Oppo confirms BDP-103/105 will be last Blu-ray players without online activation

[Badas]

Interesting. Another reason to not go for 4K Blu. I think I will just sit back and watch for a while.

[biliam1982]

KCBO - Keep Calm and Blu-Ray on:

Count me in too on not buying UHD players and discs if this comes to fruition.

I move too much and am constantly upgrading/swapping out gear to take a chance on this.

And, we've already seen this before with the Zune servers going down.

It's inevitable that it will happen to at least one studio who decides to utilize this feature.

[JohnAV]

With any new untested tech marvel someone discusses online you always have three choices.

[DVD Polizei]

Originally Posted by Ruined

So I spoke with an Oppo rep.

Once their UHD players are out, they are going to discontinue their 1080p BD player line.

They also confirmed they will be implementing all features of AACS2.0 as required by the BDA, which includes online disc activation.

So if you want a high quality player that doesn't have the ability to force you to register discs online, stock up on them 103/105s!

NOTE: It is not unique to Oppo for UHD players to require online activation, but it is unique to Oppo that they will not be carrying standard BD players anymore.

All the more reason to not buy a media player for $500. I did. I regret it. My BDP-93 became a brick (after a few really good years that I enjoyed so don't get me wrong on that), because it wouldn't play Fox movies for some reason, and Oppo support was like getting a coffee at Starbucks. Different attitude. Different days.

Why spend so much money on a media player these days? My Samsung $89 does just as good and even plays Fox Blu-rays. And if a few years later this Samsung becomes unreliable? Buy a newer model. At least I'm not out $500 and the illusion that I have something valuable.

I would certainly NOT advise people to buy Oppo players. If anything, sell the sucker now while you can, bank that cash to spend it on another brand.

Oppo was once the fiercely shining light in the world of quality products, but now they've become the politicians many of us despise. They simply go along to get along, at the consumer's expense and trust, and don't care.

[solarrdadd]

[Narcissus]

This is so much like what happened with the xbotchone it isn't funny, the only real difference is that they don't have an "always on" requirement, though i'd wager it's only a matter of time before that happens

Also don't count on buying used uhd media, there's no way they will let a pre-registered disc change hands. Sure, they will never come out and say it but you can bet there is no way that your new shiny uhd is going to play used discs. I'd imagine a standard reply along the lines of "We have no idea why it does not work, it should. We will investigate and {never} get back to you". Also count on that filtering down to 1080 Blu as well.

I find it hilarious that by trying to massively control what people do with items they have bought, the only things these companies are doing is killing technologies people actually want.

[Dr_Bedlo]

Originally Posted by sperezmore

Anybody remember DVIX Disc and Cicuit City?

They are Dead now




Regards,

This is the first thought that popped into my brain!

I was on the fence about 4k. If this is implemented, even by a portion of the studios, I'm out. I'll stick with standard blu-ray!

[TheUncool]

And much like DiVX, there were early adopters who weren't that concerned about rather draconian DRM/control attempts by the studios.

At the moment, this new attempt w/ UHD BD doesn't sound as bad as DiVX... and there isn't any competing format to choose (like w/ DVD vs DiVX) other than UHD streaming, which isn't worth the bother for the most part IMHO. OTOH, most people will likely be plenty happy to just stick w/ regular BD instead at this point -- most have only just recently bought into BD and gear that are just good enough to make good use of BDs (over DVDs).

I'm certainly in no rush to adopt yet another new format (and upgrade all my gear) that offers essentially marginal improvements in actual practice anyway -- yes, on paper, it's like going from DVD to BD, but my HT (and $$$) isn't made of paper (or just any paper that grow on trees in my backyard anyway)... And I certainly would not want to spend so much $$$ buying into more control from the studios for such marginal benefit...

[Kirsty_Mc]

I'm very dubious about this online verification. I remember when I bought my Sony smart TV... just 6 months after I bought it the Vimeo app was discontinued as they would not support it anymore. That was a brand new £3500 TV.

BEWARE OF ONLINE DRM!!!

[JohnAV]

Some point in the near future this will be a different discussion as BD player vendors drop making older BD players with 4K UHD players being the norm aa their replacements.

This thread started by OP was to alert you to that fact that Oppo will likely be going that route, as with probably all other vendors including Sony even though they think they might slide by only offering a 4K streaming service or VOD to start.

As of now stock up on current models, because soon as seen with UDTV's replacing most of the HDTV's sold, the same will be true with BD players, never mind the FUD over ACCS2 which no one has exposure to.

[rdodolak]

Will standalone DVD players be disappearing from all manufacturers too?

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Some point in the near future this will be a different discussion as BD player vendors drop making older BD players with 4K UHD players being the norm aa their replacements.

This thread started by OP was to alert you to that fact that Oppo will likely be going that route, as with probably all other vendors including Sony even though they think they might slide by only offering a 4K streaming service or VOD to start.

As of now stock up on current models, because soon as seen with UDTV's replacing most of the HDTV's sold, the same will be true with BD players, never mind the FUD over ACCS2 which no one has exposure to.

If the major brands drop their standard BD players they will have their lunch eaten by the China brands since they wont be able to compete at all on price. I don't see that happening, especially as UHDBD will be either ultra niche or total failure. Not smart to price yourself out of the market for that slim piece of the pie. Note that even Sony just announced a deluxe new standard BD player.

It is different for Oppo since they already are not price competitive they likely feel they have nothing to lose by dropping BD... unless people reject players with online activation like the new Oppos will have.

Also online activation AACS2 is not FUD, it is fact. Online activation is part of the AACS2 licensing requirements to build a UHDBD player, it can't be avoided. And Oppo is unique in that they will *only* be offering players with online activation in the near future. Determining how bad online activation will be may take upwards of 2-3 years, and I am not sure many will be happy to have that potentially forced upon them at any point in the future after spending all that money.

[JohnAV]

Like I said UHD BD players will replace "most" BD players, as BD players have replaced "most" DVD players currently, just as DVD players replaced "most" VHS players previously.

You can still go on Amazon and still find DVD or VHS players, but they are all the cheap variety. This is also the case if you wanted to procure a 720P TV.

Now one thing that hasn't been discussed here is that Oppo only sells Universal Networked BD players, not plain BD players. So if new standards come out, that what most customers are going to want. There really will be no marketplace for the older only BD players within a year or two as UHD media becomes more viable IMHO. If you have your doubts about all of this, just hang back and watch the marketplace.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by Ruined

If the major brands drop their standard BD players they will have their lunch eaten by the China brands since they wont be able to compete at all on price. I don't see that happening, especially as UHDBD will be either ultra niche or total failure. Not smart to price yourself out of the market for that slim piece of the pie. Note that even Sony just announced a deluxe new standard BD player.

Now you have exposed yourself, you consider 4K UHD BD's to be either a ultra niche or a total failure before they have come to market. You have a right to your opinion, but don't bet the farm on it.

Originally Posted by Ruined

It is different for Oppo since they already are not price competitive they likely feel they have nothing to lose by dropping BD... unless people reject players with online activation like the new Oppos will have.

They're not dropping BD playback from future UHD universal players, only EOL current line of Universal BD players.

Originally Posted by Ruined

Also online activation AACS2 is not FUD, it is fact. Online activation is part of the AACS2 licensing requirements to build a UHDBD player, it can't be avoided. And Oppo is unique in that they will *only* be offering players with online activation in the near future. Determining how bad online activation will be may take upwards of 2-3 years, and I am not sure many will be happy to have that potentially forced upon them at any point in the future after spending all that money.

Only licensees and vendors have access to how AACS2 will work out for consumers. Basing your futuristic projections totally on leaked 2014 documentation stolen from Sony who is not even yet offering a UHD player is just soapboxing for attention IMHO.

[ray0414]

I think there is some misinformation here (I hope).

If a disc could only be played on the player it's activated on then you wouldn't be able to rent uhd discs. 3d blu ray rental.com already has 15 uhd discs ready to rent as soon as they become available.

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by ray0414

I think there is some misinformation here (I hope).

If a disc could only be played on the player it's activated on then you wouldn't be able to rent uhd discs. 3d blu ray rental.com already has 15 uhd discs ready to rent as soon as they become available.

No misinformation, just that online activation is optional in *discs* and likely won't be used for some time until format builds steam.

Unlikely we will see it in discs for first 2-3yr of format, but even launch players must be able to enforce it.

[TheUncool]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Now you have exposed yourself, you consider 4K UHD BD's to be either a ultra niche or a total failure before they have come to market. You have a right to your opinion, but don't bet the farm on it.

Why would he or anyone else concerned be betting "the farm on it" anyway???

I would think people who are geniunely interested in the new format *should* be concerned that's not the case rather than suggesting that skeptics might somehow be betting the farm on it.

That's just silly.

I don't know about being ultra niche (already), but you can be sure UHD BD can easily turn into that given current context... and the likelihood that enough people would be interested in spending the $$$ over what will likely be fairly marginal real improvements in actual practice.

As it is, from what I understand, even BD has not surpassed DVD in sales so far, and BD was certainly at risk for some time... although that was in large part due to the format war and the format launch being rushed (probably due in part to the format war). And yet, BD also had Sony and their PS3 heavily invested in it to help it last long enough until most everyone's finally upgraded their gear to make good use of it. But will the same be true of UHD BD though... unless player (and media) pricing drops so fast that most people will simply buy one as a sensible replacement (or extra) for their existing BD player at very marginally higher prices.

Not like many people will appreciate the diff on a 50-60" display from 10ft-plus away afterall... even if they are fine w/ upgrading to a 4K display about now.

They're not dropping BD playback from future UHD universal players, only EOL current line of Universal BD players.

Well, hopefully, they won't require any sort of online activation if you're not using it to play UHD BDs.

Only licensees and vendors have access to how AACS2 will work out for consumers. Basing your futuristic projections totally on leaked 2014 documentation stolen from Sony who is not even yet offering a UHD player is just soapboxing for attention IMHO.

Well, the OP did say he got some info from an Oppo rep, not just what you're ridiculing him for. IF you wanna accuse him of lying, well...

Besides, it's not like consumer electronics companies, studios, et al are somehow well known to be beneficient entities that we can readily trust to do what's actually best for us...

[Ruined]

Yep UHD being ultra niche or completely failing is common sense IMO.

Blu-ray never could overtake DVD and recently the mass market is herding towards streaming, not physical media. Those are both huge problems for UHDBD. Why buy a $500 UHDBD player when VUDU 4k HDR streaming with rec2020 is built into your newly bought 2016 VIZIO TV essentially for free? And note, this is coming from someone with 6000+ BDs/DVDs who wants physical media to live on - BD seems to have a much better chance of sticking around than UHDBD due to BD's preinstalled base and the ambivalence toward 4k physical media.

Therefore, the thought of something offering an even smaller PQ/AQ improvement than Blu-ray did over DVD with no functionality improvement, now with the mass market desire for streaming, oh and btw you need to buy all new hardware - IMO to hope anything more than ultra niche for that triple threat is a bit of a pipe dream.

And complete failure depends on your definition of failure; for instance SACD is still limping along with obscure releases but I consider that format a complete failure because the content most want is never available on it as it only gets a handful of boutique releases now and then. BBY is carrying UHDBD at launch, but I don't see them double stocking both UHDBD and the better-selling standard BD skus long after the UHDBD launch hype dies off.

Ultra niche is what I'd consider a high-priced mailorder-only format "average joe" ignores that does have most recent content available for it, and I think this is the best one can realistically hope for UHDBD.

So, bottom line I think Oppo should continue making standard BD players. Maybe add 4k darbee to the existing 103d/105d design when that is available. Would require modifying VP chain from Mediatek > Darbee 2k > SI to Mediatek > SI > Darbee 4k.

[joie]

∆∆ Don't UHD players support playing 1080p discs to a 1080p display?

[Ruined]

Originally Posted by joie

∆∆ Don't UHD players support playing 1080p discs to a 1080p display?

Yes, at higher cost with potentially unwanted DRM technologies.

Money spent on UHDBD integration could be instead spent on higher end video processing tech, for instance.