Yesterday marked the second anniversary of the release of the initial slate of Blu-ray titles from Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. The initial slate included 50 First Dates, Hitch and XXX. This first wave of discs were all single layer BD25 discs with MPEG2 video encoding and PCM lossless audio.

A lot has happened since 2006, including the remastering and replacement of one of the launch titles The Fifth Element - with the new version being much more representative of current releases, featuring AVC video on a BD50 disc with Dolby True HD Lossless audio.

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There is quite a bit of Blu-ray player news about today.

Via Format War Central you can read that Video Business is reporting that high-end consumer electronics retailers expect set-top Blu-ray players to begin outselling DVD players by August. Also revealed is that the Sony BDP-S350 and Panasonic DMP-BD50, will hit stores in July. Both are reportedly BD Live capable players.

Over at ZDNetAsia we read that eleven Chinese disc manufacturers have been authorized by Blu-ray Disc Association to produce Blu-Ray discs and disc players next year. Interesting to note this article states that the BDA’s member number has increased to 187 while that of International DVD Forum has decreased to 163.

We also see that Home Media Magazine summarises the players coming to the market, including the Daewoo BDP-1000 (pictured) and 2000 BD Live capable players with 1080p 24 mode, 1 GB of storage, SD Memory Card slot and HDMI 1.3, due in the fall. They also list the Panasonic DMP-BD50, two Sony’s (BDR S350 and S550) and the Playstation 3 for BD Live capability.

For Bonus View players they list the two Pioneer (BDP 51FD and 05FD), the Sharp BD-HP50, Marantz BD8002, the Philips BDP7200, Sylvania NB500, Samsung BD-P1500 and the Denon 2500, along with a quick summary of features. Well worth a look.

We also read via Digital Bits that Denon is considering a Blu-ray player with SACD and DVD-Audio multichannel playback.

All in all is it pretty easy to see that there will be quite a range of players to choose from and from the VB article it is pretty clear to see that at least the player market has quickly become a nice money maker for the consumer electronics industry, having already overtaken the saturated DVD player market with respect to revenues.

We read at EngadgetHD that Panasonic’s 3rd generation UniPhier processor will be the first single chip processor designed to handle picture-in-picture and all other necessary Profile 2.0 features. DTS-HD MA, Dolby TrueHD, DivX 1080p, Ethernet controller, laser control and graphics engine are all included.

The chip is a die shrink from the previous generation, and should achieve higher yields and lower prices as a result.

Sample shipments start in June so perhaps we will see players based on this for the holiday season.

We read over at Video Business that Panasonic is planning an Olympic Games 2008 marketing blitz.

In the 100 days leading up to the Summer Olympics in August, Panasonic will present a nationwide truck tour promoting the manufacturer’s latest high-definition products, including its Blu-ray Disc players and Viera HDTV. Branded Get Your Family Ready for the First HD Olympics, the truck fleet will visit various retailers around the U.S

This new tour is similar to the Living in High Definition promotion that Panasonic ran last year.

Panasonic will also have past Olympic Gold Medalists as gymnast Kerri Strug and swimmer Mark Spitz on hand to sign autographs, as well as the usual pins and sweepstakes competitions, with a grand prize trip for four to the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games.

The upcoming Olympics Games, running Aug. 8-24 in Beijing, China, will represent the first time the entire Games will be broadcast in high-def. Panasonic is an official sponsor of the Beijing Olympics and will supply various broadcast high-def technologies.

Related Content Database Inc. (RCDb) has announced the immediate availability of advanced services and technology for Internet-connected Blu-ray discs and players, also known as “BD Live.” This platform was outlined in our BD Live Roll Out article. The RCDb BD Live Platform provides Blu-ray studios, developers, and consumers with specialized online services to support the creation and consumer delivery of new BD Live features.

“We’ve worked very closely for the last two years with leading Blu-ray studios and Blu-ray player manufacturers to develop this essential disc technology and network service” said Zane Vella, president RCDb, “The end of the format war and the introduction of BD Live for the PS3 sets the stage for a new generation of special features and home theater experience.”

The BD Live Platform combines innovative and cost-effective BD Live software and network infrastructure to help the Hollywood creative community quickly realize advanced capabilities of the Blu-ray format. Earlier this year at the Consumer Electronics Show, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, PHL, and RCDb unveiled BD Live in action with “Alien Vs. Predator Vs. You,” a multiplayer interactive game. “RCDb has been a valuable partner as we gear up for BD Live and widespread adoption of the Blu-ray format,” said Danny Kaye, EVP of research and technology for 20th Century Fox. “BD Live is an important step in the evolution of home entertainment.”

RCDb is working with Blu-ray player manufacturers, including Panasonic, to test and ensure robust player compatibility with the BD Live technology. RCDb BD Live technology has also been integrated into Panasonic Hollywood Laboratory’s authoring and production workflow. In addition, RCDb and PHL are jointly developing new BD Live creative concepts for future implementation into the growing Blu-ray market.

The BD Live Platform enables content owners to create new BD Live features and to easily update the content of Blu-ray discs after shipping. This enables studios to refresh out-of-date promotional trailers and to add additional subtitles, languages and bonus content. The BD Live Platform is specifically designed to support social networking features that connect viewers with each other, and to enable bonus content that bridges the home theater and the Web.

“After careful examination of BD Live solutions, we are pleased to be working with RCDb as the leader in BD Live technology,” said Eisuke Tsuyuzaki, managing director of Panasonic Hollywood Lab, “Studios need an economical and scalable solution to roll out BD Live features that take advantage of the new Panasonic BD-50 player announced at CES’08.”

I had a quick look around the NAB show floor today and saw a few things of relevance or perhaps at least interest.

On the Blu-ray relevance side of the equation, Sony was there with a special booth just to present their content software, which included Blu-ray authoring in the form of the professional Blu-print application as well as the more consumer friendly Vegas software.

Also of interest was a company called Ensequence whose on-Q software purports to simplify the creation of BD-J Blu-ray titles. This software is architected to support Java extensions, BD-Live, dynamic resources and other forthcoming advancements.

Sonic was also there in force to demonstrate their Scenarist product as well as a tool to simplify Java programming using a Macromedia like interface. I will try to dig up some more information on that one and post later.

I am sure many of you are equally fascinated by film making as well as film watching - I certainly am. It is always interesting to see great new products in this arena. Red of course is making a huge splash with the announcement of an Epic new camera with 5k resolution as well as a new baby Scarlet with only 3k resolution. Not to mention the Red Ray, said to be an optical disc player with 4k capability, and including a IEEE 1394 firewire interface and Compact Flash interface for higher bitrate playback. Native raw R3D files on Compact Flash will be supported for playback. These new products are due ‘early 2009′, though perhaps Red is not known for keeping their product releases to schedule…

Panasonic also has a new camera coming - this one will be full HD resolution AVCHD. It is interesting to see the AVCHD codec make it to the pro line. The camera is planned to support bitrates up to 21 Mbps as well as 24 fps progressice capture, all so SDHC flash cards. The target is less than $4500. It could easily be a real winner if the image quality is up to standard!

I will be spending another day on the floor so feel free to ask questions in comments about any of the above or anything else and I will see if I can get them answered.

It seems that the popularity of Blu-ray Disc in Japan has reached epic proportions!

Tech On! is reporting an Internet survey, conducted between March 1st and March 5th and receiving almost 15,000 responses, indicates that over 81% of those polled want to buy a Blu-ray Recorder.

While many gave no specific time frame and cited pricing as a crucial barrier, this is quite a surprisingly large percentage.

Also of interest, the preferred brand in the survey was Panasonic, with Sony a close second.

Via TV Snob

Now that HD DVD is considered an ‘also ran’, the Blu-ray Disc supporters are aiming to position themselves as the format to beat DVD as well as broadcast.

According to Video Business, HDTVs with PS3 units are set up in 1000 Blockbuster stores, with the aim to demonstrate Blu-ray titles - such displays are slated to roll out to all Blockbuster outlets in the next couple of months.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment president David Bishop said. “Going forward, the messaging will be that Blu-ray is the best possible experience. It’s six times superior in picture quality to [standard] DVD. And it’s just the flat-out best high-def experience when compared to cable or satellite.” Sony also is working with retail to offer discounts on Blu-ray product bundles.

The Blu-ray studios are also looking to get endorsements from established directors. “In order to get consumers on board on a broad level, to have directors that are well-known [approve BD] will add validation to the format,” said Bishop.

Sony’s Bishop said the studio will be releasing its largest selection of BD titles yet in 2008. Sony plans to street slightly more than 100 titles during the year, marking a 54% increase from its 2007 output.

Meanwhile Panasonic is taking their message directly to ‘the people’ with 40- to 50-inch high-def plasmas at the Auto Club (formerly California) Speedway in Fontana, CA. By August, Panasonic TVs will be spread throughout the entire venue. Panasonic also used the giant NASCAR event last weekend to showcase its ongoing yearlong partnership with United Artists to celebrate the 90th anniversaries of both companies, which will include an upcoming film festival and other events.

Pansonic’s Eisuke Tsuyuzaki believes Blu-ray is a fundamental driver for many of Panasonic’s high-def products and is therefore a primary component in the company’s marketing and advertising of plasma displays and other products. Tsuyuzaki also understands that even as the war with HD DVD has ended, there is even more work ahead to make Blu-ray successful, and the first step is accelerating marketing and steering the message to mainstream consumers. What better place to accomplish that, he says, than NASCAR, from the more than 200,000 fans who showed up for a weekend of racing near Los Angeles, where Panasonic showcased Blu-ray and its full line of high-def products in the “Fan Zone,” to on-air mentions of United Artists’ 90th anniversary celebration during Fox’s telecast of the race.

There is new firmware available for the Panasonic DMP-BD30 player.

Information on this update and downloads are available at the support website.

Perhaps a sign that Blu-ray is gaining support as the single next generation format moving forward, online retailer Meritline is moving to promote the format’s writable and rewritable media and drives.

The subject of their latest mailing is “Next Generation Optical Disc Format”, and includes a title banner promoting Sony, Philips and Panasonic Blu-ray products, with the Sony drive and disc prominently featured.

The banner links to a page that features both Q&A and a product listing, showing write once, rewritable and even printable media from the likes of TDK, Sony, Philips, Panasonic and Ritek. The site also carries drives and empty cases.

While this kind of promotion hints that Blu-ray media may be entering the main stream, the disc pricing shows that there is indeed a long road ahead before Blu-ray media is cost effective and widely accepted as the new format of choice over DVD-R.