Ask questions to The Digital Bits team (Bill Hunt, Jeff Kleist et.al.)

[Jeff Kleist]

That's something you need to take up with MS then. The Zune from what I just read doesn't have a video DRM system, and without that it's not going to work, and the studios aren't going to put out open copies of their movies

[Bobby Henderson]

Originally Posted by patrick99

So far, though, I don't believe the digital copy has been on the actual Blu-ray disc.

I think it could be a bad idea to include the digital copies in the Blu-ray disc, especially if the movie is single disc release.

Lots of movies need a dual layer BD50 disc to "breathe" and get those video bit rates high enough to keep small object detail and grain structure intact. Throw in a bunch of extra features and then cram a digital copy version of the movie in for good measure and suddenly the movie itself will be cramped for space and stuck with being encoded at more severe levels of video compression.

I think it would be better to have viewers download digital copy versions designed to play on iPods, iPhones, etc. via BD Live versus having that data use up valuable real estate on the disc itself. I would feel different if the title was a 2 disc release. It's just a bad idea for single disc. Preserving video quality of the main feature, the Blu-ray movie, has to be priority #1.

I have at least a couple or so movies in my collection with "digital copy" discs and haven't used any of them. It seems especially stupid for the digital copy discs to require activation and have expiration dates. That has worsened my lack of enthusiasm for the things. It's needlessly complicated. To me, the only kind of "digital copy" that's worth a hoot is a regular DVD. Sleeping Beauty is the only BD release I know of to include a standard DVD version as a bonus item.

[patrick99]

Originally Posted by Bobby Henderson

I think it could be a bad idea to include the digital copies in the Blu-ray disc, especially if the movie is single disc release.

Lots of movies need a dual layer BD50 disc to "breathe" and get those video bit rates high enough to keep small object detail and grain structure intact. Throw in a bunch of extra features and then cram a digital copy version of the movie in for good measure and suddenly the movie itself will be cramped for space and stuck with being encoded at more severe levels of video compression.

I think it would be better to have viewers download digital copy versions designed to play on iPods, iPhones, etc. via BD Live versus having that data use up valuable real estate on the disc itself. I would feel different if the title was a 2 disc release. It's just a bad idea for single disc. Preserving video quality of the main feature, the Blu-ray movie, has to be priority #1.

I have at least a couple or so movies in my collection with "digital copy" discs and haven't used any of them. It seems especially stupid for the digital copy discs to require activation and have expiration dates. That has worsened my lack of enthusiasm for the things. It's needlessly complicated. To me, the only kind of "digital copy" that's worth a hoot is a regular DVD. Sleeping Beauty is the only BD release I know of to include a standard DVD version as a bonus item.

Believe me, I was not advocating putting the digital copy on the Blu-ray disc itself. Personally, I have no interest whatever in having a digital copy. Even putting it on a second disc seems to me a bad idea, since that either means there is nothing else on that disc (so that actual extras are on the same disc as the movie) or that the disc with the digital copy is a DVD rather than a BD so that any genuine extras on that disc are DVD quality. Only if the digital copy is on a third disc are these issues avoided. But then you have packaging issues.

[NoQuestion]

Jeff,

Have you or Bill heard anything from the studios regarding more chic flicks for Valentine's Day? I am looking at movies like Atonement, Definately, Maybe etc. My girlfriend is dying for some more chic flicks.

[Jeff Kleist]

Lots of movies need a dual layer BD50 disc to "breathe" and get those video bit rates high enough to keep small object detail and grain structure intact. Throw in a bunch of extra features and then cram a digital copy version of the movie in for good measure and suddenly the movie itself will be cramped for space and stuck with being encoded at more severe levels of video compression.

The biggest digital copy out there is 1.65GB that I've seen, and that's for Prince Caspian which is quite a long movie. It's not going to make a lot of difference on a BD50. The copies are going to move on-disc, it's simply a question of when

Given that you can stuff about 2 hours and 40min on a BD-50 at maximum bitrate, I really don't see it being an issue as that time covers 90+% of the movies ever made, if not more

I'm sure there are, just none on my Radar. In the meantime the Last Holiday and Ghost releases from Paramount are really good for chick flick fodder

[jag2007]

What happened to Godzilla 1998? I thought it was supposed to come this year '08?

[Jeff Kleist]

Catalog titles get moved around all the time

Emmerich has yet another disaster movie coming, maybe when that comes out

[jag2007]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Catalog titles get moved around all the time

Emmerich has yet another disaster movie coming, maybe when that comes out

Thanks that was fast!! Keep up the good work!

[Slec]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

The biggest digital copy out there is 1.65GB that I've seen, and that's for Prince Caspian which is quite a long movie. It's not going to make a lot of difference on a BD50. The copies are going to move on-disc, it's simply a question of when

Given that you can stuff about 2 hours and 40min on a BD-50 at maximum bitrate, I really don't see it being an issue as that time covers 90+% of the movies ever made, if not more

Do you foresee this as taking up space that could be given to extras/special features? I generally don't care about these but they are getting more and more interesting (see TDK and Death Race)

[woodlandwolf]

In the next few years could we ever see like the Walt Diney Treasures like dvd in bluray? It would be nice to have Mickey and the gang in 1080p and I dont care about the price, I would pay alot of those great cartoon classics.

Also I know this is a maybe in our lifetime of ever seeing this title coe out, but couyld we ever see Song of the South in Blu. Another one I would pay somegood bucks for.

And for my last question for now, sinec its Christmas and I was really hoping for some great Blu Christmas titles like the classic Rankin/Bass cartoons, Charlie Brown, the 2 Disney Santa Clauses, Santa Clause the movie, The animated Grinch, could those be in the pipe line maybe or next Christmas?



Thank you for taking your time and answering these questions from us and you and your family have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Woodlandwolf

[Jeff Kleist]

Also I know this is a maybe in our lifetime of ever seeing this title coe out, but couyld we ever see Song of the South in Blu. Another one I would pay somegood bucks for.

I don't see it happening under the current regime. You'd probably do best praying to John Lassetter at this point to be honest

And for my last question for now, sinec its Christmas and I was really hoping for some great Blu Christmas titles like the classic Rankin/Bass cartoons, Charlie Brown, the 2 Disney Santa Clauses, Santa Clause the movie, The animated Grinch, could those be in the pipe line maybe or next Christmas?

As evergreens, they'd certainly be a sooner rather than later item

[Anthony P]

Believe me, I was not advocating putting the digital copy on the Blu-ray disc itself. Personally, I have no interest whatever in having a digital copy. Even putting it on a second disc seems to me a bad idea, since that either means there is nothing else on that disc (so that actual extras are on the same disc as the movie) or that the disc with the digital copy is a DVD rather than a BD so that any genuine extras on that disc are DVD quality. Only if the digital copy is on a third disc are these issues avoided. But then you have packaging issues.

not sure what you mean

1) (when BD is prevalent enough) why can't you have two disks with disk 1 -movie and extras - and disk 2 - DC and extras
2) a BD player (stand alone or PC SW) will be able to play HD extras even if they are on a DVD-9, and the DC is useless for a stand alone DVD player and why would you try and watch the extras on a different player then the one you watch the movie (i.e. who would want to try and watch the extras that came in their BD case on DVD player just because the DC and some extras are on a DVD?)

[patrick99]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

not sure what you mean

1) (when BD is prevalent enough) why can't you have two disks with disk 1 -movie and extras - and disk 2 - DC and extras
2) a BD player (stand alone or PC SW) will be able to play HD extras even if they are on a DVD-9, and the DC is useless for a stand alone DVD player and why would you try and watch the extras on a different player then the one you watch the movie (i.e. who would want to try and watch the extras that came in their BD case on DVD player just because the DC and some extras are on a DVD?)

And I am not sure what you mean.

Don't all BD players play DVDs?

How can there be HD extras on a DVD?

[Jeff Kleist]

there can be HD extras on a DVD, so long as it adheres to the transfer capabilities (limited to under 15mpbs i believe). the real problem would be player compatibility because the player might not be set up to play it back

Won't happen

Studios want to press one disc as default. The goal is to stop pressing 2 discs just for digital copy

[patrick99]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

there can be HD extras on a DVD, so long as it adheres to the transfer capabilities (limited to under 15mpbs i believe). the real problem would be player compatibility because the player might not be set up to play it back

Won't happen

Studios want to press one disc as default. The goal is to stop pressing 2 discs just for digital copy

One easy way to achieve that is to skip the digital copy. Amazon's four cent price difference on Prince Caspian and Wall-E with and without digital copy suggests that someone understands that this is a feature that consumers don't care about enough to pay for.

[Jeff Kleist]

Originally Posted by patrick99

One easy way to achieve that is to skip the digital copy. Amazon's four cent price difference on Prince Caspian and Wall-E with and without digital copy suggests that someone understands that this is a feature that consumers don't care about enough to pay for.

There's more to it than that. The question is more "Is this a feature they will specifically seek out, all things being equal"

[Esox50]

I used to think, "Who cares about the Digital Copy?" When I got my iphone earlier this year, that all changed. Now it's like I cannot live without them. They help pass the time in airports, on the train, etc...

[patrick99]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

There's more to it than that. The question is more "Is this a feature they will specifically seek out, all things being equal"

That is, if it doesn't cost extra?

[Jeff Kleist]

Originally Posted by patrick99

That is, if it doesn't cost extra?

Yes. By offering it as a seperate item they're testing it for both the online crowd and for the retail crowd, who have very different buying habits.

CAN they charge more?

SHOULD they charge more?

Digital copy is going to be a standard feature in a few years, as soon as they can move it on-disc, and it's just going to be standard on the upper tier titles till then

[patrick99]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

Yes. By offering it as a seperate item they're testing it for both the online crowd and for the retail crowd, who have very different buying habits.

CAN they charge more?

SHOULD they charge more?

Digital copy is going to be a standard feature in a few years, as soon as they can move it on-disc, and it's just going to be standard on the upper tier titles till then

To some extent it's like the HD DVD combo disc. In most cases you don't have a choice, so that even if you don't want it (like me) you have to take it and if they charge extra, you end up paying for something you don't want.