CyberLink set to dominate Win 8 media utilities
Windows 8 promises a new kind of pre-installed software next month, with the latest operating system featuring third-party pre-installed apps for the tiled interface formerly known as Metro.
This will be in addition to the often unwanted software pre-installed on the Windows desktop, although some programs, such as those being promised by CyberLink, are likely to prove superior to the Windows accessories included by Microsoft. Read more
Cyberlink’s speedier PowerDirector 10
Rendering and encoding video can still seem to take the longest time even with today’s multi-core processors and faster graphics chips, with software often not written well enough to squeeze the maximum out of the hardware.
This makes much improved rendering in Cyberlink’s PowerDirector 10, introduced on Tuesday, a key feature of this upgrade of the well-established movie editing program.
Serve-yourself media plays on iPhone, Android
The number of ways to transfer and enjoy your personal media on any device continues to grow.
Cyberlink this week announced significant improvements to its MediaEspresso transcoding software, which formats PC files for smartphones and portable media players. Or if you prefer streaming media directly from your PC to your portable device, there are new options from PlayOn, ZumoCast and HomePipe. Read more
The suite life of backup and transcoding
With improved multimedia handling in Windows 7 and plenty of free options for manipulating video and photos, media software companies have their work cut out persuading consumers to pay extra money for their products.
Nero, with its Multimedia Suite 10 launched on Monday, and Cyberlink, with its PowerDVD 10 are the latest to try. Read more
Video software for the Flip generation
Consumers worldwide spent nearly half a billion dollars on digital video software last year, according to a new study by John Peddie Research.
The firm predicts flat spending this year, partly due to the economic downturn but also because “consumers have made it very clear that they are not interested in difficult-to-use video editing software.” Read more
Real converts media player to fight commoditisation
RealNetworks is piling on the functionality of its RealPlayer software in the face of strong competition for its well known video and audio player.
Apple announced Quicktime X this month, adding editing capabilities to its player. Mozilla’s Firefox 3.5 browser now has the same ability as RealPlayer to download web video. Meanwhile Apple, Mozilla and Google are pursing HTML5 standards that can do away with the need for separate video-playing software and plug-ins. Read more
| About this blog | Blog guide |
Richard Waters has headed the FT's San Francisco bureau since 2002 and covers Google and Microsoft, among other things. A former New York bureau chief for the FT, he is intrigued by Silicon Valley's unique financial and business culture, and is looking forward to covering his second Tech Bust.
Chris Nuttall has been online and messing around with computers for more than 20 years and since 2004 has reported from the FT's San Francisco bureau on semiconductors, video games, consumer electronics and all things interwebby.
Maija Palmer has been writing about technology for the FT since 1999 and is fascinated by cybercrime, privacy and all the other issues of the information society. Based in London, she covers European tech companies and hopes that they won't all get acquired by American rivals.
Robin Kwong is the FT's technology, media and telecoms page editor in London. Formerly he was the Taipei correspondent and wrote about the companies that manufacture the vast majority of the world's computers and gadgets. He is interested in the intricacies of the technology supply chain and how China is increasingly changing the tech landscape.
Tim Bradshaw is the FT's digital media correspondent, and has just moved from London to join our team in San Francisco. He has covered start-ups such as Twitter and Spotify, as well as the online ambitions of more established media companies, such as the BBC iPlayer. He also covers the advertising, marketing and video-game industries. Tim has been writing about technology, business and finance since 2003.
