HD DVD and Blu-ray releases on January 1st and 2nd, 2007
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Dec 31st 2007 9:06AM
posted Dec 31st 2007 9:06AM
Blu-ray rings in the new year with a couple of Profile 1.1 titles, it's just too bad that only PS3 and Panasonic BD30 owners can actually enjoy it. Although a few firmware updates are imminent that will allow others to enjoy them. In the meantime, everyone can enjoy the five new titles for Blu-ray this week, while HD DVD fans are left looking in the window to next week. Blu-ray wasn't able to hit 400 titles by our count before the end of 2007, but they did get in before CES -- which starts in less than one week. Resident Evil: Extinction is the biggest title, with Shoot 'Em Up coming in a close second, which at the same time is another example of why region coding can be a good thing for Blu-ray. Looking forward to next week, nothing really sticks out at us, but since we'll all be at CES covering all the press events for you in real time, it's not like we'll have time to watch anything anyways.HD DVD 370 vs Blu-ray 403*
Blu-ray
- Shoot 'Em Up (New Line)
- War (Lionsgate)
- Resident Evil (Sony)
- Resident Evil Trilogy (Sony)
- Resident Evil: Extinction (Sony)
- Nada
How is region coding a good thing? If anything, thats blu-rays only flaw. Lets just hope this year brings the end of this retarded war.
Region coding is a tool for a studio to control releases to home markets while the movie is still in theaters, Newline has so far been very concerned with this and for a valid reason, so that imports don't compete with theater ticket sales. Only people I see having a major problem with this are those that buy an import and/or HDDVD owners who have to wait until a later release date from Newline....
If they are a Time Warner company, why can't Warner help them out with their supposed "region coding" problem?
Region coding isnt a good thing. It's simply an excuse, something that easily be bypassed with appropriate hardware (ie multiple players or players lacking region coding).
It's a good thing if you want to watch a movie that hasn't been released elsewhere. For example, Ratatouille appeared on Blu Ray virtually the same time as it was being showing in the cinema in Europe. Region codes are arguably evil but they do allow studios to release content earlier in one region than in others.
@JimC
"Region coding is a tool" - what a load of crap. Over the last few days I have been trying to go back and collect some of the movies that I watched back in college, one of which was the move "Johnny Got His Gun". So I do a search for this movie, and apparently it is out of print in the US, but I can buy the region 2 and region 4 versions, which means that I need to buy an imported DVD player, or I can just not watch the movie. This is a 37 year old movie that was once available in the US, the argument about keeping the rest of the world from just does not hold. You write like this is a good thing, and the Blu fans support it by marking you up.
Blu-Ray is about controlling the movie experience, region encoding, more DRM, and keeping the price artifically high to limit it to those with a higher income.
And for those asking why DRM is bad, all I need to say is - WOW! How many articles have been written on the non-HD version of this site about DRM-free MP3 files on iTunes? How many complaints about the false, but widely circulated DRM restrictions built into Vista? It seems like the same people that complain about DRM in their music and in an OS that they do not use, and have no intention to use (unless they pirate it), are the ones saying that DRM is OK on their Blu-Ray disk. I have a couple hundred movies ripped onto an external 750GB hard drives so that I can easily watch my movies and protect them from scratches. Without the cracked DRM on DVDs, and because the additional DRM on Blu disks, I would not be able to do this. My BDP-S301 is downstairs, so I am limited to watching my Blu disks there, and do not have the networked convienence like I do with my standard DVDs.
I cannot believe how people are so in love with the BDA, that they would take any talking point they are fed and spin it into a great thing. I have both, and preferr HD DVD, but if the same restrictions were on HD DVD, I would think of it as the "necessary" (necessary for a movie/HD lover) evil as I do my Blu-ray player.
@stephenbratz2
Region coding is also away for a studio to control release rights and enforce certain local regulations and such. Region coding may make it harder for some consumers but for the vast majority, they know nothing about it....but for studios plopping millions of dollars into big movies, they want control over its release, booohoo for you, that you can't get your way....sometimes, you just don't get what you want...the movie studios and distributors have rights to control how their movies are bought and sold in different countries, so those companies who want to exercise that right have only two choices, DVD or blu-ray.
@JimC
When Paramount/Dreamworks when HD exclusive, they had the right to distribute the movies how they wanted, which meant only on HD. But when that happened, the BD fans biched, wined, compained, made threats, made up numbers that have never been proven true ($150 million), complaining that they ruined High-Def movies, and were just pathetic children. But it was OK because it was an offense against the BD group. There was a movie that I would have liked to watch that I had not seen in a while. I am not upset about not being able to get the movie, I would like to see it again but will not act like the children over the Para/Dreamworks switch.
Here's the thing about region coding. If someone's going to pay more to import a film in order to get it sooner, what are the chances they didn't see it in the theatre already?
What if they just simply don't go to theatre's?
Are they going to pirate it instead?
Region coding has always been silly, if anything it protects local distributors. Given the high cost of importing it doesn't seem all that necessary. I live just a few miles from an area that's heavily populated by Eastern European immigrants, lack of region coding would make their day. Of course, then we might not sell as many Divx supporting DVD players.
What about the Panasonic's 1.1 profile player?
@Mike
In this case, region coding is a good thing, because it allows the high def version to be released day&date with DVD, whereas HD DVD will have to wait until later because the studio does not want the disc version available in markets in which it is still playing in theaters.
I wondered about that too, but I couldn't find any evidence that the Panasonic's current firmware supported 1.1. I know Panny says it does, but somehow I don't believe them.
yeah but remember about the profile 1.1 bonus view, since ps3 owners dont count then its like their not 1.1 anyways. its not like ps3 owners care about movies and stuff...right?
No no no, that wasn't it. Blu-ray owners didn't care about EXTRAS (or weren't supposed to).
Now that the only Blu-ray player that matters is officially Profile 1.1, you are officially allowed to care about extras again (just not web-enabled extras).
@Region Free HD, don't be stupid. Blu Ray owners enjoy features, but PIP and some mini games are marginal features. If you absolutely must pretend they're deal breakers, then you should be rejoicing that Blu Ray now supports that functionality since it means you can embrace the format. Right? I expect most other people rightly say meh about PIP. It's nice that profile 1.1 supports it (if only to stop fanboy whining) but it's going to be as marginal as camera angles & seamless branching was for DVD.
Ben, i think you can with good conscience stop adding the "*Blu-ray total does not reflect 32 Paramount titles that were previously available.", i think that most people have gotten it already, 6 months ought to be enough or?
A lot of those 32 titles are still available on Amazon.I bought a few last month.
Time to pick up RE!
Region coding is simply a hang-over of the movie businesses' old sales model.
Sadly not enough of them have gotten their heads around the idea that it is as out-dated as it is pointless as it is stupid.
They will end up being dragged kicking and screaming into the modern reality, eventually.
Unfortunately until then the consumer (many of us with no interest whatsoever in traditional 'cinema theatres' and who are only concerned with our own 'home theatre') will continue to be treated like 2nd best - which is never a good position for an industry to take with a large section of it's paying customers.
Regional coding ought to be done away with a.s.a.p.; regardless of the general 'format war' - there's plenty to not like about Blu-ray besides regional coding.
The whole DRM issue being a prime consideration for me.
Why is DRM such a negative selling point. I just don't get it. I understand music. DRM stops you from being able to legitimately use the product like you want. Even when your doing it legally. On movies though it just doesn't seem that big a deal. It'll play in any player I buy it on so why would I care.
If I remember correctly even HD-DVD has DRM, it's just that it's been broken already.
Don't talk complete rubbish. Region free content is not modern reality. No studio is going to release region free content early while the same movie is still playing in cinemas in another region.
They're in the business to make profit from investing in these movies and not to satisfy your impatience and non interest in going to the cinema, which at the end of the day is the first choice medium for them to deliver it to.
Actually, Blu-Ray's DRM has also been broken. Keep up with the news.
So tomorrow!! :D
http://www.spymac.com/details/?2320681
"too bad that only PS3 owners can actually enjoy it."
That's not true. The Panasonic DMP-BD30 is profile 1.1 ready.
Is it?
I know Panasonic says it is, but honestly I'll believe it when I see it.
Link?
http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Video/Blu-ray-Disc-Players/model.DMP-BD30K_11002_7000000000000005702
It says: "Now Blu-ray means something else too: an entirely new movie-viewing experience, made possible by Final Standard Profile, which adds features never seen before, like four Picture-in-Picture modes including Enhanced Commentary (from directors and actors), Backstage Pass, Peek Behind the Animation and Audio Mixing."
Go to technical specs: BD-ROM Playback - BD-Video (Final Standard Profile)
Click the FINAL STANDARD PROFILE link: BD-ROM Profile version 1.1
I think that's enough evidence that it is profile 1.1 lol
Like I said, I know they say it does.
I just find it very hard to believe that Panasonic was able to have a 1.1 profile compatible player out so much earlier than anyone else. I'd bet that a firmware update is imminent that actually enables this feature that they've been touting for months.
I've been wrong before, but I need a link of someone with a player and one of the new flicks saying it works.
"'Now Blu-ray means something else too: an entirely new movie-viewing experience,'"
Unless you've already seen HD DVD, in which case it's an entirely familiar movie-viewing experience.
Let's not get into the "Complete Spec" stupid debate again...
...for those who want PiP video commentary then get HDDVD or 1.1 Profile Blu-ray, for the majority of people, we don't care...
Most Blu ray owners are PS3 owners, 1.1 binefits most.
@Ben
I own the Panasonic BD30K. It does have the 1.1 profile. It doesn't need a firmware to run it. It works fully with no problems. Besides it doesnt even have a ethernet port so it wouldn't make sense if they pre-loaded 1.1 but you needed an update to run it. Mcreex is right.
Killer,
Which movie did you try?
How well did it work?
Overall how do you like the features of that disc?
thanks!
Is Nada an Indy film from Paramount Mexico?
Haha, J/K, I can't wait to check out these Profile 1.1 on my PS3 this week! Go BLU!
Peace,
Mexigun
That never gets old.
Fair enough. However, since Panasonic is the primary developer of blu-ray and the first to allow TrueHD and DTS-HD HR decoding in the BD10, I don't see a reason why profile 1.1 wouldn't be true.
Could you at least write: "and possibly the Panasonic DMP-BD30 (waiting for actual confirmation of use)" or something like that no?
I just searched through the owners thread at AVS and can't find an answer, so I posed the question. We'll see what they say, but based on a few posts it does look like there is a firmware update that some are trying to install.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=936144&page=88
Resident Evil:Extinction blew more than my mind!
LOL so true! Parts 1 and 2 were much better. I'm Red for now, but I don't miss any Blu movies, since I download the HD version via torrents and they look fantastic. Sure, the files are huge and not as good a quality as the HD counterpart, but it looks good enough for me on my HTPC pumping out to my 50" Sony LCD! That setup will hold me over till BD players come down in price, then i'll make the plunge and go neutral.
@ Prey521
So you download HD movies via torrents eh? Is that a legal subscription service or did you just admit to piracy?
@Prey521
I'd be careful if I were you. The MPAA seems to be getting more extreme:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d82Lq2rVB_4
What else did it blew you :)
Rescue dawn...
Played it in DTS-HD Master.
It works perfectly, except I'm not to fond with the remote, its sort of clunky.
I'm not very much into special features, I hardly watch them on but I did enjoy the intractive Vietnam memorial on the disc. It was interesting seeing the stories of those people and it was very accurately designed to what it really looked like. That's pretty much the only feature I've tried, I'll go do the PiP if you want me too to see if that works, but I'm pretty sure it's 1.1 since the box on the side says 1.1 standard profile player loaded.
I'm waiting on my other movies to get here from amazon.
Thanks, I'd love to know how the PIP works on the shipped firmware which I think is 1.2. When did the latest firmware update come out?
Proof: http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/panasonic-dmp-bd30k-blu/4505-6463_7-32730548.html
"...first Blu-ray Profile 1.1 player..."
"The Panasonic DMP-BD30 offers excellent video quality and is Blu-ray Profile 1.1 compliant..."
"The DMP-BD30 is the first Blu-ray player we are aware of that is Final Standard Profile, also known as Blu-ray Profile 1.1."
Hope that helps. ;)
That review fails to mention how well the PIP worked. Like I said 10 times, I know they "claim" it is compliant. My doubt is that it actually works without a firmware update.
*quote* Bob P.
@ Dec 31st 2007 10:52AM
Why is DRM such a negative selling point. I just don't get it. I understand music. DRM stops you from being able to legitimately use the product like you want. Even when your doing it legally. On movies though it just doesn't seem that big a deal. It'll play in any player I buy it on so why would I care.
===========================================================================
- Because for a start that may well not always be the case.
There is talk on certain sites of new 'security keys' no longer being provided FOC after a certain point in time.
Then there are the inevitable compatibility problems, software conflicts and even unrecognised hardware problems that will inevitably follow this BS.
It's a pointless pain in the a$$, the real 'industrial pirates' are not in the least bit effected by it, it only bothers the paying punter.
It's about as non-customer friendly as it gets.
At it's heart it's just a wheeze for the companies creating it and buying into it, it's a pointless cash generator paying out at the paying customer's expense.
There's not a single example of a mainstream consumer CE DRM not being avoided or broken in the end - and there's not going to be either.
Meanwhile it will merely bug & annoy the customer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
*quote* Bob P.
@ Dec 31st 2007 10:52AM
If I remember correctly even HD-DVD has DRM, it's just that it's been broken already.
===========================================================================
Which is a prime reason why DVD is such a good platform and it's why HD DVD is, by far, the lesser of the 2 new evils.
As you rightly say HD DVD's AACS DRM has been broken
(and reportedly it's been so fundamentally broken that further revisions will be easily brushed aside).
But it's true that it may still cause problems and annoyances for the paying customers.
Blu-ray's BD+ has not been broken -or for that matter in the hardware based watermarking they use - and we all saw the rash of 'issues' that caused some Samsung owners when they found that they could not play the movie discs they had paid for.
I just don't think that's acceptable, teething problems are one thing (and these are new tech so some are inevitable - who can recall how bad DVD was when it started) but when it's a built-in part of the 'security' software designed to, er, 'work' like that then that is something else all together.
Ben,
That's some pretty bad reasoning you've got for spreading inaccurate information about the ps3 being the only 1.1 player on the market.
panasonic announced their player as fully 1.1 compliant on the day it was released. There's press releases and all sorts of things on the internet stateing this. Your own blog site even shared the links to these things.
I think it's pretty bad newsmaking for you to make a comment and then once corrected, refuse to make a change on your page until you have visual evidence. The company says it works. It is certified as 100% 1.1 compliant. You shold update your post to reflect that it'll work on both the ps3 (which is a large market share) AND the panny 1.1 player. (as well as a few of those software players too (search your own blog to read about those too)).
First off this is a blog, not a news site, we practically get paid to not believe press releases and to write why.
I'm a Blu-ray supporter, and have been called Ben "Blu-ray" Drawbaugh many times, but I still recognize that the BDA is a PR machine and half of what they say won't be true for another 6 months after they say it is. Don't take my word for it, go look up all the delays BD50 had, all the while the BDA insisted there weren't any problems.
Second, I was at lunch when everyone posted this so called evidence and I'm still waiting before I udpated my post. Here is what I need to be convinced.
I need someone with a Panny to say that they've enjoyed true PIP (not a dual encode like early discs) with the shipped firmware. Or if the firmware was already released then I'll specify that.
Why do you most HD-DVD advocates are against DRM?
*rolls eyes*
Why do you most HD-DVD advocates are against DRM?
*rolls eyes*
If Region Codes had expiration dates embed into the disks then I think people could live with that.
They only use them to basically allow content to release early.I sure would hate to wait almost a year to view a movie I saw the previous year.
Cool stuff.
Amazon.com has an HD-DVD buy one get one free going on: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000183001&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=1343D65SEW30TZXSH30K&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=344066701&pf_rd_i=193642011
Amazon.com also has the Toshiba A3 HD-DVD player going for $179 with 10 Free movies