HD DVD is near death... All articles, rumors, etc. HERE
02-19-08 | 12:36 AM
#376
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From: Puyallup, WA
Originally Posted by TheV
I don't quite understand why anyone would necessarily be anti-Blu-Ray, or anti-anything. As a HD-DVD owner I'm not really upset that it appears that everyone is abandoning the format. It's not like suddenly all the HD-DVDs stop working, they look just as good as the Blu-Ray versions, and now there is a great possibility of getting a lot for cheap. I don't see HD-DVD players being too hard to find replacements either. (How hard is it to get a Laserdisc player...tons on ebay.)
When there is a Blu-Ray Player that can be hacked to play region-free, HD-DVD (not to mention all the other formats) and play upconverted SD-DVD then I might bite. Until then I'm happy with all the films I can already get in HD and upconvert the others which is still cheaper.
And a new format is not too far off, so how long is Blu-Ray's reign really going to last anyway? I think it's nuts that people get wrapped up in how your entertainment is delivered.
When there is a Blu-Ray Player that can be hacked to play region-free, HD-DVD (not to mention all the other formats) and play upconverted SD-DVD then I might bite. Until then I'm happy with all the films I can already get in HD and upconvert the others which is still cheaper.
And a new format is not too far off, so how long is Blu-Ray's reign really going to last anyway? I think it's nuts that people get wrapped up in how your entertainment is delivered.
A new format is 7-8 years at least away. Bandwidth, etc., play a part in any Hi-Def coming via the internet. So BD has a lot of time to make hay. I think it's nuts for people to poo poo BDs possibilities.
02-19-08 | 12:42 AM
#377
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From: Los Angeles,CA, U.S.A.
Originally Posted by GizmoDVD
Take a look in this very thread. There has already been 2 people (more?) that have said they want nothing to do with Blu-ray and will go back to SD until Blu-ray gets up to snuff, if even then. Some people simply do not like Sony.
Granted the PS3 is up to specs at an arguably reasonable price, however most of the standalones are pricier and most of them have yet to deliver on ethernet and PiP at an affordable price if at all.
And no, i'm not flaming so I'd appreciate if someone doesn't accuse me of doing so. It's just a valid question which quite frankly mystifies me. To me it's almost like the whole VHS VS BETA where people chose the format with inferior picture but went with the cheap price. With Blu-Ray, you don't even have the bargain price!
And as far as upconverting, I find that HD-DVD does that much better than the PS3 as well.
So frankly I'm stumped. In fact one of the many reasons I chose HD-DVD over Blu-Ray was on account of the people here swearing it was the superior format. Which I found to be so. Now suddenly all you see here are crowing and HD-DVD deprecating Blu-Ray owners and most everyone else who just want the format war to end, regardless of who wins. And any Blu-Ray deprecating HD-DVD people are warned by moderators to shut up.
Last edited by whomod; 02-19-08 at 12:46 AM.
02-19-08 | 12:44 AM
#378
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From: La La Land
Originally Posted by theflyingdutch
A new format is 7-8 years at least away. Bandwidth, etc., play a part in any Hi-Def coming via the internet. So BD has a lot of time to make hay. I think it's nuts for people to poo poo BDs possibilities.
Reality is that no matter what you have today, it won't be good enough for tomorrow's future. What is also true is that what I enjoy today will still be enjoyable tomorrow. Just because it's old tech doesn't suddenly make it poo poo.
02-19-08 | 12:47 AM
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Originally Posted by DVD Polizei
You just want to set off your fireworks. Admit it.
02-19-08 | 12:49 AM
#380
Originally Posted by TheV
Well...even if Blu-Ray discs can store the 1400+ dpi HD that's coming in the not-too-distant future, the players cannot. So everyone will be buying the new players. That would most likely be the 2nd players for those Blu-Ray owners who bought 1.0 versions and upgraded to 2.0.
I posted a while ago about a competing HD format coming along. I said back then, the media and the player would have to be amazingly cheap, so the studios would be forced to look at it because it would give them such a higher profit margin. This is about the only way a new HD format would give Blu-ray a choking spasm.
Even so, you'd have to think about Blu-ray's penetration into the consumer household. Right now you have NME's HD VMD system, which is an HD player and has HD movies. I haven't taken a long look at it, but something like this but has even lower prices--the HD VMD discs are almost as much as regular HD discs (and since there are promos, they are more expensive overall with few titles).
So, in the future, we would need to see something rather amazing happen in HD Land for Blu-ray to even have an honorable competition. And given advertising power at this point, this would be another obstacle for a new HD format.
Last edited by DVD Polizei; 02-19-08 at 12:51 AM.
02-19-08 | 12:51 AM
#381
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From: La La Land
Originally Posted by whomod
And that's a very valid point that I for the life of cannot understand. Why on Earth all the hard-core Blu ray advocates are so rah rah about a format that isn't up to snuff yet?
And that it appears that BD get recalled a lot reminds me of DVD at the beginning. Too many players/discs in beta...new, better version out in a couple years. None of this has changed my personal opinion of waiting on BD to work out the kinks. (And don't forget that I expect a new higher-res in 4 years or so.)
02-19-08 | 01:12 AM
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From: Los Angeles,CA, U.S.A.
Originally Posted by TheV
The upconverted SD vs. Blu-ray/HD-DVD really shocked me. Some of the Criterion discs look amazing upconverted. I was all ready to start double-dipping until I really tested that.
And that it appears that BD get recalled a lot reminds me of DVD at the beginning. Too many players/discs in beta...new, better version out in a couple years. None of this has changed my personal opinion of waiting on BD to work out the kinks. (And don't forget that I expect a new higher-res in 4 years or so.)
And that it appears that BD get recalled a lot reminds me of DVD at the beginning. Too many players/discs in beta...new, better version out in a couple years. None of this has changed my personal opinion of waiting on BD to work out the kinks. (And don't forget that I expect a new higher-res in 4 years or so.)
I was actually thinking that a new higher rez is inevitable. Do you think "in a few years" though??
As far as upconversion, I was watching the latest LOST set in SD. It looked so fantastic that my wife thought It was HD. In fact it almost did. Simply stunning. Which of course raises the point of SD upconversion being "good enough" for most people. Honestly, I hope not. But as with VHS, the masses like cheap prices.
And as far as working out the kinks. That was something I appreciated about Toshiba. Their commitment to firmware upgrades. Which isn't unheard of on Blu-Ray as I recently uploaded a firmware for my nephew's PS3 using my cable connection. But there again, that is the exception with Blu-Ray rather than the rule.
So hopefully ..i dunoo.. Toshiba starts making some killler Blu-Ray players that rival their HD-DVD standalones. Or the version 2.0's start coming out at decent prices. Because right now the ONLY player that catches my eye is the PS3.
Last edited by whomod; 02-19-08 at 01:28 AM.
02-19-08 | 01:58 AM
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From: New York
Originally Posted by dman988
5!
(will I be banned if I keep this up?
)
(will I be banned if I keep this up?
)p.s.
I'm sure after Toshiba announces they lost and will no longer produce HD-DVD that the hd supporters will STILL spin this.
Get ready for the "well it's a great upconverter..."
My PS3 is a GREAT High Definition Disc (that they actually still make discs for) Player.
Last edited by DarthScooby; 02-19-08 at 02:01 AM.
02-19-08 | 02:01 AM
#388
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From: A far green country
According to engadget, the announcement just hit the wire. It's over.
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2008_02/pr1903.htm
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2008_02/pr1903.htm
Toshiba Announces Discontinuation of HD DVD Businesses
19 February, 2008
Company Remains Focused on Championing Consumer Access to High Definition Content
TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the market. Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.
HD DVD was developed to offer consumers access at an affordable price to high-quality, high definition content and prepare them for the digital convergence of tomorrow where the fusion of consumer electronics and IT will continue to progress.
"We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called 'next-generation format war' and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop," said Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation. "While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality."
Toshiba will continue to lead innovation, in a wide range of technologies that will drive mass market access to high definition content. These include high capacity NAND flash memory, small form factor hard disk drives, next generation CPUs, visual processing, and wireless and encryption technologies. The company expects to make forthcoming announcements around strategic progress in these convergence technologies.
Toshiba will begin to reduce shipments of HD DVD players and recorders to retail channels, aiming for cessation of these businesses by the end of March 2008. Toshiba also plans to end volume production of HD DVD disk drives for such applications as PCs and games in the same timeframe, yet will continue to make efforts to meet customer requirements. The company will continue to assess the position of notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives within the overall PC business relative to future market demand.
This decision will not impact on Toshiba's commitment to standard DVD, and the company will continue to market conventional DVD players and recorders. Toshiba intends to continue to contribute to the development of the DVD industry, as a member of the DVD Forum, an international organization with some 200 member companies, committed to the discussion and defining of optimum optical disc formats for the consumer and the related industries.
Toshiba also intends to maintain collaborative relations with the companies who joined with Toshiba in working to build up the HD DVD market, including Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation and major Japanese and European content providers on the entertainment side, as well as leaders in the IT industry, including Microsoft, Intel, and HP. Toshiba will study possible collaboration with these companies for future business opportunities, utilizing the many assets generated through the development of HD DVD.
19 February, 2008
Company Remains Focused on Championing Consumer Access to High Definition Content
TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the market. Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.
HD DVD was developed to offer consumers access at an affordable price to high-quality, high definition content and prepare them for the digital convergence of tomorrow where the fusion of consumer electronics and IT will continue to progress.
"We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called 'next-generation format war' and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop," said Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation. "While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality."
Toshiba will continue to lead innovation, in a wide range of technologies that will drive mass market access to high definition content. These include high capacity NAND flash memory, small form factor hard disk drives, next generation CPUs, visual processing, and wireless and encryption technologies. The company expects to make forthcoming announcements around strategic progress in these convergence technologies.
Toshiba will begin to reduce shipments of HD DVD players and recorders to retail channels, aiming for cessation of these businesses by the end of March 2008. Toshiba also plans to end volume production of HD DVD disk drives for such applications as PCs and games in the same timeframe, yet will continue to make efforts to meet customer requirements. The company will continue to assess the position of notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives within the overall PC business relative to future market demand.
This decision will not impact on Toshiba's commitment to standard DVD, and the company will continue to market conventional DVD players and recorders. Toshiba intends to continue to contribute to the development of the DVD industry, as a member of the DVD Forum, an international organization with some 200 member companies, committed to the discussion and defining of optimum optical disc formats for the consumer and the related industries.
Toshiba also intends to maintain collaborative relations with the companies who joined with Toshiba in working to build up the HD DVD market, including Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation and major Japanese and European content providers on the entertainment side, as well as leaders in the IT industry, including Microsoft, Intel, and HP. Toshiba will study possible collaboration with these companies for future business opportunities, utilizing the many assets generated through the development of HD DVD.
Last edited by RoboDad; 02-19-08 at 02:03 AM.
02-19-08 | 02:11 AM
#396
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I feel bad for Toshiba and it's stockholders now. I never had any strong feelings against HD-DVD. My friend had it and they played fine (I prefer Blu but still).
There has to be a loser, so better Toshiba than Sony, but still.
I sincerely wish them the best of luck in future endeavors and things of the sort.
There has to be a loser, so better Toshiba than Sony, but still.
I sincerely wish them the best of luck in future endeavors and things of the sort.
02-19-08 | 02:25 AM
#397
Wouldn't the studios be warned well ahead of time from Toshiba that they will be dropping HD-DVD?
And yet Paramount still goes ahead and announces new releases to come out in April.
Paramount better keep their word.
And yet Paramount still goes ahead and announces new releases to come out in April.
Paramount better keep their word.
02-19-08 | 02:27 AM
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Originally Posted by PopcornTreeCt
Wouldn't the studios be warned well ahead of time from Toshiba that they will be dropping HD-DVD?
It would be very funny to see Paramount release all their upcoming films in HD, as announced. I think they'll can them.