Blue Ray Player Software

Perryg114 · 12-04-2010, 02:30 PM

It looks like Blueray players are getting cheaper for desktops but what software do you need to play one? I assume your average DVD player won't do the job. I have a couple of Media Center 2005 computers that I might also be interested in making compatible with Blueray if that is possible. How much in the way of resources does a Blueray disk take over recording or playing an HD program?

Perry

Emulex · 12-04-2010, 08:23 PM

most video cards made today handle blu-ray themselves so 0-10% cpu at most. most blu-ray players include software unless you are buying an oem pack?

Horsepower · 12-05-2010, 08:19 AM

I bought an OEM pack at Fry's and it even included software

MadScientist · 12-06-2010, 06:48 AM

Most retail blu ray players/burners come with an OEM version of PowerDVD.
I don't know of any free players that will play blu ray disks. Some say a combination of VLC player and AnyDVD HD will work, but you have to purchase AnyDVD HD.

You can get Ashampoo's Burning Studio software free. http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2124079

Perryg114 · 12-11-2010, 05:02 PM

I screwed up and bought an OEM version Samsung drive from Newegg and it came with no software. Maybe I should return it for another brand that does have the software. The software costs more than the drive. I am still looking for software that does not cost and arm and leg to play Blueray. I don't need burning or editing or any of that other BS.

Perry

AnitaPeterson · 12-13-2010, 01:49 PM

How to play Blu-ray, m2ts video

in Windows
To play a Blu-ray Disc use PowerDVD, WinDVD or ArcSoft TotalMedia Extreme. There are currently no free Blu-ray players(with menu support).
Play m2ts files using the same software or free tools like VLC Media Player or Media Player Classic Home Cinema.

source: http://www.videohelp.com/play

Emulex · 12-13-2010, 03:17 PM

yup save a buck buying oem and spend a ton paying for software. at least its a lesson learned. or ask someone to sell you their unused software player in fs/t forum

Perryg114 · 12-13-2010, 05:19 PM

Well If there was a retail version of that same drive I would have bought it.

Perry

Perryg114 · 12-14-2010, 07:16 PM

Newegg does not provide alot of info on what software comes with a drive OEM or retail. All you can do is read the reviews and try to get some idea what it comes with. The drive I ordered sometimes came with software and sometimes not. I guess it was the luck of the draw.

So what is the best Bluray software out there?

Perry

Fear No Evil · 12-14-2010, 08:36 PM

Does VLC handle Blueray?

Soundmanred · 12-14-2010, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fear No Evil

Does VLC handle Blueray?

Is VLC free?

Steltek · 12-14-2010, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fear No Evil

Does VLC handle Blueray?

So far as I know, not at this time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soundmanred

Is VLC free?

Yes - it is an open source software project:

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Soundmanred · 12-14-2010, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Yes - it is an open source software project:

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

It's free, therefore it doesn't play Blueray, that was my point.

abaez · 12-14-2010, 11:20 PM

VLC can do bluray if you have anydvd to decrypt. You can pretty much use any video proggie if you have anydvd.

I doubt there will ever be a totally free BR player due to licensing costs and such.

Perryg114 · 12-15-2010, 02:58 AM

Which player software/Media Center driver is the least flakey requardless of price? I would ultimately like to play through my existing MCE 2005 computers. I remember having to buy some software to do this with DVD's. I think it was made by Invidia. I believe all my Hardware is DVI interface.

Perry

bigystyle84 · 12-15-2010, 06:39 AM

I use PowerDVD 10 Ultra, works 100% for me.

Narmer · 12-16-2010, 02:01 AM

I have a Powerdvd 8 software that came with my samsung blu-ray drive but it crashes my 64-bit windows 7 machine everytime I use it.

Auric · 12-16-2010, 03:59 PM

If keen on BD only then may as well have a stand-alone. Otherwise, as said, MPC-HC will play the movies sans menus as well as every other format. XBMC can be used as a browser. BD software is rather limiting. PDVD arguably has the edge in quality but does not allow folder playback like TMT. Dunno aboot WDVD these days but has not been much of a contender in the past.

Perryg114 · 12-16-2010, 06:55 PM

I ended up returning the Samsung drive in favor of the LG with the free software. This will give me something to play with till I figure out if I want to play Blu-Ray or not.

Will MPC-HC play Blu-Ray.

Perry

Perryg114 · 12-20-2010, 07:58 AM

I got the LG drive. There were two disks one red and one blue. The red one is PowerDVD 9 and it seems to work as well as the trial version of 10. Niether worked well on one of my machines but 9 worked fine on another one of my machines. 10 did not seem to be much better than 9. The movie I had did not support mouse click menu selection so there is a calculator looking thing that shows up and I had to double click the ok symbol to get it to advance to the movie. I did not see menus at all on the machine what I had trouble with. The other machine things worked better. I expect it was some sort of graphics driver problem.

Perry

mb · 12-20-2010, 09:27 AM

It's Blu not Blue.

Anubis · 12-20-2010, 10:25 AM

kinda OT but why the hell does power DVD disable the Areo interface when it plays a BR movie?