Gizmodo
The Players: Panasonic DMP-BD30 ($500) and Sony PlayStation 3 with 2.1 firmware ($400 to $500)
The Movies: Fox's Sunshine and Sony Pictures' Resident Evil: Extinction
The Challenge: To find out what's so special about Blu-ray's BD Profile 1.1, also known as Full Standard Profile or just simply "Picture-In-Picture Enabled"
Every new phase of technology has its first few tentative steps. Not only is Blu-ray in its earliest stage, but that stage seems to be subdivided into a few mini-stages. As we talked about in The State of Blu-ray, most Blu-ray players today are Profile 1.0, which means they play Blu-ray movies (usually).
The two above are currently available with Profile 1.1, with several more, such as Samsung's BD-UP5000 and Denon's DVD 3800BDCI, on the way. This profile is characterized by dual-decoder picture-in-picture—and at the moment nothing else.
The final profile is often referred to as 2.0, though the requirement is simply BD Live, that is, an Ethernet port that allows internet connectivity for downloading bonus content. There are currently no players that fit this description on the market.
This week, we decided to take a pre-CES look at Blu-ray 1.1. The movies are cool enough—who doesn't like a sci-fi thriller by the guy who made 28 Days Later? And can you even be on Gizmodo if you don't think Milla Jovovich is some kind of supreme being? But the movies' status as the next phase in Blu-ray evolution seems to be an embarrassment for the studios. Rather than champion the 1.1 players and the discs' new capabilities, they celebrate them in the finest of print sizes: 
For first attempts, the "enhanced viewing" is not bad: In the 1980s, picture-in-picture was a lame concept created to convince wives that the football games could go on in the corner while the soap opera took up 85% of the screen, but that never actually happened. Now picture-in-picture has been reborn as something far more useful, where you can watch a movie while seeing the shots the director saw before special effects came into play, or the sketches that became the sets, or the faces of the commenters as they goof on their faulty stunts.
The Sunshine disc handles PIP with a shiny golden console screen that pops up to contain the standard-def bonus commentary. There aren't many segments, but what is shown, such as walkthroughs of the sets and shooting in zero-gravity, is cool to see juxtaposed with the final film.
Sweet Resident Evil home screen:
Resident Evil shows PIP videos sans fancy frames, but tips the viewer off in a different way. If the shot is on the bottom right, it's actor or director commentary; if the shot appears on the top right, it's a storyboard sketch; and if it's on the bottom left, it's a behind the scenes making-of view.
I will admit, I am not so in love with either title as to spend several more hours combing through each, but functionally it's great, and there are probably many Boyle-heads or fans of "the other" Paul Anderson who would gladly set aside a Saturday for this. I can see how a simulcast of Star Wars with Lucas' ugly mug would make a ton of sense, and all of those bonus Lord of the Rings DVDs might get watched if the making-of footage was embedded into the original high-def films.
The players themselves behaved well. I have recently been on record angry that too many CE products act like PCs, but in both cases the players performed admirably. The PS3's update was easy, and it took the BD Profile 1.1 discs without a hitch. The Panasonic shipped with all the right firmware, and never once rejected a disc. We ran some tests using the HD HQV Benchmark from Silicon Optix as well as the FPD Benchmark Software, and both came out in good shape, though when it came to processing motion, we agreed that the PS3 edged out the Panasonic by a nose.
Everybody knows that precision video testing requires footage of hot Asian women swinging on things: 
Of course, the Panasonic beat the PS3 in the role of traditional disc player. Sometimes when you hit a button on the PS3 remote, you jump back to the main menu and have to boot up the Blu-ray disc all over again; not so with the Panny. Speaking of remotes, the Panasonic's had a very handy pair of buttons to turn PIP on and off, and to toggle the audio between the two.
In the end, we were glad that Blu-ray could now do what we've already seen in Warner HD DVDs such as 300 and the latest Harry Potter. PIP may yet be a wondrous tool. But we're a little puzzled by two things:
1) It's hard to believe that $1,000+ players from Pioneer and Sony Electronics can't do what these were able to do so easily.
2) If this is all possible, why does it take so long to just complete the damn profile and make all players capable of both picture-in-picture interactivity and online connectivity?
If I had to lay money down on one Blu-ray-only player at this minute, I'd have to choose the PS3. The jury is still out on the dual-format players we want to love best, but the early rumblings suggest they may need some work. And any standalone Blu-ray player without an Ethernet jack may be in danger of obsolescence in a few years, if not a matter of months.
We'll personally be looking into all of that... right after CES. In the meantime, stay tuned for big Blu-ray and HD DVD announcements at the show!
This feature would not have been possible without the excellent assistance and admirable photography of Mr. Benny Goldman. Thanks BG!
Comments
As a Gizmodo reader and Chaotic Neutral Level 14 Geek (I'm also a Level 8 Cleric), let me just say that this BD profile hullaballoo confuses the bejesus out of me. Not only that, but after using my Sense Deception skill, I can say that the average Best Buy cow manure slinger won't help clear anything up for the average consumer.
Man, how the hell did you guys get "Sunshine" on DVD (BlueRay no less!)? It doesnt release until Jan 8th for us unwashed masses....
//Havent seen it... probably will suck... but I like SciFi space crap
@OMG!!! Ponies!!!:
I totally agree... well, except I'm not a Chaotic Neutral Level 14 Geek or whatever that is, I'm the stoner. :D
Yeah I didn't care much for PiP and I'm sure most HD DVD owners didn't care that movies are featured with it. The fact that 1st gen blu ray players without ethernet is simply a dead issue. Granted your player will be "obsolete" but so long as it plays 1080p and surround sound most consumers (myself included) wouldn't care.
This makes one thing clear to me, I'm not buying a Blu-ray player for awhile...
@OMG!!! Ponies!!!: Fuck man. I'm not even going to bother to try to come up with something witty after that.
So, in lieu of wittiness, HDDVD FTW!
@daftrok: whew, I was worried I was the only one who just wanted to watch a damn movie.
@daftrok: I agree with you, but some profile 1.0 players, like my Samsung BD-P1200, can't even play the main title of some of the latest Blu-ray releases. :(
Wake me in 2010 when there's a dual player with a profile 2.0 Blu-Ray player and Triple Layer HDDVD support under $300.
@shawnmos:
For anyone waiting to buy into a Hi-Def format...
The winner of the format wars is clear...
Blu-Ray-- why wait? Get Fucked Now!
...I have a ps3, so I guess updates aren't a problem for me (atm). But other than that, I'm very happy with my HDDVD.
me personaly I don't care if I have pip but I don't want to have to update everything I have all the time, as it looks I think I have too put my apple extreme in my entertainment center because of my HDDVD, wii and my HTPC, by the way I had no clue there was that kind of difference between 1080i and 1080p 1080p is a hell of alot better
meh, such a big deal.. I can enjoy my bluray just fine..who cares anyway.. bluray ftw
Adapted from Brian Regan:
This here PS3 is $400, plays your Blu-Ray movies and PS3 games.
This here PS3 is $500, plays your Blu-Ray movies and PS3 games.
This here Panasonic is $500, plays your Blu-Ray movies.
I didn't notice the check box in my profile to mark if I like Milla or not (I don't).
I am in NO rush for either HD-DVD or Blu Ray. Upscaling dvd players are good enough/cheap enough until they get that damn hybrid High def player out for $100.00. Im so sick of consumers getting ass raped by greedy companies (ie: RIAA, Sony, MS, Etc..)
@d_saum:
Welcome to America, friend.
And if you think upscaled is good enough, play a normal DVD through an upscaling HD-DVD player. Then play the HD-DVD equivalent of it. There's actually a huge difference. I've done this with several movies (from Spider-Man 3 to Anchorman) and I was taken back by the leap in quality when you go HD.
@glass: oh dont get me wrong, Im not saying there isn't a noticeable difference. I'm just saying that for me, upscaled dvd's are good enough for now.
@d_saum:
Fair enough. Besides, sometimes I actually *prefer* lower res. Let's take my previously mentioned examples. Spider-Man 3, IMHO, looks better at a lower resolution. This is because the 7,465,928,371 CGI shots look better at a lower res. When I watch the movie on BluRay, the seams between what's real and what's not are even more painfully obvious than normal. Now let's look at Anchorman in HD... there is WAY too much detail to be seen in Will Ferrell's body hair. *shudder*
So I can really see the argument both ways.
I just think it's funny that people aren't willing to plop a few hundred on this, while people *are* willing to spend a few hundred getting a DVD player and some low-quality screens thrown in their car... or whatever example of frivilous spending you'd like to use. We all have different priorities ;}
One problem with BD is that the spec does not require that players have the ethernet port or that they support PIP and therefore player manufacturers won't put in those features if they can save a buck. So you end up with a format that isn't a standard. This means that studios won't end up using those features much because it's not going to work on all the players anyway. Even when (and IF) the 2.0 spec gets completed, player manufacturers still won't be required to put in those features in their players. So the cheap off brand players certainly won't have ethernet ports. It's a standard thats not a STANDARD.
HD DVD on the other hand is a finished standard. All players have to include an ethernet port and PIP capabilities in order to get the HD DVD logo on them. THAT's why Paramount switched to HD DVD only. That's why the movies have the greatest compatibility across all players.
@glass:
Why would you buy Anchorman in HD and then complain that it looks detailed.
Ethernet port or not; the next HD player you shop for better have a downscaler so you can watch your HD in SD and not have to fear body hair or badly done CGI.
BTW. An HD film like Sphincter-Man 3 at 60fps for 139 min plays a total 500,400 frames. Only half of which would contain any CGI. 7,465,928,371 seems like a bit of an exaggeration.
@liquidsoapdispenser:
Just get a PS3. Its fully upgradeable BD standard-wise, and it does all that other neat stuff like CD ripping, media networking, DVD upscaling, and oh ya it plays PS3 games.
HD DVD on the other hand is a finished standard. All players have to include an ethernet port and PIP capabilities in order to get the HD DVD logo on them. THAT's why Paramount switched to HD DVD only. That's why the movies have the greatest compatibility across all players.
Oh shut up! Paramount switched because of $750 million dollars.
And who cares about all these PIP. But yes I agree, they should just make one final Blu-ray Profile.
@WILSON ROTHMAN: Nice piece. Original research (as opposed to just quoting a press releases) takes an @$$load more effort.
Hardocp, Ars, Ananad... and Wilson? :)
I thought PiP was pointless on HD DVD and it still is on BD.
@Windhawk: Thanks dude. Glad someone noticed what I've been doing around these parts for the last 6 or 8 months. More to come, amigo... much much more to come!
One thing I can't understand is why Sony even manufactures BD players other than PS3? PS3 should have all the hardware to support BD 2.0 specs and it's cheaper than their stand alone players, and with each one sold for watching Blu-Ray movies, they also shoved in a potential game console into those houses, and vice versa.
Where's that stupid poster? Blu Ray SUCKS!
Let me repeat:
Blu Ray SUCKS!
So basically what this article is saying is that Blu-ray isn't officially out yet.
They're just charging customers to test the Betas.
I mean, Jeez, they're calling it 1.0 and 1.1 versions, but when software products like ICQ were in this stage of development, they were released as 0.1beta and 0.2beta, etc.
:(
@OMG!!! Ponies!!!:
Sense motive there big guy, not sense deception. Since you're at least level 22, you should know that.
why is everyone acting like Picture-in-picture is such a huge feature. I have yet to find anyone using it.
@ARASHI: "One thing I can't understand is why Sony even manufactures BD players other than PS3?"
Sony loses money on every PS3 sold, and is subsidised by the game sales. If people just buy PS3s to watch BluRay movies, Sony would be in a lot of trouble.
If I know sony and their firmware habit, I would said that one day, older players won't be able to view new movies at all....you'll just get a screen that says your device isn't compatible...you go to bestbuy, they tell you toughluck...Why can't sony be more honest...I have a ps3 with about 8 blu-ray and to be honest, I am disappointed....pip..what's the big deal...who f-ing need pip...and was that so hard to implement that it took this long to complete it? So a "superior" device like a blu-ray player need constant update to complete while a lowly hddvd player comes complete out of the box AND THEY USE OBSOLETE TECHNOLOGY....WTF!!!
Somewhere in a remote island resort, sony is laughing.
@Thitsa: Sony would be in a lot of trouble.
WOULD be? IS
Wake me up when the PS3 ships with an IR port.
Like I need an extra bluetooth only remote on my coffee table. Bought my Harmony remote to declutter the area. Will wait until a decent 2-format player hits the market (waiting to see if firmware updates for either the LG BH200 or Samsung BDP-UP5000 resolve some of their issues).
all i gotta say is i saw sunshine's release with director danny boyle in the theater. sweet movie and really cool guy.
@Thitsa: Not really, Sony gets royalties with every Bluray disc sold. So, if the said buyer buys lots of DVDs, Sony's still happy
The PlayStation 3 is BD Live Compatible.
@spacecadet_davsot: It's got an Ethernet port and it plays Blu-rays, so it's in the lead, but that's not officially official. We'll see what happens when Disney (or someone else) actually releases a BD Live movie.
@spacecadet_davsot: Not yet my friend, there's no firmware support at the moment. Not to mention that the software or creation tools are non-existent.
@jstimson: You bring up a good point. One that we have been discussing around my office. After all the years that companies have been making remotes with IR ports, why would you change that up so that the person that just went out and bought the $100+ logitech universal remote can't use it on your device. Sony may have lost some sales because of that. Though probably not many. Being forced to use an extra remote is annoying though.
sorry about my ignorance regarding imbedding urls, but "pssst!":
[www.usatoday.com]
woohoo!
@spacecadet_davsot: only profile 1.1 NOT 2.0 for BDLive...they may or may not add that profile to the PS3...a lot of Sony's other players are only 1.0 with no option of going to 1.1 let alone do they have an ethernet port to enable 2.0.
@vipermj9: It was pretty good movie and the score is amazing.
Please Forgive my stupidity. But when the box says "this feature is only supported by picture in picture enabled players." They are talking about the PIP feature on the disc, right? They don't mean that the "Feature Presentation" wont play?..? To put it another way… Will a 1.1 disc play in a 1.0 player???
Relucna.
In theory yes, 1.1 disks will play on a 1.0 machine. Although 'some special features won't work'.
Now I say, in theory, because during my evaluation at various stores I found several BD's that simply didn't play in any BDR machine I tried. Even the sales guy was at a loss (NOTE not a Bestbuy sales man, I mean someone who actually knew what they were talking about).
So BD, while seemingly to have won the format war recently, still doesn't have all the features of HDDVD and still produces disks that don't work on all players.
@ARASHI: The reason they didn't just make the PS3 the only BD player and skip the stand alones is because 80-90% of the market doesn't give a crap about PS3's or Xbox's or any game console. In the eyes of the overwhelming number of consumers, the PS3 is for games. If you don't play games, you don't buy a PS3. The a-typical consumer (aka, my parents) will never buy a game console, but they will buy a stand alone movie player. Had the PS3 been the only player, BD would have died about 10 seconds after it was announced.
@diverguy:
"The reason they didn't just make the PS3 the only BD player and skip the stand alones is because 80-90% of the market doesn't give a crap about PS3's or Xbox's or any game console. In the eyes of the overwhelming number of consumers, the PS3 is for games."
More people use the PS3 to play HD media than both formats of standalone players combined. True, people in general aren't yet familiarized with 1 box that does everything, especially when its also plays video games, but that is going to change this year.
The PS3 is going to be recognized for what it is this year, even by non-games.