Some players might need firmware update to play Spider-Man 3 on Blu-ray

[BStecke]

Found this at AVS:
From AVRev: (see thread elsewhere here where this has been confirmed by Samsung P1400 owners)

"Spider-man 3 on Blu-ray is one of the Holiday season’s most highly anticipated releases on the 1080p high definition Blu-ray format but early adopters may have problems playing the disc in many of today’s Blu-ray players.

Using a review copy of "Spider-man 3" on Blu-ray on local tests at AVRev.com, the disc struggled to play in the brand new Samsung BD-P1400. After an excruciatingly long load-up time, the disc starts to freeze and skip from the very start. Audio dropping out, picture stuttering, you name it. Compared to the mainstream consumer’s expectation for DVD playback, most couldn’t make it to the actual film.

According to various reports, other players including units from Sony, Pioneer and other stand-alone Blu-ray players are reportedly having issues with the blockbuster and feature laden HD release.

Playstation 3 does come to the rescue. The game machine plays the disc like a champ. Although one of the first Blu-ray players on the market, the Sony Playstation 3 is without question the most reliable Blu-ray player on the market. While a game machine isn’t suited for many home theater applications, the lack of format incompatibilities paired with a low entry price makes the Playstation 3 the way many enthusiasts test the waters in a ferocious HD disc format war.

The release of Spider-man 3 on Blu-ray isn’t the first time that new blockbuster Blu-ray title has failed to play on existing machines. When "Pirates Of The Caribbean" 1 and 2 were released by Disney/Buena Vista, there was hardly a player out that could play the movies. All the first generation Blu-ray players required an immediate firmware update which requires a DVD-R disc being burnt on a PC and run on a machine or the units to be connected directly to the Internet. Each and every one of the AVRev.com reviewers and editors who were using the Samsung BDP-1000 were unable to play new Pirates Blu-ray discs without the firmware update. The new BD-Java encoding of disc (which was necessary for the interactive Liar's Dice game) ironically prevented the movie from playing. So a consumer pays $30 for a disc to watch the movie, and the bonus features of the disc make it not play at all. How intuitive is that?

"Pirates Of The Caribbean" wasn’t the end of Blu-ray titles being released and failing in many of the early players. Most recently, FOX released "The Day After Tomorrow" and "Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer" on Blu-ray. Both of these titles played on less than a handful of the players out there. Again, now it was the BD+ encoding of these discs reportedly that affected successful playback. A firmware update was needed by Samsung for the BDP-1000, which reportedly loaded the movie in an agonizing five plus minutes and then played the movie with more than its fair share of jitter, skipping, and freezing. The Samsung BD-P1200 reportedly did not play the movies at all. After inserting either of the discs, a screen appeared that stated the player could not play the discs and that a firmware upgrade was needed. Some of the newer players did better with the Fox and Disney titles. Playstation 3 still remains the most stable of the available players.

Consumers are struggling to understand why they need an HD disc player when DVDs work perfectly well in their systems. The difference between DVD and HD discs need to be seen and heard and then the upgrade is obvious. What is also obvious is the need for the Blu-ray camp to get their standards more stable so that studios can release top titles that work with relatively manageable number of Blu-ray players on the market. While the Playstation 3 is a tempting audience – it's not the only audience. A guy who drops $799 on a "top of the line" Blu-ray player, hooks it up via HDMI and is looking to the best video currently available doesn’t want to hear that his player won't play that latest disc or that he needs to spend hours burning and running firmware update discs before he can watch a new Blu-ray film."




I think it's pretty reasonable to assume a firmware update would be needed. However, I don't understand everybody *****ing when they have the movie almost two weeks in advance. These companies know the street date is the 30th, and know their updates don't have to be available until then. Gotta love premature consclusions.

[adrianf74]

Originally Posted by BStecke

These companies know the street date is the 30th, and know their updates don't have to be available until then. Gotta love premature consclusions.

I think the point that's trying to be stressed is that with all of these "new releases" we have to update to "new firmware version" which can be a little more complex for the technically less savvy. That being said, how do these companies expect Blu-Ray (or HD-DUD) to win if after each title release a new firmware update needs to be released and installed? It doesn't make it a very user-friendly format this point.

Personally, I don't mind it. I know there were some very small bumps in the days of DVD back in 1997 as well.

[SpikesBluBlooded]

I really don't see why anyone that supports Blu goes to AVS any more. It has become widely accepted that they are DUD-biased and look for every opportunity to bash Blu.

You are correct, a firmware upgrade is a reasonable expectation, and I personally don't have a DVD-burner at home, so I go to Sony's website and order the firmware by mail. It doesn't cost me anything, and arrives within a few days. No problems.

The reason for the upgrades is simple: Blu is still an emerging technology, and I personally applaud the manufacturers for designing their players to only need firmware upgrades while the format is being improved. Yes, I know eventually our machines will need to be replaced to be able to play the latest-and-greatest BDs, but that's the price of being an early adopter. DUD doesn't have this problem because the technology is already complete. But that will be their downfall: They will never be able to catch up once Blu surpasses its capabilities. And that is why they will go from being HD-DUD to HD-DED...

[BStecke]

Evolution, my friend. I'd rather have firmware updates than obsolescence.

[CptGreedle]

This is AVS... HD-DVD city!
They are making this sh!t up! Just let it be and you will see how awesome the sales will do! They are just trying to spread more FUD to lessen the impact of the Spidey release, cause we thwarted theirs with the BOGO deals.

[Shin-Ra]

They certainly do work like a champ on the PS3. Are those other players out in Europe yet?

[SpikesBluBlooded]

And I also think that it's interesting that the only attack they can make on S3 is the challenges that we MIGHT have in playing back the film without a firmware update. If that's the worst that can be said, I say BRING IT ON!!!

[Copywriter]

My trilogy copy was shipped two days ago and it will play on the PS3. I'm set and my concern is nil.

[WickyWoo]

Honestly I think it's time to *****slap Samsung. Their decks are constant problems with the newer titles because whoever is writing their firmware has obviously done a piss-poor job.

[WhoDat]

I have NEVER had a problem with any movie bought for my PS3.... F***'em!

[E-Dogg]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Honestly I think it's time to *****slap Samsung. Their decks are constant problems with the newer titles because whoever is writing their firmware has obviously done a piss-poor job.

Lmao...I agree. They honestly need to get on the ball already and have the firmware updates ready to go before the discs are released.

[HDPlasma]

Originally Posted by E-Dogg

Lmao...I agree. They honestly need to get on the ball already and have the firmware updates ready to go before the discs are released.

If there is even an issue I hope they(manufacturers) are on the ball and release an update.

Who knows, the issue could be HDMI compatibility, the player itself is a lemon, the disc is a lemon, etc.

We really won't know until Oct.30 but if a FW update is required, I hope they release it next week.

[ClaytonMG]

Wait, what about my copies of Happy Feet, Superman Returns, Children of Men and Smokin' Aces that didn't play correctly on my HD-A1 until the 2.3 update? And what about all the earlier Universal titles that didn't play correctly at all once you got a half hour into them? This stuff is going to happen on new formats, it's inevitable. But they as HD-DVD supporters should also know their format has the same exact glitches.

[tjk1985]

I, too, get slightly frustrated, but this author seems a bit incorrect on some issues.

#1. "Hours" running firmware updates? It doesn't quite take that long...

#2. I've never used a DVD-R for these updates or a DVD burner; a cd-r has worked just fine, though I have the BD-P1200. Did the first generations all require a DVD?

Plus, knowing that there may have to be such a thing as a firmware update on my player keeps the wife and kids away from it! What's so bad about that!?!

[DetroitSportsFan]

Originally Posted by CptGreedle

This is AVS... HD-DVD city!
They are making this sh!t up! Just let it be and you will see how awesome the sales will do! They are just trying to spread more FUD to lessen the impact of the Spidey release, cause we thwarted theirs with the BOGO deals.

Yeah, you have to consider the source here.

[jsteinhauer]

It would have been nice, if when registering products, if I could have opted to have updates automatically sent in the mail when available, instead of having to keep on top of one more thing. It would only be a nice bit of customer service that would add to a competetive edge. It does suck, though, when you sit down to watch a movie, and you find out your firmware is not up to date enough, and you don't have a DVD writer, and you have to wait for a disk to be mailed.

[DJeffries]

It's funny how there is no mention of any HD-DVD playback problems. My neighbor has a Toshiba HD-A2 that can't play combo discs without pausing and audio dropouts (Either side). Ironically we end up watching these on my PS3.

I can see the need for firmware upgrades becomming an issue with dedicated machines when the become more main stream. It's still early.

[atomik kinder]

Well, they will do anything they possibly can to stop sales of one of the biggest Blu-ray day and date releases. This has NEVER happened with an HD DVD.

[Sirtalon]

Ya just look at there audio for Transformers - is it perfect - I don't think so - Didn't have enough room for Hi-Def Audio - So HD DVD (the look and sound of crap.......) supporters go crawl in a hole someway and don't come out until you go Blu

[ClaytonMG]

Originally Posted by Sirtalon

Ya just look at there audio for Transformers - is it perfect - I don't think so - Didn't have enough room for Hi-Def Audio - So HD DVD (the look and sound of crap.......) supporters go crawl in a hole someway and don't come out until you go Blu

I can name 2 spots where the dialogue gets distorted in the movie. One is Jon Voit's speach at the end and then I believe it's when the cop car changes into the decepticon there's distortion. Right there nocks it down to a 4.5 for me.