HiDef DVD News VII - News Only : AND WE MEAN IT: NEWS ONLY - Page 130

In the latest move to push interactive features of Blu-ray Discs, Sony on Wednesday hosted an industry event on its lot to demo so-called BD-Live capabilities built into the high-def format.
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"I like to say we're just at the 'Pong' stage of BD-Live, if you were to compare it to the video game industry," Bishop quipped.

That sort of glib honesty seemed to be the order of the day.
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But if BD-Live has had a sluggish start in the marketplace, Sony touted several nifty applications for recent Blu-ray releases as evidence of its compelling possibilities. Sony has offered some sort of BD-Live features on 80 of its home entertainment titles since June.

For "Casino Royale," it was a peer-to-peer trivia game. On "Step Brothers," viewers were able to produce a customized music video using disc content.

A "CineChat" feature on "The Da Vinci Code" allows viewers to chat with one another about the film and potentially can be used for filmmaker Q&A sessions.
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Warner Home Video's BD-Live applications included a well-received BD-Live interview with "The Dark Knight" helmer Christopher Nolan.

Ultimately, studio execs hope Blu-ray's interactive features will help broaden consumers' embrace of high-def discs, which has struggled to gain a firm footing in the marketplace amid tough economic conditions
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General Electric says it has achieved a breakthrough in digital storage technology that will allow standard-size discs to hold the equivalent of 100 DVDs...

In G.E.'s approach, the holograms are scattered across a disc in a way that is similar to the formats used in today's CDs, conventional DVDs and Blu-ray discs. So a player that could read microholographic storage discs could also read CD, DVD and Blu-ray discs. But holographic discs, with the technology G.E. has attained, could hold 500 gigabytes of data. Blu-ray is available in 25-gigabyte and 50-gigabyte discs, and a standard DVD holds 5 gigabytes.

The Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers has released a report on the requirements for standards for the creation of 3-D stereoscopic content viewable on television sets and other home-entertainment displays.
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The task-force report deals with the requirements needed for the so-called 3-D Home Master. This is the 3-D content that producers would deliver to various distribution platforms -- Blu-ray, game consoles, cable systems, broadcasters, broadband, mobile and other technologies that might deliver 3-D content to the home.
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The report calls for the 3-D Home Mastering standard to use the 1080p format at 60 frames per second, the highest level of image formatting currently available. It also specifies that the 3-D home master be compatible with a variety of other products, including Blu-ray discs, and requires that these home masters work with earlier formats and displays so that 3-D content can be displayed on existing two-dimensional TVs and other displays.
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Symes said he expects the first consumer-electronics devices are compatible with the standard to make their way into homes in 2010.
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Warner Home Video is offering a $1.99 digital copy of Friday the 13th with the title's standard-definition DVD release, marking a point of difference with the Blu-ray edition, which carries a digital copy on disc for no extra cost.

Friday the 13th will street June 16 on DVD and Blu-ray, day and date with cable/satellite and Web-based video-on-demand services.

This 12th installment of the horror franchise grossed about $65 million in U.S. theaters.

Both single-disc standard DVD versions, Friday the 13th Theatrical Cut and Friday the 13th Killer Cut are priced at $28.99. The titles feature links to an online digital copy, presumably accessible through individual registration codes received after the $1.99 payment.

The Friday the 13th Blu-ray version, priced at $35.99, embeds the copy on disc for no extra fees.

Studios, including Warner, have been increasingly adding free digital copies to titles to boost their attractiveness. Warner is one of the few companies to now charge for the extra.

OPPO One of the most anticipated hardware releases in Blu-ray history is finally going to materialize. After a protracted beta-testing and early-adopter sale program, Oppo Digital is releasing the BDP-83 to the general public - or at least, those in the public that had emailed the company showing interest in the player. The first units will ship in May.

The first Blu-ray player to come to the U.S. from JVC, the XV-PB1, hasn't received a lot of hype since its CES reveal, but that might change now that it appears to be one of the first supporting MKV playback, following the Oppo BDP-83 and LG BD390.
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We're reached out to JVC to confirm what buyers can expect from the XV-PB1, but with MKV on top of BD-Live, network streaming from PCs and reportedly extremely fast load times this $299 player might reshuffle the list of most desired Blu-ray hardware

Taiwan-based pre-recorded optical disc maker U-Tech Media on May 4 announced it has obtained certification from the Blu-ray Disc (BD) Association for producing 50GB singe-sided double-layer BD-ROM (pre-recorded) format discs, the first company in Asia outside of Japan to gain such certification. The company expects to begin shipments in the third quarter of 2009.
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DBP-2010CI ($699; shipping in July) - Profile 2.0 Blu-ray player, onboard Ethernet, BD-Live / BonusView support, DivX HD playback, support for AVCHD, Anchor Bay Technologies VRS processing, upconversion and IP scaling to 1080p/24, RS-232c support, HDMI / component / composite video outputs

DBP-1610CI ($499; shipping in July) - Same as above sans Anchor Bay chip and RS-232c

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is revamping the electronics departments in its more than 3,500 U.S. stores this week, ramping up an aggressive battle with Best Buy Co. and Amazon.com to seize customers up for grabs due to the demise of Circuit City Stores Inc.
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Wal-Mart is adding to its assortment of higher-end televisions by manufacturers Sony Corp. and Samsung Electronics Co., and broadening its array of Blu-ray disc players and movies as it expands a strategy of selling top brands at lower prices than rivals offer.
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While the debate continues on whether consumers are willing to buy new HDTV sets and wear funky glasses in their living rooms to view 3-D content, the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (SMPTE) is preparing for the future of television.

The Blu-ray Disc Assn. has formed a 3D task force to formally integrate advanced 3D technology into the Blu-ray format.
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If you want to buy a new Blu-ray Disc title, chances are it will cost $5 to $10 more than the standard DVD version of the same movie. Renting the Blu-ray also might cost more than renting the DVDor it might not.

Netflix leads a faction of rental retailers who argue that because Blu-ray carries a higher wholesale cost, they have to charge more in rental fees. Many indie stores, including members of Video Buyers Group, Massachusetts' Video Zone and Illinois' People's Choice Video Express are in this camp.

Blockbuster, however, insists it can operate smoothly without charging extra, as well as better compete with outlets that do ask for more. Regional chains TLA Video and DVD Now! are among other stores charging the same for Blu-ray and DVD rentals.

Netflix admits that it has angered some of its customers with its Blu-ray rental premium. For much of last year, Netflix charged $1 more per month across its subscription plans for customers who wanted to rent Blu-ray. Starting last month, however, the company raised the premium on its popular three titles out at a time' and higher-end eight titles out at a time' plans to $4 and $9 monthly, respectively. Netflix's entry-level subscription continues to charge $1 extra.

There was a vociferous outcry in the first couple of days, but this was a very small minority, said Netflix spokesman Steve Swasey. [Blu-ray] is a much more expensive format. Prices will eventually come down, but in the meantime, as long as they are more expensive to buy, then we'll need to base the [rental] price on these higher costs.

We want to encourage Blu-ray rental, so we've left prices the same as standard DVD for now, said Tom Paine, owner of Redmond, Wash.'s DVD Now! But we'll reserve our options for the future.

Blu-ray currently makes up just 3% of DVD Now!'s revenue, but that's a 336% leap from the same time last year.

Similarly Philadelphia-based TLA Video, which has less than 5% Blu-ray revenue, hopes to encourage customers to try high-definition by not attaching a premium.

It's really more of a fact that I want to grow the market, and [higher pricing] is a deterrent, said TLA general manager/buyer Adrian Hickman.

Blockbuster's Barr says that the company intends to stick with its no premium position even as the format does become more popular with consumers.

We have no plans whatsoever to change, he said. If there is a shift toward the Blu-ray format, we are fine. We have found no reason to discriminate at all between the two.

There are a number of rentailers, in addition to Netflix, that are just as convinced that premiums are the way to go. Hoping to curb any pain, some work to limit the amount of the differential charged to $1 or less.

One dollar extra is still a helluva value, said VBG president Ted Engen. It's a better deal than buying. It's not like we are charging $10 more. But because we pay more for them, the rental price is higher.

Many VBG members charge a $2 to $2.50 premium on previously-viewed Blu-ray versions over standard DVD counterparts.

Acorn Media U.S. has expanded its relationship with ITV Global Entertainment by making a deal to distribute more than 300 hours of ITV Global's programming on DVD and Blu-ray Disc in North America.

The deal includes continued distribution of the British series Agatha Christie's Marple and Agatha Christie's Poirot, which are Acorn's bestsellers.

The deal also includes documentary programming for Acorn's new Athena line of educational programs.

The partnership commits to ongoing distribution of our highly successful long-running drama series, together with newly added programming, said Carol Lee, VP of home entertainment North America at ITV Global.

The ITV Global Entertainment catalog offers a wealth of opportunities for us to expand our range of programming, said Mark Stevens, president of Acorn Media U.S.

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1. Requirements for Prerecorded AACS Content
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1.2.1. Content Participant/Provider may assert the Digital Only Token only with respect to (a) Non-Consumer Products and/or (b) LCP Units Released in a given country within the first six (6) weeks after the first Theatrical Release of substantially similar Digital Entertainment Content in such country, provided that in the event of the circumstances set forth in this part (b), within six (6) months after such first Theatrical Release, Content Participant/Provider shall Release in such country LCP Units containing a version of such Licensed Content Product that does not assert the Digital Only Token.
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1.3.2 Content Participants/Providers shall not, prior to December 31, 2010, direct Licensed Content Producers to embed the Image Constraint Token in Licensed Content Products offered for sale or other distribution in a country in which there was a government or quasi-government regulation or equivalent prohibiting the use of an Image Constraint Token, or equivalent, for scrambled or encrypted content as of November 30, 2005.
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1.4 Image Constraint Token and Digital Only Token Disclosure. If Content Participant/Provider has directed that the Image Constraint Token and/or Digital Only Token be set with respect to a particular LCP Unit, then the fact that such Image Constraint Token and/or Digital Only Token (as applicable) is set shall be disclosed by the Content Participant/Provider to the consumer either (i) on such LCP Unit's product packaging; or (ii) only in the case of a consumer product, by other reasonable means that allows the consumer to be aware at the point of initial purchase that the Image Constraint Token and/or Digital Only Token (as applicable) is set with respect to such LCP Unit.
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2. Licensed Player Compliance Requirements
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2.2.2.1 Analog Sunset - 2010. With the exception of Existing Models, any Licensed Player manufactured after December 31, 2010 shall limit analog video outputs for Decrypted AACS Content to SD Interlace Modes only. Existing Models may be manufactured and sold by Adopter up until December 31, 2011. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Adopter may continue to manufacture and sell an Existing Model in which the implementation of AACS Technology is a Robust Inactive Product after December 31, 2010 provided that when such Robust Inactive Product is activated through a Periodic Update, such Periodic Update results in a Licensed Player that limits analog video outputs for Decrypted AACS Content to SD Interlace Modes only.
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2.2.2.2 Analog Sunset - 2013. No Licensed Player that passes Decrypted AACS Content to analog video outputs may be manufactured or sold by Adopter after December 31, 2013.
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TABLE C1 AACS Authorized Copying Methods
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When a copy of Decrypted AACS Content is authorized, either by CCI or by an Online Transaction for Managed Copy, a Licensed Copier may make such copy using AACS Authorized Copying Methods defined in the table below pursuant to the requirements of this table, the Specifications and this Agreement.
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AACS Prepared Video
Obligated Managed Copy Resolution: Full Resolution
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HD DVD and DVD Books

HD DVD and DVD Pre-recorded Book Rev 0.95 (246KB, pdf) - Posted June 5, 2009

HD DVD and DVD Prepared Video Book Rev 0.95 (171 KB, pdf) - Posted June 5, 2009

HD DVD and DVD Recordable Video Book Rev 0.95 (782 KB, pdf) - Posted June 5, 2009

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Right on the heels of the UK announcement, Pioneer's trifecta of Profile 2.0 Blu-ray decks -- the BDP-120, BDP-320 and pictured BDP-23FD (known as the BDP-LX52 in European trim) -- got their official US intro to the tune of $299, $399 and $599, respectively.
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JUNE 11 | DIGITAL: Beginning next year, studios and other content holders will be required to give consumers the ability to make one copy of any Blu-ray Disc they buy.

Dubbed managed copy, the requirement has long been planned for the Blu-ray format, but has only just been finalized by the Advanced Access Content System License Administrator, a consortium of studios, hardware manufacturers and technology companies that licenses the AACS copy protection used on Blu-ray Discs.

Sony DADC opened a new, multimillion dollar Blu-ray Disc replication facility in Australia June 10, the first such facility in the southern hemisphere.

So many months later, new downloadable content is arriving for those Transformers Blu-ray discs, with Paramount planning to unleash a ton of promotional content for Transformers 2: Revenge of the Fallen on June 16. Owners of the DVD version can use their access key to log on to a special website, while BD-Live connected Blu-ray owners can view the 25~ minutes of special features directly through their players.
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China-based Shinco and TCL, currently the two vendors of CBHD players, are expected to face strong competition from Philips plans to launch a 2,000 yuan (US$293) Blu-ray Disc (BD) player in the China market in July 2009, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

Although CBHD movie discs are priced much lower than BD movies (50-70 yuan versus 175-230 yuan), only Warner Bros. among the top eight movie studios in Hollywood supports CBHD, the sources pointed out.
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Blu-ray may have won the war against HD-DVD, but American consumers aren't exactly warming to the high-definition disc format.

According to a new Harris Poll, more U.S. homes have a Blu-ray or HD-DVD player compared to a year ago, but adoption is slow. Only 7 percent of Americans own a Blu-ray player, up from 4 percent in 2008; while 11 percent have an HD-DVD unit, up from 6 percent a year ago.

I suspect that HD-DVD's slightly higher popularity is due to the fact that HD-DVD players were cheaper than their Blu-ray competitors, and hence were more appealing to early adopters. Of course, now that HD-DVD has gone the way of Betamax, it's certain to fade away quickly.

The popularity of high-def physical media gets a boost if you factor in the 9 percent of U.S. consumers who own a Sony PlayStation 3, which plays Blu-ray discs too. Still, consumers' lack of interest in Blu-ray is bad news for proponents of the HD disc format. Only 7 percent of survey respondents who don't own a Blu-ray player say they're likely to buy a Blu-ray unit within the next year, down from 9 percent in May 2008.

Nearly half of U.S. consumers now own a high-definition TV, according to the Harris poll. Add that to the fact that prices of both Blu-ray players and discs are falling rapidly, and consumer indifference to HD players is a telling sign.

The online poll by Harris Interactive surveyed 2,401 U.S. adults between April 13 and 21, 2009.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) introduced Thursday a real-time movie database called MovieIQ, which will be accessible through the BD-Live feature on new Blu-ray Disc players.

The system, which is powered by Gracenote's Video Explore engine, can be accessed by a MovieIQ-enabled Blu-ray Disc and an Internet-connected Blu-ray player. It offers continuously updated information on cast and crew, and explores relevant trivia such as production facts, music and soundtrack information all tied to scenes within the movie, Sony said.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment plans to feature MovieIQ on new Blu-ray Disc titles starting in September.
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Zoran Corporation (NASDAQ: ZRAN), a leading provider of digital solutions for applications in the digital entertainment and digital imaging markets, today announced that it has settled all outstanding litigation with DTS and has obtained a license for all DTS related technologies required for Blu-ray products.

Zoran expects to roll out its integrated single chip solution for Blu-ray products by the end of the year and to leverage its existing position in the DVD market to establish a leading position in the Blu-ray market. Zoran looks forward to working with DTS going forward.

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As for the company's previously announced Blu-ray Disc player, Schindler said it now plans to launch its VBR100 BD-Live ready Blu-ray Disc as a Walmart exclusive in late July, carrying a $188 selling price. The player will support BD-Live interactive extras when an optional 1GB (or larger) USB thumb drive is connected to the player's USB 2.0 port.

Vizio will follow up in the November/December time frame by offering the VBR110 Blu-ray player with similar features and price point for the rest of its retail customers, Schindler said.

Schindler said Vizio is also considering offering specially priced bundles of TVs and Blu-ray Disc players to maintain the strong demand for its brand, which recently reached the No. 1 LCD TV market share position in the United States, according to several first-quarter market research studies.
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Toshiba Corp. (6502) President Atsutoshi Nishida did not rule out the possibility of selling DVD recorders using the Blu-ray Disc format when addressing shareholders at the firm's general meeting here Wednesday.

"It makes no sense to decide not to enter the Blu-Ray market simply because we lost the DVD-format war. We cannot change the fact that we lost, but we would like to keep our options open," he said.

Toshiba pushed for global adoption of its HD-DVD format, but failed to gain sufficient support from major U.S. movie studios. This prompted the firm to pull out of its HD-DVD operations in spring 2008, declaring at that time that it would not handle Blu-ray products.

But Nishida's latest remark appears to indicate that Toshiba is considering reversing that decision in light of the significant growth in the market for these products.