Interactive TV: Blu-ray's Worst Enemy

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  • admin
    Administrator
    • Nov 2001
    • 8950

    Interactive TV: Blu-ray's Worst Enemy

    Efforts by Disney and other studios to add interactivity are only hurting the format's chances of success.

    -- snip --

    Blu-ray replication executives yesterday said new BD Live interactive features are making it difficult to make copies of the high-def disc.

    -- snip --

    Video Business writes that the executives say they must worry about ensuring the discs are compatible with current players -- and future players that receive firmware updates.


    The BDA should have skipped Profile 1.1 and made Profile 2.0 mandatory, this way the only compatibility they have to worry about is with old 1.0 players, and perhaps they could have given discounts for those users to upgrade, hence getting rid of 1.0 altogether and having a single profile.

    To be honest, the Internet features, if the current 2.0 discs and HD DVDs are a guide, aren't all that exciting. They're slow and difficult to use, and I'm not sure people want to be fiddling with their remotes during a movie anyway.

    But when I read the title "Interactive TV ...", I was thinking about truly interactive TV, like IPTV or TV-on-demand. Now that would be something I think there is a market for, where you choose what to watch and how you watch it (for example, I can suddenly find the urge to watch season 2 episode 9 of Lost, then I would be able to select and watch it ... all for a set monthly fee).
    Visit Digital Digest and dvdloc8.com, My Blog
  • BR7
    He is coming to your little town!
    • Aug 2005
    • 2137

    #2
    Shouldn't of the Blu-ray player manufactures made sure their player firmware for BD-live was upgradeable ? They knew full well that BD-Live would grow and require firmware updates.I don't see how this is the fault BDA. IMHO this screw up falls on Samsung and other BR player manufacturers

    My Blu-ray Collection

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    • admin
      Administrator
      • Nov 2001
      • 8950

      #3
      I think because the BDA sets the hardware standards, they should be a bit more proactive on the issue, but you're right in regards to manufacturers in that they should just build the hardware in (basically an ethernet port that costs $10), and then upgrade through software. Of course, they can't charge money for a firmware upgrade, so that's probably why they're not doing it.
      Visit Digital Digest and dvdloc8.com, My Blog

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      • Budreaux
        Super Member
        Super Member
        • Jan 2006
        • 278

        #4
        Not to mention, when they gave those built in ports, it makes hacking or backwards engineering a unit that much easier.

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