Gus, Are you in the storage biz? Thanks for the great article....
IBC is winding down. Some more storage news.
Was hoping for more definitive HD/2G FC links, but I think the HD is slow like the rest of the digital video revolution.
Monday 11 September, 2000
Storing on Sagitta
London's Framestore postproduction facility has this week installed around £50,000 worth of disk-based fibre-channel storage from Sagitta Performance Systems upon which to base its new hierarchical storage management (HSM) system.
The Sagitta anchor comprises one terabyte of storage across 17 x 73 gigabit drives, with a fibre channel array that can deliver data speeds of up to 190Mbit/s to Framestore's SGI Origin. Being scalable, further disk drives can be added to the original RAID box as and when Framestore requires.
The announcement comes as Framestore enters production on a major special-effects-laden project for Hallmark named Dinotopia. The project will require 10,000 special-effects shots from Framestore, a task that is expected to take 18 months to complete. Initial 3D work has begun in Soho while the Pinewood shoot continues.
Dinotopia is the driving force behind Framestore's decision to opt for the Sagitta system, says Steve Prescott, director of technology at Framestore.
SUNW's iForce.....
Sun to launch Australian MHP lab
October will see US-based Sun Microsystems taking advantage of the launch of digital television in Australia to unveil a new DVB/MHP development centre in Sydney.
A partnership between Sun's US and Australian operations, the centre is the first outside the US and will form part of a network of similar facilities in various countries.
According to John Arnold of Sun Microsystems Australia, who will head the new centre, "With the changeover to digital television, there is certainly a need for a centre in this part of the world. It's part of a larger initiative called iForce, and what we want to do is have a solution stack, if you will, for this particular space that is in-country, is working and can be demonstrated."
The centre will feature a staff of six and will be built around a "digital household" to give broadcasters and developers an insight into how MHP can work.
AVID going to get it together?
Avid Technology has announced a remarkable turnaround. The company is now reporting its best results for some time, with a US$120 million turnover in the second quarter of this year. At his first IBC since being named president/CEO of Avid, David Krall, the former CEO of Avid division Digidesign, talks with IBC Daily News about the company's transition - and looks ahead to new opportunities.
"It's been a long year," he chuckles, explaining that Avid "got into trouble" when rapid growth caused expenses to get ahead of revenue. In addition to controlling expenses, Krall focused on three areas during the year - connecting Avid products, connecting with the future and reconnecting with customers - who had become frustrated with poor service. Krall says that now customer service is the only area of the company that he allows to go over budget.
On the products front, Krall emphasises the rollout of Unity to connect the Avid systems. And looking to the future, he says the "create once, deliver everywhere" initiative is critical as interest in streaming media continues to grow.
Sony and SUNW's BUlldog getting together?
IBC2000 Daily News
Monday 11 September, 2000
Bulldog works with Japanese giant
SONY AND BULLDOG have formed an alliance to combine the latter company's digital asset management technology with video resources and distribution channels from the Japanese giant.
Termed the Sony Media Management Service (Sony MMS), the technology is currently being shown at work on the Sony stand and has attracted attention to the tune of a first order. The University of Sunderland has signed an MMS framework enabling agreement with Sony BPE, which will lead to the system's installation at the School of Arts, Design and Media.
"This will enable us to develop relationships with commercial organisations where we can use our skills to repurpose content reflecting their needs."comments Mike O'Brien, co-ordinator of strategic resource development
FC and digital video still doing well together...
Leitch rings the Bell
Bell ExpressVu, one of Canada's largest broadcast distributors, has ordered a server and editing packages from Leitch, in a deal worth an impressive Canadian $250,000.
The order includes two VR servers. The distribution system server has 13.5 hours of RAID storage and eight channels controlled by Spotbase software. The news system server meanwhile has a similar RAID configuration and capacity and will operate in conjunction with Leitch NewsFlash editors.
Bell ExpressVu has ordered the new systems for its Vu! pay-per-view service. The Leitch networks will edit promotional and other interstitial material, and provide programme delays.
"These servers are very reliable, easy to use and the fibre channel storage allows editing stations to be easily added," commented Robert Peter, director of broadcast technology for Bell ExpressVu on the purchase. |
