Good news for Wii fans. Nintendo has reportedly changed their mind about bringing the DVD-enabled Wii to the US. According to GameDaily BIZ, the DVD-enabled Wii will make its US debut in the second half of 2007.
Last month, we reported that Nintendo would be releasing a special DVD-enabled Wii console in Japan some time during 2007. Today, digital media software company Sonic Solutions further stirred the pot by sending out a release indicating that Nintendo has selected "Sonic CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator to bring high-quality DVD movie viewing to a future version of the company's Wii gaming console."

According to the release, Nintendo plans to launch this version of Wii some time in the latter half of 2007. What wasn't clear, however, was if this announcement had been confirmed by Nintendo, and if the DVD-enabled Wii would be released outside of Japan. That said, GameDaily BIZ has now received confirmation from Nintendo that the release in the latter half of 2007 is for North America as well.
While Nintendo has not announced a price, they have confirmed that the DVD-enabled Wii will come at a higher price. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Sonic has announced that CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator has been chosen by Nintendo to provide DVD playback in a future version of the Wii console.
Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC), the leader in digital media software, today announced that Nintendo, the worldwide innovator in the creation of interactive entertainment, has chosen Sonic CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator to bring high-quality DVD movie viewing to a future version of the company's Wii gaming console. Nintendo plans to release this version of Wii in the latter half of 2007.

Based on the same technology trusted by Hollywood studios, CinePlayer CE DVD Navigator is a robust, software-based DVD playback engine that delivers broad playback compatibility on a variety of platforms. The proven technology offers exceptional picture quality and supports all standard video and audio formats offered in the DVD specification, as well as advanced functions such as anamorphic widescreen video, motion menus, and multiple video angles. "To be involved in Nintendo's ground-breaking gaming console is extremely gratifying and a testament to the efficiency, flexibility and dependability of Sonic's technology," said Jim Taylor, senior vice president and general manager of Sonic's Advanced Technology Group. "Game consoles represent a fresh market and platform where we can introduce a new audience of potentially millions to the quality of our brand and the power of our digital media applications."
Sadly, Nintendo is not planning to offer this new version of the Wii outside of Japan. If you'd like to read more, Sonic's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
Broadcom has announced the industry's first complete system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution for Blu-ray Disc and HD-DVD. The BCM7440 incorporates the decoding, processing and memory functions for both formats, eliminating the need for two different hardware platforms.
Broadcom Corporation (Nasdaq: BRCM), a global leader in semiconductors for wired and wireless communications, today announced the industry's first complete system-on-a-chip (SoC) solution that combines both Blu-ray and HD DVD optical disc formats into a highly integrated, single-chip design. Building upon its successful first-generation Blu-ray/HD DVD SoC solution, Broadcom has developed a next-generation universal player SoC that not only significantly surpasses current chip technology in integration and performance, but will further the advancement of high definition media players. The new Broadcom SoC has an advanced feature set, coupled with a software stack that is compliant with both Blu-ray and HD DVD specifications, providing OEMs with a complete platform for future generation media players that support both disc formats, as well as other home entertainment and network applications.
I wouldn't hold my breath, hoping for a hybrid Blu-ray/HD DVD player. However, solutions like this should help reduce the costs of single format players. If you'd like to read more, Broadcom's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
The battble between Blu-ray and HD DVD could be coming to an early end. According to an article at EETimes, machines capable of playing both Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs are expected to emerge some time next year.
Leading chip vendors such as Broadcom, STMicroelectronics and NEC Electronics told EE Times they are developing ICs that allow high-definition optical drives and players to comply with the two competing specifications. These suppliers appear to have specific knowledge that their potential customers—whose names they declined to disclose—will roll out universal players as early as 2007.
While its great that these companies are developing chipsets compatible with both Blu-ray and HD DVD, the biggest hurdle will be the optical units as each format stores information at a different depth. Thankfully, companies like Ricoh are already working on this problem. If you'd like to read more, EETimes' entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Many people have expected the adult film industry to be the deciding factor in the battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD. With no clear winner, film makers in the US have decided to be release titles in both formats.
In view of the stalemate between HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc (BD), producers of adult films in the US will adopt both for the time being by offering HD DVD and BD movie titles, according to sources in Taiwan's optical disc drive (ODD) industry.

US-based Vivid Entertainment, one of the world's largest producers of pornographic movies, plans to release HD DVD and BD movie discs early next year, the sources pointed out. Since the estimated average production cost of US$50,000 for a BD adult movie is much higher than that of US$10,000 for a DVD version and with BD players costing between US$700-1,000, the market acceptance of BD or HD DVD titles is questionable, the sources indicated.
I can't imagine there is a huge demand for high-def porn, but you never know. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
It appears that Sony's new Blu-ray player isn't the only one being delayed. According to a report at ElectronicHouse.com, the Pioneer BDP-HD1 has also been pushed back to December due to quality control issues.
The BDP-HD1, originally expected to ship in October, will now be available in December. The player has not passed the company's quality control requirements, and it will be available when it does.

"All of the player's specifications had not been finalized in time to meet Pioneer's quality control requirements," the Pioneer spokesperson writes in an email to ElectronicHouse.com.

"The BDP-HD1 needs to pass our testing to ensure it fulfills the high performance expectations associated with Pioneer Elite."
This is actually the second delay for the BDP-HD1. Pioneer originally intended to ship it back in May. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
Earlier this week, Edge magazine reported that Nintendo had plans to release a version of the Wii equipped with a DVD player. GamesIndustry.biz has confirmed this report and has learned that it will not be available outside of Japan.
Speaking to GI.biz, a spokesperson declined to comment on when the new machine will hit the shops, but did confirm, "There are currently plans to release a version of Wii in Japan featuring DVD playback."

He added, "There are currently no plans to bring this model to Europe or the US."
If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
CNET and the Consumer Electronics Association have released the results from their Next-Generation DVD study. According to the results, 81% of the people surveyed were unsure of which of the available technologies will be the market standard.
The overwhelming majority (81 percent) of tech enthusiasts remain skeptical about which next-generation DVD technology will be the market standard, according to a recent survey by CNET (Nasdaq:CNET - News; www.cnet.com) and the Consumer Electronics Association. The study, CEA / CNET Tech First Panel: Next-Generation DVD, gained information about early technology adopters awareness of, and interest in, high-definition capable DVD players as manufacturers prepare to release several players that run on varying formats.
It shouldn't be too surprising that the other big concerns were price, compatibility and copyright protections. More information on CNET's survey can be found here. Add a comment
A few weeks ago, there were some reports that the Xbox 360's HD-DVD drive could be plugged into a PC and was recognized as an optical drive. Robert McLaws of Windows-Now has been in touch with Microsoft and has learned that this is true. However, you will need to buy additional software if you plan to play back HD-DVD movies.
A member of the Xbox 360 HD-DVD team confirmed for me today that the Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive will in fact be recognized by Windows Vista, but it will NOT ship with decoder software. I'm assuming that Intervideo will have a version of WinDVD sometime in the future that supports HD-DVD. Personally, I think the drive should come with the required software to dual-use enable the device (adding value to a non-trivial purchase), but I'm not a PM at Microsoft.
Hopefully, InterVideo or CyberLink will release software that is compatible with the drive. If you'd like to read more, the entire report can be found here. Add a comment
Lite-On has officially announced their latest HDD/DVD recorder, the HD-A970GX. Along with HDMI output, the HD-A970GX includes features like a 320GB hard drive and DivX video playback.

Lite-On IT Corporation (TWE: 8008), the world's leading optical drive supplier, today announced the launch of its new-generation HDD/DVD recorder, the HD-A970GX, in a move to respond to the growing popularity of high-definition video market and to demonstrate its continuing endeavors in the consumer electronics segment...

...With an advanced HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output, HD-A970GX offers you hassle-free connection to the new-generation HDTV or HD-ready TV set with a single HDMI cable. Meanwhile, to bridge the current gap between the lower-resolution analog signals and the expanded display capability of HDTV, the HD-A970GX incorporates a video upscaler to enhance the source picture resolution up to 1080p (Progressive mode). This conversion process allows users to enjoy improved, near high-definition images.
No word on pricing or availability yet. As we find out more, we'll let you know. In the mean time, Lite-On's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment