New HD DVD NEC drive does TL-45!
 

http://www.de.nec.de/brochure/hd_dvd_e.pdf

http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/...ec-hr1100.html

Sorry, and I did look at the Digit-Life link, but bees are on the what now? What is TL-45(!)?

Look at the first link.

It's triple-layer HD DVD.

Triple Layer HD DVD (45 Gigs)

So does that mean the the HD-A1 does TL, since it's the same drive?

Looks that way.

I think Toshiba is playing this smart. IF the HD-A1 is indeed capable of playing TL media, then the TL media has been in the planning stages for a long time. It sounds like Tosh has wisely kept their yaps closed about "potential" media and perfected it before talking about it. If TL would have fallen through because of manufacturing difficulties, no one would really be mad because it wasn't on of their selling points, unlike DL BD.

Of course TL may be vaporware. Time will tell.

Hmm, two layer changes now? Eh.

Amir stated a few weeks back in the insider thread that TL-45 was only used to see if they extra storage space would push Disney to move over to HD-dvd, or at least support both. Contrary to what they have said, Disney has other motivations for going Blu-Ray.

He also said that adding TL45 to the HD-dvd spec would be an uphill battle because of the number of BDA companies with votes sitting on the Dvd Forum.

Layer changes are seamless on Hd-dvd, and Blu-Ray as well, I believe.

And regular DVD. WIth the Toshiba...i NEVER see it.

It's nice to hear layer changes are seamless for both formats. More space is always a good thing.

For people who know more than me (and there are quite a lot!): If both formats hold approx 50GB, have the same codec (I heard Blu-Ray is going VC-1 which I think is the same as HD-DVD), have seamless layer changes, then there's not really anything substantial seperating the two technologies is there? Maybe boot up time and menu navigation time as I heard it takes upwards 2 minute just to be able to play a HD-DVD?

For DthRdrX: What has Disney said is their reason for Blu-Ray and what are the other motivations? (I don't know the history and I'm just curious.)

It'll be cool if HD-DVD and Blu-Ray get into a razor blade type war where they try to outdo each other in terms of the number of layers (blades).

4 blades!!! I mean layers!

Boot time, etc. is just a hardware issue that will come down with every new player. If all things are equal, all things are equal....except for the price and support.

I beleive rotational speed is also different (faster on Bd) which I'm not sure, but may affect bandwidth- though with VC1 and the improvemtns to it that will come down the pike, it would appear that bandwidth is already sufficent for the majority of titles that will appear.

Interesting that they called Disneys phony rationale out into the open. Must be another studio like Fox that is enamoured with the promise of draconian copy protection...or else they are getting a tremendous break on the Bd licensing.
Either way its seriously doubtful that their fascination with the format is for any quality that would actually benefit the consumer directly.

Toshiba President said this the other day.
There is no way we are going to lose in Picture Quality to Blu-Ray and no way in cost of making.So I cannot see how we could lose this.That really shut up the reporter. :)

Ugh...that quote is almost....Sony-like. ;)

Do you have a link?

Disney had stated publicly when they joined the BDA that they preferred Blu-Ray because of the BD50 disc, giving them more space to push extras aimed primarily at the kids.... games, interactivity, ect.

Disney's backing of Blu-Ray was somewhat shocking because:

A. The BD50 discs were not, and obviously still are not, viable to produce and sell in sizeable quantities due to low yields and previous problems with the disc coatings, not to mention high prices.

B. Disney and Microsoft were hand in hand developing inHD, which Hd-dvd uses. Blu-Ray uses Java.

After the press release came out stating Disney wanted the extra capacity offered, Toshiba let the TL45 announcement fly out. Amir, nor any other insiders that I have seen, have not speculated as to why Disney is really backing Blu-Ray, though I have read many interesting theories.

Sounds interesting. They could make a Syriana type movie on how the companies are choosing which format to support. :)

I wonder what the cost to product a TL HD-DVD is compared to a DL Blu-Ray disc.

Content.

You will see this combo in stores this holiday season for Blu-Ray, you will not see this combo for HD-DVD.

http://www.dynoxtreme.com/bda_11.jpg

Content is king.

I remember Amir saying the cost of a TL 45 HD DVD is more than a SL BD, but less than a DL BD.

Batman Begins is a Warner title... and they support HD-DVD as well. Why wouldn't that be out for HD-DVD?

Like? I'm not sure i've heard any.

I think its obvious what i was stating. You will be able to buy both Batman Begins and Chicken Little for Blu-Ray this holiday season. You can only get Batman Begins between the 2 in that combo for HD-DVD. So if you wanted both in high def, you have to either a) buy a Blu-Ray player, or b) buy players in both formats. Which is more likely?

He's talking about Chicken Little which is a Disney title.