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You can now watch Blu-ray 3D movies on your PlayStation 4
Before the newest, shiniest consoles launched late last year, it was the Xbox One that was touted as the complete multimedia machine. It's slightly ironic, then, that Sony's beaten Microsoft to the punch in adding Blu-ray 3D support to the PlayStation 4. Last week, we heard the feature was being added in software version 1.75, and today that update's begun rolling out to PS4s. There are still a few things, like DLNA support, the PS4 needs to usurp other A/V gear in your entertainment center, but on the matter of Blu-ray 3D at least, the Xbone's now playing catch-up.
You'd Bayonetta watch the Bloody Fate trailer with English dubs
Funimation provided a first look - moreover a first listen - at its English-dubbed version of feature-length anime Bayonetta: Bloody Fate. Directed by Afro Samurai's Fuminori Kizaki, the Western version sees Hellena Taylor reprise her role as the vivacious witch, so that's a big plus. The film will be available in North America as a Blu-ray and DVD Combo starting October 21 - it's currently priced $26.24 on Funimation's site. Meanwhile, the clock's ticking down on the Western launch of Wii U exclusive Bayonetta 2. The hopefully enchanting spectacle featuring the bespectacled enchantress is coming to North America and Europe sometime in October. PS: If the video's blocked in your country, check it out here courtesy of Nintendo Everything [Image: Funimation]
PlayStation 4 gets 3D Blu-ray support next week
Sony revealed 3D Blu-Ray support is coming to PlayStation 4, the announcement arriving just days after Microsoft confirmed the same thing for Xbox One. Whether it's a response by Sony, a coincidence or something else entirely, what's important is both PS4 and Xbox One owners get to watch all those lovely Frozen snowflakes right up close. The PS4's 1.75 firmware arrives next week, while the Xbox One update - which introduces a few other features - is pinned for sometime in August.
PS4 will add Blu-ray 3D support next week (update)
That was fast. After Microsoft announced the Xbox One is going to get Blu-ray 3D support in an update soon, Sony's PlayStation Europe arm has responded by finally revealing the same feature is coming to the PS4. There's no word yet on any other other home theater related features we'd love to see make the jump from PS3 to PS4 (Bluetooth remote, DLNA, MP3 playback), or a specific release date, but software update 1.75 is the one we're looking forward to. It's hard to say which is the bigger coincidence -- that this feature is confirmed just days after the XB1 or that it comes as we're finding out about the PSN outage settlement. Hey, at least it's not another stability update. Update: The PlayStation US Twitter account has chimed in and done one better -- mentioning that firmware 1.75 will arrive next week. Still no word on any other changes, but that will probably put it ahead of the Xbox One, and give you enough time to order Gravity in 3D from Amazon.
Netflix already stopped mailing DVDs on Saturdays, but you probably didn't notice
The USPS may not have gone forward with its plans to kill Saturday mail delivery, but Netflix isn't waiting. A few customers have noticed it's no longer processing shipments on Saturdays, opting for a five day schedule instead. Company spokesman Joris Evers tells Engadget that it's been transitioning in that direction over the past year and ended Saturday processing (usually a low volume day) entirely in early June. Longtime subscribers may remember that originally Netflix was a five day operation, and it only shipped or received DVDs and Blu-ray discs on the weekend over the past five years. These days, most of us are streaming so with all those options there's less pressure to get an item in the mail, but of course not everyone is happy. When weekend mail delivery came close to ending last year (various government committees have opted to keep it going), an AP article noted that it could actually save Netflix money by reducing the number of deliveries for heavy users -- because of its flat rate, they're actually less profitable. Now that competitors like Blockbuster are out of the way, there aren't many other options which is probably also a factor. Of course, we can't blame Saturday deliveries (or the lack thereof) for this Hot Rod DVD that's been sitting on the coffee table for as long as we can remember. [Image credit: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg via Getty Images]
Format Wars: Blu-ray vs. HD DVD
The format war. Over the last few decades it has played out across various forms of tech -- AC vs. DC, VHS vs. Beta -- usually with fierce battle lines drawn and millions, or even billions, of dollars at stake. Recently, none has burned so brightly as the battle of HD DVD vs. Blu-ray (read our blow-by-blow retrospective of the 2005-2007 battle here). And it brought all the classic elements: Sides were divided between titans of the industry, led by Sony pressing the Blu-ray side and Toshiba backing HD DVD, with the PS3 and Xbox 360 ready to serve as Trojan horses. As if the stakes weren't high enough already, the specter of an oncoming internet-streaming winter loomed like Game of Throne's army of White Walkers. So what really happened? Who won in the end? And, most importantly, was that victory actually worth it all?
ASUS' new external Blu-ray drive does 7.1 audio at a fair price
While ASUS continues to impress us with a slew of PCs and mobile devices at Computex, let's not forget that it still makes some nice peripherals. One thing that surprised us at the ASUS booth was a pretty external Blu-ray drive aimed at audio buffs. Dubbed the Blu-ray Prime, this USB 3.0 device claims to be the "world's only optical drive with 7.1-channel audio output," courtesy of the integrated ASUS Xonar sound card, which packs a Cirrus Logic CS4398 DAC and a C-Media CM6631A audio processor, plus optical output. It also features a 600-ohm headphone amplifier and a clean 114dB signal-to-noise ratio. Expect the Blu-ray Prime to hit various markets for about $199 in Q4, after the DVD version is released in Q3 for half the price. Photos by Zach Honig.
Steve Jobs' wise decision to avoid Blu-ray
With Blu-ray sales losing steam, Apple's decision to avoid the format altogether seems smarter than ever. Just last week, Sony warned shareholders that revenue from the company's 2013 fiscal year would be much lower than previously anticipated. This was, of course, in large part due to Sony's decision to exit the PC business. But also playing a role in the company's bleak financial picture was the diminishing relevance of Blu-ray. The Verge reports: The second charge is due to what Sony calls "demand for physical media contracting faster than anticipated," especially in Europe. Because of this, Sony says it does not believe the business will generate "sufficient cash flow in the future to recover the carrying amount of long-lived assets." Back in 2008, Blu-ray was hoisted as the next-gen video standard of choice after the format emerged victorious in its short-lived yet fierce battle with HD DVD. Naturally, questions and rumors soon began surfacing regarding Apple's alleged plans to incorporate Blu-ray drives into its product line. Steve Jobs, back in October 2008, famously explained why Apple wasn't yet on board with Blu-ray, drawing attention to the format's complex licensing scheme. Blu-ray is a bag of hurt. I don't mean from the consumer point of view. It's great to watch movies, but the licensing is so complex. We're waiting until things settle down, and waiting until Blu-ray takes off before we burden our customers with the cost of licensing. But by February 2009, Blu-ray licensing was made a whole lot easier when Sony, Philips, and Panasonic announced that companies wishing to manufacture Blu-ray devices would only need to pony up for a single license. This was a rather big deal given that 18 separate companies at the time held Blu-Ray patents. So what happened next? Nothing. Apple under the helm of Steve Jobs continued to take a "wait and see" approach. And so, time marched on, new Macs were released, and Blu-ray on the Mac quickly became a rumor that no one cared about anymore. Cynics might of course argue that Jobs never gave Blu-ray a fair shot because he wanted consumers to access video via the company's iTunes Store. This is a valid point, but even if we ascribe an iTunes bias to Jobs, it stands to reason that Jobs and Apple looked ahead and realized that physical media was not the way of the future. After all, Apple's return to tech relevance with the now iconic iPod was predicated on consumers abandoning physical media for a digital alternative. Indeed, Jobs in July of 2010 addressed via email why Apple's most recent Mac Mini refresh didn't include support for Blu-ray: Bluray is looking more and more like one of the high end audio formats that appeared as the successor to the CD – like it will be beaten by Internet downloadable formats. No, free, instant gratification and convenience (likely in that order) is what made the downloadable formats take off. And the downloadable movie business is rapidly moving to free (Hulu) or rentals (iTunes) so storing purchased movies or TV shows is not an issue. I think you may be wrong – we may see a fast broad move to streamed free and rental content at sufficient quality (at least 720p) to win almost everyone over. And today, people are consuming more video than ever before. But as opposed to purchasing physical media, the majority of consumers are getting their fix via services like iTunes, Netflix, Hulu, HBO Go, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and more. While hindsight is always 20-20, looking back, I think it's fair to say that if Steve Jobs had opted to include Blu-ray drives in Apple's Mac lineup back in 2009/2010, that decision would now be viewed as a shortsighted mistake.
'Cosmos' brings Neil deGrasse Tyson's moustache to Blu-ray and DVD in June
If you've missed a few episodes of the Cosmos revival or maybe just want to fill the universe-sized hole in your media rack, the series hits Blu-ray and DVD this summer. Come June 10th (two days after the final episode airs), you'll be able to watch the doc's 13 installments plus a smattering of bonus features whenever you want. And speaking of supplements, the release will sport a five-part documentary chronicling the... documentary's making, with the Blu-ray getting an interactive history of the universe dubbed "The Cosmic Calendar." The price-tag on that 662-minute space-time odyssey? Sixty bucks for the Blu-ray and $50 for the DVD, but Amazon has each listed for a few ducats less. [Image credit: Associated Press]
House of Cards S2 Blu-ray goes on sale June 19th for those who prefer a hard copy
House of Cards may be most famous for leading the charge of Netflix's original streaming content, but the show's producer Media Rights Capital is ready for all avenues. Just like the first season, season two will get a release on physical discs this summer from Sony Pictures. Frank Underwood's Washington D.C. escapades are ready for viewing in 1080p, and although that's not 4K, at least your ISP's connection to Netflix can't get in the way. One change this year is that there are a few extras on the discs including a behind the scenes look at a table read and dive into Frank's tendency to directly address the viewer -- we'll have to wait and see if Netflix adds special features to the streaming editions before the next season arrives. There's no pricetag yet, but the first season started off at about $50 before settling in near $30, and we'd expect about the same for this one.
First Persona 3 movie heads West with English subs
Aniplex is bringing Persona 3: The Movie #1 - The Spring of Birth on Blu-ray to 50 countries including the US and Canada on May 20. However, it'll only be subtitled in English, so don't expect to hear the dubbed voices that you're familiar with from the PS2 game. Aniplex is releasing both the Collector's Edition and the Standard Edition of the movie, and you can pre-order them now for $80 and $60 respectively - their regular prices are $100 and $75. Both editions include trailers, commercials, and audio commentary in addition to the feature film, but these specifically won't be subtitled. The Collector's Edition adds a soundtrack CD, exclusive box art, stickers, illustration cards and an 48-page booklet that Aniplex is providing a translation for. The Spring of Birth is the first chapter of the movie series based on Persona 3, and it hit Japanese cinemas last year. The second film, A Midsummer Knight's Dream, opens in the country on June 7. [Image: Atlus]
Upcoming system update adds auto-reboot to Xbox One
Microsoft offered a few more details on upcoming updates for Xbox One in the form of three new features that testers can preview. First, firmware updates for the Xbox One controller and headset adapter will improve wireless connectivity and are expected to reduce static heard over the headset. Microsoft also plans to update the Blu-ray player app and add support for 50 Hz video output. Lastly, the console will quietly reboot following future updates, so owners won't need to manually turn their systems back on after they update, providing the system is in Instant On mode. Microsoft discussed a suite of SmartGlass options for Xbox One last week, bringing snap functionality, mobile Xbox Live alerts and easier navigation to the companion app along with the ability to view Xbox content on any Microsoft device. The company also detailed improved voice commands and friend notifications in mid-March, announced plans for external storage support on the system last week and just announced an update to the Xbox One YouTube app yesterday to allow users to upload clips to the video platform. [Image: Microsoft]
Latest Xbox One update preview revives friend log-in notifications
The Xbox One's March update is so last month, those enrolled in the update preview program are already being invited to test the latest batch of upcoming tweaks. Version 1404, the April update, or whatever else you'd like to call it, will be rolling out over the next couple of days, with features and fixes being implemented piecemeal. Nevertheless, we know the full intentions of the next update, which will bring back friend sign-in notifications, make it clear who on your buddy list is engaged in multiplayer action, and allow you to check their favorite apps. A 'saving game' progress bar will be added, as well as flags that show what games/apps are being updated or have been recently. Beyond that, there's another fix for the European 50Hz media playback problem, this time for Blu-rays, and improvements to voice and motion controls, game recording quality and compatibility with A/V gear under the One's control, like TVs and set-top boxes. Most of us will have to wait until the update is properly tested, remember, but take comfort in the knowledge it's on the way. Update: Major Nelson has also posted the list of changes to expect, check them out after the break.
Daily Roundup: Titanfall's secret weapon, Edward Snowden talks encryption, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Microsoft squashes rumors of a cheaper, all-digital Xbox One
Microsoft has no plans to build an Xbox One sans Blu-ray disc for $100 less than the current model, according to a tweet by Xbox chief Aaron Greenberg. Rumors about a cheaper, all-digital version with a 1TB drive floated up recently from the NeoGAF forums, with speculation that it might hit retail by October of this year. When asked to confirm over Twitter, Greenberg replied "No, you cannot believe everything you read on the internet." We're not sure if he's shooting down the entire idea of the model or just the time frame, but sources suggest that Redmond was at least testing such a version. Considering how excited folks were about a possible retail version of the white, employee-only Xbox One, we're not expecting the rumors to die down anytime soon.
Toshiba enters 2014 with extra-bright 4K TVs, simpler streaming media hubs
Toshiba knows how to shine in the 4K TV space when there's a sea of competitors -- by making brighter 4K TVs, of course. Its 2014 Ultra HD TV lineup (not yet pictured) centers on 58- and 65-inch Premier L9400U models that both have extra-bright "Radiance" LED panels. They similarly share a third-generation 4K video-scaling engine, a 240Hz refresh rate, DirecTV RVU support and voice control. If brightness isn't what you're looking for, there are more conventional alternatives. The 84-inch L9450U relies on more conventional local-dimming LEDs while preserving the rest of the L9400U's features, and the 50- and 58-inch L8400U sets cut costs through both their smaller sizes and 120Hz panels. All three TV lines are poised to ship this summer, although Toshiba isn't ready to commit to pricing. The electronics giant is also launching a pair of next-generation Symbio set-top boxes, both of which combine Blu-ray with streaming media using a newly simplified, one-page interface that brings Smart TV Alliance app support. The BDX5500 leads the group with 4K upscaling and 3D playback, while the BDX3500 saves some cash by sticking to 2D. Toshiba doesn't yet have pricing for the new Symbio line, but it should grace store shelves in the first quarter of the year.
Microsoft considered disc-less Xbox One
Following the Xbox One's showing at E3, Microsoft considered eliminating the optical disc drive from the console entirely. "Obviously, after the announcement and E3, there was some feedback about what people wanted to change," Microsoft Studios boss Phil Spencer explained to OXM. "There was a real discussion about whether we should have an optical disc drive in Xbox One or if we could get away with a purely disc-less console, but when you start looking at bandwidth and game size, it does create issues." Spencer elaborated to OXM that Microsoft ultimately decided on adding the Blu-ray drive and giving "the people an easy way to install a lot of content. From some of those original thoughts, you saw a lot of us really focusing on the digital ecosystem you see on other devices - thinking of and building around that." When the Xbox One was first announced, Microsoft envisioned an all-digital, DRM-tuned console, though Microsoft would shortly after change its DRM policies following blowback from the community. Microsoft Senior Director of Product Management Albert Penello has said that folks weren't ready for an all-digital console. "We may have been right. What we were wrong about was that it's just too soon. People just weren't ready to make that leap right away."
Xbox One and PS4 won't support 3D Blu-ray playback at launch
Now that Microsoft has adopted Blu-ray for its upcoming Xbox One, some of you might have been wondering if this next-gen console will support 3D Blu-ray movies. Well, the answer is no, or at least not yet. Back in May, Director of Xbox Programming, Larry Hryb aka Major Nelson, vaguely confirmed 3D and 4K output on the Xbox One, but his company has recently told CNET that the machine will be shipped without 3D Blu-ray playback capability. Having said that, there's still a chance of adding this feature via an update later on. On the other hand, Sony has just confirmed to us that the PS4 will definitely come with both 3D Blu-ray playback (requires the 1.50 firmware update and then a one-time activation) and 3D gameplay (albeit a current lack of 3D titles). And while there's no 4K output for games just yet, the Japanese giant is considering adding support for 4K still images and video to the console, as mentioned in its lengthy FAQ. Not that any of this is going to deter the hardcore gamers, anyway. Update: The info we initially received from our Sony contact was not accurate. It turns out that the PS4 will also not support 3D Blu-ray at launch, and we've updated the headline to reflect this fact. Here is the latest official statement Sony sent us: "Technically, the PS4 system supports 3D gameplay at launch on day one, though no launch titles are currently 3D compatible. 3D Blu-ray movies will not be compatible at launch."
PlayStation 4 day-one features outlined, internet required for first Blu-ray/DVD playback
When the PlayStation 4 launches in North America on November 15, some (but not all!) of its swanky new features will be available for use by the disheveled, exhausted consumers that spent all night waiting for their new console in a tent outside of Best Buy or wherever. This news comes from the announcement of a day-one patch for the PlayStation 4, though it is unclear whether the patch is explicitly required to enable the features listed below. We do know, however, that "at first time use, users must connect to the internet" before Blu-ray and DVD playback will function, according to the press release. Regardless, a launch-day PS4 will be capable of Remote Play through the PlayStation Vita, second screen experiences through PS Link and the PlayStation App on mobile, Twitch/Ustream streaming functionality and game DVR capabilities will all be available day-one. Users will also start out with the ability to play games as they download, use party chat, log-in using facial recognition via PlayStation Camera, navigate the home screen with voice commands, play games online and watch Blu-ray/DVD discs. Other features, such as the PlayStation 4's low-power suspend/resume capabilities, will not be enabled on day one and will be added at a later date. Further information about which system functionalities will and won't be ready by launch day is coming "in the near future."
All three Indiana Jones movies are finally coming to Blu-ray individually
Last year Paramount and Lucasfilm delivered The Complete Adventures of Indiana Jones (minus the TV series) on Blu-ray, bringing Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom, and Last Crusade home in HD for the first time. Of course, obtaining any of those movies meant buying the pack (including a fourth movie), but this year Indy fans can finally pick and choose, as the three movies will hit shelves individually on December 17th. If you can live without a physical copy, Digital HD versions from the usual assortment of internet movie stores go on sale even earlier on November 19th. Each copy is up for pre-order on Amazon already for about $19, so if you want more than one and/or the extra disc with all the behind the scenes featurettes, the $45 complete set might be the way to go -- even if it means owning that other movie too. Choose wisely, and check after the break to have Raiders of the Lost Ark ruined for you forever.
