Friday, 6 May 2011
Last Night
Thursday, 5 May 2011
Expanding iStockphoto makes high-end video play
iStockphoto COO Kelly Thompson
(Credit: iStockphoto) The company announced the move at its weeklong iStockalypse event here, at which contributors take photos to sell, meet with peers, and learn tricks of the trade.
But this is not the only high-end video move under way at iStock. The company also expects to eventually offer high-end "2K" and "4K" video, which has roughly quadruple the resolution of mainstream 1080p video, iStock Chief Operating Officer Kelly Thompson said in an interview.
The video expansion is a significant one for iStock, a pioneering member of the "microstock" industry that has helped disrupt the professional photography business. Microstock companies, which are Internet-based middlemen that let customers license royalty-free images, introduced legions of amateurs eager to make some money if not necessarily a living.
iStock has been working to distinguish itself from rivals such as Shutterstock, Dreamstime, and Fotolia by also offering higher-quality, higher-priced content. To that end, iStock began offering top-shelf photos when it launched its Vetta collection in 2009, edging closer to the core business of its parent company, Getty Images.
Starting today, iStock is making the shift with Vetta video, too.
Although stock photos account for the bulk of iStock's business, video has actually been its fastest-growing category and last year surpassed 10 percent of revenue, Thompson said. The video is used anywhere from in independent films to background imagery on ABC News or "American Idol."
Expansion is important for iStock--and for parent Getty Images, which has suffered through the transformation of the stock-art business even as it embraced the change through its iStock subsidiary. Since going private in 2008, Getty no longer reveals financial details, but Thompson said iStock has "excellent growth considering its maturity."
The subsidiary employs 170 people, with 150 more contractors inspecting content to see whether the contributions are acceptable. And that's a big job. "About 65,000 files per week are uploaded, and we are working on mechanisms that will allow our contributors to upload more," Thompson said. On the customer purchase side, "A file is downloaded every second of the day."
International expansion is also crucial to the company. Getty's $50 million acquisition of iStock in 2006 gave the latter access to the all-important keyword translation technology so those with non-English languages could search for its imagery.
More recently came search results tailored for different countries, which has increased the rate at which searches yield sales, Thompson said. In 2010, revenue outside North America surpassed 50 percent, he said.
"It didn't really affect most people," Thompson said. "Everyone sort of settled down."
Video demands
Video can be much more technically demanding than still photography. Photographers can pick the best of a dozen or a hundred photos of the same subject, but video is less forgiving when there are problems with technique, equipment, or interruptions. Editing video also is more complicated and time-consuming, especially given audio integration matters.
What's it take to get your video into Vetta? iStock has a list of Vetta video guidelines: rarity, believable performances, environments with a strong visual impact, thought-provoking ideas, effective storytelling, technical excellence, live action, and imaginative animations or composites.
A Vetta collection will help contributors justify higher-end work, iStock believes.
"Our videographers have been excited about the price point," Thompson said. "They're investing a lot more money into their shoots. They're looking at something where they could get a lot more return back."
A new generation of cameras, led by Canon's 5D Mark II SLR, is transforming digital video. High-end videocameras still are important, but video-capable SLRs have introduced video to photographers who often have an arsenal of lenses and other equipment.
"Some of our photographers make exceptional video," Thompson said. "The Canon 5D Mark II is sort of the perfect camera. We're looking for short bursts of intense greatness, and cameras like that are perfect for those sorts of clips."
Other camera makers are taking it further, though. Red cameras, which are all the rage among feature-film producers, can produce 2K and 4K video--2048x1536 and 4096x3072 pixels, compared with 1920x1080 for 1080p video.
Right now, though, iStock downsamples such video to mere 1080p. But 2K and 4K eventually will arrive, though.
"It's a ways into the future--probably next year at the earliest," Thompson said.
One reason for the caution: 4K video takes up a lot of space--especially because iStock offers video in a variety of resolutions, and each must be stored separately. 4K videos would drastically increase computing needs.
"It boggles the mind what would be required," Thompson said. "We can barely keep up putting new servers into rotation now."
Other expansion under way
Vetta video isn't the only video expansion in the works. iStock recently launched editorial photos, which are for use by the news media and unlike its commercial art don't require models to sign releases permitting usage of their image. Editorial videos will come too, though Thompson wouldn't say when.
And this is not the only Vetta expansion, either. iStock also is launching Vetta for illustrations--imagery created with vector graphics software commonly used for logos and other line art. With Web browsers now supporting the SVG format for vector graphics, expect this category to gain in importance.
Today's illustration category of Vetta is actually a relaunch. iStock tried earlier but had to pull back when it judged it didn't have the right criteria for assessing price and complexity.
And one more new category coming for iStock: the PNG, (portable network graphics) format. Its big advantage compared with JPEG: it supports an "alpha" channel that lets designers mark parts of the overall image as transparent. That means objects work with colored or complex backgrounds without arduous image editing.
A key factor in the decision to support PNG is the fact that Microsoft Office now properly supports it, Thompson said. Because of that, objects with transparent backgrounds can easily be dropped into PowerPoint presentations, for example, he said.
Expansion notwithstanding, iStock has no plans to support raw image formats that offer higher quality than JPEG. Raw photos, the uncompressed, unprocessed data from higher-end digital cameras, offer greater flexibility for editing.
iStock has held many discussions with its customers about the possibility, but they've resoundingly expressed a preference for a finished product, not something they have to work on, Thompson said. "Customers are not interested," he said.
Infrastructure demands
All this expansion--now and in the future--has a big consequence for a data-intensive, international business. Infrastructure is a major matter for iStock.
Right now, the company's archive of content is 1.4 petabytes, growing at a rate of 22 terabytes per month, the company said.
The company today has two data centers in Calgary, Canada, where iStock is headquartered, and relies on Akamai to distribute the data internationally. That works well--until there's an Akamai hiccup from something like a configuration change.
"Man, do our servers start smoking if they have a glitch," Thompson said. "You see the load go [up] whoosh!"
At some point, the company plans to launch new data centers, likely in Europe and Japan, Thompson said.
Through a project called C9, the company is switching from lower-end storage systems to EMC's Atmos technology.
Another IT project at iStock is the move to a new Getty system that's more flexible. Today, each new category requires a new infrastructure, but the new technology will let iStock offer new categories as just a new module.
Given how fast the company is adding new content, that sounds like a good idea.
Thor
Monday, 2 May 2011
How to Plan for a Perfect Holiday
1
Set a budget. Before chalking out a plan for the holiday, the most important thing is to set a budget. It helps you to plan and enjoy the trip within your limits. Always estimate a little more than what you might need.2
Plan ahead. The first thing you need to do is to be sure of what you need from this trip. Do you want to experience the local culture or just have fun on those sandy beaches? Do you wanna mingle with the locals or fade away from busy people and the world? Strategize your trip according to your needs and likes.3
Read up before you go. Prepare yourself before plunging into an unknown holiday destination. Buy a good guidebook and read up on the culture, history, local attractions of the destination. You can read the local publications on-line or surf the net for more information. The more you know, the better you can enjoy or appreciate the place and their traditions.4
Pack light and right. Pack only the essential things. Avoid carrying unnecessary things around. A heavy luggage may sometimes dampen your holiday spirit. Carry clothes that are comfortable and right for the season. As much as possible try to stuff everything you need in a single carry-on bag.5
Always reserve your stay. It's always better to book your stay if possible because all you need is a good night's sleep after an exciting day.6
Have Realistic Expectations: Unreasonable expectations can lead to unwanted stress, so enjoy the holiday by managing what you can with the time you have. Embrace each moment, whether good or bad.
Best Smartphones in 2011
New Smartphones 2011: Altek Leo
Altek Leo is an upcoming Smartphone that would run on Android OS 2.1 (Éclair).The most interesting thing it is located on its back panel, the camera.
It has 14MP camera with 3x Optical Zoom (Like Regular Digital Cameras) and Xenon Flash.
Other Features and Technical Specs of Altek Leo Smartphone:-
- Shoots HQ videos at 720p resolution, 30 fps
- Sunny 9 Digital Image Processor for sharp, crystal clear final product
- 3.2″ large capacitive touchscreen, supports multi-touch too
- Dedicated photo editing and video editing software comes bundled with this Smartphone
New Smartphones 2011: Motorola Atrix 4G
If you think that 4G phones are not functional then you are mistaken because in United States 4G communication technology is live that can provide broadband speed up to 20 Mbps.Motorola Atrix is a New Smartphone that has a lot of other features like dual-core Processor other than just the 4G tag.
Other Features and Technical Specs of Motorola Atrix 4G Smartphone:-
- 4″ capacitive touchscreen, 540×960 pixel resolution with 16.7 million color display
- Runs on Android 2.2 (Froyo)
- Operates on Dual-core 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor, ULP GeForce GPU, Tegra 2 chipset
- 16 GB internal memory with microSD expansion slot
- Support Wi-Fi, 3G, 4G connectivity
- 5 MP Camera with autofocus and LED flash
- 1080p MP4/H.263/H.264.WMV/Xvid/DivX @ 30 fps video playback
New Smartphones 2011: Samsung Galaxy S2
Samsung Galaxy S2 was given a lot of attention by media because it was rumored to have a 2GHz processor but now almost every new Smartphone has the 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core Processor so it is even.
My expectations from Samsung Galaxy S2 are mighty, this upcoming smart phone and would be released probably within second quarter of 2011. It might be announced at the upcoming MWC 2011.
Other Features and Technical Specs of Samsung Galaxy S2 Smartphone:-
- Powerful dual-core processor i.e. 1.2 GHz Samsung Orion Processor
- Ultra Sharp 4.3″ Super AMOLED Plus capacitive touchscreen with support for multi-touch
- Next-Gen Bluetooth 3.0
- NFC technology for easy payments
- 1GB that lets you multitask
- Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) Operating System
- 8MP back camera + LED Flash + 1080p video recording + 1.3 MP front facing camera
New Smartphones 2011: Motorola Milestone 2
Motorola Milestone is till date the most popular Android Smartphone ever made and that is the reason why Motorola Milestone 2, the sequel is coming out.I have used Motorola Milestone in my palm and I have one word for it, actually technically there too, it is ‘Bloody Brilliant’. It has the perfect combination of hardware and software and the slide-out QWERTY just makes it easier for Business People to get attracted towards this Smartphones, anyways.
Other Features and Technical Specs of Motorola Milestone 2 Smartphone:-
- 3.7″ TFT capacitive touchscreen with 16 million colors and 480 x 854 pixels resolution
- Slide-out QWERTY keyboard
- 8GB internal memory + 8GB memory card (microSD included) + upgradeable to 32GB
- 5MP camea with dual-LED flash and autofocus
- 720p video recording at 30fps
- Operates on Android OS 2.2 (Froyo) on 1 GHz Cortex-A8 processor, PowerVR SGX530 GPU, TI OMAP3630 chipset
- supports Adobe Flash 10.1 with Quick Office document Editor (You need it! right?)
- SoundHound Music Recognition Software comes inbuilt
New Smartphones 2011: Motorola Droid Pro
Motorola Droid has made some changes it their design. The previous versions of Droid were full touch Smartphones whereas this one has a QWERTY keypad too. I have found a perfect Smartphone for my brother now, he craves QWERTY + Motorola + Android OS.Motorola Droid is a signature name for Android, I mean you might say that Android is very popular, it needs no recognition now and i would agree with you but in Google Android’s primitive days, Motorola’s fine products made a name for Android.
Other Features and Technical Specs of Motorola Droid Pro Smartphone:-
- 3.1″ capacitive touchscreen with 16 Million colors
- Multi-touch support with a full QWERTY keyboard
- 8GB internal memory + 8GB memory card (microSD included) + upgradeable to 32GB
- Supports Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity
- 5MP camera with autofocus and dual-LED flash
- Supports video recording at 720×480 pixels at 26-30 fps
- Runs on Android OS 2.2 (Froyo)
- 1 GHz ARM Cortex-A8 processor, PowerVR SGX530 GPU, TI OMAP3620-1000 chipset massive processor too
- Lacks DivX and Xvid video playback but support WMV so it is kind of fine
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Scream 4
“SCREAM has been such an integral part of Dimension’s history, and I look forward to continuing the franchise,” said Bob Weinstein, co-chairman The Weinstein Company. “I’ve worked with Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven on so many films at Dimension and hope to continue our successful collaboration.”
Wes Craven added, "I am delighted to accept Bob Weinstein's offer to take the reins on a whole new chapter in SCREAM history. Working with Courteney, David and Neve was a blast ten years ago and I'm sure it will be again. And I can't wait to find the talent that will bring new blood to the screen as well. Kevin is right on his game with the new script - the characters and story crackle with energy and originality - to say nothing of some of the most hair-raising scares I've seen in a script since... well, since the original SCREAM series. Let me at it."
The Best Games & Apps For android in 2011
Getting a tablet that runs Android is neat, but to really make the most out of your new Honeycomb-fueled wonder device, you need to run apps built specially for it. The blown-up look of regular apps won’t cut it, plus you need the best apps to really crank up the gadget envy from your friends and co-workers. Here are a few apps that both make excellent use of the greater screen real estate as well as taking good advantage of the extra Tegra 2 dual-core horsepower of your new tablet.
AirAttack HD (£1.79 or around $2.92, Free for the Lite version)
This game really wows with real-time 3D graphics, eye-popping backdrops and lots of neat details like destructible buildings. It’s been hailed by many a blog as one of the best Honeycomb apps to date and I agree. There is a free lite version if you want to try before you buy but we assure you, you should get this if you want to really show-off what your Android tablet can do.Cordy (Free)
This 3D platformer proves that free doesn’t necessarily mean scrappy. The design really is amazingly intricate and as many a gamer has found, cute graphics doesn’t necessarily mean it’s for kids only. Utilizing the Unity3D engine of Android, this game really made me think I was playing the game on a console. If you need a game to entertain both you and your young ones, this is the one to get.Monster Madness ($7.99)
The premise of this game sounds like it’s straight from a B-movie: a group of kids suddenly find their town overrun by monsters and they have to kill them all off to survive. While it sounds hopeless, you do get to do some crazy shooting, chopping and slicing in 3D so it’s not so bad. And the cinematic cut scenes are a nice touch as well. So if you fancy the hack-and-slash genre and like blowing monsters to smithereens, Monster Madness brings it in a big way.Samurai II: Vengeance (€3.49, around $5.00)
The unique take of this game couple with being optimized for play using Tegra devices makes it a must-buy for many tablet owners. The Unity 3D engine combines the manga-styled art with detailed characters to deliver both smooth gameplay and stunning graphics. Be warned though, this game has a lot of gore (blood everywhere…everywhere!) so keep that in mind when buying it for the kids.Spectral Souls (¥1,200, around $14.17)
Role-playing fans, don’t feel left out – we’ve got you covered! Spectral Souls gives you the Android fix you need. It’s a pretty big game though so don’t be fooled by the 2MB size the Market shows you. You will need 1.5GB at least on your storage to get this to work. That aside, this has some very detailed graphics and stays true to the genre with its soundtracks, attention to detail and hours of gameplay. Better plug in your tablet, this game will take a while to finish.Due Today ($2.99)
Once you’ve switched to using a tablet, you’ll find that most productivity tools aren’t well suited to the larger screen you now enjoy. Not so with Due Today, which is fully optimized for tablets and shows you all the information you need so you can do what needs to be done. With ToodleDo sync, GTD methodology and overdue reminders, it combines all the best task management features under a single app. It’s simple and lets you focus on tasks so you can do anything from plotting out your entire plan to conquer the world to remembering to get a card for your mom’s birthday.LogMeIn Ignition ($29.99)
If you haven’t tried to use VNC before, it’s high time you did. LogMeIn Ignition lets you remotely control your computer wherever you may be. Just connect to the net and you can browse your files back home or continue working on that spreadsheet at the office PC. The larger screen of a tablet plus the optimization for these types of devices makes it very easy to access your PC in times of need, or in times of laziness when you just can’t get up from the couch. It’s a bit pricey but well worth it for the simplicity and usability of this remote control app.Opera Mobile (Free)
The fastest browser has come to Honeycomb and it is stunning. With the speed dials, smooth zooming and scrolling and a very helpful menu, everything you need in a browser is here. While the built-in browser does have its perks, I have always gravitated toward Opera for mobile platforms because it has always been easy to use plus it’s exceptionally swift when serving up webpages.Pulse (Free)
We already heaped praises upon this news reader a while back, and our comments still ring true: it simply is one of the best ways to consume content, most especially for Android tablet owners. It uses the extra screen space well, filling it up with snapshots and titles of your news articles as well as letting you read the story itself right beside it. It’s also quite snappy which is a must for me when reading my feeds. Best of all, it’s free.QuickOffice Pro HD ($14.99, intro price)
If you really need to justify your tablet purchase, just say it’s for “work” and install QuickOffice Pro HD. You will soon find that you’re going to enjoy doing your spreadsheets and presentations in this app which packs in a lot of handy features your normal PC office suite doesn’t usually have. Take advantage of the text-to-speech capabilities, seamless access of cloud services like Dropbox and Google Docs and the ability to share files via SMS and Bluetooth. Cause you never know, it might come in handy the next time your boss needs a presentation ASAP.
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