Blu-ray, DVD, HDTV, Video info and more at WesleyTech.com

RealDVD bested in MPAA match up

Two years ago, the MPAA sued RealNetworks over their RealDVD software, which allowed for backing up DVDs to a hard drive, claiming an infringement of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Last August, the MPAA prevailed in the case against Real. The Judge in the case made a very cryptic comment in the decision stating:

Had Real’s products been manufactured differently, i.e., if what happened in Vegas really did stay in Vegas, this might have been a different case. But, it is what it is. Once the distributive nature of the copying process takes hold, like the spread of gossip after a weekend in Vegas, what’s done cannot be undone.

After months of deliberation, Real decided not to appeal the decision, and paid $4,500,000 to the MPAA for legal fee reimbursement. They also shut off their online metadata service.

From the judge’s comments, it seems this decision affects software which could lead to distribution of the content. This may favor Kaleidescape’s argument considering their closed-architecture does not allow for data on their servers to be accessed except by associated Kaleidescape players.

It also seems to target a retail software, and should be a pronouncement on personal Fair Use.

Vudu adds apps

This year’s CES expo has certainly been well for Vudu. Not only has LG announced a Blu-ray Disc player with Vudu and a 250GB hard drive, and new partnerships with Sharp, Mitsubishi, Vizio, Toshiba and Sanyo forged, but they’ve also improved their service for their users.

Vudu Apps is a platform these stated manufacturers may add to their hardware, much like the Yahoo! Widgets we’ve seen on TVs last year. The user can chose amongst the apps to install on their own device, while manufacturers can deny certain apps at their discretion.



There are over 100 apps already available. The more popular apps include:

• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pandora
• Dailymotion
• Picasa
• Flickr
• The New York Times
• Associated Press
• NBC Nightly News
• DiggNation

It seems Vudu is becoming a very serious competitor in the streaming video market. With last year’s introduction of 1080p video, true 5.1 Dolby surround sound, the addition of the Criterion Collection movie library, and Rotten Tomatoes, they truly have an enviable service.

How to play Blu-ray video on portable devices

If you were interested in backing up your Blu-ray Disc movies and playing them on your iPod, PSP, PS3, AppleTV, iPhone, Wii, Xbox 360, or other device, I may have found the product for you. BestHDsoft is selling BestHD Blu-ray DVD Ripper which includes all of these functions, and more.

The software – which is on sale now for under $56 – can convert high-definition Blu-ray video to standard definition video formats such as AVI, XviD, DivX, WMV, MPEG4, MOV, FLV and other various formats. The software can also convert Blu-ray movies to high-definition video formats for high-def playback.

The audio encoding is obviously part of the package, and the BestHD Blu-ray DVD Ripper software supports 5.1 surround sound audio, as well as subtitles.



Once encoded, the video can be imported into virtually any video playback device you would like.

The software is supported by Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 2000. Of course you also need a Blu-ray Disc drive, which are getting more and more affordable.

New media format: USB drives

Feature length films will be coming to USB “thumb drives” late 2009 from a joint effort by Sonic Solutions and Widevine. Entitled CinemaNow USB Movie Drives, they feature an integrated media player to play the included movie direct from the drive on a PC. When online, the user can connect to their Roxio CinemaNow account to add the title to their library to share up to four other networked devices such as portable media devices, Blu-ray Disc players and televisions. Each device will receive an optimized file for that specific device capabilities.

Widevine is providing a Hollywood-approved DRM and video optimization for the drives, while Sonic is providing the software and hardware. Sonic is also partnering with 250 content providers, including all major Hollywood studios and independent distributors.

The intent is to sell these drives through retail to keep brick and mortar stores in the loop while providing flexible viewing options. I imagine this should appeal to the consumer who likes the idea of streaming video, but the inconvenience of going to Best Buy to buy the product. However it does solve the desire to possess a real copy of the movie.

Sony adding Netflix streaming to BRAVIA televisions

Sony was the first company to add streaming directly to the display, and now they’re adding Netflix streaming to their BRAVIA line of LCD televisions.

The current 2009 models BRAVIA models connect via Ethernet to the internet and stream video via the Xross Media Bar (XMB) interface. But most Sony TVs from the past two years have the ability to connect a “BRAVIA Internet Video Link” module, meaning there is a large installed base right now that can benefit from this relationship when it releases in the Autumn.

Sony has developed their own interface for the Netflix instant queue which they call “a little more elegant.” You still have to add movies via a web browser, however. I imagine the interface will look a lot like the current XMB interface.

In addition to Netflix, Sony offers video from over 25 sources, including Amazon Video On Demand, YouTube, Sports Illustrated, Sony Pictures, and Crackle.

Is it lights out for video rental outlets?

The video rental game is a changing climate. With by-mail services like Netflix, combined with the convenience of video-on-demand and rental kiosks like Redbox, the traditional video rental outlet seems like a vestigial service.

The evidence is immanent. Blockbuster closed hundreds of stores over the last two years, and the regional players are closing at a brisk pace.

A local independent rental outlet recently changed their model to provide $1 rentals for anything in the store – Blu-ray, DVD, and video games. This is a great deal to be sure. But you know this came from the fact that every grocery store in the area has a rental kiosk for $1 per day for new and catalog titles, and it’s more convenient. Convenience seems to trump the fact that stores have a much greater selection of movies, and a better chance they’ll have a copy of the new release you want to see, and they have foreign and independent films the kiosks don’t carry.

But we’re in a culture of instant gratification. For so many, getting it now beats out over quality and content, even if price is at parity.

Do you still go to a video store to rent? Why or why not?

Roku HD digital video player with Netflix review

Roku was kind enough to send us their Roku HD digital video player to review. This player is also referred to as the Netflix player by Roku. The Roku “set top box” allows you to view streaming internet video directly on your TV, bridging the gap between the living room and the internet.

The Roku HD player currently supports the Netflix Instant Viewing service and the Amazon Video On Demand service. Over 50,000 TV episodes & films are available to watch instantly using the supported services. Amazon VOD was recently added via a firmware update, so we are hoping that additional services will be supported in the future as well (Hulu & YouTube please!).

Let’s take a look at the devices specifications.

Roku HD player specifications

Networking: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g) with WEP, WPA, and WPA2 support 10/100 Ethernet (RJ-45)
Video Outputs: Composite video, S-Video, Component video (Y/Pb/Pr), HDMI
Video Modes: 16:9 HD (720p), 16:9 anamorphic (480p), 4:3 standard (480i)
Audio Output: Stereo (L/R RCA), Digital Optical (Toslink), Digital over HDMI
Remote Control: NEC protocol, supported by various universal remotes
Power Input: 5V, 1.5A provided by included AC adapter
Power Consumption: 5 watts peak, 3 watts in standby
Size: 5 x 5 x 1.75 inches (130 x 130 x 41 mm)
Weight: 11 oz (300 grams)

What’s inside the Roku HD box?

The package includes the Roku HD digital video player itself (top right), a remote control (top left), power adapter (mid left), a getting started guide (bottom left), composite video cables & batteries for the remote (bottom right).

Roku HD video demonstration and review

To give you a look at the user interface, the usability of the device and some of the available Netflix instant viewing titles, we recorded the video below.

Roku HD Positives

Small size & light weight
Easy to connect & setup
Supports WiFi & wired networking
Easy to use interface
Supports a wide range of cable outputs
High Definition 720p support via HDMI & component
Very good video picture quality
Playback memory; remembers where you stopped watching last time
Automatically goes into Standby mode

Roku HD Negatives

Cannot search for & add Netflix instant viewing titles from the player itself
No power off option
No HDMI or component cables included

Roku HD Review Final Thoughts

Overall, we are extremely happy with the performance of the Roku HD digital video player with Netflix and we highly recommend it. Connecting and setting up the player is easy, the performance is solid and the value of having thousands of on-demand movies & TV shows for a low monthly fee is unmatched anywhere else (Netflix plans $8.99 and up include unlimited instant viewing).

Our biggest complaint that we have about the Roku HD box is that Netflix instant viewing titles must be added from a computer. You cannot browse and view available streaming content options directly from the Roku HD player itself.

The player has performed extremely well in our months of testing, with relatively little problems. The few playback problems we did experience can most likely be attributed to local network connectivity problems at our home or temporary Netflix instant viewing server problems. The majority of our viewing experience with the Roku HD box has been over a WiFi connection and the performance and reliability has been solid.

If you already have a Netflix subscription and you need a bridge between the internet and your TV, the Roku HD player is a no brainer. Do yourself a favor and pick one up today, you won’t regret it.

If you don’t have Netflix, I recommend that you subscribe and pick up a Roku player for hours and hours of on-demand entertainment (with DVD’s by mail as a side bonus).

Buy a Roku HD player

You can purchase one at Amazon or direct from Roku.