Category Archives: Technical

Is a 10-bit video codec always way better than an 8-bit codec?

It depends:

“As long as you have the right 8-bit, youre fine." DSLRs like the 5D Mark III have 14-bit sensors, but for video capture, they’re converted down to 8-bit. Its this 8-bit “secret sauce” that the experienced engineers are able to pull off.  “If the engineers are getting the right 8-bit in that final codec, its visibly lossless,”

via Misinformation: The Right 8 Bits | HDVideoPro.com.

It also depends on the lighting in the scene. If the scene has a high dynamic range, more bits are better. If the scene’s dynamic range is shallow, fewer bits are needed to capture the full range. And, like the above, it also depends on how the codec itself works to capture in 14-bits but mix down to 8-bits.

MediaTek Launches “Cool 3D” – technology for #3D smart phone platforms

This would be a chip set and presumably support software for building 3D smart phone devices:

The “Cool 3D” suite for MediaTek smartphone platforms includes support for stereo 3D cameras and displays, real-time 2D-to-3D conversion and an optimal 3D user interface that is designed to provide consumers with a stunning 3D experience. Two distinguishing features are “3D Cool Shot” and “3D Cool Show”. MediaTek’s “3D Cool Shot” solution supports a cost-effective 5 MP, dual-lens camera, which achieves 1080P, 24 FPS 3D images, giving users a high-definition visual experience. The MediaTek smartphone platforms are the first of their kind in the industry to integrate the functionality of the dual-lens bridge devices into the main smartphone platform, reducing system cost and saving precious board area. The “3D Cool Show” technology substantially improves the stereo 3D effect with anti-fatigue capabilities, and real-time transformation between 2D/3D modes, allowing for convenient switching between the 2D and 3D displays. These solutions, which leverage MediaTek’s established 3D technologies from the DTV and Digital Home markets, are aimed at creating an optimal stereo 3D display with a custom-tailored 3D interface.

via MediaTek – MediaTek Launches “Cool 3D”: A Comprehensive Suite of 3D Solutions for Smartphone Platforms.

Why We’re Switching From Macs « Rocket Jump

FreddieW explains Why We’re Switching From Macs « Rocket Jump.

I reached the same conclusion as FreddieW.

After more than a decade of working on Mac, from the PowerPC to the quad core Mac Pro desktop, I have mostly switched to a quad core Windows 7 machine.

The lack of real AVCHD support in FCP7, the FCP7 to FCP X mess, no 3D video support, the disappearing Firewire ports on new hardware, and Apple’s constant push to nearly force upgrades every 2 – 3 years – and the final blow with Mac OS X 10.8 being crippled so that it will not run on 3 of my Macs, Apple has dampened our enthusiasm.

My main reason to keep a contemporary Mac is for iOS development and to access legacy projects. Other than that, most of my work is now on Windows. Sony Vegas, Magix Movie Edit Pro, Adobe Premiere are all excellent video editors that run on Windows.

Amazon rumored to not include 3D in next tablet

Makes sense to me, at this point:

But if the past is any indication of the future, Amazon will not be including 3D in any new tablet — regardless of whether the price point would be increased as a result of the technology. 3D isn’t considered all that important or, to be more charitable, exciting. If this turns out to be correct, Amazon will have missed a real chance, no make that an opportunity, to propel a new tablet into the forefront of the minds of jaded consumers who know and like 3D, but don’t see where it applies to a mobile device due to a small screen.

That attitude could change over the course of the next few months, though, as the Nintendo 3DS XL makes it way onto the shelves. The 3DS XL has a glasses free, 3D screen that is many times bigger than that of the 3DS. And with a price point of under $250 — which includes the “guts” for a whole passel of technologies, including a complete portable video game console with WiFi, a touch-sensitive screen and all kinds of other goodies — it’s fair to say that the cost of the 3D tech itself screen and associated would not be off-putting.

via Does Amazon Hate 3D? | 3D TV.

My guess is Amazon will not include a 3D display in a 2013 era product but could appear in 2014. Except for 3D games, the content picture for 3D is not there yet. Some argue that content won’t arrive until the devices, and the devices won’t arrive until there is 3D content!

3D content may emerge online first, as Google’s Youtube supports 3D today. When you see the quality of work done by emerging 2D video artists on Youtube, it is easy to see that similar 3D quality may follow soon enough. While some look to the growth of 3D from Hollywood or cable/satellite TV delivery, the future of video seems to be moving rapidly to online distribution – and out of the control of a few big corporations and into the hands of individuals.