Do You Think Microsoft Will Ever Enable Native BluRay Disc Playback on Windows?

As you may know, someone who uses a PC has to purchase third-party software to play BluRay Discs, because Windows Media Player and every other Microsoft/ Windows video-playback program lacks the proper codecs to play BluRay Discs. BluRay is now about four years old . When will Microsoft enable native support? Don't you think it's about time? Do you think they'll EVER do it?

Well since the 360 still uses DVD's, it might play a part in Microsoft paying endorsements to the creators or something. I would guess, they go blu-ray next console gen. Don't ask me why, but its just a hunch I have.

Who uses Media player to play DVDs anyway?Iantheone

What else would you use? It's a free program that comes with the OS. Why wouldn't anyone use it?

[QUOTE="Iantheone"]Who uses Media player to play DVDs anyway?BluRayHiDef

What else would you use? It's a free program that comes with the OS. Why wouldn't anyone use it?

[QUOTE="BluRayHiDef"]

[QUOTE="Iantheone"]Who uses Media player to play DVDs anyway?Iantheone

What else would you use? It's a free program that comes with the OS. Why wouldn't anyone use it?

What's there to do better? All a program has to do is play the DVD. I really don't see what advantages another program could offer, if video-playback is the only concern.

VLC media player is an lightweight, open-source multimedia player that supports nearly all digital audio and video formats (e.g. H.264 ,MKV, TS, MPEG-2, mp3, AVI, MPEG-4, Ogg, DivX, aac, ...). It can also transcode and convert media files, and act as a streaming server over unicast or multicast and IPv4 or IPv6. VLC does not need any codecs to work. User Interface in more than 25 languages available. Space demand on hard disk: 75 MB. I'm pretty sure that sums up why VLC is better than WMPpsych0mantra

Notice that I said "If video-playback is the only concern". Hence, in situations where the only desired function is the play-back of a DVD, alternate programs offer no benefit over WMA. As long as WMA can play the DVD, then there's no problem if other features are not included.

VLC is what you want. It's great.

I prefer it for the sole reason that it does'nt need you to install any extra codecs.

[QUOTE="psych0mantra"]VLC media player is an lightweight, open-source multimedia player that supports nearly all digital audio and video formats (e.g. H.264 ,MKV, TS, MPEG-2, mp3, AVI, MPEG-4, Ogg, DivX, aac, ...). It can also transcode and convert media files, and act as a streaming server over unicast or multicast and IPv4 or IPv6. VLC does not need any codecs to work. User Interface in more than 25 languages available. Space demand on hard disk: 75 MB. I'm pretty sure that sums up why VLC is better than WMPBluRayHiDef

Notice that I said "If video-playback is the only concern". Hence, in situations where the only desired function is the play-back of a DVD, alternate programs offer no benefit over WMA. As long as WMA can play the DVD, then there's no problem if other features are not included.

[QUOTE="BluRayHiDef"]

[QUOTE="psych0mantra"]VLC media player is an lightweight, open-source multimedia player that supports nearly all digital audio and video formats (e.g. H.264 ,MKV, TS, MPEG-2, mp3, AVI, MPEG-4, Ogg, DivX, aac, ...). It can also transcode and convert media files, and act as a streaming server over unicast or multicast and IPv4 or IPv6. VLC does not need any codecs to work. User Interface in more than 25 languages available. Space demand on hard disk: 75 MB. I'm pretty sure that sums up why VLC is better than WMPpsych0mantra

Notice that I said "If video-playback is the only concern". Hence, in situations where the only desired function is the play-back of a DVD, alternate programs offer no benefit over WMA. As long as WMA can play the DVD, then there's no problem if other features are not included.

I've never ever had to download additional software to play a DVD using WMP. Also, considering the fact that WMP comes with the OS, I wouldn't consider the possibility of having to download additional software as an advantage since it would amount, equally, to one download. In both cases, whether you download the additional software for WMP, or download VLC or any other media-player, you'd be running one additional download. In fact, this even anything worth discussing, since all software programs need an occasional update or additional software.

I suggest trying VLC.

Also wouldnt Microsoft have to pay licensing fees to Sony in order to include Bluray support?

I suggest trying VLC.

Also wouldnt Microsoft have to pay licensing fees to Sony in order to include Bluray support?

Daytona_178

Yup. Them and a couple of other companies. They will probably end up doing so though....

Windows Media Player didn't have native DVD support until a good few years after DVD was released. I imagine the same will happen with Bluray.

[QUOTE="Daytona_178"]

I suggest trying VLC.

Also wouldnt Microsoft have to pay licensing fees to Sony in order to include Bluray support?

Urworstnhtmare

Yup. Them and a couple of other companies. They will probably end up doing so though....

So really its in MS's interest to not promote Blu-ray playback because otherwise they will have to pay Sony MILLION of dollars in royalty fees.Daytona_178

Just wait till next console gen, they will kind of have to, seeing as a few PC games and 360 games come on multiple dvd's now.

[QUOTE="Daytona_178"] So really its in MS's interest to not promote Blu-ray playback because otherwise they will have to pay Sony MILLION of dollars in royalty fees.GTR12

Just wait till next console gen, they will kind of have to, seeing as a few PC games and 360 games come on multiple dvd's now.

Most of you guys are missing the point; The average user shouldn't have to go out of his way to download additional software to make use of his devices/media.

Saying "well, you can just get VLC" is just making an excuse on MS's behalf; saying afterwards "WMP is crap" is trying to justify the excuse.

If all you want to do is pop in a DVD and run it, no need for VLC. If you want the most support for movie playback formats, VLC is what you need.

MS will fall behind if the next gen console is still DVD based. They will either go Blu-Ray or create a proprietary format like HD-DVD so they don't have to pay anything to Sony. Similar to the GD-ROM format of Dreamcast.

Still a few years away from Blu-Ray being the next DVD format on PC unfortunately as the demand isn't great enough yet.

I believe that Microsoft and Sony will drop optical drives in the next gen war. Since people are downloading more than buying software. I think the best solution would be to give each system a massive hard drive. Having said that I don't think Microsoft is in a rush to adopt Blu-ray. 4_Horsemen

[QUOTE="GTR12"]

[QUOTE="Daytona_178"] So really its in MS's interest to not promote Blu-ray playback because otherwise they will have to pay Sony MILLION of dollars in royalty fees.Daytona_178

Just wait till next console gen, they will kind of have to, seeing as a few PC games and 360 games come on multiple dvd's now.

This is already a possibility since SD cards are made in large enough capacities that could hold entire games.

Most of you guys are missing the point; The average user shouldn't have to go out of his way to download additional software to make use of his devices/media.

Saying "well, you can just get VLC" is just making an excuse on MS's behalf; saying afterwards "WMP is crap" is trying to justify the excuse.

XaosII

Exactly. MS is slow anyway and not in a hurry to give Sony the benefit.

[QUOTE="Urworstnhtmare"]

[QUOTE="Daytona_178"]

I suggest trying VLC.

Also wouldnt Microsoft have to pay licensing fees to Sony in order to include Bluray support?

Daytona_178

Yup. Them and a couple of other companies. They will probably end up doing so though....

They already tried fighting Blu-Ray by promoting HD-DVD, and that didn't turn out too well...

people still put disks in their pcs? I haven't put any disk that isn't a dvdr or a windows install disk in my dvd drive for years. digital distribution is so much more convenient. imprezawrx500

Nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing provides the pristine picture clarity you get with BluRay.

Meh, Im happy with DVD quality. I just know that when I start watching BluRay I wont be able to go back :)

Meh, Im happy with DVD quality. I just know that when I start watching BluRay I wont be able to go back :)

Daytona_178

Watching a DVD on a TV looks fine, but when you put it on a PC it looks rubbish.... No idea why. Its probably the view distance.

Notice that I said "If video-playback is the only concern". Hence, in situations where the only desired function is the play-back of a DVD, alternate programs offer no benefit over WMA. As long as WMA can play the DVD, then there's no problem if other features are not included.BluRayHiDef

Blu Ray should, and potentially will be a dead format. Viva la Digital Download Content - discs are a dying breed. -CheeseEater-

If you buy a Blu Ray drive, playback software with the correct codecs are typically included with it. I don't see the big deal. Those codecs should enable WMP/WMC to play Blu Ray discs as well.