Big News!!!!
 

IGN has written an article that those of you with HDTV’s need to read. Apparently neither HD-DVD or Blu-Ray movies will function unless you have either a monitor, or a HDTV with HDMI or DVI connections.

The problem is that years ago HDTV's used to come out with RGB component video cables only (the red, green and blue ones). These use an analog signal, however in order to satisfy the copy protection mechanism that will be present in the next-generation DVD discs a digital signal is needed.

At the moment it seems if you only have analog inputs on your HDTV you will recieve a downgraded signal. However IGN reports that the Hollywood studios owners would rather that the disc didnt play at all. However hopefully people will figure out a way around this, maybe similar to the region free DVD players that are now the norm.

“This is a dark day for the entire consumer electronics industry. Huge manufacturers like Sony and Toshiba have allowed Hollywood executives to punish consumers for the studios’ inability to protect their own content in the wild. Despite the fact that the relationship between movie piracy and the floundering movie theater receipts of recent years has not been proven to be direct, Hollywood is applying an iron fist in their aim to control the next generation of the home-theater experience. You know those previews on DVDs that you can’t skip through? That’s only the beginning of the ways Hollywood wants to control your entertainment experience.”

Head over to IGN to read the full article, including more technical details.

Note: This only effects next generation DVD playback.

You have your finger on the pulse of technology.

thank you very much, my dear sir.
i'm very interested in technology, especially "wars" between different types of products.

Good article. I'd really like to see a side by side by side comparison between a great transfer super-bit DVD on a progressive scan player, that same DVD on an up-convert player, and that same movie in HD-DVD. Can the differences really be that significant? I was watching Kill Bill last night on my Sony Progressive scan player at 480P into my Panny 47" RPTV w/ the DTS track going and I thought it was a pretty damn good experience. I can't see how HD-Kill Bill is going to really make the movie experience that much better; or at least worth all the trouble to get aboard HD right away. However my OTA HD in 1080i is pretty nice, so this is the reason I wonder if an up-convert player at 1080i is going to look much nicer than my progressive at 480p.

Edit: Just wanted to add that HD-DVD may be much better than today's DVD. My point is that I don't have any idea at this point and would like to see a comparison.

This is news? Maybe 6 months ago.

I think my sarcasm was lost on you. :D

[RockyHorror]Let's do the time warp again![/RockyHorror]