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Universal Studios to Launch iPhone Features for Blu-ray Discs

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Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
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Universal Studios Home Entertainment today announced (via iLounge) that it will begin offering iPhone-enabled features on some of its future Blu-ray video releases. Universal's initial launch for the concept will take place with the release of a special Blu-ray edition of Fast & Furious on July 28th. Utilizing an Internet-connected Blu-ray player and a free companion iPhone application to be released to the App Store, viewers will be able to use their iPhone or iPod touch to view and interact with a "Virtual Car Garage" highlighting the cars used in the film.
Powered by BD-Live, the 2-Disc Special Edition Blu-ray release of Fast & Furious will utilize this interactive technology tied to its "Virtual Car Garage" bonus feature. With iPhone or iPod touch in-hand, Blu-ray viewers can use their devices' touch screens to control 360-degree views of the movie's supercharged street-racers and instantly punch up exclusive technical specs for the film's high-tech cars.
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Universal also plans to extend the iPhone application concept in future releases, introducing additional iPhone-formatted content, "virtual remote" applications, and social networking features.
Later this year on select Universal releases, consumers will also be able to access bonus content found on their Blu-ray disc and download it into their iPhone or iPod touch to watch features on-the-go; use the devices as a virtual remote to control their Blu-ray disc features; and/or access additional detailed information about the film, its cast and more while watching the movie. Releases will also integrate with social network applications or sites such as Facebook and Twitter to allow users to update their friends about movie-related activities.
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Article Link: Universal Studios to Launch iPhone Features for Blu-ray Discs
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2009/07/20/universal-studios-to-launch-iphone-features-for-blu-ray-discs/
M

MacFly123

macrumors 68020
Dec 25, 2006
2,340
0
I think this sounds very cool and love that the iPhone is being tied into another facet of entertainment therefore cementing its position further.

I wish Apple would update the Apple TV soon. I have held off buying a Blu-ray player because I am on the fence between HD discs and downloadable content. I have the Apple TV and LOVE it, but I want to start buying everything in 1080p. If I buy a Blu-ray player now Apple will probably announce a new Apple TV and 1080p soon after. What to do? :eek:
 
t0mat0

t0mat0

macrumors 603
Aug 29, 2006
5,473
284
Home
Doesn't sound great - i'd say the F&F game was much better than this lackluster attempt.
A decent iPhone app to remote control Sony and other BR and more products? Would be good. Doesn't sound that innovative at the moment.
 
C

cube

Suspended
May 10, 2004
17,011
4,972
This is terrible. I don't want to have to buy an iPhone to access BD content. :mad:

It's bad enough that the most restrictive technology was forced upon us.
 
andiwm2003

andiwm2003

macrumors 601
Mar 29, 2004
4,382
454
Boston, MA
i don't get it.

why don't they put the content online and give away an iphone app to watch it. why do they do this complicated "connect your blue ray player to the internet" stuff?:confused:

look more like a marketing gimmick than something useful.

give us all movies on itunes (on time, not a year after the DVD) and all is good. then include your iphone crap with that.
 
HiRez

HiRez

macrumors 603
Jan 6, 2004
6,250
2,576
Western US
I wish people would give up on this whole "interactive DVD" concept. They've been trying it for years, and it's always been lame. Everyone has a computer and a broadband connection now, why do we need to interact with the DVD?
 
DELLsFan

DELLsFan

macrumors 6502a
Jan 6, 2009
829
1
Eidorian said:
We can only hope that they don't
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Fixed.

Blu-Ray is such a waste of time and money IMHO. The days of disk storage are about as antiquated as 8-track media entertainment (again, IMHO). I'll keep my flash memory and HD / SSDs, thanks. The picture quality on HD media is nice, but not worth the premium, IMHO.
 
Eidorian

Eidorian

macrumors Penryn
Mar 23, 2005
29,190
386
Indianapolis
DELLsFan said:
Fixed.

Blu-Ray is such a waste of time and money IMHO. The days of disk storage are about as antiquated as 8-track media entertainment (again, IMHO). I'll keep my flash memory and HD / SSDs, thanks. The picture quality on HD media is nice, but not worth the premium, IMHO.
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I'm sure it's just as easy and cheap to produce those over a pressed disc.
 
VanMac

VanMac

macrumors 6502a
May 26, 2005
914
0
Rampaging Tokyo
HiRez said:
I wish people would give up on this whole "interactive DVD" concept. They've been trying it for years, and it's always been lame. Everyone has a computer and a broadband connection now, why do we need to interact with the DVD?
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Ya, I dont see the point in interacting either. If they just distributed content and games for the iPhone on the DVD as a bonus, then that would be fine.
 
skellener

skellener

macrumors 68000
Jun 23, 2003
1,786
543
So. Cal.
Oh brother.... instead of adding lame gimmicks like this, why don't they just lower the prices of the discs? iPhone tie-ins with Blu-ray - what's next....iPhone tie-ins with mini-disc?
 
skellener

skellener

macrumors 68000
Jun 23, 2003
1,786
543
So. Cal.
MacFly123 said:
I have the Apple TV and LOVE it, but I want to start buying everything in 1080p. If I buy a Blu-ray player now Apple will probably announce a new Apple TV and 1080p soon after. What to do? :eek:
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1080p Netflix is coming to the XBOX 360 in the fall.
 
M

Michael CM1

macrumors 603
Feb 4, 2008
5,681
276
DELLsFan said:
Fixed.

Blu-Ray is such a waste of time and money IMHO. The days of disk storage are about as antiquated as 8-track media entertainment (again, IMHO). I'll keep my flash memory and HD / SSDs, thanks. The picture quality on HD media is nice, but not worth the premium, IMHO.
Click to expand...

So you'll pay the premium for SSDs but not BDs?

These "I hate optical media!" posts never make sense. BD costs have consistently been dropping ever since the first player came out -- it was $1,000. You can now buy a standalone player for $200 if you're lucky, and the movies slowly keep dropping in price. If you keep your eye on Amazon.com, you will find TONS of movies for less than $20, often less than $15. I just got The Matrix 10th anniversary edition and Serenity for about $31 combined. I got Lost Season 2 for $30 when it was first announced.

BD is evolving just like DVD did, and Apple will eventually have to deal with it. When PC makers can offer a BD drive in a sub-$1,000 notebook, Apple customers would love to know why the same can't even be added to a Mac Pro.
 
K

klittle32

macrumors member
Jul 17, 2008
66
1
A sign of progress, but what is this BD Live stuff?

I take this as a evidence of BD maturing, which is good. But I must say, I have played around a little bit in the extra features of my Blueray disks, and I just don't get the BD Live stuff. It looks awkward and I don't really have a desire to chat with someone else on my screen while my movie is playing.
 
GoCubsGo

GoCubsGo

macrumors Nehalem
Feb 19, 2005
35,741
153
What I'd like is a way to stream my BR movie to my iPhone via a website they provide so long as I buy the physical BR movie.
 
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