BD-J causing concern for Studios!

[Legobricke]

Saw this article and thought it was a good read....

Next Blu-ray players promise more options
Studios concerned that discs won’t work on all hardware
By Jennifer Netherby 3/23/2007

MARCH 23 | Blu-ray Disc players released after Oct. 31 will feature markedly improved functionality over models currently available for sale.

The Blu-ray Disc Assn. has mandated that all hardware streeting after that date must be able to play back picture-in-picture video, as driven by BD Java interactive technology. Many players on shelves now can handle BD Java, but to varying degrees. Few Blu-ray players include picture-in-picture capability, for instance, not even the PlayStation 3.

Sony’s current and summer 2007 stand-alone models and available Pioneer and Philips units are among those lacking the picture-in-picture feature.

With two different pools of players at retail in the near future, studios will have to navigate how to best create titles that play universally. A title with a highly touted picture-in-picture feature, for example, might not play properly on all players.

“For studios, it’s always a good idea at this stage to test” titles on all available players, said Andy Parsons, senior VP of advanced product development at Pioneer Electronics. Pioneer has upgraded its own BD Java playback with a firmware update, as posted on its site earlier this week. Prior to the upgrade, Pioneer owners could not see Lionsgate’s intended flashlight graphic within the menu portion of its Blu-ray version of The Descent.

Yet Parsons doubts that firmware alone would facilitate picture-in-picture, a relatively complicated part of the BD Java specification.

“There was a grace period between the launch of the first generation Blu-ray launch and October,” said Parsons. “After October, [manufacturers] must conform to the full range of specifications.”

Additionally, after Oct. 31, all Blu-ray players must hold a minimum 256MB of persistent memory storage, which will help power the picture-in-picture feature. Also, any Blu-ray player that features an Internet connection is required to have 1GB of such memory, in order to hold whatever content users decide to download from the Web.

To this point, studios have not released a true picture-in-picture Blu-ray product, according to manufacturing and studio sources. Lionsgate worked around the issue for The Descent, by creatively placing two versions of the film on a large capacity Blu-ray 50GB disc to give the appearance of picture-in-picture technology.

Numerous HD DVD titles boast picture-in-picture, as that format required all of its players to support this feature at launch.

Manufacturers are confident new player requirements are not cause for consumer alarm. All players, regardless of BD Java and memory functionality, are designed to successfully run a Blu-ray film.

“As is common in new format introductions, future products will include some additional features such as picture-in-picture,” said Marty Gordon, Philips VP. “Regardless of whether first-generation hardware supports these new features, the discs will still play.” Disc designers are struggling to determine how to craft titles that will play the same on current and future Blu-ray models.

“I just finished graphics with my first BD Java title,” said DVD producer Van Ling, who declined to name the release. “What I’m finding is that there is a lot of optimism that it will work, but it’s not a certainty. We are now out of the realm of normal video format stuff, and we’re into computer programming.”

Ling worries about ongoing differences among Blu-ray players, because it’s likely some manufacturers will adhere to minimum standards and others will go above and beyond for competitive reasons.

“The whole problem comes in when some manufacturers toe the minimum line and some others might make twice the minimum [functionality] on players,” said Ling. “In my view, I shouldn’t have to know what every single player can do. Rather than downgrade my creative vision for the lowest common denominator player, I want to create something [that fully realizes Blu-ray abilities].”

Once again..... Blu-Ray early adopters, we all basically have beta players.... Blu knew where they were heading and opted to release beta players to prevent loss of market share.

Lego

[45rpm]

Originally Posted by Legobricke

Saw this article and thought it was a good read....




Once again..... Blu-Ray early adopters, we all basically have beta players.... Blu knew where they were heading and opted to release beta players to prevent loss of market share.

Lego

Another reason to hold off buying BR players other than the current steep price. I wonder if the next generation BR players would be fully functional.

[Balian]

Originally Posted by 45rpm

Another reason to hold off buying BR players other than the current steep price. I wonder if the next generation BR players would be fully functional.

They are a lot more functional than Toshiba HD DVD players. What kind of disc player that doesn't support resume play? Its a basic function you would think Toshiba would master.

[moepain4u]

Originally Posted by syster01

They are a lot more functional than Toshiba HD DVD players. What kind of disc player that doesn't support resume play? Its a basic function you would think Toshiba would master.

The hd dvd attachment has resume play I find it hard to believe you can't resume play on a stand alone when you can on the attachment.


You are comparing a resume play to not being able to play features in a bd players???

[agent provocateur]

Its no wonder that the companies are worried.
This is really a mess for the BDA.

[goshikisen]

“I just finished graphics with my first BD Java title,” said DVD producer Van Ling, who declined to name the release. “What I’m finding is that there is a lot of optimism that it will work, but it’s not a certainty. We are now out of the realm of normal video format stuff, and we’re into computer programming.”

This, strangely enough, I find to be an intriguing statement. Blu-ray can be said to be a truly next-gen video format in that the possiblities are limitless with an object-oriented, compiled programming language like BD-J. Sure there are teething problems but once they're worked out there is great potential for compelling interactive content. Any new technology is going to experience some degree of growing pains.

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesen't HDi use a tag based language not unlike Javascript or XML? If that's the case then I'd have more faith in BD-J's ability to present us with something truly different in terms of interactivity.

[moepain4u]

I don't understand these early adopters who are using a PS3 as their main Blu-Ray player when you can't upscale or do PiP! Surely they will push a software update to the PS3?? Oh I forgot it is a cheap Blu-Ray player

[Sarang]

Originally Posted by goshikisen

This, strangely enough, I find to be an intriguing statement. Blu-ray can be said to be a truly next-gen video format in that the possiblities are limitless with an object-oriented, compiled programming language like BD-J. Sure there are teething problems but once they're worked out there is great potential for compelling interactive content. Any new technology is going to experience some degree of growing pains.

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesen't HDi use a tag based language lnot unlike Javascript or XML? If that's the case then I'd have more faith in BD-J's ability to present us with something truly different in terms of interactivity.

Like what? All I've heard so far is a game on POTC. I could care less about a stupid gimmick like that. Sure it might be fun for a while but I'd prefer IME-like stuff.

[goshikisen]

Originally Posted by moepain4u

I don't understand these early adopters who are using a PS3 as their main Blu-Ray player when you can't upscale or do PiP! Surely they will push a software update to the PS3??

My HDTV set does the upscaling for me... and how exactly will PiP make my movie watching experience any better? The last time I checked my local movie theatre didn't have PiP capability.

[45rpm]

Originally Posted by syster01

They are a lot more functional than Toshiba HD DVD players. What kind of disc player that doesn't support resume play? Its a basic function you would think Toshiba would master.

I agree. But did I make the comparison?
I am holding off buying a BR player primarily due to the price and only first gen players are available. And since there is no overwheming number of BR disc that I 'must have' available yet, I am waiting. So this one adds up to my reasons not to buy something that I think is still too expensive.

[Sarang]

Am I the ONLY one who in some way finds this terribly amusing considering this very distinctly resembles the console market and attachments?

[goshikisen]

Originally Posted by Sarang

Like what? All I've heard so far is a game on POTC. I could care less about a stupid gimmick like that. Sure it might be fun for a while but I'd prefer IME-like stuff.

Hilarious... IME lets me use googlemaps to see pinpoint locations for movie scenes and watch, what were they called? "videomercials"? As though any of this stuff is any more interesting than a POTC game. Truth be told most of this interactive stuff is a POS at the moment. Java is a robust language... I'm sure they're only scratching the surface of what can be done.

[tranzparentl]

So PS3 will never be able to do true PiP because it doesn't have a 2nd hardware decoder. Isn't that like 90% of the Blu-ray market?

Sounds like a great idea for Studios to release content that most of their consmers won't be able to see.

[moepain4u]

Originally Posted by goshikisen

My HDTV set does the upscaling for me... and how exactly will PiP make my movie watching experience any better? The last time I checked my local movie theatre didn't have PiP capability.

It doesn't make my viewing better either, I've said before I would use it for HD DVD porn but not much on movies. But it's a nicety and if you say you have it they it should work. Blu-Ray is suppose to be "Beyond Hi Def" and have all these great features but apparently not. Why wasn't this ready at launch since you are paying big dollars for Blu-Ray? If I buy a Porsche it better have everything that was advertised.

[Sarang]

It's funny tranz, considering PS3 was suppose to be the BR player that was futureproof for BD-J and other things as such.