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Some Blu-ray news!

mca47mca47 Posts: 13,262
edited December 2007 in All Encompassing Trip
For you HD, tech-savvy and gamers out there, you might appreciate the news...

-Sony Computer Entertainment America has announced that they will be releasing firmware version 1.80 for the PS3 which adds many additional features to the console. Those who use it as a Blu-ray player will now be glad to here that the PS3 will upscale DVDs (as well as PS1 and PS2 games) to 1080p via an HDMI connection, similar to the capability of stand-alone Blu-ray players.

Also of interest is the addition of DNLA3 support which will allow content to be shared over a home network between DNLA3 compatible devices. Additionally, support will be added for a remote play feature for the PSP. So if you have a PSP, you will now be able to access content from your PS3 around the globe (as long as you are on a wireless connection).

DTS to Demonstrate Master Audio
-Blu-ray Disc DTS will be demonstrating their lossless audio solution, DTS-HD Master Audio (MA), for the first time at Computex in Taipei, Taiwan. They will make use of a high-end desktop PC and Blu-ray drive to show off their accomplishment. DTS-HD MA is a competing lossless audio track approved for use on Blu-ray. No playback devices has yet been put on the market which can handle this audio codec, so hopefully this demonstration will be followed by the announcement of such hardware.

Blu-ray fans will note that Fox uses DTS-HD MA for all their releases (as well as the releases of MGM titles). As of yet, only the DTS core could be extracted for playback, which while still better than DVD, was not the lossless experience that Blu-ray fans have come to expect. Stay tuned for any further developments.

-Sony's Blu-ray player has now dropped in price to $499 and is expected to drop again during the holiday season due to more companies making Blu-ray players.
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    reeferchiefreeferchief Posts: 3,569
    firmware v1.8 is already out I downloaded it on Friday:), I shall have to stick in a DVD to see if there is any noticeable difference.:)
    Can not be arsed with life no more.
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    mca47mca47 Posts: 13,262
    firmware v1.8 is already out I downloaded it on Friday:), I shall have to stick in a DVD to see if there is any noticeable difference.:)

    You notice any difference?
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    1STmammal2wearPants1STmammal2wearPants Worcester, MA Posts: 2,852
    I'll be stickin to dvds till I get a high-def tv and the price of a blu-ray player drops to within 200-250 bucks.

    Can you play the hundreds of dvds that I have on a blu-ray player?
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    mca47mca47 Posts: 13,262
    I'll be stickin to dvds till I get a high-def tv and the price of a blu-ray player drops to within 200-250 bucks.

    Can you play the hundreds of dvds that I have on a blu-ray player?

    Yep, they play all DVDs and most have the ability to upscale and increase the overall image quality.
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    1STmammal2wearPants1STmammal2wearPants Worcester, MA Posts: 2,852
    mca47 wrote:
    Yep, they play all DVDs and most have the ability to upscale and increase the overall image quality.

    good times. that is really important, as I have quite the collection of movies. close to landin my first job out of college and if i get an apartment anytime soon, the first thing im going to get is the high def tv. Won't be buyin a blu-ray player till a couple of years down the line. watchin the sox games in high def is more of a priority at this point (and all that my wallet could afford at this point too).
    2003 Mansfield III 
    2004 Boston I 
    2006 Boston I 
    2008 Bonnaroo, Hartford, Mansfield I 
    2010 Hartford 
    2013 Worcester I, Worcester II, Hartford 
    2016 Bonnaroo, Boston I, Boston II 
    2018 Boston I, Boston II 
    2021 Sea.Hear.Now
    2022 Camden
    2024 Boston I, Boston II
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    mca47mca47 Posts: 13,262
    good times. that is really important, as I have quite the collection of movies. close to landin my first job out of college and if i get an apartment anytime soon, the first thing im going to get is the high def tv. Won't be buyin a blu-ray player till a couple of years down the line. watchin the sox games in high def is more of a priority at this point (and all that my wallet could afford at this point too).

    Yeah, I got one last October and it's the best damn thing ever!
    Everything looks awesome but sports is what it's meant for. :eek:
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    NOCODE#1NOCODE#1 Posts: 1,477
    blu-ray will be 299 in october
    Let's not be negative now. Thumper has spoken
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    LikeAnOceanLikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    I went to IGN.com to see if there was any Blu-Ray news and it looks like HD DVD is back in the lead..

    http://gear.ign.com/articles/795/795760p1.html


    I wish this format war would end. It will probably stop with players that do both.
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    mca47mca47 Posts: 13,262
    I went to IGN.com to see if there was any Blu-Ray news and it looks like HD DVD is back in the lead..

    http://gear.ign.com/articles/795/795760p1.html


    I wish this format war would end. It will probably stop with players that do both.

    HD-DVD "players sold" (excluding the PS3) have always been in the lead...it was out first and is cheaper.
    The PS3 world wide has sold millions of units...
    A six to four ratio (excluding the PS3) reported BY the folks promoting HD-DVD...are you kidding me? That means nothing! When they include PS3 it wouldn't be close...

    That "attach rate" really doesn't mean anything either. HD-DVD players have been including 5 free movies with any HD-DVD purchase. You don't suppose they have a higher "attach rate"? Hmmm...
    So a 4 to 1 attach rate on something that automatically gives you 5 when you buy the thing...and that's somehow a success?
    Score!

    I just want ONE to win and be done with it, but that article is just silly. Although, it goes to show you can spin pretty much anything to make it sound better then it is.
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    NOCODE#1NOCODE#1 Posts: 1,477
    I went to IGN.com to see if there was any Blu-Ray news and it looks like HD DVD is back in the lead..

    http://gear.ign.com/articles/795/795760p1.html


    I wish this format war would end. It will probably stop with players that do both.
    in standalone players that didnt count ps3's

    hd-dvd can have that victory LOL
    Let's not be negative now. Thumper has spoken
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    reeferchiefreeferchief Posts: 3,569
    NOCODE#1 wrote:
    in standalone players that didnt count ps3's

    hd-dvd can have that victory LOL

    Probs the only one it will be having.:)
    Can not be arsed with life no more.
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    1STmammal2wearPants1STmammal2wearPants Worcester, MA Posts: 2,852
    i don't see why one has to "win." is it not possible for both to co-exist? after all, with everything else, be it cell phone carriers or what not, people have a choice. both are fine products, whose to say that both won't be comparably low in price in a year and both can compete?
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    2008 Bonnaroo, Hartford, Mansfield I 
    2010 Hartford 
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    chromiamchromiam Posts: 4,114
    i don't see why one has to "win." is it not possible for both to co-exist? after all, with everything else, be it cell phone carriers or what not, people have a choice. both are fine products, whose to say that both won't be comparably low in price in a year and both can compete?

    No, the same content isn't available on both formats. And it is more cost effective for one format to win out then to have companies produce their movies, shows, and everything else in two formats.
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    1STmammal2wearPants1STmammal2wearPants Worcester, MA Posts: 2,852
    chromiam wrote:
    No, the same content isn't available on both formats. And it is more cost effective for one format to win out then to have companies produce their movies, shows, and everything else in two formats.

    True, but video game companies have done it for years with the multiple platforms their games are being put on.
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    2004 Boston I 
    2006 Boston I 
    2008 Bonnaroo, Hartford, Mansfield I 
    2010 Hartford 
    2013 Worcester I, Worcester II, Hartford 
    2016 Bonnaroo, Boston I, Boston II 
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    mca47mca47 Posts: 13,262
    i don't see why one has to "win." is it not possible for both to co-exist? after all, with everything else, be it cell phone carriers or what not, people have a choice. both are fine products, whose to say that both won't be comparably low in price in a year and both can compete?

    Stand alone HD-DVD players are around $2-300, stand alone Blu-ray is currently around $400, coming down toward Christmas. Players that play BOTH are well over $700+

    You have to keep in mind that it's a little different for the gaming industry.
    Sony makes Playstations, Microsoft makes 360s and Nintendo makes Wiis.
    If you look at the many, many different companies that make (for example) Blu-ray players, and all of the companies that make Blu-ray media...there are a bunch of them.
    So even if Blu-ray "won" and was the "next format" you still have companies competing to sell their players and media (discs). That competition brings prices waaaaay down.
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    blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    True, but video game companies have done it for years with the multiple platforms their games are being put on.

    I think that video games are a little different... Gamers are usually loyal to a system/brand or will go to the "best" system in their opinion. For movies, I think most people are like me... they don't really care what brand or system it's on, they just want a great quality picture, full selection and a cheap price.
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    NOCODE#1NOCODE#1 Posts: 1,477
    Blockbuster chooses Blu-ray
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6762621.stm

    turn out the lights the partys over!


    WHOHOO
    Let's not be negative now. Thumper has spoken
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    reeferchiefreeferchief Posts: 3,569
    mca47 wrote:
    You notice any difference?

    In animated films yes, I've put Disney's Cars on a couple of times now for my son, and the picture is much sharper and defined, I Imagine Sin City should be fun;), but I also stuck in Fear and Loathing just to have a check and to be honest it was hard to notice any difference maybe slightly more crisp.
    I may do a real geek check, i have Click on both Blu-Ray and DVD so I may compare the two one day when I'm bored.:)
    Can not be arsed with life no more.
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    faithful227faithful227 Posts: 352
    mca47 wrote:
    -Sony's Blu-ray player has now dropped in price to $499 and is expected to drop again during the holiday season due to more companies making Blu-ray players.


    Cool, but is it going to work? What's up with this "Pirates of the Carribean" fiasco? I work for an electronics retailer and i have more problems than I care to with the Sony player and those movies. I had one customer in last night that was on the phone with Sony support for four hours trying to get the firmware update installed. his unit just froze up, won't respond at all. It was kind of a big blow to Sony as this was their biggest Blu-ray release, and doesn't play on most players without an upgrade.

    i don't even want to get into the PS3/ HDMI issues. grrrrr.....

    I'm all for one format, don't really care which one, as long as it's reliable.
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    mca47mca47 Posts: 13,262
    NOCODE#1 wrote:
    Blockbuster chooses Blu-ray
    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6762621.stm

    turn out the lights the partys over!


    WHOHOO

    Interesting...

    It was a matter of time before they had to pick one or the other. I think Netflix has both options at this point...then again Blockbuster is a different level and story all together.
    That may just be the nail in the coffin AND it makes me happier because I think we are finally getting down to one...
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    blackredyellowblackredyellow Posts: 5,889
    Is blu-ray still a proprietary thing and if so are there any plans to let other manufacturers make the players yet?
    My whole life
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    mca47mca47 Posts: 13,262
    Is blu-ray still a proprietary thing and if so are there any plans to let other manufacturers make the players yet?

    There are a bunch of other companies making Blu-ray players.
    Samsung, Sony, Pioneer, Panasonic, LG, Phillips, Sharp, Mitsubishi...to name a few.
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    NOCODE#1NOCODE#1 Posts: 1,477
    Cool, but is it going to work? What's up with this "Pirates of the Carribean" fiasco? I work for an electronics retailer and i have more problems than I care to with the Sony player and those movies. I had one customer in last night that was on the phone with Sony support for four hours trying to get the firmware update installed. his unit just froze up, won't respond at all. It was kind of a big blow to Sony as this was their biggest Blu-ray release, and doesn't play on most players without an upgrade.

    i don't even want to get into the PS3/ HDMI issues. grrrrr.....

    I'm all for one format, don't really care which one, as long as it's reliable.
    sony will cry themselves to sleep with pirates 1 and 2 outselling the matrix box set.
    Let's not be negative now. Thumper has spoken
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    LikeAnOceanLikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    Well its cool to know one format is taking the lead.. I'm still not gonna buy one until its under $250. I've seen the difference between 1080p and upcoverted 480p and while it looks better, its not worth 5 times the price. 2 times the price, sure.
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    mca47mca47 Posts: 13,262
    Well its cool to know one format is taking the lead.. I'm still not gonna buy one until its under $250. I've seen the difference between 1080p and upcoverted 480p and while it looks better, its not worth 5 times the price. 2 times the price, sure.

    There is supposed to be a "bare bones" player coming out/is out. I think it's out in China now...sposta be really cheap (less then $200). Nothing fancy, but will play the discs.
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    NOCODE#1NOCODE#1 Posts: 1,477
    Well its cool to know one format is taking the lead.. I'm still not gonna buy one until its under $250. I've seen the difference between 1080p and upcoverted 480p and while it looks better, its not worth 5 times the price. 2 times the price, sure.
    so where can anyone buy a solid upconverter for less than 250?

    its not 5x the price.
    Let's not be negative now. Thumper has spoken
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    LikeAnOceanLikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    NOCODE#1 wrote:
    so where can anyone buy a solid upconverter for less than 250?

    its not 5x the price.
    Most half decent TVs do a good upconversion themselves. I have an upconversion Sony that was $120, but I set it for 480p because my Sony TV does just as good of job upconverting.

    A really good upconversion player is another story in itself, again, not worth the extra money when compared to a decent Sony or Samsung under $120.
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    NOCODE#1NOCODE#1 Posts: 1,477
    Most half decent TVs do a good upconversion themselves. I have an upconversion Sony that was $120, but I set it for 480p because my Sony TV does just as good of job upconverting.

    A really good upconversion player is another story in itself, again, not worth the extra money when compared to a decent Sony or Samsung under $120.
    i said decent

    tvs dont upconvert that nicely

    you want a quality upconvert its 200 bones on a floor model.
    Let's not be negative now. Thumper has spoken
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    faithful227faithful227 Posts: 352
    NOCODE#1 wrote:
    sony will cry themselves to sleep with pirates 1 and 2 outselling the matrix box set.

    well, thats true. however, it's awful hard to compare a single disc to an $80.00 box set. i'm not taking sides, i just wish one format would be decided already. i've had an HDTV for a long time now, and want a HD DVD format player. Blu-Ray, or HD-DVD, don't really care which one. both have titles i want to purchase. i hate to think about how long this could draw out.

    does anyone remember how VHS beat out Beta as the popular format? that's right, the porn industry. and so i hear the porn industry has staked it's claim on HD-DVD.

    bad news for those of us that want a single format. i hope not.
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    LikeAnOceanLikeAnOcean Posts: 7,718
    does anyone remember how VHS beat out Beta as the popular format? that's right, the porn industry. and so i hear the porn industry has staked it's claim on HD-DVD.
    There's a big difference now though. At that time VHS was the only way to get porn. There was no internet, or video format before those formats. It was VHS or nothing when it came to porn. Thats why VHS won... that story is COMPLETELY different now and the porn industry will have little or no effect on the current format war.
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