Blu-Ray is the worst tech of 2008, as bad as all forms of DRM (Yahoo)

[ManaByte]

http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/111749/the-best-and-worst-tech-products-of-2008/

The Worst

Blu-ray - I'm happy to see that Blu-ray players have come down in price... but the media has not, and there's no way I'm paying $25 to watch Step Brothers. Plus the technology is still, bafflingly, dog-slow. There's a very loud and vocal minority that insists that Blu-ray will be a huge success. The market would seem to indicate otherwise.

Mint.com - Lots of writers hail Mint.com's finance tracking system as the best thing since Coca-Cola Classic, but after weeks with the service I've never gotten it to work right. It still can't grab all my account information from one of the biggest banks in the world... and every month I am (wrongly) chastised for spending over $5,000 on groceries, the category into which all my spending is invariably dumped.

DRM in All Its Forms - Why does DRM still exist? It's so aggravating and generates so many lawsuits that promising products like RealDVD get sued off the planet within days of launching. Three months after launch, RealDVD is still "temporarily" off the market as the company deals with a Hollywood lawsuit.

[Brehvolution]

What is dog slow?

[Joe Molotov]

Blu-Ray

D-VHS

[cool breeze]

The Worst

Blu-ray - I'm happy to see that Blu-ray players have come down in price... but the media has not, and there's no way I'm paying $25 to watch Step Brothers. Plus the technology is still, bafflingly, dog-slow. There's a very loud and vocal minority that insists that Blu-ray will be a huge success. The market would seem to indicate otherwise.

The Best

Sony Xperia X1 - If it weren't for the $800 price tag, you'd see X1 handsets in the hands of all the digerati instead of the iPhone. (Yeah, I like the iPhone 3G, too, but the atrocious battery life is cause enough to keep it off this year's "best" list.)

what a distinguished mentally-challenged fellow

[hyp]

as much as i love blu-ray movies, he's right about the slow part. 

fucking LOADING SCREENS on my dvds, get the fuck outta here with that.

[Vizzys]

yeah you guys havent seen those ajax like loading circles on blurays?

[cool breeze]

I don't know the X1 is pretty impressive.

the Xperia is awesome and only shows that SE makes the best phones

it's just that the guy who wrote it completely avoids the price argument with the Xperia (EIGHT HUNDRED DOLLARS) and has that as his main point against blu ray

[Jansen]

well bluray loading IS slow and the movie prices are LOL

i'll just continue to rent until they come down in price

[TVC15]

I'd be all over SE phones, but the price combined with the fact that many of the interesting ones I've looked at have some glaring flaw.  Then again, I did get an iPhone which has abysmal, terrible, embarrassing battery life, but I really needed a new phone and it was hot and cheap.

I am mostly done with BD.  The disc prices are too high.  I'll still get the big releases and what not, but they really aren't worth the price.  Also, the Criterions have disappointed me with their cheap cardboard cases.  Bomba Criterion.

[Bebpo]

Blu-rays discs are awesome.  It's just the players other than the PS3 are still shit. 
Also prices are already getting ok in price.  Off Amazon most movies are costing me about $22 w/no sales tax and free shipping.  I don't understand how everyone wants blu-rays to cost the same as dvds.  Then how would they sell dvds?  You don't sell a premium product at the same price as the lower product.  A $5-10 higher price is normal.  $5 would be preferable but right now most studios still want to charge $10.

The last dvd I bought was in 2005 or something.  I stopped buying dvds once I heard HD movies were coming so I wouldn't have to rebuy my collection.  I buy a moderate amount of blu-rays and I'm 100% satisfied with the discs and the PS3 as a player. 

The majority of movies that come out now come out on blu-ray and the quality is high enough at 1080p that I doubt I'll ever need to replace them with even HIGHER resolution movies.  So I feel like I'm building a lifelong proof collection of all my favorite films with my blu-ray collection.

[Great Rumbler]

Then how would they sell dvds?

By lowering the price?

They're actually doing the opposite these days, though. Regular editions is $20, but the special edition with extra features and digital copy is $25-$35, which I hate.

[TVC15]

If I am having a particularly phone-y day at work, my iphone battery could be half dead (possibly even more) by lunch time. 

I bet if I browsed the web on it until the battery died, I'd get about 2-3 hours.  Apple bomba'd on that battery.

[Shuri]

everybody i know is downloading those mkv bluray rips instead of buying them. They need to lower the prices

[TVC15]

everybody i know is downloading those mkv bluray rips instead of buying them. They need to lower the prices

And PS3 and 360 need to support mkv!

[Olivia Wilde Homo]

I wouldn't call Blu-Ray a bad tech.  It is just overpriced but the prices will come down.

I also don't think paying over $15 for disc media (DVD or BRD) is worth it.  Exceptions being boxed sets for obvious reasons.  Many BRDs I see going for $20-35.  Pass and I don't give a shit just how good it might look.

[Rman]

Blu-rays discs are awesome.  It's just the players other than the PS3 are still shit. 
Also prices are already getting ok in price.  Off Amazon most movies are costing me about $22 w/no sales tax and free shipping.  I don't understand how everyone wants blu-rays to cost the same as dvds.  Then how would they sell dvds?  You don't sell a premium product at the same price as the lower product.  A $5-10 higher price is normal.  $5 would be preferable but right now most studios still want to charge $10.

The last dvd I bought was in 2005 or something.  I stopped buying dvds once I heard HD movies were coming so I wouldn't have to rebuy my collection.  I buy a moderate amount of blu-rays and I'm 100% satisfied with the discs and the PS3 as a player. 

The majority of movies that come out now come out on blu-ray and the quality is high enough at 1080p that I doubt I'll ever need to replace them with even HIGHER resolution movies.  So I feel like I'm building a lifelong proof collection of all my favorite films with my blu-ray collection.

I agree.  1080p is basically archival material.

[Howard Alan Treesong]

If I am having a particularly phone-y day at work, my iphone battery could be half dead (possibly even more) by lunch time. 

I bet if I browsed the web on it until the battery died, I'd get about 2-3 hours.  Apple bomba'd on that battery.

this happened to me until someone told me to turn off wi-fi (like you ever use it at work)

with wi-fi off I get 2x-3x the battery life

[Rman]

Also, TVC, how many email addresses do you have added to your iPhone?  If you have push on that could also drain your battery.  Since the 2.2 update my battery last 2 full days, but that's with push email off and wifi searching off. 

[TVC15]

I'll try the wifi thing.

Also, TVC, how many email addresses do you have added to your iPhone?  If you have push on that could also drain your battery.  Since the 2.2 update my battery last 2 full days, but that's with push email off and wifi searching off. 

2 addresses, one gmail, one MobileMe (I know, I know).  I have Push turned off, and I think I have them set to check to fetch email every 15 minutes (I'd get 2ish days on my 8525 with the same setting).

[TVC15]

The battery life is really my only issue.  Well, I mean, there are "it would be nice things" like 32 gigs or more, or that sort of text messaging that people complain is missing (which isn't an issue for me).  I'd have difficulty coming up with bitching points for the phone.  It's not a clearly flawed piece of garbage like, say, TDK or PS3.

[Rman]

i am soooo close to getting an iphone, but it keeps sound like there are little niggling problems.

gah.

Just wait for the third revision them. It should be out by Summer 2009 if you are patient.  

Turning off wifi searching should work very well, TVC.  That's most likely the root of your battery problems.  The wifi radio is a major battery hog.

[FlameOfCallandor]

blue-ray

[TVC15]

and I doubt they will seriously improve the battery life, when you look at previous products.

Truth.  They are clearly hooked on their aesthetic.  The battery could easily be fixed if they let their phone be a few millimeters thicker, but nooooooo.

[TVC15]

blue-ray

TDK on Blu-Ray

[FlameOfCallandor]

blue-ray

TDK on Blu-Ray

Dark Knight is so awesome.

[FlameOfCallandor]

Dark Knight > Chungking express >>>>>>>>>> China town

[TVC15]

Part of that is correct.

[drew]

bangkok dangerous > tdk

you liburl politifuck schlub

[Eel O'Brian]

1.  yes, new release blu rays are too expensive, but older releases are dropping in price - i got the searchers the other day for $13, and i caught both bond sets on sale for $60 (six movies altogether, not a bad price at all)

i think they're realizing no one is really buying them so they're adopting a video game price model - $30 release to milk the gotta-have-its, then half the price a few months later for normal human beings

2.  what is mkv, and how can i get some

3.  i despise cell phones, but i kinda want an ipod touch, is the battery life for those extra shitty

4.  i don't have a 4 but i already typed the number

[Cormacaroni]

ah, the daily referendum on Blu-Ray. EB will be poorer for it when it dies.

[TVC15]

Eel, mkv is a video format (technically, it's a container format, right?) that for some reason is popular for HD content.  I'm not sure why it's popular for HD, but it is.  And 360 and PS3 don't support it.  It's supported widely on PC though, via codec packs and shit.

I think Prole has an iPod Touch, so he can probably answer your questions on it.

And I don't hate BD or anything, but the pricing pisses me off to no end.  I usually just buy DVDs since most of them upscale fine (except for low budget DVDs, but those sorts of flicks wouldn't be on BD anyway).

[DJ_Tet]

blue-ray

Aren't you a film student?  Why on earth would a film guy prefer digital download over blu-ray?

[Bebpo]

I guess I am biased on blu-ray pricing because when I was buying dvds in 1998 or whenever it came out -> 2004ish, I paid $25 a dvd for all like 500 dvds I bought over the years.  Then again 450 of them were anime dvds and anime pricing is apparently 'high' to normal people.

I also own about 50 R2 dvds that were like $50-100 each.  So yeah, blu-rays through Amazon seem normal priced to me.  Even anime ones that are $50+ like Honneamise or Jin-Roh.

PS.  I watch mkv rips of movies I wouldn't buy, but the quality difference between a rip and the original 50gig blu-ray is pretty damn noticable even on my 36" HDTV.  So I buy the blu-rays of anything I actually want to own.

[FlameOfCallandor]

blue-ray

Aren't you a film student?  Why on earth would a film guy prefer digital download over blu-ray?

I dont prefer digital download.

[Eel O'Brian]

yeah, i agree, and i think anyone who buys a blu ray from a retail store at full price is kind of a fool (or just has money to burn)

i have a few blu rays that i asked myself "did i really need to see this in hd" after watching

i've only bought a handful over the course of this year, mostly older films that actually show some benefit from being cleaned-up and remastered

right now i want the third man, and i also want casablanca, but fuck if i'm paying $45 for that collector's edition

[Eel O'Brian]

I guess I am biased on blu-ray pricing because when I was buying dvds in 1998 or whenever it came out -> 2004ish, I paid $25 a dvd for all like 500 dvds I bought over the years.

see, that's why i buy very few blu rays

i'm old enough that i have bought some movies three or four times over, from beta/vhs to dvd to "collector" dvd and now to blu ray, so i think i've paid quite enough already over the years to own john carpenter's the thing ($30 for the DVD back when it was first released  )

[Bebpo]

I guess I am biased on blu-ray pricing because when I was buying dvds in 1998 or whenever it came out -> 2004ish, I paid $25 a dvd for all like 500 dvds I bought over the years.

see, that's why i buy very few blu rays

i'm old enough that i have bought some movies three or four times over, from beta/vhs to dvd to "collector" dvd and now to blu ray, so i think i've paid quite enough already over the years to own john carpenter's the thing ($30 for the DVD back when it was first released  )

Well, most of the dvds I bought were anime dvds so I'm not rebuying stuff I already own on blu-ray since most blu-rays are live-action.  I've rebought a few movies like Chungking Express & Adventures of Baron Munchhausen, but only a few.  I'm content with the dvd versions of a lot of things that aren't my favorite films.

[Eel O'Brian]

i'll confess there are a few blu rays that, when released, i will buy without hesitation - even though i've already owned them several times across various formats (jaws being my number one)

[dammitmattt]

Blu-ray is a lot better if you experience it via Netflix.  I only own 3 movies (1 free Talladega Nights and 2 gifts - Planet Earth and Casino Royale).  I absolutely refuse to pay $25-30 for a movie.  But it's great to watch most of my movies and TV shows in 1080p.  Mad Men isn't the same without seeing every wrinkle in Jon Hamm's face.

And yes, it's slow as balls to load up on non-PS3 players.  Thankfully, I have a PS3.

[cool breeze]

are stand alone blu-ray players really that bad? I've only ever used my PS3

[TakingBackSunday]

I found Casino Royale on blu-ray for like 23 bucks at borders.  With my discount it was only 17 bucks :bananadance

[Bebpo]

are stand alone blu-ray players really that bad? I've only ever used my PS3

The one my parents have takes 5 mins from powering on until you are at the main menu of the film.  On PS3 the same disc would take like <1 min.

You literally have to leave and go do something else while it loads with standalones.  If all standalones were PS3 speed, it'd probably help the format.  Especially for those <$200 players.

[pilonv1]

I don't think there's anything seriously wrong with the current 3G, and I doubt they will seriously improve the battery life, when you look at previous products.

It's a shit phone. No MMS?

Price is affects my blu ray habits. I wait for 2 for 1 deals or not at all usually. Unless its soemthing like Futurama which I want to get.

[DJ_Tet]

blue-ray

Aren't you a film student?  Why on earth would a film guy prefer digital download over blu-ray?

I dont prefer digital download.

K why would you prefer DVD then?

[dammitmattt]

It's a shit phone. No MMS?

That argument is so tired.  It's annoying not having MMS, but email more than compensates for it, especially when most of your friends/family also have iPhones.

Why else is it a shit phone?

[Bebpo]

I don't think there's anything seriously wrong with the current 3G, and I doubt they will seriously improve the battery life, when you look at previous products.

It's a shit phone. No MMS?

Price is affects my blu ray habits. I wait for 2 for 1 deals or not at all usually. Unless its soemthing like Futurama which I want to get.

I don't even know what MMS is.  You kids and your fancy schmacy tech talk

[Rman]

multimedia messaging service.  it allows you to send audio and video clips.

[AdmiralViscen]

TDK blu-ray was absolutely terrible.

Fuck, why?

[djkimothy]

I guess if you can't promote HDDVD, may as well slag on Blu-ray.