Some good news here.

"High-def DVD grows at faster pace than standard"

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6525812.html

"High-definition DVD player sales during the fourth quarter spiked well above standard DVD at the comparable point in the earlier format’s life cycle.

Price-driven promotions are the main reason for high-def’s steeper growth curve, according to Paul Erickson, DisplaySearch director of DVD and HD Market Research."

Anyone looking for this title should check out ebay - I just finished winning an auction for $12 shipped.

Wish the amount of releases would start to catch up to DVDs pace.

"Good news" :lol:

I'm glad to hear that the new format is "growing" faster than the one in place for over a decade.

Well Josh it says "comparable point" in the earlier format's life cycle. Although I'm not really sure how you could compare the two lifecycles.

DVD supplanted VHS, a format which had also been around 10+ years at the time, because it offered higher quality, better pricing, convenience and was generally "sexier" than VHS.

While HDM obviously trumps DVD on quality, it can never compete on pricing, has the same to probably less convenience (firmware anyone?), and is the same general size as DVD.

IMO it will be the big wave of HDTV buyers in the next few years that will make or break HDM. Many people want to "justify" their HDTV purchase, and buying HD content is a great way to do that. That's why I think it's a great idea to bundle players with displays. You almost guarantee the buyer will walk out with at least a few HD movies, and from there they may just keep buying if they feel committed to the format.

This from gamespot:

Woolies goes Blu-ray exclusive


The latest update in the Blu-ray versus HD DVD battle is that UK high street chain Woolworths has decided to back the Blu-ray format exclusively.

According to a statement released by the retailer, its decision came after Blu-ray movies outsold HD DVDs over the Christmas period by 10 to one.

From March, HD DVDs will be dropped from stores, although they will still be available to order from the company's Web site. All 820 stores across the country will be getting the Blu-ray chart discs, and bigger stores will also have a back catalogue section.

Woolworths also says that sales of the new hi-def movies are sky-rocketing, with sales rising on average over 40 percent a month. Steven McGunigel puts the success of the Blu-ray format down to its being included in the PlayStation 3. He said, "Sales figures clearly show that the market is moving towards one format of high definition DVD. The main reason is the success of Sony's PS3 machine. Because it plays Blu-ray discs, there are over 750,000 homes in the UK that can view the new high definition format. There is nowhere near that number of HD DVD players around."

http://uk.gamespot.com/news/show_blo...stnews;title;1

Since I've yet to see mention of it anywhere, I take it the rumored PS3 price drop didn't happen today? Booo.

Did you miss read Josh? It says it is compared to when DVD was first starting out. I think it is a good sign.

Sadly, I believe that you are right. :(

However, I have to agree with chanster, how one defines a comparable point is up for debate. There is also the fact that people have become more accustomed to digital media, the growth of the home theater industry, etc.

Didn't Woolworth's go out of business a few years ago. :confused:

The American arm did, but the British spinoff (along with chains in a few other countries) is still thriving.

Woolworth's = Venator Group = Footlocker, Inc.

In the U.S., yes, but not overseas.

Ugh, floating head box art for No Country for Old Men...

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/sh...y_Box_Art/1405

Looks terrible.

If they're going to do the floating heads, why can't they at least match the actors' names with their heads?

i agree wholeheartedly.

in contrast, the box art for the Golden Compass is wonderful. no actor's faces, no actor names in a font almost as big as the title, no inane critical quotes, and no tacked-on blu-ray/hi-def marketing garbage.

they cant even get the peoples faces in the correct order of marquee'd.. lol

If this wins Best Picture, you know the coverart will change so maybe they will wake up and put something nice together.

You're right. Here's the preview:

I had wondered this for a long time but I finally found the answer: it has to do with the actor's agreement when they advertise his/her face. Tommy Lee Jones is the biggest name so he goes first.

Now the question is why can't they change the faces around to match the names.

Is Woolworths like the Walmart of UK?

Wasn't Woolworths the ones who coined the "Customer is ALWAYS right" phrase? They suck.

no, woolies has gone downhill badly in the uk and is more of a highstreet poor person's department store. normally it's situated somewhere near the pound stores. the nearest equivalent to walmart over here are probably the supermarkets, asda (now owned by walmart), sainsbury's, and tesco.

I heard that TG&Y is going Blu too.