When the nation made the switch from VCR to DVDs some years ago, most people were quick to react and eagerly got rid of their old VCR to replace it with a shiny new DVD player in order to enjoy increased ease, better quality and all the perks of DVD over video tapes.

However, the more recently attempted switch from DVD to Blu-ray was not quite as successful, with many appearing to be apprehensive about making this switch, possibly because they were happy with their DVD technology and did not see the need to switch. The high cost of Blu-ray players when they first came out may also have been very off putting for potential buyers.

However, with consumers not demanding increasingly excellent quality when it comes to viewing and with a range of exciting, 3D content coming out on Blu-ray the market share of this technology has been increasing in the UK. Much cheaper prices have also contributed to the growing popularity of Blu-ray, with people now more willing to make the switch.

An official from the British Video Association said: ‘As we predicted, titles released in December meant the industry finished the year on a high, despite the gloomy economic situation. It demonstrates the public’s huge appetite for video entertainment and quality British works in every genre. Like other sectors, the video industry faced a huge squeeze on consumer spending in 2011 and it has met the challenge head on by increasing the number of ways consumers can watch fantastic content and get the most for their money. Triple Play packs are a great example of this as they enable audiences to view a title in three different ways - DVD, Blu-ray, including true 3D and a digital copy - be it on different devices at the same time or at different times and places, according to the whole family’s taste.’

Blu-ray players and discs have been around for some years now, yet surprisingly have not caught on as quickly as many might have imagined. Despite the increased quality that viewers are able to enjoy with a Blu-ray player many people have still stayed loyal to the DVD format, continuing to purchase DVD players rather than making the switch to Blu-ray.

One of the reasons for this may have been due to the high price point of Blu-ray players over the first couple of years of their release. However, since then the cost has started to come down and consumers are now able to get these devices at very reasonable prices, making them a far more appealing proposition than they were previously.

Supermarket giant Asda has now predicted that this Christmas the sale of Blu-ray players will outstrip the sale of DVD players as consumers finally decide to upgrade and move over to the newer, higher quality technology. With many homes now having HD televisions, the Blu-ray player may at last find its place in many homes, with viewers hankering for higher quality viewing.

An official from Asda stated: “More and more UK homes are now equipped to enjoy the full benefit of high-definition Blu-Ray discs and we’re pleased to be offering Blu-Ray players at the lowest price in the market.”

Although many people were quick to move over from video to DVD when the technology first emerged, the change from DVD to Blu Ray has not been so smooth, with consumers appearing to want to hang on to the DVDs and players rather than make the switch.

However, a recent study carried out in the United States has revealed a growing trend where consumers have finally been making the switch from DVD to Blu Ray and are now tending to favour Blu Ray over DVD - a trend that could catch on in the UK.

The research was carried out by the Digital Entertainment Group, which said that in the United States “for major box-office hits, sales of packaged goods often surpass 50 percent on Bluray in their first week of release.”

Whilst Blu Ray has taken a relatively long time to catch on compared to DVD both in the UK and the USA, it seems that with all the emerging technology in the world of television and movie viewing, such as 3D content, viewers are finally embracing more advanced viewing products.

Whilst Blu Ray players were priced too high for some consumers when they first came out the price of these devices has plummeted over recent years, making them more affordable and more appealing to many viewers.

A huge number of households these days have no video recorder even though a decade or so ago this was an essential part of our home entertainment systems. However, when DVD players came along the video recorder quickly began to lose popularity and these days the majority of homes are equipped with DVD players rather than video players.

However, it seems that DVD players could now be heading the same way as video players as a result of the improved technology that Blu Ray players are able to offer. Blu Ray has actually been around for some time now and many are surprised at how long it has taken for this technology to push DVD players off the top spot, which they have still not managed to do.

It seems, however, that this day could be drawing nearer, with recent reports claiming that over the next few years the sale of Blu Ray players will overtake those of DVD players. Some are surprised that it has taken this long although the price factor and the financial constraints facing consumers over recent years could be a contributory factor.

One official said: “Blu-ray recorders will replace DVD recorders. Many consumers of recorders will even drop the physical disk media option altogether and instead opt for a player with a large hard drive, or digital media storage.”

Source - Tech Radar

According to a recent report, Pioneer has recently unveiled a new Blu-ray player that is aimed at the budget market and which could rival players that are already available from various competitors. The new BDP-140 boasts 3D Blu-ray playback and home networking.

The player will retail for around one hundred and seventy pounds and will therefore offer an affordable alternative for those that want a quality Blu-ray player without breaking the bank in terms of cost. According to reports music lovers will also find this player appealing because the deck can also handle Super Audio CDs.

The new player is said to be a smart looking player that is well designed and well built for quality and a great finish. It is said to offer advanced networking features to help it to compete with other players on the market. A further two models from Pioneer, which will offer more advanced features, are also set to follow, increasing the choice available to those looking for an affordable Blu-ray player.

Pioneer’s Product Information Manager Philippe Coppens said that customers who go for the new players will not have to compromise on quality in order to get affordable prices. He said: ‘Each of the new products will offer the highest quality.’

Source - Tech Radar

The copyright laws that prevent ripping of DVDs, CDs and Blu-rays could soon be undergoing big changes under proposed reforms to the current copyright laws that have recently been announced by the government in the UK.

These changes to what many believe are outdated and unviable copyright laws could drive growth and add as much as £7.9 billion every year to the UK economy according to a report released by Professor Ian Hargreaves.

As part of the expected updates to the current copyright laws the legalisation of format shifting and copying for personal use are among the key recommendations that have been put forwards in the 10 Hargreaves review recommendations.

Professor Hargreaves advised “In recent years, the UK has failed to make the changes needed to modernise copyright law, for which we will pay an increasing economic price as we make our way into the third decade of the commercial internet,”

The proposals for change have also been fully backed by the governments’ business secretary Vince Cable.

Mr Cable said “We are determined to explore how exceptions to copyright can benefit the UK economy and support growth. Private copying is carried out by millions of people, and many are astonished that it is illegal in this country.”

The ability to format shift media is viewed differently by the music and film industry with the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) advising that user are able to convert music to a digital format without prosecution as long as they own the original. The Federation Against Copyright Theft (FACT) on the other hand has made no such agreement when it comes to converting Blu-ray and DVD media to digital form.

Source - Expert Reviews

It is difficult to believe that Blu Ray celebrated its fifth anniversary last month. To many people the technology still seems very new but it has been five years since the first discs went on sale to consumers. The technology itself is much older, going back over ten years.

Blu Ray took its time in hitting the shelves and even when it did many consumers found it difficult to get used to this new fangled technology, preferring instead to stick with DVD, which some had only just got used to using instead of VHS.

Officials figures have shown that both DVD and Blu Ray sales were down in 2011, and this has been put down to a number of factors, such as the slow economy and even the lack of quality titles and movie options being brought out on DVD.

However, officials have said that Blu Ray and DVD are both vital to the future of television and film, with a large chunk of total revenue on feature films coming from DVD and Blu Ray sales. Some only make their money back once they become available on disc.

Source - MSN

Blu Ray players are devices that offer consumers the chance to enjoy high quality viewing when watching their favourite movies and programmes, with many people delighted by the excellent picture and sound quality that these devices offer.

A report has been released recently in the United States showing that the popularity of BluRay players is being further boosted as a result of subscription video download services, which enable movie fans to download and watch their favourite movies with superb quality viewing.

In the first quarter of this year around fifteen percent of consumers in the United States are said to have used a BluRay player compared to just nine percent a year earlier. Part of the reason behind this boost is said to be the fact that the price of these devices is coming down, making them more affordable to the masses. However, it is also claimed that many people are using BluRay because they want to use subscription download services.

With these subscription services quickly catching on in the UK and Europe it may not be long before Blu Ray players in the UK also see a boost in sales as a result of a good choice of subscription services. The report stated: “50 percent of consumers who intend to buy Blu-ray set-top players in the next six months cited the desire to use available subscription video download services as a primary reason.”

Source - Gigaom

With more and more people demanding superb quality when it comes to viewing their favourite shows and movies technology giants are doing all that they can to pander to the needs of consumers, bringing in technology ranging from superb high definition viewing to 3D viewing and more.

The technology giant Panasonic has recently announced the release of two new Blu-Ray recorders, both of which will boast a range of valuable features to ensure that consumers can enjoy high quality viewing. This will further increase the choice of devices that consumers can select from when looking for gadgets and devices that will improve their viewing quality.

The two new 3D BD recorders from Panasonic will be able to play 3D Blu-Rays as well as convert 2D content into 3D. They both come with Freeview and HD as standard and boast special recording functions, twin tuners, surround sound, high speed copying functions, and more.

The two devices are the Panasonic DMR-BWT800 and the DMR-BWT700. The two devices are set to hit the shelves in the UK soon but as yet no details have been released about the exact date of release or the pricing for the two devices.

Source - Tech Radar

With the variety of new fangled technology that has hit the markets over the past few years it is not surprising to find that 3D technology is no longer restricted to our cinema screen, made possible only with a cheap pair of cardboard specs that keep falling off whilst you are trying to watch the movie.

In fact, many people are now enjoying the excitement and quality of 3D in the comfort of their own homes, with 3D televisions and Blu-rays to keep them on the edge of their seat when enjoying their viewing entertainment. A recent European study was carried out into consumer reactions and attentiveness when watching 3D Blu-ray compared to other viewing formats.

The study was commissioned by the European arm of the Blu-ray Disc Association, and was carried out by the U.K. research group Mindlab International. The results of the study showed that when watching a 3D Blu-ray compared to a standard Blu-ray viewers were around ten percent more attentive. However, when watching a 3D Blu-ray compared to a DVD viewers were around thirty times more attentive.

Duncan Smith, managing director of Mindlab International, said: “This study has shown how format change affects the viewer on both a conscious and a non-conscious level. The sharper contrast of the Blu-ray formats allows the brain to process more of what is being seen as less effort is needed to focus on certain objects. 3D is a fully immersive format, increasing engagement in viewers. The fact that subjects were witnessed as having increased eye movement and head movement is a testament to this.”

Source - Home Media Magazine