First Blu-ray Disc with PiP profile 1.1 announced -- players please?

by Thomas Ricker, posted Dec 7th 2007 at 7:20AM

That's it, you're looking at a screenshot from the world's first Blu-ray profile 1.1 disc. The title is Neues vom Wixxer, available in Germany on December 10th. Ok, not exactly a global blockbuster but a first's a first. As such, it supports the "Bonus View" profile which adds decoders for secondary PiP video and audio. This disc in particular, takes advantage of the profile by integrating video commentary from the film's makers and actors. Unfortunately for our dear German readers, Michael Becker, CEO of Imagion AG authoring studio laments that, "no Profile 1.1 players will be available on the [German] market" when it's released. Conversely, the US has a profile 1.1 player (and whispers of another) and no 1.1 media. Sigh. That tittering you hear is the sound of HD DVD fanboys who've had this functionality since day one.

[Thanks Tim W. and Michael B.]

Filed under: Industry, Blu-ray

Tags: blu-ray, blu-ray profile 1.1, Blu-rayProfile1.1, bonus view, BonusView, germany, Neues vom Wixxer, NeuesVomWixxer, profile 1.1, Profile1.1

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

Kenzo @ Dec 7th 2007 7:55AM

Yayyy!!!

Now Bluray can do what HDDVD could do almost 2 years ago. WHOOHOOO!!!

Highest Ranked

Augustus @ Dec 7th 2007 8:10AM

Well at least it appears that Playstation 3 owners will have support for this by the end of the year: http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/07/sony-rumored-to-give-ps3-owners-blu-ray-profile-1-1-for-christma/

Neutral

ryan @ Dec 7th 2007 8:38AM

Though a sick, twisted side of me hopes they can't work it out with the PS3 it's about time blu-ray catch up with HD DVD in that regard. Of course those features that don't matter now according to them will be so cool in the end.

Highest Ranked

Tim @ Dec 7th 2007 8:42AM

Yeah, but Blu-Ray is cool because it's Sony and has 'Blue' in the name and package colour, and err, it sells "2:1".

Right?

;-)

Another point about profile 1.1 is how many players that are firmware upgraded to "support" it, will actually play all the features rather than just cope with such discs? PiP requires hardware support I believe that possibly not all standalone Blu-Ray players have.

But anyway, if you'd made the right choice in the first place you wouldn't have this problem ;-)

Still, go for style over substance, and end up with the worst format.

Neutral

TJ @ Dec 7th 2007 9:04AM

Blu-ray is cool because it has more studio support.

I have both formats, but I prefer Blu-ray simply because I can get more of the movies I want. In the last few weeks, I've only bought one HD DVD new release: Transformers. Everything else I've bought in hidef was Blu-ray. The only other HD DVD title I plan to pick up this year is Stardust (though I wouldn't mind getting Battlestar Galactica for Christmas...).

I've used the IME PIP feature once, on Batman Begins. It was cool, but I would rather have a format with no interactivity at all, and more titles, than one with fantastic interactivity (which HD DVD does have- and in spades), but not as many movies to choose from. Frankly, having movies like Pirates, Die Hard, and Spider-man is more important to me than having a pop-up window commentary during the flick. I'm lucky if I find the time to actually watch movies- the extras usually go unwatched.

That said, I won't complain when the 1.1 and 2.0 updates hit PS3. I just don't know that I'll actually use a lot of those features when it does.

Neutral

Eddie @ Dec 7th 2007 11:26AM

@TJ

Let me compliment you on a very fair commment. I can't tell you how sick I am of blu-fans throwing sales numbers around, I'm glad to hear somebody likes the format for what it actually offers, and I appreciate your take on the interactivity features.

+1 for you!

Neutral

HD4ME @ Dec 7th 2007 11:18PM

@TJ
So let me get this straight, you support BR because sony are withholding content from the other half of the market place in order too create a BR monopoly that will inevitably force consumers too pay a lot more $ for an inferior, unfinished, work in progress, DRM infested DVD player?
Mmmmm, seems logical too me, not.

Highly Ranked

wysiwyg @ Dec 7th 2007 9:50AM

I find it odd, (well, maybe I shouldn't), that engadget always call blu-ray supporters/fanboys, "blu-ray supporters", and hd dvd supporters/fanboys, "hd dvd fanboys". I guess it's a way to show which side this site is biased towards.

Neutral

Tom @ Dec 7th 2007 10:33AM

@wysiwyg

I suspect, in the context of this article, the term fanboy was used because only the HD DVD fanboys would be "tittering" whereas regular HD DVD supporters could probably care less.

Plus everytime this site tweaks some overly sensitive fanboy's nose they get more posts and probably more hits as well.

Neutral

BobW @ Dec 7th 2007 10:29AM

WOW! I guess HD-DVDers must have something to TWITTER about and occupy their time. While BDers are too busy watching all the new HD movies out on Blu-Ray!

Neutral

clasu @ Dec 7th 2007 10:51AM

mmmmmmm,I feel a firmware update for my ps3 coming shortly

Neutral

Mr. E @ Dec 7th 2007 11:08AM

As a Blu-Ray owner, I'm glad to see content providers stepping up to push the envelope in features. As more titles are released with profile 1.1 (and 2.0) features, it will force manufacturers to release hardware to support it. Or, in the case of my PS3, force Sony to update the firmware to enable it.

Highly Ranked

Eddie @ Dec 7th 2007 11:32AM

I'll second that "we've had this since day one".

I'm excited that Sony finally get these features out, if for no other reason than it will a) keep their development process expensive and b) finally shut all those blu-boys up about how much they don't want / need interactivity.

Actually seeing how long it's taken, paired with suspicion about future "revisions", reinforces my total lack of confidence in Sony brand products and services.

Neutral

mcrexx @ Dec 7th 2007 11:49AM

To the misinformed, Blu-Ray is more a PANASONIC product, than a Sony product. It's just Sony has associated itself with Blu-Ray much heavier Panasonic has, mostly due to the Playstation 3.

Neutral

Tim @ Dec 7th 2007 1:08PM

"To the misinformed, Blu-Ray is more a PANASONIC product, than a Sony product. It's just Sony has associated itself with Blu-Ray much heavier Panasonic has, mostly due to the Playstation 3."
Indeed, however I jokingly mentioned the "cool" and "Sony" words because that is exactly what the vast majority think and is one of the few reasons other than the name anyone really picks Blu-Ray in the first place!

@Greg...

"As per the mockery about "catching up", it's funny, because there's something called TL-51 with which Toshiba hopes to catch up too (after the short lived TL-45)"
I may be wrong, but I believe there is no catching up as all players should support TL-51. Or only requires a firmware update (and given that Internet connectivity is mandatory this is really no problem at all).

Better than some of the standalone Blu-Ray players which have no hardware support for profile 1.1.

But besides that TL-51 is not practically required to compete. Nice tick in the box, but largely irrelevant especially as Blu-Ray only uses it's extra space by wasting it on uncompressed lossless audio.

Unlike interactive PiP features which are a clear (and enjoyable) advantage to HD DVDs. Of course Blu-Ray fans dismiss this as irrelevant also, but once we start seeing some Profile 1.1 titles roll out, they'll change their tune very quickly demanding those PS3 firmware upgrades. Just have to hope they haven't got one of the older PS3s which are rumoured to not support 1.1 even with firmware ;-)

Neutral

Rick @ Dec 7th 2007 11:58AM

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe profile 1.1 specifies dual video encoders so Bluray is still catching up.

Neutral

Greg @ Dec 7th 2007 12:11PM

Rick, you're wrong, but that's ok :)
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9808376-7.html
By the end of the year, there will be two 1.1 capable players (The Panasonic and the PS3 -acutalyl the PS3 will be de-facto 2.0), and soon thereafter the Samsung Combo, and more players coming thereafter (including the Chinese players already ordered in production by European and US distributors).

As per the mockery about "catching up", it's funny, because there's something called TL-51 with which Toshiba hopes to catch up too (after the short lived TL-45) :) Not like there's something caleld BD 100 qand BD 200 coming either right? ;).

2007 will be the last time HD DVDers will have been able to find any feature that HD DVD had and not Blu Ray (Blu Ray having from the start superior storage capacity (for more content and superior audo/video quality, Bandwidth for exclusive encodes and also better Studio support).
2008 is the time where Blu Ray gets cheaper players (sub $300 early, cf Business Week article, and most probably sub $200 by mid/fall 2008), and all the awaited "interactive" features, that indeed didn't matter so much, such as PiP and online stuff.
Bummer that Toshiba couldn't win the market in 2007 with its super-cheap prices , sutdio buying tactics and "online features", because from now on, it's over.

Neutral

TJ @ Dec 7th 2007 12:12PM

"Let me compliment you on a very fair commment. I can't tell you how sick I am of blu-fans throwing sales numbers around, I'm glad to hear somebody likes the format for what it actually offers, and I appreciate your take on the interactivity features.

Thanks for that. I hate it when people (Myself included) are slammed simply for voicing their format preferences, and the logical reasons they have for them. I certainly couldn't fault a someone for choosing HD DVD if interactivity is more their thing and studio support doesn't concern them, especially with current prices. It will be interesting to see if Profile 1.1 or 2.0 really make a difference in all of this. For now, I feel dual-format is the only way to go if you're a big movie buff.

"To the misinformed, Blu-Ray is more a PANASONIC product, than a Sony product. It's just Sony has associated itself with Blu-Ray much heavier Panasonic has, mostly due to the Playstation 3."

Yeah, I like someone pointing it out. While I love my PS3, I'm definitely not a Sony fanboy. On the other hand, I love Panasonic products (I'm eyeing one of their 1080p Plasmas), and their Blu-ray players have been among the best released so far. I feel they get the short end of the stick with everyone assuming BD is a "Sony Proprietary product". The only thing that keeps me from jumping in on a standalone BD player is my PS3. However, if Panasonic were to offer a sub $300 BD Player next year, it would be pretty tough to resist.

I'm actually going to try to get my parents into HD this Christmas with a Panasonic Plasma, so maybe a Panasonic BD Player would be a great gift for next year. My mother is a Disney freak and loves Sleeping Beauty...

Neutral

LA26 @ Dec 7th 2007 12:29PM

On a side note Rush Hour 3 will be the first Profile 1.1 title to hit the US shores on Dec. 23rd. I believe.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/New_Line/Street_Date_Changes/Early_Arrival_Announced_For_Rush_Hour_3_Blu-ray/1242

Neutral

Rick @ Dec 7th 2007 12:32PM

I wasn't sure about the video encoders, that's why I said correct me if I'm wrong. I realize now that the term "catching up" sounded like trolling. The 1.1 specification still doesn't require Internet connectivity so technically Blu-Ray is still lacking a feature that the HD DVD spec requires. I agree that the two formats should be very similar technically by mid 2008, especially once 2.0 profile is available.

Neutral

snoopy @ Dec 7th 2007 1:47PM

Who actually cares about these lame features? I honestly don't know anyone who ever watched extras on DVDs. I just want to watch the movie. So it doesn't matter what Profile I have.

Neutral

navstar @ Dec 7th 2007 2:59PM

Say that after you watch the video commentary on Mission Impossible III or Smallville. On MI:3, JJ Abrams and Tom Cruise watch the movie with you and when they want to talk more about a scene, they actually pause the movie and continue talking. When they are done, they start the movie again. Very cool.

Neutral

snoopy @ Dec 7th 2007 3:06PM

Oh wow. Tom Cruise pausing my movie for me so he can yack his head off sounds like a lot of fun. /sarcasm

Neutral

navstar @ Dec 7th 2007 9:32PM

Guess what? 100% of all HD-DVD players have Profile *2.0* features right now!

Neutral

HD4ME @ Dec 7th 2007 10:34PM

What a brilliant read!

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07314/832733-96.stm?cmpid=business.xml

Neutral

HD4ME @ Dec 7th 2007 11:10PM

Isn't the shit going to hit the fan when the unwary BR owners start buying interactive discs and they find out the discs don't work on their $1000 players, yikes.

Neutral

h4ldol @ Dec 8th 2007 2:34PM

The PS3 will get a profile 1.1 firmware update before X-mas according to obviously rock-solid internet rumors. I could care less about all that interactivity doo doo that HD DVD fans are apparently infatuated with. I'd sooner Sony bring DTS-HD MA 7.1 channel internal decoding than a profile 1.1 update. Hopefully that will come soon too. Knowing Sony, it will. Thanks again Sony!

Highly Ranked

snoopy @ Dec 8th 2007 5:20PM

Profile 1.1 update for PS3 is 100% confirmed. Look for it in the next couple of weeks.

"I could care less about all that interactivity doo doo that HD DVD fans are apparently infatuated with."

Its because thats the only advantage HDDVD has had up until now. And even that is going away now. HDDVD is inferior in every other way. Even Paramount themselves admitted that they couldn't put lossless audio on Transformers because of bandwidth limitations. Kind of makes you wonder why they switched then.

"Indeed, I had the opportunity to attend a special 'Transformers' media event with Paramount late last week, and the question was asked almost immediately -- why no Dolby TrueHD or uncompressed PCM? The studio's answer was that due to space limitations on the disc, the decision was made to limit the audio to Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 Surround only (here at 1.5mbps). Unfortunately, this confirms the long-held theory that the 30Gb capacity of an HD-30 dual-layer HD DVD disc has forced studios to choose between offering a robust supplements package (as they've done here) and the very best in audio quality."

http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/1110/transformers.html

"Note that although I'm giving this audio mix five stars, that doesn't mean I agree with Paramount's decision to forgo high-res audio on this title. Without a TrueHD or PCM mix to compare this one to, there's no way of telling how much better such a track might have been, but based on the upgrade I've seen with other titles, I'm guessing a high-res mix could well have trounced this one."

Neutral

Superdynamite @ Dec 9th 2007 12:14AM

R.I.P
HD-DVD
2006 - Jan 7TH 2008

Neutral

David @ Dec 16th 2007 1:22AM

Finally, Bluray is getting what HD DVD has since day one over 1 and a half year ago...

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