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Diploid
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Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War
#7847236 - 01/08/08 10:01 AM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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Up to 20 firms backing HD-DVD consider defection after Warner opted for Blu-Ray and Paramount is poised to follow Leo Lewis, Asia Business Correspondent
The sprawling consortium of technology and media companies assembled to promote the HD-DVD format of next-generation high definition discs faces a spate of defections to the rival Blu-Ray Disc consortium.
As many as 20 companies currently part of the HD-DVD Promotion Group could be preparing to remove their names from the alliance’s 130-strong membership list, The Times has learned.
Paramount yesterday emerged as the latest major Hollywood studio poised to switch allegiances.
Despite the huge armies of technology companies ranged against each other in the format showdown, Paramount has turned out to be a pivotal figure. Its decision in August to give exclusive backing to HD-DVD was seen as a potentially devastating blow to the prospects of Blu-Ray, and to the strategy of Sony’s president, Sir Howard Stringer.
Sir Howard consistently argued, though, that the Playstation3 games console, which includes a Blu-Ray disc player, would put the format in people’s living rooms around the world more quickly than HD-DVD players would be adopted by consumers. But Paramount, like other members of the HD-DVD group such as Fujitsu, Lenovo and Kenwood, has hedged its bets. It offered exclusivity in August on the basis that it could reverse the decision should Warner Bros switch to Blu-Ray.
The threatened exodus from the HD-DVD format follows last week’s decision by Warner Bros to back the rival Blu-Ray Disc format, whose main technology backers include Sony, Apple and Dell.
One Tokyo-based analyst said that the defections could represent the final nails in the coffin of Toshiba’s HD-DVD standard after a bitterly-fought “format war” that has run for a little over one year.
Eiichi Katayama, of Nomura Securities, said that the battle between the formats, which display films and video games more sharply in an era of ever-growing television screen sizes, was now “entering its final phase”.
Pony Canyon, a major Japanese music, animation and film studio and part of the giant Fuji Television media empire, said that although it was currently part of the HD-DVD Promotion Group, the decisions of US studios meant it would “choose Blu-Ray in the end”.
Several other Japanese firms – including content producers and electronics component makers – said that their support of HD DVD was “under review” and that they knew of many others in the same position. Others, who admitted that they had previously been waiting for “clear market momentum”, said that it had now probably arrived.
Backers of HD-DVD point to the relative ease of producing the discs, and the lower cost of building machines capable of reading them. Unlike previous format wars, particularly the notorious Betamax v VHS skirmish in the 1980s, the war between Blu-Ray and HD-DVD has effectively been decided in boardrooms, rather than electronics showrooms. The decisions of the major studios have come well before those of customers, who have generally held back from picking one format for fear of backing a loser.
Facing a future with only Universal Pictures as its major Hollywood supporter, Toshiba and HD-DVD, said analysts at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, could quickly find itself isolated. But HD-DVD does retain a few potential trump-cards, most notably Microsoft. It is the presence of Microsoft on HD-DVD’s list of supporters, say many of the promotion group, that preserves hope that the format could yet prevail.
timesonline.co.uk
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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robbyberto
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: Diploid]
#7847294 - 01/08/08 10:27 AM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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From what I understand, it could have gone either way. This decision makes me angry because HD-DVD is a finalized format, it's cheaper to manufacturer discs for, and doesn't have 20 extra gigabytes of space that are entirely unnecessary. Apparently it lost because of a lack of region encoding, a plus in my opinion. Basically, this decision is bullshit and Fox screwed everyone who invested in HD-DVD technology over.
-------------------- “People say having kids is life changing, well that doesn’t necessarily mean a good thing, does it? I could take one of my legs off. That would change my life.” -Karl Pilkington
Edited by robbyberto (01/08/08 10:28 AM)
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Diploid
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: robbyberto]
#7847307 - 01/08/08 10:30 AM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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Somebody had to lose.
Both camps are drooling morons for starting a resource-wasting and unnecessary format war in the first place.
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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makaveli8x8
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: Diploid]
#7847521 - 01/08/08 11:41 AM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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i wonder if this would have happened if microsoft would have included the hd-dvd with the xbox, instead of making it an "addon"
i have to disagree about the extra 20 gigs however, that leaves lots of room to make bigger and badder games for the consoles...2 bad the xbox won't be reading them... edit: nvm 360 use normal dvd's
--------------------
  We were sent to hell for eternity Ø h® We play on earth to pass the time Over-population the root of all Evil-brings the Elites Closer to the gates.
Edited by makaveli8x8 (01/08/08 11:44 AM)
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robbyberto
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: makaveli8x8]
#7847657 - 01/08/08 12:22 PM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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Quote:
makaveli8x8 said: i wonder if this would have happened if microsoft would have included the hd-dvd with the xbox, instead of making it an "addon"
i have to disagree about the extra 20 gigs however, that leaves lots of room to make bigger and badder games for the consoles...2 bad the xbox won't be reading them... edit: nvm 360 use normal dvd's
Both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray movies use the same resolution, and movies are far more popular than video games. I implore you to find a game that needs that much space.
-------------------- “People say having kids is life changing, well that doesn’t necessarily mean a good thing, does it? I could take one of my legs off. That would change my life.” -Karl Pilkington
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makaveli8x8
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: robbyberto]
#7847769 - 01/08/08 12:49 PM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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dvd's for the first xbox were maxed out.
the graphics on the new consoles will use 2-4x as much space.
so 4.7gb x 4 gives you what you would want, not sure if that would give breathing room or not.
also i don't know the mechanic's of it all but sonys core sopposedly has lots of untapped power, when they finally figuer out how to harness it all, that may cause their games to be bigger
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  We were sent to hell for eternity Ø h® We play on earth to pass the time Over-population the root of all Evil-brings the Elites Closer to the gates.
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zorbman
blarrr



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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: Diploid]
#7848463 - 01/08/08 03:11 PM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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I'm glad I sat this format war out.
I still have a whole box of betamax videotapes in storage.
-------------------- “The crisis takes a much longer time coming than you think, and then it happens much faster than you would have thought.” -- Rudiger Dornbusch
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badchad
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: zorbman]
#7848571 - 01/08/08 03:35 PM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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Like I've posted in some other threads on this topic, I don't think the future of movies is going to be on a disc.
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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makaveli8x8
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: badchad]
#7848705 - 01/08/08 04:00 PM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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yeah i suspect these format wars are deliberate, and setting people up to "want" online video's, or "on demand".
eventually everything will be arcade style "please insert $5 now"
oh the possabilitys!
--------------------
  We were sent to hell for eternity Ø h® We play on earth to pass the time Over-population the root of all Evil-brings the Elites Closer to the gates.
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Diploid
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Registered: 01/09/03
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: makaveli8x8]
#7848776 - 01/08/08 04:11 PM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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NetFlix already does full-screen quality video on demand free for members. Their management has the vision to see the end of the video disk rental days is almost here.
-------------------- Republican Values: 1) You can't get married to your spouse who is the same sex as you. 2) You can't have an abortion no matter how much you don't want a child. 3) You can't have a certain plant in your possession or you'll get locked up with a rapist and a murderer. 4) We need a smaller, less-intrusive government.
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badchad
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: Diploid]
#7849951 - 01/08/08 07:43 PM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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Same with Comcast.
For $3.99 I get HD movies. I never have to return them, and I think they even come out before they are available on disc. Soon, we'll just store our entire movie collection on something the size of a DVD player, and update our movie lists online.
-------------------- ...the whole experience is (and is as) a profound piece of knowledge. It is an indellible experience; it is forever known. I have known myself in a way I doubt I would have ever occurred except as it did. Smith, P. Bull. Menninger Clinic (1959) 23:20-27; p. 27. ...most subjects find the experience valuable, some find it frightening, and many say that is it uniquely lovely. Osmond, H. Annals, NY Acad Science (1957) 66:418-434; p.436
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kotik
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: robbyberto]
#7850332 - 01/08/08 08:42 PM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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Quote:
robbyberto said:
Quote:
makaveli8x8 said: i wonder if this would have happened if microsoft would have included the hd-dvd with the xbox, instead of making it an "addon"
i have to disagree about the extra 20 gigs however, that leaves lots of room to make bigger and badder games for the consoles...2 bad the xbox won't be reading them... edit: nvm 360 use normal dvd's
Both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray movies use the same resolution, and movies are far more popular than video games. I implore you to find a game that needs that much space.
what a great argument... it has too much space... so it's inferior? 
How about they decide to release 2 games on one disc? or 3? or maybe selling the Lord of the Rings Trilogy on a Disc, along with LOTR game? Or selling all the spiderman movies on a disc, along with all the games?
Stop being so close minded and irrational.
-------------------- No statements made in any post or message by myself should be construed to mean that I am now, or have ever been, participating in or considering participation in any activities in violation of any local, state, or federal laws. All posts are works of fiction.
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robbyberto
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: kotik]
#7850421 - 01/08/08 08:52 PM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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Quote:
kotik said:
Quote:
robbyberto said:
Quote:
makaveli8x8 said: i wonder if this would have happened if microsoft would have included the hd-dvd with the xbox, instead of making it an "addon"
i have to disagree about the extra 20 gigs however, that leaves lots of room to make bigger and badder games for the consoles...2 bad the xbox won't be reading them... edit: nvm 360 use normal dvd's
Both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray movies use the same resolution, and movies are far more popular than video games. I implore you to find a game that needs that much space.
what a great argument... it has too much space... so it's inferior? 
How about they decide to release 2 games on one disc? or 3? or maybe selling the Lord of the Rings Trilogy on a Disc, along with LOTR game? Or selling all the spiderman movies on a disc, along with all the games?
Stop being so close minded and irrational.
The argument is that the extra space is unnecessary and adds unnecessary cost to the discs. I never said Blu-ray was inferior, either. And open a fucking dictionary: close minded- Intolerant of the beliefs and opinions of others; stubbornly unreceptive to new ideas.
-------------------- “People say having kids is life changing, well that doesn’t necessarily mean a good thing, does it? I could take one of my legs off. That would change my life.” -Karl Pilkington
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kotik
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: robbyberto]
#7850606 - 01/08/08 09:23 PM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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"stubbornly unreceptive to new ideas."
unnecessary costs because it's a new technology. The costs go down once a standard is established. Any early-adopters of anything are paying a premium to be beta-testers in a way, so who cares how much those people pay?
Why invest in a slower, smaller product just because it's cheaper for the manufacturer, because they don't have to drastically alter their manufacturing process? What a joke...
-------------------- No statements made in any post or message by myself should be construed to mean that I am now, or have ever been, participating in or considering participation in any activities in violation of any local, state, or federal laws. All posts are works of fiction.
Edited by kotik (01/08/08 09:23 PM)
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robbyberto
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: kotik]
#7850649 - 01/08/08 09:31 PM (16 years, 24 days ago) |
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Quote:
kotik said: "stubbornly unreceptive to new ideas."
unnecessary costs because it's a new technology. The costs go down once a standard is established. Any early-adopters of anything are paying a premium to be beta-testers in a way, so who cares how much those people pay?
Why invest in a slower, smaller product just because it's cheaper for the manufacturer, because they don't have to drastically alter their manufacturing process? What a joke...
HD-DVD is already far cheaper, it's finalized (Blu-Ray is not, people's players may not even work when newer movies are released), they both use the same resolution, (so obviously the cheaper standard at this point should win for movies at least), and HD-DVD does not have region coding. It should have won. I still fail to see how I am being close minded and even if I am, I suggest you look up the definition of ad hominem if you don't already know what it means.
-------------------- “People say having kids is life changing, well that doesn’t necessarily mean a good thing, does it? I could take one of my legs off. That would change my life.” -Karl Pilkington
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kotik
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Re: Blu-Ray Beating HD-DVD in the Format War [Re: robbyberto]
#7852370 - 01/09/08 04:29 AM (16 years, 23 days ago) |
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i'm more than familiar with logical fallacies.
Unfortunately for you, the industry went with Blu-Ray, as they should have. Try taking your argument up with them, I'm just a messenger. 
HD-DVD is only cheaper because Toshiba did not have to make too many changes for manufacturing them.
-------------------- No statements made in any post or message by myself should be construed to mean that I am now, or have ever been, participating in or considering participation in any activities in violation of any local, state, or federal laws. All posts are works of fiction.
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