Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Close outs of the 65' 9500/9600 series might go under 3K in the next few months. The 55 inchers have been there for a while already.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

I'm still very much hesitant to consider this.
My wife would like everything to be digital/streaming, but I still have a sizable collection of DVDs and Blus.

If my current Blu player were to breakdown in the next couple of years and there was a UHD player at a good price (backwards compatible of course), then I might do that. Otherwise, I just can't get excited.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

But that is one constant about the UHD hardware right? Aren't all players supposed to play regular Blu ray's?

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

seeing these reviews on Bluray.com is not having me itching to upgrade at all. thank god!

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

I think we now know the studios prioritizing digital streaming going forward.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Ran into some unexpected cash and just decided to go with the Sony 930c. It's for my living room which usually has some ambient lighting so any black level advantage of OLED will be erased anyway. Other than that and the off-angle viewing, the 930C is better than the LG OLED in every other way from what I've read.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

I agree. In fact, I'm expecting that "4k" content will be closely guarded and used to drive consumers further to streaming/subscription behavior at the pace that their infrastructure and delivery system is refined.

It may be a cynical prediction, but it is not unlikely that they would want to try to build a wall around that "experience" and "exclusivity" to steer consumers into the subscription/streaming model, rather than move forward status quo in a physical media distribution model where the revenue has been consistently falling, and will likely continue do so at this point.

I'd like to hear others opinions on this. I have all my content on a media server nearly entirely at 1080p, watching and waiting this one out for the time being.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Uh, no. Since the specs just recently got finalized, entry later this year for a lot of studios seems about right.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Right. That's the PR, we know that thank you! It's also clear that they WILL get there eventually. However, it's looking like there is no rush to get there, and that's the conversation I was putting forth.

There's so much more involved and at stake than the "specs". It may seem as though there are only tactical issues holding the rollout back, but so far it looks like a pretty half-hearted, and difficult to follow what the future plan is for physical media.

Many good points about the above have been raised in this thread, so I'm not going to rehash them, but I certainly don't think its clear that physical media will be status quo with 4k.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

I hope we see many players with dual HDMI ports cause I sure ain't buying a 4K receiver.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Well, my plan at this point is to only buy UHD editions of 2D movies that are out, even if I can't play them yet- most look like they'll also come with a regular Blu-Ray disc that I can watch now, much like the HD-DVD combo discs I bought before I could play those. For 3D movies I'll still ONLY buy the 3D editions; if they include a 2D UHD disc with them then fine, but I'll never buy a 2D-only copy of a 3D movie regardless of the format or alleged quality- watching a 2D movie in 3D is like watching a color movie in black and white!

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

I'm with you- I'm not paying full price to receive half of the movie.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

eh, just a fad...

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

All for a low low price of...I'm not paying that damn much just because it's in 4k. And give me an option to upgrade to the movies I already have available in 4k for a good discount.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Can someone explain the big deal about Atmos? How does it differ from the other mixes and what does it require to take advantage of it?

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

You can Google it, but based on my personal experience, it's the next step in home theater. Utilizes additional speakers you mount on the ceiling that are discreet channels. Basically a 7.1 setup, but adds the 4 ceiling speakers.

And yes, you'll need a newer receiver that will decode Atmos/DTS-X. DTS-X being the Atmos competitor. These are basically the new Dolby Digital/DTX.

http://res.cloudinary.com/hrscywv4p/...trvrzyjht2.jpg

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

I thought VUDU only has 4K options if you have certain TV's? I have a 2015 LG 4K and when I use the VUDU app via apple or PS4 there are no 4K options. Maybe there is a VUDU app for the LG I don't know about?

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Neither Apple or PS4 stream 4K. Check to see if your TV has a widget for Vudu. That's how I watch Netflix in 4k on my Vizio. Or a Roku 4 will do it.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Not to mention that with some of the cheaper receivers you may need an additional amp(s), to power those ceiling speakers.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Thanks for the details.

I can't even envision having a 7.1 setup, never mind 4 more speakers on the ceiling. I can't see it offering me enough enjoyment to justify the cost.
Plus, I'm sure most of the films I watch won't even take advantage of it - I'm not an action-flick kinda guy.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

It is a perfect setup for action, but it's good for almost anything if it's mixed well in Atmos. I have the first two seasons of Game of Thrones and the mix is incredible. In addition to the louder stuff, a lot of sounds like rain, snow, and other ambient sounds really come out in this mix.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

I love my 7.1 setup, and I know if the disc has Atmos, that the downmix to 7.1 is going to sound phenomenal. I have a Denon 4308 receiver which cost me a decent amount, so I need to hold off for a few more years before upgrading.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

10 years from now, you guys think most titles will be on 4k UBD like most titles are on BD today?

I don't see much changing in the next few years, other than there being more 4k TVs.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Yea I should have known that. I use the Netflix app on the tv. I'll check for VUDU tomorrow

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Reason enough to NOT embrace UHD:

"AACS v.2.0".

This forced DRM will require 1). An active, always-on broadband internet connection, and 2). phoning home to "update" new keys / DRM in order to even be able to watch the 4k movies. In short, you'll 'own' nothing, and always be at the mercy of the studios / MPAA / AACS, whose content may be revoked at any time, for any reason.

Unless AACS 2.0 is cracked, I won't even THINK about "upgrading"

NO THANKS!!!

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

No, sorry, that's not accurate. AACS 2.0 comes in two flavors, Basic and Advanced. Only the Advanced requires an Internet connection and only on the first play of the disc, during which it can download and update encryption keys. In this way, it's not too different from current Blu-ray discs which can contain key updates when you first play them. So far, no studio has deployed a disc with Advanced.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

The question is whether 4K UHD bluray ends up getting a sizeable market share for the movie companies to care, or if it remains a highly specialized niche.

If 4k uhd bluray remains a highly specialized market niche, then aacs2.0 may possibly end up being uncracked for quite awhile. Recent historical precedents of this would be how long it took to crack dvd-audio + sacd and coming up with a general practical cracking tool, long after the general mass market stopped giving a damn.

If 4K uhd bluray ends up dying a premature death, then the question is whether anybody will still give a damn about cracking aacs2.0 in its entirety. An historical precedent of this scenario, would be how Circuit City's DIVX has not had a publicly revealed crack. Even the "security through obscurity" technical details of DIVX have not been publicly revealed. (ie. Most likely nobody gives a damn anymore).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Securi...ough_obscurity

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

I'm confused on this.

Does this affect playing from the disc or just the digital copies?

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Well I'm not sure that most titles are even out on BD now. There are a lot of titles, but I think DVD had a lot more titles out in it's first 10 years of release than BD currently has in the same amount of time.

But to answer your question, I'm confident that in 10 years UHD-BD won't even have half the titles BD currently has. By then most TVs sold will be 4K, but most people won't be utilizing it - even through streaming.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Yeah, what Coral said. The gradual stepdown of titles on disc will continue, with UHD having even less titles than regular blue ray.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

I bet Terminator 2 and Army of Darkness will be locks to eventually rear its head on UHD.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

What kind of DRM do those theater DCPs have to put up with? Pretty similar to AACS 2.0?

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Agree, but hopefully the step will allow enough content to be released to satisfy my appetite. The new releases (major titles at least) are a given, the only question is how much catalog will make it out and if they'll all be HDR'd.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

The keys for those have to be renewed on a weekly basis, otherwise they can't be played anymore. One of my friends has a server unit that was used in a theater that has several movies on it, but he can't access any of them. If UHD discs end up working like this, I won't buy them.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Yes, I'm aware that AACS 2.0 will come in the two flavors of "Basic" and "Advanced." This is akin to saying some Blurays use BD-Java, and some don't. Very few BDs do not use ANY Java these days, although at launch in 2006 that was a different story.

So, my point still applies, that even though the initial rollout may not be using AACS 2.0 Advanced, I'll bet you dollars to donuts that in a year's time, most titles will be "conveniently" released with the 2.0 Advanced standard. Unless more people are better informed, and there's some backlash NOW.

So, you'll NEED an internet connection in order to play those BD-UHD films, as well as the ability to "phone home". Even it it's "only once" as you, and others claim, the keys can be updated at the whim of the AACS / studios / et al, then "only once" turns into many times, turns into *every* time, once we go down that slippery slope. So, there goes your privacy and the ability to play titles without an internet connection. The AACS will have their hands in your face... That DRM is too intrusive, and the main reason (out of many!) that I'll not be a member on the 4k bandwagon....

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

The studios are likely holding that back until the format can establish a toe-hold in the market. They know it's a dealbreaker for some consumers and will only push it once enough people are hooked on the format.

Hollywood isn't sitting back on their hands this time regarding digital piracy. They basically just ran the company that makes AnyDVD out of business. I don't think it's a coincidence, they want to protect UHD from getting digitally cracked for as long as possible this time.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Just as long as NO UHD discs EVER go out of print!

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

Update.

The company which owned anydvd has just opened back up in another jurisdiction, and continuing regular development (ie. cracking current bluray discs with BD+, Java based drm, etc ...).

But with that being said, their main market competitor (domiciled in China) made an official announcement that they will not be cracking 4k uhd bluray discs anytime soon.


(Won't bother with any links here).

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

After when I read about this in the wikileaks documents on aacs2.0, that's when I knew that I would be definitely taking a "wait and see" approach on 4K uhd bluray.

Most likely I'll be waiting at least two years, to see whether aacs2.0 advanced mode ever gains widespread usage.

Re: Let's talk about Ultra HD Blu-ray
 

This is my speculation as to whether aacs2.0 advanced mode (ie. requiring an internet connection to get a disc's title keys) will ever gain a foothold.

The easiest way to gauge whether there's a lot of resistance to aacs2.0 advanced mode, is to release a very popular title in advanced mode as a "sacrificial lamb". This will definitely show whether customers accept or reject it in a widespread manner.

An ideal "sacrificial lamb" candidate for something like this would be something like a Star Wars movie, such as Fox re-releasing the first movie in its original cut as a 4K uhd bluray exclusive. Another viable "sacrificial lamb" candidate could be the upcoming Hunger Games: Mockingjay 2 release.