Recently a report came out on NewsFactor.com which covered a very interesting presentation given by James Gosling at the Sun Tech Day in Sydney. Gosling is the "father" of the Java scripting language and is somewhat of an expert on what it can do. What makes this an interesting topic is the fact that Blu-ray's specification includes mandatory Java scripting support (BD-J or BD-Java). Java is what is used to provide the interactive menus on Blu-ray Discs. The inclusion of a Java Virtual Machine as well as network connectivity in BD Profile 2.0 (BD-Live) devices will allow updates to Blu-ray Discs via the Internet - updates which can add features and additional menu content not included on the disc at pressing time.
Discuss "Mind-blowing Blu-ray with BD 2.0? Maybe." here. Read the article.
What they are attempting to do is basically what the PS3 is or a mobile devices like the iphone are trying.
The most practical use of Java will be able to have a base OS or bios designed by the manufacturer.
When you boot up the machine you will have options to install java widgets that can be pulled up manufacturers custom website. If you install lets say the "Amazon Widget" you can go and type in your review of the movie after it is done.
Or want to pull up different style clocks or skins. Its really just there to connect people to the web and make the player more functional and more mobile/PC based. With plugins or widgets from studios it can make the move experience more fun.
At my current job we are doing this now for some of our equipment to make the user experience better.
The only way I can describe it is to throw in a VHS tape or Laserdisk.
And you soon think, where are the menus? Where are my options?
At first everyone just wanted to put in the disk and have it start. Now we expect more GUI options for controlling everything. The Java will be the next evolution of that as long as it does not hinder playing the movie.
Yes, but the question seems to be not what or how good the features are; rather it is whether or not anyone will even use them? Most supplemental features are novelty at best, as most polls on forums like this one show that the typical person does not watch the vast majority of extras. I do, but not for every movie and generally not every single extra. They are going to have to add some pretty significant content to get me interested in using the feature.
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Sorry, I still just want the movie to just start. I rip out all the rest. There has been one special feature I really liked, and that was the blue screen playback of the 300 HD-DVD
Sorry, I still just want the movie to just start. I rip out all the rest. There has been one special feature I really liked, and that was the blue screen playback of the 300 HD-DVD
Yeah. You mean the Pip feature on 300? Pretty cool. I don't know if BD plans on having this feature, but it makes 300 worth almost twice the price. We'll see if they can get it together on this one.
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In the words of the great Oscar Madison:
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Yeah. You mean the Pip feature on 300? Pretty cool. I don't know if BD plans on having this feature, but it makes 300 worth almost twice the price. We'll see if they can get it together on this one.
Yes, Blu-ray already has this feature per Profile 1.1.
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I gotta say, the percieved value is higher on a movie with lots of features. You feel like you are getting more for you money. That said, I've found most extra features to be a waste of time. That's not to say that there aren't some great ones out there. Most are just PR for how 'great' the director or actors are. I do like to see filmographies, which are more and more rare these days. I'd rather save the $5 and get the single disc movie only version.
Mind-blowing Blu-ray with BD 2.0? Maybe.
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