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The Stop Button

post #1 of 57
11/14/08 at 2:48pm
Thread Starter 
I hope this hasn't been covered elsewhere, if so, close the thread and point me to it. It's kinda hard to search for this.

So far, every BR disc I've watched has crippled the stop button. After pressing stop, I always get a message telling me that the next time I press play, the movie will start over, resuming is prohibited.

I have a release 2 (sony 550) player and I'm wondering what kind of crappy "feature" this is. Why are they making this design decision? It certainly does not add value for the consumer and I don't see how letting me resume a movie hurts the studios. I don't understand this.
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post #2 of 57
11/14/08 at 3:08pm

Re: The Stop Button

BD-Java encoded titles cannot STOP/RESUME. From what I understand the BDA and the studios are trying to come up with a work around via a software update.
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post #3 of 57
11/14/08 at 3:19pm

Re: The Stop Button

I hope they do that soon. That's very annoying because of having to go through all the start-up warnings every time.
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post #4 of 57
11/14/08 at 3:23pm

Re: The Stop Button

Totally agreed.

_Man_
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post #5 of 57
11/14/08 at 8:27pm
Thread Starter 

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicholas Martin
I hope they do that soon. That's very annoying because of having to go through all the start-up warnings every time.
Maybe if they spent less money freezing out the competition and more on developing the product, this wouldn't be a problem.
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post #6 of 57
11/15/08 at 6:13am

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicholas Martin
I hope they do that soon. That's very annoying because of having to go through all the start-up warnings every time.
I thought of this thread last night while watching Casino Royale. We had paused the film to get a drink, and I dropped the remote control when attempting to restart. The stop button was accidentally pressed in the process. I had to fast forward through all the previews (thanks for those forced previews, Sony), re-watch all the FBI warnings, and then find the spot where we left off.

How un-user friendly can you be?
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post #7 of 57
11/15/08 at 6:54am
Thread Starter 

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
Originally Posted by Scott Merryfield
I had to fast forward through all the previews (thanks for those forced previews, Sony), re-watch all the FBI warnings, and then find the spot where we left off.

How un-user friendly can you be?
Yeah, ain't progress grand?
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post #8 of 57
11/15/08 at 9:57am

Re: The Stop Button

Why do we have BD Java again? Fancy menus...?
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post #9 of 57
11/15/08 at 11:39am

Re: The Stop Button

The function is so profoundly elementary, that I have a hard time believing that some equivalent couldn't have been implemented from Day One. Can a feature be any more basic? I could do as much with my first VHS deck.

Sounds like the root of its absence is suspiciously thoughtless and stupid.
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post #10 of 57
11/15/08 at 11:58am

Re: The Stop Button

Just one more reason for me to wait to upgrade, maybe by the time I can afford both a player and a new receiver, someone will have figured this out.
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post #11 of 57
11/15/08 at 12:26pm

Re: The Stop Button

Their intent was that the bookmarking feature would replace the resume function. However, the bookmark feature has been haphazardly implemented. They also underestimated the basic laziness of human beings. Most people can't be bothered with using bookmarking, even when it is implemented.
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post #12 of 57
11/15/08 at 1:17pm

Re: The Stop Button

Dearest Edwin-S,

There's something slightly condescending in your remark about underestimated human laziness. These gutter level issues of practicality and simplicity shouldn't have to be worried with or considered. As Sherlock said: It's elementary.

Perhaps the primary reason for it not being used, is the haphazard implementation, or the very roundabout way of placing and recalling the bookmark. I can think of dozens...no, hundreds of reasons for needing to stop a disc in progress, that have nothing to do with laziness. Ever had a toddler in the house?

If technology such as Blu-ray discs and players can be developed, something as elementary as "resume" can be implemented, and should have been from day one. BD-Java be damned. Either it can be worked with, or another technology that over-rides or works around, can be, and should have been implemented. End of story.
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post #13 of 57
11/15/08 at 2:16pm

Re: The Stop Button

I totally agree that it should work (the stop function) on BD (and HD DVD, for that matter, as this issue exists with my two HD DVD players as well) as it does with DVDs and CDs. I have found myself adapting by simply using the pause button (it serves me well for most situations where I might otherwise have stopped the disc). It is an imperfect solution as it does not address the issue directly (and I still sometimes hit the stop button by accident--always annoyed when that happens) but it can be a partial solution (once the reflex is developed).
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post #14 of 57
11/15/08 at 2:41pm

Re: The Stop Button

Interesting variations of player use. PS3 here. I never use the Stop button. If I'm going to pop another disc in I hit Eject. Otherwise I always use Pause, even before shutting down. I have no idea if this makes a difference, but from what you guys say it doesn't.

But the other day I did notice something. I think. I popped in a BD I had watched before, and it let me quickly blow past all the warning stuff...couldn't do that before, I am forever optimistic and always try with every disc... Could this have been possible or my imagination (good timing of me pressing the Skip button)? I do notice the PS3 "remembers" a lot of discs I've watched, though I don't quite have a handle on exactly what it knows.
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post #15 of 57
11/15/08 at 3:10pm

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulDA
I totally agree that it should work (the stop function) on BD (and HD DVD, for that matter, as this issue exists with my two HD DVD players as well) as it does with DVDs and CDs. I have found myself adapting by simply using the pause button (it serves me well for most situations where I might otherwise have stopped the disc). It is an imperfect solution as it does not address the issue directly (and I still sometimes hit the stop button by accident--always annoyed when that happens) but it can be a partial solution (once the reflex is developed).

That's an obvious choice that works for some brief occasions, but it's a long way from being a replacement function. Even for relatively brief interruptions, I've paused my Samsung BD-P1400, only to have it time-out, which has the same effect as hitting the stop button. I haven't timed the time-out, but it has happened on three occasions during events that took me away for only a few brief minutes.
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post #16 of 57
11/15/08 at 3:14pm
Thread Starter 

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Wilkins
If technology such as Blu-ray discs and players can be developed, something as elementary as "resume" can be implemented, and should have been from day one. BD-Java be damned. Either it can be worked with, or another technology that over-rides or works around, can be, and should have been implemented. End of story.
Damn straight!

I have an unfortunate habit of thinking I can finish a movie I start at 9:30pm and find an hour later I'm too sleeply to continue. Pause does me no good, I have to stop.

Let's face it, this is just one example of how consumers have grown used to tech products having poor design issues and living with it and the creators of these products know we'll put up with it. It seems the more things get better the more they get worse.
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post #17 of 57
11/15/08 at 3:50pm

Re: The Stop Button

Even VHS let you resume watching where you stopped the tape!

There seem to be a number of "features" of BD that simply defy any relation to accepted - and expected - behaviour of a home video product. I am sure that >95% of the people who will be getting a BD player have no use for most of the gimmicks and just want to watch the movie the way they always have been able to on VHS or DVD.
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post #18 of 57
11/15/08 at 6:30pm

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jeff Ulmer
Even VHS let you resume watching where you stopped the tape!


Yeah, but if you ejected it most VCRs reset the counter when putting it back in!
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post #19 of 57
11/15/08 at 9:35pm

Re: The Stop Button

I have an SD DVD player where hitting the stop button resets the disc the same way BD and HD DVD players do, so it is not unique to the hi-def players (though, admittedly, my player is 4 years old and such a problem is not common--just pointing out it is not unique).
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post #20 of 57
11/16/08 at 9:06pm

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
Originally Posted by Brandon Conway
BD-Java encoded titles cannot STOP/RESUME. From what I understand the BDA and the studios are trying to come up with a work around via a software update.

BD does need a resume function. But while they work on an update, it would help if discs just went immediately to the main menu.

With VOD and downloads perceived as threats to packaged media, it seems studios would do all they could to make packaged media enjoyable.

By dropping the parade of disclaimers, copyright warnings, forced previews, logos, commercials, stuff about how the commentary may not reflect opinions at the studio, and more, then users could at least use the menu to chapter forward where they left off.

Can you imagine if each time you wanted to listen to a CD, you had to go through all of that to get to the first song??!!
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post #21 of 57
11/16/08 at 9:45pm

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Wilkins
Perhaps the primary reason for it not being used, is the haphazard implementation, or the very roundabout way of placing and recalling the bookmark. I can think of dozens...no, hundreds of reasons for needing to stop a disc in progress, that have nothing to do with laziness. Ever had a toddler in the house?




Bingo. ESPECIALLY ones that like to grab the remotes....

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post #22 of 57
11/16/08 at 10:16pm

Re: The Stop Button

I think the primary issue is with how Java encoded content is streamed/loaded. Like I said, rumor is that they are working on a software solution to this inherently Java based problem.

If you have a disc that resumes it is programmed with HDMV rather than Java, plain and simple.

As far as ads and warnings go - it's because the medium is such a success that you see these things. If the studios didn't think the ads for other products worked they wouldn't put them on the discs. As long as they have a built in audience they'll throw ads at them to promote their products, plain and simple.
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post #23 of 57
11/16/08 at 11:00pm

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
Originally Posted by Edwin-S
Their intent was that the bookmarking feature would replace the resume function. However, the bookmark feature has been haphazardly implemented. They also underestimated the basic laziness of human beings. Most people can't be bothered with using bookmarking, even when it is implemented.

For me its not a matter of lazy, but rather accidentally hitting the stop button, when trying to hit the pause. This is VERY easy to do on the PS3 remote!

Doug
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post #24 of 57
11/17/08 at 2:52am

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce
For me its not a matter of lazy, but rather accidentally hitting the stop button, when trying to hit the pause. This is VERY easy to do on the PS3 remote!
Doug
That probably is the only problem I have with the PS3 or rather I should say the PS3 remote. Due to the poor placement, in my opinion, of the stop button, I have on numerous occassions accidentally hit the stop instead of pause. If only they had placed the stop button a little out of the way of the more often used controls. At the very least, they should have made the stop button of a different shape and or size than the pause button.
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post #25 of 57
11/17/08 at 7:04am

Re: The Stop Button

Yep, it is silly that the stop button causes the disc to restart from the beginning and they need to fix this. Also, I hate the forced trailers and crap at the beginning. Hey, if this stuff works for some people as marketing then COOL but allow me to skip it if I don't care about it.
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post #26 of 57
11/17/08 at 1:42pm

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
I think the primary issue is with how Java encoded content is streamed/loaded.

That is what I heard as well. I think with all the overlays, PIP, screensavers etc, it just too difficult to do the resume. I wouldn't mind using bookmarks, but not every disc supports them.
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post #27 of 57
11/17/08 at 3:42pm

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanjay Gupta
That probably is the only problem I have with the PS3 or rather I should say the PS3 remote. Due to the poor placement, in my opinion, of the stop button, I have on numerous occassions accidentally hit the stop instead of pause. If only they had placed the stop button a little out of the way of the more often used controls. At the very least, they should have made the stop button of a different shape and or size than the pause button.

Count me in on that one. I was gonna say the same when CraigF suggested sticking w/ the Pause button instead for the PS3.

I actually do *not* use the Stop button in general as part of my movie viewing habit, except when I'm completely done watching the movie (and whatever extras). When I do *intentionally* use it otherwise, it's not quite *that* big a deal to me for the movie to start from beginning (as long as I can use the chapter selection to get around instead). In most such intentional instances, I feel like I might as well start from beginning again anyway or at least would not find it too painful to jump to a good spot (not just wherever I happened to stop). But the PS3 remote's button layout (and lack of backlight) does cause me trouble when I try to use the Pause button. It happened again just last night when I had to pause in the middle of Hellboy II. I'm just glad the PS3 at least operates quickly enough to spare me additional frustration in dealing w/ this annoyance -- I can't imagine having to wait for all that BD-J stuff to reload, etc. on a slower player.

_Man_
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post #28 of 57
11/17/08 at 4:05pm

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
Originally Posted by Sanjay Gupta
That probably is the only problem I have with the PS3 or rather I should say the PS3 remote. Due to the poor placement, in my opinion, of the stop button, I have on numerous occassions accidentally hit the stop instead of pause. If only they had placed the stop button a little out of the way of the more often used controls. At the very least, they should have made the stop button of a different shape and or size than the pause button.


I have to say I'm not thrilled with the remote being bluetooth either. If you just bump one of the buttons, it will change something on the PS3 even if its not pointed at the damn thing. An IR remote isn't so touchy. I can't tell you how many times my dog has stepped on the remote and turned it on or stopped the play back.

Doug
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post #29 of 57
11/17/08 at 4:49pm

Re: The Stop Button

I have two SDDVD players that I can stop and resume where I left off.
Panasonic RV-80 and Elite 79-AVI
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post #30 of 57
11/17/08 at 6:20pm

Re: The Stop Button

Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce
I have to say I'm not thrilled with the remote being bluetooth either. If you just bump one of the buttons, it will change something on the PS3 even if its not pointed at the damn thing. An IR remote isn't so touchy. I can't tell you how many times my dog has stepped on the remote and turned it on or stopped the play back.

Doug
I have to disagree here (though I understand we all have our preferences). I LOVE that it is bluetooth (makes it much more flexible for me in terms of placement of the unit--and I wish it were so for a lot of my other gear).
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