2009 is just a few days away and New Year Resolutions are being made left, right and centre So instead of making the usual boring Resolutions like losing weight, stop smoking and drinking less. How about trying to relate your New Year Resolutions to your home entertainment system. Think about it, you will have more chance of keeping the Resolution if you enjoy what your trying to do, I can’t think of one person I know that enjoys dieting. So how about trying things like; I will only buy Blu-Ray discs in 2009, just to bulk out the collection a bit more, that would also be a great excuse to buy a Blu-Ray player if you don’t already have one, apparently there is going to be a considerable drop in the price of Blu-Ray players early next year.

If Blu-Ray isn’t really hi up on your priority list then how about something like, I will update all of my entertainment system by the end of 2009, that’s not an unrealistic goal. Think about all the bargains you will see over the next year, with shops going bust due to the recession, your bound to be able to pick up some massive saving throughout the year. That maybe a bit of a pessimistic outlook, but any excuse to pick up a bargain, right?

2009 will be the year of the high street wars, as shops battle it out to see who will survive, so bargain hunting is a must for your New Year Resolutions.

The Blu-ray Authoring solution is all set to undergo a major change with NetBlender recently announcing the release of DoStudio 1.6, which is a significant upgrade from its predecessor. The upgraded version will now be available for independent production worldwide, and features expanded capabilities such as Slideshows, Dolby TrueHD support, and BD integration.

NetBlender claims that it has carried out extensive customer survey to come at the final product, which for the record boasts of workflow enhancement features among others. Prominent features include- Copy and Paste, enhanced asset validation, printable reports, et al. Moreover, the BD touch feature, in particular, is a noticeable addition as it will now allow you to control the discs by something like an Apple iPhone 8GB when played in a PS3. John Harrington, CEO NetBlender, speaking at the occasion of the release emphasized that lowering the cost of professional Blu-ray authoring by increasing efficiency is among the company’s top priorities. The independent market is all geared up to accept Blue-rau in its entirety, and the new version of DoStudio can be expected to foster the proliferation of Blu-ray in creating a versatile yet to use authoring solution that includes all of the features a professional author requires, he added.

Those who are new to NetBlender (www.netblender.com), it was founded in 2005 by a team of veteran producers of interactive media, and has been creating a seamless blend of static and real time content which optimizes the functionality of each device. The inference that is derived from the arrangement is a more enriched viewer experience.

Information and data regarding DoStudio is also available at http://dostudio.netblender.com. You can even download and purchase the DoStudio via the given URL.

It is somewhat surprising, that despite being a key member of the Blu-ray Disc Association, it has taken JVC a damn long time to come up with its own debut Blu-ray player, the JVC NX-BD3. Fans of the company will definitely be pleased with this new development. JVC has generated enthusiasm and fans for its propensity to risks, as evidenced by the company’s latest presentations at the IFA and CES, for example.

The most alluring aspect of the JVC deck is that it is the first of its kinds to use anisotropic diaphragms in its speakers that unequivocally takes the audio to an entirely different level. This unique feature technically using cross-shaped vertical and horizontal dense areas increases the sound propagation levels by 10% which consequently reduces the resonance levels.

Moreover, each speaker is equipped with a pair of drivers in separate enclosures, with one of them outputting the front channels while the other sends out the surround channels, which delivers a comprehensive 4.1 sound from three speakers. You will however regret not having a proper5.1 speaker system, especially considering the lackluster performance meted out by most of the by most 2.1 systems.

The connectivity of the unit is a versatile mixture of sophisticated and user friendly features that should give you the luxury to almost every thing the system has to offer. It includes an HDMI 1.3 output, which supports Deep Colour and x.v.Colour, apart from having1080/24p Blu-ray output and CEC functionality. Then, the much in demand a SCART and component video output features are available on the Blu-ray DVD player as well. What should impress you is also that optical digital input feature included is compatible with the optical out found on Sky+ and other digital TV receivers. An analogue audio input effectively complements the set up and proves to be a useful foil for other external sources.

It is somewhat surprising that despite being a member of the Blu-ray Disc Association, it took a long long time for JVC to come up with its first Blu-ray System, the NX-BD3. The unit has a swanky look and feel about it, and wears a number of different hats apart from performing its primary task with great ease.

In terms of looks it’s not called Sophisti for nothing, as the main Blu-ray/receiver unit boasts an elegant, seductive design with a gorgeous semi-translucent front section that offers a flirtatious glimpse of an illuminated blue arc. The buttons and info display also glow an alluring shade of blue and on the underside you’ll find a flap that conceals a slot for SD and SDHC memory cards.

Each speaker of the unit is outfitted with a pair of drivers in separate enclosures, with one of them outputting the front channels while the other sends out the surround channels which are supposed to deliver convincing 4.1 sounds from the three speakers. Despite all these, the JVC NX-BD3 sorely misses the presence of a proper 5.1 speaker system that could have turned the system into a real livewire.

Connectivity of the unit is pretty solid including an HDMI 1.3 output, which supports most of the popular formats like Deep Colour and x.v.Colour, apart from 1080/24p Blu-ray output and CEC functionality. Then, there is a SCART and component video output as well, which is capable of upscaling standard videos to 1080i, but somehow strangely defaults to 576p when playing DVD or Blu-ray.

According to reports available from Nikkei, Panasonic is all set to give a whole new dimension to visual technology with its latest initiative to develop a Blu-ray standard for 3D imagery that will be equipped with an HDMI standard for carrying 3D signals. The development carries immense significance considering that it will increase the clout enjoyed by Panasonic, already a formidable name in the filed of TVs, AV receivers and Blu-ray players, to unprecedented levels. Meanwhile, the technology in question is widely believed to be the next generation of visual technology after high definition.

To accelerate the process the company has already submitted it proposal to Blu-ray Disc Association for approval. A company source admitted that they are looking forward to an early approval as they don’t want to get entrapped in the vicious tangles of standard wars, patent monopolies, and the like as they have the ability to seriously impact the proliferation of any 3D image standard. The company is especially apprehensive of being caught in a situation like the HD format war, which for the record proved to be a matter of discord among the big wigs.

The BDA on its part is optimistic that a standard would be in place by 2010. Coming back to the proposal submitted by Panasonic, it is a fairly uncomplicated one specially considering that it is basically based on a technology that is already in H.264 standard. The Apple iPod touch 16GB can in fact play H.264, as come numerous other devices. If you are unfamiliar with H.264, it uses two video channels as is required for 3D. The technological specifications of the gadget make it the perfect foil that is required for left-eye right-eye dual-imagery.

A player that has been creating a lot of buzz and has captivated the imagination of movie enthusiasts is the Aiwa XD-DV370KN. The unit starts to impress you from the word go with its impressive design and easily fits into TV/VCR or Hi-fi set-ups, with colour being the only real consideration.

The access time of the unit is dependent on the disc type, and plays CDR, CDRW, MP3, VCD, along with the trademark DVD discs. An aspect that may bother you is that it takes a considerably long time to load an MP3 disc, depending upon the disc structure and track content. Moreover, you might even encounter noise while the player skips to and fro reading the TOC.

Noise levels are however, nonexistent when the disc is played, irrespective of formats, and scene selection and access track is also pleasantly quiet. The on-screen GUI menus, which to an extent are identical to those offered by LG units, such as the LG DVX-392H, are easy and quick to navigate and comprises of all the contemporary options. The unit’s audio output feature unit is a colourful one and possesses all the modern requirements ranging from PCM to Bitstream. The video output features, on the other hand, include 4:3, 4:3 Pan and Scan, and 16:9 wide.

Connectivity wise you will have very little to complain as it consists of 1x SCART, which is RGB, Composite and S-video. Then, Coaxial and optical connectors are there as well that will especially help those with DTS and Digital amps. The remote of the unit however lacks in imagination, especially its insipid design. It is however, quite functional and well laid out.

One thing that I have come to believe is that most of the Blu-ray players out in the market are over priced. It is because they invariably fail to leave up to the expectations and consequently does not do justice to their outrageous price tag. It is for this simple reason I believe that the new Blu-ray player from the ranks of Sharp need to be recommended, if not commended and appreciated.

The look and design of one unit, namely the BD-HP20H, has not been compromised to get its appealing price tag, nor has it cut back on features either. The greatest quality of the Sharp BDHP20 is its extremely rapid load rate. While most players seem to take ages to load a disc, this devil of a product will do the same in the blink of an eye. In fact it can play a disc even from standby in a matter of seconds!

Connectivity is also impressive enough, if not top rate, and includes a HDMI feature, and is more importantly compatible with the latest v1.3a specification. Then, the much vaunted imaging features Deep Colour which is built-in along with Dolby TrueHD 7.1-channel HD audio is there as well. The video quality, on the other hand, is optimized by a Component video output capable of progressive, upscaled HD video feeds. Meanwhile, the service port acts as a supplementary feature as you can use the same for firmware upgrades.

You will also be left stunned by the performance meted out by the Dolby TrueHD audio well supported by the standard Analogue 5.1-sourround sound audio.

JVC has achieved a very important milestone with the launch of the NX-BD3 system that is DivX certified, and consequently has left its footprint on the home cinema arena. The DivX is of immense significance as it implies that the product has undergone a series of rigorous testing and has come out unscratched. You can thus, rely on this certification alone and feel assured of a high-quality DivX media experience, including reliable video playback, interoperability with other DivX Certified devices and the visual quality users expect from DivX.

The Blu-ray player is of profile 1.1 compliant, with the option of upgrading it to profile2.0. The unit thus supports 24fps video, apart from colour and Deep Colour via a single HDMI 1.3a output. Some of the JVC NX-BD3’s other important connections include an optical audio output, analogue audio input, and HDMI-CEC input. Moreover, DiVX files on CD, DVD or Blu-ray are supported as well, and you can also enjoy the added benefit of a tuner while tuning into your AM/FM set.

The unit is highly competent at playing back high-quality DivX video which provides the discerning audience a wonderful opportunity to enjoy premium quality home entertainment programmes. The NX-BD3 is modeled based on the world’s first DLNA Blu-ray cinema system, and allows consumers the titillating prospect of playing back content over wired or wireless home networks, and thereby virtually bring your wide repertoire of video confined on the PC to the living room. Users of NX-BD3 will now also have little difficulty in having access to high-quality video content whether it is from a CD or DVD source.

Blu-ray players may be dame a dozen these days, but you will hardly find a particular one that doesn’t have its own issues. Even Pioneer or Sony, the premier names in the DVD sector, are also not immune to this accusation. The peculiar problems associated with these two premier brands are that they have extremely slow response time and, in addition, also found wanting when it comes to offering support for cutting-edge Blu-ray features. It is here that Denon has made its mark with its first Blu-ray DV player, the 2500BTCI. The unit is strikingly different from the average players that you normally come across and is all set to fill the persisting void.

It has managed a coup in the sense that it is the first player to support Picture-in-Picture Bonus View interactivity, and in likelihood is also the first entirely digital Blu-ray player to have hit the market. You will also be perplexed to find that there are no analog outputs whatsoever, and instead features only a solitary HDMI output. The emphasis of the player seems quite apparent and is unmistakably designed to be used with the current crop of AVRs and pre/pros that offer full advanced audio decoding. Furthermore, the unit is one of those select few, in addition to high-end players like the Panasonic DVD-2500BTCI, that support bitstream transmission of lossless Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. Support for onboard decoding of the lossless codecs is however not there.

The major highlight on the audio section includes PCM (up to 7.1 channels) and Dolby Digital Plus. The player on the lower side is inscribed with Dolby TrueHD or DTS-HD Master Audio soundtracks, which limits its decoding capability to only the core lossy Dolby Digital and DTS tracks, which are output over HDMI as 5.1-channel PCM.

“High-end Blu-ray source” is the terminology that Denon is using to describe its latest offering, the DVD-2500BT. Whatever may the terminology or the claims the truth is despite having an abundance of features you still have to rely on outside help to experience a full cinematic experience on the unit. You for instance will need an extra bit of kit, a decoder to get things moving.

The DVD-2500BT, nevertheless as has been mentioned above has a number of features that should excite you. The one feature that immediately comes to mind is the unique drive mechanism feature that has been purposefully designed by Denon for use with Blu-ray discs. This feature separates this Denon device from imitators like the Denon DVD1940 and plays a significant role in protecting the internal disc space from magnetic influences, dust, and external noise. This noteworthy improvement in the drive mechanism is carried out by adding a shield to the bottom and top of the unit which consequently creates the perfect environment for playback.

The image quality of the unit is crisp, clear and displays a great degree of clarity that makes movie watching a real pleasure. Moreover, colour combination is pretty natural thereby giving a realistic feel to the proceedings. Skin colours, in particular, appear very natural. Another, pleasant thing is that the unit makes negligible operating noise, which usually happens to an obstacle on your way to a satisfying experience.

The unit is now available in the market in three colour versions: black, silver and premium silver. The colours are specially designed to fit into every Denon A/V receiver colour available.