Why Apple will never support Blu-Ray

[Fishrrman]

"There is a difference and it will look better than DVD but 720p is perfect for a laptop with a TN display. Blu-Ray is overkill."

Go here:
http://forum.blu-ray.com/617171-post5.html

View the comparison images.

Then come back to this thread and state that BluRay is "overkill"....

 

[GGJstudios]

To end the Blu-Ray discussion, ...

You obviously didn't end it, as you can see from this thread!

Wasn't aware DisplayPort is now HDCP compliant.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mini_displayport

The Mini DisplayPort specification includes HDCP copy protection, allowing DRM-enabled content providers, including the iTunes Store, to disable playback on any external displays that are not HDCP compliant.

 

[Denarius]

Displayport and minidisplayport both support HDCP. Apple minidisplayportmonitors don't. Just as well we've got a Samsung on the Mac Pro!

 

[Tyrion]

Apple's logic exactly. If one truly wants to see a higher quality movie, then he or she will go get the actual Bluray disc and not buy the iTunes HD movie, but since Apple is depriving you of the ability to watch a Bluray disc on their computer, you are essentially "forced" to get it from the iTunes Store. Or other various illegal ways.

If this were Apple's logic, it would be flawed, because it doesn't account for the fact that only Apple's American customers can actually buy video content on the iTunes store.
I mean, I'm very willing to believe that Apple wants to make a quick buck off my desire to watch a movie, but they're not gaining anything by depriving me of Blu-Ray. I can't buy the movie on the iTunes store, so I'll either have to get it illegally or invest thousands into a decent home theater setup. I don't want to do either of these things; I want to watch movies in decent quality on my computer, and it baffles me that Apple does not allow me to do so (in a 2000-3000$ computer no less).

 

[hippo206]

4. why waste time, money and resources on supporting technology that will be obsolete in a couple of years?

A industry that did over a billion dollars last year will be dead in 2 years? Yeah... right...

 

[zipa]

1. You cannot output Blu-Ray content because MiniDisplayPort is not HDCP compliant. Only HDMI is HDCP compliant.

Huh? Component video for sure isn't "anything-compliant", but it will carry a HD-video signal quite nicely. Not quite sure what you're getting at here?

 

[apple.net]

If I truly want to see a movie at the best quality currently available, I will always get the Blu-Ray and definitely not the iTunes-"HD-version.

And you probably put it in a BD player and watch it on HDTV instead of laptop, right?

 

[zipa]

And you probably put it in a BD player and watch it on HDTV instead of laptop, right?

Yes. But when I'm on a trip, I really wouldn't want to have to buy DVD versions of all my BR movies to be able to view them on the road. Nor do I feel tempted to pack my entire home theater in my suitcase either.

 

[Winni]

To end the Blu-Ray discussion, here are the reasons Apple CANNOT support Blu-Ray.

1. You cannot output Blu-Ray content because MiniDisplayPort is not HDCP compliant. Only HDMI is HDCP compliant. That means even if you did stick a Blu-Ray drive in a MBP, it will not output HD.

2. Apple cannot switch from MiniDisplayPort to HDMI because HDMI cannot display resolutions higher than 1200p (unless you buy a monitor that supports HDMI 1.4 and I don't know of any that's been released). Apple also cannot abandon MiniDisplayPort for compatibility reasons with their other products.

3. Apple can put both a MiniDisplayPort and an HDMI port on the MBP but this is overkill and they would never do that, especially when DisplayPort is a superior technology and a royalty-free and open standard.

When Jobs talks about Blu-Ray licensing being "a bag of hurt", this is what he means. Blu-Ray is tied to HDCP (high-bandwidth digital content protection), which only works with HDMI, yet the PC industry is embracing DisplayPort as the new standard.

While this might all be technically correct, at least for the current line of Apple products, it has nothing to do with the one and only real reason why Apple won't support BluRay:

They want to force their customers to exclusively purchase (or rent) movies from the iTunes store.

It's as simple as that. End of story.

 

[mstrze]

They want to force their customers to exclusively purchase (or rent) movies from the iTunes store.

The ability to import non-iTunes-purchased music didn't stop Apple from selling nearly 10 BILLION songs....why should having a BR player included adversely affect movie/TV sales?

 

[Lukeyy19]

BluRay or no BluRay, i'm not going to pay to download a movie from itunes or anywhere else for that matter, they are overpriced, you buy a CD single for £3ish or for 50p-£1 to download which is fair enough, I see the benefits of sacrificing my hard copy for an 80%+ saving, but with movie downloads and even CD Albums, they are barely cheaper or even equal to the hard copy, and i'm not going to pay the same price for something that has no resale value, must be transferred to different storage mediums etc to be used on anything else, that's if they let you for a start, i'm going to go BluRay every time, in the same way i will not download a game on the PSN which i could buy in a store, i will buy the £7 or so games because like i said i see the benefit in sacrificing the hard copy for the saving. but for a full priced £20+ game, I'm going to get a hard copy, for the resale value if nothing else.

If i'm at home, of course i'm going to use my PS3 to play a bluray, but if i'm on a plane, or whatever, why do we have to leave the HighDef revolution behind.

I understand that BluRay isn't for everyone, but I would like to see it as at least an option on the new Pros.

The ability to import non-iTunes-purchased music didn't stop Apple from selling nearly 10 BILLION songs....why should having a BR player included adversely affect movie/TV sales?

Genius! what a good point! exactly, Apple didn't prevent you playing CDs...

 

[Vinniefish]

Someone earlier posted the monoprice dongle in order to use the MiniDisplayPort as HDMI. This will work for the majority of people but it is important to remember that the MiniDisplayPort in Apple's Mac cannot currently output audio, and the RCA/Optical audio port cannot output HD audio like TrueHD and DTS-HD. So even though you may be able to get full 1080P output you still cannot get HD audio.

 

[Vinniefish]

The ability to import non-iTunes-purchased music didn't stop Apple from selling nearly 10 BILLION songs....why should having a BR player included adversely affect movie/TV sales?

This is because the media types are different, people will listen to a song many times but only watch a movie once or twice. Music is much more reusable.

 

[Disc Golfer]

While this might all be technically correct, at least for the current line of Apple products, it has nothing to do with the one and only real reason why Apple won't support BluRay:

They want to force their customers to exclusively purchase (or rent) movies from the iTunes store.

It's as simple as that. End of story.

Which is why you can't get dvd drives in macs either.. oh wait. Actually it isn't the end of the story, your arguments simply don't hold water because you're a troll.

 

[florian k.]

who needs blueray on a notebook anyway?
watching movies on my 13" macbook is a pain in the ass

 

[cwwilson]

I have been waiting for Blu-ray support on Mac for years. When PS3 first came out, I could swear that Macs were next in line. To me, the two parties would fit great with one another. While playing MGS4, you will notice how many Apple products are in that game, which too lead me to believe that Blu-ray was on the way. I'm just dumbfounded it hasn't happened by now.

 

[zipa]

who needs blueray on a notebook anyway?
watching movies on my 13" macbook is a pain in the ass

What sort of a question is that? Everyone who'd want to use Blu-ray discs with their notebook would be a safe bet?

And watching a movie on a 13" notebook sure beats the option of staring at the cover of a Blu-ray case and not being able to watch it at all. And last time I checked, Apple had a 17" version of the MBP as well, with a "FullHD" screen.

 

[barkomatic]

No one here knows the real reason Apple won't include blu-ray in their laptops but who cares? They get to decide what they want to sell and if what they have sells well it doesn't really matter from a business standpoint to them.

All I know is that we are not forced to buy Apple products. There are plenty of blu-ray laptops out there with modern components that have HDMI ports. Some even have USB 3.0. Is the build/software tradeoff worth it? It's up to the consumer to decide.

 

[showkati]

I would rather have apple invest in ways to improve their HD streaming.

 

[Tyrion]

who needs blueray on a notebook anyway?
watching movies on my 13" macbook is a pain in the ass

Thank you for arrogantly assuming that your tastes and requirements are shared by everyone else. (protip: take a look at sony's upcoming vaio Z, which offers a gorgeous 13" fullHD screen - something apple could easily offer too)

 

[dukebound85]

who needs blueray on a notebook anyway?
watching movies on my 13" macbook is a pain in the ass

how about not wanting to buy multiple versions of the same ******* movie

 

[LethalWolfe]

The ability to import non-iTunes-purchased music didn't stop Apple from selling nearly 10 BILLION songs....why should having a BR player included adversely affect movie/TV sales?

CDs were already a well established technology by the time iTMS came out so Apple couldn't really stop selling machines w/CD drives could they? And, as someone else mentioned (including Steve Jobs a few years ago), people consume music and movies/TV shows in different ways.

Which is why you can't get dvd drives in macs either.. oh wait. Actually it isn't the end of the story, your arguments simply don't hold water because you're a troll.

So back in the day Apple was a leader in getting DVD drives, and DVD authoring software, into the hands of their customers and today zip, zilch, nada. What's changed? Is it that Apple sees downloading/streaming as the future? Do you think Apple having a very vested interest in that future becoming a reality could impact their decisions when it comes to shipping their computers w/the a new, competing distribution medium?


Lethal

 

[Tyrion]

No one here knows the real reason Apple won't include blu-ray in their laptops but who cares? They get to decide what they want to sell and if what they have sells well it doesn't really matter from a business standpoint to them.

All I know is that we are not forced to buy Apple products. There are plenty of blu-ray laptops out there with modern components that have HDMI ports. Some even have USB 3.0. Is the build/software tradeoff worth it? It's up to the consumer to decide.

Thing is, with a 2000-3000$ machine I shouldn't have to make that decision; I shouldn't be jealously eyeing what competitors are offering because apple is behind in some key areas. Why are many people here so easily satisfied? Why aren't we all expecting apple's beautiful and expensive "pro"-laptops to offer current-gen technology like USB 3.0, blu-Ray and fullHD as standard?
Many people here have rather low expectations.

 

[zipa]

No one here knows the real reason Apple won't include blu-ray in their laptops but who cares? They get to decide what they want to sell and if what they have sells well it doesn't really matter from a business standpoint to them.

All I know is that we are not forced to buy Apple products. There are plenty of blu-ray laptops out there with modern components that have HDMI ports. Some even have USB 3.0. Is the build/software tradeoff worth it? It's up to the consumer to decide.

This is of course true. It just bugs me as an "aware consumer" that Apple gets away with a lot of stuff like this. They know that they have basically a whole industry (graphics, that is) "locked in" on Apple hardware and OS X, and that they have a relatively large number of religiously fanatic fans that would buy a steaming turd as long as it would be labeled as an "iPoo" and had an apple sticking out of it.

 

[belvdr]

... they have a relatively large number of religiously fanatic fans that would buy a steaming turd as long as it would be labeled as an "iPoo" and had an apple sticking out of it.

On to the next level we go! And I couldn't agree more. I can think of people like this immediately (and I'm not one of them, since this last MBP purchase will likely be the last one).