OT - Media player for AVCHD.Blu-ray retail Sony

bill-kranz wrote on 5/11/2014, 2:49 PM

Hi. My friend brought over a new Blu-ray movie from Sony called "To Rome with Love".

On a year old HP desktop Win 7 Home OS neither my POT Player, Windows media player nor Cyber Link Power DVD V 10 media player would open these AVCHD clips. (1080P)

Anyone know of a free media player that can handle this format?

Thanks,
Bill

Comments

Rob Franks wrote on 5/11/2014, 3:47 PM

It's not the format (pot player plays M2TS fine). I believe it's the copy protection and licensing. I have powerdvd 10 and it will play the older blu ray discs, but for the newer discs it asks for an update (and more money of course).

I don't believe there is a "free" program which will play blu ray discs. VLC will play with an add-on but it's not too reliable.

PeterDuke wrote on 5/11/2014, 7:56 PM

Yes, a commercial BD is almost certain to be copy protected, and I don't think that you will find a free BD player that will play copy protected BDs. BD decryption is a zealously guarded secret that must be maintained by the player manufacturer and the licence costs money. Even the illegal BD decrypters cost money, as far as I know.

Some BD players will play the main feature but not display the BD menu.

Commercial BD players to consider are PowerDVD Pro, Total Media Theatre, WinDVDPro and DVDFab Media Player. I have all four, but prefer to use PowerDVD Pro. Note that PowerDVD Standard does not play BDs.

bill-kranz wrote on 5/11/2014, 9:49 PM

Okay guys thanks!!

So it's all about some money being transferred to play the "protected" format and I suppose it's a good thing such players do not cost hundreds of dollars to license out.

I will look into those players and see what I want to do. I am not into any cheating per se but if not happy with these products they can count me and my friend out of future sales.

Thanks!!

Bill

PeterDuke wrote on 5/11/2014, 10:42 PM

Another BD player that I forgot is Nero BD Player, which is part of the Nero suite.

rstrong wrote on 5/12/2014, 12:30 AM

Why not watch it on a set top BD player?

robert

bill-kranz wrote on 5/12/2014, 9:28 AM

Question: Why not watch it on a set top BD player?

Answer - I am not integrated into the TV world but I suppose I could run it back into my LCD monitor? They are probably cheaper than the $79.00 for the Power DVD software option price I saw.

Other: Why can't the built in PC Blu-ray "players" "play" the movie in question? Perhaps Sony should have a software decoder mated to any Blu-ray unit built into each disc for a slight price upcharge – 1 cent?

Also Microsoft should use their buying power to issue a product equal/better to Power DVD at say ½ the price. I know Media Center under Win 8 is like $15.00 extra but do I trust it to play my legally purchased movie? NO.

(This all started when my friend's new Mac laptop does not have a BD playback option.)

Thx,
Bill