There's no denying the superior image quality offered by Blu-ray discs, but the format's BD Live functionality - aimed at providing web-based interactive features - has largely failed to live up to expectations since its introduction with BD Profile 2 players.
However, with many Blu-ray players now featuring Internet connectivity, Sony isn't giving up on web-based features and has today announced the launch of MovieIQ - an interactive real-time movie database that will feature on Blu-ray discs starting this September.
It sounds a lot like IMDB accessed through the disc, and that isn't a bad summary. However, Sony's MovieIQ will instead be powered by Gracenote, creators of CDDB, a compact disc database acquired by Sony in 2008.
We're still a little sceptical about BD Live, but MovieIQ does highlight a few immediate benefits. Ever looked at actors or actresses and wondered which movie you've seen them in before? With MovieIQ, the answers should be on-screen within moments.
Lexine Wong, senior executive vice president of worldwide marketing at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, had this to say:
It has always been our goal at Sony Pictures to offer fans the ability to truly connect with their favourite movies using BD-Live.
We know many people interrupt their movie-watching experience to look up the filmography of an actor or to find out more about a song playing in the background. Now through MovieIQ, movie lovers can dive into constantly-updated information about the movie they are watching without leaving their sofa, further enhancing the experience of watching movies in this always-connected age.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will feature MovieIQ on upcoming Blu-ray Disc titles starting in September, including Angels & Demons, Easy Rider, Punch Drunk Love, The Quick and the Dead, Silverado and Sex, Lies, and Videotape
Sounds like it could be useful, but as a user who is yet to be won over by the format, I'd like to see menus be made mandatory on all Blu-ray discs. I still find it jarring when The Dark Knight plays immediately with no menu to return to.
