Over 50 Percent of Viewers Consume Video Content on Their Mobile Phones

NEW DELHI, August 23, 2013 - sonyliv.com, the ultimate online entertainment destination, owned and operated by Multi Screen Media (MSM), has announced the release of its two-quarter report. The report establishes the fact that the maximum number of video content is consumed on mobile phones. 

Based on the observations, it is learnt that 53 percent of viewers watch videos on their mobile phones, 32 percent view them online and 15 percent on their tablets. The report is derived from sonyliv.com Sony LIV user data.

Audience: Another important insight pertains to the type of audience viewing digital content. The report reveals that general entertainment content while towards skewing male viewers, has higher consumption by females compared to the overall Internet video consumption in India. On sonyliv.com, video consumption trends 47% female viewers and 53% male; compared to the overall Internet video consumption split of 71:29, male to females. Additionally, it is interesting to note that elderly people also watch videos online. Though the number is comparatively less, a 3 percent, but it puts forth the fact that an upward shift in video consumption is witnessed in this bracket of audience. About 46 percent of viewers are from the age group 15 to 24 years, 32 percent from the age bracket of 25 to 34 years, followed by 17 percent between the age group 35 and 44 years.

Genre: The analytics also reveal that comedy and daily dramas have a higher viewership on digital platforms. Nearly 78 percent of the videos consumed are comedy, drama and thriller. Comedy is viewed by 30 percent of the audience, followed by drama at 25 percent and thrillers at 23 percent. Reality shows and other genres of shows are watched by the remaining 22 percent.

Nitesh Kripalani, Executive Vice-President - New Media, Business Development and Digital/Syndication at Sony Entertainment Network commented, "At sonyliv.com, we are captivated with data and analytics and believe in leveraging the insights to drive a superior world class viewing experience. We publish insights based on real data that we study every hour of the day. This is done by monitoring the consumption behavior of over 50,000 unique visitors on an average who log on to sonyliv.com, across all platforms i.e. online, mobile and tablet."

Format: It is clear that today's viewers increasingly prefer short content formats on digital platforms. They are opting for formats like Catch-up episodes, Quickisodes and Short crunch episodes. As per the report, 64 percent of viewers watch Catch-up Episodes, whereas more than one-third of viewers consume shorter crunched Episodes, called "Quickisodes".

As per the sonyliv.com report, the average time spent by consumers per video has increased from 8 minutes to 11.5 minutes (73 percent of average duration of content) and the maximum number of videos is being watched between, 1:00 to 4:00pm and 9:00 to 11:00pm.

About MSM

Sony Pictures Television (SPT) backs Multi Screen Media Private Limited, which is India's leading television network. It comprises of Sony Entertainment Television and (SET), one of India's leading Hindi general entertainment television channels; MAX, India's premium Hindi movies and special events channel; SAB, a family comedy entertainment channel; PIX, the English movie channel; MIX a refreshing Hindi music channel, SIX, India's Premier Sports Entertainment Channel and LIV, the digital channel. Multi-Screen Media's channels are available across the Globe and influence over 400 million viewers in the Indian sub-continent, and the South Asian Diaspora worldwide.

Ford can identify and Eliminate Dirt Particles on Vehicle

DEARBORN, Mich., Aug. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

• Industry-first dirt detection technology uses high-resolution cameras to generate a 3D model so Ford can identify and eliminate dirt particles smaller than a grain of salt on vehicle paint surfaces
• Ford data show new automated vision system led to an 82 percent improvement in combined paint quality and customer satisfaction metrics for surface finish within one year
• Digital imaging system analyzes more than 3,000 images in 15 seconds to identify dirt particles. Previously, paint inspections were based solely on the human eye
• This year, the dirt detection technology launches at three more Ford assembly plants in North America, followed by two additional assembly plants in 2014

Here's the dirt on Ford's new paint technology: There isn't any.

New Ford F-Series models are the latest vehicles to benefit from the company's industry-first dirt detection technology to ensure optimal paint and surface quality. The system uses high-resolution cameras and reflected light to digitally identify surface imperfections finer than a grain of salt in final vehicle assembly, and to cue operators where to polish and buff out imperfections.   

By using dirt detection technology, Ford improved paint quality and reduced customer complaints of vehicle surface finish by 82 percent within one year, as measured by customer warranty data for F-Series models produced at the company's Dearborn Truck Plant in Dearborn, Mich.  

"This system ensures better paint jobs and surface finishes for Ford customers around the world," saidTom Dougan, project manager, global paint applications at Ford.

How it works

Ford's dirt detection technology takes microscopic scans of each painted vehicle surface, and then cues final assembly operators to address repairs where necessary. In the past, paint and surface inspections were based on human-eye examination.

The 3D imaging system applies varying degrees and angles of light while scoping the paint surface of vehicle bodies to identify dirt in paint and other irregular paint conditions. High-resolution images – 3,150 images are captured in 15 seconds for every vehicle made – are stitched together for a full 3D image that is digitally compared to a perfect computer model.

Click here to view a video of Ford's dirt detection technology in action.

The dirt on the dirt

Dirt particles in paint are difficult to manage with conventional quality control methods. Minute particles can enter a shop floor from multiple environmental sources, machinery or workers, which makes paint quality one of the toughest variables to control in production. Along with Dearborn Truck Plant, the automated inspection system is now being used in the United States at Ford's Kentucky Truck Plant.

"This is one of the most exciting integrations of optical science and digital technology in the automotive industry," said Dougan. "By combining innovations in vision technology, processing speed and software, Ford continues to invent new technologies that give our customers better paint quality and surpass competitor offerings."

Locations

Globally, dirt detection technology is used at three Ford assembly plants. Here are the plants and the vehicles built there:

• Valencia Assembly Plant, Valencia, Spain: Ford C-MAX (Grand C-MAX and compact models)
• Dearborn Truck Plant, Dearborn, Mich.: Ford F-Series
• Kentucky Truck Plant, Louisville, Ky.: Ford Expedition, Ford Super Duty

The technology launches later this year at these plants:

• Louisville Assembly Plant, Louisville, Ky.: Ford Escape
• Chicago Assembly Plant, Chicago: Ford Taurus, Ford Police Interceptor, Ford Explorer
• Oakville Assembly, Oakville, Ontario, Canada: Ford Edge, Ford Flex

In 2014, Ford will launch dirt detection technology at the following plants:

• Flat Rock Assembly Plant, Flat Rock, Mich.: Ford Mustang, Ford Fusion
• Kansas City Assembly Plant, Claycomo, Mo.: Ford F-Series

China's Huawei barred from major Australian broadband deal

Melbourne, Mar 26, 2012 - In a setback to Chinese telecom giant Huawei, Australia has blocked it from tendering for a prestigious USD 38 billion nation-wide broadband contract due to cyber attacks originating from China.

 Defending the move, Prime Minister Julia Gillard today said the decision to not allow Huawei to take part in tenders for the National Broadband Network (NBN) project was ÒprudentÓ.

 A spokesman for Attorney-General Nicola Roxon said the NBN was the Òbackbone of Australia's information infrastructureÓ and as such the government had a responsibility Òto do our utmost to protect its integrity and that of the information carried on itÓ.

 The USD 38 billion project aims to connect almost every Australian home to a very high speed Internet connection.

 The Australian Financial Review said in a report that Huawei was seeking to secure a supply contract worth up to USD 1.04 billion with NBN, but has been blocked by the Attorney- General's department based on advice from Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

 Gillard told reporters in Seoul, where she is attending nuclear security talks with other world leaders, that the NBN is a crucial national infrastructure project.
 ÒYou would expect, as a government, we would make all of the prudent decisions to make sure that that infrastructure project does what we want it to do, and we've taken one of those decisions,Ó she said, when asked about the Huawei decision.

 One of the reasons for the ban on Huawei could be that the company's founder Ren Zhengfei was in the Chinese People's Liberation Army until 1984.

 Huawei, considered to be the world's No. 2 telecommunications equipment maker, says while the decision is a setback, it will continue to work with all of Australia's major telecommunications operators and remains hopeful of playing a role in the NBN, Australia's AAP news agency reported.

 Huawei corporate affairs director Jeremy Mitchell said despite the prime minister's comments he believed it was a temporary hurdle for the company.

 ÒI think the best way to do this is to work together,Ó Mitchell told ABC Television after Gillard's comments.

 The ban on Huawei underlines global concern about Beijing's cyber warfare efforts after a series of hacking attempts on Western companies were traced to China.

Woman finds her naked shots retrieved by phone repairer

Beijing (China), March 22, 2012 - A young woman was shocked to find her deleted naked photos from her broken iPhone recovered by a repairman who displayed openly in a phone store in China's Zhejiang Province.

 Experts have warned that smart phones such as iPhone may not protect the owner's privacy and deleted photos and other data can be easily recovered with software, the Zhejiang-based Qianjiang Evening News reported today.

 The woman's nightmare began on Tuesday when a man named Liu Shenghao said on his Weibo microblog that a woman customer sent her broken iPhone to a phone store for repair and a repairman not only fixed her phone but also recovered her naked photos she had deleted a long time ago.
 Liu said that the repairman copied the photos to sample phones at the store, making them visible to every customer.

 A store manager admitted that a worker downloaded those naked photos and the woman client was stunned to see her naked photos in a sample phone as she came to pick up her iPhone, Shanghai Daily reported.

 The woman's boyfriend rushed to the store for explanation and alerted the police, the paper said.
 Police are investigating to find if the repairman recovered the photos intentionally.
 The incident has sparked a heated discussion among netizens. Many questioned why deleted pictures can still be recovered in the smart phone.

 A phone repairman surnamed Zhu told the newspaper that it is possible to recover deleted data using a kind of software available on many websites.
 Zhu said iPhones of higher versions are equipped with iCloud application which allows users to upload data to a server.

 With the right username and password, the deleted data can be reloaded from the server, Zhu said.
 ÒThe woman probably uploaded her photos to the server and her username and password were used by the repairman to retrieve the deleted pictures,Ó Zhu said.

 Experts are warning smart phone holders to keep secret of their usernames and passwords and turn off the data uploading services such as iCloud before they send their phones for repair works.

AAA Survey Reveals "Boost" in Car Seat Compliance

Revised recommendations prompt one third of parents to make changes.
 
WASHINGTON, March 21, 2012 - On the one year anniversary of the American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP) updated car seat recommendations, a AAA survey reveals that outreach efforts are working and parents are getting the message. Over ninety percent of parents with a child under 13 reported being aware of the new guidelines, many having heard of the change from their child's pediatrician.

By advising parents to keep toddlers rear-facing until age two, or until reaching the maximum height and weight for the seat, and recommending that older children between eight and 12 remain in a belt-positioning booster seat until 4 feet 9 inches tall, the AAP reinforced what safety groups had long advocated. According to AAA's survey, parents heeded the group's advice, with one in three (35 percent) changing the way their children under 13 ride in the car.

"It's encouraging to find that many parents are aware of the recommendations and are taking these safety interventions seriously," said Jill Ingrassia, managing director, AAA Government Relations and Traffic Safety Advocacy.  "Parents are getting the message that moving a child to the next step prematurely is actually a downgrade in safety.  Children should remain in their car or booster seat until they outgrow it."

According to AAA's survey, when parents with a child under two were asked why they had not made a change based on the new recommendations, 82 percent reported no change was needed as they were already meeting or exceeding the new guidelines. Other reasons commonly cited included parents reporting their child was uncomfortable or unwilling to sit rear-facing, parents' reluctance to return a child to a rear-facing position after "graduating" to a forward-facing seat and the belief that the new recommendations were unnecessary.

With car seat manufacturers offering a wide array of car seats designed to accommodate larger toddlers in a rear-facing position, AAA reminds parents that the safety benefits of keeping children rear-facing far outweigh the convenience of a forward-facing seat.  Studies show that children are five times less likely to be injured in a crash when they are properly restrained in a rear-facing car seat.

Surveyed parents of older children offered similar answers. Of those who did not adopt changes based on the new recommendations, 77 percent reported their child was already meeting or exceeding guidelines. Other reasons cited for not making a change included the belief that the recommendations were too strict, their unwillingness to return their child to a booster seat after "graduating" to seat belt and concern over whether the child's friends also used a booster seat.

"Seat belts are designed for adults and do not typically fit children until they have reached 4 feet 9 inches tall," warned Ingrassia. "Graduating a child from a booster seat too soon may result in injury, or even death, in the event of a crash."   

AAA developed a series of informational videos in which experts walk parents step-by-step through the new car seat and booster seat guidelines as well as proper seat belt use. With three out of four child safety seats not properly installed, consulting an expert can be critical to ensure that children are secured in the safest manner possible. Certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians are available to help parents with their car seat installation through local AAA offices, by visiting www.seatcheck.org or calling 866-SEATCHECK (866-732-8243).

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 53 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at AAA.com.

Inspan Announces Attractive Scheme for Resellers from Genius

CHENNAI, India - November 15, 2011   - Inspan Infotech, one of the largest IT distribution companies for motherboards and hardware components, announced attractive scheme resellers on sales of Genius products for the OND 2011 quarter.

Resellers will be eligible for the following rewards on sales of Genius products

1. Invoice value worth Rs 50,000, will be eligible for Adidas gift vouchers worth Rs 1,500/-
2. Invoice value worth Rs 1, 00,000, will be eligible for Ray-Ban sunglasses
3. Invoice value worth Rs 2, 00,000, will be eligible for a AGAMA RC 520A Robotic vacuum cleaner
4. Invoice value worth Rs 3, 00, 000, will be eligible for a Pico projector GPP1000, Genius media player 200 and 8GB SD card

This scheme is valid from 1^st October 2011 to 30^th December 2011and is valid for the purchases billed out from Inspan Infotech. However above scheme cannot be merged or clubbed with any other scheme that may be running at that time. Genius reserves the rights of execution, alternation and will entertain all the scheme claims directly from distributors.

"Attractive schemes from Genius have always been well appreciated by the channel partners. With every inch of growth Genius has always rewarded its channel partners fairly to motivate them. The targets of Genius scheme have always been designed to be achievable by channel partners."said Sudhir S, Managing Director of Inspan Infotech.

Price, Warranty and Availability

Standard pricing and warranty clauses are applicable on the products as announced from Genius. These products are available ex-Stock across all offices of Inspan in the country.

World's First High-Performance Quad Channel

Banglore, (India), Nov.15 - Corsair®, a worldwide designer and supplier of high-performance components to the PC gaming hardware market, today announced the world's first high-performance quad channel Dominator 32GB DDR3 memory kit.

The Dominator 32GB Quad Channel kit (part number CMT32GX3M4X1866C9) consists of four rigorously-screened 8GB DDR3 DRAM modules with Corsair's patented DHX+ heatsinks. It operates at 1.5V and is designed to run at 1866MHz, with 9-10-9-27 C9 timing. Corsair has compatibility tested the new 32GB Quad Channel kit with upcoming quad channel platforms as well as current dual channel platforms.

"The new Dominator 32GB Quad Channel memory kit is designed for high-performance PC enthusiasts using the latest motherboards, whether they're overclockers, gamers, or simply want a large amount of state-of-the-art memory," said Thi La, Vice President of Memory Products at Corsair. "Corsair is a market leader in high-performance memory, and we're pleased to be first to market with a high-performance 32GB quad channel kit."