Secrets of the Raknus Selu Trail delves into Hakka culture in Taiwan

Asian network KC Global Media has announced the world premiere of Secrets of the Raknus Selu Trail, an original multimedia production commissioned by the Hakka Affairs Council in Taiwan. The one-hour docutainment special chronicles the Hakka link with some of Taiwan’s most iconic exports and explore their cultural and industrial connections to the rest of the world.

Hosted by British photographer Chris Stowers and Taiwanese food and travel writer, Danny Wen Shi-Kai, the special takes viewers through Danny’s ancestral family’s journey through the forgotten paths of the Raknus Selu Trail, Taiwan's first long-distance trail network. In exploring the trail, which is 200 km long and covers the Taiwanese cities of Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Miaoli and Taichung, they uncover Hakka heritage, and reveal the culture’s impact on modern Taiwan.

Highlights of the docutainment special include visits to the iconic Sankeng Old Street in Taoyuan, a repository of Hakka culture and architecture; the starting point of the Raknus Selu Trail, which was used for transporting tea to the port; the Taiwan Black Tea company; the Lo Family House, traditional architecture which used to house early Hakka immigrants; and the Taiwan Thousand Miles Trail Association (TMI), which preserves Taiwan’s hiking trails. 

Secrets of the Raknus Selu Trail will also be featured as a four-part podcast series, hosted by Stowers and Wen. Guests include Radio DJ Andrew Zhan from Singapore’s UFM100.3 and Radio DJ Joseph Lin from Taiwan’s ICRT FM100. 

Episode 1 will feature Stowers and Wen sharing their experiences behind the scenes of the video, and what they learnt in their journey. In episode 2, the podcast covers the Hakka history and culture, with Wen sharing stories about his childhood. Episode 3 will discuss food, including some popular Hakka dishes, while episode 4 will explore the interesting flora and fauna found on the trail.

Derek Wong, VP & Head for Production & Creative for KC Global Media said, “Through this 'docutainment' special, we offer a wholistic learning experience which combines the elements of documentary film with an entertainment edge for our Asian audiences through the visual, online and audio space. We look forward to producing more of such meaningful projects in the future.” 

Source: KC Global Media. Set in Taiwan, the docutainment special Secrets of the Raknus Selu Trail will premiere across AXN’s various platforms, including their YouTube channel, from September 27.

Details

The series will premiere on AXN’s channel on September 27 across Asia and will see a worldwide release on AXN Asia’s YouTube channel on September 28. The complementary four-part podcast series with the same title will air on September 27 across leading audio streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Podcast, SPH Radio’s AWEDIO app, Astro Radio’s SYOK app, and International Community Radio Taipei (ICRT) Radio’s app.

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Request a personalised video from a celebrity through Guestar

Source: Effro. Over 50 personalities and celebrities are ready to produce personalised video content through Guestar.

Effro has launched Gueststar, a new service where over 50 celebrities and personalities in Singapore and Malaysia can be commissioned to produce unique video content.

“Gueststar is a unique platform that aims to bring your favourite celebrities and personalities closer to you. Through digital means, time and space are no longer deterrents in creating a beautiful experience for your loved ones. With Gueststar, the distance between you and your favourite celebrity is brought closer. Today’s celebrities are no longer just one-dimensional television personality, they are also content creators. Gueststar provides an alternative platform for them to engage with their fans through personalised content,” said Adam Tan, founder of Gueststar.

Celebrities and personalities available include:

From Singapore: Allan Wu, Andie Chen, Apple Hong, Gurmit Singh, Jason Godfrey, Judee Tan, Jasper Lai, Nick Shen, Patricia Mok, Suhaimi Yusof among others

From Malaysia: Adeline Tsen, Aishah, Atilia Haron, Daniesh Suffian, Dina Nadzir, Dynas Mokhtar, Fahrin Ahmad, Gary Yap, Hazami, Lavin Seow, Steve Yap, VE (Voice of Euphonious), Yasmin Hani among others

Characters: Batman, Cinderella, Princess Jasmine, Queen Elsa etc

Impersonator: Michael Jackson, Taylor Swift and more

A magician: Andrew Lee, finalist of Asia's Got Talent 2017 and Britain's Got Talent 2018

Details:

Through the platform, consumers can submit a request to the celebrity of their choice and include pointers for the video’s content. The cost of engagement ranges from S$10 to S$1,000. While videos are produced mainly in English, users are able to request other languages such as Malay and Mandarin.

Within 7 days of a submitted request (subject to approval), a video ranging from 20 seconds to 2 minutes will be produced and delivered. Request the video

YouTube Hong Kong's top videos for 2019

- Local news, tutorials and parodies topped the chart

- Growing diversity of music genres gaining popularity

YouTube Hong Kong Rewind 2019 reveals this year’s top trending videos, including Top 10 Trending Videos, Top 10 Trending Local Music Videos, Top 10 Trending International Music Videos, and Top 10 Emerging Channels.

Music has always been Hong Kong users’ favourite content, from music videos, live performances, remixes, and even cover songs. Hongkongers also use YouTube to discover, stay informed with what’s happening in the city, and to learn. Over 60% of local users said they have watched original videos on YouTube.

While many tune in to YouTube to watch livestreams and news on mobile, local creators are also inspired by current affairs in the city. This year, Jason’s video 防暴要求我落車?係咪想打我或屈我襲警? which was about his encounter with Hong Kong riot police in Causeway Bay topped the charts as the most viewed original video in Hong Kong.

Other videos discussing the city’s trending topics such as memehk’s video about the Andy Hui and Jacqueline Wong scandal 許志安和黃心穎偷食的教訓〈蕭若元：八卦蕭析〉2019-04-16 and FHProductionHK’s video about the behaviour of Chinese aunties 大媽的道理 made it to this year’s list as well.

Hong Kong people also like learning from YouTube. Coffee Lam’s workout tutorials have made it on the chart for two consecutive years, with her 30-minute fitness video 30分鐘全身消脂增肌運動 (一個月內見效) ranking fourth in 2019.

Local artists have also started uploading lifestyle vlogs and parody videos on YouTube to better connect with their fans. Hins Cheung, for example, saw 張敬軒有咩問題？惡搞容祖兒 Pretty Crazy MV parodying Joey Yung’s music video take the second spot on the Top 10 Trending Videos this year.

Topping this year’s Top 10 Trending Local Music Videos is the orchestral music video of Glory to Hong Kong (《願榮光歸香港》管弦樂團及合唱團版) by Black Blorchestra. Other non-mainstream music videos that have made it onto the chart are JB’s 潮共, LMF’s W.T.F.H.K. and NEI FEI WO’s 和你飛.

Meanwhile, the TV series theme song Can You Hear by Kayee Tam took second spot, followed by other Cantopop including Leo Ku and Nancy Wu’s 亂世情侶, and Sammi Cheung’s 我們都是這樣長大.

Hongkongers are also big fans of international music, especially creative works by Asian artists. Of the Top Trending International Music Videos, seven were created by Asian artists and singer-songwriters, including Jay Chou’s 說好不哭 featuring special guest Ashin from Mayday, which attracted 10 million views globally in just two days; followed by K-pop group BTS’ Boy With Luv and Eric Chou’s 怎麼了.

YouTube Hong Kong's 2019 Top 10 Emerging Channels include: 啤梨頻道BarryMa TV in top spot with videos discussing current affairs and the city’s hot topics, followed by 佩男 Puinam, focused on travel vlogs, then 志森與志豪 which features social satire. YouTube also identified interest in motor-themed channels such as XRX, 魚波 Yu Ball and HKMonkeyRider.

The company launched YouTube Premium paid membership services in December. This enables Hong Kong users to watch videos without ads, with additional features including background play, smart downloads and offline play. Monthly fees start from HK$68, with YouTube Music paid membership included.

YouTube Music, a smart music streaming service, now helps music lovers tap into the music content available on YouTube. YouTube Music is available in 78 countries and regions, including Hong Kong. Music fans can also download the new YouTube Music app (Android and iOS) to enjoy personalised smart music on mobile. In addition to the free, ads-supported version, users can choose paid membership for advanced features like background play, smart search, and download for offline play. The monthly subscription costs HK$58.

More than 1 billion music fans visit YouTube each month. 

Hashtags: #YouTube香港回顧, #YouTubeRewind

Singtel's Chinese New Year short film is all about connections

Source: Singtel. Stills from the festive video about always making the right connections.

Singtel  has launched its annual short film for Chinese New Year, celebrating the season’s spirit of making connections and strengthening ties with humour. Titled His Grandfather’s Road*, the light-hearted film centres on road rage between two families that ends on a high note when they realise that they have a lot more in common than they thought.

It’s the first day of Chinese New Year, and in typical Singaporean fashion, the two families are caught up in visiting relatives and friends. En route, their cars meet on a narrow street and come to a halt. Neither wants to budge.

Both sides confront each other, but thanks to a nosy passerby, scurry back to their cars. They decide to wait it out with the help of mobile entertainment - streaming video, playing online games and listening to music. The stalemate is broken in an unexpected way, ending in a traditional lohei.

Lian Pek, Singtel’s VP for Group Strategic Communications and Brand said, “Chinese New Year is the perfect occasion to reinforce Singtel’s long-held values of celebrating connections that count. Hence, this simple tale of two feuding families who discover they need to be more expansive and 'make the right connections' with each other - the film’s tagline.

"Of course, as a company, we’re very much about providing high quality and reliable connectivity services that cater to our customers’ changing lifestyles and expectations. So that gets a playful plug too. You can be stuck anywhere, but thanks to technology, life goes on!”

His Grandfather’s Road is part of Singtel’s on-going branded content strategy, centred around short film campaigns that have allowed the group to bring its brand values to life. Singtel’s Christmas film, The Gift, attracted close to 13 million views over its month-long screening, with numerous news media calling the film “heart-warming”.

“We’re very encouraged by the traction that our films are getting as they’re really bringing home what Singtel’s brand values are all about. While we’ve changed gears this festive season, moving away from our trademark poignant films with emotive storylines, we believe our light-hearted offering still allows us to affirm our values of family, community and inclusivity, served up with a good dash of humour!” added Lian Pek.

Conceptualised in-house and produced in collaboration with Akanga Film Asia, the film will air on Singtel TV and various social media channels from 3 January, and in cinemas from 16 to 29 January.

Details:

Watch the video

*A phrase Singaporeans sometimes use with sarcasm to describe drivers who behave as if they own the road.

Canon’s EOS M6 Mark II delivers superior movie-making

Source: Canon the EOS M6 Mark II.

Canon has launched the EOS M6 Mark II, the latest addition to the EOS M series of mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera family. The EOS M6 Mark II is a stylish, lightweight and compact camera, almost half the weight of a mid-range DSLR, while measuring less than half its size.

“True to the Canon EOS M Series, the EOS M6 Mark II features its signature compact and lightweight body, with new and improved features so our users don’t miss out on the important moments in life,” said Edwin Teoh, Head of Marketing, Singapore Operations, Canon Singapore.

“In order to cater to the growing popularity of videography and vlogging, the EOS M6 Mark II comes with top-of-the-line functions that enable users to expound on their creativity and explore limitless filming possibilities.”

Enhanced with fast-locking and fast-tracking autofocus for capturing unexpected moments, the EOS M6 Mark II’s compact and lightweight body also contains a 32.5-megapixel APSC CMOS sensor to ensure vibrant and detailed images under low-light or high-contrast conditions. Through the EVF-DC2, Touch and Drag AF allows users to move their focus point around with a finger on the LCD while still keeping their eye on the viewfinder.

Powered by Canon’s latest DIGIC 8 image processor, the EOS M6 Mark II is designed with Canon’s proprietary Dual Pixel CMOS Auto Focus. High-precision AF Tracking and Eye-Detection AF, means subjects constantly in motion will stay in focus. With up to 5,481 AF positions to choose from, users will have all the flexibility they need.

Boasting a low-light focusing limit of EV-5, the EOS M6 Mark II is able to focus on subjects with high precision in dark conditions, such as a dimly-lit street or at home with soft lighting. The EOS M6 Mark II is also capable of up to 30 fps continuous shooting in RAW burst mode. The EOS M6 Mark II’s electronic shutter ensures photographers can shoot stealthily and confidently without having to worry about the shutter sound startling or disrupting their subjects.

With the option to shoot 4K movies with no cropping, users will be able to get the full field of view of their lens. The EOS M6 Mark II also allows users to produce super slow-motion scenes by shooting at 120p/100p in full high definition (FHD). Users can now shoot wide-angle footage of events and slow them down stylistically.

With the camera’s 3" tilting LCD, which tilts downwards by 45 degrees and upwards to 180 degrees, users will be able to shoot from new angles. The EOS M6 Mark II’s five-axis movie digital image stabilisation reduces camera shakes for clearer, sharper videos, even when the user or the camera is moving.

To ensure top audio quality, users also have the option of utilising the built-in microphone, or mounting an external mic to record ambient sounds and dialogue between subjects.

The EOS M6 Mark II further supports the use of the optional Electronic Viewfinder EVF-DC2, allowing users to check on image framing and or adjust picture settings while keeping the camera close for steady shooting. This option particularly comes in handy when shooting under strong lighting conditions, where potential glare and reflection on the LCD screen might be a problem.
 
For connectivity the EOS M6 Mark II has users sorted with Bluetooth Low Energy technology and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity. Transferring 4K videos from the camera is also a cinch, as they will be automatically compressed to Full HD before transferring.

Additionally, compatible devices like smartphones can be turned into live viewfinders and even be used as a remote control to capture images on the camera with the Canon Camera Connect app.

Exclusive collaboration with Doraemon 

Canon has partnered with the iconic Doraemon, a popular cartoon character. Synonymous with the robotic cat’s ability to travel through time, Canon’s imaging products will help capture moments in time for users as precious memories they can revisit. The EOS M6 Mark II will be bundled with a limited edition Doraemon bag worth S$159 and camera strap worth S$89. Customers who purchase the EOS M6 Mark II, EOS M50 or EOS M100 will be eligible to redeem the premiums from October onwards.

Selected PowerShot G series cameras (G1X Mark III, G3X, G5X Mark II, G7X Mark III, G7X Mark II or G9X Mark II) will also be bundled with a limited edition Doraemon bag worth S$109 and wrist strap worth S$50. Customers who have purchased the selected PowerShot G Series from 5 September 2019 onwards are eligible to redeem the exclusive premiums from Canon’s Customer Care Centre.

Details:

The new EOS M6 Mark II in Black and Silver will be available at all authorised Canon dealers at the following recommended retail price at the end of September.

EOS M6 Mark II body: S$1,249
EOS M6 Mark II body with EF-M15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM: S$1,409
EOS M6 Mark II body with EF-M18150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM: S$1,849

STM stands for Canon's stepper motor technology.

TikTok launches #NDP2019 challenge in conjunction with Singapore's National Day

In celebration of Singapore’s 54th birthday, TikTok, the short video platform, is launching an exclusive local hashtag challenge, #NDP2019.

Singapore users are encouraged to showcase their national pride in red and white while recording these the video moments with special NDP stickers on TikTok, hashtagging their videos with #NDP2019. Ten users stand a chance to win limited National Day TikTok merchandise by using the hashtag.

Videos of NDP parade experiences along with their favourite NDP songs have already been uploaded, with over 260,000 local views and counting.

The official #NDP2019 hashtag challenge begins 6 August and ends 18 August 2019.

National Day-inspired videos include:



Doing the Kallang Wave cheer by @chaseyan38


Watching the parade contingent by @nickyadopt


Count on Me Singapore by @shantayscene

Details:

TikTok is available in over 150 markets and in 75 languages. Download the TikTok app via iOS or Google Play.

TikTok an effective way to reach Gen Z

Source: TikTok. Sim delivers his welcome address.

TikTok, the short-form video platform, recently shared insights into how creators and marketers can leverage the platform to engage Gen Z audiences at its first-ever South East Asia Creators and Content Marketing Conference in Singapore, [REC]reate. 

According to the company, research has shown that Southeast Asia’s digital natives are among the most active on mobile, spending an average of almost four hours across devices. In Southeast Asia TikTok provides easy-to-use video capturing and editing tools directly from the smartphone, enabling the creation of a wide array of content that reflects the diversity of the region.

“We’re noticing a steady increase in the consumption of short-form video content in Singapore and across the region, especially among Gen Z, 98% of whom own a smartphone. Through [REC]reate, we aim to arm both creators and marketers with the insights and the know-how needed to connect with these valuable audiences,” said Lionel Sim, Senior Director, Global Marketing - Business Solutions, TikTok Ads.

Doreen Tan, User and Content Operations Manager, TikTok Singapore added, “We look forward to bringing to life the learnings from this conference as we launch more local partnerships and campaigns, making a significant investment towards the growth of Singapore’s creative economy.”

Sim said that TikTok is powered by machine learning technology and generates interactive challenges and trending topics. "The app also offers an effortless, compelling, and personalised viewing experience, and encourages creation through easy-to-use video capturing and editing tools, empowering everyone to be a creator directly from their smartphones. It empowers these creators to positively express themselves through their unique brand of content, giving rise to extremely interactive hashtag challenges and trending topics that anyone can participate in," he said.

"By letting users create their own content for a brand's campaign, hashtag challenges give users a sense of being part of the brand, turning them into authentic and powerful brand ambassadors. Overall, TikTok transcends boundaries, celebrates diversity and creativity, and has become the preferred platform for expression, especially among the Gen Z/mobile-savvy audience in Southeast Asia."

Asked about marketing on TikTok to engage Gen Z in Southeast Asia, Sim said: "This generation is all about succinctness, authenticity and the ability to express their individual truths – and TikTok is a platform that empowers all of that. Gen Z only has an attention span of 8 seconds which is why short-video content will only become more important. They prefer co-creating content with brands, which TikTok champions through its iconic hashtag challenges. On a different note, the influence of established celebrities is waning amongst this generation compared to the authenticity provided by micro-influencers (such as those on TikTok)."

According to Sim, people are on their mobile devices for 3.9 hours per day in Indonesia, 4.2 hours per day in Thailand and 3.6 hours per day in Southeast Asia (aggregated). "This is attributed to the rise of mobile connectivity in the region - 55% Internet penetration in SEA, 58% social media penetration and 141% mobile connectivity," he noted.

"The up-and-coming generation, Generation Z (16 – 24), are highly connected and ‘always-on’ with 98% owning a smartphone. They spend 10 hours online a day and 1/3 of Gen Z watch videos online at least 1 hour per day. What’s interesting is they consume 68 pieces of content a day and 90% of mobile time spent is via vertical usage."

TikTok works with brands to provide advertising solutions including developing challenges, video creation tips, content conceptualisation, Sim said. "TikTok also provide an intelligent marketing solution named TikTok Ads, a one-stop performance marketing platform that enables advertisers to reach a global user base across markets and diversified platform. TikTok Ads integrates a series of features throughout the cycle of performance ads, including targeting, bidding, ads creation, and conversion. In April 2019, TikTok Ads launched self-registration features, providing easy-to-use self-serving tools to empower businesses big or small to connect with their audience," he said.

"TikTok content recommendation technology applies to advertising as well, helping advertisers effectively deliver their content to relevant audience to drive real business results. When we work with business partners, we help them to learn how to create a TikTok-style video and engage with their audience in just 15 seconds. We hold workshops to share video creation experience, tips, and actionable insights with our partners."

Is it really possible go viral? Sim thinks yes. "Some of the necessary conditions that we’ve identified to start your viral video campaign are: defining your campaign idea, marrying this with the extensive filters and music on TikTok together with the strong support from the creator community," he said.

Successful brand partnerships across Asia for TikTok include:

#slideandswivel (Singapore) - Still ongoing, TikTok teamed up with Samsung to get Singaporeans to flaunt their best moves while incorporating slides and swivels into an original dance routine. Winners stand a chance to win a Samsung Galaxy A80 plus exclusive BLACKPINK merchandise.

#donnghiepthoate (Vietnam) - TikTok launched its first-ever brand campaign in Vietnam with Sunsilk. Coinciding with the Lunar New Year (Tet Festival), the campaign enabled users to virtually wipe off their verbal karma (in a fun way) to receive love charms and have a brighter year ahead via a customised interactive lens. The campaign featured a brand takeover (over 45 million total impressions), in-feed ads (over 10 million total impressions) as well as a hashtag challenge (30,000 videos and over 24 million views).

#LightUpF11Pro (Malaysia) - TikTok’s first-ever brand campaign in Malaysia was done in collaboration with Oppo. Coinciding with the launch of the F11 Pro, the campaign featured custom interactive content via a hashtag challenge (over 9 million total impressions).

Specifically for Singapore, successful campaigns this year include #thisissingaporelah (1.5 million local views), #mypetslife (11.6 million local views) and #sgearthhour2019 (1.6 million local views). TikTok launched one of its first-ever local brand campaigns, #killernotstupid, in collaboration with local film-maker Jack Neo, where users were encouraged to participate in a quirky finger dance challenge to stand a chance to win a pair of passes to the gala premiere of the movie Killer Not Stupid. 

Sim also commented that hot topics differ among countries. "In Singapore, the top five content topics are food, comedy, talent, education and fashion," he shared. Sim also listed some of the up-and-coming local content creators in Singapore:

Mingwei
National taekwondo exponent Ming Wei, a bronze medallist at the 2015 SEA Games, started making a name for himself on TikTok with his fitness, flexibility and taekwondo videos. His videos are a way of sharing his sport with the general public, and he hopes to get more young people interested in taekwondo and other sports.

Hui Xin
From dancing to K-pop hits by BLACKPINK, to lip-syncing to comedic audio tracks, actress Hui Xin showcases her diverse talents through her videos.

Ko Yong
An up-and-coming transition content creator, Ko Yong's videos showcase the impact that transitions can make in bringing stories to life via short-form videos.

Details:

TikTok is available in over 150 countries and regions in 75 languages. Download the TikTok app via iOS or Google Play.

Cross-country 5G video calls with augmented reality shown to work

Source: Singtel. An Optus engineer at Optus’ live 5G site in Sydney, Australia uses a OPPO 5G test device during a 5G AR video call to Singtel engineers in Singapore.

Singtel, Optus and Ericsson have shown the shape of things to come after completing a successful end-to-end 5G video call with augmented reality (AR) between Singapore and Australia.

Made with OPPO 5G test devices equipped with Qualcomm 5G modems on 5G networks in both countries, this call shows that AR can be successfully used on a real-time 5G video call using Ericsson’s networks. Engineers made instant on-screen annotations to exchange views on their respective live 5G sites.

 AR provides users with a more inclusive form of communication, opening up new possibilities for enterprises, ranging from mobile collaboration between experts in different locations, on-the-job training to remote assistance. Examples of consumer use cases will include immersive gaming, virtual tactile shopping and holographic calls.

Allen Lew, CEO, Optus said, “Once again Optus has proven our 5G agility, working collaboratively with our colleagues in Singapore to successfully land a ground-breaking 5G inter-country AR video call. Just last month we achieved another first, with the launch of our plans for our 5G Home Broadband product for Australian consumers and today’s announcement is another step in our commitment to lead 5G delivery in Australia.”

Mark Chong, Group CTO, Singtel, said: “This call is a significant marker in our journey to 5G as we develop a robust 5G ecosystem to ensure that our enterprise and consumer customers will enjoy an enhanced connectivity experience. 5G is a key enabler that will bring the future of AR, autonomous vehicles and smart cities closer to reality.”

Martin Wiktorin, Country Head, Singapore, Brunei and the Philippines, Ericsson added: "The success of this video call using 5G test devices and AR in a multiparty environment, brings us a step closer to having our mobile broadband experience transformed with a mere click. With the establishment of 5G connectivity on smartphones soon becoming a reality, consumers and enterprises will be able to unleash the full potential of 5G by integrating this new technology into their daily lives and operations.”

Peter Huang, President of OPPO APAC added: “Once again, OPPO has pushed the boundaries of what is possible in a smartphone. The call is another 5G first for OPPO, and demonstrates our commitment to become one of, if not the first manufacturer to commercialise a 5G smartphone.”

According to Ericsson’s Towards a 5G consumer future – Consumer and Industry Insight report 2018, the idea of 5G services appeals to 76% of smartphone users consulted for the survey. In fact, over one-third of users expect 5G to offer capabilities beyond speed and network coverage. This refers to improvements such as better battery life for devices, reliability, guaranteed quality of service as well as the ability to extend connectivity beyond devices to include the Internet of Things (IoT).

Plantronics and HP collaborate to offer Microsoft Teams videoconferencing solution

Plantronics, a unified communications technology provider, has joined forces with HP, Inc. to address growing customer demand for a high-quality Microsoft Teams videoconferencing experience in larger conference rooms.

The new solution uses the HP Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms G2 Skype Room System - Audio Ready as the controller for the Microsoft Teams video and content sharing, the Polycom Trio 8500 for sound and the Polycom EagleEye IV USB camera for video capture.

The HP Elite Slice for Meeting Rooms G2 Skype Room System - Audio Ready helps simplify meetings with stress-free setup, an intuitive interface, and includes Windows 10 Enterprise which makes running Microsoft Teams meetings even easier.

"As customers migrate to Microsoft Teams, Plantronics and HP created a simple Microsoft Teams videoconferencing experience in larger conference rooms for employees to use and IT pros to deploy and manage," said Phil Sherburne, GM, Group Systems Business Group at Plantronics.

Once the call is started, the Polycom Trio 8500 takes the ordinary conference call experience to the next level using eight directional microphones and PolycomHD Voice technology to bring high-quality audio experiences to large conference rooms. The Polycom EagleEye IV USB camera is simple to install with plug and play USB capabilities, and offers 12x optical zoom and wide pan area capabilities to follow and focus on the speaker no matter the size of the meeting space.

"Businesses are constantly looking for ways to simplify the video conference experience," said Lorena Kubera, VP Commercial Product Management at HP.

"Pairing our versatile meeting room system, HP Elite Slice G2 Audio-Ready, with the simplicity of the Polycom Trio 8500 and the EagleEye IV USB camera for the Polycom-HP SRS Bundle creates a seamless way to improve productivity and collaboration through Microsoft Teams."

David Howell, GM, Device Partner Engineering at Microsoft said, "Microsoft Teams is the fastest growing business application in Microsoft's history, and we continue to look for new ways customers can take full advantage of this powerful tool for collaboration. Combining a native Microsoft Teams solution with a high-quality videoconferencing experience makes it easier to work together, whenever you need."

Details:

This new bundle is available immediately in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand through Ingram Micro. The bundle will be available in Japan by mid-February through Synnex Corporation, and is expected to be available in other Asia Pacific (APAC) countries soon after.

TV boxes popular in Thailand, still available in Singapore

Fifteen percent of Singaporean consumers use a TV box which can be used to stream pirated television and video content. These TV boxes, also known as illicit streaming devices (ISDs), allow users to access hundreds of pirated television channels and video-on-demand content, usually with a low annual fee. TV boxes often come preloaded with pirated applications allowing 'plug-and-play' access to pirated content.

The survey found that MyIPTV, UBTV, WorldTV, MoonHD, and Infinity TV were some of the most popular illegal applications amongst Singapore consumers.

The survey, commissioned by the Asia Video Industry Association’s (AVIA) Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) and conducted by YouGov, also highlights the detrimental effects of streaming piracy on legitimate subscription video services. Of the 15% of consumers who purchased a TV box for free streaming, more than one-quarter (28%) asserted that they had cancelled their subscriptions to a Singaporean-based online video service as a direct consequence of owning an ISD. Nearly one in five (18%) Singaporean users in the same segment have abandoned international subscription services in favour of ISD purchases.

Of those Singapore consumers who own an ISD, more than half of respondents (62%) claim to have purchased their illicit streaming device from two of the largest Southeast Asia-based e-commerce stores*. More than one-fifth of ISD owners (21%) say they acquired their devices via one of the world’s most popular social media platforms**. Over one-third (38%) of ISD owners said they purchased their pirate TV box from IT exhibitions or physical retail stores in Singapore.

Neil Gane, GM, CAP said, “The overt availability of ISDs in Singaporean malls and IT exhibitions is a major concern for the content industry. Unfortunately, there is no one silver bullet to deterring piracy due to the fragmented nature of the ecosystem. What is required is an holistic solution to include enforcement, cooperation with technology platforms and intermediaries, disabling access to pirated content through effective site blocking and consumer outreach”.

In late November AVIA announced the landmark November 2 High Court injunction ordering Singapore’s Internet service providers to block access to popular illegal applications that are frequently preloaded on ISDs sold in Singapore.

As a consequence of these High Court orders, Gane added, “Consumers are wasting their money when purchasing new subscriptions to illegal applications when they find their ISD can no longer access live sports matches or their favourite TV shows. CAP will continue to prevent and disrupt illegal feeds of live sports, TV channels, and VOD content through judicial blocking orders against piracy applications. ISDs can never provide quality programming and a service guarantee.”

Singapore currently has over a dozen online legal services providing an array of live sports, TV channels and video-on-demand content at varying pricepoints.

In mid-November, AVIA released similar results for Thai consumers that revealed 45% of consumers use a TV box which can be used to stream pirated television and video content.

The survey found that Mango TV, HD Playbox and U Play are among the most popular pirate applications amongst Thai consumers.

Of the 45% of consumers who purchased a TV box or dongle for free streaming, more than two in three (69%) stated that they cancelled all or some of their subscription to legal pay TV services. Nearly a quarter (24%) said that they cancelled their subscriptions to a Thai-based online video service as a direct consequence of owning an ISD. International subscription services, which include pan-Asia online offerings, were impacted the most - nearly one in three (30%) Thai users have abandoned subscriptions in favour of ISD purchases.

Cancelling legitimate subscription services and replacing them with pirated content is risky, said Gane at the time of the announcement. 

"The damage that piracy does to the creative industries is without dispute. However, the damage done to consumers themselves, because of the nexus between content piracy and malware, is only beginning to be recognised. Piracy websites and applications typically have a 'click happy' user base, and, as such, are being used more and more as clickbait to distribute malware. Unfortunately the appetite for 'free' or cheap subscription pirated content blinkers users from the very real risks of malware infection".

Of consumers who own an ISD, about half of respondents (47%) claim to have purchased their ISD from two of the largest Southeast Asia-based e-commerce stores*. Close to one-third (31%) of ISD owners say they acquired their devices via one of the world's most popular social media platforms**.

In addition to the short-term problem of cancelled subscriptions is a longer-term problem. The survey found that ISDs are particularly favoured among 18- to 24-year-olds, with more than three in four (77%) cancelling legitimate subscription services as a result of owning ISDs. Forty percent of the cancellations were of international online subscriptions.

The Thai Department of Intellectual Property (DIP), Ministry of Commerce, who oversees the Copyright Act, commented that "to enhance the efficiency of enforcement action, the DIP has proposed the amendment of the Copyright Act by adding provisions on the manufacture, sale, import, or traffic into the country of devices or any parts or components of a device, for the purpose of circumventing a technological measure.

"These amendments were approved by the Cabinet on 16 October 2018 and will shortly be presented to the State Council. The amendments are explicitly targeted at the manufacture and distribution of pirated TV boxes. This is a crucial step to address the current piracy problem".

Sompan Charumilinda, Executive Vice Chairman at cable and satellite operator True Visions, listed a number of concerns. "First is the danger to consumers through the use of malware and spyware embedded in these illicit sites and applications. Second is that supporting these criminal enterprises does real damage to legitimate businesses that are struggling to survive. Third, it also undermines the Thailand 4.0 initiative and the country's aspiration to become counted among the world leaders in the new digital economy by showing Thailand to have made little progress in terms of its acceptance and tacit approval of these criminal networks.

"Consumers should care about piracy personally because of the harmful effects of malware and spyware, and also because of the damage that it does to our country. As a leading media company in Thailand we are happy to work with the Department of Intellectual Property, CAP and all relevant stakeholders to help continue to educate the public about these dangers," he said.

A growing concern from the anti-cybercrime community remains the nexus between online piracy and pernicious malware such as spyware, malware mining and ransomware. In September 2018, the European Union Intellectual Property Office released a report entitled Identification and Analysis of malware on selected suspected copyright infringing websites which found that most of the documented malware on piracy sites were Trojans or other malware which, when installed on an end-user’s, computer would cause “not only financial losses, but also theft of personal data and other risks of unwanted access and control”.

AVIA's Coalition Against Piracy (CAP) includes major video content creators and distributors in Asia. Members include: beIN Sports, Discovery, The Walt Disney Company, FOX Networks Group, HBO Asia, NBCUniversal, Netflix, Premier League, Turner Asia-Pacific, A&E Networks, Astro, BBC Worldwide, CANAL+, Cignal, La Liga, Media Partners Asia, National Basketball Association, PCCW Media, Singtel, Sony Pictures Television Networks Asia, TVB, True Visions, TV5MONDE, and Viacom International Media Networks.

Explore:

Piracy also affects software preloaded onto new PCs. Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about the Microsoft PC sweep in Asia.

*According to ecommerce^iq, the most popular e-commerce sites in Singapore are Qoo10, Lazada and Zalora, in that order. Zalora focuses on fashion items. Ecommerceiq said the most popular e-commerce sites in Thailand are Lazada, Shopee and JD, in that order.

**SimilarWeb has the most popular social networks in Singapore down as Facebook, Instagram and then Twitter. SimilarWeb lists the most popular social networks in Thailand as Facebook, Twitter and then Instagram, in that order.

Kaltura introduces personal video capture tool

Kaltura, the video technology company, has launched personal video capture product Kaltura Personal Capture. With the tool anyone in an organisation can make videos without specialised equipment, in minutes.

Kaltura Personal Capture offers users the ability to capture both screen and camera in one click. It also includes a new automatic slide detection feature - if a user has a PowerPoint presentation in presenter mode when recording the screen, Kaltura Personal Capture automatically detects and captures it.  Kaltura also automatically captures metadata from slides and audio, which are made immediately searchable as well.

Kaltura Personal Capture uploads new videos into the user’s personal folder, and videos are made available in an organisation’s learning and content management systems as well as the Kaltura MediaSpace video portal, making it easy for users to create professional video with multiple feeds, including slides.

“Based on years of experience, we’ve now created what we believe is the most user-friendly, attractive video capture solution in the market,” said Michal Tsur, Kaltura Co-founder, President & GM - Enterprise & Learning.

“After receiving feedback from thousands of users around the world, we’re delighted to empower them to create engaging visual video content at the click of a button. Personal Capture allows to easily create visual walkthroughs, and video presentations opening the floodgates of video content creation and consumption across an organisation. This is particularly of value for teaching and learning, training, product demonstrations, proposal walkthroughs and more.”

Kaltura expects that Kaltura Personal Capture could be used by educational institutions for video assignments, assessments, feedback, demonstrations, course content creation, blog posts, administration communications, alumni outreach, and sharing information between institutions. Businesses might create videos for knowledge sharing, training, internal communications, sales presentations, customer and partner enablement, and so on.

“International surveys carried out by Kaltura have revealed shifting consumer preferences towards video, with the medium extensively being used across the education and enterprise sectors for effective knowledge and information transfer. We’re also witnessing a trend where individuals are actively creating video content, spurring demand for more advanced video creation functionality such as Kaltura Capture. These make videos a critical new data type that any organisation needs to be able to support, especially in Asia Pacific which is home to the world's largest population of digital video viewers,” said Eylon Cohen, VP and GM – Enterprise and Education, Kaltura Asia Pacific.

Blackmagic Design showcases 4K Pocket Cinema Camera, DaVinci Resolve 15 at Broadcast Asia

Source: Blackmagic Design. Camera, video editing software
to be launched in Asia Pacific at Broadcast Asia.

Blackmagic Design is launching the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and DaVinci Resolve 15 in the Asia Pacific region at Broadcast Asia. While the products are targeted for professional film-making, the line is blurring between professional tools and high-end solutions for business or even personal use.

“Blackmagic Design is dedicated to allowing the highest quality video to be affordable to everyone, so the post-production and television industry can become a truly creative industry,” said Grant Petty, Blackmagic Design CEO.

The new Pocket Cinema Camera 4K features a full size 4/3 HDR sensor with native 4,096 x 2,160 resolution and 13 stops of dynamic range for true digital film quality.

The full size of the 4/3 sensor is designed to perfectly match MFT lenses so the crop factor is greatly reduced, giving customers a wider field of view. It also features dual native ISO with up to 25,600 ISO for excellent low light performance. The latest Blackmagic Design colour science lets customers shoot images that are far better than DSLR cameras and even better than professional digital film cameras, the company said. 

The US$1,295 Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K has a MFT lens mount, 5" touchscreen monitor, 10-bit ProRes and 12-bit RAW recording, 3D lookup tables (LUTs), four built-in microphones, mini external line return (XLR) audio input with phantom power, Bluetooth wireless camera control, and HDMI on-set monitoring output. Phantom power refers to power that some microphones require in order to work, and would come from a normal power supply connected by an XLR socket and cable.

Also new is DaVinci Resolve 15, a suite of four high-end post-production applications combining professional offline and online editing, colour correction, audio post-production and visual effects in one software tool. With Blackmagic's Fusion compositing software integrated into DaVinci Resolve 15 and Blackmagic’s collaborative workflow, a project can now be processed by various departments or agencies simultaneously. Fusion enables cinematic feature film quality visual effects and broadcast motion graphic animations.

DaVinci Resolve is free, and has all of the professional editing, colour correction and Fairlight audio tools for SD, HD and Ultra HD work at up to 60 frames per second. DaVinci Resolve Studio is the paid version and adds support for 4K and higher, along with frame rates up to 120 fps. It also includes additional image processing features and filters that are not in the free version.

While many companies are going for cloud-based subscriptions for their software, Blackmagic's DaVinci Resolve Studio does not require a connection to the Internet and there are no monthly subscription fees. DaVinci Resolve Studio is available for a one-off cost of US$299, which the company notes is "50% less than the cost of popular cloud subscriptions".

Details:

Broadcast Asia is on at Suntec Singapore, Level 6, 26-28 June 2018. Blackmagic Design has a booth at 6S2-01.

Sony launches Picture This Festival for the Planet competition

Sony Pictures Television Networks (SPTN), in partnership with the United Nations Foundation, has announced the opening of the Picture This Festival for the Planet, a short-film competition for emerging filmmakers, everyday storytellers and changemakers worldwide to showcase the positive future they see for our planet.

People from over 70 countries are invited to submit videos inspired by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a set of global goals agreed upon by the United Nations to end poverty, protect the planet and promote prosperity for all.

In mid-2018, eight regional winners will be flown to Los Angeles, US to attend the Picture This Festival for the Planet for a day of networking and training alongside industry leaders and social impact partners at the Sony Pictures Studio lot, followed by a screening of the regional winners’ films. Regional winners will receive airfare and accommodations for two nights in Los Angeles, along with a Sony RX0 Camera and a one year WeTransfer Plus account. The grand prize winner honored with a Sony A6500 camera and a SEL1670 lens. In Asia, the first 100 successful entries will receive a one-year WeTransfer Plus account worth US$120 each.

Andy Kaplan, President, Sony Pictures Television Networks, said: “At Sony, we are proud champions of the intersection between storytelling and innovation and are incredibly excited to spearhead Picture This. With the support of the United Nations Foundation and our other partners, we look forward to elevating and amplifying these important development goals through the voices of emerging creatives and acknowledge their good work in a meaningful way.”

SPTN launched a similar contest in 2016 across its channel portfolio worldwide, including its flagship brands in Asia, AXN, Sony Channel, GEM, ONE and Animax and those same channels will participate in this year’s festival.

In addition to Kaplan, the judges include: Megan Boone, environmental advocate and actress from the TV series The Blacklist; Elizabeth Cousens, Deputy CEO, United Nations Foundation; Marie Jacobson, EVP Programming & Production, Sony Pictures Television Networks; Tom Bernard & Michael Barker, Co-Presidents, Sony Pictures Classics; NP Singh, MD & CEO, Sony Pictures Networks India; Glenn Gainor, President of Physical Production, Screen Gems; Debbie Levin, President & CEO, Environmental Media Association; and Damian Bradfield, President and Chief Marketing Officer, WeTransfer.

Cousens said: “The Picture This Festival for the Planet is an innovative new platform to connect global audiences to what is happening on the ground as people put the SDGs into action in their daily lives. The United Nations Foundation appreciates Sony’s deep commitment to sustainability and its willingness to leverage its creativity and reach to bring the SDGs to new audiences. By celebrating individual stories of people around the world actively working to protect people and planet, Picture This will help inspire others to join the effort to realise these ambitious – and achievable – goals."

Sony Pictures Television Networks is a division of Sony Pictures Television Inc., a Sony Pictures Entertainment company. The Picture This Festival for the Planet is Sony Pictures Entertainment’s  latest project to bring awareness to the SDGs. In 2016, the United Nations and Sony Pictures Entertainment launched Angry Birds for a Happy Planet, a global youth outreach campaign that leveraged online and social media platforms to encourage action to protect the planet and fight climate change. Centered on the Sustainable Development Goal No. 13 – to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, the campaign featured Red and other characters of The Angry Birds Movie. In 2017, supported by the cast of the Smurfs: The Lost Village, audiences were encouraged to join Team Smurfs for the Small Smurfs Big Goals campaign that inspired everyone to learn about and support the 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Details:

The contest is open to entrants from Brunei, Cambodia, mainland China, Fiji, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan. Fiction or non-fiction are welcome, and the film can be of a wide range of genres, new or existing. Videos should be between one and eight minutes in length. Submissions for the Picture This Festival for the Planet close April 30, 2018. Entry is free. Register

Explore:

Watch the video introducing the Picture This Festival for the Planet 

Sony launches new 4K HDR camcorders

• Fast and reliable autofocus (AF) function adapted for shooting with a 1.0-type stacked Exmor RS CMOS image sensor
• High quality images and versatile shooting features
• Instant HDR workflow





Source: Sony. Sony launches new 4K HDR camcorders.

Sony has announced three new 4K HDR¹ (high dynamic range) camcorders featuring its Fast Hybrid AF system: the XDCAM PXW-Z90, the NXCAM HXR-NX80 and the Handycam FDR-AX700.

All three palm camcorders combine a fast and reliable autofocus (AF) function adapted for shooting with a 1.0-type stacked Exmor RS CMOS image sensor, delivering high quality image clarity alongside a range of versatile shooting features. The new camcorders support an instant HDR workflow, enabling users to produce HDR content with minimum post-production.

The Fast Hybrid AF system ensures highly-accurate focusing and tracking during shooting, delivered by 273 phase-detection AF points that cover approximately 84% of the shooting area, high-density placement of autofocus points and a newly developed AF algorithm. This reduces the burden of focusing especially when highly accurate focusing is required for shooting 4K² films. 

In movie recording mode, the appearance of phase-detection AF frames indicates the focused area and allows users to easily monitor a subject that is in focus. The new camcorders feature a high-resolution OLED viewfinder (0.39-type OLED, 2,359k dots) and a 3.5-type large LCD screen (1,555k dots). The AF drive speed, tracking depth range and subject switching sensitivity can all be configured as required.

The new camcorders support 4K HDR¹ recording with HLG (Hybrid Log-Gamma) offering an Instant HDR workflow. This enables users to reduce the post-production work and produce high-quality HDR content smoothly, without the need for a grading process, which usually requires highly skilled technique and special knowledge. The new models are equipped with:

• 4K² full-pixel readout without pixel binning using an enhanced BIONZ X image processing engine

• Super Slow Motion³ recording up to 960fps⁴ which is industry-leading among palm categories; and Slow & Quick Motion⁵ Full HD recording up to 120fps⁶

• S-Log³/S-Gamut³ capabilities

• 29mm⁷ wide-angle ZEISS Vario-Sonnar T* 12x optical zoom lens and 18x Clear Image Zoom⁸

• Less image distortion (rolling shutter phenomenon) in comparison to conventional models when shooting subjects in motion

Workflow efficiency benefits such as proxy recording, relay recording and simultaneous backup recording are also delivered thanks to the new camcorders’ dual memory card slots and multicamera operation capabilities supported by TC (time code)/UB (user bit). The new camcorders also have REMOTE terminals, multi-interface shoes, and HDMI type A to ensure enhanced operability.

“We strongly believe in empowering customers to tell amazing stories, whether it’s a journalist out in the field covering a breaking news event, or a freelancer working under the tight deadline pressures of a one-day corporate shoot,” explained Hiroyuki Takahama, Assistant GM, Content Creation Solutions Marketing, Professional Solutions Company (PSAP), Sony Corporation of Hong Kong. “Our new palm camcorders do exactly that. By minimising the efforts required to focus on a subject in-frame and streamlining the post-production workflow, we’re helping users concentrate on what they do best - storytelling.”

In addition to the above key features, the XDCAM PXW-Z90 and NXCAM HXR-NX80 also feature dual XLR audio input, a detachable handle, and access to Content Browser Mobile - a supporting smartphone application to enable Wi-Fi monitoring, camcorder remote control and wireless timecode sync⁹ between multiple cameras.

The PXW-Z90 also includes several features to suit broadcast-specific requirements - XAVC format recording that provides high-quality images at 4:2:2 10 bit (HD) and 4:2:0 8 bit (QFHD) in addition to conventional broadcasting MPEG2HD9 format recording; 3G SDI connectivity for compatibility with existing broadcasting equipment; and networking functions to support news reporting, such as compatibility with XDCAM air, the Sony cloud-based ENG subscription service.　

NXCAM HXR-NX80 and Handycam FDR-AX700 adopt XAVC S¹⁰, an extended format of XAVC for consumer use and it can record high-defined 4K films.

Interested?

The XDCAM PXW-Z90, NXCAM HXR-NX80 will be available in December 2017 and the Handycam FDR-AX700 will be available in October 2017.

1 3,840 x 2,160 pixels.

For the FDR-AX700 and HXR-NX80：Connect to a HDR (HLG) compatible Sony TV via a USB cable when displaying HDR movies is required.

For the PXW-Z90: Connect to a HDR (HLG) compatible Sony TV via a HDMI cable and TV setting change required when displaying HDR movies.

2 3,840 x 2,160 pixels.

3 4K recording is not available. Sound cannot be recorded. A class 10 or higher SDHC/SDXC memory card is required.

4 960fps in NTSC, 1000fps in PAL.

5 Sound cannot be recorded. A UHS-I (U3) SDHC/SDXC memory card is required.

6 120fps in NTSC, 100fps in PAL.

7 35mm equivalent.

8 18x(4K), 24x(HD).

9 Optional licences required.

10 A Class 10 or higher SDHC/SDXC memory card is required to record movies in the XAVC S format. UHS-I (U3) SDHC/SDXC card is required for 100Mbps.

Sony launches ruggedised multicamera solution

· High-quality imaging technology in an ultra-compact and tough body - waterproof^{1, 2}, shockproof^{3, 1} and crushproof⁴

· Featuring ZEISS Tessar T* 24mm⁶ F4 Fixed wide-angle lens with maximum shutter speed of up to 1/32,000 second and ability to shoot at up to 16 fps⁷

· Range of creative video functionality including 40x Super Slow motion⁸ recording, Picture Profile (S-Log2), and 4K⁹ Clean HDMI Output


Sony has announced a waterproof^{1, 2}, shockproof^{3, 1} and crushproof⁴ camera which it says will enable entirely new imaging possibilities. The DSC-RX0 marries the hallmark image quality of the Sony RX series with advanced photo and video capabilities, all compressed into a robust and ultra-compact body.

The RX0 is equally adept at shooting still images, filming video or as part of a multicamera setup. Weighing just 110g¹⁰ and measuring 59mm x 40.5mm x 29.8mm (WxHxD)¹¹, the RX0 redefines how small and light a premium compact camera can be. It can be used as a standalone camera for capturing photos or videos in any shooting conditions including the rain, underwater, or in sandy or dusty environments.

Source: Sony. The RX0.

In addition to conventional bullet-time and time-slice shooting, the RX0 multicamera shooting solution can be organised in different ways. Sony’s wireless radio commander, the FA-WRC1M can be used to trigger up to 15¹² RX0s. The PlayMemories Mobile¹³ app allows up to five RX0 models to be connected wirelessly and the form factor means that units can easily be secured in tough shooting positions to capture new perspectives. A wireless multicamera shooting solution capable of connecting further RX0 units when an access point is used¹⁴ is currently being developed and will be released in January 2018 via a firmware update. For users looking for a more reliable wired connection, a camera control box is also being developed and will be released in January 2018.

RX0 is packed full of advanced Sony technology and features a 1.0-type stacked 15.3 MP6 Exmor RS CMOS image sensor⁵, BIONZ X processor and a wide-angle ZEISS Tessar T* 24mm F4 fixed lens to deliver high resolution and less distortion results for both RAW and JPEG stills and across all supported video formats. It has an Anti-Distortion Shutter of up to 1/32,000 second and can shoot at up to 16 fps, meaning that even fast moving objects are beautifully and accurately rendered.

The RX0 is waterproof^{1, 2} at depths of up to 10 metres and when used with the new MPK-HSR1 Housing, can be used down to 100m underwater¹⁵. It is shockproof^{3, 1} when dropped from up to 2 metres and crushproof^{4, 1} to 200kgf/2,000N, making it durable enough to withstand shooting in situations where traditional cameras cannot go.

The RX0 was conceived as a camera that is just as useful to the videographer as the photographer and this spirit manifests itself with a host of creative video features delivering stunning video results. For those who want to incorporate super slow motion footage⁸ the RX0 offers the opportunity to shoot at up to 1,000 frames per second.

For production flexibility, users can choose 4K clean HDMI output to record uncompressed video to an external recorder. With both MF Assist and Peaking Functions, the focus can be precisely adjusted to exact specifications and Picture Profile options and S-Log2 offer creative freedom. Time Code/User Bit features provide an essential tool for multicamera shoots in particular, making the editing process a much easier experience, while Preset Focus options more control.

New accessories for the RX0 have also been launched. These include the VCT-CGR1 cage for increased system flexibility, the MPK-HSR1 housing, the CPT-R1 cable protector, VF-SPR1 spare lens protector, VFA-305R1 filter adaptor kit which includes filter adaptor, lens hood and MC protector, NP-BJ1 rechargeable battery pack and ACC-TRDCJ accessory kit.

Interested?

RX0 will be available at all Sony stores, Sony Centres and selected Sony authorised dealers from October 2017. View the technical specifications. Get details of pricing and availability

1 Depending on usage conditions and circumstances, no guarantee is made regarding damage to, malfunction of, or waterproof performance of this camera.

2 Compliant with JIS/IEC protection levels (based on Sony tests). Shooting in depths of up to 10m is possible for up to 60 minutes (JIS: Japan Industrial Standards; IEC: International Electrotechnical Commission).

3 Capable of withstanding a fall of 2m from MIL-STD-810G C1 Method 516.7-Shock compliant 5 cm plywood (based on Sony tests).

4 Capable of withstanding a load of 200kgf /2,000N (based on Sony tests).

5 Approximate effective megapixels.

6 35mm equivalent.

7 In Speed Priority Continuous mode. Focus and exposure settings fixed at first shot.

8 Up to 1,000fps super slow motion can be recorded. Image quality approaches Full HD quality at 250fps in Quality Priority mode. Sound cannot be recorded when shooting slow motion and setting conditions of focus, exposure, focus area, frame rate and other settings are fixed when start shooting. Micro SDHC/ Micro SDXC memory card of Class 10 or higher is required.

9 QFHD:3,840×2,160.

10 Approximate weight with battery and media included.

11 Approximate dimensions.

12 Wireless Radio Receiver FA-WRR1 and Multi Terminal Cable VMC-MM1 are required.

13 For smartphone or tablet. Latest version is required.

14 Depending on the specifications of an access point, smartphone or tablet to be used as well as the radio wave environment of the installation location, the number of devices that can be connected will vary.

15 Under water, the shortest focal distance is increased, causing the angle of field to be narrower.

Singtel shares National Day video, supports SEA Games 2017 athletes

Singtel has released its first major National Day video to commemorate Singapore’s independence day. The release comes a day after 9 August as the company hopes to inspire Singaporeans to press on and keep up the Majulah* spirit beyond the festivities of National Day.

“It may seem counter-intuitive and even a little belated but it’s not,” says Lian Pek, VP for Group Strategic Communications and Brand, at Singtel. “We hope the adrenaline rush that we all got from yesterday’s celebrations will have as long a tail as possible. To quote a line in the film, ‘the day after is the first day forward.’ Hopefully, this little film will help keep the momentum of National Day going, prolong that sense of national pride and wanting to do more for ourselves and our country beyond the birthday party.”

Featuring Singaporeans from different walks of life, the two-minute film pays tribute to the resilience and can-do spirit of Singaporeans which has helped propel the country from the proverbial mudflat to metropolis. It comes as the nation contemplates its future with deep conversations about how best to navigate, going forward.

Produced in-house by Singtel and narrated by veteran actor Lim Kay Tong, the original spoken word piece will be screened across Singtel TV channels and on social media. It is part of a month-long campaign that includes a photo series featuring a spectrum of Singaporeans articulating their aspirations for the nation. Captured by photographer Aik Beng Chia, these can be found at bus stops across the country as well as on social media.

The second part of Singtel’s month-long campaign will start in about a week’s time as Singapore’s athletes head to this year’s SEA Games which begin in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 19 August. The Power On campaign is designed as a morale booster for the nation’s athletes as they head overseas to compete for Singapore, and also hopes to inspire Singaporeans to do their country proud.

"When we caught up with our SEA Games athletes, not a day goes by it seems, without them thinking about winning for Singapore. That’s what keeps them motivated despite the gruelling hours of training. We will be sharing their heartfelt thoughts on representing Singapore as ultimately, Team Singapore includes all of us,” adds Pek.

The six partner athletes featured in the video and photo campaign are: Joseph Schooling (swimming), Loh Zhi Zhi (water polo), Mark Leong (water ski), Nur Alfian (silat), Shanti Pereira (track and field) and Shayna Ng (bowling).



Interested? 

View the video (2 minutes)

*'Majulah' means 'onward' in Malay.

Singtel CAST's Aneka Plus pack now includes Tribe from Astro

Source: Singtel website. Qadr from Trib is enow available through CAST.

Singtel’s CAST is now home to Tribe, Astro’s regional video service. Featuring content from Astro’s lineup of Malay channels, which include Astro Ria and Astro Prima, Tribe will be offered on CAST’s Aneka Plus pack.

For the first time in Singapore, viewers will be able to watch Astro’s premium on-demand Malay programmes on the go. Tribe includes complete seasons of drama series, variety shows, movies and award shows.

Customers can look forward to popular programmes such as Suri Hati Mr Pilot (starring Neelofa and Fattah Amin), Bukan Kerana Aku Tak Cinta (starring Sharnaaz Ahmad and Nelydia Senrose), Imam Mudaku Romantik (starring Hisyam Hamid and Syatilla Melvin) and the awards show Anugerah Era MeleTOP 2017. From 10 July onwards, viewers can also enjoy the entire series of Hero Seorang Cinderella (starring Fattah Amin and Fazura).

Interested?

Aneka Plus customers will enjoy a special introductory offer of S$7.90/month with the first three months free for a 12-month contract signed. To subscribe, customers can head to Singtel shops and Singtel Exclusive Retailers, or sign up online.

In addition to Aneka Plus, CAST offers Partner Apps, Viu Premium, FOX+ and Tonton, as well as Variety Plus, Asian Plus and Sports Plus packs. Together, CAST streams premium over-the-top (OTT) Korean, Asian, English and Malay-language, and sports content. For a limited time only, customers who purchase any CAST pack on a 12-month subscription will enjoy the first three months free.

In conjunction with Ramadhan and Hari Raya, Singtel is also offering an exclusive Singtel TV, Aneka Plus and fibre broadband bundle at a special price.

Explore Emaar hotels via virtual tours

Source: Emaar. Each virtual tour, assembled through panoramic photography and videography, shares the features of the hotel in vivid detail. 

Emaar Hospitality Group, the hospitality and leisure business of Emaar Properties, has introduced panoramic, 360 virtual tours of its hotels in Dubai, UAE. The 360 virtual tours, captured in high-definition photographs and videos, offer visitors the opportunity to experience the unique value propositions of each hotel, discover its myriad facets and make a more informed decision.

The 360 virtual tours cover properties under the premium luxury hotel and serviced residences brand, Address Hotels + Resorts; the upscale lifestyle hotel and serviced residences brand, Vida Hotels and Resorts; and the new contemporary mid-scale hotel and serviced residences brand, Rove Hotels.

Olivier Harnisch, CEO, Emaar Hospitality Group, said: “Introducing innovative digital experiences is part of our strategy to further enhance the guest experience. The 360 virtual tours open doors to the delightful and exceptional lifestyle offerings at our hotels, enabling visitors anywhere in the world to make informed decisions and plan their stay in vivid detail. We will continue to explore newer opportunities to strengthen our online engagement with our guests, underlining our commitment to provide value-added customer-centric experiences.”

The 360 virtual tours take visitors through the architecture that define properties under Address Hotel + Resorts, including Address Boulevard, Address Dubai Marina, Address Dubai Mall, Address Montgomerie, and Palace Downtown. The 360 virtual tours also take visitors through the ambience offered by Vida Downtown and Manzil Downtown, as well as the three Rove Hotels that are currently operational in central locations across the city – Rove Downtown, Rove City Centre and Rove Healthcare City.

The launch of the 360 virtual tours of all hotels is part of the digital transformation that Emaar Hospitality Group is bringing through several initiatives. The objective is to enable visitors to become familiar with the hotels and understand the real value that awaits them.

Interested?

To view, go to the websites for Address Hotels + Resorts; Vida Hotels and Resorts; and Rove Hotels to get to individual hotel sites and interactive tours. 

The virtual tours can also be experienced over smartphones through the new native apps that Emaar Hospitality Group has launched. The apps for Address Hotels + Resorts, Vida Hotels and Resorts, Palace Downtown and Manzil Downtown have gone live with the Rove Hotels App to go live shortly.