JVC Launch New TV-TOOLS Version 9.0

TV-TOOLS version 9.0 is a dynamic digital signage solution that can form the heart of all communication projects - from corporate TV, room booking and digital signage, through to RSS feeds, streaming and template management.

The TV-TOOLS designer module is a powerful tool for the creation and design of users' graphical content. It supports all image formats, animations or video files, and also enables the use of all resources linked to databases or the Internet.

For simple broadcast management, TV-TOOLS enables the creation and use of dynamic predefined templates. Content can be instantly modified using the dedicated, intuitive Web Interface.

The new scheduler software allows the generation of playlists or schedule grids, either in local mode (on the creation machine) or in terminal mode. With a new ergonomic and simple user interface, the operation of all features, including the more advanced functionalities, is made easier.

The EveryWhere Manager, installed locally or in terminal mode, allows the supervision of the communications with the Everywhere server. Entirely based on HTTPS protocol, it is designed to monitor and handle the data transfers for large player installations, in real-time.

The Full HD 1080p Player comes with Windows 7 Pro as standard; it allows the management of multiple independent areas on the screen and ensures a perfect fluidity of all rolling and scrolling text, making it ideal for even the most challenging projects. VGA, DVI and HDMI connections ensure a perfect interoperability with all types of displays, while its built-in WIFI adapter means it can be used anywhere.

The TV-TOOLS player solution is based on a Windows PC platform. The major advantages of this include:

• Fully independent playback: the data is transferred to the player's hard drive, including RSS feeds/web page caches and sql data, freeing the network and preserving bandwidth
• Local data and graphics processing: the performance of the dual-core processor and dedicated graphics card provide high quality images and fluid transitions that would not be possible on terminals or set-top boxes
• True Windows OS: compatible with all recent hardware, native IE advanced browser including all useful plug-ins and Microsoft PowerPoint viewer
• TV-TOOLS' working principle is to exploit non-complied media resources. Unlike PowerPoint or Flash, it uses the image files (backgrounds and boxes), sounds, and animations in their native format and rendering is done in real time on the player machine
• Data transfer is only required for new or modified elements, in their native file format (JPEG, TGA, AVI, etc)

TV-TOOLS dynamically aggregates data from multiple sources. The data can be stored locally in a network share or a URL for HTTP or HTTPS. data can be displayed as text or text calendar, delimited text, RTF, Excel RSS feed, XML, Access or SQL database, Exchange Calendar, Google calendar, Lotus Notes, iCalendar as well as sub directory structures.

Source http://www.4rfv.co.uk/industrynews.asp?id=123209

Govt to report on film and TV struggles

Australian television and film producers are concerned the sector could go under without more incentives to encourage investment.

The federal government is preparing to release the findings of its review of the screen sector, which has been hit by the global financial crisis and a rising Australian dollar.

The review, set up by then arts minister Peter Garrett, is looking at the effectiveness of funding and policies, including three tax offsets introduced in 2007.

There is a tax rebate of up to 40 per cent for producers who make Australian feature films, television and other projects, and a 15 per cent location and post-production tax rebate for foreign films made in Australia.

Industry insiders says they are no longer internationally competitive, mainly due to the rising Australian dollar, which has been on parity with the Us dollar for months.

There are also concerns that because the incentives are linked to the tax system they are not timely and lead to interest costs on financing.

The location rebate, while similar to the levels offered in New Zealand and United Kingdom, falls well below the rates in Canada, the United States and eastern Europe.

Ausfilm, representing private and government screen sector groups, says the location rebate needs to be increased to 30 per cent.

It also wants a requirement that foreign productions spend 70 per cent of their budgets in Australia to qualify, to be removed.

While this has been promised, it hasn't been legislated yet.

Ausfilm, in its submission to the screen review, noted that foreign features dropped to less than one per cent of film production expenditure in 2008/09.

Narnia was the only big-budget US film shot in Australia during the past few years.

"Australia is now facing a sustained period without international film production activity," the submission warned.

It cited a PricewaterhouseCoopers analysis that showed a boost to location incentives would pump more than $1.8 billion into the economy over 10 years.

The group representing screen producers in Victoria voiced similar concerns, saying foreign investment had historically helped to offset "compromised domestic budgets".

"When this market becomes insignificant, the industry becomes unsustainable," Screen Services Association of Victoria wrote in its submission to government.

Arts Minister Simon Crean refused to pre-empt the review but acknowledged the concerns.

"There is an ongoing commitment because we want to develop and showcase our internationally renowned creative talent," a spokesperson for the minister told AAP.

Mr Crean is expected to release the review's findings later this week.

Source http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=8211415

Keith Olbermann to announce plans Tuesday; Current TV could be next

If the New York Times report is correct, we could be seeing Keith Olbermann soon on Current TV, the cable channel co-founded by Al Gore. Olbermann will confirm his plans at 11 a.m. Tuesday in a conference call.

While the small TV network might not be the most visible place for him, Olbermann has been making use of Twitter and the internet since his abrupt departure from MSNBC. Mediaite reports that he has registered two domains -- theolbermannshow.com and thekeitholbermannshow.com. He also set up a Twitter account @FOKNewsChannel (as in Friends of Keith ...).

And Current isn't hiding the speculation about Olbermann, either. It has a story linked off its front page.

The internet answer, though, appears to be the odds-on favorite, at least for now. We'll all find out more at the announcement Tuesday.

Source http://www.examiner.com/tv-on-dvd-in-national/keith-olbermann-announcing-new-plans-tuesday-could-be-off-to-current-tv