why are all these updates needed? - Blu-ray Forum

hijeff1 · 11-29-2007, 05:03 PM

I appoligize in advance if this has been discussed already. I have a quick question. Why does Blu Ray players need updating? Dvd players do not. I don't know about HD DVD, I think they need updating too, but I mean you have the player and it plays blu ray discs so why do companys continue to change the software?

mdm1699 · 11-29-2007, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hijeff1

I appoligize in advance if this has been discussed already. I have a quick question. Why does Blu Ray players need updating? Dvd players do not. I don't know about HD DVD, I think they need updating too, but I mean you have the player and it plays blu ray discs so why do companys continue to change the software?

Added value at no additional cost to you.

Go Blu · 11-29-2007, 05:09 PM

The inclusion of BD-Java has endless possibilities as far as improving the interactive experience beyond just watching the film.

In short it future proofs it.

quetzalcoatl · 11-29-2007, 05:13 PM

DVD players donot need it now. In the early days there were updates to do. The HT is now more a computer than anything else. And how long do you go without updating that? Not only are they here to stay they are a good thing as well.

hc666 · 11-29-2007, 05:13 PM

Firware updates are a part of life now. No matter what you buy.

I'm surprised they don't have them for microwave ovens haha

Xerious · 11-29-2007, 05:16 PM

why does your underwear need updating? because they get old and raggity...

at least with bluray underwear you get more interactivity and online capabilities... i heard with the ps3 panties you get added rumbling!

savage1984 · 11-29-2007, 05:17 PM

Microsoft seemed to start it. They wanted to get their product out to the market to make money on so bad, they sent it out with a ton of bugs. Later they would send firmwire updates. This way, they make more money and we get that sweet technology sooner, at our own expense.

With bd players, it's a little different. Since the software keeps improving the hardware has the adaptability to update to match the software's capabilities. It's not as much debugging, but future-proofing.

u_nick · 11-29-2007, 05:43 PM

Once computers got connected to the internet, updates became commonplace. Now that other devices are just as connected, why would anyone NOT want an update? It fixes bugs and delivers new options.

Rustmonsteru · 11-29-2007, 05:58 PM

Imagine how many recalls you would have without firmware updates for almost any piece of electronics these days.

tron3 · 11-29-2007, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Go Blu

The inclusion of BD-Java has endless possibilities as far as improving the interactive experience beyond just watching the film.

In short it future proofs it.

Couldn't have said it better myself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xerious

why does your underwear need updating? because they get old and raggity.....

I don't know about you, but I'd rather toss away any undies with "firmware" in them.

Which reminds of my Air Force Basic Training days. The last 4 of our ss# was written in our undies (and other clothing) to know which were ours when the laundry team came back. Well, this one guy by the name of M. Glick was a real wise guy. (We hit it off.) He would stand in front the flight and call out, who's underwear is ####? Well, the poor soul says, "Mine". In which M. Glick would say, "Hey guys, check out THIS skid mark." and invert the underwear to display it to the flight. (I'm laughing just typing this out.)

To get back at him, they found out the last 4 of his SS#, and were like, "Hey Glick, check out THIS skid mark!"

"OMG, who do they belong to?" "Their yours." (Tosses it at him.) He never show cased the skid marks again.

Sorry to go off topic and gross you out, but I'm dying over here.

Thunderchildga · 11-29-2007, 06:04 PM

We need updates for two reasons.
1. Both Blu-Ray and HD DVD are essentially small computers that run a real operating system. DVD, CD, and LaserDisc were essentially dumb players that only knew enough to perform a simple playback function.

2. Those of us who are getting into the HD optical disc arena are on the cutting edge of a new technology. As with most new complicated things, bugs or quirks are being found and the firmware has to be updated to take care of those bugs. Also at the same time, new features that were not even envisioned when the player was made can possibly be added via firmware updates.

Because what we do on the Internet was not envisioned back when CD, LD, and DVD came out, if there was a flawed firmware, the only way to update it was to replace the memory chip, so updates were usually taken care of by replacing models with an entirely new unit. Because of that limitation, the manufacturers had to test, test, and retest units to ensure they were as good as they could be before they left to be put on sale. Now the manufacturers do not have to be that precise as they can send out an update to patch any potential problem the firmware might have.

I don't know if that's a better way of doing things or not, but at least for my PS3, it has kept it up to date and way more "future-feature" proof than my Samsung BD-P1000 is. My PS3 will be BD2.0 compliant, the Samsung can't and it stuck at 1.0 compatibility. How many potentially 2.0 compliant machines are there out there? 1 - the PS3.

I imagine as time goes on, and the manufacturers become more adept at authoring HD titles, the issues that require the updates will become fewer and the number of updates will decrease dramatically.

Hal
aka Thunderchildga

mdm1699 · 11-29-2007, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tron3

Couldn't have said it better myself.

I don't know about you, but I'd rather toss away any undies with "firmware" in them.

Which reminds of my Air Force Basic Training days. The last 4 of our ss# was written in our undies (and other clothing) to know which were ours when the laundry team came back. Well, this one guy by the name of M. Glick was a real wise guy. (We hit it off.) He would stand in front the flight and call out, who's underwear is ####? Well, the poor soul says, "Mine". In which M. Glick would say, "Hey guys, check out THIS skid mark." and invert the underwear to display it to the flight. (I'm laughing just typing this out.)

To get back at him, they found out the last 4 of his SS#, and were like, "Hey Glick, check out THIS skid mark!"

"OMG, who do they belong to?" "Their yours." (Tosses it at him.) He never show cased the skid marks again.

Sorry to go off topic and gross you out, but I'm dying over here.

Nauseating.

quexos · 11-29-2007, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hijeff1

I appoligize in advance if this has been discussed already. I have a quick question. Why does Blu Ray players need updating? Dvd players do not. I don't know about HD DVD, I think they need updating too, but I mean you have the player and it plays blu ray discs so why do companys continue to change the software?

It's called evolution. at the time of DVD players if you had a bug playing a disc, you had no choice but to get a new player. With firmware updates your machine can continue to evolve and bugs can be corrected. With the evolution of technology, everything becomes more interactive, it's really a natural evolution. Firmware updates are always free so don't fret and enjoy

PS: someone said they are suprised microwaves don't get firmware updates ... well, not yet, but i'm sure it will come to that too, eventually

Clark Kent · 11-29-2007, 09:22 PM

As the technology matures we will be seeing less and less firmware updates. Blu-ray discs are basically new technology at the cutting edge of several different fields(optics, materials science, java programming, etc) and a side-effect of that is problems that need to be solved after the players hit the market. I imagine in 18 months everything will be much more settled. I've been very happy with most of the BD manufacturers and their responsiveness to issues arising from outdated firmware.

ryoohki · 11-30-2007, 12:10 AM

The more complex things are, the more bug you can it them. Remember those are programmed by people and people makes error

Just like at AVR, a lot of higher end have Ethernet Web Updates now..

lch · 11-30-2007, 12:46 AM

even upscaling dvd player and some 7" portable dvd player also need firmware update.

11-29-2007, 05:03 PM	#1
hijeff1 Active Member Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Long Island, NY 4K collection:144 Blu-ray collection:341 DVD collection:153 Blu-ray reviews:4 Trading Score:3	why are all these updates needed? I appoligize in advance if this has been discussed already. I have a quick question. Why does Blu Ray players need updating? Dvd players do not. I don't know about HD DVD, I think they need updating too, but I mean you have the player and it plays blu ray discs so why do companys continue to change the software?

11-29-2007, 06:04 PM	#11
Thunderchildga Member Member since:Aug 2007	Blu-Ray Updates We need updates for two reasons. 1. Both Blu-Ray and HD DVD are essentially small computers that run a real operating system. DVD, CD, and LaserDisc were essentially dumb players that only knew enough to perform a simple playback function. 2. Those of us who are getting into the HD optical disc arena are on the cutting edge of a new technology. As with most new complicated things, bugs or quirks are being found and the firmware has to be updated to take care of those bugs. Also at the same time, new features that were not even envisioned when the player was made can possibly be added via firmware updates. Because what we do on the Internet was not envisioned back when CD, LD, and DVD came out, if there was a flawed firmware, the only way to update it was to replace the memory chip, so updates were usually taken care of by replacing models with an entirely new unit. Because of that limitation, the manufacturers had to test, test, and retest units to ensure they were as good as they could be before they left to be put on sale. Now the manufacturers do not have to be that precise as they can send out an update to patch any potential problem the firmware might have. I don't know if that's a better way of doing things or not, but at least for my PS3, it has kept it up to date and way more "future-feature" proof than my Samsung BD-P1000 is. My PS3 will be BD2.0 compliant, the Samsung can't and it stuck at 1.0 compatibility. How many potentially 2.0 compliant machines are there out there? 1 - the PS3. I imagine as time goes on, and the manufacturers become more adept at authoring HD titles, the issues that require the updates will become fewer and the number of updates will decrease dramatically. Hal aka Thunderchildga

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11-29-2007, 05:09 PM	#3
Go Blu Special Member Member since:Feb 2007	The inclusion of BD-Java has endless possibilities as far as improving the interactive experience beyond just watching the film. In short it future proofs it.

11-29-2007, 05:13 PM	#4
quetzalcoatl Special Member Member since:Sep 2007 Location:Grants Pass, OR	DVD players donot need it now. In the early days there were updates to do. The HT is now more a computer than anything else. And how long do you go without updating that? Not only are they here to stay they are a good thing as well.

11-29-2007, 05:13 PM	#5
hc666 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Nov 2007 Home Theater Gallery:7 Blu-ray collection:100 Blu-ray reviews: 26	Firware updates are a part of life now. No matter what you buy. I'm surprised they don't have them for microwave ovens haha

11-29-2007, 05:16 PM	#6
Xerious Special Member Member since:Mar 2007 Location:Washington, DC Blu-ray collection:238 Blu-ray reviews:4	why does your underwear need updating? because they get old and raggity... at least with bluray underwear you get more interactivity and online capabilities... i heard with the ps3 panties you get added rumbling!

11-29-2007, 05:17 PM	#7
savage1984 Banned Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Los Angeles	Microsoft seemed to start it. They wanted to get their product out to the market to make money on so bad, they sent it out with a ton of bugs. Later they would send firmwire updates. This way, they make more money and we get that sweet technology sooner, at our own expense. With bd players, it's a little different. Since the software keeps improving the hardware has the adaptability to update to match the software's capabilities. It's not as much debugging, but future-proofing.

11-29-2007, 05:43 PM	#8
u_nick Blu-ray Samurai Member since:Jan 2007 Location:CT, US Trading Score:27	Once computers got connected to the internet, updates became commonplace. Now that other devices are just as connected, why would anyone NOT want an update? It fixes bugs and delivers new options.

11-29-2007, 05:58 PM	#9
Rustmonsteru Expert Member Member since:Mar 2007	Imagine how many recalls you would have without firmware updates for almost any piece of electronics these days.

11-29-2007, 09:22 PM	#14
Clark Kent Blu-ray Prince Top contributor Member since:Oct 2007 Location:Metropolis Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:184	As the technology matures we will be seeing less and less firmware updates. Blu-ray discs are basically new technology at the cutting edge of several different fields(optics, materials science, java programming, etc) and a side-effect of that is problems that need to be solved after the players hit the market. I imagine in 18 months everything will be much more settled. I've been very happy with most of the BD manufacturers and their responsiveness to issues arising from outdated firmware.

11-30-2007, 12:10 AM	#15
ryoohki Blu-ray Samurai Member since:May 2007 Home Theater Gallery:6 Blu-ray collection:6 Blu-ray reviews:8 Trading Score:5	The more complex things are, the more bug you can it them. Remember those are programmed by people and people makes error Just like at AVR, a lot of higher end have Ethernet Web Updates now..

11-30-2007, 12:46 AM	#16
lch Senior Member Member since:Aug 2007 4K collection:103 Blu-ray collection:813 Blu-ray reviews:1	even upscaling dvd player and some 7" portable dvd player also need firmware update.

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