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Can they reproduce High Definition pictures from HD DVD's ?
Quick Question about BluRay players
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hexah
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I seem to recall you could get a combined Blu Ray and HD DVD for computers. I don't think it was a burner, it just played ROMs. It was available at great expense as it was new technology. Now that HD DVD is obsolete, it may not be made anymore.
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Thanks, but back to the original question......
hexah
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I assume you did search for dual Blu Ray and HD DVD players?!
With the obsolescence of HD DVD, there is no market for such devices. Blu Ray players only play Blu Ray as they were in direct competition with HD DVD like VHS and Betamax were. There is no point in them licensing the technology as there are no new releases that use the HD DVD format.
So, you are in a Betamax situation here.
That said, Blu Ray is still in its infancy. Take a look at the prices for read only drives and recorders for computer use...
The cheapest solution may turn out to be to buy the title again, but in Blu Ray and attempt to flog the HD DVD. There is no guarantee it will sell as it is of even less use than Betamax - you could record on Betamax many times, the HD DVD disc is not even big enough to be a frisbee.
With the obsolescence of HD DVD, there is no market for such devices. Blu Ray players only play Blu Ray as they were in direct competition with HD DVD like VHS and Betamax were. There is no point in them licensing the technology as there are no new releases that use the HD DVD format.
So, you are in a Betamax situation here.
That said, Blu Ray is still in its infancy. Take a look at the prices for read only drives and recorders for computer use...
The cheapest solution may turn out to be to buy the title again, but in Blu Ray and attempt to flog the HD DVD. There is no guarantee it will sell as it is of even less use than Betamax - you could record on Betamax many times, the HD DVD disc is not even big enough to be a frisbee.
hexah
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Due to the media companies supporting either Blu Ray or HD DVD with releases, but not both, it is quite possible the title is not available for Blu Ray and may not be released in that format for a long time. Or never, if you are unfortunate.
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Thanks, but back to the original question......
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If read the question correctly, they should display true 1080p.
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satelliteman said:
From a Blu-ray disc certainly, but if a HD DVD (discontinued format) disc is put in the player, will it show the 1080 version, the standard definition version, or neither ?
Blu-ray format is only 'recommended' to be compatible with DVDs and CD's, not HD DVD's, hence the question.
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The question was somewhat slightly vague (to me anyway). May not be compatible but would they upscale? Haven't the bucks to buy one and see but believe there are a small number of dual blu-ray/HD DVD players available.
hexah
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Does the TV or monitor even show 1080i?
Most peoples TV or monitor only extend to 720p plus some very thin black bars around the outside.
Most peoples TV or monitor only extend to 720p plus some very thin black bars around the outside.
Nelbert
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It won't show the 1080 version as the numerical aperture on a blu ray player is different to hd dvd player, (0.85nm vs 0.65nm) making it unable to read the 1080 layer. Both are different to dvd players (0.6nm).
Whether it'll play back the DVD layer or just give an unknown disk error for a single sided hybrid hd dvd is anyone's guess. In theory the dvd pickup in the head should read it as a normal dvd. Dual sided hybrids are a no brainer, just put it in the blu ray player like it's a dvd.
Blu ray players aren't required by any standards to have backward compatibility for dvd or cd. Most have a multiple head unit in them to give compatibility with dvd and cds though. These days it'd be a brave manufacturer making a BD only player without including dvd and cd support as a minimum.
Whether it'll play back the DVD layer or just give an unknown disk error for a single sided hybrid hd dvd is anyone's guess. In theory the dvd pickup in the head should read it as a normal dvd. Dual sided hybrids are a no brainer, just put it in the blu ray player like it's a dvd.
Blu ray players aren't required by any standards to have backward compatibility for dvd or cd. Most have a multiple head unit in them to give compatibility with dvd and cds though. These days it'd be a brave manufacturer making a BD only player without including dvd and cd support as a minimum.
Nelbert
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hexah said:
1080 scaling to 720 shouldn't introduce black bars, both are 16:9 resolutions. Any black bars would be in the source and visible at all display resolutions, or bad auto-magical zoom settings on the display.
Blu ray and hd dvd players will downscale the 1080p24 content on the disc to the resolution supported by the display if it doesn't support any suitable 1080 inputs (i/p/p24) or is forced to in the settings, otherwise the display will take the 1080 input and downscale it itself.
Downscaling is usually always preferable as you know what you're throwing away, whereas upscaling involves adding information that never existed in the first place.
Whether a 1080 display matters or whether you upscale or downscale is entirely personal. Some people see no difference, others spot it instantly. Depends on everything from your souce equipment, display equipment, source media encoding and most importantly your own eyes.
hexah
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Many people upscale to 1080i using a TV or monitor which can only show 720p at most. The upscaling of interlaced material to 1080i, then deinterlacing, and downscaling to 720p in the TV guarantees the picture is blurry. They may as well not even use HDMI.
This mistake is probably made by at least 80% of TV viewers with HD ready sets.
Of course, they have no idea that to get the best quality they need to match the output to the screen and switch it on 720p.
(The 'numerical aperture' referred to by Nelbert is the lens of the laser reader.)
(Note that DVD and CD compatibility has to be licensed and certified to meet certain standards. The body for HD DVD has already been dissolved. Why support an obsolete format anyway unless it is free and easy?)
This mistake is probably made by at least 80% of TV viewers with HD ready sets.
Of course, they have no idea that to get the best quality they need to match the output to the screen and switch it on 720p.
(The 'numerical aperture' referred to by Nelbert is the lens of the laser reader.)
(Note that DVD and CD compatibility has to be licensed and certified to meet certain standards. The body for HD DVD has already been dissolved. Why support an obsolete format anyway unless it is free and easy?)
hexah
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Nelbert said:
Most LCD televisions are WXGA 1360×768pixels.
720p is 1280×720.
Hence there are thin black bars around the outside.
If there aren't then you are not getting 1:1 pixel and the image will not be as sharp due to interpolation to fill the entire screen.
Televisions that are at least 1920×1080 can show 1080i or 1080p. Ideally at 1:1 pixel or interpolation will remove sharpness.
Nelbert
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ah, I see what you mean now. I was thinking more 1080 source on 720 than sd on 720. I watch so little sd content these days, much less than I expected. At a normal viewing distance (12-13ft for me) is 1280x720 vs WXGA native noticable?
You'll probably find the 80% who get it wrong don't care about anything as long as pictures appear when they switch everything on. A recent survey found most people who'd bought HD Ready TVs recently thought they were receiving HD programs. Same as a scary number of the young generation think an mp3s are the pinnacle of audio quality.
Back on topic, I don't think the vague Q from the OP was about prolonging dead technology in modern equipment, but that hybrid HD DVDs could be played in a DVD player so what happens if you stick them in a blu ray player. Do they play and if so are they HD? Could be way off the mark though.
You'll probably find the 80% who get it wrong don't care about anything as long as pictures appear when they switch everything on. A recent survey found most people who'd bought HD Ready TVs recently thought they were receiving HD programs. Same as a scary number of the young generation think an mp3s are the pinnacle of audio quality.
Back on topic, I don't think the vague Q from the OP was about prolonging dead technology in modern equipment, but that hybrid HD DVDs could be played in a DVD player so what happens if you stick them in a blu ray player. Do they play and if so are they HD? Could be way off the mark though.
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According to _http://hometheater.about.com/od/blurayhddvdfaqs/f/blurayhddvd7.htm
So if you could find a BluRay player of that vintage then it MAY also play HD DVD discs. Otherwise not.
_http://ezinearticles.com/?Will-Blu-Ray-Play-HD-Discs-?&id=587838 suggests
So if you could find a BluRay player of that vintage then it MAY also play HD DVD discs. Otherwise not.
_http://ezinearticles.com/?Will-Blu-Ray-Play-HD-Discs-?&id=587838 suggests
So make of that what you will!
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Nelbert said:
Vague ?
What you have suggested in your response is exactly what I was asking.
I found one HD DVD (V for Vendetta) in a job lot of discs, the next stage is to find somebody with a Blu-ray box.
Your earlier post on wavelengths suggests it wont touch it (at least for the HD version).
hexah
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Blu Ray and HD DVD and DVD have different physical properties and require different laser pick up heads to read them.
Just as importantly they have different software layers for disc menus, navigation and interactivity.
All of this is proprietary technology that has to be licensed then implemented with different hardware in one unit.
All of which is very expensive.
So there were very few players produced that could play both formats - and they cost a lot then.
Bear in mind HD in HD DVD stands for 'High Density'. It is not a DVD disc that has HD content. There are standard DVDs with a high bit-rate. Very few were made, not least because mature codecs meant that the vast majority of people couldn't tell the difference between the high bit-rate DVD and the standard edition. They are not HD DVDs, just ordinary DVDs with a maximum bit-rate.
Remember that the licensing body for HD DVD was dissolved a couple of years ago.
Recall that the software is proprietary.
Recall that in my first post I suggested using a computer. That is because it is usually the only way to get round all the proprietary software, assuming the right hardware is available to read it.
So, you have an ironically named new coaster?
Or, to put it another way, can you get Optus D1 at 160e in London?
Just as importantly they have different software layers for disc menus, navigation and interactivity.
All of this is proprietary technology that has to be licensed then implemented with different hardware in one unit.
All of which is very expensive.
So there were very few players produced that could play both formats - and they cost a lot then.
Bear in mind HD in HD DVD stands for 'High Density'. It is not a DVD disc that has HD content. There are standard DVDs with a high bit-rate. Very few were made, not least because mature codecs meant that the vast majority of people couldn't tell the difference between the high bit-rate DVD and the standard edition. They are not HD DVDs, just ordinary DVDs with a maximum bit-rate.
Remember that the licensing body for HD DVD was dissolved a couple of years ago.
Recall that the software is proprietary.
Recall that in my first post I suggested using a computer. That is because it is usually the only way to get round all the proprietary software, assuming the right hardware is available to read it.
So, you have an ironically named new coaster?
Or, to put it another way, can you get Optus D1 at 160e in London?
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OK, this is the one
Legit looking in both hologram, transparent red cover, detail, and (unused)disc
1080P High Definition mentioned on back cover as the main feature, and 1080p and 480i/480p for the special features.
Disc number is H1, or HD 81030
_http://findvinylrecords.com/shop/Operation=ItemLookup&ItemId=B000I2JKFG&templates=default
Legit looking in both hologram, transparent red cover, detail, and (unused)disc
1080P High Definition mentioned on back cover as the main feature, and 1080p and 480i/480p for the special features.
Disc number is H1, or HD 81030
_http://findvinylrecords.com/shop/Operation=ItemLookup&ItemId=B000I2JKFG&templates=default
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hexah
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Channel Hopper said:
That is the correct HD DVD as in 'High Density' DVD logo. So that confirms it as the obsolete format. Here it is, for comparison. _http://www.wp-hometheater.com/imindex/HD%20DVD%20logo2.jpg
Channel Hopper said:
The 480i/480p special features are the special features that were in the normal standard definition DVD release. They have reused them for the HD 'High Denisty' DVD release.
A quick look at flea bay suggests you might get a couple of quid for it. If you could find a buyer.
The ordinary DVD can be had for a couple of quid and I expect almost everyone would go for that as most people seem to have DVD players these days.
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