Thomson builds better authoring for Blu-ray Java titles
By Chris Koseluk -- Video Business, 11/26/2007
NOV. 26 | Digital technology company Thomson is building on Blu-ray Disc’s potential to incorporate Java applications by establishing a programming-free authoring environment for Blu-ray Java titles, called BD-JIVE.
Developed in conjunction with Technicolor Creative Services, a business within Thomson’s Services division, BD-JIVE is short for Blu-ray Disc-Java Interpreted Visual Expression. With it, Blu-ray producers will be able to create Blu-ray Java titles faster and easier than before without having to acquire any additional knowledge of Java programming.
It really offers the possibility for Java to be exploited by the entire creative community, said Ralf Ostermann, project manager of BD-JIVE for Thomson Technology Corporate Research. It opens up content authors to vast possibilities in terms of interactivity, navigation and Internet access.
BD-JIVE was unveiled at a forum hosted by Thomson to demonstrate a range of its latest digital advances. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment’s Pixar Shorts was authored in-house by Technicolor Creative Services and has already been released publicly. More BD-JIVE titles are scheduled for release shortly.
As the content options for high-definition discs increase, so does the problem of maintaining quality while delivering the maximum high-def experience. This is where Thomson’s NexCode AVC High Definition Encoder comes in.
A combination of both hardware and software, NexCode features custom multi-pass architecture, scene encoding prioritization, side-by-side comparison of the original image with the compressed version and thumbnail navigation. It is scheduled to hit the marketplace early next year.
Compressionists seek user-friendly tools, said Joan Llach, manager of the signal acquisition and processing program at Thomson Corporate Research. NexCode, for instance, features automatic detection, allowing faster and easier workflow while producing the highest quality possible.
The NexCode AVC High Definition Encoder is compatible with both Blu-ray and HD DVD.
