AfterDawn: Tech news

Some Avatar buyers still cannot play their Blu-rays

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 30 Apr 2010 5:07 User comments (39)

Some Avatar buyers still cannot play their Blu-rays Thanks to a glitch, some Avatar Blu-ray owners can still not play their purchased discs, leading to understandable irritation.
Says one angry customer: "When 3 out of 3 players in my house (Denon, Samsung and PC) won't play it, then 20th Century Fox should be slapped with losses on this one."

The customer's anger is aimed at the wrong place, however. Fox is not the issue but instead it is the Blu-ray players and their respective firmwares. Avatar, requires, in most cases, the latest firmware, but owners of older players without active Internet connections are usually not the most up to date.

For some people, the glitches get weirder. Users have reported chapter pop-up boxes showing up throughout the movie, sometimes without leaving.



It is unclear how Fox will try to help users who cannot play the discs or are receiving the glitches, but likely the number of users is still small, yet vocal.

The world's highest grossing movie of all-time, the blockbuster Avatar, is also the fastest-selling Blu-ray disc of all-time, selling 2.7 million units in its first four days.

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39 user comments

130.4.2010 17:21

theres no problem with my blu ray ripped copy :)

230.4.2010 17:23

Yet another sad case of why DRM doesn't work and piracy does.

330.4.2010 17:42

Their is another glitch that yahoo reported, a glitch that the DRM makes the movie unplayable
http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movie-ta...-watch-DVD.html

430.4.2010 18:18

haaaaaaaaa thats what all of you paying people get, paying those high prices, my downloaded copy plays perfect and can still feel money in my pockett , not just my leg haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

530.4.2010 19:29

It appears that Avatar is the #1 most decrypted movie ever. It has to be a real thorn in the side for people who purchased the movie and all they bought for $20-$40 was disappointment. I would be pissed specifically at Fox, not my dvd player. The studio changed the movie format and as such should come with a dvd player that would play it.

630.4.2010 20:09

If and when internet downloading speeds explode, no one is going to want to own a Blu-Gay player b/c they can just stream the HD movies from some pre-paid service to their Big Screen TV. For those who do not follow legit methods, they are already doing this.

730.4.2010 20:14
Paula_X
Inactive

indeed we are.. for 99% of the ppv sports on HBO for starters..

830.4.2010 20:37

Originally posted by rking_ad:
It appears that Avatar is the #1 most decrypted movie ever. It has to be a real thorn in the side for people who purchased the movie and all they bought for $20-$40 was disappointment. I would be pissed specifically at Fox, not my dvd player. The studio changed the movie format and as such should come with a dvd player that would play it.
It happens that Avatar took ages to be ripped(the Blu-ray). The disc was available for days, yet no one on the scene could rip it. The DRM is getting tougher(not impossible to crack, obviously!)-and at the same time more asinine and a pain in the crotch for those that buy the discs.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 30 Apr 2010 @ 8:40

930.4.2010 20:46
Paula_X
Inactive

Remember.. IF you can watch it you can rip it.. one way or another. One day they will work out the ultimate copy protection.. An unplayable disk.. and a software style returns policy "once packaging is opened no refunds whatsoever under any circumstances" .. and then they will STILL blame "piracy" for their imagined losses.

Dances with Smurfs.. what a crap film. 2 hours I will never get back grrrrrrrr

1030.4.2010 22:21

Originally posted by Pop_Smith:
Yet another sad case of why DRM doesn't work and piracy does.
How is this a problem with the DRM if people would go and update their players they won't have any problems they should have known this when they bought the device.

1130.4.2010 22:36
trident77
Inactive

as usual ths is laziness on the part of the maunufacturers on these bluray players. not enough work has been put into the firmware or should i say shitware.

the firmware is seriously important when it comes to security from these companies, but they are missing the part that says when you decide to create a new firmware it must be correct in all ways and must work stably, if it does not you fix it before it is exported to the consumer purchase state. but the way it is at the moment, they throw it out there into the wild without any full testing of this firmware and expect everyone to eat it. nah i don't think so. do not release firmware untill you have put the god damn effort in and are satisfied that the programming you have done is acceptable.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 30 Apr 2010 @ 10:37

1230.4.2010 22:38

Originally posted by biglo30:
Originally posted by Pop_Smith:
Yet another sad case of why DRM doesn't work and piracy does.
How is this a problem with the DRM if people would go and update their players they won't have any problems they should have known this when they bought the device.
How many people you think were told by the geek squad that they have to have internet, to update the firmware? How many people do you think are out there, that bought a big a$$ 50" TV, just because the Joneses had a 46",and they had to keep up with them, and the seller told them they had to have a Blu-ray as well, otherwise they would not make "full use" of the nice HD screen. And they did, like sheep, but have no clue what side dish the Blu-ry is served with...They still play their SD DVDs in the BD player,and think they get full HD.

1330.4.2010 23:42

If they didn't make Bluray players or writers for computers, they would not have a problem with people ripping them and cutting into the profits. Sony is case and point. They put out movies, on the other hand they make DVD Burners for computers. Which is like shooting themselves in the foot.

On the other hand, if someone who does not have internet access, and has a Disc that will not play because of a firmware issue on their player is SCREEEEEWWWWWEEEEEDDDDDD!

Unless they can return the Bluray player for a new one.

1430.4.2010 23:45

I bought the dual disc for $20 got both Blu_Ray and DVD. Have no Blu_Ray player, so have no idea if BR disc plays. LOL

151.5.2010 00:17

@ VENOM79
Most of us already have that since long time ago !....I have mine firsts days of January.

@ slickwill:
The Movie Cartels have plans that by 2013 New Movies on a Regular DVD's are not gonna be make or sale anymore....and Movies on blu-Ray gonna go out of Business years latter.
Movies will be offer by Download or streaming only from the Clouds. Just like some Music or Video Games are today.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 01 May 2010 @ 5:01

161.5.2010 00:33

I bought the Blu-ray dvd combo pack. Money well spent. Best picture i've seen PERIOD :D
I actually haven't played the BD on the blu ray player. I converted to a high quality MP4 file, to play on my brothers HTPC/HDTV. Even with the compression, best pic I've seen ;) Most things my Samsung BD-P1590 sees, it plays. Including Dual layer Burnt AVCHD discs. Though sometimes it hiccups with those. Though it hiccups with dual layer BD's as well :(
It's probably getting RMA'd to samsung. Its hiccups are progressively worse with each day...

171.5.2010 01:02

Originally posted by cyprusrom:
Originally posted by biglo30:
Originally posted by Pop_Smith:
Yet another sad case of why DRM doesn't work and piracy does.
How is this a problem with the DRM if people would go and update their players they won't have any problems they should have known this when they bought the device.
How many people you think were told by the geek squad that they have to have internet, to update the firmware? How many people do you think are out there, that bought a big a$$ 50" TV, just because the Joneses had a 46",and they had to keep up with them, and the seller told them they had to have a Blu-ray as well, otherwise they would not make "full use" of the nice HD screen. And they did, like sheep, but have no clue what side dish the Blu-ry is served with...They still play their SD DVDs in the BD player,and think they get full HD.



Lol yeah I'm sorry I meant to edit my post earlier to put a clause in there but you already responded, I keep forgetting the fact there are a lot of tech noobs out there who just buy things to look go and don't know nothing about nothing.

I have a cousin who switched internet providers and was getting like 1 megabyte per second download speed and now their getting about 300-500kb with their new provider. I'm telling him that his internet is slower but he swears that he getting 3 megabytes per second in his subscription. No matter how much times I try to tell him 3 megabits is not the same as megabytes he just believes the lies that the people from AT&T and telling him on the phone when he called to inquire about it.

181.5.2010 03:36

biglo30

steer your cousin to below link and he might see his speed.

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/

191.5.2010 03:45

Originally posted by Paula_X:
Remember.. IF you can watch it you can rip it.. one way or another. One day they will work out the ultimate copy protection.. An unplayable disk.. and a software style returns policy "once packaging is opened no refunds whatsoever under any circumstances" .. and then they will STILL blame "piracy" for their imagined losses.

Dances with Smurfs.. what a crap film. 2 hours I will never get back grrrrrrrr
I think that is the plan...they will make all the blurays completely unplayable...that way no one can pirate them. As for the people who buy them, who cares? Clearly they only want pirates to be able to watch their movies, play their games, and listent to their music. (I speak of the media cartels in general...not just Fox).

201.5.2010 04:34

Originally posted by VENOM79:
haaaaaaaaa thats what all of you paying people get, paying those high prices, my downloaded copy plays perfect and can still feel money in my pockett , not just my leg haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
lmfao

211.5.2010 09:58

No problems what so ever in my PS3 Blu Ray player. For all those people that laughed at me when I bought the PS3 for my blu ray player, look who's laughing now!

221.5.2010 11:22

Originally posted by garmoon:
biglo30

steer your cousin to below link and he might see his speed.

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/
I did already the guy is just stubborn, I just gave up its his money let him believe what he wants.

231.5.2010 13:25
ukhn99
Unverified new user

Just watch, by next year every BR player need to be update for every other movie that come out because of DRM.

241.5.2010 13:59

Originally posted by core2kid:
No problems what so ever in my PS3 Blu Ray player. For all those people that laughed at me when I bought the PS3 for my blu ray player, look who's laughing now!
Sony pushed the PS3 as a Blu-Ray player more than they did as a gaming console until recently. Because of this they've been very active in making sure it can play the newest Blu-Ray releases.

251.5.2010 17:34
trident77
Inactive

any way, if you get a problem with the ps3 not playing game discs properly, stalling, glitchy or not playing at all. well don't freak out thinking your lazer lens is screwed. in all reality all you do is take the ps3 apart and get a cottonbud and a bit of isoprophal and manually clean the BD lens as there are two lazers in it. the ps3 is an easy one to take apart if your warrenty is out so save yourself a few quid and manually clean the bluray drive lazer with a bud and 99% it will work ? unless your hard drive is bogey then it won't make a piss difference.

261.5.2010 19:28

It's stories like this that make me never want to get a BD player. The average movie viewer is probably pretty much of my mind: If a player can't play whatever dvd I put into it, no matter what the format, I don't want it. Sony ticked me off right away when their BD player wouldn't play a burned dvd that I was all geeked up to watch. The heck with 'em. I'll stick with my region-free upconverting dvd player 'cuz it makes me & my dvds happy.

271.5.2010 19:44

And I'll stick with BD/DVD rom drives :D HTPC's are the shiznit! BD drives don't care about new releases. Though Anydvd HD often needs updated ;)

281.5.2010 19:51

Originally posted by omegaman7:
And I'll stick with BD/DVD rom drives :D HTPC's are the shiznit! BD drives don't care about new releases. Though Anydvd HD often needs updated ;)
That was gonna be my suggestion, that's the way to go, forget all the other junk!!
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 01 May 2010 @ 7:52

291.5.2010 20:26
Rocky3000
Unverified new user

I have internet access, and have tried both powerDVD 10 and arcsoft total media 3 to play the Avatar blue-ray. In both cases they try to do updates and locks up. I did get the set - Blue-ray & DVD, I was at least able to watch the DVD.

301.5.2010 21:07

Power dvd or arcsoft( I have them), require assistance from anydvd HD, to playback a lot of the BD releases. Avatar being the most protected disc i've ever seen. I'm sure eventually, the other programs will catch up, and will play it/them ;)

311.5.2010 21:47

I have had no problem playing avatar in my ps3 tho i do have a problem with the audio in one part of the movie

322.5.2010 11:15

I'm still going to wait on getting a Blu ray player/ HDTV setup after hearing of all the complaints on Avatar alone.

I'll stick with my regular TV and regular DVDs (and Slysoft's AnyDVD to decrypt the DVDs to whatever form I want to convert the movie to) thanks.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 02 May 2010 @ 11:16

333.5.2010 05:40

The disc plays fine on my PS3 but CorelWinDVD2010 won't play it - keeps complaining it can't becasue of the region settings of the player ( the disc itself is region free so no idea what is going on )

344.5.2010 00:26

Originally posted by Cassi1125:
It's stories like this that make me never want to get a BD player. The average movie viewer is probably pretty much of my mind: If a player can't play whatever dvd I put into it, no matter what the format, I don't want it. Sony ticked me off right away when their BD player wouldn't play a burned dvd that I was all geeked up to watch. The heck with 'em. I'll stick with my region-free upconverting dvd player 'cuz it makes me & my dvds happy.
DVD was at least as bad with all the regions; best buy was selling region 1 & 2 disks, and the local sound exchange had movies from every single region, yet 99% of standalone DVD players would not let you play more than 1 region of DVDs. It got to the point that I had 3 dvd players hooked up, and still had a pile of about 30 disks that I could not watch...they are all on my PC now, all DRM cracked, and all working.

BTW...a bug F**K YOU to whoever decided that a legal, pressed disk could not be played because it was ordered from overseas...do they do that with music? Of course not!

354.5.2010 04:45

@ KillerBug:

I have 1 DVD (UK Music Clips) that I can't rip a 100%.....But I can watch the Original on the Region Free (ALL)DVD Players and also on the PC's.

I can make backups of it, tho......But the back-ups don't play on a single region DVD Players.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 04 May 2010 @ 4:52

364.5.2010 11:39

Originally posted by cyprusrom:
Originally posted by omegaman7:
And I'll stick with BD/DVD rom drives :D HTPC's are the shiznit! BD drives don't care about new releases. Though Anydvd HD often needs updated ;)
That was gonna be my suggestion, that's the way to go, forget all the other junk!!
Me three! An LG Rom player and AnyDVD_HD combo works great for me no problems... no glitches.

376.5.2010 14:23

Originally posted by Paula_X:
Remember.. IF you can watch it you can rip it.. one way or another. One day they will work out the ultimate copy protection.. An unplayable disk.. and a software style returns policy "once packaging is opened no refunds whatsoever under any circumstances" .. and then they will STILL blame "piracy" for their imagined losses.

Dances with Smurfs.. what a crap film. 2 hours I will never get back grrrrrrrr
Yes, that must have been the plan. Make it near impossible to rip. They could care less if only 1 in 5 players can play it. As if most players are hooked up to the internet so they can play what they bought. They will when no one buys it. Then they will cry foul the f...ing babies!

386.5.2010 23:23

Hahahaha ... stupid DRM and dumb public. If it was me paying a drm blu ray I would just give it back and get a ripped blu ray copy. Thats exactly what I did. Got mine from walmart and I have the latest and greatest samsung and stupid thing did even work but when my buddy got me a ripped blu ray it works just fine.

ITS NOT THE PLAYER IDIOTS. ITS THE USELESS DRM..............

FOX SHOULD GET SUED FOR THIS OR THE LEAST FIRE THE MORON THAT THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 06 May 2010 @ 11:25

397.5.2010 12:13

Originally posted by kfir1:
Hahahaha ... stupid DRM and dumb public. If it was me paying a drm blu ray I would just give it back and get a ripped blu ray copy. Thats exactly what I did. Got mine from walmart and I have the latest and greatest samsung and stupid thing did even work but when my buddy got me a ripped blu ray it works just fine.

ITS NOT THE PLAYER IDIOTS. ITS THE USELESS DRM..............

FOX SHOULD GET SUED FOR THIS OR THE LEAST FIRE THE MORON THAT THOUGHT ABOUT THIS.
Why do you think the public is stupid? They pretty much are but why should they suspect that they will not be able to play the disk? Most will just stop buying Blue Rays, which is a great idea. If the entire industry suffers because of the morons at Fox did they might be more careful as to what they release.

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