Kaleidescape teases movie download store; brings Rotten Tomatoes, Leonard Maltin to its servers

Last year at CEDIA we were introduced to Kaleidescape's iPad control app, and this year its back and enhanced with the addition of movie ratings from Rotten Tomatoes, and content rating info from Common Sense Media. Rotten Tomatoes can help viewers tell if a particular flick in their collection is any good, while Common Sense Media is built around detailed breakdowns of what potentially objectionable content is in each title so parents can decide what their children are ready to see. Both should reach end users with the free app by the end of this year. Another tweak it's adding to its movie servers is the Leonard Maltin Recommends Collection. It's a pack of movies updated quarterly (the 17-disc Blu-ray collection is available for the low, low price of $445) that the respected film critic feels are unappreciated greats, to which he adds his own thoughts, anecdotes and behind the scenes info.

A more ambitious development however, is the Kaleidescape Download Store the company was giving an "early sneak preview" of behind closed doors. While its claim to fame has always been disc servers that store user's movies, making them accessible with as little physical media interaction as possible (and antagonizing the MPAA) its next step is a full digital media distribution service, potentially tied into UltraViolet. There's not a lot in the way of specifics, but it will be interesting to see how Kaleidescape and Hollywood get along when it comes to selling downloadable content compared to the old wars of the past, whenever the new service actually arrives for its high-end customers.

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Kaleidescape Adds Rotten Tomatoes® Movie Ratings
to Award-winning iPad App

INDIANAPOLIS, CEDIA EXPO – September 7, 2012 - Kaleidescape, Inc., the market leader in movie servers, today announced that it will integrate movie ratings and reviews from Rotten Tomatoes® into the free Kaleidescape App for iPad. Rotten Tomatoes offers a quick and easy aggregation of ratings and opinions from hundreds of movie reviewers.
The Kaleidescape App for iPad provides an immersive experience for browsing and searching your collection of movies. Once you've found something of interest, you can select a movie, scene, or song, and view it on your TV instantly. Information from Rotten Tomatoes will be seamlessly integrated into the app, putting reviews and ratings at your fingertips to help you choose something to watch. At the end of the movie, you can also use the app to compare your views with those of the leading experts.
"We're pleased to partner with Kaleidescape to make Rotten Tomatoes reviews and ratings available to their customers," said Steve Polsky, General Manager of Flixster, the parent company of Rotten Tomatoes. "Rotten Tomatoes ratings and reviews have become a trusted source for consumers to get a total picture of movie trends and critics' opinions."
"Kaleidescape customers have amassed an average of 508 movies each, many of which they have yet to watch," said Michael Malcolm, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Kaleidescape. "Our customers can now easily access the critical guidance from around the world that has been aggregated by Rotten Tomatoes, when deciding what to watch next from their personal collections."
The Kaleidescape App for iPad with Rotten Tomatoes ratings and reviews will be demonstrated in the Kaleidescape booth at CEDIA EXPO 2012 (Booth #3733) at the Indiana Convention Center from September 6–8, 2012, and will be available by the end of this year.
The Kaleidescape App for iPad is the first app ever to receive the Custom Retailer EXC!TE Award, winning it this year. It is also a finalist in CEDIA's 2012 Manufacturers' Excellence Award for Best New Product, whose winners will be announced on September 8, 2012.

Kaleidescape Introduces Exclusive Leonard Maltin Recommends Collection of Movies

New Collection Curated by Acclaimed Film Critic

INDIANAPOLIS, CEDIA EXPO – September 6, 2012 - Kaleidescape, Inc., the market leader in movie servers, has partnered with respected film critic Leonard Maltin to curate a unique compilation of historically significant films, and modern movies you may have missed. Available exclusively from Kaleidescape, the Leonard Maltin Recommends collection assists in the creation of the ultimate home cinema experience by identifying great films to add to your collection of movies.
Kaleidescape is producing exclusive video commentary in which Leonard Maltin will share his thoughts, personal anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes tidbits about each movie in the collection. Additional commentary will be added weekly, and the videos can be viewed on the Kaleidescape website.
"Living in a Big Way was one of Gene Kelly's rare commercial flops, but I selected it because it contains two of the most entertaining musical numbers he ever put on film," said Leonard Maltin. "These pearly gems are rescued by Kaleidescape's video bookmarks because you can simply select 'Fido and Me' or 'Playground Medley' to skip directly to the beginning of these innovative dances."
"Kaleidescape System owners are voracious consumers of movies, buying on average 51 titles per year," said Michael Malcolm, Kaleidescape's chairman, founder, and CEO. "We're thrilled to be working with Mr. Maltin; his insightful commentary will help our customers discover and appreciate these lesser known films."
Leonard Maltin Recommends is available on DVD (26 titles) and Blu-ray Disc (17 titles) at suggested retail prices of $545 and $445 respectively. Additional titles will be added to the collection quarterly.

Kaleidescape Adds Common Sense Media Parental Guidance to Award-winning iPad App

INDIANAPOLIS, CEDIA EXPO – September 6, 2012 - Kaleidescape, Inc., the market leader in movie servers, today announced that it will integrate Common Sense Media ratings and guidance into the Kaleidescape App for iPad. Common Sense Media is the leading independent organization for age-appropriate media ratings and reviews, as well as advice and education. Common Sense ratings are based on child development guidelines to provide parents with the trusted and detailed information needed to make great media choices for children. Every review contains a grid that objectively breaks down a movie's content, from violence and language to positive role models and message.
"With more than 17,000 reviews and ratings of nearly 5,000 movies, Common Sense Media is an extremely valuable resource for parents who are looking for more guidance and context in their movie reviews than what the MPAA or other outlets provide," said Amy Guggenheim Shenkan, President and COO of Common Sense Media. "Partnering with Kaleidescape provides Common Sense with the great opportunity to bring our ratings and reviews directly to parents right when they're making these crucial decisions."
The Kaleidescape App for iPad provides an immersive experience for browsing and searching your collection of movies. Once you've found something of interest, you can select a movie, scene, or song, and it plays on your TV instantly. Now, parents, together with their children, can make informed decisions on what is and what is not appropriate to watch.
"Kaleidescape was the first to develop a movie server with an onscreen user interface and remote control designed specifically for young children," said Michael Malcolm, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Kaleidescape. "The addition of Common Sense Media takes our focus on families with children one step further."
The Kaleidescape App for iPad with Common Sense Media age-based ratings and guidance will be demonstrated in the Kaleidescape booth at CEDIA EXPO 2012 (Booth #3733) at the Indiana Convention Center from September 6-8, 2012, and will be available by the end of this year.
The Kaleidescape App for iPad is the first app ever to receive the CustomRetailer EXC!TE Award, winning it this year. It is also a finalist in CEDIA's 2012 Manufacturers' Excellence Award for Best New Product, whose winners will be announced on September 8, 2012.