Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
#426
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
If a lot of people take this stance, then I think it'll be even tougher for UHD-BD to have a chance.
There are a lot of BD movies that don't come with a DVD copy - and DVDs are much cheaper to make. I think the cost of BDs will make the bundling of it with UHD-BDs more rare since it'll drive up the cost too much.
There are a lot of BD movies that don't come with a DVD copy - and DVDs are much cheaper to make. I think the cost of BDs will make the bundling of it with UHD-BDs more rare since it'll drive up the cost too much.
The Blu-ray/DVD combos made sense because DVDs were cheap to include, they were more versatile for computers, portable DVD players, secondary set-ups etc.
Blu-ray is already somewhat of an elite format (compared to DVD) that is still relatively expensive to manufacture, not compatible with most computers & portable players and secondary set-ups are usually still DVD, all of which make them useless in the eyes of any cutting-edge UHD-Blu-ray buyer.
#428
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
This entirely. Sony was ruthless getting Blu-ray to market so they could control EVERYTHING from the point of manufacturing fees to Blu-ray players and everything that had their logo.
Now?
Wouldn't be surprised if Sony tried to even cut a niche market more by launching their own version of Ultra-HD. UBD or some crap, and most of those will be upconverted BD releases.
Now?
Wouldn't be surprised if Sony tried to even cut a niche market more by launching their own version of Ultra-HD. UBD or some crap, and most of those will be upconverted BD releases.
#430
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
If my current Bluray player died in the next couple years and there were midrange UHD players that played both Blu and DVD, I'd probably get a player. But I'm certainly not rushing out for one on launch day.
#433
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
I really thought the winner of the HD DVD/Blu-ray format war would have been more successful in the marketplace. There was so much hope in 2006 since most wanted a better alternative to DVD.
#434
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
Back in the day, I was tempted to pick up a PS3 shortly after its release. But I came to the realization that there were hardly any video games I was interested in, and hardly any first-released bluray movies which interested me.
(Eventually I picked up an Xbox360, instead of a PS3. By then, I didn't care anymore about any bluray functionality).
#435
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
Considering my own Oppo BDP-93 became a literal brick with them not being very helpful at all, I'd invest in a Samsung or Panasonic player, where both companies are heavily invested and don't rely on their hip name to sell products exclusively, and will take off their beanies and put down their $10 coffee drinks to actually trouble-shoot an issue. You'll save a lot of money and headache.
Not saying I won't EVER buy an Oppo again, but with technology changing so fast, Oppo let me down and wasn't offering solutions to my Blu-ray issues. I mean, it literally stopped working after about 2 years. Out of warranty. I was fucked. My $80 Samsung BD player performs about as good (actually loads discs quicker), and I haven't had any issues (other than the top touch-navigation being super sensitive but I don't normally use it to eject or play discs anyway as I use the remote). It also navigates much quicker through online streaming apps.
I'm sure we'll have some Oppo users claim just the opposite, and I welcome that input, but Oppo is not all that, and has went the way of so many other tech companies, which is, bending over to the studios and making their products incompatible with discs because of ever-changing software protection paranoia.
Not saying I won't EVER buy an Oppo again, but with technology changing so fast, Oppo let me down and wasn't offering solutions to my Blu-ray issues. I mean, it literally stopped working after about 2 years. Out of warranty. I was fucked. My $80 Samsung BD player performs about as good (actually loads discs quicker), and I haven't had any issues (other than the top touch-navigation being super sensitive but I don't normally use it to eject or play discs anyway as I use the remote). It also navigates much quicker through online streaming apps.
I'm sure we'll have some Oppo users claim just the opposite, and I welcome that input, but Oppo is not all that, and has went the way of so many other tech companies, which is, bending over to the studios and making their products incompatible with discs because of ever-changing software protection paranoia.
That said, if you think either Samsung or Panasonic will give a flying crap about you if your player dies after the warranty has expired, the only person you're fooling is yourself.
#437
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
My Oppo BDP-83 has served me well for quite some time, and to my surprise last year Oppo actually helped out the legacy owners who couldn't play new Fox discs (again) like X-Men DOFP with a new firmware. I fully expect to have to get a new player soon but since my Oppo is region-free modded internally I'm sticking with it as long as I can. The PS4 is right next to it if I can't play a new disc in it. Well worth the $500 I paid for it.
#438
DVD Talk Ultimate Edition
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
The other big thing I'm taking a wait-and-see approach in regard to ultra hd bluray, is whether the computer optical drive manufacturers bother to release models which can read the ultra hd bluray discs.
Already in the case of bd-r computer optical drives, there's only really two (and a half) manufacturers left who are still actively making OEM bd-r drives:
LG and Pioneer. (The "... and a half" is Samsung).
Most of the other companies in the optical drive business, seemed to have stopped manufacturing bd-r drives and/or are just selling off the remaining inventory.
If there is no way of checking ultra hd bluray discs on the computer, then I will probably not buy uhd bluray at all. (ie. I have a paranoia of random bad sectors on optical discs due to manufacturing defects and/or disc rot).
Already in the case of bd-r computer optical drives, there's only really two (and a half) manufacturers left who are still actively making OEM bd-r drives:
LG and Pioneer. (The "... and a half" is Samsung).
Most of the other companies in the optical drive business, seemed to have stopped manufacturing bd-r drives and/or are just selling off the remaining inventory.
If there is no way of checking ultra hd bluray discs on the computer, then I will probably not buy uhd bluray at all. (ie. I have a paranoia of random bad sectors on optical discs due to manufacturing defects and/or disc rot).
#439
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
this time 10 years ago (exactly) I was chomping at the bit to at least see what HD/1080p would be like. Even though I only had an XGA projector, at the right price point ($500) I was ready to jump in.
In contrast my apathy to 4K right now is even more pronounced than my enthusiasm was then. I could care less, but not by much. By the end of 2006 my focus was all about "when is ___ gonna get released (on HDDVD)?!?" .
I know for the next several years at least that my focus will still be "when the hell is ____ gonna be released on BD?!?" and not "OMG, why is it taking so long for ____ to be released in 4K?!?"
Also as i look to the years ahead and start to envision equipment upgrades, I can honestly say a 4K player is nowhere on the list.
In contrast my apathy to 4K right now is even more pronounced than my enthusiasm was then. I could care less, but not by much. By the end of 2006 my focus was all about "when is ___ gonna get released (on HDDVD)?!?" .
I know for the next several years at least that my focus will still be "when the hell is ____ gonna be released on BD?!?" and not "OMG, why is it taking so long for ____ to be released in 4K?!?"
Also as i look to the years ahead and start to envision equipment upgrades, I can honestly say a 4K player is nowhere on the list.
#440
Political Exile
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
I'm not sure if it was this thread or a Vudu thread, but isn't there a Disc-To-Digital program to upgrade from Blu-ray Disc to Ultra HD Digital? I saw on the Vudu page that the Ultra HD movies run $30 each, so I wouldn't mind getting a better price with the DTD.
#441
Banned by request
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
I'm hoping Vudu has that in the pipeline. What I'd like clarification on is if the digital codes that come with the UHD discs are for 4k. I haven't read anything on it yet, but my guess is they'll be 1080p since they're being bundled with regular blu's. But right now, not offering an upgrade to 4k is kind of stupid.
#443
DVD Talk Hero
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Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
I'm hoping Vudu has that in the pipeline. What I'd like clarification on is if the digital codes that come with the UHD discs are for 4k. I haven't read anything on it yet, but my guess is they'll be 1080p since they're being bundled with regular blu's. But right now, not offering an upgrade to 4k is kind of stupid.
#444
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
And the picture quality of those ads is better than any video I've seen online!
#445
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
The digital streaming ads and promos are for Millennials. I don't think the studios really believe UHD will be supported by them. UHD will mostly exist for older, richer consumers that still shop retail. It's mostly about hooking the current Blu-ray owners on to one more format while they still can.
#446
DVD Talk Reviewer & TOAT Winner
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
How are they going to convince consumers to buy UHD-BR when they are basically poking-fun at the fact that you just purchased an antiquated, cumbersome Blu-ray disc for $20 when you should be using their cloud service?
#447
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
Studios aren't anti-disc. Otherwise they wouldn't be releasing on UHD BD at all. They would prefer people buy digital because margins are greater. But like the CD they realize that the hardcores will always want physical media.
The ad is just reaching out to those who may want to consider going digital (in part or in whole) and to those who don't buy physical (who are watching someone else's disc) but would be open to owning digital copies.
The ad is just reaching out to those who may want to consider going digital (in part or in whole) and to those who don't buy physical (who are watching someone else's disc) but would be open to owning digital copies.
#449
DVD Talk Special Edition
Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
Last I heard we're supposed to get it in a couple of weeks. That's from Best Buy though, but I assume Amazon will be around the same time frame.
Not going to do a whole lot of good though with no new movies, but at least we can play around with the player a little, check to see if it upscales better than the TV, etc. Hopefully the movies will get released earlier than planned as well, but this "launch" does seem very ho-hum and informal, as if there is little cohesion, like a ship without a captain.
Not going to do a whole lot of good though with no new movies, but at least we can play around with the player a little, check to see if it upscales better than the TV, etc. Hopefully the movies will get released earlier than planned as well, but this "launch" does seem very ho-hum and informal, as if there is little cohesion, like a ship without a captain.