Say thanks to Warner Bros. for Blood Diamond

[Best of Both Worlds]

Originally Posted by GoldenRedux

BD-J IS finalised. Every Blu-ray player on the market today is BD-J compliant.

OK, so what's this October 31st date that the BDA have given as the deadline for all players to be fully compliant with BD-J?

I quote:

"Blu-ray Disc players released after Oct. 31 will feature markedly improved functionality over models currently available for sale.

The Blu-ray Disc Assn. has mandated that all hardware streeting after that date must be able to play back picture-in-picture video, as driven by BD Java interactive technology. Many players on shelves now can handle BD Java, but to varying degrees. Few Blu-ray players include picture-in-picture capability, for instance, not even the PlayStation 3.

Sony’s current and summer 2007 stand-alone models and available Pioneer and Philips units are among those lacking the picture-in-picture feature.

... snip ...

“I just finished graphics with my first BD Java title,” said DVD producer Van Ling, who declined to name the release. “What I’m finding is that there is a lot of optimism that it will work, but it’s not a certainty. We are now out of the realm of normal video format stuff, and we’re into computer programming.”

Ling worries about ongoing differences among Blu-ray players, because it’s likely some manufacturers will adhere to minimum standards and others will go above and beyond for competitive reasons.

“The whole problem comes in when some manufacturers toe the minimum line and some others might make twice the minimum [functionality] on players,” said Ling. “In my view, I shouldn’t have to know what every single player can do. Rather than downgrade my creative vision for the lowest common denominator player, I want to create something [that fully realizes Blu-ray abilities].”

Source: http://www.videobusiness.com/article....html?nid=2840

I'm not interested in spreading misinformation, just getting to the bottom of this. I have a vested interest, after all, as I have a first-generation BD player. To be absolutely blunt, by the sounds of this, it's not me that's spreading the FUD, whatever that term may mean! (Why do people on forums insist on talking in code?)