"Club Penton" - Ask questions to Hollywood insider "Penton-Man"

[Monkey]

Originally Posted by mikey p

Thanks, I'm ROFLOL

+1, awesome.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Thank you for noticing and mentioning, as compliments are always welcomed.
And how did you like the Blu-ray of Ghostbusters itself ?

It's going into the player as I type this. I will let you know in a few hours if SPHE's little "run" of DaVinci & AFO continues with Ghostbusters...

[Jeff Kleist]

Hey Penton, I know you've been jonesing for a cheesesteak, and in the process of finding out from a friend where he gets his tastykakes in LA, I found this

http://www.eatphillysbest.com/locations/

Apparently they fly in real Amoroso rolls as well as their meats from Philly, and they advertise Franks's soda (the Black cherry is superb) and real philly birch beer

So go get your fix, my ex-pat friend whose tastebuds I trust has declared it to be good, not as good as getting it local, but an acceptible source of philly related food

I can't recommend their hoagies till I know who does the meats tho

[Brain Sturgeon]

Hey Penton--

Please extend kudos to the folks at SPHE for their fabulous work on the BD transfer of The International-- the video quality is just magnificent.

However, there is one issue that I wanted to point out, and that is the handling of the subtitles in this title. There were only a few, but they were partially in the bottom of the video and partially in the lower black bar. I know this issue has been beaten to death, but this is problematic for those of us that use CIH systems. Gran Torino (another great flick) also did this, although I will have to bug Warner Bros. on that one. I understand if the subtitles are entirely in the lower black bar or entirely in the lower portion of the video (much preferable for CIH systems), but I don't understand the half-in half-out technique. Movies in the theater place subtitles within the video frame, so I don't see why doing that on a home video presentation would be problematic. If you could pass that on to the powers that be, I'd greatly appreciate it. I would imagine that folks with non-scope systems wouldn't mind it, but I dunno, would a poll be in order?

Thanks mate!

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by Esox50

It's going into the player as I type this. I will let you know in a few hours if SPHE's little "run" of DaVinci & AFO continues with Ghostbusters...

I'm excited for Ghostbusters 3 now!!!

[Anthony P]

I don't think it has anything to do with "being accepted" as much as Steve Jobs deciding to allow it.

Jeff, not sure what you mean by this.

[Anthony P]

What was really sad was anyone who had paid attention to a select few insiders here (like Max), PLUS the leak from the guy at Lionsgate in the Fall of 07 (remember the whole, "Word is Warner is coming over to our side" fiasco), could "reasonably" conclude that Warner was leaning to going Blu in January 2008. Of course, "reasonable" is not a word I would use to describe a good majority of HD DVD'ers. I think by November of 2007, a few of us here were 95% sure WB was going Blu. From there, it was pure entertainment watching some people continue to live in their own little worlds missing the clues...

don't you know that made you a BD fanboy, anyone neutral knew that Warner and Fox would go HD DVD exclusive. Someone got it from a reliable source and posted it on AVS

[Jeff Kleist]

Jeff, not sure what you mean by this.

If a managed copy encoder were to work like a normal encoder would, and frankly I don't believe there will be anything in the form of ripping involved in any shape or form on "managed copy", simply an authorization of existing files already on the disc, then Steve Jobs would have to authorize them to develop an interface for this to be done inside of a player. Given his current attitude toward Blu-ray, I'm not optimistic.

I'm sure AACS/BDA are open to anyone creating an encoder for this scheme

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Jeff Kleist

If a managed copy encoder were to work like a normal encoder would, and frankly I don't believe there will be anything in the form of ripping involved in any shape or form on "managed copy", simply an authorization of existing files already on the disc, then Steve Jobs would have to authorize them to develop an interface for this to be done inside of a player. Given his current attitude toward Blu-ray, I'm not optimistic.

I'm sure AACS/BDA are open to anyone creating an encoder for this scheme

OK, but would studios continue with both, MC for everyone else and DC for i-tunes? Does Apple want peopleto be able to DL copies from their disks?

I don't know if Jobs has issues with BD, but my guess is that MC would be easier and cheaper for a studio, so they would prefer to use that (then again I don't know the rules/fees of MC), if that is the case fighting against MC does not make any sense. Does Jobs have issues with DC from a BD?

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by BluDomain

That's called the "Fog Factor" or "Fog Index" generally only used in
government publications. Which invite a quick scroll and doesn't serve
as communication. We all owe Alan thanks for his take so that
the rest can skim as fast as our dexterity with a mouse wheel allows.

I`ll be pithy - quite interesting to admit you're letting others do their thinking for you.

Still, I guess It's more fun to read things you agree with in their entirety, who has the time to read reflective posts unless they can be used as amunition to butress your own point of view?

Attacking the style rather than the substance, hardly the sign of rhetorical honesty, and in fact uncovers a quite disgusitng anti-intellectualism that plagues much of groupthink discourse... I again find it interesting that all some of you want is a series of bullet points that you can bat down with glee, despite very clear and repeated reasons why that's not going to happen, and especially not going to happen here. If that's the only thing you took from my posts, being either too lazy or too agravated to read them in their entirely, then please at least show the courtesy to ignore them. Equally, please don't pretend to know my arguments or rationale for making them, or repating an already tired demand for my list of greivance, asking me to present some mysterious hidden checklist detailing the of egregious behaviour by Blu Ray fans and spokespeople... I think my points have been made without a need for any list...

However, if this is genuine, why don't you invite some of those members that you are accusing of lies, deceipt, and corruption to state their case here? It's THEM that made the claims you feel are siginificantly worse than anything that came out of this camp, motivated by evil and corruption, and I'd suggest that that may be more ready to provide a list of their own grievances that rival Grubert's.

If it's an honest and open debate you're looking for, why not open up the conversation fully and actively seek out this alternate point of view?

Or did I just call your bluff?

(This fits on a single page of my monitor, I hope your scroll finger hasn't cramped from the lack of activity this time...)

[hollywoodguy]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

(...) But then again, I take this thing far less seriously than some... (...)

Clearly.

[Eternal_Sunshine]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

I`ll be pithy - quite interesting to admit you're letting others do their thinking for you.

Could your horse get any higher?

Originally Posted by sharkshark

Attacking the style rather than the substance (...)

Our problem is that there is no substance, only what you call style...

[bt12483]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

...
However, if this is genuine, why don't you invite some of those members that you are accusing of lies, deceipt, and corruption to state their case here? It's THEM that made the claims you feel are siginificantly worse than anything that came out of this camp, motivated by evil and corruption, and I'd suggest that that may be more ready to provide a list of their own grievances that rival Grubert's.

If it's an honest and open debate you're looking for, why not open up the conversation fully and actively seek out this alternate point of view?

Or did I just call your bluff?

So your plan is to invite proven liars into an honest debate?

Yeah..........

I will be right back...got some oil and vinegar I want to mix harmoniously together in the kitchen....

Obviously you keep teasing some sort of counter-argument that both sides were equally "evil", or maybe just that the HD DVD side wasn't as "evil" as they are being portrayed - so how about you actually present your theory one of these days...instead of this incessant teasing and beating around the bush. It's getting really old.

Go to AVS, tell amirm to come here, and deliver his version of the "truth". Ask him to explain to us why he said things like BD50s are science fiction, and would easily cost $200/disc or more to produce. Especially since I believe the going rate for 10k BD50s is now about $2.66/disc or lower. amirm was only off by a factor of +10. It would be like me saying the xbox360 costs $2990 and will never be able to deliver 1080p media. Explain to me how someone so knowledgeable, an "insider", can be so off base with his "information" at the time.

While at AVS, ask rdjam to fess up to the following:

I have a good idea of what the first TL51 title may be, and the studio, but that is unconfirmed and would only cause problems for everyone if I started discussing it, but as I hear it, you will know in January if all goes well......I did not receive any specific information relating to what the offical playback spec would be for TL51. My assumption is that testing is ongoing to determine the fastest playback rates that they can reliably obtain with the hardware being tested, before formal determination. Tens of thousand of Triple Layer discs have already been replicated for testing and more continues with the TL51 design on various lines.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...1#post11906658

Surely since this is all water under the bridge now he will have no problem telling us just what that first TL51 title was going to be, right? And shedding light on whatever other "confidential" information he had about TL51, right? I mean - strange how an ordinary internet poster divulges more info about TL51 than Toshiba themselves.................................right? I mean, a working TL51 demo was never shown publicly (they were always locked tight in a glass case), no one knows if TL51s would have even played in all HD DVD players...yet somehow rdjam has the inside scoop....Hmmmm.....


Or go to highdefforum and tell Lee Stewart to quit sh*tting on bluray for one goddamn second of the day and come here to explain why he loved HDM in a red case yet HATES it in a blu case. Weird that a self declared "HD fanatic" such as him would intentionally bypass the ultimate in HD quality.


Or go to highdefdigest and tell mikemorel to explain why, only after HD DVD died, did he suddenly become a peddler for any and all kinds of digital media, including but not limited to youtube, hulu, Roku, xbox live, SD download card kiosks...the list goes on and on. Anything but bluray.

Please tell me why/how any rational person that loved and enjoyed the hell out of HD DVD can still to this day not have a bluray player, like some of the above mentioned people. If that doesn't at least partially prove their "intentions", what else will?

And you want to invite these people to have an honest discussion? You are asking for a rational discussion with irrational people.

Maybe we can also invite a suicide bomber to a love and peace rally - I am sure he has some viewpoints that could open our eyes to his version of the truth. I am sure all of that "death to the infidels" stuff is just posturing, and he is really a nice guy.

So please, enough is enough, if both sides are equally "evil" and dishonest, it should be no tall task to simply state an analogous lie or exaggeration from the bluray side. So, what is the bluray sides analog to amir's "BD50s are science fiction and will cost $200+/disc"?

[aygie]

Originally Posted by bt12483

So your plan is to invite proven liars into an honest debate?

Yeah..........

I will be right back...got some oil and vinegar I want to mix harmoniously together in the kitchen....

Obviously you keep teasing some sort of counter-argument that both sides were equally "evil", or maybe just that the HD DVD side wasn't as "evil" as they are being portrayed - so how about you actually present your theory one of these days...instead of this incessant teasing and beating around the bush. It's getting really old.

Go to AVS, tell amirm to come here, and deliver his version of the "truth". Ask him to explain to us why he said things like BD50s are science fiction, and would easily cost $200/disc or more to produce. Especially since I believe the going rate for 10k BD50s is now about $2.66/disc or lower. amirm was only off by a factor of +10. It would be like me saying the xbox360 costs $2990 and will never be able to deliver 1080p media. Explain to me how someone so knowledgeable, an "insider", can be so off base with his "information" at the time.

While at AVS, ask rdjam to fess up to the following:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showt...1#post11906658

Surely since this is all water under the bridge now he will have no problem telling us just what that first TL51 title was going to be, right? And shedding light on whatever other "confidential" information he had about TL51, right? I mean - strange how an ordinary internet poster divulges more info about TL51 than Toshiba themselves.................................right? I mean, a working TL51 demo was never shown publicly (they were always locked tight in a glass case), no one knows if TL51s would have even played in all HD DVD players...yet somehow rdjam has the inside scoop....Hmmmm.....


Or go to highdefforum and tell Lee Stewart to quit sh*tting on bluray for one goddamn second of the day and come here to explain why he loved HDM in a red case yet HATES it in a blu case. Weird that a self declared "HD fanatic" such as him would intentionally bypass the ultimate in HD quality.


Or go to highdefdigest and tell mikemorel to explain why, only after HD DVD died, did he suddenly become a peddler for any and all kinds of digital media, including but not limited to youtube, hulu, Roku, xbox live, SD download card kiosks...the list goes on and on. Anything but bluray.

Please tell me why/how any rational person that loved and enjoyed the hell out of HD DVD can still to this day not have a bluray player, like some of the above mentioned people. If that doesn't at least partially prove their "intentions", what else will?

And you want to invite these people to have an honest discussion? You are asking for a rational discussion with irrational people.

Maybe we can also invite a suicide bomber to a love and peace rally - I am sure he has some viewpoints that could open our eyes to his version of the truth. I am sure all of that "death to the infidels" stuff is just posturing, and he is really a nice guy.

So please, enough is enough, if both sides are equally "evil" and dishonest, it should be no tall task to simply state an analogous lie or exaggeration from the bluray side. So, what is the bluray sides analog to amir's "BD50s are science fiction and will cost $200+/disc"?

Best
Post
Ever.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

Attacking the style rather than the substance, hardly the sign of rhetorical honesty, and in fact uncovers a quite disgusitng anti-intellectualism that plagues much of groupthink discourse...

I can't hear you! I can't hear you! Too many big words! Fog! Fog!

AWOOOOOOGAH!

Don't you understand, sharkshark? We're not here to read. This forum is for witty rejoinders and virtual high-fives only! So get in line or run off to one of your "thinking" places.

[awx]

I started coming to this forum after I left Avs to get away from the disingenuous Red Ants. Their tactical/baiting posts are tiring to read, especially after the format war has been over for so long.

I hate seeing another Red Ant ruin another insider thread.

[Doctorossi]

Originally Posted by awx

I hate seeing another Red Ant ruin another insider thread.

Yes, this poor thread is disintegrating under the weight of a guy defending himself against dismissive posturing.

How can we possibly talk about movies NOW?!

[sharkshark]

Originally Posted by Doctorossi

I can't hear you! I can't hear you! Too many big words! Fog! Fog!

AWOOOOOOGAH!

Don't you understand, sharkshark? We're not here to read. This forum is for witty rejoinders and virtual high-fives only! So get in line or run off to one of your "thinking" places.

Yeah, some of these people are realllly touchy, aren't they?

"BLAHBLAHBLAH TOO MANY WORDS! WAIT, THERE'S A LIST! WHY NO COUNTER LIST! ARE YOU LYING! WE DID =NOTHING WRONG=!!!!! THESE PEOPLE ARE ALL LIARS! TERRORISTS!! SUICIDE BOMBERS!!!!! BRING THE PITCHFORKS!!!!! KILL!!! KILL!!! KILL!!!!!!!"

Awesome.

You guys -know- this is a home video format, one that you either buy, or you don't, right? And, most importantly, just because you -did- buy the format, and perhaps early, there's no reflected glory here...

I'll twist this one out from the screed above:

"...come here to explain why you love HDM in a Blu case yet HATE it in a Red case."

...not dislike, not have a preference for, HATE. Why point to the idiocy, intractability, and deceit of the other side without nary a smidgen of self reflectivity from the most aggressive here?

"Why so serious?"

So much ridiculous hostility over a format, and once again entirely missing yet again the point that I'm making, even if it's quoted in your response. I'll not go as far as to bold out the important bits for easy reading, but simply say, humbly, that one doesn't need to obsess about or trash the competition, regardless of their misguided ways, in order to feel better about one's own position. Nor, as above, does making a video format purchasing decision make you a better person than another, no matter how much shouting goes along with it.

More to the point - why the fark do you give a damn what others write, if it's only to provide ammo for your own, dogmatic point of view?

So, Kudos to Allan for taking the time to read and have a respecful discussion, Penton for patiently allowing this little bit of fun to go on, and the Doctor for keeping it light... Now, for those of you all riled up, go burn a village or something... It's clear I'm not going to change your minds regarding respectful discourse, no matter how my fog index tallies up.

[Tok]

I completely forgot about the mythical TL51 discs.

It is probably close to what Penton and others alluded to... the HD DVD was having significant problems developing a 50GB disc... so there comeback was to claim BD50 was science fiction... then low yields... then high cost. All while promising a large group of 'easily fooled' early adopters that TL51 was coming. Basically claim your competitor has issues, but we have a solution. Funny I have had a 50GB solution for over two years and like others mentioned TL51 was never close to consumer reality. If I were a betting man, I would guess TL51 was incompatible with the supposed 'completed HD DVD spec,' ah another half truth that would have been exposed

I have been using BD50 since they were first released. I have only a had a problem or two with a rental disc and I have had far fewer problems than I initially had with the early DVD9s and don't even mention DVD18.

[Joe Cain]

Originally Posted by sharkshark

Yeah, some of these people are realllly touchy, aren't they?...

Straw men, shifting goalposts, blah blah blah. Respectful discourse? Obfuscation and evasion and your part: boring. You abhor specificity. No one's suggested buying ANY commodity makes one a better human; that's a non-issue. Enough is enough. Please.