Link to v1 : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1076403

Link to v2 : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1132263

Link to v3 : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1169740

Link to v4 : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1217120

Link to v5 : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1274253

Link to v6 : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1341528

Link to v7 : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1426471

Link to v8 : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1480885

Link to v9 : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1588728

Link to v10 : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1671282

Link to v11 : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1733959

Link to v12: http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1840603

What is Blu-ray?

Blu-ray, also known as Blu-ray Disc (BD) is the name of a next-generation optical disc format. The format was developed to enable recording, rewriting and playback of high-definition video (HD), as well as storing large amounts of data. The format offers more than five times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs and can hold up to 25GB on a single-layer disc and 50GB on a dual-layer disc. For more general information about Blu-ray, please see our What is Blu-ray? section.

Why the name Blu-ray?

The name Blu-ray is derived from the underlying technology, which utilizes a blue-violet laser to read and write data. The name is a combination of "Blue" (blue-violet laser) and "Ray" (optical ray). According to the Blu-ray Disc Association the spelling of "Blu-ray" is not a mistake, the character "e" was intentionally left out so the term could be registered as a trademark.

The correct full name is Blu-ray Disc, not Blu-ray Disk (incorrect spelling)
The correct shortened name is Blu-ray, not Blu-Ray (incorrect capitalization) or Blue-ray (incorrect spelling)
The correct abbreviation is BD, not BR or BRD (wrong abbreviation)

What Blu-ray formats are planned?

As with conventional CDs and DVDs, Blu-ray plans to provide a wide range of formats including ROM/R/RW. The following formats are part of the Blu-ray Disc specification:

BD-ROM - read-only format for distribution of HD movies, games, software, etc.
BD-R - recordable format for HD video recording and PC data storage.
BD-RE - rewritable format for HD video recording and PC data storage.

There's also plans for a BD/DVD hybrid format, which combines Blu-ray and DVD on the same disc so that it can be played in both Blu-ray players and DVD players.

What video codecs will Blu-ray support?

MPEG-2 - enhanced for HD, also used for playback of DVDs and HDTV recordings.
MPEG-4 AVC - part of the MPEG-4 standard also known as H.264 (High Profile and Main Profile).
SMPTE VC-1 - standard based on Microsoft's Windows Media Video (WMV) technology.

Please note that this simply means that all Blu-ray players and recorders will have to support playback of these video codecs, it will still be up to the movie studios to decide which video codec(s) they use for their releases.

What audio codecs will Blu-ray support?

Linear PCM (LPCM) - up to 8 channels of uncompressed audio. (mandatory)
Dolby Digital (DD) - format used for DVDs, 5.1-channel surround sound. (mandatory)
Dolby Digital Plus (DD+) - extension of Dolby Digital, 7.1-channel surround sound. (optional)
Dolby TrueHD - lossless encoding of up to 8 channels of audio. (optional)
DTS Digital Surround - format used for DVDs, 5.1-channel surround sound. (mandatory)
DTS-HD High Resolution Audio - extension of DTS, 7.1-channel surround sound. (optional)
DTS-HD Master Audio - lossless encoding of up to 8 channels of audio. (optional)

Please note that this simply means that Blu-ray players and recorders will have to support playback of these audio codecs, it will still be up to the movie studios to decide which audio codec(s) they use for their releases.

What are the audio streaming support and how to perform passthrough?

HDMI

PCM Mode:
Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD MA/Multich PCM ---> PS3/BDP [DECODER**] ---> Multich PCM ---> AVR [DAC-AMP] ---> Speakers (Lossless)

Bitstream mode:
Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD MA/Multich PCM ---> PS3 ---> Dolby Digital/DTS/PCM 2.0 ---> AVR [DECODER**-DAC-AMP] ---> Speakers (Lossy)
Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD MA/Multich PCM ---> BDP* ---> Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD MA/Multich PCM ---> AVR [DECODER**-DAC-AMP] ---> Speakers (Lossless)
OPTICAL/COAXIAL

PCM Mode:
Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD MA/Multich PCM ---> PS3/BDP [DECODER**] ---> PCM 2.0 ---> AVR [DAC-AMP] ---> Speakers (Lossy)

Bitstream Mode:
Dolby TrueHD/DTS-HD MA/Multich PCM ---> PS3/BDP ---> Dolby Digital/DTS/PCM 2.0 ---> AVR [DECODER**-DAC-AMP] ---> Speakers (Lossy)

*Secondary audio turned-off
**Except PCM 2.0/Multich PCM

How to order from Amazon US & UK

Amazon US

• A credit card, working for VISA debit card as well.
• Open an account with valid email address, delivery address and etc.
• Select the title you wish and proceed.
• If your BD player is purchase locally, no need check region code as Malaysia is same region as USA which is Region A.

Amazon UK

• Same as above but you need to put more works on checking BD whether it is Region Free or at least Region A + B, it is not playable if the BD is Region B lock, unless you are using OPPO / Dune BD player, a Region Free BD player (not much selection at the moment in Malaysia) or region B BD player (remember you can't play region A BD then).

Malaysia Custom Tax Prevention

• Try keep it around RM 500 (include shipping cost) for every single shipment.
• Anyway it base on luck, you might get tax when purchase less than RM 100 or didn't get any tax when purchase more than RM 1k. But in general, not exceeding RM 500 is probably the most safer way.

Digipack: (two type)


Digibook:


Steelbook:


Slipcover:


Lenticular Slipcover: (Different angle different image appear)


Slip box:


Slip Sleeve-Slipcover: (the slipcover is shorten than the blu-ray case, top part is missing)


Metal Slip: (Mostly release by Australia & Thailand)

Amazon US Rates - http://www.amazon.com/gp/help/customer/dis.../?nodeId=596188

Total shipping cost = "Per Shipment" cost + "Per Item" cost.
If the "per item" cost is listed in terms of price per pound, you can check the weight on the item's detail page.

Standard International Shipping
Per Shipment: US $4.99
Per Item: US $3.99*

Expedited International Shipping
Per Shipment: US $13.99
Per Item: US $3.99*

Priority International Courier
Per Shipment: $29.99
Per Item: $3.99*

* Additional shipping and handling charges apply to media items of unusual size or weight.

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Amazon UK Rates - http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/help/customer/d...nodeId=11075011

Standard
Per Shipment: £2.09
Per Item: £1.59**

Priority Express
Per Shipment: £20.99
Per Item: £2.79**

** Highest "Per Delivery" rate applies.