-
Sony Readies First Two Music Titles for Blu-Ray
Posted Mon Jun 5, 2006 at 12:26 AM PDT byHoping to expand the variety of Blu-ray disc offerings, Sony BMG has announced it plans to release the first two music titles on the format, reports Home Media Retailing.
Continue Reading -
Sony Says No to Blu-Ray/DVD Hybrid Discs
Posted Fri Jun 2, 2006 at 12:39 PM PDT byDespite the first hybrid high-def/DVD discs from rival format HD DVD already on the market, Blu-ray backers say they have no plans to release such "transitional" discs in the foreseeable future, reports Home Media Retailing.
Continue Reading -
Sony Unveils First A/V Receiver Optimized for Blu-Ray
Posted Thu Jun 1, 2006 at 12:21 PM PDT bySony today officially announced the STR-DG1000, their first high-definition compatible A/V receiver optimized for the Blu-ray format.
Continue Reading -
MGM Realigns Home Video Division with Fox; Sony to Continue to Release Studio's Blu-Ray Product
Posted Wed May 31, 2006 at 12:35 PM PDT byIn a surprise move, MGM today announced that it is shifting its domestic home entertainment distribution business from Sony to Fox, though Sony will continue to service the studio's upcoming Blu-ray disc releases.
Continue Reading -
Blu-Ray Disc Production Officially Underway, Says Sony
Posted Wed May 17, 2006 at 01:57 AM PDT byWith the launch of Blu-Ray set for next month and the November arrival of the PlayStation 3 looming, Sony yesterday confirmed that disc production has officially begun, reports Total Video Games.
Continue Reading -
Sony Bumps Blu-Ray Second Wave
Posted Tue May 16, 2006 at 10:55 AM PDT byAnother speedbump for Blu-Ray today, with Sony/MGM announcing it will delay its second wave of disc releases on the format by one month.
Continue Reading -
Sony Won't Meet Blu-Ray Demand in 2006, Says Exec
Posted Mon May 15, 2006 at 12:20 PM PDT byFaced with shortages in the supply of electronics components, initial demand for Blu-Ray players will exceed demand and prices will remain high, a Sony exec told Reuters.
Continue Reading -
No HDMI For Low-End PlayStation 3 Draws Ire of Gamers; Sony Brass Defends Decision
Posted Fri May 12, 2006 at 10:09 AM PDT byBuyers of the "low-end" $499 model of the upcoming PlayStation 3 won't be getting an HDMI digital output, and that's just fine with Sony -- but not gamers, who are dismayed by the company's plans for the Blu-Ray driven next-gen game console, reports Ars Technica.
Continue Reading -
Sony Sets PlayStation 3 Price
Posted Tue May 9, 2006 at 12:13 AM PDT byAfter months of speculation over the expected cost of the Blu-Ray-driven PlayStation 3, Sony has at last revealed its pricing plans for the highly-anticipated next-gen game console, CNN reported late yesterday.
Continue Reading -
Sony Postpones First Blu-Ray Releases
Posted Wed May 3, 2006 at 04:32 PM PDT bySony announced late today it is delaying the release of its initial wave of Blu-Ray disc titles to June, to coincide with the launch next month of the first Blu-Ray players, reports Video Business.
Continue Reading -
Sony to Launch Major Consumer Ad Campaign in Support of HDTV, Blu-Ray
Posted Wed May 3, 2006 at 12:07 PM PDT byHoping to build upon its lead as the industry's top-selling brand of consumer electronics, Sony has announced it will launch one of the biggest consumer ad campaigns in the company's history to promote its growing line of HD products, including Blu-Ray, reports Associated Press.
Continue Reading -
As PlayStation 3 Launch Looms, Sony Drops Price on PlayStation 2
Posted Fri Apr 21, 2006 at 10:34 AM PDT byAs Sony gears up to launch the Blu-Ray enabled PlayStation 3 game console worldwide this fall, the company has announced it is dropping the price on the popular PlayStation 2, reports Home Media Retailing.
Continue Reading -
Sony Announces Second Day-and-Date Blu-Ray Release with 'Ultraviolet'
Posted Mon Apr 17, 2006 at 06:03 PM PDT bySony has announced their second Blu-Ray disc title to debut simultaneously with its standard DVD release.
Continue Reading -
Blu-Ray Movies Likely to Hit Market Before Players
Posted Thu Mar 30, 2006 at 12:07 PM PST byLike any good soap opera, the next-gen DVD format wars continue to deliver surprises.
Continue Reading -
Studios Announce First Blu-Ray Assault
Posted Wed Jan 4, 2006 at 12:57 PM PST byAfter two years of hype and hope, four studios -- Sony/MGM, Paramount, Fox and Lion's Gate -- announced their initial lineup of Blu-Ray titles today at CES 2006.
Continue Reading
Each studio plans to have 10-20 catalog titles available by early spring, with each offering a nominal mix of well-known catalog titles and recent blockbusters. Pricing has not yet been announced, although Sony honco Ben Feingold expected Blu-Ray discs to cost on average higher than their DVD counterparts, but "not significantly so." Day-and-date with DVD support was also sketchy, although Fox and Paramount indicated that such highly-anticipated blockbusters as 'Mission: Impossible 3' and 'Ice Age 2' would see simultaneous Blu-Ray and DVD release in 2006.
The initial slates leave us a little wanting -- 'Stealth,' 'Rambo' and 'Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow' is as good as it gets, folks. While these titles are skewed towards the young male action audience (which is a safe bet, given Blu-Ray's almost pre-sold base of Playstation 3 gamers), if high-def DVD is going to succeed with the mainstream, there has to be more variety. How about a few romantic comedies? Or even a couple genuine classics? And with only one TV DVD title announced ('Stargate Atlantis'!) the studios appear to be failing to capitalize on the biggest growth sector of the DVD market.
However, with remaining Blu-Ray supporting studios Warner, New Line, Disney and Universal expected to announce their Blu-Ray support by the end of CES 2006, we're still holding out hope that their offerings will rate a bit higher on the excitement meter.