolset that is native 64-bit, optimized for multicore systems, and is GPU-accelerated to provide real-time effects, color correction/color grading, accelerated rendering and superior multilayer performance. Professional video editors can also utilize all the system resources on modern Macs with Thunderbolt, 64-bit, and multicore CPUs for increased performance. Adobe is continuing to lead in truly native editing solutions with Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 as it saves users time and eliminates the need to transcode or rewrap file based and DSLR footage. Editors can also leverage Adobe After Effects® and Adobe Photoshop® software to seamlessly integrate visual effects and still imagery into their workflows. For customers who use other editing programs, Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 includes Final Cut Pro project import and export so projects can be shared between both applications without conversion or re-rendering. Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 also includes many Final Cut Pro and Avid keyboard shortcuts to help users get up and running fast.

“We’re hearing from video professionals that they want pro level tools that address cutting edge work but also allow them to use legacy footage and workflows,” said Jim Guerard, general manager and vice president of professional video and audio, Adobe. “At Adobe we’ve been in the trenches with video pros for years and with Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5 and CS5.5 Production Premium we’ve delivered professional-grade tools that are already being battle-tested by some of the most innovative filmmakers, broadcasters and video pros.”

For more information on eligibility requirements for the switcher program, visit www.adobe.com/products/premiere/switch, or participating resellers. The program will end Sept. 30, 2011.

From June 22, 2010 to June 21, 2011, 1.59 million BD3D feature films were sold in the United States. When combined with the format's 161,700 non-feature units, a grand total of 1.75 million BD3D units were sold at retail, according to an IHS analysis of Nielsen VideoScan point-of-sale data. Another 1.7 million BD3D discs were delivered to U.S. consumers through hardware bundling deals during the same period, bringing the total to 3.5 million, IHS estimates.

"Consumers are finding that 3-D is one of the most fun concepts in home entertainment since color television, providing true three-dimensional pictures right in their living room," said Jan Saxton, senior analyst, film entertainment, for IHS. "Once they have 3-D in the home, they love it and are hungry for content, snapping up BD3D movies as soon as they become available. Sales reached this high level despite the fact that the number of BD3D titles on the market was relatively small compared to non-3-D Blu-ray."

A total of 93 BD3D titles were expected for release in the United States during 2010 and 2011, the first two calendar years of the format's availability. In comparison, 448 Blu-ray titles were released during that format's first two years in the market.

The growing number of titles - combined with the large installed base of BD3D-capable players as well as the rising sales of 3-D-capable televisions - will cause sales to accelerate in the second half of this year, the research firm says.

The first film to hit retail on BD3D was "Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs," released in the United States by Sony on June 22, 2010. Based on analysis of point-of-sale data from Nielsen's VideoScan service, IHS estimates the title sold close to 50,000 units in its first year at retail. That may seem modest, but "Cloudy" was also bundled with Sony 3-D TVs and Sony 3-D starter kits, which consist of extra pairs of the 3-D glasses necessary for each 3-D viewer - so the total number of units 'sold' was boosted significantly by the Sony bundles.

Like Sony, other studios have formed partnerships with 3-D hardware manufacturers to get their 3-D titles into early-adopting homes.

Probably the most highly anticipated 3-D film of all, "Avatar," is still available only through Fox's exclusive bundling deals with Panasonic, or on resale sites like eBay and Amazon Marketplace.

As smartphones get smaller and their image sensors continue to offer higher resolutions, now in a range from 5M pixels to 8M pixels, the challenge here is of smaller pixels, where miniaturization can result in a fall off in performance. According to Toshiba, BSI overcomes this and brings a new level of responsiveness to CMOS imaging. BSI sensors deploy lenses on the rear of the sensor, on its silicon substrate, not on the front, where wiring limits light absorption. This positioning boosts light sensitivity and absorption, and allows formation of finer image pixels in smaller CMOS image sensors, bringing it more suitable for motion pictures applications as well.

Toshiba has made full use of the advantages of BSI to realize image pixels with a pitch of 1.12 micrometers, and to pack 8.08 million of them into a 1/4-inch sensor. The new sensor achieves high level imaging and processing that will bring a new level of image quality to smartphones.

Toshiba expects BSI CMOS image sensors to become the mainstream technology in portable digital technology, with applications expanding from mobile phones and digital cameras to smartphones and tablets.

The company said that CMOS image sensors are a focus product of Toshiba's Analog and Imaging Systems business. The latest addition to and enhancement of its BSI CMOS sensor line-up will reinforce the sensor business and the company's ability to meet the dual market requirements of smaller products and higher resolutions.

Sampling of the new sensor will begin at the end of this month and mass production will follow from the end of 2011.

Panasonic said it has provided NASA with AG-3DA1 3D camcorders, BT-3DL2550 25.5” 3D LCD monitors and its ruggedized Toughbook laptop computers that have documented the training and preparation leading up to the launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station.

According to Panasonic, during the shuttle mission, NASA astronauts plan to use the lightweight 3DA1 to document the International Space Station in 3D. While at the International Space Station, the astronauts intend to conduct a number of scientific missions that they plan to capture with the 3DA1.

“Panasonic is delighted that the 3DA1 3D camcorder is playing a vital role in documenting this momentous NASA mission,” said John Baisley, Executive Vice President, Panasonic Solutions Company. “Human spaceflight is about the discovery of new things and places. The amazing 3D images that the 3DA1 produces may allow a new and unique view of the exploration of space for many applications.

“Panasonic looks forward to sharing the compelling 3D footage from the Space Station with consumer and professional audiences worldwide to showcase the truly immersive experience that 3D can deliver.”

For more information about the final space shuttle mission, visit www.nasa.gov.

The new research shows that connected TV homes are in many ways an advertiser’s dream. Compared to those without connected TV, viewers in connected homes are more likely to be male, young, have kids, and have higher median household incomes. Not surprisingly, homes with connected TVs are also more likely to have almost all types of TV technology, including HDTVs and DVRs.

But a preference for live viewing is still evident within all generations; among connected TV viewers, almost half (47%) say that watching a program at its regular time is their first choice when deciding what to view in the evening. Gen Y shows the strongest preference for the technology – but still chooses live viewing by almost two to one.

Many households have yet to embrace the connected TV technology; among 13- to 64-year-olds in “capable but unconnected” TV homes, only one fifth (21%) expect to connect in the next year. And, among the 40 percent of 13-to-64s who are in homes without a capable device, just eight percent expect to get such a device in the next year.

Buffering and poor picture quality are no longer barriers to satisfaction with connected TV. The data reveals that two thirds of connected TV viewers believe the picture and sound quality are about the same as, or better than, their regular TV reception. Viewers also like the flexibility to watch anytime and the wider selection of content.

“Connected TVs are now clearly a mainstream technology if defined by presence in the home – but actual usage is a different story,” said David Tice, Vice President and Group Account Director at Knowledge Networks. “Finding ways to ‘turn on’ the installed-but-inactive population may be the key to growth in every area. One potential approach: Tap into the unmet needs of pay TV consumers, such as the ability to access web-like search tools and social media through their TV set.”

The new findings come from Connected TVs: A How People Use Media Report – just published by Knowledge Networks as part of The Home Technology Monitor. The study is based on responses from 1,008 people – ages 13 to 64 – in TV homes, with interviews conducted in April 2011. The Home Technology Monitor research series represents the gold standard in media technology measurement. Now in its 31st year, HTM tracks ownership of hundreds of media-related devices and services, from wireless Internet access to DVRs to videogame consoles.

"While packaged media is declining, it certainly isn't falling off a cliff," explained Futuresource Senior Analyst, Mai Hoang at this year's Futuresource Entertainment Summit. "The decline in packaged media across video, gaming and music has attracted a lot of debate regarding the future of entertainment content, but packaged media still plays a huge part in total sales. Combined with the availability of new platforms, digital and packaged media together will still achieve $112bn in revenue in 2014.

"In 2010, packaged video generated $42bn globally, and although decline is apparent in the video industry, packaged will continue to produce significant revenues in the coming years, with spend still at $33bn in 2014, accounting for 72% of total consumer spend."

Sell-through currently accounts for the majority of total revenues in packaged media, though rental plays its part, this trend is set to continue as Hoang revealed.

"2014 will see sell-through account for 70% of total physical video spend, of which Blu-ray contributes over 50%, compared to just 13% in 2010. Globally, DVD and Blu-ray rental is still significant, although popularity varies greatly between territories - in Japan, rental accounts for over half of total spend while in the European markets, rental barely accounts for 10% share."

While Blu-ray is gaining traction growth in the new format will not be enough to compensate for the decline in DVD. Any growth in the home entertainment industry will need to come from digital content distribution, though key challenges for digital video include the wide availability of other online content, in particular free content, and the ongoing consumption of illegal video.

"An estimated 400 billion videos were watched online last year in the US, most of which were viewed for free via services like YouTube and Hulu," said Hoang. "In Western Europe, paid for online video accounted for just 2% of total video spend and 5% in the US, but the market is gaining ground and expected to increase to 12% and 16% respectively by 2014."

In Western Europe Apple, Microsoft and Sony are the main contenders in the paid for online video market, while smaller service providers continue to fuel the competitive environment. As a result the market is hugely fragmented, with a variety of services offering very different business models. Objectives among online service providers also vary greatly and many services have struggled, with some exiting the market entirely over the last two to three years.

In conclusion, Hoang stated that a number of strategies are being trialled to build bridges between digital and physical content, including industry initiatives to push digital through bundling, experimentation with release windows and exclusive downloadable content.

"For digital, the online user experience needs to be as seamless and enjoyable as possible for the video industry to maximise the future opportunities and make this revenue stream really perform," said Hoang.

This wireless standard enables a high-speed, bi-directional, point-to-point connection for the transfer of large data between two active devices up to a few centimeters apart. This standard can be applied for a wide range of applications, regardless of product, usage model or content. From a user standpoint, the technology can be thought of as an intuitive, touch-activated, high-speed data interface providing instant connectivity and allowing immediate exchange of content between devices. Some use cases which can take advantage of this technology include the exchange of photos and videos between digital cameras and camcorders, downloading content from public signage onto smart phones, and streaming content in real time from mobile devices to audio visual playback systems.

The Ecma General Assembly approved this standard at its June 2011 meeting in Divonne, France. This standard is now submitted to ISO/IEC JTC 1 for approval.

Mr. Ko Togashi, Chair of Ecma TC50 said: "We are very happy that this technology has been adopted as an Ecma standard and is now publicly available for the realization of user-friendly and intuitive touch-based data transfer.”

“This standard will change the way consumers handle and enjoy content by eliminating the complexity of traditional wireless connections, removable storage media and physical cables.” said Mr. Kentaro Odaka, Chair of the TransferJet Consortium.

“For more than 70 years, Canon has committed itself to developing new technologies that enhance the lives of our customers and create new opportunities to grow our business,” said Bunji Yano, senior director and general manager, Corporate Communications, Canon U.S.A. “We are honored to be recognized by Business Insider as one of the most innovative companies of all time and will continue to invest in the key functions of research, development, service and support in the future.”

The Business Insider list recognizes international technology companies that have played a critical role in developing and patenting new technologies and innovations over the past several decades. The research breakthroughs and technologies developed by the companies have changed the way businesses and consumers operate and communicate while also generating billions of dollars for the developers. See the full list of Innovative Companies.

Magenta specializes in providing large-scale switching, extension and distribution projects to the pro AV and digital signage markets, while TV One dedicates itself to providing video, audio and multimedia processing solutions. Together, the two companies boast a rich, 40 year history of providing advanced technology-based solutions to the professional AV and broadcast communities.

Commercial Technology Group Chairman, and Magenta Research CEO, Keith Mortensen stated, "The ability for TV One and Magenta technology to be cross-integrated into broadcast and commercial AV projects offers integrators and consultants exciting new alternatives to approaching projects, while streamlining the overall process."

Mortensen added, "Given the multiple ways TV One and Magenta products complement each other, the two companies were a natural fit to be the first two companies positioned under the Magenta Commercial Technology Group umbrella."

Additional acquisitions are expected to further expand the Magenta Commercial Technology Group's product portfolio in the coming months.

WiGig also announced the publication of its WiGig Bus Extension (WBE) specification, now available to Adopter members. The WiGig Bus Extension and WiGig Serial Extension (WSE) enable high-performance multi-gigabit wireless connectivity among multiple devices, from storage devices to other high-speed peripherals and applications such as Wireless Docking. WiGig is finalizing the WSE specification and plans to publish it to Adopters in the second half of this year.

“We are marching toward enabling the fastest wireless technology for practical applications such as Wireless Docking, Wireless Display and Wireless Networking,” said Dr. Ali Sadri, WiGig Alliance president and chairman. “Our continued diligence in the MAC-PHY specification development process and collaboration with the Wi-Fi Alliance to build an interoperable multi-gigabit wireless solution based on our latest specification will soon provide an unprecedented user experience that changes people’s lives.”

“WiGig is approaching fruition and advancing quickly toward enabling WiGig-based products,” said Filomena Berardi, Market Research Analyst, IMS Research. “By providing consumers a comprehensive wireless solution designed for a diverse set of applications at multi-gigabit speeds, WiGig is delivering technology that will shape the future of 60 GHz.”

In addition to WiGig’s partnership with VESA for wireless DisplayPort certification, WiGig said it has become an adopter of HDMI Licensing, LLC to further provide WiGig Display Extension (WDE) support for HDMI mapping. WDE is the only 60 GHz specification that defines a framework to connect to DisplayPort monitors and HDMI TVs, enabling key applications such as the wireless transmission of compressed or uncompressed video. WDE will be available to Adopters in the second half of 2011.

The CEA Index of Consumer Technology Expectations (ICTE) increased one point this month to 82.2. The ICTE, which measures consumer expectations about technology spending, is half a point lower than this time last year.

“Spending on tech is still holding up as interest grows in the tablet market, ” said Shawn DuBravac, CEA’s chief economist and director of research. “With economic expectations down, consumers are deferring large durable purchases, which means they have some additional funds to allocate to consumer tech.”

Consumer confidence in the overall economy fell to its lowest mark since August 2010. The CEA Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE) dropped four points this month, to 160.1. The ICE, which measures consumer expectations about the broader economy, is down for the second consecutive month and is more than two points lower than this time last year.

“The deteriorating economic environment leaves consumers less optimistic about the future,” said DuBravac. “Declines in equity markets in recent weeks and a flat line real estate market have lowered consumer expectations for being better off financially in the months to come.”

The CEA Indexes comprise the ICE and ICTE, both of which are updated on a monthly basis through consumer surveys. New data is released on the fourth Tuesday of each month. CEA has been tracking index data since January 2007. To find current and past indexes, charts, methodology and future release dates, log on to: CEAindexes.org.

Active cables boost and equalize the attenuated DisplayPort signal, allowing cables to reach longer lengths and enabling the use of thinner wire gauges when compared to normal passive cables. The configurations of home theaters and digital signage installations have historically been limited by the display cables connecting the devices. For high-definition display placement, the limits imposed by passive cables meant that short distances were needed to avoid compromised image quality. With the addition of active cables to the DisplayPort standard, cables lengths of more than 100 feet (33 meters) are possible, greatly increasing configuration flexibility in cable routing and equipment placement.

To support organizations considering the development of DisplayPort active cables, VESA has provided guidance on the electrical characteristics needed to ensure interoperability with other DisplayPort products within the DisplayPort 1.2 standard. Additionally, the Association has outlined compliance requirements within VESA’s PHY Compliance Test Specification version 1.2, enabling DisplayPort active cables to be added to the VESA Certification and Logo programs.

Because active cables are directional and require each end to be connected to appropriate devices, VESA has developed a new DisplayPort active cable logo to assist cable users in identifying the source and sink ends of the cable. This new logo will appear on the active cable, as well as product packaging and promotional material, simplifying their use and identification for consumers and developers of all expertise levels.

“Active cables are an important connectivity option for DisplayPort users,” said Gourgen Oganessyan, vice-chair of the VESA Marketing Task Group and staff product marketing engineer at Intersil Corporation. “Active cables are increasingly being used in market segments ranging from industrial display and digital signage, to the home office. Through detailed compliance and test specifications, as well as our logo programs, VESA will ensure robust and consistent quality of these interconnects in the marketplace and interoperability with a wide variety of DisplayPort-enabled products.”

Design specifications are immediately available from VESA for organizations seeking to develop DisplayPort active cables. For more information about DisplayPort, or the standard, please visit http://www.displayport.org.

"As this study indicates, local broadcasting is a remarkable engine for commerce and economic growth, creating high-paying jobs and helping business drive sales through advertising of goods and services," said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. "Decision-makers now debating spectrum policies need to be cognizant of the millions of people and thousands of businesses reliant on the unparalleled impact of local TV and radio for economic survival."

The paper calculated the local broadcast industry employs over 300,000 people directly and in support industries, creating $49.32 billion in GDP annually. Television accounts for almost 187,000 of these jobs, as well as over $30 billion in GDP, while radio employs 118,000 people and contributes a little over $18 billion to the GDP. The study also examined the ripple effects direct employment by local broadcasting has on the economy through the consumption of goods and services by industry employees. Looking at these cascading effects, the analysis concluded local commercial broadcasting generates almost $135 billion in additional GDP and more than 833,000 jobs nationwide.

"TV and radio broadcasting not only provides communities with local news, sports, weather and emergency information, but remains a valuable source of employment that fuels local economies," said Smith. "With the country struggling to recover from the downturn, broadcast innovation that includes mobile DTV and multicasting should be given an opportunity to succeed and put more Americans back to work."

The economic analysis also studied the additional economic activity generated by local commercial broadcasting through its service as a forum for advertising goods and services. The study estimates advertising on local broadcast television and radio stations stimulates more than $986 billion in economic activity and supports 1.38 million jobs.

"The primary role of broadcast television and radio is reducing the cost of product information through advertising. In this way, broadcast television and radio stations have their most significant impact on economic growth," says the report. "Reaching all United States households, local broadcast television and radio stations provide consumers with highly valued marketplace information and businesses with immediate economic and competitive intelligence."

The study focused only on local commercial broadcast radio and television stations including locally owned and operated commercial stations, affiliate stations and independent stations. Noncommercial radio and TV stations and the operations of over-the-air broadcast networks were not part of the analysis, except for networks' owned-and-operated local television stations.

Jim Mainard, Head of Production Development, DreamWorks Animation (DWA) was named Chair and Tom Cosgrove, President and Chief Executive Officer at 3net will serve as Chair-Elect for the Society.

Others named to the I3DS Executive Committee include Kappei Morishita, General Manager for the Blu-ray License Group, Panasonic Hollywood Lab, Panasonic Corporation of North America (First Vice-Chair/Treasurer); Lenny Lipton, Vice Chair/Secretary, 3D inventor (Vice Chair/Secretary); and Buzz Hays, Senior Vice President and 3D Producer, Sony Pictures Technologies, Sony Corporation of America (Past Chair). Jim Chabin, President of the Society, will also serve on the executive committee.

The International 3D Society provides community, education and recognition to its membership and is dedicated to the advancement of stereoscopic 3D arts and technology.

Mainard congratulated the membership on the progress the organization has made over the past year, noting, “The International 3D Society’s leadership now connects 3D companies and professionals from the United States to China, Korea, Japan, United Kingdom and 17 countries, all working together to move 3D forward.”

“3D is now colonizing screen platforms throughout the marketplace. The Society’s Board of Governors will advance and strengthen our efforts to fill that pipeline with superb quality content to advance the success of 3D,” added Chabin.
The International 3D Society Board of Governors and its general membership span the growing stereoscopic industry with representatives from major studios, in home, producers, technology suppliers, exhibitors and distributors. A complete list of board members follows.

International 3D Society underwriters include Signature Sponsors Panasonic Corporation and Korea Telecom and Founding Sponsors Dolby Laboratories, DreamWorks Animation (DWA), IMAX, MasterImage 3D, PIXAR, Sony Corporation of America, The Walt Disney Studios and XPAND 3D; also Member Sponsors Autodesk, Azuna, DirecTV, Discovery Communications and Quantel. For membership or information, visit www.international3dsociety.com.

The International 3D Society Board of Governors for 2011-2012 are:
 
Maria Costeira - XPAND 3D CEO

Peter Dobson - Mann Theatres CEO

Rob Engle - Sony Pictures Imageworks 3D Visual Effects Supervisor

Greg Foster - IMAX Chairman and President of Filmed Entertainment

Ron Geller - Dolby Laboratories, Inc. Vice President, Worldwide Content Relations

Charlotte Huggins - Salient Features Producer

Peter Koplik - MasterImage 3D President Digital Cinema

Brian Lenz - BSkyB Director, Product Design & TV Product Development

Howard Lukk - The Walt Disney Studios Vice President, Digital Production and Technology, Studio New Technology

Steve Schklair - 3ality Digital, LLC CEO/Founder

Kurt Schwenk - Paramount Pictures, VP of Post Production Services

Lisa Truitt - National Geographic Cinema Ventures President

Unlike conventional cameras, which can only record a scene in two dimensions, light field cameras can capture all of the light traveling in every direction through a scene in four dimensions. A light field picture taken with a Lytro camera can be manipulated after the fact in ways not possible with editing software.

Light field cameras capture fundamentally more powerful data than possible in regular photographs. To record this additional data, Lytro cameras will feature an innovative new light field sensor that captures the color, intensity and direction of every light ray. Software within the camera then processes the picture into a light field picture file that anyone can interact with, without needing special software.

“This is the next big evolution of the camera,” said CEO and Founder Dr. Ren Ng. “The move from film to digital was extraordinary and opened up picture taking to a much larger audience. Lytro is introducing Camera 3.0, a breakthrough that lets you nail your shot every time and never miss a moment. Now you can snap once and focus later to get the perfect picture.”

According to the company, Lytro camera capabilities will include:

Shoot now, focus later. People will no longer be disappointed by a picture that turns out focused on the wrong subject, such as the wall instead of a child’s smile. Lytro pictures can be flawlessly focused to one’s liking – days, weeks, even years after they’re taken.

Unparalleled speed: Since the camera doesn’t focus before a photo is taken, people will no longer miss important moments due to the conventional delay of the lens autofocusing as you press the shutter button.

Living pictures. Lytro creates interactive, living pictures that will engage and delight those who experience them online via social media networks, mobile phones, blogs, etc. Viewers can immerse themselves in a living picture to discover and focus in on new details by simply clicking on different parts of a picture. No software download is required.

Low-light sensitivity. By using all of the available light in a scene, light field cameras can capture better pictures in remarkably low light environments without use of a flash.

Immersive 3D. Using the full light field, Lytro cameras provide an immersive 3D picture that goes beyond the conventional stereo 3D by, for example, controlling the perspective view of a scene.

In 2010, consumers worldwide spent more than $38 billion on cameras and is expected to increase to $43.5 billion worldwide by 2015.

The first Lytro camera is expected to be available for purchase online later this year. For a demonstration of living pictures, visit the Lytro Picture Gallery.

As of June 20, 2011, six broadcasters (from the UK, US, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Sweden) have confirmed that they will conduct live broadcasts of Sony's 3D production of Wimbledon.

The company has also confirmed that live public screenings of Wimbledon will be shown in 3D on more than 170 screens in the UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Norway, Greece, Turkey, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Austria, US, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Uruguay - a total of 22 countries and regions.

Sony said there are ongoing negotiations with broadcasters and cinema exhibitors in various countries and regions, so the number of countries and theaters where broadcasts and screenings are available is expected to further increase.

For the latest information on theaters offering live 3D screenings has also been launched go to http://wimbledon.com/sony.

During a special meeting, the Board approved a plan to dramatically increase the number of Internet domain name endings -- called generic top-level domains (gTLDs) -- from the current 22, which includes such familiar domains as .com, .org and .net.

"ICANN has opened the Internet's naming system to unleash the global human imagination. Today's decision respects the rights of groups to create new Top Level Domains in any language or script. We hope this allows the domain name system to better serve all of mankind," said Rod Beckstrom, President and Chief Executive Officer of ICANN.

New gTLDs will change the way people find information on the Internet and how businesses plan and structure their online presence. Internet address names will be able to end with almost any word in any language, offering organizations around the world the opportunity to market their brand, products, community or cause in new and innovative ways.

"Today's decision will usher in a new Internet age," said Peter Dengate Thrush, Chairman of ICANN's Board of Directors. "We have provided a platform for the next generation of creativity and inspiration."

The decision to proceed with the gTLD program follows many years of discussion, debate and deliberation with the Internet community, business groups and governments. The Applicant Guidebook, a rulebook explaining how to apply for a new gTLD, went through seven significant revisions to incorporate more than 1,000 comments from the public. Strong efforts were made to address the concerns of all interested parties, and to ensure that the security, stability and resiliency of the Internet are not compromised.

ICANN said it will will soon begin a global campaign to tell the world about this dramatic change in Internet names and to raise awareness of the opportunities afforded by new gTLDs. Applications for new gTLDs will be accepted from 12 January 2012 to 12 April 2012.

“The Wallow Fire is, unfortunately, going down in the record books as the largest wildfire in Arizona history, and all eyes are on the movement of the fire,” says Earth Networks Chief Meteorologist Mark Hoekzema. “Information and camera images from our station in Greer, Arizona, from June 5 serve as an example of how, in the western U.S., varied elevations and topography creates differential heating that will drive mesoscale patterns that could produce wind conditions in one valley that are totally different than another just a few miles away.”

The camera at Molly Butler Lodge is part of the Earth Networks weather mesonet, the largest global network of professional-grade weather stations, cameras and lightning sensors located at schools, sports stadiums and public safety facilities that integrates data from global weather sources.

Since the crisis began, partner station KTVK-TV Phoenix has been sharing images from another camera, located at Round Valley High School in Springerville, Arizona, on-air during regular broadcasts and on the station’s website at http://www.azfamily.com/.

Earth Networks said emergency management authorities in the region are using Earth Network’s weather visualization and tracking application, StreamerRT, to augment their weather intelligence by viewing and monitoring weather data, images and maps at very localized levels for affected areas, and to receive continuous updates on key factors, such as wind speed, direction and humidity, that are contributing to the dangerous situation and the spread of the wildfire.

StreamerRT is being made available at no cost to state and county officials, first responders and agencies in Arizona and surrounding states. Officials requiring access to StreamerRT for critical decision support during the crisis should contact Randy Smith, rsmith@earthnetworks.com, for additional information and instructions.

“We are thrilled to welcome Pandora to our community of innovative tech companies,” said Scott R. Cutler, EVP and Co-Head of U.S. Listings and Cash Equities, NYSE Euronext. “Pandora has transformed the music experience for millions across the country with its inventive Music Genome Project. We congratulate Pandora on its IPO and look forward to a long-standing partnership with the company and its shareholders.”

“We are excited and honored today to call the "P" symbol at the New York Stock Exchange our own,” said Joe Kennedy, Pandora President and CEO. “NYSE's experience and enthusiasm for Pandora make them an ideal partner as we look to continue our vision of providing personalized radio to listeners anytime and anywhere. We also thank our entire team, and all those who have helped us reach this milestone.”

As of May 31, 2011, NYSE Euronext (NYX) led the U.S. market for Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) and new listings both in total capital raised as well as number of transactions for 2011, with $23.4 billion in IPO proceeds raised on the New York Stock Exchange through a total of 53 IPOS (including funds). Pandora joins a series of recent notable TMT listings including: Freescale Semiconductor (FSL); The Active Network (ACTV); LinkedIn (LNKD); Sequans Communications (SQNS), 3D Systems Corporation (DDD); Demand Media (DMD); NeoPhotonics (NPTN); IMAX (IMAX) and Youku.com Inc. (YOKU)

A new report from Pike Research forecasts that the portable power sector will continue expanding at a healthy rate over the next few years, rising from $20.3 billion in global revenues in 2010 to $30.5 billion by 2015. The cleantech market intelligence firm estimates that portable power represents 55% of the global battery industry, with the stationary and motive battery sectors accounting for the balance of the market. The firm’s analysis indicates that portable power’s compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.5% will outpace growth in the other two sectors.

“Advanced battery technologies hold the potential to have a major impact on how portable devices are used in a variety of consumer and industrial markets,” says Pike Research president Clint Wheelock. “However, batteries are governed and constrained by a set of electrochemical laws that prevent them from achieving the kinds of advancements we have seen in the electronics industry. There is no Moore’s Law for battery technology, but a large number of innovators are actively seeking ways to significantly improve the performance of batteries.”

Pike Research forecasts that the largest market growth will continue to be in batteries for laptop computers and mobile phones, driven largely by ongoing increases in unit shipments. Other major growth categories will include portable navigation, military applications, medical devices, power tools, and instrumentation/sensing. A few application segments, such as batteries for portable AV/music and digital photography, will experience flat to negative growth between 2010 and 2015.

“The results of this study illustrate the fact that consumers are increasingly accessing entertainment content wherever and whenever it is available and underscore the growing opportunities in cable to adapt to these changing viewing habits by providing movies and other content on every platform,” said Mark Greenberg, president and CEO of EPIX.

Additionally, the research delved into device preference for content consumption and confirmed personal computers have fully emerged as a commonly used means for movie viewing. They are now nearly as popular as televisions, with seven out of eight respondents indicating that they watch movies on computers.

Other notable survey findings include:

- TV networks prevail as the most common source for watching movies outside of theaters as nearly seven in eight steamers view films on broadcast (85%) and basic cable networks (83%) at least monthly.

- More than half (51%) of online streamers/downloaders also watch movies monthly on premium channels.

- Although device ownership is already high among viewers of movies online, there is still strong purchase intent for popular mobile devices; over half (53%) plan to purchase another broadband-enabled device such as a tablet, netbook, laptop or desktop computer and over a quarter (26%) intend to get a mobile phone with Internet access over the next 12 months.

- TV sets connected to the Internet are growing in importance for online movie viewing, particularly among younger adults – 26% of all streamers/downloaders and one in three in the 25-34 year-old age group say they stream movies on broadband-enabled TVs.

- 44% of online video viewers utilize Internet Blu-ray players connected to TVs to watch movies.

The survey was conducted online in April 2011 by global consumer research firm Ipsos OTX Media CT and results were compiled from a national sample of 500 respondents between the ages 25-64 who had streamed or downloaded video content during the previous six months. EPIX made this announcement at the National Cable and Telecommunications Association (NCTA) 2011 Cable Show in Chicago.

The product features a built-in hardwired MP3 encoder/decoder system, enabling a power consumption of just 5 milliwatts (mW) and supporting advanced functionality via a built-in digital signal processor (DSP).

According to Sanyo, the LC823425 lowers power consumption during encoding by 50 percent compared to prior products, by utilizing a newly developed hardware encoders for MP3 file formats. It also employs a, low-voltage 90 nanometer (nm) process to achieve overall power consumption of approximately 5 mW. Additionally, it features a Class D headphone amplifier to reduce power consumption during playback. Through these functions, LC823425 achieves power consumption 30 percent lower than that of earlier sound processing products from the company.

SANYO Semiconductor's 24-bit DSP also enables diverse audio processing algorithms, leveraging proven software assets, shortening time to market for various types of audio processing applications. For example, this device enables functions often used for IC recorders, such as noise cancellation (including reducing noise from air conditioners, and making audio clearer during playback), sound collection (making audio clearer in real-time by using low delay noise-reduction processing and a high-gain amplifier), and voice speed adjustment (lowering voice speed, and maintaining the original playback time by expanding voice data to silent parts).

The new MP3 decoder and playback algorithm enables the variable speed playback function to operate at up to twice the speed [at 0.5x to 4x speeds and 1.2 volts (V) operation], compared to SANYO Semiconductor's previous products.

Additionally, by utilizing the LC823425's "music extraction technology", which extracts music data from among audio data, it also possible to extract and record only the music part of an FM radio broadcast.

Full production is scheduled in July 2011. The device is offered in both a FBGA221J (11 mm x 11 mm) and a TQFP128L (14 mm x 14 mm) package. It is budgetary priced at $7.00 USD per unit in quantities of 10,000 units. Samples are currently available.

Designed for wireless communications, this graphene-based analog integrated circuit could improve today's wireless devices and points to the potential for a new set of appli-cations. At today's conventional frequencies, cell phone and transceiver signals could be improved, potentially allowing phones to work where they can't today while, at much higher frequencies, military and medical personnel could see concealed weapons or conduct medical imaging without the same radiation dangers of X-rays.

Graphene, the thinnest electronic material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms packed in a honeycomb structure, possesses outstanding electrical, optical, mechanical and thermal properties that could make it less expensive and use less energy inside portable electronics like smart phones.

Despite significant scientific progress in the understanding of this novel material and the demonstration of high-performance graphene-based devices, the challenge of integrat-ing graphene transistors with other components on a single chip had not been realized until now, mostly due to poor adhesion of graphene with metals and oxides and the lack of reliable fabrication schemes to yield reproducible devices and circuits.

This new integrated circuit, consisting of a graphene transistor and a pair of inductors compactly integrated on a silicon carbide (SiC) wafer, overcomes these design hurdles by developing wafer-scale fabrication procedures that maintain the quality of graphene and, at the same time, allow for its integration to other components in a complex cir-cuitry.

“Just a few days before IBM commemorates its 100th anniversary, our scientists have achieved a nanotechnology milestone which continues the company's century-long pur-suit of innovation and technology leadership,” said T.C. Chen, vice president, Science and Technology, IBM Research. “This research breakthrough has the potential to in-crease the performance of communication devices that enable people to interact with greater efficiency.”

SES-3 is a hybrid C- and Ku-band satellite which will replace AMC-1 at 103 degrees West and provide comprehensive coverage of North America and the Caribbean from this highly sought after location in the Centre of the North American Arc. As such, SES-3 is an integral part of SES’ satellite replacement program over North America. The satellite’s C-band payload will continue hosting blue-chip U.S. television networks broadcasting to over 4,350 cable head-ends while its Ku-band transponders will serve a range of enterprise customers with VSAT and broadband services. The cross-strapping capabilities from C- to Ku-band on the spacecraft will enable customers to further optimize their enterprise networks.

SES-3 is based on Orbital’s space-proven Star 2.4 platform, the largest and most powerful geostationary communications satellites Orbital builds. It carries 24 C-Band transponders and 24 Ku-Band transponders (36 MHz equivalents), generates approximately five kilowatts of payload power, and features a design life of 15 years.

States Romain Bausch, President and CEO of SES: “SES-3 will provide seamless replacement capacity at the important orbital position of 103 degrees West, from where SES feeds TV programming into virtually every cable network in the U.S. As such, the launch of SES-3 will be an important event to a number of our North American customers ensuring a smooth continuation of their operations for years to come. We look forward to another Proton success as the combined teams of ILS, Orbital and SES go through the SES-3 launch count down over the next few weeks.”

According to NPD's "Blu-ray Disc Report," there is evidence that Blu-ray is beginning to offset the loss of DVD customers. NPD estimates there are currently 116 million physical disc buyers in the US, which is down from 128 million in 2009; however, the nearly 26 million Blu-ray buyers helped keep that number from sliding further. Blu-ray buyers are also beginning to buy more discs than they did in 2009 or 2010, including both new releases and older catalog content.

"Because fewer hot titles came out of the theaters in time for first quarter release, the physical video-disc market was a bit disappointing -- especially coming off of a good first quarter last year; but consumer response to the Blu-ray format remains strongly positive, said Russ Crupnick, entertainment industry analyst for NPD. "While Blu-ray may not be the replacement for DVD that many once hoped for, it is certainly adding strength to the physical video-disc market. This added stability is helping to extend the life of discs, even as digital options gain in popularity."

Consumer feedback from NPD's video research points to recognition of Blu-ray's technology advantages, increasing value proposition, and benefits from packaging (e.g., combo packs that offer a DVD, Blu-ray and Digital Copy). Eight out of 10 current and prospective owners of Blu-ray set top boxes cite high definition quality and technology as the reason they purchased, or intend to purchase, a Blu-ray player.

Consumers are also noticing the better pricing and value of Blu-ray, as prices of hardware have declined. Word of mouth is helping grow the Blu-ray customer base, as well. Thirty-six percent of consumers who intend to buy a player were influenced by the product recommendations of friends and family members.

"It wasn't too long ago that most consumers felt DVD was 'good enough,' and while it's true DVD is a terrific format, more consumers are now recognizing that Blu-ray does indeed deliver a superior experience," said Crupnick. "Certainly the fact that prices are now within the budgetary range acceptable to rank-and-file consumers is helping bolster the overall value proposition of the Blu-ray format."

In addition to the positive feedback on Blu-ray discs, NPD notes that digital services have also driven increased interest in Blu-ray players. In fact 50 percent of consumers who intend to buy Blu-ray set-top players in the next six months cited the desire to use available subscription video download services as a primary reason.

"As more and more buyers make the decision to obtain the superior picture and sound technology of Blu-ray, there is also more awareness that the same player that delivers that experience can also provide access to digital services that are gaining the attention of American consumers," Crupnick said.

During World IPv6 Day on 8 June 2011, more than 225 participating organizations from every part of the globe will enable IPv6 on their main services for 24 hours. With IPv4 addresses running out this year, the industry must act quickly to accelerate full IPv6 adoption or risk increased costs and limited functionality online for Internet users everywhere. World IPv6 Day participants are coming together to help motivate organizations across the industry—Internet service providers, hardware manufacturers, operating system vendors and other web companies—to prepare their services for the transition.

“The building interest in and amazing response to World IPv6 Day around the world is extremely encouraging, and highlights the growing momentum behind deploying IPv6,” said Leslie Daigle, Chief Internet Technology Officer for the Internet Society. “We see this test flight as an important step towards ensuring the global Internet can continue to grow and evolve so that it can connect billions of new users and devices.”

One of the goals of World IPv6 Day is to expose potential issues under controlled conditions and address them as soon as possible. Given the diversity of technology that powers the Internet, the global nature of the trial is crucial to identify unforeseen problems. The vast majority of users should be able to access services as usual, but in rare cases, misconfigured or misbehaving network equipment, particularly in home networks, may impair access to participating websites during the trial. Current estimates are that 99.95% of users will experience no problems connecting to web services on IPv6 Day, and participating organizations will be working together with operating system manufacturers, home router vendors and ISPs to minimize the number of users affected.

The Internet Society is supporting World IPv6 Day as part of its efforts to accelerate IPv6 deployment. IPv6, the successor to the protocol currently used on the Internet, was designed in the late 1990s but has not seen deployment on a global scale. With IPv4 address space running out, the industry cannot afford to wait much longer.

“Enabling IPv6 is like moving from a 10-digit phone number to a 38-digit phone number,” said Adam Bechtel, VP of Infrastructure Engineering at Yahoo!. “Some computers will have trouble dialing the new 39-digit numbers. World IPv6 Day will shed light on how these misdials occur.”

For more information about World IPv6 Day, a complete list of participants, information about how to get involved, links to useful information for users, and a real-time dashboard, visit: http://www.worldipv6day.org.

As part of the merger, four of the five MSTV employees officially joined NAB this week, three of whom will be in the Science and Technology Department. These include Victor Tawil who joins NAB as a senior vice president and Bruce Franca as vice president. David Donovan, the former MSTV president, is joining the New York State Broadcasters Association as president and executive director.

According to the association, the NAB is helping local stations seize opportunities in the digital age. Whether it's the new possibilities created by mobile digital television or advanced data services for digital radio, advances in technology are giving broadcasters opportunities to find more innovative and efficient ways to deliver the high-quality content and services that local communities expect and deserve. Learn more about NAB's innovation agenda.

Among the significant top-line results, some 24% of the respondents indicated that their highest-priority purchases over the next six months would likely be of HDTVs (24%) and Blu-ray players (17%). About 60% of the households surveyed said they already have one HDTV.

According to senior analyst Michael Inouye, “As consumers replace older TVs, there really isn't much choice now but to buy an HDTV, so even if the consumer doesn't necessarily want to view HDTV content, that’s usually what they end up with. Prices for HDTVs have fallen quite a bit, and many households are now replacing their second- and third-string televisions.”

Video game consoles rated at the top of the wish-list for 16%. 46% of those surveyed said they had no major purchase intentions for the next six months.

In terms of "critical/very important" factors in planned purchases, price was either the most cited or second-most for most devices. For digital cameras, it was third (zoom range and megapixels were the top two in that category); for portable video game devices screen size and controls were the most critical factors, followed by price.

Price was also a lesser consideration in laptops, exceeded by processor speed, memory, storage capacity, and operating system. And perhaps counter to conventional assumptions, the survey showed that for media tablets price ranked only seventh in importance. Practice director Jason Blackwell adds, “One surprising result in regard to media tablets was that Windows came in second after Apple, and ahead of Android. That probably has more to do with brand awareness than anything else, but it does give some hope to Microsoft.”

Until now, only the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands have been used in high-speed wireless communication for mobile devices while 60GHz ultra-high-speed wireless communication remains to be employed only in stationary devices such as TVs, but not in mobile devices due to the higher energy consumption associated with the use of wider frequency bandwidth.

With high-speed communication of 20 times faster than existing wireless LANs, this technology allows the transferring of a 30-minute long compressed high definition (HD) video content within 10 seconds. In combination with the low power features made possible through the transceiver core and peripheral circuits optimization, it has been made viable for mobile devices such as smart phones that requires lower than 1W of power consumption in their radio function unit. This is a big step forward to realize stress-free, fast HD video content transfer and streaming on mobile devices.

The technology has the following features:

1. The world’s lowest noise signal generator (-95dBc/Hz at 1MHz offset frequency) enables high sensitivity wireless performance. The transceiver has been integrated into a CMOS chip, which leads to miniaturization of the mobile devices.

2. Forward error correction (FEC) code is indispensable to maintain reliability in high-speed wireless communication. In this technology, the circuit size of decoding block is 30% smaller than that of Panasonic’s conventional architectures by optimizing decoding circuits. This reduction results in lower power consumption.

3.The chipset supports the WiGig specification, which is going to be an industry standard for a multi-gigabit, short range wireless communication system. It will provide reliable interoperability among various devices.

On this development, Panasonic holds 16 domestic patents and 16 overseas patents, including pending applications.
Panasonic said this development will be presented at ICC 2011 (International Conference on Communications 2011) to be held at the Kyoto International Conference Hall, Japan from June 5 to 9, 2011.

This new technology was partly supported by "The research and development project for expansion of radio spectrum resources" of The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Japan.

Through the KODAK Trade-In and Recycling Program, consumers can trade-in used products for cash. After providing information on the products, consumers will receive an instant quote and a pre-paid shipping label. If the trade-in is accepted, consumers will receive a check in addition to a discount offer from the online KODAK Store. For products with no resale value, consumers are provided with responsible recycling options.

“Sustainability is an essential business driver for Kodak and an important part of our product development process,” said Pradeep Jotwani, President, Consumer Digital Imaging Group, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President, Eastman Kodak Company. “Our Trade-In and Recycling program is another example of Kodak’s ongoing commitment to sustainability in our operations, and to helping consumers be more sustainable in their own lives.”

The company said its commitment to sustainability includes its ENERGY STAR® qualified printers, recyclable ink cartridges as well as inkjet papers derived from sustainable forestry initiatives.

Kodak recently updated its corporate sustainability goals and reported that since 2002, the company has reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 49%, closing in on its goal for a 50% reduction by the end of 2012. Since 2002, Kodak has achieved a GHG reduction of more than 1.5 million tons, the equivalent of taking 350,000 cars off the road.

Organic EL displays are formed through thin-film techniques, using organic material that emits light in response to an electric current. High brightness, wide viewing angle and other favorable characteristics make this display type very easy on the eye, and since it also achieves fast response, Organic EL displays have been adopted for wider use in flat panel displays. All organic EL displays from TDK employ the passive matrix principle. The newly developed see-through type is mainly intended for use as the main display panel in mobile phones and other mobile devices.

The see-through type organic EL display for mobile applications has a field angle of 2.4 inches, transmittance of 40 percent, and brightness of 150 cd/m2. Compact mobile electronic devices such as mobile phones these days require a display that is appealing also from a design point of view. The newly developed product is a see-through type, but is constructed so that the display contents cannot easily be seen from behind, to protect the user's privacy.

TDK started developing organic electroluminescent materials in 1991, establishing an in-house R&D framework covering the entire process from molecular structure design to chemical composition and device evaluation. As a result, a proprietary long-life material and thin film layer configuration, as well as an optimized mass production process were developed. Development of a white organic EL element was started in 1995, culminating in a final product in 2000.

The use of the color filter principle means that the service life of the each Red, Green and Blue color of RGB elements is identical, and color shift is absent. Furthermore, favorable temperature characteristics allow a wide operating temperature range from -20 to +85 degrees C.

The company said that development efforts are ongoing, with a view to widen the range to include various color products, as well as towards further improving precision and longer service life for all types. Current applications include mobile phones, mobile electronic devices and other products requiring a QVGA color display.

Singulus Technologies has completed a new major order for Blu-ray production machines of the BLULINE II type and CRYSTALLINE Mastering Systems and has confirmed that with orders for nearly 40 BLULINE II machines, it is confident of reaching its forecast of up to 50 machines this year.

The company's long-standing customer Cinram International Inc., Canada, continues to invest significantly in the Blu-ray discs production.

"In line with growing market demand, we are expanding our Blu-Ray production capacity in North America and Europe. We expect a large increase in our Blu-ray disc business", states Steven G. Brown, CEO of Cinram International Inc., Toronto/Canada. "We are completely satisfied with the machines from SINGULUS and we believe that the new investment will assure a cost effective production of Blu-Ray Disc."

SINGULUS has become the global market leader with the BLULINE II replication systems. Worldwide almost all replicators produce Blu-ray discs with 50 GB storage capacity with SINGULUS machines. The BLULINE II is a manufacturing machine with a high production rate and the worldwide benchmark in the Blu-ray disc production. The SINGULUS Blu-ray Mastering System CRYSTALLINE is well accepted for Single and Dual-Layer Blu-ray masters and stampers and follows the BD specification.

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES relies on its two core business areas and a lean business model. In the Optical Disc segment SINGULUS is market leader - the activities in the Solar segment will provide considerably positive impulses for the business development of the company.

Due to the fact that the order intake of €65.9 million in the first quarter 2011 already has increased by 66 % compared to previous year, Singulus' executive board published a sales forecast of more than €160 million for the business year 2011 on the occasion of these new orders received. With a projected increase of at least 33 %, the sales forecast is significantly higher than the €120.1 million realized in the business year 2010. As further major orders will be completed shortly, the order intake of the total year 2011 is expected to be considerably higher than the sales expectancy. Following three years with negative earnings, the company is expected to achieve a turnaround in 2011 and to post a positive result.

Consumer expenditures on entertainment media in North America and Europe grew a mighty 69 percent to $234.8 billion in 2010, up from $138.8 billion in 2000, with cable and satellite television retaining its primacy as the leading form of entertainment media during the decade, according to IHS Screen Digest research.

Fending off competition from other segments like home video, video games, music and cinema, cable and satellite television accounted for 59 percent—nearly three-fifths—of all entertainment media expenditures last year on the two continents, compared to 40 percent 10 years ago. Revenue from cable and satellite TV in 2010 reached $139.2 billion, up from $56.1 billion in 2000, with net growth since 2000 of 148 percent.

While cable and satellite TV remained the dominant segment, some clear shifts in consumption have occurred in the course of the past decade.

“Ten years ago, consumers in North America and Europe spent more on music than on video,” said Tony Gunnarsson, analyst for video at IHS. “However, the music segment has suffered from its failure to transition from physical to digital delivery.”

Spending on music across all physical and digital formats declined 55 percent in the period 2000-2010 and reached $13.9 billion last year, accounting for just 6 percent of total entertainment media spending compared to 22 percent a decade ago, IHS Screen Digest data indicates. “As a result, music is now the smallest entertainment media segment—a steep fall from its previous No. 2 perch a decade ago,” Gunnarsson added.

The second largest area in entertainment media during 2010 was video, which overtook music in terms of consumer spending as early as 2001. Video spending recorded net growth of 14 percent during the decade, generating $32.3 billion of total entertainment media spending in 2010.

Nonetheless, video is not without its challenges.

“Spending on the video sector peaked in 2004 at $40.7 billion, and despite subsequent growth on new platforms such as online and mobile, overall video spending since then has fallen as the DVD format reached market maturity and consumers found themselves exposed to ever-greater entertainment media choices,” Gunnarsson said. “Video now makes up 14 percent share of the total entertainment market, compared to 20 percent share 10 years ago.”

Games was the third largest area of entertainment media spending in 2010 and also boasts the fastest growth of any sector in the decade, up 193 percent from $9.9 billion 10 years ago to $29.0 billion last year. Benefiting from expanded demographics and the boom in digital 3-D, games made up 12 percent of total entertainment media spending in 2010, compared to just 7 percent in 2000.

Consumer spending on cinema, still the fourth largest of the five entertainment media sectors analyzed, reached $20.4 billion in 2010, representing net growth of 49 percent over the decade from $13.7 billion. However, as with the shift in spending from music to video, consumers now spend more on video games than on cinema tickets. Cinema’s share of the total entertainment media market was 9 percent in 2010, down one point from 10 years ago.

When cinema and TV are excluded from the analysis, the continuing dominance of packaged media over digital and mobile delivery is clear. Packaged media accounted for 82 percent of spending, followed by digital at 15 percent and mobile at 3 percent, IHS Screen Digest analysis indicates.

Within the packaged media business, North Americans spent a greater proportion on buying and renting video than their European counterparts—56 percent vs. 43 percent last year. The reverse is true, however, for packaged music: Europeans spent approximately double the 9 percent expended by North America on packaged music, reflecting the fact that consumers in North America bought more digital music than their European counterparts.

iPad users who download the SpyderGallery app can enjoy color corrected viewing of their photos in the standard photo library albums. The app provides an easy-to-use calibration utility for owners of Datacolor’s Spyder3 display calibration solutions to create a custom color profile on their iPad. Using the Spyder3, the app will measure and profile color on the iPad and then apply color correction to images displayed through the SpyderGallery. Viewing images through the color-managed viewer will allow for more accurate colors and provide users with a closer match to desktop monitors and other color-managed displays.

App Highlights:

- Color correct your iPad and iPad 2
- View all images loaded on iPad in one easy to use gallery viewer,
no photo importing required
- Personal photo watermarking feature
- Pixel-level zooming capabilities

“For photographers who use the iPad as a portable portfolio tool, SpyderGallery is a critical component to their photo gear to ensure work is being displayed correctly,” said Knut Fenner, Vice President, Imaging Color Solutions, Datacolor. “Those wanting to display images while on-the-go, whether for professional or personal use, will no longer need to compromise color accuracy for the convenience of the iPad.”

For more information on SpyderGallery for iPad, visit http://www.datacolor.com/goto/spydergallery.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America will sell a line of professional visual systems products including 3D and 2D home theater front projectors, data wall display systems, projectors, LCD digital signage monitors, and professional industrial and photo printers. The new company will also manufacture and sell large-screen 3D DLP Home Cinema televisions and large-screen 3D LaserVue televisions in sizes 73 inches and above for the consumer marketplace. Mitsubishi Electric has withdrawn from the 65-inch and smaller categories of consumer television products in North America.

Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America is acquiring certain manufacturing, sales and marketing activities of Mitsubishi Digital Electronics America, Inc. The new company plans to expand sales within North America with a business strategy that specializes in a wide range of large-screen visual solution products.

“The demand for information display equipment continues to grow beyond just pictures and images,” said Mr. Yasushi Moriyama, president/CEO of Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America. “There is a significant benefit in being able to present more information on a large display of any kind. We are very excited about using our experience to create a large-screen visual solutions company. This is a great opportunity to strengthen our commitment to the brand, our high-quality products and strong customer service, pre-and-post sales.”

Mitsubishi Electric Visual Solutions America’s manufacturing facility in Mexicali, Mexico will continue to manufacture DLP and laser-based televisions. According to Mitsubishi, the new company’s customer service group will provide support and service to new and existing customers. The new company launch is planned for June 1, 2011.

While the infrastructure of high-speed Internet is unavailable to those Americans, the FCC report also finds that approximately one-third of Americans do not subscribe to broadband, even when it’s available. This suggests that barriers to adoption – such as cost, low digital literacy, and concerns about privacy – remain too high. The Report also notes limited broadband capacity for schools and libraries as a further indicator that broadband is not being reasonably and timely deployed and is not available to all Americans.

Without action by the FCC in partnership with the states and the private sector, prospects for broadband service in many of the areas cited in the Report will remain unacceptably low. The Report finds the problem especially acute among low-income Americans, African- Americans, Hispanics, seniors, and residents of Tribal areas. Congress recognized the importance of broadband in Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which directs the FCC to take immediate action to accelerate broadband deployment when it is not “reasonable and timely.”

The Report emphasizes that, notwithstanding our continuing broadband challenges, significant progress has been made over the past few years in both the private and public sectors. Despite the difficult economy, the private sector continues to invest tens of billions of dollars in broadband infrastructure each year - $65 billion in capital expenditures in 2010 alone - expanding capacity, increasing speeds on fixed networks and rolling out next-generation mobile services like 4G.

Since first finding in the 2010 Report to Congress that deployment is not reasonable and timely, the FCC has taken a number of steps to accelerate national broadband deployment and adoption.

These actions include reforming the E-rate program to enable schools and libraries to get higher- capacity, lower-cost access to the Internet; launching its “Learning On-the-Go” pilot program at schools and libraries across the country to advance the use of digital textbooks and mobile Internet access for interactive learning outside the classroom; launching a Broadband Acceleration Initiative to remove barriers and speed deployment of robust, affordable broadband; moving to reform the Universal Service Fund and intercarrier compensation system to better incentivize deployment of broadband to underserved communities; and unleashing additional spectrum for broadband. The FCC continues to aggressively pursue its broadband agenda, which is crucial to job creation and America’s global competitiveness.

Broadband can help create hundreds of thousands of new jobs for Americans in the coming years, including more than 200,000 jobs through investment in 4G wireless technologies alone. The new and growing “apps economy” has drawn tens of thousands of developers and companies, including startups attracting significant private investment that creates new jobs.

This year’s Report relies on the nation’s first collection of data about actual broadband deployment, rather than the estimates based on broadband adoption used by previous reports. The new deployment data was collected at the direction of Congress by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to create the National Broadband Map.

Verbatim released the world's first commercially available, color tunable organic LED (OLED) lighting panels at the LightFair 2011 exhibition in Philadelphia.

The OLEDs are based on materials technology developed by Verbatim's parent company, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation. Full-scale production of OLED panels will start in July, the company said.

The large surfaces of Verbatim OLEDs, branded VELVE, produce a soft light, free from glare and with deeply saturated colours. The OLEDs, which do not contain hazardous materials, are very efficient, producing 28 lumens per Watt output at 1000 cd/m2 with accurate color rendering (high CRI). Color tuning and white tone tuning allow the mood of a space to be varied to suit its function at the time. For example, it may be changed from a workspace requiring bright, cool light, to a place of relaxation with warm, subdued lighting.

Thought to be the world's largest at approximately 14cm x 14cm, the panels are designed for general lighting, furniture lighting and other applications. Verbatim sells the OLEDs directly to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in these sectors.

Verbatim offers a module as well as a sample kit. The sample kit is designed for lighting engineers and development engineers, containing an OLED that can be connected directly to AC power. It can be used to evaluate seven pre-programmed saturated colours, white tone tunability and a dimming function. The second product is an OLED module with a printed circuit board that provides an industry-standard DMX interface for RGB color control and a DALI interface for white tunability. Both development products are available now, direct from Verbatim.

NHK began R&D into Super Hi-Vision, which has dramatically higher resolution than current HDTV, in 1995 and aims to begin trial broadcasts in 2020. With approximately 33 megapixels (7,680 [H] x 4,320 [V] pixels), or 16 times the resolution of HDTV, Super Hi-Vision will offer powerful, life-like image reproduction.

Under the joint development, Sharp’s UV2A LCD technology (Ultraviolet induced multi-domain Vertical Alignment. A photo-alignment technology for precisely controlling the alignment of liquid crystal molecules in a simple LCD panel structure) was used to create for the first time in the world a direct-view LCD compatible with the unprecedentedly high display performance of Super Hi-Vision. According to Sharp, the combination of the Sharp technology and NHK’s expertise and know-how in Super Hi-Vision will make possible ultra-detailed, super-high-quality images. The incredibly detailed images on the giant screen will immerse the viewer in a virtual-reality-like experience.

David K. Barnes, TV One CEO, stated, "We recently celebrated our 25th anniversary in the Pro AV industry and have established a record of consistent growth, profitability and product innovation. At the upcoming InfoComm Show, we will launch an entirely new technology and product range that will usher in a new era for TV One. As part of the Nortek family of companies, I look forward to maximizing the opportunities that will take TV One to the next level. I personally look forward to being part of that continuing success."

"TV One's combination of its proprietary CORIO scaling technology, unique products and solid growth is a perfect fit with Magenta," added Magenta Research CEO Keith Mortensen.

Mortensen continued, "The synergy between the two organizations is remarkable and TV One fits nicely into Nortek's Pro AV strategy. Magenta plans to leverage TV One's global sales network in order to enhance the market penetration of our products. The recent introduction of Voyager, Magenta's all-format fiber optic-based signal distribution platform, expands our infrastructure product range significantly and is a perfect match with TV One's soon-to-launch video processing range."

The two Companies will jointly exhibit at InfoComm in Orlando, June 15-17, 2011, in Booth 3601, where they will showcase the latest innovative products from both organizations. Magenta Research and TV One principals will also be available for interviews at the show.

"RealD and Samsung's new displays look fantastic and represent the next step in 3D home entertainment,” said James Cameron, award winning motion picture director and a member of RealD’s board of directors. “Full resolution viewing is key to experiencing 3D as a filmmaker intended, and when combined with the comfort and practicality of RealD 3D cinema glasses, this display technology will set a new standard for 3D in the home."

Jointly developed by RealD and Samsung Electronics LCD Business, these advanced active technology 3D displays offer full resolution, high definition 3D video to each eye and are compatible with the same affordable, lightweight and comfortable 3D cinema eyewear used in RealD 3D-equipped motion picture theatres around the world. Unlike film patterned retarder (FPR) based 3D displays that cut resolution to each eye in half, this new display technology delivers full resolution, high definition 3D images to each eye by adopting active shutter technology on the display, resulting in a brighter, flicker-free, fully immersive 3D experience across a wide viewing angle.

“3D displays should not compromise image quality by degrading resolution, it’s simply not the premium viewing experience consumers have come to expect from 3D” said Bob Mayson, President of Consumer Electronics at RealD. “By working with Samsung to integrate active shutter technology on the panel, these displays deliver a full resolution 3D experience with the convenience and familiarity of RealD 3D cinema eyewear.”

“We have been developing this advanced active 3D display technology with RealD for a long time and look forward to introducing displays with full resolution to each eye and a wide viewing angle so audiences can experience content as it was intended to be seen,” said Wonkie Chang, President of Samsung Electronics LCD Business.

The new panels are expected to be available for PC monitors in 23-inch and 27-inch sizes by early 2012 and for TVs in 55-inch size after the commercialization of PC monitors.
The availability of additional panel sizes and details about pricing are to be announced.

According to Panasonic, current high-sensitivity MOS image sensors suppress unevenness in brightness while CCDs have low color-mixing characteristics that suppress color unevenness. The rapidly expanding market for digital cameras with higher image quality and a slimmer body has resulted in greater demand for a stable supply of image sensors that offer both high sensitivity and uniform picture quality. Panasonic said that using 32 and 45 nm (nanometers) leading-edge semiconductor process technologies that lower the wiring layer profile, expand the opening area, and increase the photo diode volume, that the low color-mixing characteristics are enhanced by light-focusing structure design technologies that use a three-dimensional wave optics design to minimize light leakage at the structural boundaries. This will allow digital cameras and camcorders as well as cameras incorporated in smartphones and other mobile terminals to be slimmer with higher sensitivity and improved picture quality.

Panasonic said the company will start mass production of the new MOS image sensor for digital cameras, a diagonal 7.7 mm (1/2.33-inch type) sensor with 14 megapixel effective resolution, in December 2011 and continues to develop various types.

LEDs are becoming brighter and even more efficient—requiring fewer bulbs to achieve target brightness for a given display. Until now, there have been limitations as to how far LEDs can be spaced apart at the edge of an LCD panel because of dark areas that appear between LEDs when they are too far apart. This scenario is commonly referred to as ‘head-lighting’ because it looks like the dark space on the road between the headlights of a car.

3M’s Uniformity Tape is a clear tape, which has adhesive on one side and a micro-replicated optical pattern on the other side. It is adhered to the edge of the light guide, which faces the LED light sources. The tape is designed to increase the spreading of light in the light guide from each LED, which greatly increases the allowable LED spacing. The optical pattern is spatially uniform, meaning that no positional registration of LEDs is required along its length. The Uniformity Tape keeps the edge of the display closest to the LEDs uniform in brightness when the spacing of light sources is increased. This allows panel manufacturers to save money by removing unnecessary LEDs. Uniformity Tape can also increase LED spacing by up to three times the current spacing, while maintaining edge uniformity for a given bezel size.

“As LED technology continues to improve and becomes even brighter, some backlight designs are currently using more LEDs than needed for a brightness specification in order to avoid head lighting or thick bezels. Uniformity constraints have also prevented manufacturers from removing LEDs to save on cost,” noted Gilles Georges, 3M global marketing manager. “By spacing LEDs further apart for edge-lit LED LCD panels, 3M’s Uniformity Tape allows light to travel inside the light guide at wider angles—allowing manufacturers to design wider spacing between LEDs without any dark areas.”

According to 3M, when combined with the company's Dual Brightness Enhancement Film (DBEF), Uniformity Tape allows display manufacturers even more design freedom to innovate and use less LEDs to create a backlight that not only meets energy standards, but also remains competitive at a low cost. Furthermore, Uniformity Tape helps device manufacturers meet the growing number of energy efficiency standards around the world.

PLAN ensures that emergency alerts will not get stalled by user congestion, which can happen with standard mobile voice and texting services. Authorized government officials can send messages, which participating wireless providers then push using their cell towers to enabled mobile devices in a targeted geographic area.

“In both the public and private sectors, I’ve always believed in the need to harness technology in news ways, including ways that its designers hadn’t anticipated. The City’s opt-in Notify NYC system is a great example of that: it alerts people to dangers and delays via email and mobile devices, and it has become a national model of emergency communication,” said New York City Michael Bloomberg. “But given the kinds of threats made against New York City at the World Trade Center, Times Square, and other places popular with visitors and tourists, we’ll be even safer when authorities can broadcast warnings to everyone in a geographic area regardless of where they came from or bought their phone,” Mayor Bloomberg continued. “I want to congratulate FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate for this quantum leap forward in using technology to help keep people safe.”

“Following the devastating tornadoes in the Southeast, we are witnessing yet again the critical role the public plays as part of our nation’s emergency management team. Making sure that they get useful and life-saving information, quickly and easily, right on their mobile phones, will help more people get out of harm’s way when a threat exists,” said Administrator Fugate. “This new technology could become a lifeline for millions of Americans and is another tool that will strengthen our nation’s resilience against all hazards.”

When PLAN is operational, customers in an area affected by an emergency who have a PLAN- capable mobile device will receive an alert of ninety characters or less. Consumers will receive three types of alerts from PLAN: (1) alerts issued by the President; (2) alerts involving imminent threats to safety of life; and (3) Amber Alerts. Participating carriers may allow subscribers to block all but Presidential alerts.

In 2006, Congress passed the Warning, Alert and Response Network (WARN) Act, requiring carriers that choose to participate to activate PLAN technology by a deadline determined by the FCC, which is April 2012. Participants that will offer PLAN at least two calendar quarters ahead of schedule in New York City are AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon. Ninety percent of New York subscribers who have a PLAN-capable mobile device in these cities will be able to receive PLAN alerts by the end of 2011.

“Communications technology – and in particular mobile broadband – has the potential to revolutionize emergency response,” said FCC Chairman Genachowski. “Our communications networks need to be reliable and resilient in times of emergency. The FCC is working with carriers to ensure that they are.”

“As more and more HDMI-enabled products make their way to the market, there are more choices available to the consumer,” said Charlene Wan, director of marketing and operations at HDMI Licensing, LLC. “But it is not always easy to know which products have been fully tested and are compliant with the HDMI specification. This program is designed to allow those companies that sell fully compliant products sourced from licensed Adopters to designate their products as such.”

Currently, all HDMI Adopters listed on the www.hdmi.org website, are required to test their products for compliance. However, in cases where brand-name companies source their products from Adopters, the brand-name companies do not appear on the HDMI Adopter list. The HDMI Associate Program addresses this by offering an Associate Membership to those companies who are not Adopters, but who source their HDMI-enabled products from a licensed Adopter.

“The HDMI Associate Program makes it easier for consumers to identify compliant products, a major differentiator for resellers and one of the key reasons we joined the program,” said Sven Schulz of in-akustik, a major European cable brand. “We are pleased to be one of the first members of this new program that recognizes non-Adopter companies whose products are fully tested and compliant.”

An annual program membership fee of $3,000 entitles the Associate Member to use the HDMI Associate emblem in marketing and packaging. Associate Members will also be listed on the www.hdmi.org website and have the opportunity to participate in potential co-marketing opportunities with the HDMI Consortium, including the HDMI TechZone at CES 2012, industry trade shows, developer conferences, and worldwide road shows.

For more information on the Program or to become an HDMI Associate Member, visit http://www.hdmi.org/associate/associate_registration.aspx.

In a major recalibration effort, television brands are changing strategies this year following lukewarm response to 3-D in 2010 when consumers balked at the high price of sets and the lack of 3-D content. In 2011, however, brands are marketing 3-D not as a must-have technology but as a desirable feature, similar to the approach they have taken with Internet connectivity, IHS iSuppli research indicates. Options also are arising for the 3-D glasses that are required for 3-D TV viewing. While the current active shutter glasses provide for better picture quality, an alternative known as passive Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) 3D not only will expand availability in sizes as small as 32-inch but also will reduce the overall cost of ownership, with the glasses being more user friendly as well. By 2015, passive 3-D shipments will surpass those of active 3-D, IHS expects.

Brands believe this approach to promoting 3-D allows consumers to decide whether they wish to use the feature when they are ready, while convincing them that their newly purchased television is future-proofed. This gives consumers the appearance of having the choice to use a feature already present in a purchase that they made, instead of forcing them to buy a technology for which they might be unprepared, according to the brands.

To further motivate consumers to buy 3-D TVs, brands are slashing prices. Prices for 3-D TVs fell 9 percent during March 2011 compared to February, according to US TV Price and Specifications Tracker, a monthly IHS iSuppli service that tracks U.S.TV prices. Within the next year, prices will shift again, in accordance with the feature mix dictated by public preferences at the moment—a process expected to democratize 3-D adoption among consumers in all income brackets.

Broadcasting of 3-D also will enjoy an uptake, helping to dispel the continuous public perception of a serious lack in currently available 3-D content for consumption. From the launch of 3-D TV services in June 2010 for the United States, and then in October the same year for the United Kingdom, more than 80 live sources of 3-D broadcast or pay-TV content had been delivered by the end of 2010. More programming will be available this year, topped by sports-related events and then followed by primetime entertainment, films and documentaries, according to the television brands.

According to the report, the most popular 3-D TV size during 2011 will be in the 40- to 41-inch range, numbering about 3.3 million units; followed by the 55- to 59-inch range, with shipments of 2.9 million units; and the 45- to 46-inch range, with 2.7 million units.

“The music community wants to see the growth of distribution platforms that compensate musicians and performers. The most exciting new mobile devices are also the distribution platforms that fully compensate musicians and performers. FM Radio, by contrast, does not,” said Neil Portnow, president of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences, The Recording Academy®, after completing last week’s “Grammys on the Hill” advocacy day.

“With more than 650 unique wireless devices in the U.S., consumers have a variety of options, including handsets with FM chips. The hallmark of our industry is one that offers consumers numerous choices so they can customize their wireless experiences, through innovative streaming music services such as Pandora or downloading an indie artist’s app,” said Steve Largent, president and CEO of CTIA-The Wireless Association.

“An FM chip mandate is unnecessary and unjustified. These new mobile devices are platforms for innovation and creativity, and Americans can decide for themselves what functions and features they want. Requiring today’s digital phones to include an analog FM Chip makes as much sense as requiring them to include a telegraph,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumers Electronics Association.

“Every platform in the industrialized world respects property rights but one – terrestrial radio in the U.S. So the idea of the government rigging the playing field to expand the scope of the existing taking makes zero sense. That's why we welcome this resolution and the broader concept of policies that reward technical and creative innovation,” added Mitch Bainwol, Chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America. The RIAA said these associations and others will continue to secure additional sponsors for the resolution, and that more than 150 musicians asked members of Congress to support the resolution last week as part of the annual “Grammys on the Hill” advocacy day.

Key Terms and Conditions of the Transaction:

- Philips will grant the joint venture the right to use the Philips brand for an initial term of five years with an automatic renewal for another five years, subject to the joint venture meeting certain key performance indicators.

- The joint venture will not pay any royalty in 2012 and will pay royalties of at least EUR 50 million annually from 2013 onwards. For the financial year 2013, the annual royalty payable will be 2.2% of sales. From the financial year 2014 onwards, the annual royalty payable by the joint venture will be 2.2% of sales, which can be increased with a variable component up to a maximum of 3% of sales subject to certain performance criteria.

- Upon completion of the transaction, TPV will purchase 70% of the shares in the joint venture for a deferred purchase price, which will be calculated as a multiple of four times the joint venture’s average EBIT over the financial years 2012 until the year Philips exercises its right to receive the purchase price. Philips may exercise this right at any time after three years from the completion of the transaction. In addition, at any time after the sixth anniversary of the date of completion of the transaction, Philips has an option to sell the remaining 30% shareholding in the joint venture to TPV for a consideration using the same formula.

“This new joint venture will ensure a stronger future for Philips Television, focused on growth,’’ said Philips Consumer Lifestyle Chief Executive Officer Pieter Nota. “This partnership will enable the newly reshaped Consumer Lifestyle sector to focus on becoming a leading player in health and well-being in the majority of our chosen markets.”

The signing of definitive agreements is expected to take place in the third quarter, with closing expected to take place before the end of 2011. Between the date of this announcement and signing of the definitive agreements, Philips will engage in the applicable employee consultation procedures and TPV will perform a confirmatory due diligence on the Television business. The closing of the transaction is subject to the relevant shareholder and regulatory approvals.

On the back of encouraging market developments and increasing audience interest, consumer spending on Blu ray 3D Disc (BD3D) in 2011 is forecast to rise 533 percent across the four big markets of the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France, according to new IHS Screen Digest research. Combined consumer spending on BD3D across these territories will reach $213.9 million this year, up slightly more than sixfold from $33.8 million in 2010, BD3D’s launch year. The 2011 expenditure is the result of a collective purchase of 7.5 million BD3Ds, a significant increase on the 1.1 million titles sold last year to consumers. By 2014, three years from now, BD3D consumer spending on BD3D is projected to reach $909 million, just over four times more than the figure anticipated at the end of 2011. Some 41 million BD3Ds will be bought by consumers in 2014, a hefty increase of more than 445 percent from the 2011 sell-through rates. The BD3D titles being counted are specifically those that conform to the Blu-ray Disc Association’s BD3D trademark covering an explicit set of rules on what qualifies for the standard, such as the delivery of left- and right-eye images sequentially in full high-definitions 1080p. As such, the consumer spend forecasts exclude Blu ray Discs that may play 3-D images but do not adhere strictly to the association’s BD3D criteria. The upturn in consumer spending is the result of a number of positive occurrences in the home 3-D segment, IHS believes. This includes increasing consumer awareness of 3-D technology, growing 3-D hardware sales and an expanding catalog of 3-D films for the home environment. Meanwhile, more BD3D titles in retail stores will enhance the technology’s profile among consumers and encourage 3-D hardware adoption. BD3D-enabled households—homes that have a 3-D TV connected to a 3-D Blu-ray Disc player (or Sony Corp. PlayStation 3) and the required glasses—are also likely to buy more BD3D titles if they have a larger slate to choose from, IHS maintains.

By a six-to-one margin, Americans believe that underutilized spectrum – the nation’s airwaves used for everything from local broadcast television to wireless devices – should be auctioned off to raise money to lower the federal deficit, according to a new poll commissioned by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). In addition, the association says that Americans increasingly see less value in over-the-air broadcasts. The poll conducted by Zogby/463 also found that Americans generally assign a lower value to over-the-air broadcasts compared to other uses of wireless spectrum. Fewer than 10 percent of American households rely on television signals broadcast over-the-air from local television stations, even though such television stations are currently permitted to use – for free – sufficient spectrum to serve 100 percent of consumers. This perceived lack of value in such underutilized spectrum may explain why 65 percent of Americans surveyed support auctioning these airwaves, while only 13 percent support allowing broadcasters keep the spectrum for over-the-air broadcast programming. Under a voluntary incentive auction proposal introduced by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and supported by the Obama Administration, the underutilized spectrum would be re-purposed for broadband services and would raise an estimated $33 billion for the U.S. Treasury.

The poll of 2,138 Americans, conducted in early April 2011, underscores the decreasing reliance on over-the-air broadcast and increasing reliance on the Internet and mobile devices:

- Only 10 percent of Americans say they get breaking news from over-the-air broadcasts. The most relied upon source is now Internet news sites (38 percent) and cable broadcasts (30 percent). An even smaller group of Americans, three percent, say they rely on over-the-air broadcasts to stay up to date on news.

- By a 6:1 ratio, Americans would prefer that spectrum be utilized for faster wireless services rather than over-the-air local broadcast television.

- Four in ten Americans say that over-the-air broadcast TV is the information medium they could most likely live without. Only three percent said they could most live without the Internet. Cable broadcasts (17 percent) and smartphones (37 percent) rounded out the list.

http://www.apple.com/thunderbolt/

http://www.intel.com/technology/io/thunderbolt/index.htm

Taking what the agency calls another important step forward in its Broadband Acceleration Initiative, the Federal Communications Commission this week reformed its pole attachment rules to streamline access and reduce costs for attaching broadband lines and wireless antennas to utility poles across America - a key component of broadband infrastructure. Based on successful models in a number of states, the FCC’s Pole Attachments Order balances the need for timely access to poles with the need to ensure the safety of workers and the reliability of our electric grid. The FCC also opened an inquiry into how the Commission can work with other government entities and the private sector to improve policies for access to other physical spaces where wired and wireless broadband can be deployed, including roadways and other rights of way, and locations for wireless facilities. This sets the stage for further acceleration of broadband deployment in the future. The cost of deploying broadband networks to consumers and businesses depends significantly on the time and expense service providers must incur to access poles and other essential infrastructure. As part of its strategy to expand access to robust, affordable broadband, the National Broadband Plan recommended that the FCC take steps to reduce the cost and time required for network providers to access utility poles and rights of way. The FCC found that the lack of timelines for access to poles, the resulting potential for delay in attaching broadband equipment to poles, and the absence of adequate mechanisms to resolve disputes creates uncertainty that deters investment in broadband networks. In addition, widely varying and inefficiently high pole rental rates – from an average of $7 per foot per year for cable companies to $20 or more for some telephone companies – further discourages broadband deployment. To address these concerns, the FCC adopted an Order comprehensively reforming its pole attachment rules for the first time since the 1990s. The rules fairly compensate utility pole owners for use of their poles and toughen penalties for unauthorized attachments, which will deter potentially dangerous, unauthorized attachments on poles.

The revised FCC rules:

· Set a maximum timeframe of 148 days for utility companies to allow pole attachments in the communications space, with a maximum of 178 days allowed for attachments of wireless antennas on pole tops, and an extra 60 days for large orders;
· Set the rate for attachments by telecommunications companies at or near the rate paid by cable companies;
· Confirm that wireless providers are entitled to the same rate as other telecommunications carriers;
· Allow ILECs, which are not covered by the rate schedule, to file complaints with the FCC for relief from unreasonable rates, terms, and conditions;
· Clarify that the denial by a utility of a request for attachment must explain the specific capacity, safety, reliability, or engineering concern;
· Encourage negotiated resolution of disputes and pre-planning and coordination between pole owners and attachers, which will be taken into account in any enforcement action; and
· Remove the cap on penalties for unauthorized attachments.

The FCC’s oversight of utility poles stems from Section 224 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which directs the FCC to ensure that rates, terms, and conditions for pole attachments by cable television systems and providers of telecommunications services are just and reasonable. Read the Report and Order here.

This one might not really come as a surprise but, Blu-ray 3D engages viewers more than Blu-ray, which in turn is more engaging than standard DVD, a neurological research found. Testing the attention, emotion and engagement levels of different home entertainment disc formats on a group of subjects, the study monitored subjects heart rates, skin conductance levels (EDA) and brain activity levels (EEG) while they watched film clips and trailers in Blu-ray 3D, Blu-ray and DVD formats. The study found that people's attention levels were 29% higher, their engagement levels were 18% higher and their emotional levels were 8% higher when comparing their reactions between Blu-ray 3D and standard DVD footage. The research was released this week by the Mindlab International team at the Sussex Innovation Center on behalf of the Blu-ray Disc Association.

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has launched a digital photo and video contest to celebrate Earth Day. Four contest winners, to be announced on Earth Day, April 22, 2011, will receive one digital camera or camcorder such as the Cobra Digital HDVC6000 Solar digital camcorder. Photo and video submissions for the contest will be accepted until April 17. Entrants can submit one photo and one video showing what Earth Day means to them. Expert judges will select a winner in each category, and an online popular vote running from April 18 – 21, 2011, will determine a people’s choice winner for each category. To view the full contest rules and submit a photo or video, visit DigitalTips.org/bestshot. “CEA is excited to celebrate Earth Day through this contest by showcasing a solar digital camcorder, yet another example of eco-friendly innovation in technology products,” said Colleen Lerro, communications specialist at CEA. “As the nation’s largest technology trade association, CEA is also proud of the technology industry’s continued leadership and progress on environmental issues.” Winners and finalists will have their entries displayed on DigitalTips.org. In addition to the solar camcorder, prize winners will receive: an Olympus Stylus Tough digital camera, a Kodak EasyShare M590 digital camera and a Cobra Digital HDVC5100 digital camcorder with a gadget bag and tripod. All entrants will receive a discount code to purchase a CEA Tech Enthusiast (CEATechEnthusiast.com) membership for $29 (regularly $49), which provides access to insider information on the latest tech trends, monthly contests and discounts from tech companies. The contest’s eco-friendly awards highlight the green innovation underway in the consumer electronics industry. Along with innovation in making green products, the industry has also made huge strides in energy efficiency. A recent CEA study, Power Consumption Trends in Digital TVs Produced Since 2003 (February 2011), found power consumption of the average TV sold in 2010 consumes less energy than a 100 watt incandescent light bulb – less power than what is needed to light a typical living room. For the complete report, please go to CE.org/green.

Technicolor today announced it has formed a strategic alliance with Canon USA, Inc. to leverage Technicolor’s color-science in the development of a suite of creative tools for cinematographers to facilitate greater usability and integration of Canon EOS DSLR cameras into the motion picture and television production pipeline. According to Technicolor, the new suite of creative tools will be inaugurated with Technicolor’s CineStyle, that coupled with Technicolor’s Digital Printer Lights, will provide a more seamless pipeline, from principal photography into editorial, for projects filmed using Canon EOS DSLR cameras. Technical tests have been conducted with various camera-lens configurations under the supervision of Technicolor color-scientists with a number of renowned cinematographers. The cooperation between Technicolor and Canon USA, Inc. took place over the last year and was prompted by key professional cinematographers eager to incorporate Canon EOS DSLR cameras into their creative palettes. “Technicolor, once again, is taking an innovative leadership position by their very forward-looking development of tools and workflows to support the deployment of Canon’s EOS DSLR’s into motion picture production,” stated cinematographer, and past ASC president, Daryn Okada. “Having shot a theatrical feature using Canon’s EOS DSLR’s (1-D Mark IV, 5D Mark II and the 7D),” stated Tom Stern, AFC, ASC, “I am very supportive of Technicolor and Canon working together to develop the ‘CineStyle’ profile. This can only help to serve greater utility of the EOS DSLR’s in production cinematography. I applaud this effort.” Technicolor said CineStyle provides cinematographers with a look that allows for the greatest image latitude as production photography moves into editorial and ultimately digital intermediate color-grading and delivery. The new CineStyle will be unveiled at the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada April 11-14 as part of the display in the Canon booth (Central Hall #C4325).

On behalf of Fujifilm Corporation based in Tokyo, Japan, Fujifilm Holdings America Corporation announced that the company has received a favorable decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in a patent infringement case brought by St. Clair Intellectual Property Consultants, Inc. St. Clair sued Fujifilm on February 28, 2002 in the Federal District Court in Delaware alleging that Fujifilm's digital cameras infringed four U.S. patents owned by St. Clair. In August 2004, the District Court interpreted the claims of the four patents, and a jury entered a verdict of infringement of all four patents in October 2004 based on the District Court's claim interpretation. According to Fujifilm, the company firmly believed that the District Court erred in interpreting St. Clair's patents and that, if properly limited, those patents did not cover any Fujifilm products. The company appealed the District Court's claim construction ruling and asked the Federal Circuit to reverse the October 2004 jury verdict. Fujifilm pursued its challenge to the District Court's ruling even after a final judgment and appeal were delayed several years, during which St. Clair initiated a second litigation against Fujifilm Corporation under the same patents for damages from sales in 2004 - 2010. On January 10, 2011, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals issued a decision that accepted Fujifilm's position on claim interpretation and reversed District Court's judgment of infringement. The Federal Circuit decision gives Fujifilm a complete victory in the case and directs the District Court to enter a judgment that Fujifilm's digital cameras do not infringe the St. Clair's patents. More recently, on March 29, 2011, the Federal Circuit denied St. Clair's petition for rehearing, returning the case to the District Court for entry of judgment in favor of Fujifilm. Fujifilm said it has a policy of respecting intellectual property rights and considering those rights in developing and selling products. At the same time, Fujifilm is committed to standing firm against patent owners who pursue litigation based on overly broad interpretations of their intellectual property rights or claims of infringement that lack merit. The company was represented in this case by attorneys Steven Routh and Sten Jensen of the Washington D.C. office of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe.

US consumers will spend more on online music than CDs for the first time in 2012, according to the latest study from Strategy Analytics’ Digital Media Strategies service. The report, "Global Recorded Music Market Forecast", found that total recorded music sales in the US declined by 7% to $6.2bn in 2010, driven largely by a 16% plunge in CD revenues, to $3.8bn. In 2012 consumer spending on CDs will fall further to $2.7bn, more than $1bn lower than the 2010 level. But online music revenues will continue to grow, reaching $2.8bn in 2012, therefore passing CDs for the first time. "Digital music is not developing as fast as expected," says Martin Olausson, Director of Digital Media research at Strategy Analytics. "While online revenues will expand further over the coming years, the overall size of the recorded music industry will continue to contract as record companies struggle to identify growth strategies." The report predicts that while single track downloads will remain the single most important digital music revenue model, advertising and subscription models will gain in importance over the next five years. By 2015 online music revenues are expected to come from a mix of single track downloads (39%), album downloads (32%), subscription (14%) and advertising (14%). "Music companies must look beyond download-to-own for digital revenue growth," says Jia Wu, Senior Analyst. "With rapid adoption of connected devices and ubiquitous broadband, music fans will expect greater flexibility and wider consumption choices."

Milestone AV Technologies, manufacturer of Chief and Sanus brand AV mounting and display solutions, and Da-Lite Screen Company, manufacturer of Da-Lite, Projecta and Procolor brand commercial and residential projection screens, today announced a pending merger of the two companies. According to Milestone, the combination of Milestone and Da-Lite will create an industry leader in mounting solutions, AV furniture, and projection screens across both commercial and consumer AV markets. With nearly 1,000 employees worldwide and eight major operating locations around the globe, the combined business will be optimally positioned to continue delivering the customer service and product innovation that have been hallmarks of both Milestone and Da-Lite. "We are pleased to announce the combination of these two great companies," said Scott Gill, CEO of Milestone AV Technologies. "Through the strength of this combination, we will be able to offer a more comprehensive product line to our joint customers, open up new sales channels for our brands, and provide growth opportunities for our employees. We look forward to expanding our reputation for innovative products and market-leading customer service." Milestone, headquartered in Savage, Minnesota, was formed from the successful merger of Chief Manufacturing and Sanus Systems in 2004. Da-Lite will continue to be based in Warsaw, Indiana as an operating subsidiary of Milestone, under the leadership of current Da-Lite President Richard Lundin. "Da-Lite has a 100-year heritage of product innovation in the AV market," added Lundin. "Combining Da-Lite and Milestone allows us to continue our commitment to innovation while bringing the benefits and enhanced opportunities of increased global scale to our customers and employees." A definitive merger agreement has been signed, and the transaction is expected to close within the next 30 days.

Panasonic and XPAND 3D announced that they have formulated M-3DI, a new standard for 3D active-shutter eyewear products that the companies say will bring about compatibility among 3D TVs, computers, home projectors and cinema projection. While the popularity of 3D at home is projected to increase significantly, until now there has been limited compatibility among 3D glasses offered by various TV manufacturers, as they use different methods to communicate between the 3D active-shutter eyewear and the 3D display. With the M-3DI standard, the participants in the standards process aim to make the 3D viewing experience more convenient, and to enhance the appeal of 3D entertainment among a wider audience. According to Panasonic, the technology will let consumers enjoy the immersive 3D experience across all types of compatible 3D displays as well as at movie theaters, with a single pair of 3D active-shutter eyewear. The M-3DI standard will also assure consumers of comprehensive quality control in the creation of their 3D eyewear. Participants in the standard-making will publish the specification of the standard and will organize quality control testing and approval procedures. The proponents of the M-3DI standard believe that this program, as an industry-wide initiative, will make a significant contribution to accelerate penetration of 3D TVs, computers and projectors. While the M-3DI standard to be licensed at this time uses infrared communication technology, radio communications will be considered for the next step. Commenting on the standard, XPAND 3D Chief Executive Officer Maria Costeira noted, "M-3DI eliminates confusion, provides a strong, uniform performance standard and ensures that manufacturers can concentrate on innovation and consumers can count on interoperability. Now, with M-3DI glasses, consumers can enjoy the most advanced, immersive 3D experience in XPAND 3D cinemas, on the laptop or in the workplace or school! We are pleased to join the other participants in M-3DI to ensure that the amazing potential of 3D is achieved in every imaginable 3D application." According to the group, other leading 3D technology providers for televisions, projectors and cinemas have agreed to participate in supporting the new standard, including Hitachi Consumer Electronics Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Seiko Epson Corporation, SIM2 Multimedia S.p.A. and ViewSonic Corporation. Licensing of the M-3DI technology will begin next month from M-3DI License Agent (e-mail: license@m-3di.com).

Global telecommunications equipment and network solutions provider, ZTE Corporation today announced that the company has broken the previous world record for single-channel transmission rate at 1Tb/s with a recorded single-channel rate of 10Tbit/s in a first-time experiment. The experiment used ZTE's patented "carrier generation technology" to generate 112 coherent and frequency-locked optical sub-carriers; with each sub-carrier bearing 100Gbit/s optical signals, and successfully realized optical signals with a single-channel rate of 11.2 Tbit/s, a net 10Tb/s line rate plus overheads such as FEC. In an era where the global optical communications industry is entering 100G, all mainstream manufacturers are not only promoting the practical deployment of 100G but also actively seeking candidate technologies at higher bit rates of 400G, 1T, and beyond. With rapid growth in demand for higher bandwidth, single channel 10Tb/s will be the transmission rate for future telecommunication networks. ZTE has demonstrated the feasibility of 10Tbit/s single channel transmission over 640km using OFDM technology, opening a new chapter for future research in optical network technology. Over the years, ZTE has invested substantially in bearer optical network transmission technology; developing 100G model equipment and ULH transmission products, based on 100G product deployment, as well as being engaged in the research of beyond-100G high-speed signal transmission technology. From close interaction with the world's newest technology, ZTE have tackled a number of core technical issues in high-speed optical transmission technology and has become the driving force of this area. ZTE's experimental result was presented at OFC/NFOEC 2011 on March 10th, 2011. The article was accepted as a "post deadline paper", with ZTE being the primary unit to achieve the result. ZTE filled a gap within the fiber communications transmission field for Chinese companies, and marked a move for Chinese companies into the global high technology field of optical networks. Post Deadline Paper (PDP), which releases the most competitive papers and reports, is the core of the OFC conference - this article was the only PDP of Chinese companies at the conference. The papers, selected and recommended by world-famous experts in the industrial and academic world, hold an authoritative position in the fiber communications field. "With OFC's acknowledgement of our research result in 100G and beyond-100G technology, we will go on to invest further efforts in high-speed optical transmission and apply further research results in the pending 100G global deployment," Mr. Fan Xiaobing, General Manager of ZTE bearer network product line, said. The optical signals were successfully transmitted over a stretch of 640km standard single-mode fiber, and were presented at the OFC/NFOEC 2011 conference, Los Angeles, CA, USA. According to the company, this new world record lays a foundation for future research on optical transmission technology with higher single-channel rates.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Enforcement Bureau this week released an Enforcement Advisory to alert commercial television and radio broadcasters to an important new requirement to certify that their advertising sales contracts contain nondiscrimination clauses and do not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, “It should be clear from today’s advisory that the Commission will vigorously enforce its rules against discrimination in advertising sales contracts. As the Commission stated in its order adopting the rule, discrimination simply has no place in broadcasting.” A new Form 303-S, used for broadcast license renewals, was announced by the Media Bureau on Monday, March 14, 2011 (DA 11-489). The revised form requires the certification described above. Today’s Enforcement Advisory explains that the new requirement is aimed at advertising contracts that contain “no urban/no Spanish” dictates, by which advertisers and their agencies intentionally by-pass urban and Latino stations, supposedly because the client has dictated that its ads not be placed with those outlets. Commercial broadcasters must complete the certification in order to renew their broadcast licenses. If they cannot affirmatively certify that their advertising agreements do not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity, they must explain why this should not be an impediment to granting the station’s license renewal application. The broadcaster’s response and explanation will be considered by the Commission in determining whether to renew the license. The Enforcement Advisory also designates a specific contact in the Enforcement Bureau to respond to inquiries from the public and licensees. On issuing the Advisory, Michele Ellison, Chief of the Enforcement Bureau said, “The advisory puts everyone on notice that the Commission has no tolerance for this type of insidious discrimination. Our leadership has asked us to bring renewed focus to these important broadcasting issues. We will work in close collaboration with the Media Bureau to give this new requirement meaning.” Read the advisory.

University of Michigan engineering researchers have designed an exceptionally efficient fluorescent blue organic light emitting diode (OLED). The next generation of display technology already used in televisions, cell phones and computers, OLEDs are candidates for a vast array of light sources from advertising billboards to indoor and outdoor illumination. Fluorescent OLEDs are typically less efficient at emitting light per unit area than their phosphorescent counterparts. However, that may be changing, according to new findings by professor John Kieffer and graduate student Changgua Zhen of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. They released findings in the journal Advanced Functional Materials that shattered previous records. Traditionally, the ceiling for the efficiency of fluorescent OLEDs was believed to be 5 percent. Now, Kieffer and his collaborators have produced fluorescent OLEDs with close to 10 percent efficiency. "Our results clearly indicate that fluorescent material have a bright future for highly efficient and stable OLEDs for flat-panel display and lighting applications," Kieffer said. This was accomplished by redesigning a material being utilized by U-M collaborators in Singapore using computer simulations. "With the material, they had some positive results," Kieffer said. "We took those molecules and started to reconfigure them in a computer model, adding different functional groups in a systematic way. We identified the mechanisms that control the performance of OLEDs, and by applying the fundamental understanding so obtained we improved the materials characteristics. Our research demonstrated the importance of simulation-based predictive design." The paper is called: "Achieving Highly Efficient Fluorescent Blue Organic Light-Emitting Diodes Through Optimizing Molecular Structures and Device Configuration". The research was funded by the Michigan Memorial Phoenix Energy Institute (MMPEI) and the Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (IMRE).

Consumer confidence in technology rose in March, according to the latest CEA Index, released today by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA). Consumers’ confidence in technology rose more than two points this month. The increase follows consecutive months of decline. The CEA Index of Consumer Technology Expectations (ICTE), which measures consumer expectations about technology spending, reached 78.5 in March, but remains five points lower than this time last year. “Many retailers are still waiting for new product lines to be released, which is happening a few weeks later than it did last spring,” said Shawn DuBravac, CEA’s chief economist. “While several new and innovative products hit store shelves this month, the full breadth of new model resets has yet to happen.” Consumer confidence in the overall economy was down sharply in March after a historic month globally. The CEA Index of Consumer Expectations (ICE), which measures consumer confidence about the broader economy, fell more than ten points to 161.4. The ICE is down for the second straight month and is slightly lower than this time last year. The index also shows that consumer confidence in the overall direction of the economy is down from last month. “Increasing geopolitical concerns around the globe and weak results for the housing market domestically, coupled with the tragedy in Japan, have kept consumers on edge,” said DuBravac. “Consumers are still adjusting to higher gas prices, for example, which affects spending on the remaining categories, including tech.” The CEA Indexes comprise the ICE and ICTE, both of which are updated on a monthly basis through consumer surveys. New data is released on the fourth Tuesday of each month. CEA has been tracking index data since January 2007. To find current and past indexes, charts, methodology and future release dates, log on to: CEAindexes.org.

According to a report from market research company, iSuppli, the earthquake which struck Japan on March 11 has resulted in the suspension of one-quarter of the global production of silicon wafers used to make semiconductors. Manufacturing operations have stopped at Shin-Etsu Chemical Co. Ltd.’s Shirakawa facility. MEMC Electronic Materials Inc. also stopped manufacturing at its Utsunomiya plant. Together, these two facilities account for 25 percent of the global supply of silicon wafer used to make semiconductors. Wafers are thin slices of silicon that serve as the substrate of semiconductor devices. All semiconductors are built on wafers. The facility in question Shirakawa facility produces large 300mm wafers, which are used in more advanced semiconductors that have high transistor counts. The wafers made by this facility mainly are used in the manufacturing of memory devices, such as flash memory and DRAM. Because of this, the global supply of memory semiconductors will be impacted the most severely of any segment of the chip industry by the production stoppage. Logic devices represent the next largest use of these wafers. These companies supply not only domestic Japanese demand for wafers but also semiconductor manufacturers around the world. Because of this, the suspension of operations at these plants could have wide-ranging implications beyond the Japanese electronics industry. Shin-Etsu’s Shirakawa plant is responsible for 20 percent of global silicon semiconductor wafer supply. The plant is located in Nishigo Village, Fukushima Prefecture Shin-Etsu reported that there has been damage to the plant’s production facilities and equipment. To compensate for the lost manufacturing, Shin-Etsu said it would set up production systems at other facilities. However, the company warned it was unclear how long it would take to restore the damaged facilities and equipment. MEMC said it evacuated employees and suspended operations at its Utsunomiya plant after the earthquake. The Utsunomiya facility accounts for 5 percent of worldwide semiconductor wafer supply. MEMC said it expects that shipments from this facility will be delayed during the near term. In another development for the global electronics supply chain, two Japanese companies announced they have stropped production that amounts to 70 percent of the worldwide supply of the main raw material used to make printed circuit boards (PCBs). PCBs are used in all electronic products, from PCs to smart phones, to digital wristwatches. The companies, Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc. and Hitachi Kasei Polymer Co. Ltd., said they will resume production within two weeks of the raw material called copper-clad laminate (CCL). The good news is with current inventory levels, IHS iSuppli believes that there likely is sufficient supply of finished PCBs and raw CCL material to keep electronics production lines running at global electronics manufacturers, as long as the interruption doesn’t last significantly longer than two weeks.

AT&T Inc. and Deutsche Telekom AG have announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which AT&T will acquire T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom in a cash-and-stock transaction currently valued at approximately $39 billion. The agreement has been approved by the Boards of Directors of both companies. According to AT&T, the acquisition of T-Mobile USA provides an optimal combination of network assets to add capacity sooner than any alternative, and it provides an opportunity to improve network quality in the near term for both companies’ customers. In addition, the company said the deal provides a fast, efficient and certain solution to the impending exhaustion of wireless spectrum in some markets, which limits both companies’ ability to meet the ongoing explosive demand for mobile broadband. With this transaction, AT&T commits to a significant expansion of robust 4G LTE (Long Term Evolution) deployment to 95 percent of the U.S. population to reach an additional 46.5 million Americans beyond current plans – including rural communities and small towns. This helps achieve the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and President Obama’s goals to connect “every part of America to the digital age.” T-Mobile USA does not have a clear path to delivering LTE. “This transaction represents a major commitment to strengthen and expand critical infrastructure for our nation’s future,” said Randall Stephenson, AT&T Chairman and CEO. “It will improve network quality, and it will bring advanced LTE capabilities to more than 294 million people. Mobile broadband networks drive economic opportunity everywhere, and they enable the expanding high-tech ecosystem that includes device makers, cloud and content providers, app developers, customers, and more. During the past few years, America’s high-tech industry has delivered innovation at unprecedented speed, and this combination will accelerate its continued growth.” Deutsche Telekom Chairman and CEO René Obermann said, “After evaluating strategic options for T-Mobile USA, I am confident that AT&T is the best partner for our customers, shareholders and the mobile broadband ecosystem. Our common network technology makes this a logical combination and provides an efficient path to gaining the spectrum and network assets needed to provide T-Mobile customers with 4G LTE and the best devices. Also, the transaction returns significant value to Deutsche Telekom shareholders and allows us to retain exposure to the U.S. market.” As part of the transaction, Deutsche Telekom will receive an equity stake in AT&T that, based on the terms of the agreement, would give Deutsche Telekom an ownership interest in AT&T of approximately 8 percent. A Deutsche Telekom representative will join the AT&T Board of Directors. The acquisition is subject to regulatory approvals, a reverse breakup fee in certain circumstances, and other customary regulatory and other closing conditions. The transaction is expected to close in approximately 12 months.

The Federal Communications Commission today approved the merger of CenturyLink Inc. and Qwest Communications International Inc. In doing so, the Commission imposed protections against the risk of harm to competition and ensured the merged entity will live up to its commitments to significantly expand its network and launch a major broadband adoption program for low-income consumers. Based on the companies’ agreement to certain conditions, the FCC found that the potential public interest benefits of the merger are likely to outweigh the potential harms. Binding and enforceable conditions include:

1. Broadband adoption program for low-income consumers

- Launch major broadband adoption program focused on connecting the millions of low-income consumers in the combined company’s 37-state territory.
- Offer qualifying households broadband starting at less than $10 per month and a
computer for less than $150, and keep the window open for five years for
qualifying consumers to sign up.
- Make a significant annual commitment to marketing, outreach, and digital literacy training, and include detailed reporting on outcomes and an independent analysis of the program’s effectiveness.

2. Broadband deployment

- Significantly increase the capacity of the Qwest network, bringing broadband
with actual download speeds of at least 4 Megabits per second (Mbps) to at least 4 million more homes and businesses, and at least 20,000 more anchor institutions, such as schools, libraries, and community centers.
- Significantly increase availability of higher-speed broadband: The company will more than double the number of homes and businesses that can get 12 Mbps broadband, and more than triple the number that can get 40 Mbps broadband.

3. Advancing Universal Service Fund reform

- Phase down three forms of support designed for smaller companies, which the company currently receives from the federal Universal Service Fund.

4. Protection against potential transaction-related harms

- No increase in enterprise service prices for 7 years in a few dozen buildings where the companies currently compete (Minneapolis, Minn., and Olympia, Wash.).
- Safeguards for smooth transition of operations support systems, to protect wholesale customers.
- Ensuring the merger does not harm interconnection agreements with competing phone carriers.
- Maintenance of wholesale service quality.

Global microelectronics standards development group, JEDEC Solid State Technology Association, today announced a broad spectrum of ongoing standards development work related to 3D-ICs. As the dominant provider of free and open standards for high volume semiconductor applications including device, package, reliability and test standards, JEDEC said it is well-positioned to develop the standards needed to move this game-changing technology into high volume product applications. 3D is particularly suited for combinations of memory with other memory or logic, and since JEDEC has led the development of functional, interface and packaging standards for several generations of semiconductor memory including DRAM, FLASH and SRAM, it has the expertise to enable 3D standards for stacked devices and mixed technology ICs. “JEDEC standards will allow high volume products to take advantage of this exciting technology,” said Subu Iyer, IBM Fellow responsible for 3D integration at IBM. To meet industry demands for increased levels of integration as well as improved performance, bandwidth, latency, power, weight and form factor, microelectronics manufacturers are implementing three dimensional (3D) chip stacking utilizing Through Silicon Via (TSV) chip to chip interconnects. “TSV technology is on the cusp of enabling transformative performance improvements, power reductions and dense package sizes for applications ranging from handheld mobile devices to high-end servers,” said Mian Quddus, Chairman of the JEDEC Board of Directors. The new development work includes the following committees:

Memory Committees
The Solid State Memories Committee (JC-42) has been working since June 2008 on definitions of standardized 3D memory stacks for DDR3 which provide power and performance benefits a full generation ahead of conventional technology. The DDR4 standard will be implemented with 3D support from the start. The Multiple Chip Packages Committee (JC-63) is currently developing mixed technology pad sequence and device package standards. An active Task Group of the Low Power Memories Subcommittee (JC-42.6) is developing standards for Wide I/O Mobile Memory with TSV interconnect stacked on System on a Chip (SoC) Application Processors.

Quality & Reliability Committees
The Silicon Devices Reliability Qualification & Monitoring Subcommittee (JC-14.3) has been working on reliability interactions of 3D stacks and has released JEP158: 3D Chip Stack with Through-Silicon Vias (TSVS): Identifying, Understanding and Evaluating Reliability Interactions. In addition, reliability test methods developed by JC-14.1 and JC-14.2 and quality documents developed by JC-14.4 are applicable to 3D-IC packaged and unpackaged evaluations and qualifications.

Packaging Committee
The Mechanical Standardization Committee (JC-11) has been working since June 2010 on Wide I/O Mobile Memory package outline standardization, including an active Task Group focused on Design Guide and MO creation.

Julius Genachowski, chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, will deliver a keynote speech during the 2011 NAB Show in Las Vegas, show organizers announced today. Genachowski's remarks will be made during the FCC Chairman's Breakfast on Tuesday, April 12. "The FCC is currently considering many political and regulatory issues that will have a lasting impact on the broadcast industry," said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. "We look forward to hearing from Chairman Genachowski as he outlines his vision for communications policy and the opportunities for broadcasters in the fast-changing digital world." Chairman Genachowski has two decades of experience in public service and the private sector. Prior to his appointment as FCC Chairman in June 2009, Genachowski spent more than ten years working in the technology industry as an executive and entrepreneur. He co-founded LaunchBox Digital and Rock Creek Ventures, where he served as managing director, and he was a special advisor at General Atlantic. In these capacities, Genachowski worked to start, accelerate and invest in early and mid-stage technology companies. From 1997-2005, Genachowski was a senior executive at IAC/InterActiveCorp, a Fortune 500 company, where his positions included chief of business operations and general counsel. Previously, Genachowski served as chief counsel to FCC Chairman Reed Hundt and as special counsel to then-FCC General Counsel William Kennard, who was later named FCC Chairman. A Harvard Law School graduate, Genachowski also worked as a law clerk at the U.S. Supreme Court and the U.S. Court of Appeals. As previously announced, the NAB Show will also include a "Washington Showcase" featuring FCC Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker. Held Tuesday, April 12, the session will examine the latest regulatory issues affecting communications industry stakeholders. NAB Show 2011 runs conferences April 9 – 14, and exhibits April 11 – 14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.

Senator Michael S. Lee (R-UT) called last week for the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Antitrust Subcommittee to conduct an oversight hearing on Google Inc. Lee, a ranking Member of the Subcommittee, joins Chairman Herb Kohl in encouraging hearings on the business practices of the dominant search firm. In a letter to Kohl, Lee noted that those who follow the tech industry, as well as those responsible for enforcing antitrust laws, have concerns that Google could be acting to harm competition. “The powerful position Google occupies in the general search arena creates myriad opportunities for anticompetitive behavior,” Lee writes. “The Deputy Director for Antitrust within the Bureau of Economics at the Federal Trade Commission, Howard Shelanski, recently observed that a ‘hypothetical search engine’ with various ‘scale and network economies’ might become a ‘must have’ for consumers and thereby more effectively engage in ‘anticompetitive discrimination.’” Given its prominent position in the search and search-advertising markets, Google in some ways acts as a gatekeeper over a variety of Internet businesses. In particular, Lee’s letter points to Google’s proposed acquisition of ITA software, which could potentially provide Google with the ability to control the travel search vertical market, currently populated by sites like Kayak, Travelocity, and Orbitz. “Google’s position as the preeminent search engine may be abused so as to disadvantage competing vertical search sites to the detriment of advertisers and internet users,” Lee writes. Lee adds that Google’s acquisition of personal data through searches and its many products, such as Gmail, Google Checkout, Google Books, and Google Web History, couldpresent serious privacy issues.“Google’s powerful position as an Internet gatekeeper reduces the company’s incentive to compete with other search engines by providing enhanced privacy protection for consumers.”“The combination of behavioral and personal information enables Google to generate consumer data that is unprecedented in scale and scope. These activities raise serious privacy concerns and may be indicative of an important market that is largely unconstrained by competition. Antitrust enforcement may unlock beneficial competition for the protection of user privacy and avert the need for additional privacy regulation.”Utah has a growing tech sector with several large companies set to expand their businesses in the state, and was awarded Forbes “Best State for Businesses” in 2010. “As an increasing number of companies with an online presence expand and create jobs, we want to make to maintain and competitive and business-friendly environment,” Lee said. See the full text of Senator Lee’s letter to Subcommittee Chairman Herb Kohl.

In response to the damage sustained by the Canon Group due to the major earthquake that struck Japan on March 11, Canon Inc. has established an Earthquake Disaster Recovery Task Force (Task Force Chief: Chairman & CEO Fujio Mitarai; Task Force Assistant Chief: President & COO Tsuneji Uchida; Executive Director: Executive Vice President and CFO Toshizo Tanaka) and begun taking related measures. The Task Force today issued the following instructions toward the promotion of swift response measures.

1. The prompt review and drafting of comprehensive recovery plans, spanning development, production and sales operations, for relevant operating sites, primarily by persons in charge of each business (chief executives/group executives). The Company’s headquarter divisions will provide full support for this effort.

2. With regard to Canon Inc. operation sites and Canon Group companies for which production operations may be suspended for one month or more, the Company will also consider making use of alternate sites that were not damaged by the earthquake as a means of continuing production.

Below is an overview provided by the company of the latest impact of the earthquake on Canon operations in Japan as of 15:00 JST on Monday, March 14, 2011.

- While the level of damage differs at each Canon Inc. operation site and Canon Group company located in northern Honshu (the area hardest hit by the earthquake), beginning today, the Company is earnestly taking action to realize the earliest possible start of operations. At this time, however, concrete schedules for when production may resume have yet to be determined.

- As for Canon plants and Group companies in the western half of Honshu, while operations resumed as usual today (Monday, March 14), the Company is now working to ascertain whether or not there will be any impact on production at each location.

- With regard to the Japanese government’s requests for cooperation in conserving electricity, in addition to the energy-saving measures Canon promotes as a matter of course, the Company has also called on its employees to make every effort to conserve electricity in their homes.

Nearly one in four (23 percent) digital imaging enthusiasts are likely to purchase a 3D digital camera within the next year, according to a new Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) study. The study, 3D Digital Imaging: Consumer Perceptions of this Emerging Technology, examines awareness, perceptions, purchase intent and product uses. The top reasons consumers indicated they were likely to purchase a 3D digital camera included an interest in 3D technology (61 percent), an appreciation for additional photographic options (55 percent), a desire to be on the cutting-edge of technology (23 percent) and a belief that 3D will help them be more creative (22 percent). “Understanding how consumers intend to use 3D cameras is an important factor in driving purchase interest,” said Chris Ely, manager of industry analysis at CEA. “Consumers see a clear distinction in how they plan to use a 3D camera versus a traditional camera.” The majority of enthusiasts surveyed say they would use a 3D camera for pictures of natural scenery (62 percent), buildings or landmarks (58 percent) and historic places (53 percent). Enthusiasts are also showing interest in 3D camcorders, with one in ten indicating they are likely to purchase one within the next year. Similar to 3D cameras, enthusiasts say they would use 3D camcorders for natural scenery (51 percent) and historic places (43 percent), but enthusiasts also view 3D camcorders as valuable for use in shooting sporting events (45 percent). Ownership of 3D products is still in its early stages and familiarity with these products varies greatly among enthusiasts. More than half (51 percent) of enthusiasts report being familiar with 3D technology with five percent indicating they are very familiar and 46 percent somewhat familiar. “The high percentage in the ‘somewhat familiar’ category clearly indicates an opportunity to educate consumers about the availability and functionality of 3D digital imaging products,” said Ely.

University of Illinois engineers have developed a form of ultra-low-power digital memory that is faster and uses 100 times less energy than similar available memory. The technology could give future portable devices much longer battery life between charges. The flash memory used in mobile devices today stores bits as charge, which requires high programming voltages and is relatively slow. Industry has been exploring faster, but higher power phase-change materials (PCM) as an alternative. In PCM memory a bit is stored in the resistance of the material, which is switchable. The group lowered the power per bit to 100 times less than existing PCM memory by focusing on one simple, yet key factor: size. Rather than the metal wires standard in industry, the group used carbon nanotubes, tiny tubes only a few nanometers in diameter – 10,000 times smaller than a human hair. “The energy consumption is essentially scaled with the volume of the memory bit,” said graduate student Feng Xiong, the first author of the paper. “By using nanoscale contacts, we are able to achieve much smaller power consumption.” To create a bit, the researchers place a small amount of PCM in a nanoscale gap formed in the middle of a carbon nanotube. They can switch the bit “on” and “off” by passing small currents through the nanotube. Nanotubes also boast an extraordinary stability, as they are not susceptible to the degradation that can plague metal wires. In addition, the PCM that functions as the actual bit is immune to accidental erasure from a passing scanner or magnet. The low-power PCM bits could be used in existing devices with a significant increase in battery life. Right now, a smart phone uses about a watt of energy and a laptop runs on more than 25 watts. Some of that energy goes to the display, but an increasing percentage is dedicated to memory. “Anytime you’re running an app, or storing MP3s, or streaming videos, it’s draining the battery,” said Albert Liao, a graduate student and co-author. “The memory and the processor are working hard retrieving data. As people use their phones to place calls less and use them for computing more, improving the data storage and retrieval operations is important.” According to the team, ultra-low-power memory could cut the energy consumption – and thus the expense – of data storage or supercomputing centers by a large percentage. The low-power memory could also enable three-dimensional integration, a stacking of chips that has eluded researchers because of fabrication and heat problems. The team is continuing to work to reduce power consumption and increase energy efficiency even beyond the groundbreaking savings they’ve already demonstrated. The research was led by electrical and computer engineering professor Eric Pop, the team will publish its results in an upcoming issue of Science magazine and online in the March 10 Science Express.]]> Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:32:12 -0500 new-technology-to-dramatically-extend-mobile-devic Markertek News Team - J. Kelley http://www.markertek.com/RSS.asp#nabnet

FOX Television and the CW Network will host meetings with all of their affiliated television station representatives at the NAB Show in Las Vegas, the NAB announced today. In addition, the affiliate boards of directors for ABC, CBS, NBC and FOX Television will once again hold meetings during the NAB Show, NAB announced today. The 2011 NAB Show marks the fourth consecutive year that FOX affiliates have held meetings in conjunction with the NAB Show. ABC, CBS and NBC affiliate boards also met during the 2010 NAB Show. "Broadcast ubiquity is vital to business as well as the public. In today's challenging media environment, The NAB continues to serve as our voice for the future," said Elizabeth Tumulty, Executive Vice President, Distribution, The CW. "As such, The NAB Show is an obvious choice for assembling key CW affiliate decision makers. We look forward to revealing strategic information vis-a-vis our shared business goals during this inaugural and intimate 'Coffee With The CW at NAB' gathering followed by one-on-one market discussions." This year's NAB Show, which runs April 9-14, marks the first occasion during which CW affiliates will meet in Las Vegas. "As the world's largest electronic media event, the NAB Show provides the perfect backdrop for executives to meet and examine the latest technological innovations shaping today's broadcast industry," said NAB Executive Vice President of Conventions and Business Operations Chris Brown. "We are looking forward to hosting another successful group of network meetings." FOX said that the specific dates for the affiliate meetings will be announced in coming weeks.

The NEC Corporation has developed a new set of technologies that enable users to control consumer electronics with the tap of an arm. These technologies consist of compact acceleration sensors that are worn on each wrist and enable users' arms to function as virtual control panels. When a user taps an arm, the sensors determine which area of the arm received contact. These areas are separated into 7 sections that each correspond to a virtual input switch that can be used to operate an electronic device. The operation of conventional information-processing equipment requires users to stop their current activity and take action on an independent switch. These new technologies enable users to operate devices through natural motions that only require the tap of an arm. Possible applications of these technologies include music players that can be easily operated while exercising and mobile phones that may be operated remotely while stored in a bag. The acceleration sensors on each wrist determine which area of the arm was tapped by comparing the differences in sensor signals that are received from taps on each section of the arm. These differences in each section are used in order to designate specific device oriented controls. Commands may be input from contact with 7 areas consisting of the upper, middle and lower sections of each arm as well as clapping the palms of both hands together. Furthermore, these simple control gestures are easy to remember and are nearly free from input errors. NEC said it will continue to drive the development of technologies that improve the user friendliness of information-processing equipment.

Western Digital and Hitachi, Ltd. announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement whereby WD will acquire Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi GST), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $4.3 billion. Under the terms of the agreement, WD will acquire Hitachi GST for $3.5 billion in cash and 25 million WD common shares valued at $750 million, based on a WD closing stock price of $30.01 as of March 4, 2011. Hitachi, Ltd. will own approximately ten percent of Western Digital shares outstanding after issuance of the shares and two representatives of Hitachi will be added to the WD board of directors at closing. WD plans to fund the transaction with a combination of existing cash and total debt of approximately $2.5 billion. The resulting company will retain the Western Digital name and remain headquartered in Irvine, California. John Coyne will remain chief executive officer of WD, Tim Leyden chief operating officer and Wolfgang Nickl chief financial officer. Steve Milligan, president and chief executive officer of Hitachi GST, will join WD at closing as president, reporting to John Coyne. "This brings together two industry leaders with consistent track records of strong execution and industry out performance," said Steve Milligan, president and chief executive officer, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. "Together we can provide customers worldwide with the industry's most compelling and diverse set of products and services, from innovative personal storage to solid state drives for the enterprise." The transaction has been approved by the board of directors of each company and is expected to close during the third calendar quarter of 2011, subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.

Canon U.S.A., Inc. today announced the company is proud to be a global sponsor of the upcoming Copa America Argentina 2011. This marks the first time that Canon will be an official sponsor for Latin America’s most prestigious soccer tournament. Organized by CONMEBOL, this year’s tournament, taking place from July 1 – 24, 2011 at eight stadiums throughout Argentina, will be the 43rd edition of Copa America, the main international soccer tournament for national teams in South America. Under the terms of the sponsorship agreement, Canon U.S.A. will be the official camera, lens, binocular, video camera, broadcast lens, printer, calculator, digital radiography system and office equipment for the tournament. This represents a major initiative into the South American marketplace as Canon aims to expand the Company’s presence in these rapidly growing markets. Also included in the sponsorship agreement, Canon will feature two on-field advertisement boards per match, a logo on all press conference backdrops and brand exposure in all official promotional materials and souvenir programs, among other items. “As a premier provider of digital imaging equipment, Canon continuously seeks to leverage strategic avenues or high-profile events to help raise brand awareness and Copa America Argentina 2011 presents a unique opportunity to reach the fast-growing Latin American markets,” said Taro Maruyama, president, Canon Latin America. “Copa America is one of the longest-running and most prestigious tournaments in the world and we are excited to be a part of this important event and look forward to capturing all of the exhilarating moments through the imaging eye of Canon.” Participating in this year’s tournament are teams from Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela and special guests Japan and Mexico.

The problem is well known. More and more data is produced with long-term preservation needs, such as business data, documents, music, photos, films etc. that has to be kept for future use on archival media, such as CDs and DVDs. However, after several years of storage under different conditions one may find with horror that this archival data cannot be read any more and becomes useless. Unfortunately there are cases when the optical storage medium chosen is not designed for long-term preservation use, and the storage lifetime is much shorter than expected. Is there a way to estimate in advance the storage lifetime of optical media? Yes, there is. There are standardized methods that allow lifetime estimation of optical media. For example Ecma International has a successful standard ECMA-379 (also approved as ISO/IEC 10995), however this standard only allows for the storage lifetime estimation of DVD discs. Very often, however, the requirement is much broader, one wants to use a single method for the storage lifetime estimation of both CD and DVD. ECMA-396 fulfills that need. The new standard contains an intelligent combination of the measuring points from the ECMA-379 (ISO/IEC 10995) and ISO 18927 standards and a new data analysis method for lifetime estimation. This new standard has been developed by Ecma International in cooperation with JWG 1 established under JTC 1/SC 23 (members: SC 23, ISO/TC 42 and TC 171). Ecma International has published on their public website for unrestricted download a standard with the aim of providing the test method for single storage lifetime estimation at ambient storage conditions for both CDs and DVDs:

ECMA-396 1st edition - Test Method for the Estimation of Lifetime of Optical Media for Long-term Data Storage.

NPR chief executive Vivian Schiller is leading an effort to persuade Congress not to slash funding for public broadcasting. She will make her case at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on March 7. "The elimination of federal funding would be a significant blow to nearly 900 public radio stations that serve the needs of more than 38 million Americans with free over-the-air programming they can't find anywhere else," Ms. Schiller said. "It would diminish stations' ability to bring high-quality local, national and international news to their communities, as well as local arts, music and cultural programming that other media don't present. Rural and economically distressed communities could lose access to this programming altogether if their stations go dark." Schiller started her NPR career two years ago – a time when the U.S. economy was plunging. The media organization's corporate underwriting was shriveling and its stock investments tumbling. Schiller was being introduced to the staff just as NPR was laying off workers, eliminating programs, reducing salaries and slashing travel budgets. But even in those hard times, Schiller pushed for innovation and excellence, especially in the digital world. Today, NPR has stabilized financially, and is flourishing both on the air and in the mobile and digital space. Under her leadership, NPR has continued to haul in top awards for journalistic excellence. But her term has not been without controversy. Last fall, conservative groups sharply criticized NPR for its decision to cut ties with correspondent Juan Williams. Before joining NPR, Schiller served as General Manager of NYTimes.com, the largest newspaper website. Previously, Schiller headed up the Discovery Times Channel, and had served as Senior Vice President of CNN Productions. The March 7 Press Club luncheon will begin promptly at 12:30 p.m. Remarks by Schiller will begin at 1:00 p.m., followed by a question-and-answer session. Advance reservations should be made through (202) 662-7501 or reservations@press.org. Luncheon admission is $18 for National Press Club members, $29 for their guests, and $36 for the general public. Tickets must be purchased at time of reservation.

NAB FASTROAD (Flexible Advanced Services for Television & Radio On All Devices), the technology advocacy program of the National Association of Broadcasters has published a new report on field testing of HD Radio asymmetric sideband technology for FM-band digital radio. Undertaken by iBiquity Digital Corporation, developers of the HD Radio IBOC system used by U.S. broadcasters to transition to digital radio, and co-funded by iBiquity and NAB FASTROAD, the report, entitled "FM HD Radio Field Performance With Unequal Digital Sideband Carrier Levels (Preliminary)," characterizes the digital coverage improvement that may be realized by a typical FM Class B broadcaster using asymmetric (unequal) IBOC transmission power. This new (and at present, experimental) transmission method affords broadcasters the ability to mitigate potential first-adjacent digital-to-analog interference by allowing independent adjustment of upper and lower IBOC digital sideband levels, maximizing the digital signal coverage area as a result. Greater Media station WKLB, located in the Boston, MA market, was used to host these tests. iBiquity said it is in the process of conducting some additional laboratory tests, the results of which will be released soon. While asymmetric sideband operation is not yet permissible under FCC rules (except by experimental authorization), these test results will provide a basis for requesting a rules modification allowing for use of this digital coverage-improving technology. The full text of this report and information on the NAB FASTROAD technology advocacy program are available at www.NABFASTROAD.org.

Advanced materials developer, NanoPhotonica says it has perfected realizable, breakthrough QLED display technology that the company plans on commercializing for mass production. According to NanoPhotonica, S-QLED technology improves on the picture quality and power consumption achieved by recently introduced OLED displays, while significantly reducing cost and improving lifetime well beyond what OLED can achieve. NanoPhotonica’s materials and design solution is cost-effective on the full range of displays from smartphones to large devices like TVs. “Most current electronic products have LCD displays that are power hogs and provide picture quality that, as we all know, leaves a lot to be desired,” explains CEO Dr. Christopher Morton. “Improvements have been made in image quality with the newer OLED technology, but high manufacturing costs, yield limitations and limited lifetime make it expensive and challenging for all but the smallest devices.” The company claims displays made using NanoPhotonica S-QLED technology will provide better picture technology than OLED, use 30 per cent less power, will be priced up to 75 per cent lower and last twice as long. The technology’s versatility across all display sizes is made possible through cost-effective ink jet printing that requires no vacuum deposition. “NanoPhotonica has a game-changing approach to the materials, design and manufacture for displays,” adds Morton. “We’re excited by the benefits we bring to the industry and by the response we have had from major display producers worldwide. Our focus is to accelerate work with existing and new display partners to bring this QLED technology to market soon. Our materials are enabling similar advances in the solar industry, and we intend to announce more about those programs shortly.” The company said it is currently working with several leading display manufacturers to commercialize devices based on its proprietary technology. Work at independent laboratories previously identified key performance advantages.

Blackmagic Design will host a series of free DaVinci Resolve for Mac training workshops in association with the Boston Final Cut Pro User Group (BOSFCPUG) on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. Two two-hour sessions, hosted by FILMSYSTEMS’ David Catt, will provide an introduction to the DaVinci Resolve for Mac non-linear color correction system, showcase proper set up and integration tips, provide how-to’s and detail Resolve features and capabilities. Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve is the world’s highest performance color correction solution for Mac OS X and Linux computers. DaVinci Resolve has the power of a true real time performance solution and handles complex color grades even when using dozens of primaries, secondaries, Power Windows, multi point tracking, blurs, and more. The new Mac OS X version provides strong performance in a low cost solution. “Color grading is an important part of the editorial finishing process as color stirs emotion and enhances story,” states Daniel Bérubé, Founder/Producer of BOSFCPUG. “We’re proud to offer free workshops with Blackmagic Design on DaVinci Resolve for Mac for students and working creative professionals to discover its power and value as a trusted creative tool in post.” For more event information and to register for one of the workshops, visit http://bosfcpug031511.eventbrite.com/.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a variance that allows for the sale of KODAK Laser Projector Systems using KODAK Laser Projection Technology to cinema exhibitors without the need for individual site or show operator variances. According to Kodak, this is an important step forward in delivering brighter 2D and 3D images that provide higher dynamic range and a wider color gamut to theaters. Typically, digital projection systems using high power lasers fall under the definition of a “demonstration laser” and must follow existing regulations for conventional laser projectors, such as those used in laser light show displays. Kodak has been working in conjunction with laser safety consultants and the FDA to address potential safety issues. The unique optical design of KODAK Laser Projection Technology manages the projector output so that it can be considered to be similar to conventional Xenon projection systems. The FDA variance allows the sale of KODAK Laser Projector Systems with KODAK Laser Projection Technology and theater/show configurations incorporating them. KODAK said that the Laser Projection Technology promises to bring vastly improved image quality to theater screens, including significantly brighter 3D viewing, and to dramatically reduce costs to digital projection in cinemas through the innovative use of long-life lasers, lower-cost optics, and more efficient energy usage. Kodak introduced its laser technology in September 2010. The technology has been received enthusiastically by exhibitors, manufacturers, studios, and viewers who have seen the demonstrations. “The FDA approval brings KODAK Laser Projection Technology significantly closer to the marketplace and validates the work we’ve done to ensure that this technology is safe and dependable,” says Les Moore, Kodak’s chief operating officer for Digital Cinema. “In addition to allowing the sale of KODAK Laser Projector Systems using KODAK Laser Projection Technology, the FDA variance serves as a template to be followed by manufacturers that we license to incorporate this new laser technology". Moore notes that KODAK Laser Projection Technology is a key ingredient to potential improvements in digital cinema picture quality for both filmmakers and movie-goers. “This laser technology is a significant breakthrough that promises to have a positive ripple effect throughout the cinema world,” adds Moore. “We at Kodak have always endeavored to provide filmmakers with the best possible tools with which to tell their stories. That philosophy has served us well for more than a century, and we will continue nurturing that partnership long into the future.” Kodak said it is in discussions to license this advanced technology, with an eye toward marketplace implementation within the next two years.

The National Association of Broadcasters has announced that KBHP-FM Bemidji, MN will be the second station to receive the NAB Crystal Heritage Award, recognizing a radio station's long-term commitment to community service. The award will be presented during the NAB Show Radio Luncheon, sponsored by ASCAP, on Tuesday, April 12 in Las Vegas. The Crystal Heritage Award is given to a station that has won five Crystal Radio Awards, an annual award that recognizes a radio station's year-round commitment to community service. Having earned its first Crystal Radio Award in 1994, KBHP-FM is the second station in history to achieve such a milestone. "The Crystal Radio Award represents a remarkable commitment on behalf of a station's staff and dedicated listeners toward bettering their community," said NAB Executive Vice President of Radio John David. "Winning five Crystal Radio Awards is an extraordinary accomplishment that deserves the utmost recognition. We are honored to present KBHP with the NAB Crystal Heritage Award during this year's NAB Show Radio Luncheon." Ten NAB Crystal Radio Award winners will be presented at the NAB Show Radio Luncheon. Legendary radio personality Gerry House will go into the NAB Broadcasting Hall of Fame and Brian Cooley, CNET's senior commentator, will review Radio's opportunities in the digital future. The NAB Show runs April 9 – 14, 2011 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.

The Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has developed a new flip-flop circuit using 40nm CMOS process that will reduce power consumption in mobile equipment. Measured data verifies that the power dissipation of the new flip-flop is up to 77% less than that of a typical conventional flip-flop and that it achieves a 24% reduction in total power consumption when applied to a wireless LAN chip. A flip-flop is a circuit that temporarily stores one bit of data during arithmetic processing by a digital system-on-a-chip (SoC) incorporated in mobile equipment and other digital equipment. As a typical SoC uses 100,000 to 10 million flip-flops they are an essential part of an SoC design. A typical flip-flop incorporates a clock buffer to produce a clock inverted signal required for the circuit's operation. When triggered by a signal from the clock, the clock buffer consumes power, even when the data is unchanged. In order to reduce this power dissipation, a power-saving design technique called clock gating is widely used to cut delivery of the clock signal to unused blocks. However, after applying the clock gating, the flip-flop active rate, a measure of data change rate per clock, is only 5-15%, indicating that there is still plenty of room for further power reduction. In order to save power, Toshiba changed the structure of the typical flip-flop and eliminated the power-consuming clock buffer. This approach brings with it the problem of data collision between the data writing circuitry and the state holding circuitry in the flip-flop, which Toshiba overcame by adding adaptive coupling circuitry to the flip-flop. A combination of an nMOS transistor and a pMOS transistor, this circuitry adaptively weakens state-retention coupling and prevents collisions. Despite the addition of the adaptive coupling circuitry, overall simplification of the basic flip-flop configuration reduces the transistor count from 24 to 22, and the cell area is less than that of the conventional flip-flop. Toshiba said that the achievement will be announced on February 23 (local time) at the 2011 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference (ISSCC) now being held in San Francisco, California.

More than 50 years after the invention of the laser, scientists at Yale University have built the world's first anti-laser, in which incoming beams of light interfere with one another in such a way as to perfectly cancel each other out. The discovery could pave the way for a number of novel technologies with applications in everything from optical computing to radiology. Conventional lasers, which were first invented in 1960, use a so-called "gain medium," usually a semiconductor like gallium arsenide, to produce a focused beam of coherent light-light waves with the same frequency and amplitude that are in step with one another. Last summer, Yale physicist A. Douglas Stone and his team published a study explaining the theory behind an anti-laser, demonstrating that such a device could be built using silicon, the most common semiconductor material. But it wasn't until now, after joining forces with the experimental group of his colleague Hui Cao, that the team actually built a functioning anti-laser, which they call a coherent perfect absorber (CPA). The team, whose results appear in the Feb. 18 issue of the journal Science, focused two laser beams with a specific frequency into a cavity containing a silicon wafer that acted as a "loss medium." The wafer aligned the light waves in such a way that they became perfectly trapped, bouncing back and forth indefinitely until they were eventually absorbed and transformed into heat. Stone believes that CPAs could one day be used as optical switches, detectors and other components in the next generation of computers, called optical computers, which will be powered by light in addition to electrons. Another application might be in radiology, where Stone said the principle of the CPA could be employed to target electromagnetic radiation to a small region within normally opaque human tissue, either for therapeutic or imaging purposes. Theoretically, the CPA should be able to absorb 99.999 percent of the incoming light. Due to experimental limitations, the team's current CPA absorbs 99.4 percent. "But the CPA we built is just a proof of concept," Stone said. "I'm confident we will start to approach the theoretical limit as we build more sophisticated CPAs." Similarly, the team's first CPA is about one centimeter across at the moment, but Stone said that computer simulations have shown how to build one as small as six microns (about one-twentieth the width of an average human hair). It was while explaining the complex physics behind lasers to a visiting professor that Stone first came up with the idea of an anti-laser. When Stone suggested his colleague think about a laser working in reverse in order to help him understand how a conventional laser works, Stone began contemplating whether it was possible to actually build a laser that would work backwards, absorbing light at specific frequencies rather than emitting it. "It went from being a useful thought experiment to having me wondering whether you could really do that," Stone said. "After some research, we found that several physicists had hinted at the concept in books and scientific papers, but no one had ever developed the idea."

Global semiconductor company STMicroelectronics, in cooperation with wireless platforms and semiconductors technology maker ST-Ericsson, has announced the ‘Mobility DisplayPort’ (MYDP) interface standard. According to the company, MYDP is 100% compatible with the DisplayPort digital-protocol standard and enables 1080p/60Hz audio and video (A/V) streaming between smart mobile devices and full-high-definition (1080p) TVs and monitors via the standard connector found in the majority of mobile consumer products such as tablets, smart phones and portable gaming consoles. The MYDP standard also offers concurrent A/V streaming and battery charging of the mobile device via the same standard connector. TMicroelectronics said it has already submitted the proposal for the new MYDP interface standard to VESA (Video Electronics Standards Association) with the aim for it to become the de facto standard for A/V output from all portable electronic devices. MYDP is based on DisplayPort, which is an industry-proven technology and an open and royalty-free VESA digital-display interface standard. DisplayPort is expected to become a major high-definition video interface in the coming years, following the recent declaration of several major consumer electronics manufacturers and computer makers to drop support for the VGA/DVI standard by 2015. Unlike DisplayPort, however, MYDP is designed specifically for mobile devices and equipment, where space is extremely limited. It demands the use of only one connector for data exchange, audio/video output and connecting to other A/V accessories. MYDP therefore maintains the minimum ‘connection footprint’ of the mobile device, removing the need for additional connectors and thereby reducing bill-of-materials costs to deliver uncompressed high-definition video (up to 1080p/60Hz) and audio (up to 7.1 channels at 192,000 samples per second) for direct connection to either a TV or audio system. "Introducing cutting-edge technologies, such as MYDP, is an important element of ST’s strategy to continue advancing as a leader in semiconductor solutions for the consumer market,” said Luigi Mantellassi, Vice President, Home Entertainment and Displays Group, STMicroelectronics. “In close cooperation with ST-Ericsson, STMicroelectronics has co-developed an open and royalty-free technology that will let consumers bring the content from their smart mobile devices into their living rooms.” STMicroelectronics and ST-Ericsson are planning to introduce a series of highly differentiated products to support deployment of the Mobility DisplayPort standard. The first engineering samples of this series are expected in Q3 2011.

The Federal Communications Commission today announced the appointment of six distinguished members to its Technical Advisory Council (TAC). The TAC members consist of leaders in their respective fields who will share ideas and provide recommendations to the Chairman on issues relevant to the Commission’s work and ongoing efforts to harness technological innovations in today’s competitive business landscape. The new members span a range of expertise, including the financial sector, system integrators and leading broadband technology companies. The newly reconstituted TAC held its first meeting in December 2010 and identified a number of areas where FCC action could stimulate the nation’s broadband evolution benefiting both innovation and job creation. These areas include 1) opportunities for greater infrastructure sharing among different industry sectors, such as: smart grid and healthcare; 2) reducing impediments to construction of next generation infrastructure; 3) ensuring that the nation’s Internet continues to evolve competitively to next generation features such as IPv6; and 4) providing incentives for accelerating the retirement of legacy technologies and systems.

The new Technical Advisory Council members are:

· Shahid Ahmed, Network Practice Lead, Accenture: Mr. Ahmed is the global lead for the Wireless Technology Consulting Practice and manages the North American Practice for the Accenture Cisco Business Group, a joint partnership between Cisco and Accenture. Mr. Ahmed has spent more than 15 years helping enterprise and mobile operators worldwide achieve high performance operation.

· General Wesley Clark (U.S. Army, ret.): Serves as Chairman and CEO of Wesley K. Clark and Associates, a strategic consulting firm. General Clark is a senior fellow at UCLA's Burkle Center for International Relations and, in addition, serves as Chairman of Rodman and Renshaw Investment Bank. He built an illustrious military career, retiring at the rank of Four-Star General. General Clark will serve on the TAC as a representative of Tiversa, a leading company in P2P intelligence and security services.

· Paul Mankiewich, Chief Architect, Mobility Solutions, Juniper Networks: Mr. Mankiewich is the former CTO of Americas for Alcatel-Lucent and is now Chief Architect, Mobility Solutions for Juniper Networks. He has received numerous awards for wireless innovation and has published more than 80 papers on the subject.

· John Marinho, Director, Enterprise Mobility Solutions, Dell, Incorporated: In his current role, Mr. Marinho is responsible for bringing end-to-end wireless solutions to market. Prior to his position with Dell, Inc., Mr. Marinho held leadership positions at several companies including Bell Laboratories, where he was the recipient of the Bell Labs President’s Award for Innovation. He holds multiple patents in the field of communications technology.

· Deven Parekh, Managing Director, Insight Venture Partners: Mr. Parekh has held a senior level position with Insight for the past 10 years. He was previously a Principal at Berenson Minella & Company, a New York based merchant banking firm where he served on the firm’s M & A Committee. Prior to Berenson Minella, Mr. Parekh was with The Blackstone Group, where he was involved in both M & A advisory and principal activities. He is a Henry Crown Fellow of the Aspen Institute.

· Russ Gyurek, Office of the CTO, Cisco Systems: Mr. Gyurek leads the Global Technology Leadership Team under Padmasree Warrior, Cisco’s CTO. In this role, Mr. Rgyurek manages multinational, multidisciplinary teams driving broadband policies and technologies for the Internet. Prior to Cisco, he managed advanced technology deployment initiatives for BellSouth.

The World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) this week extended the charter of the HTML Working Group with clear milestones for HTML5, the cornerstone of W3C's Open Web Platform for application development. In May 2011, the Working Group will advance HTML5 to "Last Call," an invitation to communities inside and outside W3C to confirm the technical soundness of the specification. The group will then shift focus to gathering implementation experience. W3C is developing a comprehensive test suite to achieve broad interoperability for the full specification by 2014, the target date for Recommendation. As the Web has become a critical global resource that is transforming all industries, including mobile, television, gaming, publishing, and health care. Forward-thinking industries are turning to the Web as the platform of choice for integrating diverse devices, services, and business models. As the audience for the platform grows, so does the need for interoperability among the many technologies of W3C's Open Web Platform including HTML5, CSS, SVG, WOFF, various APIs, and more. Nearly all of these technologies are already in use, at varying degrees of maturity and implementation. Because HTML5 anchors the Open Web Platform, W3C has started work on a comprehensive test suite to ensure the high levels of interoperability that diverse industries demand. W3C invites test suite contributions from the community, which will enable software implementers to fulfill W3C's implementation criteria and make it easier to create content and applications. The testing effort will play an important role in the timely completion of the standard. According to the W3C, there are currently more than 50 organizations participating in the HTML Working Group, all committed to Royalty-Free licensing under the W3C Patent Policy. There are more than 400 individuals from all over the world in the group, including designers, content authors, accessibility experts, and representatives from browser vendors, authoring tool vendors, telecoms, equipment manufacturers, and other IT companies. "Even as innovation continues, advancing HTML5 to Recommendation provides the entire Web ecosystem with a stable, tested, interoperable standard," said Jeff Jaffe, W3C CEO. "The decision to schedule the HTML5 Last Call for May 2011 was an important step in setting industry expectations. Today we take the next step, announcing 2014 as the target for Recommendation."

NAB Show organizers have announced that CBS Corporation President and CEO Leslie Moonves will participate in a question-and-answer session with NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith April 12 at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. The session will also include a "State of the Broadcast Industry" address by Smith. Topics that will be discussed include broadcasting's remarkable resilience in the face of new competition, growth opportunities for local and network television on new digital devices, and government efforts to reclaim additional television spectrum. Moonves oversees all operations of CBS Corporation, including the CBS Television Network, The CW (a joint venture between CBS Corporation and Warner Bros. Entertainment), CBS Television Stations, CBS Television Studios, CBS Studios International, CBS Television Distribution, Showtime, CBS Radio, CBS Outdoor, Simon & Schuster, CBS Interactive, CBS Consumer Products, CBS Home Entertainment and CBS Films. Prior to the Viacom separation in 2005, Moonves served as Co-President and Co-Chief Operating Officer of Viacom and Chairman of CBS, overseeing all of Viacom's domestic and international broadcast television operations, radio division and outdoor advertising operations. Moonves was promoted to Chairman and CEO of CBS in 2003, and prior to that, was President and Chief Executive Officer, CBS Television, a position he was elevated to in April 1998. He joined CBS in July 1995 as President, CBS Entertainment. Under Moonves' guidance, CBS has maintained its dominance as America's #1 TV network, while the Showtime pay cable network has significantly increased its viewership, subscription fees and critical acclaim. He joined CBS from Warner Bros. Television, where as President, he oversaw a television division that supplied the greatest number of programs to network television for nine consecutive years, culminating in a record-setting 22 series (including "ER," "Friends" and "The Drew Carey Show") on the 1995-96 network schedules. He had been President of Warner Bros. Television since July 1993, when Warner Bros. and Lorimar Television combined operations. From 1989 to 1993, he had been President of Lorimar Television. He joined the company in 1985 as executive in charge of its movies and mini-series, and became head of creative affairs in 1988. "NAB is delighted to have one of the true champions of broadcasting joining us for a conversation at the NAB Show," said Smith. "Leslie Moonves has defined excellence during his 16 year career at CBS, and he remains one of the great ambassadors for local and network television. We look forward to discussing his vision for broadcasting on the multi-platform world of tomorrow." The NAB Show conferences run April 9 – 14, and exhibitsrun April 11 – 14 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada.

According to a new report by market reasearch company, ResearchAndMarkets, global video surveillance market has been experiencing significant growth for the past few years on the back of rising concerns for security and safety across the globe. This, in turn, has resulted in the increased demand for technically advanced surveillance system thereby, creating huge growth opportunities for CCTV manufacturers, operators, and distributors. The market for global CCTV market is projected to reach around US$ 19 Billion by the end of 2013, growing at a CAGR of around 21% since 2011. This growth rate undoubtedly points out that the global market has vast potential for CCTV consumption, especially in countries, where security has become a major area of concern. At the regional level, Asia will gain significant share in the global CCTV market by 2013 end, accounting for about over 34% of the total market, close to Americas and European market. Developing countries, like India and China with huge population base will be the key drivers in the Asian market. Additionally, three major economies Malaysia, Thailand, and Taiwan will be the key drivers for CCTV growth in the region. The analogue CCTV market currently dominates the global CCTV market, however the scenario will change by 2013 end. After that, network IP technology will emerge as the leading CCTV technology.

Global microelectronics industry standards association, JEDEC, today announced that its JC-45 Committee for DRAM Modules intends to form a new Subcommittee focused on the standardization of hybrid memory modules. According to JEDEC, hybrid memory modules are comprised of different types of memory technologies and leverage some of the beneficial characteristics of each, operating as a system instead of as individual components. “I am optimistic about the potential benefits of hybrid modules,” said Chris Socci, Chairman of the new JC-45.6 Subcommittee. “For example, modules with a DRAM interface that also incorporate the non-volatile characteristics of NAND flash could provide new options for data security in a variety of storage and backup systems in the event of power loss. This new family of modules has the potential to help entire segments of the market ‘go green’ by reducing the need for batteries, and may one day extend to all applications that demand memory.” John Kelly, JEDEC President, added, “The new hybrid modules activity in JC-45 is part of an ongoing effort within JEDEC to extend memory technologies to meet the industry’s need for innovative solutions that will meet future demands. I am pleased to welcome all interested companies to participate in the development of open industry standards within JEDEC to help enable and grow the market for these types of modules.” The JC-45.6 Hybrid Modules Subcommittee which is to be chaired by PNY Technologies, Inc. and Cypress Semiconductor will hold its first meeting in Munich, Germany on February 28, 2011. JEDEC invites interested companies worldwide to participate by visiting www.jedec.org or calling 703-907-7560 for more information.

Blackmagic Design would like to congratulate “Alice in Wonderland”, “The Fighter”, “The Kids Are Alright” and “Hereafter” on their 2011 Oscar nominations, awarded by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Blackmagic Design is proud to announce that the color correction for all of these films was done on Blackmagic Design’s DaVinci Resolve non-linear color correction system. The DaVinci Resolve system was used to address a wide range of color correction and 3D grading needs presented by the films. According to the company, DaVinci Resolve is the world’s highest performance color correction solution for Mac OS X and Linux computers. DaVinci Resolve on Linux supports more real time color correction than any other system because it’s not limited by the performance of the computer it’s running on. DaVinci Resolve on Linux eliminates this performance barrier because it’s based on a cluster of computers with high performance GPU cards, so all processing is always real time. DaVinci Resolve has the power of a true real time performance solution so handles complex color grades even when using dozens of primaries, secondaries, Power Windows, multi point tracking, blurs, and more. The new Mac OS X version provides strong performance in a low cost solution. Customers can then easily upgrade from Mac to Linux for supercomputer power to handle 4K resolutions, stereoscopic 3D and real time grading direct from RED raw R3D files can be handled with ease. Used to grade more feature films, television commercials, documentaries, episodic television productions and music videos than any other color grading system, this year’s nominees also join the long list of Oscar-nominated films which have used DaVinci Resolve systems in the past, including last year’s nominees, “Avatar”, “Precious”, “Invictus” and “Coraline”.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., today announced its parent company, Canon Inc., registered a company record of 2,543 new patents in 2010, ranking fourth overall based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office. Marking the 18th consecutive year the Company has ranked among the top five patent holders, the 2,543 patents received in 2010 represent a 15 percent increase from 2009, bringing the Company’s total number of patents since 2000 to more than 22,500. This Marks the first time a Japanese company has exceeded 2,500 patents in a single year. Accoridng to Canon, the comapany's patent portfolio has contributed to the successful introduction of several products in the marketplace today. The Canon PIXMA MG8120 and MG6120 introduced a new light guidance system – a first for personal desktop printers and incorporated Canon’s Full High Definition (HD) Movie Print mode. The Canon imagePRESS C7010VP, which was designed incorporating customer feedback, represents the next installment of the Company’s flagship imagePRESS lineup for the production and graphic arts markets. Additionally, Canon brought to market the CXDI-70C Wireless Digital Radiography (DR) detector which is the Company’s first wireless DR system. “2010 was an exciting and groundbreaking year for Canon as it marked the highest number of patents the Company has ever received in a single year,” said Seymour Liebman, executive vice president, chief administrative officer and general counsel, Canon U.S.A. “These figures are a true testament to Canon’s long-standing legacy and commitment to innovation. Each year, Canon invests nearly ten percent of global revenue into research and development so we are able to continually enhance our current products and develop new technologies that keep us on the cutting edge of innovation.”

The Federal Communications Commission this week took action to help pave the way for the first-ever Presidential alert to be aired across the United States on the Nation’s Emergency Alert System (EAS). The national test will help determine the reliability of the EAS system and its effectiveness in notifying the public of emergencies and potential danger nationwide and regionally. The FCC voted unanimously to adopt a Third Report and Order that sets forth rules that will facilitate the federal government’s efforts to conduct a national EAS test by transmitting a Presidential Alert from Washington, D.C. to television and radio broadcasters, cable systems and satellite service providers who will then deliver the alert to the American public. The test will assist the FCC, in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Weather Service (NWS), with assessing the current system and better determining what improvements need to be made to further strengthen the Nation’s EAS, particularly as broadband technologies continue to emerge. As Next Generation EAS systems become operational over the next few years, they will complement other public alert and warning systems now being developed, including FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and the Commercial Mobile Alert System that will enable consumers to receive alerts through a variety of multi-media platforms on their smart-phones, blackberries and other mobile broadband devices. The national test will require EAS participants to be part of the exercise and to receive and transmit a live code that includes a Presidential alert message to their respective viewers and listeners. The FCC, FEMA and NWS, in coordination with EAS participants, will work together to launch a nationwide EAS Public Education and Awareness Campaign that will include press statements, workshops, regional outreach, and television and radio public service announcements targeted to consumers in general, and more specifically persons with disabilities and seniors, as well as first responders and state, local and tribal governments. The outreach will help ensure that the American public is aware that the national test will be conducted and the benefits of these kinds of public alerts in a real emergency. The agency said that establishing the rules is an important first step in the process and that a date for the National EAS test has yet to be determined.

Digital audio and video technology company, Avid today reported revenues of $195.3 million for the three-month period ended December 31, 2010, compared to $174.7 million for the same period in 2009. The GAAP net loss for the fourth quarter was $571 thousand, or $0.01 per share, compared to a GAAP net loss of $17.9 million, or $0.48 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2009. The GAAP net loss for the fourth quarters of 2010 and 2009 included amortization of intangible assets, stock-based compensation, restructuring and other charges, gains on asset sales, acquisition-related costs and related tax adjustments collectively totaling $14.8 million and $16.5 million, respectively. Excluding these items, non-GAAP net income for the fourth quarter of 2010 was $14.2 million, or $0.37 per share, compared to a non-GAAP net loss of $1.4 million, or $0.04 per share, for the fourth quarter of 2009. Revenues for the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2010 were $678.5 million, compared to revenues of $629.0 million for the same period in 2009. GAAP net loss for 2010 was $37.0 million, or $0.98 per share, compared to a GAAP net loss of $68.4 million, or $1.83 per share, for 2009. GAAP net loss for 2010 and 2009 included amortization of intangible assets, stock-based compensation, restructuring and other charges, gains on asset sales, acquisition-related costs, a legal settlement and related tax adjustments collectively totaling $46.2 million and $55.7 million, respectively. Excluding these items, non-GAAP net income for 2010 was $9.2 million, or $0.24 per share, compared to a non-GAAP net loss of $12.7 million, or $0.34 per share, for 2009. GAAP operating loss for 2010 was $36.2 million including amortization of intangible assets, stock-based compensation, restructuring and other charges, a gain on asset sales, acquisition-related costs and a legal settlement collectively totaling $49.8 million. Excluding these items, our non-GAAP operating profit for 2010 was $13.6 million or 2% of revenue. “We are pleased to end 2010 on a positive note with year-on-year revenue growth for the quarter and for the year,” said Gary Greenfield, chairman and CEO at Avid. “Our return to non-GAAP net income for 2010 is a significant milestone in the transformation of the business and we feel well positioned from a product and financial standpoint as we move into 2011.”

Buy-anywhere electronic versions of books, magazines and newspapers will drive the digital publishing market, according to ABI Research’s new study of Digital Publishing for Portable Devices, which foresees digital content sales growing to nearly $16.5 billion worldwide in 2016, more than five times their 2010 level. Despite the enormous media focus on iPads, Kindles, Nooks and other eReaders, the market for digital content will not be tied to the success or failure of any single one of these devices, according to the new study. “Consumers can purchase digital texts through their PCs or smartphones, in addition to buying directly through their eReaders,” explains Larry Fisher, research director of NextGen, ABI Research’s emerging technologies research incubator. “The variety of applications that allow people to buy this digital content reassures them that they won’t be tied to a single store—or device—for content.” Significant barriers to the growth of digital publishing remain, however, including licensing of back catalog material, the conversion of publishing workflows designed specifically for digital instead of print content, and most importantly for periodicals, pricing. Paying for single issues of magazines and newspapers on the iPad in particular has met with resistance from subscribers accustomed to bargain-priced subscriptions rather than one-off sales. Still, says Fisher, “One-off sales won’t keep publishers from selling content to other device users, and Apple will likely offer some form of subscription service eventually.” Digital text sales will get an extra boost in 2012 as some of these challenges are met and high-quality color eInk readers become widely available. Although such readers are currently on the market, they do not offer the full saturation color that print magazine readers have come to expect. Magazine and newspaper readership will still be greater on LCD-screen readers and tablet computers that can handle video and other graphics requiring a fast refresh rate.

The Seiko Epson Corporation and Sony Corporation today announced they have executed an agreement for Sony (China) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony, to acquire all of the equity of Suzhou Epson Co., Ltd. ("Suzhou Epson"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Epson located in China that is engaged in small- and medium-sized TFT LCD production. According to Epson, as part of its SE15 long-range corporate vision and mid-range business plan, the comapny is completing business structure reforms in its small- and medium-sized TFT LCD business. In implementing these reforms, in April 2010 Epson transferred to the Sony Group certain assets of the small- and medium-sized display front-end process manufacturing-related business operated by its subsidiary, Epson Imaging Devices Corporation ("Epson Imaging"). Epson has now determined that it would also be beneficial to transfer Suzhou Epson, which undertakes the back-end and touch panel assembly processes of Epson Imaging's display business, to the Sony Group. The Sony Group expects that the acquisition of Suzhou Epson will enhance the speed and efficiency of business operations of the Sony Group's small- and medium-sized TFT LCD production through a cohesive operation, which includes integrating manufacturing operations of TFT LCDs from back-end and touch panel assembly processes undertaken by Suzhou Epson to the front-end processes undertaken at Sony Mobile Display Corporation's Tottori Plant located in Japan and other facilities. This joint development project will make use of the strengths of each company to integrate OLED display manufacturing technologies using Epson's inkjet method with TEL's production equipment technology. The two companies will undertake the joint development with the aim of creating next-generation OLED display manufacturing technologies as a total solution package. The purchase price of this contemplated acquisition is 775 million Yuan, which was determined primarily based on Suzhou Epson's inventories corresponding to the orders already placed by the Sony Group as well as the cash and deposits owned by Suzhou Epson. Epson and Sony plan to complete the transfer of all Suzhou Epson equity from the Epson Group to Sony (China) Limited in the first half of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012, subject to the receipt of any necessary government approval.

Global data storage technology company, Imation, has announced that the company has signed a strategic agreement with TDK Corporation to jointly develop and manufacture magnetic tape technologies. Under the agreement, the companies will collaborate on the research and development of future tape formats in the two companies' research centers in the U.S. and Japan, while consolidating tape coating operations to the TDK Group Yamanashi manufacturing facility. "This strategic tape alliance between Imation and TDK brings together two of the world's leading data storage technology companies to jointly develop and manufacture the next generations of advanced tape," said Mark Lucas, president and chief executive officer, Imation. "By leveraging both companies' deep tape knowledge and decades of invention and innovation, we expect to accelerate the development and commercialization of future tape formats. TDK's high-performance dual-layer coating technology, combined with Imation's proprietary advanced servo-writing, bring the industry's best technologies together to enable future multi-terabyte formats." Commenting on the critical role of magnetic tape in global IT infrastructures, Lucas continued, "Because of its superior archival capabilities, low cost per gigabyte, and robust future roadmaps that include rapidly increasing capacities matched with high performance, advanced magnetic tape remains the storage media of choice for archival applications. In fact, most of the world's critical data, whether government, enterprise, or cloud applications, is stored on magnetic tape." Imation also announced that it will discontinue its magnetic tape coating operations at the company's Weatherford, Okla. facility by April 2011, and subsequently close this facility. Approximately 115 positions will be eliminated, the vast majority of which are in manufacturing operations. Imation will maintain its research, development, and engineering (RD&E) facility at the company's world headquarters in Oakdale, Minn. "The decision to exit coating operations at our Weatherford facility is a difficult but necessary step as we continue to improve our operating efficiency and optimize our magnetic tape business as part of our overall strategy," said Lucas. "We are committed to working with our impacted employees, providing financial assistance and outplacement support during the upcoming transition." In conjunction with the shutdown of the facility and the rationalization of certain product lines Imation anticipates recording approximately $50 million of charges for asset impairments, restructuring and other charges of which $45 million is non-cash. The vast majority of these charges will be recognized in the fourth quarter 2010 results. "Imation and TDK - who have partnered successfully together for many years - are now taking the lead to consolidate global manufacturing, while continuing the critical research and development work for future tape formats. Imation remains committed as a leading developer and supplier of magnetic tape worldwide," concluded Lucas.

After launching a private alpha version last October, Web search engine, Qwiki has now been opened up to the general public. Although still in the alpha phase with the service to still be perfected, this is a definitely a different kind of Web searching site. Refusing the title of search engine, instead preferring to be known as a new media format for consumer information, Qwiki essentially draws the delivered information from Wikipedia. In a dedicated search field, the user enters a search request on a precise theme (3 million subjects currently available), opening up an interactive user experience. As an example, a request on France will provide access to an article on Wikipedia (in English) which isn’t displayed in the traditional way but is instead read. A robotic voice has been programmed to provide narration, with this accompanied by a Google Maps location and pictures drawn from various sources. A Content tab allows you to browse through the delivered information in a friendly way. Working in a collaborative manner, Qwiki only requests that the user suggest improvements and which picture or YouTube video should be associated to each page and the quality of the audio. Qwiki can be scored, rated (e-mail, Facebook, Twitter) with a shortcut link offered so that it can be integrated into a Web page. According to the company, by the autumn, Qwiki will also be compatible with Smartphone’s and tablet PC’s. Besides Wikipedia, Qwiki is also looking to draw content from other information sources, with the alpha site only being a demonstration platform for the technology to try and attract additional investment to build on the currently raised 9.5 million dollars. Among the investors we find Eduardo Saverin (co-founder of Facebook), Jawed Karim (co-founder of YouTube) and Pradeep Sindhu (co-founder of Juniper Networks). Qwiki’s technical director is Louis Monier, who co-foundered Qwiki. He is known for being the founder of AltaVista and also had influence at eBay and Google. He was briefly associated with the Cuil search engine which finally died at the end of 2010.

Consumer research from The NPD Group shows a year-over-year 10 percentage point gain in the share of videos rented from kiosks during the third quarter of 2010, as the percentage of videos rented from video stores declined by 13 percentage points and subscription rental share increased just 2 points. Recent research by The NPD Group market research company, reveals that for the first time the share of DVDs and Blu-ray Discs (BDs) rented from Redbox and other standalone kiosks overtook the share of retail store rentals in the U.S. last year. According to NPD's VideoWatch service, Netflix and other subscription services comprised 41 percent of video rental turns in the third quarter of 2010, followed by kiosk rentals at 31 percent, and in-store rentals at 27 percent. The share of videos rented from kiosks increased 10 percentage points since the previous year's third quarter, subscription rental share rose 2 points, and in-store rental share declined by 13 points. "The rental landscape for DVDs and BDs continues to shift, and consumers are obviously responding positively to the perceived value and convenience of kiosks," said Russ Crupnick, entertainment industry analyst for NPD. "Traditional video retailers will no doubt experience even more competition in the coming year, as kiosks appear more frequently in grocery store chains, mass merchandisers, and quick-serve restaurants, and as competition intensifies from an assortment of on-demand rental offerings."

The Federal Communications Commission today adopted a Third Report and Order (Order) and Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) that will significantly advance communications interoperability for the Nation’s first responders. The rules adopted and proposed in today’s Order and FNPRM support the build out of robust, dedicated and secure mobile broadband networks that will enable public safety broadband users to share information, videos, photos and emails across departments and jurisdictions nationwide for day-to-day operations and during large-scale emergencies. According to the FCC, the Order and FNPRM requires all 700 MHz public safety mobile broadband networks to use a common air interface, specifically Long Term Evolution (LTE), to support roaming and interoperable communications and seeks comment on additional rules to enable nationwide interoperability. The FCC’s actions today build on the technical requirements that state and local 700 MHz broadband waiver recipients are already subject to in the early buildout of their regional public safety broadband networks.

The FNPRM seeks public comment on, among other things:

- The architectural vision of the network;
- The effectiveness of open standards;
- Interconnectivity between networks;
- Network robustness and resiliency;
- Security and encryption;
- Coverage and coverage reliability requirements;
- Roaming and priority access between public safety broadband networks; and
- Interference coordination and protection.

The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas was abuzz about a slew of 3-D TVs, but if new research from the MIT Media Lab is any indication, holographic TVs could be close behind. At the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers’ (SPIE) Practical Holography conference in San Francisco the weekend of Jan. 23, members of Michael Bove’s Object-Based Media Group presented a new system that can capture visual information using off-the-shelf electronics, send it over the Internet to a holographic display, and update the image at rates approaching those of feature films. In November, researchers at the University of Arizona made headlines with an experimental holographic-video transmission system that used 16 cameras to capture data and whose display refreshed every two seconds. The new MIT system uses only one data-capture device — the new Kinect camera designed for Microsoft’s Xbox gaming system — and averages about 15 frames per second. Moreover, the MIT researchers didn’t get their hands on a Kinect until the end of December, and only in the week before the conference did they double the system’s frame rate from seven to 15 frames per second. They’re confident that with a little more time, they can boost the rate even higher, to the 24 frames per second of feature films or the 30 frames per second of TV — rates that create the illusion of continuous motion. A standard 3-D movie camera captures light bouncing off of an object at two different angles, one for each eye. But in the real world, light bounces off of objects at an infinite number of angles. Holographic video systems use devices that produce so-called diffraction fringes, fine patterns of light and dark that can bend the light passing through them in predictable ways. A dense enough array of fringe patterns, each bending light in a different direction, can simulate the effect of light bouncing off of a three-dimensional object. The challenge with real-time holographic video is taking video data — in the case of the Kinect, the light intensity of image pixels and, for each of them, a measure of distance from the camera — and, on the fly, converting that data into a set of fringe patterns. The group made the challenge even tougher by limiting themselves to off-the-shelf hardware. In their lab setup, the Kinect feeds data to an ordinary laptop, which relays it over the Internet. At the receiving end, a PC with three commercial graphics processing units — GPUs — computes the diffraction patterns. The one component of the researchers’ experimental system that can’t be bought at an electronics store for a couple hundred dollars is the holographic display itself. It’s the result of decades of research that began with MIT’s Stephen Benton, who built the first holographic video display in the late 1980s. (When Benton died in 2003, Bove’s group inherited the holographic-video project.) The current project uses a display known as the Mark-II, a successor to Benton’s original display that both Benton’s and Bove’s groups helped design. But Bove says that his group is developing a new display that is much more compact, produces larger images, and should also be cheaper to manufacture. “Really, the focus of our work in digital holography — and I think this makes us pretty much unique among the very small community of people in the world even doing holovideo — is that we’re trying to make a consumer product,” Bove says. “So we’ve been saying, ‘How do you make it as cheap as possible — take advantage of hardware and standards and software and everything else that already exists?’ Because that’s the quickest way to bring it to market.” Watch the video.

Global video encoding service provider, Encoding.com, today announced the private beta launch for Vid.ly, the first Universal Video URL service. According to the company, Vid.ly radically simplifies the preparation and delivery of video to all mobile devices and browsers, thus solving the biggest challenge facing publishers of online video. Users only need to publish a short URL provided by Vid.ly for each source video and the service will deliver the optimized video. For content publishers, there is chaos in the video ecosystem with the growing number of devices and lack of standardization across platforms. Vid.ly answers the request, "Can you just take my video and make it work for all phones and browsers?" With Vid.ly, all videos are pre-transcoded to all popular web and mobile formats so that when an end user requests a video, Vid.ly detects his device and serves the correct and optimized video. Publishers can embed the HTML5 code provided by Vid.ly directly into their web pages or Flash players, or can share the provided short URL via SMS, Facebook, Twitter, or other social media outlets. "Already serving over a thousand business customers across many industry verticals, Encoding.com is uniquely positioned to understand the needs and priorities for those publishing video to web and mobile devices," said Jeff Malkin, president of Encoding.com. "Vid.ly ensures that online video can be experienced on ALL devices and browsers, and has solved this complicated issue in a unique and super-simple way for content producers." Beginning January 24, 2011, the free Vid.ly beta program, which includes encoding, storage, and delivery, begins today and is available to the first 1,000 qualified users.

While many technology markets are decelerating following the boom year of 2010, growth in the wireless communications equipment business is actually accelerating in 2011, driven by the transition to 4G wireless standards and the emergence of media tablets, according to IHS iSuppli research. Factory revenue for wireless communications gear in 2011 is projected to reach $302.7 billion, up a solid 20.6 percent from $251.1 billion last year. Growth this year will exceed last year’s climb of 15.1 percent, with no signs of a decline in the years ahead. By 2014, the industry will have added another $100 billion dollars to its coffers, accumulating $413.3 billion worldwide in equipment revenue, as shown in Figure 2. Encompassing a broad array of devices, the wireless communications equipment market includes mobile handsets, mobile infrastructure mobile and fixed wireless broadband access devices, wireless LAN equipment such as routers, cordless phones and handset battery chargers. In the developed world, wireless deployments by carriers currently revolve around 3.5G standards such as evolved high speed packet access (HSPA+). The migration to 4G is already starting, however, and the largest portion of infrastructure capital spending by 2012 will be on the 4G wireless standard known as long term evolution (LTE). In particular, the LTE transition is being used by various nodes of the supply chain to effect changes in company positioning, business relationships or both. For example, companies that had not been able to create a significant position in 3G—due to market tardiness or a focus on other technologies—now are utilizing the transition to modify the status quo, offering LTE chipsets through organic development or outright acquisition. The purchase by Broadcom Corp. of Beecem Communications is one example of a company attempting to alter its current market position during this transition; Beecem is a supplier of chips using a smaller but similar 4G standard known as WiMAX, based on orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA). Samsung Electronics and LG Electronics also are investing heavily on creating their own LTE chip after being unsuccessful in earlier efforts to make 3G chipsets. For these and other semiconductor suppliers as well as infrastructure and device vendors, HSPA+ and LTE represent revenue growth potential, as well as a chance to develop long-term relationships across the ecosystem. The vendors that will win in the transition to 4G will be those that can best realign their core competencies to the new paradigms, forge these relationships, and leverage them, IHS iSuppli research indicates. Within the mobile communications market, wireless handsets and mobile communications infrastructure gear together account for more than 70 percent of overall industry revenues. Mobile handset shipments in 2011 are anticipated to reach 1.42 billion units, up approximately 10 percent from 1.29 billion units last year. Nonetheless, with the handset sector maturing, the industry is looking at mobilizing other types of consumer electronics devices that now have emerged as adjacent markets. These devices include media tablets, netbooks, e-book readers, and portable media players. Because these devices use virtually the same products and solutions employed in the handset market for communications purposes, the wireless value chain now has an opportunity to expand its total available market, with just relatively minor modifications—if at all—needed to be made to existing products. In terms of current volume, the new market for mobilized non-handset devices is driven by notebooks, netbooks and e-book readers. However, the re-emergence of tablets, such as the iPad from Apple Inc., has invigorated the overall wireless communications market and heralds the most promising growth. Shipment of media tablets with embedded wireless wide area networking capability, such as 3G or 4G, are projected to grow to more than 18 million units by 2014, a staggering increase from just 2 million in 2010.

One-Blue, LLC, an independent licensing company formed by consumer electronics industry leaders Cyberlink Corporation, Hitachi Consumer Electronics, Panasonic Corporation, Royal Philips Electronics, Samsung Electronics and Sony Corporation today announced it will launch what the group calls 'a one-stop shop product license' for patents essential to Blu-ray Disc products on April 1st, 2011. One-Blue also announced that Mr. Roel Kramer has been appointed as CEO of One-Blue. Mr. Kramer, who has been the President of the Blu-ray Disc Association since 2007, succeeds Mr. Jerry Rosenthal, who had served as CEO since One-Blue was established in 2009. According to One-Blue, since issuing its call for Blu-ray Disc product patents in October 2009, One-Blue has been working with potential licensors to ensure wide-spread adoption of the license program that One-Blue will administer. As part of this activity, new royalty rates under the licenses were recently announced. The new rates are now US$9.00 for a Blu-ray Disc player and US$12.00 for a Blu-ray Disc recorder; US$0.0975 for a BD-read only video disc, US$0.1075 for a BD-recordable disc and US$0.1350 for a BD-rewritable disc. Other royalty rates can be found on the renewed website www.one-blue.com. “One-Blue has been designed to provide an important service to the entire industry while at the same time stimulating the growth and adoption for Blu-ray Disc™ products,” said Mr. Kramer. “I look forward to working with all of the companies participating in the One-Blue patent pool as we gear up to make the licensing program available in the marketplace by April 2011.” The comapny said any holder of patents essential to optical formats used in Blu-ray Disc products is invited to join the program as a licensor.

Yesterday, the Federal Communications Commission announced that it grants—with conditions and enforceable commitments—approval of the assignment and transfer of control of broadcast, satellite, and other radio licenses from General Electric Company (GE) to Comcast Corporation. The approval will allow GE and Comcast to create a joint venture involving NBC Universal, Inc. (NBCU) and Comcast. According to the Commission, the decision is based on a thorough review of the record, which includes extensive data and voluntary commitments from the applicants, as well as thousands of comments from interested parties and public input received at a public forum held in Chicago. Based on this review, the Commission has determined that granting the application, with certain conditions and contingent upon enforceable commitments, is in the public interest. As part of the merger, Comcast-NBCU will be required to take affirmative steps to foster competition in the video marketplace. In addition, Comcast-NBCU will increase local news coverage to viewers; expand children's programming; enhance the diversity of programming available to Spanish-speaking viewers; offer broadband services to low-income Americans at reduced monthly prices; and provide high-speed broadband to schools, libraries and underserved communities, among other public benefits. More specifically, the conditions imposed by the Commission address potential harms posed by the combination of Comcast, the nation’s largest cable operator and Internet service provider, and NBCU, which owns and develops some of the most valuable television and film content. These targeted conditions and commitments, which generally will remain in effect for seven years, include:

- Ensuring Reasonable Access to Comcast-NBCU Programming for Multichannel Distribution.

- Protecting the Development of Online Competition.

- Access to Comcast’s Distribution Systems.

- Protecting Diversity, Localism, Broadcast and Other Public Interest Concerns.

The Applicants have also made a number of additional voluntary commitments, many of which the Commission has adopted as conditions to the transaction’s approval. Most of these commitments are geared towards enhancing the public interest as a result of the joint venture. These commitments include:

- Broadband Adoption and Deployment.

- Children’s Programming.

- Programming Diversity.

- Public, Educational, and Governmental (“PEG”) Programming.

Facebook, Google and Yahoo, websites with more than one billion combined visits each day, are joining major content delivery networks Akamai and Limelight Networks, and the Internet Society, for the first global-scale trial of the new Internet Protocol, IPv6. On June 8, 2011, dubbed “World IPv6 Day,” participants will enable IPv6 on their main services for 24 hours. With IPv4 addresses running out this year, the industry must act quickly to accelerate full IPv6 adoption or risk increased costs and limited functionality online for Internet users everywhere. The companies are coming together to help motivate organizations across the industry - Internet service providers, hardware manufacturers, operating system vendors and other web companies - to prepare their services for the transition. IPv6, the successor to the protocol currently used on the Internet, was designed in the late 1990s but has not seen deployment on a global scale. With IPv4 address space running out, the industry cannot afford to wait much longer. Vint Cerf, Google’s Chief Internet Evangelist and co-inventor of the TCP/IP protocol stack, commented, “In the short history of the Internet, the transition to IPv6 is one of the most important steps we will take together to protect the Internet as we know it. It’s as if the Internet was originally designed with a limited number of telephone numbers, and we’re soon going to run out.” IPv4 has approximately four billion IP addresses (the sequence of numbers assigned to each Internet-connected device). The explosion in the number of people, devices and web services on the Internet means that IPv4 is running out of space. IPv6, the next-generation Internet protocol, which provides over four billion times more space, will connect the billions of people not connected today and will help ensure the Internet can continue its current growth rate. One of the goals of World IPv6 Day is to expose potential issues under controlled conditions and address them as soon as possible. The vast majority of users should be able to access services as usual, but in rare cases, misconfigured or misbehaving network equipment, particularly in home networks, may impair access to participating websites during the trial. Current estimates are that 0.05% of users may experience such problems, but participating organizations will be working together with operating system manufacturers, home router vendors and ISPs to minimize the number of users affected. Participants will also be working together to provide tools to detect problems and offer suggested fixes in advance of the trial. For more information about World IPv6 Day, how to get involved, and links to useful information for users, visit www.internetsociety.org/worldipv6day.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau has released the agenda for a workshop on VHF/UHF narrowbanding to assist licensees in completing the transition to narrowband radio communications by January 1, 2013. The Commission’s rules have set January 1, 2013 as the deadline for all VHF and UHF Public Safety and Industrial/Business land mobile radio (LMR) systems in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz bands to migrate from 25 kHz channel bandwidth to 12.5 kHz or narrower technology. Timely completion of narrowbanding will ensure more efficient use of spectrum, relieve congestion, and result in increased channel availability for LMR systems. The workshop will provide Public Safety licensees with information regarding the narrowbanding transition path, and will include input from federal agencies, equipment manufacturers, and public safety organizations to help ensure timely compliance with the deadline. In addition to presentations on narrowbanding and mapping, there will be two in-depth panels. The first will focus on how narrowbanding will affect existing VHF/UHF systems. Panelists will provide input on steps licensees can take to facilitate their narrowbanding transition as well the assistance that manufacturers and industry associations can provide individual licensees. Panelists will also discuss how narrowbanding could impact existing systems and how the narrowbanding process will increase spectrum availability. The second will explore funding and budgetary issues related to compliance with the deadline. Representatives from national and state government agencies, associations and organizations will discuss the budgetary process, funding options, and their impact on the upcoming deadline. The workshop will be held on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, from 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305). The workshop will be open to the public; however, admittance will be limited to the seating available. Individuals interested in attending this event must pre-register on-line at http://www.fcc.gov/pshs/event-registration.html, where they will be asked to provide their name, title, organization affiliation, and contact information. Individuals may also contact Deandrea Wilson via phone at 202-418-0703 regarding pre-registration. The deadline for pre-registration is Monday, January 24, 2011.

NTT Communications announced this week that it has expanded the data-transmission capacity of its Global IP Network between the United States and Japan to an industry-leading 400 gigabits per second (Gbps). The new capacity, equivalent to approximately 24,000 channels of digital terrestrial television or about 3.5 centuries’ worth of content in a daily newspaper, confirms the company’s leadership in Tier-1 transpacific IP connectivity. NTT Com’s global IP backbones are connected to fixed and mobile telecom companies, Internet service providers (ISPs), data center operators and content providers. NTT Com said it has expanded bandwidth sevenfold compared to just five years ago, responding quickly to new demand created by the spread of broadband networks and the growing popularity of online video, music, social networking and micro-blogging. The current jump from 300 Gbps to 400 Gbps was achieved in less than one year. NTT Com launched the precursor of its current Global IP Network Service with a 45 megabits per second (Mbps) service in 1997. U.S.-Japan bandwidth was dramatically increased to 1 Gbps when the company acquired Verio and its Tier-1 IP backbone in 2000. NTT Com became the first network provider to measure network-latency variability with a jitter-type service level agreement (SLA) in 2005. The reliability of the NTT Com Global IP Network was demonstrated in December 2006, when network traffic was rerouted with minimal delay following a destructive undersea earthquake off Taiwan. In 2008, the company introduced a traffic-analysis system that monitors network traffic to detect and report traffic anomalies to IP network operators. According to NTT Com, the company looks forward to continually enhancing its Global IP Network for high-quality, high-capacity data transmission services offered 24/7 globally.

IBM and Samsung today announced they will collaborate on basic research into new semiconductor materials, manufacturing processes and other technologies. The agreement calls for the two companies to jointly develop new semiconductor process technology that can be used in a broad range of applications -- from smart phone handsets to communications infrastructure. For the first time, Samsung researchers will join IBM scientists in the Semiconductor Research Alliance at the Albany Nanotech Complex, Albany, N.Y., where researchers will investigate new materials and transistor structures, as well as innovative interconnect and packaging solutions for next-generation technology nodes. The research developments from this joint activity are planned to enable the delivery of industry leading silicon solutions that are optimized for performance, power consumption and size. According to IBM, new process technology developed by the companies is planned to extend leadership in mobile computing as well as other high performance applications. For consumers, a new generation of devices -- smarter, connected and more mobile -- will require essential semiconductor breakthroughs to keep pace with technology trends (i.e. the mobile web, cloud computing,) and users' loftier expectations around performance and reliability. "Collaborative innovation will be critical if the semiconductor industry is to continue driving new forms of consumer electronics and new methods of computing," said Michael Cadigan, general manager, IBM Microelectronics. "That's why we're excited to have Samsung scientists working with us at the most fundamental stages of the R&D process." The agreement also renews IBM and Samsung's joint process development agreement (JDA) to multiple nodes starting at 20nm. IBM and Samsung plan to develop advanced technologies for foundry customers, enabling high-performance, energy-efficient chips at 20nm and beyond. To further enhance the JDA, Samsung’s Semiconductor R&D center will also participate in development contribution.

ARRL, the national association for Amateur Radio has filed a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission documenting ongoing harmful interference and egregious rules violations by Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) systems installed by IBEC, Inc. in Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. The ARRL has requested that the FCC "initiate immediately an enforcement proceeding regarding these BPL systems, and cause them to cease operation until such time as they are each in full compliance with the Commission's Rules." According to ARRL, contrary to earlier representations to the ARRL and to statements in the online BPL database, IBEC's systems in these locations are not universally notching the Amateur bands as is necessary in order to avoid emissions at levels that are likely to cause harmful interference to licensed Amateur Radio stations. In fact, measurements by ARRL staff and confirmed independently show that IBEC systems are not even notching the aeronautical bands that the FCC rules require BPL systems to avoid and are operating at power levels that cause radiation well in excess of the FCC limits. The ARRL even discovered IBEC BPL systems in operation that are not listed in the online BPL database – another clear violation of the FCC rules, which require listing 30 days prior to initiation of service. "While IBEC was cooperative in the early stages of their BPL system development and appeared to understand what was necessary to avoid harmful interference, it appears that corners have been cut in the course of deployment," observed ARRL Chief Executive Officer David Sumner, K1ZZ. "IBEC is not playing by the rules and their systems must cease operation until they are brought into compliance." Measurements taken in the area of Lovingston and Arrington, Virginia show that the system is operating well in excess of maximum radiated emission limits and without necessary notching. Measurements of radiated emissions from an IBEC system in Martinsville, Indiana using power lines owned by the South Central Indiana Rural Electric Membership Cooperative (SCI REMC) gave similar results. IBEC systems were observed operating in Somerset, Pennsylvania and Fairfield, Virginia well above permitted radiated emission levels, despite there being no listing in the online BPL database anywhere in the vicinity of these locations. ARRL General Counsel Christopher D. Imlay, W3KD observed, "The information supplied to the FCC in support of this complaint amply justifies the modifications of the BPL rules urged by ARRL, including the mandatory, full-time notching of all Amateur Radio allocations by BPL systems." This rulemaking proceeding was reopened by the FCC as a belated response to an April 2008 order by the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which ruled in favor of the ARRL in finding that the FCC had failed to comply with the Administrative Procedure Act and had not provided a reasoned justification for some of its decisions in adopting rules for BPL systems.

The Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE), a cross-industry consortium dedicated to creating a consumer-friendly open market for digital content distribution, has announced a series of milestones in the development and availability of UltraViolet. The milestones include a roadmap for introducing UltraViolet content, services and devices to consumers beginning in mid-2011; planned expansion to the United Kingdom and Canada; and the release of technical specifications for evaluation by potential licensees. According to the DECE, UltraViolet will allow consumers to purchase digital content and watch it wherever, whenever. Consumers who purchase UltraViolet entertainment will have an easy and consistent way to watch film and television content across multiple branded platforms, such as computers, connected TVs, game consoles, smartphones and tablets. The UltraViolet name and logo will help identify content, devices and services from a spectrum of familiar entities – including studios, retailers, consumer electronics manufacturers, cable companies, ISPs and other service providers – that will work together. Beginning in mid-2011, DECE Member companies and other UltraViolet licensees are expected to introduce UltraViolet products and services. Initial offerings will gradually expand to include a slate of UltraViolet titles from studios for purchase through a growing roster of retailers, either electronically or as digital copies included with Blu-ray Disc or DVD purchases. Initially, UltraViolet retailers will enable consumers to use downloaded copies on many devices they already own. Additionally, initial streaming services will allow consumers to access their UltraViolet collections via websites or linked devices, like set-top boxes, Internet-connected Blu-ray Disc players, smartphones and tablets. Later in 2011, UltraViolet-optimized media player apps will begin to roll out via software updates to PCs, game consoles and smart mobile devices that consumers already own, as well as on new devices for sale. In early 2012, the first designed-for-UltraViolet consumer electronics devices are expected to become available. These devices will be immediately compatible with UltraViolet; potential offerings include connected Blu-ray Disc players, set-top boxes, Internet TVs and other devices. “Today’s announcement that UltraViolet is ready shows that the entertainment and technology communities have made good on their promise to give the world a new, user-friendly digital standard for collecting movies and TV shows in the digital age,” said Mark Teitell, general manager of DECE. “In the coming months, consumers will hear exciting news from DECE member companies and other UltraViolet licensees about a host of interoperable products and services, ushering in a new era of choice, confidence and freedom in digital entertainment.”

This week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2011, the SD Card Association announced the an important leap in SD bus-interface speeds up to 312 Megabytes per second with its new UHS-II bus-interface specification. This new SD 4.00 specification turns SD memory cards into high-performing video and still camera storage systems exceeding even the most current and demanding high-def recording needs. According to the Association, tripled bus-interface speeds give manufacturers more flexible design options, including low voltage and low power consumption, for large and small SD devices without compromising data transfer rates. Consumers will be able to increase the power and possibility of their mobile phone, recording high-definition video directly onto their UHS-II memory card and backing up data. Well-known SD benefits are heightened with UHS bus interface, providing faster continuous shooting speed for digital still cameras and higher resolution movie recordings in video cameras, including 3D HD. Fully backwards compatible, devices supporting UHS bus interface will accept the billions of existing SD memory cards in the market today. New high-speed interface signals are assigned on the second row of pins on UHS-II SDXC and SDHC memory cards. This new speed option will be available in full-size SDHC and SDXC memory cards and microSDHC and microSDXC form factors and does not change the physical size or shape of the cards. “UHS-II increases SD performance and value and delivers immediate impact on manufacturer innovation and consumer creativity,” said Norm Frentz, chairman of the SD Association. “We’ve tripled bus-interface speeds from last year’s UHS-I development, and we plan to double UHS-II speeds in the future.” The Assoication said the new SD 4.00 specification will be available to members first quater 2011.

The National Association of Broadcasters has announced radio stations can now submit entries for the Association's 2011 Crystal Radio Awards. Established in 1987, the NAB Crystal Radio Awards recognize radio stations for their year-round commitment to service to their communities. To enter, a station must submit a document describing their community service efforts for the past calendar year. Crystal Radio Awards finalists and winners are chosen by judges with broadcast and community service backgrounds. Award winners receive national recognition for community service efforts, roundtrip airfare and hotel accommodations in Washington, D.C. to attend the Celebration of Service to America Awards Gala, two complimentary tickets for the Celebration of Service to America event as well as the opportunity to meet members of Congress, FCC commissioners and broadcast industry leaders. Entry submissions must be received by February 4. The Crystal Radio Awards finalists will be revealed on Monday, March 14. Winners will be announced and the finalists will be honored at the NAB Radio Luncheon. The Luncheon, sponsored by ASCAP, will be held Tuesday, April 12 during the 2011 NAB Show in Las Vegas. Entry information is available on NAB's web site or by calling NAB's Melek Demir at 202-775-3511.

From the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Panasonic today announced a portable High Definition Visual Communications System (Mobile HDVC) that takes advantage of the Verizon Wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network. According to Panasonic, the mobile HDVC solution is flexible and scalable to accommodate multiple display, camera and recording configurations. Through its compact design, high-resolution image quality and broadband data transfer speeds, the system offers business customers increased levels of flexibility and mobility. The mobile HDVC system consists of two setups: one for the remote site and the other for the static location. Each remote site setup comprises a Panasonic display, a Panasonic VC500 HDVC CODEC (the main system unit), a Panasonic HD microphone, a Panasonic Pan/Tilt/Zoom camera, and optional detachable secondary camera and digital video recorder for medical uses. These are connected through the 4G LTE network via an LTE-enabled CradlePoint mobile router. The stationary site includes the same configuration (sans the optional detachable secondary camera and recorder), plus a special router that can handle LTE. The system delivers high-definition visuals with MPEG4-AVC technology and features 360-degree full duplex stereo sound quality, stable connectivity with QoS, and rate control forward error correction. Panasonic said the medical sector is one that may immediately find benefits. With the Panasonic mobile HDVC system, emergency medical technicians can transmit essential visual patient data from a remote location to awaiting teams in the ER so those teams can prepare. Patients with disabilities can have “virtual” appointments with their doctors by simply stepping into an on-site van with a mobile HDVC system. Other potential users may include emergency response teams, who can update central command posts with real-time images in the aftermath of a crisis or natural disaster and lawyers, who can consult with or obtain documents from their clients without the need for travel. According to Verizon, the wireless 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network, launched in December 2010, is the fastest, most advanced network in the United States, providing speeds up to 10 times faster than Verizon Wireless’ 3G network. Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network currently reaches one-third of all Americans, with plans to expand the network to the company’s entire 3G coverage area over the next three years. “Panasonic is proud to team up with Verizon Wireless to deliver new applications for visual communications solutions over the fastest, most advanced wireless network in the United States,” said Bill Taylor, president of Panasonic System Networks Company of America. “The 4G LTE Mobile Broadband network provides the HD Visual Communications System with versatility and flexibility on a portable station to be used on the 4G LTE network.” Mobile HDVC will be highlighted from Jan. 6-9 in Verizon Wireless’ booth (#35216) in the South Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center) at CES. For more information about the LTE Innovation Center and Verizon Wireless’ 4G LTE network, visit www.verizonwireless.com/lte.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit has shot down copyright infringement allegations from Universal Music Group (UMG), affirming an eBay seller's right to resell promotional CDs that he buys from secondhand stores and rejecting UMG's attempt to claim that a sticker on a CD created a license agreement forbidding resale. Troy Augusto, represented by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the law firm Durie Tangri LLP, was sued by UMG for offering promo CDs for auction on eBay. At issue was whether the labels on the CDs, some of which stated that they were "promotional use only, not for sale," trumped Augusto's right to resell the CDs that he bought. Copyright's "first sale" doctrine prevents a copyright owner from restricting further sales or uses of a work once title has passed. In an opinion issued today, the appeals court held: "UMG transferred title to the particular copies of its promotional CDs and cannot maintain an infringement action against Augusto for his subsequent sale of those copies." The court noted that UMG did not maintain control of the CDs once it mailed them out, did not require the recipients to agree to the "conditions" it sought to impose with the not-for-sale label, and did not require return of the CDs if the recipient did not consent. "This ruling frees promotional CDs from the shadow of copyright infringement claims, which is good news for music lovers," said EFF Intellectual Property Director Corynne McSherry. "But it also has broader ramifications. The court flatly rejected the argument that merely slapping a notice on a copyrighted work prevents the work from ever being sold. It eliminates the risk of copyright infringement claims against later recipients -- regardless of whether they paid for the work." Joe Gratz of Durie Tangri, lead counsel for Mr. Augusto added "The Ninth Circuit recognized an important principle: that you can't eliminate consumers' rights just by claiming there's a 'license agreement. Once a copyrighted work is freely given, the copyright holder isn't in charge anymore. The copyright owner can't stop you from selling it or lending it to a friend." Read the full opinion in UMG v. Augusto.

McCarran International Airport and Samsung Electronics America showcased a 100-screen video wall before media and advertisers today at the airport’s D Concourse Rotunda, tipping the hat to delegates of the 2011 International Consumer Electronics Show to be held in Las Vegas Jan. 6-9. Sporting an ultra-thin bezel around each monitor that gives the appearance that the tiled formation is one solid piece, the giant display measures 33 feet by 19 feet and is expected to be the largest-known video wall in a U.S. airport. Samsung and McCarran officials are pursuing this lofty claim with an application to the Guinness Book of World Records. Word from the authority on record-breaking achievement is expected within 60 to 90 days. “McCarran is one of the most technologically driven airports in the aviation industry,” said Director of Aviation Randall H. Walker. “We’re at it again with this landmark digital video wall. Its eye-catching stature allows the airport and advertisers to speak to travelers from all corners of the world, and also presents a unique opportunity to increase revenue." Offering up to four-times the standard high-definition quality, the panoramic display is expected to be an immediate hot spot for advertisers in high-end fashion, jewelry, entertainment, dining, auto and special events. Once the airport’s new Terminal 3 opens in 2012, the video wall is expected to garner even more attention from the ad community due to its location directly above the Terminal 3 tram station. Alliance Airport Advertising, which manages McCarran’s indoor advertising contracts, is largely responsible for solidifying the McCarran-Samsung partnership. Its efforts included drafting plans for the engineering and installation of the final digital video network. Alliance estimates that the video walls will produce an additional $500,000 to $1 million in gross advertising revenue for the airport each year. This display is only one element of the new comprehensive digital video network at McCarran. Four smaller displays are located at the airport’s A, B and C concourses using three to 10 screens each. “Samsung is a world leader in display technology and we saw this as a great opportunity to display our product in a world-class airport that attracts visitors from around the world,” said Doug Albregts, vice president of sales and marketing at Samsung Electronics America. “We are proud to partner with McCarran International Airport to showcase this state-of-the-art digital video display network.”

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted an Order and Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that seeks public comment on whether the role of travelers information stations (TIS) should be expanded beyond sharing noncommercial information of interest to travelers, including broadcast of Amber alerts, public health warnings, terror threat levels, weather reports, and other helpful information. TIS stations serve as a local AM radio communications channel that is diverse and reliable particularly for motorists seeking information and updates on traffic congestion, accidents and weather reports. Expansion of TIS’ role to provide travelers with other types of emergency information and alerts may benefit the public interest not only through redundancy, but particularly during power blackouts when traditional means of communications may be inoperable. A significant number of these stations throughout the country operate on solar-power and/or have battery back-up power systems and would enable them to continue to provide broadcast information to travelers regionally during significant power outages. The Order and NPRM comes as a direct result from petitions filed by the Highway Information Systems, Inc. (HIS), the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), and the American Association of Information Radio Operators (AAIRO) requesting that the FCC expand the role of TIS nationwide by allowing regional broadcasts of more types of potential life-saving emergency information to travelers. Generally, the Order and NPRM seeks public comment on whether the FCC should significantly expand the scope of permitted communications and alerts by local governments on TIS stations and what limits if, in any, should be placed on those noncommercial messages. The FCC is also seeking comment on whether TIS power limits should be modified to reach a larger listening audience in their coverage area and to what extent TIS broadcast locations should be expanded without resulting in harmful interference to the communications of other licensed broadcasters. The deadline for public comments is 30 days after publication in the Federal Register and 45 days after publication in the Federal Register for reply comments. For additional information about the Order and NPRM please contact Eric Ehrenreich, Policy and Licensing Division, FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, at 202-418-1726 or via email: eric.ehrenreich@fcc.gov.

While the consumer electronics industry prepares its wares for the CES Show in Las Vegas, the foundations of a quiet revolution in TV viewing continue to be built, with 21% of all TVs shipped in 2010 forecast to have internet connectivity. According to the DisplaySearch Q4’10 Quarterly TV Design and Features Report, the category is forecast to grow to over 122 million in 2014. Growth of connected TVs was fueled by the Japanese market in 2010 with strong market growth driven by the Eco Points system, and very high penetration of connected TVs, driven by domestic brands’ strategies and by high levels of broadband access. Emerging markets will play a key role in the future growth of this segment, with Eastern Europe forecast to grow from 2.5 million connected TVs shipped in 2010 to over 10 million in 2014. DisplaySearch findings also suggest that 12% of flat panel TVs sold in China in 2010 will have internet capability. It is expected that the connected TV market will diverge, with basic sets carrying enhanced broadcast services such as Hbb.TV and YouView, while the Smart TV segment will enjoy configurable applications, sophisticated search and navigation engines, and advanced user interfaces. Smart TVs are not limited to a specific operating system, and Linux (MeeGo) and Android (Google TV) platforms will be joined by others. Google is working with Sony and Logitech for the launch of Google TV, but expect many more entrants in 2011. While there is no accepted definition for Smart TV, most have a few key features:

- Capable of upgrades and changes to functionality by the consumer, typically by loading applications
- Able to receive content from the open internet, not just within a “walled garden” defined by a portal
- Possesses an advanced user interface or content discovery engine, to permit rapid discovery and selection of content to watch (but not via a browser and typed search terms as in PCs)
- Able to communicate with other networked devices in the home via open standards (e.g. DLNA).

IBM Researchers revealed a previously unknown aspect of key physics inside Racetrack memory -- a new technology design which stands to improve memory capabilities within mobile phones, laptop computers and business-class servers. This new class of memory could enable devices to store much more information - as much as a factor of 100 times greater - while using much less energy than today's designs. The Racetrack memory project -- which started in IBM's Research labs six years ago -- flips the current memory paradigm on its head. Instead of making computers seek out the data it needs - as is the case in traditional computing systems - IBM's Racetrack memory automatically moves data to where it can be used, sliding magnetic bits back and forth along nanowire "racetracks." This technique would allow electronic manufacturers to design a portable device capable of storing all the movies produced worldwide in a given year with room to spare. Digital data is typically stored in magnetic hard disk drives, which are low-cost but slow due to their moving parts, or in solid state memory such as Flash memory, which are faster but more expensive. Racetrack memory aims to combine the best attributes of these two types of devices by storing data as magnetic regions - also called domains - in racetracks just a few tens of nanometers wide. The new understanding, revealed last week in the journal Science, allows the precise control of the placement of these domains, which the IBM team has proven can act as nano-sized data keepers that can not only store at least 100 times more memory than today's techniques, but can be accessed at much greater speeds. By controlling electrical pulses in the device, the scientists can move these domain walls at speeds of hundreds of miles per hour and then stop them precisely at the position needed -- allowing massive amounts of stored information to be accessed in less than a billionth of a second. In short, the IBM scientists were the first to measure the time and distance of domain wall acceleration and deceleration in response to electric current pulses, which is how digital information is moved and processed in Racetrack memory. This not only gives scientists an unprecedented understanding and control over the magnetic movements inside these devices but also advances IBM?s Racetrack memory -- driving it closer to marketplace viability. "We discovered that domain walls don't hit peak acceleration as soon as the current is turned on, and that it takes them exactly the same time and distance to hit peak acceleration as it does to decelerate and eventually come to a stop," said Dr. Stuart Parkin, an IBM Fellow at IBM Research - Almaden. "This was previously undiscovered in part because it was not clear whether the domain walls actually had mass, and how the effects of acceleration and deceleration could exactly compensate one another. Now we know domain walls can be positioned precisely along the racetracks simply by varying the length of the current pulses even though the walls have mass". The details and results of this research effort were reported in the paper titled, "Dynamics of magnetic domain walls under their own inertia," and appeared in the December 24, 2010 issue of Science.

The Sony Corporation has announced that it is developing a new type of E-mount interchangeable lens camcorder for professional use that is equipped with a Super-35mm equivalent large format CMOS sensor. Already a key player in the 35mm digital cinematography business with the "CineAlta" F35 and SRW-9000PL for high-end digital cinema production, Sony has just strengthened its lineup in this category with the recent PMW-F3 announcement. In addition to this, with this new "NXCAM" HD camcorder now (still under development), Sony said it looks to further strengthen its position in the entry-level segment by providing an affordable yet highly capable professional solution for many applications including independent film, music video and corporate communications all looking for the cinematic look. This "NXCAM" HD camcorder under development will be equipped with a Super-35mm equivalent sensor, a widely used film stock size in the film industry that is designed for capturing motion picture. Sony claims that the new sensor will have extraordinary performance in terms of picture quality and sensitivity, and is able to create rich "Bokeh" effect (beautifully defocused image) that is perfect for artistic story-telling in motion picture. Thanks to the adoption of the E-mount interchangeable lens system that is identical to the "α" series NEX-5, 3 and "Handycam" NEX-VG10, the E-mount lenses will be compatible with this new professional camcorder. In addition, a very short flange back distance (the distance between lens mount surface and sensor surface) let various "α" A-mount lenses be mounted via a mount adaptor (LA-EA1). Sony said it is also possible to attach many other lenses using third-party mount adaptors. The recording format for this new HD camcorder will be AVCHD, a widely supported format by many non liner editing software vendors and the same format as HXR-NX5 "NXCAM" camcorder. Sony has also a plan to implement 1080p (60p / 30p / 24p or 50p / 25p) recording modes. (MPEG4-AVC/H.264 compression will be used for these modes.) This new addition to Sony's professional "NXCAM" line will be available in the middle of 2011.

The KA-SAT satellite of Eutelsat Communications has been successfully lofted into orbit by a Proton Breeze M rocket supplied by International Launch Services. Lift-off of Eutelsat's 6.1 ton satellite took place on 26 December at 21.51 GMT (22.51 CET). After a 9-hour 12-minute flight, the launcher released KA-SAT into geosynchronous transfer orbit. According to Eutelsat, acquisition of the satellite's telemetry signal by Eutelsat's control center at the Rambouillet teleport, and the partial deployment of the solar arrays have already been successfully completed. Michel de Rosen, Eutelsat CEO, commented after successful completion of the first satellite maneuvers: "We are delighted to confirm that our KA-SAT satellite is now on its way to 9degrees East, and thank ILS and Khrunichev for this new launch success. KA-SAT will be the cornerstone of a breakthrough infrastructure deployed by Eutelsat for users across Europe and the Mediterranean Basin. By combining a satellite equipped with more than 80 spotbeams and a network of ground stations, this new program will deliver more capacity than any other satellite program deployed worldwide. These new resources will in particular benefit Internet Service Providers, enabling them to extend broadband to consumers and enterprises in areas unserved by terrestrial networks." Built for Eutelsat by Astrium using the Eurostar E3000 platform, KA-SAT represents a new generation of multi-spotbeam satellites. Its revolutionary concept is based on a payload with 82 narrow spotbeams connected to 10 ground stations. This configuration enables frequencies to be reused 20 times and takes total throughput beyond 70 Gbps. The ground network will use ViaSat's SurfBeam technology, similar to the solution already powering broadband connectivity for almost 450,000 satellite homes in North America. The combination of KA-SAT's exceptional capacity and ViaSat's SurfBeam technology will make it possible to deliver Internet connectivity for more than one million homes, at speeds comparable to ADSL. KA-SAT will in particular boost to up to 10 Mbps the speeds of Eutelsat's Tooway consumer broadband service, which has been operated since 2008 by its Skylogic affiliate. Tooway satellite antennas equipped with dual feeds will be able to benefit from broadband connectivity via KA-SAT and broadcast services delivered by satellites located up to 10 degrees from Ka-SAT's 9 degrees East location. By driving down terminal and transmissions costs, KA-SAT will also lower the barrier to entry for VSAT services for connecting enterprises, providing back-up for private networks, facilitating emergency communications and for transport markets. With each spotbeam delivering total capacity of 900 Mbps, shared between the forward and return paths, significant new resources will also be opened for services needing high throughput and quality that include regional television, news gathering and connecting local networks to the Internet backbone. The deployment of the KA-SAT program, both in space and on the ground, will be pursued with three key phases prior to full entry into commercial service. The first phase comprises circularizing the satellite's orbit, with four firings of the apogee motor over the coming seven days. Once the satellite is on station at 9 degrees East, it will undergo a series of in-orbit tests. This will be followed by the final phase of integrated validation of the satellite and ground stations before commercial entry into service, which is planned for end May 2011.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (Bureau) today announced it will hold a workshop on VHF/UHF narrowbanding to assist licensees in completing the transition to narrowband radio communications by January 1, 2013. The Commission’s rules have set January 1, 2013 as the deadline for all VHF and UHF Public Safety and Industrial/Business land mobile radio (LMR) systems in the 150-174 MHz and 421-512 MHz bands to migrate from 25 kHz channel bandwidth to 12.5 kHz or narrower technology. Timely completion of narrowbanding will ensure more efficient use of spectrum, relieve congestion, and result in increased channel availability for LMR systems. The workshop will provide Public Safety and Industrial/Business licensees with information regarding the narrowbanding transition path, and will include input from federal agencies, equipment manufacturers, and public safety organizations to help ensure timely compliance with the deadline across the nation.The Commission will release a complete agenda closer to the event date. The workshop will be open to the public; however, admittance will be limited to the seating available. Individuals interested in attending this event must pre-register on-line at http://www.fcc.gov/pshs/event-registration.html, where they will be asked to provide their name, title, organization affiliation, and contact information. Audio/video coverage of the meeting will be broadcast live with open captioning over the Internet from the FCC's web page at www.fcc.gov/live. The FCC’s webcast is free to the public. Those who watch the live video stream of the event may email event-related questions to livequestions@fcc.gov. Depending on the volume of questions and time constraints, the panel moderators will work to respond to as many questions as possible during the workshop. The event will be held on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, from 1:00 p.m.-4:30 p.m. in the Commission Meeting Room (TW-C305).

The Copyright Board of Canada has issued the Private Copying Tariff 2011. Under the new tariff, the Canadian Private Copying Collective (CPCC) will continue to collect the private copying levy on blank CD-Rs at the same rate since 2008(29¢). As of January 1, 2011 there will no longer be a levy on MiniDiscs. Private copying is the subject of Part VIII of Canada's Copyright Act, the federal statute that sets down the general legal framework for copyright protection in Canada. Copyright is the legal mechanism by which those who create original works, like music, are able to be paid for that work. As copyright holders, creators have a right to control certain uses of their work, and place conditions - like payment - on use by others. These payments take the form of royalties. To illustrate, performance of a song, a record sale or printing a musical score are all events that would trigger a copyright royalty. But unlike a publishing or record deal, private copying cannot by its very nature be managed and accounted for by contract: private copies are made spontaneously by people in the privacy of their own homes. That's why private copying receives special treatment in the legislation. Permission does not have to be sought; private copying is simply permitted. But in exchange, the Act sets up a system to collect and distribute royalties to those with rights in the music that is copied. True to general copyright principles, legislators have ensured that creators and others with copyright in recorded music are able to be paid for use of their work. The Canadian Private Copying Collective is the non-profit agency charged with collecting and distributing private copying royalties. Established in 1999, CPCC is an umbrella organization that represents songwriters, recording artists, music publishers and record companies. These are the groups on whose behalf the royalties are collected. CPCC is not an arm of government. Enforcement of the private copying tariff and advocacy, including representing copyright holders before the Copyright Board, which decides the tariff, are other important functions of CPCC. Read the 2011 CPCC Tariff here

Qualcomm Incorporated this week announced that it has agreed to sell its Lower 700 MHz D and E Block (Channel 55 and 56) unpaired U.S. spectrum licenses to AT&T for $1.925 billion. The sale follows Qualcomm’s previously announced plan to restructure and evaluate strategic options related to the FLO TV business operated by FLO TV Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of Qualcomm. It is expected that the FLO TV business and network will be shut down in March 2011. AT&T announced today that as part of its longer-term 4G network plan, it intends to deploy this spectrum as supplemental downlink, using carrier aggregation technology. This technology is designed to deliver substantial capacity gains by enabling unpaired spectrum to be used in conjunction with paired spectrum. Qualcomm said it is integrating carrier aggregation technology into its chipset roadmap to enable supplemental downlink and intends to market the technology globally. This new technology is expected to create opportunities around the world in markets where unpaired spectrum bands can be made available for wireless operators to use in conjunction with existing paired bands to obtain substantial improvements in their mobile broadband networks. The company plans to take advantage of its experience in broadcast technology to develop LTE multicast technologies that address the rapidly growing demand for high-bandwidth video and other multimedia content. “This is a positive outcome for Qualcomm and our stakeholders,” said Paul Jacobs, chairman and CEO of Qualcomm. “Carrier aggregation, supplemental downlink and LTE multicast technologies are an exciting evolution of next generation wireless systems to economically support increasing consumer demand for mobile TV and other rich media content. We will continue to drive the development and delivery of these new capabilities, which build on our technology leadership and deep experience with 3G, 4G and broadcast technologies.” Completion of the spectrum transaction is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including approval by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission and clearance from the U.S. Department of Justice. Qualcomm and AT&T anticipate closing the sale during the second half of calendar 2011. The proceeds will be received at closing.

Global trends and forecast company ABI Research anticipates that mobile devices may turn out to be the best form factor to bring 3D technology into mainstream markets. By 2015, 3D devices—including smartphones, notebooks, mobile Internet devices, and portable game players—will comprise over 11% of the total mobile devices market. “Emerging 3D technologies for mobile devices do not require the user to wear glasses to view the 3D content,” says senior analyst Victoria Fodale. “While there are still challenges with glasses-free 3D on televisions, is it is possible on smartphones and other mobile devices.” Glasses-free technologies require an optimum viewing distance and a screen size that is better suited for single-viewer applications like those used on mobile devices. And according to Fodale, “Unlike 3D TVs, the mobile category has a fast replacement cycle. This means consumers are more likely to buy a mobile device with 3D in an upgrade purchase much sooner than they would purchase 3D in a larger form factor such as a flat-screened television.” According to ABI, mobile 3D devices will be driven by three key applications: creation of user-generated 3D content by integrated video and still cameras; playback of 3D content; and 3D gaming. Some 3D devices will also support the conversion of 2D content to 3D content. It is still a very early market: in late 2010, notebooks and smartphones are the only mobile device categories that are shipping with 3D capabilities, and most of those have been limited to specific areas, in particular Japan. As glasses-free technologies are refined and gain broader market acceptance, 3D is expected to spread to other regions and mobile device categories, including media tablets and netbooks.

Global standards development agency for the microelectronics industry, JEDEC Solid State Technology Association today announced that it is moving towards publication of the next-generation flash memory standard, Universal Flash Storage (UFS). Major progress achieved at recent JEDEC committee meetings provides visibility on the anticipated UFS interface, which has been designed to be the most advanced specification for flash memory-based storage in mobile devices such as smart phones and tablet computers. Developed to help address the ever-increasing demand for improved device performance, UFS has been designed to initially enable data throughput of 300 megabytes per second (MB/s), and support command queuing features to raise the random read/write speeds. The standard will be finalized for public use within the next three months. An explosion of data-intensive applications for mobile devices is driving the need for versatile storage solutions, and currently available flash storage options might not have the span to match overall system performance planned for future generation platforms. UFS will provide a dramatic change in architecture to increase performance while maintaining the benefits of low power consumption offered by existing solutions such as e•MMCTM. The new standard will be based on a high speed serial interface targeting up to 2.9 gigabits per second (Gbps) with up-scalability to 5.8Gbps. UFS will initially offer three times the interface speed of the prevalent e•MMC interface, which is comparable to serial ATA-2. Moreover, UFS will offer the promise for significant reductions in device power consumption due to a low active power level and a near-zero idle power level. The new standard also will support multiple commands with command queuing features and enabling a multi-thread programming paradigm, unlike conventional flash-based memory cards and embedded flash solutions such as e•MMC, which process one command at a time, limiting random read/write access performance. Speaking from a recent technical committee meeting in San Francisco, Mian Quddus, Chairman of JEDEC’s JC-64 Committee for Flash Memory Modules, noted: “UFS as an industry-wide flash storage standard will address a number of market demands, including faster data access, lower power consumption, and improved performance for flash-based devices, benefiting device designers and consumers alike.” JEDEC will offer an overview of UFS at its 2011 International CES conference program.

Worldwide pre-recorded Blu-ray video disc production is on track to exceed 400 million units in 2010, an increase of nearly 60% compared with 2009, according to a new research report from Futuresource Consulting. When factoring in Sony PS3 titles, overall production volumes are somewhat higher. “Moving forward we expect to see continued expansion in BD video production volumes, with our forecasts indicating that annual global output will reach two billion discs by 2014,” said Michael Boreham, senior consultant, Disc Manufacturing & Storage Media at Futuresource Consulting. The Blu-ray replication industry has seen capacity utilization improve markedly during 2010. “As a result of this output expansion, BD capacity utilization will hit nearly 80% in the US during Q4 of this year and 75% in Europe,” said Boreham. “This is about as high as it can comfortably get, and given the continued market expansion expected over the next few years, which is being driven by growing player ownership and falling disc prices, the industry will need to invest further in 2011 to prevent peak quarter disc shortages. “Production quantities are boosted by the continued pipeline fill and infrastructure requirements. Studios remain committed to maintaining inventory levels to ensure demand can be met in a growing market and retailers are keen to maintain a good level of copy depth in store, to strongly promote BD and eliminate out-of-stocks and lost sales.” Fiona Hoy, market analyst at Futuresource Consulting, added, “Bundling discs with hardware is also a factor, and the launch of 3D BD titles has added extra importance to this. As 3D is ideally suited to the BD delivery platform, this is clearly a long-term opportunity for the industry to further sustain consumer interest in packaged entertainment media. From 2012 we’re going to see very strong demand for 3D content, which will fuel additional growth. A number of bundled exclusives are already boosting demand from this sector, such as Avatar with Panasonic displays or How To Train Your Dragon with Samsung displays.”

Wearable HD camera company GoPro is celebrating the success of its HD HERO line of wearable and gear mountable sports cameras by launching a national TV campaign comprised of 16 action sports commercials, nearly all of which are consumer generated. According to the company, GoPro's television commercials represent a milestone in consumer generated content and demonstrate the professional broadcast quality of GoPro's HD HERO cameras. "The most exciting thing about GoPro's national TV campaign is that the quality of the commercials is so incredible, so professional," says Nicholas Woodman, GoPro's founder and CEO. "We tell people that our cameras make it easy to capture broadcast quality HD video of themselves enjoying their favorite sports and activities, and thanks to these commercials we can now show people at home, on their own HD TVs, just how good a GoPro camera really is." The :30 spots feature GoPro customers enjoying a wide variety of sports from skiing to snowboarding, surfing to race car driving and were shot by the customers, themselves. To further celebrate its national television campaign, GoPro is giving away one of every product they make to one lucky winner, daily. The promotion appears at the end of each television commercial and visitors to GoPro.com can enter daily, no purchase necessary. Click here to watch GoPro's national campaign.

After several quarters of mid-20% year-over-year growth, the pace of global TV shipment growth slowed to 9% Y/Y in Q3’10, according to findings from a recent DisplaySearch forecast report. Shipments of 59.8 million units was a little better than expected, but it was apparent by the end of the quarter that continued sell-through weakness in North America and softer sell-through of TVs during the World Cup in Western Europe have led to increased finished TV set inventory. Most TV technologies, with the exception of the shrinking CRT TV market worldwide, saw positive Y/Y growth. Plasma TV shipments were up by 35% Y/Y to more than 4.8 million units. LCD TV shipments also posted positive growth, rising 22% Y/Y to 45.7 million units. DLP rear projection TVs, which are sold only in North America, posted positive annual growth in Q3’10 as consumers concentrate on value during a painfully slow economic recovery. Despite this, it was the weakest quarter of annual shipment growth since Q4’08 when the global economic crisis significantly reduced global spending on TVs. For the first time, the LCD TV unit shipment volume in emerging regions, which includes Eastern Europe, China, Asia Pacific, Latin America and Middle East and Africa, surpassed that of the traditional developed regions of North America, Japan and Western Europe. The annual growth rate in these emerging markets has been far greater due to lower household penetration and more affordable pricing. Through the first three quarters of 2010, emerging markets have grown in LCD TV shipment volume by at least twice the rate of developed regions. “Consumers are clearly focusing on value right now, which is one of the reasons why plasma TV growth has been so strong this year after a 1.5% global shipment decline in 2009,” noted Hisakazu Torii, Vice President of TV Research for DisplaySearch. Torii added, “LCD TV panel prices remaining so steady during the first half of the year, which translated to relatively stable retail prices, and there was an increase in higher-priced LED-backlit models in the LCD TV mix. Both of those LCD TV trends mean that plasma TVs have enjoyed an increasing price advantage this year at comparable sizes. This resulted in 39% Y/Y plasma TV unit growth in North America during the first three quarters of 2010, while 40” and larger LCD TV units have risen just 16% during the same time period.”

The European Commission has fined six LCD panel producers a total of €648 925 000 for operating a cartel which the Commission claims harmed European buyers of television sets, computers and other products that use the key Liquid Crystal Display component. The six are Samsung Electronics and LG Display of Korea and Taiwanese firms AU Optronics, Chimei InnoLux Corporation, Chunghwa Picture Tubes and HannStar Display Corporation. LCD panels are the main component of thin, flat screens used in televisions, computer monitors and electronic notebooks. During the four years, the companies agreed prices, including price ranges and minimum prices, exchanged information on future production planning, capacity utilisation, pricing and other commercial conditions. The cartel members held monthly multilateral meetings and further bilateral meetings. In total they met around 60 times mainly in hotels in Taiwan for what they called "the Crystal meetings". These agreements had a direct impact on customers in the European Economic Area because the vast majority of televisions, computer monitors and notebooks incorporating those LCD panels and sold in the EEA comes from Asia. Article 101 of the EU Treaty prohibits price-fixing and other practices restrictive of competition. The investigation gathered by the Commission shows that the companies were aware they were breaking competition rules and took steps to conceal the venue and results of the meetings. A document requested everybody "to take care of security/confidentiality matters and to limit written communication" reminding of the DRAM investigation started in 2002. The Commission faced the companies with a Statement of Objections on May 2009 on which they had the opportunity to comment and be heard and after which the Commission reduced the proven duration of the infringement by four months. In setting the level of the fines, the Commission took into account the companies' sales of the products concerned in the EEA, the very serious nature of the infringement, its EEA-wide scope and its duration. Samsung Electronics received full immunity under the Commission's 2002 Leniency Notice, as it brought the cartel to the Commission's attention and provided valuable information to prove the infringement. The fines of the following undertakings were also reduced for their cooperation with the Commission: LG Display (50%), AU Optronics (20%) and Chunghwa Picture Tubes (5%). Besides this reduction LG Display also received a full reduction of fine for its participation in the cartel in 2006, as it was the first company to bring forward evidence showing that the cartel continued after 2005 (so-called "partial immunity"). "Foreign companies, like European ones, need to understand that if they want to do business in Europe they must play fair. The companies concerned knew they were breaking competition rules and took steps to conceal their illegal behaviour. The only understanding we will show is for those that come forward to denounce a cartel and help prove its existence," said Commission Vice President in charge of competition policy Joaquín Almunia.

Technicolor today announced the launch of its 3D Certification program branded “Technicolor Certifi3D”. The certification program is geared towards broadcasters and network service providers with the goal of delivering quality and comfortable 3D experiences to end consumers. According to Technicolor, Certifi3D was created to ensure that 3D material meets minimum quality requirements before it is delivered to consumers. As part of the service, Technicolor evaluates each shot against a set of objective criteria for stereographic reproduction, including a 15-point quality checklist to identify common errors in production which result in suboptimal 3D content. Certifi3D service uses an advanced 3D analysis software tool that was developed by Technicolor’s Research and Innovation team. Utilizing the left and right source masters, the software builds a 3D model in real time giving an accurate pixel count for objects that are too close or too far away from the viewer that would result in discomfort. It also automatically detects and flags conflicts with the edges of the TV screen, another significant source of discomfort for 3D in the home. The company said it will also offer training programs to broadcasters and content creators to help them migrate their production and post-production techniques from traditional television to the three dimensional medium. “Our 3D certification platform allows our stereo technicians to quickly and precisely diagnose many of the issues that create viewer fatigue and discomfort” says Pierre (Pete) Routhier, Technicolor’s Vice President for 3D product strategy and business development. “Our goal in launching the Certifi3D program was to take a proactive approach in support of the industry to ensure a consistent and quality end consumer 3D experience in the home.”

SanDisk, Nikon and Sony announced the joint development of a set of specifications that addresses the future requirements of professional photography and video markets. The three companies proposed the specifications to the CompactFlash Association (CFA), the international standards organization, with the intent to standardize the format. The CompactFlash Association formed a new working group to develop a next-generation memory card. The proposed specifications achieve data transfer rates of up to 500 megabytes per second (MB/sec) (theoretical maximum interface speed) using the PCI Express interface. The increased speeds will enable imaging and video applications that could not be accomplished using the current CompactFlash specifications Parallel ATA (PATA) interface. CF6.0, released in November 2010, offers maximum performance of up to 167MB/sec. The new specifications' faster speeds enable continuous burst shooting of massive RAW images. The enhanced performance also allows users to quickly transfer storage-intensive high-resolution photos and videos from the card to a computer. The specifications combine high-speed data transfer with low power consumption via a power scaling system to extend battery life. According to the companies, in addition to high performance capabilities, the new memory card specifications also meet the future capacity and durability requirements of professional imaging applications. The proposed new format has the potential to extend theoretical maximum capacities beyond two terabytes (TB), making it especially useful for high resolution images and HD video applications. Similar in size to a CompactFlash card, the new format's access control function and durable form factor produce a combination of physical ruggedness and reliability that is indispensable for professional usage models. The current CF5.0 Specification's PATA (parallel ATA) interface delivers up to 133MB/second speeds. Although the PATA interface still has room to increase performance, the serial interface can meet the long-term speed requirements of professional DSLR and video markets. The CompactFlash Association recently approved and announced the CF6.0 specification with a maximum speed of 167MB/second. The CFA's new working group will attempt to establish a roadmap for a card format standard that includes a high-speed serial interface that exceeds the PATA interface speed. "Future professional photography and video applications will require memory cards with faster read/write speeds," said Mr. Shigeto Kanda of Canon and the CFA chairman of the board. "The development of a new high performance card standard with a serial interface will meet the needs of the professional imaging industry for years to come and open the door for exciting new applications." The most recently published CF Specifications, Revision 5.0 (PATA interface) and Revision 6.0, are available for download from the CFA web site at http://www.compactflash.org. CFA members can join the new workgroup for considering the ratification of the new specification.

HDMI Licensing, LLC, the agent responsible for licensing the High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) Specification, has announced the signing of an agreement with the CESI (Chinese Electronics Standardization Institute) Technology Company, Ltd.(CESI Tech) to support and market HDMI technology in China. As part of the agreement, CESI Tech will promote the HDMI standard to Chinese consumer electronics (CE) and IT manufacturers, content providers and professional media. CESI Tech and HDMI Licensing, LLC will also engage in joint activities including in-depth technical and marketing training programs to educate Adopters on issues related to product and marketing compliance with the HDMI standard. CESI Tech is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Chinese Electronics Standardization Institute, whose main responsibilities are consumer electronics product testing and industry standard development. CESI was founded in 1963 as a professional institute for standardization work in the field of electronics and information technology under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), China. CESI Tech plays a significant role in the promotion of innovative industry standards through its accredited laboratories and test centers. “Our collaboration with HDMI Licensing, LLC enables us to support the world’s leading digital interface standard amongst China CE manufacturers and underscores our commitment to accelerate the adoption of technology standards in the spirit of international exchange and cooperation,” said Zhao Xinhua, president of CESI Tech. CESI Tech services include product certification, quality system certification, experiments and tests, measurement and calibration as well as training for the public. “China represents one of the world’s most important markets for manufacturing consumer electronics and with 30% of our Adopter base located in China and growing steadily, this is a market we pay close attention to,” said Steve Venuti, president of HDMI Licensing, LLC. “We are extremely pleased to partner with CESI Tech, a world-renowned agency for research, technology development and advanced testing facilities, to support our Adopters and help accelerate the implementation of the HDMI standard.”

SIRIUS XM Radio, announced today that XM-5, the newest addition to its satellite fleet, has been successfully placed in orbit and was declared ready for service. The new satellite, which was manufactured by Space Systems/Loral, is intended to serve as an in-orbit spare for the existing fleet of SIRIUS and XM satellites. The XM-5 satellite was launched October 14 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan aboard an International Launch Services (ILS) Proton. All orbit raising, deployments, and in orbit test are now successfully completed. The 20-kW satellite will be situated at 85.2 degrees west longitude, over the eastern half of the United States. XM-5 is owned by XM Satellite Radio Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of SIRIUS XM. "XM-5 will help ensure continuous and reliable delivery of service to millions of customers across North America," said Terry Smith, Chief Engineering Officer, SIRIUS XM Radio. "XM-5 is intended to bolster the reliability and longevity of our satellite fleet for many years to come and we congratulate our engineering team, Space Systems/Loral and International Launch Services on a successful launch and implementation." The XM-5 satellite is designed using the SS/L 1300 spacecraft platform, which has a long history of reliability and provides the power and flexibility for a broad range of applications. With the launch of XM-5, there are 63 SS/L-built 1300 satellites currently in orbit.

As mainstream demand for high-definition (HD) movies, games and other entertainment forces down prices of Blu-ray equipment, STMicroelectronics, global supplier of ICs for consumer products, is helping manufacturers respond to market pressures by introducing a new chip enabling smaller, lower-cost Blu-ray players and recorders. The new STODD01 is a power-supply IC capable of generating all the voltages needed to operate the player’s circuitry, including the high-voltage driver for the blue laser supporting HD read/write capabilities. The device integrates three power supplies to drive low-voltage digital ICs, analog circuitry, and the laser driver. Using this chip, designers can eliminate multiple individual power supplies from the printed-circuit board, reducing component costs, design complexity, time to market, and assembly time. The size of the board can also be reduced, which will allow new generations of compact set-top products, game consoles, PC drives and portable HD devices. Each of the STODD01’s power-supply channels benefits from highly efficient switched-mode conversion, which minimizes energy losses and heat generation. The device also provides a true shutdown mode, helping to minimize standby power consumption. This enables HD products to attract buyers by offering enhanced user experiences and low operating costs. A major manufacturer of DVD and Blu-ray equipment has already qualified the STODD01, recognizing the importance of superior power management as the markets for HD equipment evolve.

Major features of STODD01:

- Three power-supply channels for: HD digital ICs; DSPs and RF amplifier; and blue laser driver
- 0.8A buck converter for digital circuitry
- Programmable laser-driver output voltage allows use in battery-powered equipment
- Reset control
- QFN16L 4 x 4mm package

An annual study of consumer video consumption habits and platforms conducted by Frank N. Magid Associates reveals that despite the increased use of alternative video viewing platforms (like video-on-demand, set-top boxes, instant streaming, and mobile apps), the vast majority of consumers intend to continue to maintain their traditional subscriptions with cable, satellite, and telco TV providers. For several years, cable, satellite, and telco TV providers have been working under the assumption that as the use of alternative video viewing platforms grows, consumers will increasingly "cut the cord" and cancel their subscriptions. However, according to Magid's new study, "2010: The New Age of Video Entertainment," consumers using the greatest number of alternative platforms also tend to spend the most money on traditional subscription services. This finding appears to undermine the view that the use of alternative video viewing platforms will compel consumers to become "cord cutters," en masse, by cancelling their television subscriptions. In fact, the study shows that alternative video viewing platforms should be considered additive to traditional subscription television. The study finds forty percent of consumers are watching TV shows and movies online using a laptop or computer at least occasionally, and among those who are not currently watching TV shows or movies this way, another 10 percent express an interest in trying this type of viewing. In contrast, interest surges in viewing this content on a TV screen via a computer connected to the Internet, and it climbs even higher for devices designed specifically to stream content to the TV (such as AppleTV and Roku). In addition, the study indicates that when the availability of Internet content has caused consumers to cancel their traditional service subscriptions, these circumstances remain the exception. Only a very small minority of consumers are even considering cancelling their subscriptions. Only 1% of consumers report that they have cancelled their subscription service in favor of accessing content available on the Internet, and only 2.5% of consumers use Internet content exclusively while purchase and rental of DVDs continue to be most at risk from the growth in use of alternative video viewing platforms. "The average American's capacity to consume video content is impressive," said Maryann Baldwin, Vice President of Magid Media Futures. "As new video viewing platforms such as instant streaming and mobile apps proliferate, consumers are simply adding them to their portfolio of video viewing options. Our research indicates that this is definitely not a zero-sum game -- at least at this point, it appears that traditional subscription services and alternative viewing platforms can coexist with services like 'TV Everywhere' locking in revenues for traditional providers."

The 3D@Home Consortium, a group formed in 2008 with the mission to speed the commercialization of 3D into homes worldwide has launched 3DUniversity.net. According to the group, the website is designed to give consumers an unbiased source of useful information about 3D HDTV, monitors, Blu-ray® players, cell phones, cameras and camcorders and related eyewear, 3D content sources, as well as a database of 3D movies and special events -- everything needed to get a great 3D experience in their homes. The website has consumer-friendly information on how and why it works, history of 3D, as well as more details on topics such as how to best set up your 3D home theatre. A key role for the site is to debunk many of the myths circulating around 3D and give a glimpse into the future of home 3D entertainment. Information on the site was developed with input from all members in the consortium as well as a large group of 3D academics and stereoscopic scientists. Members of 3D@Home include, filmmakers, movie studios, cable and satellite operators, consumer electronics manufacturers, academic institutions, consumer and professional research organizations. “3DUniversity.net takes a wide view of the 3D industry. Starting with how a 3D film or program is made to how it is best displayed,” notes Dan Schinasi, chair of Steering Team 3 (ST3) 3D Promotion, Education and Communication for 3D@Home and product planner for Samsung Electronics of America. “Studies show that consumers have many questions about 3D, ranging from what they can watch to how they connect it. We wanted to provide information to them in a friendly and easy-to-grasp manner, taking advantage of the 24/7 availability and easily-up dateable nature of the internet.” “A critical part of our mission is to educate both professionals and consumers on 3D and how it is made, distributed and displayed,” adds Heidi Hoffman, managing director of 3D@Home Consortium. “3DUniversity.net is one of our first efforts to provide information directly to the consumer. The site will continue to grow with 3D products and 3D movie listings, and an opportunity to opt-in to 3D industry updates. We have made it easy to find listings of 3D movies for the home, 3D theater releases and special events in 3D are conveniently located in one place on 3DUniversity.net.”

The Federal Communications Commission recently took action to extend the deadline for broadcasters, cable companies, satellite radio and television operators, and wireline video service providers to implement the new federal common messaging protocol adopted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the transmission of next generation emergency alerts and warnings to the public. In 2007, the FCC required all Emergency Alert System (EAS) participants to have the capability to receive Common Alerting Protocol (CAP)-formatted EAS messages within 180 days of FEMA’s adoption of a CAP standard (i.e., March 29, 2011).  Under today’s action, the new deadline for all EAS participants to implement the new technology was extended to September 30, 2011. The FCC’s decision to provide an extension was based on public comment and a specific recommendation by the FCC’s Communications Security, Reliability and Interoperability Council (CSRIC), a federal advisory committee, calling for an extension of the CAP-compliance deadline. CSRIC and others from the public cited multiple factors in their call for an extension of the deadline, including the need for more time for the development, testing and potential certification of the new equipment and the costs associated with purchasing the CAP-compliant equipments by EAS participants. The FCC took these factors into consideration and extended the deadline from 180 days to 360 days for EAS participants to come into compliance. James Arden Barnett, Jr., Rear Admiral (ret.) and Chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau, said, “We are pleased to provide the extension to broadcasters and other EAS participants to come into CAP-compliance. It is critical that we get this right from the beginning and after weighing considerable public input calling for an extension, we believe today’s action to do so provides broadcasters and other EAS participants with greater flexibility to meet the technical requirements for delivering next generation emergency alerts to the public.” 

The CompactFlash Association (CFA) announces the CF 6.0 specification, a new CFA logo, and a refreshed website coinciding with the CFA celebrating fifteen years in flash memory card markets. CompactFlash card slots are commonly used in digital cameras, video cameras and other electronic platforms including embedded systems, single board computers, data recorders, heart monitors, defibrillators, and slot machines. According to thr CFA, the CF 6.0 specification adds performance and functionality to the current CF 5.0 specification based on the PATA (Parallel ATA) interface while maintaining backward compatibility. In conjunction with this new specification, CFA has completed a refresh to both the CFA logo and website allowing for improved navigation, future product and market application information along with enhanced member benefits. The CF 6.0 specification includes a new Sanitize Command, Trim Usage Guidelines and an Operating Temperature Range function along with adding Ultra DMA Mode 7 which supports 167 MB/second speed. Today’s highest performance CompactFlash cards are capable of 600x or 90MB/second throughput performance using the current Ultra DMA Mode 6. CF 6.0 Ultra DMA Mode 7 along with 48-bit addressing defined in the CF 5.0 specification enables the development of CompactFlash cards with up to 25% more throughput performance. Mr. Shigeto Kanda of Canon and the CFA chairman of the board said; “As the Chairman of the CompactFlash Association I am pleased to introduce CF 6.0 on CFA’s fifteenth anniversary continuing our tradition of performance leadership. The higher performance provided by Ultra DMA Mode 7 will further increase the capabilities and value of both camcorders and DSLR cameras. These backward compatible improvements of CF 6.0 are expected be a significant benefit within the professional imaging and video markets and will firmly establish CompactFlash cards as the highest performance professional card solution for the foreseeable future.” Companies interested in participating in the definition of new CFA standards are welcome to join the CompactFlash Association and to participate in work groups. More information can be found at http://www.compactflash.org.

According to a recent report from market research company, Quixel, Plasma TV growth outpaced large screen LCDTV increases for the second quarter in a row, and in Q3 2010, even buffered the LCDTV shortfall for the Large Area Display category. Quixel Research’s Q3 2010 USA Large Area Display Report revealed that unit sales for the Plasma TV segment were up 28% from Q2 2010 to Q3 2010 and up 15% from Q3 2009 to Q3 2010. The Plasma TV volume growth, specifically HD 720 Plasma TV, kept the overall LAD market from declining, ending the quarter with flat results of 3.6M unit. The overall LAD market increased 25% from Q3 2009 to Q3 2010. Plasma TV increases were not enough to offset decliners, and overall LAD revenues fell to $3.6B in Q3 2010 or down 6% from Q2 2010. Year to date, the overall LAD category is down 6% when compared to 2009. Plasma TV revenues also grew both quarter-to-quarter and year-to-year. Volume for the 40”+ LCDTV segment was down 10% from Q2 2010 to Q3 2010, but on a brighter note, the LCDTV segment posted a 16% increase in units from Q3 2009 to Q3 2010. LCDTV volume in the 60”+ segments grew 12% from Q2 2010 to Q3 2010 and up 15% in revenues, topping $213M in Q3. “Hopefully it is clear by now that the HD720p segment is not dead yet for larger sized TVs” said Tamaryn Pratt, Quixel Research’s principal. “In Q3, HD 720p unit volume for both 42” and 50” Plasma TV was up 27% and 65% respectively. The 40”+ LCDTV segment took a backseat to Plasma TV in the third quarter due to top branded Plasma models being offered at significantly lower price points. In this recession, consumers care more about keeping money in their wallets than having a higher spec’d product.”

The board of directors of the New York State Broadcasters Association (NYSBA) announced that longtime President Joseph A. Reilly will step down from his position June 30, 2011, following the 49th Annual Executive Conference. Reilly, the Albany-based trade association's first full-time executive director, joined NYSBA in 1979 having headed stations in Albany and neighboring New Jersey, where he launched the careers of television impresario Roger King. He was lured to the Capital Region by the opportunity to serve his peers and shift back and forth between the two worlds of broadcasting and politics. During his lengthy tenure at the NYSBA, Reilly not only helped shore up the finances of the association, but also turned the organization into a strong lobbying voice, securing sales tax relief on broadcast equipment and leading the fight to allow cameras and microphones in the courtroom and in the halls of justice. The Voorheesville resident also greatly enhanced member services, recently launching a Digital Media Leadership Academy, designed to help local radio and TV stations stay competitive in the weakened marketplace. "Throughout my tenure we have never hesitated to invest our resources and influence in many worthy causes and significant issues quite removed from our own purses and parochial interests," said Reilly, emphasizing that free speech matters and the preservation of First Amendment freedoms always took precedence over pocketbook issues. "By doing so, NYSBA has earned considerable respect in civic, educational, governmental, judicial and public service circles as much more than an 'industry lobby.'" As part of the transition process, New York City-based Diversified Search Odgers Berndtson has been retained to find a successor. "It is our expectation to find a successor by July 1, 2011," said Underwood. "We are fortunate that Joe will remain available as a consultant through the end of 2011, thereby helping to provide the association with a smooth and seamless transition."

Nineteen members of the Ethernet Alliance have joined together in one of its most comprehensive, cutting-edge technology demonstrations yet. The multi-technology interoperability demonstration at SC10 – an international conference for high performance computing (HPC), networking and storage – showcases 10 Gigabit, 40 Gigabit and 100 Gigabit Ethernet equipment transmitting data, storage and RDMA traffic across a live network. According to the Alliance, the demonstration will also provide visitors with an inside look at a converged Ethernet network transporting data, storage and RDMA traffic utilizing traditional TCP/IP and new IEEE 802.1 Data Center Bridging (DCB) protocols. RDMA over Ethernet protocols – iWARP and RoCE – will be demonstrated with MPI applications showing real-world usage and benchmarking tools exhibiting throughput and latency of interprocessor communication. Storage over Ethernet protocols – FCoE and iSCSI – will use SCSI I/O generation tools to measure throughput and latency. Technology experts will be on-site to address questions and offer educational materials. The Ethernet Alliance said it is pleased to be able to provide a realistic network demonstration featuring equipment from: Amphenol, Broadcom, Brocade, Chelsio Communications, CommScope, Cisco Systems, Dell, Emulex, Force10 Networks, Fulcrum Microsystems, Intel, Ixia, JDSU, Mellanox, NetApp, Panduit, Spirent, and Volex. Leading the testing set-up is The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), an independent provider of broad-based testing and standards conformance services for the networking industry. "We are pleased to work closely with the Ethernet Alliance, as technical lead, in order to demonstrate product interoperability at SC10,” commented Jeff Lapak, Senior Manager Ethernet technologies, University of New Hampshire – Interoperability Laboratory. “Our goal is to improve technology and networking, fostering both new product innovation and the development of practical products that work seamlessly together." SC10 runs November 15-18 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.M

NAB FASTROAD this week announced the release of an interim report on field testing of digital single frequency network (SFN) technology for FM in-band/on-channel (IBOC) digital radio. Single frequency networks utilize on-channel digital boosters to improve FM IBOC digital radio coverage. These boosters, strategically located within the coverage area of a radio station, transmit only the digital portion of the hybrid IBOC signal. The approach to digital booster development being undertaken by iBiquity is aimed at a booster design that is interoperable among the various transmission equipment manufacturers. The technology is backwards-compatible with existing receivers and supportable by existing FM IBOC broadcast products, such as exciters, through upgrading. The technical report just released describes interim field testing of a single frequency network using experimental broadcast stations WD2XAB and WD2XAB-1, located near Baltimore, MD. Additional testing is currently underway in the Boston, MA radio market. The work has been undertaken by iBiquity Digital Corporation, developers of the HD Radio IBOC system used by U.S. broadcasters to transition to digital radio, and is being co-funded by iBiquity and NAB FASTROAD. The full text of the interim report as well as information on the NAB FASTROAD technology advocacy program are available at www.NABFASTROAD.org.

The Department of Justice today announced a civil settlement with Hewlett- Packard Company (HP) for alleged E-rate fraud, following an extensive investigation by the Federal Communications Commission and DOJ. The E-rate program, which funds Internet connections in schools and libraries, has brought Internet connectivity to virtually every classroom in the country. Acting on tips from whistleblowers, the FCC and the DOJ investigated allegations that contractors working with HP and other companies lavished gifts on Dallas Independent School District and Houston Independent School District personnel in order to get contracts that included some $17 million in HP equipment. Meals and entertainment -- including trips on a yacht and tickets to the 2004 Super Bowl -- were provided by the contractors to get inside information and win contracts that were supposed to be awarded through a competitive bidding process. “Broadband is key to our children’s 21st century education,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. “That’s why one of the FCC’s top priorities is making sure E-rate works to benefit students and libraries. Today’s settlement shows the extensive efforts of the FCC and DOJ to protect the E-rate program from waste, fraud, and abuse, and to deter misconduct in the future.” As part of the settlement, HP has agreed to pay the government $16.25 million, most of which will be returned to the E-rate program. In addition, the FCC has negotiated and will oversee a compliance agreement with HP that will ensure that the company plays by the rules in the future. “The FCC’s compliance agreement with HP ensures that HP will train its employees thoroughly on the FCC’s gift and other E-Rate rules, and provides for audits of HP’s E-Rate business,” said Austin Schlick, General Counsel of the FCC. “If HP fails to monitor its E-Rate activities closely and abide by E-Rate Program requirements, it will face substantial penalties.” The FCC said it has already taken steps to guard against misconduct of this nature. In September the FCC adopted an Order that bolsters and clarifies the agency’s prohibition against E-rate applicants soliciting or receiving gifts, and against service providers offering or providing gifts. The FCC also codified additional rules to ensure a fair and competitive bidding process. “We continue to be vigilant in our management and oversight to prevent any activities that undermine the integrity of the E-rate program” said Sharon Gillett, Chief of the FCC’s Wireline Bureau. “The FCC will do all it can to ensure that E-rate funds are not diverted from their purpose of increasing educational opportunities.” For more on the settlement, visit http://www.justice.gov/.

The NAB Show and United States Geospatial Intelligence Foundation (USGIF) announced they will present a one-day workshop on Wednesday, December 1, that will unite broadcasters with government and military professionals to discuss the challenges of the transition to digital television and how this relates to professionals in the government sector. Participants will have the opportunity to network and develop new business relationships while applying the lessons learned from the digital TV transition to the government and military's ongoing transition to digital technologies. Titled "Mastering the Transition to Digital," the workshop will include presentations from Bob Seidel (CBS vice president of Engineering and Advanced Technology), Jim Kutzner (chief engineer, PBS) and Gary Nadler (general manager of Telecommunications & Affiliate Services, ABC TV Network), as well as panel discussions featuring government and broadcast professionals. Panelists will examine the demand for high-quality video standards in the government and military sectors, as well as the challenges of using digital technologies over traditional analog techniques. Additionally, multiple case studies will be presented by the NAB Show and USGIF that will examine lessons learned from the digital transition, managing video content in a modern broadcast facility and the digital workflow process. "Mastering the Transition to Digital" will be held on December 1 from 8:00 - 5:00 at NAB headquarters in Washington, DC. For additional workshop information, and to register online, visit http://www.nabshow.com/2011/industry_resources/mtd.asp

A trend that started with personal video recorders is once again transforming the video industry, as consumers demand greater flexibility and convenience in acquiring entertainment content. According to the latest data from market intelligence research company In-Stat, on-demand viewing of TV programs and movies in the U.S. will generate $10 billion dollars in “On Demand” video annual revenue. Revenue from retail video disc sales and rentals will be in decline, with no leveling in sight. Overall, there will be three growing on demand video revenue streams:

• Transaction- Video-on-Demand (T-VOD) encompasses online TV rentals, pay-TV VOD rentals and pay-per-view
• Subscription VOD (S-VOD) includes online video subscription services, premium TV channels, as well as free VOD with a pay-TV service
• Electronic Sell-Through (EST) covers the purchase of TV and movie content, independent of subsequent content delivery methods.

3D, once seen as an interesting novelty, is quickly becoming an important part of our lives, both as a new form of entertainment and an important adjunct to many industries, according to top executives speaking at last week's conference, Paul Kagan's 3D Media Markets, Presented by Panasonic. Organized and moderated by veteran analyst Paul Kagan, renowned for his extraordinary insights into and understanding of the complexities of the media industries, Kagan brought together top executives from the worlds of entertainment, advertising and finance, to discuss and debate the growing influence and market potential for 3D technologies. It was highlighted by keynote addresses by DreamWorks Animation CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Avatar Producer, Jon Landau, and RealD Chief Executive, Michael V. Lewis. In addition, attendees heard from top executives from such companies as CBS Sports, Comcast, DirecTV, ESPN, and NVIDIA. The 3D revolution, which recently began with motion pictures, is now spreading to television. According to Mr. Landau, the growing popularity of 3D on TV is causing the feature film industry to redouble its efforts to create even better 3D productions for the big screen. "In less than 20 years, anything presented digitally in public forums will be presented in 3D," Mr. Katzenberg said, who also noted that in 2010, six of the top 10 movies are in 3D. By year's end, it will be eight of the top 12, he said. Major television programmers including CBS, DirecTV, Discovery Communications, and ESPN presented their visions for and development of dedicated 3D channels. Ken Aagaard of CBS Sports, which recently shot the U.S. Open Tennis tournament in 3D, noted that once company executives saw 3D, they were deeply impressed. "We were amazed at the buy rates for 3D versions of the Masters and auto racing," added Comcast Senior Vice President, Mark Hess. According to Panasonic, the company has made a major commitment to 3D, both in terms of offering a wide range of consumer displays; the world's first professional, handheld 3D camera; and through a major programming commitment with DirecTV, helping to create America's first full-time 3D channel – n3D, Powered by Panasonic. According to Panasonic Vice President, Jeff Cove, that commitment will fuel not just increased entertainment opportunities, but in addition, these new tools will help open up 3D to a wide range of other uses, including improving education, helping find recoverable oil and gas deposits more efficiently, cutting development costs in the automobile industry, and improving the accuracy of surgical procedures.

The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), Japan's public management organization that promotes research and development on energy and environmental technologies, and Hitachi Global Storage Technologies, have jointly developed basic technologies for microwave magnetic recording which are expected to dramatically expand the recording density of HDD and validate magnetic recording experimentally. Used in large-scale database systems, personal computers, hard disc recorders and digital recording equipment for business and consumers, hard disk drives (HDD) have become a crucial component in today's society. Given the growing amount of information stored by data centers, power consumption has become an issue that needs to be addressed. For this reason, technology to increase the density and capacity of HDD has received much attention as a means of developing energy-saving IT equipment. In recent years, the development of microwave-assisted recording which utilizes a recording density of 1 Tbit/inch or more is advancing as a next-generation perpendicular magnetic recording technology. Microwave-assisted recording is a magnetic recording system which uses the magnetic resonant effect to ease the local reversal of recording media magnetization. Until recently, the principles and effects of microwave-assisted recording were demonstrated only through computer simulation, although there have been some reports that verified the reversal of magnetization of magnetic materials by applying a microwave generated from external equipment. In microwave-assisted magnetic recording, a high-frequency magnetic field is applied to a microscopic region of a recording media in order to make the writing of magnetic information easy. NEDO and Hitachi, Ltd. today announced the development of a magnetic head-mountable spin torque oscillator which can generate a high-frequency magnetic field. During testing of the new spin torque oscillator device, data writing of magnetic information onto recording media has been validated experimentally. There have been several published reports related to the effects of microwave assist using an external microwave generator. The verification of magnetic data rewriting using a magnetic head-mountable tiny oscillator at this time indicates that practical use of microwave-assisted recording can be expected in the near future. According to NEDO, the research results show that microwave-assisted recording is a feasible technology both in principle as well as experimentally. In addition, by using microwave-assisted recording, it was confirmed through computer simulation that a recording density of 3 Tbits/inch is feasible. Details regarding NEDO’s results will be presented at the 55th Annual Conference on Magnetism and Magnetic Materials (55th MMM Conference) to be held in Atlanta, Georgia on November 14-18, 2010.

The Wireless Gigabit Alliance (WiGig Alliance), the organization advancing the worldwide adoption and use of 60 GHz wireless technology, and the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA), an industry leader in global display standards, today announced a cooperative agreement to define the next generation standard wireless display technology. According to the organizations, the ability to connect PCs and handhelds to monitors, projectors and HDTVs wirelessly is highly desired among consumers and IT users. The WiGig-VESA collaboration will deliver a wireless display capability with image quality and I/O experience equal to that of wired interfaces. This agreement will spur the development of a new ecosystem consisting of interoperable wireless display products, providing an effective wireless alternative to cables, docking stations and adapters. “WiGig technology is a perfect match for DisplayPort since it provides the multi-gigabit bandwidth, packet architecture and bi-directional I/O capabilities needed to support the DisplayPort v1.2 feature set and beyond,” said Bruce Montag, VESA chairman. “Wireless DisplayPort will enable new connectivity options in a wide range of devices, from lower-power handhelds to tablets, notebooks, monitors, projectors and HDTVs. We are thrilled to begin defining the specification and certification program for wireless DisplayPort products.” VESA and the WiGig Alliance said the two will share technology expertise and specifications to develop the new multi-gigabit wireless DisplayPort capabilities. A certification program for wireless DisplayPort products will be developed in parallel. A date of completion for the new standard was not announced.

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced Panasonic, Philips, Sony and TDK will be honored with the 62nd annual Technology & Engineering Emmy Award during the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) for their contributions to the Blue Laser Optical Systems for Consumer Playback. According to NATAS, the development of the blue laser optical systems was fundamental for the distribution and recording of full HD content on optical discs at consumer price levels. Since its introduction in 2006, over 1400 million Blu-ray pre-recorded discs, 188 million Blu-ray recordable/rewritable discs, 50 million Blu-ray players & recorders, 41 million PlayStation 3 units and over 25 million Blu-ray PC readers & writers have been produced. In anticipation of the high-definition television (HDTV) market adoption - Panasonic, Philips and Sony started working on a blue laser optical system in 1997. In 2000 the companies joined forces and initiated the Blu-ray Disc Founders in 2002, followed in 2004 by the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), in which all industry key stakeholders participated to successfully launch a worldwide standard for high definition content distribution. High storage capacity, new replication technology, advanced audio and video codecs, web connectivity and interactivity and new authoring systems were key innovations for Blu-ray Disc. In addition to this, a recording system using recordable discs is another important technology of the Blu-ray Disc format. It allows consumers to record HD broadcasting programs in their home. It also provides high capacity storage for PC and professional usage. Since the early age of Blu-ray standardization, Panasonic, Philips, Sony and TDK as optical media manufacturers have been working on the development of recordable Blu-ray discs. "Sony began development of blue laser optical technology in the late 1990s, realized the world's first high definition recording on 20GB optical media by using blue-violet laser, and has contributed greatly to the continuous development of the Blu-ray Disc format and the business by releasing a wide variety of Blu-ray Disc devices," said Jun Yonemitsu, Chief Distinguished Researcher and Deputy Senior General Manager of Home Entertainment Development Div., Sony Corporation. "We would like to thank the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) and everyone who worked together to make the format a success." "Panasonic is proud to have developed so many of the key technologies introduced in the Blu-ray Disc format. These are not only optical disc technologies, such as Dual Layer 50GB discs, but also leading-edge audio visual technologies such as video compression, authoring and 3D", said Shunji O'hara Executive Engineer, Corporate R&D, Panasonic Corporation. "It is a great pleasure to see consumers around the world enjoying an advanced AV lifestyle with Blu-ray Disc devices." The four companies will accept the Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences at the award ceremony on January 6th 2011 during the CES in Las Vegas - Nevada.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today released the first two of its new FCC Staff Working Papers. This agency-wide research paper series replaces all of the earlier working paper series that had been issued by individual bureaus and offices. It is intended to encourage staff research that furthers the “expert” function of the agency and builds agency intellectual capital. This active research program is managed by the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis (OSP). The first paper in this series is “Transformative Choices: A Review of 70 Years of FCC Decisions” by Sherille Ismail, a Senior Attorney in OSP. The paper presents a historical review of a series of pivotal FCC decisions that helped shape today’s communications landscape. It finds that there have been a number of successful efforts by the FCC, before and after the 1970s, to promote new entrants, especially in the markets for commercial radio, cable television, telephone equipment, and direct broadcast satellites. The second paper is “Maximum Impact for Minimum Subsidy: Reverse Auctions for Universal Access in Chile and India,” by Irene Wu, Acting Chief Data Officer for the International Bureau. Dr. Wu argues that government funding for universal service and broadband support programs could be quicker and more efficient if the FCC were to use reverse auctions (also called “minimum subsidy auctions”) to support those programs. Toward that end, she examines the implementation of such auctions in the last 15 years in Chile and India. The full text of both working papers is available at http://www.fcc.gov/papers/.

The 1394 Trade Association this week officially marked its 15th anniversary this month, with a reception and presentation during the fourth quarter general meetings in Taipei, Taiwan. The worldwide organization is dedicated to the advancement of the IEEE 1394 (FireWire) standard. The 1394TA recently celebrated its 15th year of promoting 1394 and its one billionth 1394 port shipped. FireWire is used today in mass-market computer, entertainment, and professional products, and in a wide range of specialty applications such as music, defense, aerospace, industrial, and robotics products. As part of the anniversary, the Trade Association issued a list of significant milestones for FireWire and its adoption during the 15-year history of the organization, including the official introduction of 1394a-2000, 1394b-2002, and 1394-2008. Other notable events include the following:

- Fall 1994, 1394 Trade Association founded;
- Jan. 1995, FireWire wins the 1995 Comdex award as the “most significant new technology” for the year;
- CES 2000 – First major Consumer Electronics exhibit attracts thousands of visitors;
- in 2003 came the decision by Lockheed Martin to use 1394b in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter;
- fall 2004, first exhibit by the 1394TA at the CEDIA (Custom Electronics Design and Installation Association);
- spring 2005, the Federal Communications Commission mandates that FireWire be available in all set top boxes;
- in 2006, the first 1394 Chipset is Space-Qualified by Ball Aerospace;
- winter 2007, at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) conference in Anaheim, 1394 emerges as the interface of choice for professional audio systems;
- at the annual VISION Show in Stuttgart in 2007, FireWire emerges as the predominant interface of choice in industrial camera/vision system applications;
- in the spring of 2008, the Trade Association announced that more than one billion 1394 ports had now shipped in consumer, computer, industrial and other FireWire-equipped products;
- autumn 2008, the official introduction of the 1394-Automotive standard for in-vehicle infotainment, safety and other applications;
- summer 2009, 1394b (FireWire 800) in the Apple MacBook;
- autumn 2009, DAP demonstrates the first high speed S3200 3.2 Gigabit IEEE 1394b FireWire system-on-a-chip solution at VISION 2009 in Stuttgart, Germany.

A new international coalition, led by MovieLabs, CableLabs®, Comcast and Rovi Corporation, today announced the launch of the Entertainment Identifier Registry (EIDR), a non-profit global independent registry that provides a uniform approach to cataloging movies, television shows, and other commercial audio/video assets with unique identifiers (IDs). Backed by a broad group of industry players, including Deluxe, Universal Pictures, Neustar, Paramount Pictures, Sonic Solutions, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Walt Disney Pictures, Warner Bros. Entertainment, Motion Picture Association of America, Inc., Civolution, Vobile, INA (L’institut national de l’audiovisuel) and others, the registry is set up as an industry resource to help streamline digital commerce and simplify consumer transactions. According to the group, Each year, millions of new entertainment assets from many sources and distribution channels are being added to the massive amount of content available in the marketplace. With the growth of digital and other alternative distribution channels, keeping track of all of these content products, especially videos, is becoming an increasingly complex task for many businesses in the entertainment supply chain. EIDR has been developed to address a critical need for a universal ID system for all types of audio/video assets in the entertainment industry, making it easier for businesses to search, track rights and report revenue based on an assets’ unique ID. The expected results are increased accuracy of information flowing to consumers, and lower cost and more efficient back-office processes. Members of EIDR will have open access to the registry and/or be able to supply their content to the registry for identification. For content distributors, access to unique IDs will help eliminate confusion between assets with same name or different cuts of the same video, helping to ensure that the right products are being distributed to the consumer. For content producers, the ability to register all of their assets will help simplify their post-production process and potentially lead to greater distribution of their products. Other companies in the supply chain can benefit from a streamlined communication process between their suppliers and distributors. The IDs within EIDR will function similarly to UPC codes that are used to identify physical packaged goods and the ISBN code for books. The registry will catalog and assign a single, unique unit of identification to movies and TV assets — from entire movies down to clips and composites — and can be used for both physical and digital video media that are part of the movie and television supply chain. “A standard, low-cost approach for content ID is needed as the industry continues to move towards providing consumers with access to content anywhere, anytime and on any device,” said Dr. Paul Liao, president and CEO of CableLabs. “EIDR will help our members deliver content to their subscribers through their video initiatives, including TV Everywhere.” The consortium said it is actively looking to expand with new partners and participants internationally.

International media and entertainment tracking company Media Control GfK announced today the release of its Third Quarter Home Video Retail Sales Report. According to Media Control GfK International research, based on actual point-of-sale data, third quarter retail sales of combined DVD/Blu-ray units increased from the previous second quarter (+) 8.8% in Western Europe/Japan. Leading key retail markets included Germany/Austria/Switzerland, Sweden and the UK. "We observe this quarter-to-quarter growth as a positive sign of recovery for the home entertainment retail markets, and anticipate a strong fourth quarter will help offset year-to-date declines" said Brad Hackley, President of Media Control GfK, USA. Year-over-year third quarter sales volume of combined DVD/Blu-ray units were down (-) 3.8% in Western Europe/Japan. The Blu-ray format continued its double-digit growth trajectory with unit sales volume up (+) 67.6%, from last year.

The Wi-Fi Alliance today announced that it has made an important leap in connecting devices anywhere, anytime - with or without a traditional network available - and has begun certifying products capable of making device-to-device connections, designating those products Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct. According to the Alliance, portable content like photos, videos and music are taking center stage in the digital consumer experience. The new Wi-Fi Direct devices meet an important consumer need: directly connecting devices for applications such as content sharing, synching, printing, and gaming anywhere with ease. Wi-Fi Direct-certified devices can connect with older Wi-Fi CERTIFIED devices, enabling a vast range of devices already in use to connect with products implementing Wi-Fi Direct from the certification program's inception. Wi-Fi Direct devices include a push-button set up mechanism, employ the latest WPA2TM security protections, and bring typical Wi-Fi throughput and range. Wi-Fi Direct-certified devices can support Wi-Fi CERTIFIED n technology as well as older forms of Wi-Fi. The first products to be designated Wi-Fi CERTIFIED Wi-Fi Direct, and which form the test suite for the certification program are:

- Atheros XSPAN Dual-band 802.11n PCIe Mini Card (AR928x)
- Broadcom BCM43224 Dual-Band 802.11n 2x2 MIMO PCIe Half Mini Card
- Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6200
- Ralink MIMObility 802.11n 2x2 PCIe Half Mini Card
- Realtek RTL8192CE-VA4 HM92C00 PCIe Mini Card

Two former executives of consumer and commercial electronics company Panasonic were inducted into the Consumer Electronics Association's (CEA) prestigious "Consumer Electronics Hall of Fame" this week in ceremonies held at the CEA Industry Forum in San Francisco, CA. The CE Hall of Fame, created in 2000, honors consumer electronics industry leaders who have made fundamental contributions to the products and services that improve consumers' lives and are a vital part of our nation and its economy. Hall of Fame inductees include inventors, executives, engineers, retailers and journalists who are selected annually by an independent panel of industry judges. Inducted as part of the CE Hall of Fame "Class of 2010" were Richard Kraft, Panasonic Corporation of North America's former president and chief operating officer and the first American to hold that position, and Dr. Larry Weber, founder of plasma display panel developer Plasmaco, which was later purchased by Panasonic but which Dr. Weber continued to lead as president. Mr. Kraft helped usher in the era of high-definition television in the U.S., and led the way in encouraging local manufacturing and R&D investment in North America among Asian electronics companies. A gifted technologist and communicator, Kraft rose to become the first U.S. president and chief operating officer of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Corporation. Under Kraft's leadership, Panasonic expanded its North American manufacturing and R&D operations, especially in digital TV and cable, revitalizing the company and positioning it for HDTV leadership. A member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Mr. Kraft holds 13 U.S. patents for television electronics. Dr. Weber is credited with bringing a number of key plasma display technologies to the CE industry including the energy recovery sustain circuit which cut power consumption by as much as half. Dr. Weber was a founder of Plasmaco in 1987, which initially manufactured small monochrome displays featuring his energy recovery sustain circuit. A longtime believer in the technology, Dr. Weber's work on Plasma display efficiency and his later efforts in 1994 towards creating a color plasma display are believed to have kept the plasma industry alive in the face of tough competition. The industry then took notice of plasma display technology, as well as plasma's impressive contrast ratio provided by one of Dr. Weber's key inventions, and in 1996 Plasmaco became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Panasonic. Dr. Weber continues to work on plasma displays today and has published more than 40 papers, and holds 15 patents on plasma displays -- including those for the energy recovery sustain circuit and the high contrast ratio method. "Panasonic has a long history of ground-breaking innovation and leadership that has been the cornerstone for the growth of the consumer electronics industry," said Joseph M. Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Panasonic Corporation of North America. "The induction of Mr. Kraft and Dr. Weber into the CE Hall of Fame underscores our company's long history of industry leadership. On behalf of the all of our employees, we congratulate Richard and Larry on this well deserved honor and thank and applaud them for their significant contributions to Panasonic's leadership position in the industry."

The Federal Communications Commission today announced the formation of the Technological Advisory Council. The Council, comprised of a diverse array of leading technical experts, will help the Commission to identify important areas of innovation and develop informed technology policies supporting America’s competitiveness and job creation in the global economy. “I’m pleased to announce that the FCC has formed a new Technological Advisory Council, comprised of some of the leading technology and business leaders in our country,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. “Under the excellent leadership of Tom Wheeler, these experts will provide counsel on using spectrum and other communications technologies to drive job creation and economic growth, generating concrete ideas, and acting as a spur to FCC to action.” Tom Wheeler, Managing Director, Core Capital Partners, will serve as Chairman of the Council. Mr. Wheeler previously served as the CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association and has founded multiple companies offering cable, video and voice communications services. Doug Sicker, Chief Technologist of the FCC, will work with the TAC Chairman in developing its work program. Walter Johnston, Chief of the Electromagnetic Compatibility Division, will serve as the Designated Federal Officer. Julius Knapp, Chief of the Office of Engineering and Technology will serve as the Alternate Designated Federal Officer. The TAC will consider and advise the Commission on a variety of topics, many of which will build on the ideas and recommendations in the National Broadband Plan, such as how broadband communications can be part of the solution for the delivery and cost containment of health care, for energy and environmental conservation, for education innovation and in the creation of jobs. Other topics may include the evolution of broadband networks and devices and their implications, spectrum management, research and development in broadband and other communications areas, and how to promote innovation and investment. The first meeting of the Council will be November 4th, 2010, from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Commission Meeting Room, 445 12th Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. The Council will discuss organizational matters, be briefed on key technical issues facing the Commission, and will work to define the issues that the Council will address. The public is invited to attend.

Motion picture industry services and technologies provider Deluxe Entertainment Services Group today announced the signing of a multi-year, exclusive worldwide 35mm film print services agreement with Universal Studios that includes Focus Features. "We are thrilled to have concluded this agreement with Universal," said Cyril Drabinsky, President and CEO of Deluxe. "We are ready to meet Universal's day and date film deliveries which remain a critical component of the theatrical release schedule," adds Drabinsky. According to Drabinsky, the deal leverages the worldwide box office success of Universal's film slate with Deluxe, the world's largest processor of film for the motion picture industry. It follows last week's grand opening of a digital intermediate suite by Deluxe's subsidiary EFILM at the Universal Studios lot, bringing together EFILM's premiere digital intermediate color timing services with Universal's award winning sound mixing studios. Deluxe's high volume processing and printing laboratories in North America are in Hollywood and Toronto, and strategically located internationally in London, Rome, Barcelona and Sydney. Deluxe expects to process approximately 5 billion feet of film in 2011.

IEEE, the world’s largest technical professional association for the advancement of technology, this week announced the ratification of the IEEE 1901 Broadband over Power Line (BPL) standard, which promises to be a key enabling technology for a wide range of applications including smart energy, transportation and Local Area Networks (LANs) in both the home and the enterprise. According to the association, networking products that fully comply with IEEE 1901 will deliver data rates in excess of 500 Mbps in LAN applications. In first-mile/last-mile applications, IEEE 1901-compliant devices will achieve ranges of up to 1500 m. The technology specified by IEEE 1901 uses advanced modulation techniques to transmit data over standard AC power lines of any voltage at transmission frequencies of less than 100 MHz. "More than 94 corporations, trade associations and universities contributed to the standard's evolution through the IEEE 1901 Working Group," said Jean-Philippe Faure, Chair, IEEE 1901 Working Group, "to create the world's most innovative, mature and unified BPL standard." Although IEEE 1901 has been widely recognized as the standard that will enable universal communications in Smart Grid applications, it will also have significant impact in other applications such as informaton and entertainment delivery to airplanes, trains and other mass transit vehicles as well as data delivery while charging electric vehicles. In the home, PLC will complement wireless LANs by providing a link through walls and other RF impediments as well as over distances beyond the normal range of wireless networks allowing wireless to complete the communication link over the last few meters. IEEE said 1901 will also benefit utilities, service providers, and consumer electronics companies - anyone with a stake in smart grid technologies - as well as smart-meter providers and home appliance manufacturers. "The IEEE 1901 standard will have a significant impact on communications technology in the home, the enterprise and on the factory floor, because it brings power-line networking into parity with wireless networks in terms of speed, and offers the considerable advantage of penetrating walls and other structures that obstruct RF radiation, said Judy Gorman, Managing Director, IEEE Standards Association. "Hybrid wireless/power-line networks successfully address all the remaining problems of wireless LANs and - unlike wired LANs - do not require a dedicated wired infrastructure."

3D TV is now readily available in retail, but the uptake among consumers has been limited by high prices and lack of content. However, according to a recent report from DisplaySearch, with falling prices, increased content availability, and improvements in technology all expected, there will be tremendous growth in 3D TV shipments over the next few years. DisplaySearch forecasts that 3.2 million 3D TVs will be shipped in 2010, with growth to over 90 million in 2014. Based on this forecast, 3D will grow from 2% of all flat panel TVs shipped in 2010, to 41% in 2014. "While TV manufacturers have bold plans and a lot of new products, consumers remain cautious, consumers have been told that 3D TV is the future, but there still remains a huge price jump and little 3D content to watch." said Paul Gray, Director of TV Electronics Research. "North American consumers in particular appear to be playing a waiting game," noted Paul Gagnon, Director of North America TV Research. "Set makers have trained consumers to expect rapid price falls for new technology, and consumers seem happy to wait a little." As a result, DisplaySearch forecasts that 3D shipments in North America will be just under 1.6 million this year. The report results also found that sales of 3D glasses in Western Europe remain low, with most countries failing to achieve 1:1 sales of glasses to sets. "This is particularly disappointing," noted Gray, "A healthy level would be closer to two pairs of 3D glasses per TV, so it’s clear that these sets at best are being chosen for future-proofing, and at worst it’s an indication that consumers cannot buy a premium set without 3D." Nevertheless, 3D is a feature that set makers are determined to develop. 3D product choice is expanding fast with increased product launch plans and more set makers adding 3D. Rapidly expanding product offerings and 3D TV set prices have led DisplaySearch to increase its forecast for 3D in later years, with an anticipated 90 million sets being shipped in 2014. "TV manufacturers strongly believe in 3D and are driving its cost downward, but its value to consumers relies strongly on the availability of quality material to watch," Gray concluded.

The Eastman Kodak Company today issued the following statement in connection with a news release issued by the White House naming ten eminent researchers as recipients of the National Medal of Science, and three individuals, including retired Kodak researcher Steven J. Sasson, as one of three recipients of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest honors bestowed by the United States government on scientists, engineers and inventors. The National Medal of Science was established by the 86th Congress in 1959 as a Presidential Award to be given to individuals "deserving of special recognition by reason of their outstanding contributions to knowledge in the physical, biological, mathematical, or engineering sciences." In 1980 Congress expanded this recognition to include the social and behavioral sciences. Eastman Kodak Company Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Antonio M. Perez, noted, "On behalf of Eastman Kodak Company, I am proud and delighted to congratulate Steve Sasson on being selected to receive the National Medal of Technology and Innovation, this nation's highest honor for scientists, engineers, and inventors. Steve's groundbreaking invention of the digital camera in 1975 unleashed the power of digital imaging for the benefit of the world. His foundational work led directly to a series of life-enriching advances in many fields beyond photography, such as medicine and exploration. I congratulate him and the entire research staff at Kodak for their work in making digital imaging a reality.” A Committee of 12 scientists and engineers is appointed by the President to evaluate the nominees for the Award. Since its establishment, the National Medal of Science has been awarded to 441 distinguished scientists and engineers whose careers spanned decades of research and development. The recipients database from 1962 to the present can be searched at http://www.nsf.gov/od/nms/recipients.cfm.

The Federal Communications Commission today issued a Third Report and Order and Order on Reconsideration (Third R&O) to promote innovation and consumer choice in the video device marketplace. Recommended in the National Broadband Plan, the rules adopted in the Order promote the statutory goal of creating a competitive retail market for devices that can access cable video services. The Commission takes these steps as an interim measure while it considers new rules that would allow consumers to buy smart video devices that can access all multichannel video programming services, enabling them to change service providers without replacing their video devices. The overwhelming majority of digital cable subscribers currently lease set-top boxes from their cable providers. Although the CableCARD regime has made it possible for manufacturers to develop innovative devices that consumers can buy to access cable services, its full potential has not yet been realized. The National Broadband Plan indicated that these devices promote broadband adoption and use because they enable consumers to merge Internet-delivered content with cable services. The Plan identified discrete problems that have hindered the consumer experience with retail devices and therefore restrained the development of a retail market. In April 2010, the Commission issued a Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that proposed solutions to remove the obstacles that have hindered a vibrant retail market for CableCARD devices. Adoption of the Third R&O specifically remedies the CableCARD regime’s shortcomings identified in the Fourth Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking by:

(1) ensuring that retail devices have access to all video programming that is prescheduled by the programming provider;

(2) making CableCARD pricing and billing more transparent;

(3) streamlining CableCARD installations; and

(4) streamlining requirements for manufacturers who build CableCARD devices.

Furthering the company's push in the connected television space, Sony today introduced Sony Internet TV, powered by Google TV. According to Sony, it is the world's first television giving viewers the ability to watch HDTV, enjoy apps, and browse the Internet seamlessly on one device. Built on the Android platform, Internet TV runs the Google Chrome browser and includes an Intel Atom processor and built-in Wi-Fi offering the ability to quickly search across Internet and television content for access to entertainment and information. Available in 24", 32", 40" and 46" televisions as well as a stand-alone Blu-ray disc player, the models also feature Dual View, allowing users to watch television while tweeting about what they're watching, checking their fantasy football scores, or finding related content on the web. The models feature Sony's premium streaming service "Video On Demand powered by Qriocity™" as well as pre-installed apps including CNBC, Napster, NBA, Netflix, Pandora®, Twitter, and YouTube™ as well as he ability to bookmark content for easy access and add applications from the Android™ Market (coming in early 2011). Sony said the intuitive hand-held RF QWERTY keypad remote incorporating an optical mouse makes it easy to navigate content, type in search terms, and control the TV's user interface. Additionally, select mobile devices such as an Android phone, can control the TV with an app that will be available for download from the Android Market later this fall. "We are very proud to be the pioneers of this new entertainment category by delivering the world's first true Internet TV experience," said Bob Ishida, senior vice president, corporate executive, and president of Home Entertainment Business Group, Sony Corporation. "Sony Internet TV creates value by introducing new and compelling ways to enjoy a variety of content." Sony Internet TV and the Sony Internet TV Blu-ray Disc Player are currently on pre-sale at SonyStyle online store and BestBuy. They will be available for purchase at Sony Style on October 16 and at Best Buy shortly after.

According to a recent report by DRAMeXchange, USB 3.0 will turn to the mainstream transfer interface in 2011 and gradually replace USB 2.0. However, to do so, the cost in chipset and related components must decrease as well as continued positive support from chip makers Intel and AMD. From technology side, USB3.0 can achieve two-way transmission through 2 pairs SDP, providing as much as 900 milliampere (mA), equipping with intelligent power management. The theoretical raw bandwidth gap between USB 3.0 and USB 2.0 will be around 10 times while transfer speed will be faster by 5 times. That is, USB 3.0 is the perfect solution for those potential demands for HD multi-media and large file transferring since it can reduce the transferring time significantly. DRAMeXchange expects USB3.0 application will trigger the strong shipment growth momentum in 2011. From the "Host" side, current mainstream USB 3.0 host controller vendor is still Renesas (former known as NEC). High-end motherboard or desktop products are still the main target in 2010 along with below 10% USB 3.0 penetration rate for notebook. However, DRAMeXchange believes that USB 3.0 penetration will be significantly raised if USB 3.0 penetration in notebook can be pulled up since notebook shipment has accounted around 60% of total PC shipment. According to DRAMeXchange, 2011 new models will be equipped with USB 3.0 with the aggressive attitude from Taiwanese vendors and price cut from Renesas. At the meantime, Intel announced to put USB 3.0 in the new platform reference design in IDF. DRAMeXchange expects USB 3.0 penetration in system products will be more mature and penetration will be raised up given the supportive help from CPU vendors. From the application side in UFD, the USB 3.0 UFD capacity is expected to be pulled up to 8GB from 4GB in 2011 while transfer speed will be around double or triple of USB 2.0 UFD. With better cost/performance and higher capacity (500GB will become the mainstream spec in 2011), portable HDD are aimed by consumers that since demand for large-size files and high-definition multimedia will be triggered. DRAMeXchange expects the replacement effect is positive toward NAND Flash consumption and USB 3.0 will be the spotlight in UFD and portable HDD industry.

Sales of Blu-ray players, excluding gaming systems such as Sony's PS3, are expected to total nearly 24m units this year across the three key growth regions (USA, Europe and Japan), according to a new Blu-ray and DVD Hardware Performance report from Futuresource Consulting. “Last year’s crucial Q4 period accounted for nearly half of all BD players that were sold globally in 2009, and the upward trend is continuing, with our projections showing in excess of 80% unit growth across this year,” says Jack Wetherill, Research Consultant at Futuresource. “This view is based on inputs from a wide range of companies operating in the global Blu-ray hardware business, including vendors, retailers and component suppliers, and forms part of our ongoing research in this area.” All eyes will again be on Q4, with Futuresource predicting sales in excess of 11 million units in that quarter alone, a healthy year-on-year growth that will continue to drive BD into the mass market. “Sales of HD-capable and 3D-capable TVs, coupled with dramatic reductions in BD player prices are continuing to fuel interest,” Wetherill continues. “Add to that the burgeoning 3D Blu-ray market segment, and we’ll see the format continue to gather momentum in all major markets across the globe.” At least 10% of all Blu-ray devices shipped this year are expected to offer 3D playback, rising to more than 25% in 2011. By 2014, nearly 40% of homes across the three key regions - Western Europe, the USA and Japan - will own a 3D Blu-ray player, recorder or home theatre. According to Futuresource, looking forward to at least the next five years, when factoring in the rise of 3D and its associated technologies, there is clearly a long-term opportunity for the industry to further sustain consumer interest in Blu-ray.

Sony this week announced the commercialization of two new "Exmor R" back-illuminated CMOS image sensors with improved photographic performance including significantly high sensitivity and low noise. In addition, Sony said the company will launch two new lens modules equipped with these image sensors, which also include the smallest and thinnest model for mobile phones. This is also the first time that "Exmor R" is commercialized for the use in mobile phones. According to Sony, "IMX081PQ" is world's first type 1/2.8 back-illuminated CMOS image sensor which realizes 16.41 effective megapixel resolution, and adopts the industry's smallest unit pixel size of 1.12μm. "IMX105PQ" is a type 1/3.2 back-illuminated CMOS image sensor which realizes 8.13 effective megapixel resolutions for higher sensitivity and adopts a unit pixel size of 1.4μm. By embedding these highly sensitive sensors into mobile phones, including those without camera flash, users can capture high quality photos and videos even in low light settings. The comapany said it plans to commercialize "IU081F" and "IU105F2" compact auto-focus lens modules which include the two new "Exmor R" back-illuminated CMOS image sensors. These down-sized modules are suitable and efficient for mobile phones with relatively limited space and are equipped with high performance lens which maximize the image sensors' respective performances. "IU081F" is the industry's smallest and thinnest auto-focus lens module (W10.5 X D10.5 X H7.9mm) and is equipped with the 16.41 effective megapixel CMOS image sensor. "IU105F2" adopts the 8.13 effective megapixel CMOS image sensor, and belongs in the industry's smallest and thinnest size class (W8.5 X D8.5 X H5.67mm). Through its proprietary fine pixel fabrication process technology, Sony said it will proactively continue the development of "Exmor R" which adopts the 1.12μm unit pixel size for mobile phones. Accordingly, Sony aims to address customer demand by providing appropriately small lens modules especially for smartphones with large displays and limited space for components. The new units are expected to be available for shipment early 2011.

The Marconi Society has announced that the 2010 Marconi Prize will be awarded to Adobe Systems founders John E. Warnock and Charles M. Geschke. The two visionary business leaders and technological innovators together helped fundamentally transform the world of print communications from a manual, mechanical process to a digital work flow. The Marconi Prize, awarded annually by the Marconi Society, is considered the highest honor specifically devoted to the field of communications and information science. It was established by the daughter of Guglielmo Marconi in 1974 to recognize living scientists whose work in the field of communications and information technology has advanced the social, economic and cultural improvement of all humanity. Over the years, the award has been given to a “Who’s Who” list of Internet and telecommunications giants, however Geschke and Warnock’s recognition signals the evolving nature of what defines communication technology. Geschke and Warnock met in the late-70s in Silicon Valley and worked together at the legendary Xerox PARC, where their similar backgrounds and philosophies helped forged a close bond. While there, they developed software they felt had tremendous potential, but couldn’t convince Xerox to include it among the firm’s commercial products. They left to form their own company, Adobe Systems, with funding from Bill Hambrecht, one of Silicon Valley’s most visionary investors. Their first product, PostScript, attracted the attention of technology’s heavy hitters. By the end of 1985, the market had embraced the software, which fundamentally improved the cost, productivity and efficiency of the graphic arts, printing and publishing businesses. Adobe went on to create programs that have become household names: Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, InDesign, Premiere, and Flash, among others. Charles Geschke retired from active management as president of Adobe in 2000. John Warnock stepped aside as CEO in 2000 and retired in early 2001. Today Geschke and Warnock are co-chairmen of the board. "Geschke and Warnock's leadership of Adobe has been, and still is today, characterized by technical progress coupled with social responsibility,” noted James Massey, a Marconi Fellow who chaired the Marconi Prize Winner Selection Committee. “Adobe is always near the top in rankings of a 'good place to work' and 'environmental concern'. They emphasized service of Adobe to the community. In winning the Marconi Prize, their entrepreneurial leadership was as important as their extraordinary scientific achievements." The 2010 Marconi Prize will be awarded at an awards ceremony that takes place October 15th at the Rosewood Sand Hill in Menlo Park. For information about the awards dinner and the Marconi Symposium which precedes it (in which Geschke and Warnock will be panelists) go to: www.marconisociety.org

With more than 5,000 3D cinema screens in the US, an estimated two million or more 3D HDTVs expected to be sold this year, and 12 3D HDTV television channels debuting in 2010, the 3D consumer market is well on the way to reaching critical mass, and with it, dramatic new opportunities for advertisers are opening up, according to Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, Chief Technology Officer at Panasonic. Speaking last week at the seventh annual Advertising Week in New York, the company's technology head cited research from major universities and corporations throughout the world that indicate consumers retain information they glean from 3D cinema and television advertising at a much higher rate than from standard two-dimensional counterparts. "Coupled with the reduced cost and new ease of 3D production thanks to Panasonic's professional 3D camcorder and editing equipment and the availability of class-leading 3D stock footage, companies that create commercials in 3D will experience a dramatic surge in product awareness, interest and buy-in," said Mr. Tsuyuzaki. Mr. Tsuyuzaki cited as an example one such study that puts retention of a 3D commercial spot at up to eight times that of a standard commercial message. For print media, he noted that studies show that consumers spend up to 2.5 times as long perusing an ad in 3D versus a 2D version. To help commercial producers get up and running quickly, Mr. Tsuyuzaki pointed to the existence of companies like Hollywood's BlackLight Films as a key source of quality 3D content ranging from original production to motion picture licensing as well as Panasonic's eco-system of 3D products, including the world's first handheld professional 3D camcorder that records to SD Memory Cards, priced thousands of dollars less than previous 3D recording setups, which traditionally have required bulky rigs, multiple cameras, and precise mirror arrays. "The 3D revolution has ingrained itself in the desires of today's consumer," Mr. Tsuyuzaki continued. "Now is the time for the advertising community to take advantage of a technology that is cost-effective and stunning, one that will add extraordinary additional value to your clients' products." All of these key 3D topics and others affecting advertising production and placement will be discussed at famed media analyst Paul Kagan's conference on 3D Media Markets, to be held Oct. 27th at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The conference, sponsored by Panasonic to help broaden understanding of the fast-growing 3D medium, features such industry luminaries as Avatar producer Jon Landau and DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg. For more information on the conference, visit www.pkworldmedia.com.

As part of Google’s initiative to make the web faster, over the past few months the company has released a number of tools to help site owners speed up their website including an extension to evaluate the performance of web pages and a set of closure tools to help build rich web applications with fully optimized JavaScript code. However, according to the search giant, as it evaluated progress, the company continued to notice a single component of web pages is consistently responsible for the majority of the latency on pages across the web: images. Most of the common image formats on the web today were established over a decade ago and are based on technology from around that time. A team of engineers at Google decided to figure out if there was a way to further compress lossy images like JPEG to make them load faster, while still preserving quality and resolution. As part of this effort, Google is releasing a developer preview of a new image format, WebP, that promises to significantly reduce the byte size of photos on the web, allowing web sites to load faster than before. Images and photos make up about 65% of the bytes transmitted per web page today. They can significantly slow down a user’s web experience, especially on bandwidth-constrained networks such as a mobile network. Images on the web consist primarily of lossy formats such as JPEG, and to a lesser extent lossless formats such as PNG and GIF. The team focused on improving compression of the lossy images, which constitute the larger percentage of images on the web today. To improve on the compression that JPEG provides, the team used an image compressor based on the VP8 codec that Google open-sourced in May 2010. They then applied the techniques from VP8 video intra frame coding to push the envelope in still image coding. The team also adapted a very lightweight container based on RIFF. While this container format contributes a minimal overhead of only 20 bytes per image, it is extensible to allow authors to save meta-data they would like to store. According to Google, while the benefits of a VP8 based image format were clear in theory, Google needed to test them in the real world. In order to gauge the effectiveness, the company randomly picked about 1,000,000 images from the web (mostly JPEGs and some PNGs and GIFs) and re-encoded them to WebP without perceptibly compromising visual quality. This resulted in an average 39% reduction in file size. Google said it expects that developers will achieve in practice even better file size reduction with WebP when starting from an uncompressed image. To help assess WebP’s performance with other formats, Google has shared a selection of open-source and classic images along with file sizes to visually compare on this site. Tne company is also releasing a conversion tool that you can use to convert images to the WebP format. Google said that while WebP images can’t be viewed until browsers support the format, it is developing a patch for WebKit to provide native support for WebP in an upcoming release of Google Chrome and it is looking forward to working with the browser and web developer community on the WebP spec and on adding native support for WebP. More information, including image exampls and developer tools can be found at http://code.google.com/speed/webp/.

The W3B satellite of Eutelsat Communications was flown into French Guiana on September 30 and has been transferred to the Guiana Space Centre to be readied for launch by Arianespace on October 28. Lift-off of the Ariane 5 ECA launch vehicle is scheduled for October 28 in a launch window opening at 21.51 to 23.17 GMT. Built by Thales Alenia Space, and weighing in at 5.4 tonnes, Eutelsat’s new satellite will be located at 16 degrees East to renew and expand resources at a longstanding orbital position that reaches out to what Eutelsat calls some of the most dynamic markets in the satellite business. In addition to providing increased capacity for rapidly-expanding video platforms in Central Europe and Indian Ocean islands, W3B will initiate a new mission at 16° East, with bandwidth and coverage for telecom operators and Internet Service Providers in Africa to meet sustained demand for enterprise networks and GSM connectivity. Scheduled to enter service at 16° East in December this year, the satellite will replace Eutelsat’s EUROBIRDTM 16, W2M and SESAT 1 satellites which will all subsequently be redeployed to alternative positions. W3B’s 56 transponders will be connected to four distinct footprints:

- A high-power footprint of Central Europe for Direct-to-Home broadcasting;
- A widebeam spanning Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia for professional video links and data networks;
- A high-power beam over Madagascar and Indian Ocean Islands for DTH broadcasting;
- A beam sweeping across Sub-Saharan Africa and Indian Ocean islands for regional telecoms and Internet services. Interconnectivity with Europe will also be possible via a combination of Ka-band frequencies in Europe and Ku-band frequencies in Africa.

In an effort to help ensure that America’s students can learn and develop the high- tech skills necessary to compete in the 21st Century economy, the Federal Communications Commission has upgraded and modernized the E-rate program to bring fast, affordable Internet access to schools and libraries across the country. The National Broadband Plan laid out a series of recommendations to promote broadband- enabled, cutting-edge learning inside and outside the classroom. One of the key recommendations is modernizing the FCC’s E-rate program, established by Congress to bring connectivity to all schools and libraries across America. The program has achieved remarkable success -- 97 percent of American schools and nearly all public libraries now have basic Internet access. But the Plan found that basic broadband connectivity is too slow to keep up with the innovative high-tech tools that are now essential for a world-class education. According to a recent FCC survey, 78 percent of E-rate recipients say they need faster connections to meet the speed and capacity demands of their students, teachers, and library patrons. The FCC’s E-rate Order makes it easier for schools and libraries to get the highest speeds for the lowest prices by increasing their options for broadband providers and streamlining the application process. The Order is another advance in the Commission’s ongoing transformation of the Universal Service Fund, of which the E-rate program is part, to deploy broadband throughout America. The FCC’s upgrades to E-rate include:

- Super-Fast Fiber: The FCC’s E-rate Order will help bring affordable, super-fast fiber connections to America’s schools and libraries. It allows participants to use E-rate funds to connect to the Internet in the most cost-effective way possible, including via unused fiber optic lines already in place across the country and through existing state, regional and local networks. With these fiber networks, schools and libraries can provide students and communities with cutting-edge connectivity, while at the same time saving millions of dollars by bypassing more expensive options.

- School Spots: The FCC is also opening the door to “School Spots” -- where schools have the option to provide Internet access to the local community after students go home. With affordable fiber, these School Spots are a major step toward the National Broadband Plan’s goal of connecting an anchor institution in every community to affordable 1 gigabit per second broadband. School Spots will help ensure that people who otherwise lack access can use broadband.

- Learning On-the-Go: The FCC is launching a pilot program that supports off-campus wireless Internet connectivity for mobile learning devices. Education doesn’t stop at the schoolyard gate or the library door. Digital textbooks and other innovative wireless devices allow students to learn in a real-world context, inside the classroom and beyond. Because of their low cost and accessibility, these mobile devices can also help advance digital equality, particularly for children from economically disadvantaged communities.

The Wireless USB Promoter Group today announced the completion of the Wireless USB 1.1 specification, the technical map for product developers to bring the next generation of Wireless USB products to the market. With more than 2 billion legacy wired USB connections in the world today, USB has become what the group calls the de facto standard in the personal computing industry. Filled with conveniences for mobile computing users, Wireless USB supports robust high-speed wireless connectivity by utilizing the common WiMedia MB-OFDM Ultra-wideband (UWB) radio platform as developed by the WiMedia Alliance. The new Wireless USB 1.1 specification delivers key performance enhancements to the current Wireless USB technology, as well as added UWB upper band support for frequencies of 6 GHz and above, and offers backward compatibility with Wireless USB products currently in use by consumers. According to the Group, Wireless USB is evolving with optimized power efficiency and ease of use. Lower idle power requirements and improved battery life enhance Wireless USB power efficiency, and the new association model offers support for Near Field Communication (NFC) and proximity-based association, making Wireless USB even easier to install and use. “The Wireless USB 1.1 specification is the next step in Wireless USB technology,” said Jeff Ravencraft, USB-IF president and chairman. “Consumers want a fast, easy-to-use solution to wirelessly transfer content from PCs to devices. Wireless USB 1.1 is the solution supporting robust, high-speed wireless connectivity among devices.” To download the Wireless USB Revision 1.1 specification and adopter agreement, visit http://www.usb.org/developers/wusb/docs/.

Kingston Digital, Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of memory products maker Kingston Technology Company, Inc. this week announced the release of its CompactFlash (CF) Ultimate 600x memory card. The CompactFlash Ultimate 600x supports UDMA mode 6 and offers read and write speeds of up to 90MB/sec. making it Kingston's fastest card to support high-end digital cameras and other devices. The CF Ultimate 600x is available in 16GB and 32GB capacities to support the large file sizes created when shooting in RAW mode or HD video. If paired with UDMA mode 6 enabled cameras and readers, the 600x speed allows for data to write to and read from the card at a faster rate than previous generations of cards. "The Kingston CF Ultimate 600x cards are great for photographers shooting in burst mode. For example, in a situation like a wedding or sporting event where the ability to rapidly take successive shots could make the difference between capturing the perfect shot or just missing it," said Mike Kuppinger, Flash card product manager, Kingston. "We are pleased to add the 600x card to our CompactFlash family of products which also includes the 266x Ultimate and 133x Elite Pro cards." Kingston's CompactFlash Ultimate 600x cards are backed by a lifetime warranty, 24/7 live technical support from Kingston and are scheduled to be available soon.

AOL Inc. today announced it has acquired the Web's largest video syndication platform, 5min Media. According to AOL, the acquisition allows AOL to significantly expand its consumer offering of contextually relevant, high-quality video across its sites, increasing the AOL Network’s appeal to advertisers and is expected to further enhance the distribution and monetization of AOL-produced original video content throughout the Web. 5min Media is the world’s leading video syndication network with a library of more than 200,000 categorized, tagged and rated videos from more than 1,000 of the world's largest media companies and professional independent video producers. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in New York City with offices in Tel Aviv, 5min Media has been named the largest U.S. independent video property by comScore, with more than 20 million unique viewers and more than 130 million video streams (including ad and content videos) in the U.S. in August 2010. 5min Media’s growing network of 800 partner sites allows content creators to reach this audience of targeted viewers across 21 different verticals, including six verticals – Home, Food, Beauty / Fashion, Health, Travel and Pets – that lead their categories, according to comScore Video Metrix, August 2010. VideoSeed, 5min Media’s proprietary semantic technology, contextually matches the most relevant videos with a partner site’s text content to enhance the consumer experience and increase monetization rates. “Our acquisition of 5min Media is the latest in a number of steps we have taken this year to better position AOL to capture the growing video opportunity on the Web,” said Tim Armstrong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AOL. “AOL is building a video ecosystem for the next decade. 5min Media is the perfect complement to our powerful video capabilities -- it provides a missing piece in the AOL value chain that completes our end-to-end video offering from content creation through syndication and distribution to the consumer experience and monetization.” The company said it has already begun to integrate 5min Media’s video content on its sites through a commercial agreement executed prior to the acquisition. “With 5min Media we’ll be able to add more video inventory to our pages. Importantly, we’ll also be able to identify video content holes among our sites, tap our StudioNow capabilities to fill those needs and create a truly ‘demand informed’ video library,” Armstrong said. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Federal Communications Commission has begun to make steps to free up vacant airwaves between TV channels -- called “white spaces” -- to unleash a host of new technologies, such as “super Wi-Fi,” and myriad other diverse applications. This is the first significant block of spectrum made available for unlicensed use in more than 20 years. TV white space spectrum is considered prime real estate because its signals travel well, making it ideally suited for mobile wireless devices. According to the FCC, unlocking this valuable spectrum will open the doors for new industries to arise, create American jobs, and fuel new investment and innovation. The National Broadband Plan noted the importance of unlicensed spectrum in creating opportunities for new technologies to blossom and recommended that the Commission complete the TV white spaces proceeding as expeditiously as possible. Additionally, the Second Memorandum Opinion and Order (Second MO&O) adopted resolves numerous legal and technical issues. Notably, the Order eliminates the requirement that TV bands devices that incorporate geo-location and database access must also include sensing technology to detect the signals of TV stations and low-power auxiliary service stations (wireless microphones). It also requires wireless microphone users who seek to register in the TV bands databases to certify that they will use all available channels from 7 through 51 prior to requesting registration. Requests to register in the database will be public, thus allowing interested parties to weigh in on any given request. The Commission said it is also taking steps to ensure that incumbent services are protected from interference from the use of white spaces in various ways. In particular, the Order reserves two vacant UHF channels for wireless microphones and other low power auxiliary service devices in all areas of the country. It also maintains a reasonable separation distance between TV White Space device and wireless microphone usage permitted to be registered in the database. Accoding to Chairman Genachowski, other countries have been looking at Super Wi-Fi. By giving the green light now, the United States will be the first nation to deploy this technology providing the investment here, the intellectual property developed and the products launched here, and then export our products globally – all contributing to U.S. job creation and economic growth.

Walt Disney Studios through Home Entertainment has introduced the Disney WOW World of Wonder Disc, its first-ever easy to follow guide to optimally setting up High Definition (HD) home entertainment systems. Providing everyone from beginners and enthusiasts to experts and custom installers alike with valuable high quality calibration tools, the Disney WOW disc is designed to help consumers get the best quality experience from their home theater systems. According to Disney, the WOW disc has been engineered to meet or exceed the Digital Reference Standard for ultra high fidelity picture and sound delivering the best home theater presentation possible. There are 35 easy-to-use A/V Calibration and Evaluation Tools for Beginners, Advanced and Expert Home Theater Enthusiasts. A/V Tools in the Beginner section are designed for ease of use in the proper alignment of home theater equipment. Viewers learn the basics of HD and home theater alongside Disney’s classic character GOOFY, then follow basic instructions to maximize home theater performance through an easy to follow on-screen menu. The disc packaging also includes an in-depth illustrated handbook. The Disney WOW disc is comprehensive and applicable to everything from flat panel displays and OLED screens to projection equipment and CRT based TV sets, as well as multiple sound formats ranging from Stereo to 7.1 Channel Surround. The Advanced section contains A/V Tools that address professional evaluation and calibration tasks for specific monitors, displays, and projectors. Illustrations in the included 56 page booklet and the on-screen guide provide clear examples of properly and improperly calibrated A/V test patterns. The Disney WOW disc A/V tools include:

- Pixel Flipper – This feature exercises all of the pixels on the screen, attempting to eliminate “burn-in” and “stuck” pixels.
- Viewing Angle Diagnostic – An easy to use diagnostic tool for determining viewing angle on the owner’s monitor.
- The Video Encoder Stress Test – This test is specifically designed to push the limits of a professional video encoding system. Users will encounter the most difficult possible video encoding challenges running simultaneously on the screen, allowing them to compare results to the WOW Benchmark Reference.
- Direct Access - This control allows experienced users to bypass the regular menus and go to a List of all A/V Tools where they can access the tool of their choice directly.

Metis Secure Solutions, provider of location-based emergency notification systems (ENS), has announced the completion of a project funded by FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security), and directed by Northrop Grumman Corporation, to demonstrate the effectiveness of sending emergency notifications via FM RBDS. RBDS is the US radio industry standard for transmitting digital information and data to radio receivers using FM radio subcarrier at 57 kHz. RBDS receivers have features including emergency alert messaging, tuning of stations by format, and digital output that can display station call signs, song titles, and artists. Metis Secure utilizes FM RBDS as a key communication technology to ensure rapid emergency alert delivery. During the active demonstration, emergency alerts were sent from the Allegheny County Office of Emergency Management to the Director of Environmental Health and Safety, Carnegie Mellon University, Madelyn Miller. Miller then issued the alerts from the web-based Metis software in her office to 26 devices in five locations across Allegheny County, PA. There were four tests, with one of the tests originated utilizing the common alerting protocol (CAP) format. Each alert activated voice, text, lights and sirens. The alert text was sent in English and Spanish, and the alert voice response was activated in English, Spanish, and Korean. Each alert was delivered within a range of 4.5 and 11 seconds. Metis' partner, WDUQ 90.5 FM transmitted the FM RBDS signal received by the Metis alerting devices. Throughout the 90-day testing period the Metis system achieved a greater than 99% uptime, with 100% of all messages received, thus proving the reliability of the system. Mark Kurtzrock, CEO Metis Secure Solutions, said, "This demonstration effectively proves why Metis relies on FM-RBDS and Wireless Mesh communication protocols in our notification system. Most mass notification systems count on the Internet or mobile phone networks, and we know that those "best-effort" communication protocols often fail in emergency situations." The Metis demonstration lasted for 90 days from March 8 – June 7, 2010, with an active demonstration day on April 13, 2010.

Today the Federal Communications Commission launched Parents’ Place, a new website that provides parents with the tools and information they need to positively shape their children’s experiences in the complex media landscape. From television to laptops to cell phones, electronic media have become almost constant companions for children. Parents need to be able to easily manage their family’s access to technology and shield their children from inappropriate content. Among the resources that Parents’ Place offers parents are simple ways to:

· Find broadcast educational and instructional children’s programs by zip code;
· Block objectionable television programs;
· Learn how to teach children about appropriate online behavior;
· Receive information about online safety, Amber Alerts, safe use of wireless devices, and distracted driving; and,
· Read about childhood obesity and the impact of the media on this growing health concern.

Representatives from the National Association of Broadcasters wrote House and Senate leaders for both the Judiciary and the Commerce committees today to correct and clarify the record regarding "the important consumer benefit" that could be derived from "unlocking the mobile phone market and granting consumer access to radio's free and unique offerings." The letters were signed by NAB Joint Board Chair Steve Newberry, president and CEO of Kentucky-based Commonwealth Broadcasting; and NAB Radio Board Chair Caroline Beasley, executive vice president and CFO of Florida-based Beasley Broadcast Group. Newberry and Beasley noted the strong weekly listenership -- 239 million Americans age 12 and older -- for free and local radio and highlighted the "crucial lifeline" provided by local radio stations during times of emergency and crises. "Americans ought not be denied access to such a pivotal lifeline service," they wrote. The letter referenced a recent poll conducted by Harris Interactive, which showed that a sizable majority of American cell phone users would like the ability to listen to their favorite local radio stations through a built-in radio receiver on their mobile phone. Newberry and Beasley also noted the global demand for radio-capable cell phones, pointing out that a recent study predicted market penetration for radio-capable devices will reach 45 percent within the next year. "Despite such global demand, much of the U.S. cell phone market remains founded upon exclusive contracts between consumer electronics manufacturers and mobile phone carriers, and consumers are being denied access to radio's free services on many mobile phone devices for competitive reasons," today's letter explained. "Cell phone providers apparently would rather reap the revenue of data-intensive, fee-based streaming apps than offer consumers a free and local alternative." "In the end, this is an issue of consumer access," wrote Newberry and Beasley. "Americans deserve better choices than what is being offered by gatekeeper mobile service providers. The demonstrated demand for radio-capable cell phones, coupled with local radio's role as a lifeline service during times of crisis, are considerations we hope you will take into account as this debate continues." Today's letters are available online in PDF format. ( Judiciary Committees | Commerce Committees)

Graphene, a one-atom-thick layer of graphitic carbon, has great potential to make electronic devices such as radios, computers and phones faster and smaller. But its unique properties have also led to difficulties in integrating the material into such devices. In a paper published Sept. 1 in the journal Nature, a group of UCLA researchers demonstrate how they have overcome some of these difficulties to fabricate the fastest graphene transistor to date. With the highest known carrier mobility — the speed at which electronic information is transmitted by a material — graphene is a good candidate for high-speed radio-frequency electronics. But traditional techniques for fabricating the material often lead to deteriorations in device quality. The UCLA team, led by professor of chemistry and biochemistry Xiangfeng Duan, has developed a new fabrication process for graphene transistors using a nanowire as the self-aligned gate. Self-aligned gates are a key element in modern transistors, which are semiconductor devices used to amplify and switch electronic signals. Gates are used to switch the transistor between various states, and self-aligned gates were developed to deal with problems of misalignment encountered because of the shrinking scale of electronics. To develop the new fabrication technique, Duan teamed with two other researchers from the California NanoSystems Institute at UCLA, Yu Huang, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering at the Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Kang Wang, a professor of electrical engineering at the Samueli School. "This new strategy overcomes two limitations previously encountered in graphene transistors," Duan said. "First, it doesn't produce any appreciable defects in the graphene during fabrication, so the high carrier mobility is retained. Second, by using a self-aligned approach with a nanowire as the gate, the group was able to overcome alignment difficulties previously encountered and fabricate very short-channel devices with unprecedented performance." These advances allowed the team to demonstrate the highest speed graphene transistors to date, with a cutoff frequency up to 300 GHz — comparable to the very best transistors from high-electron mobility materials such gallium arsenide or indium phosphide. High-speed radio-frequency electronics may also find wide applications in microwave communication, imaging and radar technologies. Funding for this research came from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.

Today, LaCie introduces its first network-attached storage solution to feature Wi-Fi. The LaCie Wireless Space can operate as a file or media server for multiple Mac and PC users, from anywhere in the home – making it what the company claims is the most compatible and multifunctional network hard drive on the market. Leveraging Wi-Fi technology, the Wireless Space can connect to your existing Wi-Fi network, allowing you to access files wirelessly throughout the home, and can serve as a central storage solution for all your backups. If you wish to increase your Wi-Fi performance, the Wireless Space can also act as a b/g/n access point, and even serve as a full-featured router. "There are a variety of network devices you need to buy to have a full solution to connect your computers, share media and back up your files," remarked Julien Ott, Product Manager for Network Attached Storage, LaCie. "LaCie is thrilled to bring Wi-Fi connectivity to the Wireless Space and deliver a truly all-in-one solution for the varying different network needs of any home." For users with a large media library, the Wireless Space can also act as a media server. It’s compatible with UPnP/DLNA and iTunes, and you can stream music, movies and photos from a central location and play them on any device. Additionally, the Wireless Space is Time Machine compatible, so Mac users can use it as a target for their automatic backups and be confident that all important files and media are safely protected. LaCie also delivers Genie Timeline Software for scheduled backups on the PC. The LaCie Wireless Space is currently available in Europe in 1TB and 2TB capacities. Both models will be available in the US this October starting at $229.99.

Color management, measurement and communication company X-Rite today announced XRGA, a new metrology standard for the Graphic Arts industry. Designed to take advantage of advances in color science and new international standards, XGRA provides a way to reduce measurement discrepancies between legacy instruments previously developed by X-Rite and GretagMacbeth. According to X-Rite, the new XRGA standard will improve inter-model agreement so that users can enjoy high-quality data exchange between sites that use different instrumentation, regardless of their legacy affiliation. “The former X-Rite and the former GretagMacbeth each had, for historical reasons, different calibration standards for graphic arts instrumentation. While it was important to ensure both standards were maintained to guarantee continuity for both companies’ customers, our goal with XGRA is to eliminate systematic discrepancies between instruments so that all measurements taken for the same color sample should be the same, regardless of the system used,” explains Francis Lamy, X-Rite’s Chief Technology Officer. X-Rite has conducted a detailed study designed to quantify the systematic differences between measurements obtained using instruments from both former companies, to ultimately arrive at the definition of a new corporate X-Rite standard for its graphic arts instrumentation. Based on the results, the XRGA was developed and now achieves the following goals:

- Is applicable to all 0/45 and 45/0 instruments
- Incorporates improved methods for calibration
- Maintains traceability to the American National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)
- Offers best implementation with respect to existing international ISO standards Improves inter-model agreement for existing instruments
- Preserves good agreement among former X-Rite instruments and former GretagMacbeth instruments
- Provides a single standard for all future graphic arts instruments to be delivered by X-Rite
- Improves data exchange

The SD Association announced today it has defined a new, dual-row pin memory card design achieving bus interface speeds of up to 300 megabytes per second for SDXC and SDHC devices and memory cards. It is fully backwards compatible, allowing equipped devices full use of any SD, SDHC and SDXC memory cards. New high speed interface signals will be assigned on the second row of pins of select SDXC and SDHC memory cards offering the new speed. This option will be available in both full-size and micro form factors and does not change the physical size or shape of the cards. “Our innovative dual-row pin design ultimately lets consumers using equipped products to manage the massive storage capacity found on SDXC memory cards at incredible speeds,” said Norm Frentz, chairman of the SD Association. “SD can now support high definition video from Hollywood movie studios, television broadcasts, or HD videos taken on your latest vacation. SD is a very popular, extremely portable and easy-to-use storage medium that has enhanced the enjoyment and portability of music, photos and data. The Association remains committed to helping consumers maintain the value, usefulness and longevity of all of their SD products.” Currently, UHS-I technology is found exclusively on SDXC and SDHC products. It offers faster bus-interface speeds, with data transfer speeds up to 104 megabytes per second. The new UHS Speed Class 1 technology offers a performance option designed to support real-time video recording. Consumers can realize the full potential of these technologies by pairing their devices and memory cards. The new, dual-row pin memory card design will be part of the forthcoming SD 4.0 specification, expected in early 2011.

At IBC 2010, Sonic Solutions announced a new version of its high-end Blu-ray Disc production toolset, the Scenarist BD Workgroup, featuring options for encoding, authoring, debugging, and formatting premium entertainment for commercial release on Blu-ray 3D. Based on its 3DAccess initiative and feedback from a collective of Sonic's professional users who elected to work closely with Sonic to solve the complex 3D production workflow issues, Sonic's new Scenarist-based Blu-ray 3D workgroup offers a host of new capabilities, including:

- Sonic Scenarist BD 5.5 – comprehensive support for Blu-ray 3D Profile 5 authoring. Includes support for 3D MVC video streams, 3D pop-up menu graphics, 3D subtitles, and 3D Java content.
- Sonic CineVision 3.5 – extensive Multi-view Video Coding (MVC) codec support with deep, segment-based parameter controls to deliver mastering quality 3D video streams. CineVision 3.5 also features a new, more efficient timeline that maintains its industry-defining segment controls while adding new instant preview capabilities for completed 3D encodes.
- Scenarist QC 1.5 – provides real-time Blu-ray 3D emulation and title debugging for Blu-ray 3D authors and QC specialists.

SRS and Microsoft have formed a strategic partnership to provide the Microsoft Silverlight platform with a complete SRS 5.1 Surround Sound toolkit, allowing encoding and decoding of surround sound for streamed content. SRS said the company views this as a significant step forward in its quest to make top-quality surround sound available anywhere and to anyone. The compnay also calims it is also a significant development for the industry as, the largest player in the streaming media segment, Netflix, utilizes Microsoft Silverlight for all the content streamed and downloaded to end-user CE devices for consumption. Microsoft Silverlight enjoys a substantial adoption rate of 60% thanks to the growing list of content providers that rely on the platform, such as Netflix, NBC, MTV and iTV. All Windows PCs with Silverlight, as well as other products currently featuring select SRS audio solution suites, will have the ability to decode SRS 5.1 encoded content and deliver it in enhanced 5.1 surround, front-rendered surround, or virtual headphone surround, depending on their speaker configuration. With the proliferation of SRS 5.1 surround sound encoded content through Silverlight, more devices such as mobile phones, AVRs, in-car audio systems, connected TVs, and soundbars will benefit from featuring a built-in SRS 5.1 decoder in order to bring natural, immersive, uncompromised surround to their users around the world. Some of the other major benefits of these encoding and decoding solutions include:

- Multichannel and front-rendered surround sound
- Smooth steering and full bandwidth for a seamless and immersive surround environment
- Backwards compatibility with legacy matrix decoders and stereo
- Surround streaming over bit rates as low as 96kbps

This year at CEDEC 2010, Toshiba Mobile Display Co., Ltd. demonstrated a 21-inch autostereoscopic high-definition display for use in next-generation 3D monitors that enables the user to enjoy three-dimensional images without the need for special glasses. In recent years, a combination of increasing demands for more realistic images and evolving display technology has been the catalyst for advancements in the development of 3D images and pictures for various applications, and has enabled 3D technology to be put to practical use in the cinema and television industries. To date most 3D products have used special glasses to separate a picture into two images: one for the left eye and the other for the right eye. But the market has strongly desired a more versatile and glasses-free approach that could be used anywhere. This new product employs an integral imaging system (a “light field” display) to reproduce a real object as a 3D image that can be viewed without glasses over a wide range of viewing angles. Therefore, the display is suitable for 3D monitors used for advertisements and entertainment appliances. According to Toshiba, the integral imaging system offers a significant reduction in eye fatigue during long periods of viewing, and features a multi-parallax design that enables motion parallax, which cannot be achieved by systems using glasses. The multi-parallax approach results in images that change depending on the viewer’s position. In addition, the viewing angle is wide, and the resulting stereoscopic image is natural and smooth. In some previous integral imaging implementations, there have been issues raised relating to the loss of effective image resolution. In previous implementations, if the number of pixels in the display is kept constant and not increased, then the multi-parallax approach will reduce the effective resolution of the 3D display in an inverse proportion to the number of parallax positions. We have addressed this problem by applying LTPS (low-temperature poly-silicon) technology to develop an ultra-high-definition LCD module for this newly-introduced high-definition and large-screen 3D display. This 21-inch auto-stereoscopic high-definition display adopts a lens sheet to control reduction in surface luminance intensity, resulting in brightness comparable to standard 2D displays. The power consumption of the display is relatively low. The new 21-inch display is considered to be environmentally friendly with low power usage. Furthermore, the display can be used in a vertical or horizontal position. When used in the vertical position, the user faces the upright screen from the front as a person would usually use a 2D monitor. However, when used in the horizontal position, the user overlooks the stereoscopic image formed by the display lying face-up, as one would overlook a relief model. Compared with the front view, the 3D images seen face-up from the bird’s eye view are more stereoscopic and realistic. Toshiba expects the new display will be used for advertising and games, and would ultimately like it to be used in TVs and PC monitors.

The Amateur Radio Emergency Service (ARES) is celebrating its 75th anniversary. This program of the ARRL – the national association for Amateur Radio – provides the "ham radio" emergency communications for agencies such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, countless Emergency Operations Centers, National Weather Service and other organizations. Each year specially trained radio communications volunteers give thousands of hours of community services for free in the worst of times. Over the years the equipment has changed with technology, but their mission remains. The modern communications networks that today's ARES quickly creates - without the need for other infrastructure - remain critical in emergency planning. In the first hours of a major event, Amateur Radio is often the primary source of information on the situation and reactions needed to save lives. When the Internet and phones go out, they call on the hams. The first mention of an organized Amateur Radio emergency response organization appears in the September 1935 issue of QST Magazine. Some of the major responses needing ARES radio operators in recent years include: Earthquake in Haiti, Hurricane Ike, Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita, Northeast Blackout of 2003, Shuttle Columbia Recovery Effort, and the World Trade Center, Pentagon and Western Pennsylvania Terrorist Attacks of 2001. Even today, ARES teams are now aiding in the rugged forest fire areas near Boulder, Colorado. According to Allen Pitts of the ARRL, "The fastest way to turn an emergency into a total disaster is to lose communications. In events from ice storms in New England to Hurricane Katrina, when normal communications systems were down or overloaded, the Amateur Radio operators of the ARES programs filled requests for emergency help." Like other modern wireless technologies, Amateur Radio has come a long way from its beginnings. There are now over 690,000 FCC licensed Amateur Radio operators in the US. With more people involved than ever before, today's radio amateurs are expanding their voice and digital networks, using satellites and TV, developing hybrid applications of radio-internet and GPS location systems, long-range WiFi types of systems and more. Says Pitts, "Hams are the consummate DO-ers, not just USE-ers of technology."

At the Gov 2.0 Summit this week, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski and Managing Director Steven VanRoekel announced a suite of new tools designed to unlock FCC data and drive innovation across the public and private sectors. The suite of tools released by the FCC includes a number of APIs (Application Programming Interface) -- interfaces that enable communication between independent databases -- for use by developers across a broad range of industries, including federal, state, and local government. The FCC also announced the creation of a developer community (http://www.fcc.gov/developer) designed to help drive future releases through feedback and collaboration. The datasets and tools released by the agency include the results of the FCC Consumer Broadband Speed Test, which has tallied more than 1 million tests taken since the release of the tool in March. The FCC developed and released an API that unlocks the results of those tests and enables citizen developers to re- purpose the data in innovative ways. The agency also released a tool that can match geographic location with government data aggregated at the census block level, the first tool of its kind developed by a federal agency. New services include the following:

- Consumer Broadband Speed Test API
- Census Block Search API
- FCC Registration Number (FRN) Conversion
- FCC License View

As part of its on-going initiative to enhance its manufacturing efficiency to improve the profitability of its liquid crystal display ("LCD") TV business, Sony Corporation today announced that its relevant European subsidiaries have agreed with Ficosa International, S.A. and COMSA EMTE SL, both headquartered in Spain, to sell the Barcelona technology center (formal name: Sony Espana S.A., Barcelona Technology Center [Barcelona, Spain]), which manufactures LCD TVs for the Europe region, to Ficosa and COMSA EMTE. With this transaction, the Barcelona technology center will be divided into two new companies, one focusing on manufacturing and the other focusing on development and engineering. The manufacturing company will be wholly-owned and operated by Ficosa, while the development and engineering company will be a 50:50 joint venture between Ficosa and COMSA EMTE. Between them, the new companies intend to assume employment of the majority of employees at the Barcelona technology center. Sony will source LCD TV production to the new manufacturing company for two years after completion of the transfer. Both the new manufacturing and engineering companies will concurrently develop new businesses. Although a loss is expected to be incurred by Sony in connection with the transaction for the rest of the current fiscal year, no material impact is anticipated on Sony's consolidated financial results forecast for the current fiscal year that was released at the time of the first quarter earnings announcement, as such loss has been included in the forecast as a part of the 75 billion yen of estimated restructuring charges. The transfer is planned to be completed by the end of December 2010, subject to certain regulatory and other approvals.

Toshiba America Electronic Components, Inc. and its parent company Toshiba Corporation this week announced the launch of 8GB, 16GB and 32GB SDHC UHS-I cards compliant with the SD Memory Card Standard Ver. 3.0 (SD 3.0), UHS104. According to Toshiba, these new SD cards offer the world’s fastest SDHC data read and write speeds and are the world’s first memory cards compliant with SD 3.0, UHS104. With a maximum read speed of 95MB per second, and a write speed of 80MB per second, the cards introduce a new level of ultra-fast read and write speeds to NAND flash based memory cards. The specifications of the new cards combine increased data capacity with the fast data transfer rates essential for applications such as high speed continuous shooting of high resolution digital still cameras, video, and high speed transfers of HD content. Toshiba said the series will be featured at IFA 2010, in Berlin, Germany from September 3, and PHOTOKINA 2010, in Koln, Germany from September 21. Mass production of the new SDHC UHS-I cards will start this November.

According to a recent report from optical storage equipment manufacturer Singulus Technologies AG, in the 1st half of 2010 sales of Blu-ray Discs came to 5 million and thus increased by 153 % compared with the 1st half 2009. In addition to the 2 % rise of DVD sales to 45.7 million units (following 44.9 million units in the 1st half 2009), the new record level is primarily due to the constantly increasing Blu-ray market. After 2 million sold discs in the 1st half 2009 already 5 million Blu-ray Discs were sold until the end of June 2010, which means an increase of 153 % or a 3 million unit rise in absolute terms. The German Association for Audiovisual Media (BVV) reported these figures on August 12, 2010. In the US, the rise is similar: Swicker & Associates, a market research institute, performed a study on behalf of the Digital Entertainment Group (DEG) in the US. Sales of Blu-ray Discs increased by 112 % in the 2nd quarter compared with the same quarter one year ago. For the 2nd half of the year similar growth rates are expected. The third dimension is in the spotlight: At the international consumer electronics fair IFA (September 3 to 8, 2010) in Berlin, most of the major brands will present 3D television sets. Many producers, in particular Panasonic and Sony, are wholeheartedly focusing on the new technology. Movies, TV programs and games in 3D will be the bestsellers in the coming months and years - the box office success of the 3D spectacle “Avatar” paved the way for this trend. Blu-ray players can play 3D movies in HD resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. Since the current technology projects individual pictures for each eye to achieve the 3D effect, the data volume also increases by approximately 50 percent. Blu-ray Discs can store up to 50 gigabyte. This is sufficient for a long movie including surround sound, different language versions, etc. The 3D Blu-ray is the only available and also cost-efficient medium to store high-definition movies with 3D technology and to deliver this content to the consumers. Since the decision in favor of the Blu-ray was made in 2008 and SINGULUS also acquired the Blu-ray activities from the competitor Oerlikon, practically all major disc producers worldwide work with SINGULUS’ BLULINE production equipment. Only Sony is still supporting its proprietary manufacturing technology.

The DVD6C Licensing Group (DVD6C) consisting of nine leading developers of DVD technology and formats -- Hitachi, Ltd., Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Panasonic Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd., Sharp Corporation, Toshiba Corporation, Victor Company of Japan, Ltd. (JVC) and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Inc. -- today announced that it has revised its worldwide patent licensing program beginning on and after January 1, 2010, including offering a new license agreement (the "New DVD6C License Agreement"), which offers reduced royalty rates on certain products and additional licensing options. Key changes to the new licensing program include the following:

- Reduced royalty rates for DVD Recorders (i.e., the DVD-RAM Drive, DVD-RW Drive, DVD-R Drive and DVD Video Recorder licensed DVD Product categories) from (i) the greater of 4% of the net selling price or US$6.00 per recorder to (ii) a flat rate of US$4.00 per recorder on or after the effective date of the New DVD6C License Agreement; provided, however, that such reduced royalty rates will apply retroactively as of January 1, 2010 for licensees who sign the New DVD6C License Agreement by October 31, 2010.

- Reduced royalty rates for DVD Players (i.e., the DVD-Video Player, DVD-ROM Drive and DVD-Audio Player licensed DVD Product categories) from (i) the greater of 4% of the net selling price of the player (up to a maximum of US$8.00 per player) or US$4.00 per player (US$3.00 per player for licensees licensed on or after January 1, 2005) to (ii) a flat rate of US$2.00 per player effective on or after the later of (i) the effective date of the New DVD6C license Agreement and (ii) January 1, 2011.

- Shortened initial term of the license, which now runs to the end of 2012.

- Clarification that Blu-ray Disc ("BD") products are not covered by the new license, irrespective of whether they include DVD functionality.

Seiko Epson Corporation today announced that it has developed and begun volume production of what the company claims is the world's first reflective high-temperature polysilicon ("reflective HTPS") TFT liquid crystal panels for 3LCD projectors. The new panels, which measure 0.74 inches on the diagonal, support full high-definition (1920 x 1080 pixels) content. The increasing availability of high-resolution, high-quality source images due to the growing popularity of HD media players and digital HD broadcasts are pushing demand for more convenient large-screen viewing options in the home. Higher contrast is in demand especially for movies, where the reproduction of natural-looking colors and deep blacks is critical. According to Epson, the new liquid crystal panels fuse reflective display technology with the storehouse of HTPS technology Epson has accumulated in shipping more than 60 million panels for 3LCD projectors. They provide a device-level contrast ratio of 100,000:1 or higher while taking full advantage of the ability of HTPS panels to reproduce bright, natural-looking images and deliver rich gradations. The new reflective HTPS panels are based on the structure used for transmissive HTPS panels. The main structural difference is that reflective panels have a reflective electrode instead of a transparent electrode on the TFT substrate. The C2 Fine technology that enabled high contrast ratios in transmissive HTPS panels has been optimized for the reflective HTPS panels, and Epson's unique planarization technology is used to make the reflective layer almost perfectly flat so as to control the scattering of light. The result is panels that offer a device-level contrast ratio of 100,000:1 or higher. To learn more about HTPS panels, visit
www.epson.jp/e/products/device/htps/

The market for short range wireless ICs is forecast to expand this year; total shipments of Bluetooth, NFC, UWB, 802.15.4 and Wi-Fi ICs will increase approximately 20% compared to 2009. “Bluetooth ICs still lead the short-range wireless IC market,” says ABI Research industry analyst Celia Bo. “Unit shipments are expected to exceed 58% of the total short-range wireless IC shipments in 2010. Wi-Fi ICs rank second place in this market, making up approximately 35% of the total shipments, with the rest of the shipments accounted for by NFC, UWB and 502.15.4 ICs.” Cellular handsets and accessories are taking a significant portion of the market for Bluetooth-enabled products in 2010, accounting for almost 75% of total shipments. This is followed by the notebook and UMD segments, taking approximately 12%. The demand for Bluetooth-enabled consumer electronic and home entertainment products is expected to grow steadily over the next five years. Shipments of portable media players are forecast to grow tenfold in 2015 as compared to 2010, and the total shipments of networked game consoles and handheld game consoles are expected to show a 14% CAGR between 2010 and 2015. Bo adds, “Combination chip solutions that integrate two or more short-range wireless technologies will be broadly deployed in hundreds of millions of electronic devices due to their advantages of lower cost and smaller chip size, paving the way for expansion of the short-range wireless IC market.” The Bluetooth+FM radio integration solution is taking the highest market share among the major integration solutions of “combo” chips today, followed by Bluetooth+Wi-Fi+FM radio and Bluetooth+FM radio+GPS solutions. Bluetooth’s integration with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) wireless technology will be adopted widely from next year and is projected to account for more than 50% of total Bluetooth combo IC shipments in 2015.

The National Association of Broadcasters launched a new consumer-focused website this month, www.keepmytv.org, aimed at educating and empowering viewers during carriage negotiations between broadcast TV stations and pay-TV providers. The website's launch comes as pay-TV providers continue to seek legislative and regulatory action that would give their companies increased leverage during retransmission consent negotiations. Retransmission consent, established as part of the 1992 Cable Act, is the market-based negotiation process in which a pay-TV provider and a local television station reach a carriage agreement for the TV station signal. The new website notes that 98.5% of the highest rated television shows air on broadcast TV, and asks viewers, "What if your pay TV company no longer carried your favorite broadcast channels?" Keepmytv.org also notes the important local programming depended upon by millions of viewers, including local news and critical weather information programming that often serves as a lifeline during times of crisis. The website provides resources for viewers, including instructions for purchasing a broadcast antenna, which allows viewers to receive free broadcast programming, available in many areas in high-definition format. "All stations are now broadcasting in digital, which means the snowy picture of yesteryear is long gone," the website explains.

Digital content creation and media publisher NewBay Media has announced that next month’s Digital Video Expo will feature “Where 3D Meets Hollywood,” a separate afternoon conference on September 29th from 2:00-3:30 pm, focusing on emerging opportunities in the 3D format. Presented by Broadcasting and Cable and Multichannel News, “Where 3D Meets Hollywood” will bring together an elite think tank of Hollywood industry executives to consider the future of 3D content, and whether recent developments will lead to big-business…or if Hollywood is just facing a three-dimensional fad. “The buzz around 3D is currently at a fever pitch in the film and television industries, from smash hits such as ‘Avatar’ and 'Toy Story 3' to the imminent launch of several 3D television networks,” said David E. Williams, Conference Chair, Digital Video Expo, and Editor, DV Magazine. “We’ve gathered the industry execs who are working in the 3D trenches, and are uniquely qualified to provide our attendees with an up-to-the-minute review of where the opportunities, and challenges, lie in this format.”

Top executives and creatives scheduled to make presentations at “Where 3D Meets Hollywood” include:

Jeff Conroy – Executive Producer, Deadliest Catch
Tom Cosgrove – President & CEO, Sony-Discovery Communications-IMAX Joint Venture 3D Network
Marc Graboff – Chairman, NBC Entertainment & Universal Media Studios
Tony Vinciquerra – Chairman & CEO, Fox Networks Group
In addition, David Poltrack, President, CBS Vision, will present his latest research findings on the true potential market for 3D content and entertainment.

Panasonic announced yesterday that it has become the Official 3D Sponsor of this week's BLUE Ocean Film Festival & Conservation Summit in Monterey, California. BLUE is a global film festival and conservation summit for underwater filmmakers, marine researchers and conservation leaders. The festival also provides the public the opportunity to experience the world's largest collection of ocean films. The company will demonstrate its end-to-end range of Full HD 3D solutions which includes the VT25 Series of Full HD 3D VIERA Plasma HDTVs, 3D Blu-ray Disc Players and the AG-3DA1 – the Full HD 3D professional camcorder much anticipated by independent film makers. Also on display will be a new underwater housing for the 3DA1 that will allow videographers to capture life beneath the surface of the ocean in Full HD 3D. Panasonic will also sponsor a panel discussion titled 3D: Nature's New Dimension on Friday, August 27 at the Portola Hotel & Spa moderated by Barry Clark, executive producer at Mandalay Media Arts. Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, Panasonic's Chief Technology Officer for North America, will be among the featured panelists at the discussion. "Panasonic is proud to support the BLUE Oceans Summit and have the opportunity to share with many of the world's leading oceanographic filmmakers and experts our industry-leading work in 3D technology," said Panasonic's Tsuyuzaki. "The underwater world is among our planet's most fascinating and mysterious places. The arrival of the 3D era provides filmmakers with a tremendous opportunity to capture the beauty of the ocean in a realistic and immersive way that was not possible a few short years ago and share it with people worldwide so that they too may gain a greater understanding of how important our oceans are." For more information on all of the events and activities at the BLUE Oceans Summit, visit www.blueoceanfilmfestival.org/home.html.

International communications and information technology company Harris Corporation has opened a new factory in Brazil to manufacture low- and mid-power UHF television transmitter products to support the region's transition to digital television. Located in Campinas, a region 80 miles northwest of Sao Paulo, the plant will produce Harris Maxiva UAX air-cooled solid-state transmitters for distribution to broadcasters across Brazil, as well as throughout Mercosur (the Common Market of the South) and other Latin American countries. According to the company, the strong growth potential of the Brazilian broadcast market was one reason Harris decided to invest in a local manufacturing presence.  In preparation for an analog shut-off date in 2016, Brazilian broadcasters are in the process of migrating to the ISDB-Tb digital format that has been adopted in the country.  To date, only 120 channels out of the approximately 10,000 television licenses that currently exist in Brazil have made the transition from analog to digital. The new plant will produce transmitters available in the low-to-medium digital power levels, as Harris expects that transmitters in this power range will comprise approximately 90 percent of the local market demand over the next five years.  "With the DTV rollout just beginning to gain momentum, and with the world's highest-profile sporting events coming to Brazil in 2014 and 2016, the timing of this initiative could not be better for Harris or our customers," says Nahuel Villegas, vice president, CALA Sales and Services, Harris Broadcast Communications.  "We are pleased to support this exciting time in Brazil's broadcast history with a local manufacturing presence that will enable us to maximize value for our loyal customers in the region."

The Sony Corporation has announced the development of 'single wire interface technology', a hybrid transmission technology which facilitates both data and power transmissions through a single cable. This technology enables the internal wiring of an electronic device to be streamlined through a single cable (copper wire). Conventionally, the video, audio and control signals as well as the power transmission were spread out over several dozen cables within the movable mechanisms of devices like mobile phones and media players, in the hinges or other rotating parts. However, as these devices become ever more sophisticated in terms of advanced functionality and high resolution displays, more wiring connections have been used to accommodate the increasing volume of data being transmitted within devices. Accordingly, new problems began to emerge as connectors in devices became larger and it became more difficult to bend the connecting cables. According to the company, Sony's newly-developed 'single wire interface technology' has achieved bi-directional transmission of several kinds of signals, including video, audio and control signals, by using time division duplex and multiplex. In addition, the DC power is supplied on the same signal cable. Sony's unique encoding technology with DC balance enables both DC power supply and high speed data to be transmitted within a limited frequency bandwidth. Technical specifications (tentative values) of Sony's demonstration system include:

- Transmission signal: video (Display / Camera), audio, control signals
- Transmission speed: 940Mbps
- Power consumption: 10-80mW (0-940Mbps) during transmission, 0.3mW when on stand-by.
- Power supply voltage for analog IC: 1.5V/3.0V
- Transmission distance: 60cm
- Supplied current value: 600mA
- Operating ambient temperature: -20 - +85°C

• History of TV Technology
• Why We Calibrate
• What Makes a "Good Image"
• Signal Path and Optimization Strategies
• Calibration Process
• Contrast Ratios and Screen Uniformity
• Geometry & Convergence
• Contrast and Brightness
• Color, Tint and Color Decoding
• Sharpness and Enhancement Controls
• Introduction to THX Certified Displays and Projectors
• Introduction to 3D Color Management

Candidates who successfully complete the coursework and score at least 85 percent on the THX exam will achieve the title of "THX Certified Professional." They will also be listed on the THX directory of Certified Video Professionals, among other marketing support materials. The advanced course, THX Certified Video Calibration 2, features two-days of intense, hands-on calibration training using a variety of flat panel displays and projectors, as well as the most advanced calibration tools and software. Course curriculum topics include:

• Calibration Process and Integration of Signal Generators
• Advanced Grayscale and Gamma
• Software and Hardware Choices
• Competing Display Technologies
• Scaling Technologies
• Processing Issues; Progressive/Interlace
• De-interlacing with Examples from HD and DVD Benchmark Discs
• Environmental Issues
• Color Science and Color Standards
• Day and Night Modes
• Calibrating to Black and White Films
• Advanced Calibration of THX Certified Displays and Projectors
• 3D Color Management Systems - Color Standards and Science
• The Business of Calibration - Customer Management

To achieve the title of "THX Certified Professional Calibrator" candidates are required to successfully finish the course, pass the exam and complete a number of calibrations under the supervision of THX course instructors. They can then begin generating revenue by offering THX Certified Calibrations to customers. THX Certified Professional Calibrators also gain access to a private forum and other THX marketing and online services. "THX Certified Video Calibration workshops fill a critical gap in the CE industry by providing course curriculum that goes beyond lecture format to offer real, hands-on calibration training," said John Dahl, director of education at THX. "The expanded curriculum and addition of THX Video Calibration Levels 1 and 2 classes provides students in the CEDIA community more flexibility to attend classes at their convenience, and enables our training staff to extend lab hours to provide one-on-one instructional support." The CEDIA-accredited THX courses start the last day of the CEDIA Expo on Sunday, September 26. For more information about THX Professional Education workshops, visit www.thx.com/professional/home-theater-installer/

Blackmagic Design today announced the acquisition of all assets of EchoLab Inc., one of the world’s leading designers and manufacturers of production switchers. EchoLab has over 35 years of experience in designing and building production switchers since 1974. For the thousands of people who use production switchers, ATEM will be instantly familiar. It uses the conventional M/E style of design that’s easy, safe and fast to use on even the most critical live production. ATEM also combines powerful features such as SuperSource, which is a separate multi layer engine with 4 x 2D picture in picture DVE’s and 4 x keyers that provide the same power as adding a whole extra multiple M/E switcher to the ATEM input. SuperSource can be called at any time, and connects into the switcher as an input. For connecting to the widest range of cameras, decks and computers, the ATEM 1 M/E model includes 8 SDI inputs that operate at SD, HD and 3 Gb/s SDI, plus 2 switchable HDMI/Analog video inputs. ATEM includes multiple SDI outputs for program, preview, and aux. outputs, plus an HDMI output for the multi-view monitoring output. The ATEM 2 M/E model includes 15 x SD, HD and 3 Gb/s SDI inputs, as well as 3 x switchable HDMI/analog inputs for a total of 18 video inputs. ATEM 2 M/E also includes two multi-viewer outputs, clean feed, aux., program and preview SDI outputs. All ATEM switchers include serial ports for camera and VDCP servers as well as genlock. “I have been using live production switchers since I was in school where we covered local theater, sports, racing and bands. I think it’s the most exciting way to do production because it’s all live and thousands of people are watching what you are doing! Production switchers need to be powerful while also being familiar and easy to operate. I think the ATEM switchers from EchoLab are the most exciting switchers I have ever seen, and it’s incredibly exciting to add these products and intellectual property to the Blackmagic Design family,” said Grant Petty, CEO of Blackmagic Design. “The ATEM switcher is a fantastic creative tool, and it includes powerful features not found in any other product. Since the acquisition, we have already dramatically expanded the engineering team working on ATEM. This fresh engineering team, which is a combination of new as well as experienced EchoLab staff, will allow us to move faster in adding new features to the ATEM product. It’s so exciting, I cannot sleep!” The ATEM production switchers will be demonstrated at the Blackmagic Design IBC 2010 booth #7.B25.

EPIX and Netflix, Inc. have announced an agreement through which Netflix members can instantly watch an array of new releases and library titles from EPIX streamed over the Internet from Netflix. EPIX has subscription pay TV rights to new releases and movies from the libraries of its partners and will make these movies available to Netflix 90 days after their premium pay TV and subscription on demand debuts. Historically, the rights to distribute these films are pre-sold to pay TV for as long as nine years after their theatrical release. For Netflix, the agreement is a significant step in building the company’s streaming offer, adding many popular movie titles from some of the world’s leading studios. It adds meaningfully to a growing library of movies and TV shows that can be watched instantly on TVs via a range of leading consumer electronic devices capable of streaming from Netflix and on computers. The agreement allows EPIX to continue the distribution of popular content on a variety of platforms and preserve the premium television, subscription on demand and online window reserved for cable, satellite and telco television partners. “Adding EPIX to our growing library of streaming content, as the exclusive Internet-only distributor of this great content, marks the continued emergence of Netflix as a leader in entertainment delivered over the Web,” said Ted Sarandos, chief content officer for Netflix. “The EPIX deal is an example of the innovative ways in which we’re partnering with major content providers to broaden the scope and freshness of choices available to our members to watch instantly over the Internet.” Movies from the multi-year deal will begin streaming from Netflix on September 1 and include movies from Paramount, Lionsgate and MGM.

New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo this week filed an antitrust action against several major technology companies for illegally fixing prices for liquid crystal display (“LCD”) screens used in computers, televisions, and cell phones. The lawsuit seeks to recover damages suffered from 1996 to 2006 by New York State and other public purchasers - local governments, schools, hospitals, and colleges, among others - that purchased computers and other goods containing the price-fixed screens. The suit, which seeks damages, restitution, and civil penalties was filed in State Supreme Court in New York County, and alleges that companies in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan, and their U.S. counterparts, engineered a cartel that dominated the $70 billion market for LCD screens for approximately a decade. The alleged cartel - which includes LG Display, Hitachi, Samsung, Sharp, Toshiba and others - ensured that LCD prices were set not by competition, but by detailed and explicit secret agreements among the competitors. New York State purchasers paid artificially higher prices for products containing LCD panels as a result of the illegal conspiracy. “Our investigation shows that an illegal cartel eliminated competition in the marketplace for LCD screens, made its own secret decisions to boost prices, and then took steps to make those high prices stick,” said Attorney General Cuomo. “As a result, hard-pressed New York cities, towns, schools, and hospitals spent hundreds of millions of dollars on LCD screens affected by the illegal conspiracy. My office is bringing this case to get those illegal overcharges back.”

According to the Attorney General, the lawsuit cites evidence that:

- Top-level executives, including CEOs, attended secret meetings on a regular monthly or quarterly basis to agree on minimum prices, price targets and increases, and prices to be charged to specific computer manufacturers;
- Companies exchanged production information and agreed to certain output levels;
- In order to cover up the conspiracy, companies coordinated their messages to their customers and manipulated media announcements in order to give the false impression that their agreed upon price hikes were due to supply and demand conditions; and
- Because of the cartel, conspirators were able to avoid competition and keep LCD prices artificially high to the detriment of computer manufacturers and consumers.

Video display and interface IC supplier Parade Technologies Ltd., has announced that the company has released the world’s fist video display timing controller (T-CON) IC that satisfies the recently updated VESA eDP v1.2 specification. Designed specifically to help accelerate DisplayPort adoption by system OEMs Parade’s new DP616 chip lowers total system cost and system power requirements by eliminating the need for an external voltage regulator. The DP616 is an eDP sink device that accepts video input from a CPU or GPU and converts it into mini-LVDS row and column video data for use by a display panel. The Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) announced the version 1.2 upgrade of its embedded DisplayPort (eDP) spec last month. The DP616 is a one-lane main link T-CON that supports eDP link rates up to 2.7Gbps. The device supports all panel resolutions up to WSXGA+ (1680 x 1050) with 18-bit color depth, and WXGA+ (1440 x 900) with 24-bit color depth. To significantly reduce total system power requirements, the DP616 incorporates an internal switching regulator. By eliminating the need for an external linear regulator—used in almost all panel designs to step down standard eDP supply voltage from 3.3 to 1.2 volts—the Parade DP616 reduces both the bill-of-materials cost and total system power requirements. Parade estimates that eliminating a discrete linear regulator from a panel design will reduce system power consumption by as much as 175mW. The DP616 also uses crystal-free technology, has an integrated color engine and supports the new dynamic backlight control capabilities that are part of the v1.2 spec. VESA’s eDP standard is replacing LVDS as the common standard for linking CPUs and graphic controllers with displays in mobile computers. The new v1.2 specification now supports higher data rates and other new capabilities that further reduce the number of interconnect wires required over the link. “Our first-generation eDP T-CON was very successful. Its widespread adoption enabled Parade to accumulate valuable OEM feedback to develop our second-generation device, which emphasizes total system cost reduction and power efficiency,” explains Jimmy Chiu, VP of Marketing at Parade Technologies. “As a key contributor to the DisplayPort effort, Parade was ready with our v1.2 device as soon as the new eDP spec was finalized.” The DP616 is sampling now, and production volumes will be available in 4Q10. The DP616 is expected to be available for $1.45 /ea. in high volume.

This week, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski announced the appointment of Phoebe Yang as Senior Advisor to the Chairman on Broadband. As part of the Office of the Chairman, Ms. Yang heads the core team managing the Commission’s broadband priorities, as set forth in Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan. According to the Commission, in this role, Ms. Yang works with other federal, international, state and local entities on advancing the Commission’s broadband agenda; and serves as the Commission’s primary point of contact to enable the use of broadband to promote key national priorities, such as improving heath care, education, and energy efficiency. She serves as the Commission’s representative to the Executive Branch inter-agency working group charged with implementation of the National Broadband Plan across the federal government and works closely with all the Commission’s Bureaus and Offices to advance the goals and recommendations of the National Broadband Plan. “Phoebe has played an absolutely critical role in creating the National Broadband Plan, and I am delighted that she will be staying to help me lead our continuing work to ensure that the enormous benefits of broadband are available and affordable to all Americans,” said Chairman Genachowski. Ms. Yang most recently served as General Counsel of the Omnibus Broadband Initiative at the Commission, in which role she was Chair of the Broadband Steering Committee. Her prior experience includes executive roles at Discovery Communications, as Vice President of Corporate Development and Vice President of Digital Media Operations and Strategy; and at AOL Time Warner as Vice President of International Strategy and Policy focused on China. She served under President Bill Clinton as Special Coordinator for China Rule of Law and practiced corporate law at Hogan & Hartson. She served as law clerk to The Honorable William Schwarzer (N.D., California). She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in government and foreign affairs from the University of Virginia. She received her J.D. from Stanford Law School, where she was President and Editor-in-Chief of the Stanford Law Review.

The American Society of Media Photographers (ASMP), joined by the Alabama Press Association, has submitted an amicus curiae ("friend of the court") brief in support of defendant Daniel A. Moore in the case The Board of Trustees of The University of Alabama v. New Life Art, Inc. and Daniel A. Moore in the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. At issue is the extent to which artistic expression is protected by the First Amendment when trademarked images are used in artwork. Moore, an award-winning artist who is known for capturing great moments in sports history, was originally sued for trademark infringement by the University of Alabama in 2005. The University claimed its trademarks rights were violated by Moore's depiction of its player uniforms as well as by other images in his fine art prints and memorabilia of scenes from its football games. Though the District Court found that Moore's larger prints were protected by the First Amendment, it ruled that mini-prints, calendars and other items were not. Since that time, a legal battle has ensued in which both sides have appealed and the University has been joined by a number of other prominent universities in filing an amicus brief. According to ASMP General Counsel Victor S. Perlman, "The potential effect of this ruling is to limit the expression of every visual artist who takes a photo in which there is a logo and, thus, effectively to censure artwork." Further, Perlman says, "This decision applies trademark protection where it is not needed -- to an artist who is not using a trademark for trademark purposes." The Brief filed by ASMP urges the Court to protect Moore's art and argues that it passes the First Amendment test of having artistic relevance to its underlying expression and images which are not misleading in nature. Moore used the images in which the University claims trademark rights to faithfully and accurately depict historical plays and moments in Alabama football. The Brief argues that these works have been presented to the public without any intention to deceive and are, therefore, entitled to the full protection of the First Amendment. The brief was filed on behalf of ASMP by J. Michael Murray and Lorraine R. Baumgardner of Berkman, Gordon, Murray & DeVan, with Mr. Perlman of counsel.

Like an ice cube on a warm day, most materials melt — that is, change from a solid to a liquid state — as they get warmer. But a few oddball materials do the reverse: They melt as they get cooler. Now a team of researchers at MIT has found that silicon, the most widely used material for computer chips and solar cells, can exhibit this strange property of “retrograde melting” when it contains high concentrations of certain metals dissolved in it. The material, a compound of silicon, copper, nickel and iron, “melts” (actually turning from a solid to a slush-like mix of solid and liquid material) as it cools below 900 degrees Celsius, whereas silicon ordinarily melts at 1414 degrees C. The much lower temperatures make it possible to observe the behavior of the material during melting, based on specialized X-ray fluorescence microprobe technology using a synchrotron — a type of particle accelerator — as a source. The material for the tests consisted of a kind of sandwich made from two thin layers of silicon, with a filling of copper, nickel and iron between them. This was first heated enough to cause the metals to dissolve into the silicon, but below silicon’s melting point. The amount of metal was such that the silicon became supersaturated — that is, more of the metal was dissolved in the silicon than would normally be possible under stable conditions. For example, when a liquid is heated, it can dissolve more of another material, but then when cooled down it can become supersaturated, until the excess material precipitates out. The findings could be useful in lowering the cost of manufacturing some silicon-based devices, especially those in which tiny amounts of impurities can significantly reduce performance. In the material studied, impurities tend to migrate to the liquid portion, leaving regions of purer silicon behind. This could make it possible to produce some silicon-based devices, such as solar cells, using a less pure, and therefore less expensive, grade of silicon that would be purified during the manufacturing process. “If you can create little liquid droplets inside a block of silicon, they serve like little vacuum cleaners to suck up impurities,” said team leader and SMA Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Manufacturing MIT, Tonio Buonassisi. Buonassisi predicted in a 2007 paper that it should be possible to induce retrograde melting in silicon, but the conditions needed to produce such a state, and to study it at a microscopic level, are highly specialized and have only recently become available. To create the right conditions, Buonassisi and his team had to adapt a microscope “hot-stage” device that allowed the researchers to precisely control the rate of heating and cooling. And to actually observe what was happening as the material was heated and cooled, they drew upon high-power synchrotron-based X-ray sources at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California and at Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois. According to Buonassisi, this research could also lead to new methods for making arrays of silicon nanowires — tiny tubes that are highly conductive to heat and electricity. The material and its properties are described in a paper just published online in the journal Advanced Materials. The research was supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, the Clare Booth Luce Foundation, Doug Spreng and the Chesonis Family Foundation, and some equipment was provided by McCrone Scientific.

The Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) today announced that the number of DLNA Certified Blu-ray players has nearly doubled in 2010, bringing the total to 105. DLNA member companies, including: JVC, LG Electronics, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung and Sony have all received certification for their Blu-ray players, continuing their commitment to help consumers easily manage, share and enjoy their digital content throughout their lives. The Digital Entertainment Group (DEG), an industry-funded, non-profit corporation that compiles quarterly sales data on home entertainment, has been tracking the increasing popularity of Blu-ray players in the home. The DEG reports overall household penetration of Blu-ray compatible devices has now reached more than 18 million homes in the U.S. A recent Digitimes Research study found that global sales volume of Blu-ray players will increase to 40 million units in 2011 and further to 52 million units in 2012. According to the Alliance, devices such as Blu-ray players are helping to redefine the digital living room. They are no longer just devices for viewing optical media, but are becoming broadband media devices that are integrated with a number of video-on-demand services. "At Philips Consumer Lifestyle, we believe that freedom in sharing and accessing multimedia content in the home is very important. However, we also believe this only works when various products can easily communicate and connect to each other," said Jeroen Steenblik, senior marketing manager at Philips Consumer Lifestyle. DLNA Certified Blu-ray players adhere to DLNA Interoperability Guidelines and join the more than 7,500 DLNA Certified® products in an extensive range of device categories including: personal computers, mobile devices, televisions, digital cameras, network attached storage devices and printers.

The Federal Communications Commission has announced that consumers now have an easy-to-use, Consumer Help Center that puts them within one click of all the information they want from the FCC. The new portal launched this week at www.fcc.gov/consumers allows consumers to learn about different issues in telecommunications, make it easy for consumers to find out what’s going on at the FCC, get tips for making the best choices in purchasing communications devices and services, have their voices heard by filing comments on issues that interest them, and file a complaint when there are problems. “Our new Consumer Help Center makes it easy for consumers to learn about our work and take action,” says Joel Gurin, Chief of the Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau of the FCC. “Here, in one place, consumers can do a number of things such as read about consumer issues, get practical advice for avoiding problems, file a complaint, comment on our rulemakings, or read what our FCC experts are saying in our Consumer Blog.” The Consumer Help Center is produced by the FCC’s Consumer Task Force, an inter-bureau group established by Chairman Julius Genachowski at the beginning of 2010. The Task Force has led several recent initiatives on major consumer issues. The Consumer Help Center includes:

- Everything consumers need to know about Bill Shock and
Early Termination Fees -- two common issues that affect wireless customers
- Savvy Traveler tips -- advice on making phone calls when travelling abroad
- Broadband Speed Test -- consumers can test the speed of their broadband service
- Fact Sheet Library – more than 150 consumer Fact Sheets on telecom subjects
- Links to additional resources on a range of issues, including privacy
- Links to file a complaint to the FCC or comment on our rulemakings
- Blog posts about consumer issues -- with consumer comments welcome
- News releases, statements, and FCC actions

While the consumer electronics headlines this year have been dominated by 3-D television news, the real story in 2010 is about Internet-Enabled TVs (IETVs), according to iSuppli Corp. Global shipments of IETVs—i.e., TV sets with built-in Internet capability—will amount to 27.7 million units in 2010. In contrast, 3-D set shipments will total only 4.2 million this year. While 3-D television shipments are set to soar in the coming years, iSuppli’s forecast shows the biggest near-term growth story is in IETV. “Despite aggressive promotions from the industry and intense consumer interest generated by the blockbuster Avatar and other titles, the 3-D TV market in 2010 will be limited to a small pool of enthusiastic early adopters,” said Riddhi Patel, director and principal analyst for television systems at iSuppli. “In contrast, IETV is entering the mainstream in 2010. This is because 3-D is still dealing with a number of barriers, including cost, content availability and interoperability, while IETV provides immediate benefits by allowing TV viewers to access a range of content readily available on the Internet.” Shipments of IETVs in 2010 will rise by a remarkable 124.9 percent from 12.3 million units last year. Significant growth will continue during the following years. All told, IETV shipments will expand at rates north of 50 percent for the next two years, and then continue to increase at solid double-digit rates until the end of 2014. By then, global IETV shipments are anticipated to reach 148.3 million units, accounting for 54 percent of the total flat-panel TV market. With IETV, Patel noted, viewers can connect to the Internet at all times by using their TV’s built-in feature, bypassing the need for a bridge device such as a set-top box, game console or Internet media adapter like Apple Inc.’s TV console. Such connectivity allows viewers to access content from a wide spectrum of providers—ranging from movie peddlers like Netflix and Amazon, to content aggregators such as Hulu, to social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. At the same time, TV brands and manufacturers are working aggressively to create partnerships with the content providers in order to keep consumers interested and happy with continually updated material, Patel added. “The arrival of Internet-enabled TV models is part of the ongoing evolution and enhancement of TV sets,” Patel said. “Because innovation is a must in order to drive consumer adoption and replacement, the TV industry has embarked on a path of enhancing the consumer experience through interaction with their TV sets.” Among regions, North America and Western Europe will make up the largest consumption market for IETVs from 2010 to 2014. Japan will lay claim as the third largest market only until 2012, after which it will drop to fifth place, ranking behind both China and the collective area designated as Rest of Asia-Pacific—two distinct territories counted separately in the tallies.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Enforcement Bureau this week released a Consent Decree entered into with Univision Radio, Inc. to resolve allegations that Univision radio stations or their employees secretly accepted payment from a record label in exchange for the radio stations giving more frequent airplay to the label’s artists, without making the disclosures to listeners required by section 507 of the Communications Act. In a companion criminal action, a federal district court has accepted the plea of Univision Services, Inc. to charges filed by the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”), based on the same facts. The FCC and the DOJ coordinated their respective investigations and enforcement actions. “Payola -- the idea of pay-for-play -- misleads the listening public,” said FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski. “This agreement with Univision underscores the FCC’s focus on consumer protection and our commitment to ensuring that broadcasters play it straight with the public.” As part of the FCC settlement and the DOJ action, the Univision companies will pay $1 million to the U.S. Treasury. The FCC-Univision Consent Decree also obligates Univision to implement certain business reforms and compliance measures designed to ensure future compliance with the Commission’s rules. Key provisions of the settlement include:

- General prohibition on Univision stations and employees exchanging airplay for cash or other items of value, except under specified conditions, and provided that such exchanges comply with sponsorship identification laws;
- Limits on the size of gifts, concert tickets, and other valuable items that Univision stations and employees can accept from record labels;
- Appointment of a Compliance Officer and regional Compliance Contacts responsible for monitoring and reporting company performance under the settlement; and
- Regular training of programming personnel on payola restrictions.

Professor Hiroyuki Yokoyama of the New Industry Creation Hatchery Center (NICHe), Tohoku University and Advanced Materials Laboratories, Sony, have jointly developed a blue-violet semiconductor laser that could be used in large-capacity optical disc storage and for nano-fabrication. The new laser features a dramatically improved peak laser beam output level, which is almost 100 times higher than the output provided by the currently available lasers. The 405 nanometer laser is capable of generating optical pulses with a duration of just 3 picoseconds (1 picosecond = one-trillionth of a second), with an ultrahigh output peak power of 100 watts and a repetition frequency of 1 gigahertz. To achieve these impressive performance, Tohoku University and Sony have developed a proprietarily GaN-based mode-locked semiconductor laser as well as a new semiconductor optical amplifier. A mode-locked semiconductor laser is a type of semiconductor laser that emits ultrafast optical pulses. It operates by sending optical pulses with an ultrafast duration in the order of picoseconds (or less) back and forth within the laser cavity. A semiconductor optical amplifier is an optical amplifier that can amplify the laser beam directly using a semiconductor. Although the structure is similar to that of a semiconductor laser, the beam-amplifying functionality is enhanced through antireflective fabrication of the laser facets. Until now, only solid-state lasers could offer such a high outputs. These lasers use solid crystals such as rubies as the laser medium and they were mainly used for leading-edge chemical research applications. However,the light source box of these laser units was bulky and more further engineering was required to ensure the stable operation of the laser. The high-output, ultrafast pulsed semiconductor laser light source is capable of using a nonlinear optical process known as two-photon absorption (TPA), which occurs only as a result of high intensity optical pulses: When a substance interacts with extremely intense light, the substance does not always respond in proportion to the electromagnetic field of the light, thus creating a prismatic effect. TPA is the phenomenon of absorbing two photons simultaneously to excite the eigenstate corresponding to the resulting sum of photon energy. Using this phenomenon to focus light from an intense laser beam on a lens will result in an extremely high density of power in the vicinity of the focus point. When light from the laser beam is concentrated on the lens, it creates chemical and thermal changes in the vicinity of the lens focus spot which is narrower than even the diameter of the focus spot of the lens itself. It is anticipated that application of these properties will be possible in a wide range of fields such as three-dimensional (3D) nano-fabrication of inorganic/organic materials in the order of nanometers, and next-generation large-capacity optical disc storage. Sony tested the principles for applying this technology in next-generation large-capacity optical disc-storage by creating void marks with a diameter of approximately 300 nanometers at intervals of 3 micrometers on the interior of plastic material, and successfully read these marks with the laser beam. The research findings were published in the latest edition of the U.S. academic journal, ‘Applied Physics Letters’ (volume 97, issue 2).

As interesting as this estimate is, it is just part of a larger picture. According to industry analyst Mike Inouye, “The solid growth in Blu-ray player shipments highlights a trend within the wider consumer electronics market. Larger, fixed-location devices such as Blu-ray players and flat panel TVs are enjoying rapid adoption relative to many classes of small, portable devices. Specifically, portable gaming devices are leveling out, while we are seeing actual declines in shipments of portable audio players. Digital picture frames are showing only mild growth, and compact digital camera shipments are declining in North America and Japan, though they continue modest growth elsewhere.”

What is behind these shifts? “In addition to price declines, the greater growth potential of TV-centric devices may be due to some of the recent exciting innovations in TV technologies: larger, flatter panels, Internet connectivity, and 3D,” says Inouye. “Aside from the economic/job environment it could be that dedicated portable device markets are simply maturing, or it could be due to the greater competition they face from smartphones and other multi-function portable devices.”

According to ABI Research, CE device vendors can improve their chances of success in this very competitive marketplace by, on one hand, continuing efforts to educate consumers about what they can do with the latest devices, and on the other by striving to keep the user-experience as seamless and painless as possible. Meanwhile, consumer purchases of Blu-ray titles increased 107% in major markets in Western Europe/Japan during the first half of 2010 while combined DVD/Blu-ray units sold were near par with last year, at (-) 1.2%. These are among the findings of the Media Control GfK International research firm, based on actual point-of-sale retail data for the first half of 2010. "The major retail markets for DVD & Blu-ray sales in Western Europe and Japan are showing positive signs of stabilization due to improving declines in DVD sales and growing consumer adoption of the Blu-ray format," said Brad Hackley, President of Media Control GfK USA.

Sony will begin to ship samples of its lineup of silicon tuner modules, which incorporate Sony's silicon turner IC that conform to worldwide broadcast systems. According to the company, in light of the market's transition from coil to silicon tuners, Sony is launching 40 small, high-performance silicon tuner modules, which incorporate its proprietary radio frequency circuit technology. Sony has developed different types of silicon tuner modules including antenna switch models, loop-through function,demodulator models for digital broadcasts, and dual tuner models. By using the new silicon tuner modules, LCD TV and Video recording equipment manufacturers can realize improved production efficiencies. For example, they can reduce the number of necessary components as well as implement common global design for both hardware and software. The modules have been designed to withstand ingress noise from peripheral circuits because it uses Sony's proprietary radio frequency circuit and simulation technologies. In addition, spontaneous-emission noise can be minimized, which simplifies product development. Sony claims the silicon tuner modules are also eco-friendly with low power consumption (40% less than Sony's conventional coil tuner) and standby mode (50mW). In addition, they are immediately compatible with new broadcast systems such as, "DVB-T2" (Digital Video Broadcasting - Terrestrial 2). Sony started mass production of silicon tuner modules in 2008 and has cumulatively produced more than 10 million modules (as of June 2010).

Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group and Netflix, Inc. today announced an expansion of the companies' existing streaming content agreement. The new agreement adds a slate of catalog TV shows available to watch instantly at Netflix and extends the existing license for catalog movies through 2011. As part of the deal, Netflix has acquired streaming rights - for a period of four years - to all 100 episodes of the Golden Globe Award–winning drama series "Nip/Tuck." (Separately, "Nip/Tuck" will air simultaneously in a linear pattern on the cable network Logo via an off-cable syndication deal with Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.) As part of its deal, Netflix has also acquired streaming rights to the series "Veronica Mars," "Pushing Daisies" and "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," among others. "Our Netflix streaming relationship is a good example of the opportunities the digital space provides to make content available in new ways at appropriate points in the product lifecycle," said Thomas Gewecke, president, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. "This agreement establishes an additional stop on the economic chain for our library content while providing consumers with more convenience and choice." Earlier this year, Netflix and Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced an agreement under which new release titles on DVD and Blu-ray will be made available to Netflix subscribers after a 28-day window, giving Warner Bros. the opportunity to maximize the sales potential of those titles along with an extended revenue share period and Netflix the benefits of reduced product costs, significantly more units and better in-stock levels four weeks after street date. The agreement announced today does not alter the previous arrangement with regard to the 28-day window for new release titles.

Musical sounds created by longitudinal vibrations within the Sun's atmosphere, have been recorded and accurately studied for the first time by experts at the University of Sheffield, shedding light on the Sun's magnetic atmosphere. Using state-of-the-art mathematical theory combined with satellite observations, a team of solar physicists from the University have captured the music on tape and revealed the harmonious sounds are caused by the movement of giant magnetic loops in the solar corona - the outermost, mysterious, and least understood layer of the Sun's atmosphere. These giant coronal loops have also been observed to undergo periodic (oscillatory) motion, which can be thought of as someone plucking a guitar string (transversal oscillations) or blowing the wind-pipe instrument (longitudinal oscillations). With the length and thickness of the string fixed, the pitch of the note is determined by the tension of the string and the tone is made up of the harmonics of the modes of oscillation. In this sense, the solar atmosphere is constantly pervaded by the music of the coronal loops. The coronal music also provides scientists with a unique and unprecedented tool to study the magnetic solar atmosphere, as the motion of these loops is determined by their local surroundings. This technique is known as solar magneto-seismology and is very similar to the seismology methods used by geologists studying earthquakes. The discovery was presented by the University experts to an audience of MPs both from the House of Commons and the House of Lords at the House of Commons Marquee, as well as and senior scientists representing prestigious institutions such as the Royal Society, after being selected by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee. The next step for the team will be to develop cutting edge numerical modelling that will be able to give further insight into the sub-resolution properties of coronal loops, i.e. on spatial scales that are not even observable with the latest high-resolution satellites available to scientist. Click below to hear audio of a 'kink': a transverse oscillation similar to a guitar string being plucked.

The CompactFlash Association (CFA) announced the key development goals for a the new CF5.1 specification. The CF5.1 work group was formed in December 2009 to add functionality to the recently released CF5.0 specification based on the PATA (Parallel ATA) interface while maintaining backward compatibility. The CF5.1 work group met and agreed upon the key development focus issues, which include adding an Ultra DMA mode supporting 167 MB/s. CompactFlash card slots are commonly used in digital cameras, video cameras and other electronic platforms including embedded systems, single board computers, data recorders, heart monitors, defibrillators, and slot machines. Some of the key proposed CF5.1 development focuses include:

- Ultra DMA 167 Mode: Enables the development of higher performance cards while providing backward compatibility.

- Sanitize: Provides an efficient NAND Block Erase of the entire user data area to return the CF card to "fresh" state before reuse or repurposing. Leverages a command defined in INCITS T13 ACS-2.

- Provide Trim Before Write Attribute Protocol:Provides an incremental performance increase by optimizing device physical allocation (allows improved internal data organization).

- Mandatory Write Caching: An enhancement for certain Video Performance Guarantee profiles to improve write performance of CompactFlash cards.

- Operating Temperature Range: n optional card capability to report the operating temperature range of the card. This allows card/camera combinations to enable use in extreme temperatures

Last week at the VidCon 2010 conference, YouTube announced support for videos shot in 4K, meaning that the video giant now supports original video resolution from 360p all the way up to 4K. In December of last year, YouTube announced support for 1080p, or full HD. At 4096 x 2304 pixels, 4K is over four times the size of 1080p. To give some perspective on the size of 4K, the ideal screen size for a 4K video is 25 feet; IMAX movies are projected through two 2k resolution projectors. To see video on the site shot in 4K, please check out the videos in this playlist; each one was created by a filmmaker with access to a 4K camera. (Be warned: watching videos in 4K, even on YouTube, will require ultra-fast high-speed broadband connections). To view any video in a source resolution greater than 1080p, select "Original" in the video quality pulldown menu.

X-Rite, Incorporated will demonstrate for the first time its deep toolbox of solutions to ensure the color quality of produce and foodstuffs at the Institute of Food Technologists Annual Meeting & Food Expo 2010. The X-Rite team will show how its instruments and quality control software can be used to measure and monitor the color of a variety of food, ranging from raw fruits and vegetables, prepared foods such as french fries, and foodstuffs made continuously in high-speed production settings such as pasta, chocolate, juices, spreads and baked goods. "Food growers and processors know that the color of their products play an extremely important role in the purchasing decisions of consumers," Annacone said. "As the world's leading designer and manufacturer of color measurement systems, X-Rite now is introducing advanced technologies used in such industries as digital graphics and small appliance manufacturing to the agricultural and the food processing industries." For instance, X-Rite has the only system approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that food processors use to measure acceptable tolerances of orange juice color from a set standard, Annacone said. The system uses X-Rite's Color i5 benchtop spectrophotometer and Color iQC software package to accurately and quickly measure whether liquid orange juice meets the USDA standards. Kenneth Phillips, product manager for Non Contact Industrial Markets, said another X-Rite solution, its VeriColor Spectro spectrophotometer, can be used to monitor subtle shifts in the color of products as varied as baby foods and biscuits. In addition to spectrophotometers, X-Rite will be demonstrating customized color matching cards and other standards that operators can use to quickly determine whether the color of foodstuffs is acceptable. The IFT10 Annual Meeting & Food Expo to be held in Chicago from July 17 to 20.

Blackmagic Design today announced Micro Videohub, the world’s smallest 16 x 16 SDI router with 3 Gb/s SDI, auto switching SD, HD and 3 Gb/s SDI formats, full SDI re-clocking, USB, ethernet and serial router control is now shipping. Micro Videohub is only 1 rack unit and less than an inch deep. It includes advanced features such as 3 Gb/s SDI, auto switching SD, HD and 3 Gb/s SDI, as well as full SDI re-clocking at an affordable price. Micro Videohub is perfect for customers who need an incredibly tiny router that also meets tough broadcast technical requirements for performance as well as reliability. Micro Videohub, like all Blackmagic Design Videohub routers, allows for a range of flexible control options. These include the free Videohub software control panels for easy to use icon-based push button control from any computer. Software control is ideal for video editors and designers who are already working on computers and prefer control from their desktops. Videohub routers also support the new Videohub Smart Control hardware control panels, for routing with a push of a button. Videohub Smart Control can be installed under each monitor or deck, so routing is incredibly fast. Micro Videohub also includes a standard serial router control port, that lets system integrators interface to computers for automated routing control systems and integration into broadcast play out servers. The serial router control port uses industry standard protocols, so is easy to use. For developers, the USB interface can also be used, combined with Blackmagic Design’s Videohub SDK for Windows and Mac, so full control of router crosspoint switching is possible. “Now we have a professional router that’s perfect for small facilities or broadcast trucks!”, said Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. “No other router is so small and so affordable, so I think Micro Videohub is going to help more people than ever to get the advantages of a professional SDI routing switcher in their facility!”

HDBaseT Alliance, the cross-industry alliance formed to promote and standardize the HDBaseTTM technology for whole-home distribution of uncompressed high definition (HD) multimedia content, announced its formal incorporation. The Alliance also announced the finalization of the HDBaseT 1.0 base specification. According to HDBaseT, the development of this cohesive specification is set to transform the digital media ecosystem, allowing consumers to enjoy premium content through unparalleled, uninterrupted HD distribution ‒ without the tangle of cables currently required. HDBaseT enables a network of sources — such as digital video recorders (DVR), Blu-ray disc players, game consoles, PCs and mobile devices — to be connected directly to displays in multiple locations. For instance, a DVR can be connected to several TVs throughout the home, allowing users an independent yet fully compatible experience. HDBaseT LAN based technology makes it possible to cut out the assortment of cables for audio, video, connecting CE devices and even the power source. This form of networking, whether it is done by daisy chaining devices or through star topology, can be applied in both the consumer home and in B2B cases such as digital signage networking. “HDBaseT Alliance’s creation of a unified specification based on HDBaseT technology will raise the bar as the most technologically advanced, unmatched solution for optimum digital media distribution,” said Ariel Sobelman, president and chairman of the HDBaseT Alliance. “HDBaseT technology is poised to become the unrivaled next-generation home networking transport to meet the ever-changing trends in the digital media market.” The finalization of the HDBaseT specification paves the way for HDBaseT embedded products to hit the market. The HDBaseT Alliance anticipates products with embedded HDBaseT technology to be available in the second half of 2010, with the majority of adoption taking place in 2011. The specification will also be available for licensing within the second half of 2010. The Alliance is founded by LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Valens Semiconductor, all of which comprise the HDBaseT Alliance’s Board of Directors.

According to a new report from market research firm Parks Associates, home automation is the next big thing and market penetration could be as high as 20 percent by 2014. To do so however, the home controls market must focus on individual applications, such as entertainment and energy management, to overcome current inhibitors and boost its penetration beyond the present 6% of U.S. households. The firm’s report, Home Systems: Home Controls – Analysis and Forecasts finds low consumer awareness and a shortage of affordable installation services currently hinder widespread adoption. The entry of well-known players, including ADT, Best Buy, Radio Shack, and Schlage, will help grow this market, but players should focus their value proposition on specific, easily understood applications in order to build consumer awareness and lay the foundation for future expansion. “Three applications will drive adoption of control systems over the next five years: energy management, entertainment systems and content control, and remote home self-monitoring,” said Bill Ablondi, director, home systems research, Parks Associates. “Consumers see the value in these areas, which, once established, can serve as the base for expanded control systems in the home.” For example, as entertainment controls for home theater and audio systems become more affordable, penetration will expand from 5% of U.S. households to 17% by 2014. These systems can then be expanded to integrate lighting, window treatments, and security controls, a strategy that will help push penetration of control systems overall to almost 20% of households by 2014.

The Microsoft Corp. today announced a new technology aimed at improving the battery installation process called InstaLoad battery installation technology, which allows users to easily install a battery without regard to positive and negative polarity. According to the Redmond giant, never again will people have to squint to see battery installation diagrams — the device simply works regardless if the battery is installed positive-side-up or positive-side-down. Unlike existing electronic solutions designed to address battery-polarity installation, InstaLoad is a mechanical invention that does not drain battery power or require expensive electronic circuitry. InstaLoad battery contacts can be cost-effectively designed into most battery compartments, as it usually requires replacing existing battery contacts with the patented InstaLoad contact design. The technology is compatible with popular off-the-shelf batteries used in products such as flashlights, toys, battery chargers, lighting and most other battery-operated consumer electronic devices that use CR123, AA, AAA, C or D size batteries (disposable or rechargeable) or similar barrel-type battery form factors. Ideal for devices that require frequent battery swap-outs, or are used in less-than-ideal environments, industries that could greatly benefit from this type of timesaving technology based on their environments include law enforcement, military, construction, outdoor sporting and camping. In addition, users of devices with multiple batteries and frequent battery swap-out — including battery chargers, digital cameras, camera flash units and toys — could also benefit. InstaLoad is a patented battery contact design now available for license by third-party device suppliers, with companies like Duracell already lining up to endorse the technology for use in their own products. “Duracell Smart Power is all about making the lives of consumers easier and more efficient as they depend on battery power for the mobile devices that keep them organized and connected while away from the grid. After evaluating Microsoft’s InstaLoad technology, Duracell is excited about the possibilities of incorporating this simplified battery installation technology into future Duracell products, delivering a better experience for our consumers” said Dan McCarthy - Director, Global Marketing, Duracell. A royalty-free license program for accessibility products is also available to provide an additional usability benefit for battery-operated accessibility devices that are designed for people with hearing, vision or learning disabilities. “Microsoft is pleased to offer a royalty-free license program to suppliers and manufacturers for this class of accessibility devices,” said Rusty Jeffress, corporate vice president, Specialized Devices & Applications, Microsoft. “We believe the InstaLoad feature can make a difference in the lives of those people who need and use these products on a daily basis.” More information about the Microsoft InstaLoad technology and Hardware IP Licensing program is available here.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski this week announced Douglas C. Sicker as Chief Technologist of the Commission. Dr. Sicker will reside in the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis and will advise the agency on technological issues. “I am delighted that Dr. Sicker is returning to provide the FCC with his broad and deep knowledge about the communications networks and technologies of today and tomorrow,” said Chairman Genachowski. “His technical expertise will help the FCC pursue policies that spur investment, create jobs, promote innovation, and advance our nation’s global technology leadership.” Currently Dr. Sicker is Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Colorado at Boulder with a joint appointment in the Interdisciplinary Telecommunications Program. He recently served on the Omnibus Broadband Initiative working on matters related to research and development. Prior to this he was Director of Global Architecture at Level 3 Communications, Inc. Before that, Dr. Sicker was Chief of the Network Technology Division at the Federal Communications Commission. He is a senior member of the IEEE, as well as a member of the ACM and the Internet Society. He has chaired and served on the program committees of numerous technical conferences including IEEE, DySPAN, ISART and TPRC. After leaving the FCC, he was the Chair of the Network Reliability and Interoperability Council steering committee, an FCC federal advisory committee that focuses on network reliability, wireline spectral integrity and Internet peering and interconnection. Dr. Sicker also served on the Technical Advisory Council of the FCC. His research interests include network and wireless systems, network security, and telecommunications policy. Dr. Sicker has research funded through the NSF, DARPA, the Internet Society and the Federal Aviation Administration. Dr. Sicker holds a Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.

The SD Association has announced two new high-speed performance symbols for the fastest SDXC and SDHC devices and memory cards. The first symbol identifies products with bus- interface speeds up to 104 Megabytes per second for greater device performance. The second symbol identifies SD memory cards and products with a performance option allowing real-time video recording. According to the Association, with more than 2.5 billion SD memory cards in the market today, the new high-speed performance capabilities will co-exist with earlier SD memory cards still used by consumers, as those cards are still interoperable with the newest host devices. New SD memory cards and devices bearing the following new performance symbols may now begin entering the marketplace:

The new Ultra High Speed (UHS) symbol can be found exclusively on SDXC and SDHC products. SDXC or SDHC products with the UHS-I symbol offer the fastest bus-interface speeds available today, capable of supporting data transfer speeds up to 104 Megabytes per second. UHS-I quadruples the existing maximum possible speed of 25 Megabytes per second. UHS bus interfaces are backwards compatible. SDXC UHS-I and SDHC UHS-I memory cards achieve greatest performance when paired with a UHS-I device and allow consumers to record HD resolution videos, plus perform other simultaneous recording functions.

The new UHS Speed Class symbol can be found exclusively on SDXC UHS-I and SDHC UHS-I products. UHS Speed Class 1 designates SD memory cards and products with a performance option designed to support real-time video recording. This symbol will be found on SDXC UHS-I or SDHC UHS-I memory cards. Consumers can realize the full potential of recording real-time broadcasts and capturing videos using a digital video camera by pairing their devices with UHS Speed Class 1 memory cards.

The existing Speed Class symbols for non-UHS SD, SDHC and SDXC products are Class 2, Class 4, Class 6 and Class 10. They refer to the minimum write speed performance of the memory card. The symbols may be found on memory cards and devices, including video and digital cameras.

Millions of Chinese language users will soon be able to access the Internet using Chinese script following a decision today by ICANN’s Board of Directors to approve a set of Chinese language internationalized domain names. “This approval is a significant change for Chinese language users worldwide,” said Rod Beckstrom, President and Chief Executive Officer of ICANN. “One fifth of the world speaks Chinese and that means we just increased the potential online accessibility for roughly a billion people.” The new IDN country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) and the associated organizations approved by the Board are:

- CNNIC (China Internet Network Information Center)
- HKIRC (Hong Kong Internet Registration Corporation Limited)
- TWNIC (Taiwan Network Information Center).

The Federal Communications Commission for the first time has released comprehensive information about subscribership to interconnected Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service. Interconnected VoIP service represents an important and rapidly growing part of the U.S. voice service market and the new data will provide the Commission with a comprehensive picture of that market going forward. Interconnected VoIP service enables voice communications over a broadband connection and allows users both to receive calls from, and place calls to, the public switched telephone network, like traditional phone service. Providers of the service include companies like Vonage as well as cable and telephone companies that own their own networks. The new information released today is included in the FCC’s Local Telephone Competition report, which also includes information about more traditional telephone lines provided in previous reports. Because interconnected VoIP subscribers were not comprehensively included in earlier data collections, certain of the report’s summary statistics are not directly comparable to the statistics for earlier dates.

Report highlights include:

- At year-end 2008, there were 141 million traditional switched access lines in service and 21 million interconnected VoIP subscriptions in the United States, or about 162 million wireline retail local telephone service connections in total. Of these, 97 million were residential connections and 65 million were business connections.
- Of the 162 million total connections, 48% were residential switched access lines, 39% were business switched access lines, 12% were residential VoIP subscriptions, and 1% were business VoIP subscriptions.
- Of the 162 million total connections, 45% were residential lines and 28% were business lines owned by incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs), while 15% provided non-ILEC residential service, and 12% provided non-ILEC business service.
- Of the 97 million wireline residential connections, 74.5% were ILEC switched access lines, 19.5% were non-ILEC interconnected VoIP subscriptions, 5.8% were non-ILEC switched access lines, and 0.3% were ILEC interconnected VoIP subscriptions.
- Of the 65 million wireline business connections, 70.1% were ILEC switched access lines, 26.8% were non-ILEC switched access lines, 2.7% were non-ILEC interconnected VoIP subscriptions, and 0.4% were ILEC interconnected VoIP subscriptions.

3D TV and 3D Blu-ray standalone player revenue in the U.S. has exceeded $55 million in the first three months since the launch of these products in February, according to market research company The NPD Group’s Retail Tracking Service. “3D TV and Blu-ray players are seeing steady growth even as major product line launches are slated for the coming months,” said Ross Rubin, executive director of industry analysis at NPD. As more consumers adopt 3D, the industry can help foster a 3D ecosystem similar to that of HD.” One inhibitor to adoption of 3D TV at home is the need to wear special glasses when watching 3D TV. These glasses can add significant cost and work only with their brand of television. Only 10 percent of consumers surveyed in The NPD Group’s Analyst Poll of NPD Panelists cited “looking silly” as a main concern of the glasses, whereas 41 percent cited not having enough glasses on hand for everyone watching the set. “3D TV will be a premium home entertainment experience in 2010,” said Rubin. “Many consumers have already shown that they are willing to use special glasses to obtain the effects, but want to preserve the social aspect of the group television viewing.”

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) has announced the ratification of IEEE 802.3ba 40Gb/s and 100Gb/s Ethernet, a new standard governing 40 Gb/s and 100 Gb/s Ethernet operations. An amendment to the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet standard, IEEE 802.3ba, the first standard ever to simultaneously specify two new Ethernet speeds, paves the way for the next generation of high-rate server connectivity and core switching. The IEEE 802.3ba standard, ratified June 17, addresses challenges such as the growing number of applications with demonstrated bandwidth needs far exceeding existing Ethernet capabilities by providing a larger, more durable bandwidth pipeline, according to IEEE. Collaboration between the IEEE P802.3ba 40Gb/s and 100Gb/s Ethernet Task Force and the International Telecommunication Union’s Telecommunication Standardization Sector Study Group 15 is intended to ensure that these new Ethernet rates are transportable over optical transport networks, the organization said. John D’Ambrosia, chair of the IEEE P802.3ba Task Force and director of Ethernet-based standards at Force10 Networks, said through a statement that IEEE 802.3ba would eliminate bottlenecks caused by the growth of bandwidth-intensive applications more powerful server architectures by providing a scalable architecture for meeting current bandwidth requirements and laying a solid foundation for future Ethernet speed increases. "This is truly a forward-looking standard that will spur innovation at every point along the Ethernet value chain, as well as providing the essential architecture needed to facilitate greater broadband connectivity on a global scale,"said David Law, chair of the IEEE 802.3 Working Group. "IEEE 802.3ba ensures that we can meet today’s needs while preparing for the next generation of emerging technology developments." IEEE 802.3ba remains compatible with existing IEEE 802.3 installations, IEEE said. The new standard is also expected to generate concrete benefits, such as lowered operating expense costs and improved energy efficiencies, by simplifying complex link aggregation schema commonly used in today’s network architectures, according to IEEE.

Flash memory card maker SanDisk today announced that it is shipping in volume its 1GB “write once read many” (WORM) cards to Japan’s police force. Using the SanDisk SD WORM card, law enforcement officers can create unalterable, permanent photographic records that serve as resources during investigations or as potential evidence during trials. In Japan, where there is no statute of limitations for certain serious crimes, the ability to retain evidence for many decades is a must. Traditionally, forensic images have been stored on 35mm film, which degrades over time, is slow, inconvenient and increasingly difficult to procure. In comparison, digital storage on the SanDisk SD WORM card offers a fast, convenient and readily available alternative. According to SanDisk, the SD WORM card meets the new archival demands for mobility, long-term preservation, data integrity and ease of use. SanDisk's proprietary SD WORM controller technology instantly protects any files written to the device, preventing the alteration or deletion of stored data. The card stores files safely for up to 100 years, as shown by accelerated data retention internal testing, and delivers a lower total cost of ownership compared to other archival media. The company said Japan's police force is one of the first major agencies to adopt this solution, and other law enforcement organizations around the world are qualifying the product as its features are universally valued for securing digital evidence. "Tamper-proof storage protects law enforcement officers by guaranteeing the legitimacy of evidence that we collect and deliver to the district attorney," said Jim Shirk, Captain, Twin Cities Police Authority, Larkspur, California. "An unalterable and highly reliable archive eliminates the chance of accidentally deleting a crucial file, and ensures that evidence is accessible over a long period of time. Adopting this type of storage as our standard archiving media is a necessary step in maintaining a modern and effective police force." Any SD-compatible device can read SD WORM cards, but only hosts with SD WORM-compatible interfaces can write to the card. SanDisk is currently working with leading makers of imaging, audio and video recording devices to implement SD WORM compatibility. Beyond forensic image archiving, SanDisk expects its SD WORM technology to be widely adopted in crucial applications such as audio recording and long-term retention of legal documents and medical files.

Toshiba today announced the launch of an industry forum to promote a new SD card that integrates Wi-Fi wireless communication with data storage capabilities. The "Standard Promotion Forum for Memory Cards Embedding Wireless LAN" (provisional name) has been founded by Toshiba and Singapore-based Trek 2000 International Ltd.. According to Toshiba, as digital cameras achieve huge rates of market penetration, the need for quick and easy way to share photographs has grown. The new card offers an solution that brings new capabilities to the already very popular SDHC format. The card is designed to bring Wi-Fi functionality to digital still cameras that have an SDHC slot. Once in a camera, a card can recognize and communicate with the same type of card in another camera (on a one-to-one basis), and users can exchange photographs quickly and easily. It also allows users to upload and download photographs to and from a server without any need for a cable connection or transfers of the memory card. The new card is compliant with the SD memory card standard, supports IEEE 802.11b/g and has an 8-gigabyte capacity. It can transfer both JPEG and RAW images, the two most widely used digital formats. Toshiba said the company seeks to enhance and expand its memory business by proposing new applications for NAND flash memories. Toshiba and Trek invite digital camera manufacturers and other interested parties in promoting the card and exchanges of technical information toward establishing standard specifications.

Batteries might gain a boost in power capacity as a result of a new finding from researchers at MIT. They found that using carbon nanotubes for one of the battery’s electrodes produced a significant increase - up to tenfold - in the amount of power it could deliver from a given weight of material, compared to a conventional lithium-ion battery. Batteries, such as the lithium-ion batteries widely used in portable electronics, are made up of three basic components: two electrodes (called the anode, or negative electrode, and the cathode, or positive electrode) separated by an electrolyte, an electrically conductive material through which charged particles, or ions, can move easily. When these batteries are in use, positively charged lithium ions travel across the electrolyte to the cathode, producing an electric current; when they are recharged, an external current causes these ions to move the opposite way, so they become embedded in the spaces in the porous material of the anode. In the new battery electrode, carbon nanotubes - a form of pure carbon in which sheets of carbon atoms are rolled up into tiny tubes - "self-assemble" into a tightly bound structure that is porous at the nanometer scale (billionths of a meter). In addition, the carbon nanotubes have many oxygen groups on their surfaces, which can store a large number of lithium ions; this enables carbon nanotubes for the first time to serve as the positive electrode in lithium batteries, instead of just the negative electrode. To produce the powerful new electrode material, the team used a layer-by-layer fabrication method, in which a base material is alternately dipped in solutions containing carbon nanotubes that have been treated with simple organic compounds that give them either a positive or negative net charge. When these layers are alternated on a surface, they bond tightly together because of the complementary charges, making a stable and durable film. Lithium batteries with the new material demonstrate some of the advantages of both capacitors, which can produce very high power outputs in short bursts, and lithium batteries, which can provide lower power steadily for long periods, chemical engineering student and team researcher Seung Woo Lee says. The energy output for a given weight of this new electrode material was shown to be five times greater than for conventional capacitors, and the total power delivery rate was 10 times that of lithium-ion batteries, the team says. This performance can be attributed to good conduction of ions and electrons in the electrode, and efficient lithium storage on the surface of the nanotubes. In addition to their high power output, the carbon-nanotube electrodes showed very good stability over time. After 1,000 cycles of charging and discharging a test battery, there was no detectable change in the material’s performance. The findings, by a team led by Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering Yang Shao-Horn, in collaboration with Bayer Chair Professor of Chemical Engineering Paula Hammond, are reported in a paper published June 20 in the journal Nature Nanotechnology. The lead authors are chemical engineering student Seung Woo Lee PhD ’10 and postdoctoral researcher Naoaki Yabuuchi. Lee says that while carbon nanotubes have been produced in limited quantities so far, a number of companies are currently gearing up for mass production of the material, which could help to make it viable for large-scale battery manufacturing.

AV industry mounting solutions maker Chief, has announced a partnership with SurgeX, the leading supplier of professional AC power conditioning and surge elimination products for the professional audio, video, broadcast and multimedia marketplace. “We are excited to have SurgeX as our new partner,” said Steve Durkee, Vice President, Chief Commercial Products. “SurgeX has a great track record of providing unmatched protection technology and will enable us to help our customers protect and control power anomalies that can adversely affect equipment and system performance in any installation. Bundling SurgeX’s surge elimination products with our Raxxess Series Racks is an excellent way to add value for our customers, ” added Durkee. SurgeX is the leading manufacturer of AC power conditioning and surge elimination products, offering a complete line of AC power solutions for protection, power conditioning, and control of sensitive electrical and electronic equipment. The company’s patented Advanced Series Mode® protection technology is the only product line in the market that absorbs and eliminates surges, rather than using shunt mode surge suppression. SurgeX technology is A-1-1 Certified, is completely non-sacrificial, eliminates surge energy without producing harmful side effects such as ground contamination or common-mode disturbances, and protects AV equipment from AC surges and electrical transients that can disrupt sound quality and digital performance. “The SurgeX products will be a great addition to Chief’s new line of Racks, said Shannon Townley, SurgeX’s Senior Vice President of Sales. “By offering a fully integrated solution to the marketplace we expect customers to save valuable installation time, and enjoy the benefits of the best-bundled power and surge elimination rack solution that’s available today, ” added Townley.

The Federal Communications Commission this week released a comprehensive white paper which provides the capacity analysis behind the National Broadband Plan recommendations for the deployment and operation of a nationwide 4G wireless public safety network that allows first responders to seamlessly communicate across geographies and agencies, regardless of devices. The white paper, titled: “The Public Safety Nationwide Interoperable Broadband Network, A New Model For Capacity, Performance and Cost”, shows that the 10 MHz of dedicated spectrum currently allocated to public safety will provide the capacity and performance necessary for day-to-day communications and serious emergency situations. One study cited in the white paper shows that 10 MHz of spectrum can yield the same capacity as over 160 MHz if the correct technology, architecture, and devices are used. “Our goal is to bring true interoperable mobile broadband communications to America’s first responders,” said Jamie Barnett, Chief of the FCC’s Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau (PSHSB). “The FCC study shows how we can maximize capacity, performance, reliability and resiliency of public safety broadband communications even in the most extraordinary emergencies when life-saving response efforts are underway and communications demands are at their peak.” For the worst emergencies, the FCC has devised an innovative concept of priority access and roaming across the commercial broadband wireless spectrum that will make at least 50 or 60 MHz of additional spectrum immediately available to public safety. The white paper describes how 10, 20 or even 30 MHz of additional dedicated spectrum may not be sufficient to support public safety broadband communications in a major emergency, and how the priority access and roaming exceeds the public safety spectrum that would otherwise be available. Moreover, it provides public safety with dependability and back up support, which does not exist with a purely dedicated network. Barnett noted, “The key is capacity. Spectrum is only one factor. This plan provides extraordinary capacity to public safety, first with a dedicated network, backed with first-in-line privileges for public safety. This plan is like providing public safety with its own expandable, high speed lane, and it is a cost- effective investment in a national asset. Merely allocating an additional 10 MHz to public safety would be like building a separate, stand-alone highway system, and one so expensive that it would not even reach every community in America for years.”

Leaders from the Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) and HDMI Licensing, LLC, the agent responsible for licensing the High-Definition Multimedia Interface technology, have agreed to work together to clarify and simplify HDMI integration through a series of educational training seminars aimed at increasing CEDIA members’ knowledge of HDMI technology, its capabilities, and applications. CEDIA recently surveyed its membership to get a better perspective on the issues and concerns members have relating to HDMI implementation and how it affects their business. According to the survey, 66 percent of participants stated that 90 to 100 percent of their installations include HDMI technology. However, many respondents also reported issues. Through this new relationship, CEDIA and HDMI, LLC will work together to provide educational opportunities for CEDIA members on the best practices of HDMI system design and implementation. “The results of this survey point to the reason why CEDIA leadership is committed to working with HDMI Licensing and CEDIA members to improve these issues,” said Utz Baldwin, CEDIA CEO. Developing a training program and delivering solutions that address interoperability issues are two main priorities of the relationship. CEDIA and HDMI, LLC are planning to deliver joint training seminars in major U.S. markets including Los Angeles, CA; Sunnyvale, CA; Denver, CO; Chicago, IL; Houston/Dallas, TX; and New York, NY. At the Sunnyvale and New York locations the technician training seminars will be held in conjunction with the adopter and developer focused HDMI Technology Seminars, allowing the program to bridge the gap between product design and the implementation in the home. The dates for all locations are still pending. “Both organizations see the value of building reciprocal training programs and technical references to help CEDIA members succeed in their HDMI installations. We are eager to work with the HDMI organization and provide CEDIA members with a viable solution to help their businesses.”

Color management, measurement and communication technologies company X-Rite has announced that it has been chosen by SkillsUSA Competition to help introduce new color management and measurement skills to the Graphic Communications Competition on both regional and national levels. The Graphic Communications Competition will be one of 96 hands-on skill and leadership competitions, and will include an end-to end real-life production contest during which students will be asked to preflight a job and create production-ready files that match a provided sample. They will then have to demonstrate their pressroom operation skills including offset lithographic press preparation, plate installation and make-ready. Ultimately they will have to produce a four-color job on a two-color press. Other elements of the Graphic Communications Competition include production planning, finishing, an oral professional assessment and a technical knowledge test. Patrick Klarecki, Interim Director at the School of Design and Manufacturing Professor of Printing Management at Ferris State University explains: “This year, we are placing a whole new emphasis on color management. Historically, students had to prepare a 4-color job to be printed on a 2-color press, and that was it. When I came back from the international competition last year, there was a great deal of emphasis being placed on color management and color measurement during prepress and make-ready. It quickly became obvious that the European and the Asian education systems were somewhat further along in the teaching of color measurement by the numbers, even at the high school level. With X-Rite’s assistance, we are now able to introduce these concepts into the offset press operation for the first time here in the national American competition. Now, not only will the student have to run a press, but we are going to ask them to take density readings, L*a*b* color space readings and plot variances every 100 sheets, while the press is running.” As a major sponsor of Graphic Communications Competition, X-Rite has donated seven 528 spectrodensitometers for use during the competition. In addition, X-Rite will present a seminar for the educators to help them develop curricula featuring fundamentals of color management and the use of color measurement tools. X-Rite will also award prizes to secondary and post secondary medal winners including: an i1XTreme package for gold medal winners, ColorMunki Design packages for silver medalists and ColorMunki Create packages for bronze medalists. All participants will also receive X-Rite ColorChecker Passports to help them continue to hone their color measurement skills long after the competition is over. This year’s national SkillsUSA Competition will return to Kansas City June 21-25, 2010 for its 46th annual National Leadership and Skills Conference, a showcase for technical education students from across the United States. More than 14,000 students, teachers, educational leaders, and representatives from more than 1,100 national corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions will attend the event.

Cablevision Systems Corporation and Bresnan Communications, which is majority owned by Providence Equity Partners, today announced a definitive agreement under which a newly-formed subsidiary of Cablevision will acquire Bresnan in a transaction valued at $1.365 billion. Bresnan is the nation's thirteenth largest MSO with cable operating systems in Colorado, Montana, Wyoming and Utah that pass more than 630,000 homes and serve more than 300,000 basic subscribers. Cablevision President and CEO James L. Dolan said: "We believe the acquisition of Bresnan is an excellent opportunity to leverage Cablevision's strong management team and build shareholder value. Bill Bresnan was a cable legend and was close to so many in the industry, including the Dolan family. The Bresnan team has built an impressive cable business that performs well financially, and we look forward to working to enhance those systems further." Upon completion of the Bresnan transaction, Cablevision will gain advanced cable systems serving more than 300,000 basic subscribers through the delivery of high-quality services, including digital television, high-speed Internet and voice, across an upgraded fiber-optic coaxial network. For Bresnan, the transaction highlights its success in developing this market-leading telecommunications company. Financially, Cablevision expects that Bresnan will be acquired by a newly-formed, unrestricted subsidiary of Cablevision with standalone financing. The subsidiary is expected to be financed using non-recourse debt of approximately $1 billion and an equity investment by Cablevision of less than $400 million. "Since the early days of our industry, the Bresnan name has stood for exceptional performance and an unflinching commitment to customers, colleagues and community," said Jeffrey S. DeMond, Bresnan's President and CEO. "I could not be more proud of our team's accomplishments, nor more appreciative of the support of our great partners. Bill Bresnan would have agreed, and I speak for the entire family of Bresnan employees in expressing our confidence that Bresnan will enjoy continued success as part of the Cablevision family of companies." The completion of this transaction, which the company expects to happen in late 2010 or early 2011, is subject to certain customary closing conditions, including regulatory approval.

A federal grand jury in San Francisco returned a superseding indictment against the largest Taiwanese thin-film transistor-liquid crystal display panels (TFT-LCD) producer and seller, its Houston-based American subsidiary, and six of its executives for participating in a conspiracy to fix prices of TFT-LCD panels, the Department of Justice announced today. The indictment, returned last night and filed today in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, charges that AU Optronics Corporation participated in a conspiracy to fix the prices of TFT-LCD panels sold worldwide from Sept. 14, 2001, to Dec. 1, 2006. AU Optronics Corporation, its American subsidiary, AU Optronics Corporation America, and six AU Optronics’ executives, each a resident of Taiwan, participated in the conspiracy at various times during the alleged conspiracy time period. TFT-LCD panels are used in computer monitors and notebooks, televisions, mobile phones and other electronic devices. By the end of the conspiracy period, the worldwide market for TFT-LCD panels was valued at $70 billion. Companies directly affected by the LCD price-fixing conspiracy include some of the largest computer and television manufacturers in the world, including Apple, Dell and Hewlett Packard. Charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act, the maximum penalty for the conviction of a Sherman Act violation is 10 years in prison, a $1 million fine for individuals and a $100 million fine for corporations. The maximum fines may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine. As a result of this ongoing investigation, six companies have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to pay criminal fines totaling more than $860 million. Additionally, including today’s indictment, 17 executives have been charged to date in the department’s ongoing investigation. Charges are the result of a joint investigation by the Department of Justice Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office and the FBI in San Francisco.

The Panasonic Corporation announced today it will start taking orders for its professional-use ultra-large Full HD 3D plasma display panels (PDPs) on July 1, 2010. The displays include the world's largest 3D plasma display - a 152-inch model, as well as 103-inch and 85-inch models. According to Panasonic, to develop the new professional models, the company has advanced its unique technologies employed in its VIERA Full HD 3D plasma televisions that were launched in the consumer market this year. The technologies include an industry-highest native contrast ratio of 5,000,000:1 for excellent black reproduction; a high speed driving technology to achieve the PDP's full moving picture resolution and a crosstalk reduction technology; a crucial requirement for producing clear and crisp 3D images. Panasonic said the newly-developed ultra high-speed drive technology achieves clear and highly detailed 3D video even on the ultra-large panels, while also, the newly developed built-in "professional quality engine" has doubled the color reproducibility with 30-bit processing in comparison to conventional models. Offering a variety of 3D system solutions that will lead to the creation of new businesses, Panasonic continues to fulfill the needs of professional users such as corporations, stores, amusement facilities, educational institutions, art galleries and museums. Panasonic aims to accelerate 3D-based innovation within the global professional markets, in order to lead a 3D industry revolution by creating a new home viewing environment and a new video industry based on its 3D technologies. Shipments of the new displays will start first in the Japanese and American markets in autumn this year followed by other countries soon thereafter. The company will also put these new models on display at InfoComm 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada, from June 9-11.

Connectivity solutions provider Gefen this week announced that all its HDMI v1.3 products are now capable of using new Fast Switching Technology (FST). According to Gefen, this proprietary new technology emerged to better handle HDCP (high-bandwidth digital content protection) handshaking, which in the past could take up to ten seconds in transition when switching between sources. With FST enabled, those ten seconds have been reduced to nearly no delay when switching sources, with high definition video appearing on the screen or display immediately with no latency. “This new FST was initiated based on our customers’ feedback to speed the switching time between HDMI input sources, and make the overall system more user friendly,” explained Hagai Gefen, president and CEO, Gefen. “Though cutting down ten seconds may not seem like a long time, it was presenting challenges to installers when switching from component-based connections to HDMI, and now we have the perfect solution.” FST is currently being implemented on all current and newly developed Gefen products using HDMI specifications.

WHDI LLC, the organization responsible for managing and licensing the WHDI (Wireless Home Digital Interface) standard today announced the technical features that will be included in upcoming versions of the WHDI specification. Significantly, WHDI LLC will release a WHDI 3D specification update that will document WHDI support for all 3D formats required by the HDMI 1.4a specification. This release is targeted for Q4 2010. Currently, WHDI is the leading global standard for the wireless distribution of HD (full 1080p/60Hz) video, enabling the ability to connect HD sources (STBs, Blu-ray players, PCs, mobile devices, game players, etc.) to TVs throughout and across the home. A recent industry report from West Technology Research Solutions (WTRS), a leading wireless industry analyst, stated that WHDI technology will grow from nearly 70% of the 2010 market share for wireless video products to over 75% of the 2015 market. This contrasts sharply with other technologies that could be used for wireless video such as WiDi, WirelessHD and WiGig, where WTRS projects marginal uptake in the wireless video market. The WHDI specification currently supports a high-quality, wireless link which can deliver uncompressed 1080p/60Hz in a 40MHz channel in the 5GHz unlicensed band, conforming to worldwide 5GHz spectrum regulations. Range is beyond 100 feet, through walls, and latency is less than one millisecond. WHDI supports HDCP revision 2.0, providing superior security and digital content protection. Following the 3D update, the next version of the WHDI standard, “WHDI 2.0,” will include the following:

- Full 3D support (in addition to all HDMI 1.4a required 3D modes, WHDI will support the next generation 1080p 60Hzx2 3D format)
- Support for the next generation 2Kx4K HD format with four times the resolution of 1080p (4,096 x 2,160 pixels)
- WHDI-Wi-Fi integration and same channel co-existence
- Mobile device integration through reduced power consumption and footprint

MultiTouch, Ltd., developer of the world’s first modular multi-touch LCD screen for large-scale displays, and Riolab, a leading interactive display production firm, have collaborated on the largest multitouch display ever produced for a World’s Fair. The Wall of Chile (Muro de Chile) for the Chilean Pavilion at the Expo 2010 Shanghai China features a 4-meter-long (13’) and 1.2-meter-high (4’) display wall that enables visitors to access more than six hours of high-definition video and thousands of photographs from historical archives, including satellite, natural, and terrestrial images that detail Chile’s culture and character. More than 400 authors and hundreds of public and private institutions directly contributed to the wall, which features a large map of Chile as the 16.5 Megapixel main interface, and then offers headshots of 36 people for access to further information. Images and text are uploaded to the Wall of Chile web site, and appear in a grid at the bottom of the screen and are automatically updated every 24 hours. Designed by Francisco Arevalo and his team in Santiago, Chile, with technical integration led by MultiTouch CTO Tommi Ilmonen, the Wall of Chile was developed over a four-month period. The MultiTouch Cell product, a 46-inch stackable LCD display, was programmed using the MultiTouch Cornerstone software, which enables dynamic integration of applications. “The vision of a global interactive experience shared by thousands of people, with information dynamically updated, is what the MultiTouch system was developed to nurture,” said Petri Martikainen, CEO of MultiTouch Ltd. “Working with Riolab, we have implemented a global collaborative display that is the first true massive real-time multitouch installation of its kind for the Wall of Chile presentation.” MultiTouch will demonstrate its MultiTouch Cell product at the Infocomm 2010 convention in Las Vegas, from Wednesday, June 9 through June 11 in Booth #N402 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The wall will appear at the Chilean Pavilion through October 31, 2010. See the Wall of Chile video.

According to a recent report from market research firm Research and Markets, the global consumer electronics industry is set to witness phenomenal growth in the near future after the moderation of tough economic conditions. The prospective growth in the consumer electronics industry could be attributed to revolutionary technological developments. The digital technology revolution has enabled the industry to make profit from the growing interaction of digital applications, such as camcorders, DVD player/recorder, digital camera, etc. With these technological advancement, the global consumer electronics industry generated revenue of around US$ 694 Billion in 2008. The report, “Global Consumer Electronics Market Forecast to 2013” has predicted that the global consumer electronics industry will grow at a CAGR of around 5% during 2010–2013. During this time period, we expect that 3D TV will experience the highest CAGR of around 118% because manufacturers begin to implement 3D as a standard feature in their HD flat-panel product lines. The report also found that the American region (mainly the US) is driving the global consumer electronics industry, closely followed by the EU. However, the growth pattern will change in future, with the emergence of Asia Pacific as the major contributor for the industry due to increase in demand from the developed countries. For instance - India is expected to grow at a CAGR of around 19% during 2010-2013. The firm also expects that the continuous development of digital technologies will add new features and improve quality of electronic devices. Moreover, the connectivity and mobility also play a vital role in accelerating the industry growth rate as younger generation is fascinated by such features. These factors indicate that the consumer electronics industry has bright future ahead, particularly in countries like China and India where the economy is moving at a fast pace.

Panasonic Corporation announced it establishes a Panasonic 3D Innovation Center in Japan today to accelerate the development of its 3D business, a technology that is expected to create a whole new video culture and industry. This center will serve as a contact point for customers related to the 3D business by coordinating the various departments within the Panasonic Group, in order to provide said customers with optimum solutions in this business. Through this initiative, Panasonic aims to achieve growth in its network AV business, one of the company's key business fields, and contribute to the expansion of the 3D industry as a whole. In this year said to be the "First Year for 3D" and with the commercialization of a series of 3D products for consumer use, Panasonic foresees the expansion of 3D technology not only within the audiovisual field, but also into a diverse range of industries that will include healthcare, education, and arts. Panasonic expects 3D technology will, like IT technology, serve as a key structural element expanding within a wide range of social infrastructure. With such a trend, the industry will require a wide range of End-to-End technology solutions ranging from 3D contents to device solutions. To acknowledge the movement, Panasonic's 3D Innovation Center will make use of the technologies and know-how cultivated up to now for a swift and targeted contribution. This center will exercise the comprehensive strengths of the Panasonic Group to the greatest, properly applying corporate resources and building an organizational structure in aims to supply total solutions to its 3D customers including corporations, other organizations, and specialists. It is scheduled to become fully operational on July 12th of this year, focusing its current activities within Japan.

Specifically, the center will focus on the following three key areas:

1. Total coordination of the 3D business, from contents production to device solutions, to help customers create and maximize their business opportunities

2. Supply a production/communication/viewing workflow for 3D contents to realize a high-quality, comfortable viewing environment

3. Innovation in both software/hardware and systems through above activities, and also targeted marketing innovation for the benefit of the customer

Kodak announced today the addition of two new films to its VISION3 family of motion picture products, reaffirming the company's commitment to film. The stock additions include a medium-speed, tungsten-balanced color negative camera film, and a color intermediate film optimized to work with digital post production technologies. KODAK VISION3 5213/7213 is a 200-speed, tungsten balanced film. According to Kodak, it features extended latitude, enabling cinematographers to record more details in highlights, and delivers finer grain for natural-looking images in the darkest areas. The emulsion is optimally designed for both controlled interiors and challenging high-contrast exteriors, and is available in all formats (65 mm, 35 mm, Super 16 and Super 8). Cinematographers who have tested the film report that it records cleaner whites and deeper black tones, offers enhanced latitude, and provides richer color saturation and natural skin tones. The new 5213/7213 stock joins the KODAK VISION3 500T 5219/7219 and 250D 5207/7207 camera negative films. The new intermediate film provides an improved bridge between KODAK negative films and KODAK print films. KODAK VISION3 Color Digital Intermediate Film 5254/2254 is designed for use with contemporary film recorders – both laser recorders and numerous CRT recorders that are still widely used in the marketplace. The imaging characteristics of this new intermediate film enhance the speed and efficiency of DI post production while rendering noticeably sharper images that more faithfully represent the intentions of filmmakers. KODAK VISION3 technology, introduced in November 2007, offers increased exposure latitude and color detail with noticeably reduced grain, especially in the brightest highlights and darkest shadows. The product line also produces cleaner film-to-digital transfers for post production. “Our customers demand the very highest image quality, and these new Kodak films help them achieve their creative visions better than any other image capture medium today,” says Kim Snyder, president of the Entertainment Imaging Division, and vice president of Eastman Kodak Company. “Our actions continue to demonstrate that Kodak remains committed to motion picture film, with more advances on the way.”

Today the Federal Communications Commission released the results of a survey on the consumer broadband experience. The survey found that 80 percent of broadband users in the United States do not know the speed of their broadband connection. The survey is part of the agency’s overall broadband speed initiative, which involves several bureaus and offices and is being coordinated by the Commission’s Consumer Task Force. Through the initiative, the agency will also measure the actual speeds that consumers receive and compare them to the speeds that broadband providers advertise. The survey found that no demographic group had good awareness of their home broadband speed (the survey asked specifically about download speed). But there were some demographic differences. For example, 71 percent of men do not know what speed they’re getting, while the figure is 90 percent for women. With respect to age, 73 percent of those between the ages of 18 and 29 do not know their home broadband speed, while the number goes up to 88 percent of people age 65 and over. Most Americans are satisfied with the broadband speed they are getting. Fully 91 percent of broadband users say they are “very” or “somewhat” satisfied with the speed they get at home. The comparable number for mobile broadband, which is not yet technologically capable of thesame speeds as home broadband, is 71 percent satisfaction. As a point of comparison, 92 percent of cell phone users are very or somewhat satisfied with their cell phone service overall. FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski said, “Speed matters. The more broadband subscribers know about what speeds they need and what speeds they get, the more they can make the market work and push faster speeds over broadband networks.” Today, the Consumer Task Force announced a new initiative that will help the FCC determine the broadband speeds consumers are getting in their homes, a key recommendation in the National Broadband Plan. the FCC is asking today for 10,000 volunteers to participate in a scientific study to measure home broadband speed in the U.S. Specialized hardware will be installed in the homes of volunteers to measure the performance of all the country’s major Internet service providers across geographic regions and service tiers. Anyone can register as a volunteer for this national test at www.TestMyISP.com. Volunteers will be able to track the performance of their own broadband service, as well as providing valuable data for the FCC, Internet service providers, and the public at large.

Corning Incorporated this week introduced its new Corning G-2000 green laser at the Display Week 2010 conference. According to Corning, the G-2000 green laser demonstrates the industry’s highest commercially available performance in optical power, efficiency, and bandwidth. As a result, it is well suited to meet the demands of the growing market for portable microprojection devices. Advancing from the company's first commercially deployed synthetic green laser for microprojection - the G-1000 - the G-2000 green laser is 30% brighter, 60% more efficient, and offers 20% better bandwidth than its predecessor. As microprojection moves toward mass adoption in the consumer electronics industry, performance requirements are becoming increasingly demanding. Device makers want projectors with brightness of greater than 10 lumens, wide-video graphics array (WVGA) resolution or better, and at least two hours of battery life. Generating 80mW of optical power enabling up to twenty lumens projection the G-2000 green laser meets the demands of future devices. “The microprojection market presents a very large opportunity for our customers. That’s why the development of a winning light-source solution — one that is bright, small, and easy on a battery – is so important,” said Thomas Mills, general manager, Green Lasers, Corning New Business Development. “The G-2000 is brighter, faster, and more efficient than any other green laser commercially available today. With these benefits, it can provide our customers a much needed competitive edge over alternative solutions, like LED-based projectors.” The Corning G-2000 green laser is currently being sampled by customers. Commercial production is estimated to begin later in 2010.

Sony announced today that it developed a super-flexible 80 μm-thick 4.1-in 121 ppi OTFT-driven full color OLED display which can be wrapped around a thin cylinder such as a pencil. According to the company, to create the display, Sony developed OTFTs with an original organic semiconductor material (a PXX derivative) with eight times the current modulation of conventional OTFTs. This was achived due to the development of integration technologies of OTFTs and OLEDs on an ultra-thin 20 μm thick flexible substrate (a flexible on-panel gate-driver circuit with OTFTs which is able to get rid of convetinal rigid driver IC chips interfering roll-up of a display) and soft organic insulators for all the insulators in the integration cuircuit. By combining these technologies, Sony successfully demonstrated the world's first OLED panel which is capable of reproducing moving images while being repeatly rolled-up - around a cylinder with a radius of 4 mm - and stretched. Sony said it will proceed with the development of the solution / print based process which manufactures display devices from organic materials that are easily dissolved in common solvents. This process requires fewer steps, and consumes materials and energy more efficiently - thus has a smaller environmental footprint - compared to the conventional high temperature vacuum semiconductor process which use inorganic, silicon materials. Sony also said it will continue to improve the performance and reliability of its new flexible organic displays because the application of these developments are expected to yield thin, light-weight, durable and mobile devices with enhanced form-factor. Sony will unveil the results of this development on May 27 at "SID (Society for Information Display) 2010 International Symposium" in Seattle, WA (May 23-28).

In an effort to break the global dominence of Adobe System's Acrobat software, San Francisco based Nitro PDF Inc. this week announced the release of Nitro PDF Reader, a free PDF viewer that also offers free PDF creation. According to the company, users of Nitro PDF Reader can add comments, annotations and markups for digital collaboration, fill and save PDF forms, stamp signatures, extract text and images, and type text directly onto the PDF file. "Nitro PDF Reader aims to revolutionize the PDF reader category, second only to web browsers in world popularity, with class-leading functionality and a ground-breaking user experience," said Chris Dahl, Nitro's CTO. "This was the next logical step for Nitro as we continue to amass the largest user base of free PDF software outside of Adobe and the technology we've developed for our premium products. This is our vision to provide a no-strings-attached, truly free PDF reader that does everything we believe users want and nothing they don't." While Nitro is already selling professional PDF software that competes with Adobe, the reader released on Tuesday is the first free offering to let users do more than simply read and print such files. The Nitro Reader interface is instantly familiar for Microsoft Office users, with visual representations of tasks and tools. The product also offers users customizable security
controls, including the option to completely disable JavaScript and individually manage PDF files' interactivity with and access to the Internet. Features include:

- 100% compatibility with other leading PDF readers and editors, including the Adobe Acrobat family of products.
- Context-intelligent UI and tools to allow navigation panels to appear only when relevant to the PDF file opened,
and move/select tools know when user is selecting text or images.
- Fill-in and save forms to easily bypass the process of filling, printing and then scanning for electronic delivery or archival.
- PDF File Creation from any existing software, using customized and preset output controls from within Nitro PDF
Reader or instant, one-click drag-and-drop creation onto the desktop icon.
- Typing tool to easily type text directly on any page, anywhere in a PDF file.
- Premium collaboration tools for comment and review, using sticky notes and text markup capabilities such as highlight, cross out or underline, reply to individual annotations and comments and sort individual users' contributions.
- Sign PDF files inapplication
without the need to print and password-protect multiple users' signatures.
- PDF Preview for email clients that integrates a preview window in Microsoft Outlook (Vista and later) to instantly view the content of PDF attachments without saving and opening the file.
- Snapshot tool that copies a selected area on any page directly to clipboard to easily repurpose any PDF content
for only what is needed.
- Disable JavaScript functionality to prevent unauthorized access to your computer via malicious coding in PDF
files.
- Restrict web access capability that allows a list of specified web sites to interact with PDF files opened or
completely restrict internet activity from within all PDF files.

Broadcast Australia has become the first to broadcast three-dimensional television (3D TV) signals terrestrially over the air. The trial 3D TV service was switched-on in Sydney by Broadcast Australia and in Brisbane by TX Australia at 12am May 19. The landmark 3D broadcast service launches a two-month trial undertaken by Nine Network Australia and SBS Corporation. The service will be turned-on progressively in seven major Australian cities over the next few weeks. As transmission partners in these cities, Broadcast Australia and TX Australia will deliver to Australian fans up to 15 matches from the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, plus three rugby league matches from the 2010 State of Origin Series between NSW and Queensland, live in 3D. In a fast-tracked engineering project, Broadcast Australia has modified several of its broadcast transmission systems to support the 3D TV signal, which is encoded using the latest MPEG-4 compression standard and utilises a side-by-side ‘frame compatible’ 3D transmission technique. These systems have been integrated into Broadcast Australia’s Network Operations Centre (NOC) in Sydney, for 24-hour monitoring and control of the 3D signal. The spectrum used for the trial is one of the ‘unassigned’ UHF channels in each city—in Sydney, it is the same channel vacated on 30 April 2010 by Broadcast Australia’s ‘niche TV’ trial service. “Broadcast Australia is thrilled to be involved in this trial and to broadcast the first-ever 3D TV content via terrestrial means,” said Broadcast Australia’s Managing Director Graeme Barclay. “We applaud the ACMA’s decision to grant the temporary license to Nine and SBS jointly, allowing Australia to help demonstrate the future possibilities for new broadcast technology platforms. It is this sort of innovation that highlights the need to reserve new broadcast spectrum for new broadcast services in the Government’s forthcoming spectrum plan.” The first live 3D free to air TV broadcast will take place on 26 May, when the first State of Origin match is scheduled to be played in Sydney. This will be followed by two more State of Origin matches and up to 15 World Cup soccer matches until the trial ends in mid July.

The Federal Communications Commission has adopted rules that will make available 25 megahertz of spectrum for mobile broadband service in much of the United States, while protecting adjacent satellite radio and aeronautical mobile telemetry operations. According to the FCC, mobile broadband promises to be a significant contributing factor for economic growth and job creation in the 21st century. To promote mobile innovation and investment, the National Broadband Plan recommends that the Commission make 500 megahertz of spectrum available for broadband use in the next 10 years, including 300 megahertz for broadband use in the next five years. The Report and Order adopted amends the Wireless Communications Service (WCS) rules to immediately make 25 megahertz of spectrum available for mobile broadband services. The existing WCS rules constrain operations to fixed services, but the Commission found today that those rules can be revised to allow mobile broadband services without risking harmful interference to neighboring operations. To provide certainty for licensees while maintaining high-quality satellite radio services to the American public, the Commission adopted rules permitting the use of terrestrial repeaters by Satellite Digital Audio Radio Service (SDARS) licensees at the same time. The Commission also adopted enhanced build-out requirements for WCS licensees, to ensure that the promise of mobile broadband is realized. These requirements are designed to spur investment that will promote the deployment of innovative mobile broadband services across the country.

Together, the Orders establish a regulatory framework for the co-existence of WCS and SDARS licensees in the 2.3 GHz frequency band in the following manner:

The Sony Corporation and Google Inc. have announced an alliance to provide a range of new entertainment experiences that combine Google’s open-source Android OS platform with Sony's line of consumer electronics for the home, mobile and personal product categories. As the first step in this collaboration, Sony will introduce “Sony Internet TV,” the world’s first TV to incorporate the "Google TV" platform. Through an easy-to-use interface, consumers will be able to search and access content from their TVs and across the Internet – a rich Internet experience on consumers’ TVs. According to Google, the two companies are also exploring extending the alliance in connection with Sony’s wide range of entertainment assets to establish new forms of cloud-based user experiences. “The combination of Sony’s industry-leading product design, engineering and development expertise with the flexibility and growth potential of Google’s innovative, open-source Android platform will provide consumers with a world of new and exciting Internet user experiences. Through this alliance, Sony will deliver new levels of connectivity and Internet integration across our range of assets and product categories,” said Howard Stringer, Chairman, President and CEO, Sony Corporation.“Sony Internet TV” is scheduled to first launch in the U.S. the Fall of 2010 with the lineup featuring both a standalone TV model and set top box-type unit incorporating a Blu-ray Disc drive.

Panasonic has achieved the cumulative sales quantity for its dual-wavelength high-power laser for DVD recorders to 300 million units in April, 2010. The production of dual-wavelength high-power laser started the first time in the industry in June 2006. Now, under the favorable demand of the personal computers, Panasonic said that it would increase monthly production to 25 million units (300 million annually) for the latter half of this fiscal year. According to Panasonic, the dual-wavelength high-power laser has been highly reputed for its quality and stable supply. The device offers several advantages in comparison to the use of single wavelength lasers as it combines two laser wavelengths, an infrared beam (with a wavelength of 780 nm, for CD use) and a red beam (with a wavelength of 650 nm, for DVD use), in a single chip. As result, light source point adjustment is unnecessary, the optical pickup system can be simplified, and the number of peripheral parts can be halved. These benefits helped dual-wavelength lasers capture a high share of the total market for DVD recorder pickups and achieve the sales of 300 million units in the four years since production started. In fiscal 2010, production will be doubled to 25 million units per month to meet the market demands supported by the robust business of personal computers in the BRICs markets. This volume represents more than 80% of the projected total market size for DVD recorder pickups. Panasonic said it hopes that this production plan will fulfill customers' demands and contribute to the steady growth of the laser disc market.

In an effort to bring together the elements needed – materials, technology and equipment – to mass produce OLED displays, delivering higher performance at a lower cost, DuPont and Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Co., Ltd., have announced a strategic alliance to develop integrated manufacturing equipment for printed organic light emitting diode (OLED) displays. OLEDs are displays in which pixels are created using thin films made of emissive organic materials. Compared with liquid crystal displays (LCDs), OLEDs can have much higher contrast ratios, lower power consumption (because pixels draw power only when they are in use), faster response time, and eliminate the need for the backlight and color filter. Small-size active matrix OLED displays have recently become available from several manufacturers, but the current high-cost of manufacturing limits market adoption, and constrains OLED manufacturing for large size displays. The companies are developing integrated coating and printing equipment for the fabrication of OLED displays from solution, an approach which is unique in the industry and can significantly reduce manufacturing costs for OLED displays. DuPont brings to the alliance its distinctive small molecule-based OLED solution materials and proprietary process technology from which excellent performance has been obtained in testing. Dainippon Screen has developed a unique printing technology, called nozzle printing, in which the OLED materials can be printed accurately at very high speed. The goal of the partnership is to develop integrated OLED printing and coating equipment that will significantly reduce the production costs of flat panel displays, with the aim of extending OLED technology to large size displays and making them cost-competitive with LCDs. The companies have been working together over the past three years to jointly develop nozzle printers as an efficient method for printing OLED displays from solution. The first production scale printer is currently being constructed. "The flat panel display market is about $100 billion annually and growing. DuPont is applying its science to make possible more vivid displays that are lower cost than current LCD displays,” said David B. Miller, group vice president, DuPont Electronic & Communication Technologies. “We are excited to combine our strengths with Dainippon Screen’s unique printing technology to bring to market the core technology that will enable improved high definition televisions and other flat panel displays."

While dismissed by many as a technology on its last legs, Plasma TV Q1 2010 sales results once again proved the skeptics wrong. Quixel Research’s Q1 2010 USA Large Area Display Report revealed that unit sales of Plasma TVs grew 14% from Q1’09 to Q1’10 or a larger volume increase than the LCDTV 40”+ category for the same time period. “Plasma TV sales are still strong because they provide a great value, and when consumers do a little homework, they understand that Plasma TVs offer picture quality that is just as good and sometimes better than LCDTVs,” stated Tamaryn Pratt, Quixel Research’s principal. “It also helps that almost all the Plasma TVs available today are offered by top tier brands and for many consumers that seals the deal.” The overall Large Area Display category was up 7% in units year to year, with LCDTV 40”+ volumes increasing 6% for the same time period. Typical seasonal decline and a recessionary marketplace were the primary contributors to the 32% Q2Q unit shortfall for the Large Area Display category in Q1’10. From Q4’09 to Q1’10, LCDTV volumes were down 24%, Plasma TV volumes were down 46% and MicroDisplay Rear ProjectionTV volumes were down 21%. Revenues for the Large Area Display category were off 32% Q2Q but had a softer landing Y2Y with a 13% declined from Q1’09 to Q1’10. Increased sales of 55” and 60” models were the fuel for the LCDTV category and overall Large Area Display category in Q1’10. Sales of 55” LCDTVs were up close to 600% Y2Y and down only 7% Q2Q. Signaling a major shift, 55” LED models outsold 55” CCLF models for the first time during the quarter.

The WirelessHD Consortium has announced immediate availability of the WirelessHD 1.1 specification. First announced this January at the Consumer Electronics Show, this next generation WirelessHD specification enables HDTVs, Blu-ray disc players, PCs and portable devices to transmit, share and display content in billions of colors with 60 GHz wireless lossless A/V support as well as instantaneously transfer large multi-gigabyte media files among a variety of devices. According to the Consortium, this update ensures WirelessHD technology will continue to extend its utility and evolution ahead of future consumer demands. Supported by more than 45 global technology industry leader, products implementing WirelessHD 1.1 technology will be backward compatible to those products using WirelessHD 1.0 technology.

The WirelessHD 1.1 specification includes the following updates:

- Optimized architecture to handle multi-gigabit data rates for A/V streaming and file transfer
(Wireless Personal Area Networking or WPAN) at lowest link power.
- Highest data rates: The next generation specification increases the data rate to 10 – 28 Gbps, an unprecedented level of wireless bandwidth. This will support the demands of future high definition display devices, such as higher resolutions, Deep Color and high frame rates, as well as high speed data applications.
- 3D over WirelessHD: The new specification will define common 3D formats and resolutions for WirelessHD-enabled devices.
- 4K resolution support enables devices to support HD resolution four times beyond that of 1080p. This feature allows the WirelessHD interface to transmit content at the same resolution as many digital theaters.
- WPAN Data support: Connected devices that include this feature supports sync’n go file transfers for portable and fixed devices. This new specification also provides for IP connectivity for Internet access and networking of WirelessHD devices.
- Portable device support: The scalability of WirelessHD technology has been extended to support lossless video streaming in low-power portable devices such as portable media players, netbooks and smartphones.
- HDCP 2.0 content protection over WirelessHD: In addition to DTCP, both the current and future versions of WirelessHD will include support for HDCP 2.0 content protection. WirelessHD is the only standard to support both streaming and copying of multimedia content.

Hitachi Maxell, Ltd. and Tokyo Institute of Technology today jointly announced the collaboratively development of ultra high capacity tape media featuring a capacity of over 50 TB per standard tape cartridge. The joint team demonstrated a world-record areal density of 45.0 Gb/in2 in linear formatted perpendicular magnetic recording media. This technology enables a capacity of more than 50 TB per standard tape cartridge - 33 times larger than the capacity of the latest available LTO Ultrium 5 data cartridges. The coating type media, which is made by coating the magnetic powder on the base film, is commonly used for archive in public libraries, public records offices and the long-term storage. In order to increase the capacity of these type of media developers had to create an ultra-thin film with magnetic particles sized below 10nm. This was very difficult to achieve using coating methods. Hitachi's super-high density nanometer-sized magnetic film was developed by combining Maxell's tape medium design/evaluation technologies and a new thin-film formation method (Facing Targets Sputtering method), developed by associate professor Shigeki Nakagawa and team at the Tokyo Institute of Technology. The method allowed Hitachi to make a large-capacity magnetic tape with ultra-small magnetic particles (less than 10nm). As a result, the areal recording density of the new tape medium reached the 45.0 Gb/in2. Using this film in typical data tape cartridge media offers a capacity of 50TB per cartridge or even more. Hitachi confirmed a linear recording density of 531 kbpi and a track pitch of 300 nm without cross-track interference using a newly designed tester. Hitachi will present these developments at the 9th Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Conference (PMRC 2010; May 17 - 19, 2010, Sendai, Japan).

The Sharp Corporation has developed a 3D camera module for mobile devices capable of capturing high-definition (720p) 3D video images, what the company claims is an industry first. 3D images are composed of two views taken using two cameras that simultaneously capture separate images for the right and left eyes. Consequently, a 3D camera requires peripheral circuitry to apply image processing to the two images, for example, to adjust color or to correct positioning between the images from the two cameras. Manufacturers have thus been pursuing designs that reduce the size and weight of 3D cameras and seeking ways to shorten their development period. The current 3D camera module developed by Sharp incorporates functions to process the image data output by the left and right cameras, including Color Synchronizing Processing to adjust color and brightness, Timing Synchronizing Processing to synchronize the timing of the video signals, and Optical Axis Control Processing to correct positioning. In addition, Fast Readout Technology rapidly transfers video data from the image sensor, enabling 3D images to be captured in high-resolution HD mode. Further, in developing this camera module, Sharp applied high-density mounting technology nurtured over long years of experience in camera module development to achieve a compact form. Embedding this camera module in mobile devices such as digital cameras, mobile phones, and smartphones will contribute to the development of a wide range of new, innovative communications tools. In the future, Sharp will be opening up new 3D markets based on 3D display technologies, including small/medium-size and large-size 3D LCDs, as well as on 3D input device technologies such as 3D camera modules. The company said it will start shipping samples of the new module in July. Mass production of these modules will begin within 2010.

CBS Corporation and FOX Broadcasting have rejoined the National Association of Broadcasters, the companies announced this week. The announcement also includes the return of CBS's 29 television stations and 130 radio stations into NAB membership, as well as the 27 owned-and-operated Fox Television Stations and the MyNetworkTV programming service. As the primary advocacy organization in Washington for over-the-air broadcasters, NAB represents the interests of thousands of local radio and television stations, and now the following television networks: ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, ION Media Networks, Telemundo, and Univision. In regards to the announcement, Jack Abernethy, Chief Executive Officer of Fox Television Stations, commented: "The interests of our industry, our company and our viewers are best served by speaking with one voice on Capitol Hill, at the FCC and in the Courts. We look forward to working with Gordon Smith and the other member companies of the NAB toward our common goal of enhancing the enduring values of over-the-air television." "As the media landscape evolves ever more rapidly, over-the-air broadcasting faces a number of clear opportunities and some significant challenges," said Martin D. Franks, Executive Vice President for Planning, Policy and Government Affairs, CBS Corporation. "One of the very best ways to address these issues is through a resurgent NAB under Gordon Smith's leadership. We look forward to adding CBS's voice to NAB's efforts to preserve and enhance broadcasting on behalf of the public we serve." As part of today's announcement, Franks and Abernethy will serve as CBS and FOX's members of the NAB Board of Directors. "Today is a great day for broadcasting, for NAB, and for the tens of millions of Americans who rely every day on CBS, FOX and other broadcast programming for highly-valued content," said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. "Both CBS and FOX currently have superb advocacy arms in Washington. We are delighted by their vote of confidence in the NAB team, and we look forward to presenting a seamless display of broadcast unity inside the Beltway. Our challenges are many, but the mission of free and local broadcasting remains a worthy cause."

Global media and entertainment tracking service Media Control GfK, announced today the release of its 18 Territory 2009 Year End Summary and 2010 Home Video Forecast Report. "Despite global declines in DVD sales, the local economies of the international markets were not all down in 2009," said Brad Hackley, President of Media Control GfK USA. The report notes that 33% of the international territories experienced either positive or flat DVD & Blu-ray annual revenue performance in 2009. Germany and Sweden led all territories, followed by Switzerland and Australia. However, other leading markets, the U.K. and Japan, mirrored the U.S. with double-digit sales declines from the prior year. Other notable findings from the report estimate the number of Blu-ray units sold through to consumers is expected to increase this year on average nearly 70% across the key international markets. Media Control GfK's 2009 Year End Summary and 2010 Home Video Forecast Report provides estimated unit sales and gross consumer spending on DVD, Blu-ray, UMD & VHS for 18 territories. Media-Control GfK will release its International 3D and VOD forecast later this year.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), saying it was “in the public interest,” has approved a request by the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) to permit recent movies to be sent directly to American households over secure high definition transmission lines from their cable or satellite providers prior to their release on DVD or Blu-ray. “This action is an important victory for consumers who will now have far greater access to see recent high definition movies in their homes. And it is a major step forward in the development of new business models by the motion picture industry to respond to growing consumer demand,” said Bob Pisano, President and Interim CEO of the MPAA. “We deeply appreciate the recognition by the FCC that recently released movies need special protection against content theft when they are distributed to home televisions.” Specifically, the issue before the FCC was a request by the MPAA for permission to use selectable output control (SOC), which would allow televisions with digitally secure interfaces to receive high- definition content from a cable, satellite or IPTV provider, before its release on DVD or Blue-ray. Using SOC protects content because during the broadcast it essentially disables non-secure, analog outputs to avoid illegal circumvention and distribution of copyrighted material. In its order, the FCC said: “On balance, this limited waiver will provide public interest benefits — making movies widely available for home viewing far earlier than ever before — without imposing harm on any consumers.” “The first, and best way to view movies will always be in movie theaters — and nothing can replace the pleasure this brings to millions and millions of people all across our country and the globe,” Pisano said. “But for those people unable to make it to the theater and interested in viewing a recently released movie, thanks to the FCC, they will now have a new option. For other consumers who prefer standard, linear, on-demand or DVD or Blu-ray options, these services will be unchanged.”

The NEC Corporation announced today the development of a video content identification technology that the company claims detects illegal copies of video content uploaded to the Internet in a matter of seconds. This technology generates a fingerprint (video signature) to identify video content then compares video signatures to the signatures of original content in order to detect copies or altered versions. Therefore, altered video content, such as caption overlays, camera captured copies and analog copies, can be quickly and accurately detected. NEC's video content identification technology features the following:

- Accurate detection of copied or altered video content:
Video signatures are extracted for each frame based on differences in the luminance between sets of sub-regions on a frame that are defined by a variety of locations, sizes, and shapes. Video signatures represent a unique fingerprint that can be individually detected frame by frame. This technology is capable of accurately detecting video content with that was created with such, editing operations as analog capturing , re-encoding and caption overlay, which was conventionally very difficult to detect.

- A high detection rate and low false positive rate for all video contents:
By estimating confidence of signatures generated from each frame and using the confidence for sequence identification, the technology achieves a high detection rate with a very low false positive rate. These technologies achieved an average detection rate of 96% at a very low false alarm rate of 5ppm (5 in one million) through tests conducted by the international standardization organization.

- Detection of short video scenes:
Due to the high identification capability of signatures, the technology is capable of accurately detecting video scenes as short as 2 seconds (60 frames), which was formerly impossible when using conventional methods.

- Compatibility with home PCs:
By designing a compact signature size of 76 bytes per frame, the storage memory required for the matching process is minimized. As a result, a home-class PC can match approximately 1,000 hours of video in 1 second.

Blackmagic Design Inc. today announced that Deluxe Digital Media, a subsidiary of Deluxe Entertainment Services Group, has purchased and installed the company’s high-end Linux GPU-based DaVinci Resolve system at its Sherman Oaks facility. Deluxe Digital Media is one of the leaders in providing digital technology to the worldwide film industry. Deluxe provides a wide range of digital workflow solutions from HD telecine dailies to video mastering and is among the top companies offering telecine and digital cinema services. The Resolve will provide the ability to color correct in the 4K environment, and will be added to their existing suite of Resolve 2K systems. Resolve also handles real time grading of raw RED files. The addition of the new Resolve upgrade will allow Deluxe’s Sherman Oaks facility to improve workflow efficiency and productivity between projects working within different resolutions. “Our relationship with Blackmagic and their products has been excellent. The Resolve has allowed us to significantly enhance our flexibility and provide services we did not offer previously,” said Gray Ainsworth, Sr. Vice President of Operations for Deluxe Digital Media.

Video, audio and multimedia processing equipment maker TV One has announced that the company has extended the previous 2 year product warranty to a new limited product warranty of 5 years on Corio2 based products in the C2, 1T-C2, CX, A2, or S2 series. Dan Gibson, Vice President of TV One states, "The Corio2 product line has a track record with field proven results, and a solid reliability factor, and we now want to extend to our customers this 5 year warranty to further enhance the value of our products and to demonstrate our commitment to customer satisfaction." TV One also has increased the One Task product line (1T series) and all LCD monitors with a 3 year limited warranty. According to TV One, the new warranty periods are effective immediately.

According to a recent Yankee Group survey, consumers are beginning to consider over-the-top solutions, gaming consoles and other connected devices not only as supplements, but as viable alternatives to pay TV subscriptions. Yankee Group predicts that in the next 12 months, 1 in 8 consumers will cut or reduce their pay TV service and get their video elsewhere. The explosion of connected consumer devices that function as part of the video ecosystem is creating a new threat for pay TV operators. Like the concern over cord-cutting in voice services—and more recently with data services—video service providers in North America and Western Europe are facing consumers potentially cutting off pay TV service in favor of over-the-top (OTT) options. Admittedly, this is a small phenomenon now, but a number of recent transactions and news items point to a shift in consumer thinking and a rise in what the group calls “coax-cutting.” We believe we will see a gradual shift toward more potential coax-cutters due to the following trends:

- The introduction of connected TVs in 2010 and beyond
- The escalation of pay TV prices as operators continue to wrestle with higher programming fees
- The increased proliferation of connected consumer devices that can function as set-top boxes (STBs)

Industry-funded nonprofit home entertainment advocate Digital Entertainment Group, has announced the creation of a 3D Working Group to promote the latest developments in 3D home entertainment. Currently the Working Group includes representatives from DEG members Microsoft, Panasonic Consumer Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sony Corporation, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment and Warner Home Entertainment Group. According to DEG, the 3D Working Group’s efforts will embrace all of the 3D compatible products and content that will soon be available via a number of platforms, including Blu-ray 3D, cable, satellite and the Internet. This will enable both retailers and consumers to better understand each platform’s benefits, while creating a united messaging strategy that properly positions and promotes 3D at home. The new Working Group will coordinate consumer messaging with the DEG Communications Committee and create consumer education materials, including a glossary of 3D terminology. Additional initiatives will include helping to merchandise 3D at retail and exploring potential connectivity issues and audio enhancements with other industry groups. “The opportunities for 3D entertainment at home are virtually endless,” said Kris Brown, Chair, DEG 3D Working Group and Vice President, Worldwide High Definition Marketing, Warner Home Video. “We have a full agenda working with key industry companies in support of 3D and look forward to having our team help deliver the excitement of 3D to consumers.” To help drive this concept, the DEG will host a special 3D Forum on June 2 in Los Angeles. It will focus on the key factors affecting 3D development, distribution and deployment over a variety of consumer electronics and IT devices.

Technology giants HP and Palm, Inc. have announced that the companies have entered into a definitive agreement under which HP will purchase Palm, a provider of smartphones powered by the Palm webOS mobile operating system, at a price of $5.70 per share of Palm common stock in cash or an enterprise value of approximately $1.2 billion. The transaction has been approved by the HP and Palm boards of directors. According to the companies, the combination of HP’s global scale and financial strength with Palm’s unparalleled webOS platform will enhance HP’s ability to participate more aggressively in the fast-growing, highly profitable smartphone and connected mobile device markets. Palm’s unique webOS will allow HP to take advantage of features such as true multitasking and always up-to-date information sharing across applications. “Palm’s innovative operating system provides an ideal platform to expand HP’s mobility strategy and create a unique HP experience spanning multiple mobile connected devices,” said Todd Bradley, executive vice president, Personal Systems Group, HP. “And, Palm possesses significant IP assets and has a highly skilled team. The smartphone market is large, profitable and rapidly growing, and companies that can provide an integrated device and experience command a higher share. Advances in mobility are offering significant opportunities, and HP intends to be a leader in this market.” Under the terms of the merger agreement, Palm stockholders will receive $5.70 in cash for each share of Palm common stock that they hold at the closing of the merger. The merger consideration takes into account the updated guidance and other financial information being released by Palm this afternoon. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of domestic and foreign regulatory approvals and the approval of Palm’s stockholders. The transaction is expected to close during HP’s third fiscal quarter ending July 31, 2010. Palm’s current chairman and CEO, Jon Rubinstein, is expected to remain with the company.

Renesas Electronics this week announced the company's first blue-violet semiconductor laser diode with a wavelength of 405 nm and a new structure incorporating an optical waveguide into the semiconductor device, which enables high power output. According to the company, the new blue-violet semiconductor laser diode, part number NV4A61MF, can be used for Blu-ray disc recording and playback, and features a new inner-stripe structure in which the optical waveguide that substantially influences the quality of the laser diode is incorporated into the semiconductor. In this new structure, the optical waveguide is fabricated on a gallium nitride (GaN) substrate with approximately ten times improved accuracy and 20 percent increased heat dissipation compared to the conventional devices, in which the optical waveguide is formed on the surface of the laser chip. With this innovative structure, the new device provides offers high optical power output of 350 milliwatts (mW) suitable for 8x Blu-ray disc recording even at temperatures of up to 85°C. The current and optical output characteristics also provide excellent linearity from the low-output range through the high-temperature, high-output range. The new structure also reduces laser noise (output fluctuation) that occurs during playback to less than one third of the company's existing devices, realizing 5 decibel per hertz (dB/Hz) improvement. The Blu-ray disc drive market has been expanding rapidly as Blu-ray recorders achieved widespread adoption and increasing numbers of Blu-ray disc drives being incorporated in flat-screen TVs and PCs. The market is expected to grow continuously, with sales of 100 million units in fiscal 2011, growing by 150 percent from the previous year. Of these, the number of recorders, which require high output lasers, is expected to amount to 30 million units. The new NV4A61MF blue-violet laser diode is currently available for samples, priced at US$20 per unit. Mass production is estimated to begin in August, 2010 and is expected to reach 1,000,000 units per month by second half of CY2011.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski has announced the launch of a Spectrum Task Force to advance the FCC’s spectrum agenda and promote collaboration across the agency. Julius Knapp, Chief of the Office of Engineering Technology, and Ruth Milkman, Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau, will co-chair the cross-agency working group. “To lead the world in mobile, the FCC must ensure that our nation’s spectrum is being put to its highest and best use,” said FCC Chairman Genachowski. “Maximizing this essential 21st century resource will create jobs, drive economic growth, and encourage innovation and investment. The FCC’s National Broadband Plan lays out a comprehensive roadmap for promoting greater spectrum efficiency and flexibility, and ensuring sufficient spectrum for broadband. The Spectrum Task Force will keep us on this charted course.” The Spectrum Task Force will play a critical role in the execution of the spectrum recommendations in the National Broadband Plan, including long-term spectrum planning. The Task Force will include the Chiefs of the Enforcement, International, Media, and Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureaus, as well as the Chief of the Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis.

IBM scientists have created a 3D map of the earth so small that 1,000 of them could fit on one grain of salt. According to IBM, the scientists accomplished this through a new, breakthrough technique that uses a tiny, silicon tip with a sharp apex — 100,000 times smaller than a sharpened pencil — to create patterns and structures as small as 15 nanometers at greatly reduced cost and complexity. This patterning technique opens new prospects for developing nanosized objects in fields such as electronics, future chip technology, medicine, life sciences, and optoelectronics. To demonstrate the technique's unique capability, the team created several 3D and 2D patterns, using different materials for each one as reported in the scientific journals Science and Advanced Materials:

- A 25-nanometer-high 3D replica of the Matterhorn, a famous Alpine mountain that soars 4,478 m (14,692 ft) high, was created in molecular glass, representing a scale of 1:5 billion.
- Complete 3D map of the world measuring only 22 by 11 micrometers was "written" on a polymer. At this size, 1,000 world maps could fit on a grain of salt. In the relief, one thousand meters of altitude correspond to roughly eight nanometers (nm). It is composed of 500,000 pixels, each measuring 20 nm2, and was created in only 2 minutes and 23 seconds.
- 2D nano-sized IBM logo was etched 400-nm-deep into silicon, demonstrating the viability of the technique for typical nanofabrication applications.
- 2D high-resolution 15-nm dense line patterning.

With Ki Pro compatibility, Avid Media Composer and Symphony customers will be able to:

- Record hours of pristine Apple ProRes 422 QuickTime media to a removable storage module with built-in FireWire800 for immediate editing and file access on OS X
- Record natively to Apple ProRes 422, ProRes 422 HQ, ProRes 422 (Proxy) and ProRes 422 (LT) for full raster 10-bit 4:2:2 HD/SD
- Bridge proprietary compression schemes by recording to edit-friendly Apple ProRes 422
- Connect any digital camera via SDI or HDMI, or any analog camera with multiple input options
Convert in real time from SD to HD, or 720 to/from 1080, in full 10-bit quality
- Extend client review capabilities with simultaneous recording to camera and Ki Pro
- Extend productive life of existing cameras and embrace future workflows with powerful conversion capabilities
- Use built-in wireless 802.11 and Ethernet for complete control via a web-browser or iPhone
- Leverage new capabilities planned for summer 2010 including support for 8-channel embedded SDI audio, gang recording with multiple Ki Pro devices via web-based UI and RS 422 device control
“Opening up the Avid workflow to read native ProRes QuickTime files directly through the Ki Pro gives our customers access to new ways of working that increase productivity and reduce costs,” said David Colantuoni, senior product manager, Avid. “AJA Ki Pro is a great option for new workflows and empowers our customers to have more flexibility across their project pipelines.” AJA Ki Pro support within Avid systems is planned for availability in June 2010. The AJA Ki Pro has supported direct recording of Apple ProRes 422 QuickTime files within Apple Final Cut Pro since its release in 2009.

Paris based lcatel-Lucent today announced that its research arm, Bell Labs, has successfully demonstrated a technology that boosts the transmission speeds achievable over just two digital subscriber lines (DSL). In a lab test of “DSL Phantom Mode”, Bell Labs achieved downstream transmission speeds of 300 Megabits per second (Mbps) over distances up to 400 meters (or 100Mbps at 1km). At its core, DSL Phantom Mode involves the creation of a virtual or “phantom” channel that supplements the two physical wires that are the standard configuration for copper transmission lines. Bell Labs’ innovation and the source of DSL Phantom Mode’s dramatic increase in transmission capacity lies in its application of analogue phantom mode technology in combination with industry-standard techniques: vectoring that eliminates interference or “crosstalk” between copper wires, and bonding that makes it possible to take individual lines and aggregate them. “We often think of the role innovation plays in generating technologies of the future, but DSL Phantom Mode is a prime example of the role innovation can play in creating a future for existing solutions and injecting them with a new source of value,” said Gee Rittenhouse, head of Research for Bell Labs. “What makes DSL Phantom Mode such an important breakthrough is that it combines cutting edge technology with an attractive business model that will open up entirely new commercial opportunities for service providers, enabling them in particular, to offer the latest broadband IP-based services using existing network infrastructure.” According to Bell Labs, further research is being conducted to refine deployment models and determine a specific set of customer premises equipment (CPE)-models compatible with the DSL Phantom Mode technology.

This week, as part of Panasonic's group-wide commitment to taking the lead in bringing forth green innovation in the world as well as becoming the No. 1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry in Latin America, Panasonic Corporation and Panasonic Corporation of Latin America (PLA) announced the Eco Ideas Declaration for the region in Playa Matapalo, Costa Rica. Panasonic is striving to become the No. 1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronic Industry with a global perspective by 2018, the 100th anniversary of its foundation. To achieve this goal, the company is pursuing its Eco Ideas for Lifestyles by promoting sustainable and comfortable green lifestyles as well as Eco Ideas for Business-styles with aims to reduce the environmental impact of its operations to a maximum extent and spread technologies and ideas that are brought forth through such reduction efforts. According to the company, Panasonic is combining these environmental efforts and business growth. "There is a greater awareness of environmental issues in Latin America, the region rich in nature such as rain forests in Amazon and Central America," said PLA Chief Executive Officer Hidetsugu Uji. "To help conserve the natural environment, Panasonic pledges to reduce CO2 emissions by 10 percent from manufacturing and double the sales of our industry-leading environment-conscious products. We will also encourage Panasonic employees to lead the conservation efforts in cooperation with local communities."

Mr. Uji further outlined the goals for Latin America under the declaration as follows:

- Eco Ideas for Lifestyles: Panasonic aims to double the regional sales of Superior Green Products by March 2013 in comparison with the level of the fiscal year ended March 2010. Superior Green Products, internally certified by Panasonic, are those that have achieved the industry's top environmental performance in terms of energy saving, effective utilization of resources and the management of chemical substances.

- Eco Ideas for Business-styles: Panasonic seeks to cut CO2 emissions by 10 percent in the region by March 2013 compared to the levels of the fiscal year ended March 2006. It will also designate an Eco Ideas Factory in the region by March 2012 as a model factory to implement Panasonic's environmental strategy that is focused on the two key themes: Eco Ideas for Lifestyles and Eco Ideas for Business-styles. The factory will play a pivotal role in spreading Panasonic's Eco Ideas through promoting participation in environmental communications and eco activities by its employees and the local community. Panasonic employees in Latin America will contribute to local communities by taking initiatives in driving environment-conscious and awareness activities together with the residents.

Samsung Electronics today week announced the industry’s first production of 20 nanometer (nm) class NAND chips for use in Secure Digital (SD) memory cards and embedded memory solutions. According to Samsung, this technology will allow the introduction of 32 gigabit (Gb) MLC NAND and will expand the company’s memory card solutions for smart phones, high-end IT applications and high-performance memory cards. Mr. Soo-In Cho, president, Memory Division, Samsung Electronics, said "In just one year after initiating 30nm-class NAND production, Samsung has made available the next generation node 20nm-class NAND, which exceeds most customers requirements for high-performance, high-density NAND-based solutions." He added, “The new 20nm-class NAND is not only a significant step forward in process design, but we have incorporated advanced technologies into it to enable substantial performance innovation.” Samsung’s 20nm-class MLC NAND has a 50 percent higher productivity level than 30nm-class MLC NAND. The write performance of a 20nm-class-based, eight gigabyte (GB) and higher density, SD card is 30 percent faster than the 30nm-class NAND and it delivers a speed-class rating of 10 (read speed of 20MB/s, write speed of 10MB/s). By applying cutting-edge process, design and controller technology, Samsung also has secured reliability levels comparable to 30nm-class NAND. The company said it is now shipping SD card samples to customers, that are built with 20nm-class 32Gb NAND, and will expand production later this year. Memory cards based in the 20nm-class will be available from 4GB through 64GB densities.

Global provider of batteries, chargers, lighting and other mobile power systems for the professional broadcast, video and film industries, Anton/Bauer has turned 40. Now a Vitec Group brand, Anton/Bauer was first founded in 1970 when Anton Wilson, a former ABC cameraman and George Bauer, an electrical engineer formed a partnership to furnish the broadcast industry with reliable battery power. Prior to Anton/Bauer’s entrance to the market, dependable power solutions were almost non-existent. Using Anton’s real-world experience, Bauer was able to engineer the powerful solutions that pioneered the industry’s first smart chargers and digital batteries, yielding the company several patents for its advanced technology. From there, Anton/Bauer progressed to develop its signature InterActive digital batteries featuring the industry’s first viewfinder fuel gauge – a major innovation for the company. “It is truly thrilling to see what Anton Wilson and George Bauer were able to accomplish for the professional broadcast, video and film industries, and we are proud to continue their tradition of excellence,” says Michael Accardi, president, Anton/Bauer. “From humble beginnings as a partnership between an engineer and a cameraman, to worldwide success as the standard for battery power solutions in a wide variety of industries – Anton/Bauer has broken new ground in developing multi-chemistry battery solutions and really led the way for continued growth in the market." In 1997, Anton/Bauer was acquired by the Vitec Group, joining the ranks of other industry-renown brands serving the broadcast industry. Today, Anton/Bauer is headquartered in Shelton, CT, with major regional offices in Europe and Asia.

Hitachi Ltd. has developed a positive-electrode material that can double the life of the company's industrial lithium-ion (Li-ion) rechargeable battery using a manganese positive-electrode material. According to the company, the life of the battery was extended by replacing part of the manganese contained in the positive-electrode material with another element to stabilize the crystal structure and adding an acid-resistant composite oxide (an oxide that contains more than one metallic element) to the positive-electrode material to reduce the elution of manganese into the electrolyte. Hitachi prototyped a battery cell with the new positive-electrode material and concluded that it is possible to realize a battery whose capacity decreases at half the rate and whose life is twice as long (more than 10 years) compared with the company's existing battery cell. The material is expected to be used for storing electricity at renewable energy-based power plants such as wind-power plants as well as for supplying electricity to electric motor-driven construction machines, which can reduce CO2 emissions. This time, Hitachi prototyped the battery cell in collaboration with Shin-Kobe Electric Machinery Co Ltd. Li-ion rechargeable batteries are used mainly for consumer electronic devices such as mobile phones and mobile PCs. And many of them use a positive-electrode material composed mainly of cobalt (Co), which is a scarce resource. As an increasing number of Li-ion batteries are used for applications other than consumer electronic devices (e.g. electric hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles), the procurement of cobalt will become an issue. Therefore, Hitachi had an eye on manganese, which is abundantly available, as one of the candidates for a positive-electrode material composed mainly of a metal element other than cobalt. The company has been researching, for example, a lithium-manganese spinel material (LiMn2O4, which has a spinel structure. Though LiMn2O4 features a high operating voltage and is suited for storing electricity, its capacity lowers due to charging and discharging. It is possible to stably supply the new positive-electrode material at a low cost because it is composed mainly of manganese. Hitachi plans to enhance the performance of the battery cell by further improving the new positive-electrode material and the composition of the electrolyte in the aim of expanding its business of storage battery-related products.

Sony Corporation this week announced its "Road to Zero" global environmental plan. The plan, which includes a long-term goal of achieving a zero environmental footprint by 2050, uses backcasting methods to set specific mid-term environmental targets for the next five years in line with that goal. Sony's definition of zero environmental footprint is not only limited to the neutralization of carbon emissions, but also extends to waste and use of finite materials such as oil-derived virgin plastics. Targets are based on four environmental perspectives - climate change, resource conservation, control of chemical substances and biodiversity - across all product lifecycle stages, from research and development to recycling. The mid-term targets will be implemented globally across the Sony Group beginning in fiscal year 2011 (April 2011), and will extend through the end of fiscal year 2015 (March 2016), at which time new targets for the following 5 years will be set.

MatroxMatrox this week at NAB 2010, booth SL3920, demonstrated the new Matrox Multi input/output cards which, according to the company, bring a new level of channel density to Mac Pro and Apple Xserve systems. In a single PCIe slot, a Matrox Multi card provides up to four independent inputs or outputs with up to 16 embedded audio channels per SDI stream. User-selectable combinations of 3G, HD, SD, and Dual Link are supported. The Matrox Multi cards are designed to let users get the most from the valuable expansion slots in Apple systems and eliminate the expense of multiple systems in many applications. The features of the Matrox Multi cards make them the ideal choice for capture/playout servers, clip and still stores, character generators, graphics/production servers, and automation/master control units. The Matrox Multi cards are supported by the Matrox Software Development Kit (SDK) for Mac.

Key features of Matrox Multi cards for Mac:

- Single-slot, 3/4 length PCI-e x8 card fits into Mac Pros and Apple Xserve systems
- Video inputs: up to four multi-rate 3G/HD/SD SDI or two 3G level B, or two Dual Link, or two video + key
- Video outputs: up to four multi-rate 3G/HD/SD SDI or two 3G level B, or two Dual Link, or two video + key
- 10-bit hardware scaling engine supports up to four HD streams or eight SD streams
- 16 embedded audio I/O channels per SDI stream
- 4 unbalanced analog audio channels for monitoring
- Support for SDI ancillary data - ATC, AFD, CC
- Analog blackburst reference input (tri-level or bi-level) with loopthrough
- Automatic video bypass and A/V watchdog support
- Auto-detection of input video resolutions
- Onboard live video mixer with zero frame delay
- One analog LTC input
- RS-422 port for device control

The Matrox Multi is available in three different versions: Matrox Multi-Ingest - four-channel 3G/HD/SD input card, Matrox Multi-I/O - simultaneous, independent two-channel input and two-channel output 3G/HD/SD card, and Matrox Multi-Playback - four-channel 3G/HD/SD output card. Matrox Multi cards along with the SDK are available to developers now. Shipments to end users will begin in June 2010.

Markertek is at the NAB Show this week showing off what's new from us as well as some of the biggest names in the industry. We've brought our VPTR Series Mobile Video & Audio Production Trailer to the show, booth C5343, and new must-have solutions from Sescom, TecNec and Delvcam. If you can make it to NAB 2010, stop by and say hello, we would love to see you!

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. today announced that it has expanded its line of CMOS image sensors to include two new CMOS image sensors – the S5K6A1 and the S5K5B3 - for use in notebook computers and other devices requiring video capture. According to the company, Samsung’s new 1.3Megapixel (S5K6A1) and 2.1Megapixel (S5K5B3) imagers were developed with a strong emphasis on high-performance, real-time high-definition (HD) images at up to 30 frames per second (fps) at full resolution for internet video/image sharing and high quality VGA resolution for applications requiring video conferencing. “HD capable imagers are fundamentally changing the way consumers interact with their computers, making webcams a ‘must have’ feature in today’s notebooks and personal computers for high definition multimedia usage,” said Dojun Rhee, vice president, System LSI marketing, Samsung Electronics. “With an industry attachment rate of over 70 percent, we are fully committed to supporting this market segment with our advanced CMOS image sensors to provide consumers with quality images for video conferencing and sharp HD images.” The new imagers sensors support multiple platforms architectures and controllers with both parallel and MIPI interfaces. Using an embedded solid state auto focus enhanced depth of field (EDoF) function, the S5K5B3 imager is also designed to allow bar codes and business card reading without needing mechanical autofocus support, which is more costly and a larger module form factor. Samsung has already started shipping samples of the new CMOS sensors, and plan to begin volume production in the second quarter of 2010.

This week, HP announced that researchers from HP Labs, the company’s central research facility, have proven the existence of what had previously been only theorized as the fourth fundamental circuit element in electrical engineering. This scientific advancement could make it possible to develop computer systems that have memories that do not forget, do not need to be booted up, consume far less power and associate information in a manner similar to that of the human brain. In a paper published in today’s edition of Nature, four researchers at HP Labs’ Information and Quantum Systems Lab, led by R. Stanley Williams, presented the mathematical model and a physical example of a “memristor” – a blend of “memory resistor” – which has the unique property of retaining a history of the information it has acquired. Leon Chua, a distinguished faculty member in the Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department of the University of California at Berkeley, initially theorized about and named the element in an academic paper published 37 years ago. Chua argued that the memristor was the fourth fundamental circuit element, along with the resistor, capacitor and inductor, and that it had properties that could not be duplicated by any combination of the other three elements. Building on their groundbreaking research in nanoelectronics, Williams and team are the first to prove the existence of the memristor. “To find something new and yet so fundamental in the mature field of electrical engineering is a big surprise, and one that has significant implications for the future of computer science,” said Williams. “By providing a mathematical model for the physics of a memristor, HP Labs has made it possible for engineers to develop integrated circuit designs that could dramatically improve the performance and energy efficiency of PCs and data centers.”One application for this research could be the development of a new kind of computer memory that would supplement and eventually replace today’s commonly used dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Computers using conventional DRAM lack the ability to retain information once they lose power. When power is restored to a DRAM-based computer, a slow, energy-consuming “boot-up” process is necessary to retrieve data from a magnetic disk required to run the system. In contrast, a memristor-based computer would retain its information after losing power and would not require the boot-up process, resulting in the consumption of less power and wasted time. Another potential application of memristor technology could be the development of computer systems that remember and associate series of events in a manner similar to the way a human brain recognizes patterns. This could substantially improve today’s facial recognition technology, enable security and privacy features that recognize a complex set of biometric features of an authorized person to access personal information, or enable an appliance to learn from experience.Williams is the founding director of HP Labs’ Information and Quantum Systems Lab, which is focused on turning fundamental advances in areas of mathematics and physical science into technologies useful for HP. For the past 12 years, Williams and his team have conducted primary scientific research into the fundamental limits of information and computing, which has led to a series of breakthrough discoveries in nanoelectronics and nanophotonics.

Emmy-award-winning high speed imaging systems manufacturer, Photron USA has announced that the company will demonstrate the new Fastcam BC2, a high quality, high definition, high speed video camera designed specifically for the broadcast market. Applications include television broadcast, commercials, sports OB, and big-screen motion picture production. Drawing on knowledge gained from over thirty years experience in high speed imaging technology, including Academy and Emmy awards for technical achievements, and providing full 1080 HD resolution (1,920 x 1,080 pixels) at frame rates up to 2,000 frames per second (fps), the Photron Fastcam BC2 HD has been engineered to provide what Photron calls high quality, artifact free images, and set a new standard in high speed digital imaging. Andrew Bridges, Director of Sales and Marketing for Photron USA announced "From the 12-bit four mega pixel (2,048 x 2,048 pixels to 1,000 fps) advanced CMOS sensor to the camera's dual 'always live' HD-SDI outputs, the BC2 HD has been engineered to meet the requirements of a very demanding industry that has been forced to compromise for too long." The BC2 HD is compatible with Sony HD viewfinders, ARRI Matte boxes, and is available with industry standard PL and B4, Nikon F and Canon EF lens mounts, an ARRI broadcast tripod plate, and Photron's rechargeable battery packs/belt. The company plans to unveil the new camera at NAB Show 2010, April 12-15, booth # SL1514.

The NAB Show has announced the participants in a session titled "Putting the Final Touches on Next-Generation EAS." A joint presentation of the show's Broadcast Management Conference and Broadcast Engineering Conference, the session kicks off with opening remarks by Damon Penn, Assistant Administrator of the National Continuity Programs (NCP) for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The panel discussion, lead by moderator Larry Walke, associate general counsel, NAB, will make clear the important role that broadcasters play in Emergency Alert Systems (EAS). The session will also elaborate on whether station responsibilities could change as the government implements the next generation of EAS. FEMA is rolling out a new Common Alerting Protocol that will allow the same warning message to be delivered for many different warning systems, and the FCC is exploring a new process of required annual nationwide EAS testing. Attendees will learn more about these developments and what the impending changes could mean for broadcasters. Penn's opening remarks will focus on the implementation of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) and its impact on the EAS and broadcasters. Penn began serving in his current position in September 2009 when he joined NCP after retiring from the U.S. Army as a Colonel. His military career included senior staff positions, leadership of an advisory team in Iraq, and brigade and battalion commands. Penn's association with FEMA began in 2004 when he served as the Defense Coordinating Officer (DCO) for Florida. There he was part of the FEMA emergency response team, responsible for all Department of Defense assets, providing millions of pounds of relief supplies and other forms of support to assist the Florida emergency management effort. He also served as the DCO the following year in support of Mississippi's efforts during hurricane Katrina. According to NAB, the session will also feature initial remarks by Rear Admiral (Ret.) James Barnett, chief, FCC Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau. Panelists for the session include Antwane Johnson, FEMA division director and program manager; Suzanne Goucher, president and CEO, Maine Association of Broadcasters; Thomas Beers, chief, FCC Policy Division and Wade Witmer, FEMA deputy division director. The session takes place Wednesday, April 14 at the NAB Show in Las Vegas.

The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) today announced two new media specifications that use Blu-ray Disc technology to provide targeted functionality for commercial and consumer applications. The BDXL specification, which is targeted primarily at commercial segments such as broadcasting, medical and document imaging enterprises with significant archiving needs, will provide customers with write-once options on 100GB and 128GB capacity discs and rewritable capability on 100GB discs. The discs reach these capacities by incorporating three to four recordable layers. A consumer version of BDXL is also expected, particularly in those regions where BD recorders have achieved broad consumer acceptance. “Professional industries have expressed a desire to find optical disc solutions that enable them to transition away from magnetic media for their archiving needs,” said Victor Matsuda, Blu-ray Disc Association Global Promotions Committee chair. “Leveraging Blu-ray Disc to meet this need provides professional enterprises with a compact, stable and long term solution for archiving large amounts of sensitive data, video and graphic images using a proven and widely accepted optical technology.” The Intra-Hybrid Blu-ray Disc (IH-BD) incorporates a single BD-ROM layer and a single BD-RE layer so as to enable the user to view, but not overwrite, critical published data while providing the flexibility to include relevant personal data on the same physical disc. This allows for consumer specific applications where combining published content with related user data on a convenient, single volume is desirable. Both the ROM and the RE layers on IH-BD discs provide 25GB of capacity. Because both BDXL and IH-BD are specially designed formats with specific market segments in mind, newly-designed hardware is required to play back or record BDXL or IH-BD media. However, because the new media specifications are extensions of current Blu-ray Disc technology, future BDXL and IH-BD devices can be designed to support existing 25GB and 50GB Blu-ray Discs. The specifications for the new BDXL and IH-BD are expected in the next few months.

Osaka based, Sharp Corporation has developed a 3D touchscreen LCD that can switch between 2D and 3D modes. Users can view 3D images without the need to wear special glasses, making the LCD ideal for mobile devices such as digital cameras, mobile phones, and smartphones. According to the company, the newly developed 3D display which features the industry's highest brightness uses a parallax barrier system to display 3D images. This parallax barrier, which has a series of vertical slits, is incorporated into an ordinary LCD to control the path of light reaching the right and left eyes, thus creating a sense of depth. However, the conventional 3D LCD with this system had difficulty in displaying high quality images in 3D mode. Sharp said it significantly improved image quality by achieving both high brightness and low crosstalk thanks to advances in CG-Silicon technology and optimization of the parallax barrier. Advances in CG-Silicon technology have shrunk the wiring width within the LCD panel, allowing more light to pass and doubling the brightness (to 500 cd/m2, the industry's highest) compared to conventional models. Additionally, optimizing the parallax barrier design has increased the efficiency of light, thereby dramatically reducing crosstalk. Also, the thickness of the LCD module is about the same as conventional 2D displays even though it is a touchscreen display. As 3D images can be displayed in both portrait and landscape screen orientations, it is ideal for sophisticated mobile devices such as smartphones. The company has also developed a non-touchscreen 3D LCD and is scheduled to start mass production in the first half of fiscal 2010.

International research firm Parks Associates finds consumer interest in Web-on-TV applications is so strong that households are making their own connections via PCs and game consoles. From 2008 to 2009, the number of U.S. households using Web-connected game consoles increased by 64%, and the number connecting a PC to a TV increased by 36%, according to the firm’s latest report Digital Lifestyles: 2010 Outlook. “Many households are working with devices they already have to get the connected-TV experience, which shows strong future demand for connected TVs, Web-enabled Blu-ray players, and networked digital media players such as Apple TV and Roku,” said Kurt Scherf, VP, principal analyst, Parks Associates. Over three-fourths of U.S. households with PC-to-TV connections and one-third of Xbox 360 owners are using these connections to stream online video. These households, as they extend online video and other Web experiences to the TV screen, are laying the foundation for future behaviors with connected CE and entertainment services. “Manufacturers and service providers should examine these consumer behaviors closely, so they can match their current and future connected offerings with actual demand without pricing themselves out of the market,” Scherf said.

The One Laptop per Child Foundation (OLPC), a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help provide every child in the world access to a modern education, and Pixel Qi Corporation, maker of high-performance, low-power displays, have signed a permanent and royalty-free cross-licensing agreement that will allow both organizations to deliver products incorporating the world’s most advanced screen technology. As a result of the agreement, OLPC receives full license to all Pixel Qi “3qi” screen technology, including 70+ patents in process and all current and future IP developed by Pixel Qi for multi-mode screens. According to the company, Pixel Qi is leading the design of new screens for OLPC’s next-generation XO laptops. The agreement also calls for Pixel Qi to receive full license to the dual-mode (indoor and outdoor) display technology used in the XO. “A huge barrier to getting computers to mass use in the developing world is limited access to electricity. Pixel Qi is designing new screens for OLPC that will keep laptops going even longer between recharges and excel in long-form reading while providing color and video,” said Nicholas Negroponte, founder and chairman of One Laptop per Child. “Furthermore, we are not aware of any blanket technology license of this scale of current and future inventions by a commercial firm to a non-profit humanitarian effort and hope to set an example for other corporations to follow.” Mary Lou Jepsen, founder and CEO of Pixel Qi, added, “OLPC’s focus on the need for low-cost, low-power devices led me to invent power-efficient LCD screens that are optimized for reading. Commercial tablets, notebook computers and smart phones have precisely the same needs. This is one of the few examples in which cutting-edge computer technology first deployed for developing nations benefits the developed world as well.”

Search engine start-up Yebol has announced the conclusion of its beta test period and the launch of its semantic search engine, Yebol.com, to provide users with a search technology platform aimed at better results. With its July 2009 beta launch, Yebol unveiled leading semantic-decision search technology. According to the company,this advanced application of algorithms paired with human knowledge results provides the first truly human-like world's knowledge base and makes it possible to generate richer, more comprehensive search results displayed on a single page. Since July 2009, Yebol has progressed from these raw initial advances and has focused on providing the internet user with the best search experience available, better than the current indexed formats of most major search engines. Previously, search engines have vied to provide one of two primary search experiences, namely: (1) the "homepage" format, which expresses a comprehensive categorical summary about any given search term, and (2) the absolute relevance format, which seeks to return highly targeted results precisely matching the intent of the user, no more, no less. Yebol's effort to reconcile these two formats hinges on its new user interface, leveraging its technology to achieve results containing not only the most complete selection of information on a search topic, but also the most relevant based on user intent. To fully achieve this, Yebol adapted its user interface, by pioneering a categorical tree system, capable of expressing a true homepage for any given search term, while also visually displaying results matching user intent. A single decision search result parsed into a tree format yields a compendium of a topic, in categoric summation. Another breakthrough has been the progression from covering 10 million search terms to now generating its dynamic results for any conceivable search term. "In order to win user trust, we knew our format had to apply to all possible search terms," said Hongfeng Yin, Yebol Founder and President. "Google's success in search has been in no small part due to consistency of results – users know what they are going to get each and every search. Yebol is now equally as reliable, but offers a far richer results return, versus Google's indexed approach. Yebol provides more comprehensive and more accurate results." Yebol's format utilizes a combination of patented algorithms paired with human knowledge to build a revolutionary Web directory for each search term. Instead of the endless pages of seemingly random links generated by other search engines, Yebol automatically clusters search results into highly-concentrated and well-organized groups of term-specific categories. The user interface then edits these groups of categories and generates a display of the results in an easily utilized results tree. The resulting single page snapshot allows users to quickly scan hundreds of types of accurate results to find exactly the information they are seeking. The technological backbone of Yebol is fluid and dynamic. Every facet of its algorithm system and user interface is scalable. Says Yin, " Yebol is geared to generate knowledge-base results not only for all possible current search topics but also to adapt itself to process and include new search topics as they develop in the future." While Yebol was initially developed for the English language market, Dr. Yin said its functionality allows it to be applied to any language and work is underway to complete these bridges. "There is no reason why Yebol cannot provide the same exact user experience to internet users in every language," said Dr. Yin. "Ideally, we would like to see our format provide a significant portion of the search engine service to every country in the world, allowing it to be a point of technological union, a common search tongue so to speak, as everyone learns to search for and process informational results in a similar way."

According to market intelligence company iSuppli, subscribers in China to Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) will double in 2010, the result of an official government push to accelerate convergence among the country’s various telecommunications, broadcast and Internet operators. Subscribers in China to IPTV delivered via the Internet and broadband networks will jump to 8.5 million in 2010, rising by a hefty 96 percent from 4.4 million in 2009, according to iSuppli Corp. And while growth rates during the next three years will not equal the 2010 peak, IPTV development will continue to acquire impressive momentum, reaching expansion rates as high as 51 percent, iSuppli estimates. By 2014, IPTV subscribers in China will exceed 31 million. “The rise in IPTV subscribers in 2010 and beyond will be driven primarily by deployments among China’s broadcasters, which hold the prized IPTV licenses,” said Loren Zhao, an analyst for iSuppli’s China Research. “Despite a policy by the State Council of China in January 2010 encouraging the country’s telecom carriers, broadcast operators and Internet firms to enter one another’s fields and provide services, the three-way convergence policy is skewed against telecom carriers. Unlike the broadcast operators, which are allowed a wider leeway in the range of services they offer, telecom carriers face strong regulation, can participate only in radio and television transmission and are proscribed from taking part in the content integration and broadcast sectors.” IPTV services currently extend to more than 20 provinces and cities in China, but IPTV subscribers are concentrated in only a few areas. Out of the country’s 22 provinces, no more than eight count greater than 100,000 IPTV subscribers. Furthermore, fully 56 percent of total IPTV subscribers are to be found in just three locations: China’s largest city of Shanghai, as well as the two densely populated provinces of Jiangsu in the east and Guangdong in the south. In spite of the uneven distribution of IPTV subscribers, the players in the China IPTV market are raising their 2010 targets and hope to spread their services to more provinces in 2010, iSuppli believes. Several drivers will push IPTV growth from now to 2014, including Beijing’s continuing advancement of its triple-play convergence policy, the ongoing competition between telecom carriers and broadcast operators to carve out their own territories and the strategy among the players to bundle wireline and wireless broadband with IPTV services.

Assistant Secretary of Commerce & Director General Suresh Kumar, a top official from the U.S. Department of Commerce (DoC), will discuss the President's National Export Initiative (NEI) at the NAB Show in Las Vegas. His address will focus on how International Trade Administration and the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service are supporting efforts to reach the President's goal of doubling exports in five years and supporting 2 million jobs. In his address, Kumar will offer an overview of the government programs and assistance available to U.S. companies interested in expanding exports into new markets. Kumar's diverse experience includes 15 years as a popular news and sports anchor on national television in India and 30 years as an international businessman culminating in his tenure as head of Worldwide Pharmaceuticals for Johnson & Johnson. Kumar oversees the U.S & Foreign Commercial Service (USFCS). The extensive worldwide network of the USFCS extends to 109 offices across the U.S and 127 offices overseas in 77 countries. USFCS is the trade promotion arm of the U.S. Government that supports and provides customized solutions to U.S. businesses so that they can compete and win in the global marketplace. Recognized as the electronic media industry venue with the highest potential for export opportunities, the NAB Show once again has been selected by the U.S. Commercial Service to participate in the International Buyer Program (IBP). Through the IBP program and its globally integrated network, the U.S. Commercial Service helps small and medium-sized U.S. businesses expand their global reach and awareness. Twenty-four officers from U.S. posts around the world will be available at the NAB Show to assist U.S. companies with their export needs. Another 50+ delegation leaders from the private sector are escorting international delegations, including Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, Indonesia, the Netherlands, Nordic Region, Philippines, Senegal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and Vietnam, to the show. The session is part of the DoC's Showtime Program at the NAB Show and will take place Wednesday, April 14. The NAB Show will take place 10-15 April, 2010 in Las Vegas (exhibits open 12 April).

As demand has increased for digital video storage, including high-definition (HD) video, and as the variety of video-systems configurations increases, long time storage maker Western Digital today expanded its line of hard drives for AV/DVR and surveillance applications to include small form factor, 2.5-inch SATA hard drives. According to WD, the new AV-25 hard drives provide high reliability with a Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF) of 1 million hours and are engineered specifically for demanding, always-on multimedia streaming applications, while running at cool and quiet temperatures. In addition to high reliability, the hard drives meet the demanding requirements of the AV/DVR and surveillance markets by offering customers universal compatibility, low power consumption and the ability to simultaneously record multiple audio and/or high-definition video streams. Western said the new WD AV-25 hard drive is ideal for applications such as DVRs (digital video recorders), digital video surveillance and other small form factor environments where power consumption and 24x7 reliability are critical. "Customers that market audio and video recording applications, such as DVRs, media centers and mainstream surveillance systems, often require 24x7 operation from hard drives," said Jim Welsh, senior vice president and general manager of WD's branded products and consumer electronics groups. "WD AV-25 hard drives are designed to withstand these demanding environments and offer consumers a small form factor solution that consumes less power, generates less heat, and operates quietly and, most importantly, reliably." The WD AV-25 hard drive is offered in capacities of 160 GB, 250 GB, 320 GB and 500 GB, and is available now ranging from $50.00 USD to $80.00 USD depending on capacity.

Digital storage maker Imation today announced it has partnered with ENCRYPTX Corporation to develop and market secure CD-R, DVD-R & Blu-ray optical media with EncryptDisc technology. Under the agreement, the companies have incorporated the ENCRYPTX EncryptDisc AES 256-bit encryption and burning technology into a line of secure, printable optical media products from Imation. According to Imation, CD-R and DVD-R media with EncryptDisc technology integrate an encryption and burning application manufactured onto the disc. EncryptDisc uses highly secure, government-grade AES 256-bit encryption that is FIPS 140-2, Level 1 validated, NIST SP 800-57 compliant. The technology prevents users from writing files in the clear; files are automatically encrypted when being burned. Integrated password recovery and optional remote administrator password recovery service ensure authorized users can recover forgotten passwords securely. In addition, a built-in password attack self-defeating mechanism prevents brute force attacks to crack the disc password. The discs can be left open to allow users to add new content or edit files and incrementally burn these changes through the EncryptDisc application, or finalized as a Read Only disc with decryption access. An optional EncryptDisc Administrative Console, either hosted or installed, allows IT or Security Administrators to disable lost or stolen discs, recover passwords for users, and have full forensics audit tracking of disc content. Additional policies can enable in-network and out-of-network access, reauthorization intervals, strong passwords, and periodic password changes. "As the global leader in optical media with more than 50 years experience helping commercial users and government agencies to store and protect their critical data, Imation is excited to announce this important product development and marketing relationship with ENCRYPTX," said Keith Schwartz, director of strategic growth for Imation's global commercial business. "EncryptDisc technology addresses the needs of government, business, and medical users who require a highly secure way to transport, share, and archive sensitive data on optical media. It is another important offering in Imation's growing portfolio of secure storage products designed to help our customers more fully protect their critical storage assets and ensure compliance with increasingly stringent security and regulatory requirements." According to the companies, EncryptDisc is being launched this week at the FOSE/GOVSEC show in Washington DC, March 23-25, in the Cyber Security Pavilion, Booth 1135.

On March 17, the Toshiba Corporation and Toshiba Lighting and Technology Corporation, a Toshiba group company, marked the end of production of general-use incandescent bulbs, a product which Toshiba was first to manufacture in Japan and that it has produced for 120 years. The company decided to focus on environmentally friendly lighting in 2008, and since then has been advancing a transition to new lighting products, particularly LED lighting. Toshiba has a long history of innovation in lighting. In 1890, Ichisuke Fujioka, one of the leading engineers at the time, established Hakunetsu-sha & Co., Ltd., one of the companies that eventually merged in Toshiba, as Japan's first manufacturer of incandescent lamp bulbs. From an initial production of only 10 bulbs a day, production climbed to a peak of 78 million a year, and cumulative shipments to date add up to 4.07 billion bulbs. In the wake of the oil shocks of the 1980s, Toshiba developed the world's first ball type fluorescent lamp in 1980. The company has subsequently developed smaller, more power efficient products with longer life, with the result that the production volume of general incandescent lamp has been declining since around 2000. In 2007, Toshiba created much more efficient and environmentally friendly LED lamps for general use, and is now promoting replacement of incandescent lamps. The end of production of general-use incandescent bulbs comes a year ahead of the original plan and marks the end for a total of 103 products, and it is expected to bring down CO2 emissions by 430,000 tons a year against the benchmark year of 2008, when Toshiba manufactured some 20 million units a year. Though it will continue to produce specialty incandescent bulbs, Toshiba said it will now direct its attention to further promoting LED lighting.

The Federal Communications Commission this week delivered to Congress a National Broadband Plan setting an ambitious agenda for connecting all corners of the nation while transforming the economy and society with the communications network of the future - robust, affordable Internet. “The National Broadband Plan is a 21st century roadmap to spur economic growth and investment, create jobs, educate our children, protect our citizens, and engage in our democracy,” said Chairman Julius Genachowski. “It’s an action plan, and action is necessary to meet the challenges of global competitiveness, and harness the power of broadband to help address so many vital national issues.” “In every era, America must confront the challenge of connecting the nation anew,” said Blair Levin, Executive Director of the Omnibus Broadband Initiative at the FCC. “Above all else, the plan is a call to action to meet that challenge for our era. If we meet it, we will have networks, devices, and applications that create new solutions to seemingly intractable problems.” Titled Connecting America: The National Broadband Plan, the Plan found that while broadband access and use have increased over the past decade, the nation must do much more to connect all individuals and the economy to broadband’s transformative benefits. Nearly 100 million Americans lack broadband at home today, and 14 million Americans do not have access to broadband even if they want it. Only 42 percent of people with disabilities use broadband at home, while as few as 5 percent of people living on Tribal lands have access. Meanwhile, the cost of digital exclusion for the student unable to access the Internet to complete a homework assignment, or for the unemployed worker who can’t search for a job online, continues to grow. Other gaps threaten America’s global competitiveness. A looming shortage of wireless spectrum could impede U.S. innovation and leadership in popular wireless mobile broadband services. More useful applications, devices, and content are needed to create value for consumers. And the nation has failed to harness broadband’s power to transform delivery of government services, health care, education, public safety, energy conservation, economic development, and other national priorities.

The Plan’s call for action over the next decade includes the following goals and recommendations:

• Connect 100 million households to affordable 100-megabits-
per-second service, building the world's largest market of high-speed broadband users and ensuring that new jobs and businesses are created in America.
• Affordable access in every American community to ultra-high-speed broadband of at least 1 gigabit per second at anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals, and military installations so that America is hosting the experiments that produce tomorrow's ideas and industries.
• Ensure that the United States is leading the world in mobile innovation by making 500 megahertz of spectrum newly available for licensed and unlicensed use.
• Move our adoption rates from roughly 65 percent to more than 90 percent and make sure that every child in America is digitally literate by the time he or she leaves high school.
• Bring affordable broadband to rural communities, schools, libraries, and vulnerable populations by transitioning existing Universal Service Fund support from yesterday’s analog technologies to tomorrow’s digital infrastructure.
• Promote competition across the broadband ecosystem by ensuring greater transparency, removing barriers to entry, and conducting market-based analysis with quality data on price, speed, and availability.
• Enhance the safety of the American people by providing every first responder with access to a nationwide, wireless, interoperable public safety network.

Kawasaki, Japan based NEC Electronics announced yesterday that it plans to double production of its USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) certified SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) host controller, the world's first, and is expecting to reach monthly production of two million units starting April 2010. The device (µPD720200) is a host controller for PCs and other digital consumer devices and is based on the Intel xHCI specification, supporting SuperSpeed USB transfer speeds of up to 5 gigabits per second (Gbps) of data, which is up to 10 times faster than previous Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0) transfer speeds. NEC Electronics' host controller is the first commercially available SuperSpeed USB product certified by the USB-IF, and mass production began in September 2009. To meet the increasing market demands for USB 3.0-compatible PCs, NEC Electronics already has shipped three million units of its µPD720200 host controller. Thanks to USB-IF's strong commitment and promotion for the adoption of SuperSpeed USB , this milestone was achieved just six months after the availability of this device, while the company's USB 2.0 host controller took approximately one and a half years to reach 3 million shipments, by comparison. NEC Electronics expects industry adoption of its USB 3.0 host controller to accelerate, and therefore decided to boost its production volume sooner than planned to address the increasing demand. "The strong sales of NEC Electronics' USB-IF certified host controller clearly indicates the extraordinary adoption of SuperSpeed USB into consumer products," said Jeff Ravencraft, president and chairman, USB-IF. "Introduced just over a year ago, SuperSpeed USB has become the world's most widely watched technology, dramatically enhancing the speed with which consumers can transfer their data by providing the fastest USB experience available." According to NEC, as of February 2010, the company has shipped a total of 180 million USB-related products including the xHCI host controller in support of SuperSpeed USB. In addition to the xHCI host controller, the company has been receiving orders for USB 3.0 system-on-a-chip (SOC) design solutions that feature the company's USB 3.0 intellectual property (IP) core. ″We are very pleased to continue to contribute to the promotion of the USB standard and technology. Moreover, it is very exciting to push the standard and technology up to the next level, the 5 Gbps SuperSpeed USB era, with NEC Electronics' host controller,″ said Osamu Matsushima, general manager, Industry and Network Division, NEC Electronics Corporation. As a core member of USB-IF, NEC Electronics intends to continually dedicate itself to achieve advancement and standardization of USB.″

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.

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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.