Augmented reality specialist, Total Immersion, recently contacted [itvt] to let us know about some of the interactive AR applications it has completed over the past few months. The apps are all triggered by holding up a movie or album's packaging in front of a Webcam, which allows a hidden visual code to launch the app:
--Ceton Launches Digital Cable Quad-Tuner PC Card
--Hallmark Launches Augmented Reality-Enabled Greetings Cards
--HDNet Chairman, Mark Cuban, Attempts to Pour Cold Water on Enthusiasm for OTT
--Kaltura in Integration Partnership with Mzinga
--Ooyala in Broadband Video Deal with New York Daily News
--Vimeo Launches Mobile Version of its Video-Sharing Service
--Xerox Seeks Patent for Tech that Alters TV Shows' Video/Audio to Embed Targeted Advertising
--YouTube Invites Users to Suggest UI Improvements
Because the [itvt] editorial team is busy working on The TV of Tomorrow Show (March 3rd-4th in San Francisco), we are covering a number of stories in this issue in summary form:
--Brightkite Launches AR Local Advertising Solution
--Layar AR Browser for iPhone Pulled from Apple App Store Due to Crashes
--Version 1.5 of metaio's junaio AR Platform Now Available in Apple App Store
--Japan's Tonchidot Launches "Sekai Camera" AR App Internationally
--Total Immersion Teams with McDonald's on AR Promotion for "Avatar"
A number of items of augmented reality news have come across [itvt]'s desk over the past few days. Here is a brief round-up:
--Rob Gelick Named SVP and General Manager of CBS Mobile
--CCI Producing Multiplatform, Interactive Scavenger Hunt-Themed Kids' Show, "GeoFreakZ"
--Version 3.0 of the Layar Augmented Reality Browser Released
--Soft Ad Market Impacts SeaChange's Earnings, but VOD Server Revenues Nearly Double
Here is a round-up of some other interactive TV-related stories we didn't have room for in this issue:
--Artivision Integrates its Target-Ad Service with Kaltura's Open Source Broadband Video Platform
--Denmark's Comtech to Use never.no's Interactive TV Technology at Conference Facilities, Retailers
--NDS Appoints New Indian Reseller
--Nielsen Provides More Info on its Single-Source Measurement Plan
--New iPhone Augmented Reality App Takes Advantage of Twitter's New Geotagging Feature
--YouTube Said to Be in Discussions about Streaming TV Shows on Pay-Per-View Basis
Here is a round-up of some other interactive TV-related stories we didn't have room for in this issue:
--"Fashionista" App Lets Consumers Use their Webcams to Try on Clothes "Virtually"
Interactive marketing company, Zugara, and RichRelevance, a company that specializes in personalization and product-recommendation tools for ecommerce sites, on Monday announced the launch of a new, augmented reality-driven "social shopping" application, called "Fashionista," that they describe as combining "the benefits of the fitting room with the convenience of online shopping and the power of the social Web." The app, which is initially being offered by fashion retailer, Tobi.com, is billed by the companies as combining augmented reality, motion capture and real-time personalization in order to create a "more social and intuitive" way to shop for clothes on the Web.
--App Lets Users Place and View Virtual Content in Real-World Locations
 metaio, a Munich-based augmented reality company which also maintains offices in San Francisco and Seoul, said Wednesday that it has launched a free iPhone application, called junaio, in the Apple App Store. The company bills the app--in conjunction with a companion online service at http://www.junaio.com--as the "world's first social augmented reality platform."
--Project Canvas Price Tag Revealed, Venture Seeks to Take More Open Approach
--Blitz Develops Interactive Augmented Reality Music Video for John Mayer
--Cablevision Using Zodiac Interactive's EBIF User Agent
--IneoQuest Launches Video Quality Assurance Solution for iPhone
--RVU Alliance Attracts More Members
--Channel 4 Exec Tapped as Commercial Head of Arqiva's SeeSaw Broadband VOD Service
Here is a round-up of some other interactive TV-related stories we didn't have room for in this issue:
--Quincy Smith to Resign as CEO of CBS Interactive, Will Continue to Advise on Interactive Media
--Comcast Said to Be Working on "Underground IPTV and Video Convergence Project"
--December Issue of Esquire Magazine to Offer Extensive Augmented Reality Features
--Rogers Skeptical of tru2way, Considering Internet-Based Interactive TV Solutions
--SeaChange Showcases RS-DVR Solution at SCTE Cable-Tec Expo
Here is a round-up of some other interactive TV-related stories we didn't have room for in this issue (as well as some stories from the ongoing SCTE Cable-Tec Expo in Denver, which our editorial team was unable to attend):
--Urbanspoon Adds AR to its iPhone App, AR Artwork Pokes, Tickles and Flicks Passers-By
 SPRXmobile announced Wednesday that the long-awaited iPhone version its Layar augmented reality browser is now available in the Apple App Store, free-of-charge (note: for background on the Layar platform--which leverages smartphones' integrated GPS and compass capabilities to display layers of interactive digital information on top of real-time video on those phones' camera screens, thus effectively transforming reality into a giant, clickable interactive video--see the articles published on itvt.com, June 17th, July 9th, August 18th and September 27th, and the interview with SPRXmobile co-founder, Maarten Lens-Fitzgerald, published July 16t
--Brightcove Sales SVP, Mike Quinn, Replaced by Board Member, David Mendels
--BT Vision CEO, Watson, Concedes Service Has Not Been Marketed Effectively
--China Begins Development of National Broadband TV Channel with Interactive Features, UGC
--Citroen Uses Augmented Reality to Promote DS3
--Ustream Teaming with Skype for Anti-Poverty Initiative
--Internet-Exclusive World Cup Soccer Qualifier Attracts Only 500,000 Viewers
Here is a round-up of some other interactive TV-related stories we didn't have room for in this issue:
--iPhone Layar AR Browser Submitted to App Store, Two Wikipedia-Based iPhone AR Apps Launch
 Broadcast network, Fox, has tapped marketing agency, Blitz, and Adobe Flash developer, gskinner.com, to develop an Adobe Flash/Adobe AIR-based interactive/augmented reality application to promote its new show, "Dollhouse."
--Apps Let Users Discover Points of Interest, View Nearby Tweets and Flickr Photos, Capture Fairies
A number of new augmented reality applications for the Apple iPhone have launched in the Apple App Store over the past few days, now that that technology is officially supported by the device (thanks to the release this month of iPhone OS 3.1). They include:
--Alcatel-Lucent Trumpets Work on Vodafone Portugal's Mediaroom-Powered IPTV Service
--Amino IPTV Set-Top Boxes Selected by Tele2 Netherlands
--BBC Switch Revamps its Web Portal
--beActive Launches Multiplatform Thriller, Featuring Social and AR Elements
--Blockbuster in VOD Alliance with Suddenlink and Mediacom
--Epix Launches Initiative to Create Largest Online Movie Catalog
--Five, UEFA, Livestation Launch Europa League iPhone/iPod touch App
--HBO Launches "HBO Imagine" Interactive Video Experience
--Hillcrest Labs Launches New Products for OEM's
--Hulu Launches Social TV Apps for Facebook Users, "Continuous Play" Feature
--Inverto Supporting HbbTV
--IP Vision in Over-the-Top Deal with Disney for FetchTV
--MTV Releases Usage Stats for VMA Interactive Enhancements
--SBS Launches Avatar-Driven Interactive TV Show
--Ex-Bebo Chief, Joanna Shields, Tapped for New Social TV Venture
--Telecom New Zealand to Offer Customers TiVo DVR's
--Time Warner's Bewkes Dismisses Content Providers' TV Everywhere Complaints
--UFC Teams with MobiTV on iPhone/iPod touch App
--Ustream Launches Mobile Streaming App for Android
--ZillionTV to Target Consumers Directly, Pushes Back Launch to 2H 2010
The [itvt] editorial team is currently traveling in the UK, and, because of time constraints, we are covering a number of this issue's news stories in round-up/summary form. We anticipate some additional interruption of our regular news publishing schedule in the coming days, so we apologize in advance for any inconvenience to our readers. Here is the round-up:
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[i]Database
 Our [itvt] free industry database called The [i]Database contains many listings of operators, broadcasters, software developers, design firms, manufacturers, Web sites, consultancies and many more organizations and people working in the interactive multiplatform TV industry. Upload your company or yourself!
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