Litepanels Micro

Here is the thing, probably this light is for camcorders, but  this might be the light that replaces that small kino light for really small situations, probably one like this one could give us filling in cars or helmets, probably this light work as a filler on really small and really hard to light places.

The professional LED light that runs off standard AA batteries. The perfect lighting tool for today’s small DV camcorders, the Micro daylight harnesses the company’s proprietary LED technology in an ultra-lightweight, extremely compact package. Users will enjoy luminous, soft, directional lighting, with the same warmth and great color characteristics that made Litepanels an integral part of television, broadcast news & motion picture productions worldwide.

Advantages

Heat-free LED technology

Produces bright, HD friendly soft light

Integrated dimmer 100% to 0

All-in-one with no external cables

Absolutely flicker-free light output

	Runs 1.5hrs. on 4 AA batteries (HD Alkaline)
	7-8 hours on E2 Lithium batteries

Uses standard or rechargeable batteries

Extremely lightweight and compact

All-in-one camera light w/no external cables

Specifications

Size: 3.3″ W x 3.3″ H x 1. 5″ D (83.8mm x 83.8mm x 38.1mm)

Weight: Under 4 oz (110g)

Power Draw: 3 Watts

Four AA batteries (internal)

Flip-down filterholder

5600°K Daylight Output (cool white)

Filters Included: 3200°K Tungsten conversion (warm white),1/4 warming and diffusion

Source: Litepanels

Krakatoa on VFX-Intensive Ad for Snickers via BBDO Moscow

You have to see this commercial of Snickers, you will not expect this from BBDO Moscow, is soo good you will play it over and over, just get it after the jump

Source: CG Society

Speed Racer VFX Behind the scenes

For the ones who have not seen the film and the ones who have seen the film, here after the jump you can see some examples of how the Wachowski brothers, did some of the special effects in the Speed Racer movie

Source: CG Society

SATA HDD Multi-Function Dock (USB + ESATA)

Maybe, our solution starts with mass libraries of HDD and maybe we can start by using this kind of devices:

USB + ESATA + 2-PORT HUB + CARD READER
This SATA HDD Dock allows you to plug any 2.5″ or 3.5″ SATA Harddisk to your computer via USB or ESATA port, a powerful tool for data transfer, backup and cloning. It functions as a 2-port USB hub and card reader as well. The device is compatible with both PCs and Macs.

Features:

Supports both S-ATA 2.5″ HDD and 3.5″ HDD

PC connection: USB 2.0 / ESATA

2-port USB hub

4-Slot Card Reader

Support Windows VISTA, XP and Mac OS

Dimension: 130 x 120 x 68mm (approx.)

Weight: 475g Support Card Types:

SD / SDHC / *Mini SD / *Mini SDHC / *T-Flash Card / *Micro SD

MMC / MMC-II / RS MMC / MMC Plus / MMC Plus Turbo / MMC Mobile/Mobile-ProC

Compact Flash / XD

Memory Stick / Memory Stick MagicGate / Memory Stick Pro / Memory Stick Duo / *Memory Stick Pro Duo / *Memory Stick MagicGate Puo / *Memory Stick MagicGate Duo / *Memory Stick micro (M2) 
(* means Adapter is required)

Source: USB BRANDO

Next-gen Super HDTV System

I can only think of the possibilities, If we can think in a camera that can record those images and can you imagine the costs on storage and the terabytes that we will need in the future?

 

By: Chiara Castañeda, IDG News Service

Television at 16 times the resolution of today’s HDTV is inching ever closer– and now it’s in color.

A recently-developed 33-megapixel image sensor has helped Japanese public broadcaster Nippon Hoso Kyokai (NHK) take the step from black and white in its Super Hi-Vision system.

The latest version of the next-generation technology was on display at NHK’s Science and Technical Research Laboratories (STRL) in Tokyo alongside a new signal processing circuit, an ultra high-resolution lens and a thinner optical cable that combine with the sensor to produce the clearest and sharpest images yet seen from Super Hi-Vision (SHV).

At 7,680 pixels by 4,320 pixels, a single SHV image is equal to 16 tiled HDTV screens. It’s exactly that enormous size that makes it difficult for the image to be captured, processed, and displayed.

Last year, engineers used four 8.3 megapixel image sensors– two sensors for green and one each for red and blue– in order to reach full resolution. While the combination produced a 33 megapixel image, it only allowed a black and white display.

This time, NHK was able to create a prototype of a single 33 megapixel image sensor, which enabled engineers to use one chip per color. Now each color sensor operates in full resolution, allowing the image to reach its full potential– having colors so bright and a contrast so sharp that one is able to read the fine print on a tag positioned a couple of meters away from the camera.

Having the proper lens for the job was also a hurdle, so NHK collaborated with lens manufacturer Fujinon to create an ultra-high-resolution lens for the system.

It also showed prototypes of an upgraded signal processing circuit, which can now work at a higher speed, and an improved optical transmission device. Instead of using 16coaxial cables to transmit the images to the display device, it was able to reduce it to only one 12-core cable, with smaller connectors at a width of 9mm and height of 14mm.

Although they were able to solve the challenge of capturing a colored image at full-resolution, the hardware is still does not yet exist to display it.

As with other devices, the future goal is to make the system smaller.

“We plan to shrink everything in order to make it more portable, and of course, more practical for users,” said Kohji Mitani, a senior research engineer from NHK. “This will probably take five to 10 years.”

One of the few broadcasting companies to heavily invest in R&D, NHK began work on Super Hi-Vision technology in 2002– a technology it views as the successor to today’sHDTV, which is now only gaining wide acceptance. NHK was the pioneer in HDTV technology, beginning work on it in 1964.

Handsfree Transporter by Segway

The HANDSFREE-TRANSPORTER allows travelling up to 21km/h. In low speed it may spare rails, cars dolly’s, making the filming process cheaper. The HANDSFREE-TRANSPORTER also opens previously inaccessible grounds to operators using devices which steady camera motion. The Off Road version enables them to move away from smooth roads, paths or prepared ways.

All the while, pictures remain amazingly sharp and even, wherther in turning around or gliding straight forwards.

The possibilities are endless.

Specifications:
Weight of maschine: 50kg
Capacity: 120 kg
Power: 4 Horsepower’s
Speed: 21 km/h
Possible Distance: With LION Battery HT up to 35km
Charging Time: 5 Hours 

Source: Handsfree Transporter

Interesting Music Video

Music Video Link: Seventeen Evergreen “Haven’t Been Yourself”

Sydney Pollack dies in Los Angeles

Respected actor/director Sydney Pollack passed away Monday after battling cancer for the past 10 months, according to the AP:

Pollack, whose illness first came to public attention after unspecified health issues led him to withdraw last August as director of an HBO television movie, died at his home in the coastal Los Angeles suburb of Pacific Palisades at about 5 p.m. local time, surrounded by his family.
The Directors Guild of America issued a statement on Monday night saluting him as “the quintessential ‘actor’s director”‘ and a gifted filmmaker who “let the dialogue and the emotion of a scene speak for itself.”

Sydney Pollack’s more recent roles included appearances on NBC’s Will & Grace as Will’s father, and a lawyer in the must-see George Clooney drama Michael Clayton. He was one a hell of a filmmaker and will truly be missed. Rest in Peace.

Björk Premieres 3-D Music Video

This is kind of old, but I am posting it because some of you haven’t seen it and it is a really spectacular Music Video, its meant to be seen in 3D so go and build your 3D glasses with 2 film gels (one blue and one red) or paint with 2 markers (one blue and one red) a cd cover (transparent) so you can watch it in 3D, if you still don’t have 3D glasses, don’t worry in the link there is also a 2D version.

Link for the Video: Wanderlust

Immersive Media’s Geodesic-shaped Camera Rides the Wave, Captures 360-degree Action Video

 

Red Bull must have a lot of money because it’s now using some of the same technology as Google. Just in time for a pre-summer marketing blitz, Red Bull has partnered with Immersive Media to place a few of its impressive geodesic-shaped 360-degree cameras on the heads of their sponsored surfers. And despite the cool end result, they still look ridiculous and wildly uncomfortable.

The surfers put on 25 pounds of the gear, including the Dodeca 2360 Camera System, and captured 360-degree video that can be explored by the viewer like Google’s Street View. But instead of searching for the latest inappropriate Easter egg, you can get a pretty accurate idea of what top-notch surfing really feels like. Unfortunately, you won’t get to experience the other highs of the surfer lifestyle in 360-degree views. You know, such as going to parties and dating Brazilian models.

The  Dodeca 2360 Camera System is a camera system that takes in high-res video streams (at 2400×1200 pixels per frame, 30 frames per second), and captures the GPS coordinates of its motion. The camera can record for up to 3 hours at a time, which helps when the recording time sessions go over.

Source: Wired Magazine, Red Bull Surfing Videos.