With the aim of providing direct access to ClearStory’s media services platform for the growth of digital media apps to the supplier of digital media-centric apps and workflow solutions, ClearStory Systems recently came up with the offering of Enterprise Media Server (EMS) OEM Edition, a Java EE digital media services engine for software designers and software-as-a-service (SaaS) suppliers. With the offering of the EMS OEM Edition, companies are provided with an opportunity to tap into this rising market with an off-the-shelf media services engine that claims to ease the expansion cost of putting up media services abilities into their apps. ClearStory now plans to make available a novel and detailed software development kit (SDK), access to ClearStory resources, and out-and-out technical backing to OEM partners like independent software vendors (ISVs), SaaS, and media service suppliers, to provide and build up novel or better digital media apps on the ClearStory EMS platform. EMS enables partners to implant digital asset management services into their apps, like cataloging and rendition management, taxonomy management, delivery services, media processing and transformation services and repository management. Read
Mobispine releases Mobile feed directory
Recently Mobispine has released its new service. It is basically a mobile search engine, which is downloadable. This Sweden based mobile search engine is also an RSS feed directory. It is also aiming to be the largest mobile feed directory in the world. User can add feed and contribute in its massive database. On the other hand, there is also option for the other users. They can also subscribe to it. Mobispine also features online component with great services, such as searching, viewing, seeing, and leaving comments on specific feeds. To make Mobispine more interesting there is also a recommendation system. There is also a feature which modifies the search results in accordance with the ongoing search. There is also an option for placing widgets on your blog. Actual news feed is being displayed on the large cell phone screen. But, you won’t be able to interact with the news feeds on website, as there is no option for clicking to an original article. Despite having a functional web component along with mobile phone services, user has to download for registration. But, without being an active member users can enjoy good amount of the web services, such as Tappity, Mowser and Mobicious. Image:websitemagazine Via:mashable
IMAX or Bust?
There was a time in Hollywood when the number of screens that a movie opened on was an indicator of how successful it would be. Lately, it is not so much number of screens but the size of the screens that may be a better indicator of success.
Vista Copyright Protection could Hamper Audio/Video Playback
Windows Vista will be released for consumers worldwide at the end of this month. We already have told you about the benefits and the disadvantages of using Windows Vista. Here is another problem with the OS. The OS has been built with a copyright protection mechanism that checks the computers graphics and audio cards around 33 times in a second during playback. It does so to verify that the cards have not been tampered with so that they can also play copyrighted content. This checking mechanism can hamper the performance of the system resulting in bad playback. These requirements can also increase the cost of graphics and audio cards. There will also be some hackers that will eventually end up in breaking the protection mechanism but for others it can prove to be a big problem. Moreover a Vista system will also not be able to play HD-DVDs at full quality if the system is not having an anti-piracy feature installed that is HDCP. Vista will be released for consumers on January 30 and the most basic version of the OS will sell for $499. Via: stuff
Adobe launches Flash Player 9 for Linux
Adobe has kept its promise of releasing a Flash product for Linux. They have released the latest version that is Version 9 of the player. Flash Player is needed by web browsers for viewing multimedia content on the web such as YouTube videos. The Linux version of the product will further bridge the gap between Linux and Windows. Adobe had already released Flash Player 9 for Windows and Mac OS X in November last year. Red Hat and Novell have stated that they will include this player in the upcoming releases of Linux. Red Hat will integrate the player in RHEL version 5 which is due for a release on February 28. Novell has also commented that the player will be a part of the first service pack of its Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop 10 along with Firefox 2.0. On the whole the new version of Flash Player is proprietary but Adobe has made the ActionScript Virtual Machine that executes JavaScript programs on web pages as open source. Adobe also commented that they have no plans to make other components of the application as open source. Flash Player 9 features faster program execution and support for ActionScript 3 programs. Via: cnet
Microsoft puts Vista SP1 on the fast track
Microsoft is yet to release their much talked about operating system Windows Vista to the customers. The company is already bothered about the performance of this new OS and has decided to boost up the work for the first service pack of the operating system. Vista SP1 is code named ‘Fiji’ and the company aims to release it in the second half of this year. This can be thought of as Microsoft is hurrying to fix up some problems in the operating system. The Redmond Giant has also accepted that the OS has some ‘high impact’ problems. So what do the consumers do now? Upgrade to Vista or wait for some service packs before they spend their hard earned money…? Via: theinquirer
AOL debuts AOL.in portal in Indian market
AOL India, has debuted its web portal in India, which will offer free e-mail, instant messaging and mobile services local content including news services to Indians. AOL India, a part of the USD 44.2 billion Time Warner, the world’s largest media and entertainment company, has services similar to its US portal. AOL’s new portal AOL.in offers e-mail with unlimited storage, safety and spam protections and also allows users to access mobile as well as other mobile services like messaging and downloads at the short code 51515. According to company sources, AOL.in will become the first service worldwide to offer AOL’s next generation e-mail service. Ron Grant, president and chief operating officer of AOL said, AOL.in is company’s first portal outside of North America and Europe as part of company’s expansion, in which India will play ‘central role’. Apart from communication tools and services, AOL.in also offers users a wide range of content designed specifically for India, including video and special channels for Bollywood, CityGuide, Cricket, education, Hollywood, News, Sports and International music. The other features of AOL.in portal are given below: 1) AOL.in allows easy-to-use e-mail service with unlimited storage, industry-leading spam blocking, and powerful security protections against viruses. 2) AOL’s leading instant messaging featuring offline messages, picture sharing, personalization, grouped messaging, and simultaneous multiple IDs. 3) A full mobile communications and infotainment suite that offers mobile access to e-mail through WAP, instant messaging via SMS, and downloads like wallpaper, ringtones, and games. 4) It offers a powerful Web search product, powered by Google, which helps users find the local or international information they need. 5) Video content in many channels providing a superior broadband experience. 6) News and entertainment channels including Bollywood, CityGuide, Cricket, Education, Gurus, Hollywood, International Music, News and Sports. Image Credit: SF Gate & AOL Via: Web Wire
Dell chooses Ubuntu for Linux PCs
This is second time, computer maker, Dell has chosen Ubuntu version of the open source operating system to sell personal computers in the market. World’s second largest PC maker, Dell announced that the company will start selling some consumer focused laptop and desktop models with Ubuntu’s new “Feisty Fawn” version of Linux. London based firm, Canonical has ensured that Ubuntu will work on Dell PCs. Ubuntu software includes all office programmes, e-mail, a browser, instant messaging software and media player. The software will support more than 40 languages. The company will start offering Canonical’s latest version, Ubuntu 7.04, as an option on the selected models of Dell. Now customsers have the option to purchase support from Ubuntu backer Canonical. The company has not decided, which computers would be sell with Ubuntu pre-installed. Dell will offer Ubuntu on an e-series Dimension desktop, a high-performance XPS desktop, and an e-series Inspiron laptop. Dell began selling Linux based PCs in 1999 and added laptops in 2000 but in 2001, Dell reversed course and canceled the Linux PCs because of insufficient demand. Still Dell has certified Hed Hat or Suse Linux for use on some business-oriented PCs. According to Dell spokesman, Kent Cook, Dell has validated the Linux through its own request. Soon Dell will offer Ubuntu on its servers as well. Most of hardware and software makers are still focus of Microsoft’s Windows operating system, as it holds about 90% of the desktop PC market. Linux users often use that software for computer games and accounting, which does not work on their computers. Image Credit: WfMyNews2 Via: BBC
Microsoft Announces Online Vista and Office 2007 Download in North America
Microsoft is all set to release their latest Operating System at the end of this month. The company has also planned to use more than one method for the distribution of the OS. The Redmond Software giant has also announced that the whole OS will be available for online download. I know that will surely test the limits of your bandwidth and the company has also not commented any remuneration if the connection fails in between the download. Other applications from the company like the Microsoft Office 2007 will also be available for similar download. The catch here is that only the residents of North America will be able to get their hands on the diskless versions and the rest of the world will still have to buy the traditional disks of the OS. Microsoft is also making the upgrade options easier and customer friendly. They have announced that the users who wish to upgrade from a lower Vista edition to other high end editions will be charged as follows: � Home Basic to Home Premium at $79 � Business to Ultimate at $139 � Home Premium to Ultimate at $159 � Home Basic to Ultimate at $199 Moreover the users who will need additional licenses for using the OS on more than one computer will have to pay an additional $50 for the extra license. Via: engadget
RotoTexture: Add Virtual make-up to a video clip!
US Researchers have developed new software that can be used to add virtual make-up to a raw video clip. The application can also be used to add some more special effects in a video clip. The software named RotoTexture provides an easy way to alter the texture of a surface in virtual environment. All you have to do is to build a 3D model of the surface that you intend to modify. The application works by first analyzing the orientation of the targeted surface based on the shading. Using the image from the analysis the software then applies either an image or a textured pattern on to the surface. Hui Fang, who developed the software, commented that: “We treat an image to paste as a large rubber band. Then we try to paste that rubber band [onto a surface] such that the stretching within the rubber band is minimized. As a result, the image will appear to follow the undulation of the surface.” The software divides the targeted area into several small surfaces so that it can achieve the best orientation of the surface after applying the required image or texture. The application can be used in children’s TV to make the faces of people look a bit more interesting, but it cannot be used in professional areas as it still has some flaws. If these flaws are fixed by the developers then such a system can be a boon for the animation industry. Click on the links below to check out the video demonstrations of the system. Video 1 Video 2 Via: newscientisttech