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Peter Jackson reveals the Red Epic secrets behind The Hobbit (video)

Daniel Cooper — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:08:00 EST

Diet and filmmaking legend Peter Jackson's given us another insight into the making of the Hobbit movies, and this time he's talking about his envious collection of tech. Filming with no less than 48 Red Epic cameras at 48fps in full 5k resolution might sound fantastic, but it hasn't all been a bed of cotton candy. Two 3D cameras need to be mounted at the same "interocular" (the inch-or-so distance between your eyes) which is impossible given the size of the Epic and its lenses. The team had to hire specialist firm 3ality to build a rig where one camera shoots the action and the other is pointed vertically at a mirror. Those who would love to shoot with an Epic should also beware that the cameras naturally desaturate the action to such an extent that the makeup, costume and set design teams have to over-color everything to look natural in post production. For more interesting facts, head down past the break to catch the video in full, and try not to imagine how many years bad luck you'd get if you broke one of those mirrors during a key scene.

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Filed under: Digital Cameras

Peter Jackson reveals the Red Epic secrets behind The Hobbit (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 05 Nov 2011 04:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Circuit City puts DIVX patents up for sale, anyone in need of a failed disc format?

Richard Lawler — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:49:00 EST

Circuit City's ill-fated video rental alternative, DIVX (not DivX), went belly up over a decade ago but just like Nortel, now that its parent company is belly-up its patents may still have some value. In case you've forgotten, the DIVX scheme offered discs similar to DVDs that were initially viewable for 48 hours, but could be activated for more time over a phone line. Now, the Circuit City Stores Inc. Liquidating Trust has entered into an agreement to sell the remaining patents to Imaging Transfer Co., but not before opening the sale to others in an auction, scheduled to take place August 16th. We're not sure what can be done with a bundle of patents covering compression, watermarking and other digital media technologies, but if you do and have more than $750k to offer, you'll want to contact Streambank LLC right away.

Continue reading Circuit City puts DIVX patents up for sale, anyone in need of a failed disc format?

Circuit City puts DIVX patents up for sale, anyone in need of a failed disc format? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 16 Jul 2011 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MediaMall's PlayLater brings DVR to internet video

Sean Buckley — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:52:00 EST

Aching to ditch your cable box, but can't bear to let go of that sweet, commercial-skipping DVR? If the folks behind PlayOn get their way, you won't have to. MediaMall launched the beta for PlayLater this week, a service it's calling "the world's first DVR for online video." The idea of a DVR for the internet sounds a little wonky at first, but it is an accurate description of the program's facilities -- pick a network (Netflix, Hulu, YouTube, etc.), a show, and an episode, and PlayLater downloads your selection to your computer's hard drive for belated enjoyment. Simple? Sure, but not without a catch -- anything PlayLater pulls down it wraps in a neat layer of DRM, locking that content to the PC that downloaded it. Time-shifting Hulu will set you back $5 a month, but beta testers (the first 5,000, at least) can score a free month just for trying it out. Hit the break for a press release and additional details.

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MediaMall's PlayLater brings DVR to internet video originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Peter Jackson shooting The Hobbit at 48FPS, should speed up those long walking scenes

Brian Heater — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:52:00 EST

Say goodbye to blurry Orcs, because The Hobbit is going 48 frames per second. King of Kong Peter Jackson announced via Facebook that the two-part Lord of the Rings prequel will be shot at an increased frame rate, double the 24FPS that has been the industry standard for the better part of a century. Halo's non-director preemptively addressed critics of the technology, comparing it to the transition from vinyl to CDs -- which, let's face it, some folks still aren't all that psyched about. The technology, when combined with a 48FPS projector, should cut down on blur and strobe. Jackson and Warner Bros. have their fingers crossed that a sufficient number of theaters will be capable of projecting at that speed when the film opens in December 2012. We're eagerly awaiting James Cameron's reaction -- and George Lucas's inevitable Star Wars re-re-re-re-release at the new speed.

Peter Jackson shooting The Hobbit at 48FPS, should speed up those long walking scenes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 14:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fujitsu's next-gen Milbeaut image processor does single-chip Hi-Vision video, 20MP stills

Christopher Trout — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 02:58:00 EST

Fujitsu's latest image processor, the Milbeaut MB91696AM, has a new bag of tricks on tap, and it's fixing to unload them in April. The new Milbeaut sports ARM processors and a "newly-developed" Full HD H.264 codec engine, making for 14-megapixel shooting at 8fps (or about 20 megapixels at 5.5fps) and low-noise Hi-Vision video recording at 1920 x 1080. So the processor, in its sixth iteration, sports high resolution photos and HD video all on the same chip, and features continuous photography speeds up to five times faster than its predecessors. Fujitsu's got plans to show off Milbeaut's mobile solutions at MWC next week, and we wouldn't be surprised to see the MB91696AM make its debut in Barcelona as well. Either way, the new processor is scheduled to ship starting in April for ¥3,000 (right around $36), which means new Milbeaut-equipped cameras ~~won't~~ shouldn't be far behind. Full PR after the jump.

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Fujitsu's next-gen Milbeaut image processor does single-chip Hi-Vision video, 20MP stills originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 02:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Sony PlayTV getting Facebook, still no love for stateside PS3 owners

Joseph L. Flatley — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:46:00 EST

Sony PlayTV, the digital TV tuner / DVR for PS3 that is still painfully unavailable in the United States, is getting "great new features," according to the PlayStation Blog. What does that mean for you? Well, if you're in England (as well as the rest of the UK, wiseguy), Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, or the UAE, it means Facebook integration! What else does it mean? "Other great enhancements," the likes of which the company refuses to divulge at this point. That said, it looks like we'll know "later this year," at least according to James Thorpe, PlayStation Network Product Manager. We'll keep you posted.

Sony PlayTV getting Facebook, still no love for stateside PS3 owners originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Apr 2010 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Crapgadget CES, round 6: Goscam China's Body-worn DV for Police

Joseph L. Flatley — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:44:00 EST

If you can't get funding for Taser International's Axon head-mounted video recorder, why not try your luck with Goscam?

Crapgadget CES, round 6: Goscam China's Body-worn DV for Police originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 22:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Maxian's E900T PMP / GPS navigator offers near-endless possibilities

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:07:00 EST

At a glance, it's easy to mistake the Maxian E900T for other members of the Maxian family, such as the E900DIC or D900 Neo. Let's face it -- this company has some fundamental problems when it comes to differentiating between models. The latest entry into the lineup comes in the form of a wild, do-it-all PMP -- one which incorporates audio and video playback, a DMB receiver, GPS navigation, and an always-handy dictionary into one delicious package. The Windows CE-based system boasts an 800 x 480 4.3-inch touchscreen, a 30GB or 60GB hard drive, support for WMV, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DiVX / XviD, H.264, WMA, AAC, MP3, and OGG formats (amongst others), plus the aforementioned DMB compatibility. The E900T is capable of outputting 720p HD video, sports Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound, and includes Burr-Brown audio circuitry which it outputs via S/PDIF. When you slap this thing into its carmount, it also becomes a full featured GPS navigator, taking advantage of the GPS receiver in the cradle to provide turn-by-turn directions and other navigation functions you know and love, like locating Wendy's (in Korea, at least). No word on when, or if, this will be available in the States, but it couldn't hurt to write some letters of encouragement.

[Via Navigadget]

Filed under: GPS, Portable Audio, Portable Video

Maxian's E900T PMP / GPS navigator offers near-endless possibilities originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Zune 2 bits and pieces, plus an in-depth interface video

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:02:00 EST

We know you've heard a lot of Zune 2 info today, but we've got the word on some other details and features that we thought our loyal, highly intelligent, and downright handsome readers would like to know. Also, the folks at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer have scored some quality hands-on time with the 80GB version, and you can see breathtaking video of the interface in action after the break. But first -- here's more goods on Microsoft's newest entry into the media player world:

The new players will support lossless audio of the Windows Media variety (don't go screaming FLAC just yet)
The WiFi is just b/g, so no n, a or x (the sexiest form of WiFi)
Microsoft is still in the testing phase for battery life and will have numbers "later"
You can manually sync up the player wirelessly on battery power, but you can't do auto-sync -- you'll need the dock for that action
All your old accessories are said to work with the new models
The screens are glass, not plastic
Green is the new brown... but brown is sticking around on the 30GB models
You can connect the Zune to an Xbox 360 to create "your own soundtrack"

[Thanks, Nikropht]

Continue reading Zune 2 bits and pieces, plus an in-depth interface video

Filed under: Portable Audio, Portable Video

Zune 2 bits and pieces, plus an in-depth interface video originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Oct 2007 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More details on Sony's new PlayTV

Joshua Topolsky — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:21:00 EST

The info is flying fast today as Sony's launches a multi-tiered attack on the entertainment community. Luckily, we've got some additional info on the just announced PlayTV TV tuner / DVR for the PS3, and we'd like to share it. The unit will apparently be coming to Europe "early in 2008" with other territories to follow (PAL only for now). The new box will feature two 1080p tuners, which utilize the European Digital Video Broadcasting system (DVB-T) -- which should dash any US hopes for the time being. The system will allow you to store recorded broadcasts on your PS3 drive, and also transcode and transfer the saved files to your PSP. Additionally, you'll be able to use the PSP's "Remote Play" feature to program and watch your PlayTV away from home. Sony reps also make the bold pronouncement that the PlayTV architecture will "never be out of date" due to automatic network updates from the company. We're gutted that the US gets no love from Sony on this one, but it's a good time to be a European PlayStation 3 fan, that's for sure.

Filed under: Gaming, Home Entertainment

More details on Sony's new PlayTV originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Blockbuster in talks to buy Movielink

Evan Blass — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 11:42:00 EST

Ever since it began offering consumers the then-innovative option to have their DVD rentals delivered by US mail, Netflix has been a major pain in Blockbuster's ass. And just when the retail giant finally began to leverage its brick and mortar locations to offer its own online subscribers a sweeter deal, Netflix swoops in and announces it's Watch Now feature: free streaming flicks for all. So it didn't surprise us one bit to learn that the Wall Street Journal is reporting on talks between the rental stalwart and 'veteran' download service Movielink, a deal that, if closed, would give Blockbuster easy entry into the nascent and exciting world of internet-delivered video content. Giving some weight to this rumor is the fact that BB CEO John Antioco has already expressed interest in offering a so-called 'triple-play' -- wherein consumers can get their movies in-store, by mail, or online -- along with the ongoing pressure from investor and board member Carl Icahn to return the company to its glory days. Movielink -- which is jointly owned by the major studios -- is said to be on the table for only about $50 million, although its significance to Blockbuster is probably much greater than that valuation. Watch Now, TiVo with Unbox, BTEN, and now this potential pairing -- these are exciting times, people, and once all the dust settles in this battle to pwn digital downloading, it's the end who user who's gonna benefit most.

[Via ZatzNotFunny]

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Report: Blockbuster in talks to buy Movielink originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 01 Mar 2007 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bella Catapult enables camcorder-to-iPod recording

Evan Blass — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 13:17:00 EST

Camcorder accessory manufacturer Bella has just announced a new device that will let you toss those MiniDV cassettes straight out of your bag and replace them with your iPod or nearly any other USB 2.0-compliant storage system. The Catapult, as it's known, is a paperback-sized digital encoder that plugs into any standard or HD camcorder with a FireWire port and processes the video as you're recording, eliminating the need to convert your footage later on. Besides saving time and offering access to higher storage capacities, the Catapult also enables your cam with a number of features not available out of the box, such as time-lapse recording, remote trigger capabilities, and both pre- and post-recording ability. Pre-recording is an especially attractive option, as it seems to buffer whatever your CCD is capturing for a preset timeframe, allowing you to essentially "turn back the clock" and preserve events that already happened once you hit the record button. Bella tells us to expect their new product sometime during the second half of the year, for some amount of money less than $300.

[Via T3]

Filed under: Digital Cameras, Peripherals, Portable Audio, Portable Video, Storage

Bella Catapult enables camcorder-to-iPod recording originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 27 Apr 2006 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Yahoo buys Meedio, but not Meedio TV

Ryan Block — Tue, 18 Apr 2006 08:37:00 EST

Yahoo swallowed another company this morning, one to flesh out that Go TV home digital media effort of theirs. Just not the DVR company we'd all kind of hoped and idly thought it would be, TiVo. Nope, Yahoo now owns Meedio, whose IP, technology, and staff are being folded into their Digital Home team. If you're a Meedio TV fan, steel yourself: according to Meedio, your EPG will be updated until July 1st, their support center is shuttering, and downloading Meedio will no longer be possible. Which, we'd postulate, means it'll be a little while before you'll be able to get your Yahoo Go TV DVR on download. And since Yahoo bought the company and not the Meedio product line, what comes out the other end could wind up looking, feeling, and working completely differently, totally ready and able to leverage all kinds of Yahoo media from ten feet away. In the mean time, for those not wanting to run Windows (Media Center) or sign up for TiVo, you've still got options, like MythTV, BeyondTV, SageTV, ChrisTV, Freevo, ShowShifter, WinDVR, and so, so many others.

[Via Zatz Not Funny, thanks Richard B]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Media PCs

Yahoo buys Meedio, but not Meedio TV originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Apr 2006 08:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canon releases four consumer camcorders: ZR500, ZR600, ZR700, and Elura 100

Barb Dybwad — Wed, 04 Jan 2006 13:55:00 EST

Canon is throwing down four new consumer camcorders designed for DV beginners -- three models in the ZR series and the Elura 100. All four sport Canon's Widescreen high resolution feature allowing full-screen image viewing on widescreen TVs, and each uses a 2.7-inch Widescreen display planel. The ZR series features 25x optical zoom, with the ZR500 and 600 (pictured above left and right, respectively) doing an 800x digital zoom and an 1000x digital zoom available on the ZR700. All the ZRs also include a level shot control to avoid crooked shooting and digital photo capture to SD media, and are available for $299 (ZR500), $349 (ZR600) and $399 (ZR700), respectively, with the Elura coming in at $399. Look for availability on the ZRs at the end of this month, with the Elura making its appearance at the end of February.

Filed under: Digital Cameras

Canon releases four consumer camcorders: ZR500, ZR600, ZR700, and Elura 100 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jan 2006 13:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Vodcast from DV Guru

Kevin C. Tofel — Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:39:00 EST

We missed out on the Digital Video Expo last week, but that doesn't mean you have to. Head over to DV Guru to check out the ~~video-podcast, vodcast~~, whatever it's called these days! Randall and company bring you the low-down on the latest digital and high-def cameras like the HVX. If that's not enough for you, tune in for their high-level look at the After Effects software package.

The 'cast is under sixteen-and-a-half minutes long; surely you can spare that much time away from your high-def set, no?

Filed under: Industry, Podcasts

Vodcast from DV Guru originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 19 Dec 2005 09:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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