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The Official Sony BDP-S350 Owners Thread - Page 221

post #6601 of 6719
2/17/11 at 9:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Orbert View Post

Okay, I think I'm missing something. Why would it matter if there are discs being authored using Cinavia and all we're doing is playing them back on an S350? It doesn't affect playback, right?

If this is news of "general interest" to Blu-ray owners, why is it in a model-specific thread?

I believe the only issue is whether or not Sony has seen fit to inflict the cinavia code on unsuspecting folks who update their firmware in their Sony players. If you only have or play original, store bought titles, then this should not impact you (unless we find out someday that the audio track that is infected with the cinavia audio is actually audible to humans).
If you have some backup copies of titles or someone loans you one of theirs to watch, and it has an audio track infected with cinavia, and you play it on a player that has firmware infected with cinavia, then it will most likely play for a bit, and then shut down the audio.
The discussion in here is most likely just because Sony announced a whole slew of new firmware updates on a number of their models, and many folks are suspicious of what unpleasant surprises might be hidden in there (like Sony pulled on their PS3 customers when they infected their PS3s with cinavia via a required firmware update without ever telling the owners of those PS3s what was going on).
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post #6602 of 6719
2/18/11 at 12:58am
At present, the Cinavia technology has only been introduced into Blu-ray players (which also includes PS3s. However, since the technology has now been officially stamped into AACS’s new agreements, all major manufacturers will be assumed to comply to the new protocol.

"Cinavia has been adopted as a required component of the AACS content protection system. Blu-ray players with Cinavia detectors began entering the consumer market in late 2009."

This is a big win for Verance’s Cinavia; not only are all (or most) BD players said to adopt it as the de-facto DRM standard, but Cinavia also has some heavy backing through studios like 20th Century Fox, Paramount, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures and Warner Bros. Entertainment.
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post #6603 of 6719
2/18/11 at 6:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by johanverschuren View Post

Firmware update (2/10/2011): This utility upgrades the Blu-ray player firmware to version 024 and provides the following benefits:

* BD-ROM playability improvement


Applicable models:

* BDP-S350
* BDP-S550
* BDP-S5000ES

Thanks for the heads up.
Anyone running 024 yet?
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post #6604 of 6719
2/18/11 at 7:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich86 View Post

I believe the only issue is whether or not Sony has seen fit to inflict the cinavia code on unsuspecting folks who update their firmware in their Sony players. If you only have or play original, store bought titles, then this should not impact you (unless we find out someday that the audio track that is infected with the cinavia audio is actually audible to humans).
If you have some backup copies of titles or someone loans you one of theirs to watch, and it has an audio track infected with cinavia, and you play it on a player that has firmware infected with cinavia, then it will most likely play for a bit, and then shut down the audio.
The discussion in here is most likely just because Sony announced a whole slew of new firmware updates on a number of their models, and many folks are suspicious of what unpleasant surprises might be hidden in there (like Sony pulled on their PS3 customers when they infected their PS3s with cinavia via a required firmware update without ever telling the owners of those PS3s what was going on).

I see the problem, but using the word "infected" with regards to Cinavia (or any copy protection) is a little harsh, IMO.

I would totally agree that DRM of any sort generally only hurts the average user and not the true pirate. The serious pirates out there will eventually find a way to crack this and continue on their merry way. However, from the studios' perspective it makes sense. They have to at least try something to protect their assets.
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post #6605 of 6719
2/18/11 at 7:36am
Quote:
Originally Posted by klwillis45 View Post

Thanks for the heads up.
Anyone running 024 yet?

Yes, I updated to 024 to little effect. Dexter, Season 3, disc 1 still took much coercing to get it to play. I've finally broken down and gotten a Panny BD65 as a back-up player.
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post #6606 of 6719
2/18/11 at 8:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bbexperience View Post

I see the problem, but using the word "infected" with regards to Cinavia (or any copy protection) is a little harsh, IMO.

I would totally agree that DRM of any sort generally only hurts the average user and not the true pirate. The serious pirates out there will eventually find a way to crack this and continue on their merry way. However, from the studios' perspective it makes sense. They have to at least try something to protect their assets.

Well, we're talking about a modified movie audio track to carry hidden audio signals that can be reproduced by a speaker and picked up by a microphone that are used to trigger a set of unannounced program code hidden inside a firmware program to shut down playback of your copy of a movie part into it. Sounds like a corrupt audio track plus an infected firmware file to me . . but call it what you like . . .
Sony probably has the right to do whatever they like as long as it is legal, I expect. I just wish they would expend their resources on improving the quality and offerings on blu-ray, rather than wasting money chasing their copy prevention paranoia and DRM obsession. I wonder if anyone has done a truly objective study of the expenses involved in this nonsense vs. what (if anything) it actually benefits them in increased sales of a title. Did the "Social Network" blu-ray sell more copies because it is infected with cinavia in the lossless audio track? I doubt it. I rented it from Redbox once I learned it was infected with cinavia. So now I've seen it. It was OK. Fry's has it on sale for $15 now. I'm not buying it.
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post #6607 of 6719
2/18/11 at 9:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich86 View Post

Well, we're talking about a modified movie audio track to carry hidden audio signals that can be reproduced by a speaker and picked up by a microphone that are used to trigger a set of unannounced program code hidden inside a firmware program to shut down playback of your copy of a movie part into it. Sounds like a corrupt audio track plus an infected firmware file to me . . but call it what you like . . .
Sony probably has the right to do whatever they like as long as it is legal, I expect. I just wish they would expend their resources on improving the quality and offerings on blu-ray, rather than wasting money chasing their copy prevention paranoia and DRM obsession. I wonder if anyone has done a truly objective study of the expenses involved in this nonsense vs. what (if anything) it actually benefits them in increased sales of a title. Did the "Social Network" blu-ray sell more copies because it is infected with cinavia in the lossless audio track? I doubt it. I rented it from Redbox once I learned it was infected with cinavia. So now I've seen it. It was OK. Fry's has it on sale for $15 now. I'm not buying it.

It's semantics but my issue with "infected" is that it implies an unintended, malicious piece of code working it's way into the system without the knowledge of the manufacturer.

I've already said that I agree with the sentiment of what you're saying, but it's unreasonable to think that any studio isn't going to make an effort to protect these things and nothing else has worked so far.
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post #6608 of 6719
2/18/11 at 1:49pm
Thanks for the replies. Sounds like a non-issue to me, as all I do is play my Blu-rays (purchased or rented) and none of them are copies or whatever.
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post #6609 of 6719
2/18/11 at 4:57pm
Several years ago Sony was caught intalling root kit software on PCs when you played some of their DVDs.
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post #6610 of 6719
2/18/11 at 6:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rdgcss View Post
Several years ago Sony was caught intalling root kit software on PCs when you played some of their DVDs.
okaaaaay. What does that have to do with the current topic?
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post #6611 of 6719
2/18/11 at 6:46pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bbexperience View Post
okaaaaay. What does that have to do with the current topic?
The root kits had to do with DRM, they also opened the door for malware to infect the PC and hide, undetected by any software.

I'm just saying that innocent DRM is not always so innocent. To play the Blu-Ray on a computer, special software will have to be installed. Who knows what else will get installed.
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post #6612 of 6719
2/18/11 at 9:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bbexperience View Post

It's semantics but my issue with "infected" is that it implies an unintended, malicious piece of code working it's way into the system without the knowledge of the manufacturer.

I've already said that I agree with the sentiment of what you're saying, but it's unreasonable to think that any studio isn't going to make an effort to protect these things and nothing else has worked so far.

I like your wording, as long as you change "manufacturer" to "owner/user".
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post #6613 of 6719
3/1/11 at 2:14pm
So I get a new disc for Christmas, Quantum of Solace, I put it in today. All the 350 let's me do is erase BD data. So I thought it could be an issue with the firmware which I had never upgraded. So I updated the firmware. Didn't seem to help any. I can't get any of the BD discs that worked before the firmware update or even a DVD to play now. So is this player dead or not? Anybody else had this happen? It seems like it can't read any discs.
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post #6614 of 6719
3/2/11 at 6:13am
wcmlutz

Are you going in direct through to your TV or through a receiver?

Try going through the bluray setup again and set the output to match your TV and also turn off the 24fps, also remove the usb drive if you have one plugged in.

My main tv is a 720p and then 9 months later the 350 stopped playing blurays. I bought another player to replace it. This christmas I purchased a 1080p set and tried the old sony it worked just fine. It seems that every time you do firmware updates settings are lost I have had this happen with both sony and samsung players. Hope this helps!

Bill
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post #6615 of 6719
3/2/11 at 10:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by uxbridge
wcmlutz

Are you going in direct through to your TV or through a receiver?

Try going through the bluray setup again and set the output to match your TV and also turn off the 24fps, also remove the usb drive if you have one plugged in.

My main tv is a 720p and then 9 months later the 350 stopped playing blurays. I bought another player to replace it. This christmas I purchased a 1080p set and tried the old sony it worked just fine. It seems that every time you do firmware updates settings are lost I have had this happen with both sony and samsung players. Hope this helps!

Bill
Through a receiver, Denon 1611. Settings are set to 1080P which is what the TV is. 24fps could be an issue, since it is set in the player, but the TV will convert to 60Hz using a pull down menu.
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post #6616 of 6719
3/5/11 at 4:13pm
Applied firmware #024 to a Sony BDP-SS350 & a Sony BDP-S550.
The firmware installed without issue & tested with no functional issues noted (including no cinavia infection hidden in the firmware).
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post #6617 of 6719
4/6/11 at 8:08am
Hi all,

So Best Buy delivered my new TV Monday morning and I was trying to test the picture with my BDP-S350. Put in Toy Story 3, watched for about 15 minutes and the picture froze.

It would not stop, play, skip, eject, or power off. I unplugged it and plugged it back in and now it won't read discs. I burned a firmware upgrade disc, but it won't recognize anything, bd, dvd, cd, nothing. Strangely, the thin white light in the center is constantly lit, even with no disc inside.

I'll try opening it and cleaning the lens, but I'm assuming it's hosed, correct?
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post #6618 of 6719
4/6/11 at 8:23am
Try cleaning the center hub as well. Those tend to get dusty and start to slip over time, causing read problems.
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post #6619 of 6719
4/7/11 at 5:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdavej View Post
Try cleaning the center hub as well. Those tend to get dusty and start to slip over time, causing read problems.
Thanks for the tip! Unfortunately, nothing worked. The white center light is still lit even when there's no disc in, so something's majorly wrong (strangely, it stays lit for a few minutes after I unplug it completely).

Looks like it needs to be replaced. It won't be another Sony.
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post #6620 of 6719
4/11/11 at 3:15pm
I updated to version 024 and now my s350 crashes a lot with system error symbol and is unusuable. It won't let me try to update it again to 024 as it keeps saying its already up to date. Sony said to take it to an authorized service center, but since its over 1 year old and out of warranty, it would cost about $130 to look at. This is a software/firmware error and they want to charge me to fix it. Anyone else have this issue with this upgrade or previous upgrades and know of a way to restore it, or do I have to wait until another upgrade after 024 to try and upgrade to that?

thanks,
Jim
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post #6621 of 6719
4/11/11 at 4:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by uofmichgrad
I updated to version 024 and now my s350 crashes a lot with system error symbol and is unusuable. It won't let me try to update it again to 024 as it keeps saying its already up to date. Sony said to take it to an authorized service center, but since its over 1 year old and out of warranty, it would cost about $130 to look at. This is a software/firmware error and they want to charge me to fix it. Anyone else have this issue with this upgrade or previous upgrades and know of a way to restore it, or do I have to wait until another upgrade after 024 to try and upgrade to that?

thanks,
Jim
Mine is basically broken too, but I am unsure if the firmware update has anything to do with it. It wasn't working before which is why I upgraded the firmware in the first place. Mine doesn't read any disks. I can get a new BD player from someone other than Sony for less than it would cost to fix the S350, which will have streaming features that the S350 lacks.
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post #6622 of 6719
4/11/11 at 5:26pm
I watched a movie just fine about 5 hours before, it was only after the 024 update that things went really bad. Now it will just get a system error within about 2-5 minutes after I do different things, like change menu, try to start playback of a movie.

thanks,
Jim
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post #6623 of 6719
4/13/11 at 1:37pm
Hello All, I cannot get my player to play any dvds I just did a FW update and still says no disc. Would appreciate any help.

Thanks Rob
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post #6624 of 6719
4/13/11 at 5:45pm
add with a q-tip some rubbing acohol to the center of a dvd and load it it will clean the slipping hub, best to remove cover and clean disc hub of dust/debris.
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post #6625 of 6719
4/13/11 at 6:36pm
Thanks Bud-Man, Will try.
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post #6626 of 6719
4/13/11 at 7:35pm
No luck with Qtip, Disk drive wont spin up at all for any kind of disk just says No Disk. Still baffled.
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post #6627 of 6719
4/14/11 at 8:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by robio361 View Post

No luck with Qtip, Disk drive wont spin up at all for any kind of disk just says No Disk. Still baffled.

http://www.amazon.com/Sony-BDP-S570-...2794784&sr=8-1

http://www.oppodigital.com/blu-ray-bdp-93/
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post #6628 of 6719
4/15/11 at 3:30am
Quote:
Originally Posted by robio361 View Post
No luck with Qtip, Disk drive wont spin up at all for any kind of disk just says No Disk. Still baffled.
Haven't been here in quite a while, so I'm not sure if someone already posted something like this.

I've been having problems with my S350 not being able to read Blu-ray discs for quite a while. Not sure how 'orthodox' this is, but whenever it happens I open the disc tray and spray compressed air at the laser for a second or two. After that it seems to work (until the dust resettles and it happens again, of course).

I really don't know if this is the best thing to do since you're really just blowing dust around inside the player and not taking care of the problem if it's dust that's causing it. That said, I use this player for testing displays and it's my tertiary, testing player, so I'm not that concerned if it gets bricked. If this is your primary player, you might want to think twice about doing this. (Someone else here might be able to chime in and provide their thoughts about it.)

Anyway, since this works for me pretty much every time, I thought I'd tell you about it.

Best,
Greg
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post #6629 of 6719
5/2/11 at 5:57pm
I have tried two discs of "The Fighter" and it won't play in my non firmware updated S350. Do I need to update, or is this version of BD unavailable to play in my stock S350?

Shows it is loading, then shows a short HD presentation ad. Then, doesn't say no disk, just shows --:--:-- for the time and nothing happens.

Every other Bluray works. Time for a new player?
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post #6630 of 6719
5/4/11 at 10:51am
Sounds more like time to update the firmware. Wouldn't that be cheaper?
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