Blu-ray capable software player??

[WarlordBB]

Just got this from Fedex:

http://www.yourgame.net/bd01.jpg

The software player that comes with it (PowerDVD 6.6 BD Edition) will not play back commercial BD movies.

Does anyone know exactly where I can get a Blu-ray capable software player?

[setarip_old]

Hi!The software player that comes with it (PowerDVD 6.6 BD Edition) will not play back commercial BD movies.You might want to read the spec sheet that refers to limitations. You can find it at:

http://news.sel.sony.com/documents/consumer/computer_peripheral/storage_sol_others/BWU_100A_Spec_Sheet.pdf

The same information is likely included in that booklet in your photo ;>}

[WarlordBB]

Hi!You might want to read the spec sheet that refers to limitations. You can find it at:

http://news.sel.sony.com/documents/consumer/computer_peripheral/storage_sol_others/BWU_100A_Spec_Sheet.pdf

The same information is likely included in that booklet in your photo ;>}

Actually I did read the specs/manual after first trying to play a BD movie.

The drive is capable of playing BD movies, Sony has access to software that _will_ play BD movies (like they use in their BD Notebook), so it wasn't exactly unreasonable for me to assume that my $800 drive would play BD movies.

However, it wasn't until you pointed this out that everything came together for me. Thank you so much...


On another note, I have verified that the current top-end versions of both PowerDVD and WinDVD do _not_ work either. I've also verified that both companies _do_ have software that does work, just not available to the public.

According to Cyberlink, their current version of PowerDVD will have built-in support "very soon". They said the "OEM version" that allows playback is a custom version for the hardware vendor (Sony) and they are not at liberty to provide it to customers.

Anyone have any other ideas? So close but yet so far...

[Trahald]

Ive been looking for a while... Ive come up with nothing. Just the info you have..

windvd and powerdvd will have versions that support bd/hd . one place said late 06 early 07. im hoping some new company uses the oportunity.

i think its crappy that they sell that drive for that much with software that will only play home movies. as you said.. there are pcs/notebooks that have the drives AND the proper software. so why limit this one.

[WarlordBB]

Very frustrating indeed. How many things can Sony do wrong in a row?

I am _not_ going to settle for no. I'm using my Pro Support Incident with MS to get any patch that might be required for XP (I'll also install Vista build 5432 to see if that helps).

I have an escalated incident with Sony right now and the person genuinely seems to be trying (not holding my breath).

I will post back with any updates.

If _anyone_ has _any_ other ideas, please share them. Let's get this figured out.

I'll pay someone for the Japanese version of WinDVD if they will buy it for me. My Japanese is a little rusty, ok, non-existant.

If Google's translation is somewhat correct, it looks like the WinDVD Japanese site has halted sales of WinDVD 8.

[setarip_old]

@Trahald

Hi!i think its crappy that they sell that drive for that much with software that will only play home movies.Although I don't necessarily agree with SONY's concept, they are, in fact, primarily selling a BURNER. So, from the SONY perspective, you would use the burner to make homebrewn BluRay DVDs - and they've also provided the software required to play those same DVDs...

[laserfan]

Actually I did read the specs/manual after first trying to play a BD movie.Perhaps some research was in order, particularly before laying-down $800? :eek:

Maybe you can still return the drive and get your money back--if not I do hope you can find a solution, though I would not count on Sony for one; I suspect they control both "the Horizontal and the Vertical" on this issue. :scared:

[WarlordBB]

Perhaps some research was in order, particularly before laying-down $800? :eek:

Maybe you can still return the drive and get your money back--if not I do hope you can find a solution, though I would not count on Sony for one; I suspect they control both "the Horizontal and the Vertical" on this issue. :scared:

No research was necessary. I knew I wanted one and knew I wanted one ASAP. I don't want to return the drive and, I don't mind taking the arrows on this. Furthermore, although I'd love to already have it working, there's some adventure at least in being the trailblazer, no?

The fact is that these drives _will_ play Blu ray movies, it is in the specs that they will. Also, there are already 3 companies working on making the software work, Sony, Intervideo and Cyberlink. It's just a matter of time. So no worries there.

Maybe y'all took my posts the wrong way. I'm not crying here. The first thing I said to Sony when I called them was, "I know the specs say the software that comes with the drive may not play Blu ray movies, but...". I just want to find a way to make my new toy work. And I think Sony does too. All 3 Sony techs I talked to today said the same thing, "we want those drives to play movies too".

This is my biased opinion on the subject:

1. Sony, the godfather of all that is Blu-ray, announces that are about to start selling an Internal Drive.
2. Sony releases a Notebook system that has a Blu-ray drive in it that plays BD movies.
3. Sony releases a Desktop system that has a Blu-ray drive in it that plays BD movies.
4. Sony prices this new Internal drive at a price point that is comparable to stand alone BD players.
5. Sony lists BD movie playback as a capability in the specs of the drive.
6. Sony disclaims in small text that the software may not play BD movies.

Add to the above that Sony has to expect that the "hot" reason everyone would want this new drive is to play BD movies and, IMO, you have a recipe for bad press.

Mr. Obvious' posts about the fact it is disclaimed and that it is marketed as a "burner" aside, it is reasonable to expect that Sony could have gotten on the ball and got the BD Solution software up-to-speed in this respect prior to rolling these things out.

Let's get serious here. What if all of the first DVDRW drives could do everything except play DVD movies?

Am I crying about it, no. Am I surprised that someone who should be watching the store at Sony in this regard seems asleep at the wheel, yes.

Now can we please quit talking about whether I should expect it to play BD movies or not and start figuring out creative ways to solve the problem. :)

Maybe Sony will have an answer for me tomorrow when they call. I'll keep you updated.

[Hurricane Neddy]

You were already told the solution to your problem. You're going to have to wait till the software comes out. You even acknowledge that you knew the software wasn't going to play commercial Blu-Ray discs as the specs say and yet you still get mad over this fact. I'm not sure what else you're expecting people to tell you since you already knew the answer to begin with.

Maybe Sony will have an answer for me tomorrow when they call. I'll keep you updated.

Yep, it'll be the same answer you got here. No software is out yet, but it will be out soon. You're just going to have to wait. Sure it's not the answer you want, but it's all your going to get from anybody. So you might as well just chill out.

[setarip_old]

Sony has to expect that the "hot" reason everyone would want this new drive is to play BD movies "Mr. Obvious" here again (I have a very thick skin ;>} ) - No, there's no logic to your statement. This is a PC burner, with playback ability that's being sold. As you well know, the primary purpose of a burner is to burn media.

What you've described as the "hot" reason would more appropriately be applied to standalone players...

[WarlordBB]

"Mr. Obvious" here again (I have a very thick skin ;>} ) - No, there's no logic to your statement. This is a PC burner, with playback ability that's being sold. As you well know, the primary purpose of a burner is to burn media.

What you've described as the "hot" reason would more appropriately be applied to standalone players...

Thank you for taking that in the manner in which it was intended, good fun.

I see the logic in your reasoning too but don't fail to see the logic in mine. The simple fact that this drive _can_ play BD movies if/when the right software is available lends logic to my statement.

@Neddy - As I've stated, no need to chill because I'm not sweating this.

My apologies to everyone. I frequent forums that relish in the hunt for solutions. This may have given me the wrong perspective on this situation but I also think y'all have misinterpreted my actual feelings on this.

Regardless, I didn't mean to stir things up and I will henceforth move my discussions on the matter to other venues.

[laserfan]

No research was necessary. I knew I wanted one and knew I wanted one ASAP. I don't want to return the drive and, I don't mind taking the arrows on this. Furthermore, although I'd love to already have it working, there's some adventure at least in being the trailblazer, no?I don't know you, and so responded to you as someone who bought something and was mad that it didn't work.

Now that you have clarified that you knew full-well what you were getting into, I say: I'm glad you guys are around, with $$$ to spend plowing this new ground!

I wish you luck and hope you will return here if/when you are successful in your quest. I have greeted the world of HD DVDs with skepticism, because it looks like they are copy-protected to no end and I for one want any programs that I buy to be useable throughout my home network and media players--it looks to me like these new HD DVDs will not permit their use outside of a standalone player, at least not without some serious gyrations of some sort.

The day someone figures-out how to use one-or-the-other format in more places than a single set-top box player is the day the debate of "which to buy" ends for me. ;)

[joseph5]

http://www.cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=17742

[pcaca]

Also here is statement that it won't play protected movies.
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=3744