Adam Tyner

I dunno. The big leap reported is just a single week, and even if there’s been a decent bump for a lengthier stretch during this situation, it depends on how many down weeks there were leading up to it, how many down weeks will follow when things open up more, and just how down the down weeks are.

I suspect there’ll still be a year over year decline when it’s all said and done, but hopefully it’ll at least be shallower than it might have been otherwise.

morriscroy

(From an historical perspective).

Around a decade ago or so, I never quite understood why they never really incorporated streaming apps into generic dvd-only players which were widely available.

Even today, I only ever see generic dvd-only players which don't have any apps. Other than incorporating an hdmi connection, they don't have much of anything different than really old rgb/component dvd players (ie. playing pressed dvd movie discs, and dvd-r, dvd-rw, dvd-recorder made video discs). No ethernet jack, and no usb ports.

Alan Smithee

DVDs by themselves don't have any internet-related functions. BDs at least have BD-Live, which isn't used much anymore but still part of the spec- and the technology used to run the apps probably is close to that which runs BDs so no reason not to support them but play regular DVDs.

Some DVD recorders have USB ports, the Philips I had that just died did but I never saw any use for it other than displaying pictures.

Gizmo

Fun question - do BDs released today even use BD-Live or any internet features? Has that all been dropped?

morriscroy

Even worse is if the bd-live servers are already down, or the original bdlive content was deleted already.

The last time I played my Dexter blurays with the ethernet cable connected online, I couldn't see any special features.

IIRC except for the final season, the Dexter bluray season sets didn't have the extra/special features on the actual bluray discs. IIRC, the special features were possibly done as bd-live-only.


(In contrast, the Dexter dvd sets had the special features).

morriscroy

I suspect it was something like this. Of the older dvds I have which have any "internet functions", it usually was in the form of playing the disc on a computer where there was a directory which had *.html files of a basic non-javascript web page. I don't think I ever heard of any dvd-only standalone players which knew how to "read" these adjunct *.html files on dvd discs.

In the case of bluray using a generic java virtual machine to manage the menus and playback flow, then in principle java based apps can be written to handle online streaming type stuff such as bd-live, youtube, etc .... Basically something which probably doesn't require an extensive hardware redesign to incorporate netflix, youtube, etc ... into a generic bluray player.


In contrast in the case of a dvd-only player incorporating netflix, youtube, etc ... streaming apps, it would probably resemble a hardware "frankenstein" combination of an old generic dvd-only player and all the "roku style" hardware required to play hd quality video from netflix, youtube, etc ... (ie. more than just a generic mpeg2 decoder chip). Basically something which would be more expensive than a $20 generic dvd-only player.

Alan Smithee

Quote:

Fun question - do BDs released today even use BD-Live or any internet features? Has that all been dropped?

Paramount seems to still be using it to show previews when starting up discs. Universal was doing that for a long time also but hasn't used them on their most recent ones. I actually saw some of those previews get updated but most of them haven't been. I think the older Universal discs that take you to their main portal still show the same stuff that's always been there and never been updated. Fox discs were the same way, but the last time I tried theirs they had it removed and the option wasn't even on the menu anymore.

Sony discs with "Movie IQ" still show the option for it, but then give you an error message if you try to start it.

This is why I don't trust digital movie purchases- if they can't be bothered to keep these small things online forever, what makes you think they'll always have entire movies available?

And I remember your post a while ago asking "Remember how AWESOME BD-Live was supposed to be?" They sure didn't try very hard with that- but at least it's still there if they ever want to use it again. Players defaulting to it being off probably don't help, but I keep mine on.

morriscroy

The worst case is a disc drm scheme where the encryption keys are on a remote server over the internet, and not on the actual discs.

Bluray's aacs drm doesn't officially have a scheme of this type.

Though UHD 4Kbluray's aacs2 drm does indeed have a scheme of this type, which was outlined in some leaked Sony documents on wikileaks. So if that encryption key server ever goes offline, then such 4Kbluray discs with this scheme instantly become "coasters". (Currently it doesn't appear any 4Kbluray discs are using this scheme where the encryption keys are on a remote server and not on the actual discs).

PhantomStranger

It's my understanding that all BD-Live servers have been shut down. All those internet-only special features are gone from history.

E Unit

Hopefully they backed up some of it on VHS.

milo bloom

Don't give Alan Smithee any ideas.

Anyways, I saw this in this in the anime release thread, and thought it was interesting:
https://forum.dvdtalk.com/anime-talk...l#post13734923

Discotek ceasing to release titles on DVD since their Blu sales apparently outstrip them by a significant factor.
And just above that they announce Castle of Cagliostro in 4k.

We use to think porn was what led technology changes, but is it actually anime?

E Unit

Ha, maybe anime porn. And Castle of Cagliostro in 4k I’ll buy in a heartbeat.

Whoa - there’s an Anime Forum?!

Adam Tyner

Me too. I wish they weren't stuck using DNR'ed Japanese masters, but I was extremely happy with Space Adventure Cobra (filtering and all!) and will be there on day 1 for Castle of Cagliostro as well.

BuckNaked2k

DJariya

Yeah $50M in revenue from old people and nursing homes.


https://www.mediaplaynews.com/resear...ended-4-25-20/

Bad Boys, Star Wars and The Gentlemen were the top 3 sellers.

Josh-da-man

Those numbers are actually fairly impressive. The totals haven't changed much from January or February, where they were hovering around $40M and $50M. Considering how many stores are shut down, I thought for sure the number would probably drop to under $10M.

PhantomStranger

Tells me most media purchases these days are over the Net.

slop101

Yup. I still buy some blu-rays here and there, but it's all pretty much online, and never in stores - mostly because I don't know if they'll have it on hand, even back in the before times, when you could go into stores.

DJariya

Last movie I bought was Bad Boys for Life on 4K disc from Amazon.

Before that I got Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker and Jumanji: The Next Level from Best Buy, but I actually went to the store for curbside pickup because I also needed computer ink. But right now, I would not go out of my way to Best Buy to do curbside pickup just for movies. That would feel like a totally unnecessary trip.

Adam Tyner

I did buy a few BDs at a physical store this year, but it was because Vinegar Syndrome hosted a pop-up at Orbit DVD in Asheville. (And if I lived closer to Orbit, I probably would buy stuff there all the time.) And before that, it'd have been Godzilla at the November Criterion sale at Barnes and Noble. But from a Best Buy, Target, Walmart B&M...? It's been more than a year.

Alan Smithee

I made a lot of impulse buys at Target while picking up food and stuff like that, but not as much now with their shrinking selection, though I always check when I'm there. If they don't want my money that's fine, I have too much stuff to get around to watching anyways. And they already dumped Target Ticket so it's not like they're going to gain from anyone "going digital" either.

BuckNaked2k

Other than B&N Criterion sale twice a year, I can't remember the last time I bought a disc in-store.

Alan Smithee

Barnes and Noble is the last place here that still has a decent selection, but things are horribly organized and priced close to list. Their CDs are even worse, they put movie soundtracks in the same section and alphabetical order as artists, so you'd have to look under S artists to find the Star Wars soundtrack for example.

milo bloom

To be fair, I ended up doing this with my personal collection. I had too many compilations and miscellaneous that I couldn't come up with a better idea. So it's all in alpha and I know exactly where everything is.

JeffTheAlpaca

Sales increased with shelter in place laws in effect

I wonder with the multiple streaming services and most movies exclusive to select sites maybe it would be better off to own a disc of your favorite movies instead of paying a monthly fee.


https://www.mediaplaynews.com/npd-dv...p-in-pandemic/