ITV

Category: Technology

  • Launches and deals announced at CommunicAsia, EnterpriseIT & BroadcastAsia 2015

    Launches and deals announced at CommunicAsia, EnterpriseIT & BroadcastAsia 2015

    MUMBAI: Over the past four days, Marina Bay Sands has been abuzz with activity as CommunicAsia2015, EnterpriseIT2015 and BroadcastAsia2015 brought the movers and shakers of the infocomm technology (ICT) and broadcasting industry together under one roof.

     

    Dell, Panasonic, Samsung and Sony, household names renowned for their consumer electronics chose CommunicAsia, EnterpriseIT and BroadcastAsia to announce major launches in their B2B segments. 

     

    Panasonic, an exhibitor at both CommunicAsia and BroadcastAsia, announced seven new business technology products and solutions for the Asia Pacific markets. These include the Toughpad FX-X1, a fully-rugged 5-inch tablet, the new AG-DVX200, the world’s first 4K integrated zoom lens camcorder and the world’s lightest 4K+ 3-Chip DLPTM Laser Projector alongside the latest in mobile surveillance technology, blu-ray data storage, and professional broadcast video equipment.

     

    “Asia Pacific is a fast-growing dynamic marketplace, and presents huge opportunities for Panasonic across all our B2B business segments from integrated solutions to audio visual products,” said Hiro Sakamoto, Managing Director of Panasonic System Solutions Asia Pacific. “Our commitment to delivering total end-to-end solutions in the region is an integral part of our growth strategy. CommunicAsia2015 and BroadcastAsia2015 was an ideal platform for us to launch new products and solutions for the Asia Pacific markets as part of our commitment to strengthen our B2B business.”

     

    At CommunicAsia, Dell launched its new Internet of Things Gateway, while at BroadcastAsia, Samsung unveiled the world’s first low temperature video wall, and Sony – their new HXR-NX100 professional camcorder.

     

    Handset makers Huawei, PHICOMM and RugGear also launched their flagships P8, P660 and GranTour Series – RG730 respectively at CommunicAsia.

     

    “CommunicAsia, EnterpriseIT and BroadcastAsia are cornerstone events in the Asia Pacific ICT and broadcasting industries. With experts and decision-makers from a wide range of fields, the events provide an important Asian platform for companies and industry leaders alike to announce new, best-of-breed launches, and deliver key announcements that not only signal a pivotal shift in how enterprises are embracing technology in the way business is conducted, it also demonstrates clearly how technology has become indispensable in the new generation of business growth strategies. We continuously aspire to deliver great, if not better, quality events as countries and regions make further inroads in their smart cities journey towards a hyper-connected digital world,” said Lindy Wee, Chief Executive of event organiser, Singapore Exhibition Services.

     

    “I had no idea how big CommunicAsia was. There are so many high profile companies and people here. It has been great to meet these people in person and develop new friendships and business relationships that are going to help my own business grow,” said CommunicAsia2015 Summit speaker and CEO of MWI, Joshua Steimle.

     

    Smart Technologies to realise Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative

     

    Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister for Communications and Information announced at the opening ceremony of CommunicAsia, EnterpriseIT and BroadcastAsia that Singapore has entered the “build” phase of its Smart Nation initiative.

     

    In support of Singapore’s Smart Nation vision, local company ST Electronics launched the Intelligent Aggregation Gateway (iAG) Box – a key enabler to ubiquitous connectivity for smart cities. Facilitating sensor communication infrastructure on a single secure platform, the iAG box can be deployed in an urban environment to help with the management of a city’s key infrastructure for public safety, healthcare, transport, environment and utilities.

     

    Alongside major conglomerates, also playing a significant role in paving the way for Singapore becoming a ‘Smart Nation’ are start-ups like CtrlWorks, Neeuro and Zap!. At CommunicAsia, CtrlWorks showcased Axon, an intelligent robot powered by cloud robotics technology, easing manpower needs for areas such as logistics and hospitals. Neeuro pioneered an innovative EEG brainwave headgear that, when paired with Memorie – a mobile app with entertaining games suited for people of all ages, can train different aspects of the brain’s cognitive functions through completion of specific tasks, and enable them to apply the attained skills to daily activities.Another exciting product launch is Zap!, an ‘Uber’ courier service that offers less than two-hour deliveries from as low as S$5.

     

    Australian firms announced major deal at CommunicAsia2015

     

    On the international front at CommunicAsia, ICT companies from Australia marked a decade of participation. The 49-strong delegation from the Victoria region of Australia announced a range of new partnerships, expansions, licensing deals and international joint ventures centred on ICT health and medical technology industries. UnityHealth licensed its award winning eLearning platform, iTherapeutices, to Singapore based MIMS. Proximiti announced the expansion of company operations through two new regional hubs in Singapore and India. flexAnswer Solutions signed a five-year renewal contract with Changi Airport Group, and new contracts with seven Singapore government agencies.

     

    “Victoria has a strategy to help our ICT, health and medical technology companies to become part of global supply chains in knowledge creation, research, product development and commercialisation. The Andrews Labor Government is proud to be showcasing our state’s world class ICT capabilities at CommunicAsia2015, the most important ICT expo in South East Asia,” said Australian Minister of Training and Skills, Steve Herbert.

     

    Shifts in broadcasting economics addressed at BroadcastAsia2015

     

    With consumers increasingly taking control of where and when they want to access content, BroadcastAsia2015 responded by bringing together the latest in OTT and 4K technology, media asset management (MAM) and video analytics.

     

    ARRIS, a global innovator in IP, video and broadband technology gave BroadcastAsia attendees an exclusive first look of its 2015 Consumer Entertainment Index. It is one of the only global studies of its kind undertaken annually that looks at the evolution of entertainment through the lens of consumer engagement with content, connected devices, and each other.

     

    “This week at BroadcastAsia2015, we shared a first look of the findings of our ARRIS Consumer Entertainment Index. This event provided the perfect platform for us to talk about the evolving trends of consumers from across APAC. This year’s study revealed that while consumers’ consumption habits are changing, there are many frustrations, such as challenges with streaming and Wi-Fi connectivity, and experiencing quality mobile TV content through cellular and mobile Wi-Fi streaming services,” said Tim Gropp, Senior Vice President, Sales, Asia Pacific, ARRIS. “Understanding their concerns present significant opportunities for service providers. Beyond addressing these issues, businesses can look at developing new and differentiated offerings that would be most relevant to viewers.”

     

    “BroadcastAsia is THE meeting place for broadcasters in the region. The wide spectrum of products and variety of exhibitors allow me to choose the ideal digital solutions for our company’s ICT strategy,” said BroadcastAsia2015 visitor Alain Roger Poirier, Chief Operating Officer, Bloomberg TV Malaysia.

     

    Best Practices and Growth Potential – The Focus of Industry Discussions

     

    More than 1,000 industry leaders and professionals gathered at CommunicAsia2015 Summit, BroacastAsia2015 International Conference and the Creative Content Production Conference to discuss latest ICT trends, fundamental shifts in broadcasting economics, and digital media challenges.

     

    “BroadcastAsia2015 International Conference was a good combination of both technical and commercial aspects of cloud and virtualisation, as it applies to all video applications. Attendees were a good balance between IT, enterprises and those with broadcast experience,” said Ian Trow, BroadcastAsia2015 International Conference speaker and Senior Director of Emerging Technology and Strategy at Harmonic.

     

    “The social TV and second screen track was absolutely outstanding this year. 2014 and 2015 has seen some of the biggest changes in OTT, social media and the second screen and our panelists and speakers represented all different parts of the business. From gamification to analytics and video this year’s BroadcastAsia was truly enlightening when it came to understand the future of TV,” said BroadcastAsia2015 delegate and Senior Vice President of the Shorty Awards & Muck Rack, Natan Edelsburg.

     

    “The session was especially enlightening in terms of service providers’ business plans to leverage convergence to deliver cross platform services that are engaging to customers,” said Yuvarami T, Director, Media Development Authority, a CommunicAsia2015 Summit delegate.

     

    More than 48,000 attendees from 101 countries and regions, including visitors, exhibiting staff, conference speakers and delegates, and members of media, got to witness at CommunicAsia, EnterpriseIT and BroadcastAsia how technology could be harnessed to better connect cities, governments, enterprises and consumers.

     

    The event will return to Marina Bay Sands on 31 May – 3 June 2016.

  • PM Narendra Modi launches interactive mobile app on his activities

    PM Narendra Modi launches interactive mobile app on his activities

    NEW DELHI: Aiming to practice what he preaches, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is extensively using social media, has now launched the his own mobile app, which is interactive in nature.

     

    The application provides updates on Modi’s day-to-day activities. The app also presents an opportunity to receive messages and emails directly from Modi.  

     

    There is also an option to contribute and earn ‘badges’ through to-do tasks on the app.

    Using the app, one can tune-in and listen to Modi’s ‘Mann ki Baat’ editions, read his blogs, and get to know more about him from the biography section. 

    The app provides comprehensive information on initiatives and achievements of the Union Government, including an ‘infographics’ section.

  • Space Department launches augmented reality app for Android

    Space Department launches augmented reality app for Android

    NEW DELHI: An augmented reality application – ‘Sakaar’ – which is a live direct view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated 3D models, animations, videos etc. has been launched by the Government.

     

    DECU-ISRO has developed this application for Android devices, which was launched by Minister of State for Atomic Energy and Space Jitendra Singh.

     

    The technology enhances the user’s current perception of reality. Augmentation is in real time and the information is overlaid on the live view of the device’s camera. Essentially, AR requires three elements: Android device with back camera, AR application, AR Markers. The multimedia content, which is embedded in the Sakaar app, is generated with the support of multimedia and editing facilities of DECU-ISRO.

     

    Sakaar consists of 3D models of MOM, RISAT, rockets (PSLV, GSLV Mk-III); videos of INSAT 3D-predicting cyclones, GSLV D5/Cryo, Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) orbit insertion, launch video of MOM, 360 degree animated view of MOM; Anaglyph of Mars surface.

     

    The sakaar app is loaded on webpage with the URL: http://www.sac.gov.in/SACSITE/sakaar/index.html. User can scan the QR code using a QR code reader on the device for downloading the app.

  • Gaana.com partners The Orchard to strengthen music library

    Gaana.com partners The Orchard to strengthen music library

    MUMBAI: In a bid to strengthen its library, Gaana.com has inked a partnership with music, film and video distribution company The Orchard to add more than seven million indie songs to its catalogue in India.

     

    With this the total catalogue size of Gaana.com has touched 10 million songs.

     

    The Orchard operates in more than 25 global markets, amplifying reach and revenue across the world through multiple digital, physical and mobile partnerships internationally. The artists that the company works with range from legendary rockers Toto, metal gods Slayer and rising Indie duo Say Lou Lou. Popular Indian indie acts include Raghu Dixit, Soulmate, DhruvGhanekar and Blackstratblues.

     

    Gaana.com’s music streaming app and web service has 15 million+ app downloads and over 12 million registered users. It has a catalogue ranging from Bollywood, international, regional and independent music.

     

    Gaana.com business head Pawan Agarwal said, “Our focus is to create best music experiences for its users and we are focused on bringing the widest selection of songs from India and international markets for our consumers. The Orchard is an important partnership for us, and we believe the consumers would love it.”

     

    “We’re excited to be working with Gaana as it grows its presence in India. Bringing our quality catalogue to local listeners and extending our labels’ brands in the region is the perfect representation of what we’re about: using technology and relationships to bring music to engaged consumers wherever they are in the world,” added The Orchand CEO Brad Navin.

  • STB market set to grow globally with HD channels & falling prices of smart TVs

    STB market set to grow globally with HD channels & falling prices of smart TVs

    NEW DELHI: Even as India has embarked on a Make in India programme, an international research says that availability of High Definition (HD) channels and falling prices of smart TVs are expected to surge set top box (STB) market growth between 2015 and 2022.

     

    Cooperation between STB operators and the manufacturers along with efficient customer support is expected to positively contribute towards market growth, according to Grand View Research.

     

    The Asia Pacific STB market is expected to witness rapid growth due to growing consumer adoption and favorable government mandate in the region.

     

    Regulations mandating the digitization of traditional cable television and the subsequent migration from analog to digital TV have led to an increased demand for STBs over the past few years. Technological advancements and better quality of signal transmission may further supplement STB market growth over the next seven to eight years.

     

    The improvements in technology and better quality of signal transmission in digital television are expected to spur market growth over the forecast period. Moreover, features such as recording, live streaming through internet, and remote viewing through smartphones and tablets are further expected to drive STB market growth.

     

    However, high costs of such STBs and associated costs of pay channels could challenge market growth. Cable service providers who are unwilling to participate in rolling out of STB due to major capital expenditure amidst business uncertainties may also challenge market growth. Factors such as operator upgrades to high definition technologies, attractive development policies, plans, growth interest in over-the-top hybrid set top box designs, and rising global penetration of pay-TV are expected to provide growth opportunities for the set top box market over the forecast period.

     

    Types of set top box include Internet Protocol Television (IPTV), satellite Direct-To-Home (DTH), cable, and Digital Terrestrial Transmission (DTT). The IPTV segment is expected to account for a major share in the market.

     

    Strategic acquisitions and mergers are expected to play a key role in expanding market share. For instance, in April 2015, ArrisGroup Inc., a broadband media technology, and Pace PLC, a UK-based technology provider for the Pay-TV and Broadband industries, announced that Arris would acquire Pace for a cash consideration of $2.1 billion. The acquisition is expected to enhance the company’s product portfolio and its presence in the satellite segment, the California-based research group said.

  • LINE launches group call app globally on Android

    LINE launches group call app globally on Android

    MUMBAI: LINE has launched a free group call app called Popcorn Buzz that allows up to 200 participants to simultaneously converse on Android.

     

    Popcorn Buzz offers group call functionality, which is being touted as a replacement for existing paid business-grade conference call services. For users that need to talk to multiple people at once, Popcorn Buzz accommodates both personal and business usage, all for free.

     

    Anyone can get started with Popcorn Buzz by choosing a username and uploading a profile picture. By sending out each group call’s unique URL via email, text message, or another communication method of the user’s choice, they can start making group calls with friends without any delay. Additionally, existing LINE users can log in to Popcorn Buzz with their LINE account to immediately synchronize their friends list data and get started making group calls with their LINE friends right away.

     

    During group calls, users can see all the other call members’ icons, and tell who is talking via the green dots that light up in the lower right-hand corner of current talking users’ icons.

     

    An iPhone release is also planned, along with implementation of additional features like group video chat, interconnectivity with LINE groups, and more in the future.

     

    The app supports multiple languages like Arabic, Brazilian Portuguese, Chinese, English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Malay, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

  • NexGTv & Fluence to create India’s first mobi-serial

    NexGTv & Fluence to create India’s first mobi-serial

    NEW DELHI: NexGTv from Digivive Services has entered into a strategic tie-up with CA Media Digital’s first venture Fluence to create celebrity led ‘mobi-serials.’

     

    Taking the next step in digital entertainment, Fluence will create and produce for the first time in India clutter breaking, original content for nexGTv.

     

    Elaborating on the tie-up, Digivive Director and CEO GD Singh said, “Mobile is increasingly becoming the preferred platform of consumption for Indian consumers and reports indicate that this consumption is further poised to grow significantly, as the average person is expected to watch TV and video content (at least once a month) on 2.13 devices, up from 1.53 last year. Our intention is to articulate and address the needs of this rapidly growing and discerning mobile audience with mobile-first content.”

     

    Singh added, “We are very excited about our collaboration with Fluence and the CA Media Group as they not only are the experts in digital engagement but it also opens up possibilities to bring on board industry-leading production expertise of the Group via Endemol, which has been credited with several well-known hits on Indian television including Bigg Boss and Fear Factor etc.”

     

    Fluence vice president digital and business head Ashish Joshi said, “Fluence is in the business of creating unique and differentiated digital experiences with India’s top talents from the fields of entertainment, music and sports. Creating premium digital shows with our portfolio of celebrities for nexGTv is another step towards our growing focus on digital content development. This collaboration will draw audience subscriptions and views to the content and platform through our well thought out amplification programme on social media thereby engaging the fans and followers of our celebrities in a new and highly compelling way.”

     

    This first bigstep towards creation of unique content designed especially for mobile viewers marks an inflection point in the mobile entertainment domain and is expected to resonate very well with the audience who until now, have had to contend themselves with content produced for alternate formats including the big screens and home screens and adapted/ curated subsequently for the mobile. To help create the mobi-series, Fluence has partnered with Endemol Shine India, a CA Media investee company, to co-produce the shows and utilize their expertise in the field of production.

     

    Known for producing creative and clutter breaking content for TV broadcasters and film entertainment, Endemol Shine India will help elevate the level of programming in the digital space which iscurrently inundated with amateur productions.

  • HP to automate IT infrastructure of DreamWorks Animation

    HP to automate IT infrastructure of DreamWorks Animation

    MUMBAI: DreamWorks Animation has selected HP to automate its IT infrastructure. By deploying HP Datacenter Care – Infrastructure Automation, HP is providing an agile deployment model, enabling DreamWorks Animation to manage its infrastructure as code to continuously deliver applications and services more quickly and reliably. 

     

    According to IDC, the average number of application deployments per month for Fortune 1000 companies is expected to double in two years. By automating, high-performing organizations can deploy code 30 times more frequently with 50 per cent fewer failures.

     

    “As we continuously push the boundaries of digital animation, we require a much faster and more reliable way to deliver applications and IT services. With a strong technology partner like HP, we are moving toward a new agile model that will enable IT with a greater capacity to innovate,” said DreamWorks Animation head of global technology operations Derek Chan.

     

    For more than a decade, HP solutions and services have supported all areas of DreamWorks Animation’s production processes, digital infrastructure and business divisions. This latest collaboration with HP will provide advice, support and tools to help DreamWorks Animation transform business ideas into customer value through software development and IT service delivery with agility, speed, efficiency, and reliability. For IT operations, this service will enable fast release cycles without interrupting production systems.

     

    HP Datacenter Care – Infrastructure Automation features open source tools, including Chef, to improve reliability and agility for IT environments. Chef’s IT automation platform turns infrastructure into code so datacenter management is versionable, repeatable and significantly less costly.

     

    “Automating infrastructure makes IT a strategic asset that can meet the growing demands being placed on IT teams to rapidly deliver applications and IT services. With Datacenter Care – Infrastructure Automation, we’re providing DreamWorks Animation high degrees of automation and collaborative software delivery processes,” added HP senior vice president and general manager technology services support Scott Weller.

     

    With HP’s robust support and advice tailored to DevOps environments, DreamWorks Animation will be able to reliably adopt and scale lean and agile IT. The HP Datacenter Care – Infrastructure Automation global Center of Excellence (CoE) will provide guidance and best practices for infrastructure as code and processes, along with support for tools that automate how DreamWorks Animation builds, deploys, and manages infrastructure. HP will also conduct proactive assessments and review tools usage quarterly to identify challenges, opportunities for improvement, and plan for future needs. 

  • MixRadio rolls out music streaming service on all mobile platforms in APAC

    MixRadio rolls out music streaming service on all mobile platforms in APAC

    MUMBAI: MixRadio is planning to roll-out its music streaming service to Asian consumers by expanding across Android and IOS platforms. The company has also inked a new partnership with HTC.

     

    Known for its ease-of-use and highly personalized music streaming service, the free MixRadio app can now be downloaded from app stores in India, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam.

     

    Previously owned by Microsoft and Nokia and available only on Windows Phone, MixRadio’s recent acquisition by mobile messaging service, LINE, enabled it to launch on Android and iOS platforms. The co-marketing opportunities with LINE presented to MixRadio through the partnership will help drive growth in the Asia Pacific region.

     

    Speaking at Music Matters in Singapore, MixRadio vice president for APAC Jamie Robertson said, “We’re excited to be bringing our personalized and easy-to-use music streaming service to a huge new audience in the Asia Pacific region. For many people this will be the first time they have been able to experience MixRadio. We’re confident they will love the simplicity of the experience, the quality of the personalization we deliver as well as the offline mode which is a unique offering in our industry that lets you take your music anywhere and avoid high data charges.”

     

    We are already available in 31 countries and have been developing and improving our personalized music offering over many years, meaning we combine the benefits of having a heritage in the space with the excitement of launching a new product. We will also continue to deliver a great service to existing users on Windows Phone.”

     

    In its new co-marketing partnership with HTC, MixRadio will exclusively provide music updates for HTC’s BlinkFeed, providing personalized music news tailored to the users’ music tastes.

     

    HTC EMEA president Phil Blair said, “HTC is a pioneer in providing top quality audio experiences via mobile. We were the first smartphone company to combine dual stereo speakers, a finely tuned sound profile and Dolby decoding technology to deliver an end-to-end multi-channel audio solution, HTC BoomSound. The MixRadio partnership is the latest example of HTC investing in delivering rich audio experiences, helping us bring completely personal and relevant music news to our users, so they never miss out on the latest releases and mixes of the music they love.”

     

    MixRadio also offers thousands of curated mixes created by a global team of music experts, and by international stars. Unlike many free music streaming services, MixRadio lets users listen to offline mixes on the move.

  • Hungama crosses 50 mn MAUs, targets 100 mn by March 2016

    Hungama crosses 50 mn MAUs, targets 100 mn by March 2016

    MUMBAI: Hungama.com has become the first company to cross 50 million monthly active users (MAUs) in a year’s time. What’s more, the company is targeting 100 million monthly active users by March 2016.

     

    With 50 million MAUs, Hungama is now amongst the top five music and video streaming services globally, including platforms like Pandora and Spotify. 

     

    Over the past 12 months, Hungama has introduced several first features as well as key catalog additions and has managed to get over 250 million patrons access their site, which led to a growth of over 200 per cent in monthly registered users.

     

    Hungama Digital Media Entertainment MD and CEO Neeraj Roy said, “We are glad to be the music and video service of choice for over 50 million South Asians across the world. The milestone is the result of initiatives that we at Hungama began undertaking about 15 months ago. Over the next year, we plan to continue to build on this momentum to grow into newer markets and explore more avenues to distribute digital music and video. Hungama is on track to reach 100 million monthly active users by March 2016.”

     

    Their approach to semi urban and rural India has also been instrumental in making the service popular. Understanding the cultural diversity of the country, especially in second and third tier cities the company launched the first music led mobile app globally to be available in more than five languages – Hindi, Tamil, Telugu and Punjabi and English.

     

    Hungama’s patent pending gamification layer has become popular with consumers who are now rewarded for multiple actions daily and can redeem their points for a range of products and services.

     

    Hungama has also partnered with several studios and labels to offer music and video exclusively including tracks from popular artists like Yo Yo Honey Singh, Atif Aslam, etc. as well as music from latest Bollywood movies like Roy, Kuch Kuch Locha Hai, Gabbar and Mr.X along with regional films.