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Vivid is the world's leading film studio and produces over 60 movies a year, but this particular production has already received widespread press attention because it is the first in the adult film industry to be available in both Blu-ray and HD DVD formats and is also the first high definition feature with multiple camera angle options. The film will be sold in a three-disc set including the original "Debbie Does Dallas.""Debbie Does Dallas...Again" will hit store shelves on April 18th. If you'd like to read more, Vivid's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
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Toshiba, mainly through its US$499 HD-E1 HD DVD player, accounted for an 85% market share of next-generation blue-laser optical disc drives/players/recorders sold in Europe in January of this year, according to industry sources in Taiwan.As DigiTimes points out, this is likely to change when the PS3 launches in Europe later this month. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
Sony and Samsung Electronics, proponents of the competing Blu-ray Disc (BD) format, together accounted for the remaining 15% of the European market, the sources said, citing statistics by GfK Marketing Services. Prior to the launch of the HD-E1, Toshiba's European market share for blue-laser products in 2006 was only 58%, the sources pointed out. Though HD DVD currently has a lead in Europe, the upcoming launch there of Sony's Blu-ray equipped PS3 game console is expected to heat up competition between the two formats.
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BenQ confirmed it is discontinuing sales of DVD recorders mainly because it had been overly optimistic about the market and was plagued by disappointing sales. Since prices have been dropping, BenQ has decided to drop the segment when adjusting its product structure, the maker said, adding that it will determine whether to enter the Blu-ray or HD DVD recorder markets based on market demand.I can't say that I'm too surprised. With Lite-On pulling out of the DVD recorder market back in October, BenQ was one of the few Taiwanese manufacturers left. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
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The BDP-S300 is expected to ship some time this summer. More information is available on Sony's website. Add a comment
The new BDP-S300 model can output 1920 x 1080p (progressive) high-definition video, currently the highest resolution high-definition signal available through an HDMI connection. The player supports various video formats, including MPEG2, MPEG4-AVC and VC1.
For those who own an HDTV set without HDMI, an analog component output for 1080i (interlaced) is available as well.
The new BD player is compatible with most standard DVDs and has the added feature of 1080p upscaling through HDMI to 1080p capable HDTVs, improving the picture performance of existing DVD libraries.
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While I don't think Blu-ray or HD DVD have anything to worry about (yet), HD VMD does offer an affordable alternative. Of course, NME will need to get the support of Hollywood for the format to really take off. If you'd like to read more, NME's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
New Medium Enterprises (NME) (OTC BB:NMEN.OB - News) today announced its first U.S.-based distribution deal with PC Rush to bring its HD Versatile Multilayer Disc (VMD) players to the U.S. market for the first time. Through this three-year distribution deal, PC Rush will distribute and market the HD VMD Media Player Duo and HD VMD Media Player Quattro, which will allow consumers to play their existing standard-definition DVD collections up-converted to HD, as well as allow consumers entrance into the HD playback market with the high quality, and high value VMD disc format. The HD VMD Media Player Duo, starting at $199 (MSRP) and the HD VMD Media Player Quattro, starting at just $249 (MSRP), will both be available from PC Rush in Q2 2007.
The HD VMD Media Players Duo and Quattro will fill the market need by delivering high-definition discs and players at an affordable price for a broad consumer base. With HDTV adoption continuing to grow, consumers need a proven technology and affordable solution for content storage and playback. Utilizing red laser technology, the same technology used to produce today's global DVDs, NME is bringing consumers an HD option at a comparable cost to the current consumer DVD market.
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Sony Corp (NYSE:SNE - news). said Monday it is bringing out a cheaper player for Blu-ray discs early this summer, a crucial step in its battle to make the high-definition format the replacement for DVDs.Sony still has a way to go in regards to price if they want to compete with Toshiba. You can already get the Toshiba HD-A2 for less than $400 and by summer, it will probably drop even more. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
The BDP-S300 will cost $599, yet will have the same capabilities as the $999 BDP-S1 Sony is currently selling, said Randy Waynick, senior vice president of the home products division of Sony Electronics.
Sony and Samsung Corp., which also makes a Blu-ray player, have been undersold by Toshiba Corp.'s players for the rival HD DVD format. Toshiba has a model on the market for $499.
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The scales tipped in favor of Blu-ray Disc the week ended Feb. 18, according to preliminary data.HD DVD has pretty much blown its lead and with Amazon.com stocking 50% more Blu-ray titles, you really have to wonder what's going to happen with the format. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Since the inception of both formats, the Sony-backed Blu-ray disc has now sold more units than its Toshiba-backed HD DVD competitor, according to Nielsen VideoScan First Alert data.
Buoyed by a rush of titles this year, Blu-ray has racked up a slight lead in unit sales — 100 units to every 98.71 units of HD DVD — since the inception of both formats, according to First Alert data.
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As one of the invited keynote speakers at MEDIA-TECH, Dr. Levich will educate attendants on VMD technology as the quality and value-driven solution for the mass market. Dr. Levich will cover the benefits of HD VMD to consumers, PC drive and media player manufacturers, disc replicators and content providers, and discuss why this proprietary optical storage solution is a major development for the packaged media industry. Dr. Levich will speak on Wednesday, March 7 at 11:30 a.m. and will illustrate his lecture with a live demonstration of the true HD VMD 20 (GB) disc played back in a regular "off the shelf" DVD drive. He will also display a new HD VMD Media Player based on this "off the shelf" DVD loader.While its good to see HD VMD get some recognition, the format is going to need support from a few major movie studios if it is to succeed. If you'd like to read more, NME's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
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The BD-HP1 will go on sale in Japan on March 20th for a suggested retail price of 150,000 Yen ($1,256). More information can be found on Sharp's website. Add a comment
Sharp Corporation introduces into the Japanese market the BD-HP1 Blu-ray Disc Player, which has a Hybrid Recording function that works with the AQUOS LCD TV iLink connection to allow recording of high-definition programs on Blu-ray Disc (BD-RE), an industry first.
With the ability to record high-definition images from video software and digital broadcasting sources and give high-definition, high-resolution images and high sound quality superior to that of DVD, the Blu-ray Disc is expected to become an indispensable part of the high-definition equation.
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Sony has announced that the first 500,000 consumers to register their PlayStation 3 on the PlayStation Network after the console's European launch will receive a free copy of James Bond film Casino Royale on Blu-ray.As much as I like Will Ferrell, I'd take Bond over Talladega Nights any day. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Sony's Darren Carter, VP of brand and consumer marketing, described it as a "phenomenal incentive" for consumers to sign up to the console's online service, which allows for free online gaming as well as downloadable content through the PS3 Store.
"Casino Royale not only makes the most of the features and capabilities of the Blu-ray format, but is one of the most exciting and entertaining movies to debut on Blu-ray this year," Carter added.
