DigitalDistribution
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SIM2 announces Entertainment Experience System with HDGiants
SIM2 already linked up with Entertainment Experience back at CEDIA, and now the cute couple is hooking up once more in order to deliver a complete display + content solution. The aptly named Entertainment Experience System consists of the Grand Cinema C3X 1080 or HT5000E 3-chip DLP projector along with an Entertainment Experience Media Center that manages Blu-ray and DVD, PlayStation and Xbox Games, HDTV, HD video, PC and HDGiants digital movies. Finally, the bundle includes digital flicks from HDGiants, though it's unclear how many will be included and at what cost. Judging by how pricey the whole Niveus + HDGiants hookup was, though, we're thinking these won't come at a bargain.
Fraunhofer IIS to push MPEG Surround as next big downloadable audio format
Watch out, MP3 -- you've got a formidable opponent creeping up on you. All kidding aside (yes, we were kidding), Fraunhofer IIS is hoping that at least four people will turn from their MP3 / AAC addictions and embrace yet another one of its audio formats at CES, which is simply christened MPEG Surround. Harald Popp, head of the Multimedia Realtime Systems department at the company, has asserted that the firm believes that "MPEG Surround will become a major online distribution format when downloading music, movie and TV content," noting that it offers "the music industry a way to sell iPod-compatible surround content through the existing stereo download infrastructure." We suppose the multi-channel aspect is at least somewhat noteworthy, but we still see a hard road ahead for it to gain "global acceptance" in 2009.
Tsutaya TV download HD to Blu-ray service tested
In the next step for the download-to-own movement, Tsutaya TV offers Japanese viewers the opportunity to download high definition (1080i) videos from Paramount, Warner, NBC Universal or Disney and burn them to a Blu-ray disc to keep permanently. In a trial run, AV Watch downloaded a full length 8.8Gb movie (No Country for Old Men) in 28 minutes over a fiber connection, compared to 120 minutes via ADSL. The magic of Google Translate reveals video quality that was only slightly outpaced by Blu-ray standards, unfortunately accompanied by only a stereo audio soundtrack. The biggest handicap? Equipment incompatibilities, with a burned disc that wouldn't play in a PlayStation 3, we're not sure if the acTVila-based service is ready for prime time, but at the moment we're at loss for a better option that serves both our need for instant gratification and packrat mentality at the same time.
Criterion launches Online Cinematheque for online movie rentals
Get down with your bad self, Criterion. First you make the totally necessary leap to Blu-ray, and now you've opened your mind to digital distribution. The recently launched Online Cinematheque gives viewers the ability to catch short clips of select films online for free, and if they're really intrigued, they can cough up $5 to watch the whole thing. Afterwards, if they've discovered one of their new favorite films, Criterion will put the $5 rental fee towards the purchase of the title on DVD / BD. Sorry for just providing you with a portal to kill hours upon hours of free time.[Via Slashfilm]
Philosony: Raise high the downloads, gamers!
This is the second of a two-part column on digital distribution and its effect on the psychology of your average gamer. In part one we discussed the pros and cons of replacing physical discs and game boxes with digital downloads. This week we discuss the way our gaming habits themselves, from the type of games we play to the time we spend playing them, may be affected by digital downloads.It looks like Sony Japan has finally gotten hip to the idea that when it comes to portable systems digital distribution is the way to go. Heck I've taken plenty of advantage of the UMD Legacy archives for my PSP. After all, there's nothing portable about lugging around a physical library of discs just in case you happen to get the urge to bludgeon an undead abortion in public. There are many arguments in favor of digital distribution for handhelds, particularly as handhelds fit well with the type of "quick-fix" games that most original property digital downloads tend to be. But this column isn't about what makes a good handheld title. It's about what sort of games we want crowing up space on our 80 60 40 20GB hard drives.
Warner Bros. gives green light for DivX distribution
Remember when DivX was a format only understood by the hardcore BitTorrent users and P2P mavens who shared low-quality videos online? No more. DivX is stamping its name on all manners of devices these days, and now it's getting in with the always-guarded content providers. Today, DivX and Warner Bros. have announced that the studio's material will soon be available for distribution in the DivX format, meaning that any DivX Certified consumer electronics device could play it back. The pact is similar to the one signed with Sony Pictures Television and Sony Pictures Television International, though not everything is particularly peachy. Content will be available in SD DivX as of this month, but HD DivX won't be streaming until September of 2009. Ah well, at least we've a date to hold 'em to.
VideoGiants / MusicGiants connect to form HDGiants
Now that the company formerly known as MusicGiants has branched into the movie business, both sides will now exist under one brand: HDGiants. To celebrate the company is launching a Windows Media Center app to deliver high quality music and movies over the internet. Not that we're knocking the old send-customers-a-hard-drive full of movies distribution model, especially since HDGiants actually has a major studio on board -- unlike some we could name -- but as a step forward from the exclusive domain of custom installed media centers, it's not a bad start.Read - MusicGiants + VideoGiants = HD GiantsRead - HDGiants offers Media Center app
LG's BD300 Netflix / Blu-ray deck ships next month for $399.95
We hate to say we called it, but our complete in-the-dark guess of just under four C-notes was right on the money. LG has just announced that it's BD300 Network Blu-ray player (and Netflix streamer) will begin shipping to national retailers (Best Buy, Circuit City, Bass Pro Shops, etc.) next month (as in, a month later than initially anticipated) for $399.95. Not the cheapest BonusView-enabled deck in the mix, but given the Netflix functionality tossed in on the side, we can still see quite a few folks joining the BD camp with this one. Matter of fact, we'll just go ahead and ask -- is this your ticket into the Blu?
LG's BD300 Netflix & Blu-ray box lightly stroked
Need some early impressions of how LG's BD300 Blu-ray / Netflix combo player feels from the couch? Crave got some seat time in front of the device last night, finding its handling of Netflix streams basically the same as the Roku Netflix Player, unfortunately with a much larger price tag. The remote's home button may also link up to music and photos from a PC or the USB port, while BD Live support is present and accounted for. Hit the read link for a few more details ahead of the September launch, and hope "well under $500" is more like $399 at most.
CinemaNow to distribute movies in DivX format
Forget about needing WMV and DivX compatibility, CinemaNow just announced plans to distribute movies using DivX technology - no surprise considering the slew of hardware on shelves and coming soon that includes support for the format. Good news for Expect to catch flicks on the PC, cellphone, gaming system and disc players, and even though they didn't mention which content providers would be first on the block, we've got to figure Sony Pictures is ready to go. Sounds like perfect timing, what with a totally unbiased survey finding in-store renting is soon to join Cross Colours, British Knights and SUVs as bygone fads.
MovieBeam sold, plans three market return tour this year
Looks like Movie Gallery finally got something for the assortment of PBS bandwidth and spare parts remaining from the now-defunct MovieBeam service. The new owner is Indian conglomerate The Valuable Group, headed by Sanjay Gaikwad who apparently thinks serving up a remarkably limited assortment of heavily compressed HD and SD movies on demand is an idea that deserves to fail all over the world, instead of just in the U.S. Since $100 million burned up by Disney and others wasn't enough to make things work, he plans to invest a similar amount over the next two years to relaunch the service in North America, the U.K. and "other overseas markets". Variety notes The Valuable Group already delivers movies digitally to India and South Asian theaters via satellite so maybe they know something we don't about this business model, and with plans to roll out service in three markets with "new, cutting edge features" by year end we'll get to find out soon.
Sony delivers Hancock via Bravia Internet Video Link, ahead of DVD & Blu-ray
Forget YouTube over Bravia Internet Video Link, Sony plans on making the dongle relevant this winter by releasing the blockbuster Hancock for viewing to anyone who has the device hooked up to their Sony HDTV. This debut will happen before the flick hits shelves as a DVD and makes for an interesting end-around VOD services, competing movie delivery boxes or any thorny MPAA proposals. Unfortunately its exposure is limited to those with Bravia TVs, a good Internet connection and the $299 device, and willing to pay an as-yet-unspecified amount for the privilege. We're also still waiting to hear the details of Sony's PlayStation 3 based movie network, but we wouldn't be surprised if Hancock -- like Click, James Bond and Talladega Nights before it -- pushes multiple Sony platforms at once.[Thanks, Tyler]
Sony Pictures Television International jumps on the DivX bandwagon
Never afraid to hedge its bets on high definition content distribution, Sony Pictures Television International has joined its counterpart in the U.S. by enabling online retailers to sell its feature films and TV shows in DivX format. With even more DivX Certified hardware in homes and hitting the shelves soon, we just want to see who will put this content on the market, and how.[Via eHomeUpgrade]
No other movie studios signed with Sony's PlayStation download service yet
Ok, we know the PlayStation 3 is getting a movie download service this year - but apparently much work remains to be done. Variety checked into the situation and sees the number of movie studios signed on at present stands at exactly one: Sony Pictures. Never fear, because being late to the party could benefit Sony as it negotiates deals with other studios similar to the ones already in place for Xbox Live Video Marketplace and iTunes. Also on board is the possibility of transferring flicks to PSP, although that and any other features that expand on the functionality already seen on other services could slow down a deal. We're torn, while having another competitor in digital downloads (and another way to enjoy movies on our PS3) as soon as possible sounds good, we might be willing to wait if it means Sony's leverage can swing more features (or at least some leeway to the DRM currently in place on other services).[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Sony VP promises in-game XMB, NA video download service, PlayStation Cards in '08
It doesn't seem like those Sony firmware engineers will be a getting a break any time soon. With the PlayStation 3's v2.30 firmware and its DTS-HD MA / PS store upgrades barely settled Sony Senior VP Peter Dille jumped on the official PlayStation blog to let us know what the rest of 2008 has in store. In-game XMB? On the way this year, along with a video service that "separates the service from others you've seen or used...to give you the TV, movies and gaming content you want," and expanded community features. Also in store are PlayStation Cards (in $20 and $50 denominations) for the credit card-less among us. The four pillars of Sony's plan (community, free online gaming, digital media download services, and original content) hint towards the reasons we won't let the shiny beast get quite as dusty this year.[Via PS3 Fanboy]
Technicolor, CinemaNow team up to sell online movie stores
Looking to get into the online movie business? Well sit down because CinemaNow and Technicolor have a deal for you, since they've hooked up and are offering a "better way to deliver the digital content consumers are demanding". Basically the plan is to take the internet movie store CinemaNow has developed franchise, and allow other companies to introduce their own marketplace without having to develop their own encoding, encryption, DRM, hosting or other necessary technology -- and it sounds like a good one to us. Technicolor brings not only its infrastructure, but also plans to collab with CinemaNow on projects like adding additional HD movies to its 10,000+ database of titles. Of course CinemaNow's compatibility with the Xbox 360 and other devices is part of the package (though we wonder if those DVD burning issues have been resolved) -- potentially turning competition like Netflix, Blockbuster or Wal-Mart into partners.[Via Reuters]
Warner pops extras into digital edition of Nancy Drew: Drew's Clues
One of the criticisms leveled at digital distribution over old fashioned discs is a lack of extras, but Warner Bros. has something for that with its latest release, Nancy Drew: Drew's Clues. Available digitally (VOD, Amazon Unbox, iTunes, Xbox Marketplace) from the same day as the DVD release, viewers can either get the regular movie, or the Drew's Clues edition with "Movies that Pop" pop ups for trivia facts, quizzes and behind the scenes info. This is aimed primarily at the teen-girl sleepover crowd, and while the regular flick is out in HD on all services, Drew's Clues is SD only, plus, to watch it both ways, you would have to rent (and pay for) both versions separately. Key advance that increases the appeal of downloads, or one more reason to take the remote when you leave your tween home alone, we can't decide. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family][Via Variety]
Cablevision offering up new DVD releases through VOD
No sooner than Comcast announced that it would soon be offering up select films via HD VOD the same day they landed on DVD, Cablevision has come along and attempted to stay level. Unfortunately for it, the firm's Popcorn DVDs On Demand service, which is available to iO TV customers, looks to be SD only for now. Of course, it still enables subscribers to watch new releases on launch day from the comfort of their couch, but a twist is thrown in by forcing renters to have the film shipped to their door (on DVD) as well. Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be an option for only renting right now, so you'll be coughing up $19.95 (plus shipping) for any DVD / VOD purchase you choose to make. As it stands, The Bourne Ultimatum, The Kingdom, Eastern Promises and Sydney White are slated to kick things off, with American Gangster becoming available on February 19th.
Comcast beefs up HD VOD offerings in a big way
Comcast made absolutely sure we knew it was serious about HD VOD during CES, and lo and behold, it's beginning to make good on its promises. Announced today, a slew of upcoming films will be available on the firm's "signature video on demand" in both SD and HD -- on the exact same day as the DVD release, no less. Furthermore, it's also following the vision set forth in Project Infinity by offering up a number of television premieres via HD VOD "at least one week before airing on linear television channels." Among the movie titles slated to hit soon are The Brave One, Rendition, No Reservations and Michael Clayton, while The Tudors and Flavor of Love hold things down on the TV series front. Take a look at the full release after the jump.
Sonic's Scenarist now Blu-ray, digital distribution format only
Sonic Solutions has announced it will no longer sell the HD DVD version of its Scenarist professional authoring software, focusing instead on Blu-ray and digital distribution. Sonic -- provider of consumer authoring software under the Roxio brand (still w/ that sweet HD DVD flavor, at least for now) -- plans to expand its features to ease creation of BD Live features, and package high definition video for delivery on any of the many platforms popping up. It's not all bad for red fans, Sonic promises to continue customer support and product updates "where appropriate" for its HD DVD package, and a special promotion for users to switch to Blu-ray, although the terms aren't mentioned.[Thanks, Kiwi616]
