Pocket Cam Vendors Vie For Flip Spoils

By Greg Tarr On May 2 2011 - 4:01am

NEW YORK – Vendors and retailers continued to assess the landscape in the volatile pocket video camera market following Cisco’s surprise announcement on April 12 to fold its market-leading Flip business unit.

According to industry executives, dealers are understandably concerned about being caught short of supply for the popular handheld HD video cameras just as the weather started warming up and vacations were being planned.

 

3D Glasses Formats Collide At Int'l CES

By Greg Tarr On Jan 17 2011 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — It’s been suggested that consumer confusion over and aversion to wearing 3D glasses have been among the biggest inhibiters to 3D TV purchases, but in attempting to solve the issue, have manufacturers who recently attended International CES 2011 actually made things worse?

That’s the question that was repeated by many observers walking the aisles of the massive trade show.

UltraViolet Called Digital Delivery 'Do-Over'

By Greg Tarr On Jan 17 2011 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — A multi-industry coalition including Hollywood studios, electronics manufacturers, retailers and video providers, formally unveiled at International CES a virtual content locker designed to simplify and consolidate the purchase of video content for playback across multiple devices.

The proposed system, called UltraViolet, is expected to launch this summer and will enable the purchase of movies and TV shows as a download for use on up to 12 devices at any one time, and to be shared with up to six relatives or friends.

Sonic's President Ponders Future Of Roxio

By Greg Tarr On Jan 24 2011 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — Among all of the companies that attended the 2011 International CES, Sonic Solutions had to be one of the busiest.

Just days prior to the event, integrated program guide and copy protection giant Rovi announced plans to acquire the company that itself had acquired digital compression format resource DiVX a few months before. Meanwhile, Sonic’s RoxioNow video Store Front partners, including: Blockbuster On Demand, Best Buy CinemaNow, and Sears and Kmart’s Alphaline, appeared on connected TVs and Blu-ray players all across the show floor.

Video Name Tag Gets Lots Of CES Buzz

By Greg Tarr On Jan 24 2011 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — One of the biggest head turners at the recent International CES was not a mammoth flatscreen TV or new eye-popping larger-than-life 3D picture. It was a 2.8-inch OLED screen positioned as a “Video Name Tag.”

Recom Group, based in San Dimas, Calif., had people walking the show floors wearing the tiny video screens like campaign buttons, displaying anything from their favorite rap videos to promotional announcements.

Pocket Camcorders Get Feature Rich

By Greg Scoblete On Jan 24 2011 - 6:01am

LAS VEGAS — New pocket camcorders were positioned at International CES to expand beyond the bare bones feature set that propelled the category to popularity in previous years.

Features such as 3D recording, Wi-Fi connectivity and swivel displays will be incorporated in 2011 pocket camcorders.

Haier Picks Sonic Solutions For Digital Movie Delivery

By Editors of TWICE On Jul 19 2010 - 4:01am

NOVATO, CALIF. — Sonic Solutions announced that Haier has chosen the RoxioNow platform to provide digital movies and TV shows via the web to its new line of Blu-ray Disc players and HDTVs.

“Digital movie services powered by the RoxioNow platform will play an important role in our next-generation connected devices and help make it easy for consumers to browse, purchase and enjoy the best in digital entertainment from the comfort of their living rooms,” said Doug Lane, president of Haier digital products group for the Americas, in a Sonic statement.

Canon Adds M-Series Flash-Memory Vixia Camcorder

By Greg Tarr On Jul 19 2010 - 4:01am

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. - Canon introduced last week a new HD camcorder offering dual flash-memory storage sources and built-in HD-to-SD downconversion.

The Vixia HF M32 dual flash-memory camcorder, which is scheduled to ship in September at a $1,000 suggested retail, is billed as an easy-touse model with the ability to record many hours of high-quality HD video on the go.

Canon sees this capability as ideally suited to family documentarians and social-networking fanatics.

XStreamHD To Carry VOD Lionsgate Content

By Greg Tarr On Jul 19 2010 - 4:01am

MCLEAN, VA. - XStreamHD said last week that it has entered a longterm electronic sell-thru and video-ondemand home entertainment-distribution agreement with Lionsgate, to provide the studio’s movies through its new satellite-TV entertainment-on-demand platform.

Under the agreement, subscribers to the XStreamHD home entertainment service will be able to digitally purchase or rent Lionsgate HD video releases, as well as provide access to Lionsgate’s content library of more than 12,000 titles, XStreamHD said.

Panasonic HD Camcorders Target The Pocket

By Greg Tarr On Aug 2 2010 - 4:01am

SECAUCUS, N.J. — Panasonic introduced last week a pair of FullHD camcorders including a pocket cam with built-in Skype video conferencing capability that is tailored to Apple computer users.

The new models are part of Panasonic’s latest compact camcorder offerings, providing easy uploading of stills and videos to YouTube and social-networking sites.