Universal Studios Home Entertainment have today announced a new level of interactivity for Blu-ray. The company is utilising iPhone and iPod touch-enabled features, plus social web-based features, on selected Blu-ray titles. The first titles earmarked for these features are Bruno (released November 11), Inglourious Basterds (released December 17) and Funny People (released January 7). Universal calls these new features pocket BLU and social BLU.
pocket BLU app
pocket BLU uses your iPhone or iPod Touch’s Wi-Fi connection to work with a network-connected Blu-ray, and enables the following features:
- Advanced Remote Control: navigate through menus, playback and BD-Live functions
- Video Timeline: in landscape mode on your iPhone or iPod Touch, bring up the video timeline and access any point in the movie
- Mobile-To-Go: save exclusive bonus content to their device or to stream from anywhere there’s a Wi-Fi network, enabling them to enjoy exclusive content on the go, anytime, anywhere.
- Browse Titles: all the pocket BLU-enabled titles available listed. Watch free previews of upcoming Blu-ray titles, or see additional content available for you to unlock.
- Pop-up keyboard: chat with friends, or send messages
This is just the start for the pocketBLU app says Universal, it plans “to introduce even more new and groundbreaking mobile features on additional devices and platforms in the very near future.”
pocket BLU app is available free of charge from the App Store on iTunes.
social BLU
Universal’s social BLU allows you to control status updates from your internet-connected Blu-ray player via BD-Live, the UniversalHiDef.com website, or within pocketBlu. Become an instant movie critic, rating the film or sending messages, mini reviews and snark to friends and followers.
BD-Live Centre
Universal have redesigned aspects of its BD-Live centre, and just as with the pocket BLU app you can, via an internet-connected Blu-ray player, watch or save trailers of upcoming Universal theatre-release and Blu-ray movies, plus get access to the BD-Live content connected to the disc you’re watching.
The first release to offer these enhanced BD-Live Centre features will be ‘Bruno’.
