Links to more detailed topics about products announced at CES:

• http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/9275/2014-panasonic-camcorders-with-1080p120-slo-mo-50mbps#Item_14
• http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/9276/sony-fdr-ax100-4k-camcorder-for-the-masses-#Item_33
• http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/9272/2014-ultrazooms-topic#Item_3
• http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/9274/panasonic-tz60-aka-zs40-compact-with-30x-zoom-evf#Item_1
• http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/9277/nikon-d3300#Item_8
• http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/9246/samsung-nx30-topic-first-camera-made-for-video-shooter#Item_15

Added support for wide gamut color spaces (JFIF version 2). Improve clarity and accuracy in color conversion modules

Extend the bit depth support to all values from 8 to 12 (BITS_IN_JSAMPLE configuration option in jmorecfg.h). jpegtran now supports N bits sample data precision with all N from 8 to 12 in a single instance.

Enable option to use default Huffman tables for lossless compression (for hardware solution), and in this case improve lossless RGB compression with reversible color transform.

http://www.infai.org/jpeg/

what's your impressions?

With a half-dozen local friends/videomakers RSVP'd to join us throughout the day and an open call to all P-V members, we set up under some shade with snacks and drinks around 1:30PM.

The event was attended by only one member who wasn't already a part of our videomaking circle. He is Korean, and an associate professor at a local graduate school of "Cinematic Content". He brought his teenaged son and GH3, seeking technical advice for an upcoming documentary production in northeastern China. For three hours or so we discussed classic films from Japan and Europe, the film-school bubble, professional and artistic aspirations, and the GH cameras.

He left, and then the local expat filmmakers arrived. Some are P-V members, some are not. We shared and critiqued content we've been working on, discussed short and medium term plans, and had fried chicken and beer.

Though it was a fine day, this wasn't the P-V meetup we hoped for. The scheduling was short notice, and the following day was a work day; these factors probably affected the turnout. Apparently over 250 PV members live in Korea. Next time we hope to get a few more of them.

Adobe will soon make the iPad an even more viable solution for mobile content creation: the company will soon unleash a version of its popular Lightroom photo editing suite that is optimized for tablets. References to Lightroom for Mobile appeared on Adobe’s official website earlier this week, but they were immediately removed when we contacted Adobe for comment on the yet-to-be-announced product.

Adobe’s tagline for the product is “Take Lightroom anywhere”. One-year subscription will be $99.

http://9to5mac.com/2014/01/17/lightroom-for-ipad-briefly-appears-on-adobes-website-coming-soon-with-99year-cloud-subscription/

Of course it'll be massively restricted version, so best idea is to get proper Windows tablet if you need such functions.

Fujifilm has filed a patent application, which describes the image sensor, markedly different from the existing ones. In the structure of the sensor into account peculiarities of the human visual sensitivity. As is known, the eye is most sensitive to the green portion of the spectrum and the noise easier to allocate the luma than color.In the diagram it is evident that the elements corresponding to the green and white channels have larger dimensions

http://egami.blog.so-net.ne.jp/2014-01-06

http://yournewsticker.com/2014/01/fujifilm-specialists-developed-image-sensor-rgbw-pixels-enlarged-green-white-channels.html

The data breach at Target was significantly broader than originally reported: The company said Friday that 70 million customers had information such as their name, address, phone number and e-mail address hacked in the breach. Target said the personal data stolen could affect its past shoppers -- not just those who have visited the store recently.

Target Corp and Neiman Marcus are not the only U.S. retailers whose networks were breached over the holiday shopping season last year, according to sources familiar with attacks on other merchants that have yet to be publicly disclosed.

Smaller breaches on at least three other well-known U.S. retailers took place and were conducted using similar techniques as the one on Target, according to the people familiar with the attacks. Those breaches have yet to come to light. Also, similar breaches may have occurred earlier last year.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/01/12/us-target-databreach-retailers-idUSBREA0B01720140112?feedType=RSS&feedName=technologyNews

Sony is the world's No. 1 manufacturer of image sensors for digital cameras and video recorders (based on Sony research from April 2012 to March 2013 that shows Sony has a 50% market share).

Via: http://discover.store.sony.com/sony-technology-services-apps-NFC/tech_imaging.html

I am sure upcoming year will be better, more interesting and full of surprises.

Panasonic Corp. (6752) is in talks to sell majority stakes in three chip factories in Japan to Israel’s Tower Semiconductor Ltd. Final decision may come as soon as next month. Most of the 2,500 workers at the factories will move to Tower, while the rest will switch to other roles at Panasonic, the person said.

President Kazuhiro Tsuga is seeking alliances for the Osaka-based company’s chip business as he continues restructuring its consumer-electronics units, including ending production of plasma televisions. The company plans to cut as many as 7,000 workers in the semiconductor business, or about half of the staff.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-27/panasonic-said-in-talks-to-sell-three-chip-plants-to-towerjazz.html

From a technological perspective, Fujitsu thinks the semiconductor business consists of architecture, layout design and fabrication. Whereas Fujitsu will retain the architecture function at its headquarters, it will transfer layout design to a new fabless company and fabrication to a new foundry company. Once the two new companies are established, Fujitsu will entrust them with the job of materializing its architecture. Nevertheless, Fujitsu will be free to use other fabless and foundry companies, according to Yamamoto.

We are now going to Italy through France and then — Greece.

If you guys have time/ideas and enthusiasm please don't hesitate to contact our crew.

As our previous experience showed nobody knows the situation better than the folks on the ground.

What we are looking for are people's stories, characters, plots, stories which can tell us something new/unusual about the current crisis.

Use this chance!!!

You can reach me here or through ksyomin @ gmail.com

Peace to the GH2 world dwellers!

We had some very good meetups in summer and want to continue this tradition.
You could meet other members, check different cameras and optics, just talk and drink a little. :-)

Below are cities with big amount of members and visitors.

As we are searching for organizers, let me know if you want to be organize one.

Also, if you are just visitor and not registered member, register to be part of the meetings.

First, check all existing meeting topics - http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussions/tagged/meetup

If you are making topic for your city meeting it must look like:
Meetup: City, Personal View winter meeting

US

• New York Los Angeles San Francisco Chicago Austin Washington/DC, Baltimore

Other countries

London, Sydney, Melbourn, Singapore Hong Kong Toronto Paris Moscow Helsinki Seul Berlin, Athens, Monreal, Stockholm, Barcelona, Rome, Vancouver - ..

P.S. You can ask me how many members are present from your city.

CALABASAS, CA – 20.Dec 2013 - Yamaha Corporation and Line 6, Inc. today announced a definitive agreement for Yamaha to acquire Line 6, a leading manufacturer of innovative solutions for musicians. The acquisition expands Yamaha’s portfolio of modeling guitar processing products as well as pro-audio equipment, and offers new and exciting opportunities for accelerated growth for both companies.

Line 6 products have been at the cutting edge of digital audio development for musicians and audio professionals since the company pioneered the digital modeling guitar amplifier in 1996. Line 6 continues to deliver innovation and excellence across its industry-leading portfolio, including POD® multi-effect processors, digital effects, guitar amplifiers, modeling guitars, a range of professional instrument and microphone digital wireless systems, digital live sound mixers, speakers, as well as iOS interfaces.

Under the terms of the agreement, Yamaha will operate Line 6 as a wholly owned subsidiary to fully realize the compelling opportunities for the two brands with Line 6’s operations continuing as before and its management team remaining in place.

“I am very happy that Line 6, which has been creating innovative products and creating new market opportunities consistently over its history, will become a member of the Yamaha group. We look forward to accelerating our growth strategy by pursuing the beneficial effects from both companies and by utilizing Line 6’s core brand power centered on guitarists that is so highly regarded worldwide as well as its unique technology, planning and development capabilities” said Mr. Takuya Nakata, President of Yamaha Corporation.

“For over 30 years of developing products, and even further back to my earliest memories as a developing musician, Yamaha has been the brand for which I have always had the most respect,” said Line 6 co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer Marcus Ryle. “Yamaha has consistently set the standard in our industry for quality and innovation, and I am very proud for Line 6 to now be a part of this incredible legacy.”

"Yamaha’s acquisition of Line 6 will help accelerate the realization of our vision to drive innovation for musicians across the globe,” said Line 6 CEO and President Paul Foeckler. “We’re proud that Yamaha recognizes the innovation and value in our people, IP and processes and we’re excited about the opportunities ahead to expand our reach”

Not good news. Line 6 made some good products and had very interesting wireless mikes, btw.

Panasonic - http://dc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/interview/20131210_626875.html

Samsung Electronics integrated the Digital Imaging Business Division, in charge of cameras, with the Wireless Business Division. Samsung Electronics began to create synergies between smartphones and cameras in a bid to capture the largest share of the global mirrorless camera market in 2015. Also, earlier this year, the company created the Enterprise Business (EB) Team, and turned the global B2B Center into a quasi-business division. Its intention is to reinforce B2B sales as the consumer goods market is saturated.

Samsung Electronics executed reorganization on December 11.

Samsung Electronics maintained the 3-company business system: vice-chairman Kwon Oh-hyeon (DS: Device Solution), CEO Yoon Boo-geun (CE: consumer electronics) and Shin Jong-gyun (IM: IT Mobile). Global economic recession continues, but they performed excellently. We need to keep an eye on the IM Company during this organizational realignment. Samsung Electronics removed the Digital Imaging Business Division in charge of cameras. Samsung Electronics reshuffled it into the Imaging Business Team, and plans to make full use of the Wireless Business Division which has the leadership in the global market.

Samsung Electronics explained, “We will transplant the brand, sales networks, software competency and manufacturing competitiveness of the Wireless Business Division into the Camera Business Division, and integrate the technical know-how of the two business divisions into competency for differentiating our smartphones.” To increase its share of the camera market, it will take advantage of the networks and marketing know-how of the Wireless Business Division and enhance the camera competitiveness of smartphones at the same time. Under the Media Solution Center of the IM Company, Samsung Electronics created the Big Data Center. It looks like a measure to actively respond to changes in trends by means of Big Data analysis. Some business divisions, such as the Washing Machine Business Division, have already capitalized on the Big Data analysis technique to produce visible outcomes.

CSR, the Cambridge-based microchip maker (they got all Zoran developers and assets), has announced a retreat from the digital camera market as sales decline and amateur photographers increasingly rely on smartphones.

The company said it would take a $90m (£54.6m) one-off impairment charge, mostly attributable to goodwill, to shut down its camera-on-a-chip business.

Joep van Beurden, chief executive of CSR, said: "We continue to take a disciplined approach to capital allocation and cost control and have decided to withdraw investment from the COACH [camera-on-a-chip] platform due to weakness in the digital still camera market."

He said the company would redeploy some camera-on-a-chip engineers in higher-growth divisions. Some 200 jobs will be lost in the second quarter of 2014, however.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/mediatechnologyandtelecoms/electronics/10507743/Chipmaker-CSR-retreats-from-camera-market-as-smartphones-take-over.html

I am waiting to hear back from the publican shortly - he's going to ask me about numbers so let me know ASAP if you think you can make it - the food beer and vodka are all good and if you feel like hanging around and catching some mighty fine blues afterwards - Mark Evans. ex AC/DC will be playing an unplugged acoustic guitar set with his mate Dave Tice at 5pm.

Please email me at PVMeetUp@TheDoco.Co to RSVP ASAP OK!

http://www.sony.net/Products/SC-HP/new_pro/december_2013/imx174_e.html

Specs also have some explanation how 720 and 1080 modes work.

Also interesting is that 1920×1080×4 = 8 294 400 and 1270×720×9 = 8 229 600

http://www.semicon.panasonic.co.jp/ds8/c3/IS00006AE.pdf

http://www.flyingsolo.com.au/workinthenudeday

ITU has announced a draft Recommendation for next-generation ‘immersive’ and ‘personalized’ audio systems for television and radio.

Audio is an essential part of the television experience, as the quality and ‘perception’ of sound enhances the image on screen. A number of new techniques have been developed that will heighten the experience and bring it to a new level, while allowing the audience to personalize their experience.

Twenty years ago, the ITU Radiocommunication Sector’s Study Group 6 approved Recommendation ITU-R BS.775 which established 5.1 channels as the surround sound system for broadcasting. This involved the optimum use of five loudspeakers set at ear level surrounding the audience plus a low-frequency sub-woofer.

Now, Study Group 6 has developed a system for the next-generation ‘immersive’ and ‘personalized’ audio system, which will allow TV audiences to be ‘‘enveloped’ in the sound as it traces the source of the audio track both laterally and vertically across the screen

Deciding which technique the ITU-R should specify has been one of the hottest subjects of the audio world for many years. A single coherent approach was needed that could provide sufficient flexibility to allow a variety of techniques to co-exist. The newly agreed system has now achieved this.

In the new approach, the audio landscape that surrounds the viewer is delivered either by supplying more channels of audio that can be ‘rendered’ for use by any additional loudspeakers that may be present, or by delivering audio elements that are ‘dynamically rendered’ into the existing speakers.

The audience can make use of the new sound system with existing stereo and 5.1 channel speakers systems; or they can choose to enjoy more ‘immersiveness’ by installing additional speakers around the room, including elevated speakers. The key to the new system is that the delivered channels and sound elements are fully described by metadata labelling that drives the rendering as well as the reproduction.

The new system may be used with forthcoming ultra-high definition or UHDTV systems, existing HDTV or even older SDTV, as well as for immersive audio without images, such as in radio and audio compact discs and packaged media. The system enables an environment where the user can interact with the receiver to create the audio landscape that he or she wishes.

This new draft Recommendation ‘Advanced Sound System for Programme Production’ is being submitted to ITU Member States and Sector Members for the combined adoption and approval procedure. ITU-R Study Group 6 is undertaking further work to precisely define the universal labelling (‘metadata’) system needed.

“Good quality sound is an essential part of enjoying television programmes,” said ITU Secretary-General Hamadoun I. Touré. “The new ITU-R Recommendation will add tremendously to the overall experience of television viewing and this agreement comes at a time when we are progressing rapidly towards transitioning to digital broadcasting and adopting ever higher standards for television, such as UHDTV.”

Mr François Rancy, Director of ITU’s Radiocommunication Bureau, commented: “This is a really important achievement for the media world, and we are proud that the ITU-R has been the means to achieve it.”

http://www.itu.int/net/pressoffice/press_releases/2013/69.aspx#.UqBiurHIOUk

Sony's spirit is creating something new, which never existed before. And also, downsizing technology as well -- make it smaller, more compact, even the camera system itself. Then, we investigated customers' demands, such as digital SLR users. Everyone has got some stress to carry those camera systems, because they're heavy, but actually, the demand is to get a better picture than the compact digital still cameras. Also, at the moment, smartphones started to increase their penetration. Some users started to say, "That picture quality is good enough for my pictures." In that case, I don't need to take a digital still camera instead of my smartphone. But actually, I want to take a better picture -- then the customers started to have some interest in the digital SLR type of product.

Thinking about something new, though, [we asked] do we really need a mirror box? Of course, we have some excuse, but we can fulfill the customer's demand to make it small, light, and easy to carry. That is one of the conclusions which led to the NEX-5 type of product -- that's the reason why we started to develop that type of small product. In line with those philosophies, currently this problem is existing, because full-frame cameras are quite heavy. It's very tough to use for most consumers; therefore, entry-level users don't like that kind of heavy, big camera system, because they're heavy and expensive -- and also the lens itself is too big.

That's when we started to realize the upgrades, and relieve that stress -- we considered what was the best way to reduce the size, and also to make something new. And then it happened with the NEX-5 and Alpha A7 as well. That point is the philosophy of the Sony spirit, is to create something new which never existed before. We will keep on working to create that kind of product in the future, with that spirit.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2013/12/04/sony-interview-what-does-it-take-to-change-the-camera-game

Reply to this thread (and subscribe) if you'd like to be in the loop. Feel free to chip in ideas for locations or what your preferred times and dates are.

Below are cities with big amount of members and visitors.

As we are searching for organizers, let me know if you want to be organize one.

Also, if you are just visitor and not registered member, register to be part of the meetings.

I made topic in wiki - http://www.personal-view.com/faqs/meetings/2013-summer-meetings

If you are making topic for your city meeting it must look like:
Meetup: City, Personal View summer meeting

US

• New York - http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/7143/meetup-new-york-personal-view-members-meeting#Item_14
• Los Angeles - http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/7157/meetup-los-angeles-area#Item_4
• San Francisco - http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/7426/meetup-san-francisco-personal-view-summer-meeting
• Chicago
• Austin - http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/7175/meetup-austin-personal-view-summer-meeting#Item_1
• Washington/DC, Baltimore

Other countries

• London - http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/7149/meetup-london#Item_7
• Sydney - http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/7162/meetup-sydney-australia-downunder#Item_1
• Melbourn
• Singapore
• Hong Kong
• Toronto
• Paris - http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/7159/meetup-paris-personal-view-meeting#Item_4
• Moscow
• Helsinki
• Seul - ended
• Berlin - http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/comment/129233#Comment_129233
• Athens
• Monreal
• Stockholm
• Barcelona - http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/7161/meetup-barcelona-personal-view-meeting#Item_1
• Rome - http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/7170/meetup-rome-personal-view-meeting#Item_5
• Vancouver - http://www.personal-view.com/talks/discussion/7167/meetup-vancouver-canada-personal-view-members-meeting#Item_6

P.S. You can ask me how many members are present from your city.

@Vitaliy_Kiselev Vitaliy, is there a dedicated category section for regional groups?

Today, Google Compute Engine is Generally Available (GA), offering virtual machines that are performant, scalable, reliable, and offer industry-leading security features like encryption of data at rest. Compute Engine is available with 24/7 support and a 99.95% monthly SLA for your mission-critical workloads. We are also introducing several new features and lower prices for persistent disks and popular compute instances.

http://googlecloudplatform.blogspot.ru/2013/12/google-compute-engine-is-now-generally-available.html

It seems like the numbers might be a little thin, but if anyone is near SF I would like to coordinate a meeting at a bar or restaurant in the city. We could do an upcoming weekend in mid to late July, preferably a Saturday so that people can come and go more freely. We can meet downtown so that it's easy for anyone coming into the city (provided BART is not still striking :/). Anyone's welcome, of course, whether you live here or are just passing by. And I'm a lurker on the site, but I'd still like to meet other personal-viewers. Comment in this thread if you're down to meet and maybe say which day works best for you. Let's work something out!