(February 1, 2008) High-definition television (HDTV) has gained popularity in recent years, not only in the consumer viewing community, but with those who shoot and edit the video consumers watch. As a result, many broadcast media solution providers are bringing HD versions of their products to market, from professional HD cameras to HD video production and post-production tools. Additionally, users are increasingly requesting mobile systems for on site applications and greater flexibility. However, the computing requirements for many HD applications exclude laptops as a possible portable solution.
NextComputing has emerged in the industry as a leader in innovative, open standards mobile systems, capable of meeting all of the performance requirements for HD video, while maintaining backwards compatibility for SD applications and equipment. The company’s family of NextDimension “flextop” computers was designed to pack the features of a desktop workstation into a portable form factor about the size of a briefcase.
NextComputing has found success in three key areas of the industry with its portable HD workstations; broadcast graphics applications, video encoding and streaming, and on-site editing of HD footage.
HD broadcast graphics applications, such as real-time sports scores, lower-thirds animations, 3D logos, and virtual illustrations can now be portable, using NextDimension “flextop” systems. NextComputing has formed an alliance with Brainstorm Multimedia, and by utilizing Brainstorm’s real time broadcast quality 3D engine on its NextDimension Evo HD systems, broadcasters have a powerful, portable solution for many HD graphics applications. NextComputing has also partnered with Blackmagic Design and MagicSoft to design a turnkey portable broadcast graphics system. MagicSoft’s UltraRed software provides real-time, data-driven graphics on NextComputing’s NextDimension Pro HD.
Encoding and streaming involves capturing live video, audio or text and streaming it in HD format over the web or Ethernet. NextComputing’s NextDimension systems accommodate various video streaming cards, including ViewCast’s Osprey line of PCI-X and PCI Express video capture cards which deliver streaming video sent over the internet and display it upon arrival. This portable HD streaming solution is useful for live webcasting of events, such as corporate meetings/training, government and military communications, web streaming of concerts, news, etc., and streaming of lectures for online learning.
On site video editing of both compressed and uncompressed HD footage is a convenience provided by the NextDimension’s mobile form factor. Ideal applications for this solution include HD newsgathering, remote television series production, digital documentary filmmaking, and event videography.
The NextDimension Pro HD and Evo HD are open standards and modular, allowing users to accommodate the necessary graphics and video hardware for any of these HD applications, and giving users the ability to upgrade their workflow from SD to HD without having to throw away old hardware. The flexible nature of the system offers near limitless configuration options that include important features necessary for HD applications including; up to (2) quad core Intel® Xeon® or dual core AMD Opteron™ processors, up to (4) PCI-X/PCIe slots, up to (12) 200GB/7200RPM SATA drives, and optional Firewire and eSATA ports.
For more information on
NextComputing’s broadcast media solutions, contact Aaron Sherman, asherman@nextcomputing.com (603) 459-2462.
NextComputing is one of the first in a unique breed of technology companies to specialize in high-performance, small form factor, portable computing solutions for a few key vertical industries, including Broadcast Media.
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