Sun Microsystems is introducing a new platform for streaming on-demand video over IP networks that promises to deliver 160,000 TV channels to your home.

Sun Streaming, with a suite of Sun software to manage the system, delivers 160,000 video streams, or 40,000 high-definition TV streams, simultaneously at 2M bps (bits per second). Fifteen of these systems, at about 5,000 titles per system, theoretically could stream the entire library, all at once, of 75,000 DVD titles from Netflix Inc., which distributes DVD rentals by mail.

“The most natural way for people to enjoy video is to download it from a server,” said Andy Bechtolsheim, co-founder of Sun and designer of the Sun Streaming System.

The Sun Streaming system uses four Sun Fire x4100 servers, one x4500 storage/server and a new product, the Sun Fire x4950 streaming server, based on server technology developed by Kealia Inc., which Sun acquired in 2004.

NAB: Apple has introduced Final Cut Server, a powerful new server application that works seamlessly with Final Cut Studio 2 to provide media asset management and workflow automation for post production and broadcast professionals.

A scaleable server application that supports workgroups of any size, Final Cut Server includes a cross-platform client that enables content browsing, review and approval from within a studio or over the Internet. Final Cut Server automatically catalogs large collections of assets and enables searching across multiple volumes via an intuitive user interface. Final Cut Server is designed to manage the flow of work, as assets and projects move from producer to editor to artist through the entire production process.

“Final Cut Server’s powerful media asset management capabilities simplify managing the thousands of assets that make up a typical edit,” said Rob Schoeben, Apple’s vice president of Applications Product Marketing. “And Final Cut Server’s sophisticated workflow automation tools ensure projects flow smoothly through an organization, enabling everyone to be more productive.” (more…)

NAB: Adobe has announced Adobe Media Player, a desktop application that delivers more engaging video experiences to viewers while offering content publishers new abilities to distribute, track and build businesses around their media assets.

Delivered as a lightweight download, Adobe Media Player delivers innovation for both viewers and content owners. For viewers, Adobe Media Player enables higher quality Flash format playback, the ability to download and view videos offline, ways to discover interesting new shows, full screen playback, one-click viewer ratings, and a powerful Favorites feature that automatically downloads new episodes of favorite TV shows or video podcasts. The player is cross-platform, based on open standards – including RSS and SMIL – and brings viewers the highly desired ability to play the Web’s most popular video format outside of their browser.

For content publishers, Adobe Media Player enables better ways to deliver, monetize, brand, track and protect video content. It provides an array of video delivery options for high-quality online and offline playback, including on-demand streaming, live streaming, progressive download, and protected download-and-play. The Adobe Media Player enables a wider selection of monetization and branding options including viewer-centric dynamic advertising and the ability to customize the look and feel of the player on the fly to match the brand or theme of the currently playing content. (more…)

NAB: Blackmagic Design today announced Intensity Pro, a new high quality video capture and playback card for professional videographers.

Intensity Pro is the first card to combine HDMI capture and playback with the wide compatibility of analog component, NTSC, PAL and S-Video and analog audio capture and playback. It enables users to capture directly from the HD camera’s image sensor, bypassing the video compression chip for true uncompressed video quality. Now users can go beyond the quality limits of HDV for editing, design and authoring with Intensity Pro.

“We think with the combination of HDMI and analog on a single PCI Express plug in card at a very affordable $349 will change the lives of thousands of professional videographers,” says Grant Petty, CEO, Blackmagic Design. “Intensity Pro’s new analog compatibility, combined with HD up and down conversion real time processing, allows videographers to now edit in either SD or HD, while keeping compatibility with older equipment and their archived video footage.” (more…)

Sony has introduced seven high-definition televisions that will be compatible with the company’s recently announced BRAVIA Internet Video Link module.

The Internet Video Link module allows for direct television access to Internet video content, including high-definition programming, from providers like AOL, Yahoo! and Grouper, as well as Sony Pictures Entertainment and Sony BMG Music.

The module mounts on the back of the compatible Sony televisions announced today, and connects to the Internet via an existing broadband Ethernet connection without the use of a computer. It provides access to such content as Internet video programs, music videos, movie trailers, user generated videos and RSS feeds – all without any additional charges.

“The new BRAVIA models will soon expand the world of home entertainment with the touch of a button,” said Randy Waynick, senior vice president of the Home Products Division at Sony Electronics. “We are going to be opening a whole new avenue of programming to American consumers, which has been by and large constrained to the PC.”

The HD 1080p (progressive) V-series models include 46- and 40-inch screen sizes, while 720p models include the S-series 26-, 40-, 46-inch models (all measured diagonally) and 32-inch class (31.5 inches measured diagonally). Also new is the 32-inch class (31.5 inches measured diagonally) KDL-32XBR4 set.