'Saw IV' to Feature Web-Enabled "MoLog"

[jed]

just posted:
http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/1265

Promising to push the limits of next-gen interactivity, Lionsgate says its January Blu-ray release of 'Saw IV' will allow consumers to blog about the flick directly from a web-connected Blu-ray player.

Dubbed "MoLog" (short for Movie Blog), Lionsgate tells us that the new feature will enable consumers to create and share their own added value content via blog entries.

'Saw IV' is the second announced Blu-ray title from Lionsgate to include web-connected features. Last week at the Web 2.0 conference in Los Angeles, it was revealed that the studio plans to include a network-connected game on its Jan 1 release of 'War,' which Lionsgate says will allow fans to play each other online.

At press time, it still wasn't clear whether there would be any Blu-ray players compatible with the new technology at launch. Although studio officials have hinted that an upcoming firmware update for the PS3 will unlock web-enabled features such as these, Sony has yet to confirm these reports, and no manufacturer has provided a timetable for the first true BD-Live hardware.

[Motorheadache]

Ugh, I'm getting sick of all these web-enabled gimmicks. Not a big deal, I mean, since it doesn't detract from the rest of the disc, but all these attempts to offer "exclusive HD extras" have been pretty lame and silly so far. Does anyone actually use this stuff?

[crazzeto]

So I'm guessing despite the NIC on my BD-P1400 I'll never have access to this unless I pony up for an official 2.0 player?

[crazzeto]

Ugh, I'm getting sick of all these web-enabled gimmicks. Not a big deal, I mean, since it doesn't detract from the rest of the disc, but all these attempts to offer "exclusive HD extras" have been pretty lame and silly so far. Does anyone actually use this stuff?

I can see the ones on Harry Potter OOTP getting used by families, particularly fav. sceens.. Or if your kids want to watch the movie with fav cousins in a different state...

[MNTWISTER]

I am not sure what all the complaining is about. Everyone knew what they were buying when they got their players, and they knew they were not 2.0, yet they still opened their wallets. So why are people crying now? Why didn't they wait if the web enabled features were so important to them. Just sell that player, there's a market for them since not everyone cares about webbing from a movie player, and get the final spec player. It's getting really tiring, all this whining when people knew what they were buying, especially educated home theater people on sites like this.

In any case, it's nice to see some titles finally coming out, though so far, from what I have seen on my friend's hd-dvd player, most of these web enabled features are worthless to me. Chuck and Larry: shop online? Harry Potter: watch with strangers and chat while trying to concentrate on a movie? And the extras on Transformers, terrible. So either format web enabled features need to be much improved, though I am happy to see Blu-ray starting with web enabled, at the very least it's the last we will hear about the competetor's advantage.

[kkozma]

Here's my main question. If there is no hardware available to play these 2.0 titles, which as of right now there isn't and there most certainly wasn't at the time of disc authoring for a title due to release in 2 weeks.

WTF are they testing these things on?

[Legobricke]

PS3's.....

Lego

[crazzeto]

In any case, it's nice to see some titles finally coming out, though so far, from what I have seen on my friend's hd-dvd player, most of these web enabled features are worthless to me. Chuck and Larry: shop online? Harry Potter: watch with strangers and chat while trying to concentrate on a movie? And the extras on Transformers, terrible. So either format web enabled features need to be much improved, though I am happy to see Blu-ray starting with web enabled, at the very least it's the last we will hear about the competetor's advantage.

Why in the world would you watch HP with strangers? If I was going to use the feature it would be to watch with distant friends and family... Or perhaps everyone you know in the world lives with in driving distance of you?

Edit:
For instance I have a cousin living in Italy who is married and has a son... If we ever want to watch an HP movie together, this would be the best way wouldn't it? Has advantages over swimming across the pond

[supra2jzgte]

I am not sure what all the complaining is about. Everyone knew what they were buying when they got their players, and they knew they were not 2.0, yet they still opened their wallets. So why are people crying now? Why didn't they wait if the web enabled features were so important to them. Just sell that player, there's a market for them since not everyone cares about webbing from a movie player, and get the final spec player. It's getting really tiring, all this whining when people knew what they were buying, especially educated home theater people on sites like this.

In any case, it's nice to see some titles finally coming out, though so far, from what I have seen on my friend's hd-dvd player, most of these web enabled features are worthless to me. Chuck and Larry: shop online? Harry Potter: watch with strangers and chat while trying to concentrate on a movie? And the extras on Transformers, terrible. So either format web enabled features need to be much improved, though I am happy to see Blu-ray starting with web enabled, at the very least it's the last we will hear about the competetor's advantage.

I have to disagree on that one. Not everyone knew that there BD players that touted how superior it is wasn't a profile this and that. We have to assume that most people are normal consumers and are going to expect to be able to use these features when they buy the disc. I called this earlier this year when I started learning about these remaining profiles and how they were not mandatory at that time.

Everybody duck! Bullsh*t is coming!

[crazzeto]

I have to disagree on that one. Not everyone knew that there BD players that touted how superior it is wasn't a profile this and that. We have to assume that most people are normal consumers and are going to expect to be able to use these features when they buy the disc. I called this earlier this year when I started learning about these remaining profiles and how they were not mandatory at that time.

Everybody duck! Bullsh*t is coming!

I had a feeling it wouldn't be a P1.1 profile as I was pretty sure the Panni player was the only one on the market that was. The BBuy sales person swore up and down that it was (again, I was pretty sure he was wrong) but hey, I figured it was the only BD player on the market that I could afford... And considering the fact that the player hit this price with speacial rebate, there's no guarontee that any BD player will be this cheap again after the holidays, hence I jumped...

What I wasn't sure about, was whether full 1.1 compliance is required for Web enabled features to work, or if the content could be hacked into working with 1.0 players that are internet enabled.

[INDY-HD-DVD]

the LG BH200 is suppose to support BD-Live via firmware upgrade
http://www.electronichouse.com/artic...d_dvd_players/

LG’s BH200 Super Blu Player ($999) is the second-generation dual-format player from LG, and unlike the first-gen model, the new player has the capability to handle interactive features of both formats including BD-Java, BD-Live (due next summer) and HDi. The LG BH200 outputs 1080p video resolution at 24-, 30- and 60 frames per second.

[Rob.D.inToronto]

This is like releasing 8-Tracks that play digital content.

The problem is there are no players that take advantage of the content.

In short, a PR stunt.

[Rob.D.inToronto]

the LG BH200 is suppose to support BD-Live via firmware upgrade
http://www.electronichouse.com/artic...d_dvd_players/

No doubt, it has all the requirements of an HD player, and a BD laser.

That is 2.0 ready.

It can be done, and the Koreans are doing it.

[Texan1976]

I'd like to be yet another person who says....WHO CARES??!

I'm just one opinion, but polls have shown I'm definitely among the majority. The whole web-enabled thing is a nice gimmick, but it wouldn't sell me on either format. I just want a nice picture and sound. Hell, I hardly ever watch the featurettes or anything-even on the movies that I love!

When I want to watch movies with friends, I do something technologically advanced like get on my "cell phone", call them to my place, drink a beverage called "beer", and converse using a state of the art tool called a "mouth"...

Will the wonders of technology never cease??

[DSmalls84]

Havent seen this yet, but I loved 1 and 2 and thought 3 was ok. hopefully I dont buyi t and have to use the blog to talk about how the movie sucks lol.