Hardware
NDTV India Migrates to MPEG-4 Uplink Chain
MUMBAI: New Delhi Television (NDTV), one of India’s most-watched TV news networks, has migrated its satellite uplink infrastructure from MPEG-2 to a complete MPEG-4 multiple-channel-per-carrier (MCPC) chain based on Thomson Video Networks’ advanced encoding, MPEG processing, and transport stream (TS) monitoring equipment. Driven by the award-winning ViBE™ EM4000 premium HD/SD encoder, NetProcessor 9030 MPEG processor, XMS network management system, and Granite Sentinel DTV monitor, the new MCPC chain replaces aging SD MPEG-2 equipment and provides an HD-ready platform to support NDTV’s future technology requirements.
“When we evaluated technology partners for our MPEG-4 migration, Thomson Video Networks was the obvious choice,” said Dinesh Singh, chief technology officer, NDTV Ltd. “As a high-density encoder, the ViBE EM4000 offers eight SD/HD channels in a single rack unit to save space in our existing infrastructure. With our new, state-of-the-art uplink chain, both our customers and operators have seen marked improvement in both performance and picture quality, and we really appreciate Thomson Video Networks’ technology and service support.”
“As one of India’s leading news broadcasters, NDTV is making a big technology leap forward with its MPEG-4 migration,” said Eric Louvet, vice president worldwide sales, Thomson Video Networks. “With our latest-generation, EM4000 octo-channel platform, MPEG-4 encoding will enable NDTV to save significant satellite bandwidth that can be used later for HD programming. Since the EM4000 is HD-ready, migration to HD services is smooth and easy within the existing uplink chain.”
Further information about the ViBE EM4000 and other Thomson Video Networks products is available at www.thomson-networks.com.
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.
