4K UHD Blu-ray Playback on PC Desktop is officially dead in 2021?

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by LexInHD

Pluton lands in mid/late 2022, as part of Intel's newest offerings, and will handle the security keys for all protected media in Windows 11. It is already used for UHD-BD playback in consoles. It is backwards compatible with currently used security hardware and software implementations, so there should be no problem with either Cyberlink or Corel media players. It will eventually be integrated into mobile/embedded SOCs, which will allow for things like connecting a UHD-BD drive to a Smart TV and using the TV's software and hardware to play a disc, which is something already being done with the format's predecessors.

But will Pluton get the attention of CyberLink after what they said in their statement? What about the new M1 Max MacBook Pro which has a 1600nit near-UHD miniLED display and built-in surround sound with Dolby Atmos decoding (not sure about DTS:X)? That thing's gonna outsell similarly-priced non-Apple laptops because of its absolutely crazy performance!!! Where did you find out that the Xbox consoles use Pluton for UHD Blu-ray playback?

Also, a display itself can only access certain types of files stored on discs in external drives when set to "AV" mode. It cannot play the BDMV or DVD-Video portion, even if it is personal content with no copy protection. If you could simply hook up a computer UHD Blu-ray drive to a display and play UHD Blu-ray discs, then there would be no reason for Panasonic to keep making the DP-UB9000 as these full-size players would become obsolete.

[usually_quiet]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

But will Pluton get the attention of CyberLink after what they said in their statement?

Impossible to predict.

Originally Posted by BijouMan

What about the new M1 Max MacBook Pro which has a 1600nit near-UHD miniLED display and built-in surround sound with Dolby Atmos decoding (not sure about DTS:X)? That thing's gonna outsell similarly-priced non-Apple laptops because of its absolutely crazy performance!!!

No. There is no indication that new Macs will include Pluton processors. If theoretically, the BDA approved only those CPUs with Pluton processors for UHD Blu-ray playback, why would a rational person think for one minute the new Macs would qualify for UHD playback without Pluton?

Originally Posted by BijouMan

Also, a display itself can only access certain types of files stored on discs in external drives when set to "AV" mode. It cannot play the BDMV or DVD-Video portion, even if it is personal content with no copy protection. If you could simply hook up a computer UHD Blu-ray drive to a display and play UHD Blu-ray discs, then there would be no reason for Panasonic to keep making the DP-UB9000 as these full-size players would become obsolete.

Except for the premium models, UHD Blu-ray players may already be on their way to being discontinued. Samsung isn't making UHD Blu-ray players any longer.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by usually_quiet

Impossible to predict.


No. There is no indication that new Macs will include Pluton processors. If theoretically, the BDA approved only those CPUs with Pluton processors for UHD Blu-ray playback, why would a rational person think for one minute the new Macs would qualify for UHD playback without Pluton?


Except for the premium models, UHD Blu-ray players may already be on their way to being discontinued. Samsung isn't making UHD Blu-ray players any longer.

Apple Silicon inherently has hardware-based security features including a Secure Enclave that the BDA could easily approve of, and since Apple machines make up a very large part of the computing industry, these need to get attention as well. Pluton is basically Microsoft's version of Apple's security hardware, designed for processors outside the Apple ecosystem.

[usually_quiet]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

Apple Silicon inherently has hardware-based security features including a Secure Enclave that the BDA could easily approve of, and since Apple machines make up a very large part of the computing industry, these need to get attention as well. Pluton is basically Microsoft's version of Apple's security hardware, designed for processors outside the Apple ecosystem.

You keep using the same arguments, and they are arguments that are demonstrably untrue.

Apple has only 16% of the market. The vast majority of computer owners, including Apple owners, prefer watching streaming video or video files to playing shiny plastic discs with their computers. The percentage of those optical disc fans who want to play their UHD Blu-ray discs with a computer is tiny.

Pluton is not the same as Apple's solution and supporting it would require additional programming. Apple would also need to provide assistance with the development of any third-party software using their proprietary security technology. I doubt that Apple will be interested since there is nothing in it for them. Apple makes money from those watching iTunes streaming video but no money from those playing optical media. ...and Apple doesn't seem to be losing customers as a result of not supporting UHD Blu-ray. You are fanatical about wanting UHD Blu-ray playback but you aren't leaving them, are you?