ONKYO to Ship Blu-ray Disc Player In Late 2008

New player will work with ONKYO’s high-definition A/V receivers to realize full potential of high-definition media

OSAKA (7/1/08) – ONKYO Corporation has announced that it will release its first Blu-ray Disc Player for the international market in late 2008. This player is designed to partner with Onkyo’s high-definition A/V receivers equipped with full HDMI processing of 1080p video and decoding of Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD™ Master Audio surround sound formats.

Onkyo was among the first home theater manufacturers to offer full audio and video processing capabilities for HD formats such as Blu-ray Disc. The company’s A/V receivers deliver a complete high-definition experience with onboard decoding of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio codecs. The release of this Blu-ray Disc player will be timely given that the second-generation of high-definition-capable Onkyo A/V receivers is now available. Product details and pricing will be announced prior to delivery.

Due to a policy of continuous product improvement, Onkyo reserves the right to change specifications and appearance without notice.

PANASONIC INTRODUCES WORLD'S FIRST 6X WRITE-ONCE BLU-RAY DISC MEDIA*

Secaucus, NJ (June 18, 2008) – Panasonic today announced that it has developed the world's first Write-Once Blu-ray Discs (BD-R) with 6X writing speed*. The new discs will be available in both 25GB** and 50GB capacities.

Panasonic, which introduced the world's first dual-layer 1X BD-RE Blu-ray Disc in 2004***, 2X BD-R/RE Discs in 2006, and 4X BD-R Disc in 2007, is now launching the first 6X BD-R to meet consumer demand to read and write large amounts of data at higher speeds. The new 6X discs have a maximum data transfer speed of an amazingly fast 216Mbps. This transfer speed, along with the discs' high capacity, allows consumers to use these discs for a variety of applications such as storing high-definition video or backing up PC data.

The new discs feature a wide power margin at any writing speed from 1X to 6X. This enables high-quality recording, even if the drive's laser power fluctuates, resulting in greater overall drive compatibility.

Panasonic's adoption of newly-developed disc technology produces extremely level and well-balanced discs with highly precise signal grooves. This improves servo characteristics and enables the laser beam to focus to the right position even when the disc is rotating with 6X high speed, thus providing optimum reading and writing performance.

Specifications

6X BD-R

Format Name: Blu-ray Disc Recordable Format Ver. 1.3
Model Number: LM-BR25MDE, LM-BR50MDE
Data Capacity: 25GB, 50GB
Layer Constitution: Single Sided/Single Layer, Single Sided/Dual Layer
Recording Format: Phase Change Recordable
Laser Wavelength: 405nm （Blue-violet Laser）
Objective Lens Numerical Aperture (NA): 0.85
Disc Diameter/Thickness: 120mm x 1.2mm
Track Pitch: 0.32 μm
Minimum Mark Length: 0.149μm
Data Transfer Speed: 216Mbps(Max.)
Hard Coating

*As of June 18, 2008

**The capacity of Blu-ray discs is expressed in units of 1GB=1 billion bytes, but the capacity is slightly below that after formatting, so that the actual amount area that can be used will be less.

***Introduced in Japanese market only

[Panasonic and AVWatch]

Today, as new boxes and services are announced, there has yet to appear one that can give you every movie, let alone a single format you can use on your various everyday devices. Thankfully, what we're hearing now is that while this infinite format war may not go on forever, the state of video will suck for the next five years until every service has the same baseline catalog. If you believe the studios. In the meantime, you'll be looking for the set-top box with the best catalog, and the one that can deliver you your films in the best way possible.

If you thought the HD DVD/Blu-ray split was bad, at least there was an easy order to it, an alignment by studios. Warner, Universal and Paramount were on HD DVD, everyone else (plus Warner) put their movies on Blu-ray. Sure, no Big Lebowski on Blu-ray, but at least you knew why. There is nothing even approaching logic when it comes to the movie options from VOD set-top box to the next, at least not from the user perspective. Warner Bros. put out Ocean's Thirteen. You can watch it on Vudu and Amazon Unbox, but not iTunes. Warner also put out I Am Legend, which is on all three, and Xbox Live Marketplace. Paramount's Shooter is on all three, but only for purchase, not rental (and totally MIA from Xbox). And you could rent Disney/Pixar's Ratatouille a few months ago, but now it's only for purchase. "WTF?" is a natural response. (On a side note, it's a bitch to really search or go through any of the catalogs, so it's even harder to tell if it's an accidental or intentional roadblock.)

To explain our current clusterfuck, you need a quick trip back to 1999. Remember the state of digital music back then? It was messy and ugly. The music industry had no idea what to do with this whole internet thing, and they were involved in assorted, competing ventures. Then along came iTunes, which basically organized the music universe and, to the chagrin of the RIAA, set up a sane pricing structure, too. It's not a complete catalog of all music ever (Beatles, hello?), but it's the closest thing there is, and it's pretty damn good. It brought order to the chaos, and now claims 85 percent of the legal download market. So it has the music industry by the balls, enough to speed their efforts to fortify a worthy number 2—Amazon, which was the first store to boast a catalog exclusively made up of DRM-free music from all four majors as a result, a perk deliberately withheld from iTunes to curb its power.

We're basically at that same, nebulous 1999 point with video, though Hollywood has learned from the music industry's mistakes—and iTunes is not the guaranteed champion in the case of online movie sales. The industry is eagerly putting stuff out there, and on as many services as it can—we're at the point now that most of the major studios release movies on online services on the same day they release them on disc.

A problem gumming up our dream of the one box is that each service requires a different format—one studio told us that a big issue is digitizing and formatting a film to meet each service's specs. It just takes time, though they're going as fast as they can. And new releases are gonna take priority, obviously. We are at least a little skeptical of this claim—we don't think it takes that long to digitize a flick

From what we were told, there's surprisingly little worry of a single company dominating digital distribution. A studio we talked to said that it's all so new, the fear of a monopoly (by Apple or otherwise) is at worst simply a thought skulking around in the back of their mind, not an actual concern. So no service is getting any favors to promote one over the other, or keep another in check. (At least not yet, though Blu-ray-happy Sony may well have the most incentive to keep the online space anemic.) Again, here, we're a little suspicious—obviously they wouldn't come right out and tell us they're afraid of iTunes, but when you look at the measly catalog and consider the studios' close study of how the music industry complete botched online music, the idea of Apple becoming the single biggest distributor of most digital media and holding serious sway over the entire entertainment industry has to weigh on their minds.

I mean, if you were in their shoes, and could prevent making iTunes into the all-powerful Walmart of the digital video generation, wouldn't you?

The one bit of protectionism going on that was copped to is the push to purchase, rather than rent. It makes sense that a studio gets more money when you buy a movie than rent it, since it's the same set of bits headed to your hard drive, and both are guaranteed you'll watch the movie at least once, but one costs three to four times as much as the other. So you are going to see a lot of them not open a flick up to online rentals until a month after it's available for purchase, and even see rental options disappear, as recently happened across the board with Pixar movies.

Ultimately, and somewhat shockingly, Hollywood does have the same vision we do—a single god box that'll deliver the entire catalogs of all the studios. Only, unlike in the iTunes hegemony, every home could have a different god box, be it Xbox, TiVo, Vudu or Roku.

Forgive the buried service journalism. Enough of this theoretical talk. So, what does it take to get a decent download collection? Until the god box, you will need several, two at least. Right now, Vudu is good for latest and greatest plus some older favorites; Netflix Roku has better TV options and some interesting deep cuts (plus a $99 box price and unlimited streaming for 10,000 so-so titles for any plan over $9 with discs by mail as a backup); Xbox 360 has a surprisingly large amount of HD movies, and a nice catalog geared towards the gaming demographic; Apple TV has its own legion of fans for its ability to move movies to iPods and computers, though it still has a lot to prove in the catalog section. That's not even counting the TiVo with Amazon Unbox or the cable box you likely already have, each with their own assorted VOD options. Even if you owned all of 'em, you still might not find what you want, even if it's something that should be slapping you in the face. Take Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle, for instance. We could not legally find it on any service, even though the sequel hit theaters just a few weeks ago—and got a surprisingly good buzz from usually snooty critics. Did Warner miss the perfect opportunity? They wouldn't say.

The other major issue is the state of broadband and the guys controlling the pipes. For the online video revolution to fully take off in HD, we need bigger pipes. For most people, that's years away. This is deeply threatening to the cable companies, and they're pretty clear that they're not happy about content moving online—you can see the fear in the recent moves to limit all kinds of data consumption (most of which is already video), not just the supposed protocol of pirates. What if limits or overage charges were put in place for people who were simply doing their best to buy copyrighted video? Why would someone give up DVD and Blu-ray rentals from Netflix in order to pay twice—for both the bandwidth and the content—and have to wait somewhat impatiently for the download, too?

So friends, while all of this gets ironed out, the infinite format war rages on: Lots of boxes, lots of online services, none of them complete, none of them that'll fully satisfy your wife's desire to rid the shelves of DVDs. Hollywood just can't move fast enough for this revolution, as arguably eager as it is, and the ISPs may not clear the way when the show does get on the road. From what we can tell, the stuff will all get sorted out in time. How much time? Give it five more years. If you believe the studios. [Insert groan of impatience here.]

The Price: $3300 as tested.

The Verdict: The Vaio LT is a solid computer with a lot of good features. It's easy enough on the eyes that it could be placed in a kitchen or bedroom (it can also be VESA mounted), but it is hardly underpowered. Blu-ray playback provided a nice picture, and watching HD via CableCard was crisp and clear. Rarely, if ever, did I experience slowdown while using many of the media features, showing the hardware is up to the task.

The integrated 1.3 MP webcam is up to par with similar offerings, and the speakers provide good audio in most settings. Despite its TV-esque appearance, there are no inputs for VGA or component video, meaning hooking up a game console or laptop is out of the question.

But looks and power come with a price. The low-end model does start as low as $2000, but it only has a 1.6 GHz processor and 3GB RAM. The high-end model, with the Penryn processor, Cable card tuner and 4GB RAM, will run you $3300. But as hardware alone, the VAIO LT is a solid choice for a media PC.

The dv5 has a 15.4" display, along with 4 USBs and an NVIDIA graphics card. Available this month, the minimum on this notebook is $700 for AMD, $900 for Intel.

The top-of-the-line dv7 has a 17" display, multi-channel audio with subwoofer, 4 USBs, ATI and NVIDIA graphics cards, and a hard drive up to 640GB. It'll start at $950 for AMD and $1230 for an Intel chip when it's out in July.

The Pavilions also have LightScribe laser etching for CD/DVD-Rs, and accelerometers inside that stop the hard drive of a falling laptop to prevent data loss. In fact, the only downside to the Pavilion series is that it runs Vista.

A docking station, the xb4, will also be available for the new Pavilion line for $250 in July. One great thing about the docking station is that USB drives will run directly from it.

Last but not least, HP is also introducing a new tablet PC. The tx2500z has a 12.1" display that rotates 180 , up to 320GB hard drive, a 5-in-1 card reader, and 3 USBs, among other features. Pricing and availability have not been announced yet.

HP Fuses Style and Entertainment in Next-generation Notebook Portfolio

BERLIN, June 10, 2008 - HP today unveiled six consumer notebook PC series that push the boundaries of innovation and aesthetics, embodying the company's blend of mobile computing and design expertise.
Announced at the company's Connecting Your World event, the entertainment-packed HP Pavilion "dv"-series notebooks is adorned with a sleek, liquid-metallic HP Imprint 2 surface design, "magic chrome" touch controls that appear at the touch of a finger, and intuitive, one-click access to high-quality TV,(1) photos, movies and music from nearly any location. The notebook series also features built-in HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection, which automatically stops the hard drive from spinning after it detects sudden movement, helping to prevent the loss of data.

Also new are three series in the Compaq Presario notebook PC line, which provide high value and attractive designs in an array of sizes and configurations. All HP consumer notebooks are also designed with protecting the environment in mind, with energy-efficient features and select materials for easier recycling. In fact, HP has set a goal to remove all mercury - a potentially hazardous substance commonly found in notebook screens - from its entire notebook line by the end of 2010.

In addition, HP announced accessories to personalize the mobile experience with multimedia docking stations, power adapters, extra capacity batteries, TV tuners,(1) remote controls, speakers, color-matched accessories and much more, enabling consumers to do more with their notebooks.(2)
"HP is creating notebook computers that captivate consumers by combining sleek and striking designs with immersive entertainment capabilities that make for a great user experience," said Kevin Frost, vice president and general manager, Consumer Notebooks, Personal Systems Group, HP. "As the No. 1 consumer notebook brand, our new lineup raises the bar even higher, with notebooks that are tailored for the ever-changing lifestyles of people who are on the go and need to stay connected."

HP Pavilion notebooks deliver exquisite design and powerful entertainment
HP Pavilion notebooks set a new standard in notebook design with unexpected innovations such as invisible "magic chrome" controls that light up and become fully interactive upon power up. Smooth lines, optional HP BrightView Infinity Widescreen flush-glass screens, along with color-matched keyboards and touch pads create a frameless, thin and elegant appearance.

The new HP Pavilion notebook series also offers consumers a choice of the latest AMD and Intel processors and a high-speed eSATA interface for backup to external storage drives. The series also introduces to consumers built-in HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection technology, which was previously available only in HP business-class notebooks. This technology automatically detects if a notebook has been dropped and, while the notebook is on its brief journey to the floor, automatically stops the hard drive from spinning, helping to prevent the loss of files and data.

Matching outer style with inner power, the new HP Pavilion series offer a broad range of features and sizes to match consumers' lifestyles.

The ENERGY STAR -qualified HP Pavilion dv4 Entertainment Notebook PC packs the latest technology into a 14.1-inch diagonal display. Already lightweight and power-efficient, an HP SmartBay enables the use of an included weight saver in place of the optical drive for even greater mobility. Entertainment-ready, the HP Pavilion dv4 offers a choice of integrated TV tuner(1) and Blu-ray(3) optical drive, delivering a portable high-definition(4) experience. Other options include broadband wireless(5) for those who wish to stay connected without a wireless hotspot, and a brighter, mercury-free LED display.(2)

For users seeking an ideal balance among mobility, performance and screen size, the HP Pavilion dv5 Entertainment Notebook PC delivers a mid-size, 15.4-inch diagonal display, exquisite design and powerful entertainment with optional discrete graphics from NVIDIA.

The HP Pavilion dv7 Entertainment Notebook PC's 17-inch diagonal display and sleek design deliver powerful high-definition entertainment for TV,(1) photos, movies and music with full-size realism that makes it an ideal alternative to desktop PCs. The HP Pavilion dv7 brings together a rich set of standard features such as premium multi-channel audio and options such as subwoofer, Blu-ray optical drive, built-in TV tuner(1) and robust graphics from ATI and NVIDIA.(2)
Style made simple and affordable

Designed for those on the go, the versatile HP Compaq Presario notebook PC line includes a new industrial design and HP Imprint 2 surface finish, a range of optical drives, built-in wireless(6) technologies and high-quality audio, webcam and analog microphone capabilities.

The Compaq Presario CQ45 Series Notebook PC is a powerful system that pays equal attention to design and performance. The 14.1-inch diagonal display offers a built-in TV tuner,(1) optional Blu-ray and discrete graphics technology that bring together the paramount combination of consumer entertainment and notebook computing.

The Compaq Presario CQ40 and CQ50 Series Notebook PCs are 14.1-inch and 15.4-inch diagonal display notebooks, respectively. Versatile and affordable, the notebooks are built to travel, offering essential mobile and wireless technologies.
Personal accessories for the mobile lifestyle
HP accessories are loaded with innovative features to let users personalize their notebook experience.

The HP xb4 Notebook Media Docking Station combines the comfort of a standard notebook stand with the connectivity of a port replicator. Convenient and easy to use, the dock requires no software for set up and connectivity is achieved by a single cable that passes all signals, including USB, video, audio and power. For superb audio output, the dock includes speakers, a subwoofer and an auxiliary audio-in port to play music from MP3 players and other external devices.

HP Bluetooth Stereo Headphones with Active Noise Cancellation allow consumers to stream music wirelessly from a wide variety of audio sources, including MP3 players, notebooks and desktop PCs and CD players. Active Noise Cancellation reduces ambient noise and improves the listening experience and enhances audio quality.
Pricing and availability(7)

The HP Pavilion dv4t (Intel) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs start at $999 and will be available beginning later this month. The HP Pavilion dv4z (AMD) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs start at $799 and are expected to be available beginning in September.

Both the HP Pavilion dv5t (Intel) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs, starting at $899, and the HP Pavilion dv5z (AMD) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs, starting at $699, will be available later this month.

The HP Pavilion dv7t (Intel) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs start at $1,229 and will be available later this month, while the HP Pavilion dv7z (AMD) Series Entertainment Notebook PCs start at $949 and are expected to be available in July.

The Compaq Presario CQ45 and CQ40 Series Notebook PC availability and pricing varies by region.

Compaq Presario CQ50 Series Notebook PCs start at $499 and will be available later this month.

The HP Bluetooth Noise Cancelling Headphones start at $149 and are available now. The HP xb4 Notebook Media Docking Station starts at $249 and is expected to be available in July.
Customers can shop for the new HP Pavilion and Compaq Presario notebook PCs by calling +1 888 999 4747, via chat, online or at retail outlets nationwide.

(1) Availability of signals limited by the strength and accessibility of the originating TV signal, location and other factors. Performance issues may arise, and do not constitute defects in the product.
(2) Sold separately or as an add-on features.
(3) Blu-ray is a new format containing new technologies. Certain discs, digital connections, compatibility and/or performance issues may arise, and do not constitute defects in the product. Flawless playback on all systems is not guaranteed. In order for some Blu-ray titles to play, they may require a DVI or HDMI digital connection and the display may require HDCP support. This Blu-ray drive does not support writing to ultra-high speed CDRW media (16X to 32X advertised performance). HD-DVD movies cannot be played on this notebook PC.
(4) High-definition content (for example, WMV HD files) is required to view high-definition images.
(5) Broadband technologies require separately purchased wireless data service contracts. Check with local service provider for coverage and availability.
(6) Wireless access point required and is not included. Availability of public wireless access points limited. Wireless Internet use requires separately purchased Internet service contract.
(7) Estimated U.S. street prices. Actual prices may vary.

It was all business as usual, but with all due respect, I do have to beat Robbie up over a few other overly precious quotes:

On the failure of high-def disc formats:

You have to look at how fundamentally compelling the difference is between a progressive scan DVD player and the picture that it can produce and what you get on a high-definition player. The reality is there is some difference, but most people look at it and say, "I am not going to pay extra for that."

On lack of ad revenue as the main reason web-browsing sucks on most smartphones:

The business model for browsing on a phone has not gotten itself completely clear yet. In the PC space, the way people monetize the Internet is through advertising. Now in the phone space, we believe that advertising will be a part of that experience, but it's a different form factor.

On the future of handhelds:

We think the market is going to evolve to people having their favorite device that they are going to carry around with them. That device is going to do multiple things, one of which is going to be music...We call them mobile phones but in fact they are going to become much more than mobile phones.

Again, I mean no outright disrespect, hearing things like this from the head of all Microsoft's CE divisions makes me a little nervous. [SFGate via WMPowerUser]
Thanks, Surur!

Wrote the tipster:

I‘ve got a close friend who works at Microsoft, previously with the HD-DVD division and now in the E&D division (Xbox, zune). I’m told MS will upstage Apple with a Monday 9am PDT announcement (1 hour before WWDC) via press release that the Xbox 360 will get Blu-Ray before Christmas. Price was “under the current Elite”, but i could get any more details.

Why am I picturing a sand castle right before high tide right now? [CrunchGear]

FWIW, it's supposed to be coming in the fall with 7.1 analog outputs, and a Silicon Optix Reon processor. When I say FWIW, I mean not all that much for the rest of us: Panasonic's got a BD-Live player coming out within the month and there's always our favorite Blu-ray player, the PS3. Better late then never, though. [Annees Laser via Blu-ray, BTW, that is not a photo of the BD-P2500]

The subwoofer itself is the receiver/amplifier unit—there is no video source, but adding a DVD or game console wouldn't be hard or cumbersome. The speakers themselves are ridiculously tiny, but if you were wondering, they actually are the same as the ones from the HT10 introduced last year. The sound is very beefy, frankly way louder than we thought. The center channel has an IR receiver, so that you can stash everything else except for those itty bitty speakers, and still run everything. Not bad if you're going for the hidden home-theater thing.

The unit has three 1080p HDMI inputs to keep sources in their hi-def glory, and the system can be extended to multiple rooms by using S-Air wireless speakers. The set has an optional kit to make the included rear speakers wireless too. The HT-IS100 is out in July for $700, press release after the jump. [Sony]

SONY DELIVERS STYLISH SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM FOR HIGH-DEFINITION HOME THEATERS

NEW YORK, June 5, 2008 - Offering a stylish solution for the modern high-definition home theater, Sony today introduced the HT-IS100 BRAVIA Theatre Micro System.

Designed with five incredibly small speakers roughly the size of a golf ball, the new audio/video system delivers a rich surround sound experience that can be easily integrated into a home theater.

The system includes three 1080p HDMI inputs with repeater functionality and support for eight channels of uncompressed audio. It is an ideal complement for Blu-ray Disc players, PlayStation 3 consoles and other high-definition sources. With the ability to add optional wireless rear surround speakers and multi-room wireless speakers that configure automatically, the HT-IS100 system can be set up with fewer wires and without complicated wireless IP settings.

"Consumers want a cinema-like surround sound experience in their homes, but are hesitant to add large equipment that overpowers the d cor," said Tyler Ishida, director of marketing for Sony Electronics' Digital Imaging and Audio Division. "The HT-IS100 packs all the power of a conventional home theater system in five discrete speakers that practically disappear in your living room."

The 5.1 channel system, with 450 watts (RMS) of power, includes a subwoofer with integrated 32-bit S-Master digital amplifier for superb audio performance.
Featuring Sony's S-AIR technology, you can add wireless multi-room listening throughout the home using Sony S-AIR Air Station speakers, which are sold separately. Television audio and music can be transmitted from the main system to multiple rooms throughout the home by connecting the Air Station into a power outlet. An optional speaker kit (WAHT-SA10 sold separately) delivers audio wirelessly to rear speakers, eliminating the need to run speaker wire from the front to the back of the room.

The system features Sony's Digital Media Port, which adds control, networking and connectivity options for music playback through various accessories, including a Cradle for iPod (TDM-iP10), a Network Walkman cradle, a PC client device and a Bluetooth adapter (each is sold separately).

Sony's Digital Cinema Auto Calibration (DCAC) simplifies surround sound setup with the push of a button by automatically adjusting speaker frequency, distance and level.
The system also features BRAVIA Sync for Theater, which integrates its operation with select BRAVIA televisions and home theater products for one-touch play. With the touch of a button, you can automatically turn on and switch inputs, synchronizing connected devices to make operation easier.

Equipped with a Dialogue Audio Enhancer with night mode, the system can adjust audio levels for dialogue when the receiver volume is turned low. Additionally, the updated Portable Audio Enhancer feature improves the clarity and depth of digital audio devices connected to the system by adding information to the audio signal that had been removed during compression.

The HT-IS100 system will be available in July for about $700 at Sony Style stores, online through www.sonystyle.com, at military base exchanges and at authorized dealers nationwide. Digital Media Port accessories and thin antenna speaker stands are also available at Sony Style stores and online at www.sonystyle.com.

And only 9 percent of HDTV owners plan to buy Blu-ray. Nine percent of a minority, for 4 million "potential buyers." That's not the makings of a dominant format. The survey results are from March, so things might be slightly better now, but given the past rate of growth—10 percent over the last year—likely not too much. Also this does conflict with an earlier poll stating that 60 percent of US consumers are "aware" of Blu-ray, but recognizing the name and knowing what it is are two different things.

Still, no wonder the Blu camp put off that victory party—they've still got a lot of work to do. I think I'm going to go sip gin and tonics with DVD by the pool.

Jun 03, 2008 09:15

The NPD Group: Consumer Awareness and Potential for Blu-ray Disc Devices Rising

Challenges Still Remain for Consumer Adoption of Next-Generation DVD Players and Content
PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. —(Business Wire)— Jun. 3, 2008 According to The NPD Group, a leading market research company, 45 percent of HDTV owners in the U.S. now claim to be familiar with Blu-ray Disc (BD), up from 35 percent in June 2007. And, while only 6 percent of all consumers surveyed said they plan to purchase a BD device, NPD found purchase intent to be higher among the growing population of HDTV owners, boding well for the future of the format.

NPD's "2008 Blu-ray Disc Report" reveals that 9 percent of HDTV owners plan to buy a BD-capable player in the next six months. "With HDTVs now in approximately 40 million US households, that percentage translates to a pool of almost 4 million potential BD player buyers," according to Russ Crupnick, entertainment industry analyst for NPD.

Nevertheless, manufacturers still face challenges. Although HD-DVD is no longer a competitive threat, many consumers are content with standard-definition DVD players and content. The leading reasons cited as barriers to purchase were a perceived high cost of BD players and a belief that standard-definition DVD is "good enough."

Blu-ray Content Opportunities

Consumers who purchased a BD set-top player cited "leading-edge technology" and a "superior viewing experience" as primary reasons for making the purchase. And they indicated a clear preference for BD content. In fact current BD set-top player owners expect that 80 percent of their upcoming purchases will be in BD rather than standard DVD. By comparison, 43 percent of PS3 owners use the BD capability in their consoles at least once a month; however, they do not view BD movies as often as set-top device owners do.

"The door is open for studios to feed the consumer's appetite for Blu-ray content, and we expect sales to increase, as prices for hardware and software moderate in the coming months," Crupnick said. "Even so it will take a concerted effort by manufacturers and retailers to ratchet awareness even further and convince all of those potential buyers of the superiority of Blu-ray Disc versus standard DVD."

Data note: Data was collected via online survey, which was fielded between March 10 and March 20, 2008. Final data for the nationally representative sample was weighted to represent the U.S. population of individuals age 18 and older.

About The NPD Group, Inc.

The NPD Group is the leading provider of reliable and comprehensive consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries. Today, more than 1,600 manufacturers, retailers, and service companies rely on NPD to help them drive critical business decisions at the global, national, and local market levels. NPD helps our clients to identify new business opportunities and guide product development, marketing, sales, merchandising, and other functions. Information is available for the following industry sectors: automotive, beauty, commercial technology, consumer technology, entertainment, fashion, food and beverage, food service, home, office supplies, software, sports, toys, and wireless. For more information, contact us or visit http://www.npd.com/.

[VPO]

However, if you're looking at this from a pure monetary view, the amount of DVDs installed and the fact that the Blu-ray library is really tiny compared to the DVD library, Toshiba's decision might make them some decent cash. The end result is that consumers shouldn't expect a Toshiba Blu-ray player for a little while. [TGDaily]

Product Description

Includes all five Dirty Harry films: all special features on the Dirty Harry Special Edition and Deluxe Editions plus additional special features and contents specific to the Ultimate Collector's Edition. Bonus Feature-Length documentary Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows; a 40+ page hardcover book; Wallet w/metal badge and removable laminated I.D. card; Five 5x 7 Reproduction Lobby Poster Cards plus an exclusive UCE card; Scorpio Portrait of a Killer Poster-Sized (19 x 27) map of San Francisco detailing Harry's hunt for the killer; Never-Before-Seen Production Correspondence

*Flags of Our Fathers 2-Disc Special Edition in Blu-Ray - $15
*3:10 to Yuma in Blu-Ray - $15
*War in Blu-Ray - $15
*300 in Blu-Ray - $15
*Blood Diamond in Blu-Ray - $15
*Shooter in Blu-Ray - $15
*The Fifth Element in Blu-Ray - $15
*Training Day in Blu-Ray - $15
*The Last Samurai in Blu-Ray - $15
*A Knight's Tale in Blu-Ray - $15
*The Patriot in Blu-Ray - $15
*Syriana in Blu-Ray - $15

[Slick Deals]

My second "ooooh" moment was exactly the opposite. I was watching a movie on something like HDnet. And I was worried for a moment—what were all those little spots on my television screen? I looked closer and realized that it was film grain. And then I absolutely knew that my TV had been a good "investment." But not all people feel like I do. And Hollywood is accommodating them for Blu-ray releases.

The Digital Bits reports that to accommodate for those with no taste who hate film grain, studios are doing one of two things to back-catalog Blu-ray rereleases:

1. Sharpening film to death through copious Digital Noise Reduction
2. Simply not releasing especially grainy movies at all

Film grain is not a problem to be eliminated. While sometimes a production limitation altering decisions on film stock and lighting requirements, it's long been seen as another tool in a cinematographer's arsenal. And, ironically enough, it's important enough to the viewing experience that digital productions tend to add the stuff for theater release.

Part of what's amazing about new display and codec technologies is that the consumer can come closer than ever to re-creating the theater experience at home. When I saw film grain so clearly on my screen for the first time, I bought in to that truly incredible and empowering phenomenon, a sort of technological manifestation of divine marketing BS. And I realized that, no matter what better-than-HD technologies were around the corner, we were quickly approaching the point of diminishing returns. Our eyes would be bested by our displays. There'd be more information than we could see.

But if we destroy a by-product so intrinsically (and often artistically) linked to the film medium, our enjoyment of film will become said case of diminishing returns. So let's just not do that. [The Digital Bits via Gadget Lab]

So they start with a 19" touchscreen, add a Blu-ray drive with video out and a Microsoft keyboard and mouse to control is all. (And we're pretty sure a PC is stuck in there too.) To round it out, 6mm of "toughened glass" protects the top, though we're a bit confused if the touchscreen still works when covered. You can definitely see the arcade influence in the design, but we wish they'd gone a step or two further in incorporating the glossier elements of tabletop games. And would a splash of color hurt anyone? Price TBA. [Retro-Tech via Ubergizmo]

DENON EXPANDS ITS BLU-RAY LINEUP WITH NEW MODEL DVD-1800BD PLAYER — New More Affordable Player Brings Denon-Quality Blu-ray Performance Within Reach of More Consumers; Features HDMI 1.3a with Deep Color Support — Mahwah, NJ, May 20, 2008 — Denon Electronics, one of the world's premier manufacturers of high-quality home entertainment components, today announced the introduction of the third member in its highly successful and critically acclaimed Blu-ray DVD family, the model DVD-1800BD Profile 1 version 1.1 Blu-ray Disc Player (SRP: $749). Offering consumers extraordinary video quality and audio excellence at a more affordable price point, the DVD-1800BD features HDMI 1.3a with Deep Color and Bonus View support, full bitstream output of Dolby and DTS-HD audio formats, as well as 1080p scaling from SD DVDs and 2-channel analog audio output. The Denon DVD-1800BD is scheduled for availability in October 2008 Like Denon's two recently introduced Blu-ray products, the DVD-3800BDCI Blu-ray Disc Player ($1,999) and the DVD-2500BTCI (SRP: $1,199) Blu-ray Disc Transport, the DVD-1800BD allows owners of advanced A/V receivers to add Blu-ray capability to their system and enjoy high definition video. The VD-1800BD will natively output an HD audio bit-stream to a connected receiver via HDMI. Once this signal is accepted in the receiver, it can then be decoded into its native format including Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio. For those listeners who want to use the DVD-1800BD as a step-up CD player, this unit features a dedicated 2-channel analog output, equipped with high-class Burr-Brown D/A convertors and superior analog components to ensure the high level of sound quality for which Denon is renowned.

In keeping with the guidelines mandated by the Blu-ray Association for BD-ROM Profile 1 version 1.1 players, the Denon Model DVD-1800BD incorporates a secondary audio and video decoder. This allows for simultaneous playback of a secondary audio and video track which may be used for interactive audio and commentary and for picture-in-picture capability (respectively). Additional information (subtitles, audio streams, camera angles, trailers, games, etc.) can be downloaded from the Internet via computer and stored on a SD card that the player will accept. This content can be played with the original content of Blu-ray Discs.

What's even cooler is that they're not going to charge any more for Blu-ray versions of movies, and that's a surprising relief to anyone who's ever coughed up for the often multi-disc sets chock with supplementary content. I have personally paused all Criterion purchases until they went HD. (Black and white samurai films are fine on DVD.) The first 13 titles are:

The Third Man; Bottle Rocket; Chungking Express; The Man Who Fell to Earth; The Last Emperor; El Norte; The 400 Blows; Gimme Shelter; The Complete Monterey Pop; Contempt; Walkabout; For All Mankind; The Wages of Fear

And the Criterion website is giving newsletter subscribers $10 off plus free shipping on orders of $60 or more by using the OFBT code at checkout.
[Thanks Sotirios]

You can tell from the sub-$1,000 pricing that high-end Pioneer has something bigger in mind, but in the grand scheme of things, these players are definitely not cheap, and they're not total slouches either. They use a totally new chipset, and have been built anew from ground up. Pioneer is apparently the first to be using it, though they may soon build other brands' players with this same platform. What that means is that the players boot up in 14 seconds, and Java loading is dramatically improved. What took over a minute can be done in 8 seconds, says Walker.

Though the players lack Ethernet connectivity, they decode all the new DTS and Dolby Digital codecs, and can bitstream them to a receiver if that is preferred. (Panasonic's $700 2.0 DMP-BD50 can do this, too; the PS3 can only decode; it can't bitstream.)

Here are the things the Elite BDP-05FD has that make it cost $200 more than the BDP-51FD:
• A metal remote with metal keys
• An aluminum panel with capacitive touch buttons
• Gold-plated connectors
• A double-layer chassis with bottom plate to improve rigidity of player against vibration
• 297Mhz vs 108MHz encoder for component video output (but seriously, only component output)

The Elite BDP-05FD is also one of the world's greatest CD players. Yes, I said "CD."

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.

PIONEER PREMIUM BONUSVIEW BLU-RAY DISC PLAYERS EMULATE TRUE THEATER EXPERIENCE
New Elite and Pioneer Players Deliver Reference Quality Playback with Enhanced Performance Features

NEW YORK - (May 7, 2008) - 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 two new players are 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.

*DTS HD and DTS HD Master Internal Decoding requires future firmware upgrade

Panasonic SC-BT100
Wireless Home Theater System with Integrated Blu-ray Disc Player

Product Features
High Quality Picture
Combining a PHL Reference Chroma Processor with advanced P4HD imaging technology, Panasonic's original digital consumer electronics integration platform, UniPhier® reproduces crisp, natural colors that are extremely faithful
to the original movie. UniPhier® reflects the advanced encoding and authoring technologies developed by Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory (PHL) in collaboration with film industry professionals. With UniPhier® at its heart, the SC-BT100 provides a level of image and sound quality that meets Hollywood's stringent demands - so you experience movies just the way they were meant to be experienced.
*UniPhier is a trademark/a registered trade mark of Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. in Japan and other countries.

PHL Reference Chroma Processor
The PHL Reference Chroma Processor up-samples (4:2:0 to 4:2:2) the color information in decoded video signals. Using unique Panasonic technology, this innovative circuit faithfully reproduces the fine details and nuances of Blu-ray video streams that have been recorded with high quality image compression system. It generates images with all the clarity and depth that BD-Video movies have to offer.

P4HD (Pixel Precision Progressive Processing for HD)
P4HD processes more than 15 billion pixels per second and applies the optimal processing to every pixel. So that it can render progressive images superbly, expresses motion smoothly, and draws crisp diagonal lines.

Deep Color
The SC-BT100 is Deep Color ready, which means they can reproduce images with 12-bit, 4,096-step gradation. You enjoy exceptionally rich, natural-looking colors, with smooth, detailed gradation and minimal color banding.
*The TV must also be Deep Color compatible. Other TVs will display 8-bit, 256-step grada

1080/24p Playback
The SC-BT100 provides 1080/24p output. It reproduces movie images from a Blu-ray Disc in their original 24p form, with no need for conversion. You see movies in the same format used in movie theaters.
*24p stands for 24 frame/sec.
*1080/ 24p supported TV is required

Premium Sound Quality
Kelton Subwoofer
Thanks to a Kelton subwoofer, the SC-BT100 outputs deep, thunderous bass sounds that make viewing Blu-ray Discs a truly awesome entertainment experience. The Kelton subwoofer has two internal chambers. A drive unit mounted in the rear chamber vibrates the front chamber, causing a large, 10-inch Passive Radiator in the front chamber to vibrate and produce bass sounds. Because the front chamber functions as an acoustic filter, there is minimal unwanted noise. The thinness and high compliance of the passive radiator help achieve an extremely clean, powerful and responsive bass sound.

Bamboo Diaphragm Speaker
Use of rigid, low-density bamboo in the woofer and tweeter cones of the center and front speakers helps achieve a highly responsive sound. This system reproduces sounds from sources in high definition audio formats of Blu-ray disc with stunning clarity and fidelity.

Bamboo Paper
Sound Velocity (m/s) 2380 1900
Specific gravity 0.37 0.40

Vertical Symmetrical Configuration
The SC-BT100's front and center speakers feature a vertical symmetrical configuration, with the tweeter in the center and the woofers arranged directly above and below it. The sound seems to emanate from a single point. This reproduces a sound so clear and transparent that when you're listening to an orchestra, for example, you can easily pinpoint the location of each instrument.

Whisper- mode Surround
In the past, when you were watching a movie late at night with the volume turned down, the surround effect would be lost. Not with Whisper-Mode Surround. It compensates for the sound pressure level of the low-frequency component (which contains the signals that affect the surround effect), so you're enveloped in a rich surround sound even when watching movies at low volume.

Compatible for New All Audio Codec*
The SC-BT100 is compatible with the newest Dolby®TrueHD and DTS-HD™ 7.1-channel surround sound formats. Sit back and enjoy the incredibly rich, clear and faithful surround sound these high-data formats make possible.

New Medial Friendly
Integrated Universal Dock for iPod®
Just slip your iPod® into the built-in cradle and enjoy. With the BD theater system's awesome picture and sound quality, you'll love listening to the music and watching the images on your iPod®. There are no iPod® or USB cables to connect, so it's super easy and your room stays tidy and uncluttered.

iPod® Music / Video Capability
iPod® Music Playback and iPod® On-Screen Display for Music Menu
Panasonic's BD theater is a great way to listen to the music on your iPod®. The list of songs on your iPod® can be displayed on the TV screen, and you can use the remote control from the home theater or a VIERA TV to select and play them.

iPod® Video Playback
Use the iPod's screen to select a video, then sit back and enjoy awesome large-screen viewing and thunderous surround sound.
*To enjoy iPod® Video contents, please connect your home theater sound system with composite video cable.

Enjoy Multi Channel Contents of Set-top Box
Connect a set-top box to your BD theater with an optical audio cable, and you can view cable programs and other content on your large-screen TV, while enjoying 5.1-channel surround sound.
*The video output of the set-top box must be connected to the TV, and the set-top box must be connected to the SC-BT100 via an optical audio cable.

HD Networking with SD Memory Card
Linking with an HD Camcorder
The SC-BT100 can play back AVCHD-format images shot with an HD camcorder, such as the Panasonic HDC-SD9. Images recorded onto the camcorder's SD Memory Card are output directly from the SC-BT100's HDMI terminals in their original, high-quality 1920 x 1080 resolution. The SC-BT100 also provides an AVCHD Direct Navigator function that makes it easy to search for particular scenes.

Linking with a Digital Camera
The SC-BT100 can play back JPEG still images on an SD Memory Card, such as those recorded with a Lumix DMC-FX55 digital camera. The SC-BT100 can output the images to 1920 x 1080 resolution - ideal for a full-HD TV - and output them via the HDMI terminal* Using the Slideshow playback feature, you can play a music CD at the same time you're showing the photos, so viewers enjoy both beautiful images and your favorite music.
*JPEG and other still image sources converted to 1920 x 1080 resolution, while of high quality, will exhibit somewhat lower subjective image resolution than true, native 1080p full HD sources.

Easy to Use & Set-Up with VIERA LinkTM
New Seamless GUI
As the types of media continue to increase, the VIERA LinkTM capability continues to evolve. The newly enhanced VIERA LinkTM displays a menu on the TV screen, making it easier to operate the connected equipment. For example, you can display a menu with a list of the movies or music stored on your iPod®, and use the VIERA remote control unit to select one and begin playback.

Auto Theater Setup
When you connect your BD theater system to a VIERA TV via an HDMI cable, the TV settings (menu language, aspect ratio, and so on) are automatically loaded into the home theater system. This saves you the trouble of making those settings manually.
・VIERA LinkTM is a new name for EZ SyncTM.
・Not All 2008 VIERA LinkTM features are compatible with all 2006/2007 EZ SyncTM products.

Blu-ray Global Site
http://panasonic.net/blu-ray/

Blu-ray DiscTM Home Theater Sound System
SC-BT100

1. Premium Sound Quality with Full Audio Codec for Blu-ray Disc
2. High Quality Picture with Full-HD 1080p and Premium Live Experience for 7.1ch Surround with 5 Speakers
3. Enjoy Your iPod® Music and iPod® Video*1 with Integrated Universal Dock for iPod®*2
*1 iPod Video function is limited in case of connection to TV through composite Video output.
*2 Made for iPod, iPod® not included.

Home Theater Receiver
• Home Theater Mode: Total Output Power of 1250W
Front: 250W x 2 (1kHz, 6 ohms, 10% THD)
Center: 250W (1kHz, 6 ohms, 10% THD)
Surround: 125W