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Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
Committing to target "the MySpace generation," Universal VP Ken Graffeo announced Wednesday that the studio plans to include web-enabled features in all of its new releases on HD DVD, starting with 'Heroes: Season One' on August 28.
The move appears to be intended to emphasize a technical advantage of HD DVD over rival format Blu-ray, which has yet to roll out any discs with features that utilize internet connectivity.
Pointing out that Blu-ray players "don’t have the consistency in their machines to be able to handle this," Graffeo's remarks came as attendees at the Home Media Expo got the very first peek at scenes and features from the highly anticipated 'Heroes' HD DVD release.
Although execs at the show remained tight-lipped about exactly what type of web-connected features the 'Heroes' HD DVD will include, Universal's Graffeo likened them to those of the massive social network MySpace. "We are developing that same community," explained Graffeo. "With 'Heroes,' producer Tim Kring is very involved in letting HD DVD users exclusively participate in the Heroes community."
Expect more complete details about the 'Heroes' HD DVD release later this month from Comic-Con, where NBC-Universal is planning a session with the show's cast and crew.
Re: Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
sounds interesting enough...but not enough to jump up and down about ?? still, saying "Blu-ray players don’t have the consistency in their machines to be able to handle this" isnt really a shortcoming of the rival format is it ?? If it was such a huge thing, similarly enabled BR players would be made just as quickly..
Format wars suck
Apart from console fans and tech heads, alot of people still dont care because the things are too damn expensive..
Re: Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
Quote:
saying "Blu-ray players don’t have the consistency in their machines to be able to handle this" isnt really a shortcoming of the rival format is it ??
Not really, but its just one other thing to add to some of the features Blu-Ray lacks. In a couple of months though BD will finally have some sort of In Movie Experienc (IME) that HD-DVD has, its probably my favourite feature of HD-DVD.
Re: Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
But aren't the "extra" features, piracy warnings, other trailers etc the things we cut out when making our backup copies. The feature I actually MOST want is the ability to just put the disc in the drive and launch the movie without going through all the other crap first, am I alone in this?
Re: Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
No your not alone Extreme, but the difference between HD-DVD & Blu-Ray/DVD is that when you put a HD-DVD in you might get on screen that says about piracy for 5-10 seconds, sometimes a screen saying what the feature is rated (ive only seen this on the USA imported movies) then your straight into the movie, if you want to access the menu at anytime you push the up arrow or right arrow on the navigation keys on your remote, otherwise you dont even have to know the menu is there.
watch the demo video to get what i mean (obviously not HD quality video)
Re: Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
how about wifi? I know that you will be able to use your 360 HD-DVD add on and your 360 if its connected with wireless dongle wirelessly to access the internet features, also im assuming it could be aimed at people with HD-DVD drives in their pc's kind of like when DVD's had internet features.
Re: Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
Yes, Wi-Fi would be a good solution.
Do any of the standalone players have wireless built in?
Xbox 360 and PC's obviously would make online easy, but if HD-DVD is going to become widespread and mainstream, this will entail only a fraction of a percent of potential HD-DVD users.
Re: Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
Quote:
Originally Posted by ExtremePC
But aren't the "extra" features, piracy warnings, other trailers etc the things we cut out when making our backup copies. The feature I actually MOST want is the ability to just put the disc in the drive and launch the movie without going through all the other crap first, am I alone in this?
You are soooooo not alone. I HATE all that anti piracy crap at the start of movies. Bloody movie companies and their over the top paranoia. I also have NO interest in all the "extras" that they bundle on DVD's (and now the extra 25Gb of rubbish they can flog you on the newer formats).
I think with all the press that has been coming out lately (Target in the US and now Woolworths only stocking Blu Ray) that HD DVD may finally be seeing the axe mans cleaver.
Oh I just got both Pirates of the Carribean on Blu Ray. Very tasty.
Re: Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
Quote:
I think with all the press that has been coming out lately (Target in the US and now Woolworths only stocking Blu Ray) that HD DVD may finally be seeing the axe mans cleaver.
Yes, i was reading about this earlier today, will see how the price of Blu-Ray does for sales over there, It certainly explains the price drop of the 360 Add on in the US now $179 + 5 free HD DVDs......hopefully they arent just trying to offload it all before the war is over
I hate to admit it (as im i really do like HD DVD over blu-ray) but i think in the next 4 years Blu-Ray may be the winner.....ill still support HD for now though, better movies on the format.
Re: Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
At this stage that still just seems to be a bit of fluff to me and not something that would influence my decision. My choice at this stage will still be based on which format has the majority of the content and all indications at this stage are that Blu-ray is where I'll probably end up.
Re: Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
Personally I hope neither wins and we get a third option for HD in the not too distant future, one without all the hoopla or threat of HDCP/DRM et all, and dare to hope the industry drops mpg 2 for HD entirely. It really is time we moved onto a more sophisticated and efficient compression method for the more sophisticated and space hungry HD resolutions. If you think about it BluRay and DVD-HD are a step backwards not forwards, I mean whats next BlueRay2 and DVD-HD2 on laser disc sized media?
Re: Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
Quote:
Originally Posted by philzgr8
At this stage that still just seems to be a bit of fluff to me and not something that would influence my decision. My choice at this stage will still be based on which format has the majority of the content and all indications at this stage are that Blu-ray is where I'll probably end up.
Fence sitter. You should apply for Bracks old job with a statement like that
Re: Universal Pledges Web-Enabled Features on All New HD DVD Titles
Quote:
Originally Posted by ExtremePC
Personally I hope neither wins and we get a third option for HD in the not too distant future, one without all the hoopla or threat of HDCP/DRM et all, and dare to hope the industry drops mpg 2 for HD entirely. It really is time we moved onto a more sophisticated and efficient compression method for the more sophisticated and space hungry HD resolutions. If you think about it BluRay and DVD-HD are a step backwards not forwards, I mean whats next BlueRay2 and DVD-HD2 on laser disc sized media?
I think it's just the next phase in the evolution of Hi Def media for the masses. The majority of users out there just aren't as tech savvy as "we'd like them to be". It's easier for these companies to produce something en mass that we're all familiar with. I would much prefer my movies to be on HDD than some sort of laser disc based media, but I bet my Mother and Father would completely disagree. Better the devil you know I suppose from a commercial perspective.
Committing to target "the MySpace generation," Universal VP Ken Graffeo announced Wednesday that the studio plans to include web-enabled features in all of its new releases on HD DVD, starting with 'Heroes: Season One' on August 28.
