"Blu-ray is dead" proclaims Robin Harrs.

[Mister Peepers]

So because music isn't selling very well, they're cutting down the size of that section and adding everything else that is in the department. Therefore BR is winning?

The article also doesn't say that BR is replacing DVD

Greenfield said the chain’s floor space devoted to DVD, including Blu- ray, ranged from up modestly to down slightly.

Blu Ray discs still only contain movies

There's concerts also.

I guess that only goes to help prove that Downloads are on their way!

Downloads have been here for awhile and are only going to increase by the end of the year, including increased HD downloads. Just because the audio may not be uncompressed, doesn't mean most people care.

If BR were to truly die off, we aren't going to hear from the industry first about what's happening, we're going to hear it from articles like the ones we've seen. Saying they don't count because you don't care what some guppy said doesn't change the world.

Can anyone name some other products that have had lots of articles saying the product is dying or is a failure and then it came back to win the hearts and minds of Americans? I'm genuinely asking this because I can't think of one off the top of my head. I asked pro-b before but I just got one of those long replies that didn't say much and nobody else said anything. Anyone?

[slymer]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cinema

I expect people who own the format, or those who are interested in owning the format to post. But those who want it to fail...I don't understand why they would spend time posting. I find it strange.

Why would anyone want it to fail?

[SoSpacey]

Originally Posted by slymer

Why would anyone want it to fail?

same people who bet the "don't pass" line.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by chanster

Actually that article that Pro B posted about Wal Mart seems to support the idea that retailers are getting on board with digital delivery, while "packaged media" is slowly on its way out.

Actually, from all packaged media Blu-ray is what currently is growing, hence the industry's support and plans for expansion at Walmart stores.

Originally Posted by chanster

If you strip away the analyst quote and just look at what the actual Wal Mart exec says:
Last time I checked, Blu Ray discs still only contain movies. It seems from the quote that video games are definitely getting an expansion.

I don't mind stripping the analysis but fact of the matter is that, as expected, you are not deducting properly. And producing incorrect statements. Last time I checked, amongst other things, Blu-ray also contains games.

Pro-B

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by GizmoDVD

I guess that only goes to help prove that Downloads are on their way!

This way?


http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/A...-In-Reno-98856

AT&T Starts Metered Billing Trial In Reno

Earlier this year, AT&T began laying the political and public relations groundwork for a shift toward metered billing, throwing comments to the press about how such a shift was "inevitable," while company lobbyists began dropping vague hints that a billing shift was coming. Last summer, executives at the company announced that the telco would be conducting a metered billing trial this fall. The time for that trial has arrived, and Broadband Reports has learned that Reno, Nevada will be the lucky first market. Last Friday, AT&T filed this (pdf) notice with the FCC that confirms the nation's largest ISP will be conducting a metered billing trial in Reno.

This local market trial underscores our commitment to bring bigger, faster and smarter broadband networks to more and more communities at affordable rates.

-AT&T Memo

Existing flat-rate profits weren't to AT&T CTO John Donovan's liking, the exec complaining last summer that "traffic on our backbone is growing 60 percent per year, but our revenue is not." Earlier this year I floated the idea that the FCC's investigation of Comcast benefited AT&T in more ways than one, and the FCC's supposed love of transparency was in part aimed at opening the door to metered billing. AT&T's filing with the FCC is clear to highlight how much this new metered move is about AT&T's love of "transparency," not protecting U-Verse TV revenues from Internet video, or ramping up already impressive profits:

Consistent with AT&T’s belief that consumers should have clear information about the capabilities of their broadband Internet access services and any meaningful limitations on those service, AT&T will be providing written notice to customers involved in the trial explaining that their broadband service will be subject to a certain monthly usage tier for the total amount of data they may send and receive, as well as a per gigabyte charge in the event they exceed the usage tier.

New customers in Reno this month are finding that their shiny new DSL tier comes with caps ranging from 20 to 150 gigabytes per month, depending on which service speed tier a customer signs up for (AT&T offers DSL tiers ranging from 768kbps to 6Mbps). The filing says that later this year, existing customers in Reno will become a part of this trial should their monthly usage exceed 150 GB in one month.

Should customers in Reno exceed the 150GB usage limit, AT&T is currently considering charging them an additional $1 per gigabyte. That's in line with Time Warner Cable's current metered usage trial, news of which we first broke earlier this year. Unlike Comcast, who also has implemented caps of 250GB per month, AT&T will be offering up a usage tool to impacted customers. The company will also provide some kind of automated alert (perhaps banner injection technology?) once a customer hits 80% of their monthly allotted capacity. From the AT&T FCC filing:

In addition, the first time a customer exceeds the applicable monthly usage tier, AT&T will send a written notice reminding the customer again about the usage tier, but we will not impose any additional charges at that time. Only after the second time the customer exceeds the applicable monthly usage tier will the customer be subject to additional per-gigabyte charges. Finally, in the event a new or existing customer does not want to participate in the trial, we will permit the customer to cancel their broadband Internet access service without an early termination penalty.

Well aren't you a sweetheart, AT&T. Combined with your planned piracy filters and wholesale funneling of customer data to the NSA (pdf), you're becoming a real charmer. Despite denying to us earlier this year that you were making subtle flirtations with metered billing, it's now pretty clear this is an idea you've lusted after for a while.

According to documents, AT&T may extend the trial into additional markets later this year, so Reno customers won't be the only lucky netizens to experience AT&T's new broadband profit vision. According to AT&T, it's for your own good. "This local market trial underscores our commitment to bring bigger, faster and smarter broadband networks to more and more communities at affordable rates," an announcement is expected to read.

Update: AT&T Spokesman Seth Bloom contacts me to add: "One minor point I’d make - we may extend the trial to ONE other market by the end of the year...not markets plural..."

Pro-B

[Adam Tyner]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Last time I checked, amongst other things, Blu-ray also contains games.

Edit -- nevermind. I guess you're talking about PS3 games and not the glorified Flash applets served up as extras on certain Blu-ray discs.

[Suprmallet]

I think Pro-B was referring to the fact that all PS3 games are on Blu-ray discs.

Edit: Or maybe he wasn't referring to PS3 games, but they are on Blu-ray discs.

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

This way?


http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/A...-In-Reno-98856


Pro-B

20GB - 150GB is still a ton of bandwhich.

SD films are typically 1GB while HDs are 3-4GB. Do you think people watch 30-40 HD films a month? Most rent a movie or two a week and thats it.

But regardless, all the "doom and gloom" over internet caps have been pretty funny. I've yet to be affected by it nor anyone else I know.

[chanster]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Actually, from all packaged media Blu-ray is what currently is growing, hence the industry's support and plans for expansion at Walmart stores.



I don't mind stripping the analysis but fact of the matter is that, as expected, you are not deducting properly. And producing incorrect statements. Last time I checked, amongst other things, Blu-ray also contains games.

Pro-B

Puh-leeze. If I am not deducting something correctly, please tell me the error I have made.

And none of this bullshit, PS3 games are video games, not "Blu Rays" as the term is being bantered around here. Unless you want to start including PS3 games as Blu Rays sold, which I'm sure you would be happy to do to distort the numbers.

[chanster]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Actually, from all packaged media Blu-ray is what currently is growing, hence the industry's support and plans for expansion at Walmart stores.

Pro-B

Tell me where the Wal Mart exec said they are planning for expansion of Blu Rays in that quote. Please tell me. I'm dying to hear this one.

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by Suprmallet

I think Pro-B was referring to the fact that all PS3 games are on Blu-ray discs.

Edit: Or maybe he wasn't referring to PS3 games, but they are on Blu-ray discs.

I'd hope so. I have yet to be impressed with any of the games on BD discs (movies not PS3 games).

[candyrocket786]

Originally Posted by GizmoDVD

I'd hope so. I have yet to be impressed with any of the games on BD discs (movies not PS3 games).

I have yet to be impressed with any PS3 Games.

However, Resistence 2 may change that.

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by candyrocket786

I have yet to be impressed with any PS3 Games.

However, Resistence 2 may change that.

Well, I own a PS3 (its in the closet) and I have yet to play a single PS3 game on it. The 360 has all the titles I want and in Fallout 3's case - downloadable content in the future. But I'm not everyone so I know others enjoy their PS3 as a gaming deivce.

[tonymontana313]

Originally Posted by candyrocket786

I have yet to be impressed with any PS3 Games.

However, Resistence 2 may change that.

Really? Littlebigplanet, MGS4 and Uncharted are great PS3 exclusives. Can't wait for Resistance 2 myself. It will be hard to divy up time between that and Gears.

[Jim]

Originally Posted by GizmoDVD

SD films are typically 1GB while HDs are 3-4GB.

HD downloads are only 3-4GB? Don't movies on DVD take up more space than that? Are the HD downloads about DVD quality?

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by Jim

HD downloads are only 3-4GB? Don't movies on DVD take up more space than that? Are the HD downloads about DVD quality?

Not when they are compressed and don't carry the extra feautures, previews, menus etc. I've download numerous SD rentals on my AppleTV and they are typically 1GB. HDs vary (length of the film) but from the few I watched, about 4-5GBs.

The HD downloads look far superior to DVDs but not better than Blu-ray.

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by chanster

Puh-leeze. If I am not deducting something correctly, please tell me the error I have made.

And none of this bullshit, PS3 games are video games, not "Blu Rays" as the term is being bantered around here. Unless you want to start including PS3 games as Blu Rays sold, which I'm sure you would be happy to do to distort the numbers.

The point is: packaged media, with Blu-ray as a spec, isn't declining. This is what you argue above. And by all means gaming is an important factor as well which the report quoted earlier proves:

“We believe Wal-Mart is increasing its exposure to consumer electronics, video games and Blu-ray, and reducing floor space devoted to CDs and standard DVDs,” said Richard Greenfield, analyst with Pali Capital, in a note.

With other words, apparently Walmart is expanding floor space for the products that sell and shrinking exposure for those that reveal declining numbers.

Pro-B

[pro-bassoonist]

Originally Posted by GizmoDVD

The HD downloads look far superior to DVDs but not better than Blu-ray.

Really? This is news to me. What downloading service do you use that matches Blu-ray quality?

Pro-B

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

With other words, apparently Walkmart is expanding floor space for the products that sell and shrinking exposure for those that reveal declining numbers.

Pro-B

Or they think Blu-ray will sell well with the numerous advertisements they have been running on TV and various magazines/newspapers. After the Holidays will be very telling - either BD remains the same, grows in size, or shrinks (like most departments due after the Holidays). Of course I'd love to know what "growing" means. Last I checked mine still has 30 or so BD titles right next to the hispanic music.

I remember the very large UMD selection at Wal-Mart and Target as well. It kept expanding and expanding...and now, well, you know what happened.

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by GizmoDVD

The HD downloads look far superior to DVDs but not better than Blu-ray.

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Really? This is news to me. What downloading service do you use that matches Blu-ray quality?

Pro-B

?

[pro-bassoonist]

My mistake I misread the quote.

Originally Posted by GizmoDVD

After the Holidays will be very telling - either BD remains the same, grows in size, or shrinks (like most departments due after the Holidays). Of course I'd love to know what "growing" means. Last I checked mine still has 30 or so BD titles right next to the hispanic music.

Sure it will be. For now, we move one step at the time. At least we know that the trend is toward expansion of floor space and greater promotion. When Q4 ends then we could debate whether or not the performance was good.

Pro-B

[GizmoDVD]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

Sure it will be. For now, we move one step at the time. At least we know that the trend is toward expansion of floor space and greater promotion. When Q4 ends then we could debate whether or not the performance was good.

Pro-B

Yes, we shall.

[Mister Peepers]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

This way?


Pro-B

Like these?
Netflix Roku box
Xbox 360 streaming Netflix and also through their marketplace
PS3 streaming stuff through their marketplace
Amazon downloads through Tivo
Netflix streaming through browsers
Youtube streaming through Tivo, and PS3
Hulu streaming through PS3
Joost
LG's BD300 that streams
Samsung P2500 and P2550
VOD through cable companies.
iTunes
Zune marketplace

Just some off the top of my head so I'm probably missing much more. Many of those changes are things that will appear towards the end of the year. An ISP changing their rates doesn't equal downloading will go away. No matter how many times you shake your head like a child inflicted with Tourette's, it doesn't change the fact that video downloads are increasing.

“We believe Wal-Mart is increasing its exposure to consumer electronics, video games and Blu-ray, and reducing floor space devoted to CDs and standard DVDs,” said Richard Greenfield, analyst with Pali Capital, in a note.

I guess you're right, they are removing DVDs, oops

Greenfield said the chain’s floor space devoted to DVD, including Blu- ray, ranged from up modestly to down slightly.

I like how he says it's going down and then it's going up.

Can anyone name some other products that have had lots of articles saying the product is dying or is a failure and then it came back to win the hearts and minds of Americans? I'm genuinely asking this because I can't think of one off the top of my head. Anyone? Will BR be the first? Is that what pro-b meant when he was talking about the many unnamed firsts BR will do?

[applesandrice]

Originally Posted by pro-bassoonist

When Q4 ends then we could debate whether or not the performance was good.

Pro-B

So, not another word on it 'til then, right? Deal!!

[Mister Peepers]

Originally Posted by applesandrice

So, not another word on it 'til then, right? Deal!!

I will buy you apples and rice if that comes true.