Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix HD DVD to debut new online community features
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is throwing a new wrinkle on the current list of web-enabled features when it hits HD DVD next month, as the Live Community Screening feature lets multiple owners watch together and chat during the movie. The host initiates the session by inviting other viewers -- no word on how many people are supported -- and synchronizes the viewing on all machines. Other features we've seen before like IME picture-in-picture track, favorite scenes and ringtone store also tag along, but we'll see if this Xbox Live-style community aspect is a hit with Potter aficionados December 11th.[Via Harry Potter Fanzone]
Filed under: HD DVD
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
JimC @ Nov 21st 2007 1:13PM
One question...what if one person has to use the bathroom, can they pause their playback or are they at the mercy of the "community" viewing? :-)
Pekingman @ Nov 21st 2007 1:21PM
Cool, I'll have to try that out on the new A3 I just bought from Amazon. I'm glad to see the Potter movies come out and add the more 'kid' lineup for HD DVD and round out their movies selection to balance out the BD Disney collection. I'm crossing my fingers Disney sees the light and goes neutral sometime next year.
HD4ME @ Nov 22nd 2007 5:50AM
Disney just might back HD DVD soon.
Disney voted in favor of Toshiba's new 51GB disc when the rest of the BD alliance voted against it, or abstained from voting.
http://www.xbitlabs.com/news/multimedia/display/20071119150942_Disney_Votes_for_51GB_HD_DVD_Media_Approval.html
Nfinity @ Nov 21st 2007 1:37PM
I'm pretty sure that Blu-Ray version will have things like this... NOT!
I find it always funny when I see those adverts "The Future is Blu!" .. it really is blue for BDA hahah.. The interactivity brought to consumers by Warner says a lot about their preference in the format war.
theefman @ Nov 21st 2007 1:52PM
So starting from approx $199 (or less if you got one of the Walmart $99 A2's) this is a feature ALL HD DVD players can take advantage of. What do you get for spending $400 and up on a blu ray player? Apart from the option to spend more money again to get the same features?
It really boggles the mind why anyone with half a brain would buy a blu ray player for so much money when HD DVD is delivering everything and more for much less.
JimC @ Nov 21st 2007 1:56PM
Seriously, who needs this functionality? There must be some seriously bored people out there to want to group watch a movie....at home.....one of the pluses for watching a movie at home is the ability to pause, rewind, go to the bathroom, make some more popcorn, etc....I'm sure there are people who will think this is cool and fun but I feel sorry for them.....one application for this would be a group review, perhaps between movie reviewers or perhaps a group presentation but for Harry Potter??? I'm sure some quality was cut somewhere to fit this useless functionality on to the disc....
HD4ME @ Nov 22nd 2007 6:01AM
@JimC
It may not appeal to you, but as a blu ray supporter, it's not something you have a choice with as blu ray doesn't have any of these extra functions.
Did you ever think that maybe there is a section of the community, other than people with your own one eyed views, that this might appeal too, or is your post just another typical negative blu ray response?
I guess I would be pissed though, if I has spent $1000 for a BR player which has none of the features a $100 HD DVD player has.
Eddie @ Nov 21st 2007 2:35PM
This is so kickass. I am so stoked to use this! This is one feature I would be jealous of if it were Blu only. That is seriously in all honesty, because one of my favorite aspects of playing online is all the banter between people. In fact, that's my favorite part of blogging! I love it. More community features, please!
A-biotic @ Nov 21st 2007 2:59PM
Wow! I know of nothing better than watching a movie with people talking in the background.
What's next, enabling a feature to randomly overlay the sounds of babies crying and annoying cellphone ringtones during the film.
Thank you, no.
theefman @ Nov 21st 2007 3:08PM
As usual, the blu ray faithful pour scorn on a feature their beloved format cant execute - until the feature is added then its the best thing since sliced bread. And seeing as its an OPTION it doesnt have to be used if you dont want to. I guess thats too complicated for people used to watching bit-rate meters.
JimC @ Nov 21st 2007 3:11PM
WB should stop wasting their time pandering to the lame crowd and emphasize quality of video and sound. I imagine this sort of being like Star Trek 2.0 on G4, where the show was being played with constant comments streaming underneath, I quit watching Star Trek on G4 because I wanted to *watch the show* not the stupid moronic comments from others watching the show....this has got to be the stupidest concept since PiP video commentary....and what's more, this stupid stuff will no doubt make its way on to Bluray, polluting an otherwise pure movie experience. This is a Bill Gates dream come true....don't get me wrong, I'm a Microsoft .Net software evangelists but there is a point when you have to just call a stupid thing stupid and this is it....
Spiza @ Nov 21st 2007 3:30PM
"Gather your own army of fellow wizards for a live community screening party. Invite other owners of the Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix HD DVD to simultaneously watch from their own internet-accessed players and text with your remote, PC or cell phone. When you host an invitation-only viewing, you control the film by pausing and playing the feature on everyones machine. You can chat live with your friends as you watch."
This is stupid. You're going to text chat with someone?
Interested Watcher @ Nov 21st 2007 3:36PM
Between a group of friends this could be an excellent idea.
As per the Blu-ray fans just whine about it cos their beloved format can't offer anything more than an ancient interactive CD.
HD DVD, simply the best.
misbarne @ Nov 21st 2007 4:03PM
I have both formats and this is one of the dumbest ideas ever. First off wouldn't it just be easier to just invite those people over to watch the movie with you or just you and the other person your watching the movie with push the play button at the same time and talk with that person on the phone? Second the temptation to use this feature to annoy the other viewing parties (pausing, fast forwarding) would just ruin the movie viewing experience.
Eddie @ Nov 21st 2007 4:04PM
lol I'm sorry this probably is retarded.
I'll let you get back to your bitrate meter, I've got a movie to watch with some out-of-town friends, anyway.
Even though I could visit them with all the money I saved on my HD content because I didn't pay my japanese overlords for the privilege to let them rule my living room.
shabbs @ Nov 21st 2007 4:39PM
Man - all you Blu-ray fanboys criticizing this feature are hilarious. Take a look around at what kids are doing these days? IM'ing everywhere, texting, twittering, connecting... it's all they do all the time. This is the perfect movie to make use of this. The "Potterheads" are going to eat this up.
Man, Blu-ray'ers are sounding like grumpy old retired people. "Who needs this Intarweb thingy... just write a letter and mail it over..." Just cuz you guys have to buy three rounds of hardware to get to where HD DVD has been from the start, don't be getting mad at us.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
desktoparchitect @ Nov 21st 2007 6:18PM
Has anyone here ever heard of either "http://www.joost.com" or "hulu" at "www.video.aol.com" They both give execelent Video of IP. Give it a try.
Philihp @ Nov 22nd 2007 3:06AM
This feature is about as useless as the on-disk games they bundle in with HDM. I'm sure I'll use this about as much as I use the contact-list functionality on my iPod.
EZO @ Nov 22nd 2007 3:22AM
Why do Blu-ray fans even care about anything that happens on the HD-DVD format ?
JimC @ Nov 22nd 2007 10:58AM
No, I'm just a sane person who thinks these features are nothing more than glitter on an otherwise unremarkable system. I have stated it before, I buy movies for some strange reason, to watch the movie...but beyond that, the concept here is stupid, pure marketing and obviously driven to push some online service. I recognize these as bait to get you suckered into buying something less than perfect, i.e. we can't give you the best possible representation of the movie but forget that! You can watch it together online with other people and text chat with them! Whoohooo! Look how great it is...all that glitters is not gold...
BTW - I didn't spend $1000, I spent $400 for my Samsung BDP-1200 on Amazon during a sale this summer....and I like it very much. I've watched the Spiderman Trilogy, Disney/Pixar movies, and the Pirates movies, and many great blockbusters that I can only get for Bluray. I made my decision for bluray simply because of the available titles, and that still stands....
HD4ME @ Nov 22nd 2007 6:27AM
As an HD DVD fan, this feature doesn't appeal too me, but I could see a lot of people getting a huge buzz out of this, so good for you.
It's just a shame the blu trolls are bucketing this feature purely and simply because it is something their far more expensive format does not have, and can not do.
To all the negative blu troll posters, whether you like this feature or not, this feature is called...
"NEXT GENERATION"
and that is something blu ray forgot all about in their grab for your cash.
h4ldol @ Nov 22nd 2007 7:44AM
Ooooohhh!! I can't wait to get this HD DVD so I can take advantage of all the latest and greatest HDi interactivity features! I especially want those personalized advertisements I've been hearing so much about lately, so that I can get the same hair gel that Harry Potter uses in that one scene.
h4ldol @ Nov 22nd 2007 7:50AM
HD4ME
You're so amusing. Disney go to HD DVD? Have you been to the mall lately and seen the Disney's touring blu-ray demonstration displays? Don't count on watching Ratatouille or Cars anytime soon.
btw, how many handles have you used in this thread? just curious.
Smee @ Nov 22nd 2007 7:28PM
@h4
Read the link fool, Disney voted in favor of the 51GB disc. Why would they do this?
Do you ever post anything that is not derogatory, negative or slanderous?
Just once it would be great to see a post from you that factually stated your cause, and not just pre pubescent childish nonsense.
You should just take your friend Cletus and head back to Broke Back Mountain where you came from.
Johnny Blaze @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:09AM
This is the only thing HD DVD can offer, good luck with the lags. In the coming months it's going to be really hard finding good movies on HD DVD because they are all on Blu ray.
Patrick @ Nov 26th 2007 3:23PM
>>>Johnny Blaze @ Nov 22nd 2007 11:09AM
This is the only thing HD DVD can offer, good luck with the lags. In the coming months it's going to be really hard finding good movies on HD DVD because they are all on Blu ray.
jake @ Dec 11th 2007 10:17PM
This feature is stricly for kids. Just like the HD-DVD players.