CurtPalme.com Home Theater Forum

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

I am a layman when it comes to things I really do not wish to afford time to become an expert on. So, for those that have afforded the time, what is this Profile 2.0 people keep talking about in regards to Blu-ray players? Specifically, why are they mandating an Internet connection, and is this a mandate on the consumer (to implement) if the hardware and profile are available?

For instance, am I going to walk the paranoid path an [in]correctly assume that with a 2.0-enabled Blu-ray player I must have it connected to the Internet in order to play movies (could care less about the fluff added to the disk)?

Person99 · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 4899 Location: Flower Mound, TX

What it amounts to is in Sony's "don't give a crap about screwing the customer", they released the product before BD-J was ready. So, they are now getting it to where it was supposed to be when it first released.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc#Player_profiles

**kal** · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 8:50 pm Post subject:

See: High-Def FAQ: Blu-ray Profiles Explained http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Joshua_Zyber/High-Def_FAQ:_Blu-ray_Profiles_Explained/1186

From Wikipedia:

When software authored with interactive features dependent on "Bonus View" hardware capabilities are played on profile 1.0 players some features may not be available or may offer limited capability. Profile 1.0 players will still be able to play the main feature of the disc, however.

You will not be limited in playing back movies if your player is only profile 1.0 compatible.

Profile 1.1 and 2.0 are basically for extra feature stuff that most people like us don't care about.

Kal

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

Ok, as long as I am not being forced to connect the players to the network than I am happy.

**kal** · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:59 pm Post subject:

I've never checked - do all HD-DVD have players have ethernet jacks right from the start? What's it used for? Any special feature internet enabled stuff?

Kal

Moose · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 788 Location: Minnesota

**kal** · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:24 pm Post subject:

MYoung · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 369 Location: Madison, WI

In addition to updating the firmware...

Shopping online with a HD DVD player connected to the Internet...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21111423/

"community screening"—watching a movie (Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix) simultaneously with friends while you're all in the comforts of your own homes with a HD DVD player connected to the Internet...

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20071127-hd-dvd-takes-advantage-of-the-net-while-blu-ray-pulls-ahead-in-europe.html

**kal** · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:51 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the links!

Shopping online and community screenings sound about as useful as the silly things the BD profile 2.0 will give us. Smile

Kal

Person99 · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 4899 Location: Flower Mound, TX

MYoung · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 369 Location: Madison, WI

I think maybe the studios thought that it would be neat to allow people to buy items from the movie. The article referenced allowing people to buy a pair of sunglasses that a character has on in the film. It kind of reminds me of the Truman Show where they are hawking wares during the show. Still, I can see how the novelty of it might appeal to some people. Ever heard of QVC? I could see them selling exclusive merchandise and maybe even actual props and costumes. I'd welcome the studios bypassing the middle man known as eBay. I can just imagine Spaceballs on HD DVD. Spaceballs the t-shirt, Spaceballs the coloring book, Spaceballs the lunch box, Spaceballs the breakfast cereal, Spaceballs the flame thrower! Imagine all the crap they could sell on titles like Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and Star Trek.

Universal's "U-Control"...

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/feature_ucontrolupclose.html

**kal** · Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 7:05 pm Post subject:

I would likely never use these extra features myself, but if it gets more money into movie making and helps differentiate Blu-ray/HD-DVD from standard DVD so that the pick-up rate is higher, I'm all for it!

As long as it doesn't interfere with the best video/audio quality in some way or cause other problems that us here aren't going to like.

Hell, even if they use it to show newer trailers in front of movies (streamed from the 'net), I'm all for that. I'm sick of seeing trailers for movies from 10 years ago that say "coming soon!" when I put that old disc.

Kal

greg_mitch · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 5320

It isn't about taking advantage of the features from the start, it is the fact that every HD DVD player sold to date CAN take advantage of these options.

Trying to say that, "No one uses them anyway, so why would I want them?" doesn't hold much water. Why would Sony and the BDA be coming out with BD 2.0 if it wasn't worth it anyway?

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

If I were God, I would ban fluff from movie disks. Kal, I've used the Ethernet ports on both the HD-A2 and PS3 for firmware upgrades. No plans on using it for anything else unless they allow for streaming media from my network, and even then I would have to be really bored.

MYoung · Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 369 Location: Madison, WI

**AnalogRocks** · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:01 pm Post subject:

Person99 · Joined: 09 Mar 2006 Posts: 4899 Location: Flower Mound, TX

Blinx123 · Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 97

There are some great features on HD-DVD.

I don't remember too much of them but there are 4 that come to my mind.

1. Shrek3: Features a Trivia/Quizgame, a painting programm, character profiles and models. All these things can be downloaded directly on the player to take advance of it.

2. Transformers: Some nice profiles of characters/autobots and a "World Of Transformers" feature. I can't remember about the last that good but I think it had something to do with the transformers characters and places. I think you could visit the set online with it.

3. That is one I remember pretty well. CSI:NYC/Miami and some other movies have a Dynamic HD feature to get really into the movie. I own the CSI:NYC promo episode disc on which you can investigate by yourself using a splitscreen. It's like a computer game. You even can finish the investigation before the actors do Laughing

4. Motörhead (the band): You can visit a fully featured band profile and fan tattoo gallery on this one.

There should be even some movies/series out there which feature new downloadable episodes.

It isn't as useless as some may think and you get a lot for your money. That's why I don't buy that much Blu-Ray movies (they cost me 10-15$ more, have less features and are regionlocked).

kschmit2 · Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2008 9:25 pm Post subject:

Kal, stuff like this is cool though (Terminator 2 Ultimate HD DVD):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=7A4UKRwSZZo
The interesting stuff starts at 1:10

WanMan · Joined: 19 Mar 2006 Posts: 10270

Its still fluff designed to add value to what must be perceived as something of lesser value. I cannot imagine why the interactive aspects just cannot by fluffy added disks. Tying it to the Internet is so web-tvian and by Me (e.g. God) I got rid of that thing. Very Happy