The Secure Content Storage Association (SCSA) released licensing specifications Wednesday for “Vidity-branded” technology, that will make possible 4K Ultra HD and HD movie and TV program downloads for playback from in-home storage devices.
The technology delivers high-quality images and sound and will extend to files encoded with high dynamic range (HDR) metatdata.
The Vidity platform first appeared earlier this month through a Western Digital My Passport Cinema 4K Ultra HD (UHD) movie storage device that will playback select movies from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and eventually other studios, initially on select Samsung 4K SUHD TVs.
Samsung, which was an early SCSA member and Vidity licensee, is currently offering a promotion giving away a My Passport Cinema 4K UHD player preloaded with 4K UHD movies from 20th Century Fox for the purchase of the select 4K UHD TV models.
More on the Vidity movie download system after the jump:
The SCSA, which represents more than 50 multi-industry companies, said that the Vidity system does not require an Internet connection in order to playback content and has no requirement to log into accounts.
Compliant products will enable storing, copying, playing and sharing downloaded digital files on a wide range of devices, such as laptops, mobile phones and tablets.
Vidity also is complementary to streaming entertainment platforms such as UltraViolet and others.
The system will enable sharing digital content in a household. The SCSA explained that digital content that resides on one Vidity-enabled device can be viewed on the screen of another enabled device, and users will be able to easily move and copy content between devices.
The SCSA said Vidity was “created to advance next generation digital playback technology for locally stored premium content, the Vidity specifications will benefit the full range of studio, technology and security companies in the home entertainment ecosystem.”
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The sophisticated and robust specifications will ensure consistent adoption of the highest quality content standards and security measures, while supporting the cohesive development of Vidity compliant products, the group continued.
Potential Vidity licensees include: content publishers; storage manufacturers; retailers; service providers and device manufacturers.
The SCSA said licensing of Vidity is now available to all relevant companies who sign the SCSA adopter agreement, which is availble at www.vidity.com.
Current SCSA members that already have Vidity products or services include: Samsung, Fox, Seagate, Western Digital and M-GO.
Now through June 30, 2016, a Western Digital My Passport Cinema drive will be included free with the purchase of Samsung JS9000, JS9100 or JS9500 SUHD TV models. Premium movies preloaded for purchase during this promotion include: The Maze Runner, Exodus: Gods and Kings, X-Men: Days of the Future Past, The Wolverine, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Fault in Our Stars, Let’s Be Cops and The Other Woman.
Western Digital is also making the My Passport Cinema UHD movie storage drive available as a separate purchase at an $89.99 suggested retail price. The drive offers 1TB of storage space, and comes with a 1-year limited warranty.
By Greg Tarr
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