Memo to the Studios Revisited: Readers Speak Out

[jed]

In his latest commentary, Josh Zyber looks at reader feedback to his earlier "Memo to the Studios," and posts a new list of reader-submitted suggestions for improving High-Def discs.


http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh..._Speak_Out/816

[theonlyjp]

Damned Right With #13!!!!!
Damned Right!!!!!!

[polyh3dron]

This is well written and I don't think anything was left out... I just bought Deja Vu and that gunky crap is all over the case... I HATE THOSE SECURITY STICKERS GOD DAMMIT!

[theonlyjp]

This is well written and I don't think anything was left out... I just bought Deja Vu and that gunky crap is all over the case... I HATE THOSE SECURITY STICKERS GOD DAMMIT!

Don't mind that gunky crap, for me, I take the sticker off carefully in a way that it doesn't rip (it's still perfect, and could be reapplied if you want it to look unopened save for the shrinkwrap), and I put the sticker over the gunky crap, press it on, and rip it off quickly, like waxing.
And I just work my way on all the gunky crap 'til it's gone!
Works like a charm.
I didn't use that technique for some of my older movies (during DVD infancy--when the gunky crap was at its' peak), so some cases are still screwed up looking from the gunk.
You should try that.

[Brad1963]

I have no complaints or suggestions. Just want a steady flow of titles and not just the same old blockbusters everyone craves. I actually could live without most of what everyone is wanting and like that Universal and Sony are releasing smaller films like Brokeback Mountain, The Big Lebowski, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Volver, The Lives of Others and Black Book.

[Mr.Speed29]

Don't mind that gunky crap, for me, I take the sticker off carefully in a way that it doesn't rip (it's still perfect, and could be reapplied if you want it to look unopened save for the shrinkwrap), and I put the sticker over the gunky crap, press it on, and rip it off quickly, like waxing.
And I just work my way on all the gunky crap 'til it's gone!
Works like a charm.
I didn't use that technique for some of my older movies (during DVD infancy--when the gunky crap was at its' peak), so some cases are still screwed up looking from the gunk.
You should try that.

That sounds like a good idea I'll have to try that, thanks!

[Josh Z]

That sounds like a good idea I'll have to try that, thanks!

I also recommend Goo Gone, but suggest you remove the artwork insert before applying it.

[somethingelse]

I have one as well and I'm going to capitalize it, not to show that I'm yelling it, but to show that it is important to me.


USE ONE TYPE OF CASE!


I'm sick of warner giving us round-edged artwork with round-edged cases.

...

[CaptainCanuck]

I'd like them to get rid of the hd or blu ray self promotion segment at the beginning of discs showing movies that aren't even released yet.

[HarakoMeshi]

10.
When releasing on both formats, give them the same specs.
For the studios releasing on both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it does not seem fair to buyers when the same movie on one format gets lossless audio or nifty bonus features that the other doesn't. Half your customer base now feels slighted by your decision. We realize both formats have their technical limitations, but whenever possible please try to keep your disc specs even and fair.

I'm sorry, but this point does not represent my point of view at all and I'm sure that the same applies for a lot of others. A common complaint is that releases don't take advantage of the extra abilities of the format.

I don't want anything to be restricted if it can be made better. Why would anyone pay good money to choose a certain player with certain capabilities only to find that those capabilities are not used, to cater to the lowest common denominator.

Many of us have paid higher prices for a Blu-ray player, and one of the reasons for choosing Blu-ray is the higher capacity and bitrate. It makes no sense to restrict those to placate owners of HD DVD players. The same applies in reverse. How would you feel if movies like the "300" were not given special functions on HD DVD, if that's the reason you chose a HD DVD player?

I feel the point should be removed. The correct attitude is to make the most of each formats strengths without showing favoratism.

[Josh Z]

I'd like them to get rid of the hd or blu ray self promotion segment at the beginning of discs showing movies that aren't even released yet.

That was on the first list.

[Josh Z]

I'm sorry, but this point does not represent my point of view at all and I'm sure that the same applies for a lot of others. A common complaint is that releases don't take advantage of the extra abilities of the format.

I don't want anything to be restricted if it can be made better. Why would anyone pay good money to choose a certain player with certain capabilities only to find that those capabilities are not used, to cater to the lowest common denominator.

Many of us have paid higher prices for a Blu-ray player, and one of the reasons for choosing Blu-ray is the higher capacity and bitrate. It makes no sense to restrict those to placate owners of HD DVD players. The same applies in reverse. How would you feel if movies like the "300" were not given special functions on HD DVD, if that's the reason you chose a HD DVD player?

I feel the point should be removed. The correct attitude is to make the most of each formats strengths without showing favoratism.

Hey, I'm just relaying the feedback given after the first column.

And I think you're missing the point. It isn't about choosing the lowest common denominator; it's about raising the standard for both. For example, making sure both editions get lossless audio, not just one of them.

[HarakoMeshi]

Hey, I'm just relaying the feedback given after the first column.

And I think you're missing the point. It isn't about choosing the lowest common denominator; it's about raising the standard for both. For example, making sure both editions get lossless audio, not just one of them.

I hear what your saying, but "give them the same specs so half your user base doesn't feel slighted" doesn't quite send that message to me.

I think the message should be: "Be fair and treat each format to the best specs that the studio can produce for it".

If we look at Paramount they are usually encoding the discs to take advantage of the different specs. Yes, this means BD50 could get more lossless tracks. Here, giving different specs is good for the high-def enthusiast.

If we look at Warner, they are putting the same encode on both discs instead of using the BD50 capacity. If they did higher bitrate encodes to fill the disc some of them would get better quality, but Warner doesn't want to give (or rather reveal) the advantage. Here giving the same specs is bad for the high-def enthusiast.

Warner currently putting extra features on HD DVD is also fair, if they're not able to author those features yet for Blu-ray. I don't want the HD DVD version to be gimped. I don't feel slighted by Warner about this; I look to the BDA to hurry up and get BDJ finished.

[kcmurphy88]

1-4, no problem. But get an X-acto knife.

5. Not always. The extended/director's/etc cut is often just a gimmick and can be a poorer movie. It all depends. Some folks may especially not want the unrated version.

6-9, don't care

10-12. Al studios should release day and date on both formats. Cartels suck.

13. You'd think they wouldn't need to be told this.

[lifeat30fps]

Since basically everyone watching blu ray is using a ps3, why not section off 500k of hard drive space and store your preferences there for how you like your movie playback?

you set it to whatever default audio option you want and/or subtitles when available.

win-win-win I think.