Sony taps Ensequence to deal with BD-J complexity

After many developers had already spurned Blu-ray Java (BD-J) in favor of HDi, the XML-based interactivity layer for HD DVD, the outcome of the format war is now forcing reluctant developers to accept the winner's methodology.

With the timing perhaps not coincidental, a deal was struck today between Sony Pictures Home Entertainment and interactive content developer Ensequence. The deal involves Sony Pictures reselling Ensequence's on-Q Create suite to Blu-ray partners for use on their discs.

On-Q allows content creators to add interactive material without advanced knowledge of Java or the BD-J specification.

Ensequence is not new to Blu-ray; in fact, it has been creating authoring tools for the format for about a year now. Yet it seems to understand that one of the biggest problems with BD-J when compared to HDi (formerly known as iHD) has been its complexity, and it is working to solve that.

A drag-and-drop authoring environment, along with PhotoShop integration and built in Blu-ray disc functionality out of the box, should make the process a lot easier.

With Ensequence in hand, Blu-ray could begin to address the criticism that its interactivity offerings pale in comparison to what HD DVD was offering through HDi. Among the supported Blu-ray features made easier to incorporate are advanced picture-in-picture (a feature of the Blu-ray 1.1 profile), purchasing functionality, and bonus content.

"We were able to apply our expertise in the television set-top box market and create interactive television experiences for multiple platforms to address the complexity of Blu-ray authoring, which is just being recognized in the packaged media community," Ensequence CEO Dalen Harrison stated this morning.