HiDef DVD News VII - News Only : AND WE MEAN IT: NEWS ONLY

[los seres]

Warner Turns Green

Warner Home Video is pursuing a different kind of green.

Beginning April 1, WHV will begin using chlorine-free, 30% recycled paper in all of its DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray releases.

The studio said the switch will save enough energy to power 404 homes, prevent the emission of 43.4 million pounds of greenhouse gases, save 53,169 trees, conserve more than 19.3 million gallons of water and eliminate enough solid waste to fill 115 garbage trucks, annually.

Upcoming DVD releases of The Fountain and The Astronaut Farmer, and the HD DVD releases of The Ultimate Matrix Collection and The Complete Matrix Trilogy, among others, will incorporate a Warner Bros.-branded recycling logo.

Packaging for the DVD release of the Oscar-winning Happy Feet — a film that also includes conservation messages — was printed on recycled content.

“Warner Home Video has an ongoing charge to develop methods and practices that reinforce its commitment toward the use of renewable materials,” said president Ron Sanders. “We were fortunate to find an option that allowed us to go green without compromising quality; it’s a smart business move.”

[Talkstr8t]

This was originally announced for HD DVD, but no indication when that version is due.

Dragon's Lair Coming to Blu-ray Disc* in True 1080p HD

Dragon's Lair Coming to Blu-ray Disc* in True 1080p HD
Fully Interactive on Sony PlayStation 3* and Blu-ray* Movie Players

GORMLEY, Ontario , Canada (March 26, 2007 )

High Definition gaming has arrived! Dragon's Lair continues to revolutionize the video-game industry by becoming the first game title ever to be released for the Blu-ray* Disc High Definition format using BD-J.

An instant hit in its 1983 arcade debut, Dragon's Lair has now been digitally restored and enhanced with an all-new 5.1 surround sound mix. The video has been transferred directly from the original film and cleaned frame by frame by Digital Leisure and authoring studio Infinite HD, creating a truly vibrant image. In addition, Dragon's Lair is the first release to be authored in the Blu-ray Java environment, or BD-J, an advanced format that allows users to enjoy a fully arcade-authentic experience .

“I've seen the newly restored footage and it just looks amazing” says Don Bluth, original creator of Dragon's Lair. “It looks even better than I can remember. The visuals, the 5.1 surround sound audio, all I can say is ‘Wow!' Now a whole new generation can enjoy Dragon's Lair all over again.”

All the special features on the disc are in full 1080p HD, including brand-new interviews with creators Don Bluth, Gary Goldman and Rick Dyer, and even a full length visual commentary of the game.

Digital Leisure plans to follow up Dragon's Lair Blu-ray with the release of Space Ace and Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp in the Blu-ray format.

Dragons's Lair Blu-ray will be available April 9th at softare and movie retailers as well as online at www.digitalleisure.com.

Digital Leisure is a leading publisher of interactive video-based titles. The company remasters video-intensive titles that benefit from the superior video and audio quality of DVD and the newest High Definition formats.

*Sony and PlayStation 3 are a registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc and/or other Sony subsidiaries. Blu-ray is a trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association

Press Contact:

Paul Gold
Digital Leisure Inc.
905.888.9550 x83
paul@digitaleisure.com

Related Links:
www.digitalleisure.com www.infinitehd.com

Dragon's Lair Blu-ray will be available April 9th at many fine game retailers as well as at www.digitalleisure.com .

[tindizzle]

Sony announces improved BDP-S1E for Europe

adds HDMI 1.3, xvYCC, Dolby Digital Plus, CD playback

http://www.sony-europe.com/view/View...sReleaseDetail

[paxi]

70 HD-DVD titles announced thru July

http://dvd.themanroom.com/dvd-newsview.php?id=525

[Timothy Ramzyk]

From IMDB news

Studios Make Hi-Def Fare Available on Microsoft's Xbox
Microsoft plans to introduce an "elite" model of its Xbox360 game system that includes a 120GB hard drive -- six times larger than the current version -- and additional high-definition capability. It will have a suggested retail price of $479.99 when it becomes available beginning April 29. At the same time, Microsoft said that New Line Cinema has agreed to provide high-definition films for the Xbox Live downloading service. It will join Paramount, Warner Bros., and Lionsgate, who are already providing HD films for the service.

[2Channel]

Originally Posted by Talkstr8t

This was originally announced for HD DVD, but no indication when that version is due.

Dragon's Lair Coming to Blu-ray Disc* in True 1080p HD

http://www.digitalleisure.com/contents/comingSoon.htm

Expected summer release for HD-DVD version.

[mikemorel]

From Variety:

Katzenberg sees digital future

While many in Hollywood are arguing over whether Blu-ray or HD DVD will drive the future of home entertainment, Jeffrey Katzenberg has his answer: Neither.

Responding to a question at a Bank of America conference in New York on Wednesday, the DreamWorks Animation CEO told analysts that both formats are unlikely to appeal to anyone beyond videophiles.

"Blu-Ray and HD DVD are a niche business. They're not going to become the next platform," he said. "I think for the general consumer, there is not a big enough delta between the standard DVD in terms of where it is today and the next generation."

Comment isn't likely to win Katzenberg many friends among homevid execs, particularly those in the Blu-ray camp who have recently been declaring their side the winner in the format war as well as the inevitable future of optical media.
...

[mikemorel]

Video Business:

High-def player price cuts follow DVD

MARCH 30 | Prices for both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD hardware are falling faster than expected, at about the same rate of decline as standard-definition DVD players.

By December, player prices could be roughly half what they were last December, projects market researcher Understanding & Solutions.

By 2009, when the formats will have been in the market for three years each, stand-alone Blu-ray and HD DVD players and the PlayStation 3 should carry average prices of $200 to $300, according to Understanding & Solutions’ projections.

At the comparable three-year mark, DVD pricing was about $100 for entry-level players, but the players launched at a lower $550 average price in 1997.

“I think the rapid reduction of regular DVD pricing took many by surprise, and they felt this curve couldn’t be re-created with high-def, but at the moment, all evidence suggests that the price curve for the high-def formats is mirroring that of the DVD player,” said Jim Bottoms, director at Understanding & Solutions.

“Amazon.com is already quoting $350 for a [Toshiba] HD DVD player, and it has the Samsung Blu-ray player at $470. By fourth quarter, we will see sub-$300 for HD and sub-$400 for Blu-ray,” he said.
...

Sony also has announced it will roll out $599 Blu-ray players by this summer.

Retailer opinion varies on the high-def price slides.

[AV Doogie]

Probably beaten to death with previous articles but.....

More news about the Matrix High def movie sets
http://www.dailytech.com/The+Matrix+...rticle6648.htm

[AV Doogie]

Owc Launches New Blu-ray DVD/CD Drive Solutions

Blu-ray Internal and External Drive Solutions that are 100% compatible with any Windows or Mac system with an available IDE/ATAPI bay port

http://www.widescreenreview.com/news...l.php?id=13090

[los seres]

Blue Violet Laser Diodes Roll Out For Next Gen DVD

A team of University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) researchers led by Shuji Nakamura, a pioneer of laser diode science, has created a low-threshold-current, non-polar blue-violet laser diode that it says could replace the c-plane violet laser diodes used by Blu-ray and HD DVD.

The team's initial results indicate that the gallium nitride (GaN)-based non-polar laser diodes "require lower operating power and have longer lifetimes" than c-plane violet laser diodes, Nakamura said.

Indeed, he said, "it has been known for a long time that non-polar diodes are theoretically superior to c-plane-based laser diodes, specifically because they are free from polarization." But the years of effort invested in growing the crystalline material on non-polar planes have only recently yielded effective results, Nakamura said.

Nakamura's team from the Solid State Lighting and Display Center (SSLDC) at UCSB's College of Engineering reported the pulsed emission of a 405nm laser beam from a non-polar, m-plane laser diode. Rohm Co. Ltd immediately followed with an announcement that continuous lasing had been achieved at 404nm on a device grown on the m-plane.

[los seres]

Taiwan makers: US$499 blue-laser player models to be generally available in 2H07

Samsung Electronics lowered the retail price for its Blu-ray Disc (BD) player BP-1000 by about 48% to US$469.99 in late March of 2007 and in response, Toshiba immediately reduced the US retail price for its entry-level HD DVD player HD-A2 to US$399. The price competition will lead to the situation that many BD and HD DVD player models will be launched at US$499 or less during the second half of the year, according to Taiwan makers of optical disc drives.

With US$500 regarded as an indicator of market acceptance for optical disc drives, BD or HD DVD players for sale at US$499 or lower were originally expected to come up in the fourth quarter of 2007, the sources indicated. However, Toshiba took the initiative to launch an entry-level HD DVD player, HD-E1, at a retail price of US$499 early in March 2007, triggering the US$499 price competition two quarters earlier than originally expected, the sources pointed out.

[los seres]

CMC And Ritek conservative in producing blue-laser optical discs

Although Hitachi-LG Data Storage (HLDS), Toshiba-Samsung Storage Technology (TSST), Taiwan-based Lite-on IT and Japanese brands have been making efforts to lower production costs of Blu-ray Disc (BD) and HD DVD burners to promote the adoption of the two blue-laser standards, CMC Magnetics and Ritek, the top two makers of optical discs in Taiwan, are comparatively conservative about investing in the production of blank BD-R and/or HD DVD-R discs to match the potential demand for such burners, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

While CMC and Ritek are capable of producing blank BD and HD DVD discs, Sony, Mitsubishi Kagaku Media (MKM) and TDK currently dominate the global supply of such discs, the sources indicated.

As writing speeds of BD and HD DVD burners are expected to be upgraded from 2.4-4x currently to 6-8x and major brands may launch price competition in the second half of 2007, CMC's and Ritek's conservative attitude may result in a lag in the global supply of blank BD and HD DVD discs, the source pointed out.

[rdjam]

"Blu-ray Disc Specification Change Threatens Current Players"[

http://www.dailytech.com/Bluray+Disc...rticle6702.htm

"Blu-ray Disc Java is coming this fall, and it may be incompatible with some of today's machines"

“Blu-ray player requirements and BD-Java specifications have been gradually changed over and over again, which has caused a good amount of grief for player manufacturers,” said optical storage analyst Wesley Novack. “


[mod changed color back to default by popular demand]

[Kosty]

http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player...News&122&&&new

[amillians]

News--a week late--from the BDA's meeting in Fukuoka...well, news is such a *strong* word...more like tidbits...we don't have a tidbits thread, so this will have to do for now...as always, this is a fabrication of my mind...

-- The GPC reported that a recent survey indicated 90% of current owners have watched one or more BD movies on their PS3...more than 75% of current owners plan to use PS3 as a *primary* movie viewing device...72% of current PS3 owners also plan to rent one or more BD movies...and 100% of participants in this survey successfully answered correctly on the pre-survey survey

-- The GPC noted that they are expecting "key" next gen HW launches to accelerate sales in the U.S., including a next gen Panny set to launch soon...and it doesn't appear to be the BD10A

-- The GPC is going to add a lot more content to the BDA website..."adding significantly more consumer info while maintaining our (easily hackable) industry/BDA member areas"...they are also going to have a link/info page that centralizes all player firmware updates, to be managed by the BDA Playability Task Force, just as soon as they hire a few thousand people

-- Look for a new Blu-ray newsletter called...wait for it..."The Blu View"...there having some delays in launching its video counterpart, though...Rosie's allergic to the blue dye

-- The BDA has formally kicked off a new PR campaign called "Phase Hydra"....its purpose is to seed "high profile" forums with Blu-ray advocates and target bloggers to promote Blu-ray to get the word out to the world...the campaign will also focus on "smaller, independent studio issues"...

-- In other news, I think Blu-ray absolutely rocks...HD DVD was such a stupid idea...I don't know about you, but I feel like buying a few Blu-ray decks...RIGHT NOW!

-- BD-R v1.2 adds LtH (in groove) to the existing HtL (on groove) spec...for HtL, 4x is optional for SL and DL...but they had problems with LtH, so only 1x/2x is mandated for SL...there is no DL LtH at any speed...so, speed metal continues to rock...tie dye trippin is still slow and single

-- In an absolute shocker, for padded bits on BD50s, the Last User Data Address will be *different* from the last PSN of the Data Zone! Man...I never thought I'd see this happen...just when you think you've seen it all...

-- BD-RE Part 3 v2.0 "BDAV" now adds AVC support and an "HDMV compatible TS" to the mix to support longer recording of broadcast content...I assume AVC broadcast encoding is happening in Japan? Surely this can't be for transcoding on the fly...

-- Not a single word from the JTC about slipping Profile 1.1 to 10/31/07

-- The BD-ROM player test spec moves from 2.11 to 2.12 in May...tools for "Final Standard Profile" (AKA Profile 1.1) and ROM Profile 2 (AKA BD-Live) are still under continued development...as of June 2007, no test tools for either profile are expected to be approved, but compliance test dates are scheduled for this summer for both profiles...gee...I wonder why they slipped the Profile 1.1 mandatory cutover date...

-- ...when it turns out that they don't even need to test things anymore to get certification?!? The BDA has authorized a new "120 Day Notice Rule"...if a required test tool isn't available when a compliance test is scheduled, instead of delaying the test to wait for the tool, all test items which require the test tool are simply removed from the compliance test...only when the required tool is introduced, applicants must use the tool to test compliance, and then they have 120 days to report their results back to the BDA...so, let's see...do I really want to be the first on my block to have a Profile 1.1 or BD-Live player? Let us all pray to the temple of Firmware Updatability, for it is good...

-- Don't you hate it when you're a BD-ROM replicator, and you're legally liable for complying for all format books, but you can't check the logical layer of stuff these idiot content authors send you? Well, my friend, the BDA feels your pain and is prepared to do practically nothing about it...instead of changing the licenses to reflect that content authors are responsible for authoring valid content and that replicators need only worry about replicating what they are given, the BDA has created a new taskforce, the BMMV-TF, to study the issue until the sun goes red giant on us

-- Congrats to the BDA Compliance Committee for coming in $146K under budget in 2006...it's amazing how much money you can save by not running tests...

-- The BDA has allotted $260K in 2007 for the "China Taskforce"...I know it's a big decision and all--the wife and I spent months looking--but isn't that a lot of money to spend picking out a pattern?

-- Blu-ray has a new legal entity in town...the BDAAC...they're either promoting burning iTunes downloads on BD-R/RE, or it's an attempt by the BDA to replace itself through the creation of a mirror-image California 510(c)(6) incorporated organization that will ultimately subsume the unincorporated BDA...the goal is "to create one legal entity...to rule them all...with sufficient power to control, maintain, and enforce IP"...is there an accountant in the house? Hell, is there a doctor in the house? I think the BDA just had a heart attack! The BDA is dead...long live the BDA! By the way, current BDA members have 60 days from the creation of the BDAAC to join and comply, or they get booted to the curb...why do I think that the BDAAC is going to misplace Samsung and LG's applications?

-- Did someone say Blu-ray interactivity issues? TEG2 has created 800+ amendments to the BD-ROM application spec since its creation to "provide clarity" and "reduce inconsistencies in implementations"...TEG2 will continue updating their Guideline Book every month, with recommendations, sample BD-J code, recipes, Hints from Heloise, etc.

-- Every wonder why creating the BD-RE v3/BD-R v2 books was so important? Well, duh, it allows content authors to test unencrypted BDMV on recordable media...thanks, BDMV-TF!

-- Stop calling Profile 1.1, Profile 1.1...it wants to be called "Final Standard Profile"...oh, those debutantes...so chic...

-- I've seen the BD-LIVE logo, and I think the BDA needs to take some of money saved by the Compliance Committee and hire a new graphics designer

-- In one of the most awkwardly ominous wordings ever put into PowerPoint, the BDA urges all hardware manufacturers and content providers to use the new BD-ROM Testing Center in Universal City, CA to "to preapre (sic) for the challenges ahead"...I don't know if preapring will help, but man, let's hope they get prepared!

-- The 3C kids *still* don't have the final ROM Mark License agreement in place...work continues

-- Either Andy Parsons was too lazy to update his slides, or the BD+ System Content Participant Agreement still isn't finished...nor is the Eligible Code Developer Agreement...so, unless something's changed since 3/27/07, as of right now, content providers *still* can't legally release a disc with BD+ yet...that explains the Fox delays...even if they have the technical side all worked out (big if), the legal side is still in the oven...some on, BD+ Agent...um, I mean Sony!

[los seres]

2007 JavaOne(SM) Conference Opens More Possibilities for Attendees Through Business Day and Blu-ray Disc/Cable Day
JavaOne

Sun Microsystems, Inc. , today announced that in addition to the 250 conference sessions, 117 BOFs and 15 Hands-on-Labs, the 2007 conference will offer two special one-day tracks -- Java Technology Business Day and Java Technology in TV: Blu-ray Disc and Cable Day.

Java Technology in TV: Blu-ray Disc and Cable Day - Thursday, May 10th

In recognition of the tremendous rate of growth for Java technology in the television market and the skyrocketing demand for developers in this area, the 2007 JavaOne conference will feature a special track of sessions and events around digital television software technologies and markets. Produced in conjunction with CableLabs and major motion picture studios, Blu-ray Disc and Cable Day will feature topics including:

-- A kickoff presentation detailing the current status and future
prospects for the OpenCable Application Platform (OCAP) and Blu-ray
Disc technologies
-- An overview of OCAP technical features and API's
-- A detailed discussion of how to develop OCAP applications
-- The roadmap for future interactive services on cable TV
-- Producing Blu-ray Java (BD-J) software titles for Hollywood
-- The role of Java technology in Internet Protocol Television (IPTV)

Blu-ray Disc and Cable Day attendees will also gain admission to Thursday evening's JavaOne conference After Dark event and Friday morning's General Session with James Gosling, vice president and Sun Fellow. More information on Blu-ray Disc and Cable Day can be found at: http://java.sun.com/javaone/sf/javatvday.jsp

[Rich Peterson]

AVS forum report on Panasonic's 2007 High Definition Display & More line show is in this AVS thread in the CE Pro & Electronic House News & Articles forum. Jason Unger reports "Panasonic 'Quite Confident' Blu-ray Will Succeed".

[xboxboi]

Sony sold 27K units of PS3 in Australia

That translates to 27,083 PS3 units sold, said GfK analyst Daniel Morse, whose figures are based on sales data provided by all of Australia's major retailers.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/games/son...366378265.html

[xboxboi]

Paramount Set to Debut Two John Wayne Classics on HD DVD

Paramount Home Entertainment may be on the verge of releasing the first high-def versions of two John Wayne classics, according to a new schedule update at the HD DVD Promotions Group official website.

The two Wayne titles, 'Rio Bravo' and 'The Cowboy,' were just added to the HD DVD Promotions Group's upcoming title roster at www.TheLookandSoundofPerfect.com, complete with box cover art. No date was given in the update, however, with the titles simply grouped under the "Upcoming Releases" section.

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/news/..._on_HD_DVD/561

[Grubert]

Video Business: High-def delivery delays due to replication

Retailers report Blu-ray, HD DVD arrive after street date

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6430991.html

[AV Doogie]

Thought this was interesting about the 'real' number of discs sold for some titles

http://www.dvdtown.com/news/nielsent...chhdsells/4401

[nataraj]

http://www.t3.co.uk/news/247/enterta...d_beats_bluray

HD DVD has landed a major hit on Blu-Ray, with the Toshiba HD-XE1 winning the Best Hi-Def Player at the Home Cinema Choice awards. The deck saw off competition from two Blu-ray units, by Panasonic and Samsung, to take top honours.

[mikemorel]

Andy Parsons attempts to explain the blu-ray profiles...

New specs for next-generation Blu-ray players

If BD-Java is shipping today, why the confusion? "This fall," explains Parsons, "is the end of a grace period. Any new Blu-ray Disc player model introduced after October 31 must now fully comply with the full range of existing Blu-ray Disc player specifications."

"What's caused the confusion is that BD-Java will be utilized to implement these new capabilities. It's not that this is a new version of Java, it's just the code that will be used to run these features," Parsons says.

[mikemorel]

Corel Releases Important Update for InterVideo WinDVD

April 6 and 2007
To our valued InterVideo WinDVD Customers,

Today Corel is releasing an important new security update for InterVideo WinDVD. We have taken this step to ensure that our customers continue to enjoy the latest HD DVD and BD content.

Please be aware that failure to apply the update will result in AACS-protected HD DVD and BD playback being disabled.

[kjack]

In the battle over next-gen DVDs, the winner may be decided more by price than by which format has the most backers...

http://www.businessweek.com/technolo...aign_id=alerts

[los seres]

Porn could be key to next-generation DVD War

In the battle over next generation DVDs, pornography could prove to be the XXX factor that helps determine a winner.

"If the porn industry wanted to break the logjam of HD-DVD and Blu-ray, it could," McQuivey said. "If they said 'We are going to go with HD-DVD' you would see a few million homes immediately go out and buy HD-DVD players. They have that power."

The founder of adult studio Digital Playground -- whose films include "Island Fever 3" and "Pirates" -- believes Blu-ray backers are erring in not embracing porn as they fight over billions of dollars in royalties.

"The reason they should want to work with us is that they are in a war with HD-DVD and in a war you would want as many people in your corner," said Joone, the Digital Playground founder who goes by one name.

Joone said in an ideal world Digital Playground would offer films in both formats. Instead, he sees Sony and other Blu-ray backers pushing the adult entertainment industry toward HD-DVD, whose supporters he said have welcomed porn producers.


"In general we need to have one format because it cuts down the confusion in the marketplace for the consumer," Joone said. "HD-DVD has helped us tremendously to get titles out."

[Rob Zuber]

Fastmac offers Blu-ray upgrade for laptops

Fastmac on Friday announced a Blu-ray optical disk upgrade for Apple PowerBooks, iBooks and MacBook Pros. The upgrade costs $799.95. The low-profile drive also works in Mac minis. Fastmac estimates delivery within 10 days.

[Kosty]

corrected link

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6430991.html

Video Business: High-def delivery delays due to replication

Retailers report Blu-ray, HD DVD arrive after street date

[mikemorel]

Originally from Financial Times...Run by many major publications...

Toshiba takes European lead over Sony in HD

Aficionados of European cinema who would like to watch films such as Roberto Benigni's award-winning The Tiger and the Snow in high definition, may, for the time being at least, have to buy a HD-DVD player rather than a Blu-Ray Disc machine.

A number of European independent film studios and DVD production companies are opting for Toshiba's HD-DVD format over the rival Sony technology, thanks to a strong support programme by the HD-DVD camp and concerns over the price of Blu-Ray technology.

Rodolphe Buet, head of business and marketing at Studio Canal, says: "I have met much more commitment from partners involved with HD-DVD than Blu-Ray. I met Sony in mid-2006 but the support was far below what was offered by the HD-DVD partners."

The cost of production is also an issue. Normal DVD production lines can be upgraded to produce HD-DVDs, whereas for Blu-Ray, companies need to buy completely new equipment.

A HD-DVD replication line costs about €800,000 ($1m) and you can make 40,000 discs a day on it. A Blu-Ray replication line costs €1.7m or €1.8m and you can make 10,000 to 15,000 discs a day," says Laurent Villaume, chief executive of Qol, a French DVD replication company. "The risk is just not the same."

Interesting stuff...