Pinging the HDTV list..
Posted on 01/05/2008 7:24:48 AM PST by Las Vegas Dave
Why did Warner shed its neutrality and endorse Blu-ray?
As I said in my prediction last month, the studios have grown increasingly frustrated with the lagging sales of both high-def DVD players and discs. Confused by the format war, consumers have decided not to embrace the new high-def disc category.
Consequently, Warner decided that the only way to boost sales was to endorse one format over another -- and bring this war to a quick end.
And with four major studios already backing Blu-ray, it was an easy decision to choose Blu-ray. The Warner endorsement now gives Blu-ray a huge advantage over HD DVD.
The question now is: Will other studios follow suit and join Warner in endorsing Blu-ray.
And will Toshiba and Microsoft, the leading backers of the HD DVD format, take this battle to its last drop?
Toshiba issued this comment this evening in response to Warner's decision:
"Toshiba is quite surprised by Warner Bros.' decision to abandon HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray, despite the fact that there are various contracts in place between our companies concerning the support of HD DVD. As central members of the DVD Forum, we have long maintained a close partnership with Warner Bros. We worked closely together to help standardize the first-generation DVD format as well as to define and shape HD DVD as its next-generation successor.
We were particularly disappointed that this decision was made in spite of the significant momentum HD DVD has gained in the US market as well as other regions in 2007. HD DVD players and PCs have outsold Blu-ray in the US market in 2007.
We will assess the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluate potential next steps. We remain firm in our belief that HD DVD is the format best suited to the wants and needs of the consumer."
Pinging the HDTV list..
I have neither, is there really a difference?
No difference in picture quality. Is that what you meant?
Can you explain the difference between the two?
Both HD picture qualities are nearly equal, per Consumer Reports studies.
I think they’re shooting themselves with this. I’d bet that people like me will sit it out and wait for whichever format comes out ahead. Just like the VHS/BETA thing... I waited until one of them died out before I bought.
I know that the HD DVD's will not play on my old DVD player. I've got a John Wayne HD DVD that is just sitting there with not an eyeball in it's future without a HDDVD player.
I think I’m probably a year out from making a selection on this. If you pick wrong you are left with an expensive paper weight.
Re Blu Ray, you can't play Blu Ray on a standard DVD player, so I guess the reverse is also true.
Well I guess that explains the sale on the HD DVD player, I bought my husband for Christmas.
No, both Blu-ray and HD-DVD players play standard DVDs just fine - and actually upscale them so that they look better than on regular players.
This makes paying $400 for a playstation3 the steal of 2007. Thanks Sony.
Yes, and the players will upconvert older DVD's to 1080i or in some models 1080p, but the quality will not be equal to either HD DVD format.
“yeah, I’m in the fog about this one. Can I play my old DVD’s on Blue Ray or HD DVD players.
I know that the HD DVD’s will not play on my old DVD player. I’ve got a John Wayne HD DVD that is just sitting there with not an eyeball in it’s future without a HDDVD player.”
Yes you can play old DVDs on either.
The claims of HD DVD players selling better are specious, as they don’t include the PS3 (has a Blu Ray player), which has vastly outsold the HD DVD players.
Also, Blockbuster says Blu-ray out-rents HD DVD by more than 2 to 1. Blockbuster is moving exclusively to Blu-ray.
The picture quality of PS3/Blu-ray and our 63” Mitsubishi TV is great!
It appears to me that the computer/software industry supports one, while the movie industry supports the other. So my hunch is that one is more conducive to write/rewrite applications while the other is more conducive to encryption. Backwards compatibility issues with DVD writers might be a concern for the computer/software industry too.
These are just hunches.
Blu-Ray can hold twice as much data, and deliver that data at a higher data rate.
This allows more room for lossless audio, special features, and the highest data rate encoding (improved motion, color, etc.), however, because of the two competing formats, movies released on both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD have tended to hold themselves to the lowest common denominator.
With this announcement, which pretty much ends the HD format war, that may no longer be an issue and we ought to see more Blu-Ray titles using the additional space and speed.
Me too.
“will Toshiba and Microsoft, the leading backers of the HD DVD format, take this battle to its last drop?” (and wasn’t Bill Gates at CES?)
BOOST FOR BLU-RAY!
Warner Bros Will Release High-Def Titles Exclusively In That Format
Deadline Hollywood Daily | 1/4/08 | Nikki Finke
Posted on 01/04/2008 4:20:53 PM EST by Yossarian
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1948421/posts
Warner goes Blu-ray exclusive
Engadget | Jan 4th 2008 3:47PM | Darren Murph
Posted on 01/04/2008 4:22:21 PM EST by ECM
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1948422/posts
I bought a Toshiba HD-A2 four weeks before the $98 Wal-Mart special, I thought $195 was a good price when I bought.
It will be interesting to see what Toshiba says in the next few weeks.
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