Extending the “Cinema GEEK” YouTube channel, I added a video on the Regent Cinema Werribee. This is an independent multiplex with 10 screens. In this video I discus the difference between larger cinemas like this and smaller art-house cinemas that have usually grown into what they are today. The Regent was built from the ground up and as such, does some things differently.
I hope you enjoy these videos. Please join my YouTube channel so you know when more videos are posted, and please do comment.
Recently I have been very busy installing some DCI systems in a local cinema. During this time I have made some quick videos covering some of the technical aspects of how all this DCI Digital Cinema technology works. I have posted these video under my YouTube channel at
Recently Apple Shuts Down iPod Interoperability Effort.
The reasons stated was because those using it where taking advantage of the information to reverse engineer FairPlay. This is not the case. The real reason was because those using it where trying to develop software that let Ipods plug into NON-apple (Itunes) software.
Ie, unlock the iPod from itunes.
There is no real legal issue in doing this. It is not breaking a DRM. It is simply developing a universal plug as like to plug your device into a power point any where in the world.
Apple does not see it this way and has twisted DMCA rules to its own gain.
The Red Digital Cinema tag line is “The Red Camera Makes Obsolescence Obsolete.”
As a DCI digital cinema expert and past owner of a Film and TV production studio and facility, unfortunately, this comment is a little miss-leading.
Let me explain why.
I am involved in the installation of DCI projectors within Australia. As such, I am well informed of technical roadmaps and installation numbers. Currently the DCI equipment being installed is 2k, general projecting SCOPE as 2048×858 and FLAT (1.85) as 1998×1080. The DMD, or DLP chips are 2048×1080 in total.
At the current rate, we will not see large penetration of DCI in all cinemas, especially in non-US cinemas, for quite some time to come. Even in the US the change over is not near 50%.
Current roadmap for 4k DLP support? Not even being talked about yet.
Life span of a DLP projector. Expected 10years, however, Cinemas are use to 40 years lifespan on a traditional projector, so expect them to run them into the ground, 15-20 years.
I would expect the world to be fully DCI in about 5-10 years.
If we add all these time frames up, etc. Don’t expect to see 4K cinema for 20 years. Maybe more.
Now lets look at who can tell the difference between 2k and 4k. From many people I have spoken to, even trained pros have a hard time telling the difference is at a reasonable distance from the screen. Sure, if in the front row it is much easier. In general, however, it is expected that the general cinema goer, 99% would not tell the difference.
As a cinema owner, can you justify spending hundreds of thousands of dollars just to keep 1% a little happier?
What I am trying to point out here is that 2k is pretty much it. Doing production in more then 2k is a good way to simply spend more money on Post with no real way to get it onto a cinema screen for a very long time to come.
RED1 queasy 4K bayer as opposed to real 4k (when you say 4k you mean 4k of resolution. 4k baye, DLPr is not 4k resolution.) the RED1, in a 2k workflow is most likely the best bang for $$$ camera currently available.
RED cry the “Obsolescence Obsolete” tag line, but this is more hype then reality of what is involved in real production.
Cost, destination format, qualified workflow. This is what you as a producer should be excited about. Not how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.
SideNOTE: Over sampling or more then 2k aquisition is very useful for certain post requirements. Mainly CGI, but in general, it has no bearking to the final result in a 2k workflow.
Apple, Microsoft, LINUX, the show down is coming. An OS war to make all past OS wars look like a snow ball fight, is coming. When will it hit… Look for the sign of the “7″.
Seriously, there has never been a more interesting time for operating systems. They are mature. They make your breakfast in the morning. And they a re a religion.
A quick overview:
Microsoft is on the ropes, in perception but not in truth, and is looking to shake the world up with windows 7.
Apple has a red hot OS that is clearly better then anything else out there. And its numbers are growing as a result.
Linux is a invincible glacier that slowly inches forward every year and is generally viewed as unstoppable.
Realistically, it is not that simple. Apple fanboys would believe that they are causing Microsoft a lot of damage, but really Apple is not the problem. Bill got it right a long time back. It is open source that is Microsoft’s biggest worry.
Netbooks are the hottest items this Christmas. For what a Netbook needs to do, Linux is all you need, and also runs better on less expensive hardware then Windows. The more Linux becomes an every day OS, the more end users will adopt it in all aspects. This is the problem, as this brings Linux closer to an ignition point of acceptance as an OS for business.
Apple does not focus on business. Yes Apple is making in roads into general consumer computers, however, businesses do not, and cannot consider Apple OSX as its not designed to work, as windows does, in large businesses.
The real issue here is that operating systems are becoming commodity items. given away for nothing with the computer. (Ie Linux and a netbook). How is Microsoft going to compete. VISTA is a complete dog in which you need a space shuttle to actually run well.
What is Microsoft to do???
Answer: cut the fat of VISTA as fast as possible. MAKE it run on netbooks well. “AND GIVE IT AWAY FOR FREE”. Well, not completely free. Windows 7 core, as it is currently known, is likely to be as capable as a netbook needs. Surf Web, Read Email, VoIP. But anything more.. is a simply online, enter credit card number and pay for what you want. DirectX for games. Office tools. etc.
Microsoft is looking to make Windows 7 a storm breaker to the LINUX tidle wave.
This also makes a lot of sense as Microsoft is making a massive shift in business model as I discussed in “Microsoft turing to the future of computing at PDC with Azure“. Here Microsoft is focusing on services. Software may be free in the future, but you will always need services to support it.
This is an impressive plan, in my opinion. LINUX will slowly keep moving forward as predictably as a glacier will. Apple, on the other hand, is the more interesting opponent.
In my blog, I have written about OSX and how Apple needs to compete by letting it free of the Apple hardware dongle. Considering these developments, there is more and more chatter that Snow Leopard is exactly that. Not just optimization, but readying the OS for general hardware support.
If I was Steve, I would do this simply to keep my options open, but really, Apple has done well forming the perception (and fact) that OSX is a better OS for many people. And that this better software comes with a price. But will this stand up in the face of “free”?
Like all wars, at the beginning, you have no idea who will win.
