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.

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.

Skype’s iPhone App Can Now Run in the Background

Skype for iPhone has been upgraded to include support for the multitasking capabilities of iOS4. The update means that users can now accept Skype calls and instant messages while running other applications, as well as switch to other tasks while using Skype.
The Skype for iPhone experience is now essentially on par with — if not better than — the native calling experience on the iPhone.
The application was previously enhanced to support calls over 3G. Now calls made over 3G or Wi-Fi will no longer be restricted to users who have the Skype application running in the foreground.
As with all iOS4-compatible apps, users will need to run Skype in the background to take advantage of multitasking and allow for incoming calls.
Skype for iPhone also includes the enhanced graphics supported by the iPhone 4’s Retina Display. In addition, Skype revealed that it no longer plans to charge for calls made over 3G. As such, the entire Skype experience appears to be much improved, and makes possible the previously demonstrated capabilities of the new operating system and hardware.

Nokia ditches Android for MeeGo OS

Nokia expects to launch by year’s end the first high-end devices based on its new MeeGo operating system, definitively ruling out any plans to support the rival Android platform. The new Linux-based MeeGo OS will be the core of many types of handheld devices and support a rich environment for app development as well as GPS and Bluetooth. The MeeGo system comes out of Nokia’s joint venture with Intel. Nokia and Intel have released an early version of the Linux-based MeeGo mobile OS to developers in preparation of the launch of a commercial version due out in October.
The N8, Nokia’s next smart phone and the last in the N-series phones, will be launched in Q3 and run the Symbian 3 platform. Although Nokia will migrate to MeeGo for all its future high-end devices, the company will continue to support Symbian for its less expensive smart phones. The project has already received backing from France Telecom’s Orange and Telefónica, as well as numerous OEMs and application developers.

Twitter for iPhone Now Supports iOS4 Multitasking

Twitter for iPhone – a piece of software formerly known as Tweetie – has a new version out, and it brings support for iOS4 multitasking as well as the iPhone 4’s Retina Display.
Although we assume most apps will be updated to support the new features in iOS4 soon, with Twitter it’s doubly important, since many users (including us) yearned for the ability to have the app quietly await you in the background while you do other tasks.
Besides these new features, the new version of Twitter for iPhone brings a fix for the “stuck top tweets” bug and promises more secure tweeting and photo/video posting, meaning it’s now using Oauth for all communications with Twitter and hosting partners.
Check out Twitter for iPhone here.

Adobe Launches Flash 10.1 For Mobile

Two weeks after releasing the desktop version of Adobe Flash Player 10.1, Adobe has now launched Flash 10.1 for mobile.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean that users will actually be able to install it right away. Flash 10.1 will be immediately available for phones using Android 2.2 (or Froyo), but that version of Android hasn’t been deployed to devices yet. Adobe has shipped Flash to its other device partners, too, which means it’ll soon be available on Symbian, Windows Phone 7, BlackBerry, Palm webOS, and other platforms. Adobe says it’s hoping to bring Flash 10.1 to more than half of all smartphones by 2012.
One platform is, of course, absent – Apple’s iOS4. Steve Jobs and Apple have decided that Flash simply isn’t good enough for mobile devices, and it will probably never be supported on the iPhone and the iPad.
The question is: can Adobe prove that Flash is good enough for mobile on the new, powerful generation of smartphones (other than the iPhone)? We won’t know that until the final version of Flash 10.1 for mobile is properly tested, so for now it’s still a battle of words, and Adobe has thrown in a lot of those.
According to Adobe, Flash 10.1 for mobile has been completely redesigned from the ground up; it supports multi-touch operation, smart zooming, and accelerometer-aided device rotation. It’s been thoroughly optimized to work with “all major chip and mobile platforms;” in short, we can expect better CPU, battery, and power consumption. Finally, Adobe claims that most existing Flash content will “just work”.
If Adobe delivers on these promises, who knows, maybe after a couple of years Apple will reconsider its stance and embrace the platform once again?

iOS 4 Has Arrived

Apple has just released the iOS 4 update for iPhone and iPod touch owners. The iPhone 4 might not be in stores until Thursday, but existing owners can take advantage of the new software features coming to the new device starting now.

iOS 4 is a free update and is compatible with iPhone 3G and iPhone 3GS models, as well as second- and third-generation iPod touches. Multitasking will only work with the iPhone 3GS and third-generation iPod touch, however.

On the backend, iOS 4 has more than 1,500 changes or additions to the API, which will enable developers to build even better apps on these devices. We’ll be posting a more complete video overview of what is new in iOS 4 later this afternoon, but check out some of the highlights first:

Multitasking — A combination of persistent-state applications and backgrounding functions for certain services. The end result means better battery performance when doing things like listening to Pandorawhile browsing the web.
Folders — Organizing your iPhone Home Screen is easier now that you can use folders to store groups of apps in one icon. This is a huge time-saver and makes finding and keeping more apps on your device much easier.
iBooks — First appearing on the iPad, iBooks is now available for iPhone users. Just like the Kindle app, your purchases and page marks are synchronized across devices.
Tap to Focus Video — iPhone 3GS owners can now tap to focus their videos just like you can when taking still shots. The new software also includes a 5x digital zoom for the built-in camera.
Bluetooth Keyboard Support – You can now pair your iPhone with a Bluetooth keyboard, which will make typing long documents much easier.
Better Spell Check – The spell check utility now works across Mail, Notes, Safari and other apps.
There are tons of other new features in iOS 4 and we’ll be showing them off over the next few days, as well as highlighting some apps that take advantage of the new features.

When will you upgrade to iOS 4? What feature are you most excited about?

Windows Live Messenger Now Available for the iPhone

Microsoft has launched an official, free Windows Live Messenger app for the iPhone and iPod Touch.
The app lets you chat with your Windows Live and Y! Messenger buddies, see what your Messenger friends are up to on social networks such as Facebook, Flickr, YouTube and MySpace, and comment on their activities.
You can also upload photos, create captions and create photo albums directly from your phone. If you choose to, you can also receive IM notifications when the app is closed.
Finally, the app also lets you access your Hotmail account, and read, reply to, and compose emails.
Windows Live Messenger for the iPhone is available here.

Apple launches iAd with $60 million in commitments for 2010

Apple’s newly announced iAd mobile ad network, set to launch July 1, has already lined up $60 million in commitments for 2010. Advertisers include Nissan, Citibank, Unilever, AT&T, Chanel, GE, Liberty Mutual, State Farm, Geico, Campbell’s Soup, Sears, JCPenney, Best Buy, Target, DirecTV, TBS, Liberty Mutual Group and Walt Disney Studios. Initial advertisers paid at least $10 million, but Apple is not disclosing which brand jumped on the bandwagon first.
The mobile ad network, built into the newly announced iOS 4, a free software update via iTunes 9.2, allows users to engage with an ad and stay within the app even if that includes watching a video or playing a game, or using an in-ad purchase to download an application or buy iTunes content. IOS 4 works with iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS and iPhone 4, as well as second- and third-generation iPod touch.
Apple will sell and serve the ads, and developers will receive an industry-standard 60 percent of the iAd Network revenue, which is paid via iTunes Connect. Developers who join the iAd Network can incorporate a variety of advertising formats into their applications.

SSL DV Gravity Web Mobile

This week, Solid State Logic’s SSL DV division is showing its new Gravity Web Mobile app that provides smartphone users with access to the entire Gravity archive and production management solution. It allows users to search, browse, play, and bookmark clips remotely, as well as import clips from the phone to the Gravity system.