MotionDSP's technology combines data from multiple video frames to reduce jerkiness, reduce noise, and increase resolution.
(Credit: MotionDSP)FixMyMovie, an online service that let people improve the quality of their videos, is going offline.
"We're shutting down FixMyMovie.com on December 31, 2008. In its place, we're launching a new Windows desktop application, code-named Carmel, which will be released in the first quarter of 2009," said MotionDSP, which runs the site, in an e-mail to site members Friday. "If you have uploaded any videos to FixMyMovie that you'd like to keep, we recommend that you use the 'Download' option before December 31 for each fixed movie that you'd like to save."
FixMyMovie launched in 2007 and won a Webware 100 award. MotionDSP added a premium version in July.
Also this week, Yahoo idled Jumpcut, a site where people could upload, share, and combine multiple videos. It steered video-sharing enthusiasts to its Flickr site, but suggested those who want to edit movies use Windows Movie Maker or Apple iMovie.
Together, the moves illustrate that cloud computing business aspirations notwithstanding, selling software that runs on people's computers can look like safer economic haven.
MotionDSP has been funded by In-Q-Tel, the Central Intelligence Agency's venture investment arm, which is interested in technology that can extract more information from photos and videos.
The technology works by combining information from adjacent frames of video or multiple photos of the same subject. The result is video that's less jerky, with cleaner and more detailed imagery, better performance in dim conditions.
The Carmel software will improve on the Web-based product, according to MotionDSP's Web site:
• Even more video-fixing options than you can currently find on FixMyMovie.com.
• Faster processing of your enhanced videos.
• Super-fast processing when you've got an Nvidia graphics card.
• New features that'll help you easily edit and share your fixed videos.
This low-resolution image shows the greater detail that can be shown in the license plate by combining data from several frames of a video. The lower view of the plate is enhanced.
(Credit: MotionDSP)Polaroid filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Friday, but no, it's not because almost nobody wants its self-developing film anymore.
Instead, the company said that its filing, which permits the company to undertake a financial restructuring, is related to a fraud matter involving Petters Group Worldwide, owner of Polaroid since 2005.
"Polaroid's financial condition was compromised by the apparent fraudulent acts perpetrated by the founder of Petters Group Worldwide, Polaroid's parent company, and certain of his associates," the Minnetonka, Minn.-based company said in a statement Friday. "The Chapter 11 process will provide Polaroid with the opportunity to restructure its balance sheet and reduce its debt to ensure the future health and sustainability of the business."
The company has "ample cash reserves" to finance the restructuring, with no new financing needed, and Chief Executive Mary L. Jeffries said operations will continue. The company's once-iconic film and film-camera business has largely fallen by the wayside, but it still sells flat-panel TVs, printers, digital cameras, and other products.
"We expect to continue our operations as normal during the reorganization and are planning for new product launches in 2009," Jeffries said. "Our operations are strong and during this process Polaroid will ship products to our retail partners, work with our suppliers and contract manufacturers to fulfill retailer demand, honor customer warranties, and employees are expected to receive their regular paychecks without interruption."
Tom Petters and four others were charged in October with participation in what authorities said was Ponzi scheme involving investment fraud, according to the Star Tribune of Minneapolis and St.Paul.
With a recession under way, it's a tough time to be getting a business back on track. But the company can take some consolation that others also are suffering.
Canon, the top digital camera maker, said it will delay construction of a new digital camera factory in Nagasaki, Japan, because of slowing consumer demand, Reuters reported Thursday. In July, the company had said it planned to start building the plant in January and begin producing cameras there in December 2009.
- prev
- 1
- next
