Blu-Ray News:

[NoADSLyet]

Time to get a Blu-Ray player. (PS3!)


CES: Walt Disney Rolls into 2008 with Blu-ray

http://www.dvdtown.com/news/ces-walt-disney-rolls-into-2008-with-blu-ray/5068

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) announces an exciting new line-up of Blu-ray initiatives in 2008, an ever-expanding Blu-ray slate and new technological-advancements in bonus feature materials, all which guarantee a superior high-definition home entertainment experience.

"This is an exciting time for Disney as we not only announce the release of our first Platinum Disney animated classic on Blu-ray with Sleeping Beauty, but also allow consumers to create an entirely new home entertainment experience with stunning new bonus features and amazing interactive capabilities like never before seen," stated Bob Chapek, President of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment.

Thats why I claim the Blu-Ray will be superior due to capacity and its technological advanced capabilities.

 

[PeterCH]

Tripple Layer HD-DVDs carry more capacity than dual layer BDs. Secondly HD-DVD is actually more consumer friendly with slightly less strict DRM - and a thing called
Managed Copy, you're actually allowed to make backups. Yes I know you could
download AnyDVDHD and backup anyway but this is legit. BD does not have this
in its standards. Otherwise menus and Java wise both are equal.

As for Sleeping Beauty, it was made in 1959, how much HD detail will one be able to see in it? Film grain? Scratches? Loose hair stuck under the celluloid?

 

[milomak]

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=99733

 

[arf9999]

Tripple Layer HD-DVDs carry more capacity than dual layer BDs. Secondly HD-DVD is actually more consumer friendly with slightly less strict DRM - and a thing called
Managed Copy, you're actually allowed to make backups. Yes I know you could
download AnyDVDHD and backup anyway but this is legit. BD does not have this
in its standards. Otherwise menus and Java wise both are equal.

As for Sleeping Beauty, it was made in 1959, how much HD detail will one be able to see in it? Film grain? Scratches? Loose hair stuck under the celluloid?

But quad layer BDs carry more than triple layer HD-DVDs, what is your point? Neither are standard.

While BD has stronger DRM than HD-DVD this makes it more likely for studios (like New Line) to support it - even though it isn't as consumer friendly.

The announcement of these extra features on BD is a bit of a damp squib IMO, especially since HD-DVD has had these since day one.

 

[XCalibre]

The profile 1.1 blu-ray firmware update added the "Bonus features" like picture in picture display etc. The new profile is included in the PS3 2.10 firmware update. Also it's interesting to know that standalone Blu-ray players can't be updated to a new profile (not yet anyways) so if you play a profile 1.1 disc on a player that only support profile 1 you won't be able to play these add features.

So if you are planning on buying a Blu-ray player get a PS3 because it will most likely get updated as new Blu-ray profiles gets released and you'll end up saving money in the long run.

 

[PeterCH]

But quad layer BDs carry more than triple layer HD-DVDs, what is your point? Neither are standard.

While BD has stronger DRM than HD-DVD this makes it more likely for studios (like New Line) to support it - even though it isn't as consumer friendly.

The announcement of these extra features on BD is a bit of a damp squib IMO, especially since HD-DVD has had these since day one.

It may be too expensive or not possible to do a tripple layered BD.

The DRM isn't just stronger or less easy to crack, its more restrictive.
By supporting a less restrictive format consumers would be voicing their
anti-DRM stance, however if you guys are not interested in that, excuse me. New Line would switch to the more popular format or risk marketing
suicide. If HD-DVD became more popular because it gave consumers more
(I think it's also region free) it would be a sign to the content providers that consumers really abhor their restrictions.

 

[PeterCH]

The profile 1.1 blu-ray firmware update added the "Bonus features" like picture in picture display etc. The new profile is included in the PS3 2.10 firmware update. Also it's interesting to know that standalone Blu-ray players can't be updated to a new profile (not yet anyways) so if you play a profile 1.1 disc on a player that only support profile 1 you won't be able to play these add features.

So if you are planning on buying a Blu-ray player get a PS3 because it will most likely get updated as new Blu-ray profiles gets released and you'll end up saving money in the long run.

The benefit of having a real DVD player vs a Playstation is mainly in that the former offers better playback quality. If you're a videophile and an audiophile you're probably going to prefer the better video/audio quality
to additional gimmicks. In any device the core features get used over 99%
of the time anyway, eg yes the iPod can display text but most people listen to music or watch video on it.

Sony has apparently released a $200 BD-ROM drive too for the PC/Mac crowd.

 

[arf9999]

The profile 1.1 blu-ray firmware update added the "Bonus features" like picture in picture display etc. The new profile is included in the PS3 2.10 firmware update. Also it's interesting to know that standalone Blu-ray players can't be updated to a new profile (not yet anyways) so if you play a profile 1.1 disc on a player that only support profile 1 you won't be able to play these add features.

Not so, AFAIK both Sony and Samsung offer firmware updates to 1.1 on certain players- it means going to a service centre tho'.

So if you are planning on buying a Blu-ray player get a PS3 because it will most likely get updated as new Blu-ray profiles gets released and you'll end up saving money in the long run.

you're correct, the ps3 is definitely more scalable than stand alone players.

 

[arf9999]

It may be too expensive or not possible to do a tripple layered BD.

It is possible, and has been for two years. http://www.physorg.com/news9683.html

The problem is that, like a triple layer HD-DVD, no current players would play it so it is a moot point.

The DRM isn't just stronger or less easy to crack, its more restrictive.
By supporting a less restrictive format consumers would be voicing their
anti-DRM stance, however if you guys are not interested in that, excuse me. New Line would switch to the more popular format or risk marketing
suicide. If HD-DVD became more popular because it gave consumers more
(I think it's also region free) it would be a sign to the content providers that consumers really abhor their restrictions.

In the real world, the man in the street buys the movie that he wants. If it is available on Blu-ray and not HD-DVD, he doesn't have much choice. The fact of the matter is that many of the studios think that by implementing DRM they are protecting their content, and by instituting regional coding they are protecting their theatrical releases. You and I may think that it is bull, but at the end of the day, it's their content and they'll continue to embrace restrictive practices.