BlockBuster OnDemand Streaming on Samsung HDTV and Blu-ray Players

Blockbuster OnDemand challenges Netflix and Amazon's Instant HD Video on Demand service.

Blockbuster OnDemand is coming to a long list of Samsung TV and home theater products. The online pay-per-view streaming service will be added to Samsung's online-enabled HDTVs, Blu-ray players, and Blu-ray home theater systems via future software updates. As part of the deal, Blockbuster will also sell some of the Samsung products in its video rental stores.

The service, due to launch in September or October in the United States, is similar to Blockbuster's existing pacts with TV maker Vizio and digital video recorder maker TiVo Inc, which was announced in March.

According to Samsung, the Blockbuster OnDemand feature will be added to "Samsung LCD and Plasma HDTVs Series 650 and above, and Samsung LED HDTVs Series 7000 and above," as well as "select 2009 Samsung Blu-ray players and home theater systems."

Most probably these top HDTV and Blu-ray players will play Blockbuster HD movies:

• Samsung LN46B650 46-Inch 1080p 120Hz LCD HDTV
• Samsung LN52B750 52-Inch 1080p 240Hz LCD HDTV
• Samsung UN40B7000 40-Inch 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV
• Samsung PN50B650 50-Inch 1080P Plasma HDTV
• Samsung BD-P2500 1080p Blu-ray Disc Player

Finally TV's will partially take over the role of the desktop monitors to be our window to the broadband internet. How will Netflix and Amazon keep up in this competition?

Do you like these Samsung devices or do you prefer the excellent and Vizio 32" 1080p LCD HDTV (VOJ320F1A) at a low price of ~$500?

EON ICUBE - Amazing 3D Immersive Technology

EON Reality, Inc. has amazing immersive solutions such as the ICUBE, a revolutionary PC based multi-sided immersive environment in which participants are completely surrounded by virtual imagery and 3D sound.

The EON ICUBE consists of 3, 4 or 6 walls according to the users requirements, and that can be setup in any configuration. Thanks to the rear-projection of the images and the flawless image continuity in the corners, the illusion of a complete sense of presence in the virtual environment is created. On top of that, the system is fully compatible with tracking and input devices. It is built on PC technology whereby several PCs are synchronized together to generate simultaneous images in stereo (stereoscopic visualization) on multiple walls seamlessly.



Using a series of infrared emitters, high-end projectors, and stereoscopic active lightweight shutter glasses and position trackers, the result is complete immersion of the user in a virtual world where objects float in space with high quality graphics. Electro magnetic 6DOF trackers are implemented to monitor the user's position and orientation and are used to calculate a stereoscopic perspective view while allowing the user to freely move into and around the objects floating in space. The stereoscopic visualization is supported by an integrated audio surround system. Peripheral devices such as force feedback devices, and gesture gloves are optionally integrated into the system.

Innovative solutions such as large immersive displays, 3D and holographic displays, tele immersion systems, and mobile 3D stereoscopic and augmented reality systems can be the next step in user interfaces and the web.

Minoru 3D Webcam - The First 3D Web Camera

Minoru is the Worlds first 3D webcam. Your friends and family can now see you in 3D over your favourite messaging program like Windows Live Messenger, Skype, AOL instant messenger, OoVoo and many others. Minoru can also take 3D photos or even shoot 3D videos for YouTube or other video sharing sites. Minoru = Reality (at least in Japanese)!



The red and cyan anaglyph image produced by Minoru can be viewed by anybody who is wearing commonly available red and cyan 3D glasses (five pairs included with Minoru). It is not HD quality for 3D HDTVs but it is fun nevertheless. Minoru can also be used as a standard 2D webcam for anyone who doesnt have the 3D glasses at hand.

Minoru 3D Webcam is available on Amazon.com for $89.95.

Another innovative step for the coming 3D Web.

Amazon Instant HD Video on Demand Streaming Movies and TV Shows

2009 is the year of HD Video on the internet.

Amazon.com (AMZN) has launched "Instant HD", a high-definition video version of its on-demand service, offering consumers the ability to rent movies and purchase television episodes shown in HD.

Amazon will add more than 500 HD TV shows and movies to its Amazon Video On Demand service. Titles are from major networks and studios like Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures and Showtime Networks, with new-release movie titles including "Twilight" and "Frost/Nixon" and TV shows such as "The Tudors", "Saviors" and "Smallville".

Customers can use Panasonic Viera CAST-enabled HDTVs, the Roku Digital Video Player, certain types of TiVo and the Sony Bravia Internet Video Link device to order and watch HD movies for $3.99 to $4.99 each. Television episodes are available for purchase at $2.99 each.

Customers also can buy the content to watch on their personal computers or download it for later viewing offline. Finally the promise of on demand HD video streaming has come true.

Virtual Cocoon Helmet to Mimic All Five Senses in Virtual Worlds

We rely on our senses to interact with the world around us. Do we actually need to travel to be somewhere to experience it fully? The “…towards Real Virtuality” EPSRC Research Cluster" project aims to develop a "virtual cocoon" through which people can interact naturally with the world without actually traveling or being put in that particular, potentially dangerous, real situation. All five senses will be stimulated to provide a rich sensory "real virtuality" experience.


The virtual cocoon will revolutionize the way in which we do business by providing low-cost, high confidence, high quality multi-sensory knowledge directly to your current location. This will significantly change, for example, purchasing via the internet because you could smell the flowers, feel the fabric of a dress, try out a sofa for comfort, examine products in any desired lighting condition, etc, all before you buy them. The virtual cocoon could even be linked to, for example Google Earth, to enable you to investigate the ambiance of a restaurant on the other side of the world when you are planning your trip.


The Virtual Cocoon headset is a nice accessory for 3D immersive surfing of the metaverse. It is a great gadget for gaming, entertainment and virtual tourism. Too bad that it is somewhat expensive for now.

SixthSence Wearable Device by MIT Media Lab

At the MIT Media Lab's new Fluid Interfaces Group, Pattie Maes researches the tools we use to work with information and connect with one another. She works with Pranav Mistry, who is the genius behind Sixth Sense, a wearable device that enables new interactions between the real world and the world of data. Their Sixth Sense demo was the buzz of this year's TED conference. It's a wearable device with a projector that paves the way for profound interaction with our environment. Imagine "Minority Report" and then some.



We've evolved over millions of years to sense the world around us. When we encounter something, someone or some place, we use our five natural senses to perceive information about it; that information helps us make decisions and chose the right actions to take. But arguably the most useful information is not naturally perceivable with our five senses, namely the data, information and knowledge that mankind has accumulated about everything and which is increasingly all available online. Although the miniaturization of computing devices allows us to carry computers in our pockets, there is no link between our digital devices and our interactions with the physical world. SixthSense bridges this gap, bringing intangible, digital information out into the tangible world, and allowing us to interact with this information via natural hand gestures. ‘SixthSense’ frees information from its confines by seamlessly integrating it with reality, and thus making the entire world your computer.

The SixthSense prototype is comprised of a pocket projector, a mirror and a camera. The hardware components are coupled in a pendant like mobile wearable device. Both the projector and the camera are connected to the mobile computing device in the user’s pocket. The projector projects visual information enabling surfaces, walls and physical objects around us to be used as interfaces; while the camera recognizes and tracks user's hand gestures and physical objects using computer-vision based techniques. The software program processes the video stream data captured by the camera and tracks the locations of the colored markers at the tip of the user’s fingers. The movements and arrangements are interpreted into gestures that act as interaction instructions for the projected application interfaces.

The SixthSense prototype implements several applications that demonstrate the usefulness, viability and flexibility of the system. The map application lets the user navigate a map displayed on a nearby surface using hand gestures, similar to gestures supported by Multi-Touch based systems, letting the user zoom in, zoom out or pan using intuitive hand movements. The drawing application lets the user draw on any surface by tracking the fingertip movements of the user’s index finger. SixthSense also recognizes user’s freehand gestures. For example, the SixthSense system implements a gestural camera that takes photos of the scene the user is looking at by detecting the ‘framing’ gesture. The user can stop by any surface or wall and flick through the photos he/she has taken. SixthSense also lets the user draw icons or symbols in the air using the movement of the index finger and recognizes those symbols as interaction instructions. For example, drawing a magnifying glass symbol takes the user to the map application or drawing an ‘@’ symbol lets the user check his mail. The SixthSense system also augments physical objects the user is interacting with by projecting more information about these objects projected on them. For example, a newspaper can show live video news or dynamic information can be provided on a regular piece of paper. The gesture of drawing a circle on the user’s wrist projects an analog watch.

The current prototype system costs approximate $350 to build.

The innovative Sixth Sense project demonstrates that the computer is no longer a distinct object, but a source of intelligence that’s embedded in our environment. By outfitting ourselves with digital accessories, we can continually learn from (and teach) our surroundings. The uses of this tech -- from healthcare to home furnishings, warfare to supermarkets -- are powerful and increasingly real.

Philips Leads Autostereoscopic 3D HDTVs

We are just at the beginning of a new era where 3D displays will eventually replace the current 2D displays in both professional and consumer applications. 2009 could mark a new milestone for the adoption of innovative 3D technologies.

Since the mid nineties, Philips is conducting research and development on lenticular based auto-stereoscopic 3D display technologies. The Philips lenticular auto-stereoscopic 3D technology comprises the lens design, 3D signal processing, manufacturing process technologies and innovations in the 2D panel to optimize for the 3D functionality.

Philips is entering new ground with its flagship 56″ quad full autosteroscopic 3D HD TV. Based on a new rendering technique, the 56-inch QFHD 3D Display creates 46 views and has a large 3D comfort zone! The ‘autostereoscopic’ part of the description means that depth perception is achieved without the use of special (and geeky) glasses.

The Philips 56-inch QFHD 3D Display is based on an LCD panel resolution of Quad full HD (3840*2160 = 8.29 million pixels) meaning it is like having FOUR 1080p LCD TVs. This results in a stunning perceived 3D resolution of HD quality with 3D viewing angle of 160 degrees.


The special 3D display interface format is based on 2D-plus-Depth and Declipse. It is described on the Philips 3D Content format page and in the 3D Interface Specifications white paper.

The unique Philips 56" Quad Full HD 3D Display is commercially available on customer request in large scale projects for an estimated $25.000.

Stereoscopic 3D displays such as the Samsung Syncmaster 2233RZ and the ViewSonic VX2265wm FuHzion 3D are much cheaper and are compatible with nVidia GeForce 3D Vision Kit introduced at CES 2009. The new DisplayPort 1.2 standard will enable 3D thanks to the large bandwidth and support for 120 Hz.

It is time to create new content such as 3D movies on Blu-Ray, 3D games and 3D video. These innovations will add a new dimension to communications, entertainment and the Internet.

FUJIFILM FinePix Real 3D Camera and Imaging System

FUJIFILM has finally announced on Photokina 2008 a radical departure from current imaging systems with the development of the Real 3D System that marks a complete break from previous attempts to introduce 3D technology to the consumer camera world.

The Real 3D System consists of

• Dual CCD 3D digital camera with ‘RP (Real Photo) Processor 3D’ chip
• 3D photo frame: 8.4-inch “FinePix Real 3D Photo Frame” with over 920,000 pixels
• High Resolution 3D printing system

One major benefit of the FinePix Real 3D Photo and Movie Camera technology is that for digital camera LCD playback, display and print, the consumer can enjoy the image just as it was originally seen with the naked eye. No need for special glasses! Check out the articles on the Real 3D System on Wired and DPReview!

Welcome to the world of 3D Imaging! The next step is to use 3D desktop, mobile devices and ultimately the 3D Internet!

When will Apple deliver the iPhone 3D with 3D Camera and 3D Display? Until then check out the wonderful animations of stereoscopic images made by Joshua Heineman of Cursive Buildings.

Displays with Embedded Touch Screen and Scanner Functions

Sharp has announced a new display with touch screen and scanner functions using an optical sensor built into each pixel of the LCD.
The LCD is targeted to be used on displays for mobile devices such as the Apple iPhone, PDAs, and UMPCs. Conventional methods to provide touch screen functions are based on bonding a film on top of the LCD panel, leading to problems with reduced display image quality and increased thickness for the display section.

Sharp's System LCD technology eliminates the need for films. In addition, multi-touch tactile recognition is now possible, a feature previously difficult to implement. For example, users can easily tap the screen with two fingers to enlarge or reduce a displayed map. The scanner function can be used to scan in a business card placed on top of the screen.

Top 5 Stunning 3D Displays

3D displays will soon revolutionize how we experience multimedia. These displays are very effective attention grabbers but also have scientific applications. They are becoming more and more affordable each day.

Here is the list of the Top 5 Stunning 3D displays without the need for 3D glasses.

Philips 42" 3D WOWvx Displays

• 42" Autostereoscopic LCD display
• Lenticular lens technology - 9 views
• HD Resolution: 1,920 x 1,080
  
• Price: ~ $15.000

• 2 available display types:
• 42-3D6C01 - Comfort type for applications that require maximum comfort
• 42-3D6W01 - WOW for enhanced depth performance with exciting out-of-screen effects.

Holografika Holovision 128WD

• Real 3D display - as show on this google video: Holovizio 3D-Display
  
• Viewers can walk around the screen in a wide field of view seeing the objects and shadows moving continuously as in the normal perspective. It is even possible to look behind the objects, hidden details appear, while others disappear (motion parallax)
• Unlimited number of viewers can see simultaneously the same 3D scene on the screen, with the possibility of seeing different detail
• Objects appear behind or even in front of the screen like on holograms

Dimension Technologies Virtual Window 19

• 19" Autostereoscopic LCD display
• dual view
• SXGA Resolution: 1280 x 1024
• Price: ~ $4.000

NewSight 3D MultiView Displays

• 23" Autostereoscopic LCD (available in 19" to 57")
  
• Multiview
  
• HD Resolution: 1920 x 1200
• Price: ~ $6.000

Sharp LL151-3D LCD (discontinued)

• 15" Autostereoscopic LCD
• filter array (‘Parralax Barrier’) - dual view
• Sharp was first to market an affordable consumer 3D display
  

Next Generation Personal Displays

The user interface revolution is not limited to surface computing. The emergence of portable video players and video-enabled mobile phones generates demand for a new generation of personal displays.

The challenge is to make it compact and provide high quality image. The Lumus series of eyeglass displays offer this with a nice natural look.


With the Lumus Binocular displays you can use virtual reality applications or play a 3D game anywhere on a large virtual screen in true color and VGA (640x480) resolution.

iPod users might consider the award winning myvu personal video player for $300.