BD disc ad ISO playback

[The Wolf]

First off, apologies if this has been asked, I'm new to the forum and couldn't find my question anywhere.

I am also new to HTPC in general and trying to figure out my design.

My question: Is there a way that OpenElec can play BD ISO images (including the menus, previews, and extra features)? If not is there an add on or script to run CyberLink or any other player which can play them (behind the scenes, without pulling up code screens and such)?

Second, does OpenElec play BD discs?

My intention is a system which feels like an appliance (hence why I'm interested in OpenElec) but I don't want to sacrifice any of the quality or content in my media collection. I also don't want to sacrifice the plug and play convenience of being able to rent a BD disc and play it on my system (which will contain a BD drive).

I'm open to all suggestions.

[lrusak]

Not without certain "keys" but such talk is prohibited on these forums. Even then not all disks can be decrypted.

It is better to just rip the bluray disks to mkv files.

[The Wolf]

The problem with MKV is the extras are lost (right?). I do enjoy the "making of" features, deleted scenes, and various other extra features that are included with my DVD and BD collection.

So, if this is not possible within OpenElec capabilities, what about scripts to open 3rd party software which is capable of playing the ISO files (with ALL of the features)?

Also, I've read that Linux has issues playing BD discs directly. Is this true with OpenElec? If so, same question, is there a script that would automatically open a 3rd party player when a BD disc was inserted?

[chewitt]

If you want an "everything just plays" experience for BR including all the extras and disc features you are stuck with Windows. OpenELEC is Linux and thus has to jump through numerous stupidities inflicted on the non-Windows world by "the studios" who are still clinging on to a fcuked business model and are blindly in love with DRM and all it's failings. If you rip your own content libaacs workarounds allow core playback to be done but Java menus and other fripperies will be missing. Legal streaming services are also poorly supported on Linux although Netflix recently made changes that allow use on conventional distros that can run pre-built Chrome. For distros like OE that cannot run pre-built Chrome this is still not possible, and other services are generally missing.

[The Wolf]

Well I was definitely hoping for a workable solution involving OE. Think I'll have to keep digging. I really don't want a "computer feel" in the living room which I'm pretty sure I'd end up with on a Windows system. I don't understand what is so challenging about BR. There are BD players from dime store brands that obviously work, with the support base of Linux and it's branches I figured there would be some kind of work around.

[lrusak]

Well I was definitely hoping for a workable solution involving OE. Think I'll have to keep digging. I really don't want a "computer feel" in the living room which I'm pretty sure I'd end up with on a Windows system. I don't understand what is so challenging about BR. There are BD players from dime store brands that obviously work, with the support base of Linux and it's branches I figured there would be some kind of work around.

The problem is that Bluray disks have encryption on them, so to legally decrypt them you need certain licences. These licences cost money, so typically if you want to decode or play a blueray disk you will have to pay for software to do it. This doesn't fit the kodi/XBMC model. Also I don't think there is any paid software that will play Bluray disks on linux anyway.

We use the same program (Kodi/XBMC) as you will find on the windows version. OpenELEC will give more of an appliance feel then using windows, but yes there are limitations.

I for one never use the extra content and would rather have the movie play right away rather than navigating through the disk menus.

[The Wolf]

I haven't looked too far into the paid software but I did figure there would be in worst case a paid option. If not I might be stuck with the windows route.

I agree with the primary purpose being the actual movie, but there are some great features like making of Good Fellas or the Godfather to name a couple. But I do see the attraction in having the movie start right off the first click and the simplicity of having only the movie. Just not what I'm looking for.

Thanks though! I do appreciate it.

[chewitt]

There is nothing to stop you ripping features from the disk as well but you won't be able to completely replicate the "everything is on the disc .. insert disc" experience of physical media. The issues here are commercial more than technical. The DRM scheme has been reverse engineered but there remains no legal way to use it on Linux as the studios who created it refuse to license applications on Linux (so there are no paid-software options) and the ethos of the people who create open-source apps for Linux ensures they'd refuse to pay even if the studios offered that option. It's pretty simple to configure libaacs (which we embed so you can) but we stop short of telling you exactly how it's done to avoid a minefield of legal issues.

[The Wolf]

So, I'm totally new to Linux and as I only learned what libaacs were after looking it up after this post it seems that I would probably not be able to achieve the system I'm aiming for with OE. Looks like I'll have to start figuring out how to get an appliance feel out of a Windows machine. Thanks All.

[nickr]

The best and easiest way is to rip the movie and extras using makemkv, then integrate the extras with videoextras addon.