BD-Live + Universal + BD35 = No Go?

[SpotInHD]

I deleted the entire Universal directory, and kept Sony, Warner & Disney.

Did you try a Universal BD-Live title after you deleted the Universal Directory in the SD Card? I mean the BD-Live content?

[Cochise]

Did you try a Universal BD-Live title after you deleted the Universal Directory in the SD Card? I mean the BD-Live content?

No, I didn't - but that's a good point. I remember from HD DVD that web enable content from Universal was incompatible with new titles - you had to delete all Universal content to get the new title working correctly.

I tried BD Live first with Wanted; I'll re-try it with Mummy 3.

[RRosendahl]

Okay, I tried The Dark Knight on the BD-35 and I WAS able to access the BD-Live content on the disk. This leads me to believe that it's not an issue/defect with my player but clearly something related to Universal's BD-Live content. I guess it will be up to Panasonic to make change to their firmware.

Having said that, after viewing a trailer or a comic strip on the Dark Knight, the last image/frame seems to end up being so magnified that I could only see a fraction of the screen and had problems getting out of there. So this disk has some problems as well.

[HDM-GHANDI]

Almost a couple weeks ago I got into Hulk, Hellboy, The Messengers recently. I bet it is almost like the Disney thing and a problem with their servers temporarily. Not on our end, but I'll try again with it.

Dewey Cox was the only bd-live I have yet to see anything for. At first it was telling me connection denied or something like it, so I went in the menu somewhere and where it says BD-Live... I put allow all and I could at least get through to the page for Dewey Cox, but there was absolutely nothing on it. Sounds like one week it will work and the next it won't. (host server problems)

[Paul R.S.]

Yeah, RRosendahl, there are TDK BD-L Pan 35/55 interoperability issues.

Can anyone with a BD55 confirm that these same issues exist as with the 35 for Universal BD-L titles?

[aaronwt]

Does BD-Live Universal titles work on the BD35? And yes I do have the latest firmware, a SD Card in the player, the player is 2.0 and there is an internet connection to the player. I know the BD-Live works cause I tried it on Dark Knight.
Here's my list of Universal title with no luck on BD-Live:
HellBoy 2, Wanted, Incredible Hulk, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Mummy Tomb Of the Dragon and Death Race.
Is it just me where this doesn't work?

I just tried HellBoy 2 on my BD35(firmware 1.5)
It's working fine.
Although I don't have any of those other titles to test.

[SpotInHD]

dding another title to the error list, The Strangers.

[45rpm]

Is there anything entertaining in BD Live that is worth the effort?

[Paul R.S.]

I just tried HellBoy 2 on my BD35(firmware 1.5)
It's working fine.

Odd. Can another person with the 35 (or 55) who has not yet upgraded to 1.6 confirm that they, too, can access the BD-L menu and play BD-L content on Hellboy 2 (or another Universal title) please?

[Cochise]

I'm not a big fan long waits to toll free support lines, but there's a tech support contact form on their web site, so I'll use that to report the problems with Universal BD Live.

Here's the page with the Support Contact form:

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs...atalogId=11017

Panasonic got back to me after about a week using that contact form. The response was to set BD Live Access to "Allow All"; I'm pretty sure I have it set to the "middle" security setting, to allow secure content. Worth a try when I feel like trying BD live again.

[Paul R.S.]

Panasonic got back to me after about a week using that contact form. The response was to set BD Live Access to "Allow All"; I'm pretty sure I have it set to the "middle" security setting, to allow secure content. Worth a try when I feel like trying BD live again.

Do tell when you re-attempt, Cochise.

[crazzeto]

Has panny managed to come out with a fix yet? I tested samsungs BD-P1500 FW/UP the other day not only fixed prince caspian, but also the mummy: tomb of the dragon emperor.

[nismo604]

count me in on a BD-Live problem. Watching Serenity I keep
getting "network connection failed" popping on the screen when I watch the movie.

[RRosendahl]

Here's another Universal DVD that failed to recognize the BD35 as BD-Live capable: Bangkok Dangerous. At least it's very consistent....

[BluWolfMan]

I experienced many of the same error messages noted here with Disney, and Warner Bros titles such as The Dark Knight.

The fix turned out to be simple. Make sure you're using an SDHC card that has at least 2GB and is at least a Class 2 (read/write speed).

Also make sure the card is fully seated in the slot without being forceful. If need be, push on it enough to have it easily removed and try to seat it again.

All my "network not available messages went away" and the disc and the SDHC card interact immediately. Eventually you'll get a logon/register splash screen for the studio that released your title.

Panasonic failed to mention in their owners manual that YOU MUST HAVE A SDHC CARD INSTALLED FOR BD-LIVE TO WORK.

What the manual says is you can use an SDHC card to view photos and home movies (filmed on your HD camcorders). The manual further suggested a 1GB minimum card with Class 2.

Spoke with Panasonic Tech Support and they suggested the 2GB minimum. They admitted they omitted vital information on having to have an SDHC card to use BD-LIVE and note tech support said 2GB minimum instead of the manual's stated minimum of 1GB. It doesn't appear that they've updated their tech support website with this important information either.

In practice: I first used a Kingston 4GB Class 2 card it worked just fine.

Four Disney titles, 1 Warner Bros. titles used up a total of 160 MB of space. Either the player or the Discs create a folder titled BUDA on your Card. All your BD-LIVE files regardless of studio or title will all be stored in this folder. Obviously it will take a while to fill up a 2 or 4GB Card.

I live by the rule of buy as much speed and capacity at the best price possible. So after this experiment worked, I ordered a Transcend 4GB Class 6 card (faster speeds than Class 2) from Amazon for $8.59 with free shipping (Amazon Prime Member) and no sales tax.

Backed up the BUDA folder off the Kingston card and then copied it onto the new Transcend card. Inserted the new/faster Transcend into my BD35 and it picked right up where the other card left off.

Obviously you can use this method to upgrade to larger or faster cards if you need more capacity or speed in the future.

One last note. Panasonic officially only recommends their SDHC cards and the tech support person said she would suggest SanDisk too. Good quality to be sure, but overpriced even on Amazon. Kingston and Transcend work just fine and other brands will too.

Read the buyer reviews carefully at Amazon and other sites like Buy.com. All these cards have to be manufactured to meet the same specifications. That doesn't mean that some aren't poorly assembled. So read the reviews and then get yourself some great deals.