I don't know if this has already been reported here, but I just saw that 20th Century Fox has chosen Blu-Ray as the format of choice for high-def DVD. IF this means that movies like Star Wars and other classics will only be released on Blu-Ray, I think the format war for high-def DVD is already over before it really began. This makes Columbia, MGM, and Fox all ready to rock for Blu-Ray. Personally, I think this is good news because Blu-Ray seems to be the superior format given its larger storage capabilities. Check it out.......

http://www.cdfreaks.com/news/10616

columbia, mgm, fox, anchor bay. Looks like blu-ray is winning.
I'm betting paramount is going to hold out to the last minute on a decision like they did with the dvd format.

This is huge news. Fox is one of the best DVD studios around, so their commitment to Blu Ray is another nail in the coffin for HD-DVD. The others being Sony's purchase of MGM and the PS3 offering Blu Ray compatibility.

If that's true, I think everybody here understands what it really means. Blu-ray has become too serious an enemy to fight with. Rest assured, more studios will follow.

Isnt X Box 2 choosing HD DVD ? . This format war could also decide who wins the next gen console battle as well.

Sony have a lot to win (and lose)

some intereting times ahead...

can I invest money in Blu ray technology?

Probably not. Most believe MS will be releasing the Xbox 2 by the end of 2005, in which case it would probably be too early to include HD-DVD compatibility and keep the system even remotely affordable.

PS3 is doing Blu-Ray right, thats what I heard.

As long as everyone agrees on one format I'm fine with it. Hopefully if its Blu-Ray everyone will get on board.

Isn't blu-ray as a format not going to be backwards compatitble with cuuent dvd technology?

They would have to put a separate laser in the player for standard DVDs. Something I would bet money they will do.

Yes. Blu-Ray players will have to have two lasers, a blue and a red, in order to be backwards compatible.

actually, 3 lasers, since one is needed for cds/vcds right? or can a dvd laser read cds already?

I'm listening to a CD right now with my DVD player. You didn't know they had this feature?

There's a big 800 pound Gorilla named Time-Warner that I think will be the deciding factor of whether Blu-ray is a slam dunk or whether we have an all-out format war.

Doesn't Warner get a few pennies for every DVD sold because it holds some patents on it? Would the same hold true for HD-DVD? If so, they may be the biggest impediment to Blu-ray running HD-DVD out of town.

The dvd player adjusts the laser to play CD and VCD media. It is still the same red laser though. In the early DVD players companies like Sony used dual lasers, but I think everyone just uses one in todays players that refocuses depending on the media.

An important step for Blu-Ray, but from the report I read, this should be kept in mind too:

I'm listening to a CD in my DVD player right now, too, but my player has two lasers. But, yeah, most companies are using one laser that can do both.

It is not true that 20th Century Fox has adopted the Blue Ray Disc format. This is the true story as found on numerous sights including The Digital Bits:

"20th Century Fox is expected to announce that it's joining the Blu-ray Disc Association in an advisory capacity. Fox says this is NOT an official endorsement of the format, but the studio wants to have a say in how these next-generation videodisc formats develop (Fox is already a longtime member of the DVD Forum, which is responsible for the development of the Blu-ray Disc rival, HD-DVD). The news services, of course, have already blown this story by claiming that Fox has now officially adopted the Blu-ray Disc format."


20th Century Fox belongs to both the DVD Forum (HD-DVD) and the Blue Ray Group. Not one exclusively over another. I personally want HD-DVD to win because I hate Sony with a passion. They invent something and then want to control the technology like a dictator. They still haven't learned from their Betamax and Minidisc mistakes.

I'm sure you're probably right, I just have to laugh whenever the words "true" and "Digital Bits" are in the same sentence.

I agree, that The Digital Bits are not always correct, but they are correct more often than not. The story about 20th Century Fox also was featured on CNNFN, CNBC, and Bloomberg Network. So between The Digital Bits and Three major business news outlets reporting the same thing I would say that its more than likely true. Though, I am not positive