Can't wait to see the iPhone based audio and video tools that will be developed.
By NICK WINGFIELD
October 17, 2007 11:52 a.m.
Apple Inc. Chief Executive Steve Jobs said the company will allow software developers to make so-called native applications for the iPhone, reversing a position that had caused a flood of criticism from independent software makers.
In a letter posted on Apple's Web site Wednesday morning, Mr. Jobs said the company will release early next year a software development kit, or SDK, a necessary set of tools that will enable programmers to make iPhone applications. "Let me just say it: We want native third-party applications on the iPhone, and we plan to have an SDK in developers' hands in February," Mr. Jobs said.
Previously, Apple had told programmers it would limit the iPhone applications they could create to those that run through the product's Web browser, a policy that precluded independent programs that could be stored locally on the iPhone, providing superior performance and features. The policy prompted some independent developers to accuse Apple of trying to exert too much control over the software that runs on the iPhone. Apple said it was restricting the kinds of iPhone software programmers could make to prevent viruses and other forms of malicious code from infecting iPhones.
Some developers found methods of creating native iPhone applications anyway. Apple, though, recently said such unauthorized software installed on iPhones could create permanent problems for the devices after user installed future software updates from Apple.
In his letter, Mr. Jobs said the iPhone software development kit will take until February because the company is "trying to do two diametrically opposed things at once -- provide an advanced and open platform to developers while at the same time protect iPhone users from viruses, malware, privacy attacks, etc."
"This is no easy task," he continued. "Some claim that viruses and malware are not a problem on mobile phones -- this is simply not true. There have been serious viruses on other mobile phones already, including some that silently spread from phone to phone over the cell network. As our phones become more powerful, these malicious programs will become more dangerous. And since the iPhone is the most advanced phone ever, it will be a highly visible target."
Mr. Jobs said the software development kit will also allow developers to create applications for the new iPod touch.
Write to Nick Wingfield at nick.wingfield@wsj.com
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Google Unveils Copyright Filtering Progam
Amazing what a billion dollar lawsuit can get you to do...
As promised in court this summer, Google has unveiled a new plan designed to weed out copyrighted clips from video-sharing site YouTube.
The Video ID system requires copyright owners to submit their material to Google and tell the company what they want done with the clips. Owners can choose to have Google monetize the material and share revenue, promote the clips or block them altogether.
"As copyright holders make their preferences clear to us up front, we'll do our best to automate that choice while balancing the rights of users, other copyright holders, and our community as a whole," YouTube stated in a blog post about the new plan.
Google attorney Philp Beck outlined plans for this system in court in July, during a scheduling conference in the $1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit brought by Viacom. And, while Viacom might still proceed with its case, harnessing YouTube to promote Viacom material and/or share ad revenue seems like a far shrewder strategy.
Of course, Google's new system still requires a great deal of labor on the part of copyright holders. Simply uploading all of the TV shows, movies and music videos that they wish to block or claim for themselves is itself a mammoth task. On top of that, the content owners will have to continue to monitor the site for bootleg copies that users have posted -- such as the live concert footage that triggered a threatened lawsuit by Prince.
As promised in court this summer, Google has unveiled a new plan designed to weed out copyrighted clips from video-sharing site YouTube.
The Video ID system requires copyright owners to submit their material to Google and tell the company what they want done with the clips. Owners can choose to have Google monetize the material and share revenue, promote the clips or block them altogether.
"As copyright holders make their preferences clear to us up front, we'll do our best to automate that choice while balancing the rights of users, other copyright holders, and our community as a whole," YouTube stated in a blog post about the new plan.
Google attorney Philp Beck outlined plans for this system in court in July, during a scheduling conference in the $1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit brought by Viacom. And, while Viacom might still proceed with its case, harnessing YouTube to promote Viacom material and/or share ad revenue seems like a far shrewder strategy.
Of course, Google's new system still requires a great deal of labor on the part of copyright holders. Simply uploading all of the TV shows, movies and music videos that they wish to block or claim for themselves is itself a mammoth task. On top of that, the content owners will have to continue to monitor the site for bootleg copies that users have posted -- such as the live concert footage that triggered a threatened lawsuit by Prince.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Muvico Installs Sony 4K Projector System
For Muvico, a New 4K Projector Installation Goes Way Beyond Movies
-
By Bryant Frazer
September 11, 2007
September 11, 2007
Source: Film & Video
-
Large companies like Sony that attempt to straddle multiple markets and business models are often criticized as corporate Frankenstein's monsters — struggling against myriad complications to bring interests in content, professional gear, and consumer products into alignment. That tendency makes the deal recently announced between Sony and Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based movie-theater chain Muvico Entertainment — which has installed 4K SXRD projectors on all 18 screens in a new suburban Chicago location, bringing Sony's installed base of 4K projectors close to 40 — more intriguing. Muvico isn't just buying projection from Sony; it's offering PlayStation gaming in a "Teen Cafe" where kids can hang out before or after shows, and VAIO computers in a children's playroom. Meanwhile, Muvico intends to secure alternative programming for its digital screenings in part by working with artists signed to Sony Music labels. F&V spoke to Andrew Stucker, director of Sony's digital cinema systems group, about 4K projection technology, and to Michael Whalen, President and CEO of Muvico, about their hopes for making the investment pay off.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Boss Won't Let You IM?
Don't Tell Your Boss,
But There Is a Way to IM Despite Blocks
By SARMAD ALI October 11, 2007; Page B1
Does your company stop you from downloading instant-messaging software in an effort to keep you from wasting precious time? Well, there's a way to get around company barriers so you can chat away with family and friends.
Just use an Internet-based service so that you can chat from a Web page without having to install any software, which might be blocked by a firewall. I tested two such services: Meebo at www.meebo.com and KoolIM at www.koolim.com. Both are free.
These services let you simultaneously log in to multiple IM accounts -- and communicate with people with various services. If you have a friend who uses Yahoo Messenger, for example, and another who likes MSN Messenger, you can chat with either.
Another plus: Meebo and KoolIM are far less vulnerable to viruses than downloadable applications. They're also more efficient, saving users the hassle of installing multiple programs on a computer. This is especially handy for people with old computers that slow down when running several applications.
Meebo has a well-designed, sleek interface that makes it appealing to even the least tech savvy. From its home page, you simply sign in for different IM services—MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, GTalk (or Jabber) and AIM (or ICQ). Your buddy list will be combined automatically. You don't have to register, but if you do, you get perks such as a single sign-on for all of your accounts, and the ability to share files, save chat logs and store conversations.
I tried Meebo on my work Windows PC and my iBook at home, and it worked well on both. To start chatting, you just log in to any of the IM services by entering the screen name and password you already have with a service, or by picking a new name, password and services. Your buddy list will appear in a window on the right side of the page, with each name marked by an icon denoting the service the person uses. Once in your buddy list, you can add or delete a contact, message or join a group chat.
The service also offers MeeboMe, a way to chat from your own Web site. Bloggers can use this to start a conversation with site visitors who log in to their Meebo account. It also shows how many users are on the site at any time.
But Meebo, like most such Web services, lacks the ability for audio and video chats -- basic features on installed IM software. If you're used to plugging in a Webcam and headgear to chat with friends, these services might not be for you. Meebo also doesn't have the standard send button that's on installed IM software. Instead, you press a key on your keyboard.
Sharing files using Meebo is tricky, too. Only Meebo account holders can send files; although
anyone can receive them. When I sent a PDF file to my friend on her installed MSN Messenger, she received a message and a link that rerouted her to Meebo's home page with no further guidance. When I sent her the same file after she logged in to her MSN using Meebo, she could open the file.
KoolIM also connects users to multiple IM accounts from one Web page. It gives you the option to create an online account, so you don't need separate log-ins for each IM service you'll encounter.
You can select an embedded or a pop-up version of the service. The embedded version shows your buddy list and messages as windows tied to a Web page, while the pop-up version lets you move the windows around the screen. You can choose to display all of your buddies or only the ones online. In your buddy-list window you can add and delete names and log in to or out of a service.
I didn't like having text ads appear at the bottom of the IM window in KoolIM, or the fact that, unlike Meebo, there isn't a time stamp on messages to tell you when they arrived. It also doesn't allow you to send files, as Meebo does. And it doesn't let you save conversations or chat logs. KoolIM's lack of some of these basic features might make it less appealing to consumers, especially those who ponder swapping it with their desktop software.
I preferred Meebo, but both services are good alternatives to installed IM, if you're willing to do without audio and video features.
• Email me at Sarmad.Ali@wsj.com.
But There Is a Way to IM Despite Blocks
By SARMAD ALI October 11, 2007; Page B1
Does your company stop you from downloading instant-messaging software in an effort to keep you from wasting precious time? Well, there's a way to get around company barriers so you can chat away with family and friends.
Just use an Internet-based service so that you can chat from a Web page without having to install any software, which might be blocked by a firewall. I tested two such services: Meebo at www.meebo.com and KoolIM at www.koolim.com. Both are free.
These services let you simultaneously log in to multiple IM accounts -- and communicate with people with various services. If you have a friend who uses Yahoo Messenger, for example, and another who likes MSN Messenger, you can chat with either.
Another plus: Meebo and KoolIM are far less vulnerable to viruses than downloadable applications. They're also more efficient, saving users the hassle of installing multiple programs on a computer. This is especially handy for people with old computers that slow down when running several applications.
Meebo has a well-designed, sleek interface that makes it appealing to even the least tech savvy. From its home page, you simply sign in for different IM services—MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, GTalk (or Jabber) and AIM (or ICQ). Your buddy list will be combined automatically. You don't have to register, but if you do, you get perks such as a single sign-on for all of your accounts, and the ability to share files, save chat logs and store conversations.
I tried Meebo on my work Windows PC and my iBook at home, and it worked well on both. To start chatting, you just log in to any of the IM services by entering the screen name and password you already have with a service, or by picking a new name, password and services. Your buddy list will appear in a window on the right side of the page, with each name marked by an icon denoting the service the person uses. Once in your buddy list, you can add or delete a contact, message or join a group chat.
The service also offers MeeboMe, a way to chat from your own Web site. Bloggers can use this to start a conversation with site visitors who log in to their Meebo account. It also shows how many users are on the site at any time.
But Meebo, like most such Web services, lacks the ability for audio and video chats -- basic features on installed IM software. If you're used to plugging in a Webcam and headgear to chat with friends, these services might not be for you. Meebo also doesn't have the standard send button that's on installed IM software. Instead, you press a key on your keyboard.
Sharing files using Meebo is tricky, too. Only Meebo account holders can send files; although
anyone can receive them. When I sent a PDF file to my friend on her installed MSN Messenger, she received a message and a link that rerouted her to Meebo's home page with no further guidance. When I sent her the same file after she logged in to her MSN using Meebo, she could open the file.
KoolIM also connects users to multiple IM accounts from one Web page. It gives you the option to create an online account, so you don't need separate log-ins for each IM service you'll encounter.
You can select an embedded or a pop-up version of the service. The embedded version shows your buddy list and messages as windows tied to a Web page, while the pop-up version lets you move the windows around the screen. You can choose to display all of your buddies or only the ones online. In your buddy-list window you can add and delete names and log in to or out of a service.
I didn't like having text ads appear at the bottom of the IM window in KoolIM, or the fact that, unlike Meebo, there isn't a time stamp on messages to tell you when they arrived. It also doesn't allow you to send files, as Meebo does. And it doesn't let you save conversations or chat logs. KoolIM's lack of some of these basic features might make it less appealing to consumers, especially those who ponder swapping it with their desktop software.
I preferred Meebo, but both services are good alternatives to installed IM, if you're willing to do without audio and video features.
• Email me at Sarmad.Ali@wsj.com.
Your Tax Dollars at Work, Part 174
Cashing In on TV Switch
By SHIRA OVIDE October 11, 2007; Page B5
As the era of aluminum-wrapped rabbit ears nears an end in the U.S., RCA and Zenith are planning a comeback.
Two of television's oldest brands are expected to play a major role as TV converts to digital-only broadcasts in early 2009.
The switch away from traditional analog signals may be the most significant TV change since the introduction of color. Tens of millions of Americans need an upgrade to go digital. To ease the burden, the government set aside $1.5 billion to subsidize devices that make old TVs digital-capable. The converter boxes are slated to hit retail shelves early next year.
The potential market is sizable because more than 69 million TV sets, by some estimates, rely on rabbit ears or rooftop antennas. Without the converter boxes, those TV sets will be useless after Feb. 17, 2009, the mandated end to more than 70 years of U.S. analog transmissions. The majority of Americans -- who have TV sets connected to cable, satellite or other pay services -- will be unaffected, as will people with high-definition or other TVs with built-in digital tuners.
The digital changeover could sow confusion because the converter boxes have to be able to work with TVs spanning decades. Technical glitches could frustrate converter-box buyers, many of whom are expected to be older or not tech-savvy.
To keep old-fashioned sets going, starting Jan. 1, each U.S. household will be eligible for two subsidized converter boxes. Before a $40 coupon, each government-approved gadget is expected to retail for $50 to $70. A division of the Commerce Department is responsible for running the coupon program.
The digital converter boxes essentially are a stripped-down cousin of the cable set-top box. About the size of a VHS videotape, the converters connect the TV set and an existing antenna to help analog sets decode digital signals.
Years of design are packed into a small package. The converter boxes are required to have features including a remote control, parent-control settings and closed captioning. Some manufacturers are putting in on-screen program guides similar to ones provided by cable and satellite operators.
The government expects to make 22.5 million coupons available during an initial phase, with at least an additional 11.25 million expected to be issued later. If 34 million units sell, it would be double the number of high-definition TV sets expected to be sold this year.
"The market is sizable, so somebody is going to make out pretty well," said Afzaal Akhtar, a partner with IBB Consulting, a media and technology consulting firm.
Among those hoping to cash in are LG Electronics Inc. of South Korea and Thomson SA of France. Both companies are busy manufacturing converter boxes and have decided to hearken back to iconic TV names: Zenith and RCA. For LG, which bought Zenith nearly a decade ago, "it made sense to capitalize on this well-known American brand," said John Taylor, vice president for public affairs and communications for LG Electronics USA.
Still, converter-box makers are taking a risk. The boxes aren't expected to be high-margin products, and the bulk of them are likely to be sold in just a few months before and after the February 2009 digital switchover.
By SHIRA OVIDE October 11, 2007; Page B5
As the era of aluminum-wrapped rabbit ears nears an end in the U.S., RCA and Zenith are planning a comeback.
Two of television's oldest brands are expected to play a major role as TV converts to digital-only broadcasts in early 2009.
The switch away from traditional analog signals may be the most significant TV change since the introduction of color. Tens of millions of Americans need an upgrade to go digital. To ease the burden, the government set aside $1.5 billion to subsidize devices that make old TVs digital-capable. The converter boxes are slated to hit retail shelves early next year.
The potential market is sizable because more than 69 million TV sets, by some estimates, rely on rabbit ears or rooftop antennas. Without the converter boxes, those TV sets will be useless after Feb. 17, 2009, the mandated end to more than 70 years of U.S. analog transmissions. The majority of Americans -- who have TV sets connected to cable, satellite or other pay services -- will be unaffected, as will people with high-definition or other TVs with built-in digital tuners.
The digital changeover could sow confusion because the converter boxes have to be able to work with TVs spanning decades. Technical glitches could frustrate converter-box buyers, many of whom are expected to be older or not tech-savvy.
To keep old-fashioned sets going, starting Jan. 1, each U.S. household will be eligible for two subsidized converter boxes. Before a $40 coupon, each government-approved gadget is expected to retail for $50 to $70. A division of the Commerce Department is responsible for running the coupon program.
The digital converter boxes essentially are a stripped-down cousin of the cable set-top box. About the size of a VHS videotape, the converters connect the TV set and an existing antenna to help analog sets decode digital signals.
Years of design are packed into a small package. The converter boxes are required to have features including a remote control, parent-control settings and closed captioning. Some manufacturers are putting in on-screen program guides similar to ones provided by cable and satellite operators.
The government expects to make 22.5 million coupons available during an initial phase, with at least an additional 11.25 million expected to be issued later. If 34 million units sell, it would be double the number of high-definition TV sets expected to be sold this year.
"The market is sizable, so somebody is going to make out pretty well," said Afzaal Akhtar, a partner with IBB Consulting, a media and technology consulting firm.
Among those hoping to cash in are LG Electronics Inc. of South Korea and Thomson SA of France. Both companies are busy manufacturing converter boxes and have decided to hearken back to iconic TV names: Zenith and RCA. For LG, which bought Zenith nearly a decade ago, "it made sense to capitalize on this well-known American brand," said John Taylor, vice president for public affairs and communications for LG Electronics USA.
Still, converter-box makers are taking a risk. The boxes aren't expected to be high-margin products, and the bulk of them are likely to be sold in just a few months before and after the February 2009 digital switchover.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
