EU funds AV animation creation

A novel set of tools developed by a team of EU-funded researchers has given artists and media professionals the means to create a quality audio-visual animation at a fraction of the time and cost, reports Cordis.

The tools allow a user to choose their character's facial expressions, physical attributes, and even the pitch of their voice.

The 'intelligent content' technology was developed under the SALERO ('Semantic audio-visual entertainment reusable objects') project, which was funded 8.85 million euros through the EU's 'Information society technologies' Theme of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6).

CSR says that Sennheiser, headphone manufacturer, is using its apt-X audio technology to bring CD-quality sound to the new Sennheiser PXC 360 BT stereo headphones, states Market Watch.

Sennheiser is employing apt-X codec on the BlueCore 5-Multimedia audio platform from CSR to provide superior audio quality via Bluetooth wireless technology.

This is designed for use with mobile phones, MP3 players, iPod, iPhone, computer games, and laptops.

Audio Agent is helping estate agents in the UAE do the same for online property advertising, as local distributors for the revolutionary new AudioTours service, says Ameinfo.com.

This was developed by a team of technical experts at London-based Audio Agent in close consultation with practising agents, and now being rolled out internationally.

AudioTours is said to harness the power of the spoken word to online property slideshows to create a hugely powerful interactive presentation tool, which has the appeal and impact of a TV or cinema ad for a fraction of the cost.