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OWLink develops new interface technology

Working for an A/V custom integrator I’ve found the biggest trend in the custom home market in this area is not high-capacity media servers, it’s not fancy touchpanels or knock-your-socks-off dedicated theaters. No. The biggest trend is centrally located, distributed video. This makes the interior designer happy, and the clients like the flexibility to begin a show recorded on a DVR in one room and finish it in another. This is why I’m excited to see this new product from OWLink.

OWLink developed a new technology called DLI which some people call “optical HDMI.” As an installer, HDMI is the scariest product to enter the market in recent years. It’s great for locally grouped gear, but when you have gear over 150-feet away from the TV and you’re running the cable through the wall it gets sketchy. What happens if the cable is damaged by a drywall installer? HDMI isn’t easy to retro through walls considering it’s pre-terminated. In earlier versions of HDMI there was also dozens of compatibility issues that have turned off installers. We’ve also not had good experience with HDMI over Cat-5 baluns. But the number one reason HDMI is poor for this new centrally-located trend is there are no products that distribute several sources to several locations. There are ways to do this, and matrix switchers are now coming to the market, but these are also expensive, and long HDMI cables are also prohibitively expensive (to say nothing about reliability concerns).

In comes DLI, a small form factor connection on an optical wire for virtually limitless run lengths. It snaps into place like a Toslink cable does, but it is HDCP compatible and passes 1080p video, high-resolution multi-channel audio, IR codes, and data - all on a tiny, inexpensive optical cable. OWLink claims the fiber cables can be terminated easily as well, which is also very exciting because fiber is usually either pre-terminated or requires a time-consuming termination process.

The fiber comes in three different flavors. 1) Transparent fiber for on-wall installation. This means existing homes can benefit from distributed video without opening walls, and the fiber is so small and transparent it is virtually invisible. 2) UL listed Kevlar wrapped or 3) UL listed steel for in-wall installations. This helps guard against nail and staple punctures that can damage the cable.

OWLink is also building a DLI matrix switch so you can distribute sources to several TV locations without adapters and converters. OWLink is licensing DLI out to companies like LG and Samsung who plan on implementing it into upcoming TVs - currently OWLink provides an HDMI breakout box (about 1.25″ deep) which also carries IR and USB. DirecTV has DLI in their HR21 Pro DVR, and you can expect many companies will use DLI in the future.

What excites me most, aside from the video distribution aspect, is DLI is an open highway manufacturers can use for any data they’d like. Imagine Crestron sending 1080p video to a display along with control codes. Imagine being able to plug a Wii into the TV and sending it back over the cable to be distributed to any other TV in the house. The possibilities are endless!

The basic single-display connection kit is on sale now from Amazon for $599. They are working on a full line of products as well as larger manufacturers licensing out DLI, as mentioned above.

DreamWorks Animation desires Blu

I thought this whole fiasco was over. I was wrong. It appears DreamWorks Animation is still locked into their contract with HD DVD and cannot get out of the contract without Toshiba’s approval.

The studio CEO, Jeffrey Katzenberg, says they’re ready to go Blu-ray but their August 2007 commitment prevents them from doing so. “We said, we have a release coming up on ‘Bee Movie.’ What would you like us to do?,” Katzenberg told Reuters in an interview. “As you know, we have been well-compensated for our support. It really is in their court at this point to really declare what the next step will be. We’re poised either way to jump into the marketplace when the conditions are right to do so.”



This interview does confirm the New York Times report that Paramount (including DreamWorks) and DreamWorks Animation were paid $150-million for their exclusivity. DreamWorks Animation was reported to have received $100-million of this sum, so even if they have to stick out the 18-month commitment it’s unlikely they’ll lose anything they could have gained in Blu-ray sales.

Bee Movie is the next scheduled HD DVD release for DreamWorks Animation.

Sony announces two new Blu-ray players

This week is Sony’s product showcase in Las Vegas. Along with a staggering 21 new BRAVIA televisions are two new Blu-ray Disc players. The BDP-S350 is the entry level player expected at $399, and the BDP-S550 is the feature-packed version expected at $499. There is no mention of an ES version.

The BDP-S350 will ship as a BD1.1 player supporting all Bonus View material. As a bonus it has an Ethernet port, a USB port and a firmware upgrade will be made available so you can view BD-Live material. You will have to furnish a flash drive with at least 1GB storage however. This means it is “BD-Live ready.” It does have an HDMI 1.3 output for streaming Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS HD and DTS HD: Master Audio to your capable receiver. It doesn’t look like it will decode these on-board.

If you want more features, look no further than the BDP-S550. This will ship with Bonus View and BD-Live capabilities, but instead of embedding the memory on a chip it comes with a 1GB flash drive. A strange move, but it does allow one to increase the storage if they desire. This player will decode all the next-generation high-resolution audio formats on-board and send them as multi-channel PCM audio over HDMI or over 7.1 analog outputs. It can also output bitstream audio if desired.

These new players look like Blu-ray may be fully matured at last. Sony seems to have quelled the accusations that player prices would rise int he wake of the BD victory as well. Now I want to know what the plans are for the rest of the industry.

First reported by TWICE.

Paramount returns to Blu-ray

The circle is complete, Paramount Studios has come back to Blu-ray. This really isn’t news because it only makes sense that they would do this after Toshiba closed up shop. I don’t expect any more news concerning the so-called “war” anymore, certainly not from me. Of course anything is possible these days.

“We are pleased that the industry is moving to a single high-definition format, as we believe it is in the best interest of the consumer. As we look to [begin] releasing our titles on Blu-ray, we will monitor consumer adoption and determine our release plans accordingly.”

There was no mention of Dreamworks in the statement, but it’s assumed they’re on board as well.

This truly is a victory for the consumer, no matter what the HD DVD fanboys say. One format will give the consumer choice in movies, manufacturers and price points two competing formats doesn’t offer. It will spur competition within the industry for the best quality product. Before you know it we’ll have Suzanne Somers coming to Blu-ray Disc.

Universal joins Blu-ray

In the wake of today’s big news, Universal Studios (an NBC Universal company) will now support Blu-ray exclusively. While the full details are not clear, they have said they will release new and catalog titles on the Blu-ray Disc format and “turn” away from HD DVD.



While this was not a huge surprise given the creator of the HD DVD format jumped ship today, this is good news for the Blu-ray supporters out there who have been patiently waiting for Universal titles in high-def. Previously Universal was the only exclusive major Hollywood studio to HD DVD from the beginning, only joined by Paramount and Dreamworks late last year. Weinstein Pictures is a minor studio who supported HD DVD through the beginning of last year and hasn’t announced anything since.

Now we only have to wait for Paramount and Dreamworks to announce their support and Blu-ray will have complete support of the major Hollywood studios.

Originally reported at High-Def Digest

HD DVD officially dead

This past weekend, numerous websites were reporting on an anonymous Toshiba insider who was claiming that the company planned to drop support for the HD DVD platform. It turns out that the anonymous source was correct, as today Toshiba Japan issued an official press release detailing the discontinuation of all HD DVD products. Here are a few selected excerpts from that press release.
Toshiba press release excerpts

“TOKYO–Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the market. Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.”

“Toshiba will begin to reduce shipments of HD DVD players and recorders to retail channels, aiming for cessation of these businesses by the end of March 2008. Toshiba also plans to end volume production of HD DVD disk drives for such applications as PCs and games in the same timeframe, yet will continue to make efforts to meet customer requirements.”

The High Definition format war comes to an end

It has certainly been a long, drawn-out, ugly high definition format war. With Toshiba being the sole manufacturer for HD DVD products and conceding defeat, this war is now officially over.

It has been fun at times reporting on all of the various developments coming from both the HD DVD promotions group and the Blu-ray Disc Association, but it has also been downright pathetic at other times with all of the mud-slinging, exaggerated claims and fan-boy propaganda that has been thrown around. The end to the war will allow high definition enthusiasts, content providers and consumer electronics companies to focus on one unified format, Blu-ray Disc.

What does this mean for Blu-ray?

The Blu-ray Disc Association is no doubt celebrating their victory this week. But what will the end of HD DVD mean for Blu-ray Disc? Will we continue to see sales on Blu-ray Disc content and a decline in prices for Blu-ray hardware? I believe that we will.

The multitude of content providers and manufacturers within the Blu-ray Disc Association should help prices continue to decline. As more and more consumers adopt Blu-ray, economies of scale should also come into play, lowering the overall costs of producing Blu-ray products.

I also hope to see increased quality in high definition content from Hollywood studios. With only one format to focus on, the studios should now be able to maximize their high definition encodes and interactive content for one platform, allowing for new innovations and progression to occur within Blu-ray products. Now let’s all hope that these things actually come to pass. I’m sure that we would all love to see lower prices and more innovative products in the Blu future.

Official Toshiba press release

Company Remains Focused on Championing Consumer Access to High Definition Content

TOKYO–Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the market. Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.

HD DVD was developed to offer consumers access at an affordable price to high-quality, high definition content and prepare them for the digital convergence of tomorrow where the fusion of consumer electronics and IT will continue to progress.

“We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called ‘next-generation format war’ and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop,” said Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation. “While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality.”

Toshiba will continue to lead innovation, in a wide range of technologies that will drive mass market access to high definition content. These include high capacity NAND flash memory, small form factor hard disk drives, next generation CPUs, visual processing, and wireless and encryption technologies. The company expects to make forthcoming announcements around strategic progress in these convergence technologies.

Toshiba will begin to reduce shipments of HD DVD players and recorders to retail channels, aiming for cessation of these businesses by the end of March 2008. Toshiba also plans to end volume production of HD DVD disk drives for such applications as PCs and games in the same timeframe, yet will continue to make efforts to meet customer requirements. The company will continue to assess the position of notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives within the overall PC business relative to future market demand.

This decision will not impact on Toshiba’s commitment to standard DVD, and the company will continue to market conventional DVD players and recorders. Toshiba intends to continue to contribute to the development of the DVD industry, as a member of the DVD Forum, an international organization with some 200 member companies, committed to the discussion and defining of optimum optical disc formats for the consumer and the related industries.

Toshiba also intends to maintain collaborative relations with the companies who joined with Toshiba in working to build up the HD DVD market, including Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation and major Japanese and European content providers on the entertainment side, as well as leaders in the IT industry, including Microsoft, Intel, and HP. Toshiba will study possible collaboration with these companies for future business opportunities, utilizing the many assets generated through the development of HD DVD.

Read: source (thanks to Koba for the heads up)