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Samsung Planning to Produce 55 Inch OLEDs[teaser]The company plans to test things out with an initial production count of 4,000. [/teaser] It looks like our dreams of seeing large OLED displays are finally coming to fruition. The company has announced they'll begin production of 55 inch OLED displays starting as early as 2011. Samsung will be using 8th generation glass substrates which can be divided into six 55 inch panels and will use existing LCD production technology to create the sets. This news comes from the Korean based ETNews by way of OLED-Display.net, one of which is originally written in Korean and the other not entirely far from the Google translation. It makes details a bit fuzzy, but from the sound of things, we could be seeing 55 inch OLED screens hitting shelves by 2012. Source: ETNews via OLED-DisplayPosted Wed Nov 10, 2010 at 11:00 AM PST by: -
'Animal Kingdom' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The acclaimed Australian crime thriller will put a hit on Blu-ray this January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony has just revealed 'Animal Kingdom' for Blu-ray release on January 18. Directed by David Michôd, 'Animal Kingdom' won the World Cinema Award (Drama) at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. Specs have yet to be revealed, but supplements include: Audio commentary with director David Michôd, Creating Animal Kingdom, and a Q&A with director David Michôd and actors Jacki Weaver and James Frecheville. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Animal Kingdom' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under January 18.Posted Wed Nov 10, 2010 at 10:00 AM PST by: -
Netflix Accounts for Twenty Percent of Internet Use[teaser]Streaming media accounts for 43 percent in all. [/teaser] We all know that stream based entertainment sources like Pandora, Grooveshark, Hulu and Netflix are big, but now we can break it down and find out just how big. According to a new study, streaming services account for around 43 percent of all internet usage during peak hours. Netflix usage accounts for nearly half of that 43 percent. Here's the crazy part – only 1.8 percent of Netflix subscribers are streaming at that time. Nearly one fifth of internet bandwidth goes to a surprisingly small part of the Netflix subscriber base. As far as usage per person goes, Netflix watchers average around a megabit a second. That's the highest out of any streaming service, though when it comes to mobile, Slingbox tops the per-user average. Source: WiredPosted Wed Nov 10, 2010 at 09:00 AM PST by: -
'Bad Boys (1983)' Announced for Blu-ray[teaser]The gritty 1983 crime thriller featuring Sean Penn's breakout dramatic performance will be available on Blu-ray this February. [/teaser] In an announcement to retailers, Lionsgate says 'Bad Boys (1983)' is coming to Blu-ray on February 1. Hailed as "magnetic" (The New Yorker), Penn stars as a Chicago teen in this riveting coming-of-age tale. The crime-drama also stars Independent Spirit Award winner Ally Sheedy (Best Female Lead, High Art, 1999) in her film debut. Specs have yet to be revealed, but the release will be presented completely uncut and will include a director's commentary. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $19.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Bad Boys (1983)' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under February 1.Posted Wed Nov 10, 2010 at 08:00 AM PST by: -
Samsung Creates a 70 Inch 3D Capable Ultra Definition Prototype[teaser]Oh that? It's just my 3,840 x 2,106 resolution UDTV. High definition is so 2005. [/teaser] Your run of the mill 1080p set has a horizontal resolution of 1,920 pixels and a vertical resolution of 1080. Samsung's new set doubles each count for a total of four times the resolution of a 1080p television. It's a prototype of course, but this 70 inch monster has us drooling, even if there's nothing to actually watch on it quite yet. It's big and beautiful and it's 3D capable to boot. Samsung boasts that the prototype set uses a new super-high-speed silicon that enables smooth pictures even with the increased resolution. There's no word yet on when something like this will hit retail, but you can bet we'll be right on top the news when it does. Source: EngadgetPosted Wed Nov 10, 2010 at 07:00 AM PST by: -
Blu-ray Scores An 'Easy A'[teaser]The critically-acclaimed teen romantic comedy will make the grade on Blu-ray this December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Sony has just revealed 'Easy A' for Blu-ray on December 21. The twisted modern spoof of 'The Scarlet Letter' stars Emma Stone (Wichita from 'Zombieland') and the always entertaining Stanley Tucci ('The Lovely Bones'). The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Commentary with Director Will Gluck and Emma Stone, Emma Stone's Webcam Audition Footage, Gag Reel, and the Blu-ray exclusive Extra Credit: Pop-Up Trivia Track, The Making of Easy A, The School of Pop Culture: Movies of the Eighties, Vocabulary of Hilarity, movieIQ+sync, and BD-Live. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.95. You can find the latest specs for 'Easy A' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 21.Posted Wed Nov 10, 2010 at 06:30 AM PST by: -
HDD Spotlight Bargain: 'Bambi' Blu-ray $17.99 at Amazon[teaser]The release is still a few months away, but Amazon is already offering a $10 instant rebate on the Disney classic! [/teaser] Amazon is currently offering 'Bambi' for $27.99 (30% off suggested list price), but they are also running a coupon offer which will shave an additional $10 off the price, making it a steal for $17.99! Click here to access the page with the coupon and pre-order your copy today!Posted Wed Nov 10, 2010 at 06:00 AM PST by: -
Beyond the Blu - November 2010[teaser]Beyond the Blu is a new feature here on High-Def Digest for those folks who want more than just the movie. The people with bumper stickers and action figures, with posters and props - the hardcore fans. Each week we'll take a look at some of the things you can pick up with your Blu-rays to show off your true fandom.[/teaser] The Goonies If you're a huge 'Goonies' fan you've probably already picked up the 25th Anniversary Collector's Edition Blu-ray, but what if you want more than that? Sure, you could get a T-shirt or an "I Love Chunk" bumper sticker like every other fan, or you could get a replica Copper Bones Skull Key. Only 2,000 of these were made and they were only available at the 2007 Comic-Con, so you know you'll be one of the few who have one. As one user review says, "It will not get you dates, but it will get you into caves!" Sound of Music There's a lot to sift through when you're looking for cool 'Sound of Music' swag. Collectable plates may not be your style, and chances are high that you've already picked up one of the many karaoke CDs available. So think a little bit outside the box and pick up some goat marionettes to recreate a scene from the movie on your own. They're fairly typical marionettes though, so you'll have to put that creepy makeup on yourself. Doctor Who: The Complete Fifth Series When you're a geek - and if you're a fan of 'Doctor Who,' you're definitely a geek - it's required that you own at least a few geeky things. If you're feeling a little more traditional, pick up a replica of the 5th Doctor's Sonic Screwdriver. If you're feeling a little nuts, you can pick up a suspenders,bowtie, and fez - the whole Matt Smith package. Avatar: Extended Collector's Edition You've seen ' Avatar ' in theaters and at home, you've picked up the McDonald's toys and maybe you even own a Leonopteryx figure with a 20 inch wingspan. If you want to take things to the next level, consider a replica of Jake Sully's Na'Vi dagger. But what if, like some, you think the humans were in the right? Get yourself a replica of the massive knife that Colonel Quaritch used while in his AMP suit. Metropolis Just owning the 'Metropolis' Blu-ray puts you on a level apart from most folks. But why stop there? As a 'Metropolis' fan, you're required to own a copy of the legendary poster, so you may as well grab one that's 27 inches by 40 inches, perfect to hang on your door. Want to broaden your horizons? Take a look at the similar but different 'Metropolis' anime, based on the 1949 manga of the same name. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World If you somehow haven't seen 'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,' you really should. Then you'd know how cool it is to own the box set of Scott Pilgrim Comics, or the ultra-cool Sex Bob-Omb t-shirt. If you want to get a little bit obscure, you could always pick up the same Smashing Pumpkins shirt that Michael Cera is wearing in the movie. Clash of the Titans - 3D The new 2010 version of 'Clash of the Titans' may not have lived up to the expectations set by the original, but the release of a non-animated 3D movie is something to celebrate. You can do it with this incredibly cool poster featuring the Kraken, or an amazing 12 inch tall Perseus figurine. Of course, if you want to go old-school and represent the original, there's nothing better than a nine inch Bubo. That wraps it up for this installment of Beyond the Blu. Come back next month for the cool, the unique, and the downright strange things available to pick up along with your Blu-rays.Posted Tue Nov 9, 2010 at 03:05 PM PST by: -
HDD's own Josh Zyber Brings the Rain to Blu-Con 2010 & BD-Liveby Michael S. Palmer [teaser]As High-Def Digest's Blu-Con 2010 coverage nears its conclusion -- only one more article, I promise -- it's time to turn to one of Blu-ray's most touted abilities, BD-Live and internet connectivity.[/teaser] This panel not only featured executives from Panasonic, D&M Holdings (as in Denon & Marantz), Sony, and Universal, but also HDD's own Josh Zyber as moderator. Here's what Josh had to say about what it was like up on stage: I got out most of the questions I wanted to ask. The tone of the conference as a whole was, “Rah rah! Blu-ray is the greatest thing ever!” It wasn’t my place or the purpose of the panel to upset that. And frankly, I do love Blu-ray, and find great potential in its interactive abilities – even if that potential hasn’t really been tapped yet. So, yeah, I tossed out some softball questions. But I also managed to get in some pointed questions about whether BD-Live is being used appropriately, and whether its direction needs to be re-thought. From my ever so safe hiding-in-the-dark position, Josh did a commendable job. I personally know how nervous he was, but the hundreds of other people sitting around me waiting for him to be brilliant couldn't tell. He also managed to ask some real questions in a respectful manner. Sadly, the studio reps in this particular panel were less open to discussing problems or issues. Let's recap, shall we. The studios seem genuinely excited about BD-Live and the ability to directly communicate with their customers. Universal touted 15 million streamed trailers via their BD-Live enabled trailer pre-roll as well as 300K Pocket Blu app downloads. Also, 'The Office: Season 6 owners can use BD-Live to watch Season 7 episodes the day after they broadcast. Sony touted MovieIQ and was surprised by the sheer number of trailers downloaded from their BD-Live portal. In one of the panel's funnier moments, Josh asked why the studios develop competing technologies like Sony's MovieIQ vs. Fox's LiveLookup when it would be easier for the consumers to have one. The studio execs each joked that their technologies are available to every other studio…but not for free. Studio reps Tracey Garvin (Sony) and Robert Read (Universal) went on to talk about how BD-Live benefits them as producers in terms of technical and timing issues. If special features don't make the Blu-ray authoring deadline, BD-Live connection allows them to add featurettes any time they want. Universal in particular loves that their trailer pre-roll (aka forced trailers) is always evolving. Unlike every other studio with forced trailers, anyone watching a five year old Universal Blu-ray will get ads for new movies, rather than five year old ads. Then there's Fox's 'Avatar' or Sony's 'The DaVinci Code' who added features like previews of the 'Extended Collectors Edition' or footage 'Angels & Demons' premier, respectfully. Studios love BD-Live because they're always getting a chance to keep physical media, which has traditionally been locked and stagnant, active and updated. Unfortunately, there's no official timeline for how long these features will be hosted and/or supported. Josh pointed out that Digital Copy expires so quickly, and we all remember what it was like to have DVD-ROM content from ten years ago. How many of those sites are active today? In response to Josh's Digital Copy question, the studios said that their technology affiliates don't want to be on the hook forever, which makes sense I suppose (Digital Copy specifically, they said, is meant to drive sales. A limited time offer). Software companies like Microsoft and Apple don't support their operating systems forever, but at the same time, the timelines for Blu-ray support seem short. Josh tried to bring up issues like 'Predators' not working properly thanks to BD-Live and the need for firmware updates. It was an awkward moment because they didn't seem to care or notice that Josh wasn't speaking for himself, but for all of his readers who may not have three different Blu-ray players as a back up for when one isn't working with a particular title. Granted, Fox, the studio behind 'Predators', wasn't on this panel, but there seemed to be no accountability or acknowledgment of general problems. The tech companies said they wait for customers to tell them when there are issues, in essence blaming the studios. And the studios claimed they do quality control during the authoring process. If so, those in charge of checking these titles need to do a more thorough job. Jeff Cove (Panasonic) and Jeff Cowan (D&M) spoke about the needs for firmware updates and the practicalities behind internet connections. Amazon customers may be calling out for more built-in WiFi, but both D&M Holdings and Panasonic are wary of WiFi for everything, especially AV Receivers. A wired Ethernet connection is more stable and reliable; if a WiFi signal drops out mid-firmware update, the hardware could end up "bricked" (non operational) because part of the firmware process involves deleting the old firmware, or operating system. The hardware companies and movie studios went on to say updating and upgrading are ubiquitous, citing Apple as a prime example. They don't want to be swayed by customer resistance. This seems smart; the world is always going to be evolving and progressing whether people want it or not, but it was an odd declarative especially for D&M who is (at least partly) resisting the inevitable change from wired to wireless internet. Jeff Cove was smart to say that the problem isn't the updating itself, but the need to do a better job making the process easier for the customer. Similarly, D&M hopes to build in automatic firmware updates because all of their Internet compatible devices automatically check in with the D&M server. These automatic updates wouldn't actually be performed without customer permission; the automatic portion would function more as a notice that updates are available. Overall, the theme for this panel seemed to be Evolution. With every BD-Live release, the studios are learning which features work well, and which ones their consumers like or dislike. BD-Live may not be the most exciting advancement in the world, but it seems to fit in well with Blu-ray as a gateway experience (meaning, you start with a Blu-ray Disc or Blu-ray player, and then you're streaming additional or completely separate content from the web). There may be troubles within the fast pace of evolution, but the last thing any company actively wants to do is turn away customers. The hard part, for us right now, is that it often feels a bit like work or beta testing. What do you think, dear readers? Do you like BD-Live? Have you even used it? What's your favorite application? And what would you like to see available in the realm of internet connectivity? Hit up the forums and let us know. Next and last up, we'll be talking about Blu-ray and Music.Posted Tue Nov 9, 2010 at 01:30 PM PST by: -
3D Here to Stay. Still Nothing to Watch...Yet.[teaser]Our recap of Blu-con 2010 continues with an updated look at 3D Blu-ray.[/teaser] by Michael S. Palmer What a difference a year makes! Or not. Last November, I attended Blu-Con 2.0 and was excited to announce 3D's inclusion into Blu-ray's list of abilities. Admittedly, I may have been a teeny-tad bit over-enthusiastic (and used far too many exclamation points). But what the hell? We're all entitled to a geek out now and again in the presence of the Shiny and the New. Twelve months into the future, 2009 seems so long ago. A time before 'Avatar' and 3D became a phenomenon. For a few sweet months, 3D was a guaranteed box office boost, but added competition on too few screens and sloppy post-conversions slowed things down a bit. While theatrical box office records were exploding, home cinema electronics manufacturers like Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Toshiba, and Sony introduced a fleet of new 3D capable hardware. Things started slow, but in a few short months 3D TV and 3D Blu-ray Player sales topped $55 Million even though there was only one 3D Blu-ray on the market and before there were any 3D television channels. Sony said 3D (through its 3D Players, AV Receivers, TVs, Home-Theatre-In-A-Boxes, and cameras) is their fastest growing department year over year. Granted, these statistics don't necessarily speak to swarms of people demanding 3D. But that's just a case of "when." 3D is coming whether you want it or not. 3D is a compatibility Trojan Horse. Consider the fact that there are 30 3D-ready products actively for sale at this time. Or that nearly 39 million PlayStation 3s have been sold which just became 3D Blu-ray players in their latest firmware update. Granted, the PS3 may not be able to play 3D and lossless audio simultaneously, but it and the 3D products already out there represent millions of devices just waiting to be activated (as soon as the people of Troy go to bed. Muhahahaha!). Now, I've heard all your complaints. 3D simply doesn't work for a small portion of the population, or it causes headaches. Further, most the High-Def Digest readers (myself included) have already invested far too much money in our 2D Blu-ray home theatres. It's insulting to be asked to buy another TV, another Blu-ray player, another AV Receiver…especially at a time when there's nothing to watch. I hear you, friends, but here's a little bit of sober truth: We don't have to upgrade. No one is forcing anyone to buy anything new. These are what my grandfather would call luxuries. Sure we'll be green with envy because we're high-definition enthusiasts, and if you actually care about 3D (no one's saying you must, mind you), you want it. It sucks to be left behind. To be the guy who purchased a new Mac G5 only to have the faster/Windows compatible Intel chips released within six months. To be the guy who bought a 2010 Mustang GT with its brand new modern-yet-classic body, only to have Ford bring back the 5.0 in 2011, dumping 25 percent more power under the hood for the same price. But here's Part Deux of our Truth-i-thon: 80 percent of the country doesn't have a Blu-ray player yet and if/when they get their first one, it's probably going to be 3D ready. Early adopters may scream loudest, but we're the minority here. 3D players are available now, and while they're not dirt-cheap, they're not crazy-pricey either. Further, anyone who's in the market for a new flatscreen will notice 3D TVs aren't that much more expensive than their feature/spec-equal two dimensional sibling models. And they offer that ever so tantalizing sheen of "future proof." 3D is becoming ubiquitous, and the reps from Sony and Samsung on Blu-Con 2010's 3D panel are saying consumers love in-store demos. As I theorized last year, everyone finally sees the upgrade between DVD and 3D Blu-ray. Or how about this interesting notion: Jim Mainard, Head of Production Technology for DreamWorks, said Blu-ray hasn't typically been a great business for Dreamworks because animated family films need to be portable. Kids watch movies over and over and over again, but Blu-rays don't play in cars or on mobile devices where they are often needed. With 3D Blu-ray (all four Shreks are being prepped; the first three re-mastered for 3D), they see young kids returning to the television (portability needs are also solved by combo packs). Despite my belief 3D will be around for a while, 3D still has some hefty hurtles to vault. Amazon reported there's still a lot of confusion in the market place. People don’t know what gear they need to play 3D, and if they purchase new 3D gear, if it will ONLY play 3D product. The answer to these questions, dear readers looking to know, is that to watch 3D Blu-ray, you will need the following: (1) 3D-Blu-ray Player (it will also play traditional Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs while most likely having an internet connection for streaming services like Netflix and Vudu). (1) 3D HDTV (Newer models are the best; pre-2010 3D technology, like rear projection Mitsubishis, needs an adaptor). (1 or more) pairs of 3D glasses (at this time, it's wise to match these to your TV's brand). (1-2) HDMI 1.4a compliant cable(s). For a simple set up, that's it. If you want lossless surround sound, no problem. You'll need to add either A) an HDMI 1.4a compliant AV Receiver with "3D Pass-through" or B) a 3D-Blu-ray player with 2 HDMI outputs (one for video, one for audio). [For more detail, my High-Def Digest colleagues, Nate and Steve, are writing an official 3D gear guide, with their personal experiences and tips on what to purchase. Look for it within the next week or so. Additionally, I will be penning my annual Black Friday & Holiday Shopping Guide. All the gear recommended in my guide will also be 3D compliant.] But wait just a damn minute, Palmer! Yes? What the hell am I supposed to watch? There's almost no 3D Blu-ray titles out now, there are like two 3D TV channels, and half the titles released are tied up in these damned exclusive bundles. Ah yes, bundles. It's interesting, actually, to hear the different strategies. Samsung and Dreamworks were both speakers on the Blu-con 2010 panel, and they of course have an exclusive partnership. They want to make sure anyone dipping a toe in 3D waters gets a perfect out-of-box experience. They want 3D to work perfectly, and they want it to look great. Imagine, for example, a family purchase a 3D TV and then the first thing they do is mistakenly watch the terrible red & blue anaglyph 3D (not the official "3D Blu-ray" spec at all). They might never buy a real 3D Blu-ray, or they might return the player and television. A crazy example admittedly, but there are millions of people right now watching standard definition TV on an HDTV because they don't know they need a new cable box, or a Blu-ray player, or just that they need to tune to the right channel! Ladies and germs, the unwashed masses. Or perhaps in more respectable terms, they're just not techo-nerds like you and me. I can understand studio and manufacturer motives in bundling, but agree more with Sony's Brian Siegel. Brian said Sony wants that great out-of-box experience too, but sees no reason for exclusivity because it's frustrating and customers really shouldn't be associating 3D with "free." So bundles will remain for a while (as they do for most gaming consoles). Panasonic is about to start one with 'Avatar' and it'll probably help them sell a lot of TVs. Those of you who went with Samsung, Sony, or another brand, sadly you'll have to wait. The exclusivity terms will end. It's just a real shame these companies are making the early adopter suffer (after investing so much hard-earned coin) for the appalling grievance of wanting to give them cash money. The real trouble with 3D is the content pipeline. All of James Cameron's rentable cameras are out all the time. Thousands of hours of television and feature films are being made and completed as we speak. And Discovery Channel is finally getting ready to launch a 3D channel (remember Discovery HD Theater? I used to watch that for hours when it was the only HD channel.), but that's still a ways out. At the end of the day, anyone pondering a 3D purchase should consider these two options this early in the game: 1) More titles are coming soon. November 16 is unofficially becoming 3D Day. Warners is releasing six titles, including 'Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore 3D', 'Clash of the Titans 3D', 'The Polar Express 3D', 'IMAX Deep Sea 3D', 'IMAX Under the Sea 3D', 'IMAX Space Station 3D'. Disney and Sony have joined in, as well, with 'A Christmas Carol 3D' and 'Open Season 3D', respectively. 'Avatar 3D' will be out on December 1 for Panasonic 3D TV buyers. And this is just the start. 36 titles will be available by year's end. Definitely not a lot, but it's a start, which means: 2) If there isn't a title you desperately need right-this-minute!, then why not take some time, save your money, and wait for prices to drop even further as they do year-after-year. There's no rush. And the technology itself will improve (they're working on cheaper, lighter, more stylish, and eye-friendly glasses, among other things). Hey, if you wait 8-10 years, you won't even need the glasses. Of course, some of you may be reading this and in need of a replacement television or Blu-ray player. But if you have any interest in 3D and may want to watch 3D in the future, spend a relatively few extra bucks and get 3D gear. 3D is here to stay. There's just nothing to watch…yet.Posted Tue Nov 9, 2010 at 12:25 PM PST by:
