CyberLink PowerDVD 11

teaser.jpg

Spring is here, so as usual it is time for CyberLink to release an updated version of PowerDVD (PDVD) making this number 11.  With PDVD 10 already a solid product we were not expecting a revolutionary shift in the Blu-ray (BD) playback software, so the rather evolutionary changes brought to the updated application including better 3D support, a richer media experience outside of its core BD and DVD playback, and updated device support were very much in line with expectations.  We did not have a long time to play with PowerDVD 11 so this is will be part review and part product guide as we explore it together.

Image

Taking a first look at the standalone application, PowerDVD 11’s roots are quite evident with little significant change in the layout and presentation of the user interface (UI) compared to previous versions.  While PDVD 11 looks the same there are some significant differences lurking beneath the skin, most notably the return of BDMV (Blu-ray folders) playback.

Yes, the most surprising feature included in PDVD 11 is one that was stripped from an earlier revision through an update.  Because of this we asked CyberLink for some clarification, and as it turns out after reviewing the legality they are able to confirm that the feature was intentional and permanent unless standards/specifications change–let’s collectively touch wood and hope that does not happen.

Image

The ability to not need to register and not get nagged about is a welcome change in the initial experience  compared to earlier versions of the product.  While a small annoyance to just make the dialog go away, it does make the application friendlier for the rest of the family as I no longer have to show them how to dismiss it every thirty days (or so).

Image

Unfortunately, one annoyance that has not changed is PDVD’s insistence on grabbing all of the available AutoPlay handlers.  While many users may appreciate the convenience of this behavior, I would prefer an option during the installation process not only because I set all my AutoPlays to “Do Nothing” but because it sometimes leads to weird issues where PDVD will launch underneath Windows Media Center (WMC).

Image

Like AutoPlay, the way PDVD 11 handles audio formats is less than optimal for most home theater PC (HTPC) users with an audio video receiver (AVR).  When first installed the standalone player defaults to PCM output.  Now this is not an issue per se, but the option for HD audio bit streaming is not available until initiating playback for a BD (the only media type PDVD 11 will bit stream HD audio from).  The problem is that after making this selection, it is only sticky until playing something where that output format is not supported (like a DVD).  The output format then reverts to standard bit streaming and does not change back when appropriate.  Also, to make matters worse as the application includes better support for other video file formats the behavior adds a nuance where M2TS files that contain HD audio will only bit stream core, and MKV files will only play audio as PCM–f anything else is selected no audio tracks will be found. 

All that said, PDVD has always been strongest with BD playback so many users, including myself, can just set it to output HD audio the first time and it will not be a problem because we will use other applications for the other formats.  Everyone else will need to get familiar with this setting, you will be using it a lot.

Image

Having flushed out some areas of improvement, we should also point out that one area where PDVD 11 handles audio and SRT better–enabling stream selection for supported audio formats and both external and embedded SRT subtitles in non-disc based media.

We were able to confirm that 7.1 DTS-HD and Dolby TrueHD maintain channel fidelity using the eight channel sample files found on the Spears & Munsil HD Benchmark. Which is important for those who prefer to let the PC decode and output LPCM, at least in the Ultra version of PDVD 11 and when using HDMI. When using analog output however, only 7.1 Dolby TrueHD is properly handled with audio intended for the left/right rear surrounds mixed into the left/right side channels when decoding DTS-HD.

Image

While I would like to see even better support, including PGS (Blu-ray subtitles), adding support for SRT, especially those embedded in MKV, is a big step in the right direction.  Unfortunately PDVD 11 will not play many of the audio formats also found in MKV files–like PCM and FLAC–so while the overall story has improved external file playback is still best left to other applications like SageTV or MPC-HC.

Some builds of PDVD 10 have suffered from problems associated with SlySoft’s AnyDVD and Virtual Clone Drive software. We are happy to report that the initial release of PDVD 11 appears to function well with both SlySoft packages

Because we cannot walk through every feature, and the best way to get a feel for an application is to see it in action, the first of three videos demonstrating PDVD is included above, this one showing it in standalone mode.

Image

Having used PowerDVD 10 in our reviews of 3D capable hardware, we always found that in the scenario where two HDMI cables (one HDMI 1.4 to the display, and the second HDMI 1.3 to the AVR) the application does not appreciate the configuration, but works anyway.  In this way PDVD 11 is very similar.

Image

But we did find in our limited testing that it was no longer required to select the correct display type for PDVD, as it is now able to suss the proper setting while left on “Auto detect”.

This is not the only improvement with 3D playback however, with significant improvements present in the 2D to 3D conversion feature, which was underwhelming in the previous version.  While personally, I do not think I would use the feature it was somewhat shocking to see how well it is now executed in the application – including both DVD and file playback.  2D BD is not currently supported, but with 1080p M2TS working this could be something added in a future update.  That said, the quality is not perfect exhibiting issues, like ghosting, not observed with native 3D content on the Panasonic VT25 used to evaluate this feature.

With 3D glasses still hovering around $100/pair it would be impractical to have you all over to the MissingRemote.com Midwest lab to see the 3D in action, so the video above will have to be a poor substitute for that experience.  Note that content playback is blurry, which means that 3D is working 🙂

Image

Turning our attention to the last major area of interest, the 10’ player known as “Cinema Mode” or just PDVD for Windows Media Center.  For the most part the playback experience is the same as the standalone application, but a bit more unfinished.  For example we found a few issues with stability in the application, and some inconsistent behavior handling the transport keys (play, pause, stop , etc.) on different machines

Like the other two videos, it is best to see the application in action – so above is a walk through of the Cinema Mode player.  Given the time constraints, we did not have a chance to make a fourth video showing off 3D in Cinema Mode, so you will have to trust me that the new 3D UI is pretty cool.  The experience is the same as 2D, just glasses friendly.

Image

With the playback experience covered there is one more feature worth mentioning – mobile device support.

One of the new features to arrive in PDVD 11 is remote control via Android and iOS devices. The smart device apps come free with the Ultra and Deluxe versions while a nominal fee is required for the Standard variant. We first tried installing the iPhone app, however, we found that iOS 4 is required so we were unable to proceed with testing. Fortunately, we also had an Android 2.2-based device on hand which was able to support the app.

PDVD 11 installs a background service which handles communication via smart devices. If there are multiple installations of PDVD, the app will present all “Servers” for selection. On the “Device” tab in PDVD, a four-digit code is supplied that is entered into the smart device app when selecting the server for the first time. Once connected, the app opens up to a “Modules” screen containing “Movie”, “Video”, “Photo”, “Music” and “Device” options which correspond to the standalone PDVD interface tabs and PDVD opens almost immediately.

When selecting “Movie”, the app presents a set of standard transport and audio controls. There is also a “Mouse Pad” which controls the mouse cursor similar to how a touch pad operates, though there is no right-click functionality present or gesture support. The controls are responsive though they suffer from the same fate that any touchscreen device does and that is the fact that one’s eyes must be taken away from the screen to verify the desired command is entered.

The other functions simply bring up each tab of the PDVD UI where the primary control is using the “Mouse Pad” on the smart device. The “Device” tab is interesting in that it allows for media present on the smart device to be presented via PDVD. It should also be noted that the smart device app can also control PDVD’s Cinema Mode when launched from WMC.

Tested GPU:

GPU HWA HD Audio Multi-channel LPCM (HDMI) Frame sequential 3D
NVIDIA GT430 Yes Yes Yes Yes*
NVIDIA GT450 Yes Yes Yes Untested
NVIDIA GT560Ti Yes Yes Yes Yes
NVIDIA GTX 570 HD Yes N/A Yes Untested
NVIDIA ION2 Yes N/A Yes N/A
NVIDIA 8600GT Yes N/A Untested N/A
AMD Zacate Yes Yes Yes N/A
AMD 5550 Yes Yes Yes N/A
AMD 4850 Yes N/A Untested N/A
AMD 3200 N/A N/A N/A
Intel HD Graphics (Clarkdale) Yes Yes Yes n/a
2 Gen Intel HD Graphics (SNB) Yes Yes Yes Yes
Intel G45 Yes N/A Yes N/A

Format Support:

Movies BD-R1.1/BD-RE 2.1, BD-R2.0/BD-RE 3.0, BDROM 2.2, BD-J, BDROM Profile 1.1 (Bonus View), BDROM Profile 2.0 (BD-Live), BDROM Profile 5.0 (BD 3D), AVCREC, AVCHD, DVD-Video, DVD-VR, DVD+VR, VCPS, VCD, SVCD, CD
Videos DAT, MPEG-1/2, MPEG-4 AVC (H.264), MPEG2 Transport Stream (M2TS), IFO Playback, VOB, TiVo, CyberLink RichVideo, External Subtitle, WMV-HD, AVI, WMV/ASF, VC-1, WTV, MOV, MKV (H.264), FLV (H.264)
Photos JPG, BMP, TIFF,RAW Formats, PNG, MPO, JPS
Music MP4, WMA, AMR, AOB

Conclusion

Like many evolutionary software revisions, making the upgrade decision to CyberLink PowerDVD 11 is more nuanced then it would be were the feature set dramatically different from the previous version.  Having only had a short amount of time with the product, it is clear that it is a worthy successor by enhancing the 3D experience,  adding better audio support and adding [back] a feature of great importance to the HTPC community – BDMV (Blu-ray folders) playback.  Not having had a chance to truly vet the product, it is impossible to say if it will suffer from teething issues experienced with previous versions; usually reaching full stability after the first patch, a month or two after retail release.

Also, like other PC based Blu-ray playback software, PowerDVD 11 does not offer parity with the majority of standalone “CE” players – missing critical features like refresh rate matching (i.e. real 24p support) or properly setting the channel count for PCM audio to eliminate null channels.

Pro:

  • BDMV Playback returns
  • Better 3D support
  • File support has improved

Con:

  • “Forgets” audio output settings
  • Cinema Mode player still rough around the edges
  • No refresh rate matching feature
  • No audio channel count matching when outputting PCM
  • File support not quite there yet
  • License model only allows one install per key
  • 7.1 DTS-HD is not supported properly when using analog audio output

Thanks to CyberLink for providing an early copy of PowerDVD 11 as well as Aaron Ledger, Mike Garcen, and Michael Welter for their significant contributions to this review. PowerDVD 11 is currently available for purchase directly from CyberLink in the Ultra, Deluxe and Standard editions.


Related Articles

  • For those using my Mount

    For those using my Mount Image add-in to add ISO support to Windows Media Center, there are no issues with PowerDVD 11.

    What is great about BDMV support in PDVD11 is that I can now provide an updated version of Mount Image that targets TMT35 or PDVD11 and adds “real” ISO support to Media Center.  It will be faster and more reliable.

    Why?  Well I’m ecsatic that PDVD11 adds support for BMDV but I’m still not ready to move to BDMV over ISO for my Blu-ray collection.

  • Note: For PowerDVD 10 owners,

    Note: For PowerDVD 10 owners, the release build of PowerDVD 11 can be install side-by-side if you want to download a trial version.

  • So… with the introduction

    So… with the introduction of PowerDVD 11, I ask the age-old question: which is better for WMC users- PowerDVD or TMT?

    • It depends on the criteria

      It depends on the criteria and how they are used. Both have their pros and cons. If the sole judgement is based on WMC integration and how seamless it is, I give TMT5 the nod.

  • My worry about TMT was that

    My worry about TMT was that the trial version was really unstable when I tried a recent blu-ray disc. To the point where fastforwarding would freeze up the entire system. It looks like PowerDVD still has quirks for media center integration, but is it usable?

  • I have been running TMT5 on

    I have been running TMT5 on WMC and not seen any stability issues since applying the last patch about a month or so ago. We can’t make a stability recommendation for PDVD 11 at this point. We only had the final release build for an extremely short amount of time. I recommend you download the trial and see how well it works for you as an alternative to TMT5.

  • What is the advantage to
    What is the advantage to using ISO over BDMV? It just seems that it would be preferable to use BDMV since it doesn’t require an extra program, actually 2 extra programs (Virtual Clone Drive and MyMounter). Like with Media Center, it is just easy to store DVDs as folders rather than ISO and just play the movie. Is it just because you already have your movies as ISO, or is there some advantage to ISO vs. folder playback? I do use MyMounter for bluray, but I just rip DVDs to a folder.

    What about ISO playback with PowerDVD 11? The latest update to 10 no longer would allow me to mount ISOs and play them.

    The audio problem is an unforgiveable one. So if I understand correctly, you set PDVD to bitstream HD audio, then if you play a DVD it sets it back, and then you play a bluray you would have to go in and manually change it back to bitstream HD audio? That’s crazy. Does PDVD 10 have this problem? If not, I can’t see how they could mess something like that up.

    I’ve used both, and I prefer PowerDVD to TMT over the time I’ve used them. And with my new TV, TMT makes the screen go black when something starts playing. I think it’s some kind of HDCP problem, but with AnyDVD running there shouldn’t be (actually there shouldn’t be any way since I’m using HDMI).

    • htpc_user wrote:What is the

      [quote=htpc_user]

      What is the advantage to using ISO over BDMV?

      [/quote]

      Since PDVD 8/9/10 didn’t support BDMV using ISOs meant that you could use it for non-physical BD playback.  Other than that BDMV is preferable because, as you note, it doesn’t require an additional SW layer between the files and the player.

      [quote=htpc_user]

      What about ISO playback with PowerDVD 11? The latest update to 10 no longer would allow me to mount ISOs and play them.

      [/quote]

      It works.

      [quote=htpc_user]

      The audio problem is an unforgiveable one. So if I understand correctly, you set PDVD to bitstream HD audio, then if you play a DVD it sets it back, and then you play a bluray you would have to go in and manually change it back to bitstream HD audio? That’s crazy. Does PDVD 10 have this problem?

      [/quote]

      It’s been a problem for as long as I can remember; first issue on the list when we got the bits :).

  • Ahhhh, the yearly bug fix for

    Ahhhh, the yearly bug fix for PowerDVD.   Pay up everyone, cause PowerDVD 10 is now abandoned.   Can you tell I’m bitter at them???

  • I just posted a new thread

    I just posted a new thread regarding PDVD 10, 11, and TMT5 so I won’t bore you with the details.  The short story is that PDVD 10 now refuses to allow me to stream HD audio, PDVD 11 works but won’t respond to any MCE remote commands, and TMT 5 actually works with HD audio and my remote.  I like PDVD 10 but somewhere along the way it broke and I don’t know how to fix it.  I’d upgrade to PDVD 11 if it weren’t for the remote control issue.  Has anyone else seen this?

    FYI – if you want to get rid of the annoying registration window that pops up every time you open PDVD 10, just rename the two *.exe files in the OLRSubmission folder in PDVD 10.  One of them checks to see if you’ve registered and the other pops upen the registration window when it sees you haven’t done so yet.  Just add a *.bak extension or whatever you like and you’ll never be bothered with them again.

    Once you’ve set up the audio option to bistream HD audio in either PDVD 10 or 11 you shouldn’t have to touch it again.  It’s weird that the option only shows up once you’ve started playback of a movie with the appropriate type of soundtrack, but there it is.  Just start the movie and jump a chapter or two into the movie and then pause it (I’m not sure if the HD audio actually starts during the opening credits so I like to get into the actual body of the film to make sure).  Access the settings menu and you should see the additional option to bitstream HD audio under the Audio option.  Select it, save the settings, resume playback, and you’re good to go.

  • I have PowerDVD 11 Ultra, and

    I have PowerDVD 11 Ultra, and I tried playing ISO’s and they won’t play.  Also, I tried BDMV folder playback, and that doesn’t work either.  Any thoughts?  It is updated to the latest version.

    • htpc_user wrote:I have

      [quote=htpc_user]

      I have PowerDVD 11 Ultra, and I tried playing ISO’s and they won’t play.  Also, I tried BDMV folder playback, and that doesn’t work either.  Any thoughts?  It is updated to the latest version.

      [/quote]

      Do you see the behavior with both the standalone and the WMC player?

  • Are you getting a specific

    Are you getting a specific error message?  I just wrapped up a round of testing using PDVD11 w/ both ISO and BDMV, so whatever the problem is it’s not universal.

    • When playing from within

      When playing from within Media Center, the PowerDVD screen comes up but neither “Resume” or “Restart” is selectable.  I believe that when I tried to play it by launching PowerDVD myself that I got the ol’ “Unsupported playback” message.

      Let me expand on the issue a little though.  I have some rips on my server that were done using DVD Fab’s Bluray copy feature where it shrinks it down to a DVD9 size (but it’s still in bluray format).  When playing a “regular” full size bluray rip, the ISO’s will launch and play correctly.  But it’s when trying to play these downsized ISO’s that I am having a problem.  If it were all of them, I would chalk it up to that being the problem.  But I have at least 1 downsized bluray that plays correctly.  But the others I’ve tried do not.  If I put in a bluray on a dual layer DVD then PowerDVD will play it.  My son’s PC will play the downsized bluray ISO in TMT5 without problem as well.  I just don’t get it.