Blu-ray movies get direct iPhone control
updated 09:40 am EDT, Mon July 20, 2009
Blu-ray iPhone Features
Universal Studios today revealed the first movie to support direct control by an iPhone or iPod touch. The Blu-ray Special Edition version of Fast & Furious will be accompanied by an app that lets either of Apple's devices remotely control special features on a Blu-ray player over the local network using Wi-Fi. In a virtual garage feature, viewers can use the touchscreen to pan around cars and tap on specific hot spots to bring up the information on the TV. It's not specified if this is the only direct feature.
The iPhone app will also have several extra features specific to owners of the movie, such as downloadable versions of video features from the Blu-ray movie, cast and other film features, and a full copy of the movie itself transferable from a second disc.
The movie producers are taking advantage of newer Blu-ray players' support for Blu-ray Profile 2.0, which provides network access over either Ethernet or Wi-Fi and is intended primarily for Internet-based content. Besides a broadband Internet link, it usually also needs 1GB of storage on the Blu-ray player either built-in or on a USB drive.
Fast & Furious Special Edition ships on July 28th for $40; the app itself will be available for free at the App Store.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: May 2003
$40 huh?
And here I as thinking going to the movies was expensive.