Archive for August, 2008

Tim Kring and I recently spoke with Mike Mettler at Sound and Vision magazine about HEROES on Blu-ray. As an early tech adopter, I’m currently watching Blu-ray movies via my PS3s. At 720p HD via my projector. And at 1080p via LCD TV. The image quality is amazing. And the massive storage capability of the format offers even more of the usual DVD extras. But the most exciting feature is the ability to access the internet with your Blu-ray player and discs. This feature could allow buyers of Blu-ray discs to download exclusive content onto their players, watch streaming video, and even purchase exclusive items. It suggests a whole bevy of online community features as well. The complexities of interface design for which seem daunting. I doubt a real percentage of Blu-ray player owners will have keyboards connected to their machines, and the idea of using the remote control as a keyboard doesn’t feel realistic in the near term. (It certainly isn’t easy when I try to enter text on XBOX Live via my typepad accessory.) And in the long term, Blu-ray is just an intermediate step before the arrival of the direct download future. But until that future arrives, along with my jet pack, and RED Scarlet, Blu-ray offers a high quality entertainment experience, and serves as a great test bed for the next gen features that will keep Hollywood strong, and relevant. And teach our industry how to go beyond mere products, and create engaging experiences consumers will pay for.

You can read some of the article HERE!