Novato, Calif. – Sonic Solutions said today it will add 3-D entertainment content to its stable of Hollywood to Home digital media applications, technologies and services, including its Roxio CinemaNow Internet-based movie service.
Sonic said the technology is currently available for demonstration purposes, but it plans to eventually provide professional tools for preparing 3-D content for electronic distribution and sell-through services for PC playback.
In that effort, Sonic said it will team with Nvidia to deliver 3-D movie content for playback on specially equipped PCs. The 3-D content from Roxio CinemaNow will be optimized for Nvidia GeForce graphics processing units (GPUs) and the Roxio CinemaNow player will support Nvidia 3-D Vision and 3-D Vision-Ready displays, including the Samsung SyncMaster 2233RZ and ViewSonic FuHzion VX2265wm currently in the market for 3-D gaming.
“Nvidia has pushed technological and design boundaries to deliver an unrivaled 3-D gaming experience,” said Ujesh Desai, Nvidia GeForce business VP. “Now, through our collaboration with Sonic and integrated support for Roxio CinemaNow content across our entire line of 3-D Vision-capable GPUs, including the GeForce GTX 295, 285 and 275 processors, we hope to introduce millions of customers to the immersive world of 1080p 3-D premium movies at home.”
Sonic Solutions said 3-D movies from CinemaNow will be delivered via the PC, which will decode the content prior to display on both 3-D-ready PC displays and 3-D-ready digital TVs and projectors.
The system will provide a truer 3-D experience than the anaglyph (colored glasses) solutions of the past, Sonic Solutions said.
Sonic also said it is collaborating with consumer electronics manufacturers in order to deliver 3-D content directly to next-generation connected HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc players.
“Technical advancements by industry leaders such as Mitsubishi Electric, Nvidia and Samsung have created the necessary display and processing platforms to bring the 3-D cinematic experience home,” said Dave Habiger, Sonic Solutions president and CEO. “Now through Roxio CinemaNow we will enable consumers to conveniently access 3-D entertainment instantly and enjoy its depth and impact on the small screen from the comfort of their couches.”
Sonic said its CinemaNow service uses “cloud-based media services” to power devices from multiple manufacturers, forming a connected ecosystem that consumers can use to seamlessly choose, move and view video entertainment.
The CinemaNow ecosystem currently includes PCs, connected TVs, set-top DVRs, Blu-ray Disc and mobile media players from leading manufacturers such as Archos, Dell, Hewlet-Packard, LG, Microsoft, Nintendo, Pioneer, Samsung and TiVo.
Roxio CinemaNow is also used in Internet movie stores for Lionsgate, Warner Bros. and Blockbuster, and is instantly accessible through BestBuy.com.
