Microsoft zet in op HD-DVD met WMV-HD
Door Eric van Ballegoie | 09-01-2004 | Bron: Microsoft
Microsoft houdt zich de laatste tijd serieus bezig met video, en met name
video in HD-formaat. Het bedrijf is dan ook hard aan het lobbyen om Windows
Media 9 technologie in de opvolger van de huidige DVD standaard te krijgen.
Inmiddels zijn al er 16 WindowsMedia HD titels op DVD-discs verkrijgbaar, en dat
zullen er snel meer worden alsdus Microsoft. Deze titels zijn via een snelle PC af te spelen en hebben een resolutie van 1280x720 of zelf 1920x1080, wat een veel scherper beeld oplevert dan standaard DVD\'s die het met 720x576 beeldpunten moeten doen.
Lees hieronder het complete Engelstalige persbericht.
Windows Media 9 Series Powers 16 New High-Definition Movies, Including 10 IMAX
Titles From MacGillivray Freeman Films, Artisan Home Entertainment, National
Geographic and More
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) today
announced that 16 feature films are being released as high-definition movies on
DVD discs by a variety of publishers using the high-definition video
capabilities of Microsoft(R) Windows Media(R) 9 Series (WMV HD). The 16 titles
include 10 IMAX movies from MacGillivray Freeman Films Inc., and movies from
Artisan Home Entertainment Inc., National Geographic, Luc Besson and more. The
movies will be available at retail in two-disc DVD sets that contain both the
movie in standard definition for playback on any DVD player and a companion DVD
disc that contains the entire feature film in high-definition video and
5.1-channel surround sound using WMV HD, for playback on a Windows(R) XP-based
PC. In addition, leading companies today signaled they have products or services
available for content owners to author, produce and/or secure additional titles
using WMV HD DVD discs.
With video resolution of up to 1080p (approximately six times the resolution
of today\'s DVD video), the WMV HD titles provide a visually stunning experience
on Windows XP-based PCs, including PCs powered by the new Windows XP Media
Center Edition 2004 operating system. The first disc available is MacGillivray
Freeman\'s "Coral Reef Adventure," a two-DVD set, originally created for
exhibition in IMAX theaters ( http://www.coralfilm.com/ ). In a new national
promotion, Gateway Inc. is offering a free copy of "Coral Reef Adventure" for a
limited time with the purchase of a qualifying Gateway PC.
"Twenty-five years ago, MacGillivray Freeman Films became a pioneer in producing
giant-screen theater films that deliver the largest, most pristine images ever
displayed," said Bill Bennett, president of distribution at MacGillivray Freeman
Films. "Consumers continue to demand premium content, and today with the WMV HD
release of \'Coral Reef Adventure,\' we are proud to be a leader in providing the
ultimate high-definition surround-sound experience for home theaters."
"WMV HD has given us the ability to provide dual formats of the same titles on
one disc, so that viewers can enjoy the film in standard format on their
television screens, and experience the film in high-definition quality on their
PCs," said Matthew White, vice president for National Geographic Television &
Film. "This new technology gives us an ideal showcase for our amazing array of
award-winning footage, as it brings viewers closer to the underwater depths in \'Treasure
Seekers,\' allows them to tag along with famed oceanographer Bob Ballard in \'The
Search for Kennedy\'s PT 109,\' and journey along with intrepid explorers Lewis
and Clark on their \'Great Journey West.\' We\'re excited to be a part of this
opportunity and to work with Microsoft to bring these technologically advanced
DVDs to the customer."
"WMV HD means you\'re bringing home the best in audio and video quality, seeing
movies how they were meant to be seen, whether your Windows XP-based PC is in
your study or connected to a high-definition home theater in your living room,"
said Dave Fester, general manager of the Windows Digital Media Division at
Microsoft.
According to the Consumer Electronics Association, movies are the most
sought-after high-definition programming. Film studios can use WMV HD discs to
differentiate their product in a crowded marketplace by providing consumers with
not only the customary DVD video experience but also with a companion DVD disc
containing the movie in high definition, providing 5.1-channel surround sound
and up to 1080p video resolution. WMV HD discs are protected using Windows Media
Digital Rights Management, and the content owner can choose to provide either
online or "on-disc" licensing, meaning that no connection to the Internet is
required to play back the content.
To enjoy content in WMV HD, consumers can use any Windows XP- or Windows XP
Media Center Edition-based PC with a 2.4GHz Pentium 4 or better processor and a
display or projector with a resolution of at least 1024x768. Windows XP Media
Center Edition 2004 is a great way to experience WMV HD content, because it
brings the power of the PC into the living room where high-definition displays
are proliferating to create an all-in-one digital entertainment system for live
and recorded television, movies, music, photos and radio -- all accessible via
remote control. PC original equipment manufacturers such as Gateway, Dell Inc.
and HP already offer high-definition-ready plasma and LCD screens with Windows
XP Media Center Edition PCs for an "instant" home-theaterlike experience.
Industry Support Available for Creating WMV HD Content
Support for WMV HD is available from a variety of companies in the digital
distribution chain. Several companies are working to author, produce and/or
secure the audio and video quality of WMV HD discs, including these:
- Authoring Systems. Sonic Solutions
- Authoring Facilities. Playground Media Group, Canned Interactive and Mastery International Pictures
- Digital Rights Management. SyncCast LLC
- Encoding. Sample Digital Inc., Technicolor and Mastery International Pictures
- Production. Ascent Media Group, Artisan Home Entertainment, Big Picture Digital Productions Inc., Europa Corp. and MPO Online
Availability
The new WMV HD content on DVD disc, "Coral Reef Adventure" from MacGillivray Freeman Films, is available today at major retail outlets including Amazon.com, Borders, Sam Goody, Musicland and Tower Records. The following additional releases will occur in the first half of 2004:
- Artisan Home Entertainment (available April 2004). "Step Into Liquid"
- MacGillivray Freeman films originally created for IMAX theaters (first title available beginning in January 2004). "Coral Reef Adventure"; "Journey Into Amazing Caves"; "Dolphins"; "The Living Sea"; "Amazon"; "To the Limit"; "The Magic of Flight"; "Speed"; "Stormchasers"; "The Discoverers" -- National Geographic (available May 2004). "Lewis & Clark Great Journey West"; "The Search for Kennedy\'s PT 109"; "Treasure Seekers: Search for the Nile"
- International releases (available spring 2004). "Taxi 3" from Europa Corp. and "Red Snow" from Stellar Megamedia in China
Meer informatie over WMV-HD is te vinden op http://www.wmvhd.com/ .
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