[BC] CD vs LP

[RichardBJohnson at comcast.net]

Blu-ray has now been extended to be much more
than just another DVD format, which may affect the
broadcaster in different ways considering that standard
DVDs are expected to be phased out with no compatible
replacement.

The final Blu-ray spec is out. Blu-ray equipment should
support the following mandatory and optional audio capabilities

Linear PCM (LPCM) - up to 8 channels of uncompressed
audio (mandatory)

Dolby Digital (DD) - format used for DVDs, 5.1-channel
surround sound (mandatory)

Dolby Digital Plus (DD+) - extension of Dolby Digital,
7.1-channel surround sound (optional)

Dolby TrueHD - lossless encoding of up to 8 channels
of audio (optional)

DTS Digital Surround - format used for DVDs,
5.1-channel surround sound (mandatory)

DTS-HD High Resolution Audio - extension of DTS,
7.1-channel surround sound (optional)

DTS-HD Master Audio - lossless encoding of up
to 8 channels of audio (optional)

DTS Express - 5.1 channels for a secondary audio
stream. (optional)

Dolby Digital Compatible Output (DDCO) - 5.1 channel
Dolby Digital encoding specifically for S/PDIF outputs.
(optional), provides compatibility with legacy A/V receivers

In addition, the various Blu-ray playback modes include
playing multiple simultaneous on-disk audio tracks and
Internet-based audio tracks, which can require as many
as three audio codecs to operate simultaneously.

It is expected that these Blu-ray boxes will require
an Internet connection, through which licensing
and use information will be passed. Basically, a
consumer's activity will be automatically monitored
so that "Billboard" and others can quantify the song
and movie titles being played --sort of "Big Brother"
watching as in "1984."

I wish I was joking. It seems that a "*!&@%$!@&*_%"
DVD box is now going to circumvent the United
States Constitution. Considering what my neighbor
has in her living room for "on-demand" cable, maybe
they already have.

--
Cheers,
Richard B. Johnson
Read about my book
http://www.LymanSchool.org