Current Blu-ray players obsolete by the end 2007

[verticalzero]

This includes the PS3.

 

Current Blu-ray players will be rendered obsolete by the end of the year.

 

The Blu-ray disc association, in an effort to realize the hitherto unseen potential of the format, has mandated that all BD players going on sale after October 31 must offer fully-functioning BD Java, in order to deliver PIP interactivity

[FlyingScooter]

Why does this not surprise me...

[Jew]

Uhm...current BD players will just need a firmware update. Hardly obsolete.

[Myself]

When I first heard of the Blu-ray concept I immediately thought, "Another Betamax?" I didn't know it'd be true...

[BarryH]

This is why I don't buy the latest and greatest technology as soon as they're released. I give it about a year or two to simmer and have most of the problems smoothed out before I spend my money on the new technology.

[CocaColaBoy]

With Sony leading the Blu Ray effort this really doesn't surprise me. They could issue an update to the firmware, as "Jew" posted but with many manufacturers of these things that is not guaranteed to happen (Sony). We will have to wait and see if this annoys customers enough to switch to another format (HD-DVD for example).

 

The last successful media format Sony had was the 3.5'' floppy disk so going on their track record I'd say Blu-Ray will be unsuccessful...

[USRoadTripper]

I'm personally still holding out on DVDs since they have already started releasing HD-DVDs. Once HD is the standard, no one will want to watch those hundreds of regular DVDs they have. I'd still rather buy stuff on VHS anyway (VHS tapes don't get scratched and ruined!)

 

-Julie

[Jew]

^^Betacam has been THE standard in news broadcasting for the last 20 years. Sony did alright with that format.

[Wes]

I'd still rather buy stuff on VHS anyway (VHS tapes don't get scratched and ruined!)

 

-Julie

 

Whaaaaaaaaa?..Are you using them as frisbees or drink coasters or something?! If you treat it well, it won't get scratched. Plus, VHS is just an awful format that's more prone to go bad than DVD.

 

Do any studios even make VHS tapes anymore? VHS is dead, and I hope it burns in hell.

 

Disc (CD, DVD) media will end up there eventually too. Streaming and downloading content is the wave of the future.

[masterofthematrix91]

HA!

 

I knew it, but no one would listen to me!

 

IN YOUR FACE!

[Homer]

The last time I used VHS was in like, ages, like before 2004 (when I got Tivo).

 

Julie, you're crazy, VHS is one of the most clumsiest formats that is more problematic and poorer quality at that.

[Erik Johnson]

With future firmwares, the PS3 (as a blu-ray player) will still be fine.

[Cameron]

Julie, you do realize that VHS tapes degrade just sitting in their box .. yet you have to try pretty hard to scratch a DVD to the point where it becomes unplayable...

 

A few weeks ago I cleaned out my VHS closet, and took 4 giant garbage bags out to the dumpster. Felt good to get rid of all that crap.

 

Cameron.

[Erik Johnson]

I'm personally still holding out on DVDs since they have already started releasing HD-DVDs. Once HD is the standard, no one will want to watch those hundreds of regular DVDs they have. I'd still rather buy stuff on VHS anyway (VHS tapes don't get scratched and ruined!)

 

-Julie

 

Actually Standard DVDs will be around for a very long time. Most of the High Def/Blu Ray players upconvert regular DVDs to 1080i,(If you have a HDMI hookup on your TV) Sure they do not look as good as HD, but they are still pretty impressive.

[spaceace12]

^^Betacam has been THE standard in news broadcasting for the last 20 years. Sony did alright with that format.

 

Now the industry is moving towards HD based systems. Currently my station runs DVCAM, which is a higher quality MinDV tape. We still get commercials on Beta, but not as much as we used to. Allot of commercials are going to the internet server so other stations have to download it. I would love to have a beta deck. They have a much better quality and as long as the tapes don't get spots, they last a long time.

[calcajun]

Well, it is not like they will be obsolete. Some extra features that require BD-J will not be available. So it is not the end of the world as it seems from the first post.

 

Quote from bluray website.

 

You'll still be able to play all the movies that come out. Some extras (like PiP) wouldn't be available

[crispy]

^^Betacam has been THE standard in news broadcasting for the last 20 years. Sony did alright with that format.

 

The beta format was superior to the VHS format, but it was totally destroyed by VHS, and a total failure for Sony

 

In an effort to avoid this happening again, Sony has brilliantly attached thier new video format to thier Playstation video game machine, to help push sales, but there are some problems

 

#1 The new playstation machine is very expensive, but you can consider it a cheap Blu-Ray Player, Yippee

 

#2 Toshiba has contracted with Walmart to produce an inexpensive Hd-dvd player, so this Christmas, we should see $200 HD-DVD players hitting the market

 

#3 When rich old men put together thier home theaters, they are not looking to use a video game machine as a primary video player

 

#4 Sony has the worst luck with proprietary formats

 

Notice none of the problems listed are regarding the upgraded Blu-rays, because 90% of the players out there are PS3's, I'm sure it will be a simple update.

[Imhotep]

^ Betacam, not betamax.

[CocaColaBoy]

^ BetaCam came before the 3.5'' floppy disk (1982 BetaCam, 1983 3.5'' floppy disk).

 

But newayz, it doesn't matter. For a format to be successful there must first be a want for the format. For example VHS/Betamax were wanted be consumers when introduced. People wanted to watch movies in there own home and this technology allowed this.

 

DVD was wanted because of the inherent shortcomings of VHS (tape degrades over time, optical discs don't).

 

Hi-Definition TV is now a popular thing with almost all new TVs being HD capable so the consumer wants HD content and two competing formats have come to the forefront - HD-DVD and Blu-Ray and both are technically very similar.

 

With VHS, Betamax and DVD a Scart cable is required to connect the device to your TV, but thats it. You don't need some special monitor or TV with HDCP ecryption. The test of these formats will be essentially what the consumer wants and what they are prepared to pay for such devices.

 

I have a fairly new computer. On this I watch movies (namely DVDs). I have no want to either buy a new computer, a HD-DVD or Blu-ray drive and get a HDCP compliant output device. This would cost me to much and I am happy with what I have, for now. I can copy my DVDs to my 1Tb hard disk and simply click on the title I want to play without having to swap discs. With HD-DVD and BluRay I can't do this because of DRM, although it looks like AACS has been cracked or will be soon.

 

I want convenience and I want to do what I want to with my content that I purchase be it music or video and that is the primary reasons why I do not want these new technologies (I'm against DRM). In the future (perhaps now) I will have the option to legally download or stream the content, so perhaps there isn't even the need for me to ever use HD-DVD or Blu-Ray.

 

Matty

[Mr. Volcano]

I never got the whole "HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray" format anyways... of course I dont have an HD-TV is there THAT much of a difference between either of the two?

 

Its hard to believe that from competition, being obsolete would cause them to pull out of the race, though of course this is a big sale. Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs costs are higher than regular DVDs so maybe if people choose not to buy Blu-Ray it could be a big loss of money I suppose.

 

I thought marketing it, especially by putting the Blu-Ray player in the PS3 would help spark sales on it anyways. Oh well, fortinutely I never bought any, I'll stick to regular ol' DVDs where I know those wont flaw, at least for a good while anyways right?

 

-Justin