DVD maker Apex Digital said it reached licensing agreement with Microsoft to incorporate playback for latter’s High Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD) CDs and Windows Media Audio on 4 million Apex DVD players next year. Last year, Microsoft bought HDCD developer Pacific Microsonics to get foothold in high-end audio processing and playback. Apex plans news conference at CES, Jan. 8 at 10:15 a.m.. to announce new programs and products, including 43” and 50” rear-projection TVs. Company spokesman told us it had just received first 20”, 24” and 27” direct-view sets.
Virgin Entertainment Group selected IBM NetVista Kiosk for new in-store digital preview system. Online system enables Virgin Megastore customers to preview more than 250,000 CDs, 11,000 DVDs and 7,000 console videogames before deciding what to buy. Preview is initiated by customer by scanning product’s bar code at Web-enabled kiosk. Virgin said it developed new system in-house with touch screen kiosk technology from IBM, along with server and client software technology from Microsoft and entertainment data from Muze and Video Pipeline. Remote ordering and access to exclusive Virgin content and products will be added to kiosk functionality “soon,” Virgin said. Company said it was setting up 20 of new kiosks at its Times Sq. Megastore in N.Y. and 15 in Boston Newbury location. Virgin said MegaPlay system “was piloted in Dallas and Los Angeles over the summer with astounding success.” Company said research “revealed that the kiosks developed in-house were occupied almost 2/3 of the time and we were getting 32,000 page views a week.” N. America Virgin Entertainment Group Information Technology Vp Jan De Jong said system was “first stage in an ongoing initiative to integrate” company’s “Click and Bricks” operations.
Sega joined growing list of companies throwing support behind digital wireless communications service provider Qualcomm’s Binary Runtime Environment for Wireless (BREW) applications platform. But it was unclear at our deadline Mon. precisely what Sega’s plans were on BREW. Qualcomm also said it signed nonbinding memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with Japanese phone makers Hitachi, Panasonic, Toshiba. Specifics of those deals weren’t explained either, but it seemed likely that manufacturers were looking to add BREW compatibility into new handsets. Qualcomm said BREW offered developers, OEMs and carriers complete, end-to-end solution for wireless applications development, device configuration, application distribution, billing and payment.
MGM’s worldwide home video revenue soared 35% in 3rd quarter ended Sept. 30, spurred by 200% rise in unit shipments of DVD, company said Mon. Studio shipped 4.1 million copies of Hannibal on DVD and VHS in Aug. and 1.4 million copies of Silence of the Lambs, which was re-released with Hannibal.
VoiceGenie Technologies and mobile entertainment software company JSmart announced partnership to co-market JSmart voice- activated games running on VoiceGenie VoiceXML Gateway in Europe. Games from JSmart include Head-2-Head Trivia. VoiceGenie Strategy & Business Development Vp Eric Jackson said company, “in the past 2 quarters… has gained significant customers in Europe” for its voice-activation services and “with this partnership, we expect that growth to accelerate.” Interest in voice-activated services in U.S. has trailed Europe, he suggested, saying “unlike North Americans, European consumers are accustomed to usage fees for value-added services.”
Film and TV actor Joe Pantoliano, who appears on HBO’s The Sopranos, will be in episode 4 of Electronic Arts’ (EA) online game Majestic. Pantoliano will play blackballed investigative journalist Tim Pritchard. For his work on EA’s game, Pantoliano spent 2 days filming and one day in studio to record voice mail messages that Majestic players will receive, game maker said.
PC game Zoo Tycoon from Microsoft started shipping at $29.99. E-rated (Everyone) simulation-style title, developed by Blue Fang Games, challenges players to turn bunch of animals into money-making machine by building profitable animal park. Microsoft PC Games Div. Gen. Mgr. Stuart Moulder said company expected game to be one of its biggest titles this holiday season. After buying game, players can download new content including completed zoos and new animals via Zoo Tycoon Web site, www.microsoft.com/games/zootycoon/.
Two-tiered DVD pricing is subject of court hearing in Australia this week on lawsuit against Warner Home Video (WHV) by Australian Video Retailers Assn. (AVRA). New WHV policy issues DVDs simultaneously for rental and sellthrough, with higher price to dealers for rental version. Studio has threatened action against dealers discovered to be renting less costly sellthrough DVD, which has different color scheme from rental version. Australian press reports said dealers sued WHV for misuse of country’s copyright law, which makes computer software rentals illegal without content owner’s permission. WHV contends DVDs aren’t merely prerecorded movies but computer software because discs contain digital files for navigation and other functions. Unlike U.S., Australia doesn’t have First Sale Doctrine that permits purchaser of copyrighted material to dispose of it without content owner’s permission, such as for video rentals.
Differences and similarities abound between Matsushita HDTV- caliber dual-layer recordable disc proposal that starred at recent CEATEC show in suburban Tokyo and rival DVR-Blue system showcased at same event year ago.