Sony Targets April 8 Release for BD-Live Titles

he eighth of April will most likely see the release of the first batch of Blu-ray Disc titles that can connect to the Internet for bonus features -- this -- according to Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Sony, which is targeting an April 8th release, said the first two BD-Live titles would be the musical spoof, "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" and the Arnold Schwarzenegger starrer, "The 6th Day".

Each of the two titles includes exclusive downloadable threatrical and home video previews along with FAQs about BD-Live functionality. For instance, "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" includes three features starring Bill Hader as Derek Stone, a historian and expert 'Coxologist'. Typically, BD-Live titles have the potential to enable a wide range of Web-based features including ring tone- and wallpaper- downloads, peer-to-peer interactions, live virtual events, and gaming.

Significantly, the release of Sony's first two BD-Live titles coincides with the release of a new software update for the PS3 -- making the console the first Blu-ray player with Internet connectivity. This ability is known as 'Profile 2.0'. Sony envisions all Blu-ray players to eventually be 'Profile 2.0'. When Blu-ray was launched in June 2006, Blu-ray players were of basic 'Profile 1.0' -- meaning they could neither offer picture-in-picture nor Internet connectivity. However the big push now is for "Profile 2.0" players that are reportedly slated to hit the market in the next few months.

http://www.techtree.com/

Sony enhances Blu-ray offerings

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Sony Pictures Home Entertainment is targeting April 8 as the date it will release its first batch of Blu-ray Disc titles that can be connected to the Internet for more bonus materials and features.

The musical spoof "Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story" and the Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi thriller "The 6th Day" will be the studio's first two BD-Live titles. Their release coincides with the launch of a new software update for Sony's PlayStation 3 that makes the game console the first Blu-ray player with Internet connectivity, an ability known as "Profile 2.0."

Ultimately, all Blu-ray players will be Profile 2.0. When the format launched in June 2006, Blu-ray players were of the basic Profile 1.0 kind, meaning they could offer neither picture-in-picture nor Internet connectivity, something the doomed HD DVD rival format offered from Day 1.

Now, the big push is for Profile 2.0 players, which are slated to start coming to market in the next few months. Accordingly, studios are scrambling to produce final spec BD-Live software as well, with Lionsgate leading the charge in January with "War" and "Saw IV" -- a bold move, considering there weren't yet any players on the market that could tap into the discs' Web-enhanced content.

Sony's two BD-Live titles each include exclusive downloadable theatrical and home video previews along with a FAQ about BD-Live functionality. "Walk Hard" includes three featurettes that star Bill Hader as Derek Stone, a historian and expert "Coxologist." These featurettes are available only via the BD-Live download.

BD-Live titles also have the potential to enable a wide range of Web-based features, including ringtone and wallpaper downloads, peer-to-peer interactions, live virtual events and gaming.

http://www.reuters.com/article/filmNews/idUSN2429776820080324

The Acer Asus Eee 900 PC Competitor said to have lower Price

Nothing is really known about Acer's entry into low-cost Linux running notebooks, only that the company will release an Asus Eee PC 900 alternative soon.
Asus unveiled the 2nd generation Asus Eee PC 900 at the CeBit 2008. The highlight is the new larger 8.9 inch screen with higher resolution. Asus is supposed to release the Eee PC 900 in April.
Digitimes reports now that Acer will price a similar low-cost notebook $50 lower than Asus and release it in May.
The battle over the Asus defined market is going to be wild this year. Everex already sent their Cloudbook into the race, but so far the Eee PC prevails.

http://www.i4u.com/

PS3 2.20 update to offer portable copy of Blu-ray films to PSP?

If PCWorld is correct, then it looks like Sony's pending, PS3 2.20 firmware will have at least one little surprise for movie buffs. As if the inclusion of Blu-ray's BD-Live interactivity and the removal of the 2GB DivX and WMV file-size cap wasn't enough, PCWorld says that you can also expect the introduction of portable copy. With it, users will be able to copy a PSP formatted (and DRM'd) version of the film directly to their PSP -- no UMD required. Right, just like we saw demonstrated live back at CES in January.
Update: There's a rumor that Sony's portable copy would transcode any Blu-ray film into a PSP version. That's not how we understand it. The firmware update would just allow the PS3 to "see" the portable copy already burned into some Blu-ray discs and then make it available for transfer to your PSP. Think Digital Copy for Sony's gear, not Apple's.
Update 2: Sony just pinged us to say that Portable Copy won't be coming with the 2.20 release -- bummer. We'll be waiting, guys.
[Via QJ.net]