Panasonic develops ultra high-speed memory cards

Panasonic has unveiled a new line of SD High Capacity (SDHC) class 10 UHS-1 (Ultra High Speed) solid-state memory cards with transfer rates of 90MB/s, or four-and-a-half times as fast as the previous generation of SDHC media. The new RP-SDB series of cards — available in storage capacities of 8GB, 16GB and 32GB — are optimized for Panasonic’s broad AVCCAM line of affordable HD camcorders.
The new UHS-1 media facilitate offload speeds of as low as 1.5 minutes from the 8GB card, to three minutes from the 16GB card, and six minutes from the 32GB card. To achieve the SBD Series UHS-1’s media’s high-speed transfer, a user must have a computer embedded with USB 3.0 technology and equipped with either a Panasonic UHS-1 USB adapter or with an SDHC card slot that supports the UHS-1’s chip.

Anton/Bauer offers new power solution for Apple MacBooks

MacBook users who are on location or working on remote productions can connect to longer-lasting battery options via the new QRC-MBPA. When additional power is required and an AC wall adapter or adequate power source is not available, production and broadcast professionals using a MacBook, MacBook Pro and/or MacBook Air can employ their compatible Anton/Bauer power sources with the QRC-MBPA Gold Mount power solution, which easily connects to the computer via Apple’s MagSafe Airline Adapter (sold separately). Once the power on the Anton/Bauer battery is depleted, the computer seamlessly switches to its own internal battery without the loss of data.

Sony’s attempt to reclaim acquisition status

This year Sony has emerged from its slumber with new models based on CMOS sensor technology developed in house at its Atsugi facility in Japan that show promise for those professionals seeking images with a shallow depth of field or the highest-resolution image capture possible to emulate the look of film. Sony said it has been able to eliminate the moiré and aliasing problems experienced with many current HDSLRs while reducing the rolling shutter effect of CMOS imagers. In addition, when compared to traditional CCD chips, which Sony continues to offer in some existing models, CMOS offers increased resolution, lower power consumption, minimized noise artifacts and virtually zero image smearing. Local news crews could also benefit from Sony’s new emphasis on customer requirements.

Video device convergence forces Skype to embrace H.264

Skype’s decision to adopt H.264 was made because it has become the de facto codec for video delivery across a wide range of devices. Due to hardware acceleration built into low-powered devices such as TVs, Blu-ray players and mobile handsets, video publishers have increasingly turned to H.264 for video playback.
H.264 is arguably the best, or only, way to deliver video onto connected TVs and mobile devices. However, a battle is breaking out over the video format used by Web browsers for standards-based HTML5 video playback. While all modern browsers are working to support HTML5 and its video tag, which enables video playback without the need for a proprietary plug-in like Adobe’s Flash Player, browser makers are divided on which video format to support. Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 9 and Apple’s Safari browser have pledged support for H.264, but Google’s Chrome, Mozilla’s Firefox and Opera are backing Google’s open-source WebM format.

Thunderbolt technology could revolutionize field editing

The arrival of Thunderbolt, a new data transfer and HD personal computer connection that runs at 10Gb/s brings new possibilities for ENG crews editing video with Apple’s Final Cut Pro in the field.
Developed in Intel’s labs with the help of Apple, under the name Light Peak, the technology was instantly available in Apple’s updated lineup of MacBook Pros. The 10Gb/s speeds, outperforming even USB 3.0 speeds, is a boon to video editors working with Apple laptops in the field.
Intel’s vision is to have Thunderbolt replace the myriad specialty ports on laptops and desktop machines with one that can do just about everything while scaling its bandwidth potential to support future computing needs.
In its line of 13in, 15in and 17in MacBook Pros recently introduced, Apple said Thunderbolt is 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0.
“It offers unprecedented expansion capabilities,” according to Apple. “It changes what you can do with a notebook.”

The New iPad2…All New Design

It’s Here, The Mac App Store

With the Mac App Store, getting the apps you want on your Mac has never been easier. No more boxes, no more disks, no more time-consuming installation. Click once to download and install any app on your Mac. The Mac App Store is now available as a software update for any Mac running Mac OS X Snow Leopard.

Canon’s New XA10 HD Camcorder

The new ultra compact XA10 Professional Camcorder is designed for situations where mobility is critical while shooting. This feature-rich, professional model records Full HD 1080p using an AVCHD codec. The ultimate professional camcorder for run-and-gun shooting, the compact XA10 includes a detachable handle for low-angle shooting and portability. With the handle attached the XA10′s functionality is further enhanced with the addition of XLR inputs and an external microphone holder.
A Genuine Canon 10x HD Video Lens delivers a wide, flexible zoom range (35mm equivalent range 30.4mm-304mm) and smooth, pleasing backgrounds thanks to an 8-blade iris. And an infrared mode allows users to capture video in conditions with little or no ambient light, a situation which would make other camcorders useless.
The new XA10 provides the option of recording to a 64GB internal flash drive or two SDXC-compatible card slots and the ability to simultaneously record to two cards at once for instant backup. Portable and packed with professional features, this camcorder will be the model of choice for on-the-go videographers.

Tiny Size, Serious Technology….LaCie FastKey

The LaCie FastKey isn’t just another USB key—it’s a real mobile SSD. It’s one of the speediest, most robust choices on the market for portable data storage. Featuring a solid-state drive and DRAM cache, it also offers up to 120GB of capacity.
With the FastKey’s USB 3.0 interface, you can store and transfer your files faster than ever before, no matter how large they are. USB 3.0 represents an enormous speed increase from USB 2.0, and best of all, since it’s backward compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1, there’s never any worry about connectivity.
AES 256-bit encryption is included in the FastKey, along with LaCie’s Private-Public software, which allows you to create a private partition on your key. This way, it’s simple to keep private data and public data separate—letting you use your FastKey any time, anywhere.

Audio Precision breaks speed barrier

Audio Precision has introduced a new analyzer that returns 19 key audio measurements in about one second. The multitone analyzer will become available in the upcoming release of APx500 v2.7.
This testing speed means that production line managers no longer have to choose between speed and quality when specifying their audio test equipment. They will be able to achieve reliable, consistent results with a minimum number of test stations, ensuring lower defect rates at a lower cost per unit.
The new APx multitone analyzer returns the following results in graphic or tabular data form: level; total harmonic distortion and intermodulation distortion plus noise); noise density spectrum, gain; TD+N spectrum; noise RMS level; relative level; crosstalk; signal-to-noise ratio; deviation; crosstalk at tone; DC level; phase; total RMS level; frequency shift; phase at tone; RMS level at tone; FFT spectrum; TD+N ratio; and maximum level at tone.
Speeds of about one second are attainable using the APx API, the typical implementation on an automated production line. When the APx GUI is controlling the APx, speeds are closer to three seconds for 19 results.
The new APx v2.7 software powers all APx analyzers, including the new APx515 production test audio analyzer, the APx525 high-performance audio analyzer and the APx585 multichannel audio analyzer.
The APx500 v2.7 is a free update for all APx users.