Blue Ray

[sobranie]

At last ... the industry standard has been decided.
My intention (in due course) is to purchase a blue ray dvd player/writer for my PC together with a 5m hdvi lead to feed my sony32D3000 TV.  Can't afford it yet, might take out a mortgage on the missus. 
Any probs with this scheme (other than the missus of course)?

[Rik]

None from where I sit. Of course, I don't know your wife, so can't conduct a proper risk assessment.

[Simon]

I would like a standard BluRay player, but I want a multi-region one, and they seem few and far between, not to mention expensive at the moment.  I guess I'll be waiting a while to see what emerges.  Development should accelerate, now the format war has reached an outcome.

[Rik]

Not to mention, of course, that retailers will be working harder to get our money.

[Simon]

Indeed!  I was hoping that a new format would do away with region coding, but it still seems to be a blight on an otherwise flourishing import market.

[Rik]

The format might want to, the studios do not.

[Simon]

Can't really see what difference it makes, given that most major releases are simultaneous worldwide now.  Region coding on BR is studio specific.  Some do, some don't.  Warner, for example, don't region code, but apparently, Fox do.

[Rik]

Fox being a Murdoch company and never one to miss a chance to screw UK consumers. 

[madasahatter]

Fox being a Murdoch company and never one to miss a chance to screw UK consumers. 

We are all big fans of Mr. Murdoch on here are we not?

[jockwav]

 

[jockwav]

Anyone found any good sites that are actually selling the blu ray dvd recorders?

[madasahatter]

Have a look on kelkoo.co.uk jock

[jockwav]

Thanks mad

[Rik]

We are all big fans of Mr. Murdoch on here are we not?

If he didn't have all the best rugby, he wouldn't be getting my money...

[jockwav]

Cant see any blu ray recorders on kelkoo,just the usual dvd recorders.

[sobranie]

Indeed!  I was hoping that a new format would do away with region coding, but it still seems to be a blight on an otherwise flourishing import market.

There'll be plenty of codes on the net to rectify this situ in due course I feel sure. Couple of diddles on the remote and away you go.

[Simon]

 

There'll be plenty of codes on the net to rectify this situ in due course I feel sure. Couple of diddles on the remote and away you go.

Apparently, it isn't quite that easy.  I've read that these machines have firmware updates installed OTA, and as these would wipe out any region hacks, the only way currently to make one 'stick', is by soldering in a chip.  Of course, this doubles the cost of the units at the moment, but I'm hoping, as the format develops, so will the hackers!   

[sobranie]

Passing thought;
If one d/l's a movie or similar under HD format from the states could it be doomed to failure due to regional probs??

[Simon]

Haven't a clue.  I believe that some DVD ripping software removes the region coding, so I suppose it depends on the legitimacy of the download source.

[Inactive]

 
Apparently, it isn't quite that easy.  I've read that these machines have firmware updates installed OTA,

Am I missing something Simon, how can an OTA update connect to a DVD Player that is not connected to an external source ?

[Inactive]

We are all big fans of Mr. Murdoch on here are we not?

My most hated ..

[Simon]

Am I missing something Simon, how can an OTA update connect to a DVD Player that is not connected to an external source ?

You've got me there, In.  I was mistaken in saying OTA.  The updates are certainly downloaded, but via a PC, or direct from the manufacturer on a CD.  However they are applied, apparently they still wipe out any region hacks, so the essence of the issue remains.

[Inactive]

Fair enough Simon, the only way that I can see anyone actually downloading something on to a DVD Player is by encoding it on to the DVD Film itself.

Back to my " Why do I hate Sony " theory it would appear then.

[Captain K]

I had a fairly early DVD player, made by Lecson (own-brand associated with Debenhams I think), but one of its selling points was the updatable firmware.  It was only updated once, as I recall, and was achieved by downloading and burning onto a CD, inserting the CD, pressing a specific sequence of buttons on the remote, screen goes, fuzzy, CD spins up, job done.  That was 6 years ago!

[Simon]

I recently had to update the firmware on my Sony DVD Recorder, In, due to a timer recordings problem.  I downloaded the firmware from the website, burned it onto a CD, inserted it into the DVDR, pressed a couple of buttons, and Bob's your Aunt Fanny's significant other!  I think one of the features of these BluRay players is that they are upgradeable, as the format develops, so buying a new machine now, may not result in a useless piece of hardware in a year or twos time.

[Inactive]

That is fine for upgrades that improve the system Simon, however if it is to do something against the owners wishes, like altering/barring region coding, then it is certainly not, it is a touch of Big Brother in my book.

[Simon]

I suppose if the upgrades are via PC downloads, or CDs, it is up to the owner whether they apply them or not, and any firmware upgrade would, by nature, reset all of the machines settings to defaults, wouldn't it?  I don't believe it's anything more sinister than that.  You can actually buy US machines, but of course, they would only play Region A (1) or non region coded discs.  That would suit me just fine, as I would import most of my discs anyway, but you then have to buy a voltage adapter, and it all starts to get a bit 'iffy'.  I'm sure, as with DVDs, there will soon be a better way round region coding.

[Inactive]

I'm sure, as with DVDs, there will soon be a better way round region coding.

Indeed Simon, it just pisses me off that the film industry/ DVD Makers can get away with this sh*t.

[Simon]

I agree, In, especially when there's no logical, or even financial reason for it now.  Not that I can see anyway.  Surely a DVD purchased from the USA would bring in the same revenue to the film industry as one purchased in the UK?  The only difference is the level of tax imposed on the consumer.

[madasahatter]

I agree, In, especially when there's no logical, or even financial reason for it now.  Not that I can see anyway.  Surely a DVD purchased from the USA would bring in the same revenue to the film industry as one purchased in the UK?  The only difference is the level of tax imposed on the consumer.

I don't think that's necessarily the case Simon. Historically, Region 2 DVDs have usually been more expensive than region 1 - it's just another example of companies knowing that they can get away with charging more outside of the good old US of A.

[Simon]

Is it not just the UK VAT though, Mad?  I would happily be corrected, and learn from this, by the way. 

[Rik]

AFAIK, Simon, the price differences are way more than the tax differences - even iTunes manages to charge twice as much here as in the States, and the product is identical.

[Inactive]

Rip Off Britain as usual.

[madasahatter]

Is it not just the UK VAT though, Mad?  I would happily be corrected, and learn from this, by the way. 

For years we have been paying a lot more than our American friends for things like CDs, DVDs, gaming consoles, most electronic goods etc. Yes, the higher rate of VAT as against US purchase tax does make a difference, but not enough to explain the difference in price.

The last major example was the PS3, which in America was over a third cheaper (allowing for exchange rates) than the Uk price on release.

[Simon]

All the more reason to get a multi region player then.   

[madasahatter]

Very true  8)

[sobranie]

Looky here;

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117951183.html?categoryid=1009&cs=1

[madasahatter]

I like the "to keep a lid on piracy" bit - NO - it's to con us so that they can rip us off - greedy so and sos.

I sometimes wonder if these companies REALLY think we are so gullible.

[Rik]

Some people are, sadly, Mad. They are also the ones who don't use AV or secure their wireless routers.

[Simon]

Some people are, sadly, Mad. They are also the ones who don't use AV or secure their wireless routers.

Indeed, you would have to be mad not to! 

[Rik]

   

[madasahatter]

Some people are, sadly, Mad.

Suppose some are, but I think it's more a case of there not being much choice. To the average punter on the street, the price of a DVD is the price that it is - they may think its expensive, but they still want it and buy it. If you go to Currys for instance to buy a DVD player, they don't have multi region players, so I suppose a fair proportion of the public don't even realise that they exist. Like a lot of things, it's ignorance, rather than gullibility, coupled with a lack of power tochange things that allows these companies to get away with it.

[Rik]

We do have the power to change things though, mad. If we all simply refused to buy goods at inflated prices and told retailers why, they would soon apply pressure.

[madasahatter]

Yep - totally agree, but unfortunately, I can't see any such campaign overcoming the general apathy in this country to be honest 

[Rik]

No, and that's why we will continue to be ripped off.

[madasahatter]

Some of us anyway

[Rik]

I was speaking as a national whole (and stop and think before you respond to that one peops    )

[madasahatter]

no one wants to answer that one now!!! 

[Inactive]

I was speaking as a national whole (and stop and think before you respond to that one peops    )

I thought that read " national whore "..I was kind of thinking Amy Whinearse.

[Rik]

Nice sidestep, In.

[Inactive]

OK I read it as " National Hole "...same applies tho'.. 

[Simon]

Hope you've got good lawyers, In! 

[Inactive]

Hope you've got good lawyers, In! 

I have, I have told them to only deal with claims from " Amy Whinearse "  ..