Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Firmware Updates: Blu-ray's Difficult Path To Mainstream Acceptance

Collapse
X
 
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts
  • admin
    Administrator
    • Nov 2001
    • 8917

    Firmware Updates: Blu-ray's Difficult Path To Mainstream Acceptance

    Home Media Magazine has posted an interesting article, and it's something I've been thinking more and more about lately.

    During my recent research into buying a 3D TV, eventually settling on the Samsung 58" Plasma, the issue of firmware popped up quite frequently. With manufacturers releasing new equipment with ever increasing frequency and with more and more features, the chance that *all* the features will work on launch is a small one to say the least. This is where firmware updates come in, allowing manufacturers a second, sometimes fifth or tenth chance, to fix issues that tend to pop up. The Samsung 3D plasma I mentioned has already had a firmware update or two, despite being less than a month old (and still not appearing at all places here in Australia). Many sets today can even download firmware updates "over the air", and can even turn itself on (and off, hopefully), during the night to make the update.

    Which brings up to firmware updates for Blu-ray players. Unlike TVs, in which manufacturers issue updates to usually fix things, or add new features - most of these updates are optional if you're not seriously affected by whatever is being fixed, Blu-ray player updates are not very optional at all. New features on discs, copy protection issues, means that firmware updates have to be done before some movies can even be played. Have a look inside your Blu-ray movie's case, there's usually an insert in there telling you to update your player's firmware.

    But the problem is that not everyone has their Blu-ray player connected online, or know how to download updates to their USB thumb drive (assuming they even have one), and then have the required knowhow to make the update without seriously screwing something up. But this is exactly what is required if Blu-ray is to become mainstream, to expect mom and pop (and grandma and grandpa) users to be able to make the update, or risk not being able to play new movies. And since Blu-ray players don't have connections to the TV aerial, even "over the air" updates are out of the question.

    It seems like the who mandatory firmware update issue came about by designed because the computer guy that designed it can't imagine anyone not having their own home network, as opposed to someone that works within the limitations of consumer electronics (or rather, the limitations imposed on the damn things by the people that use them).

    The fact is that the term "firmware" is unfamiliar to probably 90% of the movie player owner user base, and while many are willing to learn all about it and have the resources to make firmware updates virtually painless, there will always be a large group of people that will get stuck on a screen that tells them they need to upgrade their player's firmware to continue, and have no idea what to do next. And that's a problem the Blu-ray Disc Association has to solve if they truly want Blu-ray to replace DVDs.

    More:

    Blu-ray player firmware upgrades have some flummoxed, but others see the advantages.
    Visit Digital Digest and dvdloc8.com, My Blog
  • dr_ml422
    Lord of Digital Video
    Lord of Digital Video
    • May 2007
    • 1903

    #2
    This could be said about a million other things. When DVDs came out the same thing popped up. Not firmware but the cost of a DVD player and the movies and also that many are terrified of change.

    99% of the population just barely know how to turn on a computer and when they do they're on Facebook/Twitter if that! So what do the PC manufacturers suppose to do? Stop selling computers or make them 100% user friendly w/instant password/email/AV/Temporary Files cleaners etc...?

    Mom n Pop will be ok. They're glad the kids are not as bad as they could have been etc...

    Otn, I stopped giving out free help by my way. Soon I was going to have everyone and their moms knocking for tune-ups etc... on their LT/computer. No free lunch! Have to put in the work to get what you want.
    SAMSUNG SH-S203B, SAMSUNG SH-S223F,

    Take the suggestions and follow the directions. The results will speak for themselves.



    Google is definitely our friend.

    Comment

    • admin
      Administrator
      • Nov 2001
      • 8917

      #3
      The things is that with a badly configured, poorly updated computer, you can still pretty much run the web and most applications. With the Blu-ray players though (including the PS3), you insert a new movie, and all you get is a screen telling you the disc won't play unless you update the firmware, with only a web link that you have to write down and then type in on your computer to get the instructions, if the player is not connected online. Then it's a matter of getting a USB thumb drive, downloading the firmware to the drive, and then uploading it to the player, hoping that the power doesn't go out while you're doing it.

      None of this was necessary with standalone DVD players.

      I just don't think the average consumer can be expected to do all of the above without some getting stuck, and others breaking their machines.

      Firmware updates is something that you shouldn't do very often, even for the computer literate. There's always a risk associated with it. It's not like a software update, which can be rolled back. A firmware update goes to the core of the machine operating software, and a corrupted one basically means a trip back to the factory for the machine. I mean Sony's own support page has these big warnings up in red writing, and I think anything that requires this level of warning shouldn't be something that *every* consumer is expected to do:

      WARNING!! Please follow the update instructions carefully. Failure to follow the instructions may interrupt the update process and may cause the Blu-ray Disc player to be unresponsive or to require repair.

      WARNING!! Do not power off the Blu-ray Disc player or disconnect it from the AC power outlet. Loss of power during the installation of the firmware update may cause the Blu-ray Disc player to be unresponsive or to require repair.
      If they had designed their machines to be more like a computer, where the updates are done mostly in software, not firmware, and with ways to completely reset the software if the update goes wrong, then that would be a much better solution. And to make things easier, they could include a plug-n-play devices that allows wireless ad-hoc Internet sharing with any PC - just plug the USB device into any PC with an Internet connection, and then the machine will wirelessly connect to the device and get online to grab updates. This is better than assuming people have wired/wireless networks in place, or be able to download and apply updates via USB drives.
      Visit Digital Digest and dvdloc8.com, My Blog

      Comment

      • dr_ml422
        Lord of Digital Video
        Lord of Digital Video
        • May 2007
        • 1903

        #4
        It's not easy with the firmware like you mention. Even w/burners if you mess up you can break it. I agree with that. Though this is what's happening right now so it's something to contend with or leave alone.

        The software updates you know will give the Pirates a field day so that's never going to happen, unless there's a way you think it can be implemented w/out being cracked.
        SAMSUNG SH-S203B, SAMSUNG SH-S223F,

        Take the suggestions and follow the directions. The results will speak for themselves.



        Google is definitely our friend.

        Comment

        • admin
          Administrator
          • Nov 2001
          • 8917

          #5
          Firmwares are just as easily hackable (remember all those region-free firmware for DVD-ROM drives that were so popular before software solutions made them not so necessary anymore). And software updates can be secured as well. But the way consumer electronics is designed, it's not really suitable for software in most cases, their hardware is not as versatile as a computer's.

          General rule is don't design something that require actions that needs to perform multiple times by the average consumer, if these actions can lead to the bricking of the machine in question.

          And don't make discs that won't play at all just because someone doesn't have the latest firmware - if some features don't work, then fine, but at least make sure the main movie plays. Firmware updates should be strictly optional.
          Visit Digital Digest and dvdloc8.com, My Blog

          Comment

          • dr_ml422
            Lord of Digital Video
            Lord of Digital Video
            • May 2007
            • 1903

            #6
            I'll prolly be having to do Firmware updates here soon myself and will have to read etc... to get them right as well. I'm not average Joe anymore although I can see it being a pita.

            Sony and the Pirate Chasers are going to have to figure something better out I guess. Until then it is what it is. Has a lil upside though when someone is willing to put a few bucks in your pocket to do all these things for them. Most don't want to pay though and just want someone to fix their stuff for free.
            SAMSUNG SH-S203B, SAMSUNG SH-S223F,

            Take the suggestions and follow the directions. The results will speak for themselves.



            Google is definitely our friend.

            Comment

            • admin
              Administrator
              • Nov 2001
              • 8917

              #7
              Slightly off topic, but for the PS3, if it's under warranty, my firmware update policy would be to update after a week has gone by just to see if Sony releases a hotfix version. If online gaming is important, then you'll have to update immediately as you have no choice.

              If you're PS3 is out of warranty, then it's best to avoid updates until absolutely necessary. For online play, that still means updating immediately after release (or however long you can wait without playing online). For Blu-ray, you can wait until new discs you buy start to not play, and then update (I had to do this for the Star Trek Blu-ray, my previous firmware update was more than a year ago).
              Visit Digital Digest and dvdloc8.com, My Blog

              Comment

              • cynthia
                Super Moderatress
                • Jan 2004
                • 14278

                #8
                More and more players shows up with USB connectors for mpeg and mp3 stuff. Couldn't that be a way to get the firmware into the box? Like you can update motherboards through an USB stick.

                Comment

                • admin
                  Administrator
                  • Nov 2001
                  • 8917

                  #9
                  Yes, I mentioned above that the "download to PC, upload to USB and upload to player" is one way to update the firmware, as is burning your own update CD/DVD. But all of this is pretty alien for people who are used to the way DVD players work - plug it in, stick the disc in, and press play (and even this last step is mostly optional).
                  Visit Digital Digest and dvdloc8.com, My Blog

                  Comment

                  • leatherman
                    Junior Member
                    Junior Member
                    • Jun 2010
                    • 1

                    #10
                    I had a Toshiba HD player and always got updates on Cd's in the mail. I don't see why they still can't do that.

                    Comment

                    • admin
                      Administrator
                      • Nov 2001
                      • 8917

                      #11
                      That was good service provided by Toshiba, I suppose if you ask nicely, the other companies may do something similar, if they don't already have a firmware subscription service that users can sign up to.

                      I did have a scary moment when updating my Toshiba HD DVD player once, where the update process got stuck. I thought I had bricked it. Rebooting the machine and it came up just fine, with the new firmware already installed, so it was a lucky escape. But there's always a risk when updating firmware.
                      Visit Digital Digest and dvdloc8.com, My Blog

                      Comment

                      • dr_ml422
                        Lord of Digital Video
                        Lord of Digital Video
                        • May 2007
                        • 1903

                        #12
                        Thnx for the tip on the PS3 Firmware updating. Was that other OS issue a mandatory update? I forgot. That is/was a Firmware update as well correct?

                        Are there any mandatory Firmware updates anyway? Or all are optional? Then again if the Blu-ray disc won't play I guess it's a no brainer.
                        SAMSUNG SH-S203B, SAMSUNG SH-S223F,

                        Take the suggestions and follow the directions. The results will speak for themselves.



                        Google is definitely our friend.

                        Comment

                        • admin
                          Administrator
                          • Nov 2001
                          • 8917

                          #13
                          All PS3 firmware upgrades are mandatory if you want to play games online. They are all optional if you don't play games online (unless you play the latest Blu-ray movies, some of which will require a firmware update).
                          Visit Digital Digest and dvdloc8.com, My Blog

                          Comment

                          • dr_ml422
                            Lord of Digital Video
                            Lord of Digital Video
                            • May 2007
                            • 1903

                            #14
                            Ok thnx. Well I can see now how this is something that needs to be looked into by Sony and who ever else uses these Firmware upgrades. Especially regarding the Blu-ray movie playback this is a ridiculously recurring thing. DRM is 1 thing but total non-playback of a store bought movie is another. I don't know if this might happen, but maybe at some point they'll realise that this is pointless being it doesn't stop Piracy etc... and stop these Firmware Upgrades for movie playback. A upgrade for a new technological feature that the consumer wants like 3-D is understandable.

                            You just changed my views about the upgrades. Not the difficulty part so much as unnecessary inconveniences regarding trivial points like Blu-ray playback!
                            SAMSUNG SH-S203B, SAMSUNG SH-S223F,

                            Take the suggestions and follow the directions. The results will speak for themselves.



                            Google is definitely our friend.

                            Comment

                            • drfsupercenter
                              NOT an online superstore
                              • Oct 2005
                              • 4424

                              #15
                              I haven't had any Blu-Ray movies that made my PS3 update... I was able to play Avatar just fine without updating the firmware.
                              CYA Later:

                              d̃ŗf̉śŭp̣ễr̀çëǹt̉ếř
                              Visit my website!!

                              Cool Characters Make your text cool
                              My DVD Collection

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              😀
                              🥰
                              🤢
                              😎
                              😡
                              👍
                              👎