Up to this point getting Blu-ray discs out to the masses has been more than a little difficult. That’s probably putting it mildly. And getting them out to anything less than the masses--that is, authoring, replicating, licensing, and delivering midlist titles on a sub-Hollywood scale--has been next to impossible.

Astronomical AACS licensing fees aside, there have been premastering obstacles as well as obstacles that prevented the creation of a replicated master for smaller projects. Thankfully, the biggest challenge--reducing AACS fees--has been fairly well resolved. Now we can address the other issues.

Let’s take a look at some of the basic mechanics. There are two different pathways to making a Blu-ray project, and the pathway that is most associated with affordable desktop authoring is the pathway that gets you to a Blu-ray Recordable disc. "That’s the simplest way to get into the Blu-ray authoring process," according to Bruce Nazarian, president, of the IDMA. It is a simpler form of authoring than Hollywood features, but at least it does allow you to take high definition video and get it to a Blu-ray Disc that can be played on a player. "That path does not take you all the way to replication if you want to publish a commercial project, or if you want to publish a project on more than a couple of hundred discs in a cost effective way."

One of the factors standing in the way has been a dearth of affordable tools available that allows creation of a replicatable master. Adobe Encore is a mainstream pro/prosumer tool that has offered Blu-ray authoring for a couple years now, but you can’t use it to make a BD-CMF(Blu-ray Cutting Master Format), which is a critical part of the equation if you want to publish. From there, it's on to higher-end, higher-cost, higher-complexity solutions such as Sonic BD Author and Sony Blu-print, which are beyond the scope of the production house that wants to branch out into Blu-ray.

Rivergate's Blu-Streak Premaster 1.0 was created to take down the blockade in the workflow. For $349, it will allow you to take an Adobe Encore-authored project that was authored correctly for replication and it will convert the finished project into the BD-CMF required by replicators. Rivergate recently announced compatibility with the new version of Apple Final Cut Studio, which features modest Blu-ray support. "It sounds like a small thing until you realize it was the huge missing link between those who wanted to publish and the ability to get published," says Nazarian.

BluStreak Premaster 1.0 allows the correct formatting of Blu-ray output from any authoring application for large-scale manufacturing or replication, including full AACS copy protection support. Here’s a rundown of what BluStreak does:

• Formats Blu-ray output for commercial manufacturing
• Straightforward, reliable operation
• Accepts input from any authoring application
• Supports AACS & dual-layer (BD-50) format
• Automatic checksum generation to ensure data integrity
• Also burns playable discs to both BD and DVD media

Does the release of the new Final Cut Studio plus BluStreak 1.0 mean that the two together can produce a professional-level Blu-ray title for mass distribution? Yes and no. Larry Applegate, Rivergate President, says: "Final Cut 7 and Compressor 3.5 can create a legal BDMV folder, but you are limited to a single audio stream and no real support for even a single subtitle stream. You can attach subtitle text to Final Cut markers, but that is an unworkable solution in a real production environment."

Instead, the Apple release--significantly, the second full rev of the suite that has included no changes whatsoever to its primary disc authoring tool, DVD Studio Pro--is targeted at the million-plus registered Final Cut Pro users who either have much less lofty Blu-ray authoring expectations, or will continue to look elsewhere to fulfill them (e.g., using Encore for Mac). Still, Applegate says, "This is certainly a welcome and long-overdue capability." The real answer , according to Applegate, is that if you want to adopt a Mac-only workflow, you must use Adobe Encore and Adobe Production Premium. "Encore has a very nice integration with Photoshop and the Adobe encoders. You can also use encoded assets from other encoders from both PC and Mac. Rivergate and the IDMA/DVDA have been busy testing the various encoders for replication compatibility.

For many studios, Encore is an ideal Mac solution for authoring, and the fact that its MPEG-2 and AVC encoders have been found to suitable for replication makes it even more attractive. However, Encore presents another obstacle because its Blu-ray output is limited in key areas, according to Robin Henson, Rivergate Partner and CTO. "The limitation to a single pop-up menu is too restrictive; audio and sub-picture stream selection buttons don't function correctly; and resume playback/dismiss pop-up buttons are either not available or do not function." (Click here to see a tutorial on how pop-up menus work in Encore.)

What's so cool about pop-up menus anyway? Well, pop-ups allow the viewer to change the audio or subtitle track, see what else is on the disc, etc., without interrupting the movie. "When implemented properly, this is a really cool feature, much more important than the hype that is Java and BD-Live. Pop-ups do not require Java, and in fact discs without Java are faster to load and more compatible across players," Applegate says.

The upcoming BluStreak Premaster 1.1, now in beta testing, is said to tackle these problems head on. "The new version will allow an unlimited number of menus to be designated as pop-up menus, and allow correct behavior to be assigned to buttons. It will then automatically rewrite the disc's command set prior to output, so that the resulting disc's menus behave as the author intended," Henson explains.

For users not requiring replication, at least for their first releases, Rivergate offers BluStreak Burner at $129. BluStreak Burner 1.1 Beta includes all of the same Encore Enhancements that are available in BluStreak Premaster 1.1 Beta. The BluStreak 1.1 Beta upgrades are free to 1.0 users.

It sounds like everyone is on the right track, but is it all too little too late to usher in Blu-ray's long-awaited push into a broader and more diversified production market? Let’s hope not. As Media-Tech tries its best to hook up with replicators to offer a unified front when it comes to developing the Blu-ray market, many sources say it is now Sony’s job, on the replication side, to open up the playing field before it’s too late. The telltale selling season is right around the corner--stay tuned for this Christmas to see how the next stage of Blu-ray's long march to the mainstream will play out.

Debbie Galante Block is a freelance writer based in Mahopac, New York. false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE

The Authoritative Blu-ray Disc (BD) FAQ Has Moved!

Hugh Bennett’s The Authoritative Blu-ray Disc (BD) FAQ has moved to its new home at Hugh’s News (www.hughsnews.ca).

It can now be found at: www.hughsnews.ca/faqs/authoritative-blu-ray-disc-bd-faq

Redbox, the fully-automated new release DVD rental provider, is on pace to rent its half billionth DVD this weekend. The milestone comes only five years after redbox first debuted with 12 kiosks in Denver. Forty-eight states, millions of customers and more than 15,000 retail locations later, redbox will celebrate its half billionth rental.

"Redbox is committed to providing our customers with timely, convenient and affordable access to new release DVDs," said Mitch Lowe, president, redbox. "It is this singular commitment to our customers that has fueled our tremendous success and we thank our consumers for achieving this milestone with us."

For consumers looking to rent a movie this weekend, redbox is featuring a new selection of DVDs just in time for the weekend rush including the comedies "I Love You, Man" and "17 Again." Whether renting a comedy or tear-jerker, the affordable redbox price and convenient locations remain the company's top features.

Today, redbox is available at select McDonald's restaurants, leading grocery and convenience stores, and Wal-Mart and Walgreens locations in select markets. Each fully automated redbox kiosk holds approximately 500 DVDs, representing up to 200 of the newest movie releases. Consumers simply use a touch screen to select their favorite movies, swipe a valid credit or debit card and go. Customers can keep the DVD for as long as they'd like for an affordable price, and return it to any one of redbox's more than 15,000 locations nationwide. After 25 nights, rental charges cease and the DVD is the customer's to keep.

About Redbox
Redbox Automated Retail, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coinstar, Inc. (Nasdaq: CSTR), offers new release DVD rentals through its network of conveniently located, self-service kiosks. Redbox is available at more than 15,000 locations nationwide, including select McDonald's restaurants, leading grocery and convenience stores, and Wal-Mart and Walgreens locations in select markets. For more information, visit www.redbox.com.

MPEG LA, LLC, world leader in alternative one-stop patent licenses, today announced that several patent holders in MPEG LA’s MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License have filed separate patent enforcement actions in District Court Dusseldorf, Germany against Medion AG ("Medion") for infringing patents essential to the MPEG-2 digital video compression standard used worldwide in digital television broadcasting and DVD.

According to the complaints, Medion offers in Germany products, such as desktop computers, laptop computers, digital television sets and DVD players, which use patent protected MPEG-2 methods without having entered into licenses with the individual patent holders or a portfolio license that includes these patents offered by MPEG LA.

The suit seeks, among other things, monetary damages and an injunction prohibiting Medion from using MPEG-2 patents in its products and from offering, marketing, or importing them.

MPEG LA, LLC
MPEG LA is the world leader in alternative technology licenses, enabling users to acquire worldwide patent rights necessary for a technology standard or platform from multiple patent holders in a single transaction as an alternative to negotiating separate licenses. Wherever an independently administered one-stop patent license would provide a convenient marketplace alternative to assist users with implementation of their technology choices, the licensing model pioneered and employed by MPEG LA may provide a solution. Among MPEG LA’s licenses is one for MPEG-2 digital video compression that has helped produce the most widely employed standard in consumer electronics history. The MPEG-2 Patent Portfolio License, which includes more than 870 MPEG-2 essential patents in 57 countries, has more than 1400 licensees accounting for most MPEG-2 products including set-top boxes, DVD players, digital television sets, personal computers and DVD Video Discs in the current world market. MPEG LA is an independent licensing administrator; it is not related to any standards agency and is not an affiliate of any patent holder. For more information, please refer to http://www.mpegla.com.

Microservice, Brazil, has decided to begin manufacturing Blu-ray discs as the first company to do so in South America. Mr. Isaac Hemsi, CEO of Microservice, states: "We are very proud that after being the first company in South America producing Optical Disc back in 1987, we will now be the first company in South America manufacturing Blu-ray discs (BD 50 and BD 25). As our goal is always to provide our customers with the best quality discs, we have chosen to buy the well-established SINGULUS BLULINE II for Blu-ray disc production to bring this plan into action."

SINGULUS, with over 60 Blu-ray production systems at customer sites worldwide, has become the global market leader. The SINGULUS Blu-ray disc production system BLULINE II is designed for the economical production of Blu-ray Discs (BD ROM 50 and BD ROM 25), according to the specifications issued by the BDA.

All production steps from molding, cooling, metallizing, wet-embossing, lacquering and UV curing to quality inspection are incorporated in the BLULINE II. Its functionality, speed and design again set a new benchmark for the industry.

Background and Statement Microservice, Brazil
With 40 years of operation and 9 business areas, Microservice is an innovative company that continually invests in technology and specialization in the segments in which it operates.

With more than 1,000 employees, two Industrial Plants in São Paulo and Manaus, Microservice inaugurated the first Optical Disc factory in the Southern Hemisphere in 1987, when there were very few factories in the world. In 2007, they were the first company in Brazil to receive CDSA certification, awarded to companies that maintain programs for the prevention of piracy throughout their entire chain, from production to delivery.

Microservice believes in long term partnerships with the international brand names that they represent, their customers and their employees, since only through them can they meet their delivery commitments for complete and outstanding solutions to the market.

Background/brief profile of SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES
In 2008, SINGULUS unveiled its new BLULINE II system for the production of 50 Gigabyte dual layer Blu-Ray Discs and has since supplied a total of more than 60 systems for Blu-ray production lines.

SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES AG will be concentrating on the Optical Disc and Solar segments in the future. SINGULUS TECHNOLOGIES, the world leader in manufacturing mass production equipment for Optical Discs CD/DVD/Blu-ray, has joined with STANGL to focus on the photovoltaic market.

While STANGL specializes in wet-chemical processes, SINGULUS’ core competence is vacuum coating technology. SINGULUS’ extensive know-how is the optimal base for development of highly profitable, fully-automated production lines.

With this acquisition, SINGULUS has successfully entered the solar equipment market. The new business area Solar will be expanded in the next couple of years.

http://singulus.nl

Digital entertainment services company RealNetworks, and its subsidiary RealNetworks Home Entertainment, issued the following statement:

Today, Judge Marilyn Patel in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued an initial ruling on RealDVD.

"We are disappointed that a preliminary injunction has been placed on the sale of RealDVD. We have just received the Judge's detailed ruling and are reviewing it. After we have done so fully, we'll determine our course of action and will have more to say at that time."

ABOUT REALNETWORKS
RealNetworks, Inc. delivers digital entertainment services to consumers via PC, portable music player, home entertainment system or mobile phone. Real created the streaming media category in 1995 and has continued to lead the market with pioneering products and services, including: RealPlayer®, the first mainstream media player to enable one-click downloading and recording of Internet video; the award-winning Rhapsody® digital music service, which delivers more than 1 billion songs per year; RealArcade®, one of the largest casual games destinations on the Web; and a variety of mobile entertainment services, such as ringback tones, offered to consumers through leading wireless carriers around the world. RealNetworks' corporate information is located at www.realnetworks.com/company.  

Redbox Automated Retail, LLC, filed suit in Delaware Federal Court against 20th Century Fox on Tuesday, August 11, 2009, to protect consumers' rights to access new release DVDs. Redbox filed the action in response to new distribution terms proposed by 20th Century Fox that would prohibit redbox from providing consumers access to 20th Century Fox DVDs until at least 30 days after public release.

"Redbox's cornerstone principles include providing customers with a convenient way to rent new release DVDs at an affordable price," said Mitch Lowe, president, redbox. "At the expense of consumers, 20th Century Fox is attempting to prohibit timely consumer access to its new release DVDs at redbox retail locations nationwide. Despite this attempt, redbox will continue to provide our consumers access to all major new releases including 20th Century Fox titles at our more than 15,000 redbox DVD rental locations."

The lawsuit follows yesterday's announcement by redbox that the Company has signed a multi-year distribution agreement with Lionsgate(R) expanding the depth and breadth of Lionsgate titles available at all redbox DVD rental locations nationwide including popular new release titles. Redbox signed a similar distribution agreement with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) in July, expanding the quantity of SPHE new release, direct-to-video and catalog titles available at all redbox locations. The agreements are a win for the studios, redbox and consumers providing consumers timely, convenient and affordable access to new release DVDs.

About Redbox
Redbox Automated Retail, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coinstar, Inc. (NASDAQ: CSTR) , offers new release DVD through its network of conveniently located, self-service kiosks. Redbox is available at more than 15,000 locations nationwide, including select McDonald's restaurants, leading grocery and convenience stores, and Wal-Mart and Walgreens locations in select markets. For more information, visit www.redbox.com.

ArcSoft announced today its collaboration with SENSIO to ship TotalMedia Theatre 3 in Aspen 3-D Media Servers GL 1000 and GL 3159, allowing a 3-D movie watching experience at home!

By incorporating SENSIO® S3 Decoder, ArcSoft TotalMedia™ Theatre is now equipped with a powerful and technology-leading feature, 3-D Stereo playback. ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre can now decode and display 3-D encoded DVD movies and streaming files, bringing a true 3-D experience to consumers. Thanks to the SENSIO® S3 Decoder, ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre can support a wide range of 3-D Stereo displays such as Pageflip, Interlace, Anaglyph, and Checkerboard modes.

Aspen’s 3-D Media Servers, GL-3159 and GL-1000, come with a component style case and dual core processing with NVIDIA (GL-3159) and ATI (GL-1000) support. They allow users to store and view digital photos, burn and listen to music, record and watch TV shows, download and watch movies. Moreover, the servers come with two pairs of Xpand 3-D glasses for viewing 3-D PC games and movies, offering the ultimate home entertainment experience and performance.

"With the ever expanding market for 3-D technologies, ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre is at the forefront in complying with the demands of consumers," said George Tang, ArcSoft Vice President and General Manager of Video and Home Entertainment Group. "Our collaboration with SENSIO will now enable consumers to have access to this technology for the most engaged 3-D viewing experience on PC."

"We are very proud that our technology will be hitting store shelves this month. ArcSoft’s TotalMedia Theatre media player now includes the S3D decoder and allows us to address the PC market which represents a new growth driver with the potential of short-term revenue streams for SENSIO. This milestone marks another step towards our strategy in becoming the de-facto standard in the consumer market", said Nicholas Routhier, President and CEO of SENSIO.

For more information about ArcSoft TotalMedia Theatre 3, please visit www.arcsoft.com/intouch/tmt3dpr. T learn more about SENSIO’s 3-D technology, visit http://www.sensio.tv/en/default.3d; and to learn more about Aspen’s 3-D Media Servers, visit http://www.aspenmediaproducts.com/.

About ArcSoft
ArcSoft, Inc. is an industry leading software developer of multimedia technologies and applications across desktop and embedded platforms. Working closely with major OEM manufacturers, ArcSoft offers a full line of imaging and video solutions that enhance the features, performance, and user experience of mobile phones, digital cameras, optical drives, personal computers, and consumer electronics devices. For further details, visit www.arcsoft.com.  

About SENSIO
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Montreal, Canada, SENSIO develops and markets forward-looking stereoscopic technologies designed to offer the most advanced and immersive cinematographic experience available. Its flagship technology, SENSIO®3D, allows the high-quality distribution of 3-D content through conventional 2-D channels and playback on any display device, including plasma TVs, HDTV and glass-free 3-D displays. Working with major Hollywood studios and large format 3-D film producers, SENSIO has built up one of the world's largest libraries of 3-D movies for the home entertainment market.

Applied Magic has released Fort Knox, a unique, easy-to use, standalone DVD duplicator featuring hardware-based copy protection that discourages unauthorized duplication. NO COMPUTER NEEDED. Most copy protected duplicators need to be tethered to a PC where codes are purchased and used with each copy. This could cost hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on your volume, but with Fort Knox, you never pay a fee.

With Fort Knox, thousands of copy-protected discs can be duplicated without a license code, so there is no per-copy royalty to pay and no one to call for software licenses. This unique Technology embeds copy protection within each target disc making them almost impossible to copy using a computer or another duplicator.
Here is a list of customers who have discovered Fort Knox as a way to protect their hard work from un-authorized users:
· Independent Film Makers
· Event Videographers
· Educational Seminars
· Legal Videos
· Dance Recitals
· Photographers

Anyone that might be concerned about a customer copying your hard work should consider the Fort Knox.

* No license codes
* No computer needed
* Comes with 160GB HDD
* Make thousands of copy protected DVDs with no fees

Now on Sale to the end of August

3 Target Fort Knox was $995, now only $879
5 Target Fort Knox was $1,295 not only $1,149

www.applied-magic.com