[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Well, this is MAJORLY disappointing...

There are lip sync problems on The Matrix.

The thread above is talking mostly about Toshiba players, but I have confirmed it with my 360 HD DVD. It is present with both the DD+ and TrueHD tracks. It looks like maybe the other two movies are OK, but that's not good enough.

Somebody must have been asleep at the wheel. I just don't understand how in the second year of the format this could have happened. I noticed the issues within 3 seconds of the first dialogue I heard, so it's not as if it isn't obvious. I don't know if it's a disc issue or a player issue, but either way, it shouldn't have happened, esp. with a huge release such as this one.

I bet it is a player software problem or at worse case they will offer a disk replacement. Pain in the ass though.

Good thing it isn't coming for a while on BR as they have time to fix it.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

I bet it is a player software problem or at worse case they will offer a disk replacement. Pain in the ass though.

Good thing it isn't coming for a while on BR as they have time to fix it.

Sounds like a batch of bad discs.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by goMac 

Sounds like a batch of bad discs.

You really got to wonder how a wide batch of disks ship where only the audio and video are out of sync on one movie of 3.

[aristotles]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

"Up until March 23rd, HD-DVD sales were doing pretty well in the European market. Then along came the PS3 and snagged 87% of HD disc sales for the following week. Blu-Ray is still selling pretty well, outselling HD-DVD by an average margin of 3-to1. This certainly bodes well for the PS3's success, considering earlier sentiments made by analysts and developers.

How well is Blu-Ray doing in other markets, compared to HD-DVD? In Japan, the figures are a lot higher, with Blu-Ray pwning 96% of the entire HD market. If Blu-Ray sales continue to beat out HD-DVD with additional market share, the next gen format war may have a clear victor. Now lets make quick with that Matrix Blu-Ray set already!"

SNAP!
Europe sees Blu-Ray sales boosted by PS3 - PS3 Fanboy

"This means that despite the PS3 being available for only one month of this four-month period, Blu-ray software sales account for over 64% of the total volume since the start of the year."

Here is another site reporting on the correlation between PS3 and Blu-ray sales:
DailyTech - European Blu-ray Disc Sales Jump Following PS3 Release

Were there not nay sayers here that said that the PS3 would be a small factor as it would have a small attach rate to Blu-ray?

With the recent Firmware update providing Blu-ray 24fps progressive (film) mode, super white, full RGB through HDMI and DVD upscaling, many people at the AVS forums are now hailing the PS3 as one of the best Blu-ray players on the market.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by goMac 

Sounds like a batch of bad discs.

?

Lip sync issues as described are almost never related to "a bad batch of discs".

[aristotles]

Originally Posted by Eug 

?

Lip sync issues as described are almost never related to "a bad batch of discs".

Agreed. It would most certainly be the result of a bad encode but one wonders where their QA and QC people were since something like that should have never gotten past the master disc.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by aristotles 

With the recent Firmware update providing Blu-ray 24fps progressive (film) mode, super white, full RGB through HDMI and DVD upscaling, many people at the AVS forums are now hailing the PS3 as one of the best Blu-ray players on the market.

Yes it is very very true and I had my doubts. Not only is it the best BR player it is the best and fastest HD player (HD-DVD included) period.

It is also the best up-converting DVD player beating even high end $1200+ players from Denon.

It is also better than most $500 stand alone upscalers.

And strangely enough for what you get it is also the cheapest.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by Eug 

?

Lip sync issues as described are almost never related to "a bad batch of discs".

Ya I was thinking the same but I didn't want to bring it up or he would ramble on for 3 pages how it is technically possible and it can happen to BR also yadda yadda.

On that note though my Bond #20 DVD had audio delays when I chose DTS and hooked it up to my Samsung DLP. On D.D. it had no problems.

So it might still be a problem with some players/tv combos or the audio track. I have no idea what options it has but try it on non-DTS and see if it helps.

[Eug]

VideoBusiness: Price drops lift HD DVD player sales

Toshiba’s recent price drop on its HD DVD players and aggressive retailer pricing over the holiday weekend have driven up sales as much as tenfold at some retailers.

Since Toshiba began offering a $100 instant rebate on HD DVD players, sales have grown between fivefold and tenfold, depending on the retailer, said Jodi Sally, VP of marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products.

“We’re thrilled to see that consumers are, by far, choosing Toshiba’s HD DVD players as their source for high-definition,” Sally said.

On May 20, Toshiba began offering the rebate on select HD DVD player models, effectively slashing the price on the bottom line HD-A2 model to $299.

Amazon.com cut the price even further, to as low as $238 over Memorial Day weekend. The lower price shot up the player to be the top-selling DVD player on the site, a spot previously held by the Oppo up-converting DVD player, which sells for $229.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

Ya I was thinking the same but I didn't want to bring it up or he would ramble on for 3 pages how it is technically possible and it can happen to BR also yadda yadda.

It would be called a bad encode... I would hope I'd be able to explain what a bad encode was to you in 3 pages.

[Eug]

The AVS buy-day-geeks were at it again yesterday:

Originally Posted by goMac 

It would be called a bad encode... I would hope I'd be able to explain what a bad encode was to you in 3 pages.

How is a bad encode "a bad batch of discs", unless you think every HD DVD copy of The Matrix ever made is "a bad batch of discs"?

[icruise]

There are two possible causes of lip sync problems. Either the discs were mastered improperly (which would mean that every disc would have the issue) or it is a compatibility issue with some players. I think the latter is much more likely, and it can probably be fixed with a software/firmware update. I can't conceive of any way a single batch of discs could be created with this kind of problem.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Eug 

How is a bad encode "a bad batch of discs", unless you think every HD DVD copy of The Matrix ever made is "a bad batch of discs"?

Same way a bunch of Macbooks that randomly shut down is a bad batch of Macbooks.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by goMac 

Same way a bunch of Macbooks that randomly shut down is a bad batch of Macbooks.

Oh pleeeeeasae

[Eug]

Sharp readies world's smallest blue laser for BD and HD DVD

Measuring just 3.3-mm in diameter, the GH04020A4G semiconductor will be available in ¥12,000 ($99) sample quantities starting June 13th before ramping up for mass production later in July. The device will suck 10mW from your laptop's battery while offering at least 10,000 hours of operation before giving up the ghost.

[Adam Betts]

Lie lie! That's a giant-sized pencil. They're trying to fool us!

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

Yes it is very very true and I had my doubts. Not only is it the best BR player it is the best and fastest HD player (HD-DVD included) period.
It is also the best up-converting DVD player beating even high end $1200+ players from Denon.
It is also better than most $500 stand alone upscalers.
And strangely enough for what you get it is also the cheapest.

Couldn't agree more. Amazing how one firmware update changed PS3 for the better by far.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Spider-Man will do VERY well. I'm not convinced 300 will do as well, but it will also do well nonetheless.

I disagree about Matrix and Pirates. I think Pirates will do better, because:

1) Pirates 1 & 2 are more recent movies.
2) They're separate discs, which are cheaper than the Complete and Ultimate Matrix box sets.
3) They were released just prior to Pirates 3 showing up in the theatre.
4) A lot of PS3ers did in fact go apeshit over Pirates (for reasons I don't quite understand).

P.S. Pirates 3 is getting crappy reviews. Even worse than Spider-Man 3 (which I hated). Despite this, I think Pirates 3 will do well on Blu-ray too.

Numbers:

Within a week, consumers had spent more than $2 million on those releases alone, according to Home Media Magazine market research estimates. The two “Pirates” films sold a combined total of nearly 47,000 units, while the higher-priced “Matrix” sets sold about 13,900 units.

In dollars, there was much more parity, since the single-disc “Pirates” releases fetched about $25 in stores, while the “Matrix” sets, each with all three movies in the franchise, were priced significantly higher. The five-disc “The Ultimate Matrix Collection” lists for $119.99, with an Amazon.com price of $73.95, while “The Complete Matrix Trilogy” (three discs) goes for $99.99 (Amazon, $63.95).

Summary:

Pirates unit sales: 47000 copies combined.
Matrix unit sales: 13900 box sets combined (but at 3X the price).

Pirates revenue, using Amazon's pricing: $1124650
Matrix revenue, using Amazon's pricing: $888905 - 1027905

Pirates revenue, using MSRP: $1644530
Matrix revenue, using MSRP: $1389861 - 1667861

Judging by these numbers, I'd guess that Pirates on Blu-ray generated about $1.2 million of revenue, and that Matrix on HD DVD generated about $1 million of revenue.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Meh, personally the last thing I care about is how much money either side makes from sales.

[mrtew]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

Meh, personally the last thing I care about is how much money either side makes from sales.

Really? The last thing I care about is how much money 8-tracks made before being beaten by casettes.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

So any official word on why the matrix has audio delays?

[Eug]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

So any official word on why the matrix has audio delays?

Well, one MS guy emailed me back to say that at least superficially, it doesn't sound like a problem with the Xbox 360 HD DVD player. I'm inclined to believe them, because they did acknowledge the various sync issues they had with other discs and have fixed them. Furthermore, Toshiba standalones are having the same issue with The Matrix HD DVD. (Note though that most report that Reloaded and Revolutions are fine. The problem seems to be specifically with the first Matrix.)

The issue is mild, but if you have a TV like mine with no significant video lag, it does become noticeable, esp. for someone like me who gets annoyed with these things quite easily. If you have a Samsung DLP though, because of their inherent video lag, it'd probably sound just great.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by Eug 

I'm inclined to believe them, because they did acknowledge the various sync issues they had with other discs and have fixed them. Furthermore, Toshiba standalones are having the same issue with The Matrix HD DVD.

Did they admit these other problems so soon or later down the road? What other audio delays did the add on drive have and when did they fix it?

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Well, one MS guy emailed me back to say that at least superficially, it doesn't sound like a problem with the Xbox 360 HD DVD player. I'm inclined to believe them, because they did acknowledge the various sync issues they had with other discs and have fixed them. Furthermore, Toshiba standalones are having the same issue with The Matrix HD DVD. (Note though that most report that Reloaded and Revolutions are fine. The problem seems to be specifically with the first Matrix.)

So you're saying this is something like... a batch of bad discs?

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by goMac 

So you're saying this is something like... a batch of bad discs?

Bunch? I don't think all the disks for ep1 that came in the trilogy is just a "bad batch". Obviously they did something different with them and ****ed up and it passed quality control.

[Eug]

Week ending May 27, 2007 top 10 hidef unit sales (not revenue):

1 POTC: Dead Man's Chest BD 100.00
2 POTC: Black Pearl BD 89.35
3 Apocalypto BD 73.73
4 Ultimate Matrix Coll HD 33.28
5 Letters from Iwo Jima BD 26.68
6 Complete Matrix Coll HD 25.88
7 Letters from Iwo Jima HD 22.06
8 Planet Earth HD 17.55
9 Casino Royale BD 13.64
10 Flags of our Fathers BD 11.86

Originally Posted by goMac 

So you're saying this is something like... a batch of bad discs?

No. I'm saying that it may be that ALL copies of The Matrix disc are wrong, not just some of the batches, because the disc itself is authored incorrectly.

A "bad batch of discs" usually means there's something wrong with the pressings. If that were the case, all you'd have to do is exchange the disc and everything should be fine.

[mduell]

One major retailer (best buy? circuit city?) was selling the matrix trilogy hd for $21, so the price difference above could be much smaller if that's where the majority of the units where.

[icruise]

Originally Posted by mduell 

One major retailer (best buy? circuit city?) was selling the matrix trilogy hd for $21, so the price difference above could be much smaller if that's where the majority of the units where.

Are you sure about that? Why would any retailer sell something like the Matrix box set for $21? Unless it was a misprice.

EDIT: Or unless you meant to be referring to the Pirates movies instead...

[Eug]

Yeah, Circuit City had one of the Matrix trilogies mispriced for $21 for a day. I wonder how many shipped. 1000? If so, that'd drop the total revenue by $50000 or something like that.

Originally Posted by Eug 

Week ending May 27, 2007 top 10 hidef unit sales (not revenue):

1 POTC: Dead Man's Chest BD 100.00
2 POTC: Black Pearl BD 89.35
3 Apocalypto BD 73.73
4 Ultimate Matrix Coll HD 33.28
5 Letters from Iwo Jima BD 26.68
6 Complete Matrix Coll HD 25.88
7 Letters from Iwo Jima HD 22.06
8 Planet Earth HD 17.55
9 Casino Royale BD 13.64
10 Flags of our Fathers BD 11.86

Note that the BD version of Letter from Iwo Jima outsold the HD version 1.2:1.

Top 5 Blu-ray
1 Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest 100.00
2 Pirates of the Caribbean: Black Pearl 89.35
3 Apocalypto 73.73
4 Letters from Iwo Jima 26.68
5 Casino Royale 13.64

Top 5 HD DVD
1 Ultimate Matrix Collection 100.00
2 Complete Matrix Collection 77.99
3 Letters from Iwo Jima 66.30
4 Planet Earth 52.73
5 The 40-Year Old Virgin 26.96

[mduell]

It was CircuitCity selling the Complete Matrix Trilogy for $20 plus $1 shipping. I assumed it was a promo, but it could have been a mistake.

[Eug]

It would seem that the Toshiba HD DVD player sale is having at least some effect. There have been some HD DVD disc unit sales wins (black) in some categories in the last 5 days at Amazon. You can discount the May 28 date though, since that was an organized HD DVD geek disc buy day.



I wouldn't expect this to last in the near term, but it is interesting nonetheless.

Originally Posted by mduell 

It was CircuitCity selling the Complete Matrix Trilogy for $20 plus $1 shipping. I assumed it was a promo, but it could have been a mistake.

As I mentioned before, it was a pricing error. They corrected it shortly and cancelled orders from those who ordered multiple copies. They did send some of the single orders though.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Adam Betts 

Couldn't agree more. Amazing how one firmware update changed PS3 for the better by far.

I must admit I'm impressed by the new PS3 firmware. DVD's look very nice on it. If I was interested in the PS3 as a game machine I would pick one up now.

But the PS3 is still expensive as a high def player. It doesn't have IR so I can't use a standard remote with it. And with the new firmware (my friend who I watch Lost marathons with has one), the fans kick on and it puts out a lot of heat while upconverting. My friend fortunately got the PS3 remote (and he'd prefer if the PS3 worked with his Harmony), but the default interface for the controller just sucks. Why buy a $600 PS3 when I can pick up an HD-DVD player for $200-$250 that will work with my remote?

[Uriel]

Yah I slipped in on the $20 CC Matrix deal. Should be getting mine soon.

[exca1ibur]

Originally Posted by goMac 

Why buy a $600 PS3 when I can pick up an HD-DVD player for $200-$250 that will work with my remote?

Because they might be buying it to watch Blu ray movies? In that case it's the best option in town.

The IR stuff isn't a big deal for me personally, as I don't have to worry about line of sight and get a better range with Bluetooth. Also navigating the XMB isn't as difficult as most people think.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by exca1ibur 

Because they might be buying it to watch Blu ray movies? In that case it's the best option in town.

The IR stuff isn't a big deal for me personally, as I don't have to worry about line of sight and get a better range with Bluetooth. Also navigating the XMB isn't as difficult as most people think.

The Bluetooth remote for the PS3 is nice enough. However, I hate using multiple remotes. Lack of IR is a major limitation in my book.

Why Sony doesn't just release a $29 IR receiver and update the firmware to support it is beyond me.

[icruise]

As I have mentioned several times, you can already use a USB-to-IR adapter with the PS3, which will allow you to use a universal remote. Sony doesn't make an official one right now (although you may still be able to find the one that they sold for the old PS2) but you can use a generic one made for PCs. This really is a non-issue.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by icruise 

As I have mentioned several times, you can already use a USB-to-IR adapter with the PS3, which will allow you to use a universal remote. Sony doesn't make an official one right now (although you may still be able to find the one that they sold for the old PS2) but you can use a generic one made for PCs. This really is a non-issue.

I've read some of those posts from various places around the net. Not only is it not supported, more importantly, apparently not all the commands work.

Or have they since fixed this?

[icruise]

What commands in particular don't work? I have the Bluetooth remote, so I don't use the IR remote regularly, but I have used one. The IR input may be limited to what you can do with the controller (so there may be extra commands on the Bluetooth remote) but you can certainly use all of the usual commands that you would expect from a remote, and bring up the on-screen menu for whatever advanced options you might want to use.

[aristotles]

Originally Posted by goMac 

Why buy a $600 PS3 when I can pick up an HD-DVD player for $200-$250 that will work with my remote?

Because:
- It is a game console that plays PS2 games upscaled in addition to PS3 games
- It is a good Blu-ray player.
- It is one of the best upscaling DVD players for the money.
- It can function as a streaming media extender for their PC or Mac
- It can be used to view Photos or H264 encoded home movies copied from a PC via DVD, CD or USB Mass storage device or from an HD camera that records in AVC format.
- It is a great CD/Super Audio CD player.
- It can play back your DRM free AAC or MP3s.
- You can surf the web from your couch.
- It works with any USB keyboard/mouse including wireless MSFT sets.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by aristotles 

Because:
- It is a game console that plays PS2 games upscaled in addition to PS3 games
- It is a good Blu-ray player.
- It is one of the best upscaling DVD players for the money.
- It can function as a streaming media extender for their PC or Mac
- It can be used to view Photos or H264 encoded home movies copied from a PC via DVD, CD or USB Mass storage device or from an HD camera that records in AVC format.
- It is a great CD/Super Audio CD player.
- It can play back your DRM free AAC or MP3s.
- You can surf the web from your couch.
- It works with any USB keyboard/mouse including wireless MSFT sets.

Game consoles are a limited market. $600 game consoles are an even more limited market.

If you want all of that, then great. However, if you don't, then $600 is FAR too much money when $250 players are already available.

---

Well, I've been operating under false information. I thought the mandatory Hallowe'en specs for Blu-ray 1.1 require secondary video, secondary audio, ethernet, and significant local memory storage.

Nope. Ethernet only comes with BD Live 2.0 (whenever that may be), and is still gonna be optional.

So, it this means that only higher priced Blu-ray players, perhaps by some time in 2008, will finally be able to match the feature set of even the most basic of HD DVD players, even ones released in Q1 2006.

[icruise]

What does an HD-DVD/Blu-ray player do with an ethernet connection?

[aristotles]

Originally Posted by icruise 

What does an HD-DVD/Blu-ray player do with an ethernet connection?

Firmware upgrades?

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by icruise 

What does an HD-DVD/Blu-ray player do with an ethernet connection?

DRM ?

Personally I can't wait until all of this ends. So I can buy a new BD/HDDVD player. I'm sick of the format war.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by Eug 

So, it this means that only higher priced Blu-ray players, perhaps by some time in 2008, will finally be able to match the feature set of even the most basic of HD DVD players, even ones released in Q1 2006.

Ya customers are clamoring for ethernet ports and Java 1.1. That's the #1 reason why everyone is holding back and BR is losing.

no wait a minute, they want capacity and titles that is why they are winning. All the ethernet ports $250 and PiP HD isn't in the lead even though it has sooo many advantages and is dirt cheap and got a head start.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by icruise 

What does an HD-DVD/Blu-ray player do with an ethernet connection?

Additional downloadable content. And yeah it does make it easier for downloadable upgrades too, although one can do that with burned discs too.

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

Ya customers are clamoring for ethernet ports and Java 1.1. That's the #1 reason why everyone is holding back and BR is losing.

no wait a minute, they want capacity and titles that is why they are winning. All the ethernet ports $250 and PiP HD isn't in the lead even though it has sooo many advantages and is dirt cheap and got a head start.

Ironically, the reason why Blu-ray is doing better at the moment is the PS3, and that has an ethernet port and is probably the only existing player that will eventually support both Profile 1.1 and Profile 2.0.

In truth though, I agree that these features won't determine the outcome of the war. Price of standalones will, and $599 Sony and Panasonic players certainly aren't going to look very good come this fall.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by aristotles 

Because:
- It is a game console that plays PS2 games upscaled in addition to PS3 games

I don't own or want any PS2 games.

Originally Posted by aristotles 

- It is a good Blu-ray player.

HD-DVD is cheaper.

Originally Posted by aristotles 

- It is one of the best upscaling DVD players for the money.

Toshiba A2 can upconvert and is far cheaper.

Originally Posted by aristotles 

- It can function as a streaming media extender for their PC or Mac

It doesn't have iTunes Store support, so it's useless to me as a streamer. HD-DVD + Apple TV would be a better solution for me.

Originally Posted by aristotles 

- It can be used to view Photos or H264 encoded home movies copied from a PC via DVD, CD or USB Mass storage device or from an HD camera that records in AVC format.

My TV has Firewire and USB, and already has this functionality built in.

Originally Posted by aristotles 

- It is a great CD/Super Audio CD player.

CD's are so 1999.

Originally Posted by aristotles 

- It can play back your DRM free AAC or MP3s.

Again, I buy from iTunes so this is a problem. AppleTV plus HD-DVD is cheaper and can do the same thing.

Originally Posted by aristotles 

- You can surf the web from your couch.

I've got a laptop which runs all the web client software out there.

Originally Posted by aristotles 

- It works with any USB keyboard/mouse including wireless MSFT sets.

Again, I have a laptop, and I'd prefer a real web browser with full plugin support.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

Ya customers are clamoring for ethernet ports and Java 1.1. That's the #1 reason why everyone is holding back and BR is losing.

Older players won't be able to play content that needs those ethernet ports or Java 1.1, which is where the problem is. Everyone who bought the older players is going to get locked out of new content (the PS3 maybe being the exception).

[icruise]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Additional downloadable content. And yeah it does make it easier for downloadable upgrades too, although one can do that with burned discs too.

So you're saying that HD-DVD players have the ability (and the internal storage required) to download additional content for movies? That's actually the first I've heard of that. Are there any titles that actually make use of this? My first instinct is that it's not a great idea. Why not just put the content, you know, on the disc?

[Eug]

Originally Posted by icruise 

So you're saying that HD-DVD players have the ability (and the internal storage required) to download additional content for movies? That's actually the first I've heard of that. Are there any titles that actually make use of this? My first instinct is that it's not a great idea. Why not just put the content, you know, on the disc?

Yes. It's mandatory for all HD DVD players to have at least some storage and an Ethernet connection, in order to support networking features. Such features can be stuff like downloadable trailers, alternate subtitles, interactive content, etc.

The first title with networking features is the Blood Diamond HD DVD. The reason you can't put some content on the disc is because it constantly changes. However, like I said, this is not going to make or break the format. I just find it odd that Blu-ray didn't incorporate this stuff right from the start, thus they've had to play catchup for all this time.

Warner Home Entertainment is bringing 'Blood Diamond' to Blu-ray and HD DVD this summer, in two separate-but-unequal versions sure to generate controversy amongst early adopters.

Unlike the studio's usual policy of releasing identical Blu-ray and HD DVD releases of a title on the same date, Warner will instead debut 'Blood Diamond' about a month apart, with the Blu-ray hitting stores first on June 5, followed by the HD DVD on July 3.

What's more, while both versions will share identical tech specs, including matching 1080p transfers, supplemental content will be far from identical. The basic suite of extras are the same, including a filmmaker's commentary, four featurettes and a music video; however, the HD DVD will include a raft of exclusive cutting-edge features not included on the Blu-ray release.

The HD DVD of 'Blood Diamond' is the first announced next-gen title to include web-enabled extras, including allowing viewers to use their players to offer opinions in Warner's online polls, as well as view other special features such as maps of conflict pertaining to war-torn areas in Africa.

Furthermore, the HD DVD boasts an In-Movie Experience (IME) video commentary with additional behind-the-scenes and interview footage. And for the first time on 'Blood Diamond,' Warner will include the new Focus Points feature that takes the viewer to exciting in-depth featurettes and production diaries.

[icruise]

I don't see anything about downloadable content there. Just those lame "web-enabled" extras.

[Eug]

So, I've finally watched The Matrix all the way through. The lip sync issue is definitely there, but it's subtle. I doubt most people will even notice it actually. In fact, if the TV has any video lag at all, you won't be able to notice the very slight audio lag from that disc. Indeed, it seems most people on the home theatre forums claim it doesn't exist, but I can assure you it does.

(As I've mentioned before, my TV is a CRT HDTV with no significant video lag, and any audio lag on that setup will be noticeable for some people who are sensitive to it.)

Originally Posted by icruise 

I don't see anything about downloadable content there. Just those lame "web-enabled" extras.

I guess you have a strict definition of "downloadable". If say a map is downloaded to your local storage, is that not downloadable content? Whether or not you think the features are lame is another question, but the point is all HD DVD players have this capability. The capabilities with this will only expand. Blood Diamond is only the first disc to make use of networking.

---

Sony BDP-S300 Blu-ray player is $499.99

The Sony BDP-S300 takes full advantage of Blu-ray Disc's superb picture and sound quality to deliver top-notch performance for your high-definition home theater system. It can output video in ultra-high-def 1080p resolution, for extraordinary depth and detail with compatible TVs. It's also one of the first components that can display images at 24 frames per second — the same frame rate used by film — for the most faithful and accurate reproduction of your favorite movies.

Future-ready color technology
The 'S300 supports new x.v.Color technology, which offers the potential of up to 80% more colors than you get with current high-definition programs. Read more

Details:
» plays Blu-ray high-definition discs (selectable output resolution: 1080p signals available through HDMI output only; 720p/1080i signals available through HDMI or component video)
» plays DVD-Video, DVD-R & DVD-RW, and DVD+R & DVD+RW
» plays high-def AVC-HD files on home-burned DVDs
» plays MP3 and JPEG files recorded to DVD
» plays CDs
» selectable 720p/1080i/1080p video upconversion for DVD
(upconverted video available through HDMI output only)
» built-in audio decoding for Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, and multichannnel uncompressed PCM
» BD-Java interactive capability
» Bravia Theatre Sync for control of compatible Sony TVs and components via HDMI
» HDMI digital output (combines video and multichannel audio with HDCP copy protection)
» HDMI version 1.3 with x.v.Color (xvYCC) support
» 1 set of A/V outputs (composite video, S-video, and component video)
» stereo and 5.1-channel audio outputs
» coaxial and optical digital audio outputs
» remote control (multibrand for TVs)
» 16-7/8"W x 2-13/16"H x 14-3/4"D
» warranty: 1 year
» Want more peace of mind? Extended Service Plans Available
» viewing high-definition Blu-ray content requires an HDTV or HD-ready TV
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