Is BD-Live just a SCAM..?

[Anthony P]

Imagine this - you spend good money on a re-mastered Blu-ray release of something like The Beatles - Let It Be, complete with video footage, archived interviews, high resolution stereo and new hig rez 5.1 mixes of the album, blah, blah, blah.

When Naked came out it was because of additional tapes coming to surface of countless hours of studio sessions coming to light. Suppose something like this happens AFTER the release but the studio decides to make additional footage available to owners of the Blu-ray Disc through BD-Live.

Is that a scam if it's free given that EMI/Apple Corp don't make Blu-ray players?

That's the most exciting thing about BD-Live for me - not having to double dip when deluxe editions of albums come out if the studio offers the content for free to Blu-ray users. Of course we're still a year or two away from seeing a big push for music releases on Blu-ray, but that is where BD-Live will be most valuable to me.

but that is unrealistic. The studio is out to make money, does any of them allow you to Upgrade for free to the directors cut, or extended cut or ultimate edition or two disk edition or collectors edition.....
after you bought the original version?

On the other hand let's assume it does happen, what happens when 6 months or a year later they start cleaning some BDlive features of the server to make room for the new features of the new movies and it gets removed?

[Anthony P]

A scam would mean they are trying to cheat you out of money. So far they haven't charged for anything. You are also forgetting that some of the best BD Live stuff is not possible to just put on a disc. Live chat with the director, Nolan on The Dark Knight, Del Toro on Hellboy 2... and that does just happen to be a one time deal. You couldn't do that with DVD. BD Live isn't just about downloadable content.

BD live is about DL, your examples are DL. But I think the issue in some people s mind (which I think is realistic) is that examples, as given above with KK, where the "normal" extras are moved from disk to BDlive is the first step towards a world they don't want. One where extras are gone from disks and through BD live you must pay extra. So you buy the movie and it still costs the same, but now it is bare bone, you want the gags - .50$, you want deleted - 1$, directors commentary- 2$, FX -1.50$..... and in the end this movie that used to cost 20$ now costs 20$+10$ of extras

as for chat with the directors, there is something cool about it, but in a global world they are useless. When the guy has that one chat session for 1h at 5PM PST on a Friday, there is no way I can be there watching it and joining in and what happens if you did not buy it (or saw it or looked at the BD live where it was mentioned) before it happened and if I am not mistaken they are not even recorded so that if one is interested they can at least see the chat.

[CrazyFool]

You BD-Live cheerleaders are crazy. The extras that are NORMALLY INCLUDED on all good DVDs (like 'making of' stuff, etc) *** SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED ON ANY GOOD BLU-RAY *** even if they have to add a 2nd disc, which they sometimes to with DVDs. PERIOD. END OF STORY!!! Otherwise they are RIPPING YOU OFF.

If they want to add unusual content at BD-Live that normally is not included on a good DVD that's totally acceptable.

But don't push all the stuff we normally get when purchasing a movie onto BD-Live or you REMOVE VALUE because now we don't own the stuff. We are at the mercy of logging in to some stupid site and the content can be removed from our reach at any time. IT IS A RIP OFF.

[HAMP]

Is BD-Live just a SCAM..?

Yes.

[quexos]

I wouldn't call it a scam since I have not "lost" money to it. I would just call it a "non-event", at least so far.

[DarthJaeger]

It's funny but I can't even get BD-Live stuff to work on my ps3! It loads, starts to play for about 3 seconds, then freezes or cuts to black with the little "pause" symbol in the corner! I assume I must be doing something wrong...

[RandDawg]

Originally Posted by CrazyFool

Okay, so I bought 'King Kong' on Saturday and spent a good part of the weekend enjoying repeated viewings of the best scenes in the comfort of my living room. That was great, but after I grew weary of it I listened to the director's commentary while doing chores around the house. That was pretty fun. But Sunday evening I settled down into my easy chair to get to the really good stuff... the 'making of' stuff. Imagine my dismay when I was told that I could not view any of these special features unless I was connected to BD-Live.

What the hell is that B.S.??? For one thing I don't watch TV *at all* so my TV is not connected to cable. I couldn't connect to BD-Live if I wanted to. Another thing is that I have a pre BD-Live player. So, again, I could not connect to BD-Live even if I wanted to.

But that's completely BESIDE the point. I should not have to connect to BD-Live just to view the stuff that normally comes on every decent DVD.

Somebody else has probably said it by now but there is no such thing as BD-Live on DVDs.

[RandDawg]

Originally Posted by CrazyFool

You BD-Live cheerleaders are crazy. The extras that are NORMALLY INCLUDED on all good DVDs (like 'making of' stuff, etc) *** SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED ON ANY GOOD BLU-RAY *** even if they have to add a 2nd disc, which they sometimes to with DVDs. PERIOD. END OF STORY!!! Otherwise they are RIPPING YOU OFF.

If they want to add unusual content at BD-Live that normally is not included on a good DVD that's totally acceptable.

But don't push all the stuff we normally get when purchasing a movie onto BD-Live or you REMOVE VALUE because now we don't own the stuff. We are at the mercy of logging in to some stupid site and the content can be removed from our reach at any time. IT IS A RIP OFF.

Could you please define "Good"

[4K2K]

Originally Posted by RandDawg

Somebody else has probably said it by now but there is no such thing as BD-Live on DVDs.

I think he's saying that there are "making of" special features, that could have been put onto the disc - just like they could and usually are with DVDs - especially the 2 disc versions, are now not being put onto a BD disc at all and you are being forced to download/stream them via BD-Live.

I thought Blu-ray and Blu-ray discs was supposed to be so much better than digital downloads and that current digital downloads didn't have good quality and had other issues - like bandwidth, yet now we're apparently being forced to download stuff that could have been put onto a disc in the first place.

[bigm]

Originally Posted by HAMP

Is BD-Live just a SCAM..?

Yes.

I concur!

[hamisht]

BD-Live is definitely a rip off, just to get more money out of the consumer. Come on, who really wants to 'Download' special features that SHOULD be on the disc in the first place.

[DIY_HD]

Originally Posted by CrazyFool

You BD-Live cheerleaders are crazy. The extras that are NORMALLY INCLUDED on all good DVDs (like 'making of' stuff, etc) *** SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED ON ANY GOOD BLU-RAY *** even if they have to add a 2nd disc, which they sometimes to with DVDs. PERIOD. END OF STORY!!! Otherwise they are RIPPING YOU OFF.

If they want to add unusual content at BD-Live that normally is not included on a good DVD that's totally acceptable.

But don't push all the stuff we normally get when purchasing a movie onto BD-Live or you REMOVE VALUE because now we don't own the stuff. We are at the mercy of logging in to some stupid site and the content can be removed from our reach at any time. IT IS A RIP OFF.

Let's listen in on a meeting with the engineer who thought of it: "We can connect it to the Internet." "What for?" asks his boss. "I don't know, if for no other reason, we can always use it for firmware updates. And if we don't do it, the competition will." ---

I agree with you. If they can include digital copies for free, why not extra features on a separate disc (even a DVD)? If they were charging $5 a piece for BDs, fine can't afford to put in extras. But they want 30 bucks and up.

While I like the ability to provide updates and additional content after the sale, most of this BD-Live stuff only has value to the studio marketing machines. While I wouldn't call it a scam, it does provide us with more hype about which we can gripe!

While I am hopeful (I did install 2 LAN ports for future use), I am not holding my breath. Potential is good, reality is better. I've tried it, and it wasn't pretty. And I certainly will not register to download content. I didn't buy into the Sony Internet Video Link either for the same reason. Promises, promises. What next, Web-enabled microwave ovens (so you can synchronize your popcorn with the start of a movie)? Let's connect everything to the Internet. Spare me!

[Rob J in WNY]

Originally Posted by DIY_HD

What next, Web-enabled microwave ovens (so you can synchronize your popcorn with the start of a movie)? Let's connect everything to the Internet. Spare me!

Funny, but I was in a discussion about BD-Live the other night, and we discussed exactly the same scenario, only refrigerators.

When I bought my Sony BDP-S350, I had no intention of using BD-Live, but with two firmware upgrades firmly installed, an extra router port at hand, and just $10 for a 4GB thumb drive, I decided to join "the revolution" to educate myself on it. I think that registering is asking a bit much - sometimes you have to log in every time you access BD-Live on some discs (notably Disney). It's pretty neat if you are just navigating and downloading/viewing extra content, but not even a "T-9 texting fiend" can quickly log in when its required because you have to navigate through your username and password by arrowing to each letter with your BD player remote.

I gave the WALL·E BD-Live a try the other evening, and joined one of the "interactive public games" which start about every five minutes or so. When my turn came up, I was the only one logged in to play.

Again, I say that BD-Live has yet to land on its feet and find its own. There are probably a number of uses for it, but it's all a mish-mosh of ideas at the present.

[hamisht]

Originally Posted by atomik kinder

A scam would mean they are trying to cheat you out of money. So far they haven't charged for anything..

nothing except more money for a player that has the ability to do Bd-Live, so yes, yes they have.

[RazMansReality]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

You aren't missing much anyway. It just isn't worth getting riled up over not being able to get it. The reason for King Kong having limited special features is because two versions of the already long movie are on the same BD.

My S350 is connected to my LAN but only to get firmware updates. I don't normally watch special features even if they're on the BD unless it's something really special.

Even so I tried BD-live and found it to be too bothersome. It takes too long to download the content. Once downloaded I often had to register online before being able to view it and yet another name/password to deal with. Some studios let you see limited stuff without registering. It's just too many hoops to go through to even bother with it. I watch movies to relax and enjoy. My experience with BD-live wasn't.

I have the exact same player and connection with up to date flrmware but I can't get BD live to work to even be able to try it, anyone have any idea why?

[tacomaprime]

I have my ps3 connected to the internet for playing games. I have never viewed any bd live material. Sometimes I wish you could buy the blu ray movies without the bd live crap, at a cheaper price. I would just buy those.

[SkantDragon]

Originally Posted by captclueless

I have my ps3 connected to the internet for playing games. I have never viewed any bd live material. Sometimes I wish you could buy the blu ray movies without the bd live crap, at a cheaper price. I would just buy those.

I just wish the PS3 gave you a system setting option to turn BD Live off completely. Instead your only options are 'Allow' and 'Confirm'. The latter means it bugs you about whether you want to enable BD live each time you start playing a Blu-ray.

My answer will always be "No, I don't want the studios to monitor every time I watch a movie at home. Thank you." I wish I didn't have to answer that question every time. The purpose is to nag me until I give in and just set it to 'Allow'. But I won't.


Btw, you guys do realize that reporting to the studios about your movie watching habits at home is part of what BD Live does, right? Nobody seems to have picked up on the invasion of privacy aspect.

But then, the whole notion of privacy is probably a thing of the past already anyway. We can only hope that the people collecting all of this information about us will never come up with any unscrupulous ways to use it.

[bhampton]

Scam - No
Sham - Yes.

[Xerios]

stone age...

[Lanfear]

Originally Posted by CrazyFool

You BD-Live cheerleaders are crazy. The extras that are NORMALLY INCLUDED on all good DVDs (like 'making of' stuff, etc) *** SHOULD ALSO BE INCLUDED ON ANY GOOD BLU-RAY *** even if they have to add a 2nd disc, which they sometimes to with DVDs. PERIOD. END OF STORY!!! Otherwise they are RIPPING YOU OFF.

If they want to add unusual content at BD-Live that normally is not included on a good DVD that's totally acceptable.

But don't push all the stuff we normally get when purchasing a movie onto BD-Live or you REMOVE VALUE because now we don't own the stuff. We are at the mercy of logging in to some stupid site and the content can be removed from our reach at any time. IT IS A RIP OFF.

I don't really care about the extra content but I totally agree with you here. They should just add a 2nd disc.