When demos at CES held nearly 12 months ago promised a svelte, online-enabled feature set not available on regular DVD to take the high definition formats to the next level, we were admittedly excited -- unfortunately, we're still waiting to see what the
fuss is all about, and it looks like we'll be waiting even longer now. On the Blu-ray front, BD Live was (and still is) supposed to "deliver new content to disc via broadband connections," but it appears that the technology won't actually be seen on retail shelves until "the second half of next year." Additionally, no current Blu-ray player (Sony's PS3
notwithstanding) sports the "interactivity capabilities necessary to download media content onto system hard drives," and this promises to be "remedied" by asking the dear consumers to throw down for a second-generation player in 2007. Notably, the HD DVD camp isn't exactly seizing the opportunity to get a leg up, as "no HD DVD titles featuring connectivity have so far been slated," even though
Toshiba's player already touts the capabilities to do it. Furthermore, analysts are suggesting that the vast majority of early adopters either don't know or don't really
care about the bonus connectivity features, so long as the "picture and sound" are improved from their old setup, which doesn't exactly bode well for those anxious to see a mass rollout of this here technology in the near future.
posted December 13th 2006 7:43PM
Nobody gives a shit about this.
All it would do is delay new releases and make players (and discs) even more expensive. They also have to set up the infrastructure to support it (server farms, etc). So, that a few hundred people will use it?
I agree, no matter how good your 120" 1080p looks
internet interactivity will not draw you further into the film.
I agree... I will say one thing I really like about the hd-dvd releases is how many are starting to use ime/ucontrol. That to me is all the "special features" I want. Little video overlays at certain points of the movie when it pertains to something happening on screen.
Don't be clueless.
Live connectivity with the web for both formats ushers in a whole new era of movie watching. Imagine a few things here
1. Imagine actor bios that are current up to the last login.
2. Imagine downloading additional commentaries or audio tracks that sync with the film.
3. Imagine deciding that you want to replace the disc trailers with the newest trailers available before your film starts.
Web enabling these platforms opens up a whole new world of opportunities. It marries the instant gratification of downloadable content with the physical content on disc. After consumers get used to this they won't be able to imagine every accepting content that doesn't change.
This may be good for a few people, not everyone has a connection in every room they entertain themselves. IMO this hurtful to those that have already spent hard earned money on HD/BD players.
quote - "either don't know or don't really care about the bonus connectivity features."
Yeah, like why would consumers "care" about technology that has NOT yet been released!
How can we know "what" we are supposedly great about this technology? Just get it released it in the future, talk/review it, and then we'll all be "in the know" about what the "fuss" is about, oomkay?
I'll tell you something that's starting to get noticed - some of the Warner films on HD DVD include a lossless Dolby True HD soundtrack (along with the lossy Dolby Digital Plus track), yet the same title on Blu-ray DOES NOT - available only in standard "Dolby Digital" or no Dolby track at all!
SUPERMAN RETURNS is an example of this, along with 2-3 other popular Warner films. Yet another reason to be disappointed with the Blu-ray "beyond high definition" format! Go HD DVD.
Sounds like something to complain to Warner about. It's not the format's fault.
Derrick.
ALL HD DVD players have ethernet so once Web features are ready every HD DVD will support internet content.