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images/news/dvd.jpgBlu-ray discs with BD+ DRM fail to play on some devices.
Most consumer products were expected to work "off the shelf" and didn't require frequent "firmware updates" to do so. With the new generation of HD DVD and Blu-ray video players, however, this is the norm: firmware updates are to be expected because the players are constantly evolving and are built around a DRM scheme (AACS) that can be "updated" in the event that a hack is found. Blu-ray goes one step further and adds another layer of anti-copy technology known as BD+, but the latter is only now starting to be used. As it turns out, it appears that it's causing problems for many honest customers.
Two new Blu-ray titles that have just been released—Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer and The Day After Tomorrow. Both of these titles have been reported to exhibit various degrees of failure on some Blu-ray players. Some refuse to play until after an interminable two-minute delay, others skip randomly making watching the movie futile.
Owners of the most popular Blu-ray disc player, Sony's PlayStation 3, are able to view both movies without issue, as long as they have updated their unit with the latest firmware version, 1.93. The Sony S1 and various Panasonic models can play the movie, but have the aforementioned slow load time issue. Samsung's older BD-1000 will play the movie but will skip uncontrollably.
ARS Technica
Most consumer products were expected to work "off the shelf" and didn't require frequent "firmware updates" to do so. With the new generation of HD DVD and Blu-ray video players, however, this is the norm: firmware updates are to be expected because the players are constantly evolving and are built around a DRM scheme (AACS) that can be "updated" in the event that a hack is found. Blu-ray goes one step further and adds another layer of anti-copy technology known as BD+, but the latter is only now starting to be used. As it turns out, it appears that it's causing problems for many honest customers.
Two new Blu-ray titles that have just been released—Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer and The Day After Tomorrow. Both of these titles have been reported to exhibit various degrees of failure on some Blu-ray players. Some refuse to play until after an interminable two-minute delay, others skip randomly making watching the movie futile.
Owners of the most popular Blu-ray disc player, Sony's PlayStation 3, are able to view both movies without issue, as long as they have updated their unit with the latest firmware version, 1.93. The Sony S1 and various Panasonic models can play the movie, but have the aforementioned slow load time issue. Samsung's older BD-1000 will play the movie but will skip uncontrollably.
ARS Technica
