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Samsung Creates a 70 Inch 3D Capable Ultra Definition Prototype[teaser]Oh that? It's just my 3,840 x 2,106 resolution UDTV. High definition is so 2005. [/teaser] Your run of the mill 1080p set has a horizontal resolution of 1,920 pixels and a vertical resolution of 1080. Samsung's new set doubles each count for a total of four times the resolution of a 1080p television. It's a prototype of course, but this 70 inch monster has us drooling, even if there's nothing to actually watch on it quite yet. It's big and beautiful and it's 3D capable to boot. Samsung boasts that the prototype set uses a new super-high-speed silicon that enables smooth pictures even with the increased resolution. There's no word yet on when something like this will hit retail, but you can bet we'll be right on top the news when it does. Source: EngadgetPosted Wed Nov 10, 2010 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Beyond the Blu - November 2010[teaser]Beyond the Blu is a new feature here on High-Def Digest for those folks who want more than just the movie. The people with bumper stickers and action figures, with posters and props - the hardcore fans. Each week we'll take a look at some of the things you can pick up with your Blu-rays to show off your true fandom.[/teaser] The Goonies If you're a huge 'Goonies' fan you've probably already picked up the 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-ray, but what if you want more than that? Sure, you could get a T-shirt or an "I Love Chunk" bumper sticker like every other fan, or you could get a replica Copper Bones Skull Key. Only 2,000 of these were made and they were only available at the 2007 Comic-Con, so you know you'll be one of the few who have one. As one user review says, "It will not get you dates, but it will get you into caves!" Sound of Music There's a lot to sift through when you're looking for cool 'Sound of Music' swag. Collectable plates may not be your style, and chances are high that you've already picked up one of the many karaoke CDs available. So think a little bit outside the box and pick up some goat marionettes to recreate a scene from the movie on your own. They're fairly typical marionettes though, so you'll have to put that creepy makeup on yourself. Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series When you're a geek - and if you're a fan of 'Doctor Who,' you're definitely a geek - it's required that you own at least a few geeky things. If you're feeling a little more traditional, pick up a replica of the 5th Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver. If you're feeling a little nuts, you can pick up a suspenders,bowtie, and fez - the whole Matt Smith package. Avatar: Extended Collector's Edition You've seen ' Avatar ' in theaters and at home, you've picked up the McDonald's toys and maybe you even own a Leonopteryx figure with a 20 inch wingspan. If you want to take things to the next level, consider a replica of Jake Sully's Na'Vi dagger. But what if, like some, you think the humans were in the right? Get yourself a replica of the massive knife that Colonel Quaritch used while in his AMP suit. Metropolis Just owning the 'Metropolis' Blu-ray puts you on a level apart from most folks. But why stop there? As a 'Metropolis' fan, you're required to own a copy of the legendary poster, so you may as well grab one that's 27 inches by 40 inches, perfect to hang on your door. Want to broaden your horizons? Take a look at the similar but different 'Metropolis' anime, based on the 1949 manga of the same name. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World If you somehow haven't seen 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,' you really should. Then you'd know how cool it is to own the box set of Scott Pilgrim Comics, or the ultra-cool Sex Bob-Omb t-shirt. If you want to get a little bit obscure, you could always pick up the same Smashing Pumpkins shirt that Michael Cera is wearing in the movie. Clash of the Titans - 3D The new 2010 version of 'Clash of the Titans' may not have lived up to the expectations set by the original, but the release of a non-animated 3D movie is something to celebrate. You can do it with this incredibly cool poster featuring the Kraken, or an amazing 12 inch tall Perseus figurine. Of course, if you want to go old-school and represent the original, there's nothing better than a nine inch Bubo. That wraps it up for this installment of Beyond the Blu. Come back next month for the cool, the unique, and the downright strange things available to pick up along with your Blu-rays.Posted Tue Nov 9, 2010 at 03:05 PM PST by: -
HDD's own Josh Zyber Brings the Rain to Blu-Con 2010 & BD-Liveby Michael S. Palmer [teaser]As High-Def Digest's Blu-Con 2010 coverage nears its conclusion -- only one more article, I promise -- it's time to turn to one of Blu-ray's most touted abilities, BD-Live and internet connectivity.[/teaser] This panel not only featured executives from Panasonic, D&M Holdings (as in Denon & Marantz), Sony, and Universal, but also HDD's own Josh Zyber as moderator. Here's what Josh had to say about what it was like up on stage: I got out most of the questions I wanted to ask. The tone of the conference as a whole was, “Rah rah! Blu-ray is the greatest thing ever!” It wasn’t my place or the purpose of the panel to upset that. And frankly, I do love Blu-ray, and find great potential in its interactive abilities – even if that potential hasn’t really been tapped yet. So, yeah, I tossed out some softball questions. But I also managed to get in some pointed questions about whether BD-Live is being used appropriately, and whether its direction needs to be re-thought. From my ever so safe hiding-in-the-dark position, Josh did a commendable job. I personally know how nervous he was, but the hundreds of other people sitting around me waiting for him to be brilliant couldn't tell. He also managed to ask some real questions in a respectful manner. Sadly, the studio reps in this particular panel were less open to discussing problems or issues. Let's recap, shall we. The studios seem genuinely excited about BD-Live and the ability to directly communicate with their customers. Universal touted 15 million streamed trailers via their BD-Live enabled trailer pre-roll as well as 300K Pocket Blu app downloads. Also, 'The Office: Season 6 owners can use BD-Live to watch Season 7 episodes the day after they broadcast. Sony touted MovieIQ and was surprised by the sheer number of trailers downloaded from their BD-Live portal. In one of the panel's funnier moments, Josh asked why the studios develop competing technologies like Sony's MovieIQ vs. Fox's LiveLookup when it would be easier for the consumers to have one. The studio execs each joked that their technologies are available to every other studio…but not for free. Studio reps Tracey Garvin (Sony) and Robert Read (Universal) went on to talk about how BD-Live benefits them as producers in terms of technical and timing issues. If special features don't make the Blu-ray authoring deadline, BD-Live connection allows them to add featurettes any time they want. Universal in particular loves that their trailer pre-roll (aka forced trailers) is always evolving. Unlike every other studio with forced trailers, anyone watching a five year old Universal Blu-ray will get ads for new movies, rather than five year old ads. Then there's Fox's 'Avatar' or Sony's 'The DaVinci Code' who added features like previews of the 'Extended Collectors Edition' or footage 'Angels & Demons' premier, respectfully. Studios love BD-Live because they're always getting a chance to keep physical media, which has traditionally been locked and stagnant, active and updated. Unfortunately, there's no official timeline for how long these features will be hosted and/or supported. Josh pointed out that Digital Copy expires so quickly, and we all remember what it was like to have DVD-ROM content from ten years ago. How many of those sites are active today? In response to Josh's Digital Copy question, the studios said that their technology affiliates don't want to be on the hook forever, which makes sense I suppose (Digital Copy specifically, they said, is meant to drive sales. A limited time offer). Software companies like Microsoft and Apple don't support their operating systems forever, but at the same time, the timelines for Blu-ray support seem short. Josh tried to bring up issues like 'Predators' not working properly thanks to BD-Live and the need for firmware updates. It was an awkward moment because they didn't seem to care or notice that Josh wasn't speaking for himself, but for all of his readers who may not have three different Blu-ray players as a back up for when one isn't working with a particular title. Granted, Fox, the studio behind 'Predators', wasn't on this panel, but there seemed to be no accountability or acknowledgment of general problems. The tech companies said they wait for customers to tell them when there are issues, in essence blaming the studios. And the studios claimed they do quality control during the authoring process. If so, those in charge of checking these titles need to do a more thorough job. Jeff Cove (Panasonic) and Jeff Cowan (D&M) spoke about the needs for firmware updates and the practicalities behind internet connections. Amazon customers may be calling out for more built-in WiFi, but both D&M Holdings and Panasonic are wary of WiFi for everything, especially AV Receivers. A wired Ethernet connection is more stable and reliable; if a WiFi signal drops out mid-firmware update, the hardware could end up "bricked" (non operational) because part of the firmware process involves deleting the old firmware, or operating system. The hardware companies and movie studios went on to say updating and upgrading are ubiquitous, citing Apple as a prime example. They don't want to be swayed by customer resistance. This seems smart; the world is always going to be evolving and progressing whether people want it or not, but it was an odd declarative especially for D&M who is (at least partly) resisting the inevitable change from wired to wireless internet. Jeff Cove was smart to say that the problem isn't the updating itself, but the need to do a better job making the process easier for the customer. Similarly, D&M hopes to build in automatic firmware updates because all of their Internet compatible devices automatically check in with the D&M server. These automatic updates wouldn't actually be performed without customer permission; the automatic portion would function more as a notice that updates are available. Overall, the theme for this panel seemed to be Evolution. With every BD-Live release, the studios are learning which features work well, and which ones their consumers like or dislike. BD-Live may not be the most exciting advancement in the world, but it seems to fit in well with Blu-ray as a gateway experience (meaning, you start with a Blu-ray Disc or Blu-ray player, and then you're streaming additional or completely separate content from the web). There may be troubles within the fast pace of evolution, but the last thing any company actively wants to do is turn away customers. The hard part, for us right now, is that it often feels a bit like work or beta testing. What do you think, dear readers? Do you like BD-Live? Have you even used it? What's your favorite application? And what would you like to see available in the realm of internet connectivity? Hit up the forums and let us know. Next and last up, we'll be talking about Blu-ray and Music.Posted Tue Nov 9, 2010 at 01:30 PM PST by: -
3D Here to Stay. Still Nothing to Watch...Yet.[teaser]Our recap of Blu-con 2010 continues with an updated look at 3D Blu-ray.[/teaser] by Michael S. Palmer What a difference a year makes! Or not. Last November, I attended Blu-Con 2.0 and was excited to announce 3D's inclusion into Blu-ray's list of abilities. Admittedly, I may have been a teeny-tad bit over-enthusiastic (and used far too many exclamation points). But what the hell? We're all entitled to a geek out now and again in the presence of the Shiny and the New. Twelve months into the future, 2009 seems so long ago. A time before 'Avatar' and 3D became a phenomenon. For a few sweet months, 3D was a guaranteed box office boost, but added competition on too few screens and sloppy post-conversions slowed things down a bit. While theatrical box office records were exploding, home cinema electronics manufacturers like Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Toshiba, and Sony introduced a fleet of new 3D capable hardware. Things started slow, but in a few short months 3D TV and 3D Blu-ray Player sales topped $55 Million even though there was only one 3D Blu-ray on the market and before there were any 3D television channels. Sony said 3D (through its 3D Players, AV Receivers, TVs, Home-Theatre-In-A-Boxes, and cameras) is their fastest growing department year over year. Granted, these statistics don't necessarily speak to swarms of people demanding 3D. But that's just a case of "when." 3D is coming whether you want it or not. 3D is a compatibility Trojan Horse. Consider the fact that there are 30 3D-ready products actively for sale at this time. Or that nearly 39 million PlayStation 3s have been sold which just became 3D Blu-ray players in their latest firmware update. Granted, the PS3 may not be able to play 3D and lossless audio simultaneously, but it and the 3D products already out there represent millions of devices just waiting to be activated (as soon as the people of Troy go to bed. Muhahahaha!). Now, I've heard all your complaints. 3D simply doesn't work for a small portion of the population, or it causes headaches. Further, most the High-Def Digest readers (myself included) have already invested far too much money in our 2D Blu-ray home theatres. It's insulting to be asked to buy another TV, another Blu-ray player, another AV Receiver…especially at a time when there's nothing to watch. I hear you, friends, but here's a little bit of sober truth: We don't have to upgrade. No one is forcing anyone to buy anything new. These are what my grandfather would call luxuries. Sure we'll be green with envy because we're high-definition enthusiasts, and if you actually care about 3D (no one's saying you must, mind you), you want it. It sucks to be left behind. To be the guy who purchased a new Mac G5 only to have the faster/Windows compatible Intel chips released within six months. To be the guy who bought a 2010 Mustang GT with its brand new modern-yet-classic body, only to have Ford bring back the 5.0 in 2011, dumping 25 percent more power under the hood for the same price. But here's Part Deux of our Truth-i-thon: 80 percent of the country doesn't have a Blu-ray player yet and if/when they get their first one, it's probably going to be 3D ready. Early adopters may scream loudest, but we're the minority here. 3D players are available now, and while they're not dirt-cheap, they're not crazy-pricey either. Further, anyone who's in the market for a new flatscreen will notice 3D TVs aren't that much more expensive than their feature/spec-equal two dimensional sibling models. And they offer that ever so tantalizing sheen of "future proof." 3D is becoming ubiquitous, and the reps from Sony and Samsung on Blu-Con 2010's 3D panel are saying consumers love in-store demos. As I theorized last year, everyone finally sees the upgrade between DVD and 3D Blu-ray. Or how about this interesting notion: Jim Mainard, Head of Production Technology for DreamWorks, said Blu-ray hasn't typically been a great business for Dreamworks because animated family films need to be portable. Kids watch movies over and over and over again, but Blu-rays don't play in cars or on mobile devices where they are often needed. With 3D Blu-ray (all four Shreks are being prepped; the first three re-mastered for 3D), they see young kids returning to the television (portability needs are also solved by combo packs). Despite my belief 3D will be around for a while, 3D still has some hefty hurtles to vault. Amazon reported there's still a lot of confusion in the market place. People don’t know what gear they need to play 3D, and if they purchase new 3D gear, if it will ONLY play 3D product. The answer to these questions, dear readers looking to know, is that to watch 3D Blu-ray, you will need the following: (1) 3D-Blu-ray Player (it will also play traditional Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs while most likely having an internet connection for streaming services like Netflix and Vudu). (1) 3D HDTV (Newer models are the best; pre-2010 3D technology, like rear projection Mitsubishis, needs an adaptor). (1 or more) pairs of 3D glasses (at this time, it's wise to match these to your TV's brand). (1-2) HDMI 1.4a compliant cable(s). For a simple set up, that's it. If you want lossless surround sound, no problem. You'll need to add either A) an HDMI 1.4a compliant AV Receiver with "3D Pass-through" or B) a 3D-Blu-ray player with 2 HDMI outputs (one for video, one for audio). [For more detail, my High-Def Digest colleagues, Nate and Steve, are writing an official 3D gear guide, with their personal experiences and tips on what to purchase. Look for it within the next week or so. Additionally, I will be penning my annual Black Friday & Holiday Shopping Guide. All the gear recommended in my guide will also be 3D compliant.] But wait just a damn minute, Palmer! Yes? What the hell am I supposed to watch? There's almost no 3D Blu-ray titles out now, there are like two 3D TV channels, and half the titles released are tied up in these damned exclusive bundles. Ah yes, bundles. It's interesting, actually, to hear the different strategies. Samsung and Dreamworks were both speakers on the Blu-con 2010 panel, and they of course have an exclusive partnership. They want to make sure anyone dipping a toe in 3D waters gets a perfect out-of-box experience. They want 3D to work perfectly, and they want it to look great. Imagine, for example, a family purchase a 3D TV and then the first thing they do is mistakenly watch the terrible red & blue anaglyph 3D (not the official "3D Blu-ray" spec at all). They might never buy a real 3D Blu-ray, or they might return the player and television. A crazy example admittedly, but there are millions of people right now watching standard definition TV on an HDTV because they don't know they need a new cable box, or a Blu-ray player, or just that they need to tune to the right channel! Ladies and germs, the unwashed masses. Or perhaps in more respectable terms, they're just not techo-nerds like you and me. I can understand studio and manufacturer motives in bundling, but agree more with Sony's Brian Siegel. Brian said Sony wants that great out-of-box experience too, but sees no reason for exclusivity because it's frustrating and customers really shouldn't be associating 3D with "free." So bundles will remain for a while (as they do for most gaming consoles). Panasonic is about to start one with 'Avatar' and it'll probably help them sell a lot of TVs. Those of you who went with Samsung, Sony, or another brand, sadly you'll have to wait. The exclusivity terms will end. It's just a real shame these companies are making the early adopter suffer (after investing so much hard-earned coin) for the appalling grievance of wanting to give them cash money. The real trouble with 3D is the content pipeline. All of James Cameron's rentable cameras are out all the time. Thousands of hours of television and feature films are being made and completed as we speak. And Discovery Channel is finally getting ready to launch a 3D channel (remember Discovery HD Theater? I used to watch that for hours when it was the only HD channel.), but that's still a ways out. At the end of the day, anyone pondering a 3D purchase should consider these two options this early in the game: 1) More titles are coming soon. November 16 is unofficially becoming 3D Day. Warners is releasing six titles, including 'Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore 3D', 'Clash of the Titans 3D', 'The Polar Express 3D', 'IMAX Deep Sea 3D', 'IMAX Under the Sea 3D', 'IMAX Space Station 3D'. Disney and Sony have joined in, as well, with 'A Christmas Carol 3D' and 'Open Season 3D', respectively. 'Avatar 3D' will be out on December 1 for Panasonic 3D TV buyers. And this is just the start. 36 titles will be available by year's end. Definitely not a lot, but it's a start, which means: 2) If there isn't a title you desperately need right-this-minute!, then why not take some time, save your money, and wait for prices to drop even further as they do year-after-year. There's no rush. And the technology itself will improve (they're working on cheaper, lighter, more stylish, and eye-friendly glasses, among other things). Hey, if you wait 8-10 years, you won't even need the glasses. Of course, some of you may be reading this and in need of a replacement television or Blu-ray player. But if you have any interest in 3D and may want to watch 3D in the future, spend a relatively few extra bucks and get 3D gear. 3D is here to stay. There's just nothing to watch…yet.Posted Tue Nov 9, 2010 at 12:25 PM PST by: -
Yamaha Adds Pandora to the neoHD Receiver Line[teaser]In addition to adding a new feature, Yamaha drops the price on both neoHD receivers. [/teaser] The Yamaha neoHD is anything but a traditional receiver from Yamaha. It's simple to use thanks to a robust graphical user interface, it supports both iPad and iPhone and it looks like nothing else on the market. Yamaha is hoping to make the line - which includes the YMC-500 and YMC-700 – more attractive to potential buyers by adding support for the Pandora internet music service. To add to that, Yamaha is going to introduce an app for the YMC-700 that will allow users to control any connected device via IR Control from their iPhone or iPad. Of course, that's not the only change, the price is dropping too. The YMC-500 will now retail for $299, while the 700 will run you $499. "We believe this news will appeal greatly to consumers who are looking to greatly simplify their home entertainment experience," says Yamaha president Tom Sumner, "while spending more time enjoying thrilling HD video and vibrant sound." Source: YamahaPosted Tue Nov 9, 2010 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
Time Warner Providing Immediate On Demand for New Shows[teaser]Don't have a DVR? Don't worry. Time Warner's new service lets you access your shows on demand for up to three days immediately after they air. [/teaser] You've almost certainly had an experience in the past where you've forgotten to set your DVR. Maybe your power went out, or the show you wanted to see got pushed back due to a scheduling conflict. In the past, you've had to wait until a rerun came on or – more likely – catch up on Hulu. Time Warner's new Look Back service aims to solve that problem and give people some of the convenience provided by internet streaming alternatives. Immediately after a show airs, you'll be able to access Look Back and watch it on demand. There are limitations of course, and only 48 channels (24 in SD, 24 in HD) are being offered right off the bat and the Look Back service isn't hitting all of Time Warner's subscribers yet. You also don't get the ability to fast forward. Source: EngadgetPosted Tue Nov 9, 2010 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
Peerless Releases the First Articulating Mount for the Samsung 9000[teaser]If you want to be able to move your fancy new TV away from the wall, it's the only option you've got. [/teaser] The Samsung 9000 is an amazing set. There's just no getting around it – it's at the top of the line when it comes to LED LCDs. The 9000 line has a problem though. It can't be used with normal wall mounts. "All of the Samsung electronics are located in a connection panel concealed beneath the stand," explains Peerless. "Standard mounts cannot fit over the panel housing, and the mounting kit provided by Samsung allows the display to be hung only in a fixed position." Up until now, you were stuck if you wanted to do something different with your set. The new mount from Peerless changes that, and extends, tilts, and swivels to meet your needs. You can pick up the SUAC9000 Ultra Slim Articulating Wall Mount, which fits both the 46 and 55 inch models, for $549. Source: PeerlessPosted Tue Nov 9, 2010 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
What Would You Ask 'Avatar' Producer Jon Landau?[teaser]Good evening, loyal HDD Readers and 'Avatar' fans. High-Def Digest is most likely getting a chance to interview James Cameron's producing partner, Jon Landau (again), about the 'Avatar' 3-Disc Extended Edition Blu-ray coming out November 16. So here's your chance to get answers directly from one of them men behind the biggest blockbusters ever made.[/teaser] If you could ask Jon Landau one question about 'Avatar' or any of its Blu-ray releases, what would it be? Hit up the forum below and let us know. All questions must be submitted by 2pm (Pacific Standard Time, United States) tomorrow, Tuesday, November 9. Not all questions will be used, and only respectfully written ones will be considered. Cheers.Posted Mon Nov 8, 2010 at 04:10 PM PST by: -
Least Shocking Announcement Ever...James Cameron Hearts Blu-rayby Michael S. Palmer [teaser]Though last year had our favorite Uncle Marty, Blu-Con 2010 featured filmmakers James Cameron and Jon Landau as keynote speakers (frankly, the whole day might as well have been called Cameron/Landau-Con 2010). [/teaser] Not only did these guys earn 20th Century Fox dumptrucks of cash, but they changed Hollywood's view on 3D forever (though sadly, not always for the better) and single handedly broke all previous Blu-ray sales records (one in five homes with a Blu-ray disc player owns a copy of 'Avatar'). In the least shocking announcement ever to be featured here on High-Def Digest... James Cameron loves Blu-ray. He loves its unparalleled picture and color qualities. And he loves how much information he and partner Jon Landau can squeeze onto the discs. 'Avatar' 3-Disc Extended Edition 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment President and subsequently Cameron's biggest fan, Mike Dunn, introduced the filmmakers with a short speech themed, "details matter." Of course 'Avatar' is all about detail in the Blu-ray resolution sense, but it's also a film with a completely fabricated language that took a USC professor three years to invent (the professor now gets fan mail written in Na'Vi). It's a film where a botanist slaved to create scientifically-based and accurate names for the fauna of a world that does not exist. It's a film that used revolutionary advancements in facial motion capture technology to capture the fully live performances from the actors involved. All of these things are among the many subjects to soon be featured on the 3-Disc 'Avatar: Extended Collectors Edition'. If you own the original 'Avatar' Blu-ray release, use its BD-Live section to check out an extended peak at what's on the 3-Disc edition. Obviously sensitive to the double-dipping trend, Cameron and Landau reiterated that this 3-Disc edition will be the last 2D version of 'Avatar' ever (there will of course be a 3D version available in December, but it's exclusive to Panasonic for a limited time). This is it. I know many High-Def Digest readers are frustrated about bare bones vs. special editions, but to be fair, this 3-Disc edition was announced before the original release so we could choose to wait (or rent). The real reason for the delay is that extended edition(s) footage needed to be fully rendered by WETA which takes 50-100 hours per frame to render 'Avatar' (which of course we have to multiply times two for 3D) at a cost of $1Million per minute (for finished product). Mr. Landau also pointed out that because of seamless branching, they were able to put all three versions of the movie (theatrical, special edition re-release, and extended edition exclusive to this Blu-ray) on one disc, and did not lower the bit-rate from the original release. On top of the 16 minutes of new footage (or 7 minutes if you've already seen the special edition) which includes a brand new 5 minute opening on a 'Blade Runner'-esc Earth, there will be 47 minutes worth of unfinished / low resolution deleted scenes, and viewers have the option of watching about 60 minutes of the film using a picture in picture mode where the actors on the motion-capture stage are next to their full-res digital counterparts. This is actually very engaging to watch, and proves that 'Avatar' isn't an animated film, but one with real actors embodying otherworldly characters. Here's an example (sorry about the blurry picture): "You don't just want the motion, you want the emotion" – Jon Landau Cameron and Landau also showed a clip entitled the "Sturmbeast Hunt." While I've seen this sequence before on the Special Edition re-release, I was more surprised how clear, and realistic everything looked on a (estimating here) 15-18 foot screen. For relative terms, the Blu-Con 2010 screens were akin a smaller theatrical screens, yet Blu-ray is essentially half the vertical resolution of a 2K projector. Definitely a score for the format (alas, I took a picture, but in the darkened room it came out too blurry to give anyone a proper example of the experience). Also, I don't know if this is included in any of the special features, but apparently during the film's preproduction, Cameron took actors Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana to Hawaii so they could get the sensory experience of a real rain forest. One day, Worthington was running around in makeup and a loin cloth while speaking Na'Vi when a man out walking his dog asked what they were all doing. Worthington said, "we're making a movie, mate. See that guy over there? That's James Cameron; he made 'Titanic'." To which the man with the dog replied, "Boy, he's really gone down hill." 3D "I haven't seen anything that didn't benefit from 3D. I watched the Masters and I hate golf. Why would I watch it? But I watched The Masters in 3D. It was really cool!" – James Cameron. No conversation with James Cameron is complete without his thoughts on 3D technology. He believes it's not a fad, but "we're only hitting the tip of the iceberg" (his words, not mine). The first 3D technology was good and we're already a few generations past that. We will need the glasses for 3d viewing for another 8-10 years. Apparently for displays to work without glasses, the displays will have to have much more resolution which is then split back down to master for the multiple viewing angles [If anyone actually knows how that might work, please drop us a line in the forums; I'm fascinated.]. Mr. Cameron said the key to 3D expansion is generating enough content. So it won't be movies. They take too long. 3D sports / video will be the biggest push. He likened the progression of 3D to the advancement of color film. Color films started in the 30s, but weren't a majority until the 60s because in make a network TV sale (this is before any other form of home entertainment, of course), filmmakers needed color movies for the latest craze, color television. Mr. Cameron surmises it'll work the same in the not-too-distant future. 3D will just be a standard. On the topic of good vs. bad 3D, his advice to all filmmakers and studios is the A) shoot in 3D, or B) spend the time and money to do post-conversion right. For this films need an extra six month built into the post-production schedules. When studios typically factor in the cost of post-conversion, they're not taking into consideration the time itself, and with all things considered, it's much easier to shoot in 3D. It's more natural and makes the medium fun. Cameron's goal, he says, for all 3D is to give people a premium product worth premium ticket or technology upgrade expenses. And they can't do that with sloppy conversions. Post-conversions, Cameron said, should be for classics like 'Jaws', 'E.T.', 'Close Encounters', (all Spielberg films, he admitted, but they're his favorites) and even 'Titanic' because there's no time machine available to go back and reshoot these films in 3D. What do you think, dear Readers? Is Cameron right? Let us know in the forums and keep your eyes out for the next Blu-Con 2010 article where we'll be focusing more specifically on 3D Blu-ray outside the Cameron universe. James Cameron and Producer Jon Landau talk about the AVATAR Special Edition at Blu-Con 2010 Part 1 from ColliderVideos on Vimeo. James Cameron and Producer Jon Landau talk about the AVATAR Special Edition at Blu-Con 2010 Part 2 from ColliderVideos on Vimeo.Posted Mon Nov 8, 2010 at 03:55 PM PST by: -
Amazon Talks Blu-ray's Ups and Downsby Michael S. Palmer [teaser]As our Blu-Con 2010 coverage continues, it's important to not only examine how well the format is doing, but also the missteps, mistakes, and over-complexities that continue to hold Blu-ray back despite a 20 percent adoption rate in the U.S.[/teaser] There's an old saying that the retail industry is the "last three feet" for any product being sold. Inventors, engineers, designers, and marketing teams can do one hell of a job inventing the Next Great Thing, but the face of these products becomes the floor employees or the telephone reps for local and online stores. And this is potentially terrifying for the consumer. We've all had bad customer service experiences when all we wanted was for That Thing to simply…work. Not really the highest expectations, yet sometimes this is an impossible request for one reason or another. Gadgets, gizmos, and technologies often live or die based on the store (real or virtual) experience. Earlier adopters? Well, I can generally trouble shoot things myself or with a short Google search. But my mom still can't use a VCR (though partly because it's now disconnected in favor of my brother's PlayStation 3…which she also can't use, but I'm off topic), and if she and/or anyone who doesn't inherently love these Next Best Things have a bad sales or customer service experience, well there's more lost customers, perhaps forever. Speaking as this year's retailer representative for Blu-Con 2010, Bill Carr, Vice President of Music and Video for Amazon, outlined what he and his fellow employees have been learning about Blu-ray on the front lines and in the last three feet. After taking us through what his customers love, he then outlined Amazon's strategy for ensuring maximized sales for Blu-ray discs and all related high-definition technologies. The Good Well, it's Blu-Con. Mr. Carr has to say how much people love Blu-ray. It's the whole point. He started with quotes from Amazon customers "Brother Bish" and "Video Guy." Video Guy was thrilled to update his 'Bourne Trilogy'. He said he's actually enjoying the movies more and can't quite understand why. Martin Scorsese discussed this phenomenon last year, but it comes down to detail and resolution providing the most cinema-like experience possible. Brother Bish purchased the original 'The Prisoner: Complete Series' and said this Blu-ray looked like it could have been filmed yesterday and is much better than the previous DVDs. To retail executives like Mr. Carr, this means consumers are starting to see a qualitative difference between high definition and standard definition (remember when idiots used to say, "M'eh, DVD's good enough?"). The bottom line, when tracking purchasing activity, is that spending on home video surges by nearly 400 percent (though half of these purchases are still DVD) after an Amazon.com customer buys his or her first Blu-ray. The Bad But other Amazon customers have worried about investing in the format. Is Blu-ray too niche? Is it the next LaserDisc? Part of this can be tracked to companies like Best Buy who are reducing physical media floor space before Christmas this year. Of course, this is mainly about DVDs and CDs, but walking my local rearranged Best Buy now feels less like a place to buy movies than before the reduction. Coincidentally or perhaps not, Best Buy spoke at last year's Blu-con 2.0, but did not this year. Another reason for consumer concern is, despite tracking almost as well as DVD's first five years in regards to hardware sales, there are only 3,000 Blu-ray titles available. After its first five years on the market, DVD had 20,000; today, there are 150,000. Many of the still-unreleased titles are fan favorites. Pricing is another big factor. For every 10 percent that a Blu-ray disc is priced higher than its day-and-date DVD sibling, the Blu-ray's sales will drop by 4 percent. This means with a $10 premium price over the DVD, the Blu-ray will get 50 percent of the volume mix. With a $5 premium, the Blu-ray will take 75 percent of the mix. And with a 0 percent premium, the Blu-ray will take 95 percent. Don't forget the hardware itself. Most Blu-ray-related technical service complaints, calls, and returns are due to firmware updates. Every month, Blu-rays debut with sparkling new features which immediately proceed to cripple (mostly older, and mostly temporarily) Blu-ray players across the country. And then there are interrupted firmware updates, whether caused by be a clueless owner or an outside issue, which can kill these expensive machines dead. DVD never had this problem. Sure some early-early discs wouldn't play on some machines, but most people used DVD players for a decade. Blu-ray started with maddeningly slow players that didn't have simple features like remembering where in the movie you were last watching. I personally purchased a PS3 as my second Blu-ray player and haven't looked back, but until recently, stand-alone players have been a headache. Lastly, though most Blu-ray players are internet-ready, connection rates are quite low. The reasoning here, of course, is that most of these players have Ethernet jacks, but no built-in WiFi. Yes, professional installers will advise hard-wiring your Blu-ray player for internet streaming because the signal is stronger and less likely to drop (which is important for services like Netflix, which measures your bandwidth before delivering you a resolution), but that isn't an option for most people whose internet router is most likely in another room. Hell, I still haven't connected my DirecTV DVR (which gives access to OnDemand) for just that reason; my router's in another room, and I didn't want to pay $75 for the wireless adapter kit. All of this means Blu-ray players aren't being used to their maximum capability and user-experience. It's SO much easier to update via an Ethernet / WiFi connection than it is to either painfully wait for a manufacturer firmware disc or download and burn a CD/DVD off the web (which of course is easy for jerks like me, but I'll reference my mom again). The Ugly Education In order to combat consumer frustrations and confusion, Amazon has developed a three-part strategy to make Blu-ray more appealing to current customers and the nearly 80 percent who have yet to adopt the format: selection, value, and customer experience. Selection: movies studios need to get off their asses and release more good movies. That's the only thing that will drive hardware sales (see 'Avatar'). If people can have their favorite, must-own movies, they will upgrade. Amazon is particularly lucky because they only have what's known a "virtual shelf space." Retailers like Walmart and Best Buy can only have so many movies in-store at any one time, but Amazon can feature any and all Blu-rays. Value: Blu-ray disc players need to come with built-in WiFi to make internet streaming more available and firmware updates easier. Further, Blu-ray disc price gouging needs to go away. There's little reason to have a Blu-ray cost more in the consumer's eyes than a DVD, unless there is added / perceived value. Catalogue titles and new releases should be packed with special features. Blu-ray+DVD+Digital Copy releases must become the norm -- it's content any where any time, not format. For example, the 'Snow White' combo pack (the most successful combo pack so far) sold 55 percent more than the average stand-alone Blu-ray disc. Speaking of which, do you all know about Amazon's "Buy Now, Watch Now" Disc + OnDemand service? Basically, when you buy one of 10,000 titles on Blu-ray or DVD for no extra charge, you'll also get a downloadable copy so you don't have to wait for shipping. Amazon On Demand titles can be played on Macs, PCs, and on any of the 200 HDTVs, set top boxes, and Blu-ray players fearing the Amazon On Demand app. Customer Service: not just about having polite people in store or on the phone to help when things go wrong. It's about education. Helping consumers know what they need before they buy so they're not surprised or not enjoying their equipment to its fullest. For example, Amazon.com customers are really excited about the advent of 3D HDTVS and 3D Blu-ray technology. They love the theatrical experience and have been wowed by in-store demos. But, they don't understand what it entails. New televisions? A new receiver? A new Blu-ray player? The answer is yes to all, of course, but it can be confusing even for technophiles on certain subjects (it took me forever to find out that my PS3 won't do 3D and lossless audio at the same time). In order to help you, the consumer, with your next purchase, online retailers like Amazon and Crutchfield have initiated helpful education portals on their websites with helpful FAQs and how-to guides. On Amazon, there's High-Def Headquarters and 3D 101. For another opinion, check out Crutchfield 3D. Bottom line We love Blu-ray, but we need more titles, more value in these titles as well as the hardware itself, and the whole experience needs to be simple and easy. Is that really too much to ask? Perhaps. Blu-ray is sophisticated soft/hardware that exists in a world where technology grows so fast that it will continuously be updated. But look at Apple; the easiest, most intuitive products around, but still evolving. Firmware is never going away, but it's up to the engineers and retailers and movie studios to make it seem invisible. Next up in our Blu-Con 2010 coverage, we'll hear to what James Cameron has to say about Blu-ray and 3D. Until then, dear readers, hit up the forum link below to tell us what you think would make Blu-ray discs, players, and the whole high-definition experience more enjoyable, user friendly, and would help you collect more films and television series.Posted Mon Nov 8, 2010 at 02:00 PM PST by:
