Can 2D Blu-ray Players be upgraded to play 3D Blu-rays?

[Clark W Griswald, Jr]

Originally Posted by boredomHD

3-D sucks. Why does anyone even want it? Not to mention you have to purchase a new blu-ray player and possibly a new television. If I am forced to buy a new player for a new format within three or four years from now, I'm done altogether.

Done with what?
Cracking open that paperback you've been saving? Taking up knitting?
3D is an OPTION. If you don't want it, don't buy it. Simple as that. How would you be 'forced' to buy a new player.

[Anthony P]

Originally Posted by Henry T

The reason people want the format to be mainstream is so there will be full support from the manufactures and movie production companies into the future.

If it does not become "mainstream" then there is no reason for the people who make the stuff to want to keep making it. These companies do not roll out this new dedicated technology for a small "enthusiast" market. They do it to make money and for that they need a huge base of users.

If it does not sell to the masses.....it dies.....its that simple.

For something like BD and DVD and CD (winners)... or LD and HD-DVD and Beta (losers)..... that is true, there is the risk of being Niche and obsolete. But that does not apply to 3D at home. Once the movie is created in 3D there is no reason not to distribute it in BD 3D. Instead of the 2D film you put the 3D film in the encoder and use that video stream to make the replication master, once the master is done there is absolutely no difference, the replicator line does not care about the content. And for home use, the 3D BD will play on a 2D player and 2D set in 2D just as well as a 2D version of the movie. So that one 3D BD is usable by 100% of the BD population and bought/rented by 100% of the population that wants to watch the movie on BD, there is no Joe "I hate 3D and won't be buying/renting it in 3D" or Bob “I can’t update to a 3D set now” to the studio, there is just Joe and Bob "I want to see the movie" who bought or rented it.


So the question becomes will 3D take off in theatres. So let's look at that side of the equation. People are willing to pay more for 3D (that is why movies in 3D sell better in 3D then 2D). Many screens have been upgraded to 3D and many more every day because it brings in more $$ to theatres, and if the room has been turned to 3D the owner will rather show 3D (brings in more $ per seat).The studio which gets a % of income gets more for 3D. And it can help bring people to the theatres (I have a friend that has not been to a cinema or bought or rented a DVD/BD in 5+ years because "I can DL the movie for free as soon as it hits theatres, and sometimes before" but he went out to see Avatar because he could not DL and especially in 3D.

[zoran]

I have seen two, but am not looking forward to pay twice as much to go to theater.

[tommyboy81]

Question.

If the PS3 is getting a firmware update to be 3-D how come nobody can do it with other players. Why buy a new player?

Anyways I think its wierd because I thought it was different technology and not a program. So I don't know how the PS3 can show 3-D

[kris26]

Originally Posted by tommyboy81

Question.

If the PS3 is getting a firmware update to be 3-D how come nobody can do it with other players. Why buy a new player?

Anyways I think its wierd because I thought it was different technology and not a program. So I don't know how the PS3 can show 3-D

yes
THEY use compress the dvd
THEY are compressing the bluray
what happened to compress the 3d bluray
does it still have 1080p 24p per eye!!!!!!!!!!!!
I wonder

[raygendreau]

Contrary to many of the posts in this thread, a number of Sony Blu-Ray players in addition to PS3's will be firmware upgraded sometime in June:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10450795-1.html

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by raygendreau

Contrary to many of the posts in this thread, a number of Sony Blu-Ray players in addition to PS3's will be firmware upgraded sometime in June:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10450795-1.html

These aren't existing Blu players. These are announced players, that originally weren't announced as being 3-D.

[raygendreau]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

These aren't existing Blu players. These are announced players, that originally weren't announced as being 3-D.

They are available at Best Buy

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Blu-ray-...at205900050012

[aarenlainey]

In the Blu-ray player section you will always find up-to-date information about new and upcoming Blu-ray players, Blu-ray player reviews, photos and product images, detailed specifications about Blu-ray players including release dates, media, audio- and video playback, connections, features etc.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by raygendreau

They are available at Best Buy

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Blu-ray-...at205900050012

They must be very recent. In any case, nothing sold before January is upgradeable, according to the article.

[ScarredLungs]

It is going to be a while before I make any new purchases as far as 3D Blu-ray players go.

[snoman_99]

yeah we won't be making any new purchases for a 3-D gimmick... at the theaters its all good sometimes but not all the time. Come on there are people out here that get sick just playing video games, let alone 3-D movies now hahahaa.

my wife and i are in an agreement... really not sure this will actually take off in the home market. There will be some that just have to have it and are already purchasing new equipment but we don't see 3-D as an everyday thing wow ....

much respect,

Jason & Jen

[BLUTRIG]

Originally Posted by snoman_99

yeah we won't be making any new purchases for a 3-D gimmick... at the theaters its all good sometimes but not all the time. Come on there are people out here that get sick just playing video games, let alone 3-D movies now hahahaa.

my wife and i are in an agreement... really not sure this will actually take off in the home market. There will be some that just have to have it and are already purchasing new equipment but we don't see 3-D as an everyday thing wow ....

much respect,

Jason & Jen

when I purchase my 09 Blu-ray player & my 9G TV a year go and knowing it wasn't 3-D ready I was OK with it,and I'am not ready to purchase new equipment or have the $ and I to don't see 3-D as an everyday thing and my wife get sick with 3-D movies at IMAX

[snoman_99]

we definately agree....

J & Jen

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by Oddiophile

The chances of any stand alone player getting a 3D software upgrade is slim to none. The PS3 can get away with a 3D firmware update because it is so powerful it can decode the 3D in software unlike stand alone players that will do it in the hardware.

Now that's what I call future proof. Too bad other BD players aren't built like that.

[bhampton]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

Now that's what I call future proof. Too bad other BD players aren't built like that.

No problem... Just get a PS3 and you're all set.

Been that way since Nov 06.

-Brian

[raygendreau]

For those of you wondering how the PS3 firmware update will provide 1080P Full HD to both eyes, here is the definitive answer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f0MP9...eature=related

[GORT]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

Now that's what I call future proof. Too bad other BD players aren't built like that.

They are built like that my BDP-S470 will get a firmware update for 3D as will many other players. The PS3 is not the ultimate BD player anymore.

[doug2255]

Originally Posted by ww927bin

If you own a 3D-capable TV then you should buy a 3-D Blu-ray Player.

Which 3D Player ????? Panasonic BDT 300 ... or a Samsung BDC5900 / 6900 or ...

[Yeha-Noha]

My two year old Sony S350 BD player is now old and it's time for a new one that decodes both DD TrueHD and DTS HD MA. Yep, there are plenty of those around now for well under $200 US.

However, I have been eyeballing the Panny DMP BDT 300 3D player. I said to myself, why not just go ahead and be 3D ready even if I'm not ready? I can buy a Panny 65 or 85. But, if I go 3D, I'll have to buy another player again. And, 3D players will still play 2D BDs. It looks like a good future proof player too with dual HDMI outputs, one for HDMI 1.3a for any AVR that's not HDMI 1.4 ready, like mine, and the other HDMI 1.4 for a 3D display. I'm just waiting for the 3D LCDs to come down in price. That may take a year or two though.

All the 3D players I've reviewed and read about, except the DMT 300/350, only have a single HDMI 1.4 output.

Here's my question for the 3D player experts. Can I use an HDMI splitter to get dual HDMI 1.4 outputs? That way, I can connect one to the 3D display and the other to an AVR with HDMI 1.3a. I mean why spend $100 more for the BDT 300 if all you need is another HDMI output. Wouldn't the BDT 100 do just as well with a splitter? I thought HDMI is downwardly compatible. If you send digital audio through HDMI 1.4 won't it work ok with an AVR that has HDMI 1.3a? Or, will there be a handshake issue if I did that?