Sony blu-ray will output full 1080 via component

[cybersoga]

Best news i've heard this year



http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060314-6377.html

[Jeff]

The title is a bit missleading, Blu-ray still has down-resd analoge output, it's just that Sony software won't have the flag set.

[Montana]

Sorry Jeff, but what your saying is a bit mileading.Could you be a LOT more specific in what your saying, as I am only a simple man, and by what I read in that report made me beleive that the Sony BR players will output full 1080p through component, unless I missed something altogether.



Andy

[Jeff]

As far as I know ALL HD-DVD and Blu-Ray players can output 1080i and 720p analogue (I wouldn't count on 1080p), the analogue output will be down resd on ALL players when the flag to do so has been set in the software (film). Sony are saying that for now they don't intend to set the flag on their Blu-ray releases.

[DanielBrecher]

Jeff summed it up nicely. In addition, Paramount, Fox and Disney have all said they do not intend to flag their discs with the ICT protocol that forces 960x540 over component.... however, none of the studios have indicated that this will always be the case. Sometime in the future they may change their minds after the early adoption period has passed.



Warner (as far as both HD DVD and Blu Ray is concerned) and Universal (as far as HD DVD is concerned) have not yet spoken out about their decision to use ICT or not. It's known that Warner is rather in favour of it, but they would be smart not to implement for a couple of years - if ever.

[Gordon, Convergent-AV]

Exactly, It's not the player it's the disc....AND it may change.



Still, pretty good news.



Gordon

[nicolasb]

In case anyone is still confused: Sony Studios has said that their BluRay discs will not have the ICT flag set. So discs released by that particular movie studio will play at 1080p over component on BluRay players. Other movie studios have a choice as to whether they set this flag or not (it may even vary from title to title). Discs which do have this flag set will only play at 960x540 over component on BluRay players.



This announcement doesn't say anything new about BluRay hardware, and Sony Studios isn't the same organisation as the Sony that is behind BluRay electronics.

[nicolasb]

Oh, and I believe that Fox, Paramount and Disney have actually also made similar announcements: that they won't enable the ICT flag. Warner have yet to comment. So that is actually quite good news. However, this policy could change at any time, as it's set disc-by-disc.

[Jase]

Hmmm.. if this is accurate. 1080i via Component but 1080P via HDMI only.



http://www.audioholics.com/news/pressreleases/sonyblueraydis (http://www.audioholics.com/news/pressreleases/sonyblueraydiscpricingavailability.php) cpricingavailability.php

[DanielBrecher]

<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText">Quote:</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
Oh, and I believe that Fox, Paramount and Disney have actually also made similar announcements: that they won't enable the ICT flag. Warner have yet to comment. So that is actually quite good news. However, this policy could change at any time, as it's set disc-by-disc.




What am I... invisible? :D~:-D~:grin:

[saunderscc]

should the studios push the matter, and seeing how it is a software issue, i reckon it would only be a matter of time before some clever fellows figure out how to circumvent the &quot;flag.&quot; the whole situation is nonsense, in my opinion.



sure, there will be a subset of the population looking for something for free. but, the reality is that a majority of consumers are willing to pay for the goods and services they utilize. the paranoia surround drm issues is nuts. at some point the population of users revolts against expensive, poorly produced products. one word, linux.



anyone remember how vcr's were going to wreck the entertainment business? they spawned an entirely new distribution channel for the movie industry. dvd's would wreck cinema? now studios can hedge financial risk of movie production by preselling dvd distribution rights. cd burners and mp3's would put &quot;starving&quot; record labels and artists out of business? now there's an entirely new way to distribute music and apple has sold more than a billion songs via download. all of the paranoid are making more money than they ever had.



what hollywood ought to consider is a way to make their &quot;product&quot; as high quality and easy to use as possible. make it cheap enough that the hassle factor of copying digital content isn't worth it. they'll make more profit than they ever dreamed on the volume increase.



sorry, lost my mind for a minute. hooray, i hope they output hd over analog.

[DanielBrecher]

<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText">Quote:</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
should the studios push the matter, and seeing how it is a software issue, i reckon it would only be a matter of time before some clever fellows figure out how to circumvent the &quot;flag.&quot; the whole situation is nonsense, in my opinion.




People could import players from Japan (either HD DVD or Blu Ray) as it's illegal for there to be any kind of &quot;downrezing&quot; restriction for at least another 8 years over there, so the hardware will ignore the flag entirely even on discs that have it.



Modifying players made for Western markets however may have ramifications since AACS incorporates forms of player revocation (and Blu Ray's addition of BD+ can take this a few steps further). I'm quite certain AACS will be hacked - and far, far sooner than Hollywood thinks, but they are in a slightly better position in ensuring certain mods could be short lived given the renewable protection basis of the new system.



I suppose the best thing one could relate it to is perhaps an Xbox/Xbox 360 in some ways. You can find ways around things, but Microsoft is quick on the ball to hide updates in the Dashboard downloads or on game discs themselves that are aware of the latest modification trends, so just how long anyone's hack on an HD DVD or Blu Ray player will last is anyone's guess. Analogue output is the least of their worries though. At this moment in time, it's not a very logical concern for them, and thankfully – for now – four studios are happy to acknowledge that. The consumer is also within their absolute right not to buy anything with the ICT flag set of course, and make their voice known.

[nicolasb]

What am I... invisible? :D~:-D~:grin:


Who said that?! :o~:-o~:eek:

[x-router]

sure, there will be a subset of the population looking for something for free. but, the reality is that a majority of consumers are willing to pay for the goods and services they utilize. the paranoia surround drm issues is nuts. at some point the population of users revolts against expensive, poorly produced products. one word, linux.






:clap: I'm with you brother, long live the penguin :lol:



Also interesting it is said the PS3 will ship with linux as the OS...some what ironic?

[Jase]

Interesting...



http://www.homecinemachoice.com/cgi-bin/shownews.php?id=8624 (http://www.homecinemachoice.com/cgi-bin/shownews.php?id=8624)