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One of the most confusing aspects of the Blu-ray format is the whole notion of “profiles,� which define the minimum specs and capabilities of Blu-ray players.

According to the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA), the Blu-ray specification has been completely finished for nearly two years. But not all features have been implemented by player manufacturers and movie studios because they felt it was important to learn to walk before they could run.

In limiting the initial implementations, however, the Blu-ray camp is in danger of alienating its early adopters. Most players sold up to this point cannot be upgraded to perform the new functions that are only now starting to appear, much less the functions that are expected to become available in 2008.

By contrast, all HD DVD players, from the very first one ever sold onward, have all the hardware they need to do everything that the format is theoretically capable of. They might need a firmware update, but that’s it.

The Initial Profile (1.0)
Let’s take a look at the Blu-ray profiles and exactly what they mean. Initial Profile, sometimes called Profile 1.0 (though this is not an official BDA designation), is the first implementation to which all Blu-ray players introduced before Nov. 1, 2007, must adhere. This includes the Blu-ray version of the Java programming language, called BD-J, which facilitates a high level of interactivity, such as games that can be played while watching the movie.

Initial Profile does not require players to have an Ethernet port or much in the way of onboard memory. Most early Blu-ray players do not have these features, though a few do.

New Full Profile (1.1)
Full Profile, commonly but unofficially known as Profile 1.1 (and sometimes called Final Standard Profile), mandates certain additional hardware requirements and functional capabilities in all players introduced as of Nov. 1. These features include at least 256MB of persistent memory (memory that retains its contents even if the power is turned off), a sound generator to make confirmation noises when you select something in a menu, and the ability to support dual video streams and secondary audio mixing to allow picture-in-picture (PIP) from the disc. The first Full Profile player is the Panasonic DMP-BD30.

Most players introduced before Nov. 1 cannot take advantage of PIP from discs that offer this capability, nor can they be upgraded to do so. The only exception I know of is the Sony PlayStation 3, which can be upgraded to Full Profile thanks to its super-fast Cell processor and onboard hard-disk storage.
 
And BD-Live (Profile 2.0)
Then there’s BD-Live, commonly known as Profile 2.0, though the BDA really hates this designation because it implies that Full Profile is temporary, which the organization vehemently denies. BD-Live allows players to connect directly to the Internet and download new content without having to use a computer. This content could be movie trailers, additional info and bonus materials about the currently loaded disc, online games, and online shopping. It requires at least 1GB of persistent memory.

BD-Live will not be implemented in players until sometime in 2008. And as with the transition to Full Profile, most players introduced before then will not be upgradeable to provide online interactivity. (As far as I know, the PS3 is the only one that can be upgraded to BD-Live.)

Interestingly, BD-Live and Full Profile players will both be available into the foreseeable future, with Full Profile players likely to cost less. The BDA believes that a sizeable percentage of Blu-ray buyers will have no interest in connecting their players to the Internet, preferring to simply watch movies, so having a choice is a good thing.

Of course, earlier players will still be able to play movies and do the other things they did before, but they won’t be able to take advantage of the new features on titles that offer them. Sorry, early adopters, you’re simply out of luck on that score!

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