Japan: DeNA to develop and distribute Disney games.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Japan: DeNA to develop and distribute Disney games.

Japanese mobile social gaming company DeNA partnered to offer games based on Disney and Marvel comics and characters via its Mobage platform.

 The first game, Disney Party, was launched on 28 March on the Mobage network in Japan, which reaches more than 35 million people.

 Disney Fantasy Quest is due to follow this week, with a third Marvel-based title due in the summer. Localised versions of the games will be launched on Mobage Global (North America and Europe), Daum Mobage (South Korea) and Mobage China in the summer.

Google opens Android Developer Console for teams.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Google opens Android Developer Console for teams.

Google said that it will now support team access to Android Developer Console accounts, enabling multiple users to track performance without the need to share passwords.

 It also said that it is planning to give “more fine-grained control” over the Console, so that users can be restricted in the type of information they can access.

Toshiba exits Fujitsu handsets Joint Venture.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Toshiba exits Fujitsu handsets Joint Venture.

Toshiba today confirmed long-standing speculation that it is exiting its Japanese mobile handset joint-venture with Fujitsu, by transferring its 19.9 percent stake in the venture to Fujitsu.

Fujitsu has increased its stake from 80.1 percent to 100 percent as a result of the deal and is expected integrate the subsidiary with its existing mobile devices business. Financial terms were not disclosed. 

Formed in October 2010 as a consolidated subsidiary of the Fujitsu Group, Fujitsu Toshiba Mobile Communications will now be renamed Fujitsu Mobile Communications and will become wholly-owned by its parent.

The JV has approximately 300 employees and a market cap of around JPY450 million (US$5.4 million).

Fujitsu Toshiba Mobile mainly builds 3G devices for Japan’s second-placed operator, KDDI, but had struggled to build market share in the crowded Japanese handsets market.

For Toshiba, the JV was seen as an attempt to shore up losses in its former own-branded handset operations by letting Fujitsu effectively oversee its mobile business.

Ericsson completes BelAir buy.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Ericsson completes BelAir buy.

Ericsson closed its acquisition of BelAir Networks, a transaction it said “gives Ericsson a strong carrier-grade Wi-Fi portfolio, technological expertise, IPR and established customer contracts and relationships.” 

 Financial terms of the deal, first announced in February 2012, were not disclosed.

Telia Sonera appoints former Nokia exec as CEO .

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Telia Sonera appoints former Nokia exec as CEO .

Finnish operator Sonera has appointed former Nokia exec Robert Andersson as president and CEO of the company. Andersson will join parent group TeliaSonera’s management team to oversee Sonera’s customer interface business units on 14 May and will report to TeliaSonera CEO Lars Nyberg. 

 Andersson was a member of Nokia’s Group Executive Board from 2005 to 2009.

AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 LTE promo video.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Related Post:

AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 LTE available for pre-order.

UAE: Google launches YouTube, a UAE version.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

UAE: Google launches  YouTube, a  UAE version. 

Google said on Sunday it has launched a local version of YouTube for the UAE.

The new YouTube.co.ae comes as the video platform continues to build on the largest collection of videos online.

The local version of YouTube means that people who visit the site will see on the homepage the most popular videos in the UAE along with those that are rising in popularity, Google said in a statement.

From YouTube's inception, people in the Middle East have been active members of the global community, both watching and uploading countless videos, it added.

Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched his own YouTube channel in February.

The Dubai Government Media Office announced the launch, saying it was the latest move by Sheikh Mohammed, also vice president and prime minister of the UAE, to better interact with the public.

YouTube in the Middle East and North Africa has seen the number of playbacks doubling in the past year and users in MENA upload one hour of video per minute.

There are 167 million video views a day in MENA, putting the region in the number two spot in the world, behind the US and ahead of Brazil.

"We have seen enormous growth for YouTube in the MENA region and expect this expansion to continue even more significantly with the launch of the UAE domain. " said Ari kesisoglu, managing director, Middle East North Africa at Google.

"A primary objective for us is to encourage local content from regional users, which we believe will be fuelled by this latest development."

Last year, loca YouTube versions were launched for Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Yemen.

2012 NAB Show: Sony will exhibit the new NEX-FS700E 4K cinema camera and .....

WorldWide Tech & SCience. Francisco De Jesús.

 The current Sony FS100 (pictured) will get a 4K companion at NAB.

According to eoshd, Sony will announce the NEX-FS700E 4K cinema camera at 2012 NAB Show. It will be available in June for a provisional $8000.

The FS700 does 4K via 3G HD-SDI to an external recorder. The FS700 is said to include 3 internal ND filters yet retains the NEX E-mount. Looks like they found some space for those missing FS100 NDs after all!

The slow mo function of the FS100 has been ramped up to a massive 960fps. This is at a reduced resolution. Other slow motion options includes 120, 240 and 480. It isn’t clear whether the camera records internally to 1080p or the full 4K. It is possible internal 4K will come with a paid firmware update. Another question mark is over who will provide the external 4K recording box. 

Gamma curves are as the F3. It also has a stills mode (4K is 8MP).

Summary
Model: NEX FS700E
List price: $8000 / €8000 (provisional)
Release date: June 2012
Specs: 4K, 3G HD SDI, Super35mm Exmor HD CMOS

 Other products Sony will exhibit at NAB are:

Name: F65 CineAlta digital motion picture camera

Description: Sony’s F65 CineAlta™ camera’s unprecedented 8K image sensor offers higher image fidelity than other digital cinema cameras, and is the gateway to an end-to-end 4K file-based mastering workflow.

Details:

Sony’s F65 CineAlta™ digital motion picture camera represents a significant technological advancement for content creators. Since it was announced just a few months ago, the F65 has been in high demand by the motion picture production industry, with pre-orders for approximately 400 units worldwide.

 The F65 has been tested by a range of DPs and production professionals, and major studio F65 projects are currently in progress. Sony pioneered 4K technology with its 4K digital cinema projector, and has delivered more than 11,000 projectors to movie theaters worldwide. The F65 camera raises the bar further, with an 8K image sensor that allows productions professionals to derive “true” 4K content. The F65 camera’s unprecedented 8K image sensor, with approximately 20 total megapixels, offers higher image fidelity than any other digital cinema production camera. With 16-bit Linear RAW File output capability, the F65 creates the gateway to an end-to-end 4K file-based mastering workflow. 

Sony OLED Professional Monitors

Description: Sony’s OLED technology includes: the PVM line, used in editing, dallies review, graphics generation, and special effects; the BVM F series, for technical image evaluation, and the BVM E series for cinematic production.

Details:

Sony’s full line of professional OLED is offered in three series. The PVM line includes the PVM-740 (7.4 inch), PVM-1741 (17 inch), and the PVM-2541 (25 inch). These are used in editing, dallies review, graphics generation, and special effects. The step-up BVM F series includes the BVM-F170 (17 inch) and BVM-F250 (25 inch), used for technical image evaluation. 

The BVM E series includes the BVM-E170 (17 inch) and BVM-E250 (25 inch), Sony’s flagship models used for cinematic production. They include wider gamut display and follow the Digital Cinema Initiative recommendations for imaging. The 25-inch BVM-E250 and 17-inch BVM-E170 -- boast several features specifically designed for professional master monitoring. The first monitors to deliver full HD resolution OLED panels with 10-bit drivers, the BVM-E Series uses a newly developed Sony Professional Display Engine.  The TRIMASTER EL lineup is refined with its new EL (electro-luminescence) displays, expanding the capabilities of Sony’s TRIMASTER™ technology.

Name: Sony NEX-FS100U camcorder

Description: Sony's NEX-FS100U is an E-mount camcorder equipped with a Super 35mm CMOS sensor. The NEX-FS100U Super 35mm camcorder is equipped with an Exmor™ Super35 CMOS Sensor, with high sensitivity to produce footage with shallow depth of field.

Details:

At NAB 2012, Sony is showing its full line of Super 35 mm professional camcorders, including the NEX-FS100U, an E-mount camcorder equipped with a Super 35mm CMOS sensor. The NEX-FS100U Super 35mm camcorder is equipped with an Exmor™ Super35 CMOS Sensor. 

The large-format sensor’s high sensitivity enables it to produce footage with shallow depth of field similar to that of a film camera. The NEX-FS100U adopts the Sony E-mount interchangeable lens system. The camcorder’s very short flange back distance (the distance between the lens mount and sensor surfaces) allows various Sony A-mount lenses to be used via a mount adaptor (LA-EA1). It is also possible to attach a range of other lenses, using compatible third-party mount adaptors.

LTE: South Korea: LG Uplus launched a nationwide LTE network.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

LG Uplus carrier completed and launched a nationwide LTE network last week.

 The operator has spent over 1.25 trillion won ($1.1 billion) on the network. The cellular service will be available in 86 cities around the country. 

Company claims to cover 99.9 percent of the Korean population. The company also plans to launch an additional LTE network in October using the 2.1 GHz frequencies spectrum, which it acquired in a government auction last July.

LG Uplus is aiming to attract over 4 million LTE service subscribers by the end of 2012. Earlier this month operator announced plans to launch voice-over-LTE service in October. VoLTE is an initiative started by the GSM Association in 2010 to develop a worldwide standard to carry voice services over the new 4G networks.

AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 LTE available for pre-order.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

The AT&T Nokia Lumia 900 LTE is available for pre-order for US$99,99 with a 2 year contract and No Commitment price of US$ 449,99.-

AT&T will start selling Nokia Lumia 900, the Windows smartphone, on April 8

 The Lumia 900 will be available in cyan blue and a matte black on April 8, with a newly announced high-gloss white version on sale beginning April 22.

The Nokia Lumia 900 has a 4.3-inch ClearBlack AMOLED display for rich, bright images and comes with a long-lasting 1830 mAh battery. Its 8 megapixel camera includes Nokia's exclusive Carl Zeiss optics, with large aperture (F2.2) and wide angle focal length (28mm) for high-quality, uncropped images even in low-light conditions. 

The front-facing camera boasts a large aperture and a wide angle lens that ensures sharp, bright images for high-quality video calling, right out of the box.

Nokia Lumia 900 requires a new 2-yr wireless agreement with voice (min $39.99/mo) and min monthly data plan ($20/mo).

Source: AT&T

Sony and Panasonic expanding 3D-enabled TVs line up with LG’s technology.

WorldWide Tech & Science. Francisco De Jesús.

Panasonic and Sony have opted to lean a little further on the 3D screen technology of LG Electronics, according to a senior LG executive Sunday. 

In a perpetual battle with rival Samsung Electronics for bigger stakes in the growing global 3D TV market, LG’s film-based 3D technology has shown a clear advantage. It is cheaper than Samsung’s battery-powered option although arguments on technological competitiveness continue. 

LG has racked up success in 3D TV sales in China and North America as well formed tie-ups with many players. 

``Panasonic and Sony are planning to expand the lineup of 3D-enabled TVs this year. The key point is that their upcoming models will use LG’s technology,’’ said Nho Seok-ho, head of LG Electronics’ LCD TV division in an interview.

Nho said on the sidelines of his participation in an in-house event, ``3D TV Festival’’ at Lotte World, an amusement park in Seoul.

``That’s why we are sure to increase sales of 3D TVs this year,’’ said the executive, the right-hand man of LG’s TV chief Kwon Hee-won.

Panasonic and Sony were initially ready to adopt Samsung’s technology but they’ve decided cut costs and improve their bottom lines by using the cheaper version.

``The fact that more 3D TVs from Panasonic and Sony will be equipped with LG technology is significant as Japanese TV makers account for over 30 percent of the global 3D TV demand,’’ Nho said.

Sony rarely mentions that it has been selling 32-inch and 42-inch 3D TV sets with film-patterned 3D technology in China since this year, while Panasonic is relying more on LG for 3D screens for several of its sets.

LG plans to add a 60-inch model to its 3D TV lineup of a 65- and 72-inch set in June to actively respond to consumer demand, according to the executive.