"Pop-n-Play" DVDs...
01-22-04, 10:42 AM
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"Pop-n-Play" DVDs...
Wish they would do this for DVDs for adults too. This is from today's New York Times...
Pop-n-Play Discs Put Young Children in Control
By MICHEL MARRIOTT
Published: January 22, 2004
Americans have taken to the DVD audiovisual format like ducks to water. And with prices of DVD players dropping below $50, the boxes and the discs are increasingly finding their way into the rooms of even very young children.
One problem is that many young children find navigating the opening menus of choices on DVD's -- Play Movie, Selected Scenes, Deleted Scenes, Special Features, Languages and Audio, to name just a few -- overwhelming. The result is often a cry for help to a parent.
No more, says Lions Gate's Family Home Entertainment division. Beginning Feb. 17, Lions Gate will release a series of DVD's that feature "pop-n-play" technology. What this means, a Lions Gate spokesman explained, is that once the DVD is placed into the DVD player it automatically begins. Remote controls and menus are optional.
The first wave of Lions Gate's pop-n-play DVD's will include tales from the PBS animated series "Clifford the Big Red Dog" and the animated adventures of the Care Bears. Each of the discs, which have been digitally remastered, will cost $15 and run 88 minutes.
No doubt Clifford would approve of a technology that makes the DVD player more child-friendly.
By MICHEL MARRIOTT
Published: January 22, 2004
Americans have taken to the DVD audiovisual format like ducks to water. And with prices of DVD players dropping below $50, the boxes and the discs are increasingly finding their way into the rooms of even very young children.
One problem is that many young children find navigating the opening menus of choices on DVD's -- Play Movie, Selected Scenes, Deleted Scenes, Special Features, Languages and Audio, to name just a few -- overwhelming. The result is often a cry for help to a parent.
No more, says Lions Gate's Family Home Entertainment division. Beginning Feb. 17, Lions Gate will release a series of DVD's that feature "pop-n-play" technology. What this means, a Lions Gate spokesman explained, is that once the DVD is placed into the DVD player it automatically begins. Remote controls and menus are optional.
The first wave of Lions Gate's pop-n-play DVD's will include tales from the PBS animated series "Clifford the Big Red Dog" and the animated adventures of the Care Bears. Each of the discs, which have been digitally remastered, will cost $15 and run 88 minutes.
No doubt Clifford would approve of a technology that makes the DVD player more child-friendly.
01-22-04, 10:49 AM
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I had this problem more when my son was younger. Now that he is 6, he can run the computer, tv, or dvd player to watch whatever he wants. This is definitely a good idea!
01-22-04, 10:50 AM
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I have noticed that quite a few DVDs already do this.
As soon as you put the dvd in and push play, the film starts, skipping the menu altogether (Quiz Show comes to mind, but I know there are several more).
Personally, I prefer it to go to menus, but then again, my kids are too small to care right now.
I prefer if kids do not touch the player period.
--LVM
As soon as you put the dvd in and push play, the film starts, skipping the menu altogether (Quiz Show comes to mind, but I know there are several more).
Personally, I prefer it to go to menus, but then again, my kids are too small to care right now.
I prefer if kids do not touch the player period.
--LVM
01-22-04, 10:52 AM
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Parents need to keep an eye on what their kids with with things like tvs and DVD Players anyway. What if instead of Clifford, my son pops in Casino?
Kids aren't allowed to operate the DVD Players. That what parents are for.
<end of rant>
--LVM
Kids aren't allowed to operate the DVD Players. That what parents are for.
<end of rant>
--LVM
01-22-04, 10:58 AM
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Isn't this how the very first batch of DVD releases were back in 1997? So we're just taking a huge step backwards. Fantastic. 
Oh, and no TV in the kids room, ever.
Oh, and no TV in the kids room, ever.
01-22-04, 12:31 PM
#6
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Originally posted by Movie_Man
Oh, and no TV in the kids room, ever.
Oh, and no TV in the kids room, ever.
01-22-04, 12:44 PM
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Originally posted by The Exister
This is my policy, as well. And no computer, either.
This is my policy, as well. And no computer, either.
Having a parent raise their children, instead of the box, is the only way to go.
But that is just me.
--LVM
01-22-04, 12:59 PM
#9
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We have a tool that does this.
It's called VHS. Put it in, hit play [many vcr;s have autoplay.]
And yes, no tv and no computer in the kids room. My boy [granted he's 15 months, but still] watches, at our house, *maybe* 2 hours of tv a week. And we use that sometimes as a distraction when we need him to be still and take some medicine, or calm down a bit before bed [and nothing else works.] And of course he is greatly limited as to what he can watch [mostly it's Dora and the Wiggles, occasionally VH1 classic depending on what they're playing, because he likes some of the music.]
I will say I can see this is being a feature, but on the other end--my parents came up for a visit over Christmas, and we watched Red Dwarf Tv series on DVD; and they were lost as to how it was navigated, what I clicked, etc. I told them first, some dvd's just get 'fancy' with their user interfaces; TV on DVD is a little different from a movie on DVD; and when in doubt, click 'Play All.' But they'll have to learn, we gave them a dvd player for Christmas : )
It's called VHS. Put it in, hit play [many vcr;s have autoplay.]
And yes, no tv and no computer in the kids room. My boy [granted he's 15 months, but still] watches, at our house, *maybe* 2 hours of tv a week. And we use that sometimes as a distraction when we need him to be still and take some medicine, or calm down a bit before bed [and nothing else works.] And of course he is greatly limited as to what he can watch [mostly it's Dora and the Wiggles, occasionally VH1 classic depending on what they're playing, because he likes some of the music.]
I will say I can see this is being a feature, but on the other end--my parents came up for a visit over Christmas, and we watched Red Dwarf Tv series on DVD; and they were lost as to how it was navigated, what I clicked, etc. I told them first, some dvd's just get 'fancy' with their user interfaces; TV on DVD is a little different from a movie on DVD; and when in doubt, click 'Play All.' But they'll have to learn, we gave them a dvd player for Christmas : )
01-22-04, 01:14 PM
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Originally posted by LasVegasMichael
I have noticed that quite a few DVDs already do this.
As soon as you put the dvd in and push play, the film starts, skipping the menu altogether (Quiz Show comes to mind, but I know there are several more).
I have noticed that quite a few DVDs already do this.
As soon as you put the dvd in and push play, the film starts, skipping the menu altogether (Quiz Show comes to mind, but I know there are several more).
01-22-04, 04:09 PM
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Originally posted by dtcarson
We have a tool that does this.
It's called VHS. Put it in, hit play [many vcr;s have autoplay.]
We have a tool that does this.
It's called VHS. Put it in, hit play [many vcr;s have autoplay.]
01-22-04, 04:58 PM
#12
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Oh, and no TV in the kids room, ever.
Having a parent raise their children, instead of the box, is the only way to go.
), currently takes Karate and has been involved with other sports, has many friends and is well adjusted - and he has had a TV since he was 3. Oh and he also has a computer...
01-22-04, 04:59 PM
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Originally posted by Movie_Man
Isn't this how the very first batch of DVD releases were back in 1997? So we're just taking a huge step backwards. Fantastic.
Isn't this how the very first batch of DVD releases were back in 1997? So we're just taking a huge step backwards. Fantastic.
Haha... well this time around it has a snazzy new name: "POP-N-PLAY"
Gotta love it!
01-22-04, 05:48 PM
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Originally posted by Movie_Man
Isn't this how the very first batch of DVD releases were back in 1997?
Isn't this how the very first batch of DVD releases were back in 1997?
Originally posted by Movie_Man
So we're just taking a huge step backwards. Fantastic.
So we're just taking a huge step backwards. Fantastic.
01-22-04, 06:02 PM
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I really dislike it when I've popped a dvd in only to have it start playing while I'm trying to prep for the film. prep as in...finishing up the popcorn, adjusting the lighting, twisting a fatty...that kind of thing. I'll choose when the film starts or what path of extras I'll take prior. after all, it's not like I have a case of lazy-thumb.
as for kids...they can figure out complex video games at an early age. I'm sure they can handle a remote and a few buttons. I say dont make it that easy on them. exercise that brain!!
as for kids...they can figure out complex video games at an early age. I'm sure they can handle a remote and a few buttons. I say dont make it that easy on them. exercise that brain!!
01-22-04, 07:06 PM
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Whoops, I must have logged into the Today's Parent discussion board. Eh? This *is* DVDtalk? Oh, sorry. Ha!
The new Foo Fighters live DVD goes right to the concert. No menu, no FBI warning, just more rock less talk.
The new Foo Fighters live DVD goes right to the concert. No menu, no FBI warning, just more rock less talk.
01-22-04, 07:33 PM
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I have no intentions of buying Clifford or Care Bears on DVD, and I doubt this feature will creep into adult-oriented titles. I don't think we have anything to worry about.
01-23-04, 10:05 AM
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Since I started this thread, I guess I might as well pop in again.
Between Universal's forced trailers for crappy movies that I'd never watch much less buy, and Disney's menus that seem to take forever to get through their fancy animations before you can select "Play Movie," I just thought it'd be kind of nice to be able to pop in the DVD and just watch the movie. (That's why you bought the DVD in the first place, right?) I'm not saying you wouldn't *also* want the menus to be there (how else would you get you to the extra features, change the audio, etc.?), but that's why there's a "menu" button on the remote, right?
That all being said, I have nothing against menus. If they were all as simple and quick to come on the screen as Criterion's are, that would be fine too.
Just my opinion of course...
Between Universal's forced trailers for crappy movies that I'd never watch much less buy, and Disney's menus that seem to take forever to get through their fancy animations before you can select "Play Movie," I just thought it'd be kind of nice to be able to pop in the DVD and just watch the movie. (That's why you bought the DVD in the first place, right?) I'm not saying you wouldn't *also* want the menus to be there (how else would you get you to the extra features, change the audio, etc.?), but that's why there's a "menu" button on the remote, right?
That all being said, I have nothing against menus. If they were all as simple and quick to come on the screen as Criterion's are, that would be fine too.
Just my opinion of course...
01-23-04, 03:37 PM
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Opinions are divided on this one...I'd rather all DVD's were this way as well. Hell, for the longest time I didn't even know my Sling Blade DVD had a menu. I'd like to see you be able to define defaults for DVD playback (soundtrack language, surround track, subtitles, etc.) inside the DVD player and then inserting a DVD would play the movie automatically with the defaults you defined. At the very least have "Play Movie" the default choice on a menu and just press "Enter" or "Play" on the remote to start the movie (I believe most DVD's do this now). And please, if you're going to show the menu then let it be the first thing shown...no previews or FBI warnings to get in the way.
01-23-04, 04:16 PM
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Originally posted by mtucker
I'd like to see you be able to define defaults for DVD playback (soundtrack language, surround track, subtitles, etc.) inside the DVD player and then inserting a DVD would play the movie automatically with the defaults you defined.
I'd like to see you be able to define defaults for DVD playback (soundtrack language, surround track, subtitles, etc.) inside the DVD player and then inserting a DVD would play the movie automatically with the defaults you defined.
01-23-04, 05:00 PM
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Bah...my 5-year-old has been navigating DVD menus for years, as well as being primarily responsible for insructing babysitters on how to operate the DirecTiVo/turn on the HT.
01-25-04, 05:36 AM
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TVshowsondvd covered this topic. I think this was an interesting point in favor of it:
Other points made sense, too.
Additionally, with DVD players becoming more and more popular in automobiles (cars, SUVs, etc.), this makes "Pop'N'Play" DVDs the ideal traveling companion for Mom and Dad to use on a trip with a no-hassle startup. As long as this defaults to a "Play All" operation - and it sounds like it does - then parents can mind the road while setting the kids up for quick and easy entertainment.