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Next generation DVD news from Netflix
The online DVD rental giant Netflix certainly made a splash yesterday, announcing that they would be renting out both HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs as soon as they become available. This is somewhat surprising, as Netflix's CFO had previously declared Blu-ray the winner, but with the constantly changing landscape, it appears they have decided better to support both than to risk backing a loser.Now more information has come to light, as they have also revealed they will not be charging any additional fee for high-definition DVDs. They state the content cost for them will be the same, so is it possible that there won't be a premium price for next generation DVDs? At this point we still really can't know how this will effect the end consumer, but high-definition TV owners who already subscribe to Netflix or are thinking about it are assured of easily available content, no matter what format they choose.
HD Trailer for Miami Vice
Because one of the few things we like better than HDTV is explosions, pastel suits and Miami......in HD. I have no idea if this movie is going to be good or not but all you have to say is Crockett and Tubbs and I am there.[Via digg]
Silent Hill theatrical trailer
If the Silent Hill teaser wasn't enough to sate your appetite for creepy video game promotional materials, the full length trailer oughta do it. And if you've been stuck watching Uwe Boll movies lately, then behold: high production values! The poster is also new I think... perhaps a winner in the poster designing contest?Fans of the game know how creepy it is -- especially if played at night, alone -- and so there are some high hopes resting on the movie to really deliver in the pants-soiling category. From the looks of the trailer, it just may. To prevent being consistently disappointed in movie adaptations, let's resolve to expect total garbage, then we can be pleasantly surprised if it's anything but. I'll begin: "This movie looks so l4m3! I'd rather have my eyelids cut off and watch BloodRayne for the rest of my life than watch this thing!"[Thanks, Elpea]
"Billy Bastard: Amateur human" HD trailer available
Still no word on why none of our favorite animated series are in high definition, but check out this guy. From the same people who brouught you Futurama, Ren & Sttimpy, and the uhhhh, unforgettable sex scene in Team America: World Police, comes "Billy Bastard".If you liked any of the stuff I just listed, you'll probably get at least a chuckle out of this, look down the page for the 720p trailer (warning,some foul language, probably NWS).[Via digg]
Automator action: Export movies to iTunes/iPod
Since the 5G iPod landed, an army of scripts and mini-apps have answered the call for a simple, painless way for getting video into iTunes and ready for your favorite little music video player. Since I'm always up for more options, here's an Automator action that accomplishes the same task for Tiger users. You can select a group of files, run the action (it's meant to be installed as a Finder plugin), and it will use QuickTime to export the video and add it right into iTunes for you.While I haven't tested this out yet, I'm excited about being able to do with with an Automator action as it opens up the possibility of adding more steps to your workflow, such as batch renaming files, or anything else Automator can do. Plus, just like one of the reigning favorites - iSquint - the Export Movies to iTunes action is free.
CES: How the hell am I supposed to make this stuff work together?
Connecting. It seems like companies had no problem doing that at CES. Everybody was in a partnership with everybody else and was in a hurry to tell people about it, I'm not even going to make the lame high school compariso...oops. But seriously, after all the talking is done, I still don't know what is going to work with what, or how. I can't even imagine what it's going to be like for the average consumer this year, because this stuff is gibberish to me. Let me run down a list just of the things I'm left with far more questions than answers about.Intel: Viiv: I still don't know what this is. I know that Intel has partnered with everyone and their mother. (Seriously, at this point I wouldn't be at all surprised if I visited home and found that I needed at the least a software upgrade before I could eat some DRM protected home cooking). The questions I need answered are, will I absolutely need to buy an Intel PC to take advantage of this content? How will I take advantage of it, can I build my own Viiv PC? And what does this mean anyway? Microsoft: Congratulations, the Xbox 360 is getting HD-DVD playback. How much, how will it connect to my 360 and my TV and when can we expect it, until you answer those questions I'm not excited in the least. Is Wintel really dead? Viiv relies on Windows Media Center, but Microsoft is partnering with AMD on their competing AMD Live standard, (btw, everything I said about not knowing what Viiv is, goes double for AMD Live). Now that Google is using DivX, is Microsoft going to add support for streaming to the Xbox 360 or am I going to have to wait for a mod chip? Continue on for questions for Google, Sony, HANA or provide your own answers/questions.
CES: Blu-ray specification is done, full list of supporters and titles
Well, Blu-ray is done, which I'd hope it would be, what with them announcing players and content and all. If you're interested in licensing the Blu-ray technology you can get in touch with your local Blu-ray licensing agent and execute the secret handshake licensing agreement. Also we've got the complete list of player manufacturers, computer software, and launch titles from Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Lionsgate Home Entertainment Eagle Rock Entertainment, as well as the Japan only content announced so far.
Paramount announces Blu-ray, HD-DVD titles
Well, CES is here and that means plenty of Blu-ray and HD-DVD announcements, even if we still don't know exactly when we will have players for either format yet. Paramount has announced mirrored launch lineups for their "Paramount High Definition" series. It will be interesting to see how available selection plays into the format battle brewing for 2006."The titles scheduled for launch include recent hits such as "Four Brothers" and "Sahara," sci-fi thrillers "Aeon Flux" and "Sky Captain & the World of Tomorrow," action-adventures "The Italian Job" and "Tomb Raider," the renowned music documentary "U2: Rattle and Hum" and Tim Burton's "Sleepy Hollow." Rounding out the debut slate are "We Were Soldiers" and "Manchurian Candidate" starring Academy Award(R) winners Mel Gibson and Denzel Washington, respectively.The 2006 line-up continues with the debut of a "Mission Impossible" trilogy for HD DVD which includes the new "Mission Impossible 3," "Mission Impossible" and "Mission Impossible 2," scheduled for later in the year."The only one of these movies I'm looking forward to is "The Italian Job", love that Marky Mark guy.
Netflix declares Blu-Ray the winner
Have you ever wondered what format of high-def media Netflix is going to support? I have always guessed that they would simply have both of the disks available to their subscribers. The chief financial officer of Netflix, Barry McCarthy, gave a bit of insight through the eyes of an industry leader.He feels that Blu-Ray has already won. They have all major studios supporting their format with the exception of Universal Studios. Even Warner, who sponsors HD DVD pledged to release movies on both formats. He also expressed his opinion that they are going to be priced at a 20% premium.First reaction: I think he has a great points. Sony does have great support from all but one movie studio and a better "buzz" surrounding it. There are still the four hurdles to cross in order to move high-def movies from, dare I say, our niche market to mainstream.Thanks for the tip from Davis of Thomas Hawk's Digital Connection.
