Happy Holidays, Holy Days, and New Year
by Pravin on December 24th, 2009 in news.
Whether you are celebrating holidays, holy days, or just taking some time off, best wishes to all of you for a wonderful new year!
2009 was a year where HD DVD lived on in some way for many of us via sales of old disc inventory, as well as promise of one last new title. Though the format is defunct in the western world, a sibling format, CB-HD has been making strong gains over in China, signing on more and more studios, like Warner and Paramount.
The Blu-ray format made its inevitable progress this year. The recent Black Friday saw sub-$100 players, one made by none other than Toshiba. Coming up at CES, they will show or announce players that support a 3D standard for the format to keep up with the numbers of 3D movies that have been coming out, such as James Cameron’s Avatar.
Though we loved our tangible physical media, most of us probably realized that HD DVD and Blu-ray were probably the last of the optical disc formats. But, did you expect such a huge proliferation in all the ways that we can now have HD content?
Netbooks were incredibly popular in 2009, and most of them included HD-capable video abilities in their $299 price point. In fact, almost all laptops sold today include basic HD features, as do most of the new smartphones and personal media devices. This spread of HD ability has kept pace with corresponding developments in the world of online video streaming, which is poised to make strong gains in 2010.
We no longer have to hook up a specially made PC to our HDTVs to enjoy video streaming, because more HDTVs are coming out with internet features built right in (as are Blu-ray players, finally!). This ranges from watching YouTube and Hulu, all the way to streaming DVDs from Netflix and Blockbuster.
What are your HD gadget plans for 2010? Did Santa leave any HD goodies for you under the tree? Have you eyed these thinner LCDs with LED backlighting? Or are you taking a break from the video side and focusing on building up the audio part of your home theater experience?
December 25th, 2009 at 6:36 am
First of all, Happy Holidays to you Pravin and the rest of the HD DVD community. Hope you all have a great one today. Just this last week, I had to upgrade my HDTV with a rear-projection 73″ Mitsubishi WD73C9. Our old one, also a rear-projection Mitsubishi 55″ HDTV that is almost 7 years old broke because my twin girls repeatedly banged on the screen and it distorted it (they are 1 1/2 years old). I’m not sure if its the lamp or the screen that got damaged but it created purple lines across the screen when you play 1080i/HD resolution. Anyways, I took it as a calling to get a new TV so the wife and I went to our local Costco and they have this 73″ Mitsubishi on sale. For budgetary reasons, I settled for it instead of getting the plasma or LCD kinds (I know). After taking it home, I ordered via Amazon a brand new Sony STR-DN1000 receiver because my old one doesn’t have HDMI ports (plus it’s 12 plus years old so its also time for a change). I hooked everything up last night and at exactly midnight of Christmas Eve, I was in awe in the quality of 1080p and the losless sound, DTS HD, Dolby HD, etc. I can’t believe I was missing so much HD quality all this time! I thought my old 1080i is great but the 1080p DLP is off the charts. I first watched Transformers on HD DVD on my Toshiba A35 and I can’t believe what I have been missing all this time. It’s like a kid in a brand new Super Duper Toys R Us with all his favorite toys right in front of him. I only have 5.1 surround speakers but my new receiver is capable of 7.1. Definitely sometime in 2010, that would be my next upgrade, speakers (need to save for that). I’m not complaining on my current ones, they are great JBL speakers. I had them for 10+ years and they still sound great.
Anyways, that’s my hidef story this week. Now I know what I’m going to do for the rest of my holiday vacation: watch all of my HD DVD movies all over again.
BTW, this time I put a plastic cage around my entertainment system, the ones that they sell for toddlers/babies. It looks silly but hey, it’s one thing to protect my investment and it doesn’t interfere with the view as it height of it is from the floor to the bottom base of the TV.
Hope all of you get your wishes this holiday season.
December 28th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
ogscorpion,
Nice x-mas present.
I think the highest I’ll go is 42″ but it would make it my first official 1080P TV. I had a 28″ monitor that was 1080P, but a monitor doesn’t compare to an actual TV and vice versa. Each is design for its own specific function. Got my nice little lappy that I am enjoying. So besides getting that HDTV this year, I don’t think I’ll be getting much more after that. Already have my 7.1 surround sound system, so not much to get after that… other than movies.
Got a good deal at my local Fry’s. Got a 3 Pack Blu-ray with Office Space, Napoleon Dynamite, and Young Frankenstein for 23 bucks for the day after christmas sale. Hope more deals like these keep popping up all over the place in 2010. Maybe this will be the year that will make Blu-ray players an easy purchase and start the actual phasing out of DVDs. I don’t think we’ll see the actual transition to solid state media for movies until 2012. Fry’s did have Star Trek on sale in a 4 GB USB Flash Drive for 20 bucks, but not HD and no special features. So the USB Flash Drive Movie Industry has a long way to go before convincing people that they are the true way of the future.
Pretty sure the day will come when you’ll be able to stream this in true HD and include the special features, but if a Flash Drive can’t do that now, then it’ll take a couple of years before they stream it as such. I know iTunes started to offer some of the special features that you would normally find in the optical version of the movies, but even these are limited to only a few special features and a few tittles.
I am hopeful and optimistic as to what the industry will develop this upcoming year.
December 28th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Streaming won’t take over physical media for me anytime soon. The quality just don’t compare.
That being said, I bet we’re done with optical discs after Blu-ray runs its course. Flash drives of some sort will almost definitely be the next large media format.
December 30th, 2009 at 8:34 am
I mentioned I would write after trying out the xbox live 1080P streaming. (Over fios, I have more than enough bandwidth)
Well, let me just say, nothing beats physical media, and my test is not really complete.
I currently have an xbox hooked up to both a 65 inch 1080I rear screen projection, as well as a 42 inch 1080P LCD, but I have only streamed to my 65 inch. (So I really haven’t seen the 1080P streamed native yet, just streamed and down converted to 1080I ), regardless, I was impressed, not more impressed than the HD media I have on hand though, at least not yet, I still need to check it out in 1080P but even at 1080I, it just didn’t seem to deliver all the quality I get when playing the actual physical media. Anyway, I’ll check it out in it’s 1080P native stream and have some real info soon, but that being said, do any of us want to give up the extras and goodies that come with the physical media anyway?
Not me!
Rick
December 30th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
Providers claim to be streaming 1080p or 720p, but I think they’re just reporting the maximum number of scanlines, and letting us interpret it to mean something about picture quality. In reality, they might just crank up the compression and still deliver a less-than-stellar picture. It might be sharper than SD, but it doesn’t necessarily compare favorably with optical media.
One of the things I miss when streaming movies on Netflix (and even on some rental discs they send me) are the bonus materials. I’m a bonus material freak, and I love to see deleted scenes and some of the other behind-the-scenes stuff about how the movie was made. I’ll even do that for relatively bad movies (after all, we do wonder if they knew they were making a stinker, and there may still be something interesting to learn about that movie).
December 30th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
Rick, Pravin…
That’s exactly why I don’t think streaming will take over any time in the next couple of years. The quality and the special features are just too much to let go.
Deleted scenes, alternate endings, etc… etc… etc… Just can’t beat a good Blu-ray or HD DVD in hand… or even a DVD for that matter.
And the problem with flash drive movies is that you need a PC to watch them. Very few optical players out there will even play the content. I like watching movies on my computer while I do some work, but I LOVE watching movies in the living room and I don’t want to have a PC just for that. So another reason why physical optical media will be around for a good while longer.
And with local retailers dropping prices like crazy… I just got Donnie Darko at Best Buy for 9.99
Blu-ray is finally becoming affordable and I truely think that by next Christmas DVD players will be scarce.
December 31st, 2009 at 6:19 am
Ditto, ditto and ditto. Even though I have not tried streaming on my PS3, I have read so many experiences and reviews just like here that it is not comparable to physical media. Just like what Pravin and Juve said, I too, am a lover of special features, deleted scenes, etc. etc. Plus, I like to collect the physical media with its cover artwork, etc.
December 31st, 2009 at 6:20 am
BTW, Happy New Year to all!
January 4th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
I’ve been focusing on building up my Audio system, and finished over the holidays by upgrading to 7.1
and it made me realize, there are like NO 7.1 or 6.1 BDs!
I mean why not? its like they were more interested in it with DVDs! LOTR are in 6.1 dts, and many dvds are Dolby EX with special cues for 7.1 upmixing. but most BDs are just 5.1?
Even 6.1 (which I have descovered is basically 7.1 anyway) was awesome on my Xmen 3 BD, but thats the only one in my 60+ collection that includes the Matrix box set, that is more than 5.1. I mean all the DVD 6.1 standards were backwards compatible with 5.1 systems anyway, so you didn’t loose any sound if you only had 5.1, but there is More than enough space on a bluray to have lossless 5.1 and 7.1 tracks on the same disc! (most movies would only be using around 30Gig of the 50 Gig limit, I mean come on! If you want justify optical media, atleast use all of it!)
January 4th, 2010 at 11:01 pm
Matt,
I know what you mean. I went through my BD and HD DVD collection and found the following.
Out of all my 80+ HD DVDs I only found two to have 6.1 and that was only on the DTS track. Black Rain and Disturbia.
On the 40+ BDs I have only the following had 7.1 on them, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Star Trek II, III, and IV.
I was very upset how BD brags about how much more space it had over HD DVD, so why do two disc sets continue to come out, specially when a lot of the special features aren’t even in HD? I can see it for those that come with a digital copy of the movie and the additional DVD version. But having a whole BD with special features when it could easily fit in the disc with the movie? Come on!
January 10th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
Still no zombie hd. Paid for it a very long time ago. They keep telling me that it is about to be released, but I am starting to get the feeling that this may be a hoax. Any news? Thank you.
January 11th, 2010 at 9:26 am
Yep, I’ll ping them again and see what they say.
January 12th, 2010 at 8:25 am
Thank you, Rick. Any luck?
January 13th, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Rick: anything?
January 14th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Sorry George, was working feverishly the last couple of days, I did send a request to Gary for any info he has, I’ll will post as soon as I get a reply.
Rick
January 14th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
Alrighty, Gary emailed me back and he has posted on some other HD forums to try and explain the delays for this, I simply took one of his postings and copied it here. I am still waiting for it. (Not going to cancel)
What: Deadlands 2: Trapped HD DVD Edition
When: March 2010 (Hopefully)
Why: Because its been a total pain in the ass and the studio dropped the ball
What is it really?
Deadlands 2 is a $6,000 American produced low budget Zombie film released by WNWR Films and ANTHEM PICTURES. In Late summer 2009 a proposal was put out to HD DVD fans to get one last HD DVD made, and this film would be the movie for the last HD DVD. ironically a zombie film resurrecting a Dead format, albeit, for a small run, had some appeal to it and the program took off.
It really is a niche item to own, type a deal. Its low budget, shot mostly in SD, with some HD action sequences, and it uses an MPEG 2 encode for the HD DVD (best one to use at the time because VC-1 made the picture too blurry and AVC was causing artifacting)
During the production of the HD DVD their were snafus:
1. Replicator Issues – Over 10+ replicators took on the project and then backed out, which kept pushing back the release date. Originally slated for October 2009, the date was pushed out until Nov 24, then Dec 11th. When the November date approached there were errors in the authoring that required repairs, a check disc revealed some issue, these were fixed, but the most recent replicator to accept the project backed out.
2. Why is the disc size now 15gb as opposed to 30gb?
During the search for another replicator it became a capacity issue. Originally planned as a 30gb HD DVD, it had to be chopped to 15gb. Because of the lack of 30gb press-able resins
3. What was removed?
Special features being ported over from the DVD. However, all special features filmed exclusively for the HD DVD were kept and fit without further compromising the films quality. because of production delays involving the HDDVD Anthem pictures offered anyone who pre-order the HD DVD a free copy of the DVD to make up for the wait, and now the cut disc size. Having both gives you all the features that would have been ont he 30gb disc had it been possible to get made.
4. What do I get on the 15gb Disc?
Extended UNRATED Directors Cut – Basically its about 30 seconds longer than the DVD release and the new cuts removes all of the filtering and Edge Enhancement found on the DVD release (HD DVD Exclusive)
Work Print Edition – The first cut of the movie originally played at film festivals and a short theatrical run in MD and VA USA (HD DVD Excluisve – was supposed ot be a supplement on the DVD release but didn;t make the cut, so it became HD DVD exclusive)
No Money and a Camera – A 2 part BTS documentary about making films on little to no money. We interview 3 local MD and VA filmmakers for the project. Shot exclusive for the HD DVD (Combined runs 28 minutes)
A Discussion about Zombie Films – a Documentary originally intended for a separate release that never happened, I licensed the raw footage, which I shot most of anyway, and did a rough cut of the raw footage coupled from Interview with myself and VA filmmaker Lonnie martin and the impact Zombei film had on us. These segments were supposed to be part of larger project spread between indie and studio film directors (Runs about 22 minutes and change) – Exclusive to HD DVD
Directors Commentary UR Ext Cut (Exclusive re-recorded for the HD DVD and talks about the HD DVD project)
Fan Commentary – Work Print Cut (HD DVD exclusive)
5.1 DD Surround Mix (Both Cuts) – Exclusive to HD DVD
2.0 DD Mix (Both Cuts)
What is the New date and Why?
The new date is set for the first Tuesday in March 2010. As noted above, per the studio, over ten replicators walked off the project, during the last delay no one informed me we lost another replicator and due to un-answered voice mails and phone calls I had suggested everyone get a refund, this caused a bit of stir and people did just that, which made Anthem finally call, and inform me what was going on, including a phone call from the studio CEO and OWNER, who was not aware I wasn’t being kept in the loop.
Anyway, the reason for the delayed date is another replicator walked off and they had to search for another replicator, this took over 3-4 weeks. The new replicator, supposedly has other bigger jobs ahead and will not push up the product in their queue system since the amount of discs being pressed is limited to 500 discs. Because of this the earliest the disc can be pressed is second week of February 2010, and they can be shipped once received and QA’d by Anthem by first week of March.
If you choose to back out of the order because of numerous delays you can ask for a refund:
email: Alex Tabares at Alex@anthemdvd.com and provide them your order number/ receipt whatever. You can call as well 818-597-2346 ext 1
if you email also please CC: Jessica Adelman: jessica@anthemdvd.com and Chuck Adelman (CEO) chuck@anthemdvd.com
Subject line should be Deadlands 2 HDDVD project refund.
If the amount of refund request soar, the project will be scrapped by the studio, however, I have pledged I would get the discs pressed on my own, but this will only further delay the release, but I back whatever decision, you the customer chooses. i cannot force you to wait it out, nor will I beg or plead with you to do so. It is your money and I don’t feel i should have to try and convince you on what to do with your money.
IS THE DISC GOING TO COME IN MARCH?
I will skeptically answer maybe to this question, because I honestly don’t know. I am not happy with how Anthem handled it, their lack of communication, but I know even in my own search for replicators it was a BITCH to find one if Anthem dumped the project. After speaking with the CEO I can say I feel somewhat better about the project but not the warm fuzzy feeling I had when it was first announced, I won’t defend their poor business relationship on this subject, but I can see the problems they ran into with getting a replicator, it just should have been better communicated.
The end product you will get will have everything HD DVD exclusive I promised it would have, on my end all the COA’s were signed and shipped back in November of 2009, and I put in a request for a small modification for the artwork to reflect the words… LIMITED EDITION HD DVD COLLECTABLE. However issues with replication and how Anthem is going about it are out of my control. they asked me to ask you to bare with it, but I will not do that… I will leave that to your discretion.
Would it be nice to hang in there? Sure, but in the end… I can not decide for you and again I respect whatever decision you make.
Any question put them here and I will respond accordingly.
Gary Ugarek
January 14th, 2010 at 3:02 pm
Rick:
You are the man, thank you. This does not look good at all. What are you guys going to do?
January 15th, 2010 at 7:21 am
Well, as I stated, I do beleive Gary is trying his darndest and I am not going to cancel. If I eventually get no disc and have to request a refund so be it, but for now, I am keeping my order in place, more chance of it actually happenning if he still has the order for 500 pressings…
Rick
January 20th, 2010 at 8:11 am
Alrighty guys, we have all been looking for what sparse information there is on the batch o 3D televisions coming out, am I right? Just wondering if anyone had some thoughts on models, or really any links with meaningful info about em.
(I had picked up a newer 120 hz refresh phillips, with the hope that the higher refresh rate may support one of the emergin 3d standards, but it looks like I may need to upgrade my big ole 65 inch rear screen when I go 3D.) Since I just got the 42 LCD 120hz for the Livng Room, and I would want to update the theater rooms display next anyway.
So, any one got some info on this? Where the heck is all the info on this dammit?
later guys!
Rick
January 20th, 2010 at 8:41 am
Rick, there was a good Gizmodo piece recetly about 3D HDTVs which mentioned a few things to look for in that budding technology: http://gizmodo.com/5443165/im-sold-on-3d-tvsand-i-kind-of-hate-myself-for-it
January 21st, 2010 at 9:38 am
thanks Pravin.
I had already gleaned about as much from other sources but that was good link.
I am still looking for more of the under the hood nitty gritty though. I would like to know which manufacturers/models are using which technology. (E.G any polerized screen 3d tvs? I only keep hearing about the active shutter glasses, …. hate them…..) Anyway, thanks again, if any body else gets some good links, please post em!
Rick