Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - (Page 26) NEWS www.homemediamagazine.com 3-D in the Home Presents Challenges for the Industry Continued from page 1 offset superimposed color layers to produce a 3-D depth effect when glasses are used. Glasses are about the only thing the three have in common, and the lack of 3-D standards for media in the home — especially Bluray — is causing, as one analyst put it, “a lot of hand-wringing.” Blu-ray Disc 3-D standards “[The Blu-rays were] encoded in anaglyph 3-D. That technology is almost 100 years old,” said David Wertheimer, executive director of the Entertainment Technology Center at the University of Southern California (ETC at USC), of the old red and cyan glasses. “Like consumers, the studios want 3-D in the homes as well. … Until the technologies we saw all over CES this year hit the mainstream, the world needs bridge technologies to allow for enhanced experiences on existing TVs. “The studios are doing what they can to satisfy the consumer demand for 3-D.” Most HDTV companies are making 3-D-ready TVs, and some are putting autostereoscopic displays (without glasses) into the consumer market. But both the consumer electronics industry and content owners are looking at Blu-ray to satisfy the demand for packaged media on 3-D. “We do not yet have any proposals being made for 3-D within the [Blu-ray Disc Association], but we do believe that Blu-ray Disc is the best packaged-media format for 3-D,” said Andy Parsons, SVP of advanced product development at Pioneer Electronics and chair of the Blu-ray Disc Association promotion committee in the United States. “There are many different approaches being shown by various companies, so we’re interested in studying how we might be able to combine the best 3-D experience with the best HD experience. “The quality, compatibility and uniformity of 3-D viewing will be very important considerations for us once we begin to evaluate various technologies.” Bill Hunt, editor of TheDigitalBits.com, said he was impressed by Panasonic’s and other companies’ 3-D technologies at CES, though when it comes to Bluray 3-D, he believes the industry should find a way to make disc content future-proof, able to play on current Blu-ray players that may not handle a future 3-D standard. “It remains to be seen whether it’s a fad,” he said. “Not every movie is going to be shot in 3-D.” Chris Chinnock, president of Insight Media, said he sees two paths to 3-D standards for Bluray. The longer road has everyone involved sitting down together and hammering out an agreement on what everyone will do, while the other involves a major consumer electronics company taking the initiative and introducing technology that becomes the standard, he said. Hardware is one option; encoding 3-D on software is another. Or there’s the possibility of multiple standards. After all, there are multiple ways to compress video files and store media to portable devices. But Chinnock hopes, for the home entertainment industry’s sake, that it doesn’t come to that. “We’re just coming off the HD DVD/Blu-ray war, and that was painful,” Chinnock said. “It would be nice if we could take care “You get the right resolution, of this from the beginning.” and the market will respond,” she said, adding that Blu-ray also 50GB goes a long way presents opportunities for auThe appeal of 3-D on Blu-ray comes from the high-def format’s storage capacity, 3-D industry experts agreed. “Blu-ray presents an opportuhe DVD Forum has adopted Monnity for high-quality images,” treal-based Sensio’s 3-D technology said Greg Agostinelli, who spent as an optional DVD standard, a Sensio years developing autostereoscopspokeswoman said Jan. 27. It’s the first time ic technologies with Stereoscope a 3-D video specification has been recogStudios. “Because of the storage nized as a standard for DVD. capacity of the disc, you can do 3-D “After 10 years of investment, developwell. In very general terminology, ment and commitment, we are extremely 3-D is two times the information, happy to be rewarded in this way, and that and you need every bit of that our format has been recognized by a stancapacity.” dards organization,” said Sensio president Daniel Evanicky, principal of and CEO Nicholas Routhier. “Our technol3-D company Information Interogy has reached the necessary level of action, agreed, saying, “It’s Blumaturity to become a standard, and its qualray or nothing.” ity, reliability and robustness have been asMorgan Hurley, a marketing sessed and certified by a recognized global manager with 3-D company Macorganization. Naughton Inc., said getting 1080p “We are confident that this certification resolution for 3-D will be the key. tostereoscopic solutions. “Who likes having anaglyph glasses on their face, and being seen wearing them?” DVD FORUM ADOPTS 3-D STANDARD T will have a positive impact on manufacturers, and that it will enable us to facilitate and accelerate the integration of our technology into products for the consumer market.” A DVD Forum spokesperson was unavailable for comment. Sensio’s 3-D technology has been used on Imax 3-D DVDs, Spy Kids and Jaws, among others, and allows for viewing on traditional 2-D displays with glasses, or 3-D displays with an external decoder. “It’s a step in the right direction,” said David Wertheimer, executive director of the Entertainment Technology Center at the University of Southern California. “There’s a fair amount of work remaining to be done for standards revolving around 3-D content in the home.” – Chris Tribbey JUST ANNOUNCED A Weekly Product Update* Seven Pounds STREET DATE The Spirit BOX OFFICE (MILLIONS) Punisher: War Zone TITLE PREBOOK GENRE PRICE Seven Pounds 3/17 2/12 $70 Drama DVD $28.96, BD $39.95 Sony Pictures. 2009. Will Smith, Rosario Dawson, Woody Harrelson. A man with a fateful secret seeks redemption through bettering the lives of seven strangers. Also available on UMD at $24.94. A digital copy is exclusive to the Blu-ray Disc. The Spirit 4/14 3/25 $19.8 Action DVD $29.95, BD $39.99 Lionsgate. 2008. Gabriel Macht, Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Mendes, Scarlett Johansson, Sarah Paulson, Dan Lauria, Jaime King, Paz Vega. From Frank Miller comes a re-imagining of the legendary comic book hero The Spirit. Also available in a special edition DVD ($34.98). Punisher: War Zone 3/17 2/18 $8.1 Action DVD $29.95, BD $39.99 MILLIONS OF 3-D GLASSES MADE FOR DREAMWORKS SUPER BOWL ADS Lionsgate. 2008. Ray Stevenson, Dominic West, Julie Benz. Frank Castle continues his one-man war on organized crime, this time focusing on mob boss Billy Russoti. Also available in a two-DVD special edition ($34.98) with digital copy. A digital copy is also included with the Blu-ray Disc. Let the Right One In 3/10 2/10 $1.8 Horror DVD $26.98, BD $34.98 merican Paper Optics has manufactured 125 million sets of 3-D glasses for 3-D commercials from DreamWorks Animation and SoBe Lifewater airing during the Super Bowl. The company was responsible for 3-D glasses found in Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment’s Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert DVD and Warner Home Video’s Journey to the Center of the Earth DVD. DreamWorks and Pepsi — which owns SoBe — engaged in one of the largest advertising events ever, with a 90-second 3-D Monsters vs. Aliens spot and a 60-second 3-D SoBe Lifewater commercial. The millions of glasses were distributed for free at Pepsi displays in 25,000 retail locations nationwide. The glasses were also designed for a 3-D episode of “Chuck” airing on NBC Feb. 2. – Chris Tribbey Magnolia. 2008. Based on the bestselling novel by John Ajvide Lindqvist, a lonely young boy develops a relationship with the odd girl next door who, it turns out, is a vampire. In Swedish with English subtitles. Watchmen: The Complete Motion Comic 3/3 Now DTV Animated DVD $28.98, BD $35.99 Warner. 2009. The graphic novel is shown in 12 episodes. Includes $7.50 in movie cash to see Watchmen in theaters and a sneak peek of DC Universe’s Wonder Woman DVD. A digital copy is included with the Blu-ray Disc. Craig Ferguson: A Wee Bit O’ Revolution 3/24 2/24 DTV Comedy DVD $14.98 Image. 2008. The DVD features the stand-up comedy routine of CBS’ “The Late, Late Show” Emmy-nominated host, recorded live at the Wilbur Theatre in Boston. Bonus features include an interview with Ferguson. * In order of box office, then prebook date Home Media Magazine February 2–8, 2009 http://www.homemediamagazine.com http://www.TheDigitalBits.com http://www.TheDigitalBits.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 Contents News TV DVD Health/Fitness Reviews Pipeline Research Top 20 Sellers Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts Just Announced Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - (Page Cover1) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - (Page Cover2) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - (Page 1) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - (Page 2) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - (Page 3) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - (Page 4) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Contents (Page 5) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - News (Page 6) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - News (Page 7) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - News (Page 8) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - News (Page 9) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - News (Page 10) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - News (Page 11) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - TV DVD (Page 12) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - TV DVD (Page 13) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Health/Fitness (Page 14) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Health/Fitness (Page 15) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Reviews (Page 16) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Reviews (Page 17) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Reviews (Page 18) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Reviews (Page 19) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Pipeline (Page 20) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Pipeline (Page 21) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Top 20 Sellers (Page 22) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Top 20 Sellers (Page 23) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 24) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Top 20 Rentals and Top 10 Charts (Page 25) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Just Announced (Page 26) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Just Announced (Page 27) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Just Announced (Page 28) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Just Announced (Page Cover3) Home Media Magazine - February 2, 2009 - Just Announced (Page Cover4)
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