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One step forward, two steps back

Something is bugging me, so I thought I’d let you all in on it: People are idiots!

It seems like we’ve accomplished a lot in the last few years bringing a new high-definition format to the market that is well-supported and robust. Blu-ray Disc is finally offering a true cinema like experience in the home. But it seems like the lowest common denominator is the big news item lately.

Toshiba is attempting to promote DVD again with their Super Upconversion process to make near-HD quality images from normal DVDs. Apple TV, Xbox Live, Vudu, Netflix and other online digital delivery services are looking to be the future of home video. But it’s all a step back in quality.

While Super Upconversion may offer better picture quality, the audio is still the same Dolby Digital or DTS soundtrack we’ve known for over a decade. These just don’t compare to the new lossless compression technologies like Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio. Why settle for less than the best?

Digital delivery is really just a huge step backwards. It’s like a repeat of SACD all over again. A new high-quality format comes out that blows you away, and the market decides they would rather listen to the lowest quality audio possible on their iPods (through terrible ear buds on top of that). If the movies are actually in the right aspect ratio (most aren’t), they’re poor quality with stereo audio or highly compressed Dolby Digital. It’s not acceptable in a respectable home theater environment.

But what else is new? Convenience trumps quality every day. This is why McDonald’s is busy over the lunch hour while the French bistro sits empty. Or even worse, when time isn’t a factor people chose the Olive Garden over the local Cucina with far better food and service at comparable prices.

And it’s not for lack of trying, the industries spend millions putting out new technologies just for Joe Status Quo to watch movies on his iPod. This is why I’ve said the Blu-ray Disc Association needs to get Blu-ray in front of the consumer so they can experience the quality for themselves.

Maybe I sound like an elitist prick. Let me know what you think about my belief that you are a dolt.

The Blu-ray bandwagon slowdown

One strength I saw in the Blu-ray Disc Association over the course of the so-called “format war” was that they refused to actually engage in the war. While HD DVD would attack Blu-ray, the BDA would stay their course as if they were already the victor. Obviously this was all an act.

When Warner went exclusive to Blu-ray in January the BDA was cheering and declaring (once again) that their format was the victor. When Toshiba finally threw in the towel they once again made sure everyone knew they had won.

But now that we’re months past “mission accomplished,” I don’t see the same marketing push as in the midst of the throes of war. There were those who said the war was actually good for the high-def market – maybe these same people agree with Howard Dean and think the drawn-out primary battle is good for the Democratic party. I disagree with them and think the war caused a large amount of ennui and consumers were put off to high-def opting instead for upconverting DVD players. But I would have to agree with these same people if the BDA companies do not continue with at least the same effort as when they were engaged in combat.

While Blu-ray sales are increasing by about 20% a week, and consumer awareness is at about 70%, I see a strikingly low amount of effort to really push the format as a new standard in video and audio reproduction. For a while there I saw TV adverts for movies as “Blu-ray High-Def and DVD” with the Blu-ray box in the forefront. Now it is the opposite with “DVD and Blu-ray” featuring the blue case behind the DVD one. I’ve even seen fewer Blu-ray ads on HD Theater and other HD channels who frequently aired specifically Blu-ray ads for months.

The good news is we do see growth in the market, and custom integrators have been moving clients to Blu-ray Disc throughout their homes instead of just the media room. Panasonic has also introduced a single integrated chip for Blu-ray reproduction that replaces up to four chips which should bring the price of players down significantly.

It is simply my contention that in the midst of the summer movie season we should be seeing a much larger push for the savior of home video. Put it on screen before the summer blockbusters – or if you’re Mark Cuban actually sell the Blu-ray version of the film they just saw to them as they’re leaving the theater. Their message should be, “Bring the theater experience home!” It’s just not the time to rest in their sound victory and let the market soften.

Pioneer Signature Series plasmas feature IP control

I swear, this is not another post about Pioneer’s new line. This is actually a post about me tooting my own horn. I’m allowed to do this because I am great.

They should just send me truckloads of cash. Back in February I wrote about how companies should make their TVs plug directly into Crestron networks. While they’re not using the same technology I wrote about, Pioneer has added exactly this functionality into their new Signature Series plasma line.

This line was aimed at the high-end custom integrator. While part of it seems gimmicky – like the fact that these panels are “hand picked” – but they are the top tier in quality. 1080p Kuro plasmas at 2.5″ deep, plus they have advanced calibration controls to get them just right.

But the reason I’m writing today is because you now plug ethernet directly into these plasmas and they come with a Crestron module for IP control in your automation system. No slow RS-232, no more IR emitters glued to the front bezel.

Better bring me that money now.

2008: The year of mudslinging

This week is exciting for two reasons: the upcoming Iowa caucuses and CES. This whole year seems to be dedicated to politicians battling it out for the most desirable address, spokesmen battling it out over high-def media, and fanboys battling each other because … well, I don’t know why they battle.

It seems as if the mudslinging has already started. Mike Dunn of Fox has been quoted by Home Media Magazine as saying, “Some of the blowout pricing seen by the other format appears to have been counterproductive, as software sales showed no dramatic increase.” With a bit more teeth he added, “Blu-ray is ‘future proof’ technology with the capacity to grow and evolve, rather than the one that faces near-term obsolescence.”

Craig Kornblau from Universal Studios must not have got the “mudslinging” memo as he said, “The HD DVD companies continue to stand behind our value proposition, which offers consumers a compelling and consistent high-def experience at the most affordable price.”

Meanwhile, New Line and parent company Warner Brothers have nearly identical points. Steve Einhorn of New Line claimed, “Dueling formats have restrained our ability to launch large-scale, industry wide marketing initiatives” and Warner’s Ron Sanders said, “Unfortunately, the dueling formats created an information logjam in what should have been our conversation with consumers.”

Hmm, perhaps it’s only Fox doing the mudslinging. I’m sure Hillary can get in on that. However, Warner’s position does seem a little different than it has previously been. They’ve been very vocal about how both formats are great and now they seem a little put off by the war. If I was paying close attention, it seems a lot like the way Paramount was speaking weeks before they dropped Blu-ray. I don’t want to make any claims or add anything to any rumors, just making an observation.

Twas the week before Xmas

One week until Christmas, so what’s going on in the World of Format War?

Best Buy is currently running a BOGO that includes the HD DVD version of Bourne Ultimatum and Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix. This is the first time new release titles have made it into one of these sales.

The Playstation 3 receives firmware update 2.10 adding Blu-ray 1.1 compatibility. This adds PiP functionality which is being brought out in upcoming releases from Lions Gate, Sony and Fox.

Fanboys are being fanboys.

Michael Bay at it again

Of all the unlikely news-makers in the “format war,” Michael Bay sure nows how to stir the pot. Months back when Paramount and Dreamworks announced they were going HD DVD exclusive, Bay posted on his website that he thought the decision “sucked” and even questioned making Transformers 2 because of it. He retracted the first comment and said he was angry and posted after having a few drinks.

Now he has posted again saying, “Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can be heroes and make the world move to digital downloads. That is the dirty secret no one is talking about.” This rumor isn’t new to the format war observers, it has been made before. He goes on to say, “Microsoft is handing out $100 million dollar checks to studios just embrace the HD DVD and not the leading, and superior Blu Ray [sic]. They want confusion in the market until they perfect the digital downloads. Time will tell and you will see the truth.”

I don’t imagine the post will stay up much longer – just like the first post was taken down. Bay seems to want to connect to his fans, but he really ought to let his publicists post for him. And then maybe he should just stop posting drunk.

Armistice Day

Today is Armistice Day, the day set aside to commemorate the end of The War to End All Wars. While there are certainly wars ravaging all across the world, for some reason I’m caught up in the middle of the most trivial of all wars, the high-def format war. It’s not really a war at all, it’s more like two-year-olds arguing over the same toy. “Mine,” they say with that whiny voice while huffing with an air of disgust and fury.

Not a war at all. For surely there would be no war if it weren’t for the media’s inherent ability to sensationalize everything. Without the “format war” there would have been a year of “slow news days” or the poor “journalists” would have to fabricate some other random controversy to generate web clicks.

Here in the States we’ve changed Armistice Day into “Veterans Day” – and in the British Commonwealths to “Remembrance Day” – after World War II (The Great War). Apparently the entire western world was naive for the first half of the 20th Century thinking one war was going to be the last ever. It would be just as naive to think this high-def war would be the last format war as well. Certainly we would hope the mega-corporations would have enough sense to avoid another one, but egos always get the better of the two sides and it’s inevitable. This is how shooting wars start after all, two sides can’t agree on something so they start killing each other. Yes, it’s obviously the most ridiculous concept ever devised by humans, but it sure is good for the economy! (I say this in jest obviously.)

I may just be the only person watching this war who is jaded (I sure hope not), but I’m over the whole affair. It appears some in the industry are also growing weary. Sony’s Howard Stringer appeared to be tiring of the canard. Reflecting back to before he was CEO he declared that he wishes he would have stuck to the negotiations and unified the two formats. He blamed egos for the quagmire we’re in (isn’t it always one ego trying to prove something to the world?).

You may have noticed I haven’t posted last week. It was not because I was enjoying my amaretto sours while I wasted away at home, or because I am sick of the “format war.” It was because I was away on vacation. I was in Las Vegas where I had neither fun nor relaxation. I am back now and I will be writing more articles for your education or enjoyment. I will be enjoying an amaretto sour, however.