Kaleidescape movie players - the alternative to physical disc media (2020 article) - Blu-ray Forum

DrrnHarr · 04-08-2022, 04:56 PM

According to Bill Hunt, the respected founder of TheDigitalBits and DVD/Blu-ray enthusiast, the end of physical disc media is almost at an end. In this 2020 article he has a surprising alternative that he says is better quality than 4K:

https://thedigitalbits.com/featured/...-entertainment

Vilya · 04-08-2022, 05:17 PM

Old news from Bill Hunt recycled as if new by the OP.

Disc sales have actually declined by double digits for five consecutive years, 2017-2021. In 2020, they fell 25.55%.

https://www.degonline.org/portfolio_...inment-report/

It is also worth noting that digital sales have fallen each of the last 11 years, too. In 2021, digital sales fell almost as much as disc sales did: 19.33% vs. 19.53%.

https://www.degonline.org/portfolio_...inment-report/

Conclusion: People are buying less and subscribing more. Also not news.

Alan Gordon · 04-08-2022, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vilya

Old news repackaged in another clickbait Bill Hunt article.

I thought this was a new post by Bill, went to TDB to read, only to find that the post was from 2020.

Vilya · 04-08-2022, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan Gordon

It’s not repackaged though. I thought this was a new post, went to TDB to read, only to find that the post was from 2020.

I changed my opening line as the article cited by the OP is indeed an antique.

DrrnHarr · 04-08-2022, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vilya

I changed my opening line as the article cited by the OP is indeed an antique.

My bad...I didn't check the date. Changed the title to reflect date.

Vilya · 04-08-2022, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrrnHarr

My bad...I didn't check the date

Not to worry; they are easy to overlook.

The sky has been falling for physical media on this forum since at least 2014. I got tired of holding my umbrella years ago. When there are no more new release announcements on disc, I will try to muster up the energy and

then.

Kaleidescape is extremely overpriced, their downloads have DRM, and their hardware is proprietary; the average joe will never adopt anything costing that much. I would raise the Jolly Roger myself before I would ever pay their prices.

Red Dragon · 04-08-2022, 05:56 PM

Will I ever see the end of physical media in my lifetime?

Will I ever accept the end of physical media?

Will I ever give up physical media?

Only after you pry my Godfather 4k trilogy box set from my cold dead hands!!! And even then... maybe not!!!

LordoftheRings · 04-08-2022, 06:03 PM

Two years ago his prediction was dead on.
I went to Best Buy (Kanada) recently; the Blu-ray movie (4K, 3D) section is practically dead.
It went down roughly 80%. It's not coming back either.

And the few new releases they have (4K BR) ... $34.99 (regular).
Online for new steelbook 4K BR ... $44.99 (average; some more).

Compare that with streaming or ticket prices to the movie theaters (Tuesdays), and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to predict another two years from now ... April 2024.

We are hard-core physical film software addicts here, and we are doomed in this world of inflation and tough economics on a grand scale.

* It's just an opinion, not a reason to lose sleep over it.
James Bond might be dead but there will be a replacement ...

d3nt0n · 04-08-2022, 06:10 PM

I think there's a chance physical media might make a comeback in a decade or two, just like it did with music.
But first it has to die. I just hope a lot of smaller boutique distributors manage to hold on in that timeframe.

Vilya · 04-08-2022, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

Two years ago his prediction was dead on.
I went to Best Buy (Kanada) recently; the Blu-ray movie (4K, 3D) section is practically dead.
It went down roughly 80%. It's not coming back either.

And the few new releases they have (4K BR) ... $34.99 (regular).
Online for new steelbook 4K BR ... $44.99 (average; some more).

Compare that with streaming or ticket prices to the movie theaters (Tuesdays), and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to predict another two years from now ... April 2024.

We are hard-core physical film software addicts here, and we are doomed in this world of inflation and tough economics on a grand scale.

* It's just an opinion, not a reason to lose sleep over it.
James Bond might be dead but there will be a replacement ...

I haven't cared what Best Buy, or any other brick and mortar store, stocks for many years. I have the internet and it's primary purpose ain't for streaming; it's for online shopping! I have the entire online retail world at my fingertips. I shop online enthusiastically with a RAT8+ gaming mouse.

I do not believe for a fraction of an instant that physical media will cease to be offered by April 2024 if that is your prediction. I have been hearing this "imminent doom" bull pucky renewed every year since 2014, also.

LordoftheRings · 04-08-2022, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vilya

I haven't cared what Best Buy, or any other brick and mortar store, stocks for many years. I have the internet and it's primary purpose ain't for streaming; it's for online shopping! I have the entire online retail world at my fingertips. I shop online enthusiastically with a RAT8+ gaming mouse.

I do not believe for a fraction of an instant that physical media will cease to be offered by April 2024 if that is your prediction. I have been hearing this "imminent doom" bull pucky renewed every year since 2014, also.

In my above post I did mention "online".
Two years from now streaming will be on firmer ground still, and movie theaters will still exist.

* Are you sure you want to communicate with me; Geoff D might disapprove.

Vilya · 04-08-2022, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

* Are you sure you want to communicate with me; Geoff D might disapprove.

I have

s and

es for everybody.

LordoftheRings · 04-08-2022, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vilya

I have

s and

es for everybody.

Vary good; because movie streaming matters.

LordoftheRings · 04-08-2022, 06:58 PM

January 2021 ...

Feel free to read the comments too.

* The machines are expensive, very. It's more for the oligarchs type ("the rule of the few").
And like everything else in real life it's not 100% free of glitches.

bhampton · 04-12-2022, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

Vary good; because movie streaming matters.

To you at least. Stream on, stream on, … stream until your dreams come true.

Kaliedecape matters to the handful of its users.

Currently I see more physical releases than I can keep up with.

LordoftheRings · 04-13-2022, 12:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bhampton

To you at least. Stream on, stream on, … stream until your dreams come true.

Kaliedecape matters to the handful of its users.

Currently I see more physical releases than I can keep up with.

That's right

batman2000 · 04-21-2022, 09:19 PM

This is a cool product that’s way too expensive.

04-08-2022, 04:56 PM	#1
DrrnHarr Power Member Top contributor Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Wisconsin 4K collection:41 Blu-ray collection:818 DVD collection:352 MA collection:2122 Digital collection:6033 iTunes collection:6972 Prime collection:282 Blu-ray reviews: 13 Trading Score:3	Kaleidescape movie players - the alternative to physical disc media (2020 article) According to Bill Hunt, the respected founder of TheDigitalBits and DVD/Blu-ray enthusiast, the end of physical disc media is almost at an end. In this 2020 article he has a surprising alternative that he says is better quality than 4K: https://thedigitalbits.com/featured/...-entertainment Last edited by DrrnHarr; 04-08-2022 at 05:54 PM.

04-08-2022, 05:17 PM	#2
Vilya Blu-ray Count Top contributor Member since:Sep 2011 Location:In the gloaming 4K collection:774 Blu-ray collection:5294 DVD collection:3918 Digital collection:1697 Blu-ray reviews:3 Trading Score:17	Old news from Bill Hunt recycled as if new by the OP. Disc sales have actually declined by double digits for five consecutive years, 2017-2021. In 2020, they fell 25.55%. https://www.degonline.org/portfolio_...inment-report/ It is also worth noting that digital sales have fallen each of the last 11 years, too. In 2021, digital sales fell almost as much as disc sales did: 19.33% vs. 19.53%. https://www.degonline.org/portfolio_...inment-report/ Conclusion: People are buying less and subscribing more. Also not news. Last edited by Vilya; 04-08-2022 at 05:36 PM.

04-08-2022, 05:56 PM	#7
Red Dragon Special Member Member since:Mar 2011 Location:North Charleston, South Carolina Blu-ray collection:324	The End of Physical Media? *Will I ever see the end of physical media in my lifetime?* *Will I ever accept the end of physical media?* *Will I ever give up physical media?* *Only after you pry my Godfather 4k trilogy box set from my cold dead hands!!! And even then... maybe not!!!*

04-08-2022, 06:03 PM	#8
LordoftheRings Special Member Top contributor Member since:Mar 2010 Location:Portishead ♫	Two years ago his prediction was dead on. I went to Best Buy (Kanada) recently; the Blu-ray movie (4K, 3D) section is practically dead. It went down roughly 80%. It's not coming back either. And the few new releases they have (4K BR) ... $34.99 (regular). Online for new steelbook 4K BR ... $44.99 (average; some more). Compare that with streaming or ticket prices to the movie theaters (Tuesdays), and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to predict another two years from now ... April 2024. We are hard-core physical film software addicts here, and we are doomed in this world of inflation and tough economics on a grand scale. * It's just an opinion, not a reason to lose sleep over it. James Bond might be dead but there will be a replacement ...

04-08-2022, 06:10 PM	#9
d3nt0n Special Member Member since:Sep 2020 Location:USA Home Theater Gallery:8 Blu-ray reviews:2 Trading Score:18	I think there's a chance physical media might make a comeback in a decade or two, just like it did with music. But first it has to die. I just hope a lot of smaller boutique distributors manage to hold on in that timeframe.

04-21-2022, 09:19 PM	#17
batman2000 Blu-ray Ninja Member since:Oct 2006 Blu-ray reviews:1	This is a cool product that’s way too expensive.

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