Archived: Ask the Insiders: Judgment Day Edition

[fyzziks]

I have a question for kjack or any other insider with insight into hardware development for HD players: How come no DTS-MA internal decoding to PCM yet?

I notice the Samsung 1400 is using the Sigma 8634 Rev C, which I thought should be able to do DTS-HD MA decoding (at least it says so on the blurb available to everyone from the website - I don't have access to the full 600-page datasheet unless it becomes available to non-insiders).

Any idea why the Samsung only does DTS-MA bitstream? I mean, how hard could it be if the 8634 actually supports decoding? Just set a line high, or load a bit pattern into a register, and voila, DTS-MA decoding (more or less, there are always buffering and formatting issues to be handled, but that's the gist, right?).

Looking into your crystal ball, do you foresee any lower-priced competition to the Denon 3800BD in the next few months?

Thanks very much for any insights or prognostications.

[cjamescook]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

My dear, if I gave you an XL jacket, that would probably extend down to around your knees……………………

Wouldn’t that just defeat the purpose of *the director’s intent* for those bending over pics?

So what you are saying, Penton, is that the XL is not a suitable *Director's Cut* ?

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by cjamescook

So what you are saying, Penton, is that the XL is not a suitable *Director's Cut* ?

Well to put it plain and simple I am the director and I decide what kinda cut I want to do!!!

[Spankey]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I confess.
I was one of the software engineers on the Vista project.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVbf9tOGwno

You're Anthony Cumia! Say Hi to Opie for me!

LOVE THIS ONE

[SpikesBluBlooded]

I have a question, and I'm hoping that it will help put to rest a nasty rumor over at AVS:

What would be the associative costs of a currently Blu-exclusive studio to switch to neutral and start producing movies on HD DVD? Correct me if I'm wrong, but HD DVD requires the VC-1 codec, does it not? Is there a Blu-exclusive studio that's utilizing it? I think that it would be rather cost-prohibitive at this stage of the game to make the switch, but I'm not very knowledgable on the subject...

[Elandyll]

For Living Near and Rich, here ya go

http://www.techpin.com/panasonic-blu...ayer-for-cars/

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by SpikesBluBlooded

I have a question, and I'm hoping that it will help put to rest a nasty rumor over at AVS:

What would be the associative costs of a currently Blu-exclusive studio to switch to neutral and start producing movies on HD DVD? Correct me if I'm wrong, but HD DVD requires the VC-1 codec, does it not? Is there a Blu-exclusive studio that's utilizing it? I think that it would be rather cost-prohibitive at this stage of the game to make the switch, but I'm not very knowledgable on the subject...

hd dvd can do avc and mpeg-2 also. however, it has to be low bitrates. mpeg-2 im not sure has ever been done. but recent paramount releases have been done in low-bitrate avc encodes.

[RickD]

Originally Posted by SpikesBluBlooded

I have a question, and I'm hoping that it will help put to rest a nasty rumor over at AVS:

What would be the associative costs of a currently Blu-exclusive studio to switch to neutral and start producing movies on HD DVD? Correct me if I'm wrong, but HD DVD requires the VC-1 codec, does it not? Is there a Blu-exclusive studio that's utilizing it? I think that it would be rather cost-prohibitive at this stage of the game to make the switch, but I'm not very knowledgable on the subject...

HD-DVD uses the same video codecs as Blu-Ray. It supports AVC too. I am sure Microsoft is the reason that most HD-DVDs use VC-1.

Rick

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

For Living Near and Rich, here ya go

http://www.techpin.com/panasonic-blu...ayer-for-cars/

Cool!

[zipbags]

This is directed at anyone who knows the decision making structure of a studio. I know their has been a lot of rumors about Warner switching. I am not asking that. My question is this. If they are going to. Who makes the decision and how many people would be in the know? Or is it kept compartmentalized to a small group?

[DaViD Boulet]

It was a pretty small group at Paramount. I think this sort of thing varies by studio and by situation. No one generalization applies to everything.

[MrBogey]

Originally Posted by Spankey

You're Anthony Cumia! Say Hi to Opie for me!

Penton doesn't strike me as a fan of the WW2 era

[juanleche]

Originally Posted by zipbags

This is directed at anyone who knows the decision making structure of a studio. I know their has been a lot of rumors about Warner switching. I am not asking that. My question is this. If they are going to. Who makes the decision and how many people would be in the know? Or is it kept compartmentalized to a small group?

Da Boss

[Living Near Shamu]

Originally Posted by Elandyll

For Living Near and Rich, here ya go

http://www.techpin.com/panasonic-blu...ayer-for-cars/

Dead link for me.

[Kris Deering]

Originally Posted by SpikesBluBlooded

I have a question, and I'm hoping that it will help put to rest a nasty rumor over at AVS:

What would be the associative costs of a currently Blu-exclusive studio to switch to neutral and start producing movies on HD DVD? Correct me if I'm wrong, but HD DVD requires the VC-1 codec, does it not? Is there a Blu-exclusive studio that's utilizing it? I think that it would be rather cost-prohibitive at this stage of the game to make the switch, but I'm not very knowledgable on the subject...

HD DVD does not require VC-1 anymore than Blu-ray does. So far Blu-ray studios that have used VC-1:

Warner, Paramount, Disney, Lionsgate, Sony Music/BMG, Universal Music, New Line

I don't think the cost of switching would be much of an issue, the question would be what the point of switching would be right now.

[CarolJ3210]

Perhaps the experts can help me.

I am having problems with the bonus disk for Pirates 3 AWE. After the intro (talking skull), the "background" (skull and all further video) goes into a little window at the upper right of the screen and the "overlay" menu is left justified on the left side of the screen (see attached photo).

I can select something from the menu and it plays, but only in the tiny window which is too small to see. I have updated the firmware to version 3.10 which is the latest available. Sony customer service has no further suggestions except that the disk may be bad. Do you have any suggestions? Should I try to return the disk?

Is anyone else having this problem?

[qz3fwd]

Is there any comprehension in the BD spec for the current crop of "un-optimised" standalone players which take several minutes to start playing back some of the newer titles and provide for a simple "straight to the main movie" path? This use of Java is creating a lot of problems and delays.

Thank You.

[MerrickG]

Not to temper the WB enthusiasm, but why are they listed on the CES page for the HD-DVD Promotions Group as having something to present?

http://myces.bdmetrics.com/CPL-35709...t-Catalog.aspx

The BDA page isnt even present yet...

DOH!!!!

[WickyWoo]

The menu is created with Java. So no. What it's doing along with loading assetts is benchmarking your player, or in the case of BD+ examining your player for hacks which is why it takes forever to load. This is going to happen no matter what you do.

Personally I think that it would be wise for the BDA to do something like what MS is trying to do with gaming PCs. Basically your player is assigned a rating number by the manufacturer, and the disc loads to appropriate assets for that player (decks made before this program automatically get assigned the high level assets). That way all it has to do is read a "level 1" instead of benchmarking each individual aspect.

[elwaylite]

Originally Posted by merrick97

Not to temper the WB enthusiasm, but why are they listed on the CES page for the HD-DVD Promotions Group as having something to present?

http://myces.bdmetrics.com/CPL-35709...t-Catalog.aspx

The BDA page isnt even present yet...

DOH!!!!

Are you forgetting how everything was the day BEFORE Paramount switch? Life as usual.