Suggestion for members regarding possible method of Ultra HD Blu-ray playback on Mac

[BijouMan]

I suggest that you guys tell Macgo about using Apple's T2 Security Chip to allow legal playback of Ultra HD Blu-ray discs on Mac computers (I have one of those.) Here is their address: support@macblurayplayer.com. For more information on this see my post on this thread. Tell other members of this forum to tell them as well. If we can get enough people to tell them, maybe they will get in touch with Apple and the Blu-ray Disc Association to finally bring Ultra HD Blu-ray to the Mac.

[BijouMan]

I would also like them to get in touch with Apple and the Blu-ray Disc Association to develop Ultra HD Blu-ray support for Apple Silicon, as well as a proprietary secure handshake for the Pro Display XDR to enable the ability to play Ultra HD Blu-ray through it, including in Dolby Vision, since it does not support HDCP. This way, every Intel Mac with the T2 Security Chip as well as every Apple Silicon Mac will enjoy the ability to play Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

I would also like them to get in touch with Apple and the Blu-ray Disc Association to develop Ultra HD Blu-ray support for Apple Silicon, as well as a proprietary secure handshake for the Pro Display XDR to enable the ability to play Ultra HD Blu-ray through it, including in Dolby Vision, since it does not support HDCP. This way, every Intel Mac with the T2 Security Chip as well as every Apple Silicon Mac will enjoy the ability to play Ultra HD Blu-ray discs.

Apple never supported playing Blu ray directly on their computers. So getting UHD 4K BD's is a no go. It is accomplishment that they have pursued DRM aware browser to be able to play a 4K HDR Netflix stream as a example. The new M1 SoC computers will readily support 4K HDR10 streaming.

Just the simple fact that its really a marketplace that has disappeared even for PC's as optical drives vanish from being built into laptops, desktops such as Dell's Alienware models. Windows has the MX Edge Browser that is DRM aware for doing the same with 4K HDR streaming.

Considering HDCP 2.2 compliant UHD BD players are readily available and game consoles that can play UHD 4K Bd's, the marketplace has now completely shifted away from computers.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Apple never supported playing Blu ray directly on their computers. So getting UHD 4K BD's is a no go. It is accomplishment that they have pursued DRM aware browser to be able to play a 4K HDR Netflix stream as a example. The new M1 SoC computers will readily support 4K HDR10 streaming.

Just the simple fact that its really a marketplace that has disappeared even for PC's as optical drives vanish from being built into laptops, desktops such as Dell's Alienware models. Windows has the MX Edge Browser that is DRM aware for doing the same with 4K HDR streaming.

Considering HDCP 2.2 compliant UHD BD players are readily available and game consoles that can play UHD 4K Bd's, the marketplace has now completely shifted away from computers.

Mac computers can play Blu-ray Discs using Macgo software. It's on the App Store. Just search "Macgo." You need to tell Macgo about Ultra HD Blu-ray. Read my post that I linked. I want Ultra HD Blu-ray to be just as portable as DVD was.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

Mac computers can play Blu-ray Discs using Macgo software. It's on the App Store. Just search "Macgo." You need to tell Macgo about Ultra HD Blu-ray. Read my post that I linked. I want Ultra HD Blu-ray to be just as portable as DVD was.

That is not the same as Apple directly supporting BD playback, Apple never shipped a computer with a BD drive.

Last version MacGO is from a year ago for Catalina, its really old software from when BD first were around.
Cost more to buy this software (pro $64.99 14 ratings, standard $49.99 6 ratings), with a UHD BD Optical drive (~ $150) then just to buy a UHD BD player.

Besides these external optical drives are noisy next to a computer.

"I want Ultra HD Blu-ray to be just as portable as DVD was." check out
4K UHD Blu-ray Playback on PC Desktop is officially dead in 2021?

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

That is not the same as Apple directly supporting BD playback, Apple never shipped a computer with a BD drive.

Last version MacGO is from a year ago for Catalina, its really old software from when BD first were around.
Cost more to buy this software (pro $64.99 14 ratings, standard $49.99 6 ratings), with a UHD BD Optical drive (~ $150) then just to buy a UHD BD player.

Besides these external optical drives are noisy next to a computer.

"I want Ultra HD Blu-ray to be just as portable as DVD was." check out
4K UHD Blu-ray Playback on PC Desktop is officially dead in 2021?

I want Mac owners (myself included) to be able to use their Mac that they spent a lot of money on as a portable Ultra HD Blu-ray player. This is the one thing I dislike most about my 2020 MacBook Pro with its beautiful Retina Display. It does everything but fold clothes and play Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. See my post in the thread you mentioned. I want Macgo to develop this. As soon as they develop it, I will happily buy their software and a drive. If the drive noise bothers me, I can always put on my AirPods Pro. This will all be in addition to my home player.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

I want Mac owners (myself included) to be able to use their Mac that they spent a lot of money on as a portable Ultra HD Blu-ray player. This is the one thing I dislike most about my 2020 MacBook Pro with its beautiful Retina Display. It does everything but fold clothes and play Ultra HD Blu-ray discs. See my post in the thread you mentioned. I want Macgo to develop this. As soon as they develop it, I will happily buy their software and a drive. If the drive noise bothers me, I can always put on my AirPods Pro. This will all be in addition to my home player.

Prepare to be more miserable with your Nov 2019 model, as the first M1 bench marks for single core, multi core tests with a 13” MacBook Air are very close to you 16” MBP, metal should still be better.

See geekbench.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Prepare to be more miserable with your Nov 2019 model, as the first M1 bench marks for single core, multi core tests with a 13” MacBook Air are very close to you 16” MBP, metal should still be better.

See geekbench.

But it won't run Windows, and several macOS versions later, it won't be able to run old programs and games, only new ones (Rosetta 2 will be discontinued. Remember when macOS 10.7 Lion removed support for PowerPC programs and games?) Apple is not known for backwards compatibility. Although I do want owners of Apple Silicon-based Macs to be able to enjoy Ultra HD Blu-ray, even if it costs extra. Also, my MacBook Pro is a 2020 13-inch model, not 16-inch. I don't know about you, but with Apple removing features, like the internal optical drive, all the ports, and native support for Intel programs and Windows, I think this is absolutely degrading to the Mac brand. At least if we can get optional Ultra HD Blu-ray playback, that will, in my opinion, be a step in the right direction for the Mac brand. I don't want myself or any other Mac user to be stuck with streaming.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

But it won't run Windows, and several macOS versions later, it won't be able to run old programs and games, only new ones (Rosetta 2 will be discontinued. Remember when macOS 10.7 Lion removed support for PowerPC programs and games?) Apple is not known for backwards compatibility. Although I do want owners of Apple Silicon-based Macs to be able to enjoy Ultra HD Blu-ray, even if it costs extra. Also, my MacBook Pro is a 2020 13-inch model, not 16-inch. I don't know about you, but with Apple removing features, like the internal optical drive, all the ports, and native support for Intel programs and Windows, I think this is absolutely degrading to the Mac brand. At least if we can get optional Ultra HD Blu-ray playback, that will, in my opinion, be a step in the right direction for the Mac brand. I don't want myself or any other Mac user to be stuck with streaming.

FYI this is a direction MS is also headed. Windows on ARM is about to get lots of apps thanks to new x64 emulation - The Verge
One would have thought otherwise, compatibility is not forgotten. Also they will likely continue to sell both processor platforms until it’s not a issue, compared to PPC days. Just assumed you had 16”, but 13” is much more mobile friendly. Do you realize it’s now been a decade since Macs had the super drive, everyone that wanted what you wanted used third party drives and software to play BDs. Big Sur with its disk security might need MacGo to be updated. Big Sur will be released today.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

FYI this is a direction MS is also headed. Windows on ARM is about to get lots of apps thanks to new x64 emulation - The Verge
One would have thought otherwise, compatibility is not forgotten. Also they will likely continue to sell both processor platforms until it’s not a issue, compared to PPC days. Just assumed you had 16”, but 13” is much more mobile friendly. Do you realize it’s now been a decade since Macs had the super drive, everyone that wanted what you wanted used third party drives and software to play BDs. Big Sur with its disk security might need MacGo to be updated. Big Sur will be released today.

I still have not received a letter back from Macgo yet. I even wrote to them in Cantonese as well as English (they are based in Hong Kong.) If I can't play Ultra HD Blu-ray on my Mac, the only way to be able to take Ultra HD Blu-ray on vacation with me would be to get a Panasonic DP-UB420 or something just to set up in my hotel room, since there's no way I'm going to take my 17lb DP-UB9000.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

I still have not received a letter back from Macgo yet. I even wrote to them in Cantonese as well as English (they are based in Hong Kong.) If I can't play Ultra HD Blu-ray on my Mac, the only way to be able to take Ultra HD Blu-ray on vacation with me would be to get a Panasonic DP-UB420 or something just to set up in my hotel room, since there's no way I'm going to take my 22lb Pioneer (if they even start making it.)

Just redeem Digital codes and download HD file from iTunes ~ 5 GB a film from Apple TV app.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Just redeem Digital codes and download HD file from iTunes ~ 5 GB a film from Apple TV app.

Just a moment..........Just a moment..........

I've just picked up an instance of Macgo Blu-ray Player Pro playing an Ultra HD Blu-ray.

Macgo has never publicly stated that they support it, but maybe they forgot to update their webpage. This is a T2-equipped Mac.

So maybe AACS 2.x somehow looks for a standalone decryption module and in this case finds the T2 Security Chip's decryption hardware. All HEVC video first goes through the T2 Security Chip as it has special HEVC decoding hardware to take stress off the CPU and GPU. Macgo Blu-ray Player Pro also plays HEVC video files, so maybe they didn't code it to only allow AVC, MPEG2 and VC-1 for Blu-ray playback. The folder structure of an Ultra HD Blu-ray is the same as that of a standard Blu-ray but the video codec and copy protection is different despite still being in an MPEG Transport Stream. Macgo updated the AACS keys in August 2019 so maybe that included AACS 2.x. As it turns out, the way Apple designed the computers with the T2 Security Chip unintentionally allows for legal Ultra HD Blu-ray playback when used with Blu-ray player software that supports HEVC video and has the AACS 2.x keys that tell the Ultra HD Blu-ray drive to play its role in the decryption of the disc.

Can you test this out yourself with Knives Out which is notorious for its copy protection? If you can play Knives Out, that will tell me that this is a true legal Ultra HD Blu-ray playback solution and I will happily buy this software and a drive.

https://youtu.be/wtO8FpqlmNo

DISCLAIMER: This video does not belong to me. All credit goes to SimplyPops.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

Just redeem Digital codes and download HD file from iTunes ~ 5 GB a film from Apple TV app.

Still no news about Ultra HD Blu-ray playback on Mac computers. It turns out that the disc SimplyPops played on his MacBook Pro was the Blu-ray of Black Panther, not the Ultra HD Blu-ray (he swapped the discs off camera.) The Ultra HD Blu-ray has more languages and allows immediate access to the film. However, the drive was spinning at Ultra HD Blu-ray speeds.

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

That is not the same as Apple directly supporting BD playback, Apple never shipped a computer with a BD drive.

Last version MacGO is from a year ago for Catalina, its really old software from when BD first were around.
Cost more to buy this software (pro $64.99 14 ratings, standard $49.99 6 ratings), with a UHD BD Optical drive (~ $150) then just to buy a UHD BD player.

Besides these external optical drives are noisy next to a computer.

"I want Ultra HD Blu-ray to be just as portable as DVD was." check out
4K UHD Blu-ray Playback on PC Desktop is officially dead in 2021?

After having written to them multiple times, they just updated the software to add support for Apple Silicon. But they did NOT add support for Ultra HD Blu-ray which is what I wanted them to do. It is still Blu-ray only.

[JohnAV]

Originally Posted by BijouMan

After having written to them multiple times, they just updated the software to support for Apple Silicon. But they did NOT add support for Ultra HD Blu-ray which is what I wanted them to do. It is still Blu-ray only.

As I mentioned before there is zero incentive to allow playback of UHD BD media on a laptop.

• 4K streaming is sufficient
• Software based HEVC decoding is too processor intensive, needs to be hardware decoding supported by SoC or processor.
• Digital code local downloads is HD only
• Optical drives are no longer seen on laptops, only third party products, with UHD drives being rare
• They are not licensed by BDA to provide this operation

[BijouMan]

Originally Posted by JohnAV

As I mentioned before there is zero incentive to allow playback of UHD BD media on a laptop.

• 4K streaming is sufficient
• Software based HEVC decoding is too processor intensive, needs to be hardware decoding supported by SoC or processor.
• Digital code local downloads is HD only
• Optical drives are no longer seen on laptops, only third party products, with UHD drives being rare
• They are not licensed by BDA to provide this operation

Well, my MacBook Pro has a Retina display that looks amazing and can take advantage of the extra quality Ultra HD Blu-ray has to offer. It may not be HDR but it's one of the best displays I have seen on a laptop short of an OLED. It also has hardware-based HEVC decoding using the T2 Security Chip, so I would like Macgo and the BDA to make this happen so I can take full advantage of what the computer has to offer in terms of video performance and quality when watching films on the go. I don't want to not be able to take advantage of something that has a lot of potential and costs a lot of money.

Most new computers have hardware-based HEVC decoding.

[BijouMan]

Still nothing and it’s almost the end of the year. Now I feel screwed by the companies who are simply not trying.

[BijouMan]

Just wrote to them again. Very disappointed. My MacBook Pro is too expensive not to have this ability (costs A LOT more than any home player, even my Panasonic and that Pioneer I've been dying for combined!) Why did I spend big bucks on a computer that can't play my discs. I bought the computer thinking it would be able to eventually. I feel like I've been ripped off.

[Deadend45]

The Macgo is hack software, the BDA will not only have nothing to do with them but will try to shut them down which why Macgo is in China in the first place. Its not an official BD player.

[apollo828]

Originally Posted by Deadend45

The Macgo is hack software, the BDA will not only have nothing to do with them but will try to shut them down which why Macgo is in China in the first place. Its not an official BD player.

It is properly licensed (AFAIK). Hong Kong is technically part of China but I believe is still trusted enough to get official support for BDA programs.

That said, don't get me wrong. The OP apparently believes that begging Apple and annoying forum users will somehow cause Apple to overturn almost 20 years of precedence and either support 4K optical playback directly or open up access to a security chip - one that has huge security holes in it, as I've explained to the OP multiple times - for 4K optical support when, AFAIK, they haven't opened up access to any third party, period. That's assuming Apple or whomever will make a formal BDA proposal to either allow for playback with a particular security setup or to accept a SW-only solution. That opens up a huge can of worms that I don't think anybody is willing to deal with, short of some deep-pocketed fool paying for a lot of work with minimal payoff. If Google opened up Widevine for more use cases, L1 Widevine could be a nice solution. They're not opening it up, though, and L1 isn't bulletproof either (although those in the know really keep a lid on their secrets). Throw in NVidia seemingly having no desire to adapt PlayReady, and creators of all other possible solutions not having any interest, and it's just not happening.