BBC article, WTF???

[ottscay]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7187179.stm

Title: "Blu-ray future limited for some"

It's on the "confusion" over various Blu-ray profiles. Oddly for the BBC, there's no author attribution, nor is there a place for feedback. There isn't even a source for the information outside of the firmware warnings shipped with disks and Philips responding to the charges. WTF is going on? Is this some sort of counter-strike PR operation?

Can the BDA politely ask the BBC what the hell they think they're doing?

[Bullseye]

Owners of Blu-ray DVD players may find themselves frozen out of future developments in the technology because their machines are not upgradeable.

They are obviously referring to profiles. Nothing new there but it does paint a poor picture on the people not familiar with BD.

[camper]

It's a legitamate thing to report on, especially for those considering a player. There's no reason to hide that earlier players are not capable of playing PiP or 'Live' features unless they have a certain profile. It helps the consumer make a more educated decision, and being forthcoming regarding things like this show that there is nothing to hide.

I wonder how many people are going to care they can't watch a PiP commentary on their Blu, or how many people won't buy a player because they can't download 'something' from the web on their player.

~Camper

[patrick99]

Originally Posted by camper

It's a legitamate thing to report on, especially for those considering a player. There's no reason to hide that earlier players are not capable of playing PiP or 'Live' features unless they have a certain profile. It helps the consumer make a more educated decision, and being forthcoming regarding things like this show that there is nothing to hide.

I wonder how many people are going to care they can't watch a PiP commentary on their Blu, or how many people won't buy a player because they can't download 'something' from the web on their player.

~Camper

The only people who care about PiP are the red ants who like to use it as a talking point.

[MacDaddyOJack]

I agree that there is no reason to try and hide the fact that 1.0 players cannot do PiP, but the article made it seem like they could do nothing but play a movie. If I had no idea about bluray, this article would make me think that with an older player I could only watch a movie, no extras, period. That is not the case, the only thing you miss out on with a 1.0 player is PiP.

[bdLuvr]

Originally Posted by camper

I wonder how many people are going to care they can't watch a PiP commentary on their Blu, or how many people won't buy a player because they can't download 'something' from the web on their player.
~Camper

Haha I used it once with "Cars". Nice feature, wont change my viewing pleasure. Im fine with just the movie if all possible. Tidbits are cool, but mostly misses than hits :P IMHO of course

[clownface]

There is a point as far as the original players when compared to the PS3, we can't knock that because it's true.

[Bullseye]

The BDA should either withdraw the remaining Profile 1.0 players or sell them below $200. Every new player has to be Profile 1.1 at least.

[WickyWoo]

I've seen several stories by BBC that were covered in red ants to be honest

[frenchglen]

As soon as I start reading, I see the phrase "the blu-ray camp". IMO this smells of a bitter HD-DEAD prejudice.

There are no more "camps" now. The fight is over, the war will be completely finished soon.

So after all this, they still use a phrase that pertains to combat between the two "camps". that' almost derogeratory IMO.

[mystiksuicide]

Now that there is only format left, your going to see all those who had endorsed hd dvd go out and attack blu-ray everyway possible. Most of these articles will never mention the fact that all those features on hd dvd came a price like for example compressed audio.

"If you can't beat them attack them."

[camper]

Originally Posted by patrick99

The only people who care about PiP are the red ants who like to use it as a talking point.

This is entirely false. While the Elmers certainly did use it as a talking point, now that 1.1 is out it's a moot point. Even still, PiP is important to enthusiasts. I enjoy the idea of the PiP functionality, but realsitically speaking I prefer to watch special features outside the film. The only time I would very much want to see PiP would be for a "Mystery Science 3000" type performance.

People who want to watch a scene by scene comparrison of filming and final product (which many enthusiasts do) are the ones who will care about PiP. For that crowd it would be frustrating that the better format does not have this capability. [[edit - I know it does, but even the pseudo enthusisast who likes the PiP type stuff and haven't done the research would be put off that the winner of the format war doesn't include the same functionality as the firesale HD-DVD players]]

And to blow off PiP because the red camp wants it, is 100% the same as the red side saying that uncompressed audio is a waste of disc space because most people won't tell the difference, or 1080i vs full 1080p isn't important. While I certainly prefer higher quality audio, there are those who do not. Some people I know who are huge movie buffs don't even have *gasp* surround sound. One of them is even a blu ray fanatic, and believe me...I can't understand watching even a SD DVD without surround sound. I even use the receiver on normal TV from time to time, that's how much I care. But I digress.

The point is that since PiP is available in HD-DVD, it must be included in Blu Ray. Period. Even if the red camp craws around it like ants on a gooey candybar, the point that many Blu Ray owners cannot use it is a very valid one.

If the software is capable, and the hardware isn't than big deal. It will be there waiting for the consumer when they upgrade. And, not every Blu Ray fan owns a PS3. (And to get on a semi-rant that is as irritating as the HD-DVD fanboys crap, owning a PS3 doe not make one a 'better' blu ray supporter.)

PiP is important. "Live" is important. High quality sound is important. Better picture quality is important. You can't have too many selling points to get the general consumer to move to Blu Ray, and disqualifying one means you're leaving the door open to disqualify another. Why?

Technology should always progress beyond the latest advance and the newest feature. Or at the very least, include features of a competing product.

HD-DVD might not realize they're dead yet, but that doesn't mean that the Blu Ray camp should go take a nap. There are issues to address in order to improve the product, and its failings should not only be acknowledged but made known. Otherwise, the product will be returned and more than likely not picked up again even if the original failing has been addressed.

Just because a criticism comes from the HD-DVD side, doesn't mean it's instantly invalid. Only fanatics believe that kind of stuff.

~Camper

[Curumo]

well, maybe i am in minority, but guys u're really sick with this pip 1.1 feature, live 2.0 and whatever... i hate them so much, i hate extras too (yes, superebits i loved not only for high bits but for lack of extras!!)... imo, every person who wants such details is a geek, and who watch and listen movies parallel with this - is not a true movie lover...
i need a movie, with highest possible PQ and AQ (bitrates!!), maybe some deleted scenes or similar stuff, but to see how everything was done is ruining the very essence of movie magic... and watching this simultaneously with movie itself is insane...
just to have something because other side had it, sorry duds, it is pathetic...
i have ps3 and have just seen RE:Extinction, and tried this PIP idioticity, i am still shocked how can someone watch full movie from the beggining to the end this way...
pls give us a movie-only BDs, if a dollar cheaper, i'd go for it... i'd go for it if they would be a dollar or more expensive
seems majority members of this forum are really only HD geeks, not a true movie lovers... i adore high-def and BD capacity cause gives me new and astonishing aspect on a movie, i dont care for a bad movie even in 32600x18000 res... looking how many of you cried for extremely bad, tipically US pathetic and silly movie with maybe one of the worst acting in history -transfomers, well, i am not so surprised...
must ask you honestly: do u love movies indeed??

[Nathan P]

I agree that the article is quite confusing even after lurking here for several months and understanding the various profiles, i was a bit confused when i first read it. Just as an aside most of the press in the UK leans towards HDDVD for reasons that i don't fully understand but i think its because they see HD DVD as a finished standard. It can't be down to sales as blu flattens them with regards to market share, 80% upwards i believe i read somewhere on here

[skrill]

The PiP features on the 300 HD-DVD were pretty neat. Definitely something of substance that is missing on the BD release.

Troof!