Christie presents at ShowEast a preview of its innovative Integrated Media Block system (IMB)

A design that offers maximum comfort, performance and reliability, and enhances the high frame rate functions of the series projectors 2 Christie Solaria.

Christie takes another step in its transition to 4K projection and high frame rate standards (HFR) presenting at ShowEast a preview of its Media Block system (IMB) fully integrated with features for 4K and HFR, designed to meet Digital Cinema Initiatives specifications, LLC (DCI). Christie's IMB system has been designed and manufactured by Christie (Market leader supplier of digital cinema projectors) and works with all projectors in the series 2 Christie Solaria, providing a highly reliable integrated solution from a single manufacturer.

A key aspect of Christie's IMB is that it uses commercial storage devices that meet all industry standards., unlike other Media Blocks, that typically require unique, high-cost storage solutions. In addition, Christie IMB is fully compatible with MPEG2 and H.264, allowing exhibitors to offer greater variety in their alternative and advertising content, streaming them directly from the same storage device that saves cinematic content. This complete all-in-one projection system will provide unparalleled advantages, will offer greater reliability than third-party solutions and give exhibitors ultimate confidence when making long-term investment decisions.

Don Shaw, Director of Product Management, Christie Entertainment Solutions, commented that “most current digital projector installations use a Media Block on an external server connected to the projector via cables. This creates bandwidth limitations that affect image quality and inhibit the ability of the system as a whole to maintain and display videos at higher frame rates and higher pixel resolution.. Christie's IMB overcomes all these obstacles by working directly inside the projector itself. An integral part of the display device, and creates a secure connection capable of managing the bandwidth needed for HFR and 4K content without compromising image quality”.

Shaw also stresses that the design of the IMB makes things much easier by eliminating the need for displays to offer compatibility with all IMB servers and systems from different manufacturers currently available on the market.. Christie achieves a greater degree of integration by incorporating its Screen Management System – the projection system's control interface – directly into the IMB. Christie's IMB design will be available in three versions to suit specific needs: an easily upgradeable 2K/2D/3D standard frame rate model to support high 2K/2D/3D frame rates plus, a comprehensive upgrade with 4K support.

The Christie IMB, designed to work with all Christie Solaria series 2K and 4K projectors, integrates seamlessly with Christie Planned HFR, a technology that will make it possible for the prequels of The Lord of the Rings and the sequels of Avatar to be screened in cinemas equipped with integral projection systems, As film directors want. Deciding today on Christie's IMB guarantees the exhibitor to be prepared, with a simple license key update, when it premieres in December 2012 The Hobbit, the first HFR film.

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