http://www.ecoustics.com/latest/news Latest news, updated every five minutes http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-1023_3-10060481-93.html?part=ecoustics-cnet District judge presiding over the RealDVD case says she needs to hear from more experts, and decides to keep the DVD-copying software off limits in the meantime. Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:59:00 -0400 http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/519766.html Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:15:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/18061 Less than a week after it went on sale, a court has issued an order temporarily requiring RealNetworks to suspend distribution of its DVD-copying product RealDVD. The action comes in response to a lawsuit brought against RealNetworks by the MPAA, alleging RealDVD enables users to bypass the Content Scramble System (CSS) used to protect DVDs from unlicensed copying. RealNetworks maintains that making a copy for personal use is permissible under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and points to Kaleidescape's successful victory over the MPAA in a case where KalRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:00:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-1023_3-10058574-93.html?part=ecoustics-cnet Legal fight heats up between Hollywood and RealNetworks over DVD-ripping software. Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:39:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-13845_3-10055867-58.html?part=ecoustics-cnet That big, red box at your local grocery store now charges just $1 per day for DVD rentals. Thu, 02 Oct 2008 11:00:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/18018 RealNetworks' RealDVD DVD-copying software is officially on sale, and its debut has been marked by a salvo of lawsuits: RealNetworks has sued the MPAA over "threats" made against it by the major movie studios, and the MPAA has sued RealNetworks (PDF) alleging RealDVD violates the Digital Millenium Copyright Act by bypassing copy protection built into DVDs."RealNetworks' RealDVD should be called StealDVD," said MPAA general counsel and executive VP GreRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:45:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/18016 PC maker Dell looks to be trying to ratchet up competition for the hearts and minds of entertainment-centric computer users: the company has inked a deal with Paramount to offer its recent superhero flick Iron Man as a pre-loaded option on its Inspiron, Studio, and XPS notebook and desktop lines. Adding the movie to a new computer's configuration costs $20, and comes with bonus content in addition to the film itself. The content is protected by Microsoft Windows Media digital rights management, although customers will be able to burn one copy to DVD and push the movie to a television using Windows Media Center extenders. (Oh, but high-def fans will be disappointed: Dell's $20 Iron Man oRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 01 Oct 2008 11:15:00 -0400 http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/518547.html Tue, 30 Sep 2008 15:23:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-1023_3-10054439-93.html?part=ecoustics-cnet The battle over RealNetworks' RealDVD technology finally erupts when company and Hollywood studios file lawsuits against each other. Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:52:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-17938_105-10054357-1.html?part=ecoustics-cnet Real Networks files suit to "protect consumers' fair-use rights" and keep its new RealDVD software available. Tue, 30 Sep 2008 11:33:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-13772_3-10054143-52.html?part=ecoustics-cnet To celebrate the release of the hit film's release on DVD, ILM showed off some of the technology behind the blending of 3D animation and live-action footage. Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:11:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-13506_3-10052157-17.html?part=ecoustics-cnet Despite winning the popularity contest over HD DVD, the share that Sony's high-definition video disc format has of the market is slumping. Does it have a chance? Fri, 26 Sep 2008 14:56:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17952 Although home theater fans may scoff at smaller displays that due double-duty as PC monitors, there's no denying to appeal of combo units for folks who are tight on space—for instance, in dens, children's bedrooms, dorm rooms, or one of those oh-so-tiny trendy studio lofts. For folks who are tight on space, ViewSonic has introduced its N2201W 3-in-1 display, combining a high-definition LCD television, DVD player, and PC monitor in one device."The N2201w's dual functionality provides customers convenience and value by adding a digital television to their home that will compliment any room," said ViewSonic'sRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:45:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17948 When competing high-definition disc format HD DVD threw in the towel in early 2008, most industry watchers were expecting a surge of consumer interest in Sony's victorious Blu-ray format. Now that the battle was over, market watchers reasoned, consumers would flock to the high-definition world, assured that their movie purchases would be compatible with future gear for a long time to come.Except it hasn't happened, at least not to the degree industry watchers expected. Several factors play into consumer's less-than-enthusiastic embrace of Blu-ray, including a general economic downturn, Blu-ray gear hanging on to comparatively high prices, and consumers turning to alternative sources of HD content like high-definition cabRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:45:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17944 E-Commerce Times has reported that Netflix has signed deals with both CBS and Disney-ABC to stream their television shows online that could help position the service at the top of the paid video-streaming chain.Netflix entered the on-demand streaming market just 18 months ago after revolutionizing the DVD rental market. Users can watch streamed content on PC, TV, or even Xbox 360.However, unlike iTunes, you can’t stream or download content to a portable media device to watch on the move.Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 24 Sep 2008 09:00:00 -0400 http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/516944.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 15:08:00 -0400 http://news.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/10381/516914.html Tue, 23 Sep 2008 14:36:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17937 Closely mimicking Memorex’s SimpleSave DVD-Rs, Verbatim launched its own line of intelligent backup media on Tuesday with its new PhotoSave DVDs. The writeable DVDs come preloaded with software that makes it easier for novice computer users to locate and backup media files on their PCs.Read | Permalink | Linking Blogs Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:10:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17899 After getting snagged at the $400 price point for years and budging no lower, even after the collapse of HD-DVD, manufacturers have finally broken through the old price barrier and pushed Blu-ray prices to an all new low. Memorex set the new bar on Thursday with the MVBD-2510, a budget player that will retail for $269.The no-frills machine offers support for Blu-ray Profile 1.1 (though the latest is 2.0,) which offers Bonus View, a picture-in-picture capability for playing director’s commentary and other extras alongsidRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Thu, 18 Sep 2008 12:00:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-13506_3-10044184-17.html?part=ecoustics-cnet You can't access porn online while on a plane, but you can read a Playboy and watch a pornographic DVD? Don Reisinger thinks something is wrong with the airlines. Wed, 17 Sep 2008 12:35:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-1023_3-10044033-93.html?part=ecoustics-cnet Research firm In-Stat declares Blu-ray the "winner" in the DVD format wars, further bolstering the industry's perspective that the technology is gaining steam over HD-DVDs. Wed, 17 Sep 2008 10:44:23 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-1023_3-10042979-93.html?part=ecoustics-cnet The NPD Group says consumers spent 41 percent of the money budgeted for movies by purchasing DVDs of films. They only spent 0.5 percent on downloads. Tue, 16 Sep 2008 14:34:00 -0400 http://ecoustics-cnet.com.com/8301-17939_109-10034919-2.html?part=ecoustics-cnet RealDVD lets people turn their DVDs into a film library on their PCs--legally. Mon, 08 Sep 2008 12:30:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17789 RealNetworks is looking to get into the DVD copying business—only they hope to do it legally—with their new RealDVD application. RealDVD enables users to copy a standard DVD to a computer or portable storage device and watch them later without requiring the original physical disc. How can this be legal? RealDVD wraps the copy in digital rights management software (DRM) that restricts the copy to being played on the machine that performed the copy, and up to five machines authorized by a user using RealDVD."RealDVD gives consumers a great new way to get more out of their DVDs," said RealNetworks' chairman and CEO Rob Glaser, in a stRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:20:00 -0400 http://www.ecoustics.com/dt/news/17748 Another consumer electronics manufacturer is getting on the e-waste bandwagon: this time it's South Korean giant Samsung, which has just announced Samsung Recycling Direct, a program that will enable consumers in all 50 states to recycle Samsung-branded consumer electronics devices like televisions, monitors, DVD players, home theater systems, cameras, camcorders, printers, peripherals—essentially, all Samsung-branded consumer electronics. The exception will be home appliances, which can't be accepted at al the drop-off points, although a growing number will be accepting them. Recycling for Samsung-branded electronics will be free; consumers can also drop off non-Samsung electRead | Permalink | Linking Blogs Wed, 03 Sep 2008 12:00:00 -0400