Ask the Insiders: Putting the Last Nails in the Coffin

[iceman]

This thread is dedicated to asking questions of industry insiders who have graciously taken the time to participate here. While we understand that at times there will be discussion among readers here, we request that readers use their judgement in taking more involved discussions to a new thread, particularly if it's covering a larger topic.

Before asking a question, please skim at least the last weeks worth of posts in order to make sure that the question hasn't already been asked or answered. Please also avoid asking "chicken little" questions or asking when unannounced titles will come out.

As of 11/01/2007, the following individuals are known and vetted insiders that are participating here in one form or another:

Insiders:

2themax - BD authoring and compression insider - Track posts
Bill Hunt - The Digital Bits - Track posts
drmpeg - Compression Engineer - Track posts
Fox Executive - Fox - Track posts
kjack - Sigma Designs - Intro - Track posts
Maxpower1987 - Finance - Track posts
paidgeek - Sony Pictures Entertainment - Intro - Track posts
Penton-Man - Hollywood - Track posts
RBFilms - R&B Films, Ltd - Track posts
Robert Harris - Motion Picture Archivist - Track posts
Sir Terrence - Sound/Audio - Track posts
TalkStr8t - Unspecified - Intro - Track posts

Our original Insiders Thread began on January 17th, 2007, and ran until December 16th, 2007. It accumulated over 7200 posts in which a great number of interesting revelations, discussions and discoveries were made. We recommend browsing it both for an understanding of what the events of 2007 have been like but also to see what kind of posts and discussions work in this kind of thread. You can find that discussion here.

Our second insiders thread, Ask the Insiders: Judgement Day Edition, began on December 16th, 2007, and ran until January 11th 2008. It accumulated over 3000 posts, however, due to the nature of the format war and pre- and post-CES expectations, it contains quite a lot of gossip and speculations, but we still recommend browsing it.

Thank you to the folks mentioned above for their participation in those threads and to the readers of Blu-ray.com for following the stricter rules and guidelines of this thread.

[iceman]

Please think twice before posting in this thread. Going off-topic and just posting "lolz11" or "+1" or anything non-constructive will lead to infractions or even suspensions(!)

We don't intend to be "mean" or harsh, but we want this thread to be as readable as possible and contain relevant and interesting posts. This is the insiders thread, not the members thread.

Speculations about when Universal and Paramount will come aboard does not belong to this thread, unless an insider brings it up first. Universal and Paramount will come aboard, but if you still feel a need to speculate, please use any of the "gossip" threads, but not this thread.

Thank you and enjoy!

[sj001]

Originally Posted by Iceman

Please think twice before posting in this thread. Going off-topic and just posting "lolz11" or "+1" or anything non-constructive will lead to infractions or even suspensions(!)

We don't intend to be "mean" or harsh, but we want this thread to be as readable as possible and contain relevant and interesting posts. This is the insiders thread, not the members thread.

Speculations about when Universal and Paramount will come aboard does not belong to this thread, unless an insider brings it up first. Universal and Paramount will come aboard, but if you still feel a need to speculate, please use any of the "gossip" threads, but not this thread.

Thank you and enjoy!

Just a question on these threads. What is the purpose of this main thread, versus all of the individual threads?
Great ideas separating out the Insiders individually by the way.

[dialog_gvf]

If you want to ask more than one insider the same question, put it here.

We don't want people posting the same question in every insider section.

Gary

[sj001]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

If you want to ask more than one insider the same question, put it here.

We don't want people posting the same question in every insider section.

Gary

OK, gotcha. Thanks!

[CptGreedle]

So does this mean we are getting rid of the old Insiders thread and going with these new ones?
Sounds like a good idea to me.

Well then, I suppose the first thing I would like to ask would be if any insiders can shed some light on what the BDA plans to do for their next move, publicly. Since Toshiba is targeting consumers as a good up-converting drive and dropping their prices, will the BDA respond with a new marketing strategy as well?

[CAB]

Any rumors about the hardware that makes up the CES previewed Pioneer full profile player? I've heard "more details in May" and an $1800 figure for MSRP. I'm not sure I want to wait till May just to hear more specifics about the guts. The Denon DVD-3800BDCI is looking pretty strong. It's hard for me not to pull the trigger next month when I see the Realta for video and the Burr Brown DACs.

[Dogdvr]

WOW!
AVS just closed their Insider's thread. Permanently!!

[sj001]

Originally Posted by Dogdvr

WOW!
AVS just closed their Insider's thread. Permanently!!

Good, they didn't have any Insiders anyways.

[elwaylite]

Sign of thing we dont know about?

[PaulGo]

Any of the insiders care to comment on this?

http://www.n4g.com/industrynews/News-102283.aspx

Paramount titles in Blu-ray on Amazon

whoelse - contributor

Take this rumor with a grain of salt but over at amazon.co.uk, it has listed Anchorman, Coming to America and Trading Places. Now this could be a simple mistake, or it could be a sign that Paramount is already getting ready to re-join the Blu-ray camp.
Updates:
UPDATE 1: 2 more titles have been added to amazon: Failure to Launch and Freedom Writers.

UPDATE 2: One of the members on this site was helpful enough to contact amazon about the listings and he got the following reply:

"We have checked our website and confirm that the DVDs you are
mentioned are scheduled to release in March.

Our editorial staff are constantly working on increasing the information we provide about each item as it becomes available to us. However, the information currently displayed on the product's information page is all that has so far been made available to us from the manufacturer."

[john_nemesh]

Originally Posted by CAB

Any rumors about the hardware that makes up the CES previewed Pioneer full profile player? I've heard "more details in May" and an $1800 figure for MSRP. I'm not sure I want to wait till May just to hear more specifics about the guts. The Denon DVD-3800BDCI is looking pretty strong. It's hard for me not to pull the trigger next month when I see the Realta for video and the Burr Brown DACs.

The 2500 + a new AVR-2808 or better would be a better deal. The 2500 is a transport only, no analog output, just HDMI. However, it still has the realta scaler and with a new reciever will sound just as good. Oh, did I mention? Its half the cost of the 3800! I sell these things (sorry distribution only, no sales to the general public) so I know whats going on with these. PM me if need any help/have any questions....I would be glad to help!

[Woody]

Originally Posted by john_nemesh

The 2500 + a new AVR-2808 or better would be a better deal. The 2500 is a transport only, no analog output, just HDMI. However, it still has the realta scaler and with a new reciever will sound just as good. Oh, did I mention? Its half the cost of the 3800! I sell these things (sorry distribution only, no sales to the general public) so I know whats going on with these. PM me if need any help/have any questions....I would be glad to help!

FWIW, the 2500 does not have the Realta chipset.

[spicynacho]

BDA should whip up some push cards, demo discs, or other marketing materials to get into BB, CC, and other stores to inform consumers about HD DVD's short comings. 3x the studio support, 4-5x the number of movies scheduled to be released in 2008, 2x the sales in 2007, 3x the sales in 2008, toshiba monopoly on players. Just in case someone goes to the store asking about HD DVD.

[DaViD Boulet]

any progress with 75 or 100GB discs? How about the BDA making sure that current hardware will play them?

I want a blu future... but I want 100GB to be part of it.

[navychop]

Now that's sad news. I was hoping for 100 or better, 200, for a convenient backup medium for our server. Tapes take too long (unless you pay big bucks) and are too bulky- and external HDDs are just awkward to carry offsite.

[frank_t]

i appreciate the insiders who are here and posting.

are the other insiders whose threads are still locked planning on making any appearance? it's been a while (or feels like it at least) without a peep.

[ezcobar411]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

I wouldn't hold out much hope for anything beyond 50GB for movies. We might see 100GB for data storage, but even that doesn't seem likely now.

If they do decide to release the 100GB for data storage will it be be sometime this year?

[kjacobs03]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

I wouldn't hold out much hope for anything beyond 50GB for movies. We might see 100GB for data storage, but even that doesn't seem likely now.

My biggest blu-wish is that they would use BD100's for the LotR EE trilogy. That way they don't try to cram each movie on a single BD50 or have to switch discs half way through the movie.

[DaViD Boulet]

My biggest blu-wish is that they would use BD100's for the LotR EE trilogy. That way they don't try to cram each movie on a single BD50 or have to switch discs half way through the movie.

I *hate* disc swapping. Even for bonus material. I'd love 75 and 100 GB movie software so we basically have a "four disc BD set" on a single platter. Oh the joy...

LOST season 1... on one disc!

dave