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#1
Jul 28th, 2010
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Update on Kaleidescape Vault!
July 28, 2010
Kaleidescape is developing two disc-vault solutions to enable Blu-ray movies to be played without having to touch a disc: (1) the Modular Disc Vault based on a third-party mechanism, and (2) the Integrated Disc Vault designed and developed entirely by Kaleidescape. Either disc vault can be used to import Blu-ray Discs and verify that they are present. The Integrated Disc Vault can also be used to import CDs and DVDs. Neither vault supports playing directly from a disc. When your Blu-ray Discs are stored in a vault, playback of a Blu-ray movie from any M-Class player works just like the playback of a DVD movie; the physical disc itself is not read or even accessed upon playback because its contents are played from a copy located on a Kaleidescape server. Any number of disc vaults (of either type) can be added to a Kaleidescape System to accommodate a large collection of Blu-ray Discs. These two vaults differ in capacity, appearance, physical size, usability, and pricing. With both vaults, discs are inserted and removed through a vertical slot in the front. Both of these projects are proceeding on schedule. Modular Disc Vault The Modular Disc Vault is a third-party 100-disc carousel (with Kaleidescape's firmware modifications) that will be available for purchase from Kaleidescape. The Modular Disc Vault must be directly connected to an M300 Player via a USB cable. The Modular Disc Vault can be placed on a shelf in a standard equipment rack (20 inches deep). Its physical dimensions are: 14.6 in. x 17 in. x 7.3 in. (370 mm x 430 mm x 186 mm). An M300 Player can play movies and music from a server while it controls the Modular Disc Vault. Any number of Modular Disc Vaults may be added to a Kaleidescape System, but each must be connected to its own M300 Player. If you already have an M300 Player, you will be able to add a Modular Disc Vault for $1,500 (U.S. MSRP) and connect it via USB. If not, then you will be able to purchase an M300 Player together with a Modular Disc Vault for a total of $3,995 (U.S. MSRP). This product will be running in our booth (#2228) at CEDIA Expo in September. We plan to make it available with "beta" software in the fourth quarter of this year, and with production software in the first quarter of 2011. Integrated Disc Vault The Integrated Disc Vault is a new Kaleidescape component that has the capacity to hold 300 Blu-ray Discs. Like a server or a player it connects directly to your Ethernet network. Besides importing discs and verifying Blu-ray Disc presence, the Integrated Disc Vault incorporates an M-Class player that can play movies and music from a server. It is a 5-RU device that can be mounted in a 20-inch-deep rack. U.S. MSRP will be no more than $6,000. We anticipate that this product will be available in June of 2011; however, there is still some uncertainty in this date. 
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#2
Jul 28th, 2010
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I figured this was okay to post, but was waiting for an okay from TB. Now that it's out, let the discussions begin!!
 Speculating here, but it looks like the early solution was intended to be "the" solution, and the second (larger capacity) vault is a response to the recognition that our BR collections are getting larger each week. In any case, I'm happy to see this progressing and look forward to organizing our BR collection. Jim
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#3
Jul 28th, 2010
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The modular disc vault is still going to be a 5U solution in the rack in addition to the M300 player, should one decide to rack mount it.
Now the big question for me will be whether or not to wait for the big 300 disc unit or get a 100 disc modular unit and an M300 to tide me over. Also, I wonder if the new Integrated Disc Vault will do the decoding for the high res formats inside the player, since they will have plenty of space to work with and a fresh slate.
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#5
Jul 28th, 2010
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Quote:
The Modular Disc Vault requires an M300 Player. It is expected to be available in a "beta' (software) version in the last quarter of this year. The Integrated Disc Vault is scheduled for June 2011 (tentatively). Jim
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#6
Jul 28th, 2010
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The stats on the Modular Disc Vault sounds like it is the S1digital USB Carousel. Given the relatively close cost of the two units plus the additional firmware Kaleidescape would have to put in, it sounds quite plausible.
I think the Modular Disc Vault would is going to be a single drive unit, making a full carousel a 4 day cycle on loading, give or take. I doubt it would be any faster with a second drive as the USB2.0 connection speed would be a limiting factor.
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#7
Jul 28th, 2010
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A more-than-4U=5U-MDV for 100 units and a full 5U-IDV for 300 units... gotta say those capacity trade-offs are rather short of where I was hoping for. Maybe the IDVs could push back a few more inches to a full network rack depth and hit 400-500?
Still, as long as those IDVs clean up some of those missing features, it should make for a nice way to add capacity and multiple HD zones (in a centrally distributed setup anyhow.)
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#8
Jul 28th, 2010
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I doubt we would see 500 in a carousel or we would have seen that in CD/DVD changes by now. The most I have ever seen in a consumer carousel is 400. Also, while they could go deeper, what percentage of their customers have racks that cannot handle a depth of 26" or more? I would venture a guess that it would be most.
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#9
Jul 28th, 2010
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Quote:
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