Electronic Games | Government & Policy | Internet and Commerce | Consumer Electronics | Broadcasting |
Broadcasting
Digital TV (DTV) market developments - Advanced Television provides figures from a report published by Strategy Analytics which estimates that worldwide sales of DTV set-top boxes (STBs) passed the 100m mark for the first time in 2007. According to the report, sales of STBs totalled 102.4m units in 2007, an increase of 12% over last year. The report also finds that across DTV set-top box use the share of the Internet Protocol TV ( IPTV) market rose to 5.9%, compared to 3.6% in 2006, the cable market's share rose to 36.2%, while satellite and terrestrial shares declined in 2007.
Source:
Advanced Television
Title:
DTV STB sales surpass 100m
Date Published
22 Feb 2008
Consumer Electronics
Paramount Pictures - Hollywood Reporter reports that the movie studio has embraced the Blu-ray disc format, becoming the latest major Hollywood studio to do so. The article reports that after Paramount Pictures’ decision to cease to support HD DVD disc format and Toshiba’s announcement that it is set to end its HD DVD business from March 2008, Blu-ray became effectively the only format for high-definition (HD) movies.
Source:
Hollywood Reporter
Title:
Paramount seals Blu-ray sweep
Date Published
21 Feb 2008
Electronic Games
PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA) - EE Times reports that several leading companies in the PC gaming industry have teamed up to form a new alliance, called PC Gaming Alliance (PCGA), which aims to unite hardware and software creators, game developers and publishers to advance the PC as a gaming platform. The article reports that the alliance will also collaborate on setting common standards, fight piracy and promote market information and expertise on PC gaming. According to the article, the group's founding members include Intel, Advanced Micro Devices, Nvidia, Microsoft, Acer/Gateway, Activision Publishing, Dell/Alienware, Epic Games and Razer USA.
Source:
EE Times
Title:
Firms form alliance to push PC as gaming platform
Date Published
22 Feb 2008
Government & Policy Issues
Anti-piracy developments (UK) - Music Week reports that the UK government has unveiled its document on the creative industries which includes an April 2009 deadline for ISPs to take action over users who access unlicensed material. This is despite the document stating that a voluntary agreement between the music industry and ISPs over unauthorised file-sharing remains the ideal solution. According to the article, the proposal does not include the expected "three strikes" rule for subscribers undertaking unlicensed file-sharing. The article also reports that under the proposals, the UK Intellectual Property Office (UKIPO) will promote better understanding on the value and importance of intellectual property (IP).
Source:
Music Week
Title:
Government outlines plan for creative economies
Date Published
22 Feb 2008
Internet & Commerce
Google - FindLaw reports that Google is set to test an online health record service with the assistance of the Cleveland Clinic. The article reports that the pilot project, which involves up to 10,000 patients who volunteered to an electronic transfer of their personal health records, will provide them with access to data such as their medical history and information about prescriptions. According to the article, Google considers the service as a logical extension of its search engine. However, the article suggests that it is likely to raise concerns about the volume of sensitive information entrusted to the internet company.
Source:
FindLaw
Title:
Google to Store Patients' Health Records
Date Published
21 Feb 2008
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