Blu-Ray Player Updates Question

[kevinturcotte]

I've asked about this before, but never really got a definitive answer, as most people said it wasn't necessary.
Last year, I thought about getting my Father a new Blu-Ray player, but had some trouble with the updates. I just got my January issue of Home Theater Magazine, and they're reviewing the new Bond collection released on Blu-Ray. It says:
"For those of you who have older-generation Blu-ray players, you may need to perform a firmware update before you can access and of the content of these discs."
My Father does not have internet access of any kind. He and my stepmother frequently rent movies. Would this become a problem for them? Rent a movie, get it home, and the player won't play it without an update, which he can't get (Fairly quickly anyway)?

[harsh]

Toshiba mails me updates for my HD DVD player. I would suspect that there are ways around an Internet connection.

I also suspect that many of the update issues are related to the content that requires Internet access anyway.

[Stuart Sweet]

Agreed. You should be able to burn a CD with a firmware update as well.

[hdtvfan0001]

Agreed. You should be able to burn a CD with a firmware update as well.
Yes...I have done 2 on my Panny Blu Ray player using a simple downloaded firmware burn to a CD.

[kevinturcotte]

If he couldn't get ahold of me though, or my internet was down, he'd have wasted a couple rentals, wouldn't he?

[Stuart Sweet]

Perhaps, but that's why the best thing would be to try to get him updated first.

[Mike Bertelson]

My Samsung BD-P1500 can be updated either via burning a CD or by using the USB port with a flash drive.

Mike

[Stewart Vernon]

The Bond films are a good example of a need to update firmware, actually, because I've read of many people even with newer players that needed to update firmware when those were released.

Besides functionality issues and perhaps Internet features (which may or may not be of interest)... there have been changes in encryption methods and/or keys which necessitated firmware updates.

Discounting the online features for a moment... most compatibility issues I've seen online have been the result of the encryption schemes which required a player update just to play the movie. While I understand the need to protect content from thieves, they are somewhat shooting themselves in the foot with usability issues from end users who are not prepared for semi-regular firmware updates on their movie player.

[tbh999]

My Samsung BD-P2500 has three methods for updates: Direct Internet access through you LAN
CD ROM
USB Thumb DriveYou need the latest and greatest firmware to play many of the movies.

I think you can request a CD with the update from the manufactures website too.

[harsh]

I think you can request a CD with the update from the manufactures website too.Which is pretty much an imperative for those who don't have broadband Internet.

[hdtvfan0001]

Which is pretty much an imperative for those who don't have broadband Internet.
All Profile 1.1 and 1.0 units would need the CD, while the Profile 2.0 units feature the Ethernet connectivity for downloads.

Actually, having done all this with HD DVD as well (still have that too), its actually not a big deal to burn a download update - I've done it dozens of times without any problems whatsoever on multiple units, also including my Blu Ray 1.1 unit.

[harsh]

My point was that because the parents don't have broadband, it doesn't matter what profile their player is: their best update plan is to have a disc delivered to them.

[bsprague]

Bought a new Panasonic DMP-BD30 a couple months ago. Worked fine. Panasonic website said there was a firmware update. I downloaded it and burned a CD. The BD30 would not read it. I found a 800 number in the owners manual, called, explained it and they mailed me a CD at no charge. The BD30 read the mailed CD and upgraded the firmware. It still works fine. No noticeable changes!