Vudu, the streaming movie download company that debuted their innovative download service a few years ago using proprietary hardware, expanded recently to include a partnership with LG. This allowed owners of certain LG TVs to download VuDu movie or TV episode content straight to their TV. At CES in Las Vegas, VuDu announced they will be expanding this offering to include TVs and Blu Ray disc players from some of the largest consumer electronics manufacturers, including Mitsubishi, Samsung, Toshiba, Sanyo, and Sharp. This will let owners of certain models from those companies take advantage of the 17,000 strong Vudu catalog directly from their TV, with no stand alone Vudu player. Netflix must be thrilled.
Transformers 2 will be released on BluRay October 20th. As an added bonus the 2-disc sets will include a feature known as augmented reality. You've seen this before, when you watch a football game on TV. It's how they get the yellow first down line, and end zone sponsor logos. The Europeans use it for their football broadcasts too, as a way to include sponsor logos and make them look like they are supposed to be there.
How will it work for the Transformers 2 (Offically Transformers - Revenge of the Fallen) Blu Ray Disc, and will we see it on other releases in the near future?
Sadly, the augmented reality feature is for the packaging only. It's not going to add any ability for selecting cool features or 3D functionality within the movie playback itself. You can hold up the package to a light source though, and see a hologram of king transformer, Optimus Prime.
According to a report in Video Business there will be several promotional tie ins to the Transformers 2 release, as we've come to expect with most big budget blockbusters these days. Some of them though, will you save money on the Blu Ray. For example, Papa John's Pizza will give you a $3 discount on the disc with a pizza purchase. That's a great combo, pizza and a night home at the movies.