Silanis Technology (http://www.silanis.com/index.html), a provider of electronic signature process management solutions to the insurance industry, says the iPad will remove the final hurdle for achieving mass adoption of electronic signatures in the agent channel -- a move that will significantly reduce application cycle times, not-in-good-order (NIGO) applications, and processing costs.

"While some of our insurance customers are seeing solid e-signature adoption rates in their agent channel, it lags the 90% adoption that the direct-to-consumer channel is seeing,” says Silanis CEO Tommy Petrogiannis. “The iPad promises to significantly drive acceptance upward."

The high cost of proprietary tablet PCs and limited internet connectivity have made it more difficult for agents to drop their pens in favor of a paperless, electronic process when closing business with customers in their...

At this week's NAB show in Las Vegas, Nvidia (http://www.nvidia.com) has unveiled its new Quadro Digital Video Pipeline, a a turnkey system which dramatically simplifies and accelerates the production of live 3D broadcasts.

It's designed to solve the complexity of acquiring, processing and delivering both traditional and 3D content by leveraging Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs). Quadro Digital Video Pipeline features include:

° Acquisition: it ingests four HD-SDI feeds (or two stereoscopic 3D feeds) simultaneously, using the GPU to debayer raw camera data in real-time, so directors see the highest quality, color corrected images.

° Processing: it renders and composites real-time 3D graphics, virtual effects and transitions;

° Delivery: it outputs right eye and left eye HD-SDI streams with audio, for immediate previewing and broadcasting.
 
The Quadro Digital Video...

At this week's NAB show in Las Vegas, AJA Video (http://www.aja.com) -- a manufacturer of professional video interface and conversion solutions, has collaborated with Avid to enable the AJA Ki Pro portable digital video recording device to record Apple ProRes 422 QuickTime files that are directly compatible with Avid Media Composer and Symphony systems via the Avid Media Access (AMA) architecture.

The company has also introduced five new Mini Coverter products and a team-up with CineForm.

The AJA Ki Pro is a portable, rugged tapeless video recording device that records high-quality Apple ProRes 422 QuickTime files onto computer-friendly media. It connects production directly with post by enabling filmmakers, broadcasters, video professionals and prosumers to skip the process of re-rendering to an editing codec by providing immediate access to full raster edit-ready files directly from camera. Through its AMA...

Tension Software (http://pomola.com/products_privatecontact/privatecontact.html) has updated Private Contact, a native Cocoa software to manage an address book in an encrypted form in Mac OS X (10.4 and higher), to version 2.3. The upgrade adds: autorecovery documents; preferences improvements; and a resizable category panel.

With Private Contact informations inside documents, relative to various persons, can be read only by the Mac owner. In case of unauthorized access or theft of the Mac, the data inside Private Contact documents can’t be read without the proper master password.

Private Contact uses the powerful Blowfish algorithm to encrypt data. It's Universal Binary so runs natively on both PowerPC and Intel Macs.

Private Contact can be purchased for US$25. Version 2.3 is a free update to registered users of...

URC (http://www.UniversalRemote.com) -- which specializes in remote control technology, has announced that its Network Series keypads and remote controls all fully automate AV systems connected to a Mac, PC or Apple TV via conventional wires, or wirelessly via Apple’s AirPort Express.

Touch one colorful icon on the screen of a URC network remote control to automatically activate the TV, start the audio system, and select the correct settings and inputs, so that you can see the video or listen to the music without any technical knowledge of how the AV system operates. URC remotes display color screens that let you browse, select and play anything on iTunes, even though the PC, Mac or Apple TV may be in a completely different room.

URC’s Network Series of 2-way controllers -- the MX-6000 Touch Screen, the MX-5000 Touch Screen Remote and the KP-4000 In-Wall Touch Screen Keypad Controller...

The National Association of Photoshop Professionals, or NAPP (http://www.photoshopuser.com), has launched its new Adobe Photoshop CS5 Learning Center (http://www.photoshopuser.com/cs5), in conjunction with Adobe’s official announcement, with a week of live streaming webinars and giveaways of Adobe CS5.

The NAPP Adobe Photoshop CS5 Learning Center features 16 in-depth tutorials on Photoshop CS5’s most talked about features including: content aware fill and healing, the new HDR pro, single image HDR, refine edge, Camera Raw noise removal, layers and bridge improvements, the new puppet warp, the new mixer brush and more.

“CS5 is the biggest, most important Photoshop update in years. With so many cool new features, we wanted to give everyone the most comprehensive CS5 resource we possibly could,” saysScott...

A special MacJury (http://www.macjury.com) convened to discuss the many aspects of the iPad.

This isn't just discussion of iPad first impressions. The topics included iPad sharing, etiquette, the need for a guest mode, the iPad as a physical object, and the many places you will want to use your iPad. Where the iPad fits in your digital life, whether it is a new, replacement or convergence device, the most fashionable ways to tote your iPad, and more were entered into evidence.

The session concluded with each MacJuror revealing their favorite aspect of the iPad (guess who compared it to, "eating pudding with your fingers"), talking about why what you do with it when you aren't using the iPad is important, and the unusual way the "TidBITS" crew obtained their iPads. The panel for this session included: Mark Anbinder, Jeff Carlson, Adam Engst, Tonya Engst, Glenn Fleishman, Joe Kissell, Rich Mogull, Matt...

Mozaik Multimedia MovieBuddy and !Content (http://www.mozaik.com) are two new technologies that enable consumers to use iPhones and iPad, in addition to a standard remote control, to interact with in-movie brands and products in an immersive home environment.

Today’s generation is consuming video in a multi-screen, multi-tasking environment. With Mozaik !Content technology, consumers can learn more about products, people and places they see on the screen, instantly shop and share them via Facebook, Twitter or email. The Mozaik MovieBuddy iPad and iPhone application will integrate all these activities into a seamless, intuitive experience never seen before, says Paulette Pantoja, CEO and founder of BluFocus.

Mozaik Multimedia’s !Content is an end-to-end software solution for media and entertainment industries as well as service providers that's deployed across multiple platforms, connecting the...

Toon Boom Animation has released Toon Boom Animate Pro 2.0 (http://www.toonboom.com/products/animatepro/), an update of its high-performance animation software for professionals.

New feature highlights include: fast distribution of character parts to layers; the ability to adjust velocity on multiple character parts; efficient creation of richer-looking ambiance; full-fledged SWF export with new vector effects; direct import of scanned drawings (TWAIN); and expanded text capability.

Animate Pro 2.0 is designed for serious animators, offering award winning state-of-the-art content creation, animation and compositing toolset for any animation style within a single all-in-one desktop application, says Toon Boom President/CEO Joan Vogelesang. She says it combines state-of-the-art vector technology, real-time animation tools and nodal compositing to simplify the...

Sanyo (http://www.sanyo.com) will launch two new Dual Camera Xacti, the DMX-CG100 and DMX-GH1 on April 16. With slim and compact designs, the new models capture Full HD video and high-resolution photos, based on the Dual Camera concept of taking both videos and photos with one camera.

The cameras utilize a video format (MPEG-4 AVC/H.264) that can be handled on computer and Internet environments, as well as on home TVs. The new Xactis can capture both Full HD video (1920 x 1080) and 14 mega-pixel photos.

The new models are equipped with Sanyo’s proprietary “Double Range Zoom” feature for zoom operation while filming video. With a touch of the Zoom Range Button, this technology allows users to switch between two zoom ranges, a Wide Mode (40 mm to 240 mm) and a Tele Mode (80 mm to 480 mm), which changes the size of the video capture area on the image sensor. As a result, the new models offer ae range of...

Here are the latest iPhone/iPod touch/iPod/iPad apps announced. You can find 'em at the Apple App Store (http://www.itunes.com/appstore/).

Serving Sizer Pro is a new US$2.99 recipe cards for the iPad. It lets you organize recipe cards, handwritten family recipes, and recipe clippings in one place. You can change the serving size at any time and the whole recipe is converted instantly.

SlothMedia has announced KosmicMath-Education 1.0 for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad devices. The $14.99 app is a space exploration game that reinforces mathematical scope and sequence requirements covering preschool through fourth grade.

Bigredshoes has released Smackup! 1.0 for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad. The game lets you test your skill by throwing punches at an obnoxious, insulting, loud-mouthed jerk as he bobs and weaves behind a podium. There is a lite (free) and a full version ($0.99)...

The iPad is in the wild! Unfortunately, Apple updated my billing address but not my shipping address. So, my pre-ordered 32GB model wandered in on TUES afternoon. But I'm making up for lost time!

Again, I have to apologize for the lateness of this episode. Busy doing podcasts for Macsimum News, Op-Eds for Mac OSG and some meanderings for My Apple Space.

Then, of course, there's all the time that I spend trying to land a real job and soliciting heart donations for Dick Cheyney.

This episode; Philly band, IKE, singer Lili Añel and an operatic cat. A splendid time was had by all. Except by those who attended.

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