4K Blu-ray Confirmed, Coming in

[bailey1987]

Looking at the logo I can't see how it will fit on the case where the Blu-ray logo currently is, I still think the cases will be like the PS4's without the bar with the silver logo on.

I wonder when we will see the cases?

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by bailey1987

Onkyo look set to deliver

On the 747 the first 3 HDMI inputs are HDCP 2.2, HDMI 4-7 are standard HDCP.

[HeavyHitter]

Originally Posted by Dylan34

DVD should have been scrapped altogether IMO. With HDTV's hitting the market in 1998, it should have went from VHS and Laserdisc to some type of HD format from start.

I sometimes wonder why didn't DVD come out years earlier? I realize it as the first digital video format (as LD was actually analog except for the audio). VHS had such a long lifespan amd it seems they could have capitalized on DVD sooner. I think the market would have bought into it just as soon as well - people got tired rewinding video tapes while gradually seeing them deteriorate not to mention the bulkiness to them. Of course, the recording aspect of VHS was probably its strongest suit and it took a little while for DVD to have that capability at a decent price.

[raygendreau]

"Additionally, the optional "digital bridge" feature will be part of the Ultra HD specification. A digital bridge allows you to copy Ultra HD Blu-ray content onto a server or portable storage device so you don't necessarily have to have the disc in the player in order to play it, and yet you also won't have to lose any of the quality or features of the disc by ripping it to another storage format. This feature could allow collectors to store their entire movie collections on a hard drive network and play these titles back on their disc player as if the disc itself were in the tray (only faster, as it won't have to wait for the disc to spin up and load). It could also allow collectors to copy their movies onto secure SD cards or to a portable device's on-board secure storage for playback on portable devices."

http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/Ul...s-Summer.shtml

[raygendreau]

Studios will want the digital bridge. Have to wait for player manufacturers to tell us if digital bridge will be included. Expect premiums for DB discs and HFR.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by HeavyHitter

I sometimes wonder why didn't DVD come out years earlier? I realize it as the first digital video format (as LD was actually analog except for the audio). VHS had such a long lifespan amd it seems they could have capitalized on DVD sooner. I think the market would have bought into it just as soon as well - people got tired rewinding video tapes while gradually seeing them deteriorate not to mention the bulkiness to them. Of course, the recording aspect of VHS was probably its strongest suit and it took a little while for DVD to have that capability at a decent price.

It wasn't the first digital format, VCD came out well before it and laid the groundwork for what DVD was to become, using MPEG-1 for video and so on. DVD didn't just appear out of the ether.

[bruceames]

Originally Posted by raygendreau

"Additionally, the optional "digital bridge" feature will be part of the Ultra HD specification. A digital bridge allows you to copy Ultra HD Blu-ray content onto a server or portable storage device so you don't necessarily have to have the disc in the player in order to play it, and yet you also won't have to lose any of the quality or features of the disc by ripping it to another storage format. This feature could allow collectors to store their entire movie collections on a hard drive network and play these titles back on their disc player as if the disc itself were in the tray (only faster, as it won't have to wait for the disc to spin up and load). It could also allow collectors to copy their movies onto secure SD cards or to a portable device's on-board secure storage for playback on portable devices."

http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/Ul...s-Summer.shtml

I wonder if the "option" just means that the end user doesn't have to use it, or that some players just won't have an internal hard drive (ie, no db feature)?

In any case there has to be online authentication of some sort for that to work (not having disc in tray), as far as playing the copied disc in other players. I wonder if this will be a case where registration is required only for the players but not the discs?

I really like the idea of having 1:1 copies (essentially an ISO copy) of my UHD disc collection at the touch of my remote. Especially if I could stream those movies in 1:1 quality across three different players in the house...and have the movie (or TV show) pick up where it left off. That would be a big step up in convenience.

[raygendreau]

Several articles, most just regurgitating the press release. I hope we see some in depth Q&A interviews from BDA spokespeople soon.

https://news.google.com/news/story?n...ed=0CCEQqgIwAA

[raygendreau]

Originally Posted by bruceames.

I wonder if the "option" just means that the end user doesn't have to use it, or that some players just won't have an internal hard drive (ie, no db feature)?

In any case there has to be online authentication of some sort for that to work (not having disc in tray), as far as playing the copied disc in other players. I wonder if this will be a case where registration is required only for the players but not the discs?

I really like the idea of having 1:1 copies (essentially an ISO copy) of my UHD disc collection at the touch of my remote. Especially if I could stream those movies in 1:1 quality across three different players in the house...and have the movie (or TV show) pick up where it left off. That would be a big step up in convenience.

I believe it means that player manufacturers may or may not include it and content providers may or may not not offer it, if they choose. In either case there is going to be added cost to the consumer for the option.

This is how it is in the press release: " Additionally, with the optional digital bridge feature, the specification enhances the value of content ownership by embracing the notion that a content purchase can enable the consumer to view their content across the range of in-home and mobile devices".

The Pocket Lint article does not use the word optional when referring to the DB "The new discs will support the "digital bridge" feature meaning once bought on disc the content will also be available digitally to watch on any device"

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by bailey1987

I notice all the press releases say the digital bridge is optional
http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...™#.VVIOTXlwZSA

From business wire
Additionally, with the optional digital bridge feature, the specification enhances the value of content ownership by embracing the notion that a content purchase can enable the consumer to view their content across the range of in-home and mobile devices.

What does that mean? Is Wendell’s poll in jeopardy of stagnating?

Someone break it down for us simple-minded folk. For example, come next Jan., you want to buy yourself a certain brand spanking new Ultra HD Blu-ray player from xxx manufacturer because of their reputation for quality, longevity, and the HDR solution(s) which are included in the box.

Said player only comes with the Digital Bridge feature……but suppose you couldn’t care less about that feature and simply like the player for its other offered features (and quality) and only desire to play the dang movie in your humble home theater (for best video and audio reproduction) and watch it there.

To do so, will that require online authentication?

[Penton-Man]

Ah scrolling forward, from the last page, I see you guys are already into trying to determine ‘what it means’. Aren’t official Press Releases great?

[raygendreau]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

What does that mean? Is Wendell’s poll in jeopardy of stagnating?

Someone break it down for us simple-minded folk. For example, come next Jan., you want to buy yourself a certain brand spanking new Ultra HD Blu-ray player from xxx manufacturer because of their reputation for quality, longevity, and the HDR solution(s) which are included in the box.

Said player only comes with the Digital Bridge feature……but suppose you couldn’t care less about that feature and simply like the player for its other offered features (and quality) and only desire to play the dang movie in your humble home theater (for best video and audio reproduction) and watch it there.

To do so, will that require online authentication?

Initial online authentication is not dependent on whether the Digital Bridge is included. If AACS 2.0 enhanced is used, the disc will not contain a title key. The title key will have to be downloaded from the title key server which is accessed through the AACS server. The encrypted content cannot be decrypted without the title key.

[Penton-Man]

Sooo, the poll lives on.

[raygendreau]

CNET also interprets the press release comment on DB to mean "it WILL support..."

"In addition UHD Blu-ray will bring with it the UltraViolet-like "digital bridge feature" which will allow consumers to "view their content across the range of in-home and mobile devices".

http://www.cnet.com/news/ultra-hd-bl...logo-unveiled/

[jono3000]

I'm glad digital bridge is optional. For those that have no need for it, hopefully there will be players that just play the disc and that's it.

[reanimator]

"The technical capabilities of Blu-ray Disc, in particular its significant storage capacity and high data transfer rates, will enable the delivery of an unparalleled, consistent and repeatable UHD experience." -- Victor Matsuda of Sony Corporation

... finally some encouraging news from someone connected to Sony...

[Geoff D]

I noticed that too, but seeing as Matsuda-san is also the chair of the BDA it was difficult for him not to talk up the new format that the BDA is producing. Kaz Hirai is probably seething right now.

[raygendreau]

It seems this writer was surprised by the Digital Bridge.

"•Digital Bridge

The last feature on this list will be news to most, since Digital Bridge has been under wraps until today’s announcement. This feature could be described as “ripping gone legit”, the idea being that users will be able to purchase a Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc and make legal copies of the content onto portable devices – from the disc itself. Currently, studios have had success by bundling a separate “Digital Copy” DVD-ROM disc as a pack-in with flagship Blu-ray titles, but the introduction of Digital Bridge offers a more elegant solution.

How this will be facilitated, we’re not yet sure (the BDA were not available for comment at the time of going live). Perhaps the idea is that users will be able to hook their tablet, smartphone or laptop up to their UHD BD player, and the player will transcode the content onto the target device. We’re wondering how much adding encoding (rather than just decoding) features to players would up the price, but it seems like the only way of getting the job done that we can think of – doing the same via a computer would need a new UHD BD-ROM drive." [Guess he didn't know about the prospect of exporting content to a flash drive for use on mobile devices]

While it sounds like a good idea for those consumers who want to enjoy movies on a very small screen, it remains to be seen how well manufacturers, and most importantly of all, content owners, will treat this feature and its users: it’s the sort of feature that could have its usefulness squashed by Hollywood digital rights paranoia. Here’s hoping that studios won’t find ways to make it too annoying or limiting."

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/uhd-b...1505124056.htm

[dublinbluray108]

Are the UHD Blu-ray players able to play DVD's as well as Blu-ray discs as I can't see them being notified in these press releases.

I can't imagine what the backlash will be if DVD's were not allowed to be played in them. It could be another way of killing the format altogether.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by raygendreau

It seems this writer was surprised by the Digital Bridge.

http://www.hdtvtest.co.uk/news/uhd-b...1505124056.htm

To be fair to David Mackenzie, he's got better things to be doing than hanging around on this forum all the time or wading through the wikileaks Sony documents.