Hardware
Technicolor accelerates content production compliant with UHD Alliance specifications
MUMBAI: Technicolor is accelerating content production that is compliant with the Ultra HD displays and content specifications after the UHD Alliance’s released specifications for the same.
Technicolor is a founding member of the UHD Alliance and has been a vocal supporter of an open-standard for next-generation video, which will allow consumers to buy devices and content with confidence.
Technicolor has worked with its global teams and content owners over the last year to develop a new 4K HDR workflow for new titles, a cost-effective solution to remaster existing libraries, and the infrastructure to replicate the first Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc – all of which meet the new UHD Alliance specifications.
Content creators working on new titles can utilise Technicolor’s global team of colourists and colour scientists to natively grade content in HDR. Technicolor has already graded several films to the UHD Alliance’s HDR specifications for Twentieth Century Fox including Spy and Fantastic Four. Technicolor has also worked with Amazon – the first video service to offer HDR – to grade its Amazon Original Series including Bosch, Mozart in the Jungle and Red Oaks in HDR quality.
Those looking for an opportunity to unlock new value in the millions of hours of existing library content in a new, higher-quality format can remaster their libraries with Technicolor’s remastering services. Technicolor utilises its unique Intelligent Tone Management plugin for major colour grading systems, which dramatically reduces the time to create HDR content from archives of video content.
Technicolor’s Home Entertainment Services team also announced it is fully certified by the Blu-ray Disc Association to create 4K HDR Ultra HD Blu-ray Discs. They are preparing to ship launch titles in the first quarter of 2016, timed with the release of new disc players.
“After a year of dedicated work to define what next-generation video entertainment will look like, Technicolor welcomes the completion of the UHD Alliance specifications which will allow content owners to create next-generation content with confidence that it will look great on all next-generation displays. With cross-ecosystem expertise, and a fundamental understanding of storytelling, Technicolor’s well-tested HDR pipeline maintains the integrity of creative intent from set to screens. We look forward to helping our partners develop new libraries of compelling content,” said Technicolor vice president of partner relationships and business development Mark Turner.
Hardware
Specs Inc. partners with Qualcomm for next-generation smart glasses
Snap subsidiary to power future Specs with Snapdragon XR platforms.
MUMBAI: Snap’s Specs are about to get a serious upgrade and this time, they’re teaming up with Qualcomm to make sure the future looks crystal clear. Specs Inc., a Snap subsidiary, has announced a multi-year strategic agreement with Qualcomm Technologies to power future generations of its advanced smart eyewear with Snapdragon system-on-a-chip (SoC) technology.
This marks the first flagship engagement for Specs Inc., which is preparing to launch its standalone, see-through smart glasses for consumers later this year. The Specs are designed to seamlessly blend digital experiences into the physical world, allowing users to see, hear, and interact with digital content as if it were part of their real surroundings.
By integrating Snapdragon XR platforms, the glasses will benefit from edge AI and high-performance, low-power computing. This combination enables intelligent, context-aware experiences to run directly on the device, delivering faster and more private interactions.
The partnership builds on more than five years of collaboration between Snap and Qualcomm, during which Snapdragon platforms have powered multiple generations of Snap’s Spectacles.
Snap Inc., co-founder and CEO Evan Spiegel said, “We believe the future of computing will be more human and grounded in the real world. Our work with Qualcomm provides a strong foundation for the future of Specs, bringing advanced technology and performance that pushes the boundaries of what’s possible.”
Qualcomm Incorporated president and CEO Cristiano Amon added, “The next era of computing will be defined by devices that understand what you see, hear and say, and respond instantly to the world around you. Our collaboration on Specs will enable power-efficient interactive AR devices that feel natural and intuitive.”
The agreement establishes a scalable foundation for developers and partners building experiences for Specs, supporting a predictable product roadmap and increasingly sophisticated digital interactions over time.
In a world racing toward augmented reality, Specs Inc. and Qualcomm are ensuring that the next pair of smart glasses doesn’t just look good on paper, they perform brilliantly in real life. The future of wearable computing just got a powerful new lens.
