Say Goodbye to Analog Ports on Blu-ray Players

I hate what our industry is forcing us to do to our clients these days. It’s dirty pool. Convince the masses they NEED something, no wait, lets MAKE THEM need it, then let’s change it up so the NEED to change it, no wait, let’s MAKE THEM change it….

As a designer, this disgusts me.

Tom.

Another possible solution:

hdfury.com

HDMI > Component

I would suggest installers consult with legal consul before trying to deploy devices that break hdcp encoding.

And how about my wonderful picture quality but aging Sony tube television?  It supports 1080i - but only with component video cables.  It doesn’t have any HDMI input.  In this situation the industry says - tough?

Now we can sell our customers wonderfully effective solutions that work for HDMI multi source / multi zone distribution. To my knowledge the only one of these that currently exists is the Crestron digital media system. While others will doubtlessly be brought to market, the will no doubt be very expensive, although probably not as expensive as the Crestron solution.

I don’t relish the thought of going to existing customers and explaining to them that their 3 - 5 year old distribution systems are outdated and must be replaced, unless they want to make due with SD on their HDTV. We just did a variation of that when Comcast encrypted and digitally broadcasted all the cable channels, so now some sort of cable box is required to watch anything, unless you want to install a terrestial antenna.

Clients are going to get tired of hearing this crap, and even more tired of paying us for it.

One other point, as has been mentioned, not only is their a bandwidth / availability problem with downloadable HD content, most of the nation does not even use this as their method of receiving content. What happens when most of the country does try to use the Internet for HD content downloads? Be prepared for your rates to skyrocket as providers scramble to upgrade their infrastructure.

In my experience, a 1080p Blu Ray disc with Tru HD or DTS Master Audio provides far superior audio and noticeably better video than even 1080p downloaded content. Are we that love high quality A/V content going to fall prey to the same fate as those who download their audio content? What games will they play to maximize available bandwidth at the expense of A/V quality, while still sending the requisite 1080p resolution so they can continue to claim we are getting the magic 1080p?

i agree with Richard Stewart. cap the output at 720p/1080i. this will allow our customers with existing component only connections to keep their systems intact, as is. there are some installations that were done many years ago that do NOT have HDMI, and will not allow any retro fit installation of HDMI or any kind of cables. the fact that we are forced to go to HDMI only is UNACCEPTABLE ! we should be able to use our clout and respond in to those who are forcing us to comply.

Richard could not have said it better. 

We have heard for years tha t the anti-component for HD “tag” on discs would be coming, and here it is.  I have been dreading it for years, and now feel like I have finally been delivered that solar plexus sucker punch I have been fearing all these years.

I feel ground under and lost in the cracks.  1080i on analog HD displays is incredible, when the display has been finely dialed in.  No need even for 1080p unless you get it has a perk anyway.  Leaving thousands of completely viable and incredible looking CRT RPTVs out there still ready for bear.  Not to mention triple-gun ceiling projectors, which didn’t even have HD to display when they were created!  Look at them now!  Better pictures than any Faroudja was ever able to deliver from standard definition, once HD was the new standard.  No slight to Faroudja of course, it was the best of its kind and will always enjoy that distinction no matter what.

But now to curtail HD like this, forcing us all out of our perfectly valid comfort zones?  It’s outrageous and Big Brother all at once.  “We thank you for your co-operation…”  (Robocop) as they grind us under their wheels…

Why don’t they leave us alone???

Mr Bob

This would be a very consumer-unfriendly move, which would only serve to alienate customers.

I have one HDTV with only component inputs.  I have another with component and with DVI.  I have a DolbyDigital receiver that only switches component. Am I unique?  I think NOT.

If this is coming as a surprise to anyone then you have nobody to blame but yourselves. We have been hearing about this for about 18 months now.  If you chose not to believe the news then welcome to reality.  Stop bitching and sell your clients the products they need.  Call your Crestron rep and ask for a refresher course on Digital Media.

I dont see the downside to this. It is a chance to get back into all my clients houses and look at potential upgrades…  Think about how many times you have upgrades your cell phone and computer in the last 5 years. I see no difference here. Not to mention we were warned about this over a year ago…

I heard about a new technology which offers 4K res and requires 2 HDMI connections to provide a dual differential,
aw skip it, I am just making this up.

We should have never left RGB.

How many clients can really tell a difference between 480p and 720P?  I mean, it takes a pretty good installation and a good eye to really appreciate the difference, especially when most humans are drawn in by the content rather than the quality. Now, if the component outputs are actually disabled then there is no content at all.  Customers will notice that.