DIGITAL DIGEST - http://www.digital-digest.com
DIGITAL DIGEST | LIVE UPDATE Issue 45
17 April, 2004

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TOP NEWS SUMMARY:

1. Introduction

2. What's new on DVD Digest

3. What's new on DivX Digest

4. What's new on DVD±R Digest

5. How to cancel/change your subscription email address/settings
- how to maintain the subscription to this newsletter even if
your email address has changed

6. A simple thank-you and some concluding words

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1. Introduction

Hello again. There's been a lot of news on DVD Digest lately, either
because there are geuninely lots of news, or that I've been looking
for them a lot harder. And it doesn't help if I'm making up news for
April Fools as well :)

It's been more quiet on DivX and DVD±R Digest, so I guess I'll have
to make up some news for these sites as well...

-- DVDGuy

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2. What's new on DivX Digest

It's been pretty quiet in terms of new software on DivX Digest. A lot
of updates for AIW Player, AutoGK and RadLight Player, as well as a
few other software titles, have dominated the news.

One other piece of news is the RC4 release of XviD 1.00. The final
version of the codec seems to be nearer to completion, and even
without the final version, XviD has already been accepted as a major
video format by the industry, considering the number of standalone
DVD players that support XviD playback. Perhaps the only thing XviD
need, in my opinion, is a little bit of PR. Getting a couple of high
profile software titles to support XviD (just like DivX and Warcraft
III), a more polished consumer oriented website, and who knows. But
then again, maybe the non commercial nature of XviD is it's most
attractive feature...

Related Links:
XviD: http://www.divx-digest.com/software/xvid.html

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3. What's new on DVD Digest

As mentioned before, there's lots to cover, so let's get started...

The KiSS DP-508 can't be described as a DVD player, just like a
computer can't be described as a typewriter. Not only can the KiSS
playback virtually all the major video and audio formats (including
DivX, XviD, Windows Media, MP3, JPEG ...), it also has a built in
hard-drive and Ethernet connection. Multimedia file server is a new
type of hardware something that I've been hearing about lately, and I
guess the KiSS is a perfect illustration of type of hardware. I know
I've talked more than I should about HTPC in the past, but the KiSS
DP-508 is exactly the sort of hardware that I think will be a big hit
in most modern home theatre systems.

The next bit of news was the rumor that the Xbox 2 would have HDMI
(High Definition Multimedia Interface) support. In the last issue, I
blabbered on about how HDMI will eventually take over the world, or
something along the lines of that, and if the Xbox 2 will feature
HDMI (and chances are, the PS3 will follow if that's the case), then
my blabbering was well worth it.

I recently read a letter published in a PC magazine that proposed an
interesting hypothesis. The jist of the letter was that piracy does
not increase prices of goods, as the music/movie industry frequently
tries to suggest, but rather, actually help decrease it. I can't help
but to agree.

In developing countries, the software/music/industry has already
resorted to heavily discounting prices of goods to compete with
pirates (eg. expensive PS2 hardware, but cheap games), so why can't
it apply in developed countries? Just because we can afford to pay a
higher price, it doesn't necessarily mean that we should be forced to
do so.

One should also take a good look at why DVDs are selling so well, and
why CDs aren't. Comparatively, DVDs offer much more for around the
same price, and sometimes lower, than that of CDs. The quality factor
is also more important for DVD buyers, as if most are like me, then
you won't settle for anything other than the best, even if the
difference is just some collectible packaging or something. The same
probably can't be applied to music CDs, which have long been
criticized by true audiophiles. Perhaps DVD-Audio or SACD is key to
the salvation of the music industry, and where online music
distribution can accommodate those of a less discernable taste.

And if you need some statistics and research to back up my point of
view, then the news articles posted recently on DVD Digest about how
file sharing does not affect music sales might just do the trick. It
puts the decline in CD sales down to other factors, such as loss of
popularity of singles.

Unfortunately, the current trend of persecution suggests that the
studios are going after individuals, rather than career pirates that
actually try to make profits from their pirating activities. Going
after companies such as 321 Studios is just part of this strategy. I
guess one reason for this is that it is far easier going after
teenagers, than career pirates with links to organized crime.

And there appears to be finally some big name DVD-ROM games, with
Unreal Tournament 2004 Special Edition being released on DVD.
Apparently, the truly limited DVD edition of UT 2004 was a big hit,
and the new special edition, also on DVD, is a watered down version
of it. Bonus features are a major part of movie DVD's success, and I
think it can work a treat for games as well.


Related Links:
Copyright News: File Sharing and Sales Figures:
http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/shownews.php?newsid=067
Copyright News: More 321 Studios news:
http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/shownews.php?newsid=071
Disc News: Games on DVD-ROM:
http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/shownews.php?newsid=077
HTPC News Roundup: Antec Overture case and Xbox 2:
http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/shownews.php?newsid=065
Review: KiSS DP-508: http://www.digital-digest.com/dvd/shownews.php?newsid=061

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4. What's new on DVD±R Digest

It has also been quite quiet on DVD±R Digest in terms of new
software, with most of the attention in the news media concentrated
either on the affairs of 321 Studios or dual layered drives.

The media does seem to be quite excited at the prospects of dual
layer (DL) drives, with dozens of new stories each day about these
drives. Perhaps they do have a point, as I see DL drives being the
catalyst for the decline of CD recordables. The drive themselves
should be available fairly soon, at a very reasonable price. While
I've already got a DVD writer (and a pretty decent one too), it's
almost certain that I will buy a dual layered drive once they are
available. I used to think 4 GB was a lot, but in this day and age
where people actually manage to fill up 300 GB hard drives, it's just
not enough. Until Blu-Ray is available, double sided DL media will
have to do...

The only thing that could possibly spoil the party is the
availability, or the lack of, of DL media. I recently went to a store
that sells blank DVD media, and while it's not a specialty store
(that specialises in blank media), they did have a good selection of
brands to choose from. The only problem was that they did not stock a
single 8x DVD+R or 4x DVD-RW. Unfortunately, I foresee the same
problem with DL media, in that drives will be selling by the dozen,
while the only media you'll likely to be able to get your hands on is
the ones packaged with the drive. Hopefully, there will be plenty of
DL media available at the time of the hardware launch.

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5. How to cancel/change settings/email address for your subscription
to this newsletter

Changing subscription status for this newsletter is pretty easy.

To un-subscribe:
- Send an email to liveupdate-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com using the
email account that receives this newsletter.

To change the email address that receives this newsletter:
- Un-subscribe using your current one, and sign up using a new email
address

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6. A simple thank-you and some concluding words

Just a note to thank all the thousands of people, including you, who
joined the Digital Digest LiveUpdate list. I've spent quite a bit of
time developing this site, and making it what it is today, and really
do appreciate your continued support.

I hoped you enjoyed another issue of the LiveUpdate newsletter. You
won't have to wait seven more months for the next issue, I promise :)

Thanks!!

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