The war between Blu-ray and HD-DVD is over. A truce was called in February--well, it was more like a surrender. But in any case, hostilities have ceased and a warm wave of peaceful bliss has washed over the industry, sweeping away the rancor and squabbling and jockeying for position. An era of peace, love and understanding has dawned over the disc business, a veritable Age of Aquarius.

Wait a minute. Sorry, I was dreaming. The truth of the matter is that although the war is over, change doesn’t come without cost. And sometimes in solving old problems you inadvertently create new ones.

SADNESS-TINGED RELIEF
For many disc developers and producers who had been working in the trenches to produce HD disc projects, the transition to a Blu-ray-only world has been painful but manageable. Most disc development houses had been hedging their bets by producing HD discs in both formats, so it’s not like hundreds of authors, producers, and programmers were all suddenly rendered jobless after Toshiba’s strategic withdrawal/surrender last February. As in the general business world (as with General Motors, for example), companies in the DVD/HD industry have adapted by downsizing and retooling. They’ve responded to the news of HD-DVD’s demise with a mixture of sadness and relief.

As vice president of the DVD Association Chris Brown has gotten a broad view of the transition to a Blu-ray-only world, but as CEO and president of Metabeam, he’s also viewed it up close and personal. “Well, half my market disappeared,” he says, speaking of the impact it has had on his company, which sells a unique software system called Metamenu that uses indexed metadata to generate viewer interfaces. “This was not an unexpected event for any of us, but it has had unintended consequences,” he says. “And Blu-ray favors big media. Now, I don’t subscribe to conspiracy theories, but it hit the independents pretty hard.”

One small company particularly hard hit by HD-DVD’s demise was Rivergate Software Inc. The company is the vendor of DVDAfterEdit, a nifty tool that allows developers to go into an already-authored app to augment and expand its capabilities. Sometimes called a “post-build editor,” it is also useful for debugging. When the truce/surrender announcement came, Rivergate president and owner Larry Applegate was working on an HD DVD version of his AfterEdit tool. He had bet on the wrong horse. Virtually none of the code he’s written can be reused or adapted for Blu-ray. “About two man-years went down the tube,” says Applegate.

Of course, postwar format consolidation has also had its upside. “It’s definitely added focus to the industry where we didn’t have focus before. Everybody’s on the same page, everybody’s working toward the same goals,” says Jess Bowers, director of technical services for 1K Studios, of Burbank, CA. “But it seems like there’s a little less fire in the industry,” he adds.Of course, there are die-hard HD DVD lovers who will never utter a nice word about Blu-ray and who will go to their graves condemning Toshiba and Microsoft for their cowardly surrender and Sony for being a bully. And they will insist that just as Betamax was a better format than VHS and unfairly driven from the market, HD DVD was the better technology, the superior underdog that should have been the winner. And they will regale their grandchildren with mythical stories set in the Camelot-like good old days of HD DVD. But for the most part, most of the HD disc developers and producers who had cast their lot (at least partially) with HD DVD have taken the news with calm resignation.

“We were always working in both formats but predominantly on the HD DVD side, mainly because of client demand. So we had to scramble a bit,” says Duncan Wain, president of Scope Seven LLC of El Segundo, CA. “To be quite frank, I think everybody from a development perspective would agree that it would have been easier to continue to work in HD DVD. It’s just a simpler format -- though BD gives you a lot more options down the road.”

BLU-RAY’S INTERACTIVE EDGE
Indeed, for a long time most people have given Blu-ray the edge when it comes to potential for powerful interactivity. It was Blu-ray’s tradeoff to HD DVD’s ease and simplicity. The main thing that made HD DVD development easier than Blu-ray development was the easier programming/scripting languages (HDi and JavaScript) used by HD DVD’s Advanced Content interactive mode. In contrast, Blu-ray’s interactive mode uses Blu-ray Disc Java (BD-J), a version of the more complex Java programming language.

“From a programming perspective, having a full-fledged Object Oriented language [Java] to use for interactivity goes far beyond the scripting that HD DVD did,” says Applegate.

“Yes, there are more things that you can potentially do in BD-J than you could potentially do in HD-i, but no one has reached that level yet. No one has taken full advantage of it yet,” says Wain. “Profile 2.0 of BD-J is just kicking off; we’ll see how it goes. It is a Java Virtual Machine, which, in itself, means there’s a lot more that you can do. You can do more sophisticated things in Java than you could do in JavaScript. Java is a more advanced language than JavaScript, so you can do more complex interactions.”

Bruce Nazarian agrees with Wain that Blu-ray’s potential for creating complex interactive apps has not yet been fully tapped, and like Brown, he has seen this from two perspectives -- one as president of the DVD Association and one from his perspective as CEO of Digital Media Consulting Group Inc. (dmcgi). However, while Blu-ray developers haven’t pushed the interactive envelope much, HD DVD developers have, Nazarian believes. “HD-i was easier to program and create things. It was interactive with the internet from day one,” says Nazarian. “In many respects, Blu-ray developers now have to play catch up.”

And yet Blu-ray’s version of Java has a lot of room for improvement, according to Applegate. “Java’s open-endedness makes it more powerful, but at the same time Blu-ray’s Java is poorly implemented. It is based on two revisions-old Java. So the people who are using Java for web design are way ahead of the capabilities of people who are using Java for Blu-ray.”

CONFUSING, CUMBERSOME, HARD
Nazarian says that Blu-ray continues to suffer from non-standard standards, and he calls the Blu-ray spec a moving target. “It is a standard that has been modified over the years. The continuing upgrade to the spec means that every time a new spec is introduced (the latest is Profile 2.0), there are new technological possibilities which now breed new technological challenges which now require time, effort and money to solve,” says Nazarian, adding that this shifting-spec problem, “won’t be resolved overnight.”

Another challenge to developers who have switched to Blu-ray, according to Wain, is that “The BD development and production process is a little more cumbersome. For one thing, you don’t have an emulator, though some are cropping up. But when there is one player from one company –Toshiba – and the emulator is actually the player itself, the development process is easier because you can debug and fix things fairly quickly. And that’s not the case with Blu-ray. So it’s a little harder," he concludes, "but we are adjusting.”

Larry Applegate sums up the feeling most former HD DVD developers have toward Blu-ray: “Blu-ray is more capable but much harder to build that HD DVD,” says Applegate. “It’s harder to write software for, harder to use, more expensive. It makes things harder all around.”

PERSONNEL ADJUSTMENTS
In the HD DVD disc development houses, the switch to Blu-ray has created problems for both management and for production teams. Everyone has had to do some gear shifting.

The transition has been particularly tough for programmers, because the underlying languages (Java vs. JavaScript) are so different. “You really could not leverage specific code that you had created for HDi,” says Nazarian. “It is an entirely different approach to coding. The code is very different. So you’d be throwing out all the hard work—the whole code base. You’d be starting again from coding scratch.”

“Anything that was being developed in HD DVD/HDi has now had to turn on a dime and redirect itself to BD-J, which is a very different language and requires a learning curve to bring programmers up to speed,” says Nazarian.

Wain agrees: “JavaScript (or ECMAScript) is a lot easier than Java, and the talents that are required to do that work [BD Java work] are much greater.”

For management, this talent gap has necessitated some layoffs. “Yeah, unfortunately, we had to scale back our staff,” says 1K’s Jess Bowers. “The skill sets are in some ways similar, but in other ways they are not. Primarily we were hiring from the web for HD DVD because HDi had a lot of the same basic internet technologies; it had Java script and XML. So a lot of the guys that were doing front-end web stuff could transition into doing HDi. But then they weren’t necessarily Java programmers. But we had some guys who could go both ways and are still with us.”

For management one alternative to layoffs has been re-training. Fortunately, re-training an HD DVD programmer is not too difficult, according to Wain. “If you are a good software engineer you can switch gears pretty easily. Some will pick it up faster than others. But they can figure it out; it’s not like you have to switch from speaking Greek to speaking Russian.”

While programmers face the biggest challenge, there are transitional problems that authors and producers face, as well. Fortunately, users of the industry’s primary high-end DVD authoring tool, Sonic Solutions’ Scenarist, will have little trouble adapting to the Blu-ray version of Scenarist, says Wain, whose shop is a Scenarist one. “Are there SD people who can sort of elevate and migrate to BD? Absolutely. I have folks here who have done that quite seamlessly.”

An upside of industry consolidation is that Scenarist-using developers will get a cost savings, says Nazarian. In the old days those who wanted to develop in both formats had to buy four different versions of the Scenarist authoring tool: one for HD DVD regular mode, one for HD DVD interactive mode (HDi), one for Blu-ray regular mode, and one for Blu-ray interactive mode (BD-J). Sonic Solutions too is probably celebrating consolidation; they have fewer tools to support in a young and shaky market. “Sonic must be happy to stop bleeding,” says Nazarian.

At Wain’s Scope Seven the re-training has gone rather smoothly, after some brief initial stress. “We did initially have to bring in some independent contractors, some Java rock stars, to assist,” says Wain. “But this is a very incestuous, tight-knit industry; it’s not hard for me to reach out to people I know for help.” Wain says the contracting of Java rock stars gave his staff time to catch up. “It gave us a quick jump start and allowed internal people to hone new skills.”

Nevertheless, the switch from HD DVD to an exclusively Blu-ray world has not been without victims. Some programmers have been displaced. “Some have made the transition, and others have gone back to doing internet stuff,” says Bowers. Bowers' advice to anyone who wishes to continue working in the HD disc industry: “To stay in business you’ve got to be flexible.”

VM/PLAYER INCOMPATABILITIES
Another problem that has confronted newly-baptized Blu-ray developers is the lack of standardized hardware. As hard as this is to believe, even at this late date, each Blu-ray player from each manufacturer is slightly different. “Conformity in the players in the real world is something that is a moving target,” says Metabeam’s Brown.

“Blu-ray players are light years apart,” says Wain. “Each of these boxes may have different JVMs in them--Java Virtual Machines--depending on the manufacturer and which JVM they’ve licensed into their box. So they act quite differently, and one of the things we’ve discovered about working in BD-J is that you can fix one BD-J problem on one player and introduce another problem on another player.”

But isn’t a standard a standard and a spec a spec? “There’s a spec that is handed to all the producers, and there’s a mirror of that spec that’s handed to the player manufacturers, but there are different interpretations of that spec,” says Wain.

“The BD-J spec has an interesting history,” says Bowers. “It pulls from all these other different overlapping specs. It pulls from specs designed for cable set top Java, for example. That Java is sort of the godfather of BD-J. But then there’s overlapping versions of that that got boiled down into BD-J. And so you have different implementations of the spec. The spec describes what we have to do on the content side to create something, but the spec doesn’t describe exactly how to create a player,” says Bowers, who sums up: “The problem is that there is a lot of interpretation possible with the spec. It’s not black and white.”

So what’s a poor struggling production house new to Blu to do? “Lots and lots of testing,” according to Bowers. “We have a variety of different players here in the house, so we’ll burn a lot of BD-Rs and pop them in the different players and test them out, and if we see something where it doesn’t work the same way on different players, we’ll adjust. Our Java programmers might spend a week or two weeks hammering on that. Eventually, we may have to sort of split the difference. I’m talking vaguely because it is kind of a black art. But it is similar to what we all had to do in the early days of DVD with the player incompatibility that existed then.”

“To try to get something that will play equally well on all Blu-ray players is very difficult,” says Applegate. “That will change in time as old players drop by the wayside.”

While some people, such as Applegate, feel certain that electronics manufacturers will work toward solving the player incompatibilities, Bowers isn’t so sure. He worries that in their rush to cut prices and increase sales, manufacturers will skimp. “Players will continue to get faster on the high end, but as price comes down, performance may actually decrease. The manufacturers may want to cut costs. Performance problems may not necessarily go away.”

GRAPPLING WITH GRAPHICS
Some former HD DVD developers report that the forced switch to Blu-ray has forced them to grapple with graphics. It seems the two formats differ in the way they handle graphics.

“In HD DVD the graphics architecture was such that the graphics were decoded on the fly, as you used them,” says Bowers. “So with a big page of graphics, it would take a split second to decode that page and display those graphics. That happens as you go along and you might have a slight pause here and there. But in Blu-ray all the graphics need to be loaded into a buffer in the beginning, so you take that hit, that pause, in the very, very beginning. Now, on a high-performing player like a PS3, the pre-loading of graphics might take only a few seconds, but on a low-performing player, it takes a long, long time, maybe even minutes, until you can get to what you want to see,” says Bowers. “Now that’s been hard for a developer to get used to. It’s been a pain.”

Bowers isn’t thrilled about some of the tradeoffs he’s had to make in transitioning from HD-DVD graphics to Blu-ray graphics. “Because these [Blu-ray] graphics have to be decoded into memory before they can be used, it sometimes means we have to make changes in our graphics. So we might have to take a design and maybe use less graphics in that design--not dramatically less, but more optimization is required.” This means that developers have had to learn to think differently about how they use graphics, says Bowers, who seems to miss the old days a bit. “In HD DVD you could be more liberal in your use of graphics,” he recalls.

MORE TOOLS NEEDED
A dearth of Blu-ray authoring tools is another industry problem, according to many developers. “In Blu-ray, what is missing is decent prosumer-level tools. There is a huge gap for that,” says Applegate.

“Java is so flexible that the typical author can’t cope with it. My clientele for DVDAfterEdit are the one, two, or three-man shops,” says Applegate. “They are producers and maybe authors, not programmers. To succeed with Blu-ray everyone has to be a programmer, which is totally nuts,” he says. Owners of small shops don’t have the skills to be programmers and can’t afford to hire programmers, which puts them at a competitive disadvantage. “The big studios are hiring rafts of programmers, and there’s no way the little guy can compete with that.”

Applegate believes that if the Blu-ray disc industry is to thrive, there must be small, inexpensive tools for the small shops, not just big tools that only the big studios can afford.

“One of the problems is that current BD-J development tools are very rudimentary,” says Wain. “The BD Java being written is being written by hand; it’s not in a nice slick GUI-based tool, although there are GUI-based tools being developed and being tested.”

Nazarian too has noticed new tools appearing on the horizon. “What you’re now seeing is tools that can do authoring, and you’re seeing helper tools that provide GUIs for creating BD-J code elements,” he says. He gives as examples of promising new GUI-based authoring tools for Blu-ray applications: Sofatronic’s kaleidoscope and NetBlender’s DoStudio.

Nazarian is encouraged by all the new tools that are cropping up. So is 1K’s Jess Bowers. “Some of these new tools are not completely mature at this point,” he says, “but this is the kind of thing we have to look forward to in the next year or so that will make creating a BD-J application a lot easier.”

Mark Fritz (markfritz at intergrafix.net) is a freelance writer based in Bloomsburg, Pa. and a contributing editor to Streaming Media.

EMedialive announces updates to The Authoritative Blu-ray Disc (BD) FAQ in the following categories: IX. Industry Support, Prices, and Availability. See details below.
0. FAQ Updates

Date	Description
Nov. 11, 2009	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM and BD Combo drives cost?
Nov. 8, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: X. d. Who claims and who administers BD patent rights?
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
Nov. 1, 2009	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. m. What companies provide BD testing and verification services?
	Update: X: d. Who claims and who administers BD patent rights?
	Update: XI. f. Licensing, Specifications, and Standards Organizations
Oct. 23, 2009	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: II. k. How do BD, HD DVD and DVD video formats and player requirements compare?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
Oct. 18, 2009	Update: VI. l. Are HD DVD and BD compatible with each other?
	Update: VIII. c. What is HDMI?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM and BD Combo drives cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
Oct. 9, 2009	New question: IX. 1. How much do BD professional video recorders cost?
	Update: I. d. What are some notable milestones in the life of BD?
	Update: II. f. What is the BD-ROM AV format?
	Update: II. i. What is a BD9 disc?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
Oct. 2, 2009	Update: II. d. What file systems are used on BD discs?
	Update: II. f. What is the BD-ROM AV format?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: XII. a. What do common BD and related acronyms and abbreviations stand for?
Sept. 28, 2009	Update: III. a. How fast are BD discs written and read?
	Update: III. c. How much time does it take to write a BD-R and BD-RE disc?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. r. How much do computers equipped with BD drives cost?
	Update: IX. v. How much do TV/BD player combos cost?
Sept. 18, 2009	Update: III. a. How fast are BD discs written and read?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: VII. a. How many times can a BD-RE disc be rewritten?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. t. How much do BD disc changers and home entertainment servers cost?
	Update: XI. b. Technical and White Papers
Sept. 11, 2009	Update: I. d. What are some notable milestones in the life of BD?
	Update: VII. a. How many times can a BD-RE disc be rewritten?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box and Sound Bars cost?
	Update: IX. q. How much does BD computer video player software cost?
	Update: XI. b. Technical and White Papers
Sept. 4, 2009	Update: VI. g. What type of computer software is required to play BD movies?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. m. What companies provide BD testing and verification services?
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
	Update: XI. f. Licensing, Specifications, and Standards Organizations
Aug. 27, 2009	Update: VIII. c. What is HDMI?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. h. How much do BD game consoles cost?
	Update: IX. i. How much do BD duplication and publishing systems cost?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: IX. q. How much does BD computer video player software cost?
Aug. 20, 2009	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
Aug. 13, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: VIII. c. What is HDMI?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
	Update: XI. f. Licensing, Specifications, and Standards Organizations
Aug. 6, 2009	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box and Sound Bars cost?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
July 30, 2009	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. t. How much do BD disc changers and home entertainment servers cost?
July 22, 2009	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM and BD Combo drives cost?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box and Sound Bars cost?
	Update: XI. b. Technical and White Papers
July 15, 2009	New question: e. Can writable BD discs recorded at different speeds be read back at any speed?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: IX. t. How much do BD disc changers and home entertainment servers cost?
	Update: IX. u. How much do BD data storage and archiving jukeboxes cost?
July 9, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM and BD Combo drives cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
July 2, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM and BD Combo drives cost?
June 25, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM and BD Combo drives cost?
	Update: IX. q. How much does BD computer video player software cost?
	Update: IX. x. How much do BD Network-Attached Storage devices cost?
	Update: IX. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
June 18, 2009	New question: IX. z. What companies offer BD quality assurance and quality control services?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM and BD Combo drives cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
	Update: XI. b. Technical and White Papers
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
June 11, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM and BD Combo drives cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box and Sound Bars cost?
	Update: IX. v. How much do TV/BD player combos cost?
	Update: IX. w. How much do portable BD players cost?
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
May 20, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: XI. b. Technical and White Papers
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
May 13, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box and Sound Bars cost?
	Update: IX. v. How much do TV/BD player combos cost?
	Update: IX. w. How much do portable BD players cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
May 4, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM and BD Combo drives cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: IX. y. How much do BD audio encoders cost?
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
Apr. 16, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
	Update: XI. f. Licensing, Specifications, and Standards Organizations
Apr. 9, 2009	New question: II. n. Can all BD players display BD-J content?
	New question: II. o. How long does it take a BD player to load and execute BD-J content?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
Apr. 3, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM and BD Combo drives cost?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box and Sound Bars cost?
	Update: X. d. Who claims and who administers BD patent rights?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
Mar. 26, 2009	Update: I. c. What is the Blu-ray Disc Association?
	Update: II. f. What is the BD-ROM AV format?
	Update: IX. q. How much does BD computer video player software cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
Mar. 19, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. j. How much do printable BD-R discs cost?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box and Sound Bars cost?
	Update: XI. h. BD-J/BD-Live Developer Communities and Organizations
Feb. 19, 2009	New section: XII. Glossary, Acronyms, Abbreviations and Units of Measure
	New question: XII. a. What do common BD and related acronyms and abbreviations stand for?
Feb. 14, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM and BD Combo drives cost?
Feb. 6, 2009	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. e. How much do BD consumer electronics recorders cost?
Jan. 30, 2009	Update: III. c. How much time does it take to write a BD-R and BD-RE disc?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
Jan. 22, 2009	Update: I. c. What is the Blu-ray Disc Association?
	Update: III. b. What rotational schemes do BD discs employ?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM and BD Combo drives cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
	Update: XI. h. BD-J/BD-Live Developer Communities and Organizations
Jan. 15, 2009	New question: IX. x. How much do BD Network-Attached Storage devices cost?
	New question: IX. y. How much do BD audio encoders cost?
	Update:: VIII. b. What issues are raised when playing commercial BD movies over analog and digital video connections?
	Update: VIII. c. What is HDMI?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. j. How much do printable BD-R discs cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: IX. t. How much do BD disc changers and home entertainment servers cost?
Jan. 9, 2009	New question: IX. v. How much do TV/BD player combos cost?
	New question: IX. w. How much do portable BD players cost?
	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: IX. m. What companies provide BD testing and verification services?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box and Sound Bars cost?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
Dec. 30, 2008	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
Dec. 18, 2008	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX: e. How much do BD consumer electronics recorders cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. r. How much do computers equipped with BD drives cost?
Dec. 10, 2008	Update: IV. c. How far might BD disc capacity increase in the future?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. s. How much do BD video encoders and transcoders cost?
Dec. 2, 2008	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: IX. t. How much do BD disc changers and home entertainment servers cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
Nov. 20, 2008	Update: II. a. What specifications govern BD discs?
	Update: II. e. What is the BD-R/RE AV format?
	Update: V. d. What is the purpose of the hard coat on a BD disc?
	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: IX. n. How much do BD camcorders cost?
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
Nov. 13, 2008	New question: V. e. What are the weights and physical dimensions of BD discs?
	Update: II. f. What is the BD-ROM AV format?
	Update: VII. c. What is the best way to handle and store a BD disc?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
Nov. 5, 2008	New question: I. d. What are some notable milestones in the life of BD?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Updaet: XI. b. Technical and White Papers
Oct. 24, 2008	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
Oct. 17, 2008	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
Oct. 9, 2008	New question: 0. How do I know when the BD FAQ has been updated?
	New question: f. What licensing obligations exist when replicating and distributing content on prerecorded BD discs?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. r. How much do computers equipped with BD drives cost?
	Update: IX. t. How much do BD disc changers and home entertainment servers cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
Oct. 2, 2008	New question: II. m. What is the directory structure of a BD-R/RE AV disc?
	New question: X. e. What licensing obligations exist when duplicating and distributing content on writable BD discs?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: II. l. What is the directory structure of a BD-ROM AV disc?
	Update: VI. j. What type of graphics card is required to play BD movies?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. e. How much do BD consumer electronics recorders cost?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
Sept 25, 2008	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: III. c. How much time does it take to write a BD-R and BD-RE disc?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: IX. s. How much do BD video encoders and transcoders cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
Sept. 18, 2008	Update: II. d. What file systems are used on BD discs?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
Sept. 11, 2008	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. j. What type of graphics card is required to play BD movies?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
Sept. 4, 2008	New question: II. l. What is the directory structure of a BD-ROM AV disc?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Updaet: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. m. What companies provide BD testing and verification services?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box cost?
Aug. 27, 2008	New question: I. c. What is the Blu-ray Disc Association?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: IV. c. How far might BD disc capacity increase in the future?
	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: IX. a. What companies create and support BD formats?
	Update: IX. . b. What movie and music studios support BD?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: X. c. Who owns the name Blu-ray Disc and its logo?
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
Aug. 21, 2008	New question: XI. i. Anti-Piracy Education, Investigation and Compliance Organizations
	Update: II. a. What specifications govern BD discs?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. r. How much do computers equipped with BD drives cost?
	Update: X. d. Who claims and who administers BD patent rights?
	Update: XI. h. BD-J/BD-Live Developer Communities and Organizations
Aug. 15, 2008	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. j. What type of graphics card is required to play BD movies?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. n. How much do BD camcorders cost?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box cost?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: IX. s. How much do BD video encoders and transcoders cost?
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
July 18, 2008	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: III. c. How much time does it take to write a BD-R and BD-RE disc?
	Updaet: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: XI. f. Licensing, Specifications, and Standards Organizations
July 10, 2008	New question: IX. t. How much do BD disc changers and home entertainment servers cost?
	New question IX. u. How much do BD data storage and archiving jukeboxes cost?
	Update: III. c. How much time does it take to write a BD-R and BD-RE disc?
	Update: VII. b. How long will data on a BD disc remain readable?
	Update: VII. c. What is the best way to handle and store a BD disc?
	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: VI. j. What type of graphics card is required to play BD movies?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. i. How much do BD duplication and publishing systems cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. r. How much do computers equipped with BD drives cost?
	Update: IX. s. How much do BD video encoders and transcoders cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
July 3, 2008	Update: VI. j. What type of graphics card is required to play BD movies?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: IX. r. How much do computers equipped with BD drives cost?
	Update: IX. s. How much do BD video encoders and transcoders cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
June 26, 2008	New question: VII. c. What is the best way to handle and store a BD disc?
	New question: IX. s. How much do BD video encoders and transcoders cost?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
June 19, 2008	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. j. What type of graphics card is required to play BD movies?
	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. g. How much do blank BD discs cost?
	Update: XI. b. Technical and White Papers
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
June 12, 2008	New question: IX. r. How much do computers equipped with BD drives cost?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: IX. a. What companies create and support BD formats?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box cost?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: X. d. Who claims and who administers BD patent rights?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
June 5, 2008	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Updaet: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: X. d. Who claims and who administers BD patent rights?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
May 29, 2008	Update: II. f. What is the BD-ROM AV format?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. m. What companies provide BD testing and verification services?
	Update: X. d. Who claims and who administers BD patent rights?
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
May 22, 2008	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: X. d. Who claims and who administers BD patent rights?
May 15, 2008	New question: X. d. Who claims and who administers BD patent rights?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
May 9, 2008	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box cost?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: XI. b. Technical and White Papers
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
May 1, 2008	Update: VI. j. What type of graphics card is required to play BD movies?
	Update: IX. j. How much do printable BD-R discs cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles, Columns, and Reviews
	Update: XI. b. Technical and White Papers
Apr. 24, 2008	Update: I. a. What is Blu-ray Disc?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: X. a. What is Regional Playback Control?
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
Apr. 17, 2008	New question: X. b. Does Regional Playback Control apply to DVD-Video discs viewed on BD players?
	New question: X. c. Who owns the name Blu-ray Disc and its logo?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: V. c. How is a BD-RE disc constructed?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
Apr. 8, 2008	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. q. How much does BD computer video player software cost?
Mar. 20, 2008	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. j. What type of graphics card is required to play BD movies?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: IX. q. How much does BD computer video player software cost?
Mar. 7, 2008	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
Feb. 29, 2008	New question: II. k. How do BD, HD DVD and DVD video formats and player requirements compare?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
Feb. 22, 2008	New question: IX. q. How much does BD computer video player software cost?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. i. How much do BD duplication and publishing systems cost?
	Update: XI. g. High-Definition and Digital Television Information
Jan. 30, 2008	Update: II. f. What is the BD-ROM AV format?
	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: VI. j. What type of graphics card is required to play BD movies?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
Jan. 18, 2008	Update: II. f. What is the BD-ROM AV format?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box cost?
Jan. 8, 2008	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box cost?
Dec. 27, 2007	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. e. How much do BD consumer electronics recorders cost?
	Update: IX. h. How much do BD game consoles cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box cost?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
Nov. 30, 2007	New question: VI. l. Are HD DVD and BD compatible with each other?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. j. What type of graphics card is required to play BD movies?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. n. How much do BD camcorders cost?
Nov. 10, 2007	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
Nov. 2, 2007	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. j. What type of graphics card is required to play BD movies?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
Oct. 12, 2007	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: II. g. What is a Total Hi Def disc?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. e. How much do BD consumer electronics recorders cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
Sept. 21, 2007	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
Sept. 14, 2007	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: IX. a. What companies create and support BD formats?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. e. How much do BD consumer electronics recorders cost?
Sept. 7, 2007	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: IX. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. b. What movie and music studios support BD?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
Aug. 27, 2007	New question: IX. p. How much does BD video authoring software cost?
	Update: IX. b. What movie and music studios support BD?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
Aug. 9, 2007	New question: IX. n. How much do BD camcorders cost?
	New question: IX. o. How much do BD Home Theaters in a Box cost?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
July 25, 2007	Update II. a. What specifications govern BD discs?
	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. a. What companies create and support BD formats?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: X: a. What is Regional Playback Control?
	Update: XI: c. Presentations
July 12, 2007	New question: IX. m. What companies provide BD testing and verification services?
	Update: II. f. What is the BD-ROM AV format?
	Update: X. a. What is Regional Playback Control?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
July 9, 2007	New question: XI. h. Developer Organizations
	Update: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: XI. f. Licensing, Specifications, and Standards Organizations
June 20, 2007	New question: VI. k. What firmware updates are available for BD players, drives and recorders?
	Update: XI. f. Licensing, Specifications, and Standards Organizations
June 6, 2007	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. j. How much do printable BD-R discs cost?
	Update: XI. b. Technical and White Papers
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
May 24, 2007	Update: VI. j. What type of graphics card is required to play BD movies?
	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: VIII. c. What is HDMI?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. g. How much do blank BD discs cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
Apr. 17, 2007	New question: VI. f. What computer operating system is required to play BD movies?
	New question: VI. g. What type of computer software is required to play BD movies?
	New question: VI. h. How much computer system memory is required to play BD movies?
	New question: VI. i. What type of computer CPU is required to play BD movies?
	New question: VI. j. What type of graphics card is required to play BD movies?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
Apr. 5, 2007	Update: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	Update: VIII. d. What is HDCP?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. i. How much do BD duplication and publishing systems cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles and Columns
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
	Update: XI. f. Licensing, Specifications, and Standards Organizations
Feb. 24, 2007	New question: II. i. What is a BD9 disc?
	New question: II. j. What are BD-Video and BD-Live profiles?
	Update: I. b. Why the name Blu-ray Disc?
	Update: IX. e. How much do BD consumer electronics recorders cost?
	Update: IX. j. How much do printable BD-R discs cost?
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
Feb. 16, 2007	New question: II. h. Are double-sided BD and BD/DVD Combo discs available?
	New question: IX. l. What companies manufacture BD-ROM discs?
	Update: I. a. What is Blu-ray Disc?
	Update: I. b. Why the name Blu-ray Disc?
	Update: II. b. What BD formats are available?
	Update: XI. a. Articles and Columns
	Update: XI. b. Technical and White Papers
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
	Update: XI: e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
	Update: IX: c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX: d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX: f.  How much do commercial BD movie titles cost?
	Update: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
Jan. 20, 2007	New question: II. g. What is a Total Hi Def disc?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. j. How much do printable BD-R discs cost?
	Update: XI. a. Articles and Columns
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
Jan. 9, 2007	New question: VI. e. Does a writable BD disc contain information about its manufacture?
	New question: VI. d. Can all BD-R recorders write BD-R discs in all recording modes?
	New question: VI. c. Can all BD recorders write single and dual-layer BD discs?
	New question: IX. k. How much do BD-ROM drives cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. h. How much do BD game consoles cost?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: II. f. What is the BD-ROM AV format?
	Update: XI. b. Technical and White Papers
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
Oct. 14, 2006	New question: IX. i. How much do BD duplication and publishing systems cost?
	New question: IX. j. How much do printable BD-R discs cost?
	New question: IV. c. How far might BD disc capacity increase in the future?
	Update: X: a. What is Regional Playback Control?
	Update: IX: e. How much do BD consumer electronics recorders cost?
	Update: IX: a. What companies create and support BD formats?
	Update: III: a. How fast are BD discs written and read?
	Update: VIII: c. What is HDMI?
	Update: XI. a. Articles and Columns
	Update: XI. b. Technical and White Papers
	Update: XI. c. Presentations
	Update: XI. e. Specifications, Standards, and Government Regulations
Aug. 28, 2006	New section: 0. FAQ Updates
	New section: X. Copying Deterrents and Content Protection
	New question: X. a. What is Regional Playback Control?
	New question: IX. h. How much do BD game consoles cost?
	Update: IX. c. How much do consumer electronics BD players cost?
	Update: IX. d. How much do BD computer recorders cost?
	Update: IX. f.  How much do commercial BD movie titles cost?
	Update: IX. g. How much do blank BD discs cost?
June 6, 2006	Initial release

Panasonic Corporation of NorthAmerica, the principal U.S. subsidiary of Matsushita ElectricIndustrial Co., Ltd. (NYSE: MC), introduced two new Blu-ray players --the DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55 -- to CEDIA Convention attendees today. Bothnew models feature cutting-edge technologies focused on producing theultimate movie-viewing experience.

True-To-Life Colors
The DMP-BD35 and DMP-BD55 feature technology that reproduces movieswith colors that are exceptionally faithful to the original. Thisadvanced technology, incorporated in the PHL Reference Chroma ProcessorPlus video processor, was developed after more than 15 years ofcollaboration between Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory and professionalcinema studios in Hollywood. With PHL Reference Chroma Processor Plus,users viewing content on Blu-ray Discs™ enjoy crisp, vivid colors thatare extremely close to the original. A high-precision 4:4:4 functioncreates video signals in which each pixel of the signal from theBlu-ray Disc is color-compensated, so when the BD35/55 is connected toa Panasonic VIERA HDTV, the colors are even sharper and more vivid.

Life-Like Surround Effects
The DMP-BD35/55 also excels in sound quality. Both models feature an HDAudio Decoder (Dolby® TrueHD, Dolby® Digital Plus and DTS™-HD MasterAudio Essential), which supports the 7.1-channel surround sound newlyadopted in Blu-ray Discs. Users can enjoy 7.1-channel surround evenwith systems that do not support HD Audio -- as long as the DMP-BD35/55is connected to a 7.1-channel receiver equipped with an HDMI terminal.

The Panasonic BD55 goes a step further with a high-end audio design andcomponents. Thanks to a 192kHz 24bit audio digital-analog converter andhigh quality insulators, electrolytic capacitors, copper-foil filmcapacitors and ultra-low-impedance electrolytic capacitors, theDMP-BD55 delivers the same kind of exciting surround effect andlifelike ambience as today's finest cinemas. The DMP-BD55 can alsooutput analog signals for 7.1-channel sound, so even receivers that arenot compatible with HDMI can produce the newest 7.1-channel surroundsound by simply connecting to the DMP-BD55.

UniPhier® System
The high-quality image and sound technologies found in the BD35/55 areincorporated in the UniPhier® chip. UniPhier is a Panasonic-createdsystem LSI developed by applying 45-nanometer processing to a consumerproduct -- a world's first. This single-chip integration technologyalso contributes greatly to the BD35's world's slimmest height of 49mm.

Versatile Networking
Both the BD35 and BD55 feature BD-Live compatibility which enablesusers to connect to the Internet to download images, subtitles andother data, and take part in interactive activities and multi-playergames linked to bonus cinema content found on Blu-ray Discs.

Both models are equipped with an SD Memory Card slot that makes it easyto transfer images from an HD camcorder or digital still camera thatuses SD Memory Cards. Simply insert the SD card into the DMP-BD35/55and it plays AVCHD-format video images or JPEG stills in full 1920 x1080 resolution on your flat panel HDTV. The DMP-BD35/55 can also playslide shows, complete with background music.

The DMP-BD35/55 models are also compatible with Panasonic's VIERA Linkfunction so they can be operated by the VIERA HDTV remote control.

"Panasonic is proud to be leading the charge in bringing the ultimatein Blu-ray technology to consumers," said Alex Fried, Panasonic,National Marketing Manager, Entertainment Group. "Panasonic was thefirst to market with a Blu-ray player with Bonus View (Final StandardProfile 1.1) and the first to bring a stand alone BD-Live player tomarket. The introduction of our new DMP-BD35 and BD355 Blu-ray playerscontinues Panasonic's industry leadership with the inclusion of BD-Livein all our models.

"The combination of a Panasonic Blu-ray player, Home Theater audiosystem and a VIERA HDTV converts the home entertainment experience intoa true-to-life cinematic experience," said Fried. "Consumers can nowview and enjoy movies the way the film maker intended -- in stunningHigh Definition video and audio -- right from the comfort of their ownhome."

www.panasonic.com

Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc. today introduces its Elite®BDP-09FD flagship Blu-ray Disc™ player featuring BD-Live™. With theindustry’s most advanced internal components including aPioneer®/Renesas® jointly developed core processor chipset and complexinternal and external composition, the new flagship model illuminatesPioneer’s uncompromised design and engineering philosophies to deliverthe truest picture and sound performance.

“For more than 30 years, we’ve led optical disc innovation with productintroductions that featured numerous industry firsts, ranging from thehighest grade internal components to improved build constructions, allin the pursuit of developing first class products for consumers. It’swith this mindset that our engineers were given the freedom to handselect every piece of hardware and wiring for the BDP-09FD to develop atrue, reference-quality player,” said Chris Walker, senior manager ofmarketing and product planning for Blu-ray Disc at Pioneer Electronics(USA) Inc. “The result is a flagship BD player that providesunparalleled picture and sound performance not just for Blu-ray Discs,but also for CD and DVD content.”

Video Standards Raise the Bar
Breaking away from the industry, Pioneer’s flagship Blu-ray Disc playerincorporates a newly-engineered 16-bit video engine to providebest-in-class video decoding, I/P conversion, video scaling and videoadjustments of HD and SD content for uncompromised viewing of bothBlu-ray Disc and DVD collections. Working in concert, this unique videoengine includes a newly developed 16-bit Pioneer video processor, theMarvell® award-winning QDEO™ processor along with a jointly developedvideo decoder by Renesas Technology. Also, for the first time fromPioneer, DVDs can be enjoyed in 1080p 24 when connected to compatibledisplays providing a more cinematic experience of traditional filmbased DVDs. The inclusion of these sophisticated technologies creates asmooth picture free of the artificial noise that often plagueslower-quality players.

The Elite Blu-ray Disc player also features Pioneer’s proprietaryAdaptive Bit Length Expansion technology, which allows the purest colorrepresentation of a movie's original studio master. Through a dedicatedchip, the player restores Blu-ray Disc movies, produced in 8-bit colorback to the vivid 16-bit deep color gamut resulting in an HD picturefilled with hues and tones that replicates the cinematic intentions ofthe films’ creators.

Quality Audio Roots
Pioneer’s BDP-09FD uses professional-level audio technologies toimprove sound quality for both Blu-ray Disc and CD content. TheBDP-09FD supports full decoding and bit-stream output for emerginghigh-resolution audio formats including Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD MasterAudio to deliver rich audio that completely immerses the listeningaudience.

Audiophiles will delight in the sophisticated internal engineeringfeatured in the new player, including a devoted power supply for theanalog audio board, eight Wolfson® WM8740 Audio DACs, one for eachaudio channel, and custom-made capacitors. Unlike any player precedingit, the new BDP-09FD further enhances superior performance capabilitiesnot possible with today’s current Blu-ray Disc players.

The player also features Precision Quartz Lock System (PQLS) with whichthe player instinctively synchronizes audio data between the Blu-rayDisc player and select Pioneer Elite A/V receivers offering jitter-freeaudio playback from CD content to provide listeners with the ultimateprecision in product performance.

BD-Live Compatibility
The BDP-09FD is outfitted with BD-Live interactivity that goes beyondthe advanced audio and video playback capabilities offered withBONUSVIEW™ players to give consumers an array of interactive optionswhen viewing BD-Live compatible titles. With an Internet connection,viewers can download bonus trailers and features, synchronize viewingwith other BD-Live players and participate in online gaming, live chatand video messaging. Additionally, when updates become available, userswill be able to upgrade their player via the BD-Live connection.

Built for Discerning Entertainment Connoisseurs
Exceeding the capabilities of current players in the market, theBDP-09FD raises the bar with a completely redesigned internalconstruction for ultimate efficiency and performance quality. TheBDP-09FD is outfitted with:

• Center loading disc tray, solid steel bottom plate, aluminumchassis, and rugged TAOC insulators which help dampen externalvibrations and lend to uncompromised picture quality
• Dual HDMI™ 1.3a outputs allow for a variety of connection optionsthat can be configured for specific audio or video entertainment needs
• Gold plated connectors provide maximum signal flow for stellaraudio and video quality
• RS-232C port allows for control from third-party automationsystems or custom installers

Pioneer’s BPP-09FD joins Pioneer’s BONUSVIEW Blu-ray Disc players, theElite BDP-05FD and Pioneer BDP-51FD. The Pioneer Elite BDP-09FDflagship Blu-ray Disc player will begin shipping in 2008 for asuggested price of $2,199.

Pioneer’s Home Entertainment and Business Solutions Group develops highdefinition home theater equipment for discerning entertainment junkies.Its flat panel televisions, Blu-ray Disc players, A/V receivers andspeakers bring a new level of emotion to the HD experience. The companybrands include Pioneer and Elite®. When purchased from an authorizedretailer, consumers receive a limited warranty for one year withPioneer products and two years with Pioneer Elite products. Moredetails can be located at www.pioneerelectronics.com.

Sony todayannounced the new BDP-S5000ES Blu-ray Disc(TM) player, featuring thecompany's newly developed HD Reality Enhancer and Super Bit Mappingtechnologies that deliver even sharper and more vibrant images fromtoday'sBlu-ray Disc movies.

The model, which is fully BD-Live(TM) capable, features an Ethernetconnection that allows users to connect to the Internet via theirexistingservice provider to access BD-Live features and easy firmware updates.Italso is equipped with an external flash memory port and includes a 1GBSonyMicro Vault(TM) Tiny flash storage device.

The BDP-S5000ES also features Quick Start mode, improving boot-uptimesto approximately six seconds, which is seven times faster than previousmodels.

"Sony's Elevated Standard, or 'ES' products stand for the very bestSony has to offer, and the BDP-S5000ES is no exception," said ChrisFawcett, vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics' Home VideoDivision. "Featuring the incredible build quality found on all Sony ESproducts, the S5000ES goes above and beyond traditional Blu-ray Discplayers to deliver the ultimate home theater experience."

Unique to the model is Sony's new 14-bit HD video processor, whichimproves standard definition and high-definition picture quality withthehelp of HD Reality Enhancer and Super Bit Mapping technologies. HDRealityEnhancer continually analyzes bit by bit of the original source,sharpeningedges and reproducing detail, while reducing the effects of film grain.Super Bit Mapping delivers smoother color gradation realizing true14-bitequivalent color tone from 8-bit sources connected via HDMI.

Holding true to Sony's ES standard, the BDP-S5000ES was designed tomatch pristine video performance with exceptional audio. The model'sanalogaudio circuit board is isolated from the video board to avoidinterference.Additionally, the unit's rigid frame and beam chassis helps to reducevibration and a low-leakage R-core transformer minimizes theinterferenceof digital noise.

Since many consumers own extensive DVD movie libraries, theBDP-S5000ESincorporates Sony's new Precision Cinema HD Upscale technology thatconverts standard-definition signals (480i) to 1080p and outputs a fullHDequivalent resolution signal to 1080p TVs via HDMI. The model evenimprovesanalog component video output thanks to 14-bit/297MHz video D/Aconversion.

Additionally, the model adds Sony's new Precision Drive(TM) HD,whichhelps to detect and correct wobbling discs from three directions,stabilizing playback of bent or scratched Blu-ray Discs and DVDs.

The model offers 7.1 channel Dolby(R) TrueHD, Dolby(R) Digital Plus,DTS(R)-HD Master Audio, and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio decoding andbit-stream output, as well as analog 7.1 channel output with AdvancedCurrent Segment Audio D/A converters for legacy AV receivers anddecoders.

The BDP-S5000ES supports Deep Color video output and AVCHD discsencoded with x.v.Color(TM) (xvYCC) technology. The players also featurecompatibility with an array of video formats, including BD-R/RE (BDMVandBDAV modes), DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, CD, CD-R/RW (CD-DA format), and JPEGonBD/DVD/CD recordable media.

The player also features Sony's XrossMediaBar(TM) (XMB) inspiredgraphic user interface for easy menu navigation, Sony's BRAVIA Sync(TM)forTheatre that connects select Sony home theater and television productsforeasy operation and a backlit remote control. For custom installation,themodel also features RS-232C and IR input.

The new BDP-S5000ES will be available in November for about $2,000atSony Style stores, online at sonystyle.com, and at authorized retailersnationwide.

LG Electronics today announced thenationwide availability of the BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player,featuringunparalleled access to disc-based and networked home videoentertainment.The BD300 is the world's first Blu-ray disc player that instantlystreamsmovies and TV episodes from Netflix (subscription required and soldseparately). Available next month, the LG BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player willbeoffered at national retailers such as Best Buy and Circuit City, andspecialty retailers nationwide at a suggested retail price of $399.95.

"At LG we considered what, when and how consumers want to watch movie sand television episodes. The result is the ultimate convergence of hometheater entertainment and functionality," said Allan Jason, vicepresidentof sales and marketing for Digital Media/New Products Division at LGElectronics USA. "With intelligent features and access to anever-growinglibrary of movie and television titles, the BD300 is the next step in atruly personalized entertainment experience."

REVOLUTIONIZING HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Consumers are constantly seeking new, faster ways to find andcustomizecontent for their home entertainment experience. According to Jupiter Research, an estimated 46 percent of U.S. households will own atleast one Blu-ray- capable device in the next five years. Additionally,areport from Centris indicates almost 40 million households purchase paidcontent; 80 million have access to pay-per-view and 27 million use DVRs.

To meet this growing interest in content on-demand, LG's BD300 Network Blu-ray Disc Player revolutionizes the home entertainment experience by providing exceptional audio-video performance, access to a fast-growinglibrary of high-quality Blu-ray discs, up-scaling of standard DVDs to1080p, and unprecedented instant access to content from Netflix. The BD300 enables movie enthusiasts to take advantage of advanced technologies such as BD Live which offers a wide variety of content, such as movie scene extras, new previews and the ability to read synopses and rate movies. Also included is BonusView, which provides picture-in-picture access to Blu-ray disc special features, allowing consumers to toggle between their favorite movie scenes and bonus features on the disc.

Consumers will also enjoy that the BD300 instantly streams a growinglibrary of more than 12,000 movies and TV episodes from Netflix. At theNetflix Web site, members simply add movies and TV episodes to their individual instant Queues, and those choices are then automatically displayed on the TV via their BD300. Selections begin playing in aslittleas 30 seconds with no personal computer needed. Netflix members with unlimited plans can watch as much as they want and as often as they wantfor no additional fee and with no impact on the number of DVDs  they receive. The BD300 remote enables fast-forwarding and rewinding the video stream from Netflix.

STYLE AND FUNCTIONALITY
Uncompromising in style and performance, the BD300's glossy blackpaneling and elegant, easy-to-use backlit touch sensor buttons are modern additions to any home theater system. Even standard DVDs get the royaltreatment with the BD300's ability to take standard definition formats and upscale them to 1080p. The BD300 also includes advanced audio format decoding such as Dolby TrueHD / Digital Plus and DTS-HD Advanced DigitalOut for a crisper, clearer auditory experience. Consumers will appreciate the USB Media Plus function, which allows for the playback of their favorite photos, music and video files from a USBdrive directly to their TV screen.

To further personalize and simplifythehome theater experience, the BD300 includes LG SimpLink(TM) technology,which gives consumers the ability to control similarly equipped LGproductsvia convenient on-screen menus or directly from the product itself.

www.lgusa.com

Sharp today bolsters its position in theBlu-ray market with the introduction of its new slim-profile AQUOS BDplayer, model BD-HP21U. By combining full digital 1080p video outputwith an AQUOS High-Definition (HD) Liquid Crystal Television, consumerscan view the latest HD films in breathtaking high-definition quality.As the successor to the BD-HP20U, the BD-HP21U now supports BD-ROMProfile 1.1, allowing users access to additional content from Blu-raytitles, including movie trailers, special subtitles/audio and games.

"Not only does the BD-HP21U allow users access to more interactivefeatures than before, it also offers several features that contributeto a seamless movie-watching experience," said Bruce Tripido, associatevice president and group manager, Entertainment Products Division,Sharp Electronics Corporation. "With convenient functions such as AQUOSLINK™ and Quick Start, users can truly immerse themselves in acinematic experience without having to shuffle between remotes or waitfor a disc to load."

AQUOS LINK™ enables integrated and seamless operation between theBlu-ray disc player and AQUOS LCD TV. With a single remote, users cancontrol HDMI-connected products in conjunction with their AQUOS TV,eliminating the clutter from extra remotes. The remote also providessimultaneous Power On/Off of both the AQUOS LCD TV and AQUOS Blu-rayplayer. The BD-HP21U employs Sharp's proprietary Quick Start feature,allowing consumers to begin enjoying stunning high-definition video inless than 10 seconds*. JPEG digital images from a CD-RW/R can be viewedon the screen of an accompanying HDTV as a slide show.

The BD-HP21U has an extensive array of connectivity options. The playercomes with state-of-the-art HDMI® 1.3 digital output that allows usersto send the highest resolution video and audio signals possible to anAQUOS TV via a single cable, allowing Blu-ray discs to be viewed incomplete digital 1080p/24Hz high-definition. Through HDMI 1.3, theplayer supports x.v.Color, providing a wider color spectrum leading tomore vivid imagery.

Additionally, the player has multi-channel audio output via HDMI bydecoding Dolby® TrueHD and DTS HD. Dolby TrueHD lossless audiotechnology delivers sound that is identical to the studio master, for atrue high-definition experience on next-generation discs. It alsodecodes Dolby® Digital Plus, providing optimum surround sound to anappropriately equipped receiver. In addition, via HDMI, the playeroutputs 7.1 Channel digital audio via True HD Dolby that is theequivalent of a master recording.

Providing outstanding versatility, the BD-HP21U is compatible with awide variety of formats including BD-ROM/RE/R, DVD Video, DVD-RW/R,DVD+RW/R, and Audio CDs. The BD-HP21U is also compatible with standardDVDs and is capable of upscaling them via HDMI to 1080p, improving thepicture performance of an existing DVD library.

Key components of the BD-HP21U, including the Blu-ray laser pick-upassembly and drive unit, were built by Sharp, reflecting the company'sgoal of creating exceptional products from high-performance devices.The BD-HP21U will be available in a glossy piano black finish with oneof the slimmest designs in the industry, complementing ahigh-definition AQUOS HDTV.

Pricing and Availability
The BD-HP21U is available now for a Manufacturer's SuggestedRetail Price (MSRP) of $349.99.

www.sharpusa.com

Merging powerfulPC performance with slim stylish LCD panels, Sony today introduced threenew all-in-ones -- the VAIO(R) JS, LV and RT desktop models. Designed as space-savers, these new models are ideal for everythingfrom everyday computing to editing high-definition video content.

"These new all-in-ones address all your entertainment and computingneeds -- they're an HDTV, Blu-ray Disc(TM) player and PC in afashion-forward, clutter-free design," said Xavier Lauwaert, productmanager for VAIO product marketing at Sony Electronics.

Casual Computing/ Affordably Priced
The VAIO JS All-in-One desktop chassis sits directly on your deskcomplete with a storage space for your keyboard. Equipped with a 20.1-inch (diagonal) LCD display, the JS modelfeaturesSony's own XBRITE-ECO(TM) LCD technology so you will experiencerazor-sharpimages in crisp, vivid detail.

An optional Blu-ray Disc ROM optical drive is available for the JSmodel. Watch pristine HD content or check out exclusive movie previewsanddownloads utilizing BD-Live(TM), a Blu-ray feature that enables you toaccess additional content via your Internet-connected PC.

The unit incorporates an integrated microphone and web cam, withface-tracking technology, so it can follow your movements whilevideo-chatting with friends and co-workers.

The JS model boasts powerful desktop computing while curbing energyconsumption and noise. It comes pre-installed with Windows Vista(R) HomePremium operating system.

The VAIO JS All-in-One model comes in black, silver and pink andstartsat around $1,000.

Power-Packed HD Entertainment
Featuring a floating mirror design, the VAIO LV High-DefinitionPC/TVserves as your entire entertainment hub. It is equipped with a 24-inch (diagonal) WUXGA (1920x1200)widescreenhigh-definition display, with Sony's original XBRITE-FullHD(TM) LCDtechnology, for crystal-clear images.

Most LV models feature a slot-in Blu-ray Disc optical drive so youcanenjoy high-definition movies. A rewritable BD drive for recording,storingand playing back personal content on high-capacity BD media isavailable.

And with built-in DVR capabilities and up to a terabyte of storage,youcan create a personal entertainment library with up to 100 hours of HDtelevision. An industry-unique-feature in an all-in-one PC, the LV modelfeatures a1080p capable HDMI(TM) input so you can connect your compatible HD cablebox, satellite receiver or PLAYSTATION(R)3 computer entertainment system(all sold separately) via a single cable and enjoy HD entertainmentwithoutpowering on the PC.

Packing powerful components, the LV model can multi-task throughdemanding PC applications while editing HD content. The LV model comeswithyour choice of Windows Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate operatingsystems. The LV model is equipped with wireless LAN and an integrated powersupply allowing the unit to be cleanly mounted on a wall. A wirelesskeyboard with a built-in touchpad, mouse and remote control areincluded.

Video-Editing Powerhouse
The VAIO RT High Definition Studio is a one-stop-shop handling allyourhigh-definition video-editing needs on a single machine. Its 25.5-inch (diagonal) LCD display, featuring XBRITE-FullHD LCDtechnology, and Blu-ray optical drive enables you to play, record andeditHD video in 1080p resolution.

In addition to the built-in digital TV tuners, an HDMI In port letsyouconnect compatible HD cable and satellite boxes to enrich your HDTVviewingexperience. An HDMI output has also been included, letting you connecttoan external LCD display or HDTV to expand your workspace (HDMI cable,LCD,and HDTV sold separately).

The RT series incorporates Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad processors, up to8GB of RAM and a terabyte hard drive. It is equipped with a high-speedeSATA port, for extra storage, and a CompactFlash(R) slot.

The unit comes pre-installed with Windows Vista Ultimate operatingsystem. A wireless keyboard with integrated touchpad and mouse areincluded. It is also equipped with a built-in power supply enabling youtocleanly mount it to the wall.

The VAIO LV High-Definition PC/TV will start at around $1,600 whiletheVAIO RT High-Definition Studio PC will go for about $3,300. All threeseries will be available online at here. They willalso be sold at Sony Style(R) stores and select retailers around thecountry starting in mid-October.

Sharp expands its Blu-ray family with the availabilityof the AQUOS® BD-HP50U Blu-ray Disc player that provides Full HD 1080pdigital output. When paired with an AQUOS HDTV Liquid Crystaltelevision, the BD-HP50U enables consumers to enjoy the latest Blu-rayDisc titles, as well as standard-definition DVDs, in the highestresolution possible.

The BD-HP50U houses several features that enable custom installations.The player can be managed by external control systems via the built-inRS-232C port. An IR input allows the unit to be controlled wirelesslythrough a remote sensor. The player can then be placed out of sight ina cabinet or closet for a custom installation. Additionally, a stylishpowered front door includes on-unit controls and resonates high styledesign and quality.

The BD-HP50U supports BD-ROM Profile 1.1, which allows consumers toview additional content available on Blu-ray titles – including movietrailers, special subtitles, and director commentary – without stoppingthe movie. Additional content available on Blu-ray discs includesgames, subtitles and audio tracks.

"The interactive features of the Blu-ray Disc format bring a new levelof enjoyment to the high-definition movie experience," said BruceTripido, associate vice president, Entertainment Products Division,Sharp Electronics Corporation. "With the new BD-HP50U, consumers cantap into supplemental information without leaving the movie."

The BD-HP50U comes with state-of-the-art HDMI® 1.3 digital output,which allows users to send the highest resolution video and audiosignals possible to an AQUOS TV via a single cable. The player supportsnext-generation audio and video options available via HDMI 1.3,including x.v.Color, which expands the range of colors available. TheBD-HP50U also supports Lip Sync, which automatically adjusts audio andvideo signal processing times to remove lip synch errors.

The BD-HP50U is compatible with the latest high-definition digitalaudio formats. The player outputs the most advanced losslesssurround-sound formats including Dolby® TrueHD and DTS HD via HDMIdigital output. The player also decodes Dolby Digital Plus, whichprovides optimum surround sound for appropriately equipped receivers.Additionally, the player boasts Sharp's proprietary Quick Start*feature, which takes viewers from disc loading to viewing in less than10 seconds. JPEG Viewing lets users view their favorite digital imagesfrom their CD collection on screen in a slide show format.

The BD-HP50U outputs 1920 x 1080 video at 24 frames per second,matching the frame rate of the original film. This feature eliminatesthe need for frame-rate conversion that can cause motion artifacts onfilm-based material and degrade image quality. Sharp's built-in AQUOSLINK™ feature allows users to seamlessly control HDMI-connectedproducts via an AQUOS LCD TV screen using a single remote control.

The player is compatible with a wide range of formats includingBD-ROM/RE/R, DVD Video, DVD-RW/R, DVD+RW/R and audio CDs. Keycomponents of the BD-HP50U, including the Blu-ray laser pick upassembly and drive unit, were built by Sharp, reflecting the company'sgoal of creating exceptional products from high-performance devices.

Pricing and Availability
The BD-HP50U is available now for a Manufacturer's SuggestedRetail Price (MSRP) of $449.99.

www.sharpusa.com

TMPG, Inc. (www.tmpg-inc.com), the company that makes digital video easy, is introducing their latest software, TMPGEnc KARMA, a digital video library organizational tool. It will be the company’s second freeware product, joining the highly-rated TMPGEnc video encoder. The English language version of the software is available now at the TMPGEnc website for free download. A French language version is also available now on the French website.

“As digital video becomes more popular, it is more important than ever for users to be able to organize their growing video libraries” stated Kimi Matsuki, TMPG Inc. CEO. “We created TMPGEnc KARMA.. for precisely that reason, and are making it available for free to assist anyone that has digital video.”

Digital Video Library Organization - TMPGEnc KARMA can scan a specified video folder and add any supported video clips to its video library list. Videos can be sorted by name, creation date, number of times played, and more. Users can also rate videos by creating custom keyword descriptions or by color-coding them for even more sorting options. Digital Video ViewerUsers have the ability to view supported digital video files directly in the software and watch it in full screen mode or in the background while organizing the collection.

TMPGEnc KARMA also has multiple preview screens so users can watch multiple videos at the same time, and the viewing area can be customized and resized to the user’s preferences.

TMPGEnc TileShot CREATOR - It is possible to create a digital contact sheet of a video with the included TMPGEnc TileShot CREATOR. With this tool, users can create an image composed of thumbnail frames from the video, making it easy to preview the video contents without watching it. It is even possible to create an animated .gif file which cycles through a set number of frames from the video. These thumbnail images are great when used as previews on websites or archiving purposes.

At this year’s Internationale Funkausstellung (IFA), heldAugust 29 to September 3 in Berlin, Dolby Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE:DLB)is announcing implementations of its technologies in new products fromleading manufacturers.

“We are excited to continue to work with some of the leading consumerelectronics manufacturers, and announce fantastic products with Dolby®technologies,” said Robin Dyer, Vice President, EMEA, DolbyLaboratories. “At IFA we’ll be demonstrating momentum for ourtechnologies across a range of different platforms and devices inbroadcast, consumer electronics, PC, gaming, and mobile sectors.”

Dolby Volume
The first global availability of the unique Dolby Volume audioprocessing technology will feature in two new high-end audio/videoreceivers from Harman Kardon. Harman Kardon’s AVR 755 and AVR 655 7.1receivers use Dolby Volume to deliver consistent volume levels acrossany content, channel programming, or input sources, allowing consumersto enjoy their favorite music and movies without having to constantlyadjust volume levels or reach for the remote control. Dolby is alsodisplaying the first implementation of Dolby Volume on a televisionwith Toshiba’s new Regza® ZH500 and ZV500 series LCD HDTVs, which werelaunched in Japan earlier in the year.

Get Into the Game
Launching at IFA, the GameComTM 777 gaming headset from Plantronicsincludes Dolby Headphone virtual surround sound technology to create arealistic, cinematic game-play experience for PC games offline oronline, giving players a competitive advantage.

New TV Products
Dolby is highlighting industry support for Dolby Digital Plustechnology in new broadcast products, including a new television aswell as in digital set-top boxes from a variety of Europeanmanufacturers.

Dolby Driving the Sound of HD Entertainment
An essential element in next-generation high-definition entertainment,Dolby is showcasing a range of the latest audio/video receivers andBlu-rayTM players with Dolby TrueHD and/or Dolby Digital Plus. Today,29 Blu-ray players, 50 audio systems (AVRs and HTIBs), and more than 13studios are using Dolby TrueHD or Dolby Digital Plus to power thehigh-definition sound of over 90 Blu-ray DiscTM titles.

More Choices than Ever for Dolby Entertainment Technologies on the PC
Dolby is displaying momentum for its PC Entertainment Experienceprogram with several new models from leading PC manufacturers featuringsecond-generation Dolby Home Theater® and Dolby Sound Room® thatdeliver a vivid cinema-style surround sound experience. Dolbytechnologies can also be found in performance-driven boxed retailmotherboards, high-fidelity PC soundcards, and leading software forvideo editing and DVD playback. With a wide range of products featuringDolby technologies from top manufacturers, Dolby has extended itsentertainment expertise to a broad audience, giving PC users powerfultools to enhance and control their listening experience.

Dolby Mobile: A Totally Immersive Mobile Entertainment Experience onthe Go
In addition, Dolby is displaying Dolby Mobile, an audio processingtechnology platform that brings a rich, vibrant surround soundexperience to music, movies, and television programs on mobile phonesand portable media players. Dolby recently announced that LGElectronics plans to incorporate Dolby Mobile into its handsets, withthe first model bound for the global market scheduled to appear beforethe end of the calendar year.

www.dolby.com

Sherwood America Inc., one of the world’s leading manufacturer of high performance audio equipment, today introduced its first Blu-ray DVD player. The BDP-6003 supports Blu-ray profile 2.0 and supports 1080p video at 60 Hz or 24 Hz and supports lossless audio from both Dolby and DTS.

According to Jeffrey Hipps, Sherwood’s Sr. VP for Marketing and Product Development, “we are thrilled to be able to offer an advanced player that not only supports 1080p video output but also has built-in decoding for the latest lossless audio formats: Dolby TruHD and DTS-Master Audio HD. Because the decoding is on-board, users with older AVR’s can still experience the thrill of lossless audio via their receiver’s 6 channel analog input.”

The BDP-6003 is fully compatible with the latest HDMI 1.3 standard and plays virtually all of today’s disc formats.

MSRP for the BDP-6003 is $499.95 and it is available at the end of October, 2008. Since 1953, Sherwood has designed and manufactured high-performance, cost effective audio gear. Products bearing the Sherwood Newcastle brand are designed for specialty audio dealers and custom installers.

www.sherwoodusa.com

DivX, Inc. (NASDAQ:DIVX), a digital media company, and Funai Electric Co. today announced the DivX Certification™ of a new Blu-ray player from Funai. The player will be launched in the European market in October.

With DivX Certification, Funai’s new Blu-ray player, the B1-M110, iscapable of seamlessly playing back high-quality DivX® video. DivXtechnology enables a premium visual experience in digital video whileconsiderably reducing its file size. The B1-M110 will allow consumersto play back DivX video that has been burned to DVDs and CDs. Funai’snewest Blu-ray player expands the DivX ecosystem within the Blu-raydevice category and joins over 100 million other DivX Certified®devices shipped by DivX licensees into the market including digitaltelevisions, mobile phones, digital cameras, personal media playersand set-top boxes.

“Consumers are increasingly turning to next generation solutions fortheir home entertainment and there has been continual demand from themto support the playback of DivX video in the living room,” saidMoriyasu Yoshitake, General Manager, DVD Product Planning Department,Funai Electric. “Working with DivX has allowed us to provide ourcustomers with a high-quality solution for digital video.”

“DivX has become a standard feature in the DVD category and ourincreasing traction within Blu-ray devices speaks to our continuedmission of enabling a high-quality media experience across anydevice,” said Patrice Lagrange, Senior Vice President, Products, DivX,Inc. “Consumers have demanded a premium experience for their digitalvideo entertainment and the DivX Certified B1-M110 delivers.”

Products that bear the DivX Certified® logo have undergone a rigoroustesting program to ensure a high-quality DivX media experience,including reliable video playback, interoperability with other DivXCertified devices and the visual quality users expect from DivX.

For more information on DivX Certification, visit www.divx.com/certification.

Denon Electronics, one of the world’s premier manufacturers ofhigh-quality home entertainment components, today announced that itwill begin delivering its DVD-1800BD Profile 1 version 1.1 Blu-ray DiscPlayer (SRP: $749) to retailers in October 2008. Offering consumersextraordinary video and audio quality at a more affordable price point,the DVD-1800BD features HDMI 1.3a with Deep Color and Bonus Viewsupport, full bitstream output of Dolby and DTS-HD audio formats, aswell as 1080p scaling from SD DVDs and 2-channel analog audio output.

A New More Affordable Addition to Denon’s Blu-ray DVD Family
The DVD-1800BD joins Denon®’s DVD-3800BDCI Blu-ray Disc Player ($1,999)and the DVD-2500BTCI (SRP: $1,199) Blu-ray Disc Transport, bringingcustom installers and discriminating consumers a more affordable optionfor enjoying high-definition video and audio performance.

Notably, the DVD-1800BD allows owners of advanced A/V receivers to addBlu-ray capability to their system and enjoy high definition video. TheDVD-1800BD will natively output an HD audio bit-stream to a connectedreceiver via HDMI. Once this signal is accepted in the receiver, it canthen be decoded into its native format including Dolby Digital Plus,Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio. For those listeners who want touse the DVD-1800BD as a step-up CD player, this unit features adedicated 2-channel analog output, equipped with high-class Burr-BrownD/A convertors and superior analog components to ensure the high levelof sound quality for which Denon is renowned.

In keeping with the guidelines mandated by the Blu-ray Association forBD-ROM Profile 1 version 1.1 players, the Denon Model DVD-1800BDincorporates a secondary audio and video decoder. This allows forsimultaneous playback of a secondary audio and video track which may beused for interactive audio and commentary and for picture-in-picturecapability (respectively). Additional information (subtitles, audiostreams, camera angles, trailers, games, etc.) can be downloaded fromthe Internet via computer and stored on a SD card that the player willaccept. This content can be played with the original content of Blu-rayDiscs.

www.usa.denon.com

InfoSmart Group, Inc. ("InfoSmart" orthe "Company") (OTCBB: IFSG), a leading recordable digital versatiledisc ("DVDR") and Blu-ray ("BD") manufacturer in Hong Kong and Brazil,today announced it secured an initial order from a leading media andentertainment company, Media Asia Distribution, in Hong Kong.

A recorded media supplier of live concerts and films in Asia, MediaAsia Distribution has provided InfoSmart with a 2,000 unit test orderfor a film by two popular Cantonese actors, Andy Lau and Sammi Cheng,and expects to place Blu-ray disk production orders with InfoSmart of40,000 units by September, 2008. This will be InfoSmart's first orderproduced on the Company's newly installed Anwell Blu-ray equipment linepurchased in March of this year and installed over the May and Junetimeframe. The Company's initial order represents the first of manysales it is forecasting as the sole supplier of Blu-ray in theestimated annual 6,000,000 (six million) unit BD disk market in HongKong and China. The Company estimates monthly demand of BD disks forHong Kong at 350,000 units and 150,000 units from China.

Media Asia Distribution is one of many Hong Kong-based mediareproduction companies identified by InfoSmart whose futurereproductions are 100% dedicated to the BD format. "This first order isone of many we anticipate will follow," began Parker Seto, CEO ofInfoSmart. "As the only Blu-ray producer in Hong Kong and the first inChina, we expect to see several future orders as Blu-ray begins todominate the visual media market," Seto concluded.

Initial orders for 'short runs' of a Blu-ray disks are used to confirmthe format's high reproduction standards are achieved prior toinitiating full production runs. Shortly after random samples for theshort run are tested and certified; the order for retail distributionis placed into production. InfoSmart confirmed BD unit sales producethe highest margins of all the media the Company produces, nearly threetimes that of its traditional CD and DVD product segments. InfoSmart isforecasting BD sales to contribute 10% of third and fourth quarterrevenues this year and 20% or more of Asia regional revenues in 2009.

www.infosmart.com.tw