Can Apple's New 1080p iTunes Downloads Match Blu-ray's Quality?

Blu-ray is currently the format of choice for those who want the best possible picture quality coupled with lossless digital audio. However, Apple has announced that its new Apple TV will now be able to stream 1080p video directly from iTunes, so can it match Blu-ray's excellent quality?

Thanks to arstechnica.com, we have our answer. By comparing a downloaded version of 30 Days of Night to the existing (and very impressive) Blu-ray, the team concluded that for the most part, iTunes' 1080p video comes very close to matching Blu-ray, but can struggle in situations where the image has been compressed to meet an acceptable file size.

You can see several examples in the site's study, but above we've replicated the one which in our opinion, best shows the difference between the two formats. In the picture, the iTunes version is on the left, and when comparing the bridge of the nose, surrounding forehead and cheeks, it's easy to see where iTunes stumbles.

Of course, most people won't be pausing a movie and comparing it with another version, but then many will have paid a fair amount of money for a television/projector and media player so they can see the best image possible - and it's still Blu-ray which delivers.

That said, Arstechnica does note that iTunes new 1080p video does improve on the old 720p files. Additionally, it's also worth remembering that iTunes downloads only offer regular 5.1 audio and not high definition, and there are no special features included.

The new Apple TV went on sale this week for $99.

Early Release for Star Wars The Phantom Menace 3D Blu-ray?

With Star Wars Episode One - The Phantom Menace in 3D currently showing in cinemas, it's perhaps a surprise to hear about a potential Blu-ray release, however according to TechRadar it could be coming sooner than we'd normally expect.

However, there's a catch.  Like the Blu-ray of Star Wars, Panasonic is being rumoured to have snapped up the rights to The Phantom Menace in 3D, and will be packaging the movie with its home cinema sets in the spring.

This would be a very fast turnaround, and a massive coup for Panasonic, however a more feasible September date is also being suggested.

At this stage there's no mention of the film being an exclusive title to Panasonic, so fans shouldn't face the same problems as they did with Avatar.  It also means there's a chance it'll hit retail around the same time as it becomes available through Panasonic.

Amazon UK and USA both have place-holder pages for the 3D Blu-ray, but neither have dates attached. This points to a release schedule which will follow the theatrical re-release, in that we'll get one a year instead of an entire 3D boxset at the end. Although don't rule out a deluxe version when we get to Return of the Jedi in six years' time.

Super 8 Steelbook Details and Pictures

Super 8 was one of the very best blockbusters of 2011, and the Blu-ray release is a must-buy for fans of the movie.  HMV has continued its run of excellent exclusive steelbooks with a special Super 8 edition, released just before Christmas, and we've got all the details and some pictures.

It's an odd release, as the cover isn't especially descriptive, featuring a silhouette of the film's characters looking at a water tower, plus an outline of a super 8 camera below the title.  The tagline "It Arrives" is hidden away in the top right of the cover, while the production company logos - Bad Robot, Amblin and Paramount - take almost centre stage.

What could have been an attractive, subtle steelbook cover, is ruined by a massive barcode in the bottom right though.  HMV had the foresight to add a removeable sticker with the BBFC certification logos on it, but not for the ugly barcde?  What a shame.

The set is a Triple Play edition with the DVD, Blu-ray and a digital copy, and the disc contains the following extras:

• Commentary track with J.J Abrams and others.
• 14 deleted scenes in HD.
• A total of 8 featurettes in HD.
• Deconstructing the Train Crash.

The disc is presented in 2.40:1 widescreen with a Dolby TrueHD 7.1 audio track, and the opening train crash is a spectacular demonstration of lossless audio performance.

HMV's Super 8 steelbook is still available on the website, and is currently priced at £19.99.

 

Hammer Horror Titles to get Blu-ray Treatment

Some good news for fans of Hammer Studios horror movies has emerged this week, as at least 30 titles will be coming to Blu-ray over the coming year.  Studio Canal is spearheading the releases, which will all receive extensive restoration and remastering, along with help from Warner Bros., Cineimage, Pinewood Studios and Anolis Entertainment.

There's not long to go until the first wave of releases hit the shelves either, as UK Blu-ray buyers will be able to grab Dracula: Prince of Darkness, The Reptile and The Plague of the Zombies on the 5th March.  A complete list of films set to appear hasn't been released, however six more titles have been confirmed as headed our way: The Mummy, The Mummy's Shroud, Rasputin the Mad Monk, Dracula, The Curse of Frankenstein and The Devil Rides Out.

As far as extras go, all discs will have newly-filmed documentaries and interviews, and Studio Canal has been collaborating with the author of the Hammer Vault to ensure they're of the highest quality.

According to the blog Hammer has set up to chart the restoration projects, Dracula: Prince of Darkness has been scanned at 4K and restored in 2K, and it'll be presented in its original 2.25:1 aspect ratio with UK title cards.

It should be assumed for the moment that the Hammer discs will be Region B, however this could change closer to the time of release.  Also, with the involvement of other studios, there's no reason not to expect a Region A release in the future.

CES 2012 Blu-ray Announcement News Round-up

This week sees CES 2012 in full swing, and as always there has been an abundance of new Blu-ray players announced, along with some cool new products related to our favourite disc-based media.  Here's a rundown of the top announcements.

Panasonic.

Panasonic has announced four new 3D Blu-ray players, the DMP-BDT500, BDT320, BDT220 and BBT01, plus two 2D players, the DMP-BD77 and BD87.  They all use an updated UniPhier chip and offer VIERA Connect and support for 3D up-conversion.  The BBT01 and BDT320 both use an unusual slot-drive, while the BBT01 can be mounted either vertically or horizontally.

All the new players offer DLNA support and all but the BD77 have Wi-Fi built-in, plus they all support NTFS-based hard disc drives.

Vizio.

In addition to a standard 3D Blu-ray player, the VBR370, Vizio has introduced the VBR430, a media streaming box complete with a built-in Blu-ray player.  The box streams content from Hulu and Netflix, plus it offers Google TV functionality and integrates with social networking sites.  Once again, like a couple of Panasonic players, the Vizio VBR430 looks to use a slot-loading drive.  Price and availability have yet to be confirmed.

Sony.

Sony has given us three new Blu-ray players this CES, with one of particular interest.  The BDP-S590 is a stock 3D player with Wi-Fi and access to various third-party streaming services along with Sony's own network, while the BDP-SX910 is a portable Blu-ray player with a 9" screen and four hours of battery life.

The BDP-S790 comes with the interesting feature of being able to convert standard HD content into 4K HD content.  Wi-Fi and 3D are also featured, but it's that upscaling-gone-mad spec that makes this one standout.  Now you just need a screen capable of showing 4K resolution material.

Samsung.

Here's a neat little device from Samsung.  The BD-ES6000 is a box just about the same size as a Blu-ray disc, yet it incorporates a 3D player, Wi-Fi, DLNA support and access to plenty of streaming online content and Samsung's app store.  Plus, it can be controlled using an iOS or Android app, or even a wireless keyboard and mouse.  The tiny device happily decodes HD audio too, and won't take up much space alongside your TV.  Pricing and availability has yet to be announced.

Toshiba.

Toshiba brings four new Blu-ray players to CES.  The BDX3300 and BDX5300 both feature Wi-Fi, but only the BDX5300 has 3D support, while the BDX2300 and BDX4300 both need a wireless dongle attached to use a Wi-Fi network.  The BDX4300 does have 3D disc support though.  All players will be released during April and May and feature the usual online streaming abilities, apps and DLNA support.

New BeoVision 7-40 Adds 3D Blu-ray to Gorgeous Package

Bang & Olufsen has added a revised BeoVision television to their range, as the updated BeoVision 7-40 now comes complete with a 3D Blu-ray player inside.  Fans of the super-stylish Danish brand will recall that the 7-40 was updated back in May this year, swapping out the DVD player for a Blu-ray.  As technology has now moved on to include 3D, the company has done the same again this month.

As you would expect now there is a 3D Blu-ray player built-in, the screen itself has become a 3D panel, plus you'll get a pair of active-shutter glasses in the package too.  The 40" screen will likely be the best seller, however a 50" version has also gone on sale at the same time.  B&O has given the specs a slight overhaul, with the screen now boasting a 100hz refresh rate, 3000:1 contrast ratio and a 6ms response time.

Otherwise the spec has remained the same with Dolby TrueHD and DTS Master Audio support from the standard decoder plus an optional built-in DVB-HD decoder, motorised stand and the BeoLab speaker system.

You're going to have to take a deep breath when it comes to handing over the cash though, as the new BeoVision 7-40 is priced at £7,600!

HMV Announces Exclusive Limited Edition Lion King Trilogy

The Lion King is sure to be a popular Blu-ray release on its own, but fans of the movie or limited Disney collector's editions may want to reserve a copy of this impressive, exclusive Blu-ray set coming from HMV.  Released on the 7th November, The Lion King Trilogy: Collectors Edition has been made available for pre-order with HMV in the UK at a price of £64.99.  What do you get for that price?  This:

• The Lion King: Diamond Edition.
• Lion King 2: Simba's Pride.
• Lion King 3: Hakuna Matata.
• Lion King Special Edition Official Soundtrack.
• 2-disc Special Edition of the Original Broadway Cast Recording.
• Behind the Scenes Bonus DVD.

All this will be presented in a stained wooden box, limited to just 3000 copies.  I think you'll agree it looks really special too!  The Lion King: Diamond Edition includes the following special features:

• Bloopers & Outtakes
  
• Interactive Blu-ray Gallery
  
• Audio Commentary By Co-Directors Roger Allers And Rob Minkoff And Producer Don Hahn (original Version)
  
• Backstage Disney: Diamond Edition
  
• Pride Of The Lion King
  
• The Lion King: A Memoir - Don Hahn
  
• Deleted & Alternate Scenes With Introductions by Roger Allers & Rob Minkoff Music & More
  
• Play Movie With Sing-Along Mode
  
• The Morning Report: Extended Scene
  
• LK2- Timon & Pumbaa's Insectapedia
  
• Classic DVD Bonus Features
  
• "One By One"
  
• Timon & Pumbaa: Find Out Why
  
• Proud Of Simba's Pride
  
• "Love Will Find A Way" Music Video
  
• LK3- Timon & Pumbaa's Vacation Safari
  
• Classic DVD Bonus Features
  
• Deleted Scenes
  
• Intro To "Scurry, Flinch, Sniff"
  
• Timon & Pumbaa look for Oasis
  
• Timon: Behind The Legend
  
• Before The Beginning: The Making of The Lion King 1 1/2
  
• Grazin' In The Grass" Music Video

If you're a Lion King fan, will you be pre-ordering this set?

Star Trek: Next Generation Confirmed for Blu-ray in 2012

It was only logical that Paramount should follow-up its brilliant Blu-ray presentation of the Original Series of Star Trek, with an equally lovingly-prepared edition of Next Generation; the question was, when?  Through an official announcement over at StarTrek.com, we've been given an answer, as a Blu-ray sampler of three Next Gen episodes will be released on the 31st January 2012.

The sampler release will pave the way for a complete Season One boxset before the end of next year, and it promises to be quite a release.  According to StarTrek.com, CBS returned to the original negatives and re-edited them together exactly as they were when they first aired, and then came up with a special process to create true 1080p masters.  The visual FX are being recomposited rather than upconverted from videotape, and the sountrack will be remixed into 7.1 DTS Master Audio.

To show how much Paramount and CBS care about this release, they've enlisted the help of Denise and Michael Okuda, both longtime Star Trek contributors and authors of various books inlcuding the Star Trek Encyclopedia, as consultants.

Back to the January release.  It will be called Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Next Level and will include three episodes: the Encounter at Farpoint pilot, Sins of the Father and The Inner Light.  You can see the artwork above, and a teaser video for the release below.  It's out on the 31st January and has been given a retail price of $21.99 in the US.

As for a release date for Season One, Dark Horizons speculates it'll be out in a year's time, on the 28th September, to coincide with the original pilot's airing.  It's a good theory, but it may also depend on when the sequel to 2009's Star Trek movie hits the big screen, as that's when next year's Star Trek fever will be at its highest.

 

BFCA Announces Top Five Blu-ray Releases Ever, Do You Agree?

The Broadcast Film Critics Association has announced their choice of the top five Blu-ray discs released since the format began selling back in 2006/2007.  The final five came from an original line-up of 32 discs voted on by members, and rather than concentrate on retail successes, took into consideration the things we hold dear about the format.

For example, the audio and video quality was judged, as was any restoration work, along with the choice of bonus material and the overall disc design and operation.  Packaging was also looked at, an area we think has advanced considerably over DVD already.  So, here's the BFCA's winners:

2006/2007 - Close Encounters of the Third Kind: 30th Anniversary Ultimate Edition.

2008 - Planet of the Apes: 40-Year Evolution Box Set.

2009 - The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary Edition.

2010 - Apocalypse Now and Avatar.

2011 - Lord of the Rings: Extended Edition Motion Picture Trilogy Box Set.

Without a complete list of the 32 original titles, it's difficult to evaluate the choices made here, but it's fair to say they're all standout editions which belong in every collection.  However, that doesn't mean we agree entirely, as the Extended Edition of Lord of the Rings is pretty much a reissue of the DVDs, with very little in the way of new material.  While the quality is no doubt outstanding, 2011 has already been a great year for Blu-ray, and there are plenty more exciting discs to come too.

Avatar is indeed a beautiful Blu-ray presentation, as is Apocalypse Now, however we'd substitute one of them for the excellent Alien Anthology release - a truly fantastic set with amazingly in-depth documentaries on each movie.  Plus we'd be very hard pushed not to include the amazing Inception Blu-ray, especially in its limited edition UK form.

What would your choices be?

Two New Budget Blu-ray Players from Sony and Pioneer

Both Sony and Pionner unveiled new budget Blu-ray players at the recent IFA show in Berlin, and we've got the details for you below.  Of course, these being low-end models there's nothing ground-breaking in terms of new tech, but the spec still impresses considering the price tag.

Sony's BD-S185 has an unusual design which deviates from their previous super-slim slabs.  The disc tray remains on the left-hand side of the player, but the controls now sit on the top of the casing, which has a a slight curve to it and is thicker at the rear than at the front.  It's still only 290mm thick though, and the brushed aluminium chassis is sure to win it a few fans.

A single HDMI socket sits on the rear, sending 1080p images to your TV and upscaling DVD to 'near HD quality' according to the blurb on Sony's site.  A USB port will play digital media plus there's access to a variety of online content too.  It'll also decode Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD.  Sony has the player up for £99, but online retailers seem to be selling it for around £80.  A bargain for Sony's quality.

Pioneer's new Blu-ray is really only budget by their standards, as it wears a £170 price-tag, but it does have a more varied feature set than the Sony.  In addition to Blu-ray and DVD, Pioneer's BDP-140 will also play 3D Blu-ray and SACD, plus it can be controlled by iOS and Android devices thanks to a free application.  Like the S185, there's only an Ethernet connection for the Internet, but Pioneer's online services are restricted to YouTube and Picassa. 

Both the BDP-140 and BD-S185 are available now.