I'm having second thoughts given that modern smart TVs can play media off a flash drive.
What would be interesting is if we could author a project emulating a DVD/Blue-Ray structure which could be played off a smart tv from a flash drive.
Is that at all possible?
I have a feeling Blue-Ray is well on its way to the media format history museum....
i don't think Blu ray ever caught on as much was was expected because technology moved so fast. My TVs have SD card slots but they are only for stills. If I want to play from a flash drive, I have to use my Bluray player (which also has internet access) or I have a media player. So my bluray player is not wasted, but I only own one bluray disc, even though I have created several for clients. From the distance of my TV and the size, there is not a big enough difference in quality for me to spend extra money on Bluray movies. Plus, I have several DVD players so I can play those anywhere in the house. I assume newer TVs will allow video from flash or SD cards. That is the next logical step and someone needs to create a menu driven shell to emulate DVD or Blu ray operation.
Indeed david-tu... My smart Tv can play videos in HD directly from a flash drive, and the my last project I handed over in flash drive because it was going to been shown on a Smart TV which can play videos directly. I then went on and auhored a DVD as an extra, but I have a feeling it will never be played. I was quite surprised, since the "client" - actually a friend- wanted a video for his parent's 50th wedding aniversary. They were to project the video at a family celebration, so I instructed my friend on how to play the thing off the Smart TV. What really knocked me back was that he later told me his parents had shown the video a number of times to friends and relatives directly from the flash drive, so it isn't that "difficult" (it's not rocket science I know, but taking into account that the couple are in their 70's I assumed it might be a bit more challenging..). I auhored the DVD thinking it would allow this couple to play the video off a DVD player with no hassles, but as it has turned out it is unnecessary.
So I agree, the next logical step is to create a menu driven shell to emulate DVD/Blue-Ray operation; and that is what I would expect of a programme such a DVD Architect...I actually find it strange that this development is nowhere to be seen yet....
Interesting reading Nick. I see other programmes allow for flash based menu driven projects. But flash is not what the future holds, and I assume that such formats are not playable from drives conected to smart TVs.
My assumption furthermore is that potential clients perceive more value in DVD-like delivery, enriching the customer experience, as opposed to a set of disconnected videos (even if you can include chapter points) to be played as a list: a bit like playing stuff from a folder on a pc. Important preceived value is lost and therefore the possibilty to charge more. There is a relevant value in delivering a box with covers + an interactive, simple navitation structure inherent to DVDs/Blue-Rays.
I am actually quite surprised that there seems to be little interest in exploring or developing an industry solution. Or I am ignorant of what is really going on, which is probably the case...
Sorry, just in case my wording is causing confusion, what I meant to say is that smart Tvs can play hd videos directly from hard drives or USB drives....
The problem is that how files appear will depend on how a TV's software handles a USB drive and displays the contents. This varies between TVs so until there is an industry standard in a similar way that DVD and Blu-ray players have a standard for discs then you have no way of being certain that a drive's file contents will display as you intend on your clients equipment.