Cloverfield Coming to Blu-Ray June 3, 2008

Cloverfield was originally planned for a DVD, HD-DVD, and Blu-Ray release, but we know that HD-DVD is long gone now. So we are now expecting the Blu-Ray disc, and are receiving the first details today.

The Blu-Ray release of Cloverfield will include full 1080p video as well as Dolby TrueHD audio. A new Blu-Ray only feature called "Special Investigation Mode" will be present as well. No details on that, however. The list of other features below.

• Special Investigation Mode (Blu-ray exclusive)
  
• Commentary by Director Matt Reeves
  
• Document 01.18.08: The Making of Cloverfield featurette
  
• Cloverfield Visual Effects featurette
  
• I Saw It! It's Alive! It's Huge! fearurette
  
• Clover Fun featurette
  
• 4 Additional Scenes
  
• 2 Alternate Endings w/optional commentary
  
• 14 Easter Eggs

[Cloverfield Blu-ray Gets Detailed]

Universal Officially Blu: Announces Plans

Universal Pictures has announced today that they are going Blu with the rest of the group. They announced their Blu-Ray plans including the best show on TV, Heroes, which will be releasing on Blu-Ray in August. Season 1 and 2 will be arriving, but Season 2 is yet to be complete.

In July, Universal will be releasing Hellboy II: The Golden Army, The Incredible Hulk, Wanted, Mamma Mia, and The Mummy series on Blu-Ray. They will also be throwing out hits such as Land of the Dead, End of Days, Knocked Up, American Gangster, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Miami Vice, and U-571.

It's going to be a great year to go Blu.

[Universal Details Plans For Blu-ray]

Firmware 2.20 to Allow Blu-Ray to PSP Copy

We already know that PlayStation 3 update 2.20 will bring along Blu-Ray Profile 2.0 along with some other new features, but a new article from PC World has revealed one more feature.
The new firmware will come with "Portable Copy", which will allow PlayStation 3 users to copy a standard-definition version f the Blu-Ray movie they have inserted. Then you can transfer it to your PSP. This was a feature revealed back at CES 2008, and it's almost here.

[PS3 Firmware Update Enhances Blu-ray Capabilities]

PlayStation 3 Firmware Update 2.20 Brings BD-Live Interactive Blu-ray

Sony Computer Entertainment announced today the next firmware update for the PlayStation 3 being v2.20.The new update, to be releasead late this month, contains Blu-Ray Disc Profile 2.0 or BD-LIVE, letting users experience interactive features such as downloadable video content, ringtones, games, and more.

BD Profile 2.0 requires an Internet connection and at least 1GB of local storage. The following features have all been demonstrated as possibilities with BD-Live and will vary by movie title.

• A variety of downloadable content can be offered, including bonus scenes, shorts, trailers, subtitles, ringtones that can be sent to mobile phones, images, and more.
• Interactive movie-based games can pit players who are sitting in the same room, or are across the world and online, against each other.

The other new features that this update will bring is are listed below.

• "Resume play" will enable PS3 system to start playing a Blu-ray disc and DVD at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been removed.(*1)
• "Audio Output Device" will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP to serve as a remote control for music played through PS3.
• PS3 system's Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser's view speed will be improved.
• DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
• "Mosquito Noise Reduction" will be added as an AV setting in the control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback.(*2)

*1 BD-J format disc is not supported.
*2 BD discs recorded with BDMV format are not supported.

Expect to see this update hit your PlayStation 3's at the end of the month. Now, we just need the PlayStation Network revamp, then in-game XMB, and we can say Sony did a pretty good job.

Toshiba Announced Discontinuation of HD-DVD Service: Blu-Ray Wins

What your hearing is true people, Blu-ray is the official winner in the DVD format war.

Today, Toshiba announced the discontinuation of their HD-DVD service. They will no longer develop, manufacture, or market HD-DVD products due to recent changes in the market (everybody going Blu-ray exclusive). However, to all the people that for some reason bought an HD-DVD player, they will still continue to provide support for their customers. Don't call asking where the new movies are however.

Congratulations Blu-ray for your victory in the format war!

[Toshiba Announces Discontinuation of HD DVD Businesses]

Blu-Bag: Netflix Goes Blu-Ray Exclusive

More companies just keep going blu. Internet rental service, Netflix has announced today that it is going Blu-ray exclusive and dropping it's HD-DVD support. They say they will completely out stock their HD DVD collection by the end of the year.

Of course they are still supplying customers with their regular DVDs as well.

[Netflix goes Blu-ray exclusive]

Blu-Ray Exclusivity: Filmax Movies

It shouldn't even be news anymore when a film company goes Blu-Ray exclusive. It just happens to often.

Filmax, a Spanish film distributor revealed today that they are only going to release high definition titles on Blu-Ray disc. These movies include Resident Evil, Flyboys, and Million Dollar Baby.

No release date was given for any of these movies however. At least there is another company in the bag.

[Filmax Now Exclusively Blu-ray Too]

ADV Films Goes Blu-Ray

ADV Films, one of the biggest anime distributors in the US, has decided to back Blu-Ray with it's upcoming releases. This announcement will take effect in Spring.

They are planning on releasing their new products on Blu-Ray first, and some good backtrack films later on.

[ADV gives the thumbs up, goes Blu-ray]

Circuit City Dropping HD-DVD Altogether?

Circuit City has discontinued the HD-DVD format so it can expand it's Blu-Ray lineup.

Circuit City has always carried a limited quantity of HD-DVD titles as well though. It's Blu-Ray inventory is much bigger. Seven Circuit City stores were contacted. Three confirmed that the store has discontinued the HD-DVD format altogether, meaning Blu-Ray exclusive. This decision is probably based on company sales of the two formats which consisted of 87% for Blu-Ray disc and 13% for HD-DVD.

It will be any day before Toshiba announces the death of HD-DVD.

[Via 1080Living]

National Geographic Goes Blu-Ray Exclusive

National Geographics today sent out to retailers information on the day and date about their upcoming title, Sharkwater. The title will not be coming out on HD-DVD even though it releases on 4/8, which is before Warner's HD-DVD June cut off date.

As of now, BBC is the only company under Warner Bros. who still stand by their June HD-DVD cut-off date.

[Via HDD]

Blue Is Blu: Wal-Mart Goes Blu-Ray Exclusive

It seems that another nail has been hammered into the coffin. Apparently, Wal-Mart has gone Blu-Ray exclusive to DVDs and players according to a new CNN report.

Are we just weeks or even days away from HD-DVD vanishing completely?

[Via CNN]

CES 2008: Blu-Ray Movie to PSP Transfer: In Pictures

Back at CES 2008, Sony Computer Entertainment demonstrated a feature which is due this year which will allow users to copy movies onto the PSP from Blu-ray discs in their PLAYSTATION 3 systems.

They of course will be copy-protected and be 'PSP optimized'. It's said to take 3-5 minutes to complete the operation. The files will be around 1GB in size so you may want to buy a bigger memory stick if you have the 1GB sticks. New memory sticks coming out in March by Sony are now as big as 16GB with 32GB due next year. Enjoy the pictures of this Blu-Ray Movie to PSP transfer. [Credits to Watch & N4G!]

HBO Confirms They've Switched to Blu-Ray As Well

When Warner Bros. went Blu-Ray disc exclusive, it wasn't announced whether it's lower company levels would follow. Today, HBO confirmed it's following in Warner's footsteps and going Blu-Ray exclusive as well.

HBO Home Video president Henry McGee told the Hollywood Reporter today that the company will be "following the same policy as Warner Home Video" and will no longer release titles on HD DVD.

One more for team Blu-Ray, let's just end the game already.

[Via HD-Digest]

CES 2008: Sony Confirms Blu-Ray Copying to PSP

At the Consumer Electronics Show 2008, Sony has today confirmed something they've been planning for about a year now.

That is, the ability to purchase a Blu-Ray movie, load it up on your PLAYSTATION 3, and download it on to your PSP, meaning two copies. Meaning, time to share movies. Thats just awesome.

[Via Kotaku]

The World Is Blu: Target Goes Blu-Ray Exlclusive

Let's just announce that the whole world has gone Blu-Ray exclusive, because thats what seems to be happening. This weekend is officially blu. First major movie companies Warner & New Line go Blu-Ray exclusive, and now, we have a major retailer going Blu-Ray exclusive.

Whats this mean for HD-DVD? Well, I guess it means for all those that bought HD-DVD players, you got jipped.

[Via Sarcastic Gamer]

New Line Cinema Goes Blu-Ray As Well

Following the Warner Bros. blu-ray exclusivity announcement, it seems New Line Cinema has gone blu-ray exclusive as well. In an article in Variety yesterday, buried under the Warner's announcement was one line that was very important to the Blu-Ray cause:

Warner sister company New Line confirmed it will shift allegiance to Blu-ray only as well.

It seems this is the end of the HD-DVD format, all in two days.

[Via Kotaku]

Michael Bay Talks Blu-Ray Superiority

Michael Bay, a high supporter of Blu-ray who was crushed when Paramount forced his Transformers movie to released on HD-DVD, posted his thoughts on Warner going Blu-ray exclusive.

"Well another studio down. Maybe I was right? Blu ray is just better. HD will die a slow death. It's what I predicted a year ago. Now with Warner's down for the count with Blu Ray. That makes it easier for Wal-Mart to push Blu Ray. And whatever Wal-Mart pushes - wins. Hd better start giving out those $120 million dollars checks to stay alive. Maybe they can give me some so I can give it to my Make-A-Wish charity, just to shut me up. Have faith people Transformers will come out in Blu-ray one day!"

Faith we will have. First day that comes out, I'm picking it up for myself.

[Via Shoot for the Edit]

Warner Bros. Goes Blu-Ray Exclusive

Thats right blu people. Warner Brothers has gone blu-ray exclusive. According to Barry Meyer, the Chairman & CEO, this was decided to bring an end to the format war. "The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger," he stated.

Warner Bros. will continue supporting HD DVD until May 2008. After that, their world will be blu (if it were green, they would die).

[Via Engadget] [Thanks Langston!]

Transformers On Blu-Ray In the UK?

User MattYandell of the GameTrailers forums stumbled upon something interesting while browsing through Woolworths in the United Kingdom the other day.

Then he saw it, Transformers on Blu-Ray DVD. Since we know at the moment, it's an HD-DVD exclusive, he asked the lady at the counter what was going on. She told him they have it on Blu-Ray but it's not in stock at the moment.

Could this be the real deal or error in display casing combined with a dumb clerk? One thing to note is the "2-Disc Special Edition" and the fact that the box next to it is a bit different. I wouldn't think a Blu-Ray would need two discs.

[Via GT Forums]

PLAYSTATION 3 Update for Blu-Ray Profile 1.1 Later This Month

Thanks to a forum member at High Def Digest, today we learned that the Blu-Ray Profile 1.1 update will be coming to the PLAYSTATION 3 this month. The poster, who obtained his information from Digital Bits, quoted.

"It was also revealed that the Blu-ray profile 1.1 firmware update for the PS3 is expected to be made available for download later this month."

This update is in preparation for the first Blu-Ray Profile 1.1 disc, Resident Evil: Extinction, which is to hit Blu-Ray this January.

[Via HDD]