High-Definition Multimedia Interface

The High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) is a licensable audio/video connector interface for transmitting uncompressed, encrypted digital streams. HDMI connects DRM-enforcing digital audio/video sources, such as a set-top box, a Blu-ray Disc player, a Personal Computer, a video game console, or an AV receiver, to a compatible digital audio device and/or video monitor, such as a digital television (DTV). HDMI began to appear in 2006 on prosumer HDTV camcorders and high-end digital still cameras.[1][2] It represents the DRM alternative to consumer analog standards such as RF (coaxial cable), composite video, S-Video, SCART, component video and VGA, and digital standards such as DVI (DVI-D and DVI-I).

General notes

HDMI supports any TV or PC video format, including standard, enhanced, or high-definition video, plus multi-channel digital audio on a single cable. It is independent of the various DTV standards such as ATSC, and DVB (-T,-S,-C), as these are encapsulations of the MPEG movie data streams, which are passed off to a decoder, and output as uncompressed video data on HDMI. HDMI encodes the video data into TMDS for transmission digitally over HDMI. Devices are manufactured to adhere to various versions of the specification, where each version is given a number, such as 1.0 or 1.3. Each subsequent version of the specification uses the same cables, but increases the throughput and/or capabilities of what can be transmitted over the cable. For example, previously, the maximum pixel clock rate of the interface was 165 MHz, sufficient for supporting 1080p at 60 Hz or WUXGA (1920x1200), but HDMI 1.3 increased that to 340 MHz, providing support for WQXGA (2560x1600) and beyond across a single digital link. See also: HDMI Versions. HDMI also includes support for 8-channel uncompressed digital audio at 192 kHz sample rate with 24 bits/sample as well as any compressed stream such as Dolby Digital, or DTS. HDMI supports up to 8 channels of one-bit audio, such as that used on Super Audio CDs at rates up to 4x that used by Super Audio CD. With version 1.3, HDMI now also supports lossless compressed streams such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. HDMI is backward-compatible with the single-link Digital Visual Interface carrying digital video (DVI-D or DVI-I, but not DVI-A) used on modern computer monitors and graphics cards. This means that a DVI-D source can drive an HDMI monitor, or vice versa, by means of a suitable adapter or cable, but the audio and remote control features of HDMI will not be available. Additionally, without support for High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) on the display, the signal source may prevent the end user from viewing or recording certain restricted content. PCs with hardware HDMI output may require software support from Operating Systems such as Windows Vista. Linux currently supports video output through backward-compatibility with DVI. In the U.S., HDCP-support is a standard feature on digital TVs with built-in digital (ATSC) tuners, (it does not feature on the cheapest digital TVs, as they lack HDMI altogether). Among the PC-display industry, where computer displays rarely contain built-in tuners, HDCP support is absent from many models. For example, the first LCD monitors with HDMI connectors did not support HDCP, and few compact-LCD monitors (17" or smaller) support HDCP. The HDMI Founders include consumer electronics manufacturers Hitachi, Matsushita Electric Industrial (Panasonic/National/Quasar), Philips, Sony, Thomson (RCA), Toshiba, and Silicon Image. Digital Content Protection, LLC (a subsidiary of Intel) is providing HDCP for HDMI. In addition, HDMI has the support of major motion picture producers Fox, Universal, Warner Bros., and Disney, and system operators DirecTV and EchoStar (Dish Network) as well as CableLabs and Samsung.

Specifications

HDMI defines the protocol and electrical specifications for the signaling, as well as the pin-out, electrical and mechanical requirements of the cable and connectors.

Connectors

The HDMI Specification has expanded to include three connectors, each intended for different markets. The standard Type A HDMI connector has 19 pins, with bandwidth to support all SDTV, EDTV and HDTV modes and more. The plug outside dimensions are 13.9 mm wide by 4.45 mm high. Type A is electrically compatible with single-link DVI-D. A higher resolution version called Type B is defined in HDMI 1.0. Type B has 29 pins (21.2 mm wide), allowing it to carry an expanded video channel for use with very high-resolution future displays, such as WQSXGA (3200x2048). Type B is electrically compatible with dual-link DVI-D, but is not in general use. The Type C mini-connector is intended for portable devices. It is smaller than Type A (10.42 mm by 2.42 mm) but has the same 19-pin configuration.

Cable

The HDMI cable can be used to carry video, audio, and/or device-controlling signals (CEC). Adaptor cables, from Type A to Type C, are available.

Cable length

The HDMI specification does not define a maximum cable length. As with all cables, signal attenuation becomes too high at a certain length. Instead, HDMI specifies a minimum performance standard. Any cable meeting that specification is compliant. Different construction quality and materials will enable cables of different lengths. In addition, higher performance requirements must be met to support video formats with higher resolutions and/or frame rates than the standard HDTV formats. The signal attenuation and intersymbol interference caused by the cables can be compensated by using Adaptive Equalization. HDMI 1.3 defined two categories of cables: Category 1 (standard or HDTV) and Category 2 (high-speed or greater than HDTV) to reduce the confusion about which cables support which video formats. Using 28 AWG, a cable of about 5 metres (~16 ft) can be manufactured easily and inexpensively to Category 1 specifications. Higher-quality construction (24 AWG, tighter construction tolerances, etc.) can reach lengths of 12 to 15 metres (~39 to 49 ft). In addition, active cables (fiber optic or dual Cat-5 cables instead of standard copper) can be used to extend HDMI to 100 metres or more. Some companies also offer amplifiers, equalizers and repeaters that can string several standard (non-active) HDMI cables together.

HDMI and high-definition optical media players

Both introduced in 2006, Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD offer new high-fidelity audio features that require HDMI for best results. Dolby Digital Plus (DD+), Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio use bitrates exceeding TOSLINK's capacity. HDMI 1.3 can transport DD+, TrueHD, and DTS-HD bitstreams in compressed form. This capability would allow a preprocessor or audio/video receiver with the necessary decoder to decode the data itself, but has limited usefulness for HD DVD and Blu-ray. HD DVD and Blu-ray permit "interactive audio", where the disc-content tells the player to mix multiple audio sources together, before final output. Consequently, most players will handle audio-decoding internally, and simply output LPCM audio all the time. Multichannel LPCM can be transported over an HDMI 1.1 (or higher) connection. As long as the audio/video receiver (or preprocessor) supports multi-channel LPCM audio over HDMI, and supports HDCP, the audio reproduction is equal in resolution to HDMI 1.3. However, many of the cheapest AV receivers do not support audio over HDMI and are often labeled as "HDMI passthrough" devices. Note that not all of the features of an HDMI version may be implemented in products adhering to that version since certain features of HDMI, such as Deep Color and xvYCC support, are optional.

A New 720p HD Digital Movie Camera

A New 720p HD Digital Movie Camera, the DMX-HD700 by Sanyo
Tokyo, September 26, 2007--- SANYO Electric Co., Ltd., (SANYO), a world leading digital camera manufacturer, introduces the world’s smallest and lightest*1 720p high definition digital movie camera—the Xacti DMX-HD700—a single unit capable of recording both movies and pictures easily with any SD/SDHC memory card. The DMX-HD700, sporting a highly portable everyday-use stylish and slim body, is specifically designed for publishing high quality movies and high resolution still images in a format that is highly compatible with Internet sites such as online social networking sites, including blogs. Targeting the ever-increasing users of these rapidly growing online social network sites and blogs as well as Internet users that enjoy photographs and movies on their personal computers, the DMX-HD700 becomes the perfect advanced communication tool answering the ever-changing and growing needs of the information age. The new camera diversifies users movie camera lifestyle options by offering a camera equipped with 720p HD movie recording functionality and a 7.1-Megapixel still image camera, all in one elegantly stylish and slim body. The Xacti DMX-HD700 will be on sale from October 19, 2007. SANYO’s Xacti cameras are based on the keyword ‘Connect’, a concept of recording and then connecting to share the golden moments from everyday and saving them for the future, and will continue to make efforts to offer an even more fun and exciting movie camera lifestyle. SANYO is committed to providing new solutions by openly employing its propriety technologies in creative ways, based on its Brand Vision ‘Think GAIA’. Outline Since the introduction of SANYO’s digital cameras which adopted movie-recording capabilities in 1998, SANYO has focused on creating cameras that can both record movies and photos in one simple unit, freeing camera users everywhere from having to carry two separate units. The Xacti series was the embodiment of this concept, focusing on a pocket-sized, compact unit capable of easily recording beautiful pictures and movies, so discrete that it will not ruin the moment. The Xacti series cameras have received high acclaim from the market as a small, simple camera capable of both recording movies and photos and adopting the MPEG-4 format known to be highly compatible with the Internet environment. Currently, as the proliferation of movie contents on the Internet continues to expand with increasing popularity, the use of movies on the Internet is expected to continue to expand into other online and social networking sites. SANYO is actively participating in current trends and meeting these ever-changing modern demands, as shown as a line of compact and convenient, 720p HD digital movie cameras was put out: the DMX-HD1, which was the world’s first*2 high definition digital movie camera to adopt the MPEG-4 in February 2006; the DMX-HD1A followed in September 2006; the DMX-HD2 in March 2007; and the recently announced Full HD (1920 x 1080) DMX-HD1000, which began sales September 21. SANYO has continued to offer products that not only meet the demands for viewing in large screen high resolution environments, but also stress the importance of increasing affinity with the Internet environment. SANYO is pleased to now announce the sale of the further compacted Xacti DMX-HD700, overflowing with fashion sense and 720p HD Internet-compatibility, helping to re-design movie lifestyles by offering a true answer to the changing needs of both home users and Internet users alike. *2 For consumer use high definition digital movie cameras. (sold starting from Feb. 2006) Detailed Explanation Main Features 1. World’s smallest and lightest*1, stylish and slim, everyday-use pocket-sized HD movie camera At just 171 cc (volume) and 189 grams (weight), the new slim and stylish high definition DMX-HD700 digital movie camera is the world’s smallest and lightest*1. When compared with SANYO’s previous digital movie camera models*3, the weight has been reduced by 10% and the volume has been reduced by 16%, increasing portability. Designed to fit in a pocket or almost any bag, the camera becomes an everyday accessory, ensuring that special or once-in-a-lifetime moments are always captured. In addition, the camera not only records movies in 720p high definition, but it is also possible to take high resolution 7.1-Megapixel photos. With this one camera, movies and photos can be recorded without switching displays or having to pull out another unit, eliminating previous situations where digital cameras and video cameras were separate products. As for the design, the camera continues the Xacti series concept of a comfortable grip, allowing for a more natural filming style with less strain on the arm. The camera has also incorporated the 2 New high speed processing engine ‘new ergonomic design’, which allows the lens to be level with the ground when mounted on a tripod. The camera has been created and designed into a novel shape, creating a curved minimal body size filled with elegance and grace, without affecting performance. The design makes it a carry-everywhere item, fitting snugly in a pocket or finding a corner of almost any bag. Also, to fully satisfy customers with refined taste for style and fashion, the camera comes in three colors: a formal yet cool polished silver, a passionate and softly vibrant red, and an elegant glossy finished deep brown. *3 When compared to DMX-HD2 2. High image quality with less data volume, easy-to-use on the Web—MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format compatible The HD700 uses the same new optical processing engine found in the previously announced DMX-HD1000, which is unique in its ability to process images quickly with lower power consumption. In addition to utilizing SANYO’s proprietary H.264 codec, the camera only needs 4.0 watts of power, made possible through the combination of two engine chips into one single and miniaturized fast-processing image engine. Movies are recorded in the advanced MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 format encoding technology. With this advanced compression, longer movies and higher quality images can be taken when compared with previous MPEG-4 codec formats for movies. In other words, for the same amount of recording time, the image quality is higher, and for the same amount of image quality as previous MPEG-4 formats, a longer recording time is possible. Also, in addition to the reduction in data capacity needed to store the images and movies, the movies and voice files are combined into one file, similar to a single photograph taken by a digital camera, and photos or movies are easily copied and loaded on the personal computer or uploaded and shared on the Internet for online use with sites such as blogs and other social networking sites. 3. Complete still image support functionality, including unique ‘Face Chaser Function’ The HD700 not only takes 720p HD movies, but has been equipped to serve as a fully functional digital camera. Some of the features of the camera for still images are: - Equipped with ‘Face Chaser Function’ that allows tracking of up to 12 faces when taking photos. - Takes approximately 7.1-Megapixel still photographs, and is compatible all the way to the ISO 3200 level of sensitivity. - Detects hand-shaking after photos are taken and adjusts in playback mode with ‘Blur Correction’ digital image stabilizer function*4. - High resolution images can be enjoyed on a Full HD television with 16:9 resolution *4 When using slower shutter settings and when hand shaking is extreme, there are cases where the image can not be stabilized. 4. Other Features Bundled with Adobe System’s Adobe Premier Elements 3.0 for original movies editing and DVD creation, and Adobe Photoshop Album SE for managing and image viewing Face Chaser Function (*image only) 3. ・Expanding the fun of viewing home movies and photos on television and compatible with ‘Xacti Library’*5 for easy playback and saving of files. Equipped with ‘SIMPLE’ mode for even beginners to create high quality, beautiful high definition movies. High resolution 3680 x 2760 photos possible through real-time interpolation technology
´Talking Navigation’ informing user of current state/setting ‘Super Macro’ allows close-ups of 1 cm
Equipped with ‘Wind Noise Reduction’ reducing wind noise from the microphone when recording movies ‘Quick Stand-by’ mode allows the camera to begin recording or playback after opening the LCD monitor in only 1.3 seconds Compatible with Exif Print*6 and PRINT Image Matching III*7 for printing Print pictures without a computer using PictBridge

STEADYCAM

Purpose

For static shots, a motion picture camera is typically stabilised with a tripod, or one of a variety of mounting systems which place the camera firmly on the ground. Traditionally, for moving (or "tracking") shots, a director has two basic choices. Typically, the camera is mounted on a dolly—a wheeled camera mount that rolls on tracks or levelled boards. This has the advantage of permitting smooth camera movement, but takes time to set up, and can be impractical in certain situations. The director must compose the shot's movement so as to prevent the tracks or boards from appearing on screen. Alternatively, the director can use "hand-held" camera work, in which the camera operator holds the camera in his hands. This has the advantage of speed and flexibility. With sufficiently small and lightweight cameras, camera operators can obtain shots that would otherwise be impossible. Even the most skilled camera operator cannot prevent the image from shaking, if only minutely, due to his body's natural movements. Hand-held footage has traditionally been considered suitable mostly for documentaries, news, reportage work, live action, unrehearsable footage, or as a special effect to evoke an atmosphere of authentic immediacy during dramatic sequences. The gritty police television drama NYPD Blue became quite famous for its use of hand-held camera work as a dramatic element. A steadicam essentially combines the stabilised steady footage of a conventional tripod mount with the fluid motion of a dolly shot and the flexibility of hand-held camera work. The steadicam's armature absorbs the jerks, bumps, and other small movements of the operator, while smoothly following the broad movements needed to cover any given scene, such as moving over uneven terrain or through a crowd.

History

The steadicam was invented in the early 1970s by inventor and cameraman Garrett Brown, who originally named the invention the "Brown Stabilizer". After completing the first working prototype, Mr. Brown shot a 10-minute demo reel of the revolutionary moves this new device could produce. The reel was seen by numerous directors, including Stanley Kubrick and John Avildsen. Avildsen directed Rocky in 1976, one of the first movies to feature steadicam shots. The Steadicam was first used in the biopic Bound for Glory, whilst Kubrick would use the Brown Stabilizer in his 1980 film The Shining. Though he was not the first to use it in a mainstream film, Kubrick's use of the steadicam in The Shining is considered the first breakthrough of the technology. The long, fluid tracking shots through the Overlook Hotel of the film had enormous impact on other filmmakers. Both Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese have specifically noted the low tracking shots Kubrick made of the boy Danny riding his Big Wheel through the lobby of the Overlook. Because the steadicam could position the camera so close to the ground, the shots are impossible with any sort of dolly track. The invention was exclusively licensed by Cinema Products Corporation and later brought to market as the Steadicam. As of October 2000, Steadicam® became a trademark of camera manufacturer Tiffen.

Function

This steadicam's 'sled' includes a battery pack and LCD monitor. The operator wears a harness which is attached to an iso-elastic arm. This is connected by a gimbal to the steadicam armature which has the camera mounted at one end and a counterbalance weight at the other. The counterbalance usually includes the battery pack and a monitor. The monitor substitutes for the camera's viewfinder, since the range of motion of the camera relative to the operator makes the camera's own viewfinder unusable. In the film industry the armature and weight are traditionally called the "sled", as they resembled a sled in an early model of the steadicam. The combined weight of the counterbalance and camera means that the armature bears a relatively high inertial mass which will not be easily moved by small body movements from the operator (much like it is difficult to quickly shake a bowling ball). The freely pivoting armature adds additional stabilization to the photographed image, and makes the weight of the camera-sled assembly acceptable by allowing the body harness to support it. When the armature is correctly adjusted, the operator is able to remove his hands from the steadicam entirely and have the camera stay in place. During operation, the operator usually rests his/her hand on the the camera gimbal and applies force at that point to move the camera. To avoid shaking the camera when lens adjustments must be made during the shot, a wireless remote operated by the camera assistant is used to control focus and iris. For low shots, the camera/sled arm can be rotated vertically, putting the camera where the sled normally sits and vice-versa; since both camera and display are inverted, the operator still sees a correctly oriented picture. The upside-down image recorded by the camera can be fixed in post-production.

ADOBE AFTER EFFECTS

What is After Effects?

Bring your vision to life with blockbuster visual effects and compelling motion graphics in Adobe® After Effects® CS3 Professional software. Work with sophisticated tools and enjoy tight integration with Adobe's leading design applications while you deliver stunning work to virtually any media type. Design from scratch or jump-start projects from hundreds of customizable presets and templates — all from within a streamlined interface.

Top features

Innovative compositing and animation tools

Create high-impact communications by combining moving imagery, still images and graphics, text, and sound in 2D or 3D space and then animating virtually any aspect of each element.

Unmatched Adobe integration

Enjoy a streamlined workflow with support for importing Adobe® Photoshop® images that include video layers as well as Adobe Illustrator® graphics that maintain image integrity. Move easily between After Effects and Adobe Premiere® Pro CS3 or Encore® CS3 software, and share animations easily with Adobe Flash® CS3 Professional software.

Text and vector graphics creation and animation

Create text and vector graphics in After Effects using familiar Adobe tools, and then animate these elements to create visually innovative new motion graphics.

Extensive visual effects

Manipulate moving and still images using hundreds of effects such as stylize, distort, and shatter. Create grids, radio waves, 3D particles, film grain, fractal noise, and more.

Timesaving tools

Start projects quickly with animation presets and behaviors when creating common animation elements, such as animating text in and out, creating synthetic backgrounds, and more. Use new Brainstorm to quickly experiment and refine designs using parameters you define. Learn fast with Tool Tips and training resources in the box and on the web, and streamline your review process with Adobe Clip Notes to create and import comments.

Comprehensive masking and keying tools

Control which portions of a layer are visible by importing, manipulating, and animating masks. Flexible auto-tracing options and RotoBezier masks make it easy to get precise results. Key bluescreen and greenscreen mattes with the Academy Award-winning Keylight and a host of supporting tools.

Powerful motion controls

Animate graphics and text using the Puppet tool. Apply motion blur to produce more realistic animations, or use Timewarp to slow down and speed up footage. Precisely match the motion of source footage using Motion Tracker, and get the look of a locked-off shot using Motion Stabilizer.

Enhanced performance

Harness your computer’s processing power with new multicore and graphics acceleration plus disk caching so you can spend less time waiting and more time creating. Distribute rendering across your entire network to maximize output performance.

Professional results for every media type

Compatibility with an extensive list of output formats lets you produce animated content for virtually any media, from the web and mobile devices to film and broadcast. Plus, After Effects CS3 Professional introduces color management tools to help make the color-correction process more predictable and preserve color fidelity.

High-fidelity color

Use standard color management tools with enhancements for film and video workflows.

SONY NEWS

SONY BOLSTERS BLU-RAY DISC PLAYER LINE WITH TWO NEW MODELS

Adding ES and Step-up Models with Advanced Audio Codec Support DENVER, Sept. 5, 2007 (Booth #600) – Sony introduced two additional Blu-ray Disc™ (BD) players today offering a full range of features. Optimized for the home theater enthusiast and designed with input from dealers and consumers in mind, the new BDP-S2000ES model is the first Blu-ray Disc player in Sony’s “Elevated Standard” (ES) line. This model, as well as the new BDP-S500, which complements Sony’s current BDP-S300 BD player, features full high-definition 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema output. They support 7.1 channel linear PCM and Dolby®TrueHD, Dolby® Digital Plus, as well as dts-HD™ High Resolution Audio bitstream output via HDMI™ (ver1.3). “Consumer support of Sony’s Blu-ray Disc products has been outstanding and the new models are targeted to satisfy the demand of those who crave an even greater level of entertainment and performance,” said Chris Fawcett, vice president of marketing for Sony Electronics’ Home Product Division. “From the enthusiast level of our ES line down to the entry-level models, our commitment to the finest quality video and sound delivered by the BD format has never been stronger.” The BDP-S2000ES model features dual shield construction, which prevents dust from collecting on the BD drive, and a rigid drive bracket to minimize vibration. The player also sports a rigid beam chassis that reduces internal vibration, improving playback.Similar to other Sony ES products, the unit’s aluminum insulator feet help isolate the player from external vibrations, while separate audio and video boards deliver better sound and picture quality. The unit also includes the IR-in feature for custom installation market.The BDP-S2000ES and BDP-S500 units both offer 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio bitstream output, which is optional specification of HDMI ver1.3. This makes them a perfect match for the recently announced STR-DA5300ES and STR-DA4300ES AV receivers, which also feature the ability to decode the advanced audio codecs. The new BD players also feature Dolby TrueHD, along with the Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD High Resolution Audio decoding function via HDMI, to offer a better sound experience with existing receivers.The Blu-ray Disc players feature 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema output. They are compatible with most standard DVDs and feature 1080p upscaling through HDMI to capable HDTV sets, improving the picture performance of existing DVD libraries.The new players support AVCHD discs encoded with x.v.Color™ (xvYCC) technology, an international standard for wide color space. The standard expands the current data range of video by about 1.8 times, allowing the players to output more natural and vivid colors similar to what the human eye can actually see. The players also feature compatibility with an array of video formats, including BD-R/RE (BDMV mode), DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW (Video Mode), CD, CD-R/RW (CD-DA format), MP3, and JPEG on DVD recordable media.Both the BDP-S2000ES and BDP-S500 players incorporate BRAVIA®TheatreSync™ through HDMI. This allows for integrated operation with a compatible BRAVIA flat-panel LCD HDTV sets and audio/video receivers. With the touch of a button, you can easily power on and synch the inputs of compatible Sony AV devices connected to the players via HDMI for hassle-free enjoyment of high-definition Blu-ray Discs.The units offer optical and coaxial digital audio outputs, along with 5.1 channel decoding capability for backward compatibility with existing A/V receivers.

Blu-ray Disc

The name Blu-ray Disc is derived from the blue-violet laser used to read and write this type of disc. Because of its shorter wavelength (405 nm), substantially more data can be stored on a Blu-ray Disc than on the DVD format, which uses a red (650 nm) laser. A single layer Blu-ray Disc can store 25 gigabytes (GB), over five times the size of a single layer DVD at 4.7 GB. A dual layer Blu-ray Disc can store 50 GB, almost 6 times the size of a dual layer DVD at 8.5 GB.
Blu-ray Disc is similar to PDD, another optical disc format developed by Sony (which has been available since 2004) but offering higher data transfer speeds. PDD was not intended for home video use and was aimed at business data archiving and backup.
Blu-ray Disc is currently in a format war with rival format HD DVD.

Laser and optics
The Blu-ray Disc system uses a blue-violet laser operating at a wavelength of 405 nm, similar to the one used for HD DVD, to read and write data hence the name. Conventional DVDs and CDs use red and infrared lasers at 650 nm and 780 nm respectively.

Profiles
The BD-ROM specification defines four profiles of Blu-ray Disc players. All video-based profiles are required to have a full implementation of BD-J.
Profile 1 (Grace Period Profile) -informally known as "Profile 1.0"- is the basic profile that all current Blu-ray Disc players (as of September 2007) are based on. Players based on this profile are only required to have 64 KB of persistent memory, which is typically used for bookmarks and other preference storage.[citation needed] After October 31, 2007, this profile will be superseded by Profile 1 (Final Standard Profile) as the minimum profile for new players.
Profile 1 (Final Standard Profile) (mandatory November 2007)-unofficially referred to as "Profile 1.1"- adds a secondary video decoder (typically used for picture in picture), secondary audio (typically used for interactive audio and commentary) and the capability of supporting a minimum of 256 MB of persistent memory (for storing audio/video and title updates) through either built in memory or with user provided memory such as a memory card or a USB flash drive. Compliance with this profile will be mandatory for player models introduced to the market after October 31, 2007, but existing products will be unaffected. As of September 2007, only the Denon DVD-3800BDCI and DVD-2500BTCI have been announced as supporting this feature when they become available in the fall of 2007.
Some profile 1.0 players may be upgradeable via firmware update to profile 1.1 if they have the appropriate hardware, but no manufacturer has announced any such upgrade. When software authored with interactive features dependent on Profile 1.1 hardware capabilities are played on profile 1.0 players some features may not be available or may offer limited capability. Profile 1.0 players will still be able to play the main feature of the disc, however.
Profile 2 (BD-Live), also known as "Profile 2.0" or just BD-Live, adds network connectivity to the list of mandatory functions and increases persistent memory capability requirement. The player must be able to support at least 1 GB of persistent memory, this can be done with either built in memory or with user provided memory such as a memory card or a USB flash drive. So far one manufacturer, Daewoo, has announced a player with this profile, the Daewoo DBP-1000.
Profile 3 (audio only) is meant for an audio-only player and does not require video decoding or BD-J.

Hard-coating technology
Because the Blu-ray Disc standard places the data recording layer close to the surface of the disc, early discs were susceptible to contamination and scratches and had to be enclosed in plastic caddies for protection. The consortium worried that such an inconvenience would hurt Blu-ray Disc's market adoption. Blu-ray Discs now use a layer of protective material on the surface through which the data is read.
The recent introduction of a clear polymer coating has given Blu-ray Discs substantial scratch resistance. The coating is developed by TDK and is called "Durabis". It allows BDs to be cleaned safely with only a tissue. The coating is said to successfully resist "50 grit sandpaper scrubbing" according to Samsung Optical technical manager Chas Kalsi. [citation needed] It is not clear, however, whether discs will use the Durabis coating as a standard or only in premium discs.
Both Sony and Panasonic replication methods include proprietary hard-coat technologies. Sony's rewritable media are sprayed with a scratch-resistant and antistatic coating. Verbatim recordable and rewritable Blu-ray Disc discs use their own proprietary hard-coat technology called ScratchGuard.

Ongoing development
Although the Blu-ray Disc specification has been finalized, engineers continue working to advance the technology. Quad-layer (100 GB) discs have been demonstrated on a drive with modified optics. Furthermore TDK announced in August 2006 that they have created a working experimental Blu-ray Disc capable of holding 200 GB of data on a single side, using six 33 GB data layers. Such discs would probably not work on today's players, as these devices are only designed and tested on discs that meet the current specification.
Also behind closed doors at CES 2007, Ritek has revealed that they had successfully developed a High Definition optical disc process that extends the disc capacity of both competing formats to 10 layers. That increases the capacity of the discs to 250 GB for Blu-ray compared to 150 GB for HD DVD using the same process. However, they noted that the major obstacle is that current reader and writer technology does not support the additional layers.
JVC has developed a three layer technology that allows putting both standard-definition DVD data and HD data on a BD/DVD combo. If successfully commercialized, this would enable the consumer to purchase a disc which could be played on current DVD players, and reveal its HD version when played on a new BD player.[6] This hybrid disc does not appear to be ready for production and no titles have been announced that would utilize this disc structure.

BD-9
BD-9 is a red laser DVD with BD contents on it. This disc should be rotated at 3x speed or more to satisfy the minimum transfer rate of 30.24 Mbit/s.

Codecs
Codecs are compression schemes that reduce data storage requirements; both lossy and lossless compression techniques have been developed and are being used. Depending on the application, either can be used to greatly increase the amount of audio or video storable on fixed bit-capacity media.
The BD-ROM specification mandates certain codec compatibilities for both hardware decoders (players) and the movie-software (content). For video, all players are required to support ISO MPEG-2, H.264/AVC, and SMPTE VC-1. MPEG-2 video allows decoder backward compatibility for DVDs. H.264, sometimes called MPEG-4 part 10, is a more recent video codec. VC-1 is a competing MPEG-4 derivative codec proposed by Microsoft (based on Microsoft's previous work in Windows Media 9). BD-ROM titles with video must store video using one of the three mandatory codecs (multiple codecs on a single title are allowed).
The initial version of Sony's Blu-ray Disc-authoring software shipped with support for only 1 video-codec: MPEG-2.[citation needed] Consequently, all launch titles were encoded in MPEG-2 video.[citation needed] A subsequent update allowed the content producers to author titles in any of the 3 supported codecs: MPEG-2, VC-1, or H.264.[citation needed] The choice of codecs affects the producer's licensing/royalty costs, as well as the title's maximum runtime (due to differences in compression efficiency).[citation needed] Discs encoded in MPEG-2 video typically limit content producers to around two hours of high-definition content on a single-layer (25 GB) BD-ROM. The more advanced video codecs (VC-1 and H.264) typically achieve a video runtime twice that of MPEG-2, with comparable quality.
For audio, BD-ROM players are required to support Dolby Digital AC-3, DTS, and linear PCM (up to 7.1 channels). Dolby Digital Plus, and lossless formats Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD are player optional. BD-ROM titles must use one of mandatory schemes for the primary soundtrack (linear PCM, Dolby Digital, or DTS). A secondary audiotrack, if present, may use any of the mandatory or optional codecs. For uncompressed PCM and lossless audio in Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio formats, Blu-ray Discs support encoding in up to 24-bit/192 kHz for a maximum of six channels, or up to eight channels with at most 24-bit/96 kHz sampling. For users recording digital television programming, the recordable Blu-ray Disc standard's datarate of 54 Mbit/s is more than adequate to record high-definition broadcasts from any source (IPTV, cable/satellite, or terrestrial). For Blu-ray Disc movies the maximum transfer rate is 48 Mbit/s (1.5x) (both audio and video payloads together), of which a maximum of 40 Mbit/s can be dedicated to video data. This compares favorably to the maximum of 36.55 Mbit/s in HD DVD movies for audio and video data.

Java software support
At the 2005 JavaOne trade show, it was announced that Sun Microsystems' Java cross-platform software environment would be included in all Blu-ray Disc players as a mandatory part of the standard. Java will be used to implement interactive menus on Blu-ray Discs, as opposed to the method used on DVD video discs, which uses pre-rendered MPEG segments and selectable subtitle pictures, which is considerably more primitive and less seamless. Java creator James Gosling, at the conference, suggested that the inclusion of a Java Virtual Machine as well as network connectivity in BD devices will allow updates to Blu-ray Discs via the Internet, adding content such as additional subtitle languages and promotional features that are not included on the disc at pressing time. This Java Version will be called BD-J and will be a subset of the Globally Executable MHP (GEM) standard. GEM is the world-wide version of the Multimedia Home Platform standard.

HDTV Sources

The rise in popularity of large screens and projectors has made the limitations of conventional Standard Definition TV (SDTV) increasingly evident. An HDTV compatible television set will not improve the quality of SDTV channels. To get a better picture HDTV televisions require a High Definition (HD) signal. Typical sources of HD signals are as follows:
Over the air with an antenna. Most cities in the US with major network affiliates broadcast over the air in HD. To receive this signal an HD tuner is required. Most newer HDTV televisions have an HD tuner built in. For HDTV televisions without a built in HD tuner, a separate set-top HD tuner box can be rented from a cable or satellite company or purchased.
Cable television companies often offer HDTV broadcasts as part of their digital broadcast service. This is usually done with a set-top box or CableCARD issued by the cable company. Alternatively one can usually get the network HDTV channels for free with basic cable by using a QAM tuner built into their HDTV or set-top box. Some cable carriers also offer HDTV on-demand playback of movies and commonly viewed shows.
Satellite-based TV companies, such as Optimum, DirecTV, Sky Digital (in the UK and Ireland) and Dish Network, offer HDTV to customers as an upgrade. New satellite receiver boxes and a new satellite dish are often required to receive HD content.
Video game systems, such as the Xbox (NTSC only), Xbox 360, and Playstation 3, can output an HD signal.
Two optical disc standards, Blu-ray and HD DVD, can provide enough digital storage to store hours of HD video content.

History

High-Definition television was first developed by Nippon Hōsō Kyōkai, and was unveiled in 1969. However, the system did not become mainstream until the late 1990s.
In the early 2000s, a number of high-definition television standards were competing for the still-developing niche markets.
Three HDTV standards are currently defined by the International Telecommunication Union. They include 1080i (1,080 actively interlaced lines), 1080p (1,080 progressively scanned lines), and 720p (720 progressively scanned lines). All standards use a 16:9 aspect ratio, leading many consumers to the incorrect conclusion of equating widescreen television with HDTV. All current HDTV broadcasting standards are encompassed within the ATSC and DVB specifications.

Projection screen in a home theater, displaying a high-definition television image.
HDTV is also capable of "theater-quality" audio because it uses the Dolby Digital (AC-3) format to support "5.1" surround sound. It should be noted that while HDTV is more like a theater in quality than conventional television, 35 mm and 70 mm film projectors used in theaters still have the highest resolution and best viewing quality on very large screens. Many HDTV programs are produced from movies on film as well as content shot in HD video.
The term "high-definition" can refer to the resolution specifications themselves, or more loosely to media capable of similar sharpness, such as photographic film and digital video. As of July 2007, HDTV saturation in the US has reached 30 percent – in other words, three out of every ten American households own at least one HDTV. However, only 44 percent of those that do own an HDTV are actually receiving HDTV programming, as many consumers are not aware that they must obtain special receivers to receive HDTV from cable or satellite, or use ATSC tuners to receive over-the-air broadcasts; others may not even know what HDTV is.[

HDTV

High-definition television (HDTV) is a digital television broadcasting system with a significantly higher resolution than traditional formats. While some early analog HDTV formats were broadcast in Europe and Japan, HDTV is usually broadcast digitally, because digital television (DTV) broadcasting requires much less bandwidth if it uses enough video compression. HDTV technology was first introduced in the US during the 1990s by a group of electronics companies called the Digital HDTV Grand Alliance.