Re: [SurroundSound] Kaleidescape - A Bluray server that copies your blurays legally; a store that sells bluray quality (audio too!) downloads...

I also agree with you. A few years ago, not much of this existed at all.

I only threw out a couple of sticky examples because they do happen -- and I'm guessing all of us have experienced it. Sadly, the home theater experience can be a long way from a simple convert and watch -- as promised by the Kaleidoscape. Over time, you learn how to weed out "problem files." Probably 95 percent of the time, everything runs smoothly.

But what are the "future proof" container formats? Right now ISO works on PCs and some stand-alone players, but not current OPPOs. How about MKV? Those still play on new OPPOs, PCs, stand-alone players, and other bluray players. Same goes for 5.1 FLAC -- although hi-res FLAC is sometimes limited to 2-channel playback only. Are there better alternatives for everyone -- or only specific to your current hardware?

Cinavia is out. Is it a factor in your next upgrade? Will your next firmware update -- be it on your stand-alone player or bluray player render your archive unwatchable? Will your next PC player also be infected? Or will Cinavia get gobbled up like all the other past DRM schemes?

My wife and I rented a bluray last night starring Barbra Streisand and Seth Rogan. It's called "The Guilt Trip". We watched it with no lip sync, subtitle, audio, video, or other playback problems of any kind. Barbra Streisand is in her 70's and looks great. The disc started right up -- no trailers or other BS -- went to about a 15-second FBI / RIAA nag (only ONE) and then dropped right to the main movie. I clicked play and the movie played -- 1080p widescreen and DTS HD 5.1 default. Wow! More releases like this and I won't feel the need to archive at all. That's the kind of home theater experience I'd like to have every time. And, hey, I didn't have to sell my house to watch it.



On Saturday, May 4, 2013 11:40:55 PM UTC-7, pj-mckay wrote:

 

Nah.....   you're missing the point a litttle.  There's nothing to cobble together at all.  You get a network player and connect the HDMI to your amp (or TV), optionally use the coax/spdif too, and connect an Ethernet (or wifi).  (I have an HTPC too but I wouldn't use that for movies or audio, just internet streaming occasionally and jukebox).  Mine is a mere popcorn c-200, and there are many others these days.  I would hope to see the sector more mainstream, and get more product reviews but it would go against optical sales and is unlikely at present.  http://www.pcworld.com/article/2036991/upgrade-your-home-network-with-a-media-streaming-backup-ready-nas-box.html shows a few examples of the devices but there are many others at differing price points, quality and manufacturers.

 

As for explaining how to use.  Power on, change the input on the Amp, scroll through the file structure presented on the TV.  Presented as Video, Music, Photo.....    It couldn't be easier.  It's easier than playing a record.

 

Re the other comments from folk about file formats...   That'll happen anywhere anytime if you rely on a download. That'll apply on your Oppo if you took the burnt the file to optical and tried it.  Don't let file containers and codecs be an excuse not to look at the functionality of a network player.  If we all converted our own stuff we would all be working 100% of the time.

 

I will say I went through a lot of pain in the early days of mine and there is a degree of hassle that needs to be worked on to make their use mainstream (mine was unstable two years ago).  It's not ready for my granny by any means.. but for the guys here that advocate demuxing this'n'that, converting, remixing, burning to DVDA....  not a problem.  Me...  I plop a downloaded iso on the drive and that's it;  I rip a DVD to it and watch anytime; I extract DVDA to wav, convert to multichannel flac and plop it on the drive;  job done without an optical disk in sight.

 

Keep an open mind; and lets see what develops in the coming year(s).  Go back a few years and who'd have though we'd be be downloading a 3D HSBS ripped movie over a few hours, copying to uSD card and watching it direct on our TV a few hours later.  That's not ready for my Granny either but it's great to have.  One day we might be able to purchase this way, on micro SD, and save the hassle of an optical player.

 

Keep the Kaleidescope ideas coming too......   all this chat gives us all other ideas to explore and consider!  That was great to see, but way outta my league.

 

 

On Saturday, 4 May 2013 16:41:49 UTC+1, Stephen wrote:

Oh sure! In reality I know exactly how to cobble together something that'll be mostly as good (I've been playing around with Plex for a long time and hope to do just that soon), but this just makes it so easy, pop in a blu-ray wait a little while and you have the whole thing ripped and ready to go in full quality, and having that full quality and not having to mess around with weird formats and explaining to the family and guests how to use everything... It'd just be nice.

 

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