HD-DVD is Dead (was: First Signs of Blu-Ray Dominance)

[werk]

I think it's about controlling the channels that sell discs, you can't maximize profits if you have an opposing format. Remember America is a capitalist country and that means profit is what is important not compatibility.

Well...if you want to think of it that way...Sony, Toshiba, NEC are Japanese companies and Blu-Ray was developed by a consortium of corps mostly based in America like Apple, Dell, Sun, but also Hitatchi, Pioneer, LG, etc... So we're talking about mostly international players in a global competition...it's not really about America.

I think HD DVD will win out simply because the term DVD is in it's title, and is owned by Sony, just like CD is. Sony is incredible at making media formats, but terrible at selling them, so it really could go either way depending on how well they put it out there.

 

[Rackhir]

Well...if you want to think of it that way...Sony, Toshiba, NEC are Japanese companies and Blu-Ray was developed by a consortium of corps mostly based in America like Apple, Dell, Sun, but also Hitatchi, Pioneer, LG, etc... So we're talking about mostly international players in a global competition...it's not really about America.

I think HD DVD will win out simply because the term DVD is in it's title, and is owned by Sony, just like CD is. Sony is incredible at making media formats, but terrible at selling them, so it really could go either way depending on how well they put it out there.

Er. Just about everything you put in this post is incorrect.

Sony developed Blu-Ray (not HD-DVD), thus it's use in the PS3. They have attempted to promulgate it as a standard akin to that for DVD or CDs. So there are a number of other companies that have "signed on" to the standard, such as Apple (though they have not actually released any Blu-Ray hardware for some reason).

HD-DVD was developed by Toshiba (who owns a lot of the patents related to DVDs). So basically you have two Japanese companies warring over the standard (So you are right at least in it having nothing to do with America). Their offering was adopted by the DVD standards body as the "high def" sequel to DVD. But the DVD portion of the name has proven to have exactly zero influence on consumers, who largely seem baffled, clueless or simply uninterested in the Hi-Def formats.

Neither Sony nor Toshiba owns the CD format, its a standard which is independent of any one company. As is DVD. The CD standard was developed in a collaboration between Philips and Sony though. Patent income has played a large roll in fueling the hi-def format war, as there are fees involved in licensing the patents necessary for any of the standards. This income is the main reason why Sony and Toshiba have been fighting this war.

 

[werk]

Er. Just about everything you put in this post is incorrect.

Sony developed Blu-Ray (not HD-DVD), thus it's use in the PS3. They have attempted to promulgate it as a standard akin to that for DVD or CDs. So there are a number of other companies that have "signed on" to the standard, such as Apple (though they have not actually released any Blu-Ray hardware for some reason).

HD-DVD was developed by Toshiba (who owns a lot of the patents related to DVDs). So basically you have two Japanese companies warring over the standard (So you are right at least in it having nothing to do with America). Their offering was adopted by the DVD standards body as the "high def" sequel to DVD. But the DVD portion of the name has proven to have exactly zero influence on consumers, who largely seem baffled, clueless or simply uninterested in the Hi-Def formats.

Neither Sony nor Toshiba owns the CD format, its a standard which is independent of any one company. As is DVD. The CD standard was developed in a collaboration between Philips and Sony though. Patent income has played a large roll in fueling the hi-def format war, as there are fees involved in licensing the patents necessary for any of the standards. This income is the main reason why Sony and Toshiba have been fighting this war.

Sources?




Haha, just kidding.

 

[John Crichton]

And now Netflix has dropped HD-DVD and Best Buy is going to recommend and showcase BR in stores but still stock HD-DVD.

http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/080211/20080211006384.html?.v=1

http://netflix.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=265

 

[Man in the Funny Hat]

According to news this morning Walmart is dropping HD-DVD players for only Blu-ray. Target already decided to do so. Blu-ray is favored by Blockbuster, Netflix, Best Buy, 5 major movie studios...

I think the format war is all over except for the shouting. While HD is not yet completely dead it's only because the ink is not yet dry on the death certificate.

 

[John Crichton]

According to news this morning Walmart is dropping HD-DVD players for only Blu-ray. Target already decided to do so. Blu-ray is favored by Blockbuster, Netflix, Best Buy, 5 major movie studios...

I think the format war is all over except for the shouting. While HD is not yet completely dead it's only because the ink is not yet dry on the death certificate.

Yeah, this was another shot on the way down for HD-DVD. And if this is to be belived, Toshiba is about to drop out of HD-DVD. That is a huge deal, too.

With any luck, we'll have one format only by the holiday shopping season. That would be great. This is supposed to be huge year for HD media in general.

 

[ssampier]

Poor HD-DVD. For me this is the year of the high definition TV. Everything is going digital why not? I think I'll wait for a few years for a high-def player; I think the upscale converters will work for me.

I realize that digital does not mean high def, nor does that mean I have to get rid of my analog tv. It's just something I have been waiting on.

 

[John Crichton]

Poor HD-DVD. For me this is the year of the high definition TV. Everything is going digital why not? I think I'll wait for a few years for a high-def player; I think the upscale converters will work for me.

I realize that digital does not mean high def, nor does that mean I have to get rid of my analog tv. It's just something I have been waiting on.

What size are you looking at?

Upconverting DVDs was working great on my 32" HDTV for a while. Once we got the 50" 1080p it just didn't do the trick anymore.

 

[ssampier]

Nothing that big; 32 inches at most. We have 27" CRT in the living room and a 19" in the bedroom.

 

[John Crichton]

Nothing that big; 32 inches at most. We have 27" CRT in the living room and a 19" in the bedroom.

Ah. You don't even need 1080p at that size. Is it a small space?