Blu-ray sales continue to move forward, in both consumer and professional applications. There is even a future danger there may be a shortage of available blank discs in sales peaks.

Worldwide pre-recorded Blu-ray video disc production should exceed 400 million units in 2010, an increase of nearly 60% compared with 2009, according to new research from Futuresource Consulting.

Their forecasts predict annual global output will reach two billion discs by 2014. “As a result of this output expansion, BD capacity utilisation will hit nearly 80% in the US during Q4 of this year and 75% in Europe,” says Michael Boreham, Senior Consultant Disc Manufacturing & Storage Media at Futuresource.

“This is about as high as it can comfortably get, and given the continued market expansion expected over the next few years, which is being driven by growing player ownership and falling disc prices, the disc industry will need to invest further in 2011 to prevent disc shortages during sales peaks.

Fiona Hoy, Market Analyst at Futuresource, adds, “...From 2012 we’re going to see very strong demand for 3D content, which will fuel additional growth. A number of bundled exclusives are already boosting demand from this sector, such as ‘Avatar’ with Panasonic displays or ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ with Samsung displays.”

Go Futuresource

Longtime CE community member Randy Vaughan, 63, passed away on December 23.

Vaughan was a longtime CEDIA member and volunteer. By September this year he was semi-retired, split between duties as CEDIA 2011 chairman and systems specialist for the company he founded, Ambassador Enterprises (AE).

He also volunteered with other organisations, including one he founded and was president of-- the National Systems Contractors Association (NSCA).

Our condolences go out to his family, friends, and his professional and personal friends in CEDIA.

Go Randy Vaughan's Full Obituary

Go Randy Vaughan September 2011 Profile (CE Pro)

IEEE ratifies 1901™ Broadband over Power Line (BPL) standard, expecting its standard to be the key enabling technology for a wide range of applications including smart energy, transportation (AV in planes, trains etc) and LANs in the home and the enterprise.

Networking products that fully comply with IEEE 1901 will deliver data rates in excess of 500 Mbps in LAN applications. In first-mile/last-mile applications, IEEE 1901-compliant devices will achieve ranges of up to 1500 m. The technology specified by IEEE 1901 uses sophisticated modulation techniques to transmit data over standard AC power lines of any voltage at transmission frequencies of less than 100 MHz.

"More than 94 corporations, trade associations and universities contributed to the standard's evolution through the IEEE 1901 Working Group," says Jean-Philippe Faure, Chair, IEEE 1901 Working Group, "to create the world's most innovative, mature and unified BPL standard."

Although IEEE 1901 targets the standard that will enable universal communications in Smart Grid applications, it will also have significant impact in other applications.

In the transportation sector, for example, the standard's data rates and range make it possible to deliver A/V entertainment to the seats of airplanes, trains and other mass transit vehicles. Electric vehicles can download a new entertainment playlist to the A/V system while the car in charging overnight.

In the home, PLC will complement wireless LANs by providing a link through walls and other RF impediments as well as over distances beyond the normal range of wireless networks. It will complement wireless networks in hotels and other multistory buildings by carrying multimedia data over the longer distances and allowing wireless to complete the communication link over the last few meters.

IEEE 1901 will also benefit utilities, service providers, and consumer electronics companies (anyone with a stake in smart grid technologies) as well as smart-meter providers and home appliance manufacturers.

"The IEEE 1901 standard will have a significant impact on communications technology in the home, the enterprise and on the factory floor, because it brings power-line networking into parity with wireless networks in terms of speed, and offers the considerable advantage of penetrating walls and other structures that obstruct RF radiation, says Judy Gorman, Managing Director, IEEE Standards Association.

"Hybrid wireless/power-line networks successfully address all the remaining problems of wireless LANs and- - unlike wired LANs -- do not require a dedicated wired infrastructure."

Go IEEE 1901 Broadband over Power Line

Sennheiser adopts a new organisational structure where the company consists of 7 units-- the corporate group and its 3 divisions (sales, supply chain and strategy/finance) support the 3 business divisions (targetting the CE, professional systems and installed sound markets).

The 3 business divisions are to operate individually on specific strategies and resources, but will also work alongside the value-added chain. Sennheiser says this will fulfill specific clients' needs quickly and securely .

Each units' managers will form Sennheiser's new EMB, with Volker Bartels as spokesperson.

The new organisation's implementation will start off Sennheiser's 2011, and is expected to be finalised by the year's end.

Go Sennheiser Announces new Organisational Structure