3D, movies, games, players
Archive for May, 2008
Blu-ray records now available
May 31st
Yes its true – HD audio has finnaly made it onto the streets in the shape of a Blu-Ray Disc. Featuring a classical string symphony perfomed by TrondheimSolistene (An essemble of string soloists from Norway), called Divertimenti.
Formats include 2.0 LPCM, 5.1 LPCM, 5.1 DTS HD Master Audio, 5.1 Dolby True HD, 5.1 Dolby Digital at 48KHz, and it has been confirmed to work just fine on the PS3.
SharkCopier DC Line of Daisy Chain Manual Tower Duplicators, by Vinpower Digital
May 23rd
Vinpower Digital announced today the release of the SharkCopier DC standalone manual tower DVD/CD daisy chain systems. These units offer all the options and benefits expected from the SharkCopier line of duplicators with the added capability to be linked together in a chain, copying across each tower using only one source. This is extremely beneficial to those who need to create numerous copies quickly in a short period of time with only 1 or a few master sources to copy from.
This system sets itself apart from similar models on the market in the sheer number of towers that can be connected to a single source and in the manner that the data flow is transferred using the Vinpower Digital controller. Plus as the largest tower on the market that can be configured into a Daisy Chain system, HDD to 14 writer drives, the SharkCopier DC has the highest potential duplication output of any standalone manual tower duplicator on the market. As a fully standalone system, the SharkCopier DC is very easy to operate. This daisy chain system can be used anywhere there are suitable electrical outlets without being tied to a computer following these simple steps:
1) Ensure that each tower is properly connected and powered on.
2) Fill all of the writer drives with blank media consistent with the master source.
a. Leave the top writer drive on the first tower empty for the master disc.
3) Place the master disc into the top drive on the first tower in the chain.
a. After the first run, the master disc can be removed and this drive can be used as another writer drive.
4) Press the Copy fast key and every drive filled with blank media will duplicate across each tower simultaneously.
“The fact that each unit has its own internal hard drive for storing and reading the master source, there is less likelihood that the duplication job will fail or suffer from buffer under-run due to restrictions in the data flow,” said Calvin Chang, C.E.O Vinpower Digital.
Due to this unique feature, each unit can operate as a standalone system on their own or in unison in a daisy chain capacity. This allows the user greater flexibility and more control over the copy process and the speed of output.
In addition to the daisy chain feature, all SharkCopier models offer dynamic hard drive partitions and the Simultaneous Load & Copy feature. They still offer exceptional duplication capability at lightning fast speed along with market leading features for which the SharkCopier has been known, like Account Management, Auto Counter, Multi-language support, Drive firmware upgrade ability, and so much more that helped make the SharkCopier the preferred duplicator.
For further information on any or all of Vinpower Digital’s line of duplicators please visit our website at http://www.vinpowerdigital.com/.
Blue Ray Technologies to Open Hollywood Plant and Others Across US to Serve New BD and HD Demand
May 19th
Blue Ray Technologies is planning to open multiple Blu-Ray disc production facilities across the U.S, starting with Southern California, to handle rapidly growing and changing high definition demands by the public and the entertainment industry.
With the end of the format war, and 70% of the US having bought or buying HD screens (according to Nielsen figures) There is an “overwhelming” demand now for instant product in Blu-ray is the present and future in the arena, according to DVD pioneer and Blue Ray Technologies founder Erick Hansen.
Get the full story here
Blu-ray Wins the Format Battle, but Consumers Don’t Buy it
May 19th
While many people expected sales of Blu-ray disc players to spike when Toshiba decided to drop out of the high-definition HD DVD market in February 2008, according to a new Harris Poll, it seems that the recently resolved high definition format war is not
motivating consumers to purchase the advanced DVD players any time soon.
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Despite the Ramp of Blu-ray Drives, DVD Burners Will Continue to Be the Leading Volume Product Until 2012, According to IDC
May 19th
Overall PC market growth, driven by portable PCs, will give the worldwide CD/DVD market a moderately positive outlook in 2008 and lead to increased demand for slim drives. Despite the ramp of Blu-ray drives, DVD burners will continue to be the leading volume
product until 2012. However, as the PC market’s adoption of DVD burners becomes aturated and increasingly commoditized, Blu-ray adoption will accelerate in 2009 and Blu-ray drives will become the majority of the total market value in 2012.
“DVD burners will remain the bread-and-butter business for ODD vendors,” said Wolfgang Schlichting, research director, Removable Storage at IDC. “Despite Blu-ray’s win over HD DVD in the format war, Blu-ray drive adoption will be limited in 2008
because of their high price and only moderate consumer interest.”
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Xbox 360 First Gaming System to Reach 10 Million in U.S.
May 19th
Microsoft Corp. today announced that Xbox 360® has sold over ten million units in the United States, making it the first current generation gaming console to break the ten million mark in the U.S., and contributing to global sales of over 19 million.
“This year will be the largest in the history of the videogame industry, with Xbox 360 leading the charge in the U.S. and abroad,” said Don Mattrick, senior Vice President of the Interactive Entertainment Business in the Entertainment and Devices Division at Microsoft. “History has shown us that the first company to reach ten million in console sales wins the generation battle. We are uniquely positioned to set a new benchmark for the industry.”
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NetBlender and BluFocus have formed a partnership to BD Touch technology for the Blu-ray industry
May 19th
NetBlender and BluFocus have formed a partnership for the development, implementation, and certification of BD Touch technology for the Blu-ray industry. BD Touch is a new Blu-ray technology, developed by NetBlender, which allows iPhones and iPod Touch devices to interact with content on a Blu-ray disc.
Under the new relationship, BluFocus will serve as the exclusive provider of BD Touch Software Development Kits (SDKs) to movie studios, authoring facilities and tools providers who wish to produce BD Touch applications with NetBlender’s Blend/In SDK.
BluFocus will also provide testing and certification services for BD Touch-enabled discs prior to replication.
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The new Third-Generation Blu-ray Disc Player introduced by Panasonic
May 13th
Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal U.S. subsidiary of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE:MC), announces the introduction of the anticipated DMP-BD50, Panasonic’s third generation Blu-ray disc player – the ultimate playback source for high definition 1080p content. Blu-ray media offers a wide range of functions that foster the transition to HD – including 1080p image quality, lossless Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™ and versatile Picture-in-Picture applications. The BD50 adds the new BD-Live function, which uses the internet to further enhance the consumer’s entertainment experience and employs VIERA Link,™ a technology that allows the consumer to operate VIERA Link equipped home theater components with a single remote. The DMP-BD50 will be available this spring and will have an SRP of $699.95.
BD-Live opens up a myriad of interactive possibilities for the consumer. In the future BD-Live 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.
For optimum image quality the DMP-BD50 features the PHL Reference Chroma processor and P4HD i/p conversion processor, which combine to create Uniphier®, a precise digital video processor that produces sharp, crisp, natural colors that are extremely faithful to the original movie. Uniphier reflects the advance encoding and authoring technologies developed by Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory.
The true to the original source images are complimented by an exceptionally pure, accurate sound achieved through Audio Re-master and integrated decoders for the lossless Dolby True HD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats. Furthermore, the DMP-BD50 can be combined with a 7.1 channel amplifier and speakers for full 7.1 channel surround sound.
Networking is an essential product of the DMP-BD50. The included SD Memory Card slot allows for easy transferring of images from an HD camcorder or digital still camera via an SD Memory card. The consumer simply inserts the SD card into the BD50 and then can view the images on a large screen HD flat panel television with AVCHD format video images or JPEG stills in full 1920 x 1080 resolution. In addition the DMP-BD50 has been awarded the Energy Star certification.
“Panasonic was the first to bring a Blu-ray player with Bonus View (Final Standard Profile 1.1) to market and now with the DMP-BD50 we are again leading the industry with the inclusion of BD-Live,” said Paul Sabo, Panasonic, National Marketing Manager Entertainment Group. “The beauty of the Blu-ray player is that we can now see movies the way the film maker intended, in glorious HD video and audio. The consumer can now combine the new generation DMP-BD50 with a VIERA flat screen televison to create a true living in high definition experience.”
www.panasonic.com
Blu-ray Disc Players Emulate True Theater Experience
May 13th
Elevating the high definition experience in home theaters, Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today announces the Elite® BDP-05FD and Pioneer® BDP-51FD BonusView Blu-ray Disc® players that exceed the capabilities of current players in the market with support of next generation high resolution audio and video formats that fulfill the emotional experience of high end entertainment. Featuring picture-in-picture interactivity and a redesigned platform that significantly improves overall performance, the new players work in tandem with Pioneer’s KURO displays and A/V receivers to provide film enthusiasts the most true-to-life reproduction of HD feature films.
“Our new Blu-ray Disc players continue to demonstrate Pioneer’s unwavering commitment to delivering an immersive seeing and hearing experience for those who want the absolute best in form and function,” said Chris Walker, senior manager of marketing and product planning for Blu-ray Disc at Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. “In offering a full line of players, we are solidifying Pioneer’s reputation as a brand that is continually meeting the needs of consumers who are designing or upgrading their home theaters.”
Cinematic Picture Quality
Taking advantage of HDMI® 1.3a technology, Pioneer brings film aficionados to the frontier of next generation entertainment with the most cutting edge video processing available. Both players support 12-bit video digital-to-analog converter (DAC) providing exceptional analog video performance. 12-Bit Deep Color is implemented on both models to deliver an unprecedented range of hues and shades resulting in pristine, realistic imagery that was not possible with previous generations. For early technology adopters, both players are a great investment that will continually meet the advancements of HD home entertainment technology.
With Pioneer’s 1080p / True 24 frames per second (fps) video output, the two models offer smooth performance of film based Blu-ray Disc movies that greatly reduce image judder. By preserving the feature film scene cadence in which Blu-ray Disc titles are authored and feature films are captured, viewers gain a natural, high quality movie viewing experience just as they would in the theater.
Pioneer has continued to enhance high performance DVD playback in the new players with the inclusion of the proprietary and advanced PureCinema Deinterlacer, which essentially eliminates lines that can negatively affect the viewing experience. DVDs can be scaled to a 1080p resolution for improved picture quality and compatibility with HDTVs.
Dynamic Audio Enhances Emotional Experience
Pioneer recognizes the vital importance that sound plays in creating an emotional home entertainment experience and for film aficionados who want to gain the full impact of high resolution movie soundtracks.
The new players are two of the industry’s first to support all advanced audio formats, with the ability to decode Dolby® TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus, DTS® HD* and DTS HD Master* high resolution audio formats, which also enables advanced connectivity that makes compatibility a minimal concern. Consumers will hear the subtle nuances and deep bass in their favorite films to bring an unprecedented listening experience that transcends what was previously thought possible in home theater.
Typically utilized by high end audio manufacturers and professional audio equipment, Pioneer selected the professional quality Wolfson Digital Audio Converters (DACs) in the new players to ensure the highest level audio performance that sound engineers intended audiences to experience.
Robust Build Quality
Pioneer’s two BonusView Blu-ray Disc players feature a supreme build construction and attention to detail to ensure unrivaled content performance. The BDP-05FD and BDP-51FD define premium performance with high quality parts, a center loading tray which helps reduce vibration as well as dedicated audio and video boards for smooth operation and uninterrupted playback of discs.
The Elite BDP-05FD features gold-plated connection ports, capacitance touch key buttons and an aluminum front panel that will have audiophiles and videophiles eager to use and display within their high end home theater décor.
Pioneer Home Theater Synergy
Performing in concert with KURO displays and the upcoming Elite A/V receivers (SC-05 or SC-07), the new Blu-ray Disc players complete the home entertainment experience, allowing consumers to immerse themselves in stunning HD content.
Pioneer engineers developed unique performance settings in both players to ensure subtle details, vivid colors and deep shadows are accurately reproduced when shown on KURO displays. When selecting the “Pioneer PDP” in the video adjust mode, the new players will output the appropriate signal to a connected KURO and deliver the best possible image possible for viewers.
In line with the premium movie experience its products provide, Pioneer sought to create jitter-free playback and dynamic sound quality for music CDs. When connected to a new Elite receiver (SC-05 or SC-07) via HDMI, the BDP-05FD enhances CD playback with the proprietary Precision Quartz Lock System (PQLS). This advanced feature synchronizes music data coming from the Blu-ray Disc player to the receiver giving music fanatics a revolutionary high resolution listening experience far exceeding traditional methods.
Consumer Convenience
Due to the exclusive chip set design and build quality Pioneer is now utilizing, significant strides in speed performance have been made with the new players to now rival the rapid playback rate consumers have come to experience when using their DVD players. This platform greatly improves disc load, power on, power off and disc eject times.
With a continued focus on unifying the appearance and enhancing the operation of its home theater products, Pioneer has integrated the same graphic user interface found on its KURO displays and new Elite receivers. Through the player, users can customize their viewing experience via the A/V Selection menu, which provides a series of image modifications (LCD, PDP, Pioneer PDP, projector and professional) to optimize the picture displayed on a connected HDTV. Pioneer takes image quality a step further with the exclusive Picture Control Suite, which is comprised of an additional 13 video adjustments that allow viewers to fine tune small picture details of a film and deliver an experience that best suits a user’s viewing preferences.
The Pioneer Elite BDP-05FD and BDP-51FD BonusView Blu-ray Disc players will begin shipping this summer for suggested prices of $799 and $599, respectively.
Pioneer’s Home Entertainment and Business Solutions Group develops high definition home theater equipment for discerning entertainment junkies. Its flat panel televisions, Blu-ray Disc players, A/V receivers and speakers bring a new level of emotion to the HD experience. The company brands include Pioneer and Elite®. When purchased from an authorized retailer, consumers receive a limited warranty for one year with Pioneer products and two years with Pioneer Elite products. More details can be located at www.pioneerelectronics.com
Falcon Technologies International Introduces SmartWhite Printable Surfaces for Optical Disc Media Products
May 13th
Falcon Technologies International (FTI), the worldwide leading manufacturer of optical data storage discs for professional and archival applications, today introduced a complete line of recordable discs featuring innovative SmartWhite printable surfaces. Designed to yield the highest quality printing results with both inkjet and thermal printers, SmartWhite printable surfaces are available on FalconMedia Pro DVD-R, CD-R and Blu-ray Disc recording media.
Ideal for a wide range of applications from service bureaus and video/film production houses, to corporate offices, government agencies, houses of worship and medical institutions, FalconMedia Pro DVD-R, CD-R and Blu-ray Discs featuring SmartWhite Printable surfaces deliver the unsurpassed quality for which FTI is known.
“Our universal SmartWhite technology eliminates the confusion from selecting and purchasing printable media, and simplifies media inventory management for businesses that use both inkjet and thermal disc printing systems,” said Mr. Adel Michael, co-founder and CEO of Falcon Technologies International (FTI). “Ideal for a wide range of applications from service bureaus and video/film production houses, to corporate offices, government agencies, houses of worship and medical institutions, FalconMedia Pro DVD-R, CD-R and Blu-ray Discs featuring SmartWhite Printable surfaces deliver the unsurpassed quality for which FTI is known.”
FTI SmartWhite printable discs combine crisp, clear surface printing capabilities with exceptional recording and playback performance. The surfaces are designed to dry quickly and lock-in vivid color. The discs feature print-to-hub surfaces that enable printing all the way to each disc’s hub for maximum visual impact.
Universal SmartWhite printable surface technology is available in combination with a host of other advanced FTI media technologies. With its innovative 24k gold reflective layer formulations, FTI has achieved an archival lifespan of more than 300 years for FalconMedia Pro Full Gold EP recordable CD-R media, and more than 100 years for FalconMedia Pro Gold EP recordable DVD-R media. A 24k gold reflective layer provides maximum resistance to degradation caused by environmental factors such as corrosion, a major cause of failure in standard media. Both solutions have been subjected to accelerated aging conditions, confirming the discs’ archival life-spans.
FTI’s Ultra Hard Coat (UHC) anti-scratch protection is the most reliable solution to protect mission-critical data against potential disc surface contaminants and mishandling. Applied to the media’s polycarbonate layer during the manufacturing process, UHC technology dramatically increases the disc’s scratch resistance and also helps fend off other contaminants such as smudges from fingerprints. Because most spills and other contaminants cannot readily bind to the UHC surface, the disc easily wipes clean. Performance is not impacted, and the data is protected.
FalconMedia Pro SmartWhite printable surface DVD-R, CD-R and Blu-ray Discs are available in Cake box 50 or 100 horizontal tape wrapped spindles.
nnovation and Leadership
FalconMedia Pro DVD-R, CD-R and Blu-ray Disc recording media solutions are designed to unyielding quality standards. To ensure absolute quality consistency, all FTI media is manufactured by highly skilled staff at a single state-of-the-art facility in the UAE. Only FTI recording media solutions provide Certified Swiss Quality (CSQ), validated by FTI’s certification by Swiss ISO organizations, widely considered among the world’s most stringent ISO bodies.
FTI is on the forefront of the most advanced optical recording technologies. The unique inorganic recording material formulation deployed for FTI’s recordable Blu-ray Discs helps achieve exceptional stability for longer archival and superior data protection. Partnered with a leading Japan-based Blu-ray technology provider, FTI gains access to advancements before others, giving its customers a valuable competitive advantage.
