Is Sony Getting Cold Feet On 4K Blu Ray?

[steve1971]

I read an article over on the AVS Forum's that Sony will not be releasing a 4K Blu ray player because they are going to play the "Wait And See" game. LG, Samsung and Panasonic have all gone ahead and are coming out with 4K Blu ray players but not Sony? What give's? Dont tell me that the company thats been backing 4K for the past 3 years are starting to get cold feet? Personally I think its the right move by Sony to be playing the "Wait And See" game and it seems that for now they are going to the streaming route. What do some of you think of this move by Sony?

[Geoff D]

Sony have been backing 4K and will continue to do so, they've just not been backing 4K disc. They're VERY lukewarm on the idea and have been for a while.

[McCrutchy]

No, I think Sony knows that their first standalone Blu-ray players were notorious among early adopters, and so they're probably content to be one of the last to introduce UHD players.

And a big clue is that they did announce a new standalone with Hi-res Audio support--including DVD-A and SACD. They probably see that as a fair substitute:

http://www.cnet.com/products/sony-uhp-h1/

[steve1971]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Sony have been backing 4K and will continue to do so, they've just not been backing 4K disc. They're VERY lukewarm on the idea and have been for a while.

I didnt know that Geoff that they were lukewarm on the 4K disc idea. Hell I thought they would have been the first in line with a 4K player. But now that I know this by what you said I guess I was wrong. But here's my question? Why come out with 4K disc's if they are lukewarm to the idea and have been as you say? If their goal is streaming why bother?

[Ruined]

Sony wants 4K streaming/downloads, not disc.

[steve1971]

Originally Posted by McCrutchy

No, I think Sony knows that their first standalone Blu-ray players were notorious among early adopters, and so they're probably content to be one of the last to introduce UHD players.

And a big clue is that they did announce a new standalone with Hi-res Audio support--including DVD-A and SACD. They probably see that as a fair substitute:

http://www.cnet.com/products/sony-uhp-h1/

I said I wasnt going to do no upgrades for 2016 but I do like Sony's new Blu ray player. Nice they included the display on the front this time. Might be a birthday present for me come June 28th! Thanks for the link McCrutchy!

[HDTV1080P]

When I purchase a Blu-ray player, I have always went with OPPO, Sony, and Panasonic models. Samsung and LG keep improving their Blu-ray players over the years when compared to the earlier generations. I was also disappointed in Sony saying the following:

Quote

“Update:Twice Magazine reports that Sony President Kazuo Hirai says Sony will release a 4K player if the format "takes off."

http://www.tvpredictions.com/ces010716.htm

When I read the above quote it makes me think that Sony might not release a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player if the sales of Sony 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray titles do not reach a certain quantity level. It also suggests that maybe 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs might go out of production in a few years if 4K download and 4K streaming win the format war.

I am glad that Sony was honest in the above quote. I wish Sony would have had a different policy and would have said that they plan on releasing a Sony brand 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player in late 2016 or early 2017. It would be in Sony’s best interest to at least release one or two generations of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players since they are one of the main companies that are part of the Blu-ray Disc Association.

We will need to wait for professional reviews to be released to see which companies have the best 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player on the market.

I would strongly recommend all Blu-ray owners to pre-order at least two 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray titles this year. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are bundled with a standard 1080P Blu-ray disc. In theory the 4K Ultra HD format overtime should become more popular when compared to Blu-ray 3D since consumers do not need to wear any special 3D glasses.

If consumers decide to go with 4K streaming and 4K download instead, then within a few years 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs could go out of production. Hopefully at the very minimum 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs might become a niche format like Laserdisc was, with around 2 million consumers supporting the format.




Currently there is no videogame systems that support 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. Currently there is no 4K Ultra HD BD-ROM drives with software for use with desktop and Notebook computers. Hopefully that will change in the future.

[Rblu-Dblu]

I hate the idea of not being able to own a physical copy of something. But that's a different debate.

[IXOYE1989]

Japan is already pushing 8K, while skipping 4K entirely. Perhaps they'll release 8K players within the next couple years.

[steve1971]

Originally Posted by HDTV1080P

When I purchase a Blu-ray player, I have always went with OPPO, Sony, and Panasonic models. Samsung and LG keep improving their Blu-ray players over the years when compared to the earlier generations. I was also disappointed in Sony saying the following:

Quote

“Update:Twice Magazine reports that Sony President Kazuo Hirai says Sony will release a 4K player if the format "takes off."

http://www.tvpredictions.com/ces010716.htm

When I read the above quote it makes me think that Sony might not release a 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player if the sales of Sony 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray titles do not reach a certain quantity level. It also suggests that maybe 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs might go out of production in a few years if 4K download and 4K streaming win the format war.

I am glad that Sony was honest in the above quote. I wish Sony would have had a different policy and would have said that they plan on releasing a Sony brand 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player in late 2016 or early 2017. It would be in Sony’s best interest to at least release one or two generations of 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players since they are one of the main companies that are part of the Blu-ray Disc Association.

We will need to wait for professional reviews to be released to see which companies have the best 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player on the market.

I would strongly recommend all Blu-ray owners to pre-order at least two 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray titles this year. The 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs are bundled with a standard 1080P Blu-ray disc. In theory the 4K Ultra HD format overtime should become more popular when compared to Blu-ray 3D since consumers do not need to wear any special 3D glasses.

If consumers decide to go with 4K streaming and 4K download instead, then within a few years 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs could go out of production. Hopefully at the very minimum 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs might become a niche format like Laserdisc was, with around 2 million consumers supporting the format.




Currently there is no videogame systems that support 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. Currently there is no 4K Ultra HD BD-ROM drives with software for use with desktop and Notebook computers. Hopefully that will change in the future.

What I am wondering is is if 4K dont take off in 2016 will Sony pull out of the market all together? This is not good news for Sony supporters period! Those big beautiful Sony 4K tv's will have no Sony 4K Blu ray players to compliment them in 2016? In reading between the lines I'm thinking again that if 4K does not take off in 2016 Sony is going to pull the plug and get out of the market all together. I could see Sony President Kazuo Hirai doing this very thing. His statement is a warning of what is to come.

[MisterXDTV]

Sony will support 4K for a long time, they simply don't care about a new disc format in 2016... They have their own proprietary streaming service....

[thecalm_7]

Sony is a wonderful company, I own as much as I can but the American market is finicky at best, we're a cheap market, and one that is only getting worse. I'll say it again, most consumers don't even grasp 1080p much less 4K.
Through the last decade, Sony has had quite a few flops, particularly here. Vaio, Xperia, Sony Ericsson, PS Vita, PS TV, PSP, Minidisc, and it seems like something else I have, all sold sub-par in comparison to their competitors. They were wonderful products that I still use daily, but the masses were cold to them. Used to be Sony was the TV to have, but now people are happy buying crap 720p still. So o see Sony playing the slow horse this round might just keep them afloat if 4K flops, but if it works, they're only out of some revenue while still getting $$ from discs and tv

[Rory]

F**K Sony! My two BD players are Panasonics, and that's what my first UHD player will be... dammit!

[Pondosinatra]

You guys just don't get it...

So, player breaks, decide to upgrade to a new player etc. Your disc won’t play. Buy a used disc from someone? Disc won’t play. You need to clear your players memory for whatever reason? Disc won’t play. Friend wants to borrow a movie? Forget about it. China doesn’t like a particular movie? Easy for them to block it via this mechanism. Worse, anyone not knowing all these new rules could find themselves slapped with a lawsuit from the MPIAA because you’ve been flagged as a pirate for playing an unauthorized disc.

Looks like I’ll have to be content with 1080p until I die. Likely stock up on the last players from Pioneer and/or Oppo before all this BS is implemented in new players.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by steve1971

I read an article over on the AVS Forum's that Sony will not be releasing a 4K Blu ray player because they are going to play the "Wait And See" game. LG, Samsung and Panasonic have all gone ahead and are coming out with 4K Blu ray players but not Sony? What give's? Dont tell me that the company thats been backing 4K for the past 3 years are starting to get cold feet? Personally I think its the right move by Sony to be playing the "Wait And See" game and it seems that for now they are going to the streaming route. What do some of you think of this move by Sony?

Sony Electronics is not faring that well. Look they closed all their stateside stores they used to have in the last year. So you have Sony Studios releasing UHD BD's, and Sony Electronics thinking that just perhaps a new 4K streaming service might be more viable, but also saying if UHD BD's sell adquately they will make a player. BTW these are the same group that took all their high-end sony BD players and went cheap and plastic.

[xxBachelor1981xx]

Damn I have a Sony 1080P TV, Sony Bluray Player and Sony Sound Bar. I really like Sony and was hoping to upgrade to 4k with Sony Products. I hate streaming though. If 4K doesn't take off I wonder if we will see the last of the disc format. Seems like everything is going to streaming which sucks.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by xxBachelor1981xx

Damn I have a Sony 1080P TV, Sony Bluray Player and Sony Sound Bar. I really like Sony and was hoping to upgrade to 4k with Sony Products. I hate streaming though. If 4K doesn't take off I wonder if we will see the last of the disc format. Seems like everything is going to streaming which sucks.

Haven't we listened to lots of business pundits that think media is EOL and streaming is the future. Well high speed internet just isn't there yet, and you still have caps involved with most ISP's.

As for those discs, Sanders noted that Warner will begin delivering titles over the Spring and Summer of this year, with the biggest push planned for the holidays. Dunn agreed with this, adding that (between all the content providers) there were likely to be more than 100 titles delivered in the 4th quarter of 2016. Fox plans to release all of their upcoming theatrical slate on UHD BD, supplemented by key catalog titles. Sony too plans on digging deep into their catalog, with Singh naming The Guns of Navarone and The Bridge on the River Kwai as among titles to watch for.

One thing the various studios reps could not discuss at this event was specific launch windows and price points for Ultra HD Blu-ray, though they do expect to make those announcements very soon. I did learn from Fox reps however that all of their Ultra HD Blu-ray titles will include HDR and will come packaged with a regular Blu-ray copy of the film as well as a Digital HD option. Warner Bros. reps also told me that their price point for Ultra HD Blu-ray releases would be “premium” but comparable to Blu-ray 3D. They also plan to include regular Blu-ray and Digital HD copies of the film as options in the package.

As for a general launch window for Ultra HD Blu-ray, we’re still hearing end of February to early March, with title availability timed to the arrival of the first players. We do expect to hear details on the first actual UHD Blu-ray players from Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, and LG starting tomorrow. Watch also for possible additional title news over the next few days, including word of the first UHD BD titles from Lionsgate.

[Mobe1969]

Originally Posted by xxBachelor1981xx

Damn I have a Sony 1080P TV, Sony Bluray Player and Sony Sound Bar. I really like Sony and was hoping to upgrade to 4k with Sony Products. I hate streaming though. If 4K doesn't take off I wonder if we will see the last of the disc format. Seems like everything is going to streaming which sucks.

I'd put up with it if it was download (like itunes can still do), but not st(r)eaming. Give me something I can queue up, irrespective of how crappy my link is, and watch when I'm ready without having it degrade due to congestion or just general link speed... I just get filled with sheer rage at the manufacturers and providers opf this BS. I mean why can't you get an appletv or chromecast or amazon fire with a decent chunk of storage and download on that?

That said, if the streaming and downloadable digital copies are anything like the current offerings, it makes me despair. Little or no extras, no proper chapter stops (I miss not being able to skip to the end of a tv title sequence), no proper unobtrusive subtitles... Oh, and no 3d. And no 1.5 speed playback with sound like I have on my old PS3 (for watching extras faster :P ). Seriously, extras are the one thing I wish was available online, so I could say just listen to a commentary on my mobile when I'm gardening or doing chores.

[SixSpeedSamurai]

I hold a firm belief that Blu-Ray will be the last major physical media format. It's not even fully adopted. Streaming is the future. We will be the vinyl collectors of the 90's. I personally like to physically own my movies (and music), but it does not blind me to the consumer trends.

That being said, I picked up a Sony BDP-6500 last year as it was not expensive and I can wait on Oppo to make a 4K disc player for my jump. 4K will not take off, but I'll at least have the option on something that will play all my standard Blu-Rays as well.

As far as Sony goes, I don't blame them for being hesitant. They have gone downhill in my opinion and are overpriced, but I was at least happy to see a decent price on their top Blu-Ray player this time (the 6500) and I think the PS4 is fairly priced as well.

[HDTV1080P]

The original PlayStation plays audio CD’s with its CD-ROM drive, PlayStation 2 plays DVD’s with its DVD-ROM drive, and the PlayStation 3 plays Blu-rays with its BD-ROM drive. It is too bad Sony did not launch the PlayStation 4 with the ability to play 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. It would have helped the new format if a major videogame system supported native 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.

Another issue is that I have not heard of any computer manufactory releasing 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray drives with playback software yet. Perhaps that will come toward the end of 2016. In the past the first optical drives like DVD-ROM’s and BD-ROM’s came out just before or around the same time standalone DVD players and Blu-ray players were released (1997 for DVD and 2006 for Blu-ray).

In the near future standalone 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray players will be the only way that consumers can use the new format.