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Netflix Buttons Are Coming to Remotes Everywhere[teaser]Samsung, Sharp, Sony, and more are adding Netflix buttons to their controllers. [/teaser] You know you're doing something right when you've earned your own button on the TV remote. Similar to the On Demand button found on cable remotes, a Netflix button is coming to the controllers for connected televisions, Blu-ray players and set-top boxes. Starting this spring, Netflix buttons - some of which will use the Netflix logo - will be hitting remotes on products from Best Buy's Dynex brand, Haier, Memorex, Panasonic, Samsung, Sharp, Sony, and Toshiba. That's most of the TV market right there. "No more turning on the TV, going to a home screen and searching for the Netflix icon," says Chief Product Officer Neil Hunt. "With the Netflix one-click remote, it's simply a matter of pushing the Netflix button to instantly watch any of the vast selection of TV shows and movies available to stream from Netflix." Source:Posted Fri Jan 14, 2011 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Sunlyte Creates Carbon-Free Disc Packaging[teaser]It's lighter, it's efficient, and it's carbon-free. [/teaser] Paul Gelardi is the CEO and Founder of Sunlyte inc., and despite the deliberate misspelling in his company name he seems like a pretty good guy. His company has just created the first carbon-free manufacturing service for packaged discs like CDs, DVDs and Blu-rays. The Sunlyte Tray, a part of the company's packaging solution, is made of 100 percent recycled plastic water bottles, and FSC or SCI certified paperboard to reduce not only waste, but energy and material costs too. It's not just about saving the environment, but making business more efficient. "The carbon footprint of a product is in large part a measure of waste," says Gelardi, "and waste is not only bad for the environment, it's bad for business." Sunlyte packages adhere to the guidelines set forth by the Recording Association of America, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers and Walmart. There's no word on if and when we'll see this new packaging used in a major disc release. Source: Sacramento BeePosted Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Dish Network Remote Access and Sling Now Available on Android Tablets[teaser]If you've got something with a screen in your home, there's a good chance you can watch Dish programming on it. [/teaser] Dish has been pushing hard on the mobile and handheld device front and it seems to be getting a lot of love from customers. The latest to get some sweet, sweet Dish love is the Android tablet. To start things off, Dish announced that you'll now be able to access your DVR from an Android tablet. That means you won't have to be sitting in front of your TV to schedule a new show. Of course, you can still sit in front of the screen and use the tablet as a controller if you like. That's the less exciting news. The really good stuff is that Android tablets now work with Sling-enabled devices, giving you the ability to watch your TV right on your tablet. It's an invaluable solution for those on the go, or those that just got up for a snack. Source: Broadcasting CablePosted Thu Jan 13, 2011 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
The State of Blu-ray At CES 2011[teaser]This year's CES was the first that didn't have Blu-ray players and Blu-ray discs featured as major releases. That's not necessarily a bad thing...[/teaser] No matter how you got your CES - whether you read about it on High-Def Digest, watched snippets on TV, or went in person - you know that 3D was the big news of the show. Like it or not, it's what all of the major companies are pushing. Some companies are making the 3D move more forcefully than others. Toshiba seems to be sitting on the fence between a few technologies, while Sony is putting everything it has into 3D, and 3D into everything it has. With all the talk of 3D, it seems like Blu-ray got lost in the shuffle. There weren't any major Blu-ray player announcements and only one significant Blu-ray release was brought up at the show. You might even think of that as an ill-omen for the format, but it's exactly the opposite. Before we talk about why Blu-ray didn't make the splash that it has in the last few years, I want to start with the big Blu-ray events of the show. The ones that were big enough to get picked up by mainstream sites and shows that don't specialize in Blu-ray coverage. The biggest Blu-ray announcement at the show is something we already knew was in the works. Still, Panasonic held a bit of a ceremony to officially announce the upcoming release of the 'Star Wars' saga on Blu-ray disc. This is huge. The original 'Star Wars' trilogy has been one of the most desired Blu-ray releases since the format was launched. Those three films are going to drive adoption of Blu-ray players to those who don't yet have them, make huge waves for Blu-ray sales numbers, and it's what's finally going to turn my dad into a Blu-ray fan. You can criticize the release all you want, but even with the special editions of the original films and the inclusion of the second trilogy this is going to be one of the most successful Blu-ray sets of all time. It's big news for fans and it's big news for the format. After all, now that Blu-ray has the biggest film trilogy ever made, there's not an obvious retort like "why would I buy a format that doesn't even have Star Wars?" It's a good get. The second big Blu-ray event at the show was the Blu-ray director's panel, which I had the privilege of attending. It featured Baz Luhrmann, Michael Mann, and Oliver Stone talking about - you guessed it - Blu-ray. It was a bit of a puff piece to be honest, but towards the end we started to get some really interesting insight into the way directors see the format. Opinions varied across the directors even though all three are fans of Blu-ray. Oliver Stone, for example, said that he sees Blu-ray as the last bastion of movie preservation. It's possible that Blu-ray will be our final disc-based media format and that discs will one day be a thing of the past. For him, making a Blu-ray edition of his film is his chance to get the last word and finally close the book on his movies. Baz Luhrmann is more optimistic about the future, but praises Blu-ray as the best way to reproduce video. For Baz, it's all about the colors that Blu-ray allows him to reproduce - something that DVD just couldn't do. These were both significant events, and both made it to mainstream media, but neither made mention of Blu-ray players at all. Oliver Stone didn't sing the praises of a Panasonic player and Darth Vader - yes there was someone there in a Darth Vader costume - didn't plug any players either. It was all about movies. The fact that no company felt the need to proselytize to the DVD crowd and sing the praises of the superior format seems strange considering the last few years, but it's a very good sign for Blu-ray. Think of it in terms of 3D televisions. They're all the tech companies will talk about right now, and there's a reason for that. We're not buying them. Sure, 3D is selling, but it's not selling in the kinds of numbers that manufacturers want and the surefire way to improve that is to keep iterating, innovating and repeating the message. The lack of huge Blu-ray player announcements and massive ad campaigns tells us more about Blu-ray adoption than any poll could. It shows that Blu-ray hasn't just been picked up by tech savvy consumers. The general public - the moms and dads of these tech savvy consumers - understand the benefit and are buying the players. Think of the other technologies that were getting huge announcements in the last few years. LED backlit LCDs were shouted from the rooftops, but now they're a part of the HDTV environment just like 1080p, a 24Hz refresh rate for Blu-rays and even remote controls. We no longer have to decide if we support it or not - it's just there. The other thing that I found incredibly telling about the lack of big Blu-ray player announcements was the lack of crazy new Blu-ray players. It seems like innovation has settled down for the format, and now the battle of cost efficiency and design has begun. After all, you can pick up a Blu-ray player that handles 3D, streams Netflix with built-in WiFi and even plays back media files from your computer for under $200. What more could you want? Sure, there were a few new things, like portable players, those with built-in glasses-free 3D screens and those packing Google TV. For the most part though, it seems like Blu-ray players have stabilized. Most of the new players on the market offer the same features in a different package, just like DVD players before them. Every year since the release of the format has been hailed as "the year of Blu-ray," but really 2011 seems to be it. It's the year we finally stopped making a big deal out of the hardware, got everything right, and started talking about what matters most - the movies. - Dick WardPosted Wed Jan 12, 2011 at 12:43 PM PST by: -
Audiovox Intros the First In-Dash Blu-ray Player[teaser]And yes, it is Wi-Fi capable for all your streaming needs. [/teaser] Hey, we get it. You love your Blu-ray. You've got a good collection going and a home theater that really shows off just what the format's capable of. But there's something missing -you can't enjoy the benefits of Blu-ray on your commute to work. That's where Audiovox comes in. Over the weekend, the company unveiled the first ever in-dash Blu-ray player. The player is designed not only to help reap the benefits of the format, but to make life easier for Blu-ray fans. "This mobile solution will allow them to maintain a single video collection that works both in the vehicle and at home," says Audiovox president Tom Malone. One of the really interesting things about the new AVDBR1 Blu-ray player is that it boasts Wi-Fi capability and, after a firmware update later this year, will be able to handle a variety of streaming services. You'll be able to pick up the AVDBR1 in the spring of 2011 for a suggested price of $349. Source: HDTV MagazinePosted Wed Jan 12, 2011 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
CES Attendance Back to Pre-Recession Numbers[teaser]Over 140,000 people packed the show. [/teaser] The Consumer Electronics Show is one of the biggest events anywhere. It draws a massive crowd from all across the world, bringing people together to talk tech. In 2009, the attendance numbers dropped sharply, with a mere 113,000 making it to the show. 2010 was an improvement with over 120,000 people in attendance, but it wasn't up to the massive numbers from 2008. It can certainly be seen as a good sign for the industry that this year's numbers were back to those pre-recession levels. Over 140,000 people packed into the Las Vegas Convention Center and Sands Expo Center this year - the same amount that came back in January of 2008. The 2011 CES also brought in the largest amount of international attendees ever. Over 30,000 people from outside of the US made it to Las Vegas for the show. Source: Conected World MagazinePosted Wed Jan 12, 2011 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Goodbye Component - From Now On Only HDMI Will Do HD[teaser]Analog video is on the way out. Blu-ray players and discs both will be limiting you to HDMI only in the future. [/teaser] Most Blu-ray fans really won't be affected by the news that they won't be able to use component cables any more, but for those with existing component setups, in-wall installations or more lengthy cable runs, the news is big. New Blu-ray players - those announced after January 1, 2011 - will only output HD via the HDMI output. Component and composite outputs are still included, but you'll only be getting a standard definition picture, up to 540p. If you're worried about losing your analog outputs altogether, your concern is justified. Starting in 2013, players will output via HDMI and nothing else. Source: EngadgetPosted Wed Jan 12, 2011 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Sharp Announces New Line of 3D Blu-ray Players[teaser]The new players from sharp handle 3D Blu-rays, streaming, and are due out in a few months. [/teaser] A year or two ago, these new Blu-ray players would have blown us away with their low pricing and impressive capabilities. Now they seem par for the course. Sharp is calling the new BD-HP75U, BD-HP35U and BD-HP25U their 3D wireless Blu-ray players, though the title is a bit deceptive as the 25U requires a dongle - purchased separately - to handle Wi-Fi. The others handle wireless networking right out of the box. Sharp's new line of players can access Netflix, Vudu, Pandora and YouTube content online. They can also play back 3D Blu-ray discs and digital media files with ease. One feature of note is IP Control, which is available on both the 35U and 75U. The 25U will hit in February for a price of $249, while the 35U steps it up to $299. If you've got your eye on the 75U, you'll have to wait until March, when it hits for a price of $329. Source: eCousticsPosted Tue Jan 11, 2011 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
Philips Announces World's First Wireless HDMI Blu-ray Player[teaser]The only cord you'll use on the BDP7580 is the power cord. [/teaser] One of the most interesting Blu-ray players to come out of CES 2011 wasn't from one of the companies you'd expect, like Samsung, Sony or Panasonic. It came out of Philips, a subsidiary of Funai. The BDP7580 is the first ever Blu-ray player to boasts wireless HDMI capabilities, which allows you to connect your Blu-ray player to your TV without having to run a wire. Not only does this free up your placement options, but it helps keep the back of your set clutter-free. The Philips BDP7580 offers plenty of streaming options as you'd expect from a player slated for a 2011 release. You can get Netflix, Blockbuster on Demand, Pandora and more. Philips doesn't specify whether or not the new Blu-ray player has wireless networking built in, but to include wireless HDMI but not Wi-Fi would be very strange indeed. You'll be able to pick up the BDP7580 in April at a suggested price of $499. Source: PR NewswirePosted Tue Jan 11, 2011 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Vudu Now Streaming 3D Movies[teaser]The first 3D streaming service is up and running, with what seems like fairly reasonable pricing. [/teaser] Remember back when Walmart bought Vudu and it seemed like a bad omen? Sure, Vudu owners lost access to their smut, but they've traded it for the first 3D streaming service on the market. Worth it? That depends on you. Vudu has just announced that 3D content is now available on the service. You can grab it in 1080p, 720p and standard definition - though who has a SD television that can handle current 3D standards? Pricing varies by resolution, but you'll be looking at $5.99 for a 720p rental and $6.99 for a 1080p rental. That's higher by their normal $4.99 HD rental pricing, but not by much. To buy a film, you'll be paying $21.99 instead of $19.99. There are only three 3D titles available now, but more are on the way. In the meantime, you can check out 'Bolt,' 'Chicken Little' and 'Meet the Robinsons' in 3D on Vudu now. Source:Posted Tue Jan 11, 2011 at 07:00 AM PST by:
