News

Kaleidescape Launches New HDMI Digital Movie Player (31/1/2005)

Kaleidescape, Inc., the company that created the first entertainment server for whole-house video, announces availability of its new K2500 Digital Movie Player. The K2500 Digital Movie Player is capable of delivering DVD and HD movies in digital format from source to display without analog conversion.

The K2500 connects via a switched Ethernet network to a Kaleidescape Server and provides a High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) output to connect to audio/video processors and displays. Video processors and displays with Digital Visual Interface (DVI) inputs and High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) can be connected using an HDMI to DVI adapter. The K2500 also provides high-quality analog YPbPr component outputs driven by 10-bit DACs with high-definition smoothing and filtering for video processors and displays that do not support digital inputs.

The K2500 is configurable to output high-definition video in 720p and 1080i, as well as 480i/480p NTSC formats, and 576i/576p PAL formats via HDMI and YPbPr component outputs. Additionally, upscaling of native 480i and 576i DVD content to either 720p or 1080i is available on the HDMI output. Faroudja DCDi(TM) and FilmMode deinterlacing provides progressive video output for enhanced DVD video performance. In addition to YPbPr component output, S-Video and composite video outputs are available for displays and control equipment where an analog connection may be desired.

For audio, multi-channel Dolby Digital and DTS, as well as MPEG and PCM, can be delivered via HDMI, digital coaxial, and optical digital outputs. Analog 2-channel downmixing of Dolby Digital, MPEG, and PCM provides stereo output on RCA connectors.

The Movie Player integrates with control systems (e.g. AMX and Crestron) via a bi-directional RS-232 port or a 100Base-T Ethernet connection. IR control is available through a Xantech-compatible IR port or an IR window on the Movie Player front panel.

The Kaleidescape Digital Movie player provides all the familiar movie navigation features such as pause, chapter skipping, fast skipping/reversing and multi-angle. Unlike other movie playback equipment, the K2500 features an on-screen user interface that lets you browse and search your entire collection of movies, play movies without navigating through a DVD menu, create collections, and mark/play favorite scenes using Kaleidescape's patent-pending bookmark technology.

The K2500 Digital Movie Player is available in most international markets and it is available with regulatory approvals and safety certifications for domestic and international installations. The Base Kaleidescape System includes a Kaleidescape Server with sufficient storage for 180 DVDs (expandable to 500 DVDs), a Digital Movie Player for playback in a single zone, and a DVD Reader for importing DVDs. These components are connected by the household Ethernet network. A scalable system architecture permits an additional Digital Movie Player to be added to the network for each desired viewing zone, and additional Kaleidescape Servers to be added for storing thousands of DVDs.

www.kaleidescape.com