Skoobooz

I assume there hasn't been any word from New Line or Dreamworks yet, either. Any indications as to when they'll step up and announce support for something? Was the HD DVD event last night it for HD DVD-related announcements? Nothing from Universal yet, except day-and-date titles like The Good Shepherd and Children of Men.

fryinpan1

If HD DVDs CES goal was to convince me to buy a Blu-ray player, then they have succeeded. I do not want a PS3 because I do not play video games, but as soon a quality, reasonably-priced stand alone Blu-ray player is available, I will strongly consider it.

Mr. Cinema

Sounded like crickets regarding New Line and DreamWorks.

Just a quick question, how much credibility does tsd2005 from AVS now have currently?

RockStrongo

Well, I have no doubt that the quality will be there on BD...they have gotten ALOT better since last summer...Im hoping the extras will be there too (I bet they will be for at least the big titles). BD50 will be a big reason for that.

BUT, HD-DVD hasnt even announced any dates and their press event was last night?!? This was/is the big show. We got more activity from them last year for God's sake!

Come on HD-DVD give us something to look forward to! We want titles and dates (and possibly specs )!

The Matrix and HP movies are most likely coming out this year, but if WB releases uncompressed PCM sound on BD and IME (their version), I might be picking up BD over the hd-dvd version.

Burnt Thru

Ah, I see. Though I believe both Fox and Disney have been running trailers pretty frequently on XBox Live as well, which indicates they are also likely to release some conent through that channel. As such it might not indicate a move to supporting both disc formats (since Fox and Disney are pretty pugnatious in their BD press) but a new on-demand revenue stream. Just a thought...

RockStrongo

Yeah, thats true, but again, MS specifically talked about LG providing HD content last night (they didnt mention the others afaik) and then of course using VC-1. Thats why there was speculation that the neutrality would happen.

I think it was more than just pure rumor, but of course, it still hasnt happened yet.

Doughboy

Yeah, not being able to sell off the SD-DVD version is a pain in the ass. It's not even about using the eBay money to subsidize the Blu-ray purchases(although given some of the BD prices, it wouldn't hurt). I just wanna gain back some shelf space. I've been able to do that with most of the HD-DVDs I've double-dipped on. The only SD-DVDs I may get rid of that I now own on Blu-ray are Fantastic Four and X-Men 3 since the main extras I'd be losing are deleted scenes.


I already gave up on holding out last month and got a PS3. The lack of HD-DVD announcements was pissing me off. I'd hoped they were waiting til CES to drop the hammer on Blu-ray, but looking back, I'm glad I didn't wait around before going format neutral.

And BTW, I don't plan on getting any PS3 games either(except for maybe Virtua Fighter 5), but I'm still very happy to have the system as my Blu-ray player. Aside from the lack of analog outs and a remote(which can be bought now for 25 bucks), it functions great for playing HD movies.

Nevi

I've never paid more than $25 for any particular BD title and that includes Sony new releases, Disney, and Fox... the higher MSRP ones.

I'm not into extras at all so I don't miss their exclusion but on that issue it's easier to understand why you're anti-BD. Certainly the PQ is there now. IMO it's the hardware prices on the BD side that aren't severly handicapping them right now. The PS3 is superb though as an alternative.

flashburn

$25 for a barebones release is too much, IMHO.

kvrdave

Happy I paid less than $400 for my HD-DVD player. Won't buy any other until they are around that price.

There is a bunch of NOTHING to be ecited about here.

Josh Z

As has been pointed out many times before, the primary buyers for the PS3 are gamers, who may or may not even own an HDTV, much less have any interest in buying Blu-ray movies.

Let's try this analogy. Does showing that 15 million regular DVD players were sold last year (made-up statistic) somehow prove that there's a huge market for tranny midget bestiality porn? After all, tranny midget bestiality porn DVDs can be watched on a DVD player. So can we realistically make the connection that 15 million new DVD player owners (plus all the existing owners) are automatically going to buy tranny midget bestiality porn DVDs? Maybe I'm way off about the market potential for tranny midget bestiality porn, but something makes me think not.

Vipper II

Agreed. I just don't understand what it is about Blu-Ray that prevents them from being able to make a $500 standalone player. I don't even care if it can't play CDs or can't decode the new audio formats (although, not being able to do so is a severe drawback). What about the technology murders the price so much?

Boogie76

Tranny midget bestiality porn is the sole reason I bought a dvd player.

Gizmo

LG has several movies/TV series that I would buy. Saw II and III, Dead Zone (TV), Weeds....where the hell is the HD-DVD announcements? After Clerks II and Pulse there is literally NOTHING that is coming out. Sad to say it, but I'm glad to have a BR player at the moment.

Samisking23

They have over 300 coming for 2007 so does it matter if they get a release date right now. I mean i am still catching up heck their are over 160 hd dvds and i only own 8 as of today. So they can take all the time they want , i could understand if u own all 167 that is frustrating ,but otherwise it is no biggy.

We also know that Universal and WB COMBINE have the largest catalouge, I mean Universal has all of ALFRED HITCHCOCK's Works and you know those wil be coming to HD DVD.


I am not worried that 2007 won't have hd dvd for release ,but i am more worried that i won't have enough money to buy all the great releases when they come.

candyrocket786

No fucking shit! Between Importing HD-DVDs, Buying US Releases and my Xbox 360..... this shit is starting to get expensive.

I love HD as much as the next guy, but I do not have the ultimate hard-on to watch it NOW! NOW! NOW!

If I did... I would own a BD/HD-DVD player and every single title (both US/Import).

I think everyone needs to relax and have a cookie.

The Bus

That's a bit unfair. Sure, Universal and WB together have the largest film library, but that doesn't mean anything. You have to do it either by studio (and I would guess WB would probably win that one) or by format (Blu-Ray, certainly).

If the great HD DVD releases are in 2009, then I could've waited until then. From promotional advertisement from the HD DVD group, they promised a big library of films. Up until about November, I was very happy with the progress being made. Then, announcements started drying up, despite rumors that LG and Disney would be switching over (with the former almost assured since it was from knowledgeable insiders). We were told, it's just around the corner, wait for CES.

Now, same thing was happening with Blu-Ray last year. No big announcements from Disney and Fox. I mean, c'mon, Dinosaur? Then we were told: wait for the big announcements, wait for CES.

Well, CES is here and one guess as to what side delivered on their promise. Mind you, there's still issues (lacking extras, etc). But at least there's movies.

BravesMG

HOLLYWOODLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At least that's what pops up on Amazon as the latest release. I didn't think it looked very good though.

Mr. Cinema

Casino Royale officially announced for March 13. Check out the specs in bold.

1080p BD-50, MPEG-4 AVC codec, PCM 5.1

features:
Becoming Bond -- An intimate look at how Daniel Craig stepped into the role of the 6th James Bond
Bond Girls Are Forever -- A closer look at Bond's Leading Ladies (standard-def)
Chris Cornell Music Video, "You Know My Name"

The Man Room also mentions that Open Season is the only BD-25 for Sony's Q1 releases. It also uses AVC. Looks like BD-25's will be coming to an end.

RockStrongo

Nice...definate pickup for me.

RockStrongo

Live coverage of BDA press conference is available at engadget (updates). It would have been nice for the hd-dvd press conf last night.

Mr. Cinema

Stranger Than Fiction also official for 2/27. PCM 5.1, BD-50 and these features:

Actors In Search of a Story featurette
Picking The Right Team featurette
On Location in Chicago featurette
Words on the Page featurette
Picture a Number featurette
On the Set featurette
Deleted Scenes

speedyray

Yeah for AVC over MPEG2. I may pick that up. If BD picks up the quality and adds features I may be very inclined to bulk up the BD library. I am still loving my 40+ HD-DVD, but that one lonely BD I have now may get a whole lot of company after all the BD announcements and the silence from the HD-DVD people. Wish BD would get pricing more in line with HD-DVD though.

RockStrongo

Well, in the war of the press conferences, BDA wins hands down. If this is a sign of things to come (and I hope it is not), then HD-DVD is slipping.

I hope that maybe they are holding their cards for tomorrow, but well see. Lionsgate and Disney were at the BDA press conference and dont seem to be changing their positions at this time (like previously rumored).

Id still like to hear from New Line and Dreamworks, but so far, im impressed with BD over HD-DVD for 2007.

Mok

Hmm that was nice coverage of Blu-Ray, I guess us HD-dvd folks don't have anything to look forward to