By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

BD-Live (AKA Blu-ray Disc Profile 2.0) titles were released earlier this year, despite the fact that there were no players yet capable of supporting BD-Live.

Once again, the PS3 shows why it should be the Blu-ray player of choice for even non-gamers, as Firmware v2.20, which Sony says is “coming up in the next few days,” will add support for BD-Live, making the PS3 the first BD-Live capable player available.

BD-Live requires two secondary decoders, 1GB of local storage for updates and content, and an Internet connection. It will allow you to connect to the internet and receive downloadable content to add to the title.

You’ll recall that there is more than one Blu-ray support profile defined:

• 1.0 - the launch profile, and secondary audio and video decoders are optional, as is local storage and network connectivity. The majority of standalone players fit into this category.

• 1.1 - newer profile; players need a secondary audio and video decoder to handle picture-in-picture, as well as at least 256MB of local storage for content.

• 2.0 - latest, requiring the two secondary decoders, 1GB of local storage for updates and content, and an Internet connection.

Obviously the additional hardware requirements mean that not every Blu-ray player can be upgraded with a firmware change. In fact, the first standalone BD-Live player will not arrive until April (the Panasonic DMP-BD50). The only other announced BD-Live player is the and the Sony BDP-S550 (coming this autumn). Both of these are expected to cost at least $100 more than an entry-level PS3.

Additional changes in FW v2.20, according to Sony:

• The ability to copy PS3 Music and Photo playlists to a PSP system. We introduced the ability to create Music and Photo playlists on the PS3 in firmware update v2.0. Now you can easily export your playlists to your PSP.

• You can now play DivX and WMV format files that are over 2 GB. In addition, you can now display subtitles when viewing DivX files.

• Resume Play - begin playing a DVD or BD disc from the point where you previously stopped it, even if you eject the disc and insert a different movie or game.

• Use your PSP as a remote control to play back your music files on your PS3 without turning on your TV.

• The Internet browser now displays some web pages faster. In addition [Save Target] has been added as an option under file. This option lets you save a file that is linked to a web page to your PS3 hard drive or storage media.

We Say: Having a PS3 next to your TV may not be as “home decor-friendly” as a standalone player, and thus harder to get past your wife or partner, but it sure seems to be the best way to stay at the bleeding-edge of Blu-ray. And of course, the console gaming portion of it is more than an after-thought …

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

What’s up with Sony BMG? Of late, they seem to be open to trying new ideas which, based on their rootkit-like DRM and other issues in the past, seem out of character. First they sign a deal with Amazon MP3 for all DRM-free music, and now this!

Sony’s new deal is with We7, an ad-supported music streaming / download service based in the U.K., with 100k subscribers and over 2m downloads as of February 2008. Sony BMG thus becomes the first major label to sign with We7, which was founded in April 2007. Musician Peter Gabriel is one of its founders.

The We7 service works by dynamically ‘grafting’ ads onto the front of music tracks and albums based on a user’s demographics such as location, age, gender.

According to the press release:

From the end of April, We7’s users will be able to stream music, on demand and for free with a short audio advert before each track, from the extensive Sony BMG catalogue. The label will also make available to stream on demand new releases from its current roster of artists. Initially the streaming service will only be available to existing registered users of We7, before it is rolled out to new subscribers.

Commenting on the announcement, Ged Doherty, Chairman of Sony BMG in the UK and Ireland, said “We are in the business of embracing a multitude of new ways our music can reach audiences. Our deal with We7 is an important step forward in offering fans greater flexibility in how they consume music.”

Steve Purdham, CEO of We7, commented “Today marks a significant leap forward for We7 and the industry as a whole, as Sony BMG lead the way in embracing the on demand streaming model for the benefit of music fans, artists and advertisers alike.”

Peter Gabriel, the musician and founder of We7, added “The digital revolution has provided exciting and extraordinary opportunities in the music business, even though it has been largely written off by many. We7 is a model that will supply free music to the consumer and still provide a stream of revenue to musicians and content owners. We are delighted that Sony BMG are exploring this new world, and are the first forward thinking major to come on board with us.”

As indicated above, initial access to Sony BMG music will be limited, but it’s unclear what “existing registered users” means. Does it mean only those already signed up as of this press release, or does it include those who sign up before the Sony BMG music goes live in April? I sent an email to We7 to find out.

It should also be noted that Sony BMG is only supplying tracks for the streaming part of We7’s service, not the download portion, although Doherty did not rule out a future deal including downloads. He also said that Sony BMG was in talks with other such ad-supported music services - interesting.

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

Shades of another takeover bid we’ve been discussing - a lot - lately. On Sunday, Electronic Arts announced it has offered $2 billion in cash for Take-Two Interactive Software, best known for - what else? - Grand Theft Auto. Anyone want some Hot Coffee?

It didn’t take long for a response. Take-Two immediately issued a press release turning down the offer, saying it was a) unsolicited, b) inadequate.

The door’s not completely closed, however. In the press release, Strauss Zelnick, Executive Chairman of the Board of Take-Two said that Take-Two would be open for discussion - after the release of Grand Theft Auto IV in April. They indicated discussions could start as early as April 30th, the day after GTA IV is set to ship.

Electronic Arts made the following statements about the offer in a press release:

• The current offer is $26 / share. Take-Two’s closing price on Friday, Feb. 22 was $17.36.
• A $25 / share deal was initially made to Take-Two
• The TTWO board rejected the offer which led to EA making the offer public with $1 a share increase

EA is obviously ready to make everything about the offer and any follow-up proceedings public. In other words, they are prepared for a possible hostile takeover.

In fact, EA has created a special website devoted to the offer. The website published the press release, as well as other information, including a FAQ. One unusual aspect of the press release was the inclusion of EA’s letter to Take-Two - with a second offer - after their initial offer was rejected. I’m not going to print the whole letter, but here are some highlights:

While I appreciate its courteous tone and value our ongoing dialogue, I am disappointed that you have rejected Electronic Arts Inc.’s (“EA’s”) $25 per share cash offer to acquire Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. (“Take-Two”) and declined to engage in the friendly negotiations we proposed. We continue to believe that an acquisition of Take-Two by EA is in the best interests of your shareholders, employees and other constituents, and we remain interested in acquiring Take-Two. So, to further demonstrate our seriousness and encourage you to move forward now, I am writing to increase EA’s offer to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Take-Two to $26 per share in cash.

blah, blah … normally stuff about how great the offer is and how wonderful the deal would be for both parties …

Our strong preference is to conduct a private negotiation. If you are unwilling to proceed on that basis, however, we may pursue other means, including the public disclosure of this letter, to bring our offer and the compelling value it represents to the attention of Take-Two’s shareholders.

Obviously we’ve reached the public disclosure point. Did I already say shades of Microsoft / Yahoo!? It looks like EA is willing to go hostile. We’ll be watching.

By Michael Santo
Editor-in-Chief, RealTechNews

Took ‘em long enough. They didn’t file a press release, but Microsoft did use its Gamerscore blog, which it says is the “inside scoop from Microsoft Xbox and Games employees.” Saturday Microsoft announced they would halt production of HD-DVD drives for the Xbox 360.

John Porcaro, Sr. Group Manager in Microsoft’s Global Games Marketing Team, managing Online Communications, said in a statement on the Gamerscore site:

As a result of recent decisions made by Toshiba, Hollywood studios, and retailers, Microsoft plans to withdraw from HD DVD. Xbox will no longer manufacture new HD DVD players for the Xbox 360, but we will continue to provide standard product and warranty support for all Xbox 360 HD DVD Players in the market. As we stated earlier, we do not believe this decision will have any material impact on the Xbox 360 platform or our position in the marketplace. HD DVD is one of the several ways we offer a high definition experience to consumers and we will continue to give consumers the choice to enjoy digital distribution of high definition movies and TV shows directly to their living room, along with playback of the DVD movies they already own.

None of this should be a surprise. Obviously with Toshiba dropping HD-DVD, Microsoft was bound to get out. Rumors flew last week that Microsoft was planning an external Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360, and honestly, it’s an almost certainty.

Microsoft said as early as January 8th, right after the Warner Bros. announcement that they were dropping HD-DVD, that they would “consider” Blu-ray support, and they have little choice with Toshiba’s announcement. It’s not IF, but WHEN.

PR-wise, the best thing Microsoft could do would be to follow Edion’s example by giving everyone who already had an Xbox 360 HD-DVD drive a swap for a new Blu-ray drive. Probability: low.

By Chief Gadgeteer, Gizmos for Geeks
Contributing Writer, RealTechNews.

Most notable this past week was the release of the latest Mvix Media Center, the Mvix MX-780HD. The MX-780HD has HDMI out, supports up to 1080p and can now take either an IDE or SATA drive in its case. Still in the multi-media world, the Kaossilator Touchpad Synthesizer doesn’t need keys or buttons to play musical notes.

A peppermill gadget? Yup. And get this, it’s modeled on Star Wars’ R2-D2. If you’re into toys, check out the Mini Rubber Band Artillery. Take your basic rubber band finger gun to the next level!

USB has really revolutionized computer accessories; there’s a USB gadget that does everything. Here’s one for aromatherapy fans – the USB Aromatherapy Oil Burner. Now, you can get aromatherapy-relaxed while computing. Just plug this device into your USB port, add some oil and you’re good to go.

For you retro-gamers, MAMEUI, the latest MAME for Windows was announced last week. Still in gaming, it appears that Mac gaming is making a comeback. Windows and console games have dominated the gaming world for years, after Macs showed how great games could look on a computer. Let’s hope

Of course, arguably the biggest tech news this week was that Toshiba has dropped out of the DVD format war, with the HD-DVD format being pronounced dead. Sony’s Blu-Ray format is what you’ll be getting used to for the next 5 years at least.

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

The Commodore 64 is legendary, and just last year celebrated its 25th anniversary. Its still amazingly popular, with sites continuing to be devoted to it. And now owners of the Nintendo Wii will be able to play classic games of that era via the Wii Virtual Console.

The catch: only in Europe for now.

The first two games available will be International Karate and Uridium. The European Nintendo Wii site made the announcement, and in the press release, Bala Keilman, CEO of Commodore Gaming, commented,

“The massive impact the Commodore 64 had on video gaming is still evident today with many gamers remembering the computer and its games with great fondness. By working with Nintendo of Europe, we are ensuring that future generations of gamers can play some of the best and most popular titles that kick-started the computer games revolution and so keep the C64 legacy in gamers hearts.”

Yes, there’s still a Commodore computer company, though it puts out gaming systems now. But it does pay homage to the C64 on its site.

Laurent Fischer, Managing Director of European Marketing & PR of Nintendo Europe added,

“We are extremely pleased to be working with Commodore Gaming to provide even more retro hits for Wii owners to choose from on Virtual Console. With over 184 classic titles now available to enjoy, Virtual Console on Wii is a great way for users to access a breadth of classic retro games. We hope that this great choice of games will bring nostalgia to our gaming fans, while an entirely new generation of video game players can experience a host of classic games for the very first time.”

No word yet on when and if those with Wiis outside Europe will get a chance at C64 gaming.

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

Earlier I wrote that Wii Fit was vaguely scheduled to hit the U.S. in the vague Q2 timeframe. But finally, finally we exercise-deprived Americans have a solid date, as Nintendo announced today at the Game Developers Conference that the Wii Fit will release on May 19th in the United States.

Wii Fit is a mega-hit in Japan, where it launched last December. In fact, it has sold more than 1.4 million units since its launch on Dec. 1st. I have speculated (somewhat tongue-in-cheek) that the delay for U.S. release was because Nintendo had to redesign the “Balance Board” for much larger U.S. waistlines.

For those who don’t know Wii Fit is an example of “exergaming” that comes with a new controller called the Wii “Balance Board”. The board is used for “an extensive array of fun and dynamic activities, including aerobics, yoga, muscle stretches and games.”

In their press release, Nintendo said:

Wii Fit demonstrates Nintendo’s commitment to gamers of all kinds. It combines fun and fitness for every member of the family to keep active and play together. Wii Fit launches May 19 in the United States and comes with the weight-and-motion-sensing Wii Balance Board that Nintendo representatives demonstrated could hold great promise for future game development as well. Third-party publishers are already working on new games and applications that will make use of the Wii Balance Board. Additionally, Wii Fit includes access to the Wii Fit Channel, an interactive channel that lets users check in each day to track their fitness progress through weight and BMI.

Bring it on!

Nintendo also announced the first U.S. WiiWare games will be available May 12th. The WiiWare service will offer smaller, independent firms a sales outlet without the higher risk of selling through retail channels.

By Michael Santo
Executive Editor, RealTechNews

Generally when presented with an opportunity to take a survey, I decline. This one might just have caught my attention.

It’s certainly not a done deal; it’s just a survey asking customers how they would feel, but Netflix, according to reports, is testing the waters to determine if customers would be interested in streaming video to their PS3s or Xbox 360s. They don’t seem to realize what a silly question that is, don’t they?

For the Xbox 360, the survey (above) says:

“Stream Netflix movies to your TV with Xbox LIVE. Now you can watch movies from Netflix instantly by using your existing Xbox LIVE account. You can choose from over 7,000 movies and TV series, and your choice starts playing on your TELEVISION in as little as 30 seconds. ”

For the PS3, the survey (click above to see) says:

“Now you can watch movies from Netflix instantly by using your Internet-connected Playstation 3. Simply insert a special Netflix disc into your PS/3 to enable instant movie streaming. The disc is available from Netflix for a one-time fee of $3.”

The PS3 survey goes on the say the same info about the 7K movies and 30 seconds for play to start.

In both cases, it’s indicated that there is no extra fee.

Now, how real is this? No confirmation from Netflix, naturally. However, this was reported in two separate locations, here and here, with two different screenshots. That seems to give at least some measure of reassurance.

Plus Netflix has been moving more into streaming, with Mac video streaming coming this year, new unlimited streaming options, and their set-top box deal with LG.

We Say: Of course, one possible problem would be a conflict with this and Microsoft’s Xbox Live Video Marketplace, which lets users purchase TV shows and rent movies that are downloaded directly through the Xbox 360. However, since Netflix CEO Reed Hastings is on Microsoft’s board, maybe it could all be worked out.