Archived: Insiders Thread

[bdrex28]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

S.E. will be basically bundling a Blu-ray player with the purchase of some Bravia models for Xmas.

I wish they'd have done that in September! LOL

[jdc115]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Exactly. Retail prices are based on the cost of living, and how much people tend ot make in the geographic area, coupled with the number of units they're likely to sell

Since Malaysia currently is producing more bootleg DVD/CDs than any other country in Asia, I'd say your legit market is very small, hence the higher prices

But it good way to fight the piracy would be to reduce the price so that people do not turn to the bootlegs. I am in the same situation as Write... I live in Singapore (which has little to no bootlegging though is right next to Malaysia so there is a source) and has reasonable size legit market in comparison to Western counties but the prices are quite high despite the local Sing dollar being very strong. It now sits at 1.44S to 1US dollar so the average Blu-ray price is getting up to about US$39 . Other then the first disk I bought to test when I bought my PS3, I buy all the rest from Amazon as I save over $10 to $15 per disk after shipping.

It would be good to see some changes in the pricing and some money spent on promotions as they just do not exist here. There never has been a BOGO offer or 5 free disks with any purchase of any hardware. This was I could support the local marketing and retailers.

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by DaViD Boulet

Paidgeek,

i know you're bombarded in this thread hourly to answer questions. So forgive me if you've already answered this: Did you have a chance to confirm how the PS3 handles a Dolby TrueHD soundtrack (with latest firmware) when it's set to output PCM and one uses SPDIF out? I'm worried, based on my ears, that the PS3 might be passing a 2.0 down-mix from the core/companion lossy DD track out the SPDIF out and not the decoded lossy track.

At AVS users were reporting that you could get "lossless" out of the PS3 from a TrueHD track by forcing the PS3 to PCM out (turning off bitstream) with firmware 1.9 or higher. Please let me know if this is true... my on-line reviews are going under that assumption and I don't want to falsely characterize the fidelity of any of the TrueHD tracks if my PS3 isn't decoding them (or downmxing them) properly.

thanks!

p.s. yes... saving for HDMI decoder.

David,

I won't have any answers until next week when I will have a chance to speak with the SCE persons in the know.

It is correct that you can decode THD with version 1.90 firmware and higher and output as LPCM over HDMI.

[darkprime]

To the Insiders: Can any of you share what you contacts or others in the industry feel/think about the DVD Group today? It seems like that group must be being led by Toshiba and that's about it, seeing how they are the only ones really pushing hddvd and the only manufacturer of the players. Is the DVD Group run more like a dictatorship ship, or do the members not care or get that involved? Is the DVD Group a good bunch of folks to work with or does it seem dysfunctional now?

[paidgeek]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

Question for paidgeek. Is there any reason why PCM was not included on the Close Encounters BD release?

Because we are providing two lossless tracks already, Dolby THD 24bit and DTS HD MA 24bit.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

Because we are providing two lossless tracks already, Dolby THD 24bit and DTS HD MA 24bit.

I know Mr. Spielberg used to be a big DTS supporter. Is the DTS HD MA there because he requested it?

I certainly support the initiative. I only hope my PS/3 gives me the opportunity to do a comparison soon.

Gary

[Alan Gordon]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

S.E. will be basically bundling a Blu-ray player with the purchase of some Bravia models for Xmas.

First of all, thanks for the tidbit PM, but it made me think of another question, or perhaps a suggestion.

I'm planning on buying another HDTV... hopefully during 1Q 2008 to take advantage of the TV sales before the SuperBowl. I originally planned to do it before Christmas, but what can I say, there was just to many good movies on Blu-ray!

My questions are these:

Have the BDA CE companies given any thought to do doing this after Christmas? If I remember correctly, the majority of sales for TVs occur right before the Superbowl, and it sure would be a great way to increase Blu-ray sales if you got a Blu-ray player with your big-screen HDTV during this time frame.

While I'm quite fond of the XBR4, I'm kind of stuck on the Samsung LNT4671F, and would love to get a BDP-1400 with it, so hopefully Samsung will do this as well...

BTW, I'd just like to add to Paidgeek to give himself a pat on the back, because while I haven't received my Spider-Man Trilogy set from Amazon yet, I saw some of "Spider-Man 3" playing on a XBR4 the other day, and certain scenes looked like you were looking out a window... KUDOS!!

~Alan

[dakota81]

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

Have the BDA CE companies given any thought to do doing this after Christmas? If I remember correctly, the majority of sales for TVs occur right before the Superbowl, and it sure would be a great way to increase Blu-ray sales if you got a Blu-ray player with your big-screen HDTV during this time frame.

Amen to that. I'm outside of Chicago, and we had an agreement that we won't get an hdtv during the holidays, but maybe if the Bears made it to the Super Bowl... Well they did, and I've been enjoying HD ever since!

[bootman]

Originally Posted by paidgeek

David,

I won't have any answers until next week when I will have a chance to speak with the SCE persons in the know.

It is correct that you can decode THD with version 1.90 firmware and higher and output as LPCM over HDMI.

Will the PS3 ever bitstream out the HD audio formats?
(for those with newer receivers)

[MerrickG]

Paidgeek,

Penton has already hinted slightly and I liked what I heard, but my question is how is the BDA going to start fighting back to start pulling away from HD-DVD.

The video business article said bluray was done playing nice.

Can you elaborate? Or at least tell us when we will start seeing some real punches thrown by the BDA.

Thanks

[Frode]

Originally Posted by WriteSimply

Apologies to the mods for non-insider discussion.
Where is "here"?

My point is there is no incentive for me to support the local distributor because of their MSRP practice. They might as well not bother importing.

"Here" is Norway, and yeah you're right there's not much point supporting your local distributor when you can import things for much cheaper. Sony can't exactly do anything about it, so complaining in here isn't really going to help. You'd probably have more luck sending a complaint to the import distributor most likely, which isn't saying much. Prices will come down in time, but until then just import on your own and buy discs that are on sale.

[JAGUAR1977]

If something significant like Transformers is advertised way ahead of time, a remedy is all ready in place and will be implemented. Count on it whenever the reds plan on bringing another blockbuster to market…..if indeed they have anymore blockbusters at all in their stable.

Another nice BOGO would go down well for the Shrek 3 and Bourne weeks.

[Papi4baby]

Originally Posted by daisuke149

ya know why i love this last part news..

at work.. in terms of lcd i sell 95% all sony's lol.People tend to listen when i explain why the sony's are better and this just makes it easier.

That's because they are the best .

I hope i they run that thing past xmas, since i am planing on updating my current sony lcd RTV to a newer and bigger unit with full 1080P support i so can't wait, i salivate everytime i think about it. And also i hope it expands to their LCOS RPT, i love RPTV.

[FourToedStatue]

Originally Posted by Bullseye

To any of the Sony insiders. Is there a reason why Sony has been moving away from PCM to Dolby HD on recently announced titles. Encounters comes to mind.

I wish they stuck with PCM. It constantly blows DTHD away.

[sj001]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

I know Mr. Spielberg used to be a big DTS supporter. Is the DTS HD MA there because he requested it?

I certainly support the initiative. I only hope my PS/3 gives me the opportunity to do a comparison soon.

Gary

+1 definitely.

Paid, any ideas on when DTS will have this resolved so Sony can get this in a firmware update for the PS3?

[lupin23rd]

Sony Bravia's with BD players? Not a bad start.

Now, we've got Panasonic, Sharp, Samsung, Phillips, etc... on the BD only side - any chance we could get them to join in on the fun?

It would pretty much be "buy any non-Toshiba TV and get a free BD player".

[Mr_Bester]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

I’m not worried.
The BDA isn’t worried.
You shouldn’t be worried.

The Blu-ray Grand Counsel is not complacent.

Unfortunately, I think if the BDA got a little worried more often, this war would have been over months ago. They could have dealt knockout punches by retaliating at times in the past.

I have fought the urge to go neutral, and I will not go neutral until something major happens, so I am staying Blu. At least if(big if) the BDA DO let HD-blah back into this, I can get one of their players for buying a popsicle(that's how long I'll wait). I want to see this end quickly so I stop watching these darn Warner threads...


to Paidgeek, is it possible the PS3 will ever allow playback of Divx or 1280x1080 HDlite mpeg2? Even cheap sd-dvd players play back divx now...
Dug

[LeoneFan]

Originally Posted by Mr_Bester

Unfortunately, I think if the BDA got a little worried more often, this war would have been over months ago. They could have dealt knockout punches by retaliating at times in the past.

I have fought the urge to go neutral, and I will not go neutral until something major happens, so I am staying Blu. At least if(big if) the BDA DO let HD-blah back into this, I can get one of their players for buying a popsicle(that's how long I'll wait). I want to see this end quickly so I stop watching these darn Warner threads...


to Paidgeek, is it possible the PS3 will ever allow playback of Divx or 1280x1080 HDlite mpeg2? Even cheap sd-dvd players play back divx now...
Dug

Of course the BDA isn't worried, they don't even seem to know there is a format war raging. Someone should let them in on the secret.

[Swede]

Originally Posted by lupin23rd

Sony Bravia's with BD players? Not a bad start.

Now, we've got Panasonic, Sharp, Samsung, Phillips, etc... on the BD only side - any chance we could get them to join in on the fun?

It would pretty much be "buy any non-Toshiba TV and get a free BD player".

I was thinking the same thing, this would really be an AWESOME blu-ray promotion that HD DVD could never do, because of the simple reason that Toshiba is the only one making HD DUD players

Obviously it would work like Buy a Sony HDTV and get a Sony blu-ray player, or buy a Panasonic HDTV and get a Panasonic blu-ray player etc.

I have one more suggestion for you Penton man on expanding this promotion to projectors as well. We all know that both Sony and Panasonic has some of THE BEST 1080p home theater projectors out there, and that could really be an awesome enthusiast promotion to bundle a blu-ray player with a purchase of a new Sony VW50/60/100/200 or a Panasonic PT-AE1000/2000 for example.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by JackBauer24

I wish they stuck with PCM. It constantly blows DTHD away.

No, it doesn't.

So, Paid, I assume Close Encounters' audio tracks were mastered in 24 bit from the original analog mags. Was there any remixing involved (stereo-surrounds, enhancements, etc)?