Panasonic DMP-BD45 Blu-ray Player - SDXC/USB Slot, PHL Reference Chroma Processor PlusItem#: P332-1006  |  Model#: DMP-BD45

PLEASE NOTE: BEFORE RETURNING A BLU-RAY PLAYER - PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING

Blu-ray players produce amazing image quality, with great disc features not available on DVD. However, all Blu-ray plays suffer from a common problem: the need to update their firmware periodically.

Are you having problems with certain movies that just will not play? Before you return the player to the store, you might want to check its firmware. Rest assured, a firmware update will often do the trick. The process is meant to be simple and do-it-yourself.

What is firmware? Just as computers require software to run, a Blu-ray player requires firmware to run. Firmware is a type of computer program that resides inside the hardware device and makes it possible to play movies and access other features. The great thing about firmware is that it can be easily updated, so even though a Blu-ray player might not support a feature when it is released that feature might be added later as long as the hardware can support it. Firmware updates can also fix problems with existing features and offer other improvements.

Player or Disc problems? If you experience any problems with your hardware, whether it's a player or anything else, the first thing you should do is to make sure that you have the latest firmware installed. If not, then it's very likely that a firmware update will solve your problem. Unfortunately some features can't be added with a firmware update because they also require a hardware upgrade, but as long as the current hardware can support the new features, all that is needed is a firmware update.

Aren't all Blu-ray discs the same? Why do I need an update? Unfortunately, no, not all Blu-ray discs are the same format or standard. When Blu-ray was introduced, built into the standard was the ability for it to change, or evolve. So as new capabilities are added to Blu-ray disks, updating gives you the ability to take advantage of those new features.

What do I need to update my Blue-ray player? Fundamentally, you need two things: 1) a connection to the Internet - this is where the updates come from; and 2) additional storage, usually in the for of a thumbdrive that pugs into the USB port of your Bluray player. So make sure your Blu-ray play is connected and has room to store each new updates, and you will enjoy countless hours of Blu-ray entertainment.

Connecting your Blu-ray Player If your Blu-ray disc player has an Ethernet (Network) port, connecting it directly to the Internet is the most streamlined way to check for and install updates - it just requires that you connect an Ethernet cable from your Internet connection to your Blue-ray player, refer to your owners’ manual for instructions on how to connect your player to the internet and how to update the firmware. Usually, once connected to the Internet, updates occur automatically. With some players, you may have to power cycle the player after changing network settings before you can download firmware.

But the good news, it that with Blu-ray players, no matter what the improvements in the format, the ability to update your player protects your investment and helps assure a long useful life for your Blu-ray player.