I'm curious as to what kind of interactive features people would be interested in a Blu-ray disc. Fox has been experimenting with various BD-J features lately, including Trivia Tracks, search and bookmarking functions, and a few lame games. Disney is placing stuff in the PoTC as well:

http://www.blueboard.com/bluray/movie_listing_bdj.htm

Sone things that would be cool would be downloadable subtitles and a much more powerful "personal Scene Selection" which allows you to mix and match parts of scenes into one seamless whole.

In movie features suck imo, it takes away from the movie. I just want to watch the movie, that's it.

In movie features suck imo, it takes away from the movie. I just want to watch the movie, that's it.

Well, it is selectable. Also, the ability to access the network means you could have interactive features that access the web at the same time. For example, instead of the movie info being hard-coded into the disc, the BD-J app could be searching the web for info as the movie is playing and displaying them real-time....

In movie features, as in, pop up trivia, or the like. The features you're talking about, are cool. I just don't want anything to distract me from the movie. Extras after the movie are cool.

Frankly, I don't want more interactivity. I just want clean, easy to navigate menus for simple selection of what I want to watch. I don't want fancy menu transitions that take more time, and I don't want to have to play a game to access something or hunt for an easter egg.

Commentaries I like, because only the audio has changed, and I don't mind a trivia track either. With a trivia track, it's just a text overlay, so it's not that different from watching a subtitled movie, which I certainly can handle. What I don't want is something that's too distracting, like PIP where you have two video areas to follow. I would rather have the making-of footage separate from the movie.

I know people say that we need these fancy features to set the new formats apart from DVD, but for me just HD picture and improved sound (along with the existing extras) is fine. One thing I like so far is that the high resolution allows for all the features to be listed on one menu page instead of several pages as with DVD.

I watched The Descent on blu-ray last night ... I loved the Blooper Reel ... would love to see that on more movies.

I'm curious as to what kind of interactive features people would be interested in a Blu-ray disc.
How about make my popcorn w/ lots of butter & pour me a cold one. Oh- and move the ottoman a little closer to my feet. :D

I really don't want to see BD-J titles because they take away key features like resume in the same way that HDi does on the other format. I know that they can add these features supposedly in authoring but so far they haven't.

And I really don't care at all about interactive crap. Its just hype to get the average joes more interested in these new formats with some silly buzzwords. The "games" on the Fox discs are beyond lame.

Well, we certainly agree on the Fox games :D

They were simplistic, crude, and not overly imaginative. Then again, there's only so much you can do with a background (the movie) that cannot interact directly with any outside object....

other possibilities: in-movie chat while watching, MSTK 3000 type dynamic overlay (where you can overlay several tracks onto the movie, although i guess we get into licensing issues here?).....

I'm curious to see how Disney developed their own interactive features in the PoTC....Scoundrels of the Sea and Liar's Dice.

How about make my popcorn w/ lots of butter & pour me a cold one. Oh- and move the ottoman a little closer to my feet. :D

The first would be possible if a BD disc-resident app sends a message to apps in your microwave oven to start popping the corn...you would have to place the popcorn into the microwave first of course :)

I have nothing against interactive features as long as: 1) they do not delay the release, 2) I don't have to use them, and 3) they don't cost me more.

This idea really hasn't caught on to the consumer very much yet.

It is really annoying that key titles like Batman Begins have been held up in order to add some interactive junk that I would not use anyway!

I dont really care.

All I care about is the nice pop up menu. And just give me regular features like Deleted Scenes, Bloopers and Movie trailers and i'm happy.

I would only watch stuff like Warner's IME only on my most favorite movies, maybe. But that would be an extremely few movies.

I dont really care.

All I care about is the nice pop up menu. And just give me regular features like Deleted Scenes, Bloopers and Movie trailers and i'm happy.

I would only watch stuff like Warner's IME only on my most favorite movies, maybe. But that would be an extremely few movies.

There probably is an audience for such interactive features though, especially for the really imaginative and useful ones.

I remember the time when people were scoffing at the idea of running apps on cellphones, saying things like "I only want to use my phone for calling other people!"

Now, of course, the mobile app industry is a billion dollar industry! :)

The only thing I'd want is color adjustable, moveable, and sizeable subtitles. That would be spectacular for constant height scope front projection systems so the bottom subtitle line wouldn't get cut off!

The rest is just fluff. Give me the most advanced video and audio transfer over anything else!

The only thing I'd want is color adjustable, moveable, and sizeable subtitles. That would be spectacular for constant height scope front projection systems so the bottom subtitle line wouldn't get cut off!

That actually is a GREAT idea....being able to move the subtitles around the screen to the position you consider "proper" and change the font and sizing (and perhaps color) would be awesome....

Stop w/ the ads for other movies! Yea- you can skip them but I still hate them. I put in Ice Age & the 1st 5 minutes are ads!!!!

All I want is the movie. No other languages, no CC, no naration from some 3rd rate actor on his take on the making of. Just let me put it in my machine & press play. Director's commentary- how many peope actually watch that more than once? Not me. Waste of space for me. I'd vote for a stripped down cheaper version sans all the extra stuff. All I want is a great movie w/ great AQ & PQ. The other stuff is fluff & not important to me.

THAT is exactly what I say! Extras are crap IMO. Yet HD-DUD is all "Look at me, I have extras!". Big WHOOP!

I just want the highest PQ/AQ and the ability to resume and bookmark.

The rest of the stuff is unimportant to me and has no bearing on whether I buy a particular title or not.

I dont really care about interaction except for one thing "previews". I hate when I start a movie and I get preview of movies that are 2 years old. There is an Ethernet connection on my Pioneer BDP-HD1 and the studios should use it to get the most recent previews from the web. :eek:

I dont really care about interaction except for one thing "previews". I hate when I start a movie and I get preview of movies that are 2 years old. There is an Ethernet connection on my Pioneer BDP-HD1 and the studios should use it to get the most recent previews from the web. :eek:

Hmmm...another good idea, and one that I remember was already thought about....basically, the user can set his box so that when playing a disc, an app pulls the latest previews from the web and displays those instead of the embedded previews - so you always get the latest previews. It might even be desirable to have options on this, so a user can set his preferences as to what TYPE of previews should be downloaded e.g. only science fiction movies trailers....

Frankly, I don't want more interactivity. I just want clean, easy to navigate menus for simple selection of what I want to watch. I don't want fancy menu transitions that take more time, and I don't want to have to play a game to access something or hunt for an easter egg.

Commentaries I like, because only the audio has changed, and I don't mind a trivia track either. With a trivia track, it's just a text overlay, so it's not that different from watching a subtitled movie, which I certainly can handle. What I don't want is something that's too distracting, like PIP where you have two video areas to follow. I would rather have the making-of footage separate from the movie.

I know people say that we need these fancy features to set the new formats apart from DVD, but for me just HD picture and improved sound (along with the existing extras) is fine. One thing I like so far is that the high resolution allows for all the features to be listed on one menu page instead of several pages as with DVD.

I agree.

Stop w/ the ads for other movies!All I want is the movie. No other languages, no CC, no naration from some 3rd rate actor on his take on the making of. Just let me put it in my machine & press play.....The other stuff is fluff & not important to me.


Talk about being a luddite :D

I want the kind of interactivity that already exists on HDDVD.

BD needs to fix IME. Not having it is a major drawback for the format.

Interactive features I want:

Seamless branching: So there could be a theatrical and director's cut.
PIP: This is cool. It's nice to see who's talking and what their reaction is to certain scenes.
Pop up trivia - This stuff is fun.


And that's really it. With that said, Blu-ray really needs to get their asses in gear with BD-J 1.1

When DVDs were new, several of the studios had a "special feature" where it included filmographies for the cast & crew. You don't see this feature much anymore... which is not that big of a deal since most of the time the feature was useless since they would generally only do filmographies for the cast members who had the biggest part, and these would generally be big-name stars who most people knew anyway.

However, what would be nice is for High-Def media to have something similar to a IMDB page where you could look up filmographies for everyone involved with the film.

Trailers are a MUST for every film as far as I'm concerned... you can get rid of pretty much any other special feature, but KEEP any and all teasers and trailers...

~Alan

Interactive features I want:

Seamless branching: So there could be a theatrical and director's cut.


Alien Vs. Predator has seamless branching for the two cuts.

When DVDs were new, several of the studios had a "special feature" where it included filmographies for the cast & crew. You don't see this feature much anymore... which is not that big of a deal since most of the time the feature was useless since they would generally only do filmographies for the cast members who had the biggest part, and these would generally be big-name stars who most people knew anyway.

However, what would be nice is for High-Def media to have something similar to a IMDB page where you could look up filmographies for everyone involved with the film.

Trailers are a MUST for every film as far as I'm concerned... you can get rid of pretty much any other special feature, but KEEP any and all teasers and trailers...

~Alan

I miss the filmographies too. I think they were just thrown on as filler, but I really liked them. It helped when you are driven crazy the whole film trying to remember what else you saw them in. We've got IMDB now, but the filmographies were convenient and interesting.

BD needs to fix IME. Not having it is a major drawback for the format.

I dunno...i think for now, and as expressed by several people here, most buyers buy for the movie, not for any interactive functionalities, which is why Blu-ray is going to win handily with or without fancy schmancy gimmicks.

However, that should not prevent the studios and manufacturers from trying to provide better value for the money spent on their products. The problem with BD-J is not BD-J itself, but the fact that it is taking longer for the studios and manufacturers to solidify the specs (which explains why newer features might break in older players). This will hopefully resolve itself soon.

I miss the filmographies too. I think they were just thrown on as filler, but I really liked them. It helped when you are driven crazy the whole film trying to remember what else you saw them in. We've got IMDB now, but the filmographies were convenient and interesting.

You know that search function in "speed", which is not really a search since it's not free-form? What they can do is allow users to highlight an actor while the movie is playing, have the bd-j app do online searches for info on that person or character, then return the results as a web page pop-up (while the movie is still playing). It would be cool to call up websites on some unknown actor while watching the movie :)

Alien Vs. Predator has seamless branching for the two cuts.

I think he means being able to switch back and forth between versions "on the fly"?

I dont want or care about anything other than the movie.

Someone mentioned to me he wanted to be able to rotate the angle of viewing a movie, so you can view a scene from several different angles. Unfortunately, I think you would need to have shot the film in several angles, then need to have separate streams running along with the main track for this to happen. Then, you can switch between angles on the fly.

If there is only 1 stream, then you might also be able to have the system calculate and display a "projected" scene from a different angle than the normal, but this would probably have lots of data inconsistencies.

I just want to watch the movie, that's it.2nd that. Give me high bit rate video & lossless audio. For all those that want features give to them on another disc and let them pay for them. LaserVison disc, video cassette and D-VHS did not have "Features" and they did OK.

LaserVison disc, video cassette and D-VHS did not have "Features" and they did OK.

People are very used to having special features and additional stuff in their DVDs. If they went from VHS (with no specials), to DVD (with specials), you CANNOT expect them to switch to Blu-ray when the products suddenly are very barebones.

It's great that you guys are so very in love with the audio and video (I am too), but additional segments in the set creates the sense of having added value beyond just the movie. That is, there is a large market for people who like being able to get additional info about the movie they are watching or have watched.

I'm curious as to what kind of interactive features people would be interested in a Blu-ray disc. Fox has been experimenting with various BD-J features lately, including Trivia Tracks, search and bookmarking functions, and a few lame games. Disney is placing stuff in the PoTC as well:

http://www.blueboard.com/bluray/movie_listing_bdj.htm

Sone things that would be cool would be downloadable subtitles and a much more powerful "personal Scene Selection" which allows you to mix and match parts of scenes into one seamless whole.

I want nothing beyond a lower price.

That is, there is a large market for people who like being able to get additional info about the movie they are watching or have watched.I have zero problems with people that want “Extras”, just let them pay for the “Extras” and do not force it upon those that do not want them. The “2 Disc Set” marketing model seems to work OK for DVD’s. The Disney POTC is supposed to be a 2 Disc Set. I would like just the 1 Disc of the movie, and at a lower price!!

I have zero problems with people that want “Extras”, just let them pay for the “Extras” and do not force it upon those that do not want them. The “2 Disc Set” marketing model seems to work OK for DVD’s. The Disney POTC is supposed to be a 2 Disc Set. I would like just the 1 Disc of the movie, and at a lower price!!

DVD prices didn't get lower when they went to tiered releases. We used to get 2-disc sets for $15-16 the first week. When they went to tiered releases, the single-disc edition cost the same price, while the 2-disc version was priced higher.

I like the pop-up video extras when they are funny or informative. I also listen to commentary on movies that I really love or movies that for whatever reason could you some explaining. None of these take up very much room and should not require a second disc.

1. Online Princess Tea Party scheduling
2. Online voting and auto-tabulation for Tea Party activities
3. Option to override partying with Jasmine....I loathe that bitch

the big thing I would like is some studio standardized settings. In essence a page (per studio that has the same objects and let's you set up some settings so that the next time you play any of their movies the default settings take effect.

for example (assuming such settings existed and I were to set up playback for myself it might look like
a) Preferred Languages – pick and order several from a menu -1)English, 2) French…
b) Preferred Audio type- pick and order several from a menu 1) Original , 2) PCM , … subtitles (order from most preferred audio to least)
c) Preferences for audio – pick a /b or b/a –b/a (what has preference the type or the language i.e. for example someone )
d) Subtitles: - pick one of (don’t show if language in preferred languages and audio exists, show on all secondary languages)- don’t show….
e) video, if multiple options –pick one (AOR, 16:9, 4:3) - AOR
f) start movie – pick movie or menu –movie
g) play trailers – enter a number 0-5- 0
h) play extended version if available- pick yes, no, ask – yes
i) include in movie extra clips- pick yes, no, ask – yes (at least for now for curiosity)
j) include in movie games- pick yes, no, ask – yes (at least for now for curiosity)
……


I know this is not exactly interactivity, and I don’t expect all movies will need all the categories (I hope all movies just have the OAR so e would be useless)

And when you get out

Apply as default, Apply to this movie, Apply this time only, Cancel.

the big thing I would like is some studio standardized settings. In essence a page (per studio that has the same objects and let's you set up some settings so that the next time you play any of their movies the default settings take effect.

for example (assuming such settings existed and I were to set up playback for myself it might look like
a) Preferred Languages – pick and order several from a menu -1)English, 2) French…
b) Preferred Audio type- pick and order several from a menu 1) Original , 2) PCM , … subtitles (order from most preferred audio to least)
c) Preferences for audio – pick a /b or b/a –b/a (what has preference the type or the language i.e. for example someone )
d) Subtitles: - pick one of (don’t show if language in preferred languages and audio exists, show on all secondary languages)- don’t show….
e) video, if multiple options –pick one (AOR, 16:9, 4:3) - AOR
f) start movie – pick movie or menu –movie
g) play trailers – enter a number 0-5- 0
h) play extended version if available- pick yes, no, ask – yes
i) include in movie extra clips- pick yes, no, ask – yes (at least for now for curiosity)
j) include in movie games- pick yes, no, ask – yes (at least for now for curiosity)
……


I know this is not exactly interactivity, and I don’t expect all movies will need all the categories (I hope all movies just have the OAR so e would be useless)

And when you get out

Apply as default, Apply to this movie, Apply this time only, Cancel.


Actually, what you mean is that you want the box to remember your Personalized Settings for each title? That's a good idea...not very high-tech, but it is doable and simple and very useful...I'm surprised the studios haven't picked up on it yet instead of giving us lame games.....

I like the extras, especially bloopers and outtakes. I'm very happy to see that the extras are starting to be included in HD. That's a very nice bonus.

Also, quite a few DVDs had demo game levels on XBOX (Hulk, Riddick, etc.). I'd like to see future BD have PS2/PS3 samples and HD-DVD do this for the XBOX 360. Seems like they're a nice opportunity here to take advantage of the console features from each camp.

Multiple selectable subtitles. This is useful when there are several people watching who are familair with different languages.

I have nothing against interactive features as long as: 1) they do not delay the release, 2) I don't have to use them, and 3) they don't cost me more.

This idea really hasn't caught on to the consumer very much yet.

It is really annoying that key titles like Batman Begins have been held up in order to add some interactive junk that I would not use anyway!

+1. I watched the HD-DVD of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and while the iME was neat, it was really distracting, and was simply the bonus features on the DVD played while the movie was on. Not exactly mind blowing, and a little disappointing if this 'feature' is what is delaying movies. And I'm one of those people who likes bonus features.

+1. I watched the HD-DVD of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, and while the iME was neat, it was really distracting, and was simply the bonus features on the DVD played while the movie was on. Not exactly mind blowing, and a little disappointing if this 'feature' is what is delaying movies. And I'm one of those people who likes bonus features.


well, i agree with this...having the bonus feature playing while the main one is playing does not seem to make a lot of sense....

Multiple selectable subtitles. This is useful when there are several people watching who are familair with different languages.

An enhancement....a dictionary pop-up for words that you may not understand...you can trigger it by highlighting a word in the subtitles.

Someone mentioned to me he wanted to be able to rotate the angle of viewing a movie, so you can view a scene from several different angles. Unfortunately, I think you would need to have shot the film in several angles, then need to have separate streams running along with the main track for this to happen. Then, you can switch between angles on the fly.

If there is only 1 stream, then you might also be able to have the system calculate and display a "projected" scene from a different angle than the normal, but this would probably have lots of data inconsistencies.

I've always thought the ultimate movie experience would be an interactive hologram that recreates an entire environment. Since we were talking about Speed earlier, it would be cool to experience that story as a passenger on the bus, or following around Dennis Hopper, or following the cops. Of course that would be an enormous amount of information and I doubt it will ever happen, but it would be cool as hell! :cool:

Actually, what you mean is that you want the box to remember your Personalized Settings for each title? That's a good idea...not very high-tech, but it is doable and simple and very useful...I'm surprised the studios haven't picked up on it yet instead of giving us lame games.....

no. It is too late for global user defined defaults, but both specs (HD DVD and BD) call for persistent storage to record stuff. Such a concept would need to use a minimal amount of that memory. The idea is that most people would want the same settings for most movies. So you create a default and the first time you load a new movie it will use the default. But it could be as simple or as complicated as you want (for example you mentioned multiple subtitles) how about multiple profiles, for example a family might set-up 3 profiles with kids=default.
a) default= kids = PG-x
b) with subtitles= kids but with subtitles on all movies
c) adult = same as kids but can watch any movie also needs a PW

-----
I would assume you need three levels
Studio – this would exist for all movies
Movie –this will be for a specific movie.
One time

For example my preferences in general would be
1) Original language English, French or Greek)
2) Audio English
3) Audio French
4) Audio Greek (even though this won’t happen)
5) Subtitles English
….

But Slap Shot is much more entertaining in the dubbed French then the original English so for that when I put it in it should play the French and not the default English that the default rules would apply. So the first time I put it in the player it enacts the default and then I go into settings, pick French and then save for movie. So now Slap shot is in French while the rest from the studio are English.

Someone mentioned to me he wanted to be able to rotate the angle of viewing a movie, so you can view a scene from several different angles. Unfortunately, I think you would need to have shot the film in several angles, then need to have separate streams running along with the main track for this to happen. Then, you can switch between angles on the fly.

If there is only 1 stream, then you might also be able to have the system calculate and display a "projected" scene from a different angle than the normal, but this would probably have lots of data inconsistencies.

DVD had angle (so nothing new) and that was how it worked and that was why most did not use it. It took too much of the limited BW and you needed to film the angles.

With the next generation disks there could be a bit more.

You could film in wider and then make the < > pan the image in a full frame but that could be annoying

You can also use PiP (i.e. Main screen = Angle 1, PiP shows Angle 2, you can close the PiP and flip PiP and Main at any time) yes still has the same issues of the original but now a user can see both at the same time

Don't want features. Don't even care about trailers for a movie I already own.

I want:

1) The highest possible video and audio encodes at the highest possible thoroughput.
2) The lowest price possible by cutting the fat off these features.

Do that and give me cover art on my disc face (no flippers) and you got my money.

Who watches the features more than once? Go read a wikipedia entry instead. Far clearer, less prone to marketing and/or PR spins, and far, far more factually sound without bias or censorship (ie., the story behind Alien3).

I honestly don't get people sometimes. I mean, really? Does anyone actually watch this crap they shove onto the disc to add "value?" I know most people I talk to never even touch the second disc in their "FOUR DISC DVD SETS."

That's why I find it laughable when HD DVD's interactive features are touted as the reason it's superior to BD. No one cares about interactive features, let alone interactive features that require someone set up a router to access them.

You can also use PiP (i.e. Main screen = Angle 1, PiP shows Angle 2, you can close the PiP and flip PiP and Main at any time) yes still has the same issues of the original but now a user can see both at the same time

yeah, now that sounds cool....

You a developer?

no. It is too late for global user defined defaults, but both specs (HD DVD and BD) call for persistent storage to record stuff. Such a concept would need to use a minimal amount of that memory. The idea is that most people would want the same settings for most movies. So you create a default and the first time you load a new movie it will use the default. But it could be as simple or as complicated as you want (for example you mentioned multiple subtitles) how about multiple profiles, for example a family might set-up 3 profiles with kids=default.
a) default= kids = PG-x
b) with subtitles= kids but with subtitles on all movies
c) adult = same as kids but can watch any movie also needs a PW

-----
I would assume you need three levels
Studio – this would exist for all movies
Movie –this will be for a specific movie.
One time

For example my preferences in general would be
1) Original language English, French or Greek)
2) Audio English
3) Audio French
4) Audio Greek (even though this won’t happen)
5) Subtitles English
….

But Slap Shot is much more entertaining in the dubbed French then the original English so for that when I put it in it should play the French and not the default English that the default rules would apply. So the first time I put it in the player it enacts the default and then I go into settings, pick French and then save for movie. So now Slap shot is in French while the rest from the studio are English.


Sounds pretty good. The more recent profiles (BD-Video 1.0 and BD-Live) I think actually call for persistent storage on a hard disc or removeable storage, so storage might not be a problem in the long run.

Who watches the features more than once? Go read a wikipedia entry instead. Far clearer, less prone to marketing and/or PR spins, and far, far more factually sound without bias or censorship (ie., the story behind Alien3).

So, what about the ability to access Wikipedia on the fly? Why wait if you have questions while watching the movie? By having the BD-Java apps connect to the web they can provide info about specific characters, actors, scenes, etc in real-time by doing google searches in the background when needed and presenting it to you as pop-ups (if you want), or even emailing it to you!

That's why I find it laughable when HD DVD's interactive features are touted as the reason it's superior to BD. No one cares about interactive features, let alone interactive features that require someone set up a router to access them.

True, content will always be king, but that does not mean some people would not like having additional value-added features for their hard-earned money.

It's like cars...true, you can get around with a barebones, no-nonsense car with great mileage, but many people like amenities and features for the money they pay (in-car DVD, GPS, sunroof, etc).

I thought it's just me, but I am surprised to see how many people share the same feeling: better use the available space for higher bit rate movie and audio. Who cares about yet another "Making of ..."? I do not want any interactivity or anything else to distract me from watching the movie.
Having said that, the one idea for extras, for kids movies only perhaps, would be to put a cartoon and a related game (playable on PS3) on the same disc. 2-in-1 combo. Would save parents some money.

I still remember when DVD was new and Fight Club came out. All that extra content and commentary really sold me on DVD. When the movie and director warrant it, I think the extras are great.

Criterion editions for those who want them, regular bare bones for those that don't care. Come on Criterion...

Since building my own HT room I now rarely go to an actual movie theater (last time was last July) so one of the biggest features I'm looking forward to on both formats is the ability to connect to the internet and play new coming soon trailers before playing the movie.

And just to clarify I mean trailers of movies that may not be out in theaters yet and not just movies coming soon to Blu-ray. I think this would be great rather then watching the same pre-recorded trailers over and over...

It looks like Universal has been doing some testing with this so far. Does anyone know of any other studios for either format that may also have something like this in the works?

I like trailers, deleted scenes, and bloopers, maybe even trivia.

For me a lot of the 'new' interactive features are just kind of gimmicky, the reason I am watching BD movies is PQ and AQ.

Given the choice I would choose a movie with no menus at all and superior sound and video.

Since building my own HT room I now rarely go to an actual movie theater (last time was last July) so one of the biggest features I'm looking forward to on both formats is the ability to connect to the internet and play new coming soon trailers before playing the movie.

And just to clarify I mean trailers of movies that may not be out in theaters yet and not just movies coming soon to Blu-ray. I think this would be great rather then watching the same pre-recorded trailers over and over...

It looks like Universal has been doing some testing with this so far. Does anyone know of any other studios for either format that may also have something like this in the works?


Maybe a stupid question but...

Do the non PS3 players have harddrives? Seems to me that you would run into buffering issues unless your player had the trailers cached. At least with HD trailers it seems that buffering would be an issue.

Watching the newest trailers automatically without using a device other than your player would be very cool, but not if I had to sit through "please wait while your trailer is downloaded..." for a few minutes first.

I like the two HD shows that are trailers (in theaters and nothing but trailers), I get them in HD with no downloading and I can skip ones that I don't want to see or have already seen. I keep 5 of each show on the S3 TiVo, so if the mood strikes I can see some new trailers with no wait.

Maybe a stupid question but...

Do the non PS3 players have harddrives? Seems to me that you would run into buffering issues unless your player had the trailers cached. At least with HD trailers it seems that buffering would be an issue.

Watching the newest trailers automatically without using a device other than your player would be very cool, but not if I had to sit through "please wait while your trailer is downloaded..." for a few minutes first.

I like the two HD shows that are trailers (in theaters and nothing but trailers), I get them in HD with no downloading and I can skip ones that I don't want to see or have already seen. I keep 5 of each show on the S3 TiVo, so if the mood strikes I can see some new trailers with no wait.

On thelookandsoundofperfect there was a demo video of it I think from CES showing this working for Universal. You sign up for sometype of membership through there site and then the option to view live trailers becomes available for you to select on the disc when you start a movie.

I have no clue how it is actually being processed though but can bet its not through a ps3 :D. Not something I would watch everytime if it took long to download but would be nice even if I had to setup a little while before actually watching the movie that night.

Maybe a stupid question but...

Do the non PS3 players have harddrives? Seems to me that you would run into buffering issues unless your player had the trailers cached. At least with HD trailers it seems that buffering would be an issue.

2nd gen Blu-ray players who implement the BD-Video and BD-Live profiles are required to have persistent storage of AT LEAST 256 MB and 1 GB each. This means any BD-Java Xlet apps may have access to relatively large storage (although hopefully this amount will only get larger).

yeah, now that sounds cool....

You a developer?

I work in IT and develop applications and help them get the most of their techs. But no, I don't have anything to do with movies. Just love watching them, tend to grasp tech and have an over active imagination.

Sounds pretty good. The more recent profiles (BD-Video 1.0 and BD-Live) I think actually call for persistent storage on a hard disc or removeable storage, so storage might not be a problem in the long run.

all BD players have some persistent storage. I am not sure of all the technical specs but to me those would be close to cookies on a browser. Obviously it would depend on the number of choices but very little memory could be used

I work in IT and develop applications and help them get the most of their techs. But no, I don't have anything to do with movies.

I do server and mobile java apps, but so far have not actually touched BD-J, although I am itching to get my hands on an IDE at more reasonable prices. here's some info for the curious;

http://www.earfeast.com/software/blu-ray/

I haven't read a word of this thread, but frankly I don't want or care about any of the extras. All I want is the movie in its entirety and I expect it to have excellent PQ / SQ... that's all I really want.

but frankly I don't want or care about any of the extras. All I want is the movie in its entirety and I expect it to have excellent PQ / SQ... that's all I really want

AMEN!

I haven't read a word of this thread, but frankly I don't want or care about any of the extras. All I want is the movie in its entirety and I expect it to have excellent PQ / SQ... that's all I really want.


I suggest you do read through them as there are some very good suggestions that would make the viewing experience a lot more enriching and rewarding.

2nd gen Blu-ray players who implement the BD-Video and BD-Live profiles are required to have persistent storage of AT LEAST 256 MB and 1 GB each. This means any BD-Java Xlet apps may have access to relatively large storage (although hopefully this amount will only get larger).Small correction, but (potentially) an important one: second gen doesn't de facto imply 1.1 compliance...the Samsung BDP-1200, a second gen model, is still only 1.0 compliant (at least according to the owner's manual).

Based on recent JTC presentations conventiently leaving out the post June 1, 2007 mandatory 1.1 compliance bullet (shown frequently in older JTC presentations), I wouldn't be surprised to see the date slip.

Ability to Zoom on certain areas in the screen ;)

Ability to Zoom on certain areas in the screen ;)

Into the Blue really needs a new transfer with Zooming function in the future. Anyone who objects can go kiss Jessica Alba's butt!

How about you make the movie better and focus on the movie rather than this BS?

Oh, and mandate both 7.1 PCM and 7.1 DTS/DD (640k) soundtracks.

How about you make the movie better and focus on the movie rather than this BS?

Oh, and mandate both 7.1 PCM and 7.1 DTS/DD (640k) soundtracks.

I think there is a legitimate reason to focus on creating frameworks that will add value to the user experience in other ways besides picture quality and sound quality (which obviously are also important). Sure, it may not mean much for some people, but for others such things may make viewing the titles more enjoyable.

Oh, and mandate both 7.1 PCM and 7.1 DTS/DD (640k) soundtracks.

Many movies, even today, aren't being mixed in 6.1, let alone 7.1, but let's require 7.1 channels of PCM audio to take up space on the disc anyway for all of them (including classic films that can't be remixed properly). Great idea! ;)

Into the Blue really needs a new transfer with Zooming function in the future. Anyone who objects can go kiss Jessica Alba's butt!

Speaking ofr Into the Blue, how about a button you could push that would make all the characters naked for the entire running time? :cool:

If the studios are going to insist on adding special features (without compromising the high quality of audio & picture), then here are some things I'd like to see:

1. Popup Trivia with timely links to sites such as Movie Mistakes (http://www.moviemistakes.com/search.php)
Here, fans submit mistakes they've caught in their favourite films. It could be Continuity issues, Factual Errors, Plot Holes, Revealing Errors (ie visible movie production tricks). Pretty funny stuff sometimes - for example, here's Casino Royale (http://www.moviemistakes.com/film6299). Have each one come up in the relevant scene.

2. Normal presentation vs. "Clean" version for family viewing
I know, I know - censorship. But if it's already done for cable broadcasting and can actually increase viewership that would not have otherwise watched it. It could also increase the likelihood the kids will watch the unrestricted version as they get older.

3. Snapshot Mode
I'd like the ability to pause a certain scene and download that frame to PC. This way, we can customize an alternate box cover art, create a screensaver or best yet, customize our own movie poster.

4. Alternate Actor Scenes
Perhaps they can insert other famous actors that had auditioned for the roles. It'd be fun to see them reading the lines in the audition during that specific scene.

5. Alternate Timelines
I'm thinking of the movie Momento, but it'd be great to watch the movie again in chronological order instead.

I don't have a problem with additional features if it makes multiple viewings more interesting. Better value if I can watch the disc 2-3 times a year rather than just once.