No HDCP for analog output, Yes HDCP for digital.

Yes, you could get them to a TV via analog VGA, but not DVI or HDMI.

Panasonic BD10 v1.4 firmware upgarde available now (thanks to ianholm for the heads up)

- Picture Quality via HDMI
- Playability and stability
- Response of skipping operations
- Support of the dics recorded with Panasonic AVCHD Camcorders

http://panasonic.jp/support/global/...bd10/index.html

As someone who was/is looking at this price point, this quote is disturbing:

http://news.com.com/Sonys+brave+Sir+...3-6150661.html

I can't see them taking 3 years (or longer!!) to get to $399 or even $299. I mean the Phillips player that was just released has an MSRP of $599.

Just talking to a friend right now. My TV is 1080i. Am I screwed because there is no scaler in the PS3?

What do you mean by "screwed"?

This goes to show that executives are idiots.

I think digi is confusing the lack of scaling for games as a lack of scaling for movies.

Digi: If you're only using a PS3 for BD movies, you're fine. They will display at 1080i. Only the games are being downscaled to 480p.

Just for the sake of accuracy, they will also display at 720p for 1080p native games.

Are you talking about the Phillips BDP900? It sells at Wally world for around 900 so $599 can't be the MSRP.

Unless your TV won't display 720p, like mine.

Are we talking MSRP of $299-$399 or can be bought for that price because there's a pretty big difference.

MSRP.

But either way, it doesn't matter. In this case, HD DVD will have players with an MSRP that low THIS YEAR. My concern was that they (meaning: BD) is going to wait another 2-3 years to get that low.

I wouldn't be too concerned. I think that the 2.0 update will be quite substantial. They are doing the European rollout this month. I hear March for the big update. The biggest talked about additions are 1) scaling for SD-DVDs, 2) improved graphics for PS1/PS2 games, 3) scaling to 1080i, 4) increase streaming capabilities.

I hope so.

Question on the DTS-HD tracks that are on Saw 2 & 3. Am I supposed to listen to those through my HDMI connection like the PCM tracks or through the bitrate setting like regular DD and DTS tracks? I'm using the Samsung player. Thanks

I set it to Bitstream on the PS3 for the DTS-HD tracks. When I had it on PCM, I wasn't getting the rear center channel for X-Men 3 which has DTS 6.1. I just toggle back and forth depending on whether I'm watching a Sony/Disney/Lion's Gate disc or one from Fox/MGM.

Thankfully the Toshiba HD-A1 has an Auto setting which automatically detects Dolby TrueHD or regular DD and DTS tracks. Does the Samsung do the same or do you have to pick one or the other?

Yep, set it to bitstream for DTS-HD. I actually tried it last night with Saw 3 and, as mentioned, you don't get the center rear with the PCM setting, but you do with Bitstream.

The Samsung doesn't (my biggest gripe with it), but the Panasonic does.

Thanks!

Well, from today's PS3 update to 1.5 they have supposedly fixed the PS2/PS1 graphics problem (haven't had a chance to check myself), so here's hoping they add in the upscaling, etc. soon.

Casino Royale is finally up for pre-order at Amazon!
No 10% discount yet, but my E-Mail to CS is on the way.

Link, please. The update, AFAIK, basically does nothing but allow you to pay with some newfangled Exxon speedpass.

I'd pre-order Casino Royale now, but Amazon doesn't seem to allow combining of orders with the the HD/BD 10% discount, and there will inevitably be more stuff announced for that day that I'll want.

Didn't look for a link, but many users on AVS who downloaded the update are have reported that PS2 games now look as they should.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=793518