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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by RTotzke (talk | contribs) at 03:31, 26 September 2022 (Instead of private, change to multimedia. Also removing information about their research and development as it seems promotional to have that here). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Kaleidescape, Inc.
Company typePrivate
FoundedMountain View, California
(February, 2001)
HeadquartersMountain View, California
and Waterloo, Ontario
Key people
Tayloe Stansbury, CEO[1]
Websitekaleidescape.com

Kaleidescape, Inc. is an American multimedia company based in Mountain View, California. Founded in 2001, it designs multi-room home entertainment server systems that store and play back video and audio content (such as movies, television shows, and music) to movie players that can be connected to televisions or projectors.

History

2001-2014; Founding and early history

Kaleidescape was founded in 2001 by Michael Malcolm, Dan Collens, and Cheena Srinivasan. Malcolm had previously founded Network Appliance and CacheFlow.[2] Malcolm self-funded the startup and the company spent over two years developing its technology in "stealth mode".

Kaleidescape originally focused on building home theater movie servers that could store digital copies of customers’ DVD and Blu-ray collections.[3] Its first movie server was introduced in 2003 and allowed customers to import DVD content onto a series of hard drives, utilize the company's movie guide database to identify and sort films, and then present the customer's movie collection in an onscreen user interface.[4]

In 2004, the DVD Copy Control Association, the licensor of CSS (content scramble system), the technology for the copy control of DVDs, sued Kaleidescape for breach of contract. The DVD CCA alleged that its CSS License did not permit Kaleidescape's movie servers to serve DVDs from copies on hard disk.[5] In June 2014, Kaleidescape and DVD CCA reached a settlement agreement and as of 2019, the company had license agreements with 29 studios to allow the purchase and download of content from its movie store.[6] The case, although only for breach of contract and not a copyright case, was considered by some to be an important recent test of fair use precedent,[7] given advancements in technology and the digital media rights field.[8]

In 2010, Kaleidescape released its M300 and M500 Blu-ray players as part of its Premiere line for home cinemas.[9] The M500 had Blu-ray copying abilities to allow customers to import Blu-rays, DVDs, and CDs onto home servers.[10] To address the copyright concerns of movie studios, Kaleidescape required the Blu-ray disc to be present when the content was played from the server.[11][12] Later that year, Kaleidescape launched the industry's first Blu-ray server with its release of its new 100-disc Blu-ray vault.[13] The vault, when paired with the M300 or M500 players, could rip, store, and stream copies of Blu-ray movies throughout a home.[13]

Through Kaleidescape's online movie store, which launched in beta in 2012 and officially opened in May 2013,[14] users are able to add high-definition and standard definition movies to their collections instantly.[15] Cinema One allows the storage and playback of up to 100 Blu-ray quality, 600 DVD quality or 6,000 CD quality titles.[16]

2015-present

In 2015, Kaleidescape released the Strato movie player and the Terra movie server.[17] The Strato is a movie-playback device which holds Ultra 4K HDR movies as well as DVD quality movies depending on the model.[18][19][20] The Terra provides computing and caching services to enhance the performance of the Strato, and provides extra storage space for movies purchased from the store.[21] Content for the Strato can be added by downloading movies from the Kaleidescape movie store.[22]

In November 2020, Tayloe Stansbury was appointed Kaleidescape's new CEO.[23][24][23][25][26] Norma Garcia-Muro also joined the company as vice president of marketing.[27]

Products

Strato movie player

Kaleidescape released the Strato movie player in 2015.[17] The Strato is a movie-playback device which holds Ultra 4K HDR movies as well as DVD quality movies depending on the model.[18] In 2017 it released the Strato C,[3] a disc-less movie player with no internal storage.[28][29] It supports 4K at 60 frames per second as well as surround formats including lossless DTS:X and Dolby Atmos.[28]

Terra

For customers who require more storage space, Kaleidescape designed the Terra Movie Server.[30]

The Terra comes with either 24 or 40TB of storage - allowing storage of more than 400 4K Ultra HD movies, 600 Blu-ray quality, or 3600 DVD quality movies -  and can supply content to as many as 50 Strato players.[19][31][32] Once connected to the network, the Strato players can either access their own movie collections, or those of the Terra.[19] For homes with more than one Strato, the Terra can handle up to ten 4K streams or 15 Blu-ray streams at a time.[33][34] The Terra also provides computing and caching services to enhance the performance of the Strato players.[35][36]

Kaleidescape movie store

The Kaleidescape movie store launched in May 2013 in the US and June 2013 in the UK, becoming the first online store to allow users to download Blu-ray quality movies via an internet-based delivery platform.[37][38] The movie store is built to work only with Kaleidescape's playback systems.[39] Purchased and downloaded movies are downloaded completely to the Strato or Terra products, and played back on the Strato.[40]

The movie store's initial title offerings included a multi-year license agreement with Warner Bros.[41] The movie store expanded its availability to Canada in September 2013.[42] In October 2013, Kaleidescape announced a multi-year studio agreement with Lionsgate, resulting in the addition of approximately 2,000 titles to the store.[43] As of 2021, the company had license agreements with a number of studios,[44][45] including all the major movie studios, and had licensed over 12,000 DVD, UHD, and Blu-ray-quality movies, and over 2,000 TV seasons.[46][44][47][45]

On August 13, 2009, a California appellate court reversed the lower court's decision that the General Specifications is not part of the CSS License, and sent the case back to the lower court for further proceedings (see DVD Copy Control Association, Inc. v. Kaleidescape, Inc.). This appellate court ruling did not address the issue of whether Kaleidescape violated the contract (contrary to some news reports), instead deferring that determination to the lower court.[48][49] In March 2012, the Superior Court ruled that Kaleidescape had violated the terms of the contract, and issued an injunction prohibiting it from selling or supporting the products in question.[50]

The California 6th District Court of Appeal granted Kaleidescape a temporary stay of the injunction on March 29, 2012. This temporary stay stops the injunction from coming into effect, while the Court of Appeal decides whether or not to stay the injunction during the entire appeal process.

In June 2014, Kaleidescape and DVD CCA reached a settlement agreement. As of 2019, the company had license agreements with 29 studios to allow the purchase and download of content from its movie store.[51]

References

  1. ^ Prange, Stephanie. "Kaleidescape Appoints New CEO". Retrieved 29 January 2021.
  2. ^ Healey, Jon (2005-04-18). "Lawsuit may cause DVD jukebox to tilt". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 2005-04-28. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  3. ^ a b "Strato Movie Player". Robb Report.
  4. ^ "Kaleidescape Strato 4K Ultra HD Movie Player Review". SoundandVision. Retrieved 29 April 2020.
  5. ^ Wong, May (2004-12-08). "Film industry group sues DVD jukebox maker". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  6. ^ "Interview: Kaleidescape CEO Discusses Single Room Solutions,HDR10". CEPRO. 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
  7. ^ Hachman, Mark (2007-03-25). "Can You Legally Rip a DVD? Trial to Test 'Fair Use'". The Industry Standard. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  8. ^ Merritt, Rick (2007-03-16). "Trial Could Test Digital Media Rights". InformationWeek. Retrieved 2008-06-24.
  9. ^ "Kaleidescape outs M300 and M500 Blu-ray players, copiers". Engadget. Retrieved 2019-07-25.
  10. ^ VanHemert, Kyle. "Kaleidescape M500 Movie Player Rips Blu-Ray Discs". Gizmodo. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  11. ^ "Kaleidescape outs M300 and M500 Blu-ray players, copiers". Engadget. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  12. ^ Willington, Ray (2010-05-11). "Kaleidescape (Sort Of) Supports Blu-ray On New M300 And M500 Players". HotHardware. Retrieved 2019-08-08.
  13. ^ a b "Kaleidescape launches 100-disc Blu-ray movie server". Engadget. Retrieved 2019-08-15.
  14. ^ Lawler, Richard. "Kaleidescape's online video store officially opens, promises Blu-ray quality downloads". Engadget.
  15. ^ Snider, Mike (2013-07-13). "New Movie Server Lets You Watch Films Instantaneously". USA Today. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  16. ^ Dension, Caleb (2013-07-13). "Kaleiedescape Brings Its Exotic Media Servers to Wider Audience with $4,000 Cinema One". Digital Trends. Retrieved 2013-12-05.
  17. ^ a b Jacobson, Julie. "Kaleidescape Tackles Complete 4K Ecosystem with Strato Player and UHD Content". www.cepro.com. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  18. ^ a b Meek, Andy (2018-10-24). "Kaleidescape Strato S is the world's best media player". BGR. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  19. ^ a b c Eberle, Chris (2018-02-05). "Kaleidescape Strato Ultra HD Movie Player Review". HomeTheaterHifi.com. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  20. ^ "Kaleidescape Strato Movie Player Review | Audio Advice | Audio Advice". www.audioadvice.com. Retrieved 2019-09-06.
  21. ^ "Strato Does 4K". CEPRO.
  22. ^ "Kaleidescape Strato 4K Movie Player Reviewed". HomeTheaterReview.com. Retrieved 2019-09-11.
  23. ^ a b Sait, Daniel. "KALEIDESCAPE APPOINTS NEW CEO AND VP OF MARKETING". Essential Install.
  24. ^ "Talking with Kaleidescape's New CEO and VP of Marketing". Residential Systems. 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  25. ^ "Kaleidescape Names Software Exec as New CEO". CEPRO. 2020-11-17. Retrieved 2020-12-04.
  26. ^ "Kaleidescape Appoints New CEO – Media Play News". Retrieved 2021-01-29.
  27. ^ Sait, Daniel J. (2020-11-17). "Kaleidescape Appoints New CEO and VP of Marketing". Essential Install. Retrieved 2020-12-10.
  28. ^ a b "Kaleidescape Strato System Review – Projector Reviews". Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  29. ^ "The Kaleidescape Luxury Home Cinema Plays 11,000-Plus Movies in 4K Ultra HD". Maxim. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  30. ^ "Review: Kaleidescape Strato The Best 4K Player We've Tested". HD Guru. 2017-07-26. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  31. ^ "Kaleidescape Terra movie server". Audio Concept. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  32. ^ "Kaleidescape: Digital Download Convenience Meets 4K Disc Quality | High-Def Digest". www.highdefdigest.com. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  33. ^ "Kaleidescape Strato 4K Ultra HD Movie Player Review". Sound & Vision. 2016-08-23. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  34. ^ Cericola, Rachel (2015-10-21). "Kaleidescape to Offer 4K Movies for New Strato 4K Movie Player". Electronic House. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  35. ^ "Kaleidescape - Revolutionize the Way You Watch Your Movies". Starpower | Only the Best. 2016-06-21. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  36. ^ "CEDIA Expo: Kaleidescape Unveils Strato 4K HDR Movie Player, New Alto Players, Terra Server". TWICE. 2015-10-15. Retrieved 2019-11-26.
  37. ^ Lawler, Richard (2013-05-02). "Kaleidescape's online video store officially opens, promises Blu-ray quality downloads". Engadget. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  38. ^ Gruenwedel, Erik (2013-06-06). "Kaleidescape Movie Store Launches in the U.K." Home Media Magazine. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  39. ^ Hunt, Bill. "Kaleidescape: A Glimpse at the Future of 4K Home Entertainment". thedigitalbits.com. Retrieved 2020-12-15.
  40. ^ "Kaleidescape Strato 4K Movie Player Reviewed". HomeTheaterReview.com. Retrieved 2019-08-02.
  41. ^ Roettgers, Janko (2013-05-01). "Watch your data caps: Kaleidescape starts offering Blu-ray quality movie downloads". Gigaom. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  42. ^ "Kaleidescape for Canada". Advanced Television. 2013-09-06. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  43. ^ Dave, Banks (2013-03-04). "Upgrade Your Home Theater with the Kaleidescape Cinema One". Geek Dad. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
  44. ^ a b Hunt, Bill. "Kaleidescape: A Glimpse at the Future of 4K Home Entertainment". thedigitalbits.com. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  45. ^ a b "Kaleidescape Celebrates 20th Anniversary". Residential Systems. 2021-03-18. Retrieved 2021-03-24.
  46. ^ "Kaleidescape Strato System Review-Special Features". Projector Reviews. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  47. ^ "Kaleidescape Strato 4K Movie Player Reviewed". HomeTheaterReview. 2018-06-11. Retrieved 2020-12-22.
  48. ^ Elia, Franklin D. (2009-10-17). "DVD Copy Control Association v. Kaleidescape, Inc., Case H031631, Decision" (PDF). Court of Appeal of the State of California, Sixth Appellate District. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
  49. ^ Kraemer, Brian (2009-08-13). "Court Rules Against Kaleidescape DVD Ripping Technology". The Channel Wire. Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2009-08-13.
  50. ^ Monahan, William J. (2012-03-08), DVD Copy Control Association v. Kaleidescape, Inc., Case No. 1-04-CV-031829, Permanent Injunction Order (PDF), Superior Court of the State of California, Santa Clara County, retrieved 2012-03-13
  51. ^ "Interview: Kaleidescape CEO Discusses Single Room Solutions, HDR10". CEPRO. 2019-05-01. Retrieved 2019-10-09.
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