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TikTok rolls out 1080p uploads and more editing features
You can now use GIFs from Giphy as Green Screen backgrounds and turn your voice into a cat's meow.
NVIDIA to buy autonomous vehicle mapping company DeepMap
NVIDIA has acquired DeepMap, a company that makes high-definition mapping technology for self-driving cars.
Neil Young book chronicles fight to improve digital music
Music legend Neil Young has spent several years trying (and failing) to push high-resolution music to the masses. A new book by Young tells the story of how the Canadian songwriter set out to develop Pono, his $400 portable digital music player that went out of business in 2016. Co-written by Young and former Pono Chief Operating Officer Phil Baker, To Feel The Music: A Songwriter's Quest to Save High-Quality Audio is set to be released on September 9th. Along with details on Pono, readers will also learn about how Neil Young came to develop Xstream, his high-resolution streaming platform, as well his decision to release his entire catalog online for free.
Seiki's U-Vision HDMI cable arrives today to transform your HD video into 4K
We saw a brief demo of Seiki's U-Vision HDMI cable back in January at CES, and now the $50 cable is officially on the market. When connected to your fancy 4K TV, the chord promises to up-convert HD content from your cable box or Blu-ray player to Technicolor-certified 4K Ultra HD. It's also capable of transforming 720p content to 1080p, all while using adaptive sharpening and noise reduction to keep the picture looking its best. The demo we saw at CES was pretty clean, but the reel didn't give us the opportunity to really put it through the paces -- something we'll definitely be looking to do now that it's available. If you want to give it a try, you can pick one up today at Amazon, Newegg and Fred Meyers stores.
Five new BBC HD channels to go live on December 10th
Earlier this year, the BBC said it would further commit to high-quality programming with the launch of five new HD channels by early 2014. Today, it announced it will deliver on that promise, launching BBC Three HD, BBC Four HD, BBC News HD, CBeebies HD and CBBC HD to take its high-definition channel tally up to seven and ensure all but two of its domestic TV channels are delivering 1080-line broadcasts. There'll be no need for any additional subscriptions, meaning you'll be able to access Danish political drama Borgen and other content using your existing Freeview, Freesat, Youview, Sky or Virgin Media box, as well as on-demand via iPlayer. The BBC says all five channels will begin rolling out via their new dedicated channel numbers from December 10th -- you can find out what they are by hitting the source below.
BBC promises five new HD channels by early 2014, including News, CBeebies and BBC Four
Not that they weren't pretty excellent already, but some major BBC channels are due to get 1080-line upgrades by early next year. UK viewers will get five new channels in total, with no need for any subscriptions (courtesy of Freeview HD, YouView and Freesat), including BBC News HD, BBC Three HD, BBC Four HD, CBeebies HD and CBBC HD (so long as Mr Tumble can fix his make-up). The programming will match the standard-def counterparts and contribute a promised 250 hours of extra HD content per week. There's also talk of broadcasting regional programs and variants in HD, although that proposal still has to be approved by the BBC Trust and could be a bit further off.
Sony Stitch merges footage from two 4K F65 cameras to create zoomable panoramic with HD output (video)
Well, that's a mouthful of a headline. Going a bit more in-depth, a new professional solution from Sony allows broadcasters to capture side-by-side 4K video at, say, a sporting event, then use a standard camera zoom device to select small portions of each feed for 720p or 1080i output. On the receiving end, you'll see a live image that looks indistinguishable from something you'd capture with a moving camera, with a few extra benefits to boot. Sony demonstrated the system using feeds from an F65 4K camera earlier this year at NAB, but was only able to present a simulation at that point, with pre-recorded output cropped from larger-format footage. Now, as we saw today at IBC in Amsterdam, the technique works in realtime, so an adjustable smaller portion of the video is pumped out seamlessly and instantaneously. The 4K video can also be recorded at full resolution simultaneously, letting you change the framing long after an event takes place. Sony only had the demo configured to pull live video from the left portion of the feed, but eventually the entire capture will be enabled, giving producers access to an entire football field, as you'll see in the hands-on video after the break. We wouldn't expect this solution to replace human camera operators anytime soon, but it's certainly a viable method for adding angles and placing a bit more control in the hands of production teams, even after the fact.
Clearer calls with HD Voice on Sprint expected before the year's out
We were pretty impressed with our demo of HD Voice on the HTC EVO 4G LTE earlier in the year, but are still waiting for the feature's launch to test it in real situations. We may not have to wait much longer, though, because according to Phone Scoop, Sprint is aiming to roll out the service by the end of 2012. The carrier's Network Vision architecture upgrade is progressing nicely, a necessity for implementing clearer conversations, although coverage is still patchy. We might see an official launch this year, but HD Voice is unlikely to be widely available on the network or on other devices until well into 2013 and 2014. However, if you happen to be a Sprint customer, HTC EVO 4G LTE owner, connected to the right tower and calling someone that's ticking exactly the same boxes, listen out for that bump in quality as the New Year approaches.
This is what native 4K home cinema looks like on Sony's VPL-VW1000ES projector
Why are folks so keyed up about 4K? At first glance, that's the type of question that answers itself: by definition, a 4096-pixel wide image delivers around four times the resolution of 1920 x 1080, and that's a healthy multiple. It's actually of a broadly similar magnitude to the difference between 1080p and old-fashioned analog NTSC video, and nobody these days questions the value of that upgrade. On the other hand, there must come a point where pixels cease to be visible in a home theater environment, such that buying more of them at inflated prices stops being worth it. Sure, 4K can be a big help with 3D footage, because it boosts the resolution to each eye -- something we experienced with the REDray projector. But what about regular 2D material, which is still very much the default viewing option? That question's been nagging at us, so when Sony invited us back for a second look at its 4K projector, the VPL-VW1000ES, this time with full-throttle native 4K source material rather than just upscaled 1080p, we turned up with a tape measure. Read on for what came next.
NHK makes first successful Super Hi-Vision OTA broadcast, man cave owners giggle with glee
Fresh off from successfully shrinking its Super Hi-Vision camera, Japan's NHK is sticking another feather in its cap -- the first over-the-air broadcast of its super-duper high-resolution technology. The broadcaster says it recently managed to send a compressed Super Hi-Vision signal from the roof of its Science and Technology Research Laboratories in Tokyo to a distance about 4.2 kilometers away with no issues. NHK used two UHF channels during the experiment. To optimize and boost transmission capacity, NHK leveraged technologies such as orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO). Low-density parity check coding was also used for error correction. NHK has been constantly experimenting with its Super Hi-Vision high-resolution (7,680 x 4,320) video format, including a UK-to-Japan broadcast via a 24Gb/s internet connection in 2010. Folks who happen to be in Japan from May 24th to 27th can check the tech at the NHK labs' open house in Tokyo's Setagaya ward.
Netflix on new Apple TV supports 1080p, all boxes get integrated signup and pay via iTunes
Even though Apple didn't make any huge changes on its new Apple TV box, it does come with a slight spec bump for Netflix. On the third generation Apple TV, Netflix will take advantage of its higher resolution output with 1080p streams, just like other platforms like the PS3 and Roku. Don't have the new box? You'll still get a slightly more integrated experience, now that new users can sign up directly from the Apple TV, and pay via their iTunes account.
Apple reveals 1080p Apple TV: $99, arrives March 16th
It looks like we were blind-sided a little by that decidedly iPad-esque invite, because Apple has something more for us -- it's just announced the latest iteration of Apple TV and it can do 1080p video. The new UI inches slightly closer to iOS territory, with a splash of new color and a whole range of third-party apps willing to play with the new box. This includes access to Photo Stream alongside old favorites like Netflix, Flickr and YouTube. Expect improved connectivity to the iCloud (including your movie content) and better integration of your iTunes playlists directly from the refreshed UI. The good news: the price is going nowhere -- the new model matches the 2010 version at $99. The bad? You'll have to wait until next week to get your hands on one. Pre-orders start today.For more coverage of Apple's iPad event, visit our hub!
YouTube Android app update brings HD video streaming to 'capable' 2.2+ devices
Honeycomb and Ice Cream Sandwich Android-running hardware has had access to HD resolution YouTube streams since launch (as seen above), but an update to the app that rolled out yesterday finally brings HD to some devices running Froyo or Gingerbread. The catch is that YouTube HD res won't work on every Android 2.2 or 2.3 phone or tablet, as we're told it is set dynamically based on screen size and resolution. Another quirk is that some devices still won't install the updated version directly from the Market, like our Epic 4G Touch. Still, assuming you can snag the update -- through official or unofficial means -- if you have the pixels to spare you should see upgraded video quality from now on.[Thanks, Gideon]
Samsung unveils new Galaxy Beam smartphone / projector combo with dual core CPU
Samsung has finally started to reveal its new products at MWC 2012, starting with this refresh of the Galaxy Beam packing Android 2.3 and a 1GHz dual-core CPU. Just like its predecessor it brings an integrated projector capable of 15 lumens of brightness, enough to shoot a high definition image that's up to 50 inches wide. There's a dedicated app that activates the projection, letting users pump out video and pictures, as well as interact with games when the 4-inch WVGA screen just isn't big enough. It has a 2000 mAh battery to keep the party going -- handy when you're stuck somewhere inconvenient with a few dozen of your coworkers -- 8GB of built-in storage and a claimed 6GB of RAM (we're double checking that, consider it a likely typo until you hear otherwise). There's more details and specs in the press release after the break, but no word on release date or market availability of this HSPA phone just yet.Update: We've just confirmed that the Beam isn't loaded with a whopping 6GB of RAM as we initially reported. As it turns out, the device is actually packing 768MB of RAM (which is 6 gigabits, by the way). You can check out our hands-on with the device here for more details.
Cisco hangs up on Umi 'Personal Telepresence' flop
A whole separate box and remote just for video chat? For as much as $600, plus a $10 per month subscription (HDTV and broadband not included)? It was always doubtful whether the Umi telepresence kit would catch on, but now Cisco has crushed those doubts by quietly crushing both the 1080p and cheaper 720p versions of the product. No press release or announcement; just a disembodied voice at the end of a technical support line advising callers that the product is "under evaluation," and a behind-the-scenes nudge to Business Insider that it really has been discontinued. It's not yet clear what will happen to the monthly service for existing customers, but if it gets disrupted then Cisco will surely have to come clean. Heck, for $600 we'd expect a personalized hi-def video apology.
Telestream announces Instant Replay system for NASCAR officials, gets the checkered HD flag
You may not love NASCAR or understand the sheer thrill of watching cars drive in circles for several hundred laps, but you've got to respect the technology. Today, Telesteam announced its Instant Replay system for NASCAR race officials. The multichannel video player, which will debut at the start of the 2012 race season, provides instant capture and display of up to 18 high-definition 720p camera feeds and will allow officials to quickly view detailed information about on-track aspects of the race. The system uses Telestream's Pipeline HD video capture system to simultaneously acquire multiple camera feeds in Apple ProRes 720p as well as other HD and SD formats before delivering them to shared storage. Once captured, the video streams can be viewed from different camera angles with quick locations being customized for each race. Telestream will be demoing the instant Replay system at the Sports Video Group's League Technology Summit in New York City this week, and to celebrate, the governor has mandated that all vehicles make only left turns through Sunday. Kidding.
Swann releases Freestyle HD, begs you to capture 1080p underwater via LCD viewer
Looking to step your game up when capturing surfing footage from atop your longboard? Swann is aiming to lend a helping hand with its newfangled Freestyle HD wearable video camera. This offering is the company's first that sports a detachable 1.5-inch LCD viewer for taking a peek at your 1080p video capture in real-time -- which you can capture at up to 30 fps. You'll also be able to snap eight megapixel JPEGs should you so choose with 3x digital zoom at your disposal. Waterproof at depths up to 65 feet, the Freestyle HD can be helmet-mounted, attached to your favorite fixed-gear or the roof of your rally car via the three included mounting brackets. The camera will connect directly to an HDTV for viewing, or you can hop over to a PC via a microSD card or USB transfer. You can expect 2.5-hour battery life and a $279 price tag to boot -- too bad that flight to the southern hemisphere isn't nearly as affordable.%Gallery-138657%
Drift Innovation unveils compact Drift HD, still up for your extreme antics (video)
Fan of recording extreme death-defying stunts, yet find your current helmet cam just too darn unwieldy? Drift's creatively named Drift HD might fit the bill, as the firm's managed to cram the 170-degree field of view rotatable lens / LCD combo from the HD170, into a 25 percent smaller package. The nine megapixel 1080p shooter also features a bevy of redesigned mounts, a replaceable lens and support for 32GB microSD cards, allowing it to keep chuggin' where lesser cameras would have otherwise called it quits. Connectivity junkies will also swoon at the inclusion of micro-HDMI and a 2.5mm microphone input. We weren't exactly smitten with the HD170, but this $369 makeover might be enough to change our minds. If you're dying to find out for yourself, the Drift HD will be available August 31st, but do us a favor and keep your eyes on the snow -- we wouldn't want you to end up like this guy.
TiVo is set for a September launch in Spain with ONO
International expansion plans for TiVo don't stop with the UK, as it will be a key part of Spanish cable operator ONO's new high definition service that launches in September. Gizmo Lovers points out an article detailing the ten channel package that will kick things off, including Fox, Sony TV, MTV Live, TVE and Gol TV. While there's still not a lot of details available about the boxes themselves, our friends at Engadget Spanish also have information on the Cisco hardware that will get all of that HD flowing from the head end, and are probably a good place to keep an eye on if you're waiting for this TiVo to arrive.
Australian networks backing off of HD sports broadcasts?
It's shocking this is still an issue in 2011, but viewers in Australia are struggling with OTA networks that have suddenly decided there's not enough room to broadcast sports programming in HD. The digital switch over Down Under isn't scheduled to finish until 2013, and since each network only has the space to broadcast one HD feed alongside two SD channels, they shuffle a few things to the side. According to an article in The Australian the free to air networks have decided to develop male or female-skewed programming lineups (sound familiar?) of comedy and drama that they think are more appealing. The situation seems very reminiscent to the one here in the US with NBC locking down the Olympics and insisting on tape delays to pump the ratings while ESPN is willing to broadcast the games live, except there it's Fox Sports that will be airing AFL games in HD -- next season.
