OCTOPUS Newsroom Is To Launch New Features At NAB

Newsroom computer system specialist OCTOPUS Newsroom is launching new features at NAB 2012 that expand the capabilities of its OCTOPUS6 newsroom computer system.
All the features presented at NAB will be released in a new version of OCTOPUS6.2 and available to customers one month after the show.
OCTOPUS On The Move
The latest version OCTOPUS6 supports two popular mobile platforms, smart phones and tablet computers. Each allows increased mobility and connectivity so newsmakers can work more efficiently, effectively and with the freedom of no wires.
The innovative OCTOPUS Tablet, new at NAB, offers tablet-based operation for OCTOPUS6, making specific live information from the newsroom system available on iPads and Android tablets. This is designed to provide studio floor personnel, including the anchor, with the fully up-to-date information they need to run the news on-air.
OCTOPUS Tablet is a tablet client for the established OCTOPUS6. It makes available a selection of live data from the newsroom system that is vital for many areas of the news operation including those on the studio floor, the director and anchor. Three screens; Rundown (view), Anchor (view) and Media (view) show the live status of these three areas that are forever changing as the news evolves. These display the latest versions direct from the newsroom system, of the rundown, the anchor’s script and available media in the form of graphics and video footage. When information in these areas is updated in the newsroom system so are the three tablet views, keeping everyone everywhere in the studio up to date and in-step with the news.
OCTOPUS Tablet adds to OCTOPUS Newsroom’s mobility that started with OCTOPUS Mobile for iPhone and smart phones on the Android platform - integrating mobile devices into the news workflow. It allows journalists to work on their stories in the field with just a phone in their hands. Today, this application offers the most efficient tool for news production for low costs and fast results. With OCTOPUS Mobile just one journalist equipped with his mobile phone can cover an entire story from anywhere there is a suitable mobile phone service.
OCTOPUS Mobile is an offline/online client that can be used in places with no internet connection or when preparing a story on the go. Journalists can browse wires, write a story, add video, pictures, sound, etc. When finished, the story is simply sent to OCTOPUS6.
Event Calendar – Never Miss A Date
In a move to further increase the efficiency of newsmaking, Event Calendar has been introduced to prompt newsmakers with reminders and details of upcoming events with a service that is integrated into the OCTOPUS6 NRCS. Tapping the Internet, the calendar can access a wide variety of events coming from the user’s selection of various sources. This can provide a whole new flow of information that is available in the newsroom, complementing the services provided by the traditional wire services.
Event Calendar can source its material from established information websites to gather notice of press conferences and briefings, sports events, financial data, weather events, etc., to fit with the needs of the station’s news.
Reports - Management Information System (MIS)
Reports allows managers to set up reports that detail operations on selected aspects of the OCTOPUS6 newsroom system operation, and delivers the required details back to the manager. For example, such information could be used to identify any bottlenecks in the news workflow, or where there may be spare capacity. It could also be set to report the volume of resources used for each story, bulletin or day, the volume storage and output per story or department, or to report by topic such as finance, sport, politics, etc. Reports allows managers to get a picture of how the newsroom system is used and may contribute to improved workflows and greater efficiency.
www.octopus.com
(LB/GK)