Universal goes online to win HD DVD votes
Studio adds web-enabled content into titles
Agentless Backup is Not a Myth
Universal has announced a series of new interactive features for HD DVDs. It claims the new internet infrastructure allows users to take advantage of web-enabled HD DVD players, and sounds strikingly similar to the BD Live facility for Blu-ray.
U-Shop: HD DVD fans will have direct access to film content and merchandise
The four new features - U-Shop, Features/Download Center, Best Buddies/My Scenes and Customer Support - will be accessible via most forthcoming Universal HD DVD titles, and by players able to access the film studio’s website.
U-Shop is a portal where users can buy film-specific products directly through their HD DVD player, like, say, limited edition Millennium Falcon models. The Features/Download Center is a library of film stills and will be awash with downloadable film trailers and games. Users can also sign themselves up for newsletters through it.
Best Buddies/My Scenes launches in December and allows users to share their favourite movie clips with like-minded friends. Users can manage their list of pals directly from their HD DVD player or a PC.
My Scenes: share movie clips with your mates
And if all this goes kaput, then the Customer Support section contains error code explanations to help identify hardware or software issues, step-by-step instruction manuals and links to company support sites, such as that of HD DVD backer Toshiba.
Godly comedy flick Evan Almighty will be one of the first titles to incorporate the new interactive features. For example, users need only click on a special link from the disc’s main menu and they will be directed to U-Shop where they can buy a rain barrel, as featured in the film, for $134 (£69/€94).
Blu-ray has already unveiled a similar service, dubbed BD Live or Profile 2.0, which adds network connectivity to the list of mandatory functions of Blu-ray players. In August, Daewoo launched the DBP-1000, which supports the full BD specification and access to BD Live.
COMMENTS
I thought this was an article on advancement for HD DVD!
Is it possible to have just ONE complete article for some advantage for HD DVD which does NOT include a promotion for Blu-Ray!?!?! I mean please, it is really beginning to get annoying!
"Blu-ray has already unveiled a similar service, dubbed BD Live or Profile 2.0, which adds network connectivity to the list of mandatory functions of Blu-ray players. In August, Daewoo launched the DBP-1000, which supports the full BD specification and access to BD Live."
Where is this similar service and how can I use it today? Can I buy this Daewoo player today? Can any consumer on the Planet use BD Live today? Was it truly necessary to even mention this non-fact!?!
Careful there Rob..
...you're in danger of making sense owing to an understanding of the topic!
This has been planned and available should it be desired since the standard (a novel concept to BR...) was announced, as you rightly point out, BR is currently on profile 1.0, 1.1 due imminently and 2.0 due "sometime next year"
Oh and anyone for backward compatibility... all the HD discs with this feature on will play in current HD players, none of the 1.1/2.0 will though, which is nice.
BD Live? Where is it?
Blu-Ray is a lot of things, most are still in theory.
There are no blu-ray players that are capable of running an internet connection except the ps3. Even then, to run BD live it will need a firmware update.
The rest of the players on the market are simply stuck. They are known as profile 1.0, soon there will be 1.1 and then, finally, 2.0 which will have BD live.
Trust me, I'm an owner of a PS3 and HD. HD is currently more advanced.
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