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Disney Movies Anywhere Expands to More Apps & Devices, Offers Disney, Pixar, Star Wars & Marvel Digital Titles[teaser]The cloud-based digital movie service has expanded to more platforms. [/teaser] Disney has announced several new partners and supported devices for its Disney Movies Anywhere service. The subscription-free platform lets customers redeem Disney digital copies and purchase Disney titles. As part of the new deal, Amazon Video and Microsoft Movies & TV customers can now connect to Disney Movies Anywhere and access their digital collection across the Disney Movies Anywhere ecosystem. Likewise, the service is also set to launch on Roku and Android TV devices on September 15. In total, the app offers access to over 450 Disney, Pixar, Star Wars, and Marvel titles. Users can input digital copy codes found on eligible Blu-rays and DVDs to redeem their streaming and downloadable movies on multiple devices. Likewise, users can also purchase titles through the app. Finally, Disney Movies Anywhere includes exclusive videos, special offers, and a reward points system. "We're thrilled to bring these new partners to Disney Movies Anywhere, expanding its reach into the living room and beyond with an unprecedented Disney experience that is both easy and fun," said Janice Marinelli, President, Disney/ABC Home Entertainment & Television Distribution. "As consumers seek to build their digital libraries and protect their purchases for the long term, Disney Movies Anywhere makes it easier than ever to buy once and watch anywhere." In addition to Amazon, Microsoft, Android TV, and Roku, The Disney Movies Anywhere app already works with iTunes, Google Play, and Walmart's VUDU. As an added bonus, new or existing customers will receive a free digital copy of 'Monsters, Inc.' when they connect an iTunes, Amazon Video, VUDU, Microsoft Movies & TV or Google Play account for the first time. Source: DisneyPosted Fri Sep 11, 2015 at 04:00 PM PDT by: -
NASA Readies Ultra HD TV Channel for Satellite, Cable, and Streaming[teaser]The upcoming station will be the first non-commercial consumer UHD channel in North America. [/teaser] NASA and Harmonic have revealed plans to launch an Ultra HD TV channel. NASA TV UHD will offer 4K content to a variety of platforms. "As NASA reaches new heights and reveals the unknown, the NASA TV UHD channel can bring that journey to life in every home. And as organizations at the forefront of innovation, together we are leading the adoption of this exciting technology," said Peter Alexander, chief marketing officer at Harmonic. "As the leader in UHD development, Harmonic provides a complete solution for Ultra HD video production and delivery, enabling content and service providers to offer better video quality at a low total cost of ownership." The channel will use an end-to-end UHD video delivery system from Harmonic to offer linear 2160p60 video content. NASA TV UHD programs will be sourced from high-resolution images and videos taken on the International Space Station and other current NASA missions. Likewise, content will also be culled from re-mastered footage of historical missions, highlighting the beauty of space. Exact distribution partners for NASA TV UHD have not been announced yet, but Harmonic is working with pay TV providers to offer the channel on satellite, cable and optical networks. In addition, NASA TV UHD will also be available to stream over the internet and will require a connection speed of at least 13 MBps. The channel is set to launch on November 1. Source: NASA via EngadgetPosted Fri Sep 11, 2015 at 03:30 PM PDT by: -
Hail to the King, Baby! Groovy Collector's Edition Blu-ray of Sam Raimi's 'Army of Darkness' Detailed[teaser]Ash will return to Blu-ray just in time for Halloween. [/teaser] As previously reported, Scream Factory is working on 'Army of Darkness: Collector's Edition' for Blu-ray, and now the date is set for October 27. Forced to lead a makeshift Dark Ages army against the demonic Deadites, who possess all the deadly magic of hell, the shotgun-toting, chainsaw-armed, reluctant 20th century time traveler Ash must save the living from the dead, rescue his medieval girlfriend and get back to his own time. The 3-Disc Set will feature the Theatrical, Director's, and International Cuts of the film (with a brand new 4K scan of the international inter-positive) with 1080p video, lossless 5.1 audio, and the release will be packed with supplements including: NEW Medieval Times: The Making Of "Army Of Darkness" featuring interviews with star & co-producer Bruce Campbell, actors Marcus Gilbert, Ted Raimi, Timothy Quill, Richard Grove, Bill Moseley, Patricia Tallman and Angela Featherstone, director of photography Bill Pope, editor Bob Murawski, production designer Anthony Tremblay, composer Joseph Lo Duca, costume designer Ida Gearon, special make-up effects artists Howard Berger, Tony Gardner, Robert Kurtzman and Greg Nicotero, "Pit Bitch" performer and effects artist William Bryan, mechanical effects artist Gary Jones, first assistant director John Cameron, visual effects supervisor William Mesa, and stunt coordinator Christopher Doyle (96 min.); Original Ending; Original Opening and Deleted Scenes With Optional Commentary by Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell; Theatrical Trailers, TV Spots, and Home Video Promo; Director's Cut Commentary with director Sam Raimi, actor Bruce Campbell and co-writer Ivan Raimi; NEW Additional Behind-The-Scenes Footage From KNB Effects (55 min.); Vintage Creating The Deadites Featurette (21 min.); Vintage "Making Of" Featurette; Extended Interview Clips with Sam Raimi, Bruce Campbell and Robert Tapert; Television Version With Additional Footage (90 min., Standard Definition (1.33:1), DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0); NEW Still Galleries With Rare Behind-The-Scenes Photos from production designer Anthony Tremblay, visual effects supervisor William Mesa, and special make-up effects artists Tony Gardner and KNB EFX, Inc. (Over 200 Stills); NEW Still Gallery Of Props And Rare Photos from the collection of super fan Dennis Carter Jr.; NEW Storyboards for Deleted or Alternate Scenes; and Vintage The Men Behind The Army Featurette (19 min.). A must-have for loyal fans, movie collectors, pop culture enthusiasts and fans of Bruce Campbell to complete their entertainment library, ARMY OF DARKNESS Collector’s Edition also contains a collectible cover featuring newly rendered retro-style artwork and a reversible cover wrap featuring original theatrical key art. You can find the latest specs for 'Army of Darkness: Collector's Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under October 27. Order the CE Blu-rayPosted Fri Sep 11, 2015 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Asif Kapadia's 'Amy' Dated and Detailed for Blu-ray[teaser]The Amy Winehouse documentary is planned for Blu-ray this December. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate will be releasing 'Amy' on Blu-ray on December 1. From the award-winning director of Senna, and featuring raw footage of Winehouse, this "extraordinary, powerful" (Indiewire) film is the best-performing box office biographical documentary to date this year, and features never-before-seen footage of the talented singer (including collaborations with her musical idol Tony Bennett and producer Mark Ronson) along with interviews with her closest friends and family, as well as previously unreleased music recordings. Certified Fresh by Rotten Tomatoes, this intimate, shocking, and brilliant film was a Cannes Film Festival Official Selection, and was released theatrically in 2015 by A24. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Previously Unseen Performances by Amy Winehouse; Previously Unseen Scenes (Deleted Scenes); Audio Commentary with Director Asif Kapadia; and Interviews with Friends and musicians. You can find the latest specs for 'Amy' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under December 1. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Sep 11, 2015 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
'Self/less' Blu-ray Details Are In[teaser]The sci-fi flick starring Ryan Reynolds & Ben Kingsley is now available for pre-order. [/teaser] As previously reported, 'Self/less' is coming to Blu-ray later this year, and now the date has been set for November 10. An extremely wealthy man, dying from cancer, undergoes a radical medical procedure that transfers his consciousness into the body of a healthy young man. But all is not as it seems when he starts to uncover the mystery of the body's origin and the organization that will kill to protect its cause. Starring Ryan Reynolds, Natalie Martinez, and Matthew Goode. Directed by Tarsem Singh. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, lossless 5.1 audio, and there doesn't appear to be any supplements on this release. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray/DVD/Digital HD combo pack is $34.98. You can find the latest specs for 'Self/less' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under November 10. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Sep 11, 2015 at 06:00 AM PDT by: -
Dolby & Sony Partner on Dolby Vision Ultra HD Titles with HDR and Expanded Colors[teaser]More Dolby Vision content is on the way. [/teaser] Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and Dolby have announced plans to use the Dolby Vision mastering process on 4K Ultra HD titles. Likewise, the company plans to release Dolby Vision enabled Ultra HD content through various home entertainment distribution partners. "We continue to be enthusiastic about the growing consumer appetite for next-generation 4K Ultra HD content. With Dolby Vision imaging technology, we can now master our movies with the highest-quality visual experience for distribution to consumers' homes," saidRichard Berger, Senior Vice President, Worldwide Digital Strategy and Advanced Platforms, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Dolby Vision is an end-to-end video technology that uses high dynamic range and wide color gamuts to create and display content with superior brightness and contrast, resulting in more realistic highlights and shadow detail on supported TVs. "Dolby Vision shines a bright new light on Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's compelling new releases and distinguished catalogue," said Curt Behlmer, Senior Vice President, Content Solutions and Industry Relations, Dolby Laboratories. "Consumers who purchase SPHE movies that have been mastered in Dolby Vision are able to feel the full visual drama of lifelike images unfold in the comfort of their living room, exciting their senses with an entirely new entertainment experience." Exact titles and distribution services have not been announced for Sony's Dolby Vision content, but the technology is geared toward OTT online streaming, next generation physical disc, broadcast, and gaming applications. The studio plans to release its first Dolby Vision 4K Ultra HD titles in the coming months. Warner Bros. and VUDU have also pledged support to release Dolby Vision 4K content, and Dolby recently announced partnerships with several SoC manufacturers to help integrate their tech into upcoming media devices. Source: DolbyPosted Thu Sep 10, 2015 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
Chris Columbus' 'Pixels' Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D Detailed[teaser]The action-comedy starring Adam Sandler, Kevin James, and Peter Dinklage has been fully detailed. [/teaser] As previously reported, Sony will be releasing 'Pixels' on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D sometime later this year, and now the date has been set for October 27. When aliens misinterpret video-feeds of classic arcade games as a declaration of war against them, they attack the Earth using games like PAC-MAN, Donkey Kong, Galaga, Centipede and Space Invaders as models for their various assaults. President Will Cooper (Kevin James) has to call on his childhood best friend, 80s video game champion Sam Brenner (Adam Sandler) to lead a team of old-school arcaders (Peter Dinklage and Josh Gad) to defeat the aliens and save the planet. Each release will feature 1080p video, Dolby Atmos (Dolby TrueHD 7.1 compatible) audio, and supplements include: Q*Bert - The adorable digital bit hopper comes to life in PIXELS; Dojo Quest - A look at the new classic arcade game that gave life to the unstoppable Lady Lisa; and Game On Music Video by Waka Flocka Flame ft. Good Charlotte. Blu-ray exclusives include: The Creator of the Machine - PAC-MAN creator Toru Iwatani was on-set and had a cameo, we hear from him about his experience and his take on PIXELS; The Space Invader - The winner of an arcade contest had a walk on role in the film; PAC-MAN - A detailed look at the PAC-MAN action sequence. From Mini Coopers and stunts to visual effects, see how PAC-MAN chomps his way into real life; Donkey Kong - See the cast perform stunts on a giant reconstruction of the classic platform game and watch as Donkey Kong goes from bits to BIG; Centipede - The giant insect attack was the creation of visual and special effect planning as well as the patience of countless performers; and Galaga - This 80's arcade favorite leads the alien invasion, take an inside look at the attack on Guam. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $38.99 and the Blu-ray 3D is $45.99. You can find the latest specs for 'Pixels' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under October 27. Order the 2D Blu-ray Order the 3D Blu-rayPosted Thu Sep 10, 2015 at 09:00 AM PDT by: -
IFA 2015 Home Theater Wrap-Up: Ultra HD Blu-ray, OLED, HDR, High-Res Audio and More!From September 4-9 in Berlin, the world's top consumer electronics manufacturers all gathered together for the IFA 2015 tech show. Like CES, the European tradeshow highlights some of the most exciting new and upcoming home theater gear products and HD gadgets. [teaser]From Ultra HD televisions and 4K projectors, to premium headphones and Hi-Fi speaker systems, this year's event showcased plenty of buzz-worthy items that should have tech enthusiasts drooling with anticipation. [/teaser] Now that the show has come to an end, here's a full breakdown and analysis of all the big stories that broke last week, along with video reels straight from the show floor. Ultra HD Blu-ray Heats Up The BDA finally completed the Ultra HD Blu-ray spec back in May and Panasonic even showed off a "prototype" player at CES (it was basically an empty plastic box), but concrete details on hardware, titles, and release dates have been few and far between. Thankfully, Samsung and 20th Century Fox have decided to peel back the curtain just a bit. Though pricing is still a mystery, at IFA 2015, Samsung revealed its first Ultra HD Blu-ray player along with the first crop of Ultra HD Blu-ray titles from Fox. The Samsung UBD-K8500 features a sleek, curved design to complement the company's curved-screen TVs. The device will support playback of Ultra HD Blu-ray discs at a resolution of 3840x2160 along with support for expanded color gamuts, high dynamic range, high frame rate content, Samsung's smart hub, multi-room link, and object-based audio tech like Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. In addition, future Samsung Ultra HD Blu-ray player models will also include support for the format's "Digital Bridge" feature, allowing customers to side-load content off of their discs and onto other devices. On the content front, 20th Century Fox declared their full support for Ultra HD Blu-ray, and announced plans to release all of their new titles on Ultra HD Blu-ray at the same time as their standard Blu-ray and Digital HD releases next year. Likewise, the studio will be authoring all of their discs in HDR (high dynamic range), providing enhanced levels of brightness and contrast to create more realistic highlights and shadow detail on supported displays. The initial crop of Fox Ultra HD Blu-ray titles will include: 'Kingsman: The Secret Service,' 'Exodus: Gods and Kings,' 'Fantastic Four,' 'X-Men: Days of Future Past,' 'Life of Pi,' 'The Maze Runner' and 'Wild.' However, as exciting as this announcement is, it should be noted that according to IMDB many of these films were not actually shot or completed in true 4K resolution. With that said, should these movies simply end up upscaled to Ultra HD, the format does still offer other picture quality benefits besides resolution, including HDR and 10-bit color depth. Sadly, despite early indications, it looks like the format will not hit stores in time for the 2015 holiday season, as Samsung's UBD-K8500 Ultra HD Blu-ray player and Fox's first Ultra HD Blu-ray titles are both scheduled for release in early 2016. Damn, there goes half of my Christmas wish list! With both companies now firmly marking their 4K territory, these announcements should help pave the way for more Ultra HD Blu-ray details from additional studios and manufacturers, bringing some exciting 4K content altnernatives to the current crop of compressed streaming services. HDR Fever That's right, the display industry has a fever... and the only cure is a higher dynamic range! After making a splash at CES, HDR technology is continuing its sweep across the TV landscape as more and more manufacturers are releasing new high dynamic range models and firmware upgrades. For the uninitiated, HDR is a content grading and display process that provides more intense brightness and contrast levels on supported titles and TVs, resulting in superior highlights and shadow detail. During IFA 2015, Samsung announced the release of a free HDMI 2.0a firmware update for its 2015 Ultra HD and SUHD lineup. With HDMI 2.0a support, these displays will now be able to play HDR content from internal and external sources, including streaming services and upcoming Ultra HD Blu-ray players. Check out the above video for a tour of Samsung's IFA 2015 booth! Meanwhile, Sony also revealed plans to release an HDR firmware update for its 2015 Ultra HD TV lineup. The XBR-75X940C and XBR-65X930C already include integrated support, and HDR will now be added to the XBR-75X910C, XBR-65X900C, XBR-55X900C, XBR-75X850C, XBR-65X850C, and XBR-55X850C through a future software update (due by the end of the year). Not wanting to be outshined (literally) by Sony and Samsung's displays, LG unveiled some HDR news of its own, announcing the launch of high dynamic range streaming on its OLED Ultra HD TVs through Amazon Instant Video. LG HDR support was recently added to the 65EG9600 and 55EG9600 curved-screen OLED HD TVs through a firmware upgrade, and can also be found on the upcoming 65EF9500 and 55EF9500 flat-screen OLED Ultra HD TVs. Currently, Amazon is offering the first season of its original series 'Mozart in the Jungle' and 'Transparent,' along with the pilot episode of 'Red Oaks' in the HDR format. Check out the above video for a look at LG's IFA 2015 OLED lineup! Finally, Dolby also provided an update on its Dolby Vision tech. Through new partnerships with Realtek, HiSilicon and MediaTek, Dolby's HDR and wide color gamut format will be integrated into various System-on-Chips (SoCs) for multiple playback devices. These new SoCs will allow manufacturers to incorporate Dolby Vision into upcoming Ultra HD set-top-boxes, Smart TVs, Over-the-Top (OTT) online streaming, Ultra HD Blu-ray players and Digital Media Adapters (DMAs). The first Dolby Vision consumer display is set to be VIZIO's upcoming Reference Series Ultra HD TV. Panasonic Enters OLED Market! Since the sad demise of Panasonic's beloved plasma line, home theater enthusiasts have been waiting for the company to announce a worthy successor to that defunct technology. Well, at IFA 2015, the manufacturer may have finally done just that. Following in LG's footsteps, Panasonic is now ready to release its very first large-screen OLED display. With its emphasis on picture accuracy and premium features, the TX-65CZ950 is poised to become one of the industry's top display models. The 65-inch TV uses a curved-screen OLED Ultra HD panel capable of absolute black levels, offering superior contrast, uniformity, and viewing angles over traditional LCD sets (and even previous plasma models). Likewise, the TV includes support for high dynamic range content and meets the recently announced CEA HDR guidelines. But what really makes the set so special -- and what might give it a notable leg-up over LG's already impressive offerings -- is Panasonic's commitment to picture accuracy. The TX-65CZ950 uses a specially modified professional-level 4K Studio Master Processor, and offers THX certification and a "True Cinema" picture preset fine-tuned by leading Hollywood colorist Mike Sowa to ensure an accurate picture that stays true to the director's original intent. For more information about the company's OLED 4K Pro philosophy and manufacturing process, check out the above and below videos! Though an exact release date and price point have not been revealed yet, Panasonic's TX-65CZ950 will bring some much needed competition to the OLED market, which will hopefully help to bring down retail prices and improve performance. With LG once again reiterating its commitment to the impressive panel technology, and Panasonic now joining the fray, it looks like OLED might finally be making some important steps toward becoming the TV display standard of the future. Likewise, it looks like I might finally have a compelling reason to upgrade from my current Panasonic plasma! New 4K & Mobile Projectors Beyond TVs, IFA 2015 also brought some notable projector news, including new 4K models and mobile solutions. On the portable front, Lenovo is releasing the new 10.1-inch YOGA Tab 3 Pro. In addition to some impressive specs, the tablet actually offers a built-in 70-inch projector for mobile big-screen entertainment. The device is set to launch in November for $499. Thankfully, Sony hasn't forgotten the home theater projector market either, and the company highlighted three new models, including two 4K Ultra HD units. The VPL-VW520ES and VPL-VW320ES are both native 4K projector models with SXRD panels, Sony’s proprietary TRILUMINOs engine, Motionflow picture technology, built-in RF 3D transmitters, and HDMI connectivity with HDCP 2.2 compliancy. In addition, the VPL-VW520ES offers HDR support. Finally, the VPL-HW65ES is Sony's new Full HD projector with a 120,000:1 contrast ratio. Prices haven't been revealed yet, but all three will hit stores in October, offering some compelling options for those who feel a 65-inch TV just isn't big enough to truly show off Ultra HD content. High-Resolution Audio Gear Of course, display technologies weren't the only highlights at IFA 2015, as there were plenty of great audio products announced as well. Sony and Panasonic both revealed several new home audio devices with an emphasis on high-resolution playback and fidelity, including premium headphone models and more Technics branded components. For its part, Sony detailed the new h.ear (pronounced "hear") on headphone lineup, with over-the-head and in-ear models available in several bold color choices this November. Likewise, the company revealed two upcoming Walkman models set for an October release, and the CAS-1 compact sound system. All of the products include high-res audio support. Finally, Panasonic unveiled several additions to its high-end Technics audio lineup, including a pair of audiophile headphones due out early next year. In addition, the Technics brand will also be home to the new SU-G30 Network Audio Amplifier, ST-G30 Music Server, and OTTAVA SC-C500 HiFi System, providing more premium audio solutions for customers with a bit more cash to spend. Once again, all of the new products will include high-res audio support, continuing the industry's push away from compressed audio formats like MP3. Conclusion Thanks to some tantalizing previews of several exciting home theater products and technologies, IFA 2015 proved to be an eventful show. Ultra HD Blu-ray, high dynamic range, OLED, 4K projectors, and high-res audio gear are all paving the way for innovation in the consumer electronics industry, offering some exciting possibilities for customers. For now, what do you think about the show's major announcements and products? What gear items and upcoming tech are you anticipating the most? Will you be investing in any of these new products and formats? Let us know your thoughts in the forum!Posted Wed Sep 9, 2015 at 08:00 PM PDT by: -
Apple Unveils iPhone 6s & iPhone 6s Plus with 12MP Cameras & 4K Video, Prices Start at $199[teaser]The latest iPhones have been announced. [/teaser] Apple has revealed its newest iPhone models. The iPhone 6s & iPhone 6s Plus run iOS 9 and offer several new features and performance improvements. Both models use the new A9 3rd generation 64-bit chip which is 70 percent fast than the previous generation chip at CPU tasks, and 90 percent faster at graphics tasks. The iPhone 6s features a 4.7-inch Retina HD display with a resolution of 1334x750 at 326ppi, while the iPhone 6s Plus features a 5.5-inch Retina HD display with a resolution of 1920x1080 at 401 ppi. A 12MP iSight camera with 4K video recording and a 5MP FaceTime HD camera are also included. In addition, the camera is capable of taking new Live Photos, which capture motion and sound 1.5 seconds before and after the picture. Finally, the new iPhones also feature Apple's 3D Touch technology, allowing the screens to recognize force as well as touch, providing new navigation and selection options. Pre-orders for the iPhone 6s & iPhone 6s Plus will begin on September 12. Both models will launch on September 25. The iPhone 6s will start at $199 with a two-year contract and the iPhone 6s Plus will start at $299 with a two-year contract. Source: ApplePosted Wed Sep 9, 2015 at 12:00 PM PDT by: -
James Ponsoldt's 'The End of the Tour' Bound for Blu-ray[teaser]The acclaimed drama starring Jesse Eisenberg and Jason Segel arrives on Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Lionsgate has revealed 'The End of the Tour' is headed for Blu-ray on November 3. A warm, winning road-trip movie that follows journalist David Lipsky (Eisenberg) as he interviews legendary author David Foster Wallace (Segel), The End of the Tour explores friendship, fame, and creative rivalry through two people on a journey that is as moving as it is unforgettable. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video, a lossless 5.1 soundtrack, and supplements include: Audio Commentary by Director James Ponsoldt, Screenwriter Donald Margulies, and Actor Jason Segel; "Behind the Tour" Featurette; A Conversation with Composer Danny Elfman; and Deleted Scenes. You can find the latest specs for 'The End of the Tour' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 3. Order the Blu-rayPosted Wed Sep 9, 2015 at 11:00 AM PDT by:
