We've had quite a few calls over the past couple of weeks regarding Avid's use of USB dongles, and whether or not they pose the same security risk as a thumb drive. This was prompted by a worm that recently spread through Department of Defense networks.
Avid's dongles, manufactured by SafeNet, do look similar to a USB thumb drive, but they do not pose the same security risk.
The SafeNet website has a support document that states Sentinal Keys (dongles) do not have security implications in environments where read/write memory devices are not allowed:
The Sentinel Hardware Keys (SHK), SuperPro, UltraPro and other Sentinel tokens (both Parallel Port and USB) are proprietary security devices, which are used by a specific application to ensure that each user of the application has the rights to run the application. It is only this specific access information that can be stored on the key. The key cannot be used as a data storage device, either to upload data to a computer, or download data from a computer.
At no time does any other application, parts of the Operating System or system’s user have direct access to the key’s memory. Nor can the key’s memory be used as a generic storage area. The only way to use the key’s memory is through our specific APIs, and with a specifically protected application.
If you or your agency have questions or concerns regarding the security of Avid software or systems, please contact the Avid Government Solutions Team at 1-800-497-2843.
Join Avid at the 2008 Government Video Expo in Washington, DC, on December 3rd and 4th. Avid will be showcasing HD workflows with the latest camera technologies, including Sony's XDCAM HD, Panasonic P2, and HDV. We'll also be demonstrating authoring of DVD and Blu-ray disks with Avid DVD, and compressing HD media with Sorenson Squeeze. We'll have a mix of Windows and Macintosh laptops in our booth, so you'll have a chance to test drive Media Composer 3.0 software on both platforms. We'll have Symphony Nitris DX, demonstrating finishing, multi-cam, and color correction. You can also explore the possibilities of powerful, collaborative workflows with Avid Unity MediaNetwork and Avid Interplay.
GV Expo is at the Washington, DC Convention Center on December 3rd and 4th. If you're planning to stop by, send us an email at government@avid.com and we'll send you a coupon for a free exhibit pass and a $50 discount on a full-conference pass.
Hope to see you at GV Expo!
The Avid Government Solutions team is hosting a 2-hour seminar in Jacksonville, NC, in the Downey Room at the Jacksonville Country Club. The seminar is scheduled for Thursday, September 18th, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
The seminar will focus on new HD technologies for government video professionals.
The
latest HD and file-based video formats offer more than just better
images. They enable powerful workflows that allow you to work faster
than ever before - on a laptop in the field, or in robust media
production networks.
High-definition Blu-ray and HD podcasting
are also changing the way media is distributed. Join us for a 2-hour
seminar and explore these new technologies:
- HDV: Low-cost high-definition acquisition and editing
- Sony XDCAM: File-based media acquisition on optical disks
- Sony XDCAM EX and Panasonic P2: File-based media acquisition on memory cards
- Blu-ray authoring- HD encoding for Web delivery- Real-time HD editing technologies
- Media production networks and asset management
You'll also have the opportunity to see Media Composer Nitris DX.
Government
video professionals can register for this New Video Technologies
Seminar online. Space is limited, so sign up soon. We look forward to
seeing you in Jacksonville!
The Avid Government Solutions team is hosting a 2-hour seminar in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel on Tuesday, September 16th, 2008, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
The seminar will focus on new HD technologies for government video professionals.
The latest HD and file-based video formats offer more than just better images. They enable powerful workflows that allow you to work faster than ever before - on a laptop in the field, or in robust media production networks.
High-definition Blu-ray and HD podcasting are also changing the way media is distributed. Join us for a 2-hour seminar and explore these new technologies:
- HDV: Low-cost high-definition acquisition and editing
- Sony XDCAM: File-based media acquisition on optical disks
- Sony XDCAM EX and Panasonic P2: File-based media acquisition on memory cards
- Blu-ray authoring- HD encoding for Web delivery- Real-time HD editing technologies
- Media production networks and asset management
You'll also have the opportunity to see Media Composer Nitris DX.
Government video professionals can register for this New Video Technologies Seminar online. Space is limited, so sign up soon. We look forward to seeing you in Norfolk!
UPDATE: Sorry, I guess it would help if I include the link! You can register here.
The Avid Government Solutions team is hosting a 2-hour seminar in San Diego at the US Grant Hotel on Tuesday, September 9th, 2008, from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.
The seminar will focus on new HD technologies for government video professionals.
The latest HD and file-based video formats offer more than just better images. They enable powerful workflows that allow you to work faster than ever before – on a laptop in the field, or in robust media production networks.
High-definition Blu-ray and HD podcasting are also changing the way media is distributed. Join us for a 2-hour seminar and explore these new technologies:
- HDV: Low-cost high-definition acquisition and editing
- Sony XDCAM: File-based media acquisition on optical disks
- Sony XDCAM EX and Panasonic P2: File-based media acquisition on memory cards
- Blu-ray authoring- HD encoding for Web delivery- Real-time HD editing technologies
- Media production networks and asset management
You'll also have the opportunity to see Media Composer Nitris DX.
Government video professionals can register for this New Video Technologies Seminar online. Space is limited, so sign up soon. We look forward to seeing you in San Diego!
A team of Avid customers at the Idaho State Police have been working with Avid systems since the mid 1990s. They have the ability to take the most mundane subjects (vehicle inspections and the handling of hazardous materials) and turn them into very entertaining videos. They spoof Jerry Springer, home shopping channels, red carpet interviews and more. You can see a highlight reel from the Idaho State Police Multimedia Group on their website. Today, the Idaho State Police work on 2 Macintosh-based Media Composers with a Unity MediaNetwork providing the shared storage.
Avid is hosting its New Thinking Road Show in Washington, DC on Wednesday, June 4th from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. This is a great chance to get an up-close look at Avid's new Media Composer 3.0 software and the new Mojo DX and Nitris DX hardware. The Avid Government Solutions team will be there and we look forward to meeting you.
When:
Wednesday, June 4th
6:30pm to 9:30pm
Where:
The Ronald Reagan Building Rotunda Room
1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC.
You can reserve your seat for Avid's DC Roadshow by clicking here.
Hope to see you there!
I recently had the honor of attending the 2008 Defense Communicators of Excellence Awards. The annual competition, hosted at the Defense Information School (DINFOS) at Fort Meade, Maryland, honors the best military journalists, graphic artists, photographers, videographers and broadcast journalists.
At the end of this year's ceremony, they played a video honoring Department of Defense communicators who've paid the ultimate price for freedom. More than 100 communicators have died in action since DINFOS was founded in 1946, including 9 who have died in the War on Terror.
As we celebrate Memorial Day with our families, it's important to take
a moment to remember why we really observe this holiday – to remember
those brave men and women who have died defending our freedom.
This video, produced by the Defense Information School, remembers the heroes who have lived and died for their craft.
When Media Composer 3.0 ships next month, you'll notice a few changes to the interface. They're minor changes, designed to make it easier for new Avid editors to quickly identify the intended purpose of particular icons. For veteran Avid editors, there's one change in particular that will be met with a bit of sadness: the death of the iconic "lift" icon. The weight lifter icon is going away.
Greg Staten has written a great post on the Media Composer 3.0 interface changes. The last line to his post is the best: "My apologies to those of you out there who will miss the little guy.
He's on his way to the place where the purple triangle lives." (For new Avid customers... the purple triangle refers to the old Avid logo that joined the iconic graveyard in the late 90's.)
We've been on the road for the past couple of weeks. First it was Las Vegas, where we unveiled the new Media Composer 3.0 software, which Avid will be shipping in June. Then we spent a week at the 2008 Department of Defense Visual Information Conference in Baltimore. At both shows, one of the features Avid Government customers were most excited about was the SubCap Tool, which will be shipping with Media Composer 3.0 in June.
The SubCap Tool lets you easily create on-screen subtitles for Section 508 compliance, or for visual translations of foreign dialog. You drop the SubCap tool on your top-most video track and then point it to an EBU-N19 formatted subtitle log file (.STL). You can set the font size, color and placement. Hit play and you have real-time open captions. You can also use the SubCap Tool to create subtitles from scratch, if you don't already have a log file. When you're done, you can export a subtitle file (.STL) for quick creation of subtitles in DVD authoring applications.
Click here for a quick demo of the new SubCap Tool.
The SubCap Tool will be included with Media Composer 3.0, which will be available for download in June for current Media Composer customers with Support contracts. Avid Xpress Pro customers can upgrade and download Media Composer 3.0 for $318 on Avid's GSA Schedule, or purchase a box with documentation and third-party applications for $399. Upgrades are also available from Avid Xpress DV and Avid Liquid. For more information, contact the Avid Government Solutions Team at 800-497-2843.
The iPhone Atlas blog has a posting today about a cool free service that turns RSS feeds into iPhone web apps.
You simply enter an RSS feed URL, press the "generate app" button, and voila! Instant iPhone web app from any RSS feed.
Here's the Government Video Update Blog iPhone Web App.
There is a one slight problem with the app... All postings are dated Wednesday, December 31st, 1969. But other than that, it's a pretty slick service to automatically reformat RSS feeds so they're easier to read on the iPhone, and take advantage of Web App CSS features, such as sliding screens between the headlines and the actual blog postings.
