UltraViolet Aims to Bring Visual Media to the Cloud

Watching a movie at home used to be a simple proposition: You’d go out to buy or rent the movie, then come home and pop it in your VCR or DVD player. Now, although options for buying or renting movies have exploded, being able to watch them can be more problematic. If it’s a physical format (DVD or Blu-ray), do you have the right hardware? If you’re watching via PC or portable device, do you have the right software or app? If you select something for one device, is it compatible with another?

Many major movie studios and content distributors have recognized this problem and have banded together to create a solution.

Introducing UltraViolet
UltraViolet is a cloud-based system that will allow consumers, once they have purchased or rented a title, to access it via whatever device they choose. Rather than purchasing a title in a specific format, UltraViolet instead lets viewers purchase the rights to the title, which can then be viewed in whatever format is appropriate for a particular device.¹ For example, under the current system, a consumer who purchases a title for streaming to their HDTV would be unable to watch that same title on their phone or tablet while they’re on the go, because the portable device is incompatible with the HD format. Or, if they purchase a DVD or Blu-ray, they would be unable to watch it on any device without the right optical drive. The UltraViolet system aims to eliminate such distinctions.

UltraViolet is a collaborative effort between movie and television studios, content distributors, hardware manufacturers, and Internet service providers, a consortium calling itself the Digital Entertainment Content Ecosystem (DECE). DECE includes such notable companies as Netflix, Best Buy, Microsoft, Sony, and the RIAA.² The consortium does not currently include Disney (the only major movie studio not involved) or Apple (which is planning a similar service of its own). Unlike a subscription service, like Netflix, an UltraViolet account is free; account holders will pay for each individual purchase or rental.³

Drawbacks
The benefits of such a system are obvious for the consumer, and the companies involved are hoping it will revive (like Blu-ray) the home entertainment market. However, there are some drawbacks or possible stumbling blocks involved as well. The non-involvement of Disney and Apple is just one of those. Another is that there is no provision for including content consumers have already purchased.⁴ Also, the UltraViolet system currently calls for a cap of six users, twelve devices, and three simultaneous streams per account, which may create issues for some households.⁵ The system is also dependent upon Digital Rights Management (DRM) technology, which has not been a successful strategy for other media formats.⁶ And, of course, if the system fails and is eventually abandoned, consumers will lose any purchases for which they don’t have a hard copy.

Cloudy Future
UltraViolet-compatible discs and apps are slated to launch this fall in the U.S.⁷ Until it actually happens, it’s difficult to know how successful it will be or if it will have the desired effect on the home entertainment market. As with other innovations in streaming and subscription services, it stands to reason that it will not threaten patrons’ interest in DVDs and Blu-rays at their local libraries for quite some time, if at all.

Is this the first you’ve heard of the UltraViolet system? If not, what have you heard or read? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

¹ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UltraViolet_%28system%29
² http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Entertainment_Content_Ecosystem
³ http://www.homemediamagazine.com/digital-evolution/time-warner-cfo-ultraviolet-aimed-reversing-rental-trend-24066
⁴ http://blog.cd-info.com/2011/04/ultraviolet-uv-video-standard-of-future/
⁵ http://liftlab.com/think/morin/2011/01/08/dece-ultraviolet-eventually-solving-half-of-the-digital-media-entertainment-business/
⁶ http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-20027507-261.html
⁷ http://www.thewrap.com/media/article/hollywood-looks-ultraviolet-be-home-entertainment-savior-28578

Hot This Week: June 27

New releases shake up the DVD, CD, and Fiction lists; however, the Nonfiction chart remains relatively unchanged.

DVD

1. Battle: Los Angeles
2. True Grit
3. Just Go With It
4. Hall Pass
5. Red Riding Hood
6. I Am Number Four
7. Big Mommas: Like Father, Like Son
8. Sanctum
9. Gnomeo & Juliet
10. Drive Angry

CD

1. Bad Meets Evil, Hell: The Sequel (EP)
2. Jackie Evancho, Dream with Me
3. Adele, 21
4. Lady Gaga, Born This Way
5. Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party
6. Owl City, All Things Bright and Beautiful
7. Barry Manilow, 15 Minutes: Fame...Can You Take It?
8. Ledisi, Pieces of Me
9. Brad Paisley,This is Country Music
10. The Book Of Mormon (Original Broadway Cast Recording)

Fiction Books

1. Against All Enemies, Tom Clancy
2. One Summer, David Baldacci
3. State of Wonder, Ann Patchett
4. Folly Beach, Dorothea Benton Frank
5. Carte Blanche, Jeffery Deaver
6. The Kingdom, Clive Cussler and Grant Blackwood
7. Sisterhood Everlasting, Ann Brashares
8. Hit List, Laurell K. Hamilton
9. 10th Anniversary, James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
10. Dead Reckoning, Charlaine Harris

Nonfiction Books

1. The Greater Journey, David McCullough
2. Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand
3. In the Garden of Beasts, Erik Larson
4. Demonic, Ann Coulter
5. Seal Team Six, Howard E. Wasdin and Stephen Templin
6. Bossypants, Tina Fey
7. Through My Eyes, Tim Tebow and Nathan Whitaker
8. Those Guys Have All the Fun, James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales
9. Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me, Chelsea Handler
10. Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?, Steven Tyler

3D Still Looking for a Foothold in the Home

In March we posted a report that touched on the future of 3D in home theater technology. That article suggested that 3D would not be a mainstay in the home until 2014 at the earliest. Since then, the news hasn’t been fantastic for proponents of 3D, with sales of 3D televisions and media players falling short of expectations.¹ However, a number of recent innovations and announcements have surfaced that aim to jumpstart the burgeoning 3D market

Improving Technology
One of the roadblocks to widespread adoption of 3D is the glasses that are required to make the three-dimensional illusion possible. In general, these glasses have worked in part by reducing the resolution of the images seen by the viewer. In a viewing culture where high-definition images have recently become the norm, this resolution reduction was a clear step backwards, no matter what effect it produced. However, Samsung has recently partnered with RealD, a leading manufacturer of 3D technology, on an “active technology” pairing of displays and glasses that provides the 3D effect in full high-definition.² These displays are expected to enter the market early in 2012.

Vizio, on the other hand, is putting its effort into “passive” 3D technology that puts the burden of producing the 3D effect on the television more than the glasses.³ Active technology, such as the Samsung/RealD glasses mentioned above, require batteries or some other type of power source, making them bulky and inconvenient. The passive glasses do suffer from the reduced resolution, but are more convenient to wear and generally less expensive to purchase.

More Content
Another complaint of those shunning home 3D technology is the lack of content available for the format. This is something that content providers are working to correct. Discover, Sony, and IMAX, for example, recently launched a channel (3Net) that offers 3D programming exclusively.⁴ ESPN also offers a channel showing some sporting events in 3D. Despite the increased costs associated with producing content in 3D, filmmakers—particularly documentary filmmakers—are embracing the format.⁵

Sony, a longtime leader in home entertainment technology, is investing in the 3D concept on many different levels. Along with their participation in 3Net, plus their production of 3D televisions and Blu-ray players, they also plan to launch a line of 3D-capable still and video cameras, allowing consumers to create their own 3D content.⁶

The driving force that has been most successful in getting 3D into homes so far is the availability of 3D films on Blu-ray. Fortunately for 3D fans, films in this format show no signs of slowing down. The summer blockbuster season will certainly provide plenty of content in the coming months, with Cars 2, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, and Captain America being just a few of the titles on their way into theaters.⁷ As these and other upcoming films expand the library of 3D Blu-ray titles, consumer interest will increase. (And if you’re really into 3D film technology, check out this conversation between film giants Michael Bay and James Cameron on the process of filming in 3D.)

On the Horizon
The main issue for 3D technology manufacturers and content providers is getting people past their preconceived notions of cost and inconveniences to try out the 3D experience for themselves. Studies show that once consumers have the technology in their homes, they absolutely love it.⁸ This is good news for the 3D market: 3DTV sales are expected to grow 500% this year.⁹ While it will still take several years for it to become a mainstream technology, libraries can expect growing patron demand for 3D media as the format becomes more common.

Have your patrons started looking for 3D Blu-rays? Tell us about your experiences in the comments section below.

¹ http://consumerist.com/2011/04/meet-the-new-reasons-you-arent-buying-3d-tvs-same-as-the-old-reasons.html
² http://www.homemediamagazine.com/3d/reald-samsung-sign-3d-license-agreement-23958
³ http://www.homemediamagazine.com/3d/vizio-touts-passive-glasses-technology-23902
⁴ http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2010/01/discovery-sony-and-imax-see-tv-through-3d-glasses/1
⁵ http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118038511
⁶ http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-01-06-stringer06_CV_N.htm
⁷ http://www.film-releases.com/film-release-schedule-3D.php#
⁸ http://www.homemediamagazine.com/3d/deg-3dtv-owners-love-format-3d-blu-ray-movies-24038
⁹ http://www.homemediamagazine.com/3d/report-3dtv-market-grow-500-this-year-23966

Hot This Week: June 20

Oscar contender, True Grit, tops the DVD chart, and while nothing seems able to dethrone Adele, the same can't be said for Charlaine Harris, who tumbles several spots on the Fiction list. In Nonfiction, Ann Coulter looks to oust David McCullough from first place.

DVD

1. True Grit
2. Just Go With It
3. I Am Number Four
4. Drive Angry
5. Sanctum
6. Gnomeo & Juliet
7. The Mechanic
8. The Rite
9. No Strings Attached
10. The Roommate

CD

1. Adele, 21
2. Lady Gaga, Born This Way
3. The Book Of Mormon (Original Broadway Cast Recording)
4. Tech N9ne, All 6's & 7's
5. Ronnie Dunn, Ronnie Dunn
6. All Time Low, Dirty Work
7. Jason Aldean, My Kinda Party
8. Brad Paisley, This is Country Music 
9. Now That's What I Call Music 38
10. Death Cab for Cutie, Codes and Keys

Fiction Books

1. Hit List, Laurell K. Hamilton
2. The Kingdom, Clive Cussler and Grant Blackwood
3. State of Wonder, Ann Patchett
4. Dead Reckoning, Charlaine Harris 
5. Summer Rental, Mary Kay Andrews
6. Dreams of Joy, Lisa See
7. 10th Anniversary, James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
8. Buried Prey, John Sandford 
9. The Jefferson Key, Steve Berry
10. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, Stieg Larsson

Nonfiction Books

1. The Greater Journey, David McCullough
2. Demonic, Ann Coulter
3. In the Garden of Beasts, Erik Larson 
4. Unbroken, Laura Hillenbrand
5. Through My Eyes, Tim Tebow and Nathan Whitaker
6. Bossypants, Tina Fey
7. Those Guys Have All the Fun, James Andrew Miller and Tom Shales
8. Seal Team Six, Howard E. Wasdin and Stephen Templin 
9. Does the Noise in My Head Bother You?, Steven Tyler
10. Lies that Chelsea Handler Told Me, Chelsea Handler

Media for Father's Day

In May, I mentioned that Toledo Public Library had listed several recommended DVDs for mothers on their blog, and I tacked on some recommended audiobooks and CDs to their list in a News & Views Mother’s Day post. Well, Sunday is Father’s Day, and Toledo did a post on some great (and not so great) fathers in film. Here’s their list of recommended dad DVDs:

Good Dads
Father of the Bride
Houseboat
Mr. Mom
Parenthood
Pursuit of Happyness
To Kill A Mockingbird

Bad Dads
The Shining
Star Wars: A New Hope
Stepfather
Meet The Parents

So, I once again ask, what about CDs and audiobooks? Here are Midwest Tape’s Father’s Day recommendations:

CDs
Harry Chapin, Cat’s in the Cradle and Other Hits
Van Morrison, Astral Weeks
Bob Seger, Greatest Hits 2
Steve Miller Band, Let Your Hair Down
Luther Vandross, The Ultimate Luther Vandross
Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis, Here We Go Again
Paul Simon, So Beautiful or So What
Steve Martin, Rare Bird Alert
My Morning Jacket, Circuital
Mumford & Sons, Sigh No More

Audiobooks
The Fifth Witness, Michael Connelly
Parents Behaving Badly, Scott Gummer
Life, Keith Richards
The Pale King, David Foster Wallace
A Game of Thrones, George R. R. Martin
Robopocalypse, Daniel H. Wilson
The 4-Hour Body, Timothy Ferriss
War, Sebastian Junger
The Heart and the Fist, Eric Greitens
Matterhorn, Karl Marlantes

What are your plans for Father’s Day? What CDs, DVDs, or audiobooks do you recommend for dads?