The HD News & Technology Thread!

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 03 Nov 2007, 20:01

Are they that cheap in stores? I doubt it. I don't remember DVDs being that cheap, some but not on average.

Agreed Blu-ray does need to release a cheap player. I guess they've not partly because they cost more to make.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 04 Nov 2007, 01:37

They obviously won't ever release a Xbox 360 SKU with an in-built HD-DVD drive.

Game developers may want to utilise the extra space available on the format, but where will that the existing install base of several million 360 owners whom can only read DVDs? It'd be financial suicide to release a game onto a format that only ~10% of the console's install base would be able to read.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Nov 2007, 01:47

The Toshiba HD-EP10 can be made SD DVD MR here:

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5796410

It doesn't work with Fox or Paramount DVDs as people are saying they use RCE which isn't correct when AFAIK only Sony ever used RCE. Regardless they don't work. I have read using the "Title" option on your remote you can still get the menu to work though.

It seems like a waste of time to me unless ALL DVDs work.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 10 Nov 2007, 06:59

bradavon wrote: AFAIK only Sony ever used RCE. .

Warner have used it and still do ocassionally. my daughter's Smallville S6 R1 box set shows in anydvd as having rce.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Nov 2007, 16:08

Interesting. My I Spy R3 (starring Eddie Murphy) says it has RCE according to DVD Decrypter which isn't correct.

I don't believe Fox or Paramount have ever used it though. Regardless I wouldn't implement a non-official firmware unless it completely disabled Multiregion. You're still going to need MR DVD Player for those making it pretty pointless.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 10 Nov 2007, 16:13

bradavon wrote:Are they that cheap in stores? I doubt it. I don't remember DVDs being that cheap, some but not on average.

Cheaper, even new releases can be had for less than that if you price compare in stores etc.. brand new titles like Transformers, 300 etc.. have been going for $14.99 latley in many Big stores, which is about £7.50! maazing compared to UK.

Shame the UK does not price compare etc.. would be fun getting the prices down low like that. Imagine goig into HMV seing a dvd for £18, going next door to WH Smith and seeing it £16, going back and forth lowering the price each time till one gives in

sounds good to me.

The whole Multiregion HD players thing is bollocks in my mind, when they can play all dvds come back and tell me. Pointless getting these half hacked firmware upgrades. I have hundreds of RCE dvds that would not work at all.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 10 Nov 2007, 16:23

They don't do that in America, do they?

I'm sure what happens is you go into HMV and see it for £18, go into WH Smiths and see it for £16, go back in to HMV and buy it for £16. I seriously doubt in America they play a price dropping game like you describe.

I have hundreds of RCE dvds that would not work at all.

Hundreds? Are you sure they're strictly RCE? RCE AFAIK was only recently on no more than 50 titles and quickly died a sorry death. Are any of the Fox or Paramount?

It sounds like something else stopping these titles working not specifically RCE. I suspect people are throwing the name RCE about without knowing exactly what it stopping them from working.

But agreed a half baked attempt is a waste of time.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 10 Nov 2007, 17:33

They do price match like crazy over there, it happens

The Big stores all do it, Wallmart/Bestbuy etc... Find it cheaper elsewhere, go drive about and price match or whatever they call it. I know many people who do it all the time for everything they buy, not just dvds. It depends on how persistent you are I guess, but you can go back and fourth a few times, depends on the managers discresion mind you

RCE I remember a list online, it was a lot more than 50 from what I saw

a few regions have it, from many varied companies from what I remember.

Even now recent titles still get it, Final Fantasty Advent Children had it and that only came out this year (maybe end of last) so its still knocking about the place.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Nov 2007, 05:43

It looks like it's possible to make the Panasonic's DMP-BD10A Blu-ray Player SD DVD Region Free:

Instructions (scroll down to post 216): http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthre ... 49&page=15
Evidence: http://www.dvdhacks.co.uk/dvdhacksforum ... sp?TID=913

It's a start.

The important part here is this hack isn't specific to their BD Players. It's a "DVD Player" hack that also works on their BD Players. I'll definitely be trying all the Samsung DVD Player hacks when I get my Samsung Combo!

The trouble is unlike DVD Players the uptake is so low that manufacturers have just not really bothered to look properly. It's not as if it would greatly make the player sell more unlike DVD Players.

Both HD-DVD and Blu-ray are to much niche formats right now. That and most already have MR DVD Players anyway.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Nov 2007, 15:58

Apparently it doesn't matter if a USA player can accept PAL or not if you using HDMI (when playing PAL DVDs):

http://www.avforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=655589

Meaning a HD-DVD/Blu-ray Player with Multiregion SD DVD playback should work even if the Player cannot understand PAL.

Someone else saying it is effectively baloney!

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 20 Nov 2007, 20:57

my ps3 won't play pal discs even through hdmi.i get a format not supported message.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Nov 2007, 21:08

Thanks.

It sounds like that member over at AV Forums is talking bollocks. Sadly. There not much point me hoping Multiregion on the Samsung Combo Player when it cannot play PAL anyway.

Long term I'll use my DVD Recorder for DVD playback. I'm definitely considering upgrading it to the version with HDMI Upscaling.

EvaUnit02 · Post by **EvaUnit02** » 20 Nov 2007, 22:46

Apparently there's been a high Bluray drive failure rate in the newer budget 40GB PS3 model.

I'm gonna hold off on buying one then, as I'd need to get an Asian/American console for Region A BD playback. Imported console = no warranty.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 20 Nov 2007, 22:57

I'm glad I got a 60GB one, they're proper quality, very rarely break down (unlike 360s) and have the god damned backwards compatibility which the new ones don't haha.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 20 Nov 2007, 23:09

Don't Sony offer international warranty? I hate it when companies pull that one. Thankfully most do offer international warranty. Personally I wouldn't buy something without warranty. If it goes wrong it's likely to in the first year, or will last flipping years.

If I couldn't get a PS3 with warranty I'd use something else for BD.

dvdvision · Post by **dvdvision** » 20 Nov 2007, 23:20

Blu will be gone very soon, sadly, and the 60gb will become a highly coveted collector's item on ebay.

As for Pal, just get an european player !

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 04 Dec 2007, 21:22

There's talk of a Swedish Region A and Region B BD Player here:

http://www.theimportforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=10754

It looks very suspect to me. How have they done this? Why isn't it posted all over the net?

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 04 Dec 2007, 21:41

that's almost certainly bollocks. 650 euro

fucking pricey.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 06 Dec 2007, 22:07

good news for Brad

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/ ... pping/1240

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 06 Dec 2007, 22:22

That's bloody awesome

$799 is just gorgeous too!

I'll be all over this as soon as MovieTyme and the like get RA Players in stock. Not wanting to jump the gun but I may even have just secured a job too 8)

saltysam wrote:that's almost certainly bollocks.

Yep.

650 euro fucking pricey.

Not really, that's £469.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 06 Dec 2007, 22:30

bradavon wrote: Not wanting to jump the gun but I may even have just secured a job too 8)

fingers crossed,good luck.

bradavon wrote:Not really, that's £469.

it's a scandalous price for a standalone player. a good region free hd-dvd player with free discs can be bought for less than half that.stupid pricing like this shows why standalone blu-ray players trail behind hd-dvd ones.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 06 Dec 2007, 22:43

saltysam wrote:fingers crossed,good luck.

Thanks. It's by no means confirmed but is looking likely. I should find out over the next day or so. It sucks being skint! Especially this time of year.

bradavon wrote:it's a scandalous price for a standalone player. a good region free hd-dvd player with free discs can be bought for less than half that.

If it is Region A and B (obviously unlikely) it's a good price. Isn't the PS3 still around £400 too? If so there's nothing in it. The PS3 may play games too but that doesn't interest me at all.

Personally I don't look to much into sub £300 hardware (except for PVRs), it often cuts to many corners for my liking. If I were buying a HD-DVD Player it's unlikely I'd pick the £200 model. I've spent over £2000 on hardware over the last 6-7 years, it's shocking when you add it up. I spent a fortune on my TV in 2005 (£880) before LCD TV prices plummeted.

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 06 Dec 2007, 23:18

bradavon wrote:Isn't the PS3 still around £400 too? If so there's nothing in it. The PS3 may play games too but that doesn't interest me at all.

Nope, it's under £300 now.

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 17 Dec 2007, 01:01

saltysam wrote:My E-1 has been cracked for region-free just gotta get hold of the firmware disc now.

No shit, that's cool. How? Any source links?

So someone has worked out how to modify the firmware right? Does it work on all discs? Unlike that previous so called MR hack.

saltysam · Post by **saltysam** » 17 Dec 2007, 18:09

bradavon wrote:
saltysam wrote:My E-1 has been cracked for region-free just gotta get hold of the firmware disc now.
No shit, that's cool. How? Any source links?

So someone has worked out how to modify the firmware right? Does it work on all discs? Unlike that previous so called MR hack.

you have to be on firmware 2.5 for it to work.(i am) the aussie guy who cracked the earlier toshibas has done it.i'm on a waiting list for the disc over at avforums. my main interest is getting it to play my numerous region 3 dvds