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Wii + Roxio = DVD Playback (fall '07)
mausmalone
Registered User regular
Registered User regular
I'm not sure if this warrants a whole new thread, but with no megathread I'm gonna throw it out there to be noted upon, and ultimately languish and die ...
So it appears that in fall '07 or winter '07 there will be a new Wii version hitting shelves that has DVD playback built in. But something struck me as weird ... they're going with a company named Sonic Solutions to offer DVD playback. Sonic Solutions' consumer arm is better known to all of us as Roxio.
Well, here's what I'm wondering ... is this really going to be restricted to new consoles? After all, Roxio isn't a hardware company. The only DVD decoders they make are software decoders. Maybe it's the wishful thinker in me, but maybe there's a chance that this DVD player will also be released as a pay-for channel on the VC?
GoNintendo wrote:
We all know that a new version of the Wii will be coming at some point, this version featuring DVD playback. Reader ChickenSandwich emailed Nintendo to try and get some more info, and were sent this response.Nintendo wrote:Hello and thank you for contacting Nintendo,
I appreciate your taking the time to share your comments and suggestions with us. Rest assured that they will be forwarded to the appropriate department for further review.
Also, as you know, Nintendo and Sonic Solutions have made an agreement to allow Nintendo the use of Sonic Solutions’ DVD technology in a future version of the Wii console. However, launch details, like where (regions or countries) it will sell, release date, or price (although it will be more expensive than the original version) are currently unavailable and won’t be revealed until sometime in the latter half of 2007. It will not be available as an add-on attachment.
For those who already own a DVD player at home, the launch version of Wii will be the best choice. This version of the console is more affordable and you’ll be able to enjoy Wii games immediately.
At least we now have some idea when we will hear more on this project.
So it appears that in fall '07 or winter '07 there will be a new Wii version hitting shelves that has DVD playback built in. But something struck me as weird ... they're going with a company named Sonic Solutions to offer DVD playback. Sonic Solutions' consumer arm is better known to all of us as Roxio.
Well, here's what I'm wondering ... is this really going to be restricted to new consoles? After all, Roxio isn't a hardware company. The only DVD decoders they make are software decoders. Maybe it's the wishful thinker in me, but maybe there's a chance that this DVD player will also be released as a pay-for channel on the VC?
mausmalone on
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I mean if they make it updatable via VC then hooray, but if the only way I'll be able to get my Wii to play DVD's is by buying a new one I'm gonna be pissed.
PSN: super_emu
Xbox360 Gamertag: Emuchop
I've got at least 4, but two are computers, one is my PS2, and the other is a shitty CyberHome one. The computers aren't hooked up to TVs, the PS2 has a wired controller, and the remote for the CyberHome one sucks ass. I actually have to get up from my seat to use the remote because the range is so shitty.
So for me, at least, the best feature to a Wii channel that plays DVDs would be having a nice RF remote to work with. Biggest downside of course would be no more optical audio output.
That applies to dedicated DVD hardware. A VC download would probably be considered software. For example, you could buy a DVD player program like WinDVD for a computer that doesn't have optical out without violating any licensing.
Fair enough.
Doesn't need to be optical, but it does need to be SPDIF. Coaxial SPDIF is perfectly sufficient. The Wii can't output SPDIF now, but it's probably possible to add that to one of the unused pins on the AV cable in a firmware update. Then again, it might not be; that functionality could well be hardcoded into (or rather out of) the DAC.
I guess we'll see, but right now it looks like a DVD-playing Wii will be more of a "Panasonic Q"-like curiosity and not a channel to buy. Which sucks, but who really gives a shit? I mean, it's not like DVD players are rare or expensive or anything. You can buy a progressive-scan DVD player from Wal*Mart for like thirty dollars.
that clears up quite a bit.
and probably a good insight on whats going to change between dvd wii and regular wii.l
PSN: super_emu
Xbox360 Gamertag: Emuchop
I like my work area nice and clean. and I want to bring my wii and buy a new small lcd tv for it. I was hoping that I didn't have to hook up bazillion devices to it.. just one small white functional device..
PSN: super_emu
Xbox360 Gamertag: Emuchop
It's getting fucking annoying that, barely a year after the console launches, they announce a second, better version for the same price.
Seriously... nintendo, microsoft... stop this shit. It's really annoying.
It is Nintendo. You should expect it from them.
- PS2
- XBox
- Desktop
- Laptop
- DVD/VHS combo machine
I think I'll live with my vanilla Wii.
No, this isn't fair. Just because they do it over and over again doesn't excuse them. This is still bullshit.
new wii's might have optical audio out?
oh
geez
- A broken DVD player
- Laptop with DVD drive
- Desktop with DVD drive
- A PlayStation 2 that no longer plays DVD movies
I use my desktop's DVD drive the most, but it doesn't mesh well with my setup. If they offered a DVD Channel for download I'd probably buy it.
Edit: If new Wiis have optical out, there's a good chance it won't apply to game audio output anyway. The PS2 is like this, right? Only things that specifically support it do anything with the optical out.
If I buy a PC now, it won't be as good as one that is available 12 months later. If I buy a phone now, a better one will be available soon afterwards. If I buy a console, then I take the risk that it may be discounted or improved down the track.
That's the nature of technology.
No, on the PS2 everything outputs from the optical port as well. Otherwise you'd have to switch cables for certain games, which would suck.
Usually it's just normal stereo sound, of course, unless the game specifically supports surround sound.
Think of Panasonic Q <> Gamecube situation.
well, it's all good then
Ok, then don't buy the new version that will offer no improvements to current or future games. That'll show them.
Me? I probably won't get one unless the sonic DVD software plays MP4/H.264/DivX in addition to standard MPEG2 DVDs. (Though I'm still not thrilled that I'd have to get a new version rather than paying the licensing fees through a VC purchase but that's Nintendo's choice as a supplier. As a consumer, I only get to decide what I buy. I sure hope the homebrew community breaks into the Wii soon...)
Imagine the Wii where the GC is. Unless this new Wii looks better than the Q, then it's not going to do any significant sales whatsoever.
Right now the Wii does Dolby Pro Logic II, which is compressed 5.1. Adding an optical out would allow Dolby Digital, which is uncompressed 5.1. Both require an audio decoder, and unless you are the 5-10% that can hear the difference, does it really matter?
Your sarcasm does little to mask your idiocy.
uhh
It has 5.1 through PLII, similar to supporting 480p, only as a halfway gap.
Also wasn't the possibility of DVD player support announced before the Wii was released?
Exactly. I've got an above-average speaker setup, and I really don't have a problem with Pro Logic.
Any decent decoder will be able to use the Pro Logic hints to separate the channels effectively, and the real-world difference in quality is pretty small. Most game music is stored on the disc as compressed audio anyway, so I doubt you would gain much from using Dolby Digital.
this is certainly not as big as the difference between say, the GBA and GBA SP, or the DS and DS Lite (both of which I bought at launch, and stupidly did not think to wait for a later greater model).
"I wonder how many people would have a setup for Dolby Digital."
Which is quite easy to see why that was never a priority, nor should they somehow spend more money to have a chipset to potentially support it for games that less than <insert your ballpark estimate of gamers with a Wii who has a decoder>. This is no different than the GC and the removal of the digital out port.
It still sucks.
But at the same time, I'm just going to do what I always do. Eventually buy a 2nd of every system I have towards or just after the end of its cycle so that a) should the first suddenly break down, I've got the 2nd to keep going, and b) keep one at home while I can move the other around to anywhere I want like a friend's house or school or wherever. Having a 2nd system that also plays DVD's would be awesome, especially if you bring it at a hotel.
(Oh, and AlphaTwo, check your PM's. Thanks.)
What are you talking about?
I WILL NOT BE DOING 3DS FOR NWC THREAD. SOMEONE ELSE WILL HAVE TO TAKE OVER.
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If it's a software solution: a) How did the DVD forum let them get away with it, and b) is the current Wiis going to support it.
I could have sworn there were five pages in this thread just a minute ago.
Clearly the lack of sleep is getting to me.
Apologies.