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Home Entertainment

28 March 2007

Microsoft has officially announced the availability of the Xbox 360 Elite. While still lacking an internal HD DVD drive, this pimped out version of the Xbox 360 features a 120GB hard drive, HDMI port and a black finish for the console, controller and headset.

Microsoft Corp. today announced the upcoming availability of Xbox 360 Elite, a new model of the video game and entertainment system that will include a 120GB hard drive, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port, a high-definition cable, and a premium black finish for the console, wireless controller and Xbox LIVE headset. Xbox 360 Elite has enough space for a library of Xbox LIVE Arcade games and thousands of songs, as well as downloadable high-definition TV shows and movies available on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. The new 120GB hard drive also will be sold as a stand-alone accessory to give current Xbox 360 owners greater choice and flexibility in their games and entertainment experience. Additional Xbox 360 Elite accessories, such as the black Xbox 360 Wireless Controller, Xbox 360 Play & Charge kit and the Xbox 360 rechargeable battery, will be available separately.

The Xbox 360 Elite will hit store shelves on April 29th for a suggested retail price of $479.99. If you already own an Xbox 360, the 120GB hard drive can also be purchased separatedly for $179.99. More information can be found on Microsoft's website. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

27 March 2007

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has announced that the Blu-ray version of Casino Royale is the first high-def title to ship 100,000 units. Casino Royale also holds the record for the greatest number of high-def copies sold in one day and is the first high-def film to debut on Amazon's top 10 sellers list.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE)'s blockbuster Bond title, Casino Royale, released March 13 on Blu-ray Disc, has hit the 100,000 units shipped mark and is setting records at retail for greatest number of high-definition copies sold in one day, it was announced today by SPHE Worldwide President, David Bishop. The title debuted in the top 10 on Amazon's DVD top-sellers list - a first for any film in high definition. The film's director, Martin Campbell, extolled the disc quality and commented, "It's just unbelievable. Clearly, it's fantastic. The comparison between standard def DVD and Blu-ray is quite stunning and quite transparent to the master. It's precisely what would make me want to buy a copy."

Since the November launch of Playstation 3, sales of Blu-ray titles have risen exponentially - a more than 700 percent increase. "As a point of comparison, the first DVD title to ship 100,000 units took approximately 11 months (Air Force One, in February 1998)," said Mr. Bishop. "Casino Royale on Blu-ray has done it in far less time and is clearly demonstrating the format's robust growth in the marketplace." Sony DADC has replicated more than two million Blu-ray Discs for Sony Pictures since the launch of the format.

SPHE plans to offer more titles on 50GB discs, including new releases like Rocky Balboa and The Pursuit of Happyness. More information, including a list of upcoming releases, can be found here. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

26 March 2007

With the price of Blu-ray players dropping, it may be tempting to go and pick one up. You may want to hold off though as the Blu-ray Disc Association has mandated that all players released after October 31st must be able to play back picture-in-picture video and hold 256MB of memory to help power this feature. Players with an internet connection must also have 1GB of memory to hold downloadable content.

The Blu-ray Disc Assn. has mandated that all hardware streeting after that date must be able to play back picture-in-picture video, as driven by BD Java interactive technology. Many players on shelves now can handle BD Java, but to varying degrees. Few Blu-ray players include picture-in-picture capability, for instance, not even the PlayStation 3.

Sony's current and summer 2007 stand-alone models and available Pioneer and Philips units are among those lacking the picture-in-picture feature.

With two different pools of players at retail in the near future, studios will have to navigate how to best create titles that play universally. A title with a highly touted picture-in-picture feature, for example, might not play properly on all players.

Unfortunately, those that shelled out a small fortune for first gen Blu-ray Disc players probably won't be able to take advantage of features like picture-in-picture, even with a firmware update. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

23 March 2007

Home Media Magazine has released the latest Nielsen VideoScan sales data. As of March 18th, Blu-ray had now sold 100 units to every 84.07 units of HD DVD. Comparing these numbers to last week's results (100:89.25), you can see that HD DVD has slipped another 5% in overall sales.


Things definitely aren't looking good for HD DVD. However, with price drops and the release of the Ultimate Matrix Collection on the way, HD DVD could make a comeback. Feel free to leave your comments in our forum. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

23 March 2007

New Medium Enterprises (NME) has announced that they've signed a deal with MCA Technology, giving them the ability to distribute and promote their VMD players and PC drives in France and other parts of Europe.

New Medium Enterprises (NME) (OTC Bulletin Board: NMEN - News), a company that has developed, designed and manufactured the latest home entertainment innovation, HD VMD (Versatile Multilayer Disc), today announces its contract with one of the most established electronic distributors, MCA Technology.

The deal is a major step towards NME's French expansion for which MCA Technology has been given exclusive distribution rights in addition to introducing NME to parts of other European territories where MCA has a strong footprint. MCA will co-ordinate the distribution and promotion of its HD VMD player and PC drives amongst electronics and technology retail specialists, which will support NME's current aggressive marketing campaigns across Europe.

As part of the European launch, NME will be offering a special bundle which includes an HD VMD player and five HD VMD movies for only 299 Euro (including VAT). If you'd like to read more, NME's entire press release can be found here Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

22 March 2007

If you've been thinking about picking up one of Toshiba's HD DVD players, you might want to hold off a bit. According to High-Def Digest, the company plans to drop the price of its low end player, the HD-A2, to $399, making it cheapest stand-alone high-def solution on the market.

Continuing their aggressive push to lower HD DVD player pricing, Toshiba has announced they will reduce the cost of both of their first-generation decks beginning April 1st.

Beginning next month, the new prices will be as follows:

Toshiba HD-A2: $399 (previously $499)
Toshiba HD-A20: $499 (previously $599)

The manufacturer has also dropped the price of its current best-selling HD-XA2 second-generation HD DVD deck, which now retails for $799 (previously $999).

I'm not sure if cheaper players will give HD DVD the boost it needs, but its definitely a step in the right direction. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here.

Edit: If you can't wait until April 1st, Amazon already has the Toshiba HD-A2 marked down to $357 with free shipping. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

20 March 2007

As many of you know, the FCC has mandated that all TV and video products shipped with an analog TV tuner must also include a digital tuner. To get around this, many manufacturers have decided not to include any tuner at all. Panasonic has announced that they've decided not to take advantage of this "loophole" and will include digital tuners with their 2007 DVD recorder line.

"While many of our competitors have introduced barebones units to avoid the expense of putting digital tuners in their models, we decided not to take that route," Reggiani said. "Not incorporating any tuner at all is an excellent way to comply with the new law but in the end it's a real disservice to consumers."

"Unless the consumer has a DVD recorder with a digital tuner, he or she will need a separate set-top box to be able to record content. In a room without a set-top box the consumer will have to leave their TV on and tuned to the channel when they want to record," Reggiani added. "Our research shows that a great many owners connect their DVD recorders to secondary TVs in bedrooms or dens and use the tuners in the recorders in lieu of buying and/or paying an extra monthly fee for a second or third cable box.

More information, including a list of Panasonic DVD recorders with digital tuners, can be found here. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

15 March 2007

While HD DVD has been dominating the market in Europe, the Playstation 3 and its built in Blu-ray player will hit stores in a little more than a week. To help fend off the invader, Studio Canal, Universal, Toshiba and Microsoft have rallied together, forming the European HD DVD Promotional Group. Like its counterparts in North America and Japan, the group will work to promote the format and co-market HD DVD hardware.

At a press conference at CeBIT 2007, Studio Canal, Universal, Toshiba and Microsoft were on stage to announce the formation of a new trade organization, the European HD DVD Promotional Group, Ltd., which will include movie studios, distributors, consumer electronics companies, IT companies, PC makers, disc replication companies and authoring houses companies throughout Europe and around the globe. As the European counterpart to the North American HD DVD Promotional Group and working with the HD DVD Promotion Group originally organized in Japan, the new non-profit organization completes the global promotion structure for HD DVD, working to educate consumers on the quality and value of the format.

"After a strong year in North America and Asia, HD DVD is drawing attention in Europe, with unrivaled quality and affordable prices," said Ken Graffeo, Executive Vice President, HD Strategic Marketing, Universal Studios Home Entertainment. "HD DVD is the most recognized brand name worldwide for high definition packaged media and we now have a strong group of companies behind it, from hardware manufacturers to studios and distributors."

While HD DVD releases have been a bit slow as of late, more than 600 titles are expected to be on store shelves by the end of 2007. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment

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Home Entertainment

14 March 2007

Video Business has reported that Lionsgate will be releasing two movies, Ultimate Avengers: The Movie and Ultimate Avengers 2, on a single 50GB Blu-ray Disc. These two films are also the first direct to DVD titles to be released on Blu-ray.

Lionsgate and Marvel Enterprises plan to use Blu-ray Disc to its full capacity with the first double feature release on the format.

The companies will debut Ultimate Avengers: The Movie and Ultimate Avengers 2 on one 50GB Blu-ray disc April 24 for a suggested retail price of $39.99. Prebook is March 28.

The films will be the first direct-to-DVD releases to debut on Blu-ray.

To fill up the rest of the disc, the release will also include two featurettes, a gag reel, a trivia track and a first look at the movie Dr. Strange. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment