Network World on OpticalThe latest optical news and analysis from NetworkWorld.com.Verizon FiOS tech heading to enterprises- May 30, 2008 Verizon Business has quietly developed an enterprise version of its popular residential FiOS high-speed Internet service.http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/053008-verizon-fios.html?fsrc=rss-optical Optical networking tops $3B, offers better data traffic- May 30, 2008 The optical networking market has topped $3 billion for the seventh consecutive quarter. In the coming months, the market is predicted to remain strong as more companies begin using optical networks, which are faster, hold more information, and allow for more traffic flow than traditional copper cabling or wireless networks.http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/053008-optical-networking-tops-3b-offers.html?fsrc=r... Now playing: high-def movies- May 30, 2008 Earlier this year, Blu-ray Disc emerged the victor in its hotly contested next-generation format war with Toshiba's HD DVD. Though that competitor is gone, the broader war for high-definition supremacy in the home is far from over. Both digital downloads and video streaming will compete with Blu-ray Disc for viewers in the near future--although neither of those alternatives can stand up to Blu-ray today, in image quality or in breadth of content.http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/053008-now-playing-high-def.html?fsrc=rss-optical Panasonic DMP-BD30 Blu-ray Disc player- May 29, 2008 Panasonic's US$500 DMP-BD30 (price as of 4242008) was one of the first Blu-ray Disc players to support BonusView, the Blu-ray specification for watching picture-in-picture content.http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/052908-panasonic-dmp-bd30-blu-ray-disc.html?fsrc=rss... Sharp BD-HP20U Blu-ray Disc player- May 29, 2008 Sharp's first Blu-ray Disc player, the BD-HP20U (US$550 as of 42408), is a winner on all counts.http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/052908-sharp-bd-hp20u-blu-ray-disc.html?fsrc=rss-opt... Samsung BD-P1400 Blu-ray Disc player- May 29, 2008 The Samsung BD-P1400 (US$400 as of 42408) is, at this point, one of the older Blu-ray Disc players currently available. And its features reflect this: It lacks both BonusView for picture-in-picture playback and BD-Live for accessing Internet-connected content.http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/052908-samsung-bd-p1400-blu-ray-disc.html?fsrc=rss-o... Philips BDP720037 Blu-ray Disc player- May 29, 2008 When I saw how good the Blu-ray version of The Searchers looked on Philips' US$400 (as of 42408) BDP7200, I jotted down the notation, "looks like VistaVision"--because that's truly how clear and crisp I found the image.http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/052908-philips-bdp720037-blu-ray-disc.html?fsrc=rss-... Sony 40GB PlayStation 3 as Blu-ray Disc player- May 29, 2008 From the outset, the PlayStation 3 has billed itself as more than just another game console. And this machine lives up to its promise: It's one of the most capable Blu-ray Disc players available today. The 40GB PS3 (US$400, as of 42408) has built-in gigabit ethernet and is one of the few Blu-ray players that supports BD-Live (Profile 2.0) content that can be delivered via the Internet. It also supports Blu-ray BonusView, for playing back picture-in-picture content.http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/052908-sony-40gb-playstation-3-as.html?fsrc=rss-opti... Pioneer Elite BDP-95FD Blu-ray Disc player- May 29, 2008 Compared with other players we've tested, Pioneer charges a high premium for its Elite BDP-95FD--US$1000 (as of 42408), or more than twice the price of some players we've reviewed. The price would make sense if you were paying by the pound: This sucker is heavy (14.3 pounds).http://www.networkworld.com/news/2008/052908-pioneer-elite-bdp-95fd-blu-ray-disc.html?fsrc... |