WesleyTech.com: HD DVD, Blu-ray, DVD info and more

Blockbuster Online

One of my biggest criticisms of Blockbuster Online’s service was how it dealt with high-def titles. While they carry Blu-ray and HD DVD movies, these were different titles than the same movie on DVD. They would not automatically send the Blu-ray version of a film, you would have to select that specific title.

Recently (and I’m not sure when) they have finally come to parity with Netflix in this regard. They now allow the user to receive Blu-ray, HD DVD or both instead of the DVD version.

My friend just walked me through the process of setting this up, and it’s fairly simple. In the account settings you chose an option for high-def, and they confirm you have a high-def player, high-def TV and supporting cables and then you select which hierarchy you would like, and you’re ready to go.

I’m still waiting to find out how much this rate hike will be for Netflix, but I am certainly taking another look at Blockbuster Online.

Editor’s note: You can also discuss DVD Rental Services with us at http://dvdrentalforums.com

Universal announces initial Blu-ray titles

The biggest studio supporter of HD DVD has finally given their plans for Blu-ray. Universal Studios (an NBC/Universal company) will begin releasing titles on Blu-ray starting 22 July. This is almost two months after the official end of the format war. It is anticipated that all new releases will be on Blu-ray Disc and DVD day-and-date.

The first batch of films will be catalog titles on 22 July with The Mummy, The Mummy Returns, and spin-off The Scorpion King. These will be in stores just in time for the latest theatrical release of The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.

New releases will be day-and-date with DVD starting with Doomsday, the unfortunately horrible post-apocalyptic film staring Rhonda Mitra.

The new releases later this year will include: Heroes: Season Two along with a re-release (on Blu-ray this time) Season One on 26 August; The Incredible Hulk, the new one releasing later this year featuring Edward Norton; Wanted, the upcoming assassin film staring Morgan Freeman and Angelina Jolie; Hellboy II: The Golden Army; Mamma Mia!; and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, the latest in The Mummy franchise.

More catalog titles included in the Universal press release are: American Gangster, Knocked Up, The 40 Year Old Virgin, Miami Vice, End of Days, U-571 and The Land of the Dead. They indicate more titles but haven’t named them yet.

On a humorous note, Craig Kornblau is now spewing Blu-ray boilerplate, even including trademark notices. “As awareness for Blu-ray™ continues to grow, consumers will learn to rely on the superior quality picture, sound, interactivity and connectivity home entertainment delivers.” I wonder if he’s an android.

Pixar films to appear in 3D starting next year

Walt Disney Company announced on Tuesday that Pixar has committed to release all of their films in 3D format beginning next year with Up. Chief Creative Officer John Lasseter is very excited about 3D technology and even made an animated short in 1989 called Nickname. “My wedding pictures with my beautiful wife Nancy were [even] made in 3-D,” he said.

Even though Pixar sells tickets without fail, 3D films have drawn two to three times the sales at $3 or more per ticket. If you do not have a digital cinema nearby, these films will also be released in traditional 2D.

While I’m also excited to see traditionally hard-drawn animation coming from Walt Disney Animation Studios (The Princess and the Frog Christmas 2009), I’m also excited about the upcoming Pixar movies which will all appear in 3D beginning May 2009. Unfortunately Wall-E will not be in 3D.

Aside from the previously mentioned Up, Pixar is planning Toy Story 3 for June 2010, Newt summer of 2011, The Bear and the Bow Christmas 2011 and Cars 2 for the summer of 2012.

In addition to the new films, Disney is planning to convert the original Toy Story and Toy Story 2 to 3D! I hope they release them to theaters as well!

While DVD and HD DVD do not support 3D, Blu-ray does. We can expect to see these at home as well. Truly brining the theater home

Source: KomoTV

Blockbuster expands Blu-ray to all US and Canadian stores

Last year, Blockbuster Video scandalized the “format war” by choosing Blu-ray for 1,700 of their stores across North America. Yesterday they announced they will be expanding to all corporate stores in the US and Canada. Franchise stores are not included, but can opt-in if they’re willing. With nearly 5,200 stores in the US, this is a big boost for the Blu-ray business.

Not only will they feature Blu-ray rentals and purchases, they are also pushing Blu-ray by displaying a kiosk with a 42″ HD television and a Sony Playstation 3 playing Blu-ray content. Another example of the industry now fully embracing the winning format.

While this is all good for some, locally there have been five Blockbuster franchise stores close in the past several months. It is beginning to look like the brick-and-mortar video rental shops are increasingly less sustainable. With Movie Gallery filing bankruptcy in October of last year, and their subsequent closing of 500 stores, they too are looking to online rental and video downloads to increase their business.

Press release

JVC introduces new 4k VHS tape

It’s hard to believe, I know, but JVC is still trying to capitalize on their VHS technology. When DVD was taking the world by storm, they introduced D-VHS with 1080i video, and now they’re attempting to compete with Blu-ray by upping the ante once again.

4k resolution has 3996 × 2160 pixel resolution, and is used in most digital cinemas. Studios have been scanning film at 4k for years for preservation, and it is from this resolution that Blu-ray Discs start before they’re compressed and down-scaled to 1080p. JVC is hoping studios will release their existing library of 4k films on the new X-VHS (I thought “X” went out of common use a few years ago) for the high-end video enthusiasts.

I think this is ridiculous because the only 4k projectors our are professional level. There is very little market for a consumer product like this. Aside from that, who wants to go back to using a VHS rewinder? Who wants to stop a film halfway through to change to the second tape like I had to do with Braveheart? It’s insane! But I guess JVC has always stuck in the past like this, reveling in magnetic tape technologies. Too bad it’s the 21st Century.

Source: Tribute Finance

With all this ridiculous talk about Blu-ray prices rising, we’re pleased to see a new sale on Blu-ray movies at Amazon.com.

Most films are 50% off, and some are over 55% off. It’s a good selection of movies, so feel free to browse the selection. With movie tickets at $10 it’s now cheaper to buy a Blu-ray than take your wife out on a date.

Hulu open to the public

A while back you may have heard something about Fox, NBC and other companies getting together to create an online service to provide video content of popular TV shows and movies. Well, it was in beta for months and is now open to the public.

Hulu has a big selection of modern and classic television shows. Everything from The A-Team to Young Hercules. They even have episodes of new shows like Arrested Development, House and Heroes. It’s worth your time to investigate all the offerings.

They’ve also added movies to their list of properties. Boasting more than 50 content providers, including FOX, NBC, MGM, Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros., and Lionsgate, they’re looking for a huge market share of online video (I wonder if this prospect helped spur on the writer’s strike). Providence Equity Partners even bought in to the the tune of $100-million. Some movies on the list include The Big Lebowski, Mulholland Drive and Live Free or Die Hard.

While the picture is not nearly as good as DVD, and definitely inferior to Blu-ray, the video quality is not too bad, and the interface is user-friendly. I can watch an episode full-screen on my MacBook and it looks acceptable. They are going to be offering high-def content at some point and have HD movie trailers currently so we can look forward to that.

You don’t get Obama Girl on Hulu, but you do get full episodes of your favorite shows. Give it a shot.