Eurovision
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The first 'AI Eurovision' song contest winner was trained on koalas
Eurovision was cancelled, but an AI contest has taken its place with the winning song using code trained on koalas and kookaburras.
US Netflix subscribers can finally watch Eurovision replays
Americans didn't have official ways to watch the Eurovision Song Contest live this year, but they'll at least have a way to relive it. Netflix will carry the 2019 competition's semi-finals and grand final in the US starting on July 22nd, giving you eight-plus hours of melodramatic performances, over-the-top costumes and bitter national rivalries. You'll also have on-demand access to the 2020 contest after it airs.
Alexa’s now a Eurovision trivia buff
Whatever your thoughts are on it, there's no denying that The Eurovision Song Contest continues to go from strength to strength. In 2016, over 200 million viewers watched Ukraine's Jamala triumph over three live shows broadcast from Stockholm, Sweden. And thanks to an ever-increasing US audience, tomorrow's final is expected to help break the record once again. For some, Eurovision is a way of life, but for others, the music event can take some getting used to. To bring people up to speed, Eurovision has created an official Alexa skill that doesn't only provide answers to europop trivia, it can also play back every track performed over the last 60 years.
Eurovision's official app is your guide to (not) enjoying Eurovision
For some of us, the Eurovision Song Contest means cringing at over-the-top performances and chuckling at Graham Norton's dry, subtly cynical commentary. For others, however, the annual karaoke competition is genuinely enjoyable, and if you fall into that camp, you simply can't be doing without the official 2015 Eurovision app. Created in collaboration with Microsoft, the companion app is your first port of call for the latest Eurovision news, pics and videos. Also, this year's official Eurovision album and karaoke-friendly versions of each song, as well as other merchandise, can be bought through the app. That's not all it's for, though, with new features going live in May when the competition actually kicks off.
Facebook helps you see less from mere 'Acquaintances,' Valentina Monetta approves (video)
Let's say you're trying to have a gander at Facebook, but given that you've well over twenty thousand friends and associates, keeping up with your news feed has become something of a challenge. Today, The Social Network is introducing a tool that'll make it easier to add friends to your Acquaintances list, and moreover, see fewer of their mundane posts without having to unfriend (read: embarrass) them. When asked for comment, San Marino's own Valentina Monetta (shown above) quipped: "Facebook, uh, oh, oh... everybody loves you so." If you're confused, head on past the break and press play. Please. Seriously.
International HD news roundup
Here at Engadget HD, we'd prefer not to just focus on high-def happenings in the US of A. Thus, we round up the best of the best from the international front each week and present it here, bundled together in a single, easy to digest list. If something went down in your corner of the globe over the past seven days, let the rest of the world know it in comments. 'Til next week, Vi ses! Read - Czech Prima trials HD Read - Eurovision Song Contest broadcasts in high definition Read - 5 linear HD channels 'to join Virgin' Read - ITV content attracts 4m views on Virgin Media catch-up in first month Read - Freesat celebrates first birthday, 400,000 strong Read - ZON doubles HD take-up (Portugal) Read - History HD Expands Korean Footprint Read - Freeview rolls out high definition for World Cup Read - YouSee adds Canal HD
Europe to see HD broadcast of Obama's inauguration
For the first time in history, a US presidential inauguration will be broadcast in Europe in high-definition. Thanks to Eurovision, European broadcasters will have access to "full HDTV coverage of the ceremony, Obama's speech and motorcade produced from a battery of cameras on location in Washington." According to Eurovision Americas president Bill Dunlop: "All over Europe, networks are planning special programming to bring this historic day to their viewers live." Now, about keeping the snow at bay...
Eurovision successfully transmits US HD feed to Europeans
As if there wasn't enough variations of HD feeds, and the fact that NTSC and PAL just can't seem to get along, the last thing the blokes across the pond want (or need) is another complication when it comes to catching American sports on their HD sets. Thankfully, Eurovision is not only sparing everyone the trouble, it has reportedly claimed a victory in the typically messy conversion game. The global network operator has apparently transmitted HDTV coverage of NHL and NBA games shot in America to Europe, all without down-converting to NTSC in the process. The content originated in 1080i/60, and was rebroadcasted in the UK-friendly 1080i/50 format, all while keeping users on both ends thoroughly pleased. Eurovision's head of production and services, Tony Naets, proclaimed that Europeans who witnessed the converted coverage "were delighted with the results, which included the ingest of the original coverage through the resources of Eurovision Americas in Washington, the conversion from the original broadcast format to 1080i/50, and the transport of the converted signal via our dedicated transatlantic fiber to the European uplink." While quite a mouthful, we think we dig what he's saying, and as soon as Europe sends a few of its own HD soccer football feeds our way, we'll be grinning from ear to ear as well.
