Archived: Insiders Thread

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by JadedRaverLA

Paid: can you clarify that for me? The disc is already released in Japan and Korea but I haven't seen a U.S. announcement yet.

Also, I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of AVS. They are definitely an important forum, and I definitely think that Blu-ray should be represented. But given the current environment, I don't know how you could stand to be there. And now that Amir is on strike to keep the new format, I imagine it will likely stay the horrible grudge match that it has become. Anyway, thank you again for all that you do.

Sorry, you're right, it came out in Japan months ago. It will be out in Europe and the US, probably early next year.

[pepar]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

I did not intend to leave anyone with the impression that I was disgusted and would not post over there just to make a point. For me the problem is that with all the shouting and nonesense, it is hard for legitimate questions to even be seen and shouting back is not acceptable for me.

Nor me, either. I and a few others came to this forum for uncontaminated information on BD.

I think these things go in cycles. A few days, weeks, or whatever and I'm sure it will get back to normal. Maybe everyone just needs to make sure they are taking their medication.

An optimist, eh?

Can you tell me what implications there might be for soon-to-be-released 1.0 players when a 2.0 player has been announced?

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by kitzi

On the other forum Talk said it was 60% in terms of dollers...not total units? I like you numbers better...What talk describes seems a bit deceptive to me.

Good to see you back posting...Any chance of seeing Saving Silverman?

I don't know what the source was for that number, so Talk may be right. NPD would be a for this, but I have not seen a report.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by pepar

Nor me, either. I and a few others came to this forum for uncontaminated information on BD.


An optimist, eh?

Can you tell me what implications there might be for soon-to-be-released 1.0 players when a 2.0 player has been announced?

1.0 players will alsways be able to playback the principle content on the disc. Of course they will not be able to support network or PiP features. The 2.0 player announcement is exciting, but we have not tested it yet, so I will be happier once I know it is ready for prime time...

[4K display]

paidgeek

Sorry if this has been covered.. Are moveable subtitles going to become standard with SPE widescope films or will this be done on a title by title basis?

Immortal Beloved was fantastic btw...

[hyperdine]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

Superbad is pretty damn funny.

Paid,
Superbad was one of the funniest movies I've seen in a long time. I'm glad to see that it's doing so well at the box-office. Do you think this will make it out to Blu-Ray before the end of the year, or is it more of an early '08 title? It doesn't seem like it would be a great looking in terms of picture quality, but it would definitely be a hot title to have on Blu-Ray.

[WickyWoo]

Any way you can talk to marketing about next time not advertising the movie to death? I refuse to see it theatrically because I probably spent close to its total running time watching the trailer over the last 4 months

[pepar]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

1.0 players will alsways be able to playback the principle content on the disc. Of course they will not be able to support network or PiP features. The 2.0 player announcement is exciting, but we have not tested it yet, so I will be happier once I know it is ready for prime time...

It is definitely exciting as it is exactly what's been keeping me from jumping in. 1.1 would probably do it for me, but networking is a nice extra touch that will be more important going forward.

[dominica]

Paid,

Is Sony planning any other music titles before the end of the year? The Alica Keys "Alicia Keys - MTV Unplugged (2005)”. It looks very good & sounded even greater on DVD. Many Best Buys in NY area use it on the 70 XBR2 to demo SD Video. The DVD grabs the attention of many shoppers. Would be a great title to add to the music Blu-Rays. Also do you know if they are going to put the full season of The Legend Of Jazz on Blu. I know that there is the best of seaon one on Blu, but I see them advertising the box set for the full season on DVD.

Thanks.

[blitz6speed]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

A lot of effort has gone into making new HD masters. We may release this some time next year, but given that it is an episodic comedy, I think we should release it with some innovative added value. Maybe a Seinfeld trivia game or something. The fact that it is being released in HD may not be enough to get people to buy it if they already have the DVD. What do you think?

I think it would be silly to NOT release this on BD now in time for the holidays. I would buy it FOR SURE, and many others would see it as a sign of good faith that not just blockbusters but everything has a chance on BD. It also shows that older shows shot on film can look exceptional in HD and hearing "Thats gold jerry, gold!" in PCM lossless would be priceless =) Seriously, you have my vote 100% to make it happen.

[onyxx]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

A lot of effort has gone into making new HD masters. We may release this some time next year, but given that it is an episodic comedy, I think we should release it with some innovative added value. Maybe a Seinfeld trivia game or something. The fact that it is being released in HD may not be enough to get people to buy it if they already have the DVD. What do you think?

Of course I can only speak for my self but I would purchase this on BD in a flash, even now when I own almost the whole DVD collection. I must say that next year seems a little late considering most fans will get the complete collection on DVD in December, and those who have the complete collection might not be so easily convinced to upgrade (although I would). Should they be released simultaneously or at least in a closer timeline and only mirror the DVD extras (there are lots of it already) I don't see why anyone would go with the DVD.

You have seen the HD masters, do you think that the VQ difference is big enough to make Seinfeld fans sell their DVD collections or do you feel that you need to ad extra value features to make them do so?

Cheap BD players in December and The Complete Seinfeld Blu-ray Collection would make lot of people smile during the holidays...I know I would!

[Talkstr8t]

Originally Posted by gandley

Evidently 1 big exclusive manufactuer for BD is going to switch to producing HD DVD players, and 1 or 2 others will switch to being neutral.

If this refers to manufacturers currently producing players, I do not think it can possibly be true. It's almost unthinkable that Sony, Panasonic, or Philips would (as BDF founders), and I'd be shocked if Pioneer did. Samsung has already said "no standalone HD DVD players", and I have reason to believe LG remains committed to producing Blu-ray. That doesn't leave much of anyone else (who has released product, anyway) to become neutral or exclusive HD DVD.

- Talk

[Talkstr8t]

Originally Posted by Frode

Are there any provisions for that kind of use, or is BD Live limited only to discs that implicitly have networking code and what that code allows?

It might be tricky to implement, but 1.1 and 2.0 support Virtual File System (VFS) which allows disc updates present in local storage to effectively update old discs. So in theory Disney could ship PotC 3 with a mechanism that downloads updates to local storage which would then add new features to PotC 1 and/or 2 (or any other Disney title).

[Talkstr8t]

Originally Posted by *Enigma*

Is there a chance that the Sammy BD players just announced (1400 and 2400) might be either 1.1 capable (with no annoucnement yet) or perhaps upgradable to 1.1 at a later date?

I posted on AVS that I've been in a discussion with a vendor who has new 1.0 product being released which is believed capable of supporting 1.1 (or possibly even 2.0). They've not announced plans to do so, but are definitely considering it.

As far as the specs go; is it possible to be 2.0 compliant without being 1.1 compliant?

No.

[Talkstr8t]

Originally Posted by kitzi

On the other forum Talk said it was 60% in terms of dollers...not total units? I like you numbers better...What talk describes seems a bit deceptive to me.

We may be talking different numbers, they threw a lot of them up in short timing. The one I referred to has US Blu-ray standalone player sales as measured by total revenue with a 63% market share (60-something percent, I don't recall the exact number).

- Talk

[Razter]

Originally Posted by Talkstr8t

I posted on AVS that I've been in a discussion with a vendor who has new 1.0 product being released which is believed capable of supporting 1.1 (or possibly even 2.0). They've not announced plans to do so, but are definitely considering it.
No.

A simple yes or no question, will there be a 1.1 player out on the streets this year? I'm surprised that so many players have been announced with 1.0 this late in the game.

[Jish]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

A lot of effort has gone into making new HD masters. We may release this some time next year, but given that it is an episodic comedy, I think we should release it with some innovative added value. Maybe a Seinfeld trivia game or something. The fact that it is being released in HD may not be enough to get people to buy it if they already have the DVD. What do you think?

I will add my two cents to this...

I think the idea of seeing Seinfeld in HD is reason enough to buy it. Unlike a movie where many people may have seen it in a theatre and experienced it in high quality, for Seinfeld on Blu-ray every single person who buys it will be seeing it in HD quality for the first time.

I think it would be pretty groundbreaking! Of course I won't turn away any special features but I think a lot of people would be excited just for the HD quality.

[Frode]

Thanks a lot for the BD Live answers, paid and talk. A follow-up if I may, would it be possible for a content provider to make an iso image for download, which when burned to a CDR, DVDR or BD-R can then either facilitate the download trigger, or contain the update itself for 1.1 players without a network connection?

I have a very specific use-case in mind: When the Innocence DVD was first released it contained SDH subtitles, but no proper translation for the original audio track. Dreamworks started up an exchange program as a result, and while the new discs had proper subtitles, the SDH track was gone. The ability for the user to download and update the subtitles themselves would not only reduce the need for exchange programs like that, but also presumably allow more choice. You also wouldn't need to buy another disc which may or may not have the network connectivity you need to get the update in question.

[akbungle]

Paid sorry for the ignorant question and I know you are a Sony insider but isn't Miramax part of Disney? The reason I ask is that I REALLY want Equilibrium in HD and I could import it on HDDVD but as it is I'm trying to buy as little in that format as possible let alone a expensive import without lossless/uncompressed audio.

Also Thanks for the remaster of The Fifth Element (one my favs)!!!! Do you have a rough idea of when Léon (A.K.A. The Professional) (just did a search "not on the schedule") might be released? So here's another vote to get Léon released on BD.

Also Thanks for all you've done/do at AVS.

[IamNhobdy]

Originally Posted by Jish

I will add my two cents to this...

I think the idea of seeing Seinfeld in HD is reason enough to buy it. Unlike a movie where many people may have seen it in a theatre and experienced it in high quality, for Seinfeld on Blu-ray every single person who buys it will be seeing it in HD quality for the first time.

I think it would be pretty groundbreaking! Of course I won't turn away any special features but I think a lot of people would be excited just for the HD quality.

Agreed.
I have actually been holding off on a lot of purchases including thisone on the assumption that, eventually, everything I really want will come to BD. And I have no problems with the black bars.

But if it must have some cool new thing, perhaps some kind of "Master of Your Domain" triva game, or some soup nazi recipies. Just an idea, probably not a new one.