Blu Ray / HD DVD Discussion Thread

[2099net]

I would say so. A year after launch, and Blu-Ray is still not finalised. I can't really see how people can defend Blu-Ray so much as a result. It will be interesting to see if there's a backlash when early Blu Ray adoptors find out that their existing players can't handle some features on full BDJava implemented discs. I can't see how the BDA will spin that when it happens.

[DarthPrime]

I think some of the players will be upgradeable, and I hope the new players coming out soon will be, but its a shame that Blu-ray launched incomplete.

Honestly in my opinion Blu-ray has studio support, and thats really its only advantage. So far we haven't seen the extra disc space come into play making a big difference. Not saying that it want eventually, but so far we have yet to see a true advantage to the format in my opinion other than studio support.

[2099net]

Well, I think, in all realism, Blu Ray has won. Its a shame, because Blu Ray will screw the user more in the long run. Region encoding (already Fox are content to offer less content to non Region A regions), BD+ (when - if - it happens) could render playable discs unplayable after a certain date (if the studios desired - for example), BDJava allows discs to have Mandatory Managed Copy disabled (so its not really Mandotory is it?).

However, on the plus side, a full implementation of java on Blu-Ray *is* exciting. You can certainly do more with that than a scripting based interface. The extra storage space is also welcome, but as you say, so far for all their boasting, we've not really seen it benefiting anything to date (why does the Ghost Rider BD have supplements missing from the 2 disc set?)

I bought a PS3 because I accepted the inevitable - a lot of films would be Blu-Ray only. But I still have more support for HD DVD at this time.

Now Warners seem to have dropped their policy of making both releases the same (or holding back on BD releases until they can be the same) will encourage the BDA to kick up the added value that they offer on their discs.

[ichabod]

Thought I'd share:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/gaming/a456 ... rival.html

[kbehm29]

I'm sorry for barging into this thread, but I'm having a problem viewing my dvd's on my HDTV.

Now that I have a widescreen TV - how do I get it to stop playing with the black bars on the top and bottom? Shouldn't it now view via the entire screen??? This frustrates me.

Thanks

Edited to add (on topic) that I've had my Blu-ray player for some time now, and have 14 titles in my collection. I could not be more impressed, and now primarily buy my new releases on Blu-ray disc, except for those not offered on that format.

[DarthPrime]

A widescreen TV will not get rid of all black bars, its normal.

If a movie is wider than the TV then there will still be bars on the top and bottom, although they will be a lot smaller than on a standard TV. An example would be Cars, it was filmed at 2.39:1 which will have black bars on a Widescreen TV.

Basically anything wider than 16:9 will have bars.

[TM2-Megatron]

Apparently, Sony is planning to speed up the implementation of the BD+ copy protection scheme since AACS was cracked and bypassed so quickly... certainly, a blow to innocent conumsers. Protecting their interests is one thing, but all this DRM crap is something else. Besides, I'm quite sure BD+ will be cracked soon enough after it makes its first appearance, anyway. Sony is really fighting a losing battle, here.

It's quite unfortunate, really, since Blu-Ray is the superior format from a purely technical standpoint. However, the lack of mandatory standards and extreme DRM-pollution renders it much more unfriendly to consumers than HD-DVD.

I'll probably only get into the market when dual-format players are released and going for a reasonable price. It'll also help when Blu-Ray and HD-DVD releases have better (or at least equal) bonus features than their DVD counterparts.

[DarthPrime]

Apparently, Sony is planning to speed up the implementation of the BD+ copy protection scheme since AACS was cracked and bypassed so quickly... certainly, a blow to innocent conumsers. Protecting their interests is one thing, but all this DRM crap is something else. Besides, I'm quite sure BD+ will be cracked soon enough after it makes its first appearance, anyway. Sony is really fighting a losing battle, here.

It's quite unfortunate, really, since Blu-Ray is the superior format from a purely technical standpoint. However, the lack of mandatory standards and extreme DRM-pollution renders it much more unfriendly to consumers than HD-DVD.

I'll probably only get into the market when dual-format players are released and going for a reasonable price. It'll also help when Blu-Ray and HD-DVD releases have better (or at least equal) bonus features than their DVD counterparts.

This happens with anything that has copy protection. People will always find a way around it, and the innocent consumers are the ones that have to deal with it.

[dvdjunkie]

Don't people read the FBI warning on the beginning of their discs. It is against the law to copy even for yourself, much less for resale, or to make a copy of the product. That is why there is copyguard.

Don't they underdstand? These kind of people need to spend some time behind bars and learn what it is like to break the law and have to pay the price.

[TM2-Megatron]

Don't people read the FBI warning on the beginning of their discs.

I'm pretty sure the answer to that is "no". In fact, most people remove that warning from the backup disc, lol.

It is against the law to copy even for yourself, much less for resale, or to make a copy of the product.

That depends entirely on where you live. In the U.S. under your draconian Digital Millennium Copyright Act, perhaps you can't make personal backups. But in Canada I'm fully within my rights to do this. Even if it were "illegal", most sensible people wouldn't give a crap, anyway. And when Blu-Ray burners and media come down in price, I won't think twice about backing up those, either.

As long as you aren't copying it for others or distributing it, there's nothing wrong with making a backup copy for yourself. Do you expect (in-the-know) parents of small children to just let them destroy one disc after another, when they've spent good money on them? Or for people to lend out their original disc to those family members that everyone seems to have that don't know the first thing about properly handling a DVD?

Can you actually explain the rationale behind not allowing someone to make a backup copy of what they've legitmately purchased? Or are you just regurgitating what you've read elsewhere? Like so many other ridiculous laws in the U.S., the DMCA would be more at home in a landfill than on the books.

What makes this any different than ripping audio tracks from a CD you've bought instead of buying them (again) from an online music store? This is done by thousands more people than those who backup their DVD collection, and nobody seems to be disputing the consumers right to do so. In fact the vast majority of entirely legal multimedia software includes the ability to rip music off a CD.

That is why there is copyguard.

No, no, no... common mistake, though It's actually there so someone can crack it. Exactly like so many pointless rules existing for no purpose other than to be broken, and struck down by those with more common sense and vision than the average individual.

These kind of people need to spend some time behind bars and learn what it is like to break the law and have to pay the price.

If you're talking about people who distribute bootlegs, then fine. Throw them in jail; at least they're actually breaking a law. An impossible task, though it may be.

But if you're referring to those people who simply exercise their right to backup a purchased DVD, then you're talking nonsense.

[DarthPrime]

I agree, I don't see the harm in making a backup copy for yourself. I can see where that would be extremely useful when you have small children using the discs. Or making a backup of an OOP disc you know would be hard to replace. All of this is no different then ripping your CDs to MP3s in my opinion.

[2099net]

I'll probably only get into the market when dual-format players are released and going for a reasonable price. It'll also help when Blu-Ray and HD-DVD releases have better (or at least equal) bonus features than their DVD counterparts.

I think you'll find HD DVDs already do have better or equal bonus features to their DVD counterparts. If you look at my list (below my GamerTag sig) you'll see I make a note of how every High-Def format DVD I own compares to the DVD release.

[Jack Skellington]

Post in this forum if your into this format !
Just want to know how many UD users are into it.

[Escapay]

So...is this a Blu-Ray discussion thread?

There's quite a few existing ones already.

Upcoming Formats: Blu-ray, HDVD

Blu Ray / HD DVD Discussion Thread

Blu-Ray? Everything you want to know about it...

Official Blu-Ray Thread

And a few more, but I figured four was enough. I'll do a more extensive search later for Ceej to merge...

albert

[Jack Skellington]

Sorry about that Scaps, I'll just post this comment somewhere else !

[Jack Skellington]

So has anyone decided to upgrade to Bluray lately ?

I just want to know if a lot of people are starting to acknowledge it's superiority after the release of Sleeping Beauty.

[jediliz]

I may get a blu ray player now that the price has decreased by $100. But I'll still wait and see what happens closer to Christmas.

[Tyler342814]

I may get a blu ray player now that the price has decreased by $100. But I'll still wait and see what happens closer to Christmas.

Same.

[Soulbrotha432]

I'll be getting one next week. I've just been dying to see Sleeping Beauty AND the Nightmare Before Christmas on Blu-ray! And the prices have really gone down.

I read on the Blu-ray.com forums, though, that there will be a few players in the $150 range on Black Friday. I can't wait that long though! LOL

[DarthPrime]

The Best Buy Insignia player is going to be $199 next week. $150 players should happen by Black Friday.