Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

chrisl — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:10:26 GMT

tru2way (aka CableCARD 2.0) does indeed specify Java (OCAP) for use with interactive applications, however years ago Microsoft submitted .NET to CableLabs in order to provide them a way to do the same stuff using their own libraries. I assume this was approved, and yes Microsoft will have tru2way support in Windows Vista as soon as CableCARDs finishes the BOCR standard that the two have been working on for a long time. Those BOCR tuners will also likely use a distributed version of OCAP, which means part will be local on the PC and part will be running within the PC.

Now, had Microsoft been able to get their own technology into BD-J, Microsoft wouldn't be in this situation. However, they had a competing product (iHD) that didn't get approved by the BDA. At this point, the BDA can't approve anything new like iHD to Blu-ray because it would break compatibility with all existing players (those may or may not be able to be updated).

When this stuff is planned for, it's somewhat easy to deal with.

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

Sean — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 23:58:37 GMT

Since the new "tru2way" standard also relies on Java for interactivity, will Microsoft never work with the new CableCards?

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

Nick — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 16:01:50 GMT

You know I am not sure about this. When HD-DVD goes the way of the dodo, BluRay will be the standard. At the end of the day Microsoft is in the business to sell software. So if Bluray is the standard how can they realistically not support it? That would totally open the door for competitors in the media center sector, and we al know how much Microsoft likes competition.

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

Kevin — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:42:20 GMT

I am not too concerned about blu-ray. I want everything on my hard drive. I thought Managed Copy might be cool but it sounds dead. Both HD-DVD and Blu-ray use similar codecs. Just give me MPEG-4. The format war is really about the physical disk itself.

For the most part, I have given up on the notion that a HTPC will have all my movies. I am beginning to see no real point in buying movies. I have realized I do not consume them that way. It would be great to have a 1080p download rental service.

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

chrisl — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:03:38 GMT

When native playback is the question what the OS can support really doesn't matter. There is a lot of integration that would need to take place, and Microsoft wanted to use what they developed and not Java. And it is more than just locally in Media Center. Think Extenders too.

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

Al — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 05:55:01 GMT

But Windows can already run Java apps, why would it be such a problem to have the Blu Ray version of Java running in Windows?

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

chrisl — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 22:23:50 GMT

Until I get to writing the article, quickly Blu-ray uses what is called BD-J for interactivity. That can also include basic operations like menu selection. HD DVD uses HDi (iHD) which was actually developed by Microsoft and Disney (though, Disney only supports BD).

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

Adam — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 21:50:32 GMT

I don't really know enough about HD DVD and Blu-ray (frankly, I don't care who wins as long as someone does). However, I don't understand why Blu-ray requires Java? Surely it's just a format for holding data, so the code to retrive and decode that data could be written in anything.. Java, C#, Cobol... Who cares?! As I say, I don't know much about about the whole issue (I don't like big screens, and my little 28" LCD won't be noticeably better with HD content anyway). I'd be interested in the whole Java issue once you get the time to write your HD DVD vs Blu-ray article! (in the meanwhile, I'm off to Google to find out more!).

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

chrisl — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:47:32 GMT

Studio's are not going to cave on video DRM anytime soon, so don't expect anyone to have valuable DRM-free video content.

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

Shawn Oster — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 16:38:53 GMT

I'm happy to skip physical media HD entirely. If we could get the Marketplace, iTunes or Amazon to allow DRM-free HD purchases I'd be happy. No physical media, no packaging waste, less environmental impact, etc.

Given how few consumers even have HD TVs, much less a real understanding of HD DVD or BluRay there is a chance neither format will catch on and we'll leap right into digital content.

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

chrisl — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 14:48:04 GMT

On Blu-ray, I think it's the opposite from what you think Wayne. I'll explain more in another post.

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

Wayne — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 04:36:57 GMT

re: No BluRay in MediaCenter

This is another example of MS being stubborn and not giving consumers what they want and need (see my comments on Softsled on TGB). No BluRay in MCE will seem absolutely ridiculous in about 5 years when DVD is pretty much obsolete for high end Home Theaters. But then again, I use TheaterTek for DVD playback today!

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

Wayne — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 04:25:26 GMT

Southpaw I agree with you - the only way to do this today is with Webguide.

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

Crim — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 04:07:15 GMT

You do by MS adding resourse sharing into VMC. You've got one VMC system server with all the tuners and it's capable of streaming live TV content through out the house to networked VMC systems. This is how I always imagined "softsled" as working and I'm terribly suprised that MS hasn't gotten the message that this is a much needed feature (one that I am leaving VMC because of).

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

SouthPaw — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 03:45:32 GMT

No Softsled ever? Ok Then please tell me how to watch LIVE TV on my laptop when sitting on the porch using a wireless G network.

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

chrisl — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:32:19 GMT

The problem is Vista has got beaten in the press, and getting away from Vista is what Microsoft needs to do.

I've got Vista running on my new PC, and your right it's not bad at all. On older hardware, it sucks IMHO. That said, it makes no difference what a few people think. The majority of people think Vista sucks (right or wrong). Getting Windows 7 out the door is the only way to get around that.

re: Short Bits: Softsled, Windows 7, Native HD DVD/Blu-ray

Jeffrey Peterson — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 02:29:08 GMT

Actually, I like Vista. It works well for me and my media center is alot more reliable now. I use it at work and at home.