The Blu-ray.com team is happy to announce the largest update in the site's
history. Among many things, we're expanding our focus to cover a wider range of topics, including
Home Theater and
PS3 Games. While the staff would like to think that they know a thing or two about Blu-ray and home theater, it's only a drop in the ocean compared to the collective knowledge of our now over 100,000 members from all around the world. This is why we've decided that the best way to capture all of this knowledge is to open up our databases and allow our members to add new movies, games and HT gear, as well as update existing entries using our custom built wiki-system.
Home Theater
Regular visitors will notice that the top menu has been updated and you can now click a link titled
Home Theater, which will take you to the main home theater index. Right now there are 16 different categories, but more will be added as we go. As an example, let's say that you are interested in receivers. You can then click on the
Receiver category. If you're interested in all receivers from Onkyo being released in 2010 with 3 or more HDMI in, you then simply click on
Search receivers, select those attributes and click on "Search". The search should result in 7 matches. You can then select those receivers and click on "Compare", which should give you
this result. As you can see, all specs and what's different between the receivers is shown, along with user reviews/ratings, prices and price graphs. This whole procedure can be applied to speakers, projectors, HDTVs or any other home theater category and the strength with the system is that you can search for any/exact specs and combine any specs. On the main equipment pages you will also automatically see related news posts and forum threads about the equipment, full specs, images, reviews etc. Since the home theater database is completely new, there's still a lot of equipment that is missing. We will be working hard in the coming months to add those up.
PS3 Games
Since many members are using the PS3 as their Blu-ray player, a PS3 section has been requested for years and has now finally been added. The PS3 games section will be expanded shortly with deal alerts and collection functionality, as well as other features.
Price Tracking
In addition to price tracking movies, you can now price track PS3 games and any other equipment in the database that is being sold/has a price.
Home Theater Database
The database basically works as a wiki system, which any member will be able to add to and edit, but changes will first have to be approved by a site moderator. As there are quite a few moderators, most changes should go through very quickly in most time zones and hours. After approval, the updates will go live and you will be credited with the updates in the new award/achievements system. Overall positive contributions to the site, for example writing reviews that is liked by many members, will be awarded. There are currently a few awards available, but we plan on expanding the award system heavily in the future, where helpful and knowledgable members are benefited and given credit where credit is due. If you happen to have a real interest in a specific home theater area/category and have a long and good track record on the site, you are also welcome to apply as a site Contributor, which is basically a moderator/admin.
Home Theater Galleries
The home theater galleries have also been vastly improved, meaning that you can now connect your actual home theater equipment in the home theater database with your galleries. By linking the home theater galleries directly to listings in the home theater database, it will be much easier to see what gear someone is using and to learn more about it. Simply look at the products that they have tagged below the photos in the gallery and click through to get specs, reviews, etc. This also allows for interesting information, like how many are using certain equipment, how they are using it, with what other equipment, in what environment etc. So if you are for example (again) interested in receivers, you can go to a specific receiver and you will see how many members have it in their gallery. You can then go to each member and see how it's set up, discuss the gear and what they think about it etc.
If you are currently logged in, you can click
My home theater in the upper right corner of the site, edit your photos and start adding your gear.
Community Features
In addition to an improved home theater gallery, we have expanded the overall community features. The latest home theater comments and discussions are now shown, along with the latest movie and equipment reviews, various top lists where prominent members are featured etc. We plan on expanding the community section heavily with lots of features and cross-linking interesting information and members. There are lots of great and interesting members in this community and the idea is to try to highlight those in various ways. As part of the award system we will add Achievements/Badges, which members gain by taking part and doing various things in the community, some will be specified what you need to do to get and some will be secret. You will also be able to gain unique Achievements that will grant you certain bonuses. Details will be announced at launch of this system.
In addition to always trying to improve the site, we believe in personalization and putting the power where it belongs, with the user. If you have any other suggestions how to improve the site, please let us know.
If you aren't already a member, you can
become a member by registering, which will give you full access to the whole site and all its' features.