Blu-ray

Nothing like buying a shiny new Blu-ray Disc movie, and discovering that its BD-Live or BD-Java feature doesn't work properly, or takes forever to load. Kinda sucks, doesn't it?

Technicolor, a division of Thomson, has opened a facility to test those features, and give a thumbs up or thumbs down. Sort of like the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval.

Mark your calender. December 8th at the swank Beverly Hills Hotel. Be there or be square. Blu-con 1.0 will be a one-day summit for Blu-ray developers, marketers and producers. As the website says, "This workshop is designed to provide a forum for industry insiders to share their perspectives on innovative technologies behind the Blu-ray format.

Those "For Your Consideration" movie screeners are turning Blu. You know, the movies sent to members of the Academy so they can view them before voting for the Oscar winners? You didn't really think they expected voting members to see every single movie in the theater, did you?

There are so many ways to interpret statistics. Lately, there have been a rash of stories, reports, and blogs on the rise or fall of Blu-ray. One of the more fascinating reports was over on Engadget. They report on how — depending on what week you look at — sales of Blu-ray are dismal compared to DVD, or they're phenomenal.

A lot can get lost in translation, but it looks like Panasonic has big news coming out from CEATEC, the Japanese electronics trade-show that's coming up shortly.

Panasonic is releasing a home theater package that's bound to raise some interest. The bundle will include a 103-inch plasma HDTV ($$$), a Blu-ray Disc player, and at least one pair of 3D glasses.