Blu-ray supports several video codecs. One is the old standby, MPEG2. It’s the oldy but goody. It’s currently in wide use, most commonly by the millions of DVD discs out there. But Blu-ray has a couple of new codec tricks up its sleave too. VC-1 and MPEG4-AVC both compress HD movies twice as hard as MPEG2 can, reducing the amount of disc space needed for an HD movie so much that it could fit on a red-laser DVD. (Actually, this is the basis of Blu-ray’s BD-9 variant.)

With these fancy new codecs at their beck and call, you’d expect studios to jump on them with both feet. But that’s not happening. Sony, for one, has decided to stick with MPEG2 for its HD BD (BD = Blu-ray Disc) movies.

I’m not sure people really care that much either way, but c|net seems to think so:

But the studios’ decisions could mean a great deal to companies that have invested heavily in creating or supporting the new video technologies. Microsoft has been betting that the adoption of its advanced video format by Hollywood studios, cable networks and satellite TV companies will help Windows-based devices capture a bigger share of the home entertainment market.

It might be the wisest thing to do. Stay with a known technology until the wrinkles get smoothed on the new stuff. Then make the step. But there are a few studios making the step already. Warner Brothers is leaning towards the use of VC-1, probably on BD-9 discs. And Fox is thinking that MPEG4-AVC might just suite their style.

Personally, I think BD-9 is a great idea. It’s a great transitionary technology while the costs of producing BD media comes down. Then the increased storage capacity of BD media will invite another wave of innovative ways of giving us consumers interesting content.

c|net - New high-definition DVDs to use old video technology?

Evan Powell of Projector Central is doing some comparisons of some mighty fine projectors. He’s looking at the Sanyo PLV-Z4, the Panasonic PT-AE900U, and the Mitsubishi HC3000 in a new article.

The interesting thing that’s happening these days is that 3LCD projectors have come up in quality so much that you can no longer say that DLP projectors are de facto better. The cheapest 720p DLP projector is the Mits. Yet it still goes for quite a premium over the 3LCD offerings from Sanyo and Panasonic. Is it worth it?

Personally, I do not see it. I have spent a great deal of time viewing these projectors side by side with identical sources. And the simple fact is that, while each of them has unique advantages over the others, if I were to select one for my own use while ignoring price as a factor, I would select the Sanyo Z4. Here are the reasons: First, I see a sharper image on the Z4 than I do on virtually any other projector under $10,000 other than the BenQ 8720, which also has a razor sharp image. I value this extremely sharp image acuity over most other performance criteria.

Others would choose the Panasonic because of its lack of any pixel structure. It provides a very smooth image. Conclusion?

Many consumers will prefer [the Panasonic] to the Z4 due to the absence of pixelation and its exceptional color accuracy. Together with the Z4, these two models represent a one-two punch that will cause many people to question the traditional supremacy of DLP as the preferred video technology. Few people expected LCD to show this well against its DLP competition.

Yup, the Panasonic and Sanyo projectors are so good, I put them both in my new HD Buzz section. Check it out!

Projector Central - The New 720p Projectors

If you have a keen eye that picks up details now matter how small, you may have just noticed the new “HD Buzz” logo in the sidebar. I’ve created a new page on this site that will detail what the latest buzz is in HD circles.

I’ve divided the page into two section: products and technologies. If you want to know the hotted HDTV’s to buy, then HD Buzz Products section should be your next stop. On the other hand, if you just want to know what’s coming down the pike, the Technology section is for you.

Take a look at HD Buzz.

In a move that has me scratching my head, the DVD Forum has approved a new format.

The DVD Forum, the international DVD standard authority, has given Chinese engineers the go-ahead to look into developing a next-generation DVD format which will compete with Sony’s Blu Ray and Toshiba’s HD-DVD standards.

Last month China announced plans to develop its own format in a bid to eliminate the need to pay licensing fees to foreign companies. The DVD Forum has now agreed that a study can be carried out to test the feasibility of a China-only format, according to news network NewsFactor.

Why wouldn’t they work towards eliminating licensing fees in China instead of creating a whole new format? Maybe that’s just my political naivite talking, but I think that a whole new format would just bifurcate the market more. We’ve done so well with a single DVD format. It had looked like we were standardizing on Blu-ray instead of HD DVD, but now the DVD Forum wants to give the world’s largest market a totally separate format. Especially since the format will be based on HD DVD technologies:

According to Lu Da of the government-backed National Disc Engineering Center, the format will offer higher definition, better sound quality and more effective means of combatting piracy than Blu Ray and HD-DVD.

It will also support Audio Video Coding Standard video compression technology, plus MPEG2, MPEG4 and Windows Media Video 9.

So with all these standards in use, how do they avoid paying royalties?

GamesIndustry.biz - DVD Forum approves China’s plans for next-gen DVD format

Ed Milbourn recently took a look at DirecTV’s HD DVR HR 10-250.

This machine has plenty of capacity - 250GB. It has twin DBS and ATSC tuners, but no NTSC off-air reception capabilities. The machine just grabs the digital signals it snatches from the air and plunks them directly on the hard drive, so performance is excellent. No DA/AD steps here.

The problem? Buggy software. I know what that’s like with my Scientific Atlanta (or should I say Cisco?) SA8300HD. The UI is also a mess. My PVR isn’t bad, but I don’t have a frame of reference, never having tried a TiVo.

Conclusion?

So, would I recommend acquiring this unit? If you have engineering and/or computer expertise plus patients, go for it. It performs very well. To the average HDTV user, I would suggest waiting on the availability of the new DIRECTV unit with NDS service, and hope for a better design.

Ed’s view - DirecTV HD DVR

An article over at c|net mentions the high cost of Blu-ray disc manufacturing. Supposedly it’s currently a lot more expensive than producing HD DVD discs.

in at least one early test, according to a top manufacturing executive who asked to remain anonymous, a manufacturing line for HD DVD discs produced nearly twice as many usable discs as a similar line pumping out the Blu-ray format, over the same period of time. That translates into higher costs for Blu-ray producers.

However, two things must be noted.

1. This is an early test. As manufacturers get to grips with Blu-ray technologies, costs will certainly come down.

2. There’s always BD-9. It’s a red-laser HD format that Warner Brothers insisted on when joining the Blu-ray camp. We know that using the latest compression technologies an HD movie can fit onto a standard DVD. That’s basically what BD-9 is, and it’s part of the Blu-ray format. So if manufacturers find the cost of creating blue-laser BD discs too expensive, they can always go red laser!

c|net - Cost questions dog Blu-ray DVD’s lead

Phillip Swan over at TVPredictions may just help you save $99 if you’re a DIRECTV subscriber. DIRECTV had said that it would upgrade users to the new MPEG4 system for free, but now they’re charging $99.

DIRECTV spokesman Robert Mercer said the free upgrade would not happen until the company converted from its current MPEG2 transmission to MPEG4. Mercer said it was unclear when that transfer would happen, but it would likely occur in most cities sometime in 2006. (Although the MPEG4 transition will not occur until later, DIRECTV customers still need the new MPEG4 system to get local HD channels now.)

How do you get around this?

So, if you have to pay $99 for the upgrade, how would you get it for free without waiting for the MPEG4 transition?

TVPredictions.com on Monday received several e-mails from readers who said that DIRECTV’s Customer Service department waived the $99 charge after they complained and asked to talk to a supervisor.

“I threw a fit and said I wanted to talk to a supervisor. They came back and said it would be free…They’re coming next Monday to install it,” one reader wrote.

TVPredictions - DIRECTV Charges $99 For ‘Free’ HDTV Upgrade

Technicolor will be using Sony’s 4K SXRD projector in its digital cinema beta test early next year.

The Sony projectors (models SRX-R110 and SRX-R105), which began shipping last month, are the first commercially available devices utilizing 4K technology. The Sony digital cinema projection system is DCI-compliant, and delivers a 4096 x 2160 pixel resolution to produce four times the pixel count of current high-definition televisions.

Technicolor’s inclusion of the Sony 4K digital cinema projection system as part of its digital cinema deployment underscores the importance of offering theater owners and patrons a range of high-quality digital entertainment options.

“The goal of digital cinema is to offer an entertainment experience that can’t be had at home, even with the best of home theater systems,” said Joe Berchtold, president of Technicolor Electronic Distribution Services. “Sony’s 4K SXRD projector is a device that can deliver on this promise, and will provide theatergoers a more satisfying and dynamic cinema experience. That’s why we’re including the Sony projector in our beta test next year and eventually expect to deploy a meaningful number of them in the marketplace.”

Widescreen Review - Technicolor To Include Sony 4K SXRD™ Projection System In Its Upcoming Digital Cinema Beta Test

Sony’s SXRD technology has been receiving rave reviews. There’s the expensive Qualia front projectors, and now there’s also their two rear-projectors. (And soon they’ll have an relatively affordable front projector.) The $5000 KDS-R60XBR1 is a rear-projection HDTV that uses 3 SXRD chips to provide 1080p resolution without a colour wheel. And ultimate AV has a review.

Sony claims a decent 5000:1 contrast ratio for this projector, and it uses a 120W Ultra High Pressure lamp with an 8000 hour lifespan. This set also has a dynamic iris, a new feature that’s been cropping up in a lot of products recently. Basically, the iris opens more or less depending on how much light is on the screen. This increases the contrast ratio.

The set is well connected, with 2 HDMI inputs, 3 Firewire/iLink inputs, and 2 component video inputs (among others). However, it does not accept 1080p on any input. Isn’t Sony the same company that’ll be selling the PS3, with its 1080p outputs, just next year?

Is this set good?

This set “wowed” observers at this past fall’s CEDIA Expo, and for good reason. So let’s start with the big picture: though not perfect, overall, this is easily the best RPTV video display I’ve seen yet. On HD material, 1920×1080p resolution—especially the 1920 spec—brings a level of clarity and detail that is literally eye-popping, not to mention mouth-watering and hypnotizing (on top notch source material).

Yup, it is. Not only that, but the reviewer (Michael Fremer) thinks that this set will force purveyors of DLP projectors to move to 3-chip designs:

I don’t mean to be doctrinaire: I’ve seen the TI system and it looks pretty good, but SXRD will force the DLP camp to switch to three-chip, full resolution light engines, while matching Sony’s aggressive pricing for these sets. That puts Sony in the driver’s seat, which is where they want to be.

Not only that, but Mr. Fremer thinks that this set produces black levels and contrast ratios to rival CRT. That is quite a compliment.

There are a couple problems with the set, however. A little bit of granularity, grain, and video noise. The biggest problem, though, is the price. $5000 is not cheap.

Ultimate AV: Sony KDS-R60XBR1 SXRD 1080p RPTV

c|net has a review of the Samsung HL-R6768W, which has been on the market for several months now.

The set is a full 1080p beast, using a DLP chip and colour wheel. The tiny DLP chip throws images up onto a 67″ screen, which is one of the largest sizes you can get for a rear-projection television. The DLP chip also helps gives this set a great black level (compared to other fixed-pixel displays, of course). This set uses that wobulation design that uses a 960 x 1080 grid of mirrors. The light from array of mirrors is shifted slightly to produce the missing 960 x 1080 set of pixels. While this set is a 1080p set and has two HDMI inputs, those inputs do not accept 1080p signals, which is a shame. (Though most sets have the same limitation. I always point this out, though, because I think it’s about time manufacturers wisened up.) However, it does accept 1080p on its VGA input, which is a rarety.

This is a pretty decent set, but one thing kills it my eyes:

After calibration, we found that the set’s black level, or brightness of “black,” changed when switching inputs or picture modes and even when chapter-skipping forward and backward on DVD movies. The fluctuation was clearly visible on both DVD and HDTV sources, not just on test pattern material. We believe it’s caused by the DNIe circuit, which last year was defeatable in the user menu and now can’t switched off at all. The set also doesn’t pass information that’s darker than “black,” which hinders its overall contrast ratio. Incidentally, DNIe also introduces severe edge enhancement in all but the Movie mode.

Who’d wanna live with that?

[via HTDude]
c|net - Samsung HL-R6768W

Pixar’s next endeavour will hit the silver screen on June 9th, 2006, and it will do so with a roar of finely tuned (or not) engines. The movie is called Cars, and it looks good.

Lightning McQueen, a hotshot rookie race car driven to succeed, discovers that life is about the journey, not the finish line, when he finds himself unexpectedly detoured in the sleepy Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. McQueen gets to know the town’s offbeat characters- who help him realize that there are more important things than trophies, fame and sponsorship.

Here’s the HD teaser.

Apple - Cars

We’ve heard of holographic storage on and off for a while now, and recently it’s been in the news again.

Set to go on sale in 2006, InPhase Technologies has developed a 300GB holographic disc format. “Unlike other technologies, that record one data bit at a time, holography allows a million bits of data to be written and read in parallel with a single flash of light,” says Liz Murphy, of InPhase Technologies. “This enables transfer rates significantly higher than current optical storage devices.”

In news of a more evolutionary sort, Ricoh has said that it has developed 8-layer technology to allow one disc to hold 200GB of data.

Ricoh Co. has developed technology that paves the way for the commercialization as early as 2008 of a 200-gigabyte optical disc, which could store 18 hours of high-definition television programming. This huge leap forward in recording capacity from the current single-layer DVD’s 4.7GB is made possible by increasing the number of data recording layers to eight. Even next-generation DVDs, such as Blu-ray discs and HD DVDs, have only two data recording layers because having more normally results in light reflected from other layers interfering with reading. The new technology sidesteps this by filtering out the offending light through the use of a special glass plate developed by Photonic Lattice Inc., which was set up to commercialize technology developed at Tohoku University.

New Scientist - Holographic-memory discs may put DVDs to shame
Newlaunches.com - Ricoh Develops 200GB 8-Layer Optical Disc Tech