B30 Blue ray player wish list/fix it list

[jsmiddleton4]

Now that the dust seems to have settled with firmware 2.2 I'd like to create a thread focused on fix it issues, wish list issues. If its a "fix it" issue please post enough details, disk used, etc., so that the issue has a chance of being reproduced.

I also want to get the steps clear for how this unfolds for fix it things.

I am not a short cut. I can help things move along a little but I am not a short cut. In other words we still, and yes even I have called, have to call the call center. A case number has to be created. However if enough of us call with a pattern for a "fix it" issue the engineers will attempt to reproduce it. If they can, the issue gets attention and in Panasonic's own timing, the issue gets addressed.

For us we need to look at what folks are reporting and test it, if possible of course, and see for ourselves what is happening.

What I want to do here is start a clearing house and informational thread so we can all be working together to improve the BD30. Panasonic has responded over and over again regarding the BD30 that they are listening and desire to hear how the BD30 can be improved.

So lets tell them and I will do my best to communicate with them and you about any issues.

Jim

1-800-211-PANA (7262)

Call Center operating hours:
Mon-Fri 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM EST
Sat-Sun 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM EST

[Bryan]

Jim,

Definitely more of a "request" than a problem - I'd love the ability to decode Divx files. I'm pretty certain that the European version of the BD-30 supports this, so it shouldn't be a limitation of the chipset. I would think they'd just have to turn it on in the firmware. Now, it might be some sort of legal issue (I think I might have read something about that in one of the forums), but it would be a nice addition. If they could enable Divx support, then this would be the perfect player for me ... (as it is, it's pretty close!)

Bryan

[Solstice X]

I'll bite!

First Issue (Called in to the call center) - Some Paramount discs, "The Ruins and "Drill Bit Taylor", refuse to play at 24FPS. The BD30 shows loading and after a few seconds stops. The only remedy to get the disc to play is by turning 24FPS to off in the players menu.

Second Issue (Will call soon to Panny to report) - "Star Wars: A New Hope," the picture jumps after the written prologue as it pans towards the planet. Not sure what is going on here, but it is a tad annoying. No workaround found for this issue.

[MPSAN]

Jim...subject says "B30".

[jsmiddleton4]

I'd like to see the disk information screen have a bit more information. Pioneer's disk information would be a good starting point. The BD30 shows stuff. Not sure its all that practical though.

[Solstice X]

Another item of interest would be the ability to upgrade FW via the memory card slot. It would be an intuitive feature since it really just doesn't get that much use.

[jsmiddleton4]

I have passed these three things on to engineer. I did not see soul's last comment.

I'm going to make an educated guess that the firmware process is so set that changing the medium would have to have some value in terms of the whole process.

However the "Native" mode and DIVX makes it of more value in the market. We'll see.

Its not a quick process.

[Solstice X]

Originally Posted by jsmiddleton4

I have passed these three things on to engineer. I did not see soul's last comment.

I'm going to make an educated guess that the firmware process is so set that changing the medium would have to have some value in terms of the whole process.

However the "Native" mode and DIVX makes it of more value in the market. We'll see.

Its not a quick process.

Not necessarily changing the medium, but adding the option so that the player can see the .FRM file on the memory card and update automatically instead of having to guess whether the disc was burned correctly or not.

I do agree about "Native" mode, DIVX and a more informative disc information display.

[Bryan]

Originally Posted by jsmiddleton4

I'd like to see the disk information screen have a bit more information. Pioneer's disk information would be a good starting point. The BD30 shows stuff. Not sure its all that practical though.

Ooh ... that's a good one ... I'd love to see more detailed specs about disc information. I've always wanted to be able to see the bitrate of a disc. (yes, I know it's essentially meaningless - in that you can have high bitrate transfers, but a bad job encoding to begin with .... but it still would be fun)

[Josh Z]

New wish list item:

I wish it were possible to enable and disable secondary audio without having to go into the player's setup menu. I default to sending my movie soundtracks as bitstreams to my receiver, and whenever I watch a Bonus View feature, I have to manually re-enable secondary audio and then turn it off again afterwards.

There is a "Secondary Audio" button on the remote, but it only works (to turn on and off the feature) if secondary audio is enabled in the setup menu. This is tremendously inconvenient. Pushing "Secondary Audio" on the remote should automatically enable the function and turn it on.

I swear, between things like this and the BD50 not having its own required memory storage built in, I wonder if any of the Panasonic engineers have ever actually tried to use their own products.

[Solstice X]

Originally Posted by Josh Z

New wish list item:

I wish it were possible to enable and disable secondary audio without having to go into the player's setup menu. I default to sending my movie soundtracks as bitstreams to my receiver, and whenever I watch a Bonus View feature, I have to manually re-enable secondary audio and then turn it off again afterwards.

There is a "Secondary Audio" button on the remote, but it only works (to turn on and off the feature) if secondary audio is enabled in the setup menu. This is tremendously inconvenient. Pushing "Secondary Audio" on the remote should automatically enable the function and turn it on.

I swear, between things like this and the BD50 not having its own required memory storage built in, I wonder if any of the Panasonic engineers have ever actually tried to use their own products.

Josh... that's a good one, I'd like to be able to just hit that same button and get the necessary audio. Or, if possible, have a way that the player can detect that you've selected a PiP feature and automatically switch it to DD and mix the secondary audio in.

[jsmiddleton4]

Josh,

The answer is yes, the engineers use the BD30 and BD50.

As one would expect Panasonic like all companies are always working on the next product line, sometimes the next after next product. While we may not see some of these ideas in the BD30 and BD50 the information is being passed on and noted.

[Solstice X]

I know this is probably asking alot and may never happen, but DVD-A support would be nice. I'm sure the player can handle it.

[Solstice X]

Another feature that I would like to see this player have is the option of not autoloading the disc when inserted.

Reasoning behind this is that it looks like most WB movies go straight to the film and autoplay. It would be nice to be able to put the disc in and hit play on my own terms.

[Josh Z]

Originally Posted by Solstice X

Another feature that I would like to see this player have is the option of not autoloading the disc when inserted.

Reasoning behind this is that it looks like most WB movies go straight to the film and autoplay. It would be nice to be able to put the disc in and hit play on my own terms.

I don't think you'll find many others who also want to load the disc and then press PLAY separately. This is not a feature I ever foresee any manufacturer implementing.

The problem here is really with Warner Bros. not authoring their discs with a main menu, not with the Blu-ray player.