Posted on 02/19/2008 9:02:21 AM PST by Vigilanteman
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."
(Excerpt) Read more at toshiba.co.jp ...
Sorry, but you’re wrong about the PQ.
While good up conversion can look terrific, it isn’t the same as the real 1080p. I’ve A/B’d the same titles on Blu-ray (via PS3) and DVD (via a $1500 up converting DVD player) and the real HD is appreciably better, sharper and with better color.
Of course this doesn’t take away from the “Garbage in, garbage out” factor in which a good DVD could conceivably be better than a poor Blu-ray, but all things being equal the real high def will be better.
Up conversion’s a good way to watch DVD’s until they get released on BD, though, and for people (like my wife) for whom “ultimate” PQ isn’t the be-all and end-all.
cheers
Jim
Yeah, TV’s could have an integrated DVR, you might even have an option to download any new movies. A separate DVD or DVR would be unnecessary.
I actually LIKE the glorified picture frame concept of being able to put in a chip with hundreds of picturs cycling.
If the LARGE LCD screeds come down below $500 then they even become competative with artwork. Why buy a static painting for 500+? I can even change the chip (and hopefully chips) to match the party or celebration at the house. (kid pictures birthday, fourth of july, christmas etc.)
If the makers were SMART they would make a way to syncronize them all ala the Bill Gates Mansion.
Not entirely true. Most NEW DVD players will upconvert to 1080i but require an HDMI connection to do it though a few will do it over component links. There are also a few that will upconvert to 1080p but they tend to be very expensive.
The two formats perform about identically in displaying HD, but Blu-Ray, when used for data, has greater capacity.
The industry is anxious to eliminate optical disks in favor of broadband distribution. Completely network dependent. That's not feasible in my area. The best networking in town is far too slow. A network approach would allow a pay per view distribution with a license that lasts for a limited time. The studios and content providers would love to have a repeat revenue stream on the same title if they can pull it off.
LOL!
Do you know if the xbox360 hooked up via HDMI upconverts?
... Aeon Flux, ...
uggghhh... a chubby, rug-slug like Charlize Theron portraying stiletto-slender Aeon Flux on film?
casting heresy!
Weren't either of the Beckinsdale twins available?
Kate BECKINSALE does NOT have twin. Sorry folks!
Repeat. Same as you say. I just did not specifically mention the HDMI connector.
And what does this mean for those of us who like to burn movies that we record off video cameras, VCRs, tv input cards, etc, unto DVD? Will we now be able to burn our movies to blu-ray discs?
Huh?
Chubby?
:: rubs eyes ::
Huh?
I guess a better question to ask would be this: Will my DVD collection play on a blu-ray system?
I have 1080i TV . . . almost as good?
What's interesting was that while the Blu-ray duplication facilities in Japan wouldn't produce adult videos, Sony actually set up production lines in Taiwan (!!) so we could see adult videos on the Blu-ray format.
I do know since 2004 several of the larger adult video companies now film in 1080i and 720p high-definition formats using "prosumer" HD camcorders. Of course, it's not a cheap expense, since with HD quality they have to be a lot more careful in finding a good-looking adult video star and of course, makeup expenses are going to be way higher, too. That might explain why well-known adult film star Jenna Jameson retired to full-time directing of adult movies, since she didn't look "good" filmed on a HD format.
Does this mean that the new tv’s I got for Christmas with the built-in dvd players are not going to work with the blu-ray discs?
No, just keep using regular DVD’s.
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