I don’t burn a lot of discs. Just the occasional backup now and then. And I certainly don’t print labels. A black felt-tipped marker is just fine for me. But some people like to do that, and now it looks like you’ll be able to make colourful hi-res prints on BD discs:

TDK today demonstrated the first printable versions of Blu-ray discs at the NAB tradeshow. Two different versions were shown - Rimage showed a thermal printable BD-R, while Primera had an inkjet printable at its booth.

Both versions are promised to deliver “colorful, high-resolution prints.” The printable surface of the BD-Rs extends from the outside edge of the media all the way to the center hub for to enable a “highly professional appearance,” according to Rimage and Primera.

Cool stuff.

Printable Blu-ray discs demonstrated at NAB

Over at HDTV Expert Peter Putman wrote a few articles on 1080p (1080p Reality Check, published in July 2005, and 1080p Q&A, published in August 2005).
Well Peter is back with some Q&A. Seems many people have been writing him about these articles and taking issue with many of his conclusions. Maybe with some prodding from me:

Or how about the fact that the typical consumer cannot distinguish between 1080i and 1080p unless a static image is displayed

Peter does a very good job of keeping calm and answering all the questions. He also had to remind people that the articles were written back in July of 2005, well before HD-DVD players were available and HDMI was just coming out.

The Masses Have Spoken

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings wants the format war between HD DVD and BD to end. He believes that it’s in the best interest of consumers that the war ends and that one format prevails. I don’t think anybody would disagree with him. But he thinks this could come about in this way:

In regard to the next generation introductions, Hastings called on studios to follow the lead of Warner Home Video and Paramount Home Entertainment, which plan to release their movies on both formats, saying it’s a “practical solution” to a format war.

Which I don’t understand. If all the movies were available on both formats, wouldn’t that protract the format war? Some people have BD, some have HD DVD, each is happy with their decision, and nobody switches. On the other hand, if more studios support one format over another, wouldn’t that push support to that format all the sooner? What do y’all think?

Hastings urges end to high-def war

Many people own CRT televisions. Actually, even given the popularity of DLP, LCD, and plasma technologies, CRT’s are still in more homes than any other technology. But sales are on the decline as the newer technologies grab the eyes of consumers. LCD televisions and plasma displays are just so sexy it’s hard to resist their charms.

But Samsung has a knockout CRT display that it expects to do quite well, thank-you very much. Their slim CRT TV lineup is expected to increase in sales, not decrease. And I can understand why. CRT is still the best technology if you’re looking for the best in picture quality. The biggest drawbacks of CRT have always been size and burn-in. And at least plasma also suffers from burn-in, and Samsung’s slim CRT’s have at least reduce the size problem. So it’s no surprise that people have been snatching up these sets.

Although overall CRT market is shrinking, Samsung SDI expects slim CRT TV segment to double in size in 2Q

With the NAB conference going on this week, there are many new announcements of new hardware and software.

A couple pieces of software of note are Scenarist 4 and CineVision HD authoring. Seems that beta of these packages were used for many of the HD-DVD titles out there. Most of us will never use this in our homes, but it definitely confirms that all those people with HD-DVDs are running beta software.

Sonic Ships Scenarist 4 and CineVision HD Authoring Systems

Bryan over at Home Theater Blog managed to secure himself one of those newfangled HD DVD players, and he seems to like it! The review is in two parts, so make sure you get it all!

He takes a look at the video connections, audio connections, several movies, picture quality, and whatnot. It’s quite an extensive review, and I don’t really want to try to summarize it because he did such a great job. If you’re at all interested in buying an HD DVD player soon, you have to check it out.

Hint: he uses the words “trounced” and “exciting” in his review, and in positive ways.

Toshiba HD-A1 review, Part 1
Toshiba HD-A1 review, Part 2

A three chip DLP projector has two main advantages over a single chip device: no rainbows, and brightness. Generally, three chip DLP projectors also have one large disadvantage: cost. Ultimate AV reviewed SIM2’s Grand Cinema C3X 3 chip DLP projector, and it tips the scales at about $20k. You can get the projector with a 2.3:1 zoom lens or a 1.5-2.1:1 zoom lens. The whole projector comes in several configurations as well, including a lower cost model with a lamp that’s not so bright, for $4k less. The projector has three of TI’s 1280 x 720 HD2+, DarkChip3 DMDs.

Strangely, the reviewer, Mr. Norton, actually complained that this projector is too bright! He installed a filter on the lens to take this torch-like projector down a notch. But if you use a larger screen than his 130″ screen, or one with less than his 1.3 gain, you might be okay. Or, as he later discovers, you can adjust the gamma to get lower light output but a better picture! It pays to tweak, I guess.

The projector had good colour fidelity, the picture was detailed, but the black levels weren’t the best in the business, though good. Shadow detail was also good.

Conclusion?

So, buying an expensive 720p projector today may be a bit of a crapshoot. But the SIM2 Grand Cinema C3X certainly has the stuff to come up a winner. It has a few limitations, and the price may be high, but it’s not outrageous for what it provides on the bottom line: an involving, compelling picture.

SIM2 Grand Cinema C3X Three-chip DLP Projector

First you hear that Blu-ray may be supported by Windows Vista. Then you hear that it’s HD DVD all the way and forget Blu-ray. Who do you believe? It’s like the old debate about coffee: good for you or bad for you?

The latest news, though, is from Mr. Bill Gates himself. He says that Blu-ray may become a supported format in Windows Vista:

“In terms of Blu-ray, that’s also coming along”, Gates said, adding: “As they finalise their specifications we’ll understand how well that’s able to connect up to Windows. As yet they haven’t shared that”.

So for now the rumour is tentatively in the “Blu-ray may be in Vista” camp. Though I have a feeling this will change.

GATES: BLU-RAY + VISTA = POSSIBLE

So it seems the two sides (at least for now) in the format war will not make up and play together.

If you remember the two formats (Blu-ray and HD-DVD) had discussions about trying to come up with a compromise format. The big sticking point though was money. Who would share in the royalty pot. OK the press says that HD-DVD wanted more of it’s technology in there to keep manufacturing costs down and Blu-Ray wanted to move to a true next generation format, but here me now, it was all about the benjamins ($$$ to those in Rio Linda).

PC Mag: Matsushita: Blu-Ray, HD-DVD Will Never Merge