Author Archives: Farhana Rahman
I’m a GPU, how about you?
This piece, from London-based Fearghal Kelly, is the first in a series of posts from KIT’s international team focusing on more technical issues. Introduction It’s easy to get distracted by the glossy black shells and colourful interfaces of the many thousands of video platforms in existence today. As consumers and users, we often lose sight of the advancements that get us here. KIT digital is right in the middle of building these platforms and we are fortunate enough to work side by side with the key technology enablers. Underneath the usual 3LAs (Three Letter Acronyms) like Digital Rights Management (DRM) and Content Delivery Network (CDN), there are some less familiar names. In this post, we’d like to celebrate an unsung hero – the Graphics Processing Unit or GPU. Not only is the GPU at the heart of the video revolution, but while you read this, the world’s GPUs are acting in tandem to disentangle the proteome and create novel medical treatments … Continue reading
KIT Digital working on 11 Latin American TV Projects
This article, by Phil Anderson, originally ran in Business News Americas Video management software provider KIT Digital expects to end 1H13 with 11 commercially active OTT or IPTV projects in Latin America, executives told BNamericas. “We have 10 large infrastructure projects going on now, apart from [already active] Telecom Argentina,” said Charlie Deane, KIT Digital’s OTT solutions director for Spanish-speaking markets. “Some are very advanced, already in internal beta-testing today. There are others that are going live in 2-3 months, and others for which we’re discussing terms, with no agreements finalized yet. We can expect them to be happening by year-end or in the first and second quarters next year.” The company established its client footprint in the region during 2011, gaining such names as The Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas (ZNS Network), Merville Lynch Productions, Telecom Argentina (NYSE: TEO), Clarín, Hosanna Visión, Igreja Universal do Reino de Deus (Universal Church of the Kingdom of God), Victory in Christ Ministry … Continue reading
Evander Holyfield at the 2012 NAB Show
KIT digital is excited to announce that our newest customer, 5-time heavy weight champion Evander Holyfield, will be joining us at the 2012 NAB show. On April 17, Holyfield will be at the KIT digital booth (SU8505) for two official public appearances and a special after-hours media event. Holyfield will be helping to showcase the solution KIT has developed to better deliver and monetize video from his storied career. Holyfield will be available for photo-ops at 11AM PST and 2PM PST. For all media/analyst inquiries, or to sign up to meet Holyfield, please e-mail: Martin.Paul@KIT-digital.com
NAB For Newbies: Tips & Tricks
NAB can be a daunting experience for newcomers. To help, we put together this list of tips from some old NAB hands. At The Hotel Bring Cash – ATMs in Las Vegas tend to charge excessively high fees Travel in Packs – With mammoth taxi lines snaking around the LVCC, it can take hours of standing in the hot Vegas sun just to catch a ride back to your hotel. Grab 4-5 co-workers or friends and flag down a limo instead. (You can usually find them by the taxi line.) Splitting the fare lets you get to your destination with minimal cash and maximum style. Stay Hydrated – keep in mind that Las Vegas is in the middle of the desert. The air inside the show is very cool and dry and it’s often hot inside. Always carry water with you in your bag so you’re not walking around the show parched and grumpy. Be a Smarter Networker – Pack a … Continue reading
Asia Takes the Lead in Growth of IPTV Services
Global IPTV revenue and subscriber numbers will double within five years, with Asia being the driving force. According to Informa Telecoms & Media, the revenues from IPTV services will reach $11.9 billion by the end of 2016. That’s a $5.7 billion increase from the number recorded for 2011. Additionally, the current global subscriber count of 34.3 million will jump to 76.6 by the end of 2016, which accounts for 5% of homes around the world with television sets, with plenty of room for additional growth. From a regional standpoint, Asia will prove to be the leader in the growth of IPTV, accounting for a little over a quarter million of the number of subscribers in 2016. The US will be a close second, drawing nearly 14 million subscribers by the end of 2016. Both Eastern and Western Europe will show an increase of over 10 million subscribers. France is currently the IPTV leader in Europe, and their numbers will continue … Continue reading
Was the 2012 Super Bowl a Social TV Success?
As we predicted, the 2012 Super Bowl proved to be one of the biggest social TV events of the year. However, it could have been far more impressive if brands had done a better job connecting their commercials with their social media campaigns. Research group Altimeter was disappointed by the fact that 32% of advertisements didn’t include references to brand websites or social media sites. There were also some campaigns that required viewers to spend too much time thinking about how to navigate through processes to activate perks. According to ReadWriteWeb, “…only six ads used hashtags in lieu of a Website or social media site, but those ads were notable because they did not ask viewers to like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter. Instead, they asked for viewer interaction.” The entertainment check-in service GetGlue claims there were over 160K Super Bowl check-ins on their service alone, which went up 700% compared to the 2011 Super Bowl. Lora … Continue reading
KIT digital’s Employment Growth – 3rd Largest in the U.S. Tech Industry
Bloomberg BusinessWeek reports that KIT digital increased its workforce by a whopping 319% during the most recent two-year period. This represents the third-highest growth rate among large U.S. technology companies (market value > $100 million.) Impressive numbers like this put KIT in the same league as rapidly expanding tech leaders like Apple, Google, and Amazon. To learn more about job opportunities at KIT, please visit our “Careers” page or recruiting section on our LinkedIn Page. http://www.kitd.com/company/careers/ http://www.linkedin.com/company/kit-digital-inc/careers
Super Bowl with a Second Screen
The rapid adoption of viewing live TV in tandem with a “second screen” device is bound to make the 2012 Super Bowl the biggest social TV events of the year. As a matter of fact, every major Super Bowl commercial has a social TV component. We think this is the right approach: 30-second commercial slots can’t stand alone, and advertising campaigns should go social. Music app Shazam is making all the right moves for the Super Bowl. They made headlines last year upon the launch of Shazam for TV. This year, they will power nearly a third of all Super Bowl advertisements. With over 175 million users (60 million in the U.S,) Shazam is considered one of the driving forces behind second screen interactive television. TV check-in service GetGlue, in comparison, is 2 million strong. Shazam, along with other major media companies, is relying on viewers to use their phones to interact with commercials for more than catching up with the … Continue reading
Fine Lines of Video Privacy Protection
After intense backing from Facebook and Netflix, an amendment to the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) of 1988 passed the House of Representatives, and is awaiting approval by the Senate. That sparked a debate over security concerns in regards to intellectual privacy. Netflix and Facebook’s legal teams are afraid that “frictionless sharing” could be seen as a violation of VPPA, which prevents video rental stores from sharing the rental records of customers. Netflix and Facebook argue that it should be permissible so long as video service providers obtain “informed, written consent” over the Internet. Those who oppose an amendment to the act argue that intellectual privacy deserves an extra degree of protection, because it is what helps shape ones understanding of values, sexuality, politics, and other sensitive matters. This is an idea that was followed by librarians for decades as they kept records confidential to protect their readers. KIT digital believes the diverse usage of social media created a new range of intellectual records, … Continue reading
Postponement of SOPA/PIPA
The true power of the social web was demonstrated through the postponement of the SOPA and PIPA bills. These directly affect search engines, blogs, social media platforms, and many other services. There were site-wide blackouts, protests, and countless calls and faxes made to government officials. The New York Times labeled the movement against these bills as “a political coming of age for a relatively young and disorganized industry that has largely steered clear of lobbying and other political games in Washington.” We at KIT digital found ourselves between a rock and a hard place, but the online activism was very awe-inspiring, especially as people used their creativity to express their views, such as the image below: Wikipedia had a 24-hour blackout, making their pages unavailable while featuring a message detailing their opposition to SOPA. According to Wikipedia, over 162 million people saw their message during their blackout, and 8 million people used their search tool to find the contact information of their elected representatives. Over 4.5 million people signed … Continue reading
KIT digital at NATPE 2012
KIT digital is proud to present the KIT Cosmos edition of our Video Platform at NATPE 2012. The event started on January 23rd, and runs through January 25th, in the Fontainebleau Resort in Miami Beach. Attendees can meet our team, and get a closer look at our demos as well as existing client solution implementations at the Conf. Facility, Glitter: Meeting Table 21. Come see the future of TV!
Potential in UltraViolet Platform
Since its debut in late 2011, the UltraViolet Platform has been the root of much debate in the video and entertainment industries, with some viewing it as the latest trend for movie-watchers, and others viewing it as a pointless hassle. KIT digital is mostly neutral- but first let us provide some background. The UltraViolet concept itself is simple: Purchase a DVD (which comes specially marked with a digital copy code,) and you will have several ways to view it. This is where the complications start: You have to set up an UltraViolet account and install software on your mobile devices, before being able to watch the movies remotely on any device without the physical DVD. Consumers are able to store and view movies remotely from their ‘digital locker.’ Up to five people can be added to a single account (locker,) and be view/share movies at their convenience. However, the UltraViolet site is considered confusing, often buggy, and it is also … Continue reading
2012 CES Marked Beginning of a New Era in Video
KIT Digital was proud to be in the midst of over 150K attendees at the 2012 CES, because of all the buzz surrounding Social TV, connected devices, and video news. These innovations are sure to dominate tech headlines in a matter of weeks. The highlights we were looking forward to, such as the OLED and 3D TVs, turned out to be amongst the major hits of CES. Two models of OLED TV’s, from LG and Samsung were on display, and sparked interest because they don’t require a backlight- which results in a thin frame, and a superior color palette. Let’s not forget the mention of quicker response times, and wider angles for viewing! We covered additional innovations in TV user experiences here. Many also agreed with our mention of developers wowing the world with their innovations in convergence of mobile devices. An increasing number of viewers watch television with a laptop, tablet, or a mobile device either with them, or … Continue reading
Gamification on the Rise in Marketing and Online Video
Gamification is showing tremendous growth, and is being welcomed with open arms after demonstrating success for early adopters in various industries for its role in the discovery of new products and services. In fact, 40% of adults in the U.S that are active online have expressed interest in seeking new ways to entertain themselves with gaming elements. It is additionally showing increasing popularity in online video as advertisers embrace the trend. For example, the marketing manager for the Ford Fusion, Samantha Hoyt, decided to go this route for their Fusion commercial, because they wanted to have an exciting and interactive way to build anticipation leading up to the reveal of the all-new Fusion. Kit Digital couldn’t agree more on the excitement that ties in with gamification; the KIT Cloud Social platform has gamification aspects built in, much to the liking of our users. Gamification is not only a way to attract users, but it is also a delightful add-on which helps retain them, such as the case of Samsung … Continue reading
Between a Rock and a Hard Place: The Challenges of the SOPA Discussion
What a day yesterday has been in this curious world that has whipped content makers, technologists and the US House of Representatives into a frenzy of passionate conflict. At KIT digital, we’re a bit stuck in the middle. On the one hand, many of our clients invest tens of millions of dollars into creating and distributing the worlds best content, and their investment ought to be protected by laws that stop and punish those who steal that content. Because make no mistake, stealing is what it is. Of course, on the other hand, anyone can see that the SOPA/PIPA bill suffers from a lack of technical insight from the US Congress as well as a more basic disregard for many principles inherent in this lofty idea that all of us believe in, the “free internet”. In a nutshell, this is a bill that was created in the name of ‘prosperity, creativity, entrepreneurship, and innovation.’ SOPA grants the U.S government and … Continue reading
Interest in Connected Devices Soars Worldwide
From smartphones to tablets, and now Smart TVs- we at KIT digital understand and cater to the needs of users by adding video to any device that lets us. The increasing demand itself is fascinating – in the case of Samsung Apps alone, average daily downloads hit 50,000 worldwide, and will likely hit 20 million downloads by the end of January, 2012. According to BroadCom, not only are smartphone sales growing faster than standard mobile phones, but there are 4 billion smartphones currently in use. Video represents 50% of all mobile traffic, and is expected to quickly shoot to 90%. Alan Murray, Executive Editor of The Wall Street Journal Online, claims that the average American watches 5 hours of video a day, which started with cable, then shifted to computers, and is now migrating to mobile devices. In this age of connectivity, developers, and manufacturers such as PrimeSense are also seeking additional ways to build Natural Interaction into consumer electronic … Continue reading
Developers Impress at 2012 CES with Innovations in Convergence
Tablets were the rage at the 2011 CES, which led to developers scurrying on to develop the next big thing for the ever-growing tablet segment. This year, the convergence of mobile devices with TV is clearly one of the most predominant themes. We are keeping tabs on this trend, as we consistently seek ways to add to our Connected Device Framework. One of the biggest surprises was Linux entering the TV market with Ubuntu TV. The controls are touch, and gesture based, and smartphones can be used as a remote as well. In addition to intelligent search, and streaming capabilities, Ubuntus cloud will be built into their new TV. This means users can enjoy the programs that are stored on other devices. Developers are very well aware of how smartphones are changing the way users consume information, and their tweaks on mobile operating systems are significantly changing how that content is delivered. For example, Myriads launch of Alien Vue (Android … Continue reading
Innovations in TV User Experience Dominate CES Buzz
The complexities that come with most standard remote controls are unnecessary, and ridiculously outdated. Think about it: how many buttons does your TV remote have? Better yet, how many remotes are you using in the first place? The launch of Xbox Kinect (which allows users to control their TV using gesture and voice), along with rumors circulating that Apple will bring Siri to an Apple TV have dominated the discussion to date. But others are getting in on the action. Lenovo is demonstrating some serious innovation with their K91 Smart TV, running Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich). This is on show at CES 2012 and we’ll be watching carefully to see whether this could be a future device to integrate into our Connected Device Framework. The other interesting thing about the K91 is that in another sign of the growing importance of Asian markets to consumer electronics manufacturers, the Lenovo TV will launch in China. Much has changed in the … Continue reading
CES Highlights We Are Looking Forward To
CES 2012 opens today in Las Vegas. Here are four things we’re excited to see which aim to take the in-home TV experience to levels never seen before. This is only good news for KIT, as we’re working with many of the worlds biggest media companies helping them to transform living rooms all over the world: LG 84” 4K 3D TV- These beauties will offer close to 4 times the resolution of traditional 1080p, which would make your visual experience at home far more closer to the likes of cinema quality. The resolution will be 3,840 x 2,160. And oh yes, there will also be the updated Magic Motion Remote Control, which includes voice recognition, gestures, and a scroll wheel. World’s Largest OLED TV- Techies will rejoice seeing a teaser of this LG 4-mm thick panel at CES, which boasts having “the most natural colors of any TV set” at a “much lower price point” in comparison to other OLEDs … Continue reading
Samsung Challenge Finalists: Breaking Multimedia Ground
We are tipping that the buzz around Connected TV’s will reach fever-pitch at CES this year, with media companies and device manufacturers scrambling to offer TV services directly on these ever-popular new TV’s. Samsung has put it’s money where it’s mouth is and has expanded their focus to multimedia apps, with the Samsung Free The TV Challenge. The company is awarding $225,000 in cash and prizes to winning developers for innovative multimedia apps. The challenge is now in its second year, and the finalists are truly breaking multimedia ground! The winner will be announced at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The press release states that the finalists, in alphabetical order, are: FREQSHO – music fans can create their own music channel to stream music from any artist using a smartphone, tablet or TV. An easy-to-use search engine helps users quickly find their favorite artists and social connectivity allows them to follow the latest artist information and tweets in real-time. … Continue reading