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The Daily Roundup for 07.19.2013
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Next3D CEO David Cole on his first PalmPilot, gadget hell and the Oculus Rift
Every week, a new and interesting human being tackles our decidedly geeky take on the Proustian Q&A. This is the Engadget Questionnaire. In the latest installment of our weekly collection of queries, Next3D CEO David Cole -- also know as the gentleman making 3D TV and movies for the Oculus Rift -- chats up punitive email measures and iPhone dependence. Join us for the full gamut of responses residing on the other side of the break.
Next3D's plan to bring recorded video to the Oculus Rift
The dream of wearing a lightweight headset, like the Oculus Rift, in order to simulate physical presence isn't limited to the imaginary worlds of video games. One man's vision is that of immersive TV shows, movies and live sports. In fact, David Cole, co-founder of Next3D and an industry veteran who helps content creators and providers produce and deliver 3D, has been using his Rift dev kit to bring TV and film to life since the kits started shipping in March. The company is combining its video processing and compression technology with its experience in content production and stereoscopic delivery to offer what it's called Full-Court. Next3D hopes to leverage its existing relationships with creators and providers to assist them in jumping into the world of live-action VR content. This includes both pre-recorded and live broadcasts. We wanted to see this firsthand, so we jumped at the opportunity to witness the creation of content and experience the results. This trial run of Next3D's stereoscopic, 180-degree field-of-view camera rig, and the post-processing to adapt it to VR, was part of the production of the paranormal investigation show, Anomaly, at Castle Warden in St. Augustine, Fla. Being nearby, we braved the perils of the haunted surroundings to tell you about what we hope is only the beginning of virtual reality content.
Next3D to deliver 3D via the internet
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/tech_news/Next3D_to_Deliver_3D_via_the_Internet_at_1080P'; Physical media and cable bills not your thing, but you're still thinking you might want to see what all the 3D fuss is about? Good news because Next3D plans to deliver 1080P 3D via the internet directly to PC, game consoles and other set-top boxes in the first quarter of this year. Sports, documentaries and movies are all a part of the plan, but apparently Next3D has its own transmission technology. We'll be interested to learn if it more like MVC that Blu-ray is using, or frame-compatible techniques like cable and satellite will bring to market first; but ultimately the proof is how it looks, which of course we have to wait to see for ourselves.
Next3D developing 3D movie service for PS3
Three dimensional movies are the new "it" thing in Hollywood. More and more movies (particularly animated films) are being presented in 3D -- and now the tech is jumping from the cinema to the home theater. Next3D is developing a downloadable application that allows users to browse and download 3D content directly to their PS3 systems. With the software, users will be able to access full 3D 1080p movies ... provided they have a TV that's capable of producing a 3D image.This isn't the first time 3D will be utilized on the PS3. Earlier this year, Sony showcased 3D versions of WipEout HD and Gran Turismo 5 to attendees of CES.
Next3D makes completely far-reaching claim of bringing 3D to the home
So look, we fully understand that Hollywood and just about everyone who follows the industry is gravitating towards 3D, but the red flags here are just too bright to ignore. Next3D has just pumped out a completely unbelievable press release claiming that it's oh-so-close to establishing the first in-home 3D distribution service. For starters, it claims to integrate nicely with the Xbox 360, which sounds more than a little suspicious. Next, we're told that "like YouTube, Next3D will offer user-created content channels for stereo enthusiasts to post and share 3D video and still images." Right, because so many consumers have handheld 3D cameras to capture this stuff. Sorry, but the vaporware stamp has officially been slammed.
