Andre Yoskowitz
14 Sep 2008 19:04
Sim2, manufacturer of high-end home theater projectors is set to launch a new HD disc which it claims is "Better than Blu", a reference to the industry-backed Blu-ray Disc.
The announcement was originally made at the CEDIA event last week where the manufacturer said the launch would occur in January in conjunction with Entertainment Experience. Entertainment Experience currently makes high-end home theater systems which are basically top of the line HP PCs with Entertainment Experience software that the company says offers picture quality better than 1080p Blu-ray discs.
The new system will be bundled with Sim2 projection TVs but there has been no word on price yet.
EE has said that it will be offering movies in the format, and from major studios, for $40 USD and on double-sided dual-layer DVDs with a capacity of just over 16GB.
There was however, no confirmation from any of the Hollywood studios and industry insiders say the format is a sham.
“This high-def alternative is bull; it’s all about Blu-ray,” one insider said. “They’re grasping at straws. The entire industry is all behind Blu-ray.”
Another insider agreed that there was little chance any major studio would agree to the new format especially as it would completely cannibalize all the promotion and money that has been thrown into Blu-ray.