Understanding Blu-ray Players and Profiles

Blu-ray players are still in the process of becoming standardized. If you bought a Blu-ray player when they first came out in 2006, your player would have Profile 1.0. If your Blu-ray player is more current, then it will have Profile 1.1 which is known as the "Bonus View". By the fall of 2008 Profile 2.0, known as BD-Live is set to be released. If you are confused, please read on to the next steps in which I will clarify each profile.

The only difference between profile 1.0 and 1.1 is the addition of more memory and hardware so that you can view picture-in-picture content.

Blu-ray players with Profile 1.1 need to have a minimum of 256Mb of internal memory, secondary audio and video decoders to enable picture-in-picture content. Very few Blu-ray discs have been released that have Profile 1.1 content.

Blu-ray players that are Profile 2.0 ready will have a minimum of 1GB of memory and will also require internet connection via an Ethernet port. Profile 2.0 or BD-Live will have on-line content such as games and movie merchandise shopping.

If you own a Blu-ray player and it already has an Ethernet connector for the internet, you may be able to upgrade the firmware by downloading it over the internet and adding more memory. Check your owners manual if your player is 2.0 upgradeable. Also visit the manufacture's website for updated bulletins on Profile 2.0.

BD-Live may not be for everyone. Not everyone may like the idea of having to run an Ethernet cable to their living room's Home Entertainment Center or even have the use for on-line content at all. Expect to pay between $500 to $650 for a name brand Blu-ray player, with BD-Live, like Sony or Panasonic. Is this all worth it to you?