It's (somehow, in some alternate universe) good for BD. I don't think so.

Cable doesn't count.


....especially since most of it compressed like crap.

The company behind the system wants to support HD DVD as well.

This is just a gimicky viewing "enhancement" that's independent of the two HD formats. Right now it's just BD-only because Fox is BD-only, and Fox is the only company to sign on so far. It doesn't even sound like it's much of an investment on Fox's part, since Deluxe, the company behind the system, seems to do all the work.

I'd expect it to be the other way around. D-box begging HD DVD to support them.

It would be a huge benefit for D-box, but really no advantage at all for HD DVD.

Yes, that's what's happening, although D-box isn't appealing to either format's association directly. Rather, they seem to be attempting to recruit studios. Fox is the first, and I'm sure D-box is going after Universal just as hard as they are going after any other studio.

It's unclear just how the D-box system would work. Likely you'll need a special player, just like with their DVD offerings. So neither format will be supporting D-box directly, it'll be like that Nuon feature for DVD that never took off.

http://www.dvdtown.com/announcement/...ernsabou/4067/

"Unnatural high temperature on the display floor "????

So how hot was it in there?.....because I would think anything hotter than room temperture would make everyone feel "pretty unconfortable"

Here's the full AP article:

Sony shares fall on PlayStation concerns
By HANS GREIMEL
Associated Press Writer

TOKYO (AP) -- Fresh concerns about the upcoming release of Sony's much-anticipated PlayStation 3 video game console and reports of erratic performance dragged Sony shares down 2.75 percent Tuesday.

Technical problems for the PlayStation 3 would be the latest embarrassment for Sony, which has already had to twice delay the product's launch, and is facing stepped up competition from rivals Microsoft and Nintendo.

Sony has also been hit by the recent string of recalls for its lithium ion batteries for laptop computers.

PlayStation 3 units on display at the Tokyo Game Show about 10 days ago operated erratically and had to be repeatedly reset, according to a report released Monday by Macquarie Equities analyst David Gibson in Tokyo.

"While the reason for this is unknown, we suspect it may be due to overheating as a result of enclosing the units and the high temperatures at the venue," Gibson wrote. "We are concerned that such a problem has occurred so close to full production and is clearly negative news for the company."

Sony denied that there was any technical problem with the PlayStation 3.

Earlier in the day, investment firm Goldman Sachs Group Inc. lowered Sony's stock rating to "neutral" from "buy," citing confusion over the release of PlayStation 3 and concerns that disappointing sales of PlayStation Portable may weigh on its earnings in electronics operations more heavily than expected.

Sony's stock tumbled 130 yen ($1.11), or 2.75 percent, to 4,600 yen ($38.98) on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

The PlayStation 3 will hit stores in Japan on Nov. 11 and in the United States on Nov. 17. In Europe, they won't go on sale until March, four months later than planned.

Sony spokeswoman Nanako Kato said any problems at the Tokyo Game Show, where Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo showed off rival offerings under the same roof, were likely caused by one-of-a-kind temperature irregularities.

About 200 PlayStation 3 units were clustered together in close proximity and housed in kiosks that concentrated the heat generated by their processors and provided poor ventilation, Kato said. Overheating under such circumstances is a common affliction at trade shows, afflicting not just Sony products but those of its competitors, she said.

"It's not a problem with the PlayStation 3 unit itself," Kato said. "For a normal player at home, there shouldn't be any problem."

Sony is sticking to its plans to ship 2 million PlayStation 3 units by year's end and 6 million by March 31, 2007, she said.

Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft Corp. rushed its next-generation Xbox 360 to Japanese markets last year to get a head start on its rivals, but it has seen sluggish sales in Japan, which is one of the world's biggest video game markets but one in which players have a deep loyalty to homegrown Sony.

Nintendo Co. meanwhile is planning to launch its new Wii game console in the final quarter of the year and price it below both rivals, the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3.

© 2006 The Associated Press

I've never seen news about one unit overheating in an enclosed plexiglass box so overblown before.

Of course these things are going to overheat. I don't see why this would be a major issue for the 360 and not the PS3. When I look at the effort I put into cooling my PC I just don't see how these new consoles can be anything but furnaces.

I have to side with Sony a bit and say that in homes it shouldn't be as bad, however, Sony is quite stupid to not take this into consideration when building the kiosks.

Note the plural:

Yeah, I saw the plural. But I trust this analyst as much as I trust any analyst talking about videogames. That is to say 0%.

I've installed a fan in my rack to keep my DVD player from overheating. Usually don't need it, but I turn it on when necessary. All the other devices that might overheat take care of themselves with their own fans. I notice more problems with the glass door closed, too.

This is yet another phenomenon of the modern technological world that most people simply miss. You need to consider the heat in your room and shelf.

Look, I don't trust analysts either...

But, unless you were there at the show, I don't see how claiming that it was just one machine is in any way valid. By all reports, there were about 200 PS3s there (which, by the way, is why Sony is claiming this happened in the first place -- too many machines in an enclosed space).

I'm not saying that overheating in that scenario is a problem or the end of the world for Sony. But I also don't see how intentionally spreading information that you know is likely incorrect ("one unit") is helpful.

I wasn't at the show, but Kotaku was:

http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/ridge-r...tgs-202609.php

One PS3 down because of heating. A "couple" down because of software. Direct reporting from the show floor. Like I said, really blown up because of one machine.

I was just at my local Circuit City picking up X-Men 3 and noticed that they have now removed their Blu-Ray player display and information. All that is left is the BD disc cardboard rack and discs.

hmm...If my username started with "Blitz", I would say that it sounds like they are clearancing them out and their gonna get rid of them.

Maybe. The Circuit City's in this area finally got the HD-DVD's in about a 1 1/2 months ago.

If it were, I wouldn't be able to read you right now. There are some others as well...hmmm...

They're gearing up for Blu-ray Superbit Ultras baby!!!!

Choo Choo

awwww....CHOO CHOO TO YOU TOO!!!!!

Rock, candy, digi: Please don't throw baits out there. Not appreciated. -namja

Does it have a smell box too?

Ah, I was just baiting someone who is already banned....ill play nice.

Well good and bad news for me tonight.

The bad news it I tried getting either Batman and/or Polar Express at my one and only local Target. I waitied for a different women to be working the counter. Shot down in flames again! It comes up on their handheld scanners as Oct. 8th, which is still earlier than the street date of the 10th! This is where the conversation got really interesting.

I told the women I was just checking to see what day they would be stocking them and I was curious if they were even stocking them at all, as I told her some Wal-marts did not carry them. Then the women told me that Walmart is not really carrying them because Blu-Ray has a DRM system on it that self destructs the disc if you try and make a copy. Now, I could have tried to explain the nature of AACS and BD+ to her, but let's face it, I'd just have looked like an ass. I don't even know if she understands there are two formats.

It was at that point that I finally had to say to myself that the very nature of this format war and the extra copyright protection "debate" that hasd been ongoing in the media the last 1-2 years is really hurting early adoption. Let's face it, when the people selling the stuff are going out of their way to tell people negative aspects of a product instead of positive aspects it's going to scare away potential customers who are not very knowledgeable.

The good news is Best Buy sold me Army of Darkness, so I'm happy.

P.S. They also had Waist Deep for 37.99 but that's a little steep IMO.