BDP-S300 region code stinks: code free possible?

[h0h0h0]

OK, I am irritated. I bought the S300 a month ago (UK) , and only have a couple BD disks so far (I too am still waiting for the promised spiderman set...). I was in the USA for Xmas, and though I would pick up a few disks while there. I did look at the disks very closely to see if there was obvious region coding (like normal DVDs), but no where on the disks did I see any indication that a consumer would read and understand that it would not work in another region. Tonight, I load one of these disks, and it promptly tells me that it is the wrong region! That was "Mission To Mars". I have not tried the others yet, but I will....

I am if two minds, but this is the side that is winning: If these are regionalized, the manufacturers should go out of the their way to make this obvious on the media. In todays world, it is naive to think that people do not travel and purchase content where it is convenient in good faith. I am now out about 150 USD as a result of this lack of clarity!

Since there does not seem to be a hack yet for this, and based on something I read in another forum, does anyone know if the machines are identical, but there is a feature that codes the region, or is it more problematic than that. For example, is the issue that they simply have NTSC and PAL versions of the machines, and therefore it will not be possible to hack?

If anyone is interested in some US BD titles, I may be willing to do a deal!

[MAW]

I'm sure someone here will take those discs off you for a sensible price, someone with a US bought player, there are quite a few. There is no TECHNICAL reason why a region hack is not possible, but there is none likely I'd say in the next 2-3 years, especially for a Sony player.

[raw27]

I do not think it will be 2 to 3 years. I think with in the next year or 6 months see here http://www.stegen.com/newsdesk_info....85e0ad70ac277a (and hopefully true)

I have been speaking with a friend of mine who runs a dvd shop and who creates mods for dvd machines (other dealers go to him). He was saying today that the Sony machine will probably have to have a chip soldered in. Just as they did in the old days when dvd was first around this is to stop firmware updates having a effect.

Hope this helps

[raw27]

See if this guys can help and if correct

http://www.stegen.com/product_info.p...85e0ad70ac277a

[h0h0h0]

Thanks for the help all.

The kit you list is for the DVD codefree kit only. The one for the BD region switching from A/B and includes DVD region switch for 1/2 costs 150 EUR and requires that you send it to them in the Netherlands:
http://www.stegen.com/product_info.p...85e0ad70ac277a

I checked all the other BD disks and it is only Roving Mars (not Mission to Mars as I said in my original post) which is a Disney disk. I have now looked at everything on the disk and packaging and there is absolutely no indication of any region code anywhere on it. I will be calling their customer service number to complain about that since i really did look on each box in the store to make sure that they were no coded.

These companies have a lot to learn about the notion of keeping it simple. I will be very happen in the near future to simply download rentals (as Apple apparently will do in a few weeks) rather than buy disks that may or may not work.

Bummer is I really was looking forward to a geeky evening of watching all about the mars rovers while my GF was away

Cheers!

[tekmobile]

Originally Posted by h0h0h0

Thanks for the help all.

The kit you list is for the DVD codefree kit only. The one for the BD region switching from A/B and includes DVD region switch for 1/2 costs 150 EUR and requires that you send it to them in the Netherlands:
http://www.stegen.com/product_info.p...85e0ad70ac277a

I checked all the other BD disks and it is only Roving Mars (not Mission to Mars as I said in my original post) which is a Disney disk. I have now looked at everything on the disk and packaging and there is absolutely no indication of any region code anywhere on it. I will be calling their customer service number to complain about that since i really did look on each box in the store to make sure that they were no coded.

These companies have a lot to learn about the notion of keeping it simple. I will be very happen in the near future to simply download rentals (as Apple apparently will do in a few weeks) rather than buy disks that may or may not work.

Bummer is I really was looking forward to a geeky evening of watching all about the mars rovers while my GF was away

Cheers!

In general everything from disney & fox will be region coded so best avoiding

[Cabo 5150]

Originally Posted by h0h0h0

OK, I am irritated. I bought the S300 a month ago (UK) , and only have a couple BD disks so far (I too am still waiting for the promised spiderman set...). I was in the USA for Xmas, and though I would pick up a few disks while there. I did look at the disks very closely to see if there was obvious region coding (like normal DVDs), but no where on the disks did I see any indication that a consumer would read and understand that it would not work in another region. Tonight, I load one of these disks, and it promptly tells me that it is the wrong region! That was "Mission To Mars". I have not tried the others yet, but I will....

I am if two minds, but this is the side that is winning: If these are regionalized, the manufacturers should go out of the their way to make this obvious on the media. In todays world, it is naive to think that people do not travel and purchase content where it is convenient in good faith. I am now out about 150 USD as a result of this lack of clarity!

Since there does not seem to be a hack yet for this, and based on something I read in another forum, does anyone know if the machines are identical, but there is a feature that codes the region, or is it more problematic than that. For example, is the issue that they simply have NTSC and PAL versions of the machines, and therefore it will not be possible to hack?

If anyone is interested in some US BD titles, I may be willing to do a deal!

Check out this... http://bluray.liesinc.net/ site before purchasing Blu-ray from abroad - very useful!