Blu-ray is Sony's way of keeping us buying disks forever ?

[spacejamz]

Key word: "kinda"

My friend, YOU are the one "splitting technical hairs."

Sony had a huge stake in the Blu-Ray format because Sony has a HUGE stake in the BDA.

BD has been as successful as I ever expected a DVD successor to be. I don't hold that success against Sony. BD is still as much "Sony's format" as it ever was. Sure, major CE entities have to join the alliance, that's the reason it exists. Sony is making royalties from patents they owned before the BDA was created.

All the people mocking Sony's failed formats conveniently omit the successful ones...

Sony was one of 4 companies that created the original DVD format. Successful beyond what anyone could have imagined with market saturation far beyond what VHS was ever able to reach. What about Playstation? It was wildly successful. S/PDIF is still used today to carry much newer codecs to your surround sound equipment. Even minidisc was somewhat successful in Japan (and that's closely tied with S/PDIF).

Google "who owns blu ray" and click on the results that pop up...the first page of replies pretty much all say that Sony does not "own" blu ray which is the point I am trying to make.

I followed the format war closely from day 1. I followed the threads here and on AVS forums. I bought a 60GB Playstation 3 on launch day and know that Sony was heavily vested in blu ray and was relieved when Warner Brothers pulled the plug on HD DVD. I got two HD DVD players for $90 each when the fire sale happened.

 

[manly]

Disc based movie viewing is the way of the dinosaur but these companies and the movie/music keep insisting it should be the only way and have even got as far as passing laws against other methods. It's kinda sad really.

With the easy availability of raid storage devices and fairly cheap multi TB drives I have no reason to have anything on physical media.

Movies should come as an mp4 file (or other popular format) on a USB stick that can then be reused for something else after. That would be awesome. No need to upgrade the players whenever they make a change, either. They could agree on a decent format that is standard and you just plug it into your TV or other device and watch it. You can also copy the file to your library or w/e. Of course, they're never going to do this, and even if they did they'd stick so much DRM crap in it it would defeat the purpose.

I've completely stopped buying physical media, but are you really comparing a $60 Blu-ray player to a several hundred dollars RAID drive + media streamer for the average consumer??

And the idea that we should buy individual movies on USB flash drives is absurd.

If Google Fiber is ultimately successful at driving the last mile monopolies to greatly improve their performance, we'll ultimately see 4k streaming supplant Blu-ray discs. My hunch is that it'll take a while in the U.S.

 

[Ichinisan]

you sir are a genius. even with the dhs speakers it is not as good as my ad 700s but at least it now works.

Glad it worked. Sometimes a program or background process is associated with the audio device that was active when the process was launched, so you may have to close / reopen a program after making this change -- or restart the whole computer.

here is the name of the device

1 - LC-42LB150U

Yup...always something vague like that. I guess it's your TV's model number or something. Mine is "HSG1075-4" (similar to my monitor's model number). I think some displays can't communicate their model number to the PC or HDMI host.

do you know why my asus dx and the drivers will not allow any sound output except that going out of the main output from the audio card?

I guess the only audio device you can get through HDMI is the video card's internal audio device...unless you have an older NVIDIA card with the S/PDIF connector. GTX 200 series and earlier might have a special connector that accepts an S/PDIF signal from your motherboard or sound card. The digital audio gets combined with the video signal. You can then use a cheap/simple/passive DVI->HDMI adapter or DVI->HDMI cable and get sound to the TV.

For my mother's old HP system, I rigged my own cable using pieces from Radio Shack to route S/PDIF from the external connector to the video card's internal connector. It worked perfectly. That card was a shitty low-profile GeForce 9000 card that actually had an HDMI connector and didn't require a DVI->HDMI adapter. I've used internal S/PDIF from the motherboard to the video card with a GeForce 8800GT, 9800 GTX, and GTX 280. It was definitely part of NVIDIA's reference design on those cards. I think I also had the same connectors on my old 7800 GTs (XFX-brand).

 

[Ichinisan]

Google "who owns blu ray" and click on the results that pop up...the first page of replies pretty much all say that Sony does not "own" blu ray which is the point I am trying to make.

The point you're trying to make is "splitting technical hairs."

I followed the format war closely from day 1. I followed the threads here and on AVS forums. I bought a 60GB Playstation 3 on launch day and know that Sony was heavily vested in blu ray and was relieved when Warner Brothers pulled the plug on HD DVD. I got two HD DVD players for $90 each when the fire sale happened.

Sounds like me. I bought the 60GB PS3 at launch and Blu-Ray was icing on the cake.

I don't delude myself into disassociating Sony from the format that Sony created and championed. No BDA member profits from related patents nearly as much as Sony.

 

[Red Squirrel]

And the idea that we should buy individual movies on USB flash drives is absurd.

If Google Fiber is ultimately successful at driving the last mile monopolies to greatly improve their performance, we'll ultimately see 4k streaming supplant Blu-ray discs. My hunch is that it'll take a while in the U.S.

Why, they are much smaller than discs, and not as proprietary. Most TVs have a USB port now and it would read it, you don't even need any kind of player. The "format du jour" thing needs to die. It seems every couple years some new format comes out. DVD, HD DVD, Blu Ray, and I recall some talk about another format. The raid remark was for those who want to store movies for later retrieval without being bothered with physical media. You don't HAVE to.

Streaming is great, but it has it's limits especially with net neutrality being out the window and the fact that fibre is not available everywhere. It's also nice to have an actual file that you can store on any device such as a hard drive or phone to watch offline.

Sadly these companies are too nazi about controlling how and where we view content so there's no way they'd ever make it as easy as a USB stick and they will continue to make all these convoluted anti piracy formats, only for them to be pirated anyway.

 

[norseamd]

I guess the only audio device you can get through HDMI is the video card's internal audio device...unless you have an older NVIDIA card with the S/PDIF connector. GTX 200 series and earlier might have a special connector that accepts an S/PDIF signal from your motherboard or sound card. The digital audio gets combined with the video signal. You can then use a cheap/simple/passive DVI->HDMI adapter or DVI->HDMI cable and get sound to the TV.

my video card can output audio. it did when i was first setting up my computer about a month ago. the video card was able to output audio both with and without the audiocard. when i updated my asus dx driver it stopped working through the hdmi. even just now when i plugged my headphones into the audio input at the top of the case that plugs into the motherboard it would not work

 

[Ichinisan]

my video card can output audio. it did when i was first setting up my computer about a month ago. the video card was able to output audio both with and without the audiocard. when i updated my asus dx driver it stopped working through the hdmi. even just now when i plugged my headphones into the audio input at the top of the case that plugs into the motherboard it would not work

Hard to say. I've never owned a card like that.

Regarding the headphones, I think Windows builds a priority list for default devices based on connected/disconnected status. I'm pretty sure the headphones no longer take priority unless you do something similar while they are plugged-in: Click "test" to find the right playback device, make it default, rename to "front headphones" ... When you disconnect the headphones, the previous default device should take "default" status again. Plug the headphones in again and they become the "default" playback device again.

I think it works that way on my recent systems, anyway. And that's all depending on having a motherboard / case that supports HDAudio with jack sensing (not AC97).

 

[zinfamous]

BluRay's days are numbered; firmware updates won't be able to give us 4K, let alone 48 or 60fps 1080p...and it certainly isn't deterring pirates, which is the real reason we have to put up with firmware updates

good. no one needs that unnatural cartoon crap!

 

[norseamd]

Hard to say. I've never owned a card like that. Regarding the headphones, I think Windows builds a priority list for default devices based on connected/disconnected status. I'm pretty sure the headphones no longer take priority unless you do something similar while they are plugged-in: Click "test" to find the right playback device, make it default, rename to "front headphones" ... When you disconnect the headphones, the previous default device should take "default" status again. Plug the headphones in again and they become the "default" playback device again. I think it works that way on my recent systems, anyway. And that's all depending on having a motherboard / case that supports HDAudio with jack sensing (not AC97).

seems that the front headphone input is not recognized at all. already ran through the different devices to try and find the headphones. the headphone input came with the case and it plugs into the specified slot on the motherboard.

so the properties of the tv speakers have bass management room correction and loudness equalization. the bass management seems to get rid of a lot of bass roughness and the overloudness of the bass. have to plug the microphone in for room correction but i have one around here somewhere. also the loudness equalization seems to bring back some of the roughness of the bass. roughness can be a quality compared to processed oversmoothness but i am not sure what to think of it right now. probably going to disable the loudness equalization and keep the bass management. also what sample rate should i use? i am going to set my asus audio control center as i think my settings are still for headphones device and dolby headphones.

 

[norseamd]

so setting my asus audi control center to speakers does seem to sound better. i pcm 192 khz. is this what i should be running? there is 44.1 khz 48 khz and 96 khz. any of these a better choice? also the choice in the windows playback device settings is different and includes 16 bit at 32 khz 44.1 khz and 49 khz and 24 bit at 44.1 khz and 48 khz. will this limit my asus settings or should i set them the same?

 

[Ichinisan]

seems that the front headphone input is not recognized at all. already ran through the different devices to try and find the headphones. the headphone input came with the case and it plugs into the specified slot on the motherboard.

so the properties of the tv speakers have bass management room correction and loudness equalization. the bass management seems to get rid of a lot of bass roughness and the overloudness of the bass. have to plug the microphone in for room correction but i have one around here somewhere. also the loudness equalization seems to bring back some of the roughness of the bass. roughness can be a quality compared to processed oversmoothness but i am not sure what to think of it right now. probably going to disable the loudness equalization and keep the bass management. also what sample rate should i use? i am going to set my asus audio control center as i think my settings are still for headphones device and dolby headphones.

Does the Asus DX card have an HDAudio header for the front ports to connect to? [edit]it does[/edit]

For most computers, the BIOS setup has an option that, by default, disables the integrated audio device when another audio device (like your Asus card) is detected.

 

[norseamd]

Does the Asus DX card have an HDAudio header for the front ports to connect to? Most BIOS settings have an option that, by default, disables the integrated audio device when another audio device (the Asus card) is detected.

yes and i believe it is actually plugged into that now that i think about it

 

[IGBT]

The updates are due to Blu-ray's retarded copy protection. They change the keys for new discs.

bluray was always about copy protection. the quality bump was secondary.

 

[Ichinisan]

bluray was always about copy protection. the quality bump was secondary.

I wouldn't go that far. Capacity was the big deal.

 

[GTaudiophile]

A movie has to be like a solid 9 or 10 before I'll consider buying the BR. And then I have to be sure I'll want to watch it many multiple times. "Ingloreous Basterds" is one fine example.

 

[master_shake_]

i never thought blu=rays took off like cd/dvds did...

AFAIK everyone hates discs anyway...the only thing legacy we really have in our computers anymore...

more and more people are not putting cd drives in them.

 

[Rakehellion]

Yeah, you can just download movies from iTunes and store like a million of them on your hard drive. Also, Netflix. Blu-ray was outdated before it even came out.

 

[SlickSnake]

Since so many of you are opposed to any physical media, this post won't apply to YOU.

I have been picking up quite a few good multi-pack Blu's the past few months on clearance from 2-8 bucks, because the Ultraviolet copies in them are technically expired, even though they all still worked when I added them to my UV libraries online.

Most recently, I found all 3 Jurassic Park's Blu's at Best Buy Online for $7.99 each. I was expecting the single disc editions for that price, because the multi-packs are usually way more expensive, at $17.99 and up. I had a $5 off coupon for a messed up previously canceled item that was OOS, so I decided to go for it. $25 and you get free shipping there.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/searchpa...&iht=n&seeAll=


Anyhow, I was pleasantly surprised today to find out these were the Blu/DVD/UV versions (without paper slipcovers) which they are also selling there for $17.99 each. My guess is the UV codes are expiring soon, so they marked these down to clear them out. But I couldn't find any expiration dates on these UV codes. This offer has not been posted online anywhere else that I know of. I'm watching (and feeling) the dinos on Jurassic 1 atm. The Trex just ate the guy on the toilet, lol.

I added the TED plush BR to the cart for $6.99 to get free shipping.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/ted-8-ta... plush&lp=1&cp

However, all they sent me was the stupid 8" plush in a plastic bag with the 3 Jurassic Park's. Now I have to return this plush while they resend me the plush and the Blu next time. The plush was a promo when the movie came out there for an extra $4.99. Stupid BB. :thumbsdown:

You could also add White Squall (director Ridley Scott) for $3.99 to your cart to get the $25 min for free shipping:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/white-sq...2015&lp=4&cp=1

This was an awesome movie. I don't think I ever saw it before, and it was well worth the $4.

 

[norseamd]

where is mark?

is this a giant social experiment?

 

[JackBurton]

Yeah, you can just download movies from iTunes and store like a million of them on your hard drive. Also, Netflix. Blu-ray was outdated before it even came out.

Oh that's awesome. A hard drive filled with a bunch of shit quality movies. Fantastic. How can I get more of that?

 

[Ichinisan]

Most recently, I found all 3 Jurassic Park's Blu's at Best Buy Online for $7.99 each. I was expecting the single disc editions for that price, because the multi-packs are usually way more expensive, at $17.99 and up. I had a $5 off coupon for a messed up previously canceled item that was OOS, so I decided to go for it. $25 and you get free shipping there.

Wha?! I stopped by the BB store a couple days ago and saw JP BD in the $7.99 bin. It was the only one there, so I assumed someone put it in the wrong place. Took it to the register to check the price and the guy said it was $20

 

[norseamd]

Anyhow, I was pleasantly surprised today to find out these were the Blu/DVD/UV versions (without paper slipcovers) which they are also selling there for $17.99 each. My guess is the UV codes are expiring soon, so they marked these down to clear them out. But I couldn't find any expiration dates on these UV codes. This offer has not been posted online anywhere else that I know of. I'm watching (and feeling) the dinos on Jurassic 1 atm. The Trex just ate the guy on the toilet, lol.

these are 3 pack? they say nothing on what they are. jurassic park is one of the few hollywood movies i would watch

 

[SlickSnake]

Wha?! I stopped by the BB store a couple days ago and saw JP BD in the $7.99 bin. It was the only one there, so I assumed someone put it in the wrong place. Took it to the register to check the price and the guy said it was $20

I think this is an online only deal. And I didn't see it posted anywhere else online, so I put it here rather than in Hot Deals where deal bots troll just so you guys could have a chance at them first.

These don't often go on sale, since they are still one of the top sellers for Universal. And the Blu box sets are outrageously overpriced, even the Blu-ray only version.

 

[SlickSnake]

these are 3 pack? they say nothing on what they are. jurassic park is one of the few hollywood movies i would watch

Yes, they are the multi-packs Blu/DVD/UV. They are identical to the other multi-packs sold there for $17.99 each. They added a special UPC code to the wrapper on top of the old UPC to differentiate them from the others for $17.99.

I think it's just a clearance item since the UV's are about to expire. But on all 3 Jurassic Park's I didn't see an expiration date on any of the UV codes, and they all worked fine.

 

[norseamd]

Yes, they are the multi-packs Blu/DVD/UV. They are identical to the other multi-packs sold there for $17.99 each. They added a special UPC code to the wrapper on top of the old UPC to differentiate them from the others for $17.99. I think it's just a clearance item since the UV's are about to expire. But on all 3 Jurassic Park's I didn't see an expiration date on any of the UV codes, and they all worked fine.

hmm. might think about buying them. how big are the uvs?