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Featuring articles from past issues of our magazines and newsletters. We'll also provide
industry news that you may find helpful to further your home theatre enjoyment.
Apple TV (easy
iTunes & iTV for your TV) - January 15,
2008
HD DVD
& Blu-ray (LG BH200 Super Multi Blue Player) -
December 30, 2007
HD DVD Update (Toshiba 2nd
generation players) - Feruary 20, 2008
Blu-ray Disc Update
(Players now available) - January 10, 2008
Xbox 360 HD DVD (November 2006
release) - September 27, 2006
Sony
Playstation 3 (Now available) -
January 5, 2007
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LG
Super Blu™ HD Player (BH200)
December 30, 2007
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The industry's third dual–format high definition
player, the LG BH200, plays both HD DVD and Blu-ray
Discs like the BH100 and the Samsung BD-UP5000 before
it. Those of
us who were waiting to see which format will win, can
now purchase a player knowing it doesn't matter. One
player - play any disc. LG's Super BluTM Player
automatically detects the type of disc which has been
inserted for easy enjoyment of HD picture quality and
superb digital sound from both Blu–ray Disc and HD
DVD.
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It will even play standard DVDs and up–convert
to 1080i via HDMI output. As the player design
was conceived as a Blu-ray player, it has full Blu-ray
1.0 spec capability including BD-Java functionality. Unlike its predecessor,
the BH100, the BH200 supports
interactive "HDi" features available from
many HD DVD discs. The player includes an
Ethernet jack to enable the online features of HD DVD discs. A firmware upgrade
to be released in early 2008 by will bring it up to the BD-Rom Profile 1.1. Via the HDMI
1.3 connection, high definition
source material of 1080p at 24fps can be played back
on a capable monitor/TV. The 24 frame per
second (fps) rate matches that of film. Hence,
disc releases from theatrical films can be played at
the 24fps rate without the judder often created
through the processing from 24fps to 30 or 60fps.
TV's with only 1080p/60 input capability will not be
able to accept the 24fps signal. The BH100 will then default to 1080i output. No manual change to
1080p is possible at 60fps.
The BH200 utilizes Broadcom
Corporation's combined Blu-ray disc and HD DVD system-on-a-chip (SoC)
solution - the BCM7440. The new Broadcom
UOD platform has an advanced feature set and a
flexible optical disc software stack that is
compliant with both Blu-ray and HD DVD
specifications. The UOD platform also provides full backwards
compatibility for current DVD video titles as well as
DVD-R, DVD-VR and audio CDs. LG’s Super Multi BluTM
BH200 player supports various A/V formats including
MPEG-2, VC-1, H.264 video, MPEG1/2, Dolby Digital,
Dolby Digital+, DTS and DTS-HD audio, and includes
multiple inputs/outputs such as HDMI 1.2 out, component /
composite video outputs, and optical / coaxial /
discrete 5.1 channel audio outputs, among others.
Hence, you'll be able to enjoy
Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD encoded material output via the 5.1
channel analog outputs. Dolby Digital Plus,
Dolby True Audio and DTS-HD audio streams can be sent
via the BH200's HDMI output; however, Dolby True
Audio is limited to 2 channels and the DTS-HD streams
are only extracted from the core 1.5 Mbps DTS.
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Xbox 360 HD
DVD
Wed Sep 27, 2006
Lisa
Baertlein, Reuters
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT-news) on Wednesday announced U.S. and European pricing and availability for its Xbox 360
HD DVD player and a new video game partnership with the Academy Award-winning husband-and-wife creative team behind "The Lord of the Rings."
Microsoft said the high-definition DVD player for its new video game console
will be available in mid-November in North America for $200, the United Kingdom
for 130 pounds sterling, and France and Germany for 200 euros.
The software titan, which beat rivals Sony Corp. and Nintendo Co. Ltd. to market
with its next-generation console, also announced a
deal with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, the director
and screenwriter of "The Lord of the Rings"
movies.
Microsoft said its plug-in Xbox 360 HD-DVD player
would for a limited time be bundled with a copy of
Jackson's film "King Kong."
HD-DVD and Blu-ray are heading into a war over
which will be the standard format for high-definition
DVD players reminiscent of the VHS-Betamax video
battle in which VHS triumphed and Sony's Betamax
lost.
Sony, whose new PlayStation 3 will hit North
American shelves in November, is making a bold bet by
including its Blu-ray high-definition DVD player in
the game console.
Sony will sell the high-end version of the PS3 for
$600 in the United States. Microsoft's comparable
Xbox 360, priced at $400, does not include a
high-definition DVD player.
"We're not forcing movie technology on game
players but are instead letting them choose how to
personalize their experiences," said Peter
Moore, corporate vice president of Microsoft's
Interactive Entertainment Business.
OSCAR-WINNING EDGE?
On the video game front, Jackson and Walsh will
create two new series exclusively for the Xbox 360
and its online service Xbox Live, Shane Kim, general
manager of Microsoft Game Studios, said in a
telephone interview from Barcelona, where Microsoft
is hosting its X06 video game show.
The duo will collaborate with Microsoft's Bungie
Studios to create a new chapter for the blockbuster
"Halo" series, which boosted sales of the
original Xbox. The second will be an entirely new
property aimed at luring new audiences to video
games. Release dates are not yet available.
Kim said Microsoft is working to broaden the
appeal of video games with the aim of making them as
mass market as movies, music and literature.
"Hopefully, we'll come up with the secret
code to unlock all that potential," Kim said of
the company's work with Jackson and Walsh, who had
already been tapped to run the production of an
upcoming Hollywood film based on "Halo."
Microsoft's Ensemble Studios, creators of the
"Age of Empires" game franchise, will
deliver a new real-time strategy game called
"Halo Wars" on a date to be announced, Kim
said.
The company also said Take-Two Interactive
Software Inc.'s Rockstar studio will deliver two
downloadable episodes of "Grand Theft Auto
IV" exclusively to Xbox Live players in the
months following the release of the game.
"Grand Theft Auto III," released in 2001
and temporarily exclusive to the PlayStation 2, is
credited with helping to drive sales of Sony's
market-leading console as Microsoft was getting off
the ground with its first Xbox.
Other Xbox 360 exclusives include a new
installment of "Splinter Cell" from Ubisoft,
"Project Gotham Racing 4" from developer
Bizarre Creations, and the return of "Banjo-Kazooie"—a
wildly popular all-ages game on the Nintendo 64
console—with a new game from developer Rare Ltd.
For those with high resolution displays, note that
the Xbox 360 rescales video and game content to the
target display device's resolution. This doesn't mean
it will create pixels of content that are not in the
original, but it will interpolate pixels to give an
excellent high resolution image.
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February 20, 2008
HD DVD is gone!
TOKYO --(Business Wire)-- Feb. 19, 2008 Toshiba Corporation today announced that
it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and has
decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and
recorders.
The battle is over,
yet the war for High Definition media still wages.
One could say that the lessons were not well learned
from the VHS-Beta controversy, albeit Sony seems to
have won the Blu-ray vs. HD DVD battle. For those
among the casualties, namely HD DVD player owners,
Toshiba and Microsoft, it is of little consequence
to know that there is still some utility in this
equipment or that players and HD DVD discs will, in
the short term, be highly discounted.
Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full
product support and after-sales service for all
owners of Toshiba HD DVD products. Toshiba will
reduce shipments of HD DVD players and recorders to
retail channels, aiming to cease supply by the end
of March 2008.
If you happen to own an HD DVD player, there may
be some consolation that the upscaling feature will
allow you to view standard DVDs with improved image
quality beyond which a standard DVD player (without
upscaling) is capable. It may be of interest to
acquire a few HD DVD titles for your collection at
expected clearance prices. There are an estimated
600,000 HD DVD players in North America, along with
about 300,000 X-box drives and 140,000 computer HD
DVD drives.
Is Blu-ray the immediate and only answer? For
best quality High Definition disc media, the answer
is yes. However, there is another high-definition
format which most of us have not heard. DH VMD is on
it's way, although its promise is price (and perhaps
more obscure titles) rather than ability to compete
technically with Blu-ray (which it won't) [see
Anthem at www.pcrush.com]. Ironically, downloadable
and streaming media may in fact be a more formidable
challenge for Blu-ray than HD DVD might ever have
been.
January 10, 2008
HD DVD is still here [see
above] despite
the battles with Blu-ray.
Early on, HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc players experienced
a few introductory hiccups. Subsequent improvements in next generation units has
kept the 2 High Definition disc technology rivals battling it out. Since mid-spring 2006, numerous HD
DVD discs have been released offering remarkable image quality to those
who have the display devices (HDTV or HD projector) to benefit from this high definition media
source.
What are the choices in players to play HD DVDs?
At this time, Toshiba offers several dedicated HD DVD players, and Onkyo has
just release the DV-HD805 player. Also, the Microsoft X-box 360 game machine will play
HD DVDs. Rumours flourished in 2007 that Meridian would introduce
a high end HD DVD player; however, that is now unlikely. Toshiba's first HD DVD players were the HD-A1 and HD-XA1, at $699 and $999, respectively.
The Toshiba HD-A1 and HD-XA1 were capable of 720p or 1,080i output, with approximately six times the picture
information of standard DVD. The HD-XA1 featured a motorized front door with a hidden disc tray and controls,
and a universal remote control with motion activated backlight and a RS 232 Control Port.
Both players were backward
compatible with the standard DVD format, allowing existing DVDs to be played.
Universal Studios initially announced that it will not include
image constraint tokens on its HD DVD titles. Most of the major Hollywood Studios have now said their high-definition
discs will allow full high-definition signal output over analog component video outputs on Blu-ray and HD DVD players,
in addition to protected HDMI outputs. The studios said they will reserve the right to add the tokens later,
should they determine wide-scale piracy is taking place using the unprotected analog ports.
In light of the issues with HDMI implementation, this was a wise decision to
allow full HD signal output over the component output.
Early adopters were somewhat forgiving of the relatively few number of
available HD DVD discs, as Standard DVD (SD)
collections can be played with amazing clarity better than that presented by Standard DVD players.
For some, the purchase was justified on the basis of this enhanced quality of
SD playback
-- making the viewing of one's existing DVD collection more enjoyable.
The first-generation HD-A1 and HD-XA1 players didn't fully realize all of the audio features that the HD DVD format is
capable of rendering; however, they did provide sound quality equal to or better than the best that the standard DVD format
provides.
In order to accommodate backwards compatibility with existing surround sound
receivers, the HD-A1 and HD-XA1 players delivered the new high-definition audio
formats in ways which are somewhat limiting and unexpected. In other words,
today's a/v receivers with enhanced features for Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby
TrueHD have capabilities beyond which these first release players are able
to fully deliver.
Dolby Digital Plus is an enhanced version of normal Dolby Digital surround sound encoded at higher bit rates and is
capable of up to 7.1 discrete
channels.
Dolby TrueHD is a lossless high-resolution audio format based on MLP encoding. TrueHD can also have up to 7.1
channels.
DTS-HD is the DTS equivalent of Dolby TrueHD
Toshiba HD DVD players convert all these advanced audio tracks internally providing different playback options,
depending on your connections to your system.
The Auto option allows the HDMI handshaking between the player and your receiver or pre-pro to find the best option
for your equipment. Otherwise, the HDMI connection allows choices of receiving multi-channel uncompressed 24-bit/96 kHz
linear PCM, down-mixed 2.0 channel 24-bit/96 kHz linear PCM, or a lossy encoded DTS Digital Surround 5.1 channel as a full
bit-rate 1509 kb/s signal.
With the player's 5.1 analog connections directly to a receiver with 6-channel analog inputs, an analog conversion of
the 24-bit/96 kHz LPCM results. This necessitates downmixing of movie soundtracks encoded in 6.1 or 7.1 format.
Over the digital coaxial and optical S/PDIF connections, a lossy DTS-encoded stream or the downmixed 2.0 channel LPCM
stream is available, as this connection is limited in bandwidth to provide the full multi-channel
LPCM.
Improved picture and sound not withstanding, it is questionable whether these first release players were rushed to
market before sufficient development and testing could take place. Reports included a list of
problems such as long boot and disc-load times, disc freezes, faulty and poorly designed remote controls, HDMI issues
and excessive fan noise. For example, the HD-A1 and HD-XA1 were limited to 1080i through the digital HDMI/HDCP and
analog component video outputs. When HDTV performs best at 1080p without the interlacing artifacts, it's disheartening
to not allow the format's full 1080p capability to shine as it now does in the
2nd and 3rd generation players.
If you've got to have one, be wary of the downside of picking up a first release unit which is likely to have
"bugs" or at least some less than desirable ideosyncracies.
2nd and
3rd generation of Toshiba HD DVD players
now out
The HD-XA2 carries a price
tag of under $799 Cdn. and supports 1,080p output over its HDMI v1.3
connector as well as faster loading times and improved response time with the
redesigned remote control.
The HD-A2 remains with HDMI 1.2a for 720p or 1080i
output but improves the load times to about half of
the previous HD-A1. The HD-A2
prices in at around $499 Cdn. All of Toshiba's HD DVD
new players support a variety of HD audio options
with both lossy and lossless formats from Dolby Labs
and DTS including the Dolby Digital Plus and
Dolby TrueHD.
In the spring of 2007 a mid-range player was released - model number
HD-A20 now at around the $499 Cdn price point. Both the HD-A20 and the high end
HD-XA2 HD DVD player were designed to output 1920 x 1080p, the highest HD signal
currently available, via HDMI. The premium HD-XA2 incorporates support for Deep
Color output through HDMI, and a 297MHz / 12 bit Video DAC with
high-quality, 4x oversampling for increased bandwidth. It comes with a picture setting function allowing
users to optimize picture quality with user adjustable settings for color,
contrast, brightness, edge enhancement and block noise. The HD-A2, HD-A20, and
HD-XA2 were all backward compatible, so users can continue to enjoy their
libraries of current DVD and CD software.
3 more recent Toshiba models are currently available; the HD-A3 at MSRP
$349Cdn, the HD-A30 at $449Cdn, and the HD-A35 at $549. The HD-A3 supports 1080i
output over HDMI and component, but does not support the newer 1080p/24fps video
format. With HDMI 1.3a, the HD-A30 supports the 1080p/24fps video format as well as Advanced
Audio including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS HD (core only),
along with legacy formats including Dolby Digital DTS. The HD-A35 adds
Multi Channel Signal Management to the audio spec of the HD-A30 as well as
front panel USB extension ports.
WAYNE, NJ - JANUARY 14TH, 2008
Toshiba America announced a marketing strategy to spur US player sales:
"Taking
the holiday season sales based on promotional prices into full consideration,
these new manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) are designed to meet
the potential demand for HD DVD players in the US market. Effective on
January 13, 2008 the MSRP of the entry-model HD-A3 will be $149.99, the
HD-A30, with 1080p output, $199.99, and the high-end HD-A35, $299.99."
Players are nice but it is the content that
drives consumers. And yes, the format battle is as
much with the movie studios supplying the content as
it is with the player manufacturers. Just as the
January 2008 CES show was about to start, Warner Brothers
announced its decision to abandon HD DVD in favor of
Blu-ray. This despite the fact that HD DVD players
and PCs have outsold Blu-ray in the
U.S.
market in 2007. Toshiba American Consumer Products
CEO, Akio Ozaka, responded, saying, "We remain
firm in our belief that HD DVD is the format best
suited to the wants and needs of the consumer.”
Onkyo’s debut DV-HD805 HD DVD player at $999US
offers support for HDMI 1.3a and features HQV
Reon-VX video processing with upscaling to 1080p.
Its Video DAC operates at 297 MHz/12-Bit (NSV). Its
Streaming Audio Output provides Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby
TrueHD, DTS-HD.
See also HD DVD Technology
For a listing of HD DVD releases see http://www.widescreenreview.com/hddisc_result.php?recentdata=Reviewed
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Blu-ray DVD Update
January 10, 2008
Blu-ray
DVD is real Samsung released the first U.S. Blu-ray Disc player
on June 25, 2006 after many delays for this, an early entry into the High Definition disc rivalry to provide a video source
to capitalize on the capabilities of HDTV. At $1,299 Cdn., the BD-P1000
preceded other big name Blu-ray manufacturers Sony,
Panasonic and Pioneer - all having announced fall/winter 2006 U.S. introductions for their first Blu-ray Disc players.
January 8, 2007 - Samsung unveiled its second-generation Blu-ray Disc player, the BD-P1200 for release in
March offering true 1080i to 1080p HD de-interlacing. Now, the BD-P1400
is the 3rd generation Samsung Blu-ray player selling at $450Cdn. It features BD/DVD/CD
Playback with 1080p DVD up-conversion. It supports the HDMI Digital
Interface(Ver 1.3) and 24 fps/60 fps output. Automatically sensing the maximum
native resolution of your HDTV, set-up is close to plug-n-play. The BD-P1400
only supports Blu-ray Profile 1.0, which means it won't play some special
features on discs coming out in 2008. Should you have a newer receiver with
Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, you can have the BD-P1400 output
audio over HDMI in encoded bit-stream format to let your receiver do the
decoding, rather than the player.
The Panasonic DMP-BD30 1080p/24fps Blu-ray player
is now available at a MSRP of $599 Cdn. It is their first model to
include the Final Standard Profile, which adds enhanced features like
picture-in-picture, and audio mixing.
Content providers can make use of the PIP with director commentary and a wide variety of
supplemental information tied specifically to a place in the movie. Viewers can switch to the
extras without leaving the movie by pressing a button on the remote control, and they can switch the audio
between content on the main screen and the PIP window. HDMI 1.3b is supported.
It also has a SDHC memory card slot to play back high-definition content recorded in the AVCHD
format, and to view digital still images which can be converted to 1,920 x 1,080
resolution to fill a large HD plasma or LCD screen. Panasonic HD camcorders shoot in AVCHD format.
At the January 2008 CES show, Panasonic announced the DMP-BD50. It
will be a 1080p/24fps player with the full advanced audio features allowing it
to be combined with a 7.1 channel amplifier and speakers for full 7.1 channel
surround sound. The BD50 adds the new BD-Live function which will allow users to
connect the DMP-BD50 to the internet to download such data as images and
subtitles, and to join in multi-player interactive games that are linked to
bonus movie content contained on Blu-ray discs. It supports the Final Standard
Profile 1.1. Like the DMP-BD30, it also includes an SD Memory Card slot.
Phillips quietly released its BDP900/37 Blu-ray
disc player on November 1, 2006. At $899 US, it was
followed shortly thereafter with the BDP9000 at
$999US. With 1080p output resolution, the
BDP9000 was also compatible with up-scaling to 1080p.
Now announced for April 2008, the BDP7200
is Philips’ first Full Profile 1.1 compliant BD
player that features Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD High
Resolution Audio, multi-channel audio decoding and
digital audio optical outputs. The BDP7200 supports
1080p at native 24 frames per second (fps) input via
HDMI, the same frame rate used by film. Expected
release price is $349US.
Early in 2006 Sony of Canada Ltd. said that its first Blu-Ray Disc player, the high-definition 1080p BDP-S1,
would release in Canada that August; however, this date slipped once again to December
4th 2006.
The Sony BDP-S1 was initially expected to play back Blu-ray Discs with both 25GB and dual-layer 50GB capacities as well as DVD
videos and CDs. With a MSRP of $1,299 Cdn., the BDP-S1 delivers 1,920 X 1,080p
resolution at 24 frames per second (film frame rate), and support
various video codecs, like MPEG2, MPEG4-AVC, and VC1. Blu-ray manufacturing has to date limited the disc's full capacity
as the first disc releases have been single layer only using the older MPEG-2 codec on a single layer.
Sony has announced a smaller Blu-ray disc player the BDP-S300 is now
available at $499 Cdn. It has features similar to the BDP-S1 and is able to output 1080p as well as play CDs which the BDP-S1 cannot.
BDP-S500 is now available at $799 Cdn. With full-HD 1080p resolution
at a film rate of 24 frames per second, it features built-in
audio decoding over HDMI version 1.3 for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus,
Dolby TrueHD, DTS, and multi-channel uncompressed PCM. This provides for
7.1-channel bitstream audio output via HDMI 1.3 vs. the BDP-S300's limited
stereo and 5.1-channel audio output.
Samsung - Blu-Ray was first out of the gate with the Samsung BD- P1000 leading the
charge in mid 2006. That was good news for Blu-ray Disc with many of the inherent features blazing over standard DVD. But, to use the horse race analogy, although
it was the first race for Blu-ray, HD DVD had already been on the track and had done many laps before Blu-ray left the gate. HD
DVD has had its stumbles; however, Blu-ray limped out with space limitations on the
media and a soft picture from its first implementation. Both HD DVD and
Blu-ray players to date are slow from the "starter's pistol" as the
time from pressing "play" to content being displayed was abysmal.
A limiting default setting for the noise-reduction circuit on the Genesis scaler produced a softer than
desirable image. Newer production had this default setting revised to improve the sharpness considerably and allow the natural
film grain of some older pictures to become evident, that is, a more detailed image to shine through. Java-enabled bonus feature
compatibility was to be included in this upgrade to handle features on BD Java titles
released in late 2006. The start-up speed issue was addressed to a degree with this upgrade.
The Samsung player had another bump out of the gate which some attributed to the use of the aged MPEG-2 codec. Initially,
Blu-Ray titles were pressed on a single layer using MPEG-2. Some speculated that space limitations on a
single layer constrained the bit-rate to a lower rate than necessary to obtain a satisfactory image from MPEG-2. Dual-layered
media would have alleviated this space constraint, but Blu-ray's star horse,
dual-layer 50Gb discs had not come into production until later. HD-DVD first film releases used Microsoft’s more efficient and
effective VC-1 compression. So, out of the gate HD DVD initially offered a superior picture to Blu-Ray from Samsung,
primarily because of the default noise-reduction, but perhaps in part because of
MPEG-2 limitations. Images from
MPEG-2 encoded Blu-ray discs may display minor blocking, mosquito noise and other
artifacts compared to comparable VC-1 encoded HD DVD discs. VC-1 encoding (used on HD DVD releases to date)
is said to more effectively reduce these artifacts, although they are
imperceptable to many.
For comparison, the newer VC-1 codec is purported
to be more efficient than MPEG-2. This means that a
18 megabit per second data rate for VC-1 could be
equivalent to a 20 megabit or more per second rate
for MPEG-2. If the original material is quite grainy,
a higher bit rate must be used to maintain detail
while avoiding motion artifacts. To provide
this higher bit rate, Blu-ray, using MPEG-2 on a
single layer disc, is pushing the available disc
space limit. Initially, Blu-ray was limited to
25 gigabytes in single layer production compared with
30 gigabyte dual-layer HD DVD. Thus, Blu-ray was
initially faced with limited disc space and
potentially sacrificing some quality as well as
additional features. With 50Gb dual-layer Blu-ray,
this is no longer an issue.
Some initial Blu-ray discs were produced from poor
quality prints or masters. Studios are now
learning to be more meticulous in ensuring that the
master is the best available from which to transfer
to this discriminating HD media.
How these artifacts and limitations affect the viewer depends on the viewer's equipment. Limitations in your projector/screen or HDTV may make
it incapable of distinguishing the quality difference between the current HD DVD and Blu-ray discs. So, in summary, both
HD DVD and Blu-ray discs in HD can give an impressive picture compared to standard DVD, even with the first release
limitations. Which is best? With the 2nd and 3rd generation HD players coming out,
there is likely little discernable image difference between HD DVD and Blu-ray
even if you have equipment that can display the full capability
provided by these players.
In theory, using the HDMI digital output would allow 1080p to be seen with the least artifacts on an HDTV with 1080p
capability via its HDMI input. First generation Blu-ray players took 1080p/24 movies at 24 frames per second from the Blu-ray
disc and converted them to 1080i/60 (60 frames per second) using 3:2 pulldown. It
then deinterlaced this signal to
1080p/60 for the HDMI output. This process introduces 3:2 and interlacing/deinterlacing artifacts.
The optimum to transfer film to High Definition 1080p viewing is to have the
player output 1080p/24 and the HDTV or projector accept 1080p/24 input
(something only recently made available).
The Pioneer Elite BDP-HD1 Blu-ray player at a $1,799 Cdn price
point that might seem excessive compared to the price value in a Playstation 3.
However, the build quality and stand alone player features may make it a worthy
investment should you wish the best in Blu-ray for your high end home theater
today. Supporting Java interactivity, you can experience extras such as in-movie
gaming, virtual tours by the film's director and explore stories and facts on
the movie even as it plays. The BDP-HD1 provides conveniences such as DLNA
compliance, Windows Media Connect Compatibility. 1080p output is available at 24
frames per second for movie watching from film transfers to Blu-ray Disc
maintaining this 24fps film rate. Even with standard DVD upscaling, using
the HDMI output to a Pioneer 1080p/24fps A/V receiver or Plasma display will
maintain this 24fps cadence.
The BDP-HD1 is compatible with Windows Media Connect
and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) standards. You can browse and access
video, music and photos on a Windows XP computer or DLNA-certified file server
in the network.
Unfortunately, it doesn't support the advanced audio codecs, such as Dolby
Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD although a software upgrade may be
available.
Released in mid- 2007, is the Elite BDP-94HD at $1199 Cdn.
Multi-channel Linear PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby® Digital Plus and DTS®
Surround sound processing are supported from both analog and HDMI 1.1 outputs. The BDP-94HD includes an enhanced version of Pioneer's exclusive Home Media Gallery
home networking feature. Users can stream video and music content as well as view photo
slideshows directly from their computer in high definition. With IP networking and a new user interface, users
are able to quickly access and load protected content and even download new digital media files
directly from their computer through the player to be viewed instantly on a television. The
Pioneer press announcement states that the BDP-94HD is compliant with Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), Windows
PC's using Windows Media Connect, and Microsoft's playsforsure(TM) DRM technology.
The Elite BDP-95HD at $1199 Cdn. supports HDMI1.3a with Dolby TrueHD
& DTS-HD Master Audio bitstream output. Like the BDP-94HD, it provides up to
1920 x 1080p resolution with True24FPS.
LG Electronics released its Super Multi Blue Player (BH100), the world's first dual-format high-definition
disc player to play both Blu-ray and HD DVD content. See .. The BH100 above.
Sharp's first Blu-ray player the BD-HP20U released in
October 2007 at a suggested retail price of $649Cdn. It is a profile 1.0 Blu-ray
player that can output 1920 x 1080 24 fps (frames per second) high-definition
video over its HDMI v1.3 output.
Sony Pictures delivered its first 8 movies in the Blu-ray DVD format to U.S. stores June 20, 2006 timely with the entry of
Blu-ray disc player from Samsung Electronics Co. Among the titles which Sony released on June 20 were 50 First
Dates, The Fifth Element, Hitch, A Knight's Tale, The Last Waltz (MGM), Resident Evil Apocalypse, XXX and the House
of Flying Daggers.
For a listing of Blu-ray disc releases see http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/
How about audio? None of the first HD DVD and Blu-ray players fully supported Dolby TrueHD.
Blu-Ray is using uncompressed PCM 5.1 audio
while Toshiba down-converts the Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD signals to linear PCM for up to 5.1 channel
output. Initial
reports on the Samsung and Panasonic Blu-ray confirmed audio quality as good as or better than
standard DVD video. Now that second generation players support the enhanced audio and A/V components and receivers on the
market with equivalent capability, the audio quality from both these high-def
disc formats has proven to be outstanding.
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January 5, 2007
Blu-ray player deal (if you can find one)
November 17th was a newsworthy date with the tremendous hype and long lines to snare the latest and "greatest"
game box. For video enthusiasts, perhaps the best part of this release is not the game features, but the Blu-ray
disc playback capability. Priced several hundred dollars below the least
expensive standalone Blu-ray disc player, the PS3 is a super bargain when you
consider its bonus features such as a 60-GB internal hard drive and built-in
802.11 b/g wireless networking capability, as well as an Ethernet port for
plugging into a wired network. The built-in Wi-Fi and 60-GB drive are
standard on the premium system which also has memory card reader slots including
Memory Stick, SD and Compact Flash. The memory card capability will be
useful if you wish to take game saves to another PS3. The basic system only has
a 20-GB hard drive and no Wi-Fi or memory card slots. No easy upgrade is
available from the basic to the premium system. The PS3 is intended for online gaming with a wireless
Six-axis controller instead of the usual remote which
audio-video enthusiasts are familiar with. An
optional standard remote should be available shortly
for about $30. The PS3's onscreen browser let's you
surf the web or download music, photos, and video
clips to the hard disk. The PS3 displays digital
photos (or MPEG-4 video clips) downloaded to its
drive or from Compact Flash, SD, or Memory Stick
cards plugged into the card-reader slots on the front
panel. It also has four front-panel USB slots
into which you can connect any USB mass-storage
device. The rear panel has a proprietary
audio/video connection, HDMI output, and an Ethernet
port.
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January 15, 2008
Easy iTunes To Your TV
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Just what is Apple TV?
Apple TV brings iTunes digital content to the TV
screen. Those familiar with iTunes will know that
digital music and videos are played on a computer or
iPod. Apple TV allows you to effortlessly watch or
access Movies, TV Shows, Music, Podcasts and Photos
on your TV rather than your computer screen.
Your iTunes content is synced from your computer
to your Apple TV. Syncing copies content from your
iTunes library and stores it on Apple TV. This
content syncing is done automatically by default
either wirelessly or even faster by wired LAN
connection. The entry level model at $249 with the 40GB built-in hard drive it
syncs up to 50 hours of movies and TV shows, up to
9,000 songs, and up to 25,000 pictures. The 160GB
model at $349 stores up to 200 hours of video.
At Macworld 2008, Steve Jobs announced a free
software upgrade such that in February 2008 viewers
can rent movies directly through the Apple TV media
receiver. Apple TV Take 2 removes the
requirement for a computer to be attached to the
Apple TV to download iTunes music or movies. This
new interface enables the user to view photos from
Flickr and their .Mac Web Gallery, as well as get
direct access to over 125,000 podcasts. Using the
remote control, they can browse and buy TV shows
from the same place they watch them — their
widescreen TV.
New releases will become available 30 days after
they are released on DVD and users will be able to
view them on their computers, iPods, iPhones or on
their television with the Apple TV device. New
release movies will be available for $3.99 (U.S.)
while older films will cost $2.99. Viewers will have
30 days to begin watching a movie after renting it
from iTunes and the movie file will stop working 24
hours later.
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Apple TV easily connects to your TV via an HDMI
port or component video and audio ports. This means
you must have either an HDTV or a standard
definition TV (SDTV) with component video input.
Cables are not supplied and must be purchased
separately.
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Apple TV is automatically powered on by
plugging in the AC cord. There is no on/off button
showing that it is meant to be left on. However, you
can put the Apple TV into standby mode by
pressing and holding the play/pause button on the
remote for about six seconds. Yes it does come with
a remote control.
Apple TV automatically selects 480i as its
default resolution when connected to an SDTV. If you
have an HDTV capable of other resolutions, you can
select from other more appropriate resolutions
comparable to the source material such as 480p, 720p
and 1080i. It will reset to the default if you fail
to confirm your choice in a short period of time.
The menu options enable you to navigate through
Movies, TV Shows, Music, Podcasts, Photos, Settings,
and Sources. The Apple TV can stream content from
any Mac or PC that is running iTunes, and sync with
one "home" computer. Syncing allows you to
copy music, video, and photos directly to the Apple
TV's internal hard drive instead of having to stream
them, thus avoiding issues with slow network
streaming transfers. Once the content is on the
Apple TV you can treat it as a portable device and
hook it up to a TV in another room or at the
cottage.
Streaming music to the Apple TV is easy. From any
computer set up as a source, you can navigate
through your playlists readily or through whatever
has been synced to the Apple TV's hard drive. The
Apple TV supports AAC, MP3, MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless,
AIFF, and WAV audio formats. You can play podcasts
and audio books that are purchased from iTunes, but
not audiobooks that have been purchased through
other iTunes-compatible sources like Audible.com.
The iTunes Store HD movies will cost $4.99US and
there are currently about 100 titles available in
HD.
It is expected that HD content will increase in time,
but you’ll have to find your own HD content to add
substantial variety today. That effectively limits the video quality on a
large HD set unless you want to fuss with moving HD
content onto the Apple TV, which runs counter to the
whole idea of Apple TV being an easy to use iTunes
to TV extender.
The Apple TV is intended to be an iTunes portal
for the family room. You can, however, play your own
content provided it conforms to the few supported
file formats: anything from the iTunes store,
H.264-encoded movies, and MPEG-4 video within
specific resolution and bitrate parameters:
- H.264 and protected H.264 (from iTunes Store):
Up to 5 Mbps, Progressive Main Profile (CAVLC)
with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum
resolution: 1280 by 720 pixels at 24 fps, 960 by
540 pixels at 30 fps)
- MPEG-4: Up to 3 Mbps, Simple Profile with AAC-LC
audio up to 160 Kbps (maximum resolution: 720 by
432 pixels at 30 fps)
This will likely mean that you will have to
convert your video files to be "Apple TV
compatible" by using software such as, on the
Mac, QuickTime Pro, ViddyUp, or iSquint and on the
PC, QuickTime Pro or Nero Recode. Once a video is
exported for Apple TV, you can then import the movie
into your iTunes library for display on the Apple TV
through the "Movies" submenu.
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