China Blue High-Definition (CBHD) Players Launched

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by The Limey

Maybe, just maybe, this guy knows something that we don't, Lee....

Like how to add a video codec to an SoC that was not there to begin with?

[The_Doctor]

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

HD DVD was a region free format.

And again, to play a CBHD disc on an HD DVD player, you would have to add the AVS codec. Where are you going to get that? And also the Chinese prop. audio format.

DVD region free is what they are talking about.

Some FUD has been around for years now that they would be incompatible, even though early talk was a additional codec would be need. This guy saying it is possible is exciting. But we'll see, It'd be sweet to order $7 new movies for what is essentially a dead format

Looking at the video of of of these players in action they are Toshiba through and through.

[Lee Stewart]

You guys ever get to AVScience Forum?

If you have then you are probably famaliar with a member there whose name is Keith Jack - who works for Sigma Designs Inc. one of the largest SoC OEM's in the world:

http://www.sigmadesigns.com/

I just sent him this PM:

Hi Keith!

There is a question that has been brought up a number of times that I am sure you have seen and even answered - so one more time . . .

Concerning CBHD . . .

Which uses the Chinese AVS video codec. Which is not in the specs of HD DVD.

There are people who are saying that AVS can be added to HD DVD players somehow so CBHD discs will play on HD DVD players

Truth or bullshit?

Regards,

Lee

When he responds to it - I will post that response here on this thread. I trust keith over "some guy" over at AVS to give a definitive answer on this.

[The_Doctor]

cool ! let us know.

I'd love to update the ol xa2 and onko to play cbhd. Hell I'd even pay for the update to do it.

[CanadaPhil]

This format has some interesting possibilities.

Toronto has a large Chinese immigrant population and I'm sure these will be showing up on small boutique AV store shelves soon.

If there is a possibility that the firmware of a CBHD could be updated to play my large collection of HD DVD's, I would probably consider picking on up for the simple reason that the player would then allow me to purchase inexpensive "NEW" HD titles from Asia that would still have English audio.

There might be releases unique to CBHD that are not even available on BLU in North America

[Lee Stewart]

There are two different issues at hand:

1. Adding CBHD propritary codecs to HD DVD players

2. Playing HD DVDs on a CBHD player.

As you can see in the specs for CBHD, the codecs used for HD DVD are there:

http://www.chinahda.org.cn/en/why-cbhd.html

[Lee Stewart]

OK - I just got a response from Keith and here it is:

CBHD doesn't currently use AVS. The Shinco CBHD player uses our SMP8634 chip which doesn't support AVS. The TCL CBHD player was initially a heavily modified Toshiba HD DVD player to get rid of Toshiba's old HD DVD player inventory, and the Broadcom chip used in that can't support AVS.

The issue is that the AACS spec used is unqiue to CBHD, which means no user-installed firmware upgrades to HD DVD players would be possible since where would they get the unique key for each player.

[Lee Stewart]

And the above has prompted me to send this PM to Keith:

As promised! Another question(s)!

If I understand what you have written - then I should be able to play a CBHD disc (until they switch over to AVS if they do) in a HD DVD player?

And if there is no AVS in a CBHD player - then can I play HD DVDs in one?

[Lee Stewart]

Keiths response to my above PM:

A CBHD disc won't play in an HD DVD player since the AACS scheme used is different. For the same reason, an HD DVD disc won't play in a CBHD player. Plus the navigation software needed is different between the two formats.

[Lee Stewart]

So there you have it - from an expert on the subject matter.

[The_Doctor]

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

OK - I just got a response from Keith and here it is:

Whoa.. Ok..
In the western electronics world this would mean they would never use the AVS codec, since the original players wouldn't be able to play it. (at least since the Betamax physical incompatibility debacle)

Now what I wonder is if a PC would play these.

I think there could be a bridge built if someone wanted to build it.

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by The_Doctor

Whoa.. Ok..
In the western electronics world this would mean they would never use the AVS codec, since the original players wouldn't be able to play it. (at least since the Betamax physical incompatibility debacle)

Now what I wonder is if a PC would play these.

I think there could be a bridge built if someone wanted to build it.

So you now understand that there is no firmware upgrade/hack for a HD DVD player that would allow it to play CBHD discs.

[The_Doctor]

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

So you now understand that there is no firmware upgrade/hack for a HD DVD player that would allow it to play CBHD discs.

Maybe not a backyard hack but it certainly would be possible if somebody wanted to do it.

I remember talk years ago of including a firmware disc with exported movies to update players to support the new codes and menu among other things.

it is fun to watch and see what does happen as CBHD get more exposure. It'd be cool if it were possible to update a hd player but the prices of these CBHD players will go down very soon and if i really want one I'll get on then

But a PC might be able to do this before a HD PLAYER

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by The_Doctor

Maybe not a backyard hack but it certainly would be possible if somebody wanted to do it.

I remember talk years ago of including a firmware disc with exported movies to update players to support the new codes and menu among other things.

it is fun to watch and see what does happen as CBHD get more exposure. It'd be cool if it were possible to update a hd player but the prices of these CBHD players will go down very soon and if i really want one I'll get on then

But a PC might be able to do this before a HD PLAYER

You seem to be ignoring this part of Keith's response. You can't.

The issue is that the AACS spec used is unqiue to CBHD, which means no user-installed firmware upgrades to HD DVD players would be possible since where would they get the unique key for each player.

He is the expert on SoC's. And he is saying it isn't possible.

[The_Doctor]

Originally Posted by Lee Stewart

You seem to be ignoring this part of Keith's response. You can't.

He is the expert on SoC's. And he is saying it isn't possible.

Um.. I don't think you get what I am saying.
I already said a backyard hack wouldn't work. If somebody higher up the food chain with access to everything needed wanted to they might be able to make it work.

But as the CBHD player prices will be falling very rapidly I see no real reason to hack a HD player (but it'd be cool if it could be done) and if someone wants to try it hack them (CBHD/HD) its fun to watch as these things as they roll out

My only real question is still about PCs. Menus won't matter really and a PC could just remove the damned AACS. If the video codec basically HD DVD it should work in theory?