Blu Ray and DVD question

[bull]

I heard last night that Blu Ray players will play regular DVDs and I was surprised. Is this true? I know DVD players won't play Blu Ray discs but I didn't know the opposite wasn't the case.

[Troy]

Like many questions, the answer is: it depends.

"Despite the different type of lasers used, Blu-ray products can easily be made backwards compatible with CDs and DVDs through the use of a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical pickup unit."
http://www.blu-ray.com/info/
http://www.blu-ray.com/players/

Troy

[dodgecharger-fan]

Exactly, it depends - but I'd say you need to make sure that what you are looking at when considering a purchase definitely DOES play DVDs (and CDs) so that you don't need to have another component in your entertainment stand to do so...

I was holding out for a long time to build a Media PC with a Blu-Ray player and get the best of many worlds, but I found myself ALWAYS waiting for the next best gizmo to come out to make my plan complete and I just never got the project going. Besides, for what ended up on my wishlist, I could go out and buy a Blu-Ray player, a DVR, a PC and a few other things and spend less money. 

So, I bit the bullet and bought a Samsung BD-P2550.
I like Samsung products. My TV is a Samsung so if I ever want to I can link the 2 together and they'll talk to each other... somehow.
(For now, I use a Logitech Harmony Remote and it's programmed to turn everything on and off as needed and set the right settings with a single press of a button. The lower end models are getting to be pretty cheap and well worth the money - I think.)

What I found was the best feature: how much better regular DVDs look when played in the Blu-Ray. Maybe it's the up-conversion, maybe it's better circuitry, I'm thinking it's the combination of both. It's so much better, my wife noticed right away with a DVD but her first comment when we played our first Blu-Ray disc: it doesn't look any different. 

One thing is for certain, the audio is way better with Blu-Ray (if you've got the gear to take advantage of it)

If you hook the 2550 up to the Internet, it will let you listen to www.pandora.com Internet Radio and stream certain titles right from your NetFlix account... if you are in the U.S.
I'm not and I've been trying to find a decent IP proxy service that doesn't work via a web page or VPN client so that I can appear to be in the US and get access to at least Pandora. Sorry, that's a bit off topic, but if anyone knows of a good proxy.....
In the meantime, I'm waiting for more services to become available and accessible from Canada.

One thing about Blu-Ray movies: to get the BD-Live content, your player needs to be hooked up to the Internet and you may need to go online to "register" for the content. I'm still figuring this stuff out, but I had to do it with Warner Brothers to get access to the extra content for The Dark Knight.

[bull]

Thanks for the link, Troy.

Of course they don't tell you what a "BD/DVD/CD compatible optical pickup unit" is.

I did find this though: "There's also plans for a BD/DVD hybrid format, which combines Blu-ray and DVD on the same disc so that it can be played in both Blu-ray players and DVD players."

And this:

"Will Blu-ray be backwards compatible with DVD?

Yes, several leading consumer electronics companies (including Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Samsung, Pioneer, Sharp and LG) have already demonstrated products that can read/write CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray discs using a BD/DVD/CD compatible optical head, so you don't have to worry about your existing DVD collection becoming obsolete. In fact, most of the Blu-ray players coming out will support upscaling of DVDs to 1080p/1080i, so your existing DVD collection will look even better than before. While it's up to each manufacturer to decide if they want to make their products backwards compatible with DVD, the format is far too popular to not be supported. The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) expects every Blu-ray Disc device to be backward compatible with DVDs."

So the answer is no, not yet.

[dodgecharger-fan]

What I see more and more now is that Blu-Ray titles are available with a "Digital Copy" that you can pop in to your PC, punch in a code that comes with it and you're allowed to transfer it to a media device like an iPod or whatever.. I assume that it would allow you to play it on your PC or perhaps burn a copy.

I still have to check that out for a few of the titles I've got now, but one thing is for sure there is a time limit to accessing the digital copy.

I think I'll go grab one now and see how it works... stay tuned.. 

[Ponch ®]

I heard last night that Blu Ray players will play regular DVDs and I was surprised. Is this true? I know DVD players won't play Blu Ray discs but I didn't know the opposite wasn't the case.

I don't know if it depends on the player or not, but my PS3's blu ray  even automatically "upconverts" DVD's to 1080p.

[Troy]

Bull, if you follow the second link you'll see a big list of players. The top one  (didn't read the rest) has a DVD upconverter and also plays CDs so I stopped there.

An upconverter definitely makes DVDs look better. I've been using one since last year when I got my new plasma and the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray war was still going.

Troy

[bull]

Oh, ok. I didn't know what "upscaling" meant but now I do.

[dodgecharger-fan]

What I see more and more now is that Blu-Ray titles are available with a "Digital Copy" that you can pop in to your PC, punch in a code that comes with it and you're allowed to transfer it to a media device like an iPod or whatever.. I assume that it would allow you to play it on your PC or perhaps burn a copy.

I still have to check that out for a few of the titles I've got now, but one thing is for sure there is a time limit to accessing the digital copy.

I think I'll go grab one now and see how it works... stay tuned.. 

So, reading this, I realized that I may have not made my point. I was referring to the BD/DVD hybrid when I posted this response.

Anyway, it looks like the Digital Copy disc included with some Blu-Ray movies works like this:
There is a Windows Media version of the movie on the disc. If you try to play it, it asks for the code included on a piece of paper in the movie case. From what I understand this windows version is the only reason for the disc to be included because...

If you have a Mac or want to go the Apple iTunes route to get the movie, you just go to iTunes and punch in the code and the movie is downloaded from iTunes' server. That's what I just did and it works fine. You can then sync the content with your iPod or whatever and take it on the road with you.

It seems people have been having problems with the windows version putting it on their BlackBerry Storm or even on a Microsoft Zune..
The DRM pops up and says you can't download the content more than once..

I have to try it, but with iTunes, I expect I'll be able to authorize multiple devices much like I can with purchased music. We'll see.

[69_500]

So Troy what made you go with the plasma over the LCD? Just curious?

[Troy]

So Troy what made you go with the plasma over the LCD? Just curious?

Ummm, I honestly don't remember all the reasons now. I do recall that the big complaints about plasma were "burn in" and the glossy screen. The first complaint is really no longer valid with the new panels and I only watch movies - usually after it's dark - so I don't care if the screen is glossy or flat (no other light to reflect). The plasmas tend to have "blacker" blacks and handle motion better (think sports). I also got a really great deal on the one I bought. In the past - but not so much any more - it was difficult to make large LCD screens so anything over about 35" was pretty expensive.

Troy

[W4ATL]

I have a Sony BDP-300S and it will play both Blu ray and DVD.  The thing you have to be aware of is that it takes a long time to play a Blu-Ray disc. This means that you will need to wait up to 2 minutes from the time you insert the disc and close the door until you can start watching the movie.  I was shocked the first time I tried it.  In fact, the 300 takes 46 seconds to open the door if the unit is off and you press the open door button.  It is unbelievable how slow it is. Different units have different speeds. You can do some Internet searches for reviews on the players you are interested in and find typical times to start a movie. All Blu Ray players take longer than standard DVD. Some are faster than others.

[John_Kunkel]

I often see referrences to "downloading firmware update", how do you do that and install it in the machine?

[SeattleCharger]

I heard last night that Blu Ray players will play regular DVDs and I was surprised. Is this true? I know DVD players won't play Blu Ray discs but I didn't know the opposite wasn't the case.

I don't know if it depends on the player or not, but my PS3's blu ray  even automatically "upconverts" DVD's to 1080p.

my friend has a nice blue ray with this technology, its pretty common now, and a lot of dvd's will be made much clearer with the 1080 upconvert,  not all, but a lot of them.   So its the best of both, rent or buy blue ray discs when you want, or watch all dvd's you have, and enjoy the dvd's you own or rent that are made a lot clearer and sharper with the 1080 upconvert technology,  

[Brock Samson]

 FWIW:
  My buddy (a Pro IT guy) was telling me that the Game Station machines I belive he said Sony Plays Stations, would play blu-rays as well as the games and other funtions, for a reasonable cost, I've yet to do any serious research but i just thought I'd chime in with that info..

BTW: as regards the Big H.D. T.V.s I discovered that there is no way to run a splitter when you up-grade to Hi  Def. I didn't know that before getting the H.D. Box from Direct T.V.
You have to get an additional HD box and wireing which was quoted to me as an additional $150 plus another 15 per Month to rent it... 
Unlike my old system that piped the signal from the bedroom to the Living room allowing viewing in both rooms -
at no extra cost - quite unlike my new 46" Samsung... (which I got for half price at 6:00 am the day after Thanksgiving at Fry's Electronics)
I concidered getting another reg. cable signal for the living Rm. set.. but all the extra costs involved prove prohibitive.
I'm anxious to watch 2001 in Blu-ray on my 46". but all these ridiculious gaddgits cost enough to make me miss my old 14" B&W Zenith... which didn't cost a penny after the purchase price...
I wonder if the Young Guns even know what "Rabbit Ears" are?.. 

[bull]

FWIW:
  My buddy (a Pro IT guy) was telling me that the Game Station machines I belive he said Sony Plays Stations, would play blu-rays as well as the games and other funtions, for a reasonable cost, I've yet to do any serious research but i just thought I'd chime in with that info..

True. I watched a Blu-ray movie on a Sony Playstation the other night at my neighbor's house. I'm not sure if the current Playstation versions will upscale a regular DVD though.

[69_500]

A Playstation 3 will play the blu ray and also upconvert DVD's.
Playstation 2 will play DVD's but not blu ray.

[69bronzeT5]

I heard they won't be making DVDs anymore starting 2009, every movie that comes out will be Blu Ray....is this true?

[bull]

I heard they won't be making DVDs anymore starting 2009, every movie that comes out will be Blu Ray....is this true?

So, like today they quit making them? I don't think so. Eventually they might go away but I don't think today's the day.

[69bronzeT5]

I heard they won't be making DVDs anymore starting 2009, every movie that comes out will be Blu Ray....is this true?

So, like today they quit making them? I don't think so. Eventually they might go away but I don't think today's the day.

Good! I got kinda freaked out there. Somebody told me they wouldn't be making DVDs anymore as of today.

[69_500]

They won't do the transition nearly that fast to only blu ray. consider that up until about 2 1/2 years ago you could still pick up everything you wanted even new releases on VHS. They won't do away with the DVD until there are at least 2 mass produced newer products to be put on the shelf.

[Ponch ®]

I have a Sony BDP-300S and it will play both Blu ray and DVD.  The thing you have to be aware of is that it takes a long time to play a Blu-Ray disc. This means that you will need to wait up to 2 minutes from the time you insert the disc and close the door until you can start watching the movie.  I was shocked the first time I tried it.  In fact, the 300 takes 46 seconds to open the door if the unit is off and you press the open door button.  It is unbelievable how slow it is. Different units have different speeds. You can do some Internet searches for reviews on the players you are interested in and find typical times to start a movie. All Blu Ray players take longer than standard DVD. Some are faster than others.

I haven't really noticed any slowness (is that even a word?) when watching BluRay movies on the PS3. Usually by the time I insert the disc and the PS3 boots up (which is only a few seconds), the movie is ready to go.

One thing I hate about the PS3 is how long it takes to do firmware updates. Seems like every time I want to watch a movie I have to run an update, which takes 10-15 minutes. I suspect that this wouldnt be much of an issue if I used my PS3 more often for gaming and such...but after I got done with GTA4 a few months ago, I pretty much stopped gaming. Now, when Gran Turismo 5 comes out....

[dodgecharger-fan]

The PS3 is probably the fastest loading Blu-Ray player available. I've read something like 20 seconds. With it being software upgradeable, it has earned a lot of praise. For me, though, a component-shaped device was more fitting to my needs. I couldn't have a PS3 on the shelf under my TV... and the gaming happens downstairs in the rec room while TV/Movies happen upstairs in the family room.

My Samsung 2550 is about 40 seconds on everything I've tried so far. It's better than I was expecting.

John_Kunkel, firmware updates can be done in a number of different ways, depending on the player
Some can be connected to your home network and download updates from the Internet automatically.
Some have USB ports that will read the firmware off of a USB memory stick
Some will require you to download the update to your PC, burn it on to a CD and then the player reads the new firmware off of the CD.
The Samsung 2550 can do all of those. I've only tried the network update so far and it's completely painless.

Brock, yep you need to have an HD tuner for every TV. However, it goes one step further because most cable companies secure their signals and only their set-top boxes will open up the channels. That kinda sucks but it is reality and it makes TVs with built in HD tuners kinda useless.

I have been toying with the idea of turfing the cable box all together and just using antennas. With the right antennas, I should be able to pull in HD signal from Buffalo and from Toronto (one facing in each direction). The interesting thing about over the air HD - no compression - you get a much better picture. The cable companies cram a lot of information into that wire coming in to your house. To do that, they compress a lot of data into the signal. The biggest problem is that when you get a drop in signal it amounts to a LOT of lost data. We've been fighting with the local cable company almost all of 2008 over poor service. They've credited back a few months of service, though and things have gotten better recently.