New features coming for Blu-ray DVD format

[Shiba-Kun]

New features coming for Blu-ray DVD format

By Jae C. Hong, (AP)
3/19/2008

The high-definition-video war may be over now that Toshiba has conceded defeat for its ailing HD DVD format, but those interested in buying a high-def Blu-ray player still might want to wait for new features coming in the fall.
Sure, existing Blu-ray machines can play the nearly 500 Blu-ray discs available. They can deliver gorgeous, top-of-the-line 1080p resolution on compatible high-def televisions. But the next crop of Blu-ray players will be compliant with the upcoming Profile 2.0 standard, which adds Internet connectivity to the machines via a feature called BD-Live.

"Imagine being able to download high-definition trailers to current theatrical releases right to your TV, or selecting additional language tracks or other online bonus materials," says Josh Martin, a senior analyst at consulting firm Yankee Group.

Depending on the disc, BD-Live will also let people chat in real time during films, type in their mobile phone numbers for free movie-related ring tones, play online multiplayer games or upload custom-made audio commentary.

Sony (SNE) has announced two upcoming Blu-ray machines with Profile 2.0 support: the BDP-S350, available this summer for $399, which can be updated to the latest profile over the Internet when it's available; and the BDP-S550 ($499), which will ship with Profile 2.0 in the fall.

"Technology always evolves, and new features are added to platforms continually, whether it's a Blu-ray machine or other consumer electronics products," says Chris Fawcett, vice president of home video at Sony Electronics.

The new Sony players will include extras such as built-in or expandable memory and multiple audio technologies, including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD High Resolution Audio or DTS-HD Master Audio decoding, depending on the model.

The Sony PlayStation 3 ($399) video game system, which also has Blu-ray playback functionality, offers a future-proof solution. Sony says the Internet-connected console can download an update for the Profile 2.0 standard.

For now, the most up-to-date Blu-ray players offer picture-in-picture functionality, also known as BonusView. That allows simultaneous video and audio streams so that you could, for instance, have a small window with video commentary while watching the feature film. Unlike regular DVD players, Blu-ray machines also let viewers turn on some bonus features, such as director commentary, with one button on the remote, as opposed to leaving the film to visit the disc's main menu.

Not for everyone

Many people who decide to wait to buy a BD-Live-capable Blu-ray machine probably won't even use that feature, notes Martin. "These upcoming players aren't for everyone, especially for those who just want to watch the movie," he says.

The BD-Live players connect to the Internet via an ethernet plug in the back of the unit. But "not everyone has a broadband connection in their family room," notes Sandra Benedetto, spokeswoman for the Blu-ray Disc Association trade group.

Will BD-Live-enhanced discs work with current-generation Blu-ray players? Generally, yes, Benedetto says. "The BD-Live feature just won't be available."

The death of HD DVD will not mean automatic victory for Blu-ray, says Michael Gartenberg, vice president and research director at JupiterResearch, the New York-based IT research firm. "With high-quality and cheap 'upscaling' DVD players at one end and HD downloads more common, the Blu-ray folks will need to work hard to win the hearts, minds and wallets of consumers to adopt."

All kinds of features

Consumers who purchase the newer Blu-ray machines should keep in mind that the Blu-ray discs themselves must also support advanced features such as BD-Live and BonusView.

Lionsgate's horror sequel Saw IV is heralded as the first BD-Live-ready Blu-ray disc. It contains an interactive feature called MoLog (short for movie blog), where viewers can share their own audio or video content or join an online discussion using an onscreen keyboard. While the disc came out in January, the online BD-Live features will have to wait until the Profile 2.0 standard is here.

Fox's Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem, available on Blu-ray April 15, will include a BonusView picture-in-picture reference guide called Weyland-Yutani Archives, letting viewers hack into the movie-based corporation's secret computer to read about "all things Alien and Predator," says Fox. The franchise's first BD-Live content won't be available until later this year when Fox reissues the original Alien vs. Predator on Blu-ray with a multiplayer online game called Alien vs. Predator vs. You, demonstrated at the recent Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Disney's first BD-Live title will be a Blu-ray Platinum Edition of Sleeping Beauty, scheduled for October release.

[divinewisdom]

gas is expensive now adays; but i have alot of barrels; so i am going to throw this out and see if it catches fire.

did anyone see the statement: pipe dream?

"With high-quality and cheap 'upscaling' DVD players at one end and HD downloads more common, the Blu-ray folks will need to work hard to win the hearts, minds and wallets of consumers to adopt."

side note; HD-DVD had these feature years ago........

[tha_con]

What's great, is that every time I prove you wrong, you stop posting in a given thread, move on to another, and then post up the same shit...all over again.

Digital Downloads are a pipedream. OnDemand is not. DVD quality streaming on demand media has been around for nearly 5 years, and DVD sales didn't stop, they grew. Digital Download isn't going to take off, period, it requires entirely too much infrastructure that isn't here, and OnDemand is completely ready. Tell yourself what you want, but you're too unintelligent to grasp anything you read.

As are these journo's.

[divinewisdom]

Originally Posted by tha_con

What's great, is that every time I prove you wrong, you stop posting in a given thread, move on to another, and then post up the same shit...all over again.

Digital Downloads are a pipedream. OnDemand is not. DVD quality streaming on demand media has been around for nearly 5 years, and DVD sales didn't stop, they grew. Digital Download isn't going to take off, period, it requires entirely too much infrastructure that isn't here, and OnDemand is completely ready. Tell yourself what you want, but you're too unintelligent to grasp anything you read.

As are these journo's.

i would continue in the other thread; but it wasnt getting fun anymore. how did you prove me wrong?

onDemand, PPV, VOD....all been around for years. and? it didnt even dent the DvD market; why? becuase not every have cable! becuase you can only watch it once. becuase you dont have the option to buy it. becuase you cant make it portable. becuae you dont own it.

i love how you say infrastructure. you act like you know anything about it. how is the blu ray infrastructure there? what constitute infrastructure readiness? 90% of people having blu ray player? tell me. was the infrastucture for mp3 download there when 56k modem was around?

i am pointing out the fact that many analyst and market research are showing digital download is viable. it amazes me how the industry is gearing for that, but you choose to ignore.

hey ultimately your a Sony Fanboy. no matter what happens you want to believe things will stay the same. look at the Sony walkman......

[05 tC]

You 2 going at it again

[tha_con]

Originally Posted by divinewisdom

i would continue in the other thread; but it wasnt getting fun anymore. how did you prove me wrong?

onDemand, PPV, VOD....all been around for years. and? it didnt even dent the DvD market; why? becuase not every have cable! becuase you can only watch it once. becuase you dont have the option to buy it. becuase you cant make it portable. becuae you dont own it.

i love how you say infrastructure. you act like you know anything about it. how is the blu ray infrastructure there? what constitute infrastructure readiness? 90% of people having blu ray player? tell me. was the infrastucture for mp3 download there when 56k modem was around?

i am pointing out the fact that many analyst and market research are showing digital download is viable. it amazes me how the industry is gearing for that, but you choose to ignore.

hey ultimately your a Sony Fanboy. no matter what happens you want to believe things will stay the same. look at the Sony walkman......

lol, so you think those people who don't have cable are going to go out, buy a set top download box, get high speed internet, and start downloading their movies...before they get cable?

lmfao.

Right.

Those people are more likely to upgrade to basic or expanded cable, both of which include On Demand video services. Most on demand videos are FREE. FREE. You can watch them whenever you want. On Demand 'pay to view' videos can be watched multiple times within a 24 hour period, you can pause, go to another channel, and then go back and start where you left off. You can watch recent episodes of TV shows, with no commercials. All of this is included in your cable subscription costs.

You must not have cable?

Many JOURNALISTS are showing digital downloads are 'viable' and often cite the same group of people, none of which work for Comcast, Cox, Dish Networks, or AOL Time Warner.

Apple STARTED their Movie initiative, and it has YET to show any significant growth. WIth high prices ($15 a movie) users are more likely to just go out to BUY the movie on DVD.

I probably won't be around posting on forums anymore once DD ultimately fails, but I'm sure I'll remember laughing at you.

[divinewisdom]

Originally Posted by tha_con

lol, so you think those people who don't have cable are going to go out, buy a set top download box, get high speed internet, and start downloading their movies...before they get cable?

lmfao.

Right.

Those people are more likely to upgrade to basic or expanded cable, both of which include On Demand video services. Most on demand videos are FREE. FREE. You can watch them whenever you want. On Demand 'pay to view' videos can be watched multiple times within a 24 hour period, you can pause, go to another channel, and then go back and start where you left off. You can watch recent episodes of TV shows, with no commercials. All of this is included in your cable subscription costs.

You must not have cable?

Many JOURNALISTS are showing digital downloads are 'viable' and often cite the same group of people, none of which work for Comcast, Cox, Dish Networks, or AOL Time Warner.

Apple STARTED their Movie initiative, and it has YET to show any significant growth. WIth high prices ($15 a movie) users are more likely to just go out to BUY the movie on DVD.

I probably won't be around posting on forums anymore once DD ultimately fails, but I'm sure I'll remember laughing at you.

HAHAHA.

Nice; i hope youll remember me. LOL
World Internet Usage Statistics News and Population Stats
Statistics - NCTA.com

tell me you wont need a DVR or some sort of cable box with a Hard drive with what you just mention above? hahahaha DD.

[tha_con]

Originally Posted by divinewisdom

HAHAHA.

Nice; i hope youll remember me. LOL
World Internet Usage Statistics News and Population Stats
Statistics - NCTA.com

tell me you wont need a DVR or some sort of cable box with a Hard drive with what you just mention above? hahahaha DD.

DVR / PVR =/= Digital Distribution.

Digital Distribution is what iTunes, Napster, XBL Marketplace, PSN, and other services are. NOT STREAMING ON DEMAND MEDIA WITH A DVR. *STREAMING* is the key word here.

It's also funny that you post stats, seemingly illustrating your point that there are 'more' internet users than cable subscribers. Your stats leave out satellite networks, but that doesn't really matter.

What matters, is that out of 238 Million people in the United States, only 35 million have high-speed cable internet (according to your statistics).

To be fair, we could assume that DSL has a similar install base, we'll even 'bump it' to 40 Million.

So 75 Million people, out of 238 Million people, have high speed internet. You think that's going to work for a Digital Distribution model?

You do realize that in Feb of 2009, ALL TV's and cable subscriptions will be digital, and the vast majority of cable box's from Comcast and Cox have DVR's included with their basic cable. These subscriptions also come with On Demand services.

High Speed internet, however, will NOT be mandatory. Customers with DVR's and OnDemand services will far out number customers with High Speed internet, by the tens of millions. Putting money into OnDemand is far more profitable. This kind of 'OnDemand' service will make any download service irrelevant to the majority of eligible consumers. If a consumer has High Speed internet, it is also likely that he has digital cable, and On Demand services. He is not going to opt to subscribe to another service, or pay a premium to download a movie (that will currently take him longer to download than a trip to BlockBuster, or using OnDemand services).

Spell it out man.

P. I. P. E. D. R. E. A. M.

[blackdelsol94]

Originally Posted by divinewisdom

i would continue in the other thread; but it wasnt getting fun anymore. how did you prove me wrong?

onDemand, PPV, VOD....all been around for years. and? it didnt even dent the DvD market; why? becuase not every have cable! becuase you can only watch it once. becuase you dont have the option to buy it. becuase you cant make it portable. becuae you dont own it.

i love how you say infrastructure. you act like you know anything about it. how is the blu ray infrastructure there? what constitute infrastructure readiness? 90% of people having blu ray player? tell me. was the infrastucture for mp3 download there when 56k modem was around?

i am pointing out the fact that many analyst and market research are showing digital download is viable. it amazes me how the industry is gearing for that, but you choose to ignore.

hey ultimately your a Sony Fanboy. no matter what happens you want to believe things will stay the same. look at the Sony walkman......

Sorry I'm late to the party, but you hit the nail on the head.

[tha_con]

Originally Posted by blackdelsol94

Sorry I'm late to the party, but you hit the nail on the head.

Yet my post refutes all of his points, and here you are, his digital cheer leader. You two are a match made in heaven.

[blackdelsol94]

Originally Posted by tha_con

Yet my post refutes all of his points, and here you are, his digital cheer leader. You two are a match made in heaven.

Was I talking to you? No, so please stfu.

Funny thing is, you DID NOT refute all of his points. Think what you want though, whatever makes you happy.

[tha_con]

Originally Posted by blackdelsol94

Was I talking to you? No, so please stfu.

Funny thing is, you DID NOT refute all of his points. Think what you want though, whatever makes you happy.