Quoting Ascended_Saiyan:

Quote:
Dude, that's what RETAIL stores do!  They sell SPACE to manufacturers wanting to sell their products.  That the way it's ALWAYS been for a far back as I can remember!  Blu-ray was already leading in sales 2:1.  We should ALL know that retailers hate housing two formats for a format war.  The BDA just bought HD DVD's space as well (Target supposedly approached the BDA with it).  That's normal.

Dude, tell me something that I don't already know.  It isn't surprising, but you completely missed the point.  The post wasn't about what is 'normal', it was about what is fair.

Quote:
Don't try to compare that to the Paramount (or as some people say...Paramounted) deal.  They are not a retail store.  Plus they went COMPLETELY against market trends and drop the HD sales LEADER (Blu-ray) to support HD DVD only.  The people the voted with their wallets and purses voted for Blu-ray 2:1.  To go against that is anti-consumer behavior (by very definition).]

Who compared it to the Paramount deal?  The post was about a Warner deal. 

I miss the Blah, Blah, Blah posts. 

Quoting Mark Harrison:

Quote:
I miss the Blah, Blah, Blah posts. 

       

'Memoirs of a Geisha' Blu-ray to Feature First-Ever "Disc Index" Function

It may not be the sexiest of next-gen features, but Sony is quietly introducing a new navigational function with its upcoming Blu-ray release of 'Memoirs of a Geisha.'


Simply dubbed "Disc Navigation Index," the new feature looks much like the trailing index of book, in this case listing the various topics covered by 'Geisha's lengthy supplements package. Clicking on a item of interest immediately takes you to a series of clips from the supplements directly related to that subject.

Introducing this new feature with no fanfare at all (it wasn't even mentioned in the disc's press materials), Sony appears to simply be testing the waters, much as it did with its "Blu-Wizard" feature on last year's release of 'Black Hawk Down.' We contacted the studio for comment, and while they confirmed the feature's debut with 'Geisha,' they said no other Sony Blu-ray releases are currently slated to include the feature.

Due in stores September 25th, other more traditional extras on the 'Memoirs of a Geisha' Blu-ray release include a pair of audio commentaries with the filmmakers, eleven making-of featurettes and two photo galleries.

Quoting Unicus69:

Quote:
My question would be, "are all these 'next-gen' features backwards compatible or will the early adopters need to buy new players?

The way I understand it... yes and no.

Some of the current BD Java features work on Profile 1.0 players. The more advance features willl need Profile 1.1 players, web-enabled content will need Profile 2.0 players.

I just saw a profile 1.1 board, I can link it later if you all like. It contains an ethernet port, so it would be upgradeable to Profile 2.0.

Part of my understanding is that, if a BRD uses something that requires Profile 2.0 and you have a Profile 1.0 or 1.1 player, those features will not show up in the BRD menu system. Same for Profile 1.1 features (pip) in a profile 1.0 player. However, the pip stream would be viewable as a standalone function as it can be scaled to full screen.

Did I answer your question or go off on some tangent?

Quoting bob9000:

Quote:
Quoting pplchamp:

Quote:
The way I understand it... yes and no.

Some of the current BD Java features work on Profile 1.0 players. The more advance features willl need Profile 1.1 players, web-enabled content will need Profile 2.0 players.

I just saw a profile 1.1 board, I can link it later if you all like. It contains an ethernet port, so it would be upgradeable to Profile 2.0.

Part of my understanding is that, if a BRD uses something that requires Profile 2.0 and you have a Profile 1.0 or 1.1 player, those features will not show up in the BRD menu system. Same for Profile 1.1 features (pip) in a profile 1.0 player. However, the pip stream would be viewable as a standalone function as it can be scaled to full screen.

Did I answer your question or go off on some tangent?

Surely even the first generation players should accept some kind of Firmware upgrade to access the new features? Maybe using a disc instead of an ethernet connection....that would be really frustrating for the early adopters if not,  I would think...

I think it all depends on how much onboard memory and/or the availibility of removable memory storagecard slots. Of course, I am speculating.

Quoting pplchamp:

Quote:
Quoting Unicus69:

Quote:
My question would be, "are all these 'next-gen' features backwards compatible or will the early adopters need to buy new players?

The way I understand it... yes and no.

Some of the current BD Java features work on Profile 1.0 players. The more advance features willl need Profile 1.1 players, web-enabled content will need Profile 2.0 players.

I just saw a profile 1.1 board, I can link it later if you all like. It contains an ethernet port, so it would be upgradeable to Profile 2.0.

Part of my understanding is that, if a BRD uses something that requires Profile 2.0 and you have a Profile 1.0 or 1.1 player, those features will not show up in the BRD menu system. Same for Profile 1.1 features (pip) in a profile 1.0 player. However, the pip stream would be viewable as a standalone function as it can be scaled to full screen.

Did I answer your question or go off on some tangent?

Nope, you answered it just fine.  Makes me glad I haven't taken the plunge yet.  I would hate to have to make that choice...live without the features or buy a new player. 

Sony buys Marvel duo for Japan

LOS ANGELES --Marvel Entertainment said Tuesday that Sony Pictures has acquired the distribution rights in Japan and Spain for its upcoming "Iron Man" and "The Incredible Hulk." SND/M6 has signed for France and Tele Munchen has agreed to handle Germany. Paramount has picked up Australia and New Zealand for the two films along with the next Marvel film.

Marvel previously announced that Paramount would distribute "Iron Man" while Universal will handle "The Incredible Hulk" in North America and all other international territories. "Iron Man" is set to open on May 2, 2008, and "Hulk" will launch a month later.

Marvel also announced Tuesday it's started borrowing from its previously announced $525 million credit facility to finance "Iron Man." The project had been set up at New Line, but Marvel reacquired the film rights in late 2005.

Robert Downey Jr. toplines as an inventor who dons a high-tech suit and becomes a superhero. Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jeff Bridges co-star with Jon Favreau helming. Lensing starts in Los Angeles on March 12.


Source: Variety Asia