Will internet connected BDs still work in the future?

[kristoffer]

I have been wondering about something lately. Do any BDs require a online "check" or "key" to play? And if this is the case, what hampens in the future if the movie companies stop maintaining the serves with these keys on them? In other words can all blu rays play without an internet connection?

[ZoetMB]

No, they don't with the exception of the BD-live features, which are mostly useless anyway and for the most part, take you to some trailers and other promotional garbage. So yes, all BDs will play without an internet connection. You can easily try this - just disconnect your BD player from the web.

[singhcr]

My player has never been connected to the internet except for firmware updates. I have no issue playing back discs, new or old.

[Clark Kent]

Most of the older BD-Live features have been pulled off-line, anyway. I knew the studios didn't ever care about BD-Live special features and would pull the servers almost as soon as they could, to save a buck.

Some players get tripped up when they try to connect to dead BD-Live servers, it's better to have the Internet connection on your BD player disabled except to update firmware issues.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Some players get tripped up when they try to connect to dead BD-Live servers, it's better to have the Internet connection on your BD player disabled except to update firmware issues.

I always have mine disconnected as well, not just because the BD-live server might be down but

1) I remember in the early days when some of the BDs would have issues because the stupid connection from the studio would not be big enough when the title would come out (and the server could not handle in a timely manner the millions accessing it all at the same time).

2) it is no ones business what and when I watch it (and any net traffic will always bring a lot of semi private info to the server)

[mredman]

Originally Posted by kristoffer

I have been wondering about something lately. Do any BDs require a online "check" or "key" to play? And if this is the case, what hampens in the future if the movie companies stop maintaining the serves with these keys on them? In other words can all blu rays play without an internet connection?

YES ALL Blu Ray's can play WITHOUT internet connection. Have you never bought a blu ray before even if you have been a member of this site since 2010

[kristoffer]

Originally Posted by mredman

YES ALL Blu Ray's can play WITHOUT internet connection. Have you never bought a blu ray before even if you have been a member of this site since 2010

Ok. I wasn't aware that this is part of the spec for BD.

I remember when Avatar came out there was talk of a new anti pirate tech and thought this involved a online check. Thanks for clearing this up to me guys.

[Scarface32]

BD-Live is the biggest waste of time. It's mostly useless garbage.

Originally Posted by Clark Kent

Some players get tripped up when they try to connect to dead BD-Live servers, it's better to have the Internet connection on your BD player disabled except to update firmware issues.

One good thing about having an Internet connection, some discs will refresh the previews with new ones. It gets annoying when you see the same previews over and over again. Although I usually just skip ahead to the menu anyway, but it's still nice to see new refreshed previews.