HD-DVD Dead?

[Haxorsist]

Warner Bros have decided they'll only be publishing their movies in Blu-Ray. Previously they had backed both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD.

 

In addition to Apple, Warner Brothers is now going to throw its weight behind the Blu-ray format for high-definition disks. Warner has been the only major studio to publish its movies in both Blu-ray and HD DVD formats. Today, the studio announced that from now on, it would only issue movies in Blu-ray.

 

Until now, the war between the formats has seemed like a standoff. Of the big studios, Disney, Fox and Sony have backed Blu-ray. NBC Universal and Viacom back HD DVD.

 

Richard Greenfield, the media analyst with Pali Research, wrote that this marks the end of the format wars: “We expect HD DVD to ‘die’ a quick death.” He noted that NBC Universal has not committed to backing HD DVD exclusively. Viacom’s studios — Paramount and Dreamworks — have an exclusive deal with the backers of HD DVD, but Mr. Greenfield wonders if there is an escape clause.

 

Mr. Greenfield further wonders if consumers, on hearing this news, will return their Christmas HD DVD players and exchange them for Blu-ray devices. I’m not so sure that many people pay that close attention to Hollywood. But I certainly wouldn’t spend money on an HD DVD player until this all sorts out.

 

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/04/did-warner-brothers-just-kill-hd-dvd/index.html?hp

 

So does this mean that HD-DVD will die?

[Emperor]

Ironically I was thinking about getting an HD DVD for my Xbox yesterday.  This is the reason I have been delaying though.  Sucks because from what I read HDDVD is better than Blue Ray. 

[SinisterDeath]

Ironically I was thinking about getting an HD DVD for my Xbox yesterday.  This is the reason I have been delaying though.  Sucks because from what I read HDDVD is better than Blue Ray. 

 

HD-DVD is only 'superior' in two aspects.

1) Its Cheaper

2) It has more 'special feature' options. You know, gimmics.

 

Blu-Ray is the superior format, it has far more space. HDVD is 17GB per layer, Blu-Ray is 25GB per layer. (3 layer HD-DVD is 51GB, 2 layer Blu-Ray is 50GB, 3 layer BD is 75GB. It has a potential of something like, 8 layers, for a total of 200GB.

Now, this may not mean much, but it does mean, they can hold longer movies in HD format then the HD-DVD, and even if the movies only an hour long, it'll be able to hold the rest of the space full of extra features.

 

So, ultimately, BD can hold more data, which means higher quality film, and higher quality sound.

 

 

Btw,

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8490689&st=blu-ray&type=product&id=1186003684236

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8403514&st=blu-ray&type=product&id=1180743330749

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8463129&st=playstation+3&type=product&id=1184768163607

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=7964601

 

vs

 

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8494435&st=hd-dvd&type=product&id=1186003898783

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8494499&st=hd-dvd&type=product&id=1186003898849

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8567758&st=hd-dvd&type=product&id=1188562590629

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8490689&st=hd-dvd&type=product&id=1186003684236

 

The only difference between them is about $100, and every day they are becoming cheaper to produce, so in the coming months, the price gap will close.

Just remember, only 3 months ago, HD-dvd was $200-300 cheaper then Blu-ray which was around $600-900.

(Ps3 still = best value BD player out there, ;) )

[Shendare]

Yeah, I plan on making a home entertainment investment in the summertime, and it will most likely include a PS3 as a Blu-Ray player and potential gaming system (I haven't played a Final Fantasy game since FF8!).

 

If I get everything else (HDTV, surround sound, HD A/V switcher, PS3, and HD cable/sat receiver) and still feel like I can spend a little more, I may end up getting an XBOX360 with HD-DVD attachment, with maybe Halo 3 and Mass Effect.

[Sorandha]

All I can say is I hope this is all sorted out for certain (which I doubt it will be) in two more years when I graduate. I can't afford either option so all I can do is sit on the sidelines and watch. But I do plan to upgrade to one of the two when I get some real money.

 

I also hope the pixel ratio for Blu-ray isn't too much of a headache, as I would have to format my demo reel to fit it (just in case my future employer wants to see it in a format more recent than SDTV)

 

Just curious, anyone happen to know the pixel format? Is it the same as HD?

[SinisterDeath]

All I can say is I hope this is all sorted out for certain (which I doubt it will be) in two more years when I graduate. I can't afford either option so all I can do is sit on the sidelines and watch. But I do plan to upgrade to one of the two when I get some real money.

 

I also hope the pixel ratio for Blu-ray isn't too much of a headache, as I would have to format my demo reel to fit it (just in case my future employer wants to see it in a format more recent than SDTV)

 

Just curious, anyone happen to know the pixel format? Is it the same as HD?

 

Uhh, both HD-DVD, and Blu-Ray use

480p

720p

1080p.

Its standardized due to you know, HDTVs... 480p = SDTV ratio.

[Sorandha]

Thanks Sin. Wasn't sure if there was a difference.

[Silver]

See, I don't really care cause I don't even have an HDTV...

 

 

edit: though I don't like BLu-ray because it's from Sony. Can't stand Sony... :P

[Haxorsist]

Looks like Microsoft could consider Blu-Ray for Xbox.

 

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Xbox video gaming unit still fully backs Toshiba Corp's (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research) HD-DVD high-definition DVD format but could consider supporting Sony Corp's (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) rival Blu-ray technology should consumers want it, an executive said on Tuesday.

 

"It should be consumer choice; and if that's the way they vote, that's something we'll have to consider," Albert Penello, group marketing manager for Xbox hardware said when asked whether Microsoft would support a Blu-ray DVD accessory in the event that HD-DVD failed.

 

Microsoft does not believe the surprise decision last week by Time Warner Inc (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) unit Warner Bros, the top seller of home movies, to abandon HD-DVD format in favor of Blu-ray should affect sales of its Xbox 360 video game console, Penello said.

 

"I fundamentally don't think ... this has a significant impact on Xbox 360 versus (Sony's) PlayStation 3," Penello told Reuters in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

 

"With the PlayStation 2, DVD was a big part in the beginning, but over time, people were not buying it as a DVD player after first year or two," Penello said.

 

The Xbox 360 supports a plug-in HD-DVD accessory that is bought separately, while Sony, hoping to give its next-generation video format a leg up, built a Blu-ray player into its PlayStation 3 machine.

 

"You can't say it's not a bummer, not a setback, but I've seen this battle declared over so many times," Penello said of Warner's decision.

 

"I want consumers to have a voice in this and I think there are a lot of consumers who bought HD-DVD who are going to have a say in how this shakes out."

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0851332620080108

 

 

If I can get Blu-Ray support for my Xbox free of charge I'd be cool with it.

[SinisterDeath]

Looks like Microsoft could consider Blu-Ray for Xbox.

 

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp's (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Xbox video gaming unit still fully backs Toshiba Corp's (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research) HD-DVD high-definition DVD format but could consider supporting Sony Corp's (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) rival Blu-ray technology should consumers want it, an executive said on Tuesday.

 

"It should be consumer choice; and if that's the way they vote, that's something we'll have to consider," Albert Penello, group marketing manager for Xbox hardware said when asked whether Microsoft would support a Blu-ray DVD accessory in the event that HD-DVD failed.

 

Microsoft does not believe the surprise decision last week by Time Warner Inc (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) unit Warner Bros, the top seller of home movies, to abandon HD-DVD format in favor of Blu-ray should affect sales of its Xbox 360 video game console, Penello said.

 

"I fundamentally don't think ... this has a significant impact on Xbox 360 versus (Sony's) PlayStation 3," Penello told Reuters in an interview at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

 

"With the PlayStation 2, DVD was a big part in the beginning, but over time, people were not buying it as a DVD player after first year or two," Penello said.

 

The Xbox 360 supports a plug-in HD-DVD accessory that is bought separately, while Sony, hoping to give its next-generation video format a leg up, built a Blu-ray player into its PlayStation 3 machine.

 

"You can't say it's not a bummer, not a setback, but I've seen this battle declared over so many times," Penello said of Warner's decision.

 

"I want consumers to have a voice in this and I think there are a lot of consumers who bought HD-DVD who are going to have a say in how this shakes out."

 

http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0851332620080108

 

 

If I can get Blu-Ray support for my Xbox free of charge I'd be cool with it.

 

Free? Doubtfull, I highly doubt they can, or even legally make an HD-DVD drive read blu-ray. (Though, it is possible, for a dvd player to read blu-ray with hacks.... & it involves basically alot of 'streaming' to play 'catchup'..

 

Anyways, if anything and they do allow the blu-ray add-on. And if microsoft backs it, they'll probably fund the reduction in the price of the blu-ray unit, which would intern... Dun dun dun, reduce the price in the ps3. ;)

 

If microsoft backs blu-ray, at least via add-ons, It would be a victory for blu-ray, and the ps3. ;)

[Emperor]

In a shot that might just decide the format wars once and for all, the Financial Times is reporting that Paramount pictures is "poised to reveal" it will be releasing its films only on Blu Ray.

 

"But I thought Paramount made a $150 Million HD DVD deal!"

 

They did... but apparently, the company had a clause that allowed them to back out of the deal if Warner Brothers wouldn't back the new format. That happened Friday.

 

Blu-ray is currently backed by 20th Century Fox, MGM, Walt Disney, and most recently Warner Bros.; if Paramount jumps ship, Universal will be left as the biggest HD DVD backer.

 

There's controversy of course. Bloomberg's is reporting that Paramount told them that "Paramount's current plan is to continue supporting the HD-DVD format."

 

[Segurant]

I'm glad I didn't get the HD DVD player for the 360 as it seems Blu-Ray won.