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Testronic Labs' interactive Blu-ray / HD DVD test facility is only half useful
Oh sure, we've seen testing devices for both HD DVD and Blu-ray before, with the latter even boasting a dedicated quality assurance lab, but we've a feeling only half of Testronic Labs newest facility will actually see any real usage. The firm has constructed an interactive Blu-ray and HD DVD test bed in Burbank, California in an attempt to provide "third-party, quality-control of high definition software and integrated web capability." Unfortunately for it, we don't foresee too many more any new highly advanced HD DVDs in the pipeline, so it looks as if most of the scrutiny will surround HDMV, BD-J and BD-Live. Ah well, the joint probably needed space for a cafeteria, anyway.[Thanks, Steve]
Digital Leisure's Space Ace headed to HD DVD and Blu-ray
If you didn't quite get your fill of Dirk the Daring with Dragon's Lair on HD DVD and Blu-ray, Digital Leisure has you covered. Slated to arrive on April 8th on both major formats, the completely restored Space Ace will allow fans of the series to check out a 1080p version of the game and treat their ears to a freshly created 5.1-channel audio mix. Additionally, the title was authored in both BD-Java for Blu-ray and HDi for HD DVD, ensuring that customers have access to the highly-anticipated interactive features regardless of what camp they're in. Also of note, each title will have slightly different extras (detailed in the read link below), so hardcore fans should be sure to pick up both for the full experience -- if you're cool with dropping $49.95 apiece, that is.
CyberLink's PowerDVD Ultra Blu-ray Profile 1.1 update now available
Being Bonus View (or Profile 1.1 like we used to call it back in the old days) enabled has gone from theoretical to actual for users of Cyberlink's PowerDVD Ultra. Also enhancing BD-J compatibility with certain movies, the 71.8mb download brings users to build 3730 and should provide the seamless PiP quality observed at CES -- if your PC can handle it of course. No charge for supporting more of Blu-ray's features, so get to downloading.[Thanks, François]
BluFocus working with studios to ensure Blu-ray disc quality
Barely a month after Microsoft revealed the Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator in hopes of speeding up development of HDi, we're seeing a new company emerge with bolstering Blu-ray Disc quality as its top priority. Of course, anyone paying attention over the past few weeks would realize that something like this is sorely overdue. Reportedly, BluFocus is already working with a number of studios in order to ensure that BD-J / BD Live functionality is properly implemented and that discs arrive to end-users sans issues. The company (accurately) points out that mastering Blu-ray titles is a much more involved process than mastering a vanilla DVD, and considering just how much interactivity is being mixed in, there's a lot more room for error than in days past. Notably, we're not told exactly which studios BluFocus is currently working with, but here's to hoping we find fewer reasons to plead for replacement discs in the future.[Via Blu-ray, image courtesy of DailyGame]
Blu-ray early adopters "knew what they were getting into," apparently
As if there hasn't been enough debate over the inability of Profile 1.0 players to make the leap to Profile 1.1 / 2.0, the folks manning the Blu-ray booth at CES gave us all something else to yap about. According to BetaNews, BD representatives on hand proclaimed that early adopters "knew what they were getting into" when they purchased a player that lacked advanced functionality such as Bonus View and BD Live. Apparently, BDA President Andy Parsons felt the same way, as he noted that it was par for the course for technology to evolve and change. 'Course, we suppose there's no room to argue with that, but we can certainly sympathize with folks yearning for an easier way to receive Profile updates. Then again, it's not like the Blu camp had much choice but to pull the trigger and rush players to market if it wanted to keep pace with HD DVD, right?[Thanks, Andrew and Jason]
Blu-ray interactive features on display @ CES
Check out our recap of the Blu-ray Disc Association's Blu-ray interactivity press conference for all things BD-J, BD-Live and otherwise. Straight from Sony's booth at CES, we've been able to see how the Blu-ray camp plans to counter HDi. One of the key new features displayed, was the ability to include a "portable copy" of a movie on the Blu-ray disc, for transfer to a PSP. Also shown was the ability to download trailers, chat live during a movie and create custom trailers. Sounds pretty familiar to us, but take a look and see what 2008 holds for blue.
Lionsgate, Sony readying BD-Live-enabled flicks for January
Nah, BD-Live isn't even close to where it should be, but hopefully the impending stream of BD-Live-enabled films will push the hardware vendors to get with the program. Apparently, both Lionsgate and Sony are readying web-enabled titles for January, even though "hardware that can fully playback BD-Live interactivity has not yet been confirmed." War and Saw IV should both be hitting shelves before February dawns, and while Miguel Casillas didn't elaborate on the former's interactivity, he did note that Saw IV would enable users to "share content through their Blu-ray players' web connections." Furthermore, Sony executive VP of advanced technologies Don Eklund proclaimed that internet-enabled features would "represent a major theme in the studio's 2008 Blu-ray slate." Of course, we're not going to get too riled up until we see this stuff in action, but hopefully a lot more details will be spilled at CES.
Blu-ray standards: Profile 1.0 vs. 1.1 vs. 2.0
Since we first heard the words "full profile", trying to decipher what Blu-ray players will have which features has been a surprisingly complicated affair. CNet took a minute to break down the differences between Profile 1.0, Profile 1.1 (aka Final Standard Profile or Bonus View) and Profile 2.0 (aka BD-Live). Profile 1.1 players with picture in picture capability (and movies to watch on them) are finally in sight, but we're still waiting to see when internet connectivity is available for the Blu-ray camp.
Fox to debut Blu-ray PiP on Sunshine in January
For owners with the right hardware, 2008 is when they will see what Blu-ray Java is truly capable of. Bringing the confusion come to an end, Fox announced during the Blu-ray Festival that the first movie on the format with true picture-in-picture will be the sci-fi flick Sunshine in January. VideoBusiness also learned from Fox VP Steve Feldstein that he expects more players (aside from the PS3 and BD-UP5000) to be in the market that are equipped to handle the extra features. Tomorrow is the BDA's self-imposed deadline, after which new players have to support PiP, persistent memory, and internet connections. Whether or not Warner Bros. drops HD DVD support, Walt Disney has also announced plans to include PiP on Finding Nemo and other titles later in the year.
Warner: Terminator 3 on Blu-ray to include IME, but not Profile 1.1
Terminator 3 will be Warner's first Blu-ray release with IME, but it won't be the first to support Blu-ray Profile 1.1 features. High-Def Digest confirmed that Warner is including the PiP commentary from the HD DVD release by putting two copies of the movie on the disc, one with commentary and one without. This has been done before, most notably on The Descent, and should have the benefit of being viewable even on older (or newer) Blu-ray players. The bad news is that whenever updated hardware and software exists to support more BD-Java, there may not be anything new to watch for a while (we're hoping for The Matrix Trilogy).[Thanks, domerdel]
Lost: The Complete Third Season Blu-ray price drops $30
Losties are left with limited options for their our HD fix until the series returns in February, but to make the wait a bit easier and cheaper, Disney has announced a drop in price for the third season Blu-ray boxed set. After rumors of prices as high as $200 per season for HD Lost, it originally carried a $124.99 MSRP for all seven discs but that has now been reduced to $96.99, and actually listed for as low as $67.85 (compared to $38.99 for the DVD version) on Amazon. We don't know what prompted the price drop, but along with a BD-J special feature, 1080p transfer and uncompressed 5.1 soundtrack when it is released December 11, we're not complaining.
Fox sets release dates, specs for Fantastic Four 2 & Die Hard 4
Last year Fox made a major splash in the Blu-ray market with its lineup of feature-laden titles, now its announced more details on the special features to expect on Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer and Live Free or Die Hard. Both of these MPEG-4 encoded flicks will release on 50GB dual-layer discs with DTS-HD Lossless Master Audio soundtracks, D-Box motion support and BD-J powered strategy games. What isn't there, is any kind of BD-Live internet functionality, but it looks like we'll be waiting to take our Blu-ray discs and players online just a bit longer. Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer is due October 2, while the fourth Die Hard will release November 20th, alongside the Blu-ray box set of the first three movies in the series.
Disney shows off Cars' interactive features in trailer
Those patiently awaiting November 6th can now tide themselves over a bit, as Disney has released a trailer that actually shows off some of the much-anticipated bonus features that will reside on the Cars Blu-ray disc. The well-detailed "Car Finder" game (pictured above) purportedly enables viewers to "search for over 200 models of cars hidden throughout the movie and even race the clock to find a specific car in a frozen frame of film." Also shown is the "Cine-Explore" mode, where you'll be treated to a making-the-movie walkthrough with John Lasseter. Go on, hit the read link to give it a look yourself.[Via HighDefDigest]
Spielberg makes HD debut with Close Encounters of the Third Kind on Blu-ray
One of Steven Spielberg's classic films will finally make its HD debut, on Blu-ray, not HD DVD, when Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition is released simultaneously with the DVD November 13th. Sony Pictures announced this release puts the original 1977 theatrical version, re-edited 1980 special edition, and a special 1998 Director's Cut on one 50GB Blu-ray disc, using "seamless branching" technology and the power of BD-J -- using "the robust processing power available on second generation players" (it's been done on DVD before) -- to identify different versions of the film and select scenes accordingly. The 2-disc (special features on the second disc) Blu-ray release will get a couple of exclusive special features, including Storyboard-to-Scene Comparisons", the original 1977 featurette and theatrical preview. All that special carries an MSRP of $49.95 and should leave Blu-ray fans salivating, with HD DVD owners wondering when Universal will provide their HDTVs with E.T., Jaws and Jurassic Park.
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End due on Blu-ray Dec. 4
Following up on the expected arrival of Cars on Blu-ray, VideoBusiness reports Disney has officially announced that Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End will hit DVD and Blu-ray simultaneously December 4th. The two disc Blu-ray (one dual-layer, one single-layer) set has an SRP of $35.99 -- only a dollar over the comparable DVD package -- and feature the numerous extras all re-mastered in HD, as well as a BD-J special interactive feature, Enter the Maelstrom. The company expects this set to follow up on the highly successful DVD releases of the first two movies in the series which also debuted in the first week of December.
Return to House on Haunted Hill offers 96 different storylines on one HD disc
There's been a void of titles using the new interactive features of Blu-ray and HD DVD, but Warner may be taking things in a different direction with the direct-to-disc title Return to House on Haunted Hill. Demonstrated during the Home Media Expo, it announced the high definition versions will include seven points where viewers can choose what happens in the story, with up to 96 versions of the storyline. "Navigational cinema" is another way for HD discs to differentiate themselves from the standard DVD (other than their higher quality video and sound of course), we'll decide if its a worthwhile add-on or silly gimmick when the title is released October 16th.Read - VideoBusinessRead - Variety
Disney's Cars rolling to Blu-ray this November?
Good news for automotive freaks who just so happen to admire CGI and Blu-ray: Disney's Cars -- which has missed a number of purported deadlines already -- is finally slated to land on Blu-ray, that is, if Hollywood In Hi-Def's Scott Hettrick is to be believed. According to him, the smash film will finally make its Blu-ray debut on November 6th, and will feature a host of extras not found on the vanilla DVD edition. Among those niceties is an "elaborate BD-J interactive game" dubbed Car Finder, an unreleased Traffic School scene, and a Cinemavision presentation of the featurettes and audio commentaries. Reportedly, the disc will be priced at $34.99, and should also prove to be a huge favorite of stocking-stuffers everywhere this holiday season.[Via HighDefDigest]
Toshiba HD-XA2, HD-A20 HD DVD players to get 24p update
Though we've already waxed rhapsodic about Toshiba's HD DVD players of late, the firm is finding a way to keep the recently discounted standalone players in the news. This time around, the firm is getting official about the rumored 24p output, as we now know that at least the HD-XA2 and HD-A20 will be eligible for a September update that will enable playback of content in 1080p/24. It wasn't insinuated that any other Toshiba players would eventually receive the same upgrade, nor did we get the feeling that HD DVD players on the whole would be refreshed, but here's to hoping (for the latter, primarily).
Samsung readying a third gen Blu-ray player?
Samsung already shocked us with the announcement of its BD-UP5000 hybrid HD DVD and Blu-ray player, but that doesn't mean they're getting out of the Blu-ray-only player game just yet. While the company's second generation BD-P1200 might have skipped a worldwide debut, rumors recently surfaced of a BD-P1400 model that is "stepped up". Hopefully that step up means BD Live, 1080p/24, PiP and persistent storage support, but in lieu of any specific details, we'll just have to wait to find out what the Blu-ray camp brings our way next.
Panasonic launches $600 DMP-BD10A Blu-ray player, bundles five films
Not too long after Pioneer went and introduced its second generation Blu-ray player, along comes Panasonic to follow suit, but unlike the BDP-LX70, we've got a pricetag as well as a few tempting reasons to pick this one up over the competition. The DMP-BD10A packs an audio upgrade that brings 7.1, Dolby True HD, and DTS-HD on board, and it incorporates Panasonic's EZ-Sync system for "one-touch operation" of your home theater. The overall design doesn't deviate too far from that seen in the first iteration, but you will find 1080p upconversion via HDMI, a 14-bit DA converter with 4x oversampling, support for BD-J, and compatibility between select HD camcorders via the AVCHD (H.264) codec. Notably, Panasonic is giving users two reasons to seriously considering its new offering, as the fairly reasonable $599.95 pricetag looks even better when you consider the five BD films (Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Transporter, Fantastic Four, and Crash) you'll be getting right in the box.[Via Impress]
