Are PS3's multi regional?

[gekke henkie]

Quotes:
It doesn't matter that Blu-ray titles are usually encoded at 1080/24p - at least for the main feature.

It doesn't? When >95% of the discs are encoded in HD, why wouldn't that matter? If the PS3 would be multiregional, then the TS would be able to play all these movies. So, yes, it matters most in this discussion, IMHO.

The fact remains that:
1) There are 50hz Blu-ray titles (1080/50i, 576/50i). Titles that have either some or all content in these formats (there's no 480/50i content - it's 576/50i)

Irrelevant fact; <5% of the discs have their main feature in these formats. (You are right about that 576/50i, my mistake)

2) 1080/50i and 576/50i (as well as 1280x720@50p) are part of the Blu-ray specifications

Irrelevant again. Yes, it's in the spec for possible implementations, but since almost nobody has a use for it, why spend money and make the players even more expensive?

3) US PS3s are not supporting what is in the Blu-ray specifications.

Yes, they do support everything that is obligatory. Not all possibilities are, luckily, that would make all players almost identical and too expensive.

4) This is a problem for both consumers and the studios.

You are the 1st one I have heard about making SD content on BD discs into a problem. Inconvenient (concerning the extra's) yes, but a problem? No.

5) 50hz or 25p is the native recording format for many productions. Not supporting it also means format conversions and lower quality video & audio encodes (like Blu-ray encodes slowed down by 4.096% or things shot at 50i which get converted to 60i), as well as increased costs for the studios.

No, almost every movie is shot in 24 frames, not in 25p (let alone in 50i). This only relates to some productions only meant for TV/video (like soaps, etc), but most discs are movies and they (I dare to say about >90%) are shot in 24p.

If a consumer owns a display that doesn't accept 50hz content (the format used in broadcasting to most of the world's population) - because the manufacturer has disabled it, other US players - those that actually support what is part of the Blu-ray specifications - allow it to be converted by the player into something the display does support.

It is not because manufacturers disabled it, it is because implementing 2 standards (especially a 50i standard in a 110V/60Hz power environment) costs money, and because almost nobody in the US cares about this anyway, manufacturers don't have to charge more for their TV's (and would make competition harder for them). By the way, although most of the world is on 50Hz, most TV-series come from the US and are in a 60Hz setting AFAIK.

And why would someone not be able to view 480/60i content? Are you saying there are PS3s that don't support that too?[/QUOTE]

Yes, like US-PS3's will not play 50Hz, I think the EU-PS3 of the Topic Starter will not play 60Hz, but I'm not sure, since many European players support both formats (although most US players support the NTSC format only)

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by gekke henkie

Quotes:
It doesn't matter that Blu-ray titles are usually encoded at 1080/24p - at least for the main feature.

It doesn't? When >95% of the discs are encoded in HD, why wouldn't that matter? If the PS3 would be multiregional, then the TS would be able to play all these movies. So, yes, it matters most in this discussion, IMHO.

What I meant was, it shouldn't matter what the percentage of titles are one frame rate and what are another frame rate, when both are part of the Blu-ray specifications. Both have a significant amount of content that has been produced at those frame rates/resolutions. So both should be supported by all players.

The fact remains that:
1) There are 50hz Blu-ray titles (1080/50i, 576/50i). Titles that have either some or all content in these formats (there's no 480/50i content - it's 576/50i)

Irrelevant fact; <5% of the discs have their main feature in these formats. (You are right about that 576/50i, my mistake)

Again it doesn't matter what the percentage is when there is content there that should be supported. What percentage of titles are Batman movies? 0.01%? Would it be okay then if no Batman movie was playable on Blu-ray? There aren't a high percentage of titles encoded at 50hz simply because players like the US PS3 aren't bothering to support it, so they convert it to something the US PS3 does support.

2) 1080/50i and 576/50i (as well as 1280x720@50p) are part of the Blu-ray specifications

Irrelevant again. Yes, it's in the spec for possible implementations, but since almost nobody has a use for it, why spend money and make the players even more expensive?

Where does it say, in the specifications, that they are 'possible' implementations? On the Blu-ray site it says "The video formats shown in Figure 3-3 can be used for BD-ROM video streams.". I don't see where it says "don't bother supporting the ones you don't feel like supporting". I mean they're listing resolutions and frame rates that they will allow studios to use for valid BD-ROM streams, at the native resolution and frame rate of the original content, but you're saying it's fine for player manufactures to not bother allowing consumers to play it back, by not bothering to support playback?

3) US PS3s are not supporting what is in the Blu-ray specifications.

Yes, they do support everything that is obligatory. Not all possibilities are, luckily, that would make all players almost identical and too expensive.

Where does it say which frame rates or resolutions are obligatory and which they only have to play back if they can be bothered?

4) This is a problem for both consumers and the studios.

You are the 1st one I have heard about making SD content on BD discs into a problem. Inconvenient (concerning the extra's) yes, but a problem? No.

Not just SD content. High Definition content. Practically every European TV production ever recorded.

5) 50hz or 25p is the native recording format for many productions. Not supporting it also means format conversions and lower quality video & audio encodes (like Blu-ray encodes slowed down by 4.096% or things shot at 50i which get converted to 60i), as well as increased costs for the studios.

No, almost every movie is shot in 24 frames, not in 25p (let alone in 50i). This only relates to some productions only meant for TV/video (like soaps, etc), but most discs are movies and they (I dare to say about >90%) are shot in 24p.

Where did I say 'movie'. I said it was the native recording format of many productions - ie. most European TV productions. But I've read that there are some European films shot at 25fps too to make it easier to broadcast, etc.

If a consumer owns a display that doesn't accept 50hz content (the format used in broadcasting to most of the world's population) - because the manufacturer has disabled it, other US players - those that actually support what is part of the Blu-ray specifications - allow it to be converted by the player into something the display does support.

It is not because manufacturers disabled it, it is because implementing 2 standards (especially a 50i standard in a 110V/60Hz power environment) costs money, and because almost nobody in the US cares about this anyway, manufacturers don't have to charge more for their TV's (and would make competition harder for them). By the way, although most of the world is on 50Hz, most TV-series come from the US and are in a 60Hz setting AFAIK.

Yes it is because the US TV sellers disable it. The same manufacturers who make the US models also make the European models. The European models all work at both 50hz and 60hz. Here's a question and answer to Insider Kjack:

Q: Do the Sigma chips sold in the US work with both 60hz and 50hz?
Kjack: Our firmware supports both since it is shipped world-wide. However, a TV manufacturer may limit its capabilities through their middleware or modifying our firmware.

Here's another post by Insider Kjack (of Sigma Designs - who make the chips that are in US & European HDTVs):-

Originally Posted by Kjack

AKAIK, most new 100Hz TVs can also do 120Hz. If not, then it is purposely limited in firmware as the same panels and electronics are used these days.

And why would someone not be able to view 480/60i content? Are you saying there are PS3s that don't support that too?

Yes, like US-PS3's will not play 50Hz, I think the EU-PS3 of the Topic Starter will not play 60Hz, but I'm not sure, since many European players support both formats (although most US players support the NTSC format only)

I find that unlikely since a lot of extras on European Blu-ray discs (eg. behind the scenes documentaries), as well as the main feature on some European Blu-ray titles are at 60hz (eg. concerts) and I've never read anything about any European player (including the European PS3) not being able to play them.

[Blacklac]

Wow, i can't believe people still get all hot and bothered when someone brings up HD DVD.

The guy makes one comment about HD DVD having the advantage of being region free and people jump all over him, calling him a troll.

You can tell the people that are tied to brand names/formats and not true movie lovers...

[winoni71]

Originally Posted by gekke henkie

Yes, like US-PS3's will not play 50Hz, I think the EU-PS3 of the Topic Starter will not play 60Hz, but I'm not sure, since many European players support both formats (although most US players support the NTSC format only)

Every single Ps3 in the world can output in 60Hz.