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Netflix Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX), the world's largestonline movie rental service, and LG Electronics, a global consumerelectronics leader, today announced they are joining forces to develop aset-top box for consumers to stream movies and other programming from theInternet to HDTVs -- bypassing the need to use a personal computer.While Netflix and LG have not revealed any details regarding price, Home Media Magazine is reporting that the set-top box will cost about $799. If you'd like to read more, the entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
The collaboration is expected to deliver a compelling new online homeentertainment service via technology embedded in an LG networked playerplanned for the second half of 2008. Today's announcement sets the stagefor next week's 2008 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES(R)),which will emphasize digital content as well as hardware solutions.
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I've speculated on my blog that Microsoft may be preparing to license the Xbox gaming platform to consumer-electronics companies.While Brier Dudley is usually a pretty reliable source for Microsoft related news, this nothing more than a rumor at this point. We won't know for sure until Bill Gates steps on the stage at CES next week. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
In particular, Microsoft could work with Toshiba to develop a digital video recorder with a hard-drive, high-definition HD-DVD drive and Xbox gaming capabilities. They're already allied against Sony and other backers of the Blu-ray DVD format, and Toshiba could help Xbox finally penetrate the Japanese market.
Microsoft could also make a splash by announcing plans to give the Xbox 360 an internal HD-DVD drive, putting it on par with Sony's PlayStation 3 that has a built-in Blu-ray drive.
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The battle between high-definition formats HD DVD and Blu-ray is also set for a resolution next year, although which side will deliver the knockout blow is still unclear.Screen Digest isn't naming any names. However, they're probably expecting Warner to choose a side in the battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD. While the company has been releasing titles on both formats, its been rumored that they may support Blu-ray exclusively. If that was the case, the format battle could very likely be decided by the end of next year. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
"It would only take one major player to shift allegiances to push the tipping point one way or another," said analyst Richard Cooper.
Sony's Blu-ray has enjoyed a good year, boosted by sales of the PlayStation 3 hardware and software. With both sides engaged in price-cutting of their hardware delivery systems, 2008 will see the battle shift to the content arena.
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Digital Playground founder Joone says the decision hinged on cost. “The advantage of HD DVD over Blu-ray is the cost factor, both in manufacturing and the players,” he says, adding that the rest of the porn industry is “basically behind HD DVD because of manufacturing costs. It costs a lot more to put out a title on Blu-ray.”While the image quality is the same, Digital Playground is taking full advantage of Blu-ray's extra capacity. The extras on the Blu-ray version Pirates will be in 1080p instead of the standard def content found on the HD DVD release of the movie. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
HD DVD has done well for Digital Playground, and the company claims to have an 80-percent share of the market for HD porn. Joone says that about one-third of the publisher’s video shipments are now HD.
So why go with Blu-ray? Joone explains, “A lot of people were emailing that bought a PlayStation and they were basically saying, ‘When are you guys going to release Blu-ray?’ They really have no preference in format yet because it’s so now. When it comes down to image quality, there is no difference between the two.”
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Firmware Update v2.10 is now live. This new system update enhances media playback on the PLAYSTATION 3 in a number of ways that the PS3 community has indicated are important.While the first Profile 1.1 compatible titles won't hit stores for another month or so, its good to see that the Playstation 3 is ready for their release. If you'd like to read more, the entire blog post can be found here. Add a comment
We are introducing a much-requested video playback format with this update: DivX and VC-1 (WMV) videos become playable in the Video section of the XMB. This update also brings the PS3’s Blu-ray drive up to Profile 1.1. “Picture in Picture” and other enhancements become available on Profile 1.1 compatible Blu-ray discs.
