Digital streaming is displacing the last remnants of physical media.
In a disappointing turn of events, FlatpanelsHD reports that LG has ended production of its Blu-ray player series, which includes the UBK80 and UBK90 models. With limited stock available, prospective buyers should act quickly to secure the last remaining units before they are sold out.
After Samsung and Sony’s departure from physical media, LG was one of the last major manufacturers of Blu-ray players
On one hand I’m happy less plastic shit will be produced and consumed. On the other hand, this is leading more towards dystopian timelines where we can never own anything anymore.
You can own DRMless media instead. BluRay was already more restrictive than DVD, from what I understand.
Eh. A few more steps to rip the content, but not bad really.
Now UHD Blu-ray is a different story. There are a limited number of drives that could do it before their firmware was patched.
I find buying DVDs just to rip the contents impractical anyway. If I were concerned with ethics - I’d likely do like I do with Steam games and buy a DRMed version corresponding to my DRMless download. Because I’d rather not deal with a disk taking up space or needing to be disposed of, not to mention potential scarcity if it is no longer in print.
Agree on Blu-Ray. Also, weren’t there region restrictions?
Yeah, it is frustrating that the license is tied to the physical disc. Especially when they won’t send you a replacement for a damaged disc.
I personally buy, rip, and keep the physical discs of my collection which is now well over 1,000 titles. It’s a lot of work, and takes up a lot of space, but it’s also a hobby I enjoy. I’d much prefer if I could just buy a license for the film and watch it or store it however I want.
You know, this might actually be a decent application for NFTs.
I wouldn’t want that, NFTs are wasteful and also very much public.
I see the value in disks if you’re into collecting the physical pieces, but if you’re not into that, I don’t find it a good way to own - for me that would be useless pieces of plastic occupying space. Very much not for everyone.
Ripping them is actually really easy if you have a compatible drive.
This is all preventable with basic digital ownership laws, but governments are instead bending the knee.
I just pay the iron price and download everything
Bring back the MiniDisk!
I had a Minidisc recorder I would use for field audio recordings back in the 90s and I really loved the format. Small, portable, didn’t fuck up like a DAT but was close enough in quality to work in most instances, and basically indestructible.
You could probably drop a Minidisc from the top of a skyscraper and put it back in the player after dusting it off and there wouldn’t be an issue.
A nas is your friend.
And there is plenty is space in the Caribbean Sea
Better buy Blu-ray PC drive
True, but I would expect a soon end of life for those too
That’s what I mean. Gotta get one while they’re still available and we’ll made. Otherwise it’ll be like trying to buy a record player or cassette player. Just knock offf clones of the cheapo models.