GET READY for BRAVO D3

[zoro]

Q I noticed that your list of DVD players that do not have the Chroma Bug problem is dated 2002. Has this list since been updated? Also, I hope you can answer this question. I want the best DVD-player for under $400. Can you give me a few options of players with the Chroma fix. I will be using this player with a Pioneer SD-643HD5 rear projection TV.

A The Bravo D3, at $350, is expected to ship sometime in the next month or so and will play WM9 material. This supposedly means it will play the WM9 high definition movie DVDs, such as Terminator 2 that came out recently in WM9 High Definition format, along with the regular format in the same package. I think waiting for the D3 might be a good bet. It has DVI out, and scales 480p DVDs to 720p and 1080i. The fact that HD DVD is arriving first in WM9 discs, and in players that are very affordable, probably means the HD DVD players (BluRay, etc.) that are supposed to come out in 2005, and I suspect at very high prices, will be in trouble sales wise. They use DVDs that are very high density, something around 27 GB per disc. Whether WM9 High Def movies have the same video quality as the BluRay DVDs remains to be seen in 2005

From secrets Q&A

**where is D2 then

[Billie]

zoro,

is the d3 going to have the same design as d1 beside be able to play wm9 software?

i wasn't impressed with d1. besides its dvi output, i don't think that player worth the $200 asking price when compared to other players with the same price such the panny, pioneer, and sony...

[zoro]

I was not EITHER, D1 was nothing but TROUBLE! LOL..I couldnt stand it for more than one week!!

i took it from SECRET's, I dont know how good it would be!!

If go by records, it most likely be rebadged chinese player, full of quirks, low on QC

[branas]

will the D3 do DVD-A and SACD?

[Marissadad]

I just bought Step Into Liquid and the new T2 in preperation for the release of this player. I wanted a D1 but when I saw this was coming decided to hold out. I emailed VInc yesterday to ask about a release date and haven't heard back yet.

No on the DVD-A or SACD.

This player will scale to any custom picture size between 480P and 1080i, not just 720p and 1080i. Press Release:

V INC. ANNOUNCES BRAVO HD DVD PLAYER WITH WINDOWS MEDIA VIDEO 9 AND HIGHMAT PLAYBACK

V Inc. Bravo D3 Home HD DVD Media Player is First to Announce Support for High Definition WMV9 and HighMAT Formatted Playback
Powered by Sigma Design’s New EM8620L Single Solution on-chip Processor with REALmagic HD Decoding and Processing
Windows Media Video 9 Provides Better Compression for Streaming and Storing Content with Full Digital Rights Management Protection for HD Content
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CA. and LAS VEGAS, NV (CES) – January 6, 2004 - V Inc., the multiple award-winning digital display maker, today announced the first high definition DVD player with Windows Media Video 9 and HighMAT formatted playback. Powered by Sigma Design’s (Nasdaq: SIGM) EM8620L on-chip processor, the Bravo D3 also provides pure perfect DVD playback via DVI output in high-resolution 480p, 1080i and 720p formats. Expected to ship in Q’2 2004 with a target retail of $349.99, the Bravo D3 is consistent with V Inc.’s mission to bring practical technological innovation to consumer electronics products while maintaining operational simplicity and value.

The Bravo D3 will also include DVD-R/RW, DVD+R/RW, CD, CD-R/RW playback. The Bravo D3 is the first DVD player capable of playing MPEG2, MPEG4 and WMV9 in High Definition. Audio decoding includes WMA9, WMA Pro, WMA lossless, Dolby Digital, MP3, MPEG-1/2 (layers 1, 2, and 3) and MPEG-4 AAC. The player supports Dolby Digital and DTS® multi-channel audio pass-through on Toslink optical and S/PDIF coaxial digital outputs. The player features NTSC/PAL output in composite and S-Video formats with interlaced or progressive component video output in 480i, 480p, 1080i, 720p and user-definable linear and non-linear resolutions.

Any form of decoded content can be output in a direct digital DVI-HDTV video RGB format

keeping the display free from analog conversion artifacts. Beyond the normal decoding of content, the player will offer REALmagic scaling and scan conversion with appropriate 3:2 pull down, advanced display processing including, programmable linear and non-linear scaling, a 5-plane video mixer, adaptive de-interlacing, adaptive flicker filtering and pixel-based alpha mixing - all free of annoying interlaced chroma problems. The player’s component video output will be limited to 480p on playback of DVD content when CSS copy protection is found. The player’s DVD drive and processor will be second to none with transparent layer changes and a convenient zoom function for non-anamorphic content rendering.

“We’re extremely pleased with our successor to the popular Bravo D1. By integrating Windows Media Video 9 decoding, the Bravo D3 continues our goal of making more high definition content readily available for HDTVs,” stated William Wang, CEO of V Inc.

The Sigma Designs EM8620L Media Processor

The new EM8620L media processor from Sigma Designs provides a complete single-chip solution for IP video set-top boxes, DVD receivers and DVD players. The EM8620L offers a wide range of media processing functions for video decoding, audio decoding, and graphics processing based on REALmagic HD technology, for the highest quality image possible on high definition displays. For single-chip systems, it features an on-chip RISC processor, PCI-bus IDE controller and additional peripheral ports for supporting other subsystems. Configured with standard front-end components, the EM8620L provides a full-featured solution for advanced set-top appliances.

“As the demand for more ubiquitous video along with high-definition features continues to increase, the popularity of new advanced CODECS such as Microsoft’s Windows Media 9 Series will no doubt rise,” said Ken Lowe, VP of strategic marketing of Sigma Designs. “At this point, we are seeing substantial momentum towards the use of Windows Media Video 9 for IP video solutions that can deliver high-quality video streaming, as well as DVD players such as V Inc.’s Bravo D3 that can accept the widening range of video formats.”

About Windows Media Video 9 and HighMAT Formatting

The entertainment industry is examining technologies such as Windows Media 9 Series, which provides better compression efficiency for streaming and storing digital media content and supports full digital rights management protection, where it was previously not possible. Driven primarily by increased compression efficiency, network providers can now offer a new range of high-quality, high-resolution video services over bandwidth-limited networks. Additionally, with both published DVD and user-created content beginning to appear, WMV9 support looms on the horizon as the new must-have feature for enthusiasts buying DVD players. These DVD players will be able to read and navigate a mixture of video, audio, and image content created using the new HighMAT format, a standard established jointly by Matshushita and Microsoft.

The Windows Media Video HD format of a “Terminator 2” bonus DVD from Artisan studios in June of 2003 was the first evidence of an underlying movement to deliver a large number of titles encoded in HD. Concurrently, the amount of compelling downloadable and streaming video content is also building up rapidly, and can be accessed from Web-sites such as at CinemaNow, iFilm, Movielink, Movie Magix, netcine, SkyPerfecTV, WOWOW and BMWfilms.com. Aside from commercially available content, Windows Movie Maker 2, Microsoft’s easy to use video editing feature of Windows XP, is another tool that’s providing consumers with loads of home movies.

About Sigma Designs, Inc.

Sigma Designs (Nasdaq: SIGM) specializes in silicon-based MPEG decoding for streaming video, progressive DVD playback, and advanced digital set-top boxes. The company’s award-winning REALmagic® Video Streaming Technology is used in both commercial and consumer applications providing highly integrated solutions for high-quality decoding of MPEG-1, MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. Headquartered in Milpitas, Calif., the company also has sales offices in China, Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea and Taiwan. For more information, please visit the company’s web site at www.sigmadesigns.com.

[zoro]

Would it upsacle via component too?

[Marissadad]

NO!

[kevinca1]

Whoopie doo wm9 is going to fail, Gee you can watch 2 movies. if there are no movies then this is a waste ,

[zoro]

I think so too

[Wesley Hester]

The player features NTSC/PAL output in composite and S-Video formats with interlaced or progressive component video output in 480i, 480p, 1080i, 720p and user-definable linear and non-linear resolutions.

This cut and paste from the post above would suggest that the D3 would upscale via component. If not, then V needs to reword it better.

[Lava Lamp Freak]

Has anyone confirmed if the D3 will be able to play existing WMV-HD movies?

[Kris Deering]

I think WMV-HD will become a striving format. The reason for the dearth of titles right now is MS is getting everything dialed in and have been concentrating more on SMPTE approval and DVD forum issues.

There will be A LOT more titles to come.

[nyg]

Originally posted by kevinca1
Whoopie doo wm9 is going to fail, Gee you can watch 2 movies. if there are no movies then this is a waste ,

I agree unless...

Originally posted by Kris Deering
There will be A LOT more titles to come.

...in which case I'd be happy to buy the D3. ;)

[TWD]

Where do you get the WM9 DVDs?

[daggerNC]

I saw an ad for WM9 hi-def dvd's in a rag today and it included 15 movie titles. Most were IMAX movies but T2 was on there. It was in WSR. "more DVDs are on the way". See www.wmvhd.com for more info.

For me at this point in time, having WM9 support is a feature that will positively affect my purchase decision. I wish the D3 supported DVD-Audio as well.

dagger

[Kris Deering]

Right now the following titles support WMV-HD

T2 Extreme Edition
Step into Liquid
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Coral Reef Adventures
and some more Imax titles

There are a lot more in development though, of that I am sure.

[kevinca1]

there are over a 100 dvhs tapes also did you buy those? and when true hd dvd comes out what are you going to do buy the same movies 3 times.when wm 9 fails what you goin to do with those dvds throw them away.

[kkickk]

who cares what vinc puts out they still have not fixed my d1 why would i look at a d3 lol will never deal with this co again anyone want my d1 when it comes back i will make u a good deal

[TauRus]

Time will tell whether WMV-HD will survive or not, but knowing that MS muscle is behind this technology and how MS is desperately trying to enter consumer electronics marlet, I am almost certain there will be a lot of lobbying done with both content creators as well as equipment manufacturers.
And when finally the titles and the players will hit the market we will send a cheerful whoopy-doo back to Kevnka1 :)

[hmurchison]

WM HD discs will survive IMO. I think that Microsoft is going to get VC-9(WM9) chosen as one of the mandatory codecs for the HD-DVD products along with AVC and MPEG2.

At first I was dreading having Microsoft get a foot in but then I realized that after spending money on HD monitors people want high quality video to watch. I think there is room for all of the codecs to co-exist. Efficient codecs like WM9 and AVC will also have advantages in streaming applications.

WM9 has an advantage over AVC in number of products which support it and in processing efficiency. AVC requires brutal horsepower currently. We may need another generation of processing power from Sigma and others.

[David_Levin]

I'm not sure if T2 WM9 will play. It requires a dial-out (internet) authorization.

[Marissadad]

Maybe the WM9 players will have some kind of licensing built in to authorize the playback.

[mpjohnst]

I know a lot of people in the HTPC forum back up HDTV recordings to WM9... any word on if these decks will play burned WM9?

If so, these players might have the opposite effect for the industry and encourage a black market for selling/trading dubbed HD. And lets face dubbed HD is still better than DVD!
-Matt

[dcolonna]

I thought for certain I had read a post by Jim Noyd a few months back where he stated that early WMV movies like T2 would not play on the D3.

I'm going to dig for that post...

[dcolonna]

Post from Jim Noyd about D3 and current WM9 titles (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&postid=3158394&highlight=D3#post3158394)

After rereading it, he said there was a possibility they would not be compatible. Has anyone read any followup comments from him?

~D

[zoro]

So, just release player with NO SOFTWARE to PLAY?

[Marissadad]

Originally posted by zoro
So, just release player with NO SOFTWARE to PLAY?
Build it and they will come. ;)

[ROB968323]

HAHAHAHAHA...

Anyone that considers buying anything from Bravo should have their head examined. That's just my opinion. Bravo = Trauma, Trauma, Trauma...

[BudBray]

Has anybody read the FINE PRINT on the D3? It will have an INTERNET CONNECTION so it can dial up MICROSOFT for the licence...Isn't THAT SWEET! Nothing like having your equipment playing on the internet. And i'm sure, just like WINDOWS, it'll be open to all kinds of WONDERFUL viruses and such, not to mention MICROSOFT logging EVERYTIME you play a certain DVD. And you can bet a LICENCE FEE is JUST around the corner...that's how Microsoft took over the world, offer it for FREE, get suckers hooked, then CHARGE for the rest of their lives!
It's a slippery slope if HD WMV is the ONLY format!
Be AFRAID! BE VERY AFRAID!
Bud

[kevinca1]

I agree bud. Micro$oft cant even get a operating system right now they want to screrw up the dvd world.

[Petey]

Originally posted by kevinca1
I agree bud. Micro$oft cant even get a operating system right now they want to screrw up the dvd world.

So let's see the bug-free OS that you've written so we can compare and get an idea of their incompetence?

Pete

[UUronl]

Originally posted by mpjohnst
I know a lot of people in the HTPC forum back up HDTV recordings to WM9... any word on if these decks will play burned WM9?


Yes, Microsoft and V Inc have stated that Himat formatted media will play. There is a -ton- of stuff out there if you know where to look.



Ron

[kevinca1]

MIcro$oft is the most unreliable most hackable and has more viruses then the plague did and they are very arrogant. Give me the billions that mr gate$ has and i sure as heck could. Take all the security issues they have been told about a long time ago they still havent fixed, they can care less about securtiy or anything else. They also have one of the worst cs ever in the history of the world you can get bette cs form india.

[BudBray]

Originally posted by Petey
So let's see the bug-free OS that you've written so we can compare and get an idea of their incompetence?

Pete
OK, how bout these...
LINUX, OSX, Unix, DOS, BeOS (oops, Microsoft KILLED that one!)
Bud

[EricD]

all buggy and vulnerable, sorry.

[Dan Hitchman]

If HD-DVD and Blu-Ray have DRM or any other crazy licensing scheme then I'm out.

I want to have the same flexibility as a DVD right now. I can take a movie to my friends' houses or they can bring their's to mine and be able to play them without a fuss. If it's not that easy, then both high rez. formats will be a bust.

Dan

[mr.mortgage]

:)

[nyg]

It's Q2, when exactly does this player become available? And perhaps more importantly, when will there be more WM9 DVDs available?

[Jim Noyd]

Originally posted by amelie
It's Q2, when exactly does this player become available? And perhaps more importantly, when will there be more WM9 DVDs available? It will be a couple of more months for the Bravo D3.

[Marissadad]

VInc is now advertising the D2 on their website and it was supposed to be available back in February. I just received Step Into Liquid and it looks great on the regular DVD, I can't wait to see it in WM9.

[shank2001]

For all of you against WM9 HD.

#1. Just how long do you think it will be before HD DVDs are out?! Probably 2-3 years from now. In the interim, WM9 is darn good. Anyone who has watched with a PC playing WM9 HD on a HD display like a projector will tell you it is stunning. A VAST improvment over S DVD.

#2. The authentication process does not lock the disc to the player, it just makes sure the disc you are trying to play is legal. So you can take your disc and play it back at your friend's house, no problem. Microsoft has said they are going to do away with needing an internet connection for authentication as well.

#3. I am as against Microsoft monopolies as the next guy, but I have a HD projector NOW, and I want HD material to play on it NOW. I do not want to wait 2-3 years for HD DVD to come out. Kudos to Microsoft for getting us an alternative format to hold us over.

#4. As for having to buy all your WM9 HD DVDs all over again... these people who think that have obviously not seen how good WM9 HD is. I doubt there is that much difference and I doubt I will feel that obligated to go replace them with true HD DVDs at all. I would rather be able to watch HD material NOW and pay a bit more in the long run (if I choose to replace my WM9 discs with HDDVD discs at all) then wait 2-3 years to watch HD material on disc at all! WM9 HD material is better than what you get over satellite, too.

So there you have it. If you choose to skip WM9 as a format... fine... but I am sure there are plenty who will embrace it with open arms since it is the only way to get HD material for quite a while in the future.

[nyg]

Originally posted by shank2001
For all of you against WM9 HD.

#1. Just how long do you think it will be before HD DVDs are out?! Probably 2-3 years from now.

The first HD-DVD discs and players are coming out in early '05, the first American Blu-ray discs and players are coming out late '05/early '06. That's pretty damn soon IMO. I'll happily wait for the best, especially since commercial WM9 DVDs will likely not be playable on the Bravo D3.

[Apple Dude]

What do you all think a "street price" on a Blue Ray player will be?

[Vanderlow]

The NEC exec said we'll start to see HD-DVd drives in June 05.

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/10080

[Tom Roper]

I guess I'm with Shank, if the only compelling reason to wait for HD-DVD is because it's the anti-Microsoft alternative.

[Dan Hitchman]

How many of you could afford a multi-thousand dollar HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player??

Remember just how damned expensive DVD players were when first on the market. I expect the discs won't be priced low either.

Also, with this format war brewing this may complicate things greatly. I'd like to have WM-HD videos as a bit of an HD "toy" until things get ironed out.

[shank2001]

Originally posted by Vanderlow
The NEC exec said we'll start to see HD-DVd drives in June 05.




I will believe this when I see it. Just like the Bravo D3 was supposed to be out in April/May of this year. I have seen no agreements on format from the movie industry. The copy protection methods have not been finalized yet either, and you can bet no movie studio is going to start shipping any movies until all that is taken care of. There is still a lot to be done before we see HD movies on Blu-ray or HD DVD. I think we will see HD-DVD and Blu-Ray burners on PCs by June next year for data storage purposes, but no movies for at least 1 to 2 years after that. I really hope I am wrong, but that is not going to stop me from enjoying HD on my projector NOW with WM9.... in fact, I already am..... with my laptop hooked up with DVI to my projector and playing wm9 HD stuff. It is stunning.

Regards,
Sean

[Tom Roper]

What laptop has DVI Sean?

[spleen93]

Mac Powerbooks do. Don't know if others do as well.

Spleen

[shank2001]

This is the laptop I have:

http://pctorque.com/8790.php


The Sager 8790. Best laptop I have ever seen or owned. It has everything. Faster than most desktops.

Mine has:
3.4 Pentium 4

120 gigs of hard drive space in a RAID 0 configuration (two internal 7,200 rpm 60 gig HDs)

2 gigs of DDR ram

ATI 9700 video card w/ 256mb RAM

10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet built in

108 mbps turbo wireless built in

4X DVD plus/minus burner built in.

Card reader of 7 types of memory cards built in

Web cam built in

DVI output ...also has component High def out, and S video out.

17" WSXGA+ LCD screen with 25ms response time!!!... best screen I have ever seen on a laptop

Firewire and 3 uSB 2.0 ports built in

Full size keyboard with number pad built in

digital out surround sound

and a lot more.....

[Jim Noyd]

shank-
How many minutes of wmv9 HD material can you play on your laptop's battery?

[shank2001]

Only about 1 to 1.15 hours of WM9 HD material.... not too good, I know. About 1.5-1.75 hours with regular DVDs, and about 2 hours with normal laptop use. I have the 12 cell battery, not the standard 6. With the standard 6 cell batt, you get about 1 hour of normal laptop use. That is the only negative side to this laptop... not much battery life, and the only way to switch out the battery is to take out 3 screws! I made the mistake of buying two 12 cell batts thinking I could switch them out easily.

But if you want a true desktop replacement, and a computer to do heavy computing and still be portable (as I need for my work), or if you want a really nice home theater PC that is remote controllable and can handle 1080 HD material just fine, then this is the best laptop around. It is actually really, really quiet when playing DVDs or HD material... playing games the fans can get a bit more loud at times. But even then it is quieter than most regular PCs. And when I hook it up to my projector, I use the AC adapter anyway.


Regards,
Sean

[Apple Dude]

Holy crap! I have DVI out on my iBook ($950) and I get 4-6 hours of battery time per charge.

[Gregor Samsa]

Well folks, after about 5 months of working intermittently and requiring power cycling to load DVD's about every 3rd one, my D1 has just died. An alliance between V1 and Microsquish appears to be tatamount to one between Jerry Falwell and Satan. A combination on bad hardware and bad software.

[bollingm]

shank2001, off topic, but do you like the web cam?

[DouglasCleary]

Jim,

What's deal with the ship date? I was told Q2'04.

[Jim Noyd]

At this date, I have no final ship date, specs and MSRP for the Bravo D3.

[bruman]

Im glad I never bought a Bravo and I never will. its a rip off and pathetic that for what they charge, all they can produce is junk.

you think they would learn for the D1.

no thanks! I will wait for something concrete. I have been wanting to jump on the Zentih DVB318 but without DVD-A/SACD anything near $160 is too much.

I think its terrible that no manus are figuring out something so that most of us with component only would have that option. not everyone has DVI and it totally bites!

so the wait continues. this really is a terrible wait.

[drapp1952]

Hey, my D1 just died, too, I think ("No CD" message; tray won't open, despite unplugging and repowering). What is this, some kind of conspiracy? EDIT: No, just the faulty power supply that needs replacing.

Still, I might get a D3 if early testers -- err, users -- report working machines.

Dan

[t0lik]

Thats getting weird... My D1 just died as well... same symptoms - can't open tray, no messages on LCD.. or it's just stuck on "Hello".. how is it possible that we have this DVD player die with the same symptoms at around the same time??? What is going on?
They offer me to RMA the player and pay $30 to fix it... im not sure should I even consider it or just throw it away and get another player that actually works every time I insert a disc (as was my previous Pioneer 525 - had it for 2 years without a single problem).

[bruman]

I still have a Pioneer DV-333 I gave to the kids room, its mounted on the wall so I only can touch it. 1999 and it still works perfectly.

seems mechanical quality has gone down the tubes with recent players.

[Tom Roper]

FWIW, my Pioneer DV563A is junk...it works, but who wants to watch it? LOUSY PQ on component.

My guess is NO Bravo D3 on the way anytime soon.

[DouglasCleary]

The Vinc site removed the D3 press release.
- Jim Noyd: What's deal? Have they scrapped it?

[Tom Roper]

I was just going to say I don't think the D3 is going to happen in light of the recent announcements about the DVD forum, Toshiba, NEC and Microsoft alliance with HD-DVD.

With 100% certainty, there will be WMV-HD players on the horizon but my $0.02 is that these will be HD-DVD players in 2005 or 2006, and not simply todays NTSC/PAL DVD player with a WM9 codec. When you consider the reality of the rendering power required for WMV-HD on the PC takes high computing power, I would find it surprising they could find that at the announced price point for the D3 for the few who would actually be able to use it, lacking the digital rights management.

There are currently a couple of DVD players said to be WMV compatible, the Malata and Kiss Technology, but I've seen no reviews. I would be wary that either is actually providing true (not downconverted) WMV-HD content, if at all.

What it came down to for me, is why not just get my own D3 from a PC? Anyone with a modicum of computer skill and a small budget can assemble or find one that will work. All it has to do is meet the minimum requirements requirements of this test (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/content_provider/film/wmvhdtool_intro.aspx)

[kjack]

I was just going to say I don't think the D3 is going to happen in light of the recent announcements about the DVD forum, Toshiba, NEC and Microsoft alliance with HD-DVD.The DVD Forum is the "alliance" and many other companies are making major contributions to HD-DVD development. Microsoft is being a big help in several areas that the other DVD Forum members didn't have much experience in.

Many of these same companies are also joining the Blu-Ray alliance being formed. Pretty funny seeing the same people there today... :D

I would be wary that either is actually providing true (not downconverted) WMV-HD content, if at all. Our chip can decode HD WMV9 just fine -- everyone just had to wait [and wait and wait] for the DRM and navigation specs.

[Tom Roper]

I'll be in line for one. Bring it to market and make it work. Pertinent question, what players is the WM9 Sigma chip going in? Is it in the Malata or KISS Technology now?

[maxleung]

Wow thanks Keith for the info! This is great news...using an HTPC to play WMV-HD is a huge pain in the rear. A standalone player is still a much better choice for most people...

[Tom Roper]

But seemingly, a non-existent choice... :(

[Ursa]

I wonder if the release of the IO Data player will spur V to get this thing finished and off to market?

[Tom Roper]

I think the IO Data networked player is actually a better concept than the D3 would have been, since it doesn't depend on disk media.

[Ursa]

Unfortunately the IO Data player does not currently support DVD out via DVI (Macrovision licensing issue). Thus, unless someone finds a "tweak" for it, I'm going to have to look elsewhere for my next DVD player...

Later,
Bill

[Xerin]

Hmmm....

Back in April, the only WM9 movies available for sale were:

T2 Extreme Edition
Step into Liquid
Standing in the Shadows of Motown
Coral Reef Adventures
and some more Imax titles

Six months have passed, and it seems that nothing else has come out. How confident are we that content is actually going to be there? Also, any updates on the timeframe for the D3? It was supposed to come out several months ago and we're still waiting...

[Ursa]

There are several titles available in Germany with English language soundtracks (e.g. Underworld, Tomb Raider, etc.). Also, don't discount the value of those IMAX titles - they are pretty cool!

Later,
Bill

[ZZtop]

You know all this recent issue with the Microsoft codec have technical problems and failing on some standards, for whatever reasons big or small, has me wondering if thats why the new dvd players with WM9 and other new things in them are all delayed. I haven't seen the new kiss dvd player yet either and Buy.com has had it on their sites for months now saying its 2 weeks away for delivery the whole time.

Maybe I should ask again, that Kiss DP600 never got released in any quantity did it that anyone knows of?

[Dan Hitchman]

VC-9 is now VC-1 and it has had major issues in the SMPTE processing and certification stages... mainly political with MS showing its true colors again (and companies balking at those tactics). However, with the the latest upgrade to MPEG-4 H.264 called MPEG-4 High Profile, some are saying it's better than VC-1.

Now that there is trouble in MS Land there is buzz that VC-1 will be dropped like a hot potato from the specs. of Blu-Ray and HD-DVD as it won't be done with the SMPTE board soon enough to meet player manufacturing deadlines to hit that late 2005 target date.

Dan

[thebland]

New Bravo?????!!!

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

:confused:

[Jim Noyd]

Originally posted by thebland
New Bravo?????!!!

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

:confused: Jeff-
Even though the Bravo D3's shipping date and SRP haven't been announced, I will sell you my first run unit for $5,000. I want you to be happy about your purchase : )

[Ursa]

SharpDressedMan - No, the Kiss player not only was never released, but it is not listed on Kiss' website.

Jeff - It was announced in January.

Dan - whether it gets dropped or not, the D3 is not going to be compatible with the next generation media. The D3 is a stopgap until HD or BR come along. For me, it would be nice to get a cheap DVI/HDMI DVD player that also could handle my WMV-HD discs (so I can ditch the HTPC).

Later,
Bill

[jlcool007]

microsdoft needs to shove their license agreements up ther **ses seriously