Dune HD GmbH Forums: HDI press release on the 3.0 products - Dune HD GmbH Forums

HDI Dune company will show its new versions of hybrid Blu-ray/HD media players during the 2 major exhibitions of Autumn 2009: IFA 2009 (September 4-9, Berlin, Germany. Hall 7.2a, booth 108), and CEDIA Expo 2009 (September 10-13, Atlanta, USA. Hall B, booth 5751).

The new products are named Dune BD Prime 3.0 and Dune HD Base 3.0.


The BD Prime model includes Blu-ray drive and is capable of playing Blu-ray and DVD discs as long as nearly any files from a diversity of storage types which can be connected via USB, eSATA or Ethernet/Wi-Fi. The HD Base model doesn't contain Blu-ray drive but has a compartment for easy changeable 3.5" DATA HDD. The rest of the stuff is totally equivalent in these models, they have also the
same firmware.

Both 3.0 version products feature Sigma Designs 864x chip, more than twice more powerful than the previous 8634 chip model: 667 Mhz against 300 MHz. It grants even faster GUI than before, allows much more fluent support of any "heavy" applications including BD-J (Java), Flash Lite 3, Web browsers, etc.

1 GB/s Ethernet now is included by default. Both in 100Mb/s and 1GB/s modes the network speed is now enough for watching any even most heavy contents (like highest bitrate Blu-ray ISO), and of course it's much better now for copying large quantities of data via players (to/from internal or connected data storages).

Wi-Fi option can be added both inside as a mini-PCI-form board with MII interface and with 3 antennas attached to the back side of the units, and also outside as USB stick solution.

2.5" SATA HDD option can be installed inside of the case (opening the case is needed, so recommended for distributors to help their customers and preinstall the needed HDD before selling).

Here is a list of the major differences of our 3.0 models from the already announced competitive solutions on 8642/3 chip (most of the differences are valid also to any other competitive solutions based on other chips):

• 864x chip
  Our Prime 3.0 solution is based on Sigma Designs 8642 chip, not on the 8643 one. We'd like to remind that every odd version of Sigma chips is a functionally reduced variant of the chip with the _previous_ even number (i.e. 8643-8642. 8635-8634, ...). Odd versions inc. 8643 and 8635 are never meant for playing any copyright-protected materials (like Blu-ray and DVD) and are mostly meant for cheap IPTV/VoD set-top-boxes. For example, Macrovision support is enabled in 8642 chips and disabled in 8643 ones. So only Dune players on 8642 chip have no limitations with output of protected video through analog video interfaces. Also 8643-based players can not be legally sold in any AV-stores as Blu-ray players (for example, with some preinstalled Blu-ray drive), for Dune BD players there is no such limitation and you'll be able to find them not only in Internet.
  
  
• eSATA interface
  eSATA interface now available in the basic configuration for the fastest possible external HDD and other attached storages with SATA or eSATA interface. Only when connecting equipment via this interface direct SATA operation mode is possible. And of course, you don't need to open your player to be able to connect any new SATA/eSATA equipment any time.
  
  
• Plug-and-play
  In general, any Dune player is fully Plug-and-play. You don't need to have any special experience working with PC components and you can use your player directly from store, w/o opening it and risking to damage anything inside. If you need a player with Blu-ray drive you can buy Dune HD Prime 3.0 and start using it immediately. If you don't need Blu-ray drive inside just buy Dune HD Base 3.0 with or w/o HDD and you are ready to go!
  
  
• Real Blu-ray player
  
  • real Blu-ray players like Dune BD Prime 3.0 use specialized BD drives (called "loaders"). BD loaders are substantially cheaper in production than any PC Blu-ray drives. Of course, it means less expenses for end-users of Dune players in the end...
    
  • as a real Blu-ray player Dune BD Prime 3.0 contains factory-preinstalled AACS keys (needed for decrypting any original Blu-ray discs) of type A.
  
  These keys are fixed for this very type of the BD loader and they have no time constraints.
  In contrast, any player with PC BD-ROM drive must have AACS keys of type C to be able to work with original Blu-ray discs. The major problem with the keys of this type is that by definition they expire after 1.5 year after the player is made. After this period the manufacturer would need to buy new keys for all their users and install them somehow (unique key for every player!), otherwise the ability to playback original discs is lost.
  
  
• Fanless operation
  special cooling design for Sigma processors allows not to use any active cooling systems (like fans) in Dune BD Prime 3.0. It allows 100%-noise-free operation and absence of any parts which "wear out" in time and may need changing from time to time in the future. Cooler use can be also avoided in the Dune HD Base 3.0 player if using one of the HDD recommended models (the list will be available later). For HD Base 3.0 it will be possible to switch on/off using the cooler via Setup (no need to open the cover).
  
  
• IR remote by default with integrated receiver, option: RF remote with Z-Wave
  The basic package of the both models will include our standard IR remote. Infrared receiver is integrated inside of the unit. But if you want to control player with RF signals, this option will be also available separately during Q4 2009. Our solution will be based on Z-Wave RF standard (technology currently owned by Sigma Designs, previously by Zensys), supported by some models of Logitech Harmony (890, 1000), Philips Pronto and Nevo remotes. We'll also suggest a cheaper option of RF remote under Dune brand. With Z-Wave support any Dune 3.0 player will be able to serve as a center of your very affordable Smart Home system.
  
  
• Design
  Light and compact design will fit nearly any already existing equipment in your home. Also it's easy to relocate players.
  
  
• Display
  Information on our digital VFD display can be easily seen on much higher distances under nearly any angle (in contrast, information on LCD displays have VERY limited visibility).
  
  
• Memory
  Higher system flash memory (at least 128MB) allows to include much more features in the future with firmware upgrades. Specialized BD-Live memory (optional 2GB) allows to use full function of any Blu-ray disc w/o adding any aditional storage by user.
  
  
• Fast and convenient GUI
  as for the previous 8634-based models, our GUI implementation is based on direct work with graphics primitives of Sigma processor and doesn't use any heavy intermediate libraries/technologies (like Web-browsers). It allows us to keep superiority in the speed of the players' GUI over competitive solutions. Also as before, our GUI is very simple and intuitive and so it is suitable for anybody who can operate a standard DVD player. So our players are "friendly" to children, elders and second halves. You will not need to keep any special player for other family members...
  
  
• F/w state in general
  We'd like to remind that our company was the first one who presented hybrid Blu-ray/HD media player solution nearly one year ago (at IFA 2008). And of course, all the features of hybrid devices developed and polished during this year on Prime/Base 1.0/2.0 products on 8634 chip are here in our new 3.0 players, including full support of Blu-ray and DVD ISO images and directory structures (inc. menu, subtitles, sound tracks, BD-J, BD-Live features, etc), auto frame-rate feature, full support of MKV (inc. high bit-rate), SMB/UPnP resources browser, so on (see the specs).
  
  
• Netflix-ready
  For the US market support of this well-known VoD service will be added via free firmware upgrade during Q4 2009 - Q1 2010.

The only information we can currently disclose concerning the future price of the new products and availability time is the following:

• retail price of HD Base 3.0: in the interval of EUR 270-320 inc. VAT;
  
• retail price of BD Prime 3.0: in the interval of EUR 350-399 inc. VAT;
  
• availability: Q4 2009.

More concrete details will be published after our discussions with our current and future distributors during the pointed exhibitions, i.e. after the middle of September...