Blue Ray

sobranie · Feb 20, 2008, 17:37:03

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 · Feb 20, 2008, 17:39:42

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

Simon · Feb 20, 2008, 18:03:06

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 · Feb 20, 2008, 18:07:39

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

Simon · Feb 20, 2008, 18:13:06

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 · Feb 20, 2008, 18:14:32

The format might want to, the studios do not.

Simon · Feb 20, 2008, 18:20:58

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 · Feb 20, 2008, 18:24:14

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

madasahatter · Feb 20, 2008, 18:42:52

Quote from: Rik on Feb 20, 2008, 18:24:14
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 · Feb 20, 2008, 18:45:41

jockwav · Feb 20, 2008, 18:47:52

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

madasahatter · Feb 20, 2008, 18:55:41

Have a look on kelkoo.co.uk jock

jockwav · Feb 20, 2008, 19:05:32

Thanks mad

Rik · Feb 20, 2008, 19:09:45

Quote from: madasahatter on Feb 20, 2008, 18:42:52
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 · Feb 20, 2008, 19:14:04

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

sobranie · Feb 20, 2008, 20:48:01

Quote from: Simon on Feb 20, 2008, 18:13:06
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 · Feb 20, 2008, 22:08:51

Quote from: sobranie on Feb 20, 2008, 20:48:01
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 · Feb 20, 2008, 22:51:53

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 · Feb 20, 2008, 22:57:44

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 · Feb 20, 2008, 23:34:02

Quote from: Simon on Feb 20, 2008, 22:08:51

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 · Feb 20, 2008, 23:35:11

Quote from: madasahatter on Feb 20, 2008, 18:42:52
We are all big fans of Mr. Murdoch on here are we not?

My most hated ..

Simon · Feb 20, 2008, 23:41:40

Quote from: Inactive on Feb 20, 2008, 23:34:02
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 · Feb 20, 2008, 23:55:52

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 · Feb 21, 2008, 00:02:42

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 · Feb 21, 2008, 00:05:37

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.