Microsoft preparing disc-less Xbox One for Spring 2019

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by darcotech

So, does that means that Sony actually pays BluRay licence only once it has been activated?
So many people do not use their optical drive to watch BR, so this is some money saved for Sony?

---

It's a fairly common practice. MS have done it with dvd playback with win 10, 8 and IIRC some editions of 7.

The Raspberry Pi has some video related codecs on the chip. To use them you need to visit the pi foundations site, enter the serial of your pi and pay a small (less than £2 I think,) licence fee to enable it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spacein_vader

Which does lead in to my "Is it possible to use a console OOTB without internet" query. And if you can't, does the box warn you of that?

---

Apparently it is/was possible to request an offline activation disc from the US division of Sony for the playback, but it's less clear whether that is the case for the European side (or even if it's still the case at all).

As for the overall question itself, I have no idea but would suspect it to limit things a lot it it actually is possible. No idea regarding the box since I've not looked at one myself, but it wouldn't surprise me if it was listed as more of a note in a manual at best.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by darcotech

So, does that means that Sony actually pays BluRay licence only once it has been activated?
So many people do not use their optical drive to watch BR, so this is some money saved for Sony?

---

That was merely my speculation on why they might choose to have it as a feature that needed to be activated. I have no idea whether it actually is the case or not.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DanceswithUnix

OMG I had to Google that. Being reasonably old and from the UK I tend to use "disc" to describe all round flat items, including magnetic storage media, from before CD being a thing. I had no idea that the Phillips "Compact Disc" trademark had actually stuck for optical media.

So a blu-ray, despite not being a CD, uses the European "disc" spelling despite other storage deriving from IBM's work in America often being called "disk". Had optical media been invented in the States they would all be called "disk" which for me makes it a bizarre convention, though still makes more sense than "fewer" vs "less".

Thanks for the education, though being British and stuck in my ways I will no doubt continue to just use "disc" :D

---

c`mon, it`s always been `floppy disk`- ever since i can remember, and yes, i`m a brit too.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Strawb77

c`mon, it`s always been `floppy disk`- ever since i can remember, and yes, i`m a brit too.

---

Yes, and you could buy them in different "colors" too then put them in the "trunk" of your car to take them home ;)

Buy something made in America it is reasonable for it to have an American English label on it, that doesn't somehow make it gospel. OTOH, Compact Disc was a trademark hence I was amused it has overridden the American spelling.

But as I said, it all makes sense more than "fewer" vs "less" which AFAICS is a very modern rule which has never ever had popular support with plebs like me. I also like saying "Emoticon" instead of "Emoji" to my daughter because it winds her up. Perhaps it's just me... :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by spacein_vader

I also like saying "Emoticon" instead of "Emoji" to my daughter because it winds her up. Perhaps it's just me... :D

---

Or you could go a bit further and just call them "Smileys". :P

I know correct English would be "Smilies", but if I recall correctly, forum software developers have usually just added an 's' when using the plural in the past.