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Microsoft and Tesco Partner for Virtual DVDs
Fri Sep 11, 2009 at 01:00 PM ETTags: Microsoft (all tags)
Adding a dose of content to digital copies.
Digitally delivered movies have long been a bit lacking, especially for film buffs. While video quality is getting better, DVD and Blu-ray discs have always had the advantage of extra content. Those looking for audio commentary, deleted scenes, featurettes and the like have had no choice but to go with a hard copy. A recent effort by Microsoft and UK retail giant Tesco aims to change that.
Starting this August, Tesco will be allowing customers to purchase digital copies of certain movies for playback on Windows based or Apple computers that will meet DVDs feature for feature. Additionally, extra network connected BD-Live style features such as viewing parties and auto-updating trailers will be featured in these “virtual DVD” copies.
Rob Salter, director of entertainment at Tesco spoke highly of virtual DVDs. “For the first time, consumers will be able to enjoy a DVD equivalent experience with digital movies.” He also added that he sees a bright future for the new delivery method. “This is just the beginning. In the future we expect to offer our customers innovative digital solutions that far exceed the DVD experience.”
Source: Microsoft
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Windows 7 Adds Dolby Digital Plus Support
Thu Aug 20, 2009 at 03:00 PM ETTags: Microsoft (all tags)
Dolby announced recently that Microsoft will add support for Dolby Digital Plus to its Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise and Ultimate editions of Windows 7.
“A solid media experience is a critical part of [the] computing experience” stated Mike Nash, VP of Windows Product Management at Microsoft in a recent press release. “We are delighted to be working with Dolby Laboratories, the leaders in high-quality audio and surround sound, to provide Dolby Digital Plus to our mutual customers.”
Supporting Dolby Digital Plus is a strong step forward for Windows 7, and certainly not the last announcement that will be coming out of Microsoft, who seem to be interested in becoming a part of your home theater now more than ever.
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Official Zune Specs Outlined by Microsoft
Tue Aug 18, 2009 at 10:00 AM ETTags: Microsoft (all tags)
Recent leaks involving the Zune HD have provoked a huge amount of misinformation about the device, spurring Microsoft to correct it by delivering the full Zune specs.
For a mobile device, it’s pretty impressive. The 32GB Zune HD will hold up to ten hours of high definition video, or 48 hours of Zune optimized video, and sport a battery life that offers 8.5 hours of video playback on one charge.
While the 480x272 display isn’t going to send any videophile into frenzy, the Zune’s ability to output HD video at a respectable quality makes this a good piece of hardware to have around. With the addition of a docking station, the Zune HD will be capable of outputting HD 720p video at 30fps with a peak bit rate of 14Mbps. The docking station will also output optical digital audio.
It’s not Blu-ray quality by any means, but it will enable a fairly robust playback of high definition content from an incredibly portable device. Taking a Blu-ray player traveling, even a portable one, may be a bit prohibitive, but the Zune HD will provide HD playback capabilities anywhere it can plug in.
Of course, the Zune HD does audio too, boasting a 33 hour battery life for audio and a ridiculous amount of space to hold music as well as an FM and HD Radio tuner. Official specs are available in PDF form here.
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Zune HD Priced and Dated by Amazon
Wed Aug 12, 2009 at 01:30 PM ETTags: Microsoft, Amazon (all tags)
The 16GB and 32GB models come in cheaper than the iPod touch.
Though it appears to be down now, yesterday Amazon launched a product page for the Zune HD detailing not only pricing, but a release date for the highly anticipated portable video and music device. Seen as a strong competitor to the iPod Touch, the Zune HD is priced appropriately.
The 16GB model, the smaller of the two will sell at a price of $219.99, roughly $45 cheaper than the equivalent sized iPod Touch on Amazon. The 32GB player looks to sell at $289.99, a full $80 cheaper than the 32GB iPod Touch on Amazon, and $110 cheaper than buying the Touch directly from Apple.
Certainly Apple will have a retort in the coming months, but with the Zune capable of 720p video output and access to high def content via the Zune marketplace, Apple may have some work ahead of them.
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Microsoft Silverlight 3 Promises Simpler, Faster, and Better High Def Streaming
Mon Jul 13, 2009 at 11:30 AM ETTags: HD Streaming, Microsoft, Industry Trends (all tags)
And a boost for online video providers, finally able to offer true 720p
Microsoft unleashed the full version of Silverlight 3, the most recent edition of their Flash like application, on July 9th, and the internet is abuzz with the possibilities. Before we get into the nitty gritty of the exciting niche applications, here’s the big news: full 720p playback. Sure it’s almost certainly at a bit rate far below that of Blu-ray and almost certainly behind most TV channels, but it’s a good start.
Users will have a much more fluid experience with the aptly named “Smooth Streaming”, which will act to ensure an absence of stutters and loading times by making smart use of buffering. Also exciting are the possibilities of using Silverlight outside of the browser. Having a Netflix application for example, rather than logging on to a website, could be a very big deal in the future.
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