Gizmodo: format wars

A New Front Opens In The High-Def Disc Format War: CHINA!

John Mahoney — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:40:00 EDT

You may have thought stupid format wars were over. You thought wrong! This week brings the first saleable "China Blue" players—a rival to Blu-ray. My guess on the rationale? Players made of heroin.

That China Blue doesn't smuggle itself across the border, so it only makes sense for enterprising Triad lords to form the raw her-on into high-def-disc-player-shaped cakes for transfer into California's many China-facing ports.

The players run around $300, which is somehow not cheaper than a Blu-ray player, but is a pretty good deal for 4 pounds of raw China Blue. [Sina.com via Engadget]

How Porn Will Shape our HD Future

Sean Fallon — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:40:00 EST

There is no getting around it—we love us some porn. This sinful medium has played a vital role in pushing video technology forward over the years—and it may be poised to do it again.

The folks at Home Theater Review state that "the adult video industry is really ahead of the curve with what they are working on for high definition content "—and, if history holds true, this progressive stance will affect how we all acquire our media in the near future.

Many adult sites have turned to internet distribution to peddle their wares because it's cheap and it can be accessed from any computer—affording a little privacy in the process. As HTR points out:

Digital Playground is rolling out an entirely new HD download center where clients can download 720p video directly to their iTunes library or for use with their AppleTV. Pink Visual is already distributing HD downloads for use on your computer and others are following suit. It is only a matter of time until the bandwidth expands and we can all freely download 1080p porn over the Internet.

We are heading in this direction anyway, which is why many feel that Blu-ray is a placeholder format. But I have no doubt that the porn industry will get us their faster, bigger and harder than we could have otherwise. [Home Theater Review]

Sony Just Can't Stop Kicking a Dead, Dead Horse

John Mahoney — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 19:34:51 EDT

A banner year for Blu-ray, to be sure, with a 100% drop in the most important stat of all, there in yellow. All this according to "Sony Figures." They just can't help themselves.

Cillian Murphy Will Be The Last Thing HD DVD Sees Before It Dies

John Herrman — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 20:20:00 EDT

HD DVD was declared dead a long time ago, and the last film to be released to the US on the format will hit (roughly three to five) shelves tomorrow. Disco Pigs was originally released in 2001 and very appropriately stars Cillian Murphy and Elaine Cassidy as friends who were born in the same hospital, at the same time, and who grew up next to one another. Unfortunately, as they reach adulthood it is apparent that their relationship has become dangerously volatile. It doesn't end well. (Spoiler alert: Cillian Murphy's character is the HD DVD.) [Crave]

Netflix Goes Blu-ray

Mark Wilson — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 09:18:49 EST

Netflix has just announced that they will exclusively purchase Blu-ray DVDs instead of HD DVDs for their hi def rental option. While the company had formerly supported both formats, their stock of HD DVDs will be phased out completely by the end of this year. Netflix clearly agrees with everyone else that HD DVD is dead, and disco is happy to finally have some company. [reuters]

Onkyo Dropping HD DVD Support?

Adrian Covert — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 19:14:52 EST

Onkyo appears to be the latest HD DVD defector, announcing they're "suspending" support for the format. This comes on the heels of Blu-ray and Warner's coup de grace and less than a year after Onkyo announced its lone HD DVD player, the DV-HD805. They haven't closed the door all the way, but does anyone else see Onkyo "resuming" support for HD DVD? [Wesley Tech via Crunch Gear]

Sony Reduces Blu-ray Lasers' Size and Cost

Haroon Malik — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 04:38:00 EST

With Blu-ray destroying the competition, the availability of cheaper units is going to be a big part in the future success of the format. That is why Sony's recent success in shrinking the basic Blu-ray reader/writer module is a turn for the better. The new modules will pave the way for thinner drive bays and cheaper players.

The units are only 3mm thick, and Sony is confident that the smaller size will allow Blu-ray functionality to become mainstream in standard 9.5mm laptop drives. Sony are further hoping that this move towards greater ubiquity is secured by the end of this year.

The cost effectiveness will be due to a simpler manufacturing process, and the 3mm modules will also be able to read dual layered BDs with organic dye in the recording layers. Such discs can be produced from traditional DVD production lines, again driving down the costs. Sure, this may all sound like great news, but do you not recall the movies, people? The hardships that were faced by a tiny Thomas Brown still bring a tear to my eye. [Tech.co.uk]

Question of the Day: What Are You Going to Do With Your HD DVD Player?

Sean Fallon — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 17:30:01 EST

Given the untimely death of HD DVD (the people's format), one has to wonder—what will become of all the hardware out there? So, our question to you is: what do you plan to do with your now defunct HD DVD player?

HD DVD Losing Its Arsenal in Japan

Haroon Malik — Sun, 20 Jan 2008 23:59:26 EST

The HD DVD troopers are surely fighting the losing battle, as new research from Japan details a surge in Blu-Ray recorder ownership. The study surveyed buying trends from 2,300 electronic stores across Japan, and the statistics showed that next-generation DVD-unit sales rocketed from 6.1% in October to 20% in November and December. As the next-generation recorders have a higher price point, they managed to account for some 35% of the total DVD player market value. However, Blu-Ray walked home with the largest market share of the two.

Blu-Ray made up 90% of all next-generation DVD player sales. Now, we aren't mathematicians, but that is a hell of a lot. In fact, it is so much, looking at this image now actually leaves a ferrous-like taste in our mouths, due to its shocking, 90% increased, ironic eye candy status. [Japan Today; image via Picasa Online]

WTF: Buy 2 HD DVDs Get a Blu-ray Disc Free?

Mark Wilson — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 17:50:53 EST

Well played, Mr. Blu-ray fanboy. Well played.

*Image taken in the Virgin Music section of Myer Sydney City store on 26 December 2007. [phlog] Thanks Derek!

Toshiba Wants Combo HD Player

Charlie White — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 09:27:14 EDT

Toshiba president Atsutoshi Nishida weighed in today with his opinion on a dual-format HD DVD/Blu-ray player, joining the chorus of other manufacturers who have edged ever closer to a unified format for high definition DVDs. Nishida said to an annual shareholders meeting:

"We have not given up on a unified format. We would like to seek ways for unifying the standards if opportunities arise."

These electronics manufacturers are probably growing weary of this costly format war, which looks more like the VHS/Betamax debacle every day. Samsung just last week vacillated on its plans to put together a combo player, where a middle manager first said the company would make a combo player and a couple of days later Samsung's PR-meisters beat a hasty retreat. Other manufacturers such as LG have also expressed interest in a truce as well.

We're thinking it's inevitable that a combo player will arise and become the new standard. The question is, how many consumers will be suckered into buying into one format or another before this unification takes place? – Charlie White

Toshiba wants unified DVD format [Reuters]

Samsung's Combo HD DVD/Blu-ray Player?

Charlie White — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 08:20:29 EDT

LG was the first to publicly announce it would manufacture a universal player capable of displaying both HD DVD and Blu-ray content, and now on the eve of launching the BD-P1000, the first Blu-ray player to go on sale in the United States, Samsung said yesterday that it's also working on a combination Blu-ray and HD DVD drive. Kim Du-Hyon, an assistant manager at Samsung's product planning division told reporters that the company is confident the Blu-ray format will prevail over HD DVD, but indicated the company would be willing to hedge its bets if HD DVD proves to be more popular than anticipated:

"We don't have a plan to make an HD DVD-only player but are considering a universal player. We are preparing HD DVD [support] now and if we launch a universal player it will be the end of this year or early next year."

According to insiders, LG and Samsung are not the only companies thinking about manufacturing a combination player. Looks like this is going to be similar to the DVD+R/DVD-R conundrum, where both ended up occupying space in most DVD burners. That's the best reason yet to wait before buying into any of these two overpriced and underperforming HD disc formats. – Charlie White

Samsung mulling dual Blu-ray/HD DVD player [Digital World]