Samsung 1200 Firmware Update Corrects Playback Issues on New Fox Titles

[jed]

Samsung has released a new firmware upgrade for its BDP-1200 Blu-ray player that corrects playback issues on Fox's most recent BD+ enabled titles.

Full story:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/news/show/1056

[Fettastic]

According to Bill Hunt's contacts at Fox, the compatibility problems with these releases has nothing at all to do with BD+ and is simple java issues, just like it was with Speed, LXG, Pirates, Descent, etc.

[Spideybat]

I don't give a crap what Bill Hunt says. I just got off the phone with Samsung and they knew nothing of this. Go Blu-ray!

[DD3Kv2]

Well at least the update didn't take long at all. Samsung is a pretty reputable company I didn't expect them to drag their feet on this matter.

[Spideybat]

From DVD Town:

The Latest on Blu-ray Silver Surfer "Issues"
Samsung owners can download upgrades this Friday! Article
By James Plath
FIRST ONLINE Oct 10, 2007

The blogs and message boards have been buzzing lately with complaints about "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" not working in some Blu-ray players. Specifically, reports of problems with the Samsung BD-P1200 and LG BH100 dual-format player have been surfacing.

So what´s the problem, and how widespread is it?

We put in a call to Steven Feldstein, Senior Vice President of Corporate & Marketing Communications at Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, and Feldstein assured DVD Town that Fox thoroughly researched the technology before releasing the latest round of titles.

"Everything played perfectly when we tested it on every available machine," including the BD-P1200 and LG BH100, Feldstein said. He added that Fox´s research people told him the players they used had the latest firmware installed, and so the problem doesn´t appear to be widespread--that it´s early versions of the players that seem to be incompatible. Some players won´t play the movie, others have troubles with the bonus features. Newer products rolling off the line are apparently fine.

According to Feldstein, both Samsung and LG have already developed firmware upgrades and should be going public with them very soon (see below). "With firmware upgrades, everything plays beautifully," Feldstein said.

"Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" boasts cutting-edge technology, driven by BD-Java and incorporating BD+ for copyright protection. While some disgruntled Samsung and LG owners have been pointing the finger at the new encryption technology, "BD+ is not the culprit," Feldstein said.

"BD+ allows us to be able to release our titles in Hi-Def, and to continue to do so," Feldstein said. "Each film is an asset, and unfortunately Hi-Definition master is the best source there is for pirates."

HD technology is still in its infancy, and Feldstein admitted "We´re trying to push the envelope."

Of course, that´s nothing new. When DVDs were first introduced, not every player was able to play every disc. Even as recently as several years ago, there were still reports of certain releases just not playing on some machines. It may be a pain for those unlucky consumers who have the players that aren´t able to play a title, but it seems to go with the territory as the home entertainment industry continues to grow and develop new technologies.

"Hopefully this will keep people educated that there may come a time when they need to upgrade their players or get frequent firmware upgrades," Feldstein said.

This just in from Samsung:

Starting on Friday, 10/12/07, the firmware update will be available on www.samsung.com for users to download, burn to disc, and load into the player. Owners of the BD-P1200 will have the option to do the update via the player´s Ethernet connection. This firmware update will resolve freezing issues experienced when viewing Fox titles and their BD+ features. Details are as follows:

BD-P1000 Firmware Update
This firmware update provides the following benefits:
·Enhanced Blu-ray movie title playability regarding BD+

BD-P1200 Firmware Update
The firmware update provides the following benefits:
·Improves playback compatibility in some movies
·Enhanced Blu-ray movie title playability regarding BD+
·Enhanced performance of in-movie games
·Fixing audio noise in some movies

No word, as yet, from LG.

[DD3Kv2]

"Everything played perfectly when we tested it on every available machine," including the BD-P1200 and LG BH100, Feldstein said. He added that Fox´s research people told him the players they used had the latest firmware installed, and so the problem doesn´t appear to be widespread--that it´s early versions of the players that seem to be incompatible. Some players won´t play the movie, others have troubles with the bonus features. Newer products rolling off the line are apparently fine."

I some how have a hard time believing this statement, I mean did Samsung and LG just have a prototype firmware that they lent to FOX or they made a firmware and waited over a week to distribute it? I really just believe FOX is just trying to cover their tails, but that is just my opinion.

[Spideybat]

Originally Posted by DD3Kv2

I some how have a hard time believing this statement, I mean did Samsung and LG just have a prototype firmware that they lent to FOX or they made a firmware and waited over a week to distribute it? I really just believe FOX is just trying to cover their tails, but that is just my opinion.

I share your opinion 100%.

[DD3Kv2]

They were not lying about the time need to update, I am going on about 46 mins now.



edit- just finished the update... takes this disc FOREVER (were talking about 2~3 mins here) to load but it looks great!

[illegalprelude]

Originally Posted by DD3Kv2

I some how have a hard time believing this statement, I mean did Samsung and LG just have a prototype firmware that they lent to FOX or they made a firmware and waited over a week to distribute it? I really just believe FOX is just trying to cover their tails, but that is just my opinion.

I dont get what your saying. Im missing the Conspiracy

[DD3Kv2]

Originally Posted by illegalprelude

I dont get what your saying. Im missing the Conspiracy

There isn't a conspiracy, but why say something which has a completely opposite result for 100% of the owners of these two products. Unless he meant that FOX had its own firmware that "they" created I could definitely believe that.

[MNTWISTER]

Originally Posted by Spideybat

I don't give a crap what Bill Hunt says. I just got off the phone with Samsung and they knew nothing of this. Go Blu-ray!

The story printed here says it's available via ethernet connection, so why don't you get it that way? I have found that with all companies, tech support is behind on what's actually going on. My friend just updated his without a glitch. The movies (he has both) work fine and are beautiful transfers (and that DTS master sound, AWESOME on both)!! Maybe you "anti-Fox" guys should just not buy their movies if its pissing you off so much, you're going to need valiums soon....though I feel this is in no way their fault, but Samsung and Lg's for not keeping up with what they are supposed to be updating to be compatible with software for their players.

[Spideybat]

Originally Posted by MNTWISTER

The story printed here says it's available via ethernet connection, so why don't you get it that way? I have found that with all companies, tech support is behind on what's actually going on. My friend just updated his without a glitch. The movies (he has both) work fine and are beautiful transfers (and that DTS master sound, AWESOME on both)!! Maybe you "anti-Fox" guys should just not buy their movies if its pissing you off so much, you're going to need valiums soon....though I feel this is in no way their fault, but Samsung and Lg's for not keeping up with what they are supposed to be updating to be compatible with software for their players.

Since I live way out in the country, I have dial-up. Enough said.

[jcc]

"Everything played perfectly when we tested it on every available machine," including the BD-P1200 and LG BH100, Feldstein said. He added that Fox´s research people told him the players they used had the latest firmware installed, and so the problem doesn´t appear to be widespread--that it´s early versions of the players that seem to be incompatible. Some players won´t play the movie, others have troubles with the bonus features. Newer products rolling off the line are apparently fine."

I think he's telling the truth -- If you assume all the BD-P1200 hardware is identical, then it won't make sense, but probably there are slight hardware difference with the earlier players, so only the earlier players need the firmware update.

[Iggytx]

Lets try to keep this thread on topic, and off of personal attacks.

Thank you,
Iggy

[JamesS]

Despite what Fox says, I still think it's in the BD+, not the Java. The Java may be responsible for the slow load time, but is Java even active during the actual movie playback? Samsung's statement seems to confirm this since they specifically mention BD+ and don't mention Java at all.

28 Days Later stutters just like Fantastic Four, although it doesn't have the slow load time. The menu page is much more of a traditional DVD style page, and not the fancy little selector thing they made up for Fantastic Four.

Frankly, from Rupert Murdoch on down, Fox doesn't have a lot of credibility with me. In the end though, I don't care what's to blame as long as they get the movies playing smoothly.