All about Blu-ray high-def DVDs

Everything you need to know about the high-definition format

Well, it's over. The format war that will decide the way we watch our high-definition movies is finished. And like the VHS-Betamax videotape war in the 1980s, there are winners and losers.

The losers are Toshiba's HD-DVD format, and anyone who took a risk and bought the player or the discs. Toshiba announced in February it would stop producing HD DVD devices after a number of big movie producers and retailers - including Warner Bros and WalMart - announced they would exclusively support Blu-Ray.

The winners are Sony, whose Blu-ray format is now the high-definition DVD standard. Everyday shoppers are also winners, because the end of the format war means investing in high-definition DVD players will be a lot less risky, and hopefully cheaper too.

But what does all this mean for you? You may be perfectly happy with the experience standard DVDs and their players provide but Blu-ray is worth a look - especially if you're keen on better picture and sound. Blu-ray players can play the current generation of DVDs, so you can still watch your old favourites.

There's no need to rush out and spend up large on Blu-ray though, mainly because it's quite expensive. Standard DVDs and players will remain available for a while yet but refrain from any serious investment in these as Blu-ray will become the new standard.

If you do fancy updating to Blu-ray in the near-future you'll need a high-definition-capable TV if you don't already have one.

It's probably best to hold off purchasing a Blu-ray player for the moment. Blu-ray players currently on store shelves are expensive (from $800 up to about $3000) and lack the advanced features of newer versions.

The various breeds of Blu-ray players can be confusing, but put simply, the original Blu-ray Profile (1.0) won't be able to play picture-in-picture commentary (where an actor or director gives commentary in a small window while the movie plays) available on some of the newer Blu-ray discs, while Profile 1.1 players can, but can't handle the Internet-enabled features of Profile 2.0.

Blu-ray 2.0 players can be connected to the Internet for extra content, updates, and patches or security fixes. (Interestingly, HD DVD players have always offered this feature).

Blu-ray recorders will eventually be available too.

The majority of players available in New Zealand at the moment are Profile 1.0.

There is one exception among the current crop though. Sony's Playstation 3 can play Blu-ray movies and thanks to a software update does support advanced features such as online interactive games and updated content.

Some PCs also come equipped with Blu-ray optical drives which are useful for burning huge data discs and laptops with Blu-ray drives are good when you're connecting to a larger screen. But to appreciate the full benefits of high-definition you need an HD TV capable of displaying 1080p resolution with a decent-sized screen.

Expect Blu-ray players to lower in price and next-generation players to appear although there's no indication yet as to when this might happen, Philips has announced the US$350 (NZ$447) BDP7200 and Funai has said it will offer a Blu-ray player for less than US$300 (NZ$383).

Two safe bets are the Samsung BD-P1400 - going for $799 at Noel Leeming - and the Panasonic DMP-BD10 at the higher end of the scale ($1499 at LV Martin). Both are Profile 1.0 but offer excellent Blu-ray image quality and soundtrack support (meaning they can decode audio formats) and the Panasonic can also upconvert your standard DVDs to high definition. The Samsung has had some incompatibility issues with certain titles but these can be fixed with a firmware update using the player's ethernet port to connect to the Net.

But it seems the PS3 is the firm favourite among reviewers at the moment, even if you're not into games, for its comparable price (about $800) and updated features.

As an aside, TV sets and Blu-ray players may even be sold together soon; there are predictions Sony, Panasonic and Samsung will bundle products this year in order to capitalise on Blu-ray's win. 

As for the actual DVDs themselves, very few Blu-ray titles are currently available in New Zealand and those that are are considerably more expensive than their standard DVD counterparts. The titles are zoned, meaning some overseas titles won't play in locally purchased players, so make sure when you're buying movies that they're the right zone for your player. Movies available in Blu-ray at the moment go for $50, rather than your usual $20-30 for standard DVDs. Titles on shelves at a local CD and DVD store include 50 First Dates, A Knight's Tale and Cruel Intentions.

But as with the players, the titles will come down in price. You'll soon be able to rent them from your local video store too.

Earlier this month Sony Pictures Home Entertainment released its first batch of "BD-Live" Blu-ray titles, which can be connected to the Internet for extra features such as downloadable documentaries and picture-in-picture commentary. So far Sony has only released musical spoof Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and Arnold Schwarzenegger sci-fi thriller The 6^th Day as BD-live titles, but more will follow.

Movie producer Lionsgate released BD-Live versions of War and Saw IV in January.

BD-Live titles also have the potential to offer other web-based extras, such as ringtone and wallpaper downloads, peer-to-peer interactions, live virtual events and gaming.

If you can't stomach the thought of replacing all your current generation DVDs, there is always the upconverting option. Upconverting DVD players convert standard definition DVDs into almost high-definition quality, like the excellent Oppo DV-980H (see review online at stuff.co.nz/gadgets) at around $350, but you may need to order it in. The purists may argue that you won't get a true-HD experience with upconverting players but the difference is minimal.

Obviously you should steer clear of HD DVD players and titles.

But for those who made an early punt and went with HD DVD titles, you could invest in a hybrid player - capable of playing both HD DVD and Blu-ray discs. The Samsung BD-UP 5000 Duo HD and LGBH100 are the two hybrid offerings in the market, but only the Samsung player at this stage supports the HD DVD online interactive features.

Unfortunately, these players are pretty expensive. Expect to shell out about US$1000 (NZ$1250) and you may need to source them from overseas.

If you have an HD DVD player, it's not all bad news. The players are capable of upconverting DVDs and, as mentioned above, can be connected to the Internet for updated content. HD DVDs are also not zoned, and there's now more than 1000 HD DVD titles available at fire sale prices.

If you are going to invest in Blu-ray in the near future, it's a good idea to do your research. The players can vary greatly in capability and upgrades will soon be hitting the market. You don't want to make a purchase only to discover it will soon be obsolete.

If you can stand to wait until the dust settles however, the Blu-ray pickings on the market will be far more attractive in terms of both dollars and features.

 

- © Fairfax NZ News