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Kaleidescape: Digital Download Convenience Meets 4K Disc Quality[teaser]Mixing the convenience of digital downloading with the full quality of a disc format, Kaleidescape aims to deliver the best of both worlds.[/teaser] Last week, High-Def Digest got a chance to speak with Cheena Srinivasan, CEO of Kaleidescape, and Luke O'Brien, Director of Content Operations, to discuss the company's growing product line, business philosophy, near brush with death, and upcoming developments. With an assortment of premium media players and a growing library of HD and 4K Ultra HD digital titles being added to its own online store, Kaleidescape hopes to entice AV enthusiasts through the custom installation chain, positioning itself as an integral component of any complete home theater installation. But just what exactly is Kaleidescape and what separates its service and products from the competition? Well, let's break it down... THE BASICS Kaleidescape offers a series of premium digital media players, servers, and storage devices designed for use with its own Kaleidescape Movie Store. The company was initially founded back in 2001 and first started producing products with the launch of its DVD Media Server in the fall of 2003. Speaking on the company's origins and goals, CEO Cheena Srinivasan says, "The vision for the company throughout our journey hasn't changed very much. It has been to present the finest cinematic experience in the comfort of your home." To accomplish this, the Kaleidescape system eschews the typical streaming delivery methods of traditional digital platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, or VUDU. Instead, Kaleidescape actually downloads complete digital files to the local storage on a customer's Kaleidescape player or movie server. This allows the company to offer HD and 4K Ultra HD HDR titles at full disc quality with lossless audio (up to 24.5Mbit/s, including Dolby Atmos on select titles) and high bitrate video (up to 100Mbit/s). Or, as Srinivasan puts it, "We deliver the entire enchilada." Likewise, since the title is stored locally in full, content will always be played back at peak quality every time, offering a "predictable cinematic experience" without any of the buffering or variable bitrate tricks that other platforms use. On traditional streaming methods, Srinivasan says, "You think you're watching a 4k title but... you may be watching pieces of the movie in 4K and portions of the movie in just 1080p or even less than that." He added, "The problem that Kaleidescape has set out to solve... is the intersection of the quality of a physical disc with the convenience of internet delivery." And though the company does not offer its products direct to consumer, the Kaleidescape lineup is available through the custom installation and system integration chain. With that in mind, the players and titles include several features geared toward users with full blown home theater setups and integrated home automation systems. "We tend to provide enormous amounts of metadata information that are useful bits of data for control systems. So when the movie begins we tell [the system] to dim down the lights automatically, adjust the screen masking precisely, or if you have screen risers we can do that," said Srinivasan. Basically, "All you need to do is press play." COMPANY TROUBLES AND RESURGENCE While Kaleidescape is now back and in good shape, the company recently went through a challenging setback that almost caused it to shut down for good. Speaking on the whole ordeal, Srinivasan called it an "interesting life lesson." Essentially, Kaleidescape made the mistake of pre-announcing its flagship Strato Movie Player before it was ready to ship. The Franco-Italian company making the player's SoC (system on a chip) then decided to abandon its set-top box division entirely. This created a big problem for the product's launch, especially when it came to software support, leading to a situation where the demand was there, but Kaleidescape simply could not start fulfilling shipments. Thankfully, in large part to support from some angel and individual investors -- many of whom were customers who didn't want to see the service go under -- the privately held company has been able to bounce back, restructuring and resizing its operations. Now, Kaleidescape has fulfilled its previous promises while delivering over operating plans for the first nine months of the year, enabling the platform to focus on its growing product line and content library. KEY PRODUCTS Kaleidescape's current flagship lineup is comprised of its Encore collection, offering the highest quality playback and storage solutions, including models with support for 4K Ultra HD files in HDR10 with immersive audio formats like DTS:X and lossless Dolby Atmos. Sadly, current models are not hardware-ready for Dolby Vision HDR, but when discussing plans for their next-gen platform, Cheena Srinivasan said it would be "silly" not to support Dolby Vision -- though they had nothing specific to announce at this time. Strato Movie Player ($4,495) - The company's most advanced media player, the Strato offers support for 4K Ultra HD at up to 60 frames per second, and lossless audio formats like Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS:X, and PCM. Likewise, the device includes HDR10 playback. Models are available with 6TB of storage ($4,495) or 10TB of storage ($5,595) for up to 180 4K Ultra HD movies, 330 Blu-ray quality movies, or 1500 DVD quality movies. 100Base-TX/1000Base-T Ethernet (RJ45 connector), Integrated 802.11ac Wi-Fi, an HDMI 2.0a output, an HDMI 1.4 output for audio, digital toslink output, and coaxial RCA output are included as well. The unit can play movies from its own storage, or from a separate Terra movie server or another Strato movie player. Strato C Movie Player ($3,495) - Serving as a more compact version of the flagship Strato player, the Strato C includes the same basic 4K Ultra HD playback features of its larger sibling but does not include any internal storage. Instead, the device can play movies from a separate Terra movie server, or from another Strato or Alto movie player. Alto Movie Player - Though it lacks Ultra HD support, the Alto Movie Player offers support for full HD digital files with lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio. Likewise, the device includes an integrated Blu-ray drive for disc playback. An optional 6TB hard drive is also available for storing up to 200 Blu-ray quality movies, or 900 DVD quality movies. The player can be used on its own or to play files from a Terra movie server, another Alto or a Strato movie player, or from a Kaleidescape Disc Server. Terra Movie Server ($12,995) - Available in 24TB or 40TB storage options, the Terra Movie Server can store up to 720 4K Ultra HD digital titles. The device can then send content to any Strato, Strato C, and Alto players in a customer's home network over its 100Base-TX/1000Base-T Ethernet RJ45 connector, with support for up to 10 simultaneous playbacks of 4K Ultra HD movies. MOVIE STORE With a license agreement between 22 of the top 25 main movie distributors in the US, the Kaleidescape Movie Store offers a growing collection of full disc quality HD and Ultra HD HDR titles for download to Kaleidescape products. The store currently holds one of the largest collections of digital 4K movies with a total of around 270 Ultra HD titles set to be available by the end of the summer. Likewise, the service includes about 115 4K films with HDR10 support, and select titles also include lossless Dolby Atmos soundtracks. As noted in the product section, Dolby Vision is not currently supported, but that will likely change when future players are released. Finally, some movies also feature supplements. 4K HDR titles currently available for purchase include films like Kong: Skull Island, The Fate of the Furious, Unforgiven, Batman v Superman, Fantastic Beasts, Argo, Mad Max: Fury Road, Jason Bourne, and many more. Prices range from around $16 for some HD titles to as much as $37 for new 4K HDR titles -- and while that is more expensive than other digital services, the company believes that the increase in quality here earns that premium cost. And as a fantastic added bonus, the store also features UltraViolet support for select movies, allowing customers to leverage their registered digital copies onto the Kaleidescape store, including access to digital 4K HDR titles from codes included with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc purchases at no additional cost. Typical HD movie sizes with lossless audio come in at around 30GB, and typical Ultra HD HDR movie sizes with lossless audio come in at around 60GB. And beyond mainstream new releases from the likes of Disney, Sony, Fox, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, and Universal, the store also offers several HD indie and classic film options from studios like Kino, Orchard Films, Magnolia, and Cinedigm. Likewise, though not yet available in 4K or HDR, the service includes full seasons of several popular shows in HD like House of Cards, Mr. Robot, Better Call Saul, The Flash, and Breaking Bad. Finally, Kaleidescape recently started adding HD music concert titles from labels like Eagle Rock and has plans to add a few other studios as well. FINAL THOUGHTS As the future market viability of physical media remains unclear and the limitations of traditional streaming services continue to be readily apparent, Kaleidescape has really placed itself in a rather unique position, allowing the company to offer the best of disc and internet platforms without their key weaknesses. That is, if you can afford the price of admission. As Cheena Srinivasan puts it, "Think of us as the fine dining equivalent of content delivery over the internet. It's not for everybody but we're here for those that care about it." And though the cost might be a bit too steep for most casual viewers, the company's commitment to quality is admirable. In Kaleidescape's view, the weakest link in most users' entertainment experience is no longer their display, speakers, or receiver. Instead, it's often the source device stuck streaming lossy digital content. And the company is attempting to change that with one simple mantra... "Fix you weakest link and increase your cinematic experience." Source: KaleidescapePosted Thu Jul 6, 2017 at 03:35 PM PDT by: -
Ridley Scott's 'Alien: Covenant' Blu-ray & Ultra HD Blu-ray Dated and Detailed (UPDATED)[teaser]The 'Prometheus' sequel arrives on both formats this August.[/teaser] As previously reported, 20th Century Fox is preparing Alien: Covenant for Blu-ray -- which includes 7.1 DTS-HD MA audio -- and Ultra HD Blu-ray -- which includes an exclusive Dolby Atmos mix -- and now the date has been set for August 15. The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an unchartered paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. When they uncover a terrifying threat beyond their imagination, they must attempt a harrowing escape.Featuring an all-star cast including Academy Award Nominee Michael Fassbender (X-Men franchise, Steve Jobs), Katherine Waterston (Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them), Billy Crudup (Jackie), Danny McBride (This Is The End) and Demián Bichir (The Hateful Eight), ALIEN: COVENANT is loaded with bonus material including a making-of documentary, deleted and extended scenes, commentary by director Ridley Scott, an inside look at “David’s Lab,” crew fear tests, and much more. BONUS FEATURES Deleted and Extended Scenes Prologue (Extended) Walter in Greenhouse Oram and Daniels (Extended) Walter Visits Daniels Daniels Bedroom Flashback Jacob's Funeral (Extended) Ledwards Fall Crossing the Plaza (Extended) Daniels Thanks Walter Rosenthal Prayer Walter Reports Back Stairs to Eggroom (Extended) USCSS Covenant Meet Walter Phobos The Last Supper SECTOR 87 - PLANET 4 The Crossing Advent David’s Illustrations – Image Gallery Master Class: Ridley Scott - Documentary on the making of Alien: Covenant Director Commentary by Ridley Scott Production Gallery There will also be numerous retailer exclusives including SteelBook Packaging (Best Buy), Digibook Packaging (Target) and Alien Day T-Shirts (Wal-Mart). You can find the latest specs for 'Alien: Covenant' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule and our Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under August 15. Order the Ultra HD Blu-ray Order the Blu-rayPosted Thu Jul 6, 2017 at 10:59 AM PDT by: -
HBO enters the 4K UHD Blu-ray Arena with 'Westworld: Season One' this November[teaser]The first season of the critically-acclaimed series arrives on Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray this fall. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, HBO and Warner Brothers says 'Westworld: Season One' will hit Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray on November 7. Based on the film written by best-selling author Michael Crichton (ER, Jurassic Park films), Westworld is a dark odyssey about the dawn of artificial consciousness and evolution of sin. Set at the intersection of the near future and a reimagined past, the series explores a world in which every human appetite, no matter how noble or depraved, can be indulged. Westworld: Season One features a star-studded cast led by Academy Award® winner Sir Anthony Hopkins (Silence of the Lambs), Golden Globe winner Ed Harris (The Truman Show), Golden Globe and Emmy® nominee Evan Rachel Wood (The Wrestler) and Golden Globe nominee Thandie Newton (Crash). The cast of this 10-episode phenomenon also includes Jeffrey Wright, James Marsden, Ben Barnes, Ingrid Bolsø Berdal, Clifton Collins, Jr., Luke Hemsworth, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Simon Quarterman, Rodrigo Santoro, Angela Sarafyan, Jimmi Simpson, Tessa Thompson and Shannon Woodward. Executive produced by Abrams, Nolan, Joy, Jerry Weintraub and Bryan Burk, Westworld is produced by Kilter Films in association with Bad Robot Productions and Warner Bros. Television. "We are thrilled to release the first season of HBO's critically-acclaimed and most watched new series Westworld in 4K Blu-ray with HDR, Blu-ray and DVD," said Rosemary Markson, Senior Vice President, Television Marketing, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment. "Fans will devour this beautifully crafted series – a perfect candidate to receive the fully immersive 4K HDR experience along with limited edition collectable packaging and all-new special features." Each release will include a Dolby Atmos soundtrack and supplements include: Inside Look with Jonah Nolan and Lisa Joy – Season One (New Featurette); Imagining the Main Title (New Featurette); The Key to The Chords (New Featurette); 2017 Comic Con Panel (New); Gag reel (New); Welcome to Westworld; Crafting the Narrative; An Invitation to The Set; Welcome to Westworld: About the Series; Reality of A.I.: Westworld; and "The Big Moment" Featurettes. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $34.99 and the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray is $44.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Westworld: Season One' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 7. Order the Blu-ray Order the UHD Blu-rayPosted Thu Jul 6, 2017 at 09:44 AM PDT by: -
Countdown to Amazon Prime Day Deals: Amazon Tap & Sony Sound Bars[teaser]Sony audio gear and a refurbished Amazon Tap are now on sale![/teaser] Though Amazon Prime Day doesn't officially start until 6pm PT/9pm ET on Monday, July 10, the online retailer is currently offering a few deals in advance of the main event. Here's a rundown of the current discounts: Certified Refurbished Amazon Tap - Alexa-Enabled Portable Bluetooth Speaker - $70 Deal of the Day (36% off) Sony CT290 Ultra-slim 300W Sound Bar with Bluetooth (2017 model) - $198 (29% off) Sony CT800 Powerful sound bar with 4K HDR and Google Home Support (2017 model) - $348 (30% off) Sony XB20 Portable Wireless Speaker with Bluetooth, Red (2017 model) - $68 (31% off) Sony XB40 Portable Wireless Speaker with Bluetooth and Speaker Lights, Blue (2017 model) - $198 (20% off) Sony XB30 Portable Wireless Speaker with Bluetooth, Grey (2017 model) - $118 (20% off) These deals will only be active for a limited time while supplies last. Make sure to stay tuned to High-Def Digest for more Countdown to Prime Day sales and special promotions!Posted Thu Jul 6, 2017 at 09:05 AM PDT by: -
4K Ultra HD Blu-ray News Roundup: 'Harry Potter,' 'Rough Night,' & New Rumored Titles[teaser]Wizards, astronauts, aliens, and a Grinch are all making their way toward 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.[/teaser] New info has been revealed for several upcoming 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases from Warner Bros., Universal Studios, and Sony Pictures. First up, as previously reported, Warner Bros. is prepping the first four Harry Potter films starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson for Ultra HD Blu-ray, and now word indicates that the titles are set for an October 3 release. The selection will include: Chris Columbus' Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Chris Columbus' Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Alfonso Cuarón's Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Mike Newell's Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Full specs and details have not been revealed yet, but the discs are expected to include DTS:X soundtracks. The upcoming titles will now join the previously released Harry Potter films from director David Yates which all first hit the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format back in March: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Meanwhile, according to a report from The Digital Bits, Universal is prepping several catalog titles for a potential October debut on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. The rumored selection, revealed by The Bits' industry and retail sources, will include: Joss Whedon's Serenity starring Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, Alan Tudyk, Morena Baccarin, Adam Baldwin, and Jewel Staite. Ron Howard's Apollo 13 starring Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon, Gary Sinise, Ed Harris, and Kathleen Quinlan. Ron Howard's Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas starring Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, and Molly Shannon Likewise, as previously reported, Steven Spielberg's E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial starring Dee Wallace, Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote, Robert MacNaughton, and Drew Barrymore is also on deck for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, and rumors now indicate a September release. No other specs or details have been revealed at this time and an official announcement from Universal is still forthcoming. Finally, Sony is prepping Lucia Aniello's Rough Night starring Scarlett Johansson, Kate McKinnon, Zoë Kravitz, Jillian Bell, Ilana Glazer, and Paul W. Downs for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. Specs, supplements, and an exact release date have not been announced yet, but pre-orders for the raunchy comedy are now live. Order the 4K Blu-ray You can find the latest specs for all of the 4K titles listed above linked from our Ultra HD Blu-ray Release Schedule. Source: The Digital BitsPosted Thu Jul 6, 2017 at 07:00 AM PDT by: -
4K Ultraviolet Headaches: How & Where To Redeem Digital Copies in 4K UHDEDITOR'S NOTE: this article is being updated with info on Fox and FandangoNOW after conflicting reports from readers, personal experience, and FandangoNOW customer service. Welcome to the latest installment of our Home Theater 101 Series, where we set out to educate folks on the nitty-gritty involved with enjoying emerging home cinema technologies. Today lets take a minute to chat about the current state of Ultraviolet, why there's an extra layer of confusion for anyone upgrading to 4K, and what you should do to get the best out of the Digital Copies included with your 4K Ultra HD Blu-rays. HOME THEATER 101ULTRAVIOLET IN 4K WHAT IS ULTRAVIOLET? Ultraviolet is a cloud-based digital locker that allows you to own (though many argue digital ownership isn't true ownership, but that's for another article) and manage a library of movie and TV titles that were either redeemed via codes included with a physical media purchase or purchased online. Once you have an Ultraviolet account -- thanks a series of partnerships between STUDIOS (content producers) and RETAILERS (streaming services where you can purchase or rent movies and TV shows) -- you can enjoy your library on across a vast swath of Smart TVs, smartphone & tablets, Ultra HD Blu-ray & Blu-ray players, media streamers & sticks, gaming consoles, and compatible external hard drives. Ultraviolet STUDIO partners include Anchor Bay, BBC, Fox, HBO, Lionsgate, Paramount, Sony, Universal, and Warner Bros. Ultraviolet RETAILERS include FandangoNOW, Kaleidescape, Paramount Movies, Sony Pictures Store, Verizon FiOS, VUDU, and WB Movies All Access (FKA Flickster). iTunes and Disney are off doing their own things, but some studios like Universal and Fox offer the option to get an iTunes copy of your movie instead of Ultraviolet, while Disney Movies Anywhere can be linked to VUDU and iTunes accounts. So not totally separate, but not fully Ultraviolet either. The confusion, hassle, and frustration with Ultraviolet and Digital HD, in general, is the simple fact that not every studio has partnered with every retailer AND not every retailer is available on your media streamer PLUS you have to sign up for several different accounts on poorly designed websites. Ultraviolet's partners set out to make DIGITAL OWNERSHIP easier and portable, but it's such a cluster only diehard enthusiasts care to keep up. Even then, it's a PITA. WHY DOES ULTRAVIOLET STILL SUCK FOR 4K UHD? One of the first questions we asked about the new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format was about Ultraviolet redemption codes -- if HD Blu-rays earned you an HD copy to stream and download, would 4K Blu-rays get you a 4K UHD copy to stream and download? The answer is, of course, complicated, varies by studio and retailer, and is far less consistent that the HD world because, while every streaming service offers a version of HD playback, there are only three major UHD streaming retailers with ties to Ultraviolet and each one requires different (sometimes exclusive) gear. VUDU has the largest collection of 4K UHD titles with Dolby Vision HDR, some support for Dolby Atmos, and rumors of HDR10 support reportedly coming "soon". On VUDU, you'll find over 100 titles from Warner Bros, Universal, and Paramount. FandangoNOW (fka M-GO) offers UHD titles with HDR10, but according to the company's website, only from Fox and only if you own a "VIDITY-enabled device" (basically, a compliant hard drive media streamer). They also have 4K UHD titles (NO HDR) from Universal and Amazon Studios (and possibly other distributors -- I didn't check every title) that are available on a wider range of devices. Sony's ULTRA 4K UHD streaming service is an extension of the Sony Pictures Store, offers UHD movies with HDR10, and available on Sony 4K & 4K HDR TVs made after 2015 and **possibly** the PS4 Pro (EDITOR'S NOTE: I've read conflicting reports about the PS4 Pro and ULTRA -- can anyone double-confirm in the comments or on the forum whether ULTRA works on the console. Thanks!!!!). Please note that Amazon Instant Video also sells and rents 4K UHD HDR video, in addition to titles included with Amazon Prime, while Netflix offers 4K content in Dolby Vision & HDR10, but at this point, and this is key, neither are related to Ultraviolet digital copies. In short, Ultraviolet, in the 4K era, is extra confusing because every time you buy a 4K Blu-ray, you have to check the studio involved along with your preferred retailer to see if it's available in 4K (plus there's nothing on the packaging which indicates UHD or HD). Even then, you have to be careful about WHERE you redeem your code because, while retailers allow you to redeem Ultraviolet codes on their websites... They don't warn you that redeeming 4K Ultraviolet codes directly through a retailer may prevent you from gaining access to the UHD version -- especially if it's a Warner Bros. 4K movie on VUDU -- and you can't fix it on your own once a code has been used. LEGO BATMAN UHD... 3 WEEKS LATER After hearing some complaints on our Facebook page from readers who were stuck with VUDU HDX copies of their Warner Bros 4K Blu-rays, I recently experienced the problem myself. Even though I've redeemed dozens of HD and UHD Ultraviolet codes directly on VUDU.com with no troubles, my attempt to redeem The LEGO Batman Movie left me stuck with the 1080p HDX version. Not kidding, it took almost three weeks to resolve the problem thanks to lackluster VUDU customer service, who repeatedly refused to listen to my question, suggested I had the wrong equipment, and claimed Warner Bros. didn't offer the ability to redeem LEGO Batman in UHD on VUDU.com despite the redemption process working for some customers, including HDD writers. In short, VUDU had no idea what was wrong, so they sent me back to Warners, which was actually fantastic. The WB Movies All Access folks, who are extremely prompt and helpful, were able to add the UHD version to my WB Movies All Access library, but by that point, I'd accidentally created an extra Ultraviolet library that needed to be merged and re-linked to VUDU. In summary, my experience taught me two things: 1) In the 4K era, skip the retailer shortcuts, as helpful as they may have been for several years, and follow the studio/Ultraviolet instructions exactly. 2) If you do mess up, or did in the past, there's probably a way to get things fixed. In other words, hopefully, there are some readers out there, with lost UHD titles, who can still get access to them. HOW TO GET YOUR UHD COPY FROM A 4K BLU-RAY **UPDATED 9/17/15** As I write this, Anchor Bay, The BBC, Disney, HBO, and Lionsgate's home entertainment divisions do NOT support UHD streaming (Disney's first 4K Blu-ray won't be available until next month, so we'll soon find out how Disney Movies Anywhere handles things). For the rest of the major studios, here's an overview of what to do (and keep in mind, it's subject to change). Disney -- DisneyMoviesAnywhere.com -- When Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 first premiered on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray, the digital redemption code included did not, per Disney's PR agency, unlock the 4K version of the film even though it was available for sale on VUDU with Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos... HOWEVER, Disney has updated its policty. If you unlocked Guardians Vol. 2 AFTER September 9 (2017) and choose VUDU during your redemption process, you'll have access to 4K streaming. If you unlocked Guardians Vol. 2 BEFORE September 9 or if you don't get the 4K version automatically, please use the Contact US feature on the DMA site and they should be able to get this fixed for you.Going forward, I suspect Disney will support 4K redemption with their codes, but nothing official has been confirmed. We'll have to see as they release more 4K Blu-rays. Fox -- FoxRedeem.com -- Fox offers access to iTunes OR Google Play or VUDU/Ultraviolet, but you have to pick one and stick with one while redeeming. Here's where we add another headache -- I just redeemed my code inside Logan 4K as a test -- if you pick VUDU/Ultraviolet, your Ultraviolet library instantly updates with a note that says "VUDU SD, HD," but no mention of UHD. However, FandangoNOW customer service said if your Ultraviolet account was linked to FandangoNOW, you CAN watch certain titles in UHD (assuming you have the right gear). So even though Fox movies are available online IN 4K UHD with HDR on FandangoNOW, at this time it's unclear if your Ultraviolet codes unlock them or if you can ONLY purchase them separately. If anyone regularly uses FandangoNOW, please feel free to chime in below or on the forums. Paramount -- paramountmovies.com OR ultraviolet.flixster.com/paramount -- Paramount also offers you the chance to use Ultraviolet OR iTunes. However, although Paramount VUDU UHD titles available to purchase and rent, the first few Ultraviolet codes included with Paramount 4K Blu-rays only redeem in SD & HD. Hopefully this will change. Sony -- sonypictures.com/uvredeem -- With Ultraviolet, you can link to your Sony Pictures Store account to stream via Sony ULTRA if you have the right Sony gear. FWIW, Amazon used to sell Sony movies in 4K UHD with Dolby Vision, but as I was researching this article, that seems to have ended. (NOTE: please let us know if I'm wrong.) Either way, the Amazon titles are/were not part of Ultraviolet. Universal -- UPHE.com/Redeem -- Universal also offers Ultraviolet OR iTunes options with a purchase, but I've personally experienced the ability to redeem BOTH if you act quickly. With Ultraviolet, you can link your library to VUDU to enjoy in UHD. Warner Bros -- WB.com/redeemdigital -- Warner Bros redemption instructions change per title. Some just say redeem or redeemdigital, while others like Suicide Squad or The LEGO Batman Movie have their own movie-specific pages. Either way, if you link WB Movies All Access to your Ultraviolet account and then link that to VUDU (way too many steps, I know), you can watch your 4K titles in UHD. Warners, at present, actually has the most 4K content available to stream. HOW TO GET BACK A 4K ULTRAVIOLET COPY STUCK IN HD If you made the same mistake I did and are now stuck with an HD Ultraviolet copy from a 4K Blu-ray, there's a good chance the STUDIOS (not the retailers) will be able to help you (though I can't make any guarantees, especially if your redemption code is older and/or expired). But remember: this assumes A) you know a movie is able to stream in 4K UHD and be unlocked by the studio's supplied code, B) you have the necessary gear to watch said content and C) you still have the paper insert along with proof of purchase. If those assumptions are met, here's what you should do: 1) Go to the websites listed above (aka, follow the instructions on the paper insert included with your 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray). 2) Click on the HELP button to contact the studio in question. Fox can be emailed at [email protected]. Paramount has a form you can fill out on the site. Sony offers Live Chat, Phone, or email support. Universal has a form you can fill out on the site. Warner Bros can be reached at [email protected]. 3) While you're waiting for a response, make sure you are signed up for Ultraviolet and whatever app/site each studio is running. 4) Double check that you only have ONE Ultraviolet library. If you have more than one, MERGE THEM in your account settings. 5) LINK your Ultraviolet library with your VUDU, FandangoNOW, and/or Sony ULTRA account(s). 6) If the studio says you should have the UHD copy and your Ultraviolet library is linked to the necessary retailer, but you still can't stream the UHD version, contact the retailer directly. (I know it's old-fashioned, but I'm listing phone numbers because it was, for me, faster than getting emails back a day later.) FandangoNOW can be reached at 855-646-2580. Sony Pictures Store can be reached at 800-860-2878 VUDU Customer Service can be reached at 888-554-8838 FINAL THOUGHTS Home Entertainment has never been more amazing. We can literally build libraries of films and TV shows and play them back on gear that shames all but the best commercial cinemas. Or gear that fits in our pockets. The choice is ours. And while physical media is often frustrating, with its endless trailers and FBI warnings, streaming content in a 4K Ultra HD world is also confusing because Ultraviolet remains an over-complicated mess. Yet, for a service that's the result of competing businesses, I suppose it's not all bad. Without it, we'd be at the mercy of several different studios each trying to launch their own video apps, which would mean more gear exclusivities and less access to our favorite movies. I hope this article helped you figure out the ins and outs of using Ultraviolet in 4K because, if you bought a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray from Fox (maybe), Paramount, Sony, Universal, or Warners, you should be able to enjoy a UHD Digital Copy as well. Cheers.Posted Wed Jul 5, 2017 at 03:27 PM PDT by: -
Blu-ray News Roundup: 'Chucky,' 'The Book of Henry,' and More[teaser]Killer dolls, wimpy kids, and psychos are all heading to Blu-ray.[/teaser] New info has been revealed for several upcoming Blu-ray releases from 20th Century Fox, Universal, Warner Bros, Shout Factory, Cult Epics, and Kino. Here's a full rundown of recently revealed details and title announcements: First up, Warner Bros. is prepping The 100: The Complete Fourth Season starring Eliza Taylor, Paige Turco, and Marie Avgeropoulos for Blu-ray on July 18. Supplements will include: - The 100: 2016 Comic-Con Panel- From Outcasts to Leaders- Creating A Post-Apocalyptic World- Jasper's Journey- The Stunts of The 100- Deleted Scenes- Gag Reel In addition, the studio is set to release John Farrow's The Seas Chase starring John Wayne, Lana Turner, and David Farrar on July 11 as well. Supplements will include the Original Theatrical Trailer. Likewise, William A. Wellman's Blood Alley starring John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, and Paul Fix will arrive on Blu-ray on July 18. Supplements will include: - Two "Behind the Camera" Featurettes from the Warner Bros. Presents TV Series- Newsreels- Original Trailer And rounding out Warner Bros. announcements is the King of Horror Collection due to hit Blu-ray on August 29. The set features several films based on novels by Stephen King, including: Tommy Lee Wallace's It (1990)Lewis Teague's Cat's EyeTobe Hooper's Salem's LotStanley Kubrick's The Shining Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray 20th Century Fox will release David Bowers' Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul starring Alicia Silverstone, Tom Everett Scott, and Chris Coppola on August 8. Supplements will include: - Making a Scene- Greg Heffley's 10 Rules for the Perfect Road Trip- Road Games- Learn To Draw- A Decade of Wimpy Fun- Bloopers and Deleted Scenes- Deleted Animation- Haulin' Through Georgia- Optional English for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Spanish (Latin Spanish), Quebecois (Canadian French), French (Parisian) subtitles Order the Blu-ray Cult Epics has announced an August 8 release date for Marco Ferreri's The Flesh starring Sergio Castellitto, Philippe Léotard, Elena Wiedermann, and Salvatore Esposito. Supplements will include: - Behind the Scenes of The Flesh- Interview with Marco Ferreri, Francesca Dellera & Sergio Castellitto- Cannes Film Festival 1991- Original Theatrical Trailer- The Flesh Lobby Cards photo gallery- Original art & Slipcase with newly commissioned artwork by Gilles Vranckx - limited to first 3000 copies In addition, the label is also planning to bring Pim de la Parra's Frank & Eva starring Willeke van Ammelrooy, Hugo Metsers, Lex Goudsmit, and Sylvia Kristel to Blu-ray later this year. No other details have been revealed. Order the Blu-ray Universal is preparing Todor Chapkanov's Boyka: Undisputed 4 starring Scott Adkins, Teodora Duhovnikova, and Alon Aboutboul for Blu-ray on August 1. Supplements will include Behind the Scenes. Likewise, Universal will bring Charles Lamont's Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy starring Bud Abbott, Lou Costello, Marie Windsor, and Michael Ansara to Blu-ray on September 12. No other details have been announced at this time. In addition, the studio is set to release Bates Motel: The Complete Series starring Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore on September 19. The collection will feature all five seasons of the show, and supplements will include: - Deleted Scenes- Paley Center Panel Discussion with the Cast and Creative Team- Bates Motel: After Hours – Season Two Premiere- Origins of a Psycho: Inside Bates Motel- Bates Motel: After Hours – Season Two Finale- A Broken Psyche: Creating Norma-n- Gag Reel- Bates Motel: Closed for Business- Bates Motel: The Checkout Universal will also bring Don Mancini's Cult of Chucky starring Fiona Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, and Brad Dourif to Blu-ray on October 3. Supplements will include: - Inside the Insanity of Cult of Chucky — Viewers will discover what it was like to film inside an insane asylum and the challenges production faced on set. They'll also hear from the cast and filmmakers as they discuss why they were attracted to this story and how the filmmakers' vision brought this fun-filled horror film together.- Good Guy Gone Bad: The Incarnations of Chucky — This featurette offers a peek into Alterian's workshop, the studio behind Chucky's puppeteering, to see how the magic is created and focuses on how the look of Chucky has evolved over the years.- Feature Commentary with Director and Writer Don Mancini, and Head Puppeteer Tony Gardner. A new Chucky: Complete 7-Movie Collection will hit Blu-ray on October 3 as well. The set will include: Child's Play Child's Play 2 Child's Play 3 Bride of Chucky Seed of Chucky Curse of Chucky Cult of Chucky Finally, the studio is prepping Colin Trevorrow's The Book of Henry starring Naomi Watts, Jaeden Lieberher, Jacob Tremblay, Lee Pace, Sarah Silverman, and Dean Norris for Blu-ray later this year. No other details have been announced at this time. Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Order the Blu-ray Shout Factory will release Jodie Foster's Home for the Holidays starring Holly Hunter, Anne Bancroft, and Robert Downey Jr. on October 3. No other details have been announced yet. In addition, the label has announced plans to bring Charles Jarrott's Yes Virginia, There Is A Santa Clause starring Richard Thomas, Edward Asner, and Charles Bronson to Blu-ray later this year. Supplements have not been detailed. Likewise, Shout Factory will also release John D. Hancock's Prancer starring Sam Elliott, Cloris Leachman, and Rutanya Alda on Blu-ray later this year. No other details have been revealed at this time. Finally, Kino is prepping three more Blu-ray discs for a fall 2017 release... George Mendeluk's Stone Cold Dead starring Richard Crenna, Paul Williams, and Linda Sorensen. James Glickenhaus' The Soldier starring Ken Wahl, Alberta Watson, and Jeremiah Sullivan. Sidney J. Furie's The Taking of Beverly Hills starring Ken Wahl, Matt Frewer, Harley Jane Kozak, and Pamela Anderson. No other details have been announced at this time. You can find the latest specs for all of the titles listed above linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule.Posted Wed Jul 5, 2017 at 02:00 PM PDT by: -
'The Cabin in the Woods,' 'Red,' and 'Red 2' Announced for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray[teaser]All three films will be available on the 4K format this September. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate is working on 'The Cabin in the Woods' for Blu-ray on September 5. Discover the truth behind The Cabin in the Woods when it arrives for the first time on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack. Featuring an all-star cast including Chris Hemsworth, Jesse Williams, Kristen Connolly, Anna Hutchison, and Fran Kranz, the critically acclaimed horror will be available in stunning 4K Ultra HD resolution and High Dynamic Range (HDR), which delivers the brightest, most vivid and realistic color with the greatest contrast. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray will also feature Dolby Vision™ high-dynamic range (HDR) and Dolby Atmos immersive audio. Dolby Vision transforms the TV experience in the home by delivering greater brightness and contrast, as well as a fuller palette of rich colors. Together with the captivating sound of Dolby Atmos, consumers will experience both cutting-edge imaging and state-of-the-art sound technology for a fully immersive entertainment experience. Co-written by producer Joss Whedon (The Avengers franchise) and director Drew Goddard (Cloverfield), Special features include: Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Drew Goddard and Writer/Producer Joss Whedon; “We Are Not Who We Are: Making The Cabin in the Woods” Featurette; “An Army of Nightmares: Make-up & Animatronic Effects” Featurette; “Primal Terror: Visual Effects” Featurette; “The Secret Secret Stash” Featurette; WonderCon Q&A; “It’s Not What You Think: The Cabin in the Woods BonusView™ Mode” (Blu-ray™ only). The Cabin in the Woods 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack will be available for the suggested retail price of $22.99. 'Red' and 'Red 2' will also be available on the same date. Relive the action-packed adventures of retired and extremely dangerous special agents in the most amazing picture quality available today when both RED and RED 2 arrive on 4K Ultra HD, which provides over four times the resolution of Full HD and includes High Dynamic Range (HDR) to deliver the brightest, most vivid and realistic color with the greatest contrast. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray will also feature Dolby Vision™ high-dynamic range imaging and Dolby Atmos immersive audio. Dolby Vision transforms the TV experience in the home by delivering greater brightness and contrast, as well as a fuller palette of rich colors. Together with the captivating sound of Dolby Atmos, consumers will experience both cutting-edge imaging and state-of-the-art sound technology for a fully immersive entertainment experience. RED features an all-star cast including Bruce Willis, Morgan Freeman, John Malkovich, Helen Mirren and Mary-Louise Parker. In the film’s sequel, RED 2, Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Byung Hun Lee join the franchise. 'Red' will include an Audio Commentary with Retired CIA Field Officer Robert Baer and Deleted and Extended Scenes; while 'Red 2' will include The Red 2 Experience, Gag Reel, and Deleted Scenes. The exhilarating thrillers RED and RED 2 will be available separately on 4K Ultra HD Combo Pack for the suggested retail price of $22.99 each. You can find the latest specs for 'The Cabin in the Woods,' 'Red,' and 'Red 2' linked from our 4K UHD Blu-ray Release Schedule, where they are indexed under September 5.Posted Wed Jul 5, 2017 at 10:34 AM PDT by: -
Countdown to Amazon Prime Day Deals: Echo Dot, Smartphones, and Alexa Exclusives[teaser]New deals are now live in anticipation for the upcoming sale.[/teaser] Though Amazon Prime Day doesn't officially start until 6pm PT/9pm ET on Monday, July 10, the online retailer is currently offering a few deals in advance of the main event, including a refurbished Echo Dot. Likewise, Amazon has also announced exclusive discounts and early access for deals through Alexa devices. Starting today through July 17, Amazon Prime voice shoppers using an Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Amazon Tap, Fire TV or compatible Fire tablets have access to special Alexa exclusive deals. The discounts will frequently refresh and users can simple say "Alexa, what are your deals?" to hear the newest offers. And as an extra bonus, first time voice shopping customers who buy items with Alexa between now and Prime Day will receive a $10 promo code. In addition, voice shoppers can now sign up for Amazon Prime at a discounted price of $79 by saying "Alexa, sign me up for Prime" using their Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Echo Show, or Amazon Tap. Finally, Alexa users will also get early access to select Prime Day deals beginning July 10 from 4pm to 6pm PT. And outside of Alexa exclusive discounts, Amazon is currently offering a few early Prime deals: Certified Refurbished Echo Dot (2nd Generation) - $30 Deal of the Day (33% off). Alcatel Idol 5S 32 GB Unlocked (AT&T/T-Mobile) with Lockscreen Offers & Ads - $200 Nokia 6 32 GB Unlocked (AT&T/T-Mobile) with Lockscreen Offers & Ads - $180 Moto E 16 GB Unlocked (AT&T/Sprint/T-Mobile/Verizon) with Lockscreen Offers & Ads - $100 Alcatel A50 16 GB Unlocked (AT&T/T-Mobile) with Lockscreen Offers & Ads - $100 Alcatel A30 PLUS 16 GB Unlocked (AT&T/T-Mobile) with Lockscreen Offers & Ads - $80 Source: AmazonPosted Wed Jul 5, 2017 at 08:45 AM PDT by: -
BenQ Reveals HT9050 4K Ultra HD DLP LED Projector[teaser]The company's new flagship 4K projector has been detailed.[/teaser] BenQ has announced the latest addition to its home theater lineup. The HT9050 is a 4K UHD projector with 8.3 million distinct pixels and wide color gamut support. "A unique combination of industry-leading color technologies and standards, including BenQ's CinematicColor, Philips' ColorSpark, DCI-P3 and DLP, the HT9050 brings a true cinematic experience to the home," said Lars Yoder, president, at BenQ America Corp. "This new flagship cinema projector produces simply captivating color and an amazingly realistic picture. It's hard to put it into words how impressive the image is. You have to see it to believe it!" The projector uses an advanced DLP 4K UHD DMD chip with XPR technology to create 3840 x 2160 distinct pixels and true 8.3-million pixels by pixel shifting a 2716 x 1528 matrix. In addition, the HT9050 incorporates Philips ColorSpark HLD LED technology and CinematicColor technology to offer 95% coverage of the DCI-P3 color gamut with up to three times more brightness. Likewise, the device is rated for 2200 ANSI Lumens of brightness, a 50,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, and around 20,000 hours of lamp life. Horizontal and vertical lens shift and 1.5x big zoom option are offered as well. Finally, the unit also features CinemaMaster image processing technology to enhance 4K pixels, colors, and flesh tones; ISFccc certification for professional in-home custom calibration; and native support for the 2.35:1 anamorphic aspect ratio. Unfortunately, the press release and product page make no mention of HDR (high dynamic range) support. Though no price or release date are currently listed on BenQ's site, ProjectorReviews.com makes mention of an MSRP of $8,999. Sources: BenQ, ProjectorReviewsPosted Mon Jul 3, 2017 at 05:00 PM PDT by:
