Parsons issues BD-Java clarification

[The Big Blue]

From the bits...

And while we're talking Blu-ray, the BD Association has issued a statement clarifying the compliance of current and forthcoming Blu-ray Disc players with the BD-Java spec. Here's the text:

"From Andy Parsons, U.S. Promotion Committee Chair, Blu-ray Disc Association:

Based on recent coverage, there appears to be some confusion about the implementation of BD-Java on Blu-ray Disc.

All Blu-ray Disc players must support BD-Java (BD-J) and every one shipped to date does. The confusion surrounds an announcement by the [Blu-ray Disc Association] setting an Oct. 31 deadline for implementation of several secondary features. The deadline applies to:

– Secondary video, also known as picture-in-picture (PiP).
– Secondary audio.
– Persistent memory storage (a minimum of 256MB, 1GB for players with an Internet connection).

Of these, the PiP requirement is receiving the most attention. The PiP feature is a specific hardware function that must be built into a player, and BD-Java is simply used to operate this feature if it's present. No player shipped to date supports PiP at this time, although it's always possible that a given model has been designed to switch it on later (no company has announced this yet as far as I know).

My point is that it's important to separate picture-in-picture and the other items listed above from BD-Java. BD-Java is one of two interactive modes that can be used on a Blu-ray Disc (the other being "HDMV" or high definition movie mode, which is similar to DVD navigational structures). All BD players must support both environments.

If a studio offers a PiP function or other features that require the persistent memory or the ability to playback secondary video or audio streams on future BD titles, current players will not support those specific features. However, movie playback, as well as other interactive features not using these functions would be unaffected and should work as they normally would."

[nhaase]

I would like to hear more on when the PiP will be ready to be encoded on discs.

I know I've said this many times, but once the discs can be encoded w/ PiP, can't they be released in knowing that future players (ones coming after Halloween) will be able to use those feature?

If I'm right, Batman, V, Matrix and others could be released when that's ready, even if that's before Oct. 31st. If I'm wrong, please explain.

[Esox50]

Originally Posted by nhaase

I would like to hear more on when the PiP will be ready to be encoded on discs.

I know I've said this many times, but once the discs can be encoded w/ PiP, can't they be released in knowing that future players (ones coming after Halloween) will be able to use those feature?

If I'm right, Batman, V, Matrix and others could be released when that's ready, even if that's before Oct. 31st. If I'm wrong, please explain.

I think you are asking the correct question, and it's one I've wondered about myself.

Basically, the premise is who cares if current players cannot support the PiP function since you can just author the discs with the PiP interactivity (and the current players can still play the movie). Then, when the new players are released with the PiP hardware, people will be able to take advantage of what is authored on the disc and get full use of the disc. This is kind of like putting DTS Master Audio. Even thought we cannot currently access it, put it on the disc and when the hardware catches up, we'll have 24bit lossless.

Here's the rub though with the PiP IMHO. Even if they are able to author the discs, I suspect they would want to test that those discs actually will work with all of the new players (w/ the PiP hardware) that are going to hit stores over the next several months. It would be quite a debacle if, for example, WB released Batman Begins next month... only to find out that there are problems using those discs' full functionality on the players hitting later this year.

Given that multiple sources have hinted that major "interactive content" is coming in the 2nd half of the year for BD, I think that they are finalizing/testing on prototypes now. We'll be bombarded starting late 3Q and into 4Q.

[Shin-Ra]

It would also be interesting to know whether there's a set resolution for any PiP window OR a maximum resolution but smaller-dimensioned video can be used.

What I'm actually most concerned about is PiP videos taking up more valuable disk space. I could imagine Warner using PiP on A Scanner Darkly and the movie looking even worse. What if they bumped up the extra features as well? If studios are going to include a lot of extra content I hope they take the same approach as Disney and put as much of it onto a seperate BD as possible or necessary.

[jorg]

Originally Posted by Shin-Ra

It would also be interesting to know whether there's a set resolution for any PiP window OR a maximum resolution but smaller-dimensioned video can be used.

What I'm actually most concerned about is PiP videos taking up more valuable disk space. I could imagine Warner using PiP on A Scanner Darkly and the movie looking even worse. What if they bumped up the extra features as well? If studios are going to include a lot of extra content I hope they take the same approach as Disney and put as much of it onto a seperate BD as possible or necessary.

i agree if u wanna make a good movie do what so many movies do on dvd put the movie on one disc and extras on another!!! know maybe if hd dvd wern't pushing as a crappy format we could of started with 100 gigs and not have this problem damn hd dvd lol

[nhaase]

Esox 50, I like your comparison w/ DTSHD-MA, and the "prototype tesing" comment is probably true, as the BDA doesn't want players to act like xbox add-ons when Children of Men or Good Shephard are put in the player. The BDA actually wants people to watch their movies on whatever player we have.
(And yes, I'm pissed at HD-DVD right now, as the last sentence states. I just read the IGN BS article.)

[mustang]

I hope Warner really begins, soon ,shipping the several movies with advanced features delayed for the BDJ. BR catalog will greatly benefit from such great movies and huge sellers.

[Jazar]

Originally Posted by nhaase

I would like to hear more on when the PiP will be ready to be encoded on discs.

I know I've said this many times, but once the discs can be encoded w/ PiP, can't they be released in knowing that future players (ones coming after Halloween) will be able to use those feature?

If I'm right, Batman, V, Matrix and others could be released when that's ready, even if that's before Oct. 31st. If I'm wrong, please explain.

Esox50 has got it. No studio will release a disc that hasn't been tested fully on a supporting player. Hopefully there will be pre-release players sent to studios so that they can quickly implement support.

[nhaase]

Originally Posted by Jazar

Esox50 has got it. No studio will release a disc that hasn't been tested fully on a supporting player. Hopefully there will be pre-release players sent to studios so that they can quickly implement support.

You know they will. This is too big of a feature for them not to do it. From my perspective, it's not big in what it does, just in the titles it will allow for release (the aforementioned Warners titles, for instance). This and BD+ getting finalized could be one of the last few nails in the coffin, since no BD studio will have any excuse for holding back anything, from what I gather.

[GasCat]

A few discs already have disclaimer statements inside the case, King Arthur for example.

"It is possible this Blu-ray Disc was manufactured after your Blu-ray Disc Player was released. If that is the case, your player may not support all the features on the disc. In some cases, a firmware or software upgrade to your player may improve playability...."

"If you have any questions about this disc or its playability please contact our consumer support department at 1-800-477 2811 (US) or 1-888-877-2843(Canada)."

[WriteSimply]

PiP in BD is better than HD-DVD.

With HD-DVD, the max resolution for IME is 480p/30. So most of the IME titles, the movie cannot be played back at 30fps while IME is running. The other option, and from what I know hasn't been done yet, is for the IME video content to be encoded at 24fps.

PiP on BD can go up to 1080p24.


fuad

[nhaase]

Originally Posted by GasCat

A few discs already have disclaimer statements inside the case, King Arthur for example.

"It is possible this Blu-ray Disc was manufactured after your Blu-ray Disc Player was released. If that is the case, your player may not support all the features on the disc. In some cases, a firmware or software upgrade to your player may improve playability...."

"If you have any questions about this disc or its playability please contact our consumer support department at 1-800-477 2811 (US) or 1-888-877-2843(Canada)."

They will probably do that out of consideration for the customer, but I put my money on them testing them on all available BD players before mass production begins. Remember, BD discs can be tested BEFORE mass production, unlike another format which will remain nameless.