BD-Live functionality this fourth quarter

[Tekman]

Interesting stuff from Blu-raydisc.com newsletter :News and Views from the Blu-ray Disc Association


Among the BD industry ‘firsts’ from the Studios’ upcoming global release slate are picture in picture capability, enhanced viewing and surround sound modes with the ability to mix and match picture and sound, direct access to in-movie
features through one of the four colored buttons on the BD.
remote and the most technically vibrant BD-Java interactive multi-player challenge and trivia games to date. The Studios’ slate also takes full advantage of BD-Live functionality this fourth quarter. Internet-connected consumers will enjoy unique, title specific “web-enabled” interactive features and games and “web-exclusive” downloadable content with the ability to connect and interact with other broadband BD users worldwide.
Cementing its leadership position within the industry - previous BD releases Night at the Museum and X-Men The Last Stand rank in the Top 20 best-sellers - the vast majority of the Studios’ upcoming global slate will be presented on 50 GB dual-layer discs with advanced BD-J interactivity and feature numerous Blu-ray exclusive High Definition bonus materials that further realizes BD’s incredible potential. Consumers will enjoy the superior video and audio elements of AVC encoding and Lossless HD audio on many of the coming titles as well as enhanced and integrated menus, personal scene selections, search indexing, trivia and other title specific games and High Definition bonus materials.

http://www.blu-raydisc.com/assets/do...8-07-13700.pdf

[IamNhobdy]

Looks like HDDVD is about to officially lose it's "edge."

[Uxi]

I"m sure they'll always fall back to disc replication pricing.

[lokus]

The success of Blu-ray looks very promising. I am actually looking forward to seeing some of these features, especially BD-Live.

[w_tanoto]

does this means Profile 2.0 becomes mandatory?

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by w_tanoto

does this means Profile 2.0 becomes mandatory?

2.0 isn't mandatory.

What I'm curious about is what units aside from the PS3 can be updated to 2.0?

[joeorc]

Originally Posted by Icemage

2.0 isn't mandatory.

What I'm curious about is what units aside from the PS3 can be updated to 2.0?

all of the units that have Network ports...on the players which is far as i know all of the current blu-ry players have network ports.

and:


From the Frontline: News & Commentary on the "format war"

January 2nd, 2007

Commentary - Are current 1st Gen Bluray Players Obsolete?

EDIT: I got a message from a reader who has added some information, which I have placed at the end of this story at the bottom. Also, the commentary has been somewhat edited, as it has been confirmed that only BD-Video 1.1 will become mandatory for Bluray after June 07, not BD-Live, as was initially indicated!

http://www.campaignhd.com/Comment_BD_1G_Obsolete.html

...Q: is there a blu-ray player with no network port...and what models..please list them..

[RUR]

Originally Posted by Icemage

2.0 isn't mandatory.

What I'm curious about is what units aside from the PS3 can be updated to 2.0?

Don't forget the 1GB of persistent memory.

[joeorc]

every time i look at this i laugh

More Studio Support for HD DVD
Created by Edward Downer on 6 October 2006 @ 7:19:29 PM

The High Definition DVD movie disc format (HD DVD)launched in April of 2006 as the official Next Generation disc format of the DVD Forum.

In July, Sony's Bluray format came to market also, launching another format war like the VHS/Betamax battle of the 70's and 80's.

But within days, comparisons of the two formats showed a dramatic difference. Users and reviewers were seeing that the Picture Quality was superior on the HD DVD discs, often FAR superior to Bluray, and the players were 1/2 to 1/3 the price of Bluray also.

In most people's opinion, this is due to technical problems of the Bluray format and Sony and the Bluray group's decision to use the older Mpeg2 compression format used on DVDs, instead of the next generation VC1 encoding system used on the HD DVD releases. While both formats can use the same video formats, a concious decision was made by Sony to stick with Mpeg. The reviews of the quality of Bluray movies have been quite savage at times!

HD DVD immediately began a runaway success story and today there are reported to be about 70,000 HD DVD players in homes, compared to a alleged 10,000 Bluray players.

Furthermore, more people are buying the better quality HD DVD movies also. In August, it is said the HD DVD movies outsold Bluray movies by a factor of 8 to 1.

In September, this sales apparently increased to an 11 to 1 margin! HD DVD has more than 10 times the sales of Bluray!

So What's the problem?

Well in the run-up to the launch of the "format war", Sony touted the supposed "superiority" of it's solution and promised the studios and manufacturers that Bluray would be the dominant format as a result.

They negotiated with the Studios and persuaded some of them to only release in the Bluray format at first, to try to shut the door on the HD DVD format. In addition, Sony formed a group of investors which bought 20% of MGM, to attempt to gain control over MGM's Home Entertainment library.

As a result, even though we feel that HD DVD is providing a better product and user experience, the Bluray format is being "artificially protected" in spite of it's poor performance.

Furthermore, because the HD DVD format's movie releases ar very consistent in their quality, we want these other studios to release movies on what we consider to be the better format - HD DVD.

It is said that Disney and Lions Gate are now wavering in their support for Bluray, having been let down badly by the launch of the format and the terrible word of mouth - not to mention the poor sales.

We ASK that these studios currently withholding content on the HD DVD format come to their senses!

For more information on the campaign, or to make contact with us, visit our website at www.hdnowonline.com

http://www.petitionspot.com/petition...Studio_Support

current # of people fallen for this FUD:
7000

[Icemage]

Originally Posted by RUR

Don't forget the 1GB of persistent memory.

Indeed.

The PS3 qualifies because of its HDD, but I don't know how any of the standalones currently on the market will do so.

[56@Yamamoto]

Upcoming DENON's Player and Transport don't have ethernet port, but to be comaptible to BD-Live contents downloaded to SDcard via personal computer.

It is comfirmed by DENON's developpers at Japanease audio visual magazine.

As for PS3, it is comfirmed BD-live compatibility with firmware update.

[Maximus]

BD-Live (or the 2.0 spec) is not going to mandatory.

BD-Video 1.1 which includes updated Java specs and dual stream decoding is going to be mandatory for all players announced after Oct. 31st.

HD DVD has a 1.0 profile which is similar to the BD-Video 1.1 spec, but they have included stereo lossless decoding in the form of Dolby TrueHD. HD DVD's 1.0 profile was mandatory from the start leading to expensive player designs which is why the BDA adopted this approach.

The PS3 is expected to meet the criteria for BD-Video 1.1 and BD-Live.

No other current player can ever meet the specs for BD-Video 1.1, the rumoured Pioneer LX-90 is supposed to be compliant, but no details have been made public.

Future players with rumoured or confirmed BD-Video 1.1 compliance:

Sony Playstation 3
Pioneer LX-90 (rumoured)
Denon 3800
Sony BDP-S500 (rumoured)
Samsung UP-5000 Dual format player

Players with BD-Live complaince:

Sony Playstation 3
Samsung UP-5000 Dual format player (rumoured)

[jorg]

Originally Posted by Icemage

Indeed.

The PS3 qualifies because of its HDD, but I don't know how any of the standalones currently on the market will do so.

i read some were if the player has a usb or flash menory slot you could use that as storagr

[RUR]

I have a vague suspicion that one or both of the new Samsung's (1400/2400) will turn out to be 1.1 compliant. Indeed, the 1200 would have had all the necessary requirements if the Broadcom chip originally planned and advertised for the 1200 had yielded sooner. Samsung may simply be being coy. Or, I'm simply overoptimistic. Either way, we'll find out pretty soon.

[lokus]

I hate to state this here as I don't like to cause problems but it is somewhat expected that older players may not work with the new feature updates. In my opinion, that is the price for adopting new technology. Anyhow, I hope they do everything they can to make older players compliant. I just hope my PS3 works well with the new updates. Hrmm...Am I a hypocrite?

[blu-rayfan101]

Does this mean that hd dvd cant say that hd dvd is better because of u-control and internet features.

[blublublu]

Originally Posted by joeorc

...Q: is there a blu-ray player with no network port...and what models..please list them..

I'm aware of the following that do have ethernet ports:

Samsung BD-P1200
Pioneer Elite BDP-HD1
PS3

Neither of the Sony standalones do (what were they thinking!?)

The 1st gen Samsung doesn't either.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by IamNhobdy

Looks like HDDVD is about to officially lose it's "edge."

Considering how slim the pickings are for web-enables stuff on HD DVD. Fox maybe about to leap-frog them in this "vital" area.

It would be the true irony if by the end of Q1 2008, it's Blu-ray that leads in PiP and web stuff.

Fox leads (DTS-HD MA, PiP, BD-Live) and others (studios and CE) are pressured to follow and support.

Maybe people will forgive them a bit for the hiatus, if it was put to constructive use.

Gary

[shadowmoon]

To be honest.. the Denon 3800 is great and all... but if Im gonna be spending 2k on a BD player, it better have a ethernet port and a built-in wifi or something...

Im surprised most players dont have ethernet ports built in... would make life so much easier

[lokus]

Despite what many early adopters say, I really think the additional features on movies are going to be quite interesting. Sure, not many people enjoy watching a rather boring 15 minute extras clip on a DVD. At the same time, I think the next gen technology really needs to offer something up and above what DVD does for it to be adopted. Yea, it does provide HD video and audio, but at the same time I envision the discs to be quite interactive. This is something you really can't enjoy with SD DVD. I would enjoy the interactive features simply because, well, it makes me enjoy the movie that much more by providing movie related games and interactivity. Just my .02.