First Blu-ray Drives Won't play Blu-ray Movies

aapold writes "Sony officially announced its BWU-100A product at its "Experience More 2006" event in Sydney yesterday, all the while acknowledging that there's significant room for improvement before the product is viable for integration into media centre PCs. Sony's product manager for data storage, told CNET.com.au that due to copy protection issues and lagging software development, the drive will only play user-recorded high-definition content from a digital camcorder, and not commercial movies released under the BD format." All this hullabaloo makes me want neither side to win. If only I didn't desperately crave HD content on my TV!

Genius!

[C0R1D4N]

That's gonna take the market by storm for sure.

Nothing to see

[anjin-san 3]

"Nothing to see here"

Yeah, I think that sums up the latest blu-ray problem

I'm sorry...

[doormat]

Is today April 1? Did I miss a memo?

They encourage piracy....

[krell]

But won't the player play BD content that has been cracked and then burned onto a BluRay disc in the format that the player will accept?

DRM is good

[Anonymous Coward]

See this just goes to show that DRM isn't a bad thing.

However...

[Anonymous Coward]

a future root kit developed by Sony is expected to fix this problem.

In other news...

[brainnolo]

rumors say that the first Blu-ray player won't even have a laser, because they want to introduce the technology gradually.

Ironic

[dasunst3r]

They reveal this during the "Experience More 2006" event, and yet users are NOT going to experience more with this restriction. I wish I could tag this "DUMBA**" like they do on fark.com. The "IRONIC" tag might work too.

But then again, suppose users are going to "experience more" headaches and nazi-like DRM.

Sheer moronitude

[Dachannien]

Sony Electronics: Well, we're ready to sell the first Blu-Ray players, but there's this little unfinished DRM issue preventing us from getting started before HD-DVD makes any headway.
Sony Pictures Entertainment: Sorry, we need our DRM.
Sony Electronics: We could be selling these players and achieving market dominance, though.
Sony Pictures Entertainment: DRM.
Sony Electronics: You could also be selling tons of brand new Blu-Ray discs now.
Sony Pictures Entertainment: Hello? DRM?
Sony Electronics: Our players could be in homes across America and around the world in time for the winter holiday season this year, and you'd be selling high def movies like hotcakes.
Sony Pictures Entertainment: What part of "DRM" don't you understand?
Sony Electronics: Fine, DRM, whatever. I just hope we don't become laughing stocks when we go to Australia this summer.

Also

[DysenteryInTheRanks]

"Sony also unveiled a 120-inch plasma screen television limited to black-and-white programming; a version of the PlayStation that only plays games toggled in on the front panel in assembler; and the 'BurnMan,' a silicon-over-plexiglass contraption that scans in and verifies $100 bills before slowly igniting them for your viewing pleasure, one at a time."

Great Idea!

[the jerk store]

...and says that despite not being able to play commercial content, the drive is still useful as a "storage device", .... The Sony BWU100A has a write speed of 2x and will be available this month for AU$1399.

I'm a little short on storage space in my house. I think I'll go buy a new Range Rover, put it on blocks on my driveway and fill it with junk from the attic.

You for got 4.5!

[Dr. Eggman]

4.5 Blame Pirates.

Hi, my name is Lizzy Fair!

[Travoltus]

Corporations should be the ones who decide media specifications and the role of consumers is to choose which corporate offering is best.

When corporations decide for consumers what to choose, that is capitalism, when consumers force corporations to make what consumers really want, that is called communism and America will not tolerate communism!!!

[libertarian parody off]

Mod parent down... GENIIUUUSSSSS!!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

Wow... Mod parent down for the must useless and off topic comment ever.
Nobody cares how obscure your music is, or what you listen to while you play some game.

Could be worse.

[Mike the Mac Geek]

You cut be cut, dried, and microwaved.

Fellow Pitchshifter fan here. Had to interject.

Re:if companies from the past behaved

[noidentity]

10-speed bicycles! (speeds are produced by owner pedaling at various cadences)

Here's the 56K modem version:

* 10th speed not usable due to FCC momentum regulations

Re:Is it really worth it, anyway?

[Moofie]

My best friend never forgave me for pointing out the line on Trinitron monitors. The best part is, I almost had him convinced that there was a line on his 36" Wega picture tube. That was fun.

Re:HD is overrated

[Anonymous Coward]

Hi-def porn, on the other hand, is great! Definitely better.

http://www.stilemedia.com/?v=ws-hd2.wmv [stilemedia.com] - click through the first ad. Alternately go to http://www.stileproject.com/ [stileproject.com] and search the page for "vid 2". (It's just regular porn in hi-def, nothing weird, if you're worried.)

A product of Libertarian education?

[Anonymous Coward]

"You, sir, are in idiot."

LOL...

Re:So much for Sony in the coming format war!

[bblboy54]

6. PROFIT!

Oh.. wait

Re:if companies from the past behaved

[monopole]

Next generation units will use bluray as a storage device an play video using UMDs. Best of both worlds!

so wait....

[SQLz]

The Blueray player can't play offical movies because of the copy protection...only pirated movies. Thats awesome.

I'll finish that for you

[Anonymous Coward]

and like shitty music.

Re:They WILL play blu-ray movies.

[Section_Ei8ht]

> Disagree. There just isn't enough momentum for people to be bothered hacking these, IMHO.

I disagree with your disagree. Jon Lech Johansen [wikipedia.org] of DeCSS fame is guaranteed to try hack the blu-ray/hd-dvd encryption. His goal is for a Winter 2006-2007 release of DeAACS. And you must remember, DVD Jon is not some one time hacker, as you can see by his long list of credentials [wikipedia.org]