Sharp is finally launching a Blu-ray player in the US – for real this time. The Sharp Aquos BD-HP20U will be available this month with an MSRP of $549. It has full 1080p/24 output via HDMI 1.3. The unit has a Quick Start which allows you to be watching a Blu-ray movie in less than 10 seconds from a cold start – much better from some of the earlier BD units. More information at Business Wire.
From EngadgetHD.
AnandTech is reporting from CEDIA that Blu-ray has overtaken HD DVD in standalone player sales. See the slide above. Sony’s claim is that this started with the release of the $499 Sony BDP-S300 player, but it might also have to do with Toshiba’s early announcement of their 3rd generation players helping put the damper on 2nd generation sales. But, in any case, if this is true it shows that’s the HD DVD camp’s claims about low prices winning the war aren’t panning out. Toshiba is refuting the claim. However, their refutation does not really say Sony’s claim is false. They point out that HD DVD has 55% *year to date* sales, and even say that “the competition may claim leadership based on one month of data” – but they never actually say that, over the current period where Sony claimed the lead, that BD is not leading. Looks like spin to me. To me it looks like BD has had a slim lead for the past few weeks, but that HD DVD definitely has a year to date lead – since it lead for most of the year. So both sides are right.
Via EngadgetHD and Format War Central.
TiVo has published a Guru Guide for the 2007 season, and series, premiers – the 2007 Fall TV Guru Guide.
Back with fervor! Get the best of the new TV season with our 2007 Fall TV Guru Guide, now better than ever, jam-packed with all of the network’s newest shows and all of your returning favorites. Get the whole guide, or schedule individual recordings and watch your Now Playing List flourish with crisp, cool fall TV! Your favorite premieres will automatically get added to this Guru Guide as they fall into the 14 day window of programming.
You can also find it locally under TiVo Central -> Find Programs -> KidZone Recommendations & Guru Guides -> TV and Movies -> 2007 Fall TV Guru Guide
Picked up from TiVo Blog.
Back in April we first heard about the new startup, Vudu, and their self-named set-top box for broadband video. Well, now it looks like they’re ready to ship. The New York Times, Yahoo! News, and USA Today all have articles on Vudu.
Personally, I’m impressed as a geek by their BitTorrent-like technology, but I’m not impressed by it as a product. It is yet another set-top box you need to buy and put in your entertainment center – for $399, not cheap. And you need a reliable high-speed Internet connection since it downloads movies on-demand. Low-end DSL and cable modem services may not be fast enough, and dial-up is, of course, right out – you need downloads of at least 2Mbps. You’ll also need to be sure your broadband provider doesn’t have usage limits since you’re Vudu will be downloading a lot of data – and uploading it as well.
Uploading? Yes. Vudu works like BitTorrent, peer-to-peer (P2P). When you select a movie to watch your Vudu box begins downloading it. But it doesn’t just download from Vudu’s central servers, but it will download portions of the film from other Vudu units out there that have already downloaded the film. The more Vudu boxes which have the film, the faster your box can pull the pieces together. So your Vudu will also be a node on the Vudu P2P network, serving data to other users.
Of course, the $400 for the box just gets you the box. You have to pay for the content as well. Movie rentals range from $.99 to $3.99 – with Hollywood blockbusters and new releases toward the high end of the range, and nth-tier direct-to-video releases at the low end -as you’d expect. Vudu also offers purchases for $4.99 to $19.99. Vudu is launching with a library of roughly 5,000 titles. Current content is all SD, though the Vudu will up-convert content to pseudo-HD via its HDMI connection. Vudu plans to offer real HD content in the future.
I just don’t think it is worth it. You can get a TiVo and have a premium DVR – with access to Amazon Unbox downloads. And the TiVo Series3 and TiVo HD will also up-convert content over HDMI – and Unbox is reportedly going to offer HD content in the future as well. Alternatively, Microsoft offers downloads, including HD, for the Xbox 360. And you can get a 360 for less than a Vudu – and you’d have a game box which can also be a DVD player – and HD DVD with an add-on. Sony will also be launching a download service for the PlayStation3, which will likely include HD content. The PS3 is a little more than the Vudu, but you also get a great game platform – which also plays (and up-converts) DVD as well as playing Blu-ray. And then there is Apple TV, which provides another platform for getting downloaded content on your TV, with more capabilities than the Vudu. And, of course, Netflix is always an option.
Based on the price and the narrow feature set, I just think there are better options.
TiVoPony is having a fun day, not only did he announce the software fix for the TiVo HD, but he also announced that the Series3 and TiVo HD will have TiVoToGo (TTG) and Multi-Room Viewing (MRV) enabled in November (yes, 2007). TiVo had previously said that we’d see them later this year, but it is nice to have a concrete time frame, as well as some specifics:
These features will provide support for video transfers between Series3 & Series2 systems and between a Series3/Series2 system and a PC. High Definition content will not be supported for transfer or playback on a Series2 system (Series2′s just can’t play HD), and copy-protected High Def or Standard Def content cannot be transferred (same as our current Series2 products). The aptly yet unofficially named TiVoToComeBack also will be supported, including HD content.
TiVoToComeBack (TTCB) is the reverse of TTG – the ability to move content from a PC to a TiVo. Just in case it isn’t clear, you’ll be able to transfer HD & SD content between Series3 and TiVo HD units, and SD content between Series2/2DT units or between the Series3/HD and S2/2DT. And TTG/TTCB SD & HD between S3/HD & PCs, or SD between S2/2DT & PCs.
This is really great news for S3 & TiVo HD owners. And a little crow to eat for those who said TiVo would never enable these features. (I’m sure someone will say it doesn’t count until the software is released – sure, but the crow will be served in November. 
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