i have a question I need help!

[marie86]

hi! i´m new in this forum my name is mariela
I am a student at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) and I am currently making a research on the advantages of Blu-ray technology
do you think you can help me?
i have a few questions for you

Which are the advantages and drawbacks in having Blu-ray divided by region codes?

How long do you think will take this technology to become massive?

Does an Internet connection enable the detection of piracy cases?

i hope you can help me, i search in the Intenet and i couldn´t find the answers

[kpkelley]

1. Region coding enables content providers (studios) to restrict access to copyrighted materials to only the region(s) in which it has distribution rights or in some cases only in region(s) in which the theatrical run of the film has completed. On the other hand, smaller films in foreign markets may not be available to all those who would be interested in it. For example, since Hong Kong and other asian markets are in the same Region as North America, those films can be played in North American Blu-ray players where as DVD's of the same movies may not be available in the North American market because they are different regions.

2. There has been much speculation on the adoption rate of Blu-ray. Some analysts have suggested a quicker adoption rate than DVD had upon it's introduction, while others believe that Blu-ray may never expand beyond a niche market.

3. I don't know about this one. However, many discs have extended load times because they are attempting to verify that the hardware on which it is being played has not been corrupted.

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by marie86

hi! i´m new in this forum my name is mariela
I am a student at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) and I am currently making a research on the advantages of Blu-ray technology
do you think you can help me?
i have a few questions for you

Which are the advantages and drawbacks in having Blu-ray divided by region codes?

How long do you think will take this technology to become massive?

Does an Internet connection enable the detection of piracy cases?

i hope you can help me, i search in the Intenet and i couldn´t find the answers

1. Drawbacks of region coding are that you cannot import titles that are only released in certain regions of the world. You can't buy/trade from other countries if they are not in your region code.

Befefits of region coding are a quicker theater-to-blu turnover. A good example of this situation is Hairspray last year. Hairspray came out early spring/summer in the United States. However, it was not done with its worldwide theatrical release until late December in other countries. The blu-ray came out in November and the HD DVD was scheduled to have to wait until spring 08 (never did come out, due to New Line going blu-ray exlcusive). This is because New Line was afraid that since HD DVD did not have region coding, it would be possible for somebody in a country where Hairspray was still in theaters to simply import the HD DVD and never have to go to the theaters. Since this wasn't an issue with the blu-ray, because of region coding, blu-ray got released a lot earlier in the parts of teh world where it was done with the theatrical run and we did not have to wait.

2. Blu-ray will be mainstream by 2011.

3. If modifications were made to the blu-ray player to allow pirated movies to play, then yes, it could be detected if the consumer had his blu-ray player hooked up to the internet. This works in the same way, Microsoft can detect moded Xbox 360s.

I don't believe that pirated discs can be detected over the internet as I believe pirated blu-rays are around in some parts of the world.

[Beta Man]

Nobody really knows the "Date" that DVD became "massive" so it depends on what kind of sales numbers you consider to be massive...

On a side note, I spent a couple of weeks in Buenos Aires, San Telmo was great, and the city is fantastic. Welcome to the site.

[CptGreedle]

Originally Posted by marie86

hi! i´m new in this forum my name is mariela
I am a student at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina) and I am currently making a research on the advantages of Blu-ray technology
do you think you can help me?
i have a few questions for you

Which are the advantages and drawbacks in having Blu-ray divided by region codes?

How long do you think will take this technology to become massive?

Does an Internet connection enable the detection of piracy cases?

i hope you can help me, i search in the Intenet and i couldn´t find the answers

As I am sure you will see others say here.... this is a generic list to your answers...

1) The drawbacks of region coding is that it is hard to buy/share titles internationally. Many people like to import titles so they can watch movies from a different country and region coding will prevent that. HOWEVER, region coding on the Blu-ray is much better than on DVD. DVD has 9 regions, while Blu-ray only has 3. Likewise, DVD required regions to be on all discs, while Blu-ray only uses this as an option. The advantages are simple... studios are more likely to support a format with options, and this is a popular option for studios to help fight piracy. If they can control what countries get what releases and what times, it will make it harder for certain countries to pirate movies to other countries. Piracy aside, the main reasons studios like regions is because it gives them greater control over theatrical releases. When a movie is in a theater in one country, it is usually not in theaters in all countries. Often you will find it will make it to theaters in others countries AFTER it is released to DVD/Blu-ray in the first country. On other words, why would consumers in country B pay to see a movie in a theater when country A is selling the DVD already. They do this so they can get the DVD/Blu-ray released earlier in some countries while it is still in theaters in other countries. Often you will find they will not even put regions on discs though, since the theatrical time-line is often very close or it is a catalogue title.

2) This will be massively public by 2011 or 2012. Blu-ray is actually selling better than DVD was when it was this young. It has already proven itself in a format war. With more HDTVs being purchased, more people are looking for true HD content, and Blu-ray is the best HD option. The only thing that might slow down its adoption is the economy. Forces outside our control have hurt the US economy and this will limit how much people spend on "luxury items". Blu-ray is a "luxury item" right now, but its popularity may still beat the system.

3) Internet allows for firmware updates and interactive and upgradable content. Piracy has been addressed through firmware patches and other hardware/software tools. BDwatermark is a hardware anti-piracy tool that makes it difficult for someone to pirate a Blu-ray. Likewise, BD+ is a software tool that can evolve to make piracy of those titles much harder. Although some have claimed to have broken it, it is a pyrrhic victory, meaning that they can not make one hack to unlock all BD+ titles, they have to hand crack each title since it changes per title. This feature does not use the internet. Right now they do not use the internet to fight piracy since the internet is an optional tool and not a requirement.

Hope this helps.

[WickyWoo]

I don't believe that pirated discs can be detected over the internet as I believe pirated blu-rays are around in some parts of the world.

No one is selling pirates blu-rays because the equipment to do so on a large scale is innaccessilble, and blank discs cost too much to make it profitable.

I'm sure a few people here or there are selling BD-Rs of things, there is no professional piracy operations in place. What there are is a bunch of bootleggers selling DVDs marked BLu-ray to suckers so they can get $20 a pop for them

Likewise, DVD required regions to be on all discs, while Blu-ray only uses this as an option.

DVD did not require region codes, they were just applied by default more often than not. You're confusing standard procedure with format policy

[CptGreedle]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

No one is selling pirates blu-rays because the equipment to do so on a large scale is innaccessilble, and blank discs cost too much to make it profitable.

I'm sure a few people here or there are selling BD-Rs of things, there is no professional piracy operations in place. What there are is a bunch of bootleggers selling DVDs marked BLu-ray to suckers so they can get $20 a pop for them



DVD did not require region codes, they were just applied by default more often than not. You're confusing standard procedure with format policy

True. The only BD piracy right now are those Chinese (and others I'm sure) DVDs they claim are Blu-ray. But if you look closely, the boxes are wrong, the price is wrong, the quality is wrong.. and the discs still say DVD on them.