There is currently no way to watch 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs on a computer

[HDTV1080P]

There is currently no way to watch 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs on a computer

I tested a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in both a standard Blu-ray drive and a BDXL drive, and the disc is unreadable. Therefore, some manufactory will need to create a special computer BD-ROM drive in order to use 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs in a computer. In addition, a computer software program will need to be created in order to watch 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs on a computer. One will also need to own a 4K Ultra HD computer monitor and graphics card (Both need to support HDCP 2.2 or the signal will be downscaled to 1080P quality).

When the DVD format launched in 1997 and when the standard 2-D 1080P Blu-ray format launched in 2006, there were computer drives released to play the new format. It is disappointing that no computer BD-ROM drives exist that play the new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. Also no videogame system so far supports 4K Ultra HD discs yet.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

There is currently no way to watch 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs on a computer

I tested a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in both a standard Blu-ray drive and a BDXL drive, and the disc is unreadable. Therefore, some manufactory will need to create a special computer BD-ROM drive in order to use 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs in a computer. In addition, a computer software program will need to be created in order to watch 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs on a computer. One will also need to own a 4K Ultra HD computer monitor and graphics card (Both need to support HDCP 2.2 or the signal will be downscaled to 1080P quality).

When the DVD format launched in 1997 and when the standard 2-D 1080P Blu-ray format launched in 2006, there were computer drives released to play the new format. It is disappointing that no computer BD-ROM drives exist that play the new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. Also no videogame system so far supports 4K Ultra HD discs yet.

I was hopeful, but now I truly believe that the only way 4k content will be viewable on a PC is via streaming. As a matter of fact, I'm not seeing a new format war, but a massacre on the horizon.

1. No future development for UHD Bluray on the PC front from either Powerdvd nor WinDVD (WinDVD seems to be dead anyway).

2. Microsoft ending support for Media Center with Windows 10

3. 4K Streaming already available (but no HD Audio - Atmos is supposedly available in the new future but not lossless).

It's moving to a 4k, streaming, lossy world with Atmos as its audio star. Ultimate control - reoccurring payments for a service, with a new type of audio that's clearly entertaining - but will be lossy - the masses have spoken - audio quality doesn't mean much to them - just a great picture.

For a UHD Bluray - you will need more than just the BDXL drive - you would need compliant player software (for the ACSS 2.0 keys), HDMI 2.0 and HDCP 2.2 - it's more than just the hardware. I could have compliant hardware but if my player can't resolve ACSS 2.0 keys - I'm out of luck. Also these keys require an always connected internet connection - you've got to be connected to the internet.

I really believe watching movies via a PC on a big screen is dying that's big news coming from me - as that's my preference. I will continue to use PowerDVD (within Jriver) as my preference.

I'm also looking at these moves as a way not to stop piracy, but to put seats back into the theater. Many believe Home Theater killed the movie industry, and you've got to give people a reason to return. Well...adding Atmos, 4K, and making delivery at home a premium are all ways of getting rear ends back into the seats.

Hmm, I'm wondering - should I sell off my HT and just watch movies in the bedroom and concentrate on my 2 channel playback instead? Hmmm......

[bbrown5222]

At this time the Samsung player looks to be the only US player o the market for the format, and it is out of stock in most locations. either the format is rushed or is not going to be backed.

Maybe a catch 22, as companies want to see if the format catches on and consumers are waiting until there are more options to buy.

I myself have already ordered a few 4k UHD movies, as I got the from the Fox Connect sale, but have not ordered a player as I look more into the Samsung player as the reviews are mixed so far.

[HDTV1080P]

That is very disappointing that no BD-ROM drive that supports 4K Ultra HD Discs is being developed or announced. Even the BDXL drives cannot read the 4K Ultra HD discs. Also it sounds like PowerDVD will not support 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs at this time.

I own one of the rare 4K Ultra HD desktop computer monitors that has HDCP 2.2.

I know there are many cities in the United States that have or will soon be getting 10Gbps and 1Gbps consumer Internet which is ideal for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc downloads. However in rural areas some consumers can only get around 10-12Mbps download speed over ADSL since in some rural areas cable TV service is not available. Therefore my point is that in many rural areas 4K streaming is not a option since the Internet speed is not fast enough.

[RAILERSWIM]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

That is very disappointing that no BD-ROM drive that supports 4K Ultra HD Discs is being developed or announced. Even the BDXL drives cannot read the 4K Ultra HD discs. Also it sounds like PowerDVD will not support 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs at this time.

I own one of the rare 4K Ultra HD desktop computer monitors that has HDCP 2.2.

I know there are many cities in the United States that have or will soon be getting 10Gbps and 1Gbps consumer Internet which is ideal for 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc downloads. However in rural areas some consumers can only get around 10-12Mbps download speed over ADSL since in some rural areas cable TV service is not available. Therefore my point is that in many rural areas 4K streaming is not a option since the Internet speed is not fast enough.

It's so freaking disappointing. But we will find a way. Maybe manufacturers just have to push out firmware updates or someone can start creating custom firmware (if they know hardware programming). Guess we'll find out. If manufactures and developers force us to digital for viewing UHD on PC then we will just have to do it ourselves.

Only time will tell what the play is. Whether we work for it ourselves or if manufactures help us out. And with the death of Slysoft, one can only pray that makemkv and DVDFab make it out alive.

As for 4K streaming issues, I know all to well. At my parents house they like to stream but they only get 480p to 540p res on a good day. They live in the country and there are only two available ISPs. One is a download cap plan from Hughesnet, the other is delivering internet through RF and it costs a fortune to get an NPLS 10 Mbps plan from them so my parents suffer bandwidth fluctuations.

[prerich]

Originally Posted by RAILERSWIM

It's so freaking disappointing. But we will find a way. Maybe manufacturers just have to push out firmware updates or someone can start creating custom firmware (if they know hardware programming). Guess we'll find out. If manufactures and developers force us to digital for viewing UHD on PC then we will just have to do it ourselves.

Only time will tell what the play is. Whether we work for it ourselves or if manufactures help us out. And with the death of Slysoft, one can only pray that makemkv and DVDFab make it out alive.

As for 4K streaming issues, I know all to well. At my parents house they like to stream but they only get 480p to 540p res on a good day. They live in the country and there are only two available ISPs. One is a download cap plan from Hughesnet, the other is delivering internet through RF and it costs a fortune to get an NPLS 10 Mbps plan from them so my parents suffer bandwidth fluctuations.

I don't think it's a hardware issue. I was just thinking - if I just put a Bluray player in my computer - it wouldn't play a BD either without an appropriate software player. I believe the hardware is here and ready - but the software player - that's the key. It's in Cyberlink and WinDVD's hands now.

[prerich]

Well shut my mouth and call me Dave!!!!! It's being tested now!!!!!!!!
http://www.cyberlink.com/prog/compan...nt.do?pid=3926

[DVD Phreak]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

There is currently no way to watch 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs on a computer

I tested a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc in both a standard Blu-ray drive and a BDXL drive, and the disc is unreadable. Therefore, some manufactory will need to create a special computer BD-ROM drive in order to use 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs in a computer. In addition, a computer software program will need to be created in order to watch 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs on a computer. One will also need to own a 4K Ultra HD computer monitor and graphics card (Both need to support HDCP 2.2 or the signal will be downscaled to 1080P quality).

When the DVD format launched in 1997 and when the standard 2-D 1080P Blu-ray format launched in 2006, there were computer drives released to play the new format. It is disappointing that no computer BD-ROM drives exist that play the new 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. Also no videogame system so far supports 4K Ultra HD discs yet.

Someone at AVS Forum said this almost a month ago:

"I have an LG WH16NS40 that was manufactured in October of 2015. I was able to get The Martian UHD disc to show up and be recognized as a disc in Windows and in Power DVD 15, both showed that the disc was "The Martian". When I tried to play it though, power dvd gave me an error that the disc was corrupted. I am hopeful that what is needed is an update to power dvd to be able to play the title. "


He was able to at least read the file structure of the UHD BD. He couldn't actually play it in PowerDVD, of course. But at least this gives us hope that some *existing* drives DO read these discs. With a few firmware updates they may be able to fully play them.

What is your BDXL drive model that you said couldn't read the UHD BD?

[HDTV1080P]

When I attempt to play the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray version of Exodus Gods and Kings, the disc file structure is not even showing up under the Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64 bit operating system. All other standard Blu-rays show up in Windows. The disc is unreadable from the BDXL Blu-ray drive.

I am using the Pioneer BDR-2209 drive

http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/PUSA/Computer/Computer+Drives/BDR-2209

Now there is always a possibility that the Exodus Gods and Kings 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc is defective, I do not own a standalone 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player yet. I currently only own one 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray title at this time.

I tried the disc in another Blu-ray drive and in it did not work either. If I have time maybe I will pull out a family members Notebook computer with a BD-ROM disc to see if it will work.

[HDTV1080P]

DVD Phreak,

That is interesting that some people are claiming that with certain Blu-ray computer drives that they are able to read the file structure of the disc. 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs that are 100GB have 3 layers that are 33.4GB per layer. Dual layer 66GB discs are also 33.4GB per layer. A 50GB dual layer disc is 25GB per layer.

In theory any 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray title that uses a standard 50GB Blu-ray disc should be able to be read in any BD-ROM computer drive manufactured since 2006+. However if a 66GB or 100GB 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc is inserted in a BD-ROM drive, most likely since the disc structure is different it will not be able to be read by any standard BD-ROM drive including all or most BDXL drives. Its possible the Blu-ray title I tried from 20th Century Fox might be a 66GB Blu-ray disc (100GB discs might not be out yet).

It appears that computer manufactories are going to need to develop and release BD-ROM drives that can read stamped 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc titles that use a 66GB and 100GB structure.

[OrlandoEastwood]

I thought that was what BDXL drives were for?

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by OrlandoEastwood

I thought that was what BDXL drives were for?

The first BDXL drives came out several years ago so that people could backup important computer data to 128GB Quad layer discs and 100GB triple layer discs. The specs for the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format might be completely different in terms of optical disc structure. Also keep in mind 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are pressed(stamped) optical discs where as BDXL discs are recordable.


The BDXL specs were developed back around 2010 (Blu-ray Discs expand to 128GB under new BDXL spec ).

[prerich]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

The first BDXL drives came out several years ago so that people could backup important computer data to 128GB Quad layer discs and 100GB triple layer discs. The specs for the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray format might be completely different in terms of optical disc structure. Also keep in mind 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are pressed(stamped) optical discs where as BDXL discs are recordable.


The BDXL specs were developed back around 2010 (Blu-ray Discs expand to 128GB under new BDXL spec ).

i have a newly purchased BDXL drive (128gb) I'm going to buy a 4k bd just to see if the drive sees it

[applemac]

I think the newest LG internal drives can read them no problem. Very odd that current BDXL drives can't read them but can read the writeable editions no problem.

[ratm22]

Originally Posted by applemac

I think the newest LG internal drives can read them no problem. Very odd that current BDXL drives can't read them but can read the writeable editions no problem.

No.

Just purchased a LG Internal UH12NS30 and it will not Identify the file structure on the Pineapple Express 4k disc

[rh5000]

Originally Posted by ratm22

No.

Just purchased a LG Internal UH12NS30 and it will not Identify the file structure on the Pineapple Express 4k disc

Just FYI, I have that drive in my PC and it's either two or three years old so that is not a new drive. Mine won't read 4k Disk either...tried the Ender's Game disc.

Looking forward to a solution to this!!!

[HDTV1080P]

So the XBOX One S is suppose to offer native 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray disc playback. That is excellent since it will make 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs more popular.The BD-ROM drives used in these gaming consoles hopefully one day will be sold in desktop computers and Laptop computers so consumers can play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs on a computer.

Still no announcements from the computer industry regarding certified 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray software and hardware.

https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=19239

[HDTV1080P]

I am not interested in videogames since in my free time I do not make time to play them. When I have free time I usually only watch movies on Blu-ray. However I would purchase a Xbox One S instead of a Sony PS4 since the new XBOX can play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.

This is a shock to many people that the new PS4 has no native 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray support.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/psone090716.htm

[onyxbfly]

I think its a huge mistake for Sony to omit the UHD drive...Sony may think the future is in streaming.....

Then again Sony has a UHD player coming out. Maybe they want to try to get peeps to double dip... buy a UHD player and a PS4 PRO. If the PS4 PRO had a UHD player I can see it having a negative impact on the sales of their stand alone player.

On the flip side the XBOX One S has a UHD drive but it still suffers from the HD audio debacle of the XBOX One.

4K monitor or TV... check
4K disc....check
Dolby Atmos or DTS X....we're working on it
HD Audio..... not so much.

[AmishParadise]

Originally Posted by onyxbfly

I think its a huge mistake for Sony to omit the UHD drive...Sony may think the future is in streaming.....

Then again Sony has a UHD player coming out. Maybe they want to try to get peeps to double dip... buy a UHD player and a PS4 PRO. If the PS4 PRO had a UHD player I can see it having a negative impact on the sales of their stand alone player.

On the flip side the XBOX One S has a UHD drive but it still suffers from the HD audio debacle of the XBOX One.

4K monitor or TV... check
4K disc....check
Dolby Atmos or DTS X....we're working on it
HD Audio..... not so much.

And for me personally, the inability to control the PS4 with a universal remote "of my choice" just as I can with my PS3 is a deal breaker. I have no interest in using a PS4 for anything other than gaming, so long as this limitation exists.