HD-DVD and BLU-RAY format war
Discussion
The upcoming replacement for DVD is set to be as controversial as the past stand off between VHS and BETAMAX.
Toshiba has announced that HD-DVD is real and ready according to some home cinema magazines.
Warner , the long-time supporter of the format, would be prepared apparently to issue its catalogue on BLU-RAY as well as HD-DVD, a move pioneered by Paramount in supporting both formats simultaneously.However Toshiba has formed a powerful alliance with Microsoft,which decided to support HD-DVD and use it in its upcoming operating system "VISTA" which will replace XP.
Microsoft announced that only HD-DVD supports legal copies of every movie disc .The content protection mechanism(known as microvision on normal DVD) for HD-DVD is AACS(Advanced Access Content System) which will allow consumers to copy any movie disc to a hard disc drive in their home server, or to stream it to their home network.Sony's BLU-RAY does not allow this.A definite "plus" point for HD-DVD campaign in my opinion.
HD-DVD will offer superior disc capacity, 30GB HD-DVD ROM discsare available now, providing 20% more capacity than BLU-RAY's 25GB.
The Japs are apparently hungry for high-definition pictures and sound, and the HD-DVD launch in Japan is promised this year after Christmas.
Microsoft backing strengthen the case for the HD-DVD format(rather than BLU-RAY), and the key reason why HD-DVD? is the ability to launch with a catalogue of Hybrid discs.These would be "flippers" would have on one side a standard DVD version of the film, and the other side a hi-def alternative.Much like the DualDisc format available today (one side normal CD , the other side DVD).Another "plus" point for HD-DVD.
Having one Hybrid disc that supports both formats(DVD and HD-DVD)is a great convenience and only HD-DVD has this capabilty according to Toshiba.
Toshiba also promised they will keep the negotiations with Sony (BLU-RAY) going till the "eleventh" hour before the planned launch of HD-DVD after Christmas.
I personally think the idea of a Hybrid movie disc is brilliant! Those who can't afford to dive into HD-DVD can still watch their movies on normal DVD , and the ones who already invested in HD ready Plasma/LCD sets can just add an HD-DVD player to their set up and enjoy a movie in glorious high-definition.( I saw the high-def demo and the detail is astounding!)
My prediction is that Sony is going to make the same mistake with Blu-Ray as it did with Betamax.Watch this space.
Toshiba has announced that HD-DVD is real and ready according to some home cinema magazines.
Warner , the long-time supporter of the format, would be prepared apparently to issue its catalogue on BLU-RAY as well as HD-DVD, a move pioneered by Paramount in supporting both formats simultaneously.However Toshiba has formed a powerful alliance with Microsoft,which decided to support HD-DVD and use it in its upcoming operating system "VISTA" which will replace XP.
Microsoft announced that only HD-DVD supports legal copies of every movie disc .The content protection mechanism(known as microvision on normal DVD) for HD-DVD is AACS(Advanced Access Content System) which will allow consumers to copy any movie disc to a hard disc drive in their home server, or to stream it to their home network.Sony's BLU-RAY does not allow this.A definite "plus" point for HD-DVD campaign in my opinion.
HD-DVD will offer superior disc capacity, 30GB HD-DVD ROM discsare available now, providing 20% more capacity than BLU-RAY's 25GB.
The Japs are apparently hungry for high-definition pictures and sound, and the HD-DVD launch in Japan is promised this year after Christmas.
Microsoft backing strengthen the case for the HD-DVD format(rather than BLU-RAY), and the key reason why HD-DVD? is the ability to launch with a catalogue of Hybrid discs.These would be "flippers" would have on one side a standard DVD version of the film, and the other side a hi-def alternative.Much like the DualDisc format available today (one side normal CD , the other side DVD).Another "plus" point for HD-DVD.
Having one Hybrid disc that supports both formats(DVD and HD-DVD)is a great convenience and only HD-DVD has this capabilty according to Toshiba.
Toshiba also promised they will keep the negotiations with Sony (BLU-RAY) going till the "eleventh" hour before the planned launch of HD-DVD after Christmas.
I personally think the idea of a Hybrid movie disc is brilliant! Those who can't afford to dive into HD-DVD can still watch their movies on normal DVD , and the ones who already invested in HD ready Plasma/LCD sets can just add an HD-DVD player to their set up and enjoy a movie in glorious high-definition.( I saw the high-def demo and the detail is astounding!)
My prediction is that Sony is going to make the same mistake with Blu-Ray as it did with Betamax.Watch this space.
andy mac said:
Just leave them to it until one dissappears! Plus the prices will be daft when it foirst comes out. I'm not that desperate for a new gizmo!
I don't want to be an early adopter but I am looking at it from the point of view of media compatibility, and the Hybrid discs look appealing, if the current dual discs are anything to go by price-wise.
ErnestM said:
PS3 is Blu-Ray...
ErnestM
One reason why MS would like to do everything they can do to stop it being sucessful then?
Something I don't understand, is WHY high capacity DVD is required for High Definition in the first place? DVD is based on MPEG2 which is outdated compression technology. MPEG4 (DIVX, XVID, AVI etc) is much more space efficient than MPEG2 (DVD), so High Definition is possible using current storage...
It must be purely piracy reduction?
HD-DVD is only 15GB per layer Blu-Ray is 25GB per layer Hence the 30GB is a dual-layer disc. Blu-Ray is 50Gb on that point.(See link www.infoworld.com/article/05/10/04/HNprototypessquareoff_1.html
for clarification).
There is a face-off at the moment. The major electronics Manfacturers are going Blu-Ray with only two and Microsoft backing HD-DVD. It's down to software makers. Most are hedging their bets althought the fact that Sony own most of them and has got Disney to sign up tends to indicate Blu-Ray will win.
>> Edited by telecat on Tuesday 29th November 10:26
for clarification).
There is a face-off at the moment. The major electronics Manfacturers are going Blu-Ray with only two and Microsoft backing HD-DVD. It's down to software makers. Most are hedging their bets althought the fact that Sony own most of them and has got Disney to sign up tends to indicate Blu-Ray will win.
>> Edited by telecat on Tuesday 29th November 10:26
telecat said:
HD-DVD is only 15GB per layer Blu-Ray is 25GB per layer Hence the 30GB is a dual-layer disc. Blu-Ray is 50Gb on that point.(See link www.infoworld.com/article/05/10/04/HNprototypessquareoff_1.html
for clarification).
There is a face-off at the moment. The major electronics Manfacturers are going Blu-Ray with only two and Microsoft backing HD-DVD. It's down to software makers. Most are hedging their bets althought the fact that Sony own most of them and has got Disney to sign up tends to indicate Blu-Ray will win.
>> Edited by telecat on Tuesday 29th November 10:26
As it stands at the moment HD-DVD is higher in capacity at 30GB upon release, Sony's claimed 50GB BLU-RAY dual layer is a long way off at the moment and it's just a "claim" that might come true in about 7 to 10 years or might not depending whether 50GB BLU-RAY media samples will materialize into full production and be cost effective for consumers.Basically just a war of words at the moment . HD-DVD might trip Sony up and take the lead in the high-def plunge therefore convincing the Hollywood film industry to support the format,which is the crucial make or break for any new technology.
>> Edited by allnighter on Tuesday 29th November 13:31
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