Blu-Ray on Imac

[Tallest Skil]

This MIGHT happen faster than any of your think.

In the paper in the last few days, Fry's had a blue ray drive for the PC that was $ 199 !

This has NOTHING to do with the price of drives.

Apple has always charged waaay too much for their stuff.

Completely subjective statement.

Apple couldn't care less about the price of drives. Apple cares about the licensing and the fact that Blu-ray can modify the operating system on which it is running. Apple will never allow that.

 

[Wolfpup]

Blu Ray does not modify the operating system, and the licensing situation's no different than how DVD or other formats work.

And $200 is actually expensive for a drive. I just picked up a Sony Opteric internal desktop drive for $110, and threw it in an enclosure (I'm sure you could do cheaper, but...). (Months ago I bought an external Lite On drive for the same price, but the drive was flaky, which was probably just that drive, but I didn't want to try to replace it...maybe I should have, oh well, my new model works great so far).

Notebook drives are still more expensive though, at least to buy separately (included with notebooks they're not much different).

 

[mac.fly]

Apple cares about the [...] fact that Blu-ray can modify the operating system on which it is running.

Sounds strange...
I've read this a few times now here and there,
but I can't imagine what it means.

The OS consists of files which are installed on the HDD/become
loaded into memory etc..

Now do you think when a BD is played this would manipulate
these files in a way that Apple wouldn't be prepared of...???

I want more details regarding this rumor!

 

[JeepGuy]

My understanding is that 1080p Blu-ray was only available under Boot Camp, not virtualization. Has something changed?

No, nothing has changed, I tried it with vmware and it doesn't work, but under bootcamp it works great. You can rip under vmware with anydvd HD.

 

[Cave Man]

Blu Ray does not modify the operating system

Yes, it can:

BD+ is effectively a virtual machine embedded in authorized players. It allows content providers to include executable programs on Blu-ray Discs. Such programs can:[8]

• examine the host environment, to see if the player has been tampered with. Every licensed playback device manufacturer must provide the BD+ licensing authority with memory footprints that identify their devices.
• verify that the player's keys have not been changed.
• execute native code, possibly to patch an otherwise insecure system.
• transform the audio and video output. Parts of the content will not be viewable without letting the BD+-program repair it.
• limit playback of a Blu-Ray disc to the first device in which the disc is played

These provisions were implemented by the studios for "security" reasons. I doubt Apple wants to let anyone have access their OS (kernel level). If you wanted to use Blu-ray under Windows XP, you had to do the Service Pack 2 update because that had OS-level code required for Blu-ray compliance.

and the licensing situation's no different than how DVD or other formats work.

It is substantially different than DVD licensing. For example, the disc must be parsed every few seconds for decryption keys and this operates at the OS level, not at the application level. For DVDs this check only occurs once - at disc loading. I really think Apple's biggest beef is this OS business (along with the cost of incorporation, and competition with iTS).

 

[mac.fly]

> execute native code, possibly to patch an otherwise insecure system

Now, solution: There could be a database of all commercial BDs
which do not contain dangerous code. And why should privately
recorded BDs not run on the own risk of the user?

 

[Cave Man]

And why should privately recorded BDs not run on the own risk of the user?

You can already play m2ts files (i.e., Blu-ray disc format) on your Mac, provided they are not encrypted or have DHCP in them. Just insert the disc in a Blu-ray drive, launch Plex or XBMC and navigate to the m2ts file. This is effectively how rips are done, except they're kept on a hard drive.

 

[Wolfpup]

Yes, it can

It's virtualized, other than the OS maker getting the system ready to support Blu Ray, virtualized stuff can't interact outside of its sandbox (which is the video pathway I suppose in this case).

It is substantially different than DVD licensing. For example, the disc must be parsed every few seconds for decryption keys and this operates at the OS level, not at the application level. For DVDs this check only occurs once - at disc loading.

What you're describing has to do with the encryption, not with the licensing. Blu Ray licensing is similar to anything else. You got to the group, you pay a license, you implement it.

And cost-sure there's some cost, but a modern computer that can't run Blu Rays? I mean personally I'm no more putting up with that than a modern computer than can't browse the web, or play DVDs.

 

[UltraNEO*]

hmm.... interesting.

 

[Midwest Mac Guy]

Everyone Take ACTION!!!!

We need to group together and take action to get Apple to put in Blu Ray. How about picketing their stores? We could set a date! Naw, too much work for this busy generation. Here is an easy way:

Go to Apples web site and go to the iMac purchase page and choose a model to buy. In the upper left of the screen will be a box to chat with someone. Click on it and ask when iMac will receive Blu Ray. Let them know you will not buy one until Blu Ray becomes an option.

If we all hit Apple in their pocket book, they will include Blu Ray in their next update. If we don't all raise a stink then we'll be forced to use iTune$ forever. Don't let that happen! Chat with Apple and don't buy until they add Blu Ray!!

 

[jmpage2]

We need to group together and take action to get Apple to put in Blu Ray. How about picketing their stores? We could set a date! Naw, too much work for this busy generation. Here is an easy way:

Go to Apples web site and go to the iMac purchase page and choose a model to buy. In the upper left of the screen will be a box to chat with someone. Click on it and ask when iMac will receive Blu Ray. Let them know you will not buy one until Blu Ray becomes an option.

If we all hit Apple in their pocket book, they will include Blu Ray in their next update. If we don't all raise a stink then we'll be forced to use iTune$ forever. Don't let that happen! Chat with Apple and don't buy until they add Blu Ray!!

I want Blu-ray, at least as a BTO option just as much as the most ardent Blu-ray fan.

However, I don't think that thousands (or even tens of thousands) of people screaming at Apple reps about it will get the desired effect.

Apple will bring out Blu-ray in their own time, or they never will.

There were early rumors that this refresh would bring blu-ray, but was yanked. This sort of makes sense considering the move to 16:9 format and featuring tons of 1080P quality movie clips in the promotional trailers for the new iMacs.

Apple might have had production/integration problems with Blu-ray... or they might have simply realized that demand for the new models would be high enough without it and have held it back to spur another round of sales early next year.

Only time will tell.

One thing is for certain. If Blu-ray support is added to OS X later on next year it should be pretty easy to buy an external slim line Blu-ray burner/reader and connect it to the iMac via USB or Firewire.

So, if you really REALLY need an iMac now, then don't let the lack of Blu-ray hold up getting the machine.

If you're not in a huge hurry I think it would be very wise to sit tight until the Spring '10 refresh when it is likely that we will see i5 standard on all 27" models and possibly a Blu-ray surprise (Christmas in July) to boot!

 

[unamused]

another question i have is about the audio...

blu-ray video quality is only about 3/4 of the idea... the audio is also important at least to me.

If you were to somehow get blu-ray to play on ur imac, how about audio output? is it just going to decode it and output stereo?

 

[iMerlin]

I want Blu-ray, at least as a BTO option just as much as the most ardent Blu-ray fan.

However, I don't think that thousands (or even tens of thousands) of people screaming at Apple reps about it will get the desired effect.

Apple will bring out Blu-ray in their own time, or they never will.

There were early rumors that this refresh would bring blu-ray, but was yanked. This sort of makes sense considering the move to 16:9 format and featuring tons of 1080P quality movie clips in the promotional trailers for the new iMacs.

Apple might have had production/integration problems with Blu-ray... or they might have simply realized that demand for the new models would be high enough without it and have held it back to spur another round of sales early next year.

Only time will tell.

One thing is for certain. If Blu-ray support is added to OS X later on next year it should be pretty easy to buy an external slim line Blu-ray burner/reader and connect it to the iMac via USB or Firewire.

So, if you really REALLY need an iMac now, then don't let the lack of Blu-ray hold up getting the machine.

If you're not in a huge hurry I think it would be very wise to sit tight until the Spring '10 refresh when it is likely that we will see i5 standard on all 27" models and possibly a Blu-ray surprise (Christmas in July) to boot!

Im replacing my tower PC with the new 27" iMac and Ive also been wondering where Im going to get HD content for it. Torrents arent cutting it as it take a week to get one movie and most of the time its a crap file anyway.

So, could I keep my tower running, plug an external BD drive into it (for use with the iMac once it supports it) and rip BDs on my tower, then watch them on my iMac? Why not, right?

I also want to use the iMac screen for that tower and switch back and forth but Im not sure there is a DVI to miniDisplay adapter that will work for that yet. Anyone know if I will need an active adapter to my iMac from my PC, or can I just use the adapter Apple already sells? (sorry, this question is a bit off topic)

 

[brewser]

Im replacing my tower PC with the new 27" iMac and Ive also been wondering where Im going to get HD content for it. Torrents arent cutting it as it take a week to get one movie and most of the time its a crap file anyway.

So, could I keep my tower running, plug an external BD drive into it (for use with the iMac once it supports it) and rip BDs on my tower, then watch them on my iMac? Why not, right?

I also want to use the iMac screen for that tower and switch back and forth but Im not sure there is a DVI to miniDisplay adapter that will work for that yet. Anyone know if I will need an active adapter to my iMac from my PC, or can I just use the adapter Apple already sells? (sorry, this question is a bit off topic)

I am using my 27" mac running VMWare, Windows 7, & anydvd HD to rip blu-ray. It works great. No need for a second computer.

 

[Cave Man]

If you were to somehow get blu-ray to play on ur imac, how about audio output? is it just going to decode it and output stereo?

Two channel over the iMac because that's the number of speakers it has. Connect your iMac to a receiver and you can get up to 5.1 Dolby Digital or DTS, provided your receiver supports them and your content has it.

 

[old-wiz]

Yes, it can:


[/LIST]
These provisions were implemented by the studios for "security" reasons. I doubt Apple wants to let anyone have access their OS (kernel level). If you wanted to use Blu-ray under Windows XP, you had to do the Service Pack 2 update because that had OS-level code required for Blu-ray compliance.

It is substantially different than DVD licensing. For example, the disc must be parsed every few seconds for decryption keys and this operates at the OS level, not at the application level. For DVDs this check only occurs once - at disc loading. I really think Apple's biggest beef is this OS business (along with the cost of incorporation, and competition with iTS).

And the modifications are required to be done in kernel ring 0, which can't be interrupted. This can cause all kinds of issues and is probably a big reason why Apple doesn't want it in the kernel. Mucking around in ring 0 is a great way to crash the system down hard. when I worked in the OS kernel world, ring 0 required very careful coding and rules. You couldn't just put any code down there.

 

[macchiato2009]

has anyone tried to plug a BR drive made by FASTMAC ?

when they released it, they claimed that it would be compatible with Mac...

 

[Cave Man]

has anyone tried to plug a BR drive made by FASTMAC ? when they released it, they claimed that it would be compatible with Mac...

Any Blu-ray drive is compatible with Macs, provided you have the software to support it. It's just another device.

 

[macchiato2009]

Any Blu-ray drive is compatible with Macs, provided you have the software to support it. It's just another device.

yeah moreover, Toast can burn BR

it is really stupid that we can burn BR on a Mac but not read them (movies)

i really don't want to install bootcamp just to be able to read BR movies

 

[pruhawk]

Apple designed the 27" imac to be more than just a nice all-in-one computer, it is designed to be an all-in-one entertainment system. To not have the ability to watch blu-ray, the current HD standard, is kinda like Jeep building a SUV without 4-wheel drive. Its time.

 

[mrsir2009]

In the not too near future BluRay drives will come out in Pro hardware, and maybe a model of the iMac. Then when the prices of the drives come right down to the price of DVD drives now then they'll stick them in every Mac (apart from the MBA)