“Auto Racing Headlines - Rotoworld.com” plus 4 more

Auto Racing Headlines - Rotoworld.com
IBC 2009: Harris Touts European Strength Amidst Soft U.S. Sales - Broadcasting Cable
DRIV3R Hints II (PS2) - Softpedia
American Axle stock jumps after upgrade - Detroit Free Press
Fairbanks ending mandatory vehicle inspections - Fort Mill Times

Auto Racing Headlines - Rotoworld.com

Posted: 11 Sep 2009 08:39 AM PDT

Draft Randomizer - Randomly generate your draft order now.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

IBC 2009: Harris Touts European Strength Amidst Soft U.S. Sales - Broadcasting Cable

Posted: 11 Sep 2009 08:24 AM PDT

Nets traffic deal with Discovery, targets digital transmitter opportunity

By Glen Dickson -- Broadcasting & Cable, 9/11/2009 11:21:43 AM EDT

IBC Amsterdam 2009: Complete Coverage of the IBC Show

After experiencing a downturn in sales in the U.S. broadcast market over the past year, broadcast conglomerate Harris is focusing on growth opportunities overseas and in finding new customers in non-broadcast markets, said president Tim Thorsteinson at IBC on Thursday.

Fiscal year 2009, which ended for Harris on June 30, was a difficult one, said Thorsteinson. Besides seeing fewer large system orders due to the general economic malaise, Harris also saw its U.S. transmitter business drop off in the second half of the fiscal year as broadcasters have now completed the digital TV transition.

So Harris Broadcast, which used to get 60% of its revenues from the U.S., is transitioning its business to eventually be 75% international.

"It's a big transition for us, and we're going to be shifting resources from the U.S. market to elsewhere," said Thorsteinson.

One international growth opportunity for Harris is selling transmitters in countries that haven't yet completed the switch to digital. At IBC, the company is showing two new VHF models from its solid-state platinum line aimed at digital TV and digital radio applications. They incorporate Harris' PowerSmart technology to consume some 20-40% less power than previous generations. Harris will also be building transmitters at a new plant in Brazil.

Harris' EMEA (Europe-Middle East-Africa) business was one bright spot in fiscal 2009, recording 5% year-on-year growth in revenues. Sky Media, for example, is now using Harris' Landmark sales software to manage ad sales across 192 channels, and Harris announced at IBC that Discovery Networks will also be adopting the Landmark system to manage ad sales for its European operations.

Harris also announced some new EMEA sales in the European mobile truck market, including a large shipment of infrastructure gear to German television channel ZDF for an HD upgrade of its mobile production department, ZDF Mobile Produktions Einheit (MPE), and the integration of a new hi-definition OB (outside broadcast) van for L'Opera Broadcast Video Service in Italy.

ZDF's Harris purchase included signal processing equipment, routers, multiviewers, distribution amplifiers and optical fiber test tools. The new gear was installed in ZDF MPE's modular mobile rack equipment bundles, which can be configured-to-order and shipped to a variety of venues for special event coverage. They were used in ZDF MPE's mobile broadcast of the 12th IAAF track and field world championships in Berlin last month.

The Harris gear in L'Opera's new "OB 5 HD", which is on display in IBC's outside broadcast area at IBC, includes a 256x256 Harris Platinum 3-gig-capable router; Centrio multiviewer; Videotek VTM-4100 advanced audio/HD video test tool; two X75 all-in-one processors for up/down/cross conversion; "6800+" advanced core processing platform modules for auto-sensing SD/HD audio multiplexing; an Inscriber TitleOne graphics system; and Harris CCS Navigator software for centralized equipment configuration and setup.

Harris is introducing about 20 new products at the show. Most notable are the X50 frame synchronizer/converter, a one-rack unit (1RU) device which features up-, down-, and cross-conversion with optional 1080p 3 Gb/s support; and the Nexio Volt, a 1RU server that has four input/outputs and provides direct access to larger Nexio shared storage networks.

Harris has continued to see strong interest from U.S. broadcasters in providing mobile DTV services, says marketing VP Brian Cabeceiras, and has shipped some 25 to 30 mobile DTV systems to date.

We would love your feedback!

Post a comment

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

DRIV3R Hints II (PS2) - Softpedia

Posted: 11 Sep 2009 08:03 AM PDT

DRIV3R, also known as Driver 3, is a videogame created by Reflections Interactive and published by Atari. It was released for the PlayStation 2 console from Sony, the original Xbox from Microsoft, the Game Boy, the PC (a Game Cube version was also in production but got canceled). The game was also later ported to mobile phones. It was initially released in June 2005 and classed as a racing title played from a first and a third person perspective. Driver 3 incorporates elements of a shooter, fighting and spy adventure game.

The third iteration in the series builds upon the legacy of Driver 2, allowing the gamer to again play the undercover cop who infiltrates an international band of thieves and is determined to get them to face justice. The main character is Tanner, the cop known from the previous releases, but one mission allows players to also control Tobias Jones.

Some of the cars that could be used in the game, although not named as such, are: 1969 Ford Mustang, 1975 Pontiac Firebird, Citroen CX, Aston Martin DB5, U-Haul Semi Truck, Ferrari Testarossa Convertible, Renault Alpine, Lamborghini Jalpa, BMW 507, Seat Ibiza, General Motors New Look Bus, Lamborghini Countach, Ford GT40, Shelby Cobra, a go-kart, Volkswagen Microbus, a hot rod, a forklift, a pre-war Auto Union race car and a Bugatti Royale.

DRIV3R was widely criticized by the gaming press because of the poor implementation of the missions that do not involve driving around a car and because of the Artificial Intelligence, which relies very much on cheating.

GAMEPLAY HINTS

Istanbul: Euro race car

Start at the location near Topkapi and Sehzedabasi. Go to the first street and turn right. Go to the highway entrance, the first street, and turn right again. Go to the second to the last street, just before the railroad tracks, and stop. You will see a building and railroad cars on your right. Go in there. Go between the railroad car and the building to get to the front. Go to the fifth big open door and you will see a container on the floor. The car is behind that container.

Here's a video:

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

American Axle stock jumps after upgrade - Detroit Free Press

Posted: 11 Sep 2009 08:10 AM PDT

Shares of Detroit-based American Axle & Manufacturing Inc. jumped this morning after Barclays Capital auto analyst Brian Johnson upgraded the suppliers stock citing expectations that truck sales will rise in the near future.

Truck sales, Johnson said, are poised to rebound, with an anticipated uptick in construction. There also is a chance that automakers could boost incentives on pickups this fall, Johnson wrote in a note to investors.

Any boost in truck sales, particularly of General Motors trucks, would benefit American Axle, which relies on full-size trucks for most of its revenue.

The companys shares, which trade under the symbol AXL, jumped $1.30 or 20% by midmorning to $7.62.

American Axle, however, continues to operate on the brink of bankruptcy, as it tries to negotiate more lenient loan terms from its lenders.

The supplier could receive some help from GM, its largest customer.

If American Axle can reach a deal with lenders, GM has pledged up to $210 million in payments and loans to the supplier.

American Axle has received several extensions to reach that deal with lenders, and now has until Sept. 15.

Even if another extension was required, we do not foresee any issues preventing AXL from getting an agreement in the end, Johnson wrote in a note to investors.

Contact JEWEL GOPWANI: 313-223-4550 or jgopwani@freepress.com.

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Fairbanks ending mandatory vehicle inspections - Fort Mill Times

Posted: 11 Sep 2009 08:17 AM PDT

FAIRBANKS, Alaska The Fairbanks Borough Assembly voted to end a mandatory vehicle inspection program in January.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reports Thursday's vote came despite a protest from auto shop owner Jim Harbaugh who said more pollution controls are needed to reduce air pollution.

Harbaugh owns Peger Road I/M & Auto Repair and said he's heard estimates that one-fourth of the city's "fine particulate" pollution could come from car and truck emissions.