Features I wish the BDA would mandate on all new players beginning August 1st 2008.

[HDTV1080P]

Features I wish the Blu-ray Disc Association would mandate on all new players beginning August 1st 2008.

1. I would like to see the Blu-ray Disc Association mandate that all Blu-ray players must have an Ethernet connection with the minimum hardware requirement of at least 1GB of storage for BD-LIVE (profile 2.0). The Blu-ray disc association could mandate that all Blu-ray players that do not meet the minimum hardware requirements for BD-LIVE must go out of production by July 31st 2008. Then on August 1st all new BLU-RAY players manufactured would be profile 2.0. Doing a strict mandate like this would strengthen the BLU-RAY format.
2. Also I wish auto firmware update feature would be mandated for August 1st 2008. Since every Blu-ray player would have an Ethernet connection a low cost internal clock feature could be added to every player manufactured so that once every two weeks in the middle of the night the Blu-ray player would automatically come on and check to see if there is an update in the firmware for that model of player. If there is an updated firmware available then the BLU-RAY player would download and install the update automatically in the middle of the night. The auto firmware update feature should be the default setting in the player with the option to disable it for those that want to do it manually. This auto update firmware feature would be very popular. Consumers that are use to DVD players that do not need firmware updates would be happy that they no longer need to burn CD-ROM discs and no longer need to manually update the firmware. Consumers could just sit back and place the latest movie in their player without worrying that they do not have the latest firmware.

** As an optional feature only it would be nice to see two HDMI outputs on high-end Blu-ray players. This feature should be optional only and no mandate. With two HDMI outputs consumers could run one HDMI to the display and one to the audio receiver as long as the timing for audio and video could be in sync. **

[Anthony P]

Features I either don't care about or that I really dont want.

read above.

1) I don't have Ethernet going anywhere near my HT, I don't need my player to have it. If someone does care for it, then there is a simple solution, BUY A PLAYER THAT HAS ETHERNET. Why should it be forced on everyone? All I want to do is watch movies. I don't care about it being connected to the net. If and when I think connected player is worth it, I will buy a player that can be connected and has the connection type of my choice.

2) No machine or manufacturer should dictate anything. I found it disgusting that MS decided some updates were important enough to be forced on all window owners. I paid and bought my machine. After that it should be my decision if, when and what features I want to add. I also don't want my machine to require a connection at all times to check, send information back to the manufacturer to check my version (as well as possibly sending other info), I don't want it to take longer to start up (once in a while or not) because it needs this song and dance routine and I particularly don't want to sit and watch a movie withy a bunch of friends just to find out that my player has decided that a FW is required (for a movie that does not need it) and will take 1/2h.

as for your ** that I agree with, I would like 2 HDMI for 3D, but I don’t think it should be forced on everyone, I see no advantage to have one HDMI for audio and one for video.

[owa]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

1) I don't have Ethernet going anywhere near my HT, I don't need my player to have it. If someone does care for it, then there is a simple solution, BUY A PLAYER THAT HAS ETHERNET.

Or, if they do want to provide ethernet, make it wireless since a lot of people probably don't have internet access at their HT location.

[reiella]

Originally Posted by owa

Or, if they do want to provide ethernet, make it wireless since a lot of people probably don't have internet access at their HT location.

I think wireless options would be better as a secondary solution... With the vagarities of the wireless network standards and routers being what they are.

While you can prolly get away with using a g based network [like the PS3] for most things, Post-N, not sure how many of the routers will be continuing that level of backward support.

[w_tanoto]

I don't really care about ethernet, and I think movie download idea is stupid.
Imagine people who are still on dial-up

[WickyWoo]

** As an optional feature only it would be nice to see two HDMI outputs on high-end Blu-ray players. This feature should be optional only and no mandate. With two HDMI outputs consumers could run one HDMI to the display and one to the audio receiver as long as the timing for audio and video could be in sync. **

There is no point to 2 HDMI outputs. Your TV is what is introducing the delay, not the reciever for its processing time. Your reciever has a delay feature that will compensate for this.

[HDTV1080P]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

There is no point to 2 HDMI outputs. Your TV is what is introducing the delay, not the reciever for its processing time. Your reciever has a delay feature that will compensate for this.

Sometimes one might want to leave their A/V receiver off and just use the internal video and 2 channel audio speakers in the TV. Two HDMI outputs on the BLU-RAY player would allow the receiver to be turned off and the TV left on. Also once and a while some receivers can not handle 1080P/24 and one might want to use one HDMI going directly to the TV and another going into the receiver for audio decoding. Two HDMI outputs on high-end $2000 BLU-RAY players would be a nice bonus feature for those that might need it. It should always be optional and never mandated.

[HDTV1080P]

Anthony, There are several things that are already mandated by the BDA for BLU-RAY players. For example, MPEG-4 AVC, VC-1, MPEG-2, lossy Dolby Digital, lossy DTS, and soon PIP will be mandated. The reason manufactories mandate features is so that consumers can experience compatibility between players and products. In the US the FCC has mandated an ATSC tuner in every product that contains a NTSC tuner. Many years ago close caption was mandated in all TV’s 13
inches and over.
My main point is that in 2008 BD-LIVE is going to be included on some or many movies released in the BLU-RAY format. It would be ideal if the BDA would mandate an Ethernet connection with the minimum hardware requirements for profile 2.0 (BD-LIVE) by August 1st 2008 (with a strict cut off date as mention in my prior post.) This would help win the format war if all players manufactured were profile 2.0 starting August 1st. I get tired of hearing about profile 2.0, etc. It would be nice if by August 1st 2008 this would be a non issue and one less feature the HD-DVD camp can use in their marketing advantage against the BLU-RAY camp.
When I mentioned the mandated auto firmware update feature I also mentioned that that feature could be turned off in the menu for people that would like to manually update their firmware. For the average consumer it would be nice if while they are sleeping at night if their BLU-RAY player decided to turn itself on at 3am and download the latest firmware and then turn itself back off. Consumers want to just play movies and they do not want to mess with firmware updates. A mandated auto firmware update feature would be something the HD-DVD camp does not have yet.
For those that do not have an Ethernet connection next to their BLU-RAY player then they can just purchase several different brands of external Ethernet to wireless adapter boxes if they want their BLU-RAY player connected to their wireless network.

[Anthony P]

Sometimes one might want to leave their A/V receiver off and just use the internal video and 2 channel audio speakers in the TV.

why would anyone in their right mind do that. What benefit does someone have to watch a movie in stereo when they have the setup and can see it in 5.1 or 7.1

[richteer]

Originally Posted by Anthony P

why would anyone in their right mind do that. What benefit does someone have to watch a movie in stereo when they have the setup and can see it in 5.1 or 7.1

I can think of one good reason: those who have separate home theatre and audio systems in the same room, with some speakers used for both. With the proposed set up, one listen in 5.1 mode or (if the system is wired up for the stereo) just in stereo.

In my (yet to be 5.1) set up, I'd want my front L & R speakers to be shared with my stereo system, but I can't see me hooking up whatever power amp for the 5.1 system I get to my stereo. And I can't afford 5 of the monoblocks I use for my stereo!

Admittedly, this situation is far from the norm!

[jorg]

wow i personaly think your guys are thinking way too hard abotu this lmao
but seriously none of those will be accept storage is too expensive and remember with 1.1 update it makes 256mb or storage manidtory maybe if there a way to upgrade storage? usb device any one plug in ethernet and storage? meaning upgrade your player kit!lmao

[gvortex7]

I definitely agree that ALL Blu-ray players should at least have an Ethernet port built in.

[Anthony P]

Anthony, There are several things that are already mandated by the BDA for BLU-RAY players. For example, MPEG-4 AVC, VC-1, MPEG-2, lossy Dolby Digital, lossy DTS, and soon PIP will be mandated. The reason manufactories mandate features is so that consumers can experience compatibility between players and products. In the US the FCC has mandated an ATSC tuner in every product that contains a NTSC tuner. Many years ago close caption was mandated in all TV’s 13
inches and over.

obviously many stuff are mandated, but if (fort example) the videocodecs were not mandated then players would be useless. You can't go buy a disk that uses AVC if your player only does MPEG2 and VC-1. Except for PiP every thing mandated are things that are required for usability. Truth is I don't think mandating video 1.1 was a good move.

There will always be players with more features and players with less. When something is not mandated (for example DTS on DVD players) studios either use it for something not critical or they also add the mandated so the ones that have a less capable solution can still enjoy the film (which is why they are buying, renting or borrowing).

My main point is that in 2008 BD-LIVE is going to be included on some or many movies released in the BLU-RAY format.

and some will buy players that can handle it because they think it important and others that don't care will not pay attention to that feature.

Why are you not asking for DTS HD MA? Why not mandate a BD-3D spec so that all players can play back 3D movies?

My main point is that in 2008 BD-LIVE is going to be included on some or many movies released in the BLU-RAY format.

I can understand taht. But let's face it the only reason it is an issue with them is that there is no real no BS reason for them to use to con others into wasting money on HD DVD. Next it will be that not all players are black or something. If you think mandating BD live will shut up morons then you are deeply mistaken. And further more it is dumb to base a policy on the responses by morons that have a vested interest in criticizing your format.

For the average consumer it would be nice if while they are sleeping at night if their BLU-RAY player decided to turn itself on at 3am and download the latest firmware and then turn itself back off.

I did not say it would not be nice. What I said is that it does not need to be mandated. As for your 3AM, sometimes after going out I want to relax before going to bed, there have been several days when I have been downstairs watching a movie at 3AM).

I think it is an interesting idea, but why mandate it. If most people like it they will buy players that auto-update (where hopefully you can pick the day and time) and then manufactures will make AU players and if most don't care then people will not buy these players and manufactures wont continue to offer it. The question is why mandate such an unimportant and uninteresting feature, when the market can decide.

[Anthony P]

I can think of one good reason: those who have separate home theatre and audio systems in the same room, with some speakers used for both. With the proposed set up, one listen in 5.1 mode or (if the system is wired up for the stereo) just in stereo.

richteer, I still don't get it, are you saying that this would be interesting so that one person can use the TV speakers to watch a movie while someone else is listening to a CD on a CD player attached to the same receiver? To me that just sounds like neither person will enjoy the experience they are trying to have

[CAB]

Options enable innovation. Add more options for the many manufacturers to use and the customers to pick from. I liken it to a car - make just the basics mandatory but provide support for all the bells and whistles. I try to keep in mind that making everything mandatory will drive up my cost for features many won't use and drive manufacturers away. Wonder why Denon's $1K transport and $2K player don't have Ethernet? Their target market doesn't want them.

[Anthony P]

aagree CAB

[WickyWoo]

Sometimes one might want to leave their A/V receiver off and just use the internal video and 2 channel audio speakers in the TV. Two HDMI outputs on the BLU-RAY player would allow the receiver to be turned off and the TV left on. Also once and a while some receivers can not handle 1080P/24 and one might want to use one HDMI going directly to the TV and another going into the receiver for audio decoding. Two HDMI outputs on high-end $2000 BLU-RAY players would be a nice bonus feature for those that might need it. It should always be optional and never mandated.

For the very few people who would use that, you can buy an HDMI repeater($50), or you can hook up the analog out jacks