HD Streaming Comes on Strong at CES 2007
Sony wasn’t the only company pushing HD this week. On the HD delivery side, besides SlingMedia’s SlingCatcher—which is anticipated to deliver the SlingBox Pro’s HD signals to local or remote displays—Apple debuted their Apple TV delivery device on Tuesday at Macworld with a top output level of 720p. On the acquisition side, JVC also announced a hard-drive based HD camera. The camera, called the GZ-HD7 Everio, sports a 60GB hard drive and records at approximately 30Mbps, about 20% higher than HDV’s 25Mbps bit rate and just under 40% higher bit rate than the Sony AVC-HD format.
An even more interesting move was a joint announcement between DaimlerChrysler, Intel, and Aelereon to use Ultra Wideband (UWB) to stream multiple HD signals to several in-seat and ceiling-mounted displays in the forthcoming Mercedes R500 SUV. The demonstration used a handheld device to stream content. UWB has been shown in prototype scenarios at the last two CES shows, but this in-car demonstration is thought to be a first time an automaker has collaborated on video media delivery in a stock vehicle.
Finally, on the "let’s all work together" front in the high-definition DVD wars, two companies offered joint Blu-ray/HD DVD solutions at CES, each with a radically different approach. LG Electronics—which is partially owned by Philips—displayed a dual HD disc player, one that has been highly anticipated for months as it is able to play both HD DVD and Blu-ray discs. Warner Brothers, on the other hand, introduced the TotalHD discs – a next-generation DVD that can contain both a Blu-ray and an HD DVD version of movie content. While some studios are adamantly backing Blu-ray and others are just as set in using HD DVD, Warner Brothers’ CEO, Barry Meyer, said in a recent New York Times interview that the TotalHD disc serves the consumer by taking uncertainty out of the market, and serves the studios by allowing their content to be marketed at a premium over traditional standard definition DVDs.
"The retailer wants to sell hardware," said Meyer, "and doesn’t want to be forced into stocking two formats for everything. [TotalHD] is ideal for them."
Recent pricing seems to bear out Meyer’s comments, as it appears that high-definition DVDs are being sold for approximately 50% more than traditional standard-definition DVDs. And retailers seems to agree with Meyer’s comments about simplicity.
"The simpler the future is for us," syas Irynne MacKay, Senior VP of Entertainment products with Circuit City, "the better."