The maker of the CinemaNow video service says it wants to start adding 3D movies to its repertoire.
Sonic Solutions is working with Nvidia, Samsung, and Mitsubishi to start delivering video in a variety of 3D formats to PCs and some 3D-capable TVs. Whenever it does become available--which is not clear yet because Sonic isn't ready to discuss which hardware partners it's working with--the movies will be delivered via the same method as the company's CinemaNow service.
You'll need these glasses at home if Sonic Solutions' 3D download service gets off the ground.
(Credit: Erica Ogg/CNET)The technology, however, is still new. It will only work with devices with graphics processors optimized for 3D, which mostly means it will work on PCs with 3D-capable monitors. Some Samusng and Mitsubishi TVs that are 3D-enabled might also work. In all cases, you'll still need plastic 3D glasses.
Though Sonic Solutions actually sees Blu-ray as the best way of delivering 3D content, there are several issues holding that up: the technology has not been agreed upon by all the parties that subscribe to that standard. In the meantime, Sonic says its video service will be a great way to fill the gap, since there are a growing number of 3D movies in the theater.
"We see an opportunity to bridge that time gap," said Michael DiMaria, vice president of product management for CinemaNow. "Ultimately, we believe Blu-ray will be the dominant format for the distribution of 3D content. In the meantime, there's plenty of content available and several ways to display it."
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We're putting the final touches on our review of the LG BD390 (the full review will be up soon), but we've wrapped up our testing of its CinemaNow functionality. We've had some experience with CinemaNow as a PC-centric download service, but the BD390 is the first standalone product with streaming CinemaNow functionality that we've seen. The service is similar to Apple TV, Vudu, or Amazon Video On Demand, allowing you to rent ($3-$4) or buy ($10-$20) movies and stream them over a broadband connection.
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CNET/Sarah Tew)
The LG BD390 already includes Netflix streaming, so the advantage of CinemaNow is that it includes some new releases that aren't available for Netflix streaming; Netflix's streaming catalog is heavy on older releases. There's no doubt CinemaNow includes some new releases that Netflix doesn't have ("Appaloosa," "W," "The Spirit," "Transporter 3"), but the selection feels much smaller than Amazon's; we couldn't find any of the most popular movies on Amazon ("Bride Wars," "Slumdog Millionaire," "Marley & Me," "Twilight") on CinemaNow. (CinemaNow wouldn't disclose how large the current library is, except that "thousands" of titles are available.) ... Read more
LG LHB977: Blu-ray home theater system streams online video, includes extra inputs
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LG)
Nestled squarely between the LHB954 and LHB979 in LG's 2009 home theater system line-up is the LHB977. While the midrange package lacks the bundled wireless rear-speaker option and champagne-glass design of the 979, it's still loaded with features: 5.1 speaker array with funky front tallboy speakers; built-in Blu-ray player with Profile 2.0/BD-Live capability and Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD audio decoding; support for streaming ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
On Sale Now: $499.98 - $699.97
View the latest prices for LG LHB977
LG Blu-ray players stream Netflix, CinemaNow, and YouTube
The LG BD370 Blu-ray player
(Credit: LG)In 2008, LG's BD300 set itself apart from other Blu-ray players by becoming the first one to include compatibility with the Netflix's "Watch Instantly" streaming service. Unfortunately, the uniqueness of the feature was short-lived: within weeks, Netflix support was added to the Xbox 360, TiVo HD DVRs, and a pair of rival Blu-ray decks from Samsung. Now, LG's back with ...
Read the full post at CNET's CES 2009 blog.
On Sale Now: $129.95 - $249.95
View the latest prices for LG BD370
Starting at $25, "bundles" of mainstream films can be added to a computer's hard drive during the ordering process on Dell.com. The bundles available currently include genre groupings like the comedy collection of Zoolander, Nacho Libre, and School of Rock, and trilogies like Spider-Man and The Fast and the Furious.
Dell teams up with CinemaNow on movie downloads.
(Credit: Dell.com)Though the selection is limited and all of the movies come packaged in Windows Media DRM, the content offerings will be updated regularly in the future, according to Dell and CinemaNow, which is providing the movies.
Dell already works with CinemaNow on the Qflix DVD burner.
The movie download option is only available on the Inspiron 1525, Studio 15, and XPS 1535 laptops, and Inspiron 530, Inspiron 530s, Studio Desktop, and XPS 420 desktops. The XPS One desktop and Dell Mini 9 netbook are not part of this promotion.
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CinemaNow)
Add movies from Disney and Jaman.com to the growing list of downloadable content you can view on TiVo DVRs.
Disney movies will be available on TiVo starting next week. Rentals will be $2.99 each, and include titles ranging from animated classics (Dumbo) to modern favorites (Pirates of the Caribbean). The content will be provided via CinemaNow. See that site's TiVo FAQ for more details.
Movies from Jaman.com should be available this week. The $1.99 rentals include international selections, independent and art cinema, and anime titles.
The Disney/CinemaNow and Jaman selections will be presented in standard-definition video, and will be accessible on all current standalone TiVo models (Series3, TiVo HD, TiVo HD XL, and Series2 devices). They join such previous TiVo Internet-delivered content offerings as Rhapsody, Amazon Video-on-Demand, and podcast access.
Note: This post has been updated to specify that both the CinemaNow/Disney and Jaman selections will be available in standard-def only. An earlier reference to future HD content on CinemaNow's site has since been removed.
Updated at 2:17 p.m. PDT with number of downloads currently available on CinemaNow.
Dell is out with a new external drive that lets you expand your home movie library (legally) by burning downloads to DVD.
The PC maker has teamed with Sonic Solutions to offer the Qflix DVD burner, which lets you download films and TV shows from movie site CinemaNow and transfer them to multiple digital devices.
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Dell )
"Two of the key things holding consumers back in their willingness to purchase movies electronically are worries about long-term ownership and portability of the downloaded file," Tom Adams, president of Adams Media Research, said in a statement. "Providing the security of a DVD backup and the assurance that the file will play on the majority of standard DVD players--set-top, desktop, or portable--is a key step forward."
Qflix is a legal, recordable DVD standard. Approximately 100 Qflix-ready movie selections are currently available on CinemaNow, which says it plans to expand the number of offerings (a welcome move). Films can be downloaded for $9.95 a pop.
Starting Monday, the Qflix DVD burner is available for $120 as a standalone product, with the bundle (including the drive, which also supports standard DVD read/write functions; two recordable Qflix DVD discs; Roxio Venue and CinemaNow software; and a USB cable) available as an option on most Inspiron, Studio, and XPS laptops. Dell says the package will be available soon on some consumer desktops, as well.
As reported earlier, the new Archos PVPs are due out at the beginning of September. Unfortunately, Jasmine and I couldn't wait that long, so we contacted the product reps at Archos to schedule some one-on-one time. The following is a photo gallery that details some of the new features we can expect from the new line once it launches (plus some shots of the set-top DVR prototype).
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The Archos 605 Wi-Fi, with the kickstand extended
(Credit: Archos)Archos announced its 2007 lineup of media player/recorders today at press events in both Europe and New York, introducing four new portable models as well as the company's first set-top DVR.
The big news--as reported earlier--is that the new Wi-Fi-enabled portables include direct access to an online "Content Portal" and offer a Flash-supported Web browser option. The portal offers pay-per-download CinemaNow movies--just use the touchscreen to pick the movie you want to buy and download it to the internal hard drive, no PC required. The Opera browser--a $30 option on Wi-Fi models--includes a Flash plug-in. The pre-production model I was using smoothly delivered YouTube videos, even offering an option to toggle them to full screen. (By contrast, it's worth noting that the iPhone can't access the iTunes Store directly--content needs to be synced from a host computer--and Flash support is said to be absent from the included Safari browser.) With optional paid plug-ins, the higher-end Archos models will also offer customized widgets and even support for high-definition playback (24-frame, 720p video).
All the Archos portables are scheduled to ship in the first half of September. The line features four base models, some of which are available in multiple capacities and price points:
Archos 105: The entry-level, 2GB flash model is intended for very basic audio, photo, and video playback, but includes a 1.8-inch OLED screen and will sell for just $90.
Archos 405: In addition to the 2GB of built-in flash memory, the 405 includes an SD expansion slot and a larger, 3.5-inch LCD screen. It also offers wider file format support, including optional compatibility made available via downloadable (paid) plug-ins.
Archos 605 Wi-Fi: The sweet spot in the Archos line adds Wi-Fi and a PSP-sized 800x480-pixel, 4.3-inch LCD screen. The 605 can stream video files from networked PCs on a home network, as well as offer direct access to the CinemaNow online video store and (with an optional upgrade) Web surfing and Flash-based video via the Opera browser. The 605 will be available in three configurations: 4GB flash with an SD expansion slot for $200, a 30GB hard-disk model for $300, and a 160GB hard-disk model for $400.
Archos 705 Wi-Fi: The deluxe Archos portable offers the same features as the 605, but boasts a massive 7-inch screen. It will be available in 80GB and 160GB hard-disk models (pricing still to be determined).
While the 2007 models appear, at least on the surface, to be more affordable than last year's versions (Archos 104, Archos 404, Archos 604 Wi-Fi, and the Archos 704 Wi-Fi), there's a catch: to enable some of the more compelling features of the 405, 605, and 705, you need to purchase optional accessories and software plug-ins. Most notably, the DVR Station ($100) lets a docked Archos record TV shows (with cable/satellite box control and even a built-in electronic programming guide). Somewhat more onerous, however, is that the Web browser is a separate purchase ($30), and six separate A/V codecs and features are a la carte downloads at $20 a pop (MPEG-2/Dolby compatibility for ripped DVDs; H.264/AAC compatibility; widgets plug-in; HD video support; Real Video support; and Internet radio playback). That's $150 extra dollars for the full Archos experience--not including the DVR add-on.
Archos' nickel and diming notwithstanding, the Wi-Fi-enabled models look to deliver an impressive mixture of features and value, including some impressive media recording and playback options that even the vaunted iPhone won't be able to match--at least, not until its own string of firmware and accessory upgrades is announced. (Of course, none of the Archos players will replace your cell phone.) Look for full in-depth CNET reviews of all four Archos models when they hit the market in September.
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