http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/ Engadget Comments for Blu-Ray hardware, titles to hit stores May 23rd http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 8:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
50 First Dates, The Fifth Element, Hitch, House of Flying Daggers, A Knight’s Tale, The Last Waltz (MGM), Resident Evil Apocalypse and XXX, Kung Fu Hustle, Legends of the Fall, Robocop (MGM), Stealth, Species (MGM), SWAT Terminator (MGM) and Underworld Evolution.

Trust me, I know what I'm doing.
]]>Feb 27th 2006 8:54PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 9:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 9:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 9:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
Here is the product shot(in Chinese)

http://avbuzz.htfriends.net/eq/br/brv1.htm

Each Blue-Ray Disc costs around U.S $20, but the digital broadcast has not operated in HK, so the recorder can be fully functional in Japan.]]>Feb 27th 2006 9:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 9:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 9:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
Old movie titles are to HD players what backward compatibility is to video game consoles. It helps bootstrap the launch of the new technology.

Now, when future releases are offered both in DVD format and Blu-ray/HD-DVD format, you will be able to decide if you would rather watch them in Standard Definition format or High Definition format.

As always with this kind of progress, people who can afford a HD player will buy the HD disc, while less fortunate souls will have to settle with the low-resolution version.

This being said, this is America and credit allows people to live above their means. Add this to the fact Americans hate to settle for inferior products and solutions...
]]>Feb 27th 2006 9:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 9:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
It would be possible to re-release those older movies in HD. The film has to be rescanned at a higher res by these special machines, but it can be done.]]>Feb 27th 2006 9:48PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
Does this mean they'll finally stop releasing movies on VHS? I was at someone's house this past weekend and they had VHS copies of movies as new as Minority Report and Terminator 3.. I couldn't believe it.]]>Feb 27th 2006 10:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
I'll be needing a version of this that plays all region of regular DVD's too, if thats even possible anymore. or I guess I'll have to hold on to my old player.]]>Feb 27th 2006 10:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 10:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 10:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 10:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 10:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 10:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 10:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 10:56PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
5th Element is visually impressive, but so is House of Flying Daggers.

The Blu-Ray discs aren't too expensive. I mean at your mall's Suncoast Pictures a regular DVD costs $20-30. Of course there it would be $30-45 or something like that. But just goes to show you that it's not outrageously overpriced.]]>Feb 27th 2006 10:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
I agree that the majority of those titles aren't what one would call impressive, but House of Flying Daggers in HD will be absolutely stunning.]]>Feb 27th 2006 11:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/all the cables included cost up to 300$ minimum (they are all high grade monster cable)
so the player itself is really only around 6-700$

the hddvd player only comes with the player, manual and a remote and power cable (there are no batteries for the remote)

long live sony ]]>Feb 27th 2006 11:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/DVD - Released in 1996
Blu-Ray... 2006

666?

VHS vs. Betamax - VHS won
MultiMedia Compact Disc (Sony & Philips) vs. Super Density Disc

In this case, Sony & Philips abandoned their MMCD and joined forces with the SD format, which we know today as the DVD.

Now we have Blu-Ray, up against HD-DVD.

Place your bets...]]>Feb 27th 2006 11:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 11:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 11:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
and when i get the tv, there's no way i'm buying it without a matching sound system - another couple of thousand at the very least.

blue ray is all about going big or not going at all. i really can't see this being adopted widely for at least a few years. ]]>Feb 27th 2006 11:40PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 11:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 11:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 27th 2006 11:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
http://www.cornbread.org/FOTRCompare/index.html

I think it gives you a pretty good idea of the increase in quality, and these examples are even less of what it will really look like.]]>Feb 27th 2006 11:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
a) it's a great, great movie
b) it's a great, great LOOKING movie, and perfect for high definition.

I can almost guarantee you that among early adopters, it will be the #1 launch title. I'm planning to buy it even before I get a player (my player will eventually be the PS3).

But several of those other films were well-reviewed and/or are cult favorites. Fifth Element was a DVD launch title so it's only fitting that it's a BD launch title - it's also got the kind of look that shows off what a high-resolution format is capable of. Ditto for Resident Evil: Apocalypse, which I know already had a high-definition transfer made for the DVD (and so was probably cheap to master on BD) *and* it has Milla Jovovich kicking ass. Kung Fu Hustle was a fun movie. Underworld Evolution has Kate Beckinsale in vinyl and leather - what more do you need in high-def??

The launch may be a bit lacking in "serious" titles - House of Flying Daggers is really the only one - but a lot of these will be good visual showcases for the format. They'll pretty easily convince people to buy into it, and they'll serve as confirmation that you made a good purchase decision when you get your player home. When you're sinking a lot of money into a high-definition player, you want titles initially that will show you why you wanted all that resolution. The classics can come later.

Seriously, though, HoFD is a great film in every way, and I was way excited when I heard it was going to be a BD launch title.]]>Feb 28th 2006 12:05AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 28th 2006 12:06AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
I do personally think that quite a few people underestimate the true difference of an HD source being displayed on a HDTV. The Lord of the Rings example does a very good job of showing this, another great example is the Terminator 2: Ultimate Edition, which has a VERY nice DVD transfer, but if you play it in your PC you can view a true HD transfer of the movie. The difference is simply staggering. That being said, if you don't have an HDTV you won't really notice a difference, but that should be a given anyways.

You can buy a very nice 1080i/720p capable HD display for under $700 depending on how large a screen you're looking for. Personally, I have a Sony Wega Trinitron 30inch CRT HDTV that looks wonderful for my cable HDTV service and I've been looking forward to putting it through the paces with a true HD source (although I'll be waiting until the PS3 launches to invest in anything Blu-Ray).

As a side note, HDCP has already been proven to be horribly flawed by several prominent cryptologists so it's only a matter of time until it winds up like the CSS protection on current DVDs. It has already been proven that you can arbitrarily generate irrevocable HDCP keys so it's only a matter of time until you see real products available on the internet (illegally of course, but legality won't stop it). I don't like HDCP any more than the next guy, but it seems like it's an insurmountable evil at the current time.]]>Feb 28th 2006 12:22AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/I only have access to 'content'from Sony Pictures(Stealth trailers,Bewitched,Spiderman 2 etc.)and not full length films,and the projector is WAAAYYY outside my income bracket,but once you see it in action BD will seduce,and forget about buying the DVD version if the BD title is available..DVD looks like VHS next to BD.]]>Feb 28th 2006 12:24AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 28th 2006 12:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/]]>Feb 28th 2006 12:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 28th 2006 12:51AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
Also... you can get a good (not 1080p) HDTV for $1000.00 these days... why in the world would someone pay $1000.00 for a Blu-Ray player? If the PS3 is really going to be $500 is Sony "forcing" people into the PS3 by puting out a dedicated DVD player that is not any better than the one available in the PS3 for twice the price?

I think the PS3 is the crutch Sony is using to try to ensure Blu-Ray is a standard and PS3 is widely sold... it's almost like a bait and switch... they really want people to buy PS3's... but again... noone knows how much it will cost to buy a PS3 so anyway...

The launch titles really make no difference... they will probably sell 50% of those to anyone who buys one of those $1000 players... if you have that much money to throw at something to just improve the quaility a little bit you are one of those people who will just buy up all the content you can get for it... new titles will really be where it is at.

I have heard rumblings from people in the video rental business that Studios want to release the DVD for a movie when it hits theaters so people can go in and watch a movie in the theater and buy a copy on their way out... i could see that making sense... also if they were available right away more people would buy the DVD and watch it on their home theater setup and still save some money on going to the movies!

But really... how many people will jump into an uncertain market for $1000 a player??? A safer bet would be to go with the HD-DVD which is about half the price... atleast if things flop you are not going to lose a grand!]]>Feb 28th 2006 12:55AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/1. I have a great Samsung DVD player that upconverts my DVD's to 720p, which looks great on my 720p RP-LCD. Sure Blueray offers higher qualtiy, but seriously, not that much.
2. I refuse to pick a winner of the ugly HDDVD-Blueray battle until a winner is declared or until they get off it and allow dual-mode players. I don't have enough precious DVI inputs to buy a player for each format, suckas. ]]>Feb 28th 2006 12:59AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Blu-Ray Player $1000

....What the hell?!?! And the launch titles!?!?! They might as well include Glitter and Gigli! :)]]>Feb 28th 2006 1:02AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
Are you sure about that component putting out 720p/1080i thing? There's been a lot of noise lately about how the AACS people are restricting the analog (component) signals coming from Blu-ray and HD DVD players to exactly one quarter full HD res. It is my understanding that (unless you hacked a player, I imagine) you can only get all the resolution out of your player through the digital outputs. Regardless of HDCP being cracked, this is going to put off quite a few customers.]]>Feb 28th 2006 1:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
I thought Vista would be needed to watch copy protected hi-def formats on a PC? Vista isn't due until the end of 2006.]]>Feb 28th 2006 1:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://gear.ign.com/articles/691/691408p1.html story are true then I am mistaken. Moreover however, if they are not going to allow a 720p/1080i signal to be transmitted over component video connection I would most definitely vote with your consumer feet and walk away from this technology.]]>Feb 28th 2006 1:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 28th 2006 1:27AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 28th 2006 2:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 28th 2006 2:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/Feb 28th 2006 2:26AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=29886]]>Feb 28th 2006 2:30AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/27/blu-ray-hardware-titles-to-hit-stores-may-23rd/
To my knowledge, I don't even know any TV that has 1080p input. I have a Sony KDS-R60XBR1 (still top of the line 60" 1080p at the moment). 1080i still look pretty hot tho...]]>Feb 28th 2006 2:52AM