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Sharp Wins ITC Ruling – Recommended That Some Samsung LCDs Be Banned[teaser]After much deliberation and investigation, the International Trade Commission has determined that certain new Samsung LCD televisions contain patented technology belonging to Sharp. [/teaser] Specifically which models would be prohibited from entering the US under this ruling is still a bit of a mystery, but with four total patent violations, it’s likely that this will affect more than a few displays. The patents in question involve technologies created by Sharp, and not licensed to Samsung for use. Two of these patents have to do with liquid crystal alignment, which affects brightness and response time. Another is for a display with a wider viewing angle, and the fourth has to do with a technology created to reduce display flickering. Samsung has a sixty day window to continue bringing these displays into the country – just enough to make sure that they have a happy holiday season – pending further review. If it is determined that the ban on these items would be against the public interest, the ruling by the ITC can be overruled. Samsung states that they have workaround technology for their displays, and that their sales will not be affected. “We are fully committed to honor our responsibility to our business partners and are taking appropriate actions to meet the market demand for Samsung LCD panels and products without any interruption,” said Samsung spokesman James Chung. Source: ReutersPosted Mon Nov 16, 2009 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
We Now Return You To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming[teaser]High-Def Digest is back on the job after some unexpected technical difficulties![/teaser] You probably noticed problems with the site over the last few days. High-Def Digest experienced intermittent website outages caused by a cyber attack. (Editor's Note: I'm not convinced Michael Bay wasn't retaliating for our 'Transformers 2' review). Our troubleshooting team has resolved the issue, and the site should now be functioning normally. We appreciate your patience and understanding, and apologize for the inconvenience caused by this attack. We now return you to our regularly scheduled programming.Posted Sun Nov 15, 2009 at 04:00 PM PST by: -
HDD Special Event: "FoxPop" Bows on 'Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian'[teaser]On December 1st, be on the look out for 'Battle of the Smithsonian' in a BD combo pack, featuring a Blu-ray (along with the special features), a DVD, and a digital copy, as well as a new exclusive feature![/teaser] By Michael S. Palmer As a franchise, 'Night at the Museum' (one & two) has earned over $1 Billion Dollars at the box office, and (the original) has sold 16 million units on home video. On December 1, be on the look out for ‘Battle of the Smithsonian’ in a BD combo pack, featuring a Blu-ray (along with the special features), a DVD, and a digital copy. Like this week’s release of ‘Up,’ studios are really pushing “portability and convenience.” There will be DVD versions available, but I won't tarnish the hallowed halls of High-Def Digest reporting about -- sigh -- standard definition. The main focus of the event was to introduce “FoxPop,” an interactive feature (available to any viewer; Blu-ray, DVD, digital copy, or even in the future on television) that provides trivia as the movie plays. Using a film’s audio soundtrack, FoxPop figures out a film’s “time code” (the digital time measurement for where you are in a movie), and provides pop up trivia to either a computer screen, or an iPhone. Think of it like VH1’s ‘Pop Up Videos,’ only the pop ups aren’t superimposed onto the image. Demo’ing FoxPop was fun, easy and intuitive (much like their LiveLookup). In addition to trivia, there’s a chance to comment on the film itself. Connect FoxPop to Facebook or Twitter, and any of your friends who also watch a movie in FoxPop will get your comments, at the exact moment in the film you made them. Head over to www.foxpop.com now to download the FoxPop application (apparently it works for other films as well, though I’m not sure how many, and you don’t get exclusive Fox content with it), or FoxPop will be free on the iPhone app store starting December 1 (day and date with the release of ‘Battle.’ Future Fox titles featuring FoxPop include ‘500 Days of Summer’ and ‘Jennifer’s Body.’ Director Shawn Levy was on hand to discuss the film and its special features. He was thrilled to have found a franchise like ‘Museum,’ saying it offers not only a chance for escapist entertainment, but includes educational elements (such as historical figures). He’s proud to have helped boost museum attendance both in New York and D.C. Levy went on to speak about how much he enjoys bringing together an ensemble cast of huge comedy talents, and that his first test audience is always his 10-year-old daughter. Levy then previewed a handful of the special features, including: --“Directing 201.” A follow up to the first film’s special feature, Directing 101, this is a 20-minute “day in the life” of Shawn Levy, during the film’s production. --“Cherub Bootcamp.” A mockumentary about the Jonas Brothers training to become the film’s three flying, singing, stone cherubs. You may have already seen this on YouTube, as it was released online in lieu of a traditional press release to media outlets regarding the casting of said Brothers Jonas. --“Phinding Pharaoh With Hank Azaria.” The master voice artist of The Simpsons (Moe, Apu, Chief Wiggum, Comic Book Guy, Carl Carlson, Cletus, Professor Frink, Dr. Nick Riviera, Lou, Snake, Kirk Van Houten, the Sea Captain, Superintendent Chalmers, Disco Stu, Duffman, and many more!) discusses (in character) the many accents his character could have had. --“Deleted Scenes.” There are 12 deleted, or expanded, scenes on the BD. We saw one where Ivan the Terrible interrogates Larry (Ben Stiller) while trying to prove (badly) that Ivan isn’t so terrible. There’s also an alternate ending, and a seven-minute version of Larry’s run in with Jonah Hill’s “Brunden” (two minutes was all that made it to the final movie). --“Museum Scavenger Hunt Game.” Exclusive to the Blu-ray, there are two levels, with the goal of either finding artifacts (easy), or answering clue-revealing trivia questions to find said artifacts (hard) to fill in the tablet. Successful scavengers will be rewarded with bonus, silly content. --“Augmented Reality.” Using a webcam, a downloadable software application, and the cover of the DVD or Blu-ray, you can watch characters from ‘Battle’ come alive in your own hand. --“Monkey Mischief”. Capuchin Monkey Movie Star, Crystal, was in person for a photo op (woo hoo, I now have a picture with a monkey on my shoulders!!!), but this featurette is about how Crystal starred as both Dexter and Able in ‘Battle’. Apparently, training monkeys is quite easy, but it takes a certain temperament to have them not freak out on busy (loud) film sets. Crystal does have an understudy, Squirt, but poor Squirt has never worked because Crystal’s performances has been too solid on both movies. Look for Crystal next in MGM’s ‘The Zookeeper’. Levy is currently finishing up ‘Date Night’ for next spring, but what’s on the horizon? ‘Night at the Museum 3’ “may be” in the works, but they haven’t found the right story/setting yet. ‘Hardy Men’, which would star Ben Stiller and Tom Cruise as grownup versions of the Hardy Boys who hate each other, is still in the script stage. And his company’s live action / CGI production (Levy is not yet attached to direct) of the classic ‘Berenstain Bears’ is in very early stages. At present, they are meeting with screenwriters and hearing “takes” (movie industry lingo for pitches, or “How I would Write Your Movie, by Johnny Screenwriter”).Posted Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 01:45 PM PST by: -
FoxPop Debuts for 'Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian'[teaser]Fox will debut a new application for iPhone and PC that will sync with movies and offer information as well as social activity. [/teaser] Remember that VH1 show Pop up Video, where little facts and tidbits assaulted the screen while music videos played? Twentieth Century Fox does, and they’re bringing it to Blu-ray. It’s not a new concept, and certainly we’ve seen pop up trivia on DVD and Blu-ray before, but by using the iPhone or PC, Fox is eliminating the screen clutter. After downloading FoxPop on an iPhone or PC and starting the program, users can simply play a compatible Blu-ray disc or DVD and FoxPop will automatically sync up using audio cues. From there, the program will pop up with trivia about the movie and offer insight into each scene, from the filming location to the name of the song in the background. Additionally, FoxPop will provide Facebook and Twitter access, and let viewers share and chat with friends while watching the movie. Mary Daily, EVP of Marketing at Fox, says that the new application will create a new, powerful connection between a film and its viewers. She also adds, “FoxPop furthers our commitment to providing consumers with the most exceptional home entertainment experience possible.” FoxPop will be available on December 1st, right alongside the release of Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Watch for further coverage of FoxPop later today!Posted Thu Nov 12, 2009 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
3D Blu-ray Coming Next Year[teaser]Our recap of Blu-con 2.0 continues with a look at the emerging world of Blu-ray 3D![/teaser] By Michael S. Palmer Extra! Extra! Read all about it! 3D is the hottest thing in movies right now. It’s a box office buoying premium experience that has captured audience attention around the globe (internationally, ‘Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs’ is the third highest grossing movie of all time, behind only ‘Titanic’ and ‘Return of the King’). And next year, it could be in your friggin' living room! The Blu-ray Disc Association, a 170-company conglomerate responsible for establishing Blu-ray standards, is currently finishing up specs (a.k.a. requirements) that will usher Blu-ray into the 3D era. They plan to announce these new specs next month (before the end of this year), with the hope that manufacturers can produce equipment by Christmas 2010, perhaps even sooner. Panasonic was in house to say that they consider 3D a “revolution, not just a small feature.” They’re planning to get to “mass market pricing” as soon as possible. 3D won’t simply be for “the exotic few” who can afford luxury. What do we know? Though the standards are not finalized, we know we’ll be getting full 1080p video projected to both the right and left eyes. And they’re building in backwards compatibility on hardware AND software. Meaning, not only will 3D Blu-ray players be able to play CDs, DVDs, Blu-rays, and 3D Blu-rays, but 3D Blu-rays will also play in 2D Blu-ray players (but ONLY in 2D). Wait, so none of my current equipment will play 3D? Correct. The BDA wants you to know that your current devices aren’t going to be obsolete (which is why they built in the backwards compatibility onto the discs themselves), this is just an added layer for those who want it. Meaning, 3D at home requires the purchase of a 3D Blu-ray player as well as a 3D Blu-ray compatible TV and 3D glasses (which will be handled by the TV manufacturers). So how does it look (a.k.a. is it worth it to wear silly glasses)? As a fan of all things high def and a rampant early adopter. Ohhhhh yeah! Panasonic had a slick demo at Blu-Con 2.0 displaying 1080p to each eye, 120 frames-per-second. They’re planning to have their 3D devices available as a bundle (player, plasma TV, and glasses) when the technology hits the big box stores next year. We screened the trailer for Disney’s ‘A Christmas Carol’, footage from the 2008 summer Olympics / a preview for the 2010 winter games, and the teaser trailer of James Cameron’s ‘Avatar.’ Having recently seen both trailers in 3D cinemas (‘A Christmas Carol’ was on the ‘Toy Story 1 & 2’ double feature), they looked exactly as they did in the theatre. Both the good and bad aspects. The 3D effects were great, but sometimes the focus was hard to find and the image could be occasionally dim (thanks to wearing glasses; Roger Ebert wrote about this in his review of ‘Up’). But the 3D HD video footage of the sporting events was breathtaking. I’ve never seen anything like it (except for IMAX, which stands seven stories tall). It literally felt like there was a portal in the wall of this demo truck, and that I could have leapt through it into the stadiums of Beijing, or onto the snowy ski trails outside of Vancouver. It was so bright, clear, and crisp (sign me up for the first 3D Super Bowl). One of the themes of the Blu-Con is that Blu-ray needs that wow factor to break into the mass market beyond the ten or so percent it has currently reached (interesting note, no video format has ever hit 10% of a market share and NOT gone on to mass adoption). That Blu-ray and its BD-Live technology need to be so exciting, people forcibly drag friends and families over to see it, and say, “you gotta get Blu-ray, look at what it does.” It’s been a huge obstacle to get people away from, “yeah, well my DVDs look good, so why do I need Blu-ray?” 3D Blu-ray is the game changer. Anyone and everyone will see the difference, whether or not they understand data rates, bandwidth, or other tech terms. This is the leap forward DVD brought to the home entertainment world over VHS in 1997. Look out cinemas. We may soon have a reason to never leave the house again.Posted Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 03:00 PM PST by: -
Review: Netflix Streaming on Sony’s PlayStation 3[teaser]Michael Palmer got his hands on a Netflix Streaming Disc for the PS3 and gave it a whirl. Here's what he thought of it...[/teaser] By Michael S. Palmer Following Sony’s new marketing campaign (“It Only Does Everything”), Netflix Streaming has finally arrived on the PS3. When announcements were made last month that we’d finally be joining the ranks of the Xbox 360 as well as various LG, Samsung, and Insignia networked Blu-ray Disc players, I immediately signed up for my free Netflix “Instant Streaming Disc.” I wasn’t exactly sure why they were sending me a disc, thinking that it would be some type of firmware update. But it turns out (or, if I had read the announcement further than “go here to sign up for your free disc”) the Instant Streaming Disc is actually a Blu-ray, which uses BD-Live to stream movies and television episodes from the Netflix server. Meaning, every time you want to stream content, the Instant Streaming Disc must first be inserted into the PS3. Setting It Up. Netflix Streaming on the PS3 rquires: a Netflix membership subscription plan with unlimited viewing included (1-at-a-time DVDs with unlimited streaming is $8.99/month, and $10.99/month for a 1-at-a-time with Blu-ray Disc access), the free Netflix Instant Streaming disc, and a broadband internet connection (hard wired or wireless). For installation and title selection, you’ll at first need both a computer and your PS3 (in the future, one could use the PS3’s internal internet browser). First, insert the Instant Streaming Disc into the PS3. An unlocking code will show up on your TV’s screen. From there hop over to your Netflix account, in the “Watch Instantly” tab, where it will ask you for that code. Once entered, the PS3 will sync up your Instant Queue. Selected titles can be arranged as you see fit, just like your DVD Queue. It’s handy to pick carefully here, because if you have a lot of titles, scrolling over to the last one can be a bit time consuming. Daily Use. Running the disc brings you to your Instant Queue. Clicking to the right (using either a remote, or a PS3 game controller – I personally am using a Harmony 880 via the Nyko PS2 USB adapter. Logitech now makes a PS3 adapter for their remotes) scrolls you through your Queue. Click UP and then to the right to access other categories, such as Recently Watched, New Arrivals: Movies, New Arrivals: TV, Comedy, Drama, Action, and a myriad of other genres. Click (or press down) on any title to “play,” give the title a star rating, or “remove from Instant Queue.” Once a movie is started, options will change to “resume playing” or “play from the beginning.” TV shows are organized by season, so play options include “Play Episode 1” or “Choose Episode.” “Play,” “pause,” “fast forward” and “rewind” buttons work as they should (though fast forward and rewinding require 10 or so seconds to buffer). But pressing stop will exit you out streaming all together (taking you back to the PS3’s menu); to go back to your Instant Queue, simply press “menu” and then click “up.” Movies and TV episodes are available in “HD” (AVC encodes oscillating between 1.5 and 5 Mbps) and SD (running just under 600 kbps), with all audio in two-channel, stereo Dolby Digital. There are over 17,000 movie and TV titles. TV shows are a mix of old and new; movies are generally older, given contracts movie studios have in place with pay cable outlets which streaming would violate. “Starz Play” titles are newer releases (anything that’s currently playing on the Starz network), but they don’t appear to be in “HD.” Impressions. For anyone savvy enough to have a Netflix account and a PS3 already, this is a no brainer. It’s free (well, included in your subscription), and easy for those of us who have no trouble surfing the web. For folks less technically savy, this service is more difficult than using cable or satellite On Demand services because you can’t manage your account from one location. Quality-wise, Netflix Streaming certainly isn’t a Blu-ray killer, let alone even competitor, but I suppose that’s not really the point. This is an added feature to allow subscribers more content and added value. Quote-unquote HD content is “serviceable.” Not as good as HD cable/satellite, but a bit more resolution than DVD. I checked out ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ (a fantastic Blu-ray, btw) and the opening sequence of ‘Scorpion King 2’. These two features weren’t as clear as the Vudu HDX titles I’ve seen, nor as good as Quicktime HD movie trailers. They suffered from banding, blocking, and digital artifacts. Once my expectations were in the proper place, I was generally pleased. This would be a good way to see a title when you didn’t want to wait for Netflix to send out your next disc. The one thing to mention here is that my Internet connection did drop out once, and so ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ paused, and started replaying in SD, which was no comparison. To get it back up to “HD”, I hit “menu”, and “resumed playing” which re-buffered the feed, and brought it back in “HD.” On my 52” Sony LCD, the SD streaming content was subpar (but truthfully, most SD content doesn’t look great). It’s like watching a non-anamorphic widescreen DVD, and “zooming in” your TV to make it fill more of the screen. Images and text are hazy, fuzzy, and colors are muddy. Here I checked out ‘Armageddon’ (which was in anamorphic widescreen), ‘Dead Space: Downfall’ (non-anamorphic widescreen) and ‘Big Bry’s Western Style BBQ’ (1.33:1). Each title had its own disappointment. ‘Armageddon’ was blocky, and less engaging without its 5.1 mix; ‘Dead Space’ looked clear, but it had letterboxing and pillar boxing happening at the same time; and ‘Big Bry’s’ audio was out of sync for the entire presentation (though, this might not be the fault of the service). Despite its ease of use, and the fact that it’s free (Xbox 360 owners have to pay over $50/year for Xbox Live Gold service), my biggest complaint is the necessary Instant Streaming Disc. Sure it’s a nifty use of BD-Live, and no doubt there’s a specific, genius-computer-programmer reason as to why it had to be designed this way, but frankly, it’s cumbersome. Is it really THAT hard to get up off the couch and insert a disc, like when playing any Blu-ray or DVD? Of course not, but like the PlayStation Store or Network, streaming content seems better served for when you can exit out of a movie or game, and then click over to something else. Now streaming is forced to be a conscious choice, and given the quality of the service, it might be a better value to pop in another Blu-ray or in some cases, a DVD. At least with many DVDs, you’re getting a discreet surround sound mix. Bottom Line. Though Netflix Streaming may have its uses (digging back in to childhood classics like ‘Voltron’!), and it’s great to bring another feature to the PS3, video/audiophiles need not apply. The current lack of quality will be bothersome. Hopefully, with time, the streaming / video encoding quality will grow along with the selection of “HD” content. For now, enjoy what you can.Posted Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 02:20 PM PST by: -
Download Kiosks Hit Stores[teaser]Four Hollywood Video locations in Seattle and Portland as well as two Blockbuster stores in Dallas will be testing out the new download kiosks this week. [/teaser] Digital distribution methods are still being nailed down, especially in those areas without a high speed connection. NCR Corp hopes to provide the solution with their new download kiosks. Kiosk customers will be able to browse from a selection of around a thousand films and download them directly to an SD card. The cards are expected to be provided for free to customers, while set-top boxes to play the cards back on may be complimentary or offered as rentals. Playback of the movies seems to be limited to branded set-tops at the moment, though the company is considering allowing playback on computers. Customers who rent the movies will have 30 days to watch them. After they begin playing the film, they’ll have 48 hours to finish before the file times out and becomes unplayable. Prices are not yet established, but according to CEO Anthony Bay, “You’re not going to see $1 downloads.” The idea sounds good until it’s compared to Redbox. For some price higher than a dollar, you’ll be able to plug an SD card into a set-top box that you’ll have to buy or rent and then watch the film within a designated time. The resolution and quality of the video is unknown at the moment. Of course, if these come in high def, things start sounding a little better. Source: Video BusinessPosted Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs' Streams Free for New Sony Owners[teaser]New owners of Sony internet connected televisions and Blu-ray players will get free access to an early stream of 'Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs' in 720p. Existing Sony owners, you’ll have to pay $25.[/teaser] To show off the streaming capabilities of their new hardware, Sony is hooking new Bravia owners up with a free rental of 'Cloudly With a Chance of Meatballs.' Customers will be able to watch the movie in a 24 hour window, anywhere from December 8th until January 5th. This availability marks a unique offering from Sony, as the streaming rentals will start nearly a month before the film’s January 5th DVD and Blu-ray release date. The rental will be in a 720p resolution, rather than the 1080p of Blu-ray discs, and while pausing and rewinding will be possible, recording will not. Existing Sony owners will not have access to the free rental. Sony isn’t completely leaving these customers in the lurch though, as they can opt to pay a $24.95 rental fee for the same 24 hour viewing window. That’s right, for around the same price as the Blu-ray disc of the same movie, you’ll be able to rent it in 720p for a whole 24 hours. Information is fuzzy at best, as it is entirely unclear exactly which TVs and Blu-ray players will qualify to receive the free stream, and whether there is a certain time during which these purchases must take place. Sony has stated that PS3s will not have access to the film. Source: Associated PressPosted Wed Nov 11, 2009 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Profile 2.0 Blu-ray Disc Players Heart Streaming Content[teaser]Our recap of Blu-con 2.0 continues with news on the growing number of Blu-ray players capable of streaming video content.[/teaser] By Michael S. Palmer There we were. Blu-Con 2.0. Up on the stage, sitting mere inches apart: mortal enemies and rental competitors Netflix and Blockbuster. Nothing overtly dramatic happened, sadly, but there was an awkward tension in the air. Netflix the young upstart; Blockbuster the foundering giant. Then came the numbers: Netflix plans to ship discs through 2030; they currently have 11 million subscribers, with 1 million of those paying a premium for Blu-ray access. Blockbuster, not to be outdone, claims 50 million people per day enter its stores (Seem a little high to anyone?), in addition to forming new alliances with TiVo and Samsung for “Blockbuster Online.” Despite jabs over who offers older streaming content (Netflix*) vs. newer releases (Blockbuster, CinemaNow), it was clear to these companies (and their researchers) that physical media is here to stay. Many of you may be downloading and streaming, but most consumers still identify a “purchase” or “ownership” with a tangible object (obviously this excludes music). As evidence, consider the fact that people were still buying VHS/DVD combo units as recently as last year. Because they own physical copies of movies. This is fantastic news for Blu-ray as big box retailers like Best Buy and Walmart join forces with hardware manufactures and Hollywood studios to push Blu-ray into the 90% of homes who do not yet have it. The final sales quarter is immensely important for Blu-ray and for the first time, Blu-ray disc is a top 10 most-wanted holiday gift for adults. This could be the year where customers finally understand why their HDTVs need quality high-def source material. Where Blu-ray becomes mainstream. But Blu-ray isn’t a standalone feature anymore. Slow, oversized, single-minded, clunky machines have given way to sleek, broadband-capable home media centers. Blu-ray Disc’s always had great picture and sound. And now the Profile 2.0 players have arrived in a big way, offering extra choices / content for customers. In fact, “available choices” is what it means to be a modern consumer (“I want it all. I want it all. And I want it now!”). This is why Blu-ray needs streaming / download services as much as streaming / download services need Blu-ray. It’s a symbiotic relationship of mutual benefit, which all ties into what Blu-ray players do, and where they're located in the home. Alone, Blu-ray has spectacular picture and unbeatable sound. Its abilities all stem from digital bandwidth, which is three to six times higher than most broadband internet connections, meaning its quality easily trumps streaming options (though Vudu HDX sure comes close). But, watching a Blu-ray is an “occasion”: a once or twice per week “event.” And, Blu-ray either means a trip to a physical location such as Best Buy and Blockbuster, or a multi-day wait from Netflix or online retailers like Amazon. Streaming / digital downloads can be instant, and portable. There’s no trip to any store. Available titles aren’t out of stock, or listed as a “long wait”, though selection is (at present) limited, and downloading an entire movie can sometimes take just as long as a trip to the local Best Buy. The real obstacle facing Internet based services? Families really don’t want to sit around a computer. Sure it’s nice when traveling, or in a dorm room, but the majority of Americans now have giant HDTVs and plush, inviting seating (we worked hard to pay for those comforts, and by God, we aim to use them!). Streaming has largely not been the domain of the living room. Sure Apple, Vudu and Netflix all offered separate boxes that you could hook up to the TV, but too many individual set top boxes is confusing for most. And, truthfully, none of these boxes flew off the shelf. Now we have networked Blu-ray Disc players. Queen of the living room (where the HDTV is King), they multi-task for just about any type of media you could want. Still have a library of CDs and DVDs? Check. Want to watch your favorite new movies in stunning high def on Blu-ray? Check. Don’t want to bother going out, so the reduced quality of streaming is okay? Check. Feel the need to fire up YouTube to see dancing kittens, local news anchors swearing on camera, and red necks setting fireworks off in their pants? Check. Check. And Check. Using your Blu-ray player is no longer an “event” – it’s a convenient content portal, and it might as well be on and in use almost as much as the TV or computer. In the modern era of media consumption, formats are no longer about winning or losing the entire market. Blu-ray is amazing, but unnecessary without the large TV and surround sound. Digital content is quick and portable, but lacks quality. But why separate them? The new future is one where we buy or rent CONTENT, not a format (see Best Buy’s announcement of building CinemaNow into most of its products). For example, with the just released ‘UP’ Blu-ray, the 4-disc set includes a Blu-ray for the home theatre, a DVD for the car or kids’ room, and a digital copy for an iPod or laptop on the go. Sure we can’t be tethered to the living room, but when not out and about, Profile 2.0 Blu-ray players just make sense. And they make things simple. No one wants 800 components under their TV. Few as possible please, with a variety of services. We’re in the infant stages of these cross-media platforms, but here’s a rundown on where to find these integrated streaming / download services that were featured at Blu-Con 2.0, as well as a recent Dolby event I attended: Netflix streaming is subscription based, and included with rental plans over $8.99/month. It works with Roku, TiVo DVRs, Xbox 360, LG / Samsung / Insignia Blu-ray players, LG TVs, LG & Samsung Blu-ray Home Theater Systems, and now the Playstation 3. Vudu is like on demand. Individual rentals and purchases. Check out on LG TVs (LH50 & PS80), Mitsubishi TVs (the Unisen Dimaond 249 series) and the LG BD390 Blu-ray Disc player. Blockbuster Online services can be individual rentals or purchase, but I believe the service can be part of their subscription package. This is brand new, and available on TiVO DVRs and Samsung Blu-ray Disc players (BD-P1600, BD-P3600, BD-P4600), Samsung Home Theater Systems (HT-BD1250, HT-BD3252, HT-BD7200, HD-BD8200), and Samsung internet ready LED / LCD / Plasma TVs. Roxio’s CinemaNow works with TiVo DVRs and LG Blu-ray Disc players (BD370 & BD390). * Due to its subscription nature, Netflix is unable to stream newer movies due to distribution deals made with pay cable outlets, such as HBO. TV shows like ‘Heroes’ appear the day after broadcast, and Netflix does have an output deal with Starz, but Starz movies stream much later than the Blu-ray/DVD release of the movie. Blockbuster, Vudu, and CinemaNow each download, or stream new releases because one pays per rental.Posted Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 03:00 PM PST by: -
Myka’s New Media Player Now Available[teaser]Creators of the Magic Box, Myka has announced the availability of their new set top box that they’re calling the ION. [/teaser] The ION is based on Ubuntu 9.10 and carries a full software feature set. The system supports the much beloved Boxee, which acts as a web video aggregator. Boxee on the ION can be synced with other Boxee installations. XBMC is also featured for media management tasks, and the ION sports a beta version of Hulu Desktop. The base version of the ION sells for $379, and offers Ethernet connectivity and a 120GB hard drive. Wireless N access can be added for $40, and the hard drive is upgradeable to a full terabyte for $150. While both of those options come surprisingly cheap, adding a Blu-ray drive kicks the price up $225, more than a solid standalone player. With all the options, the Boxee runs $776. The ION offers DVI and VGA outs, as well as HDMI. Myka offers an optical audio output, and says that the ION is fully capable of 7.1 channel audio. Thanks to the use of a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom and NVIDIA’s GeForce 9400 M graphics processor – both extremely efficient – the ION operates without the use of fans. This makes the ION an impressively quiet machine, though certainly there’ll still be a bit of hum from the hard drive. Myka has not stated which video formats will be compatible with the ION specifically, but they have said that it will play pretty much anything found online. Source: MykaPosted Tue Nov 10, 2009 at 02:00 PM PST by:
