Windows Phone 7 Gets Silverlight Enhanced Movie Apps From Paramount Digital Entertainment
So Paramount has decided to release some movies, each one of them individually, as apps on Windows Phone 7. How will this work? Each movie (starting, strangely enough, with the Jack Black movie "School of Rock") will release by itself as an "enhanced" movie app, each of these apps containing the full movie plus bonus features and "unique experiences not available on other platforms." Other movies coming up soon are Zoolander, Waiting for Superman, and GI Joe: The Rise of Cobra. Clearly they're trying to find the most random movies they could possibly think of to... cast a wide net?
These movie apps are set to be utilizing Windows Phone 7's Silverlight technology. Geremie Camara, Vice President of Product Development for Paramount Digital Entertainment had the following to say: "Through our relationship with Microsoft, we're able to provide consumers new, enhanced ways to enjoy movies from anywhere on Windows Phone 7. Using Silverlight technology and adding interactive and social networking features, our enhanced movie apps transform the movie viewing experience into a true entertainment experience."
Features in these movies include the ability to create custom clips, view the movie with pop-up-trivia (HOORAY, POP UP VIDEO FOREVER) – powered by "Scene It?", and Movie Info including "dentify actors, objects, music, and places in the movie, while providing rich, contextual information, such as bios, descriptions, and even maps to the locations." Starmaps! Neato! But will it float? We'll see.
LOS ANGELES, Dec. 14, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — Paramount Digital Entertainment announced today that it will be releasing ten enhanced movie apps of Paramount Pictures' films exclusively for Windows® Phone 7. Paramount Digital Entertainment is launching SCHOOL OF ROCK today in the U.S. and Canadian Windows Phone Marketplace with additional titles to be released in the U.S. and international markets before the end of the year.
The movie apps have been built using Microsoft Silverlight technology and offer the full movie plus menus, bonus features and unique experiences not available on other platforms to deliver a rich connected consumer experience to Windows Phone 7. Other titles coming to Paramount Silverlight Enhanced Movies for Windows Phone include ZOOLANDER, WAITING FOR SUPERMAN and GI JOE: THE RISE OF COBRA, with more to be announced.
"Through our relationship with Microsoft, we're able to provide consumers new, enhanced ways to enjoy movies from anywhere on Windows Phone 7," said Geremie Camara, Vice President Product Development for Paramount Digital Entertainment. "Using Silverlight technology and adding interactive and social networking features, our enhanced movie apps transform the movie viewing experience into a true entertainment experience."
Other features in the enhanced movie apps include the ability to create custom clips, view the movie with pop-up trivia powered by 'Scene It?', and a Movie Info feature offering users the ability to identify actors, objects, music, and places in the movie, while providing rich, contextual information, such as bios, descriptions, and even maps to the locations.
"Windows Phone 7 is backed by a rich developer ecosystem that is creating a variety of quality apps and games, like Paramount Entertainment's movie apps, that take advantage of the phone's unique features and design," said Todd Brix, senior director, Windows Phone Marketplace, Microsoft Corp. "We're proud to have these Paramount titles that offer unique experiences for consumers exclusively available on Windows Phone 7 this holiday season," he continued.
Paramount Digital Entertainment developed the movie apps in collaboration with Digitalsmiths, Hypershow and Trailer Park.
The School of Rock movie app is available from the Marketplace hub on all Windows Phone 7 devices, or on the desktop via the free Zune PC software at http://social.zune.net/redirect?type=phoneApp&id=61dc3fe3-56f8-df11-9264-00237de2db9e
About Paramount Digital Entertainment
Paramount Digital Entertainment (PDE) is a division of Paramount Pictures Corporation. PDE develops and distributes filmed entertainment across worldwide digital distribution platforms including online, mobile and portable devices, videogames, and emerging technologies.
Paramount Pictures Corporation (PPC), a global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment, is a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), a leading content company with prominent and respected film, television and digital entertainment brands. The company's labels include Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Paramount Classics, MTV Films and Nickelodeon Movies. PPC operations also include Paramount Digital Entertainment, Paramount Famous Productions, Paramount Home Entertainment, Paramount Pictures International, Paramount Licensing Inc., Paramount Studio Group and Paramount Worldwide Television Distribution.