A group of Dutch engineers has produced the world's largest known digital photograph--a 7.5GB monster that consists of almost 2.5 billion pixels.
The Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO), a research and engineering conglomerate involved in fields ranging from aerospace to petroleum, announced the creation in a posting on the group's Web site Tuesday. The site includes a condensed version of the photo and a Flash-based application for viewing details.
The photo--an aerial image of the city of Delft that's unlikely to spur a sudden upswing in tourism there--consists of 600 individual images shot over the course of more than an hour. The images were then stitched together on a computer.
"It took about 24 hours to compare the overlapping photos and optimize them," according to the TNO statement. "Stitching the photos into one image required the capacity of five high-end PCs for three full days."
The image consists of precisely 2.487 billion pixels and would measure about 22 feet by 8.7 feet if printed at a standard resolution of 300 dots per inch. By contrast, typical consumer digital cameras capture images with 3 million to 5 million pixels.
The TNO team had to write its own software for much of the image-stitching work, including devising a new file format. The TIF format typically used for high-definition photos maxes out at 4GB. The group also solved temporary storage issues by creating a FireWire link between the camera and a laptop PC to capture images, bypassing the camera's memory card.
The TNO engineers pay credit to the previous record holder, photographer Max Lyons, who broke the 1 billion pixels mark last year with his panoramic image of Utah's Bryce Canyon National Park.
Tuesday, 10 April 2007
Sunday, 8 April 2007
Virgin Freeview Box
When Virgin Media announced that it was to make a Freeview box available to customers not able to get cable TV in their area, internet speculation was rife that it would be an IPTV box offering on-demand content to rival BT Vision's offering.
Well, we received our V-Box Free TV this morning and we can confirm that it's a Freeview adapter and nothing more.
Well a bit more. It uses relatively little energy and you can mount it vertically and horizontally or attach it to the back of your flatscreen TV out of sight and control it via remote eye for a start. In fact, if it looks familiar that's because it's practically a re-badged, slightly re-designed version of TVonics MDR-200 adapter. We're rather fond of that particular £50 effort even though it's a little on the expensive side. Virgin is asking for £40 for the V-box-Free TV from broadband subscribers excluding those who susbcribe to its 'up to' 8MB broadband and Talk Anytime bundle who can get one free.
A Virgin Media spokeswoman told "A World of Digital" that Virgin is 'keen to introduce more advanced services (such as IPTV or PVR) further down the line'.
Well, we received our V-Box Free TV this morning and we can confirm that it's a Freeview adapter and nothing more.
Well a bit more. It uses relatively little energy and you can mount it vertically and horizontally or attach it to the back of your flatscreen TV out of sight and control it via remote eye for a start. In fact, if it looks familiar that's because it's practically a re-badged, slightly re-designed version of TVonics MDR-200 adapter. We're rather fond of that particular £50 effort even though it's a little on the expensive side. Virgin is asking for £40 for the V-box-Free TV from broadband subscribers excluding those who susbcribe to its 'up to' 8MB broadband and Talk Anytime bundle who can get one free.
A Virgin Media spokeswoman told "A World of Digital" that Virgin is 'keen to introduce more advanced services (such as IPTV or PVR) further down the line'.
Monday, 2 April 2007
What is HD TV All About?
“A World of Digital” is often asked by people living in and around Chesterfield, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire, just what HD TV is it all about!
Well HD gives very clear, crisp pictures with vivid colours and much more detail than ordinary standard-definition TV. Some programmes are made with cinema-style "surround sound". HD broadcasts are particularly suited to the larger flat TV screens (LCD and plasma) available through our “Wold of Digital” SHOP.
What programmes can I watch in HD?The BBC is currently running HD trial broadcasts, due to last until 2007, which began with the football World Cup and Wimbledon. The trial also includes drama, events and documentaries - a few hours are broadcast each day. The programmes are being broadcast via satellite and cable, but not on Freeview as there is currently not enough space (bandwidth). You don't need to pay a subscription to watch programmes on the BBC HD trial.Sky recently launched an HD service on satellite with a range of sport, films, arts and entertainment channels. Virgin Media has an HD service on cable. Your retailer can tell you about the options.
How can I get HD TV?To watch HD programmes, you need an HD-ready TV set and a set-top box, which is designed for HD. You also need a satellite dish or cable connection.
TV set: when buying a set, make sure it is marked "HD ready".
HD set-top box: from a satellite or cable company or “A World of Digital”. To receive the BBC's free-to-air HD programmes via satellite, you make a one-off payment for the equipment. For Sky or Virgin Media HD services, you pay a subscription.
Surround sound: to experience this (for the programmes that are broadcast with it), you need a home cinema surround sound speaker system connected to your TV system.Programmes have to be specially made in HD, and then broadcast in HD too. An HD-ready TV set won't turn a standard-definition programme into an HD one, and it won't display HD programming without a set-top box.
For further information contact us: 01246-229585
David
http://www.aworldofdigital.com/
Well HD gives very clear, crisp pictures with vivid colours and much more detail than ordinary standard-definition TV. Some programmes are made with cinema-style "surround sound". HD broadcasts are particularly suited to the larger flat TV screens (LCD and plasma) available through our “Wold of Digital” SHOP.
What programmes can I watch in HD?The BBC is currently running HD trial broadcasts, due to last until 2007, which began with the football World Cup and Wimbledon. The trial also includes drama, events and documentaries - a few hours are broadcast each day. The programmes are being broadcast via satellite and cable, but not on Freeview as there is currently not enough space (bandwidth). You don't need to pay a subscription to watch programmes on the BBC HD trial.Sky recently launched an HD service on satellite with a range of sport, films, arts and entertainment channels. Virgin Media has an HD service on cable. Your retailer can tell you about the options.
How can I get HD TV?To watch HD programmes, you need an HD-ready TV set and a set-top box, which is designed for HD. You also need a satellite dish or cable connection.
TV set: when buying a set, make sure it is marked "HD ready".
HD set-top box: from a satellite or cable company or “A World of Digital”. To receive the BBC's free-to-air HD programmes via satellite, you make a one-off payment for the equipment. For Sky or Virgin Media HD services, you pay a subscription.
Surround sound: to experience this (for the programmes that are broadcast with it), you need a home cinema surround sound speaker system connected to your TV system.Programmes have to be specially made in HD, and then broadcast in HD too. An HD-ready TV set won't turn a standard-definition programme into an HD one, and it won't display HD programming without a set-top box.
For further information contact us: 01246-229585
David
http://www.aworldofdigital.com/
Monday, 26 March 2007
Freeview prepares to oust Sky
"A World of Digital" reports that Britain's public service broadcasters are preparing to kick Sky out of the Freeview alliance.
The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are angry about Sky's plans to replace its three Freeview channels with a four-channel subscription service.
Sky News, Sky Sports News and Sky Three would probably be replaced by Sky One, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and another channel, using a different broadcast system and requiring new set-top boxes. Sky was one of Freeview's founding shareholders.
New Media Age reports that the public service channels will tell media regulator Ofcom that Sky should forfeit its stake in Freeview if it proceeeds with the plan.
The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are angry about Sky's plans to replace its three Freeview channels with a four-channel subscription service.
Sky News, Sky Sports News and Sky Three would probably be replaced by Sky One, Sky Sports, Sky Movies and another channel, using a different broadcast system and requiring new set-top boxes. Sky was one of Freeview's founding shareholders.
New Media Age reports that the public service channels will tell media regulator Ofcom that Sky should forfeit its stake in Freeview if it proceeeds with the plan.
Friday, 23 March 2007
BBC: No Freeview HD could cost consumers £15,6 billion
Along With the Digital revolution and "A World of Digital" providing TV and Digital arerial installations throughout South Yorkshire and Derbyshire, we now discover that Britain could lose out to the tune of £15billion if Ofcom doesn't set aside spectrum for high definition TV on Freeview.
The stark warning comes in the BBC's official response to the Digital Dividend Review, in which Ofcom proposed auctioning off the former analogue TV frequencies when Digital Switch is complete in 2012.
The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, TV manufacturers and many thousands of viewers would prefer a portion of the analogue spectrum to be reserved for a new Freeview multiplex, broadcasting free hi-def TV channels.
Mark Thompson, the BBC's director general, said: "High Definition is already a consumer reality, and it's one that really adds value for audiences.
"It's a technological advance that we think can and should be available as far as possible to all viewers of digital television – whether they watch through cable, satellite or an aerial, and whether they choose pay or free-to-air services.
"If pure market mechanisms are applied to the whole Digital Dividend, our fear is that it will jeopardise the success of universal access to high quality public service broadcasting, free-to-air on all main platforms and also lead to an erosion of the digital terrestrial platform and its ability to compete."
The £15billion figure was calculated up by independent consultants Independen, to compare to Ofcom's estimate that an open auction could net £5-10billion for the Treasury.
It includes the cost of upgrading to another platform such as Sky or cable to get HD for around 6million Freeview homes, and the loss in audiences, advertising revenue, quality and social value to the Freeview platform if it doesn't have HD.
Independen estimated the loss to consumers and society could range from £4.1-£15.6billion.
The BBC's response also critiques Ofcom's research into viewers' desire for HD, the technical assumptions underlying the DDR, and estimates of Freeview channels' ability to compete in an open auction.
It also suggests that Ofcom should use the DDR as an opportunity to draw up a long term plan for Freeview beyond 2012, including a long-term migration to MPEG-4 for a greater range of SD channels as well as HD.
The stark warning comes in the BBC's official response to the Digital Dividend Review, in which Ofcom proposed auctioning off the former analogue TV frequencies when Digital Switch is complete in 2012.
The BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, TV manufacturers and many thousands of viewers would prefer a portion of the analogue spectrum to be reserved for a new Freeview multiplex, broadcasting free hi-def TV channels.
Mark Thompson, the BBC's director general, said: "High Definition is already a consumer reality, and it's one that really adds value for audiences.
"It's a technological advance that we think can and should be available as far as possible to all viewers of digital television – whether they watch through cable, satellite or an aerial, and whether they choose pay or free-to-air services.
"If pure market mechanisms are applied to the whole Digital Dividend, our fear is that it will jeopardise the success of universal access to high quality public service broadcasting, free-to-air on all main platforms and also lead to an erosion of the digital terrestrial platform and its ability to compete."
The £15billion figure was calculated up by independent consultants Independen, to compare to Ofcom's estimate that an open auction could net £5-10billion for the Treasury.
It includes the cost of upgrading to another platform such as Sky or cable to get HD for around 6million Freeview homes, and the loss in audiences, advertising revenue, quality and social value to the Freeview platform if it doesn't have HD.
Independen estimated the loss to consumers and society could range from £4.1-£15.6billion.
The BBC's response also critiques Ofcom's research into viewers' desire for HD, the technical assumptions underlying the DDR, and estimates of Freeview channels' ability to compete in an open auction.
It also suggests that Ofcom should use the DDR as an opportunity to draw up a long term plan for Freeview beyond 2012, including a long-term migration to MPEG-4 for a greater range of SD channels as well as HD.
Tuesday, 20 March 2007
Abolish planning rules for dishes?
Planning restrictions on satellite dishes may have been eased a little last year, but "A World of Digital" as well as a chap called Gary Bower want the government to go a lot further.
Gary's placed a petition on the Number 10 website calling for all restrictions to be lifted on dishes below 1.8m in diameter.
Gary says: "The current system of applying for planning permission is ill suited to this subject and should be abolished. This system is a waste of resources in local planning offices, resources that could be put to better use on other issues."There is no law that is against huge trampolines being placed in gardens!"
Under rules updated last year, you only need planning permission if your dish measures more than 100cm across.
Gary wants no requirement for planning permission if your dish is ground-mounted and measures less than 180cm across, or if it's wall-mounted and less than 120cm across.
It's a bold request, but if you want to support Gary's request, you can sign the petition here.
Gary's placed a petition on the Number 10 website calling for all restrictions to be lifted on dishes below 1.8m in diameter.
Gary says: "The current system of applying for planning permission is ill suited to this subject and should be abolished. This system is a waste of resources in local planning offices, resources that could be put to better use on other issues."There is no law that is against huge trampolines being placed in gardens!"
Under rules updated last year, you only need planning permission if your dish measures more than 100cm across.
Gary wants no requirement for planning permission if your dish is ground-mounted and measures less than 180cm across, or if it's wall-mounted and less than 120cm across.
It's a bold request, but if you want to support Gary's request, you can sign the petition here.
Saturday, 17 March 2007
Play Station 3 to offer Home from Home.
Sony has further strengthened its intention to make its PlayStation 3 console the centre of your home entertainment experience with the announcement of Home.
As well as being a games machine and high definition Blu Ray disc player, PS3 owners will soon be able to access the console via a virtual 3D online world where they can manage their PS3's multimedia content, interact with other users, and create their own online avatar.
Perhaps of prime interest to A World of Digital customers is that you'll also be able to access high definition video content, TV shows and movies no doubt for a small fee (Home itself will be a free download). Sony has been talking about this for some time but details on whether these services will be available from launch and exactly what you'll be able to access remain scarce (we wouldn't rule out the Sony-owned Spiderman movies or Casino Royale being available from launch).
The PlayStation 3 debuts in the UK on March 23 and Home is expected to appear in October.
As well as being a games machine and high definition Blu Ray disc player, PS3 owners will soon be able to access the console via a virtual 3D online world where they can manage their PS3's multimedia content, interact with other users, and create their own online avatar.
Perhaps of prime interest to A World of Digital customers is that you'll also be able to access high definition video content, TV shows and movies no doubt for a small fee (Home itself will be a free download). Sony has been talking about this for some time but details on whether these services will be available from launch and exactly what you'll be able to access remain scarce (we wouldn't rule out the Sony-owned Spiderman movies or Casino Royale being available from launch).
The PlayStation 3 debuts in the UK on March 23 and Home is expected to appear in October.
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