Home Theater Forum  ›  Forums  ›  Hi-Definition  ›  HT Software - High Definition  ›  Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!
This thread is locked! Posting is not allowed!

Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

#901
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Matt^Brown
Well I guess your parents never bought another Sony product again in their life. Haha!! Some of the comments on here are ridiculous.(That is not for you Dan) Toshiba has no duty to make your transition easy.

To answer your question. No they did not as for TV and VHS. They waited until the next format DVD to buy a Sony.
Export to Wiki
#902
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

I made a conscious decision at the outset of the "war" that I was going to stay out of it until a victor was decided. That way I could watch developments without getting emotionally invested in it the way some have (as evidenced by other forums).

I must say I was much more impressed by the HD-DVD launch due to their ability to deliver a more market ready product and at consumer friendly prices. Also, to be quite honest, some of the Blu proponents elsewhere turned me off with their attitudes. Still, it is clear that either format could offer an exceptional product when at their best and that both formats had less than perfect players. Any temptation I ever had to jump in was tempered by the fact the HD market was not yet ready for large numbers of classic titles and by the ridiculously high prices for software.

Even though the "Big Mo" appears to be favoring Blu I will continue to stay on the sidelines until one side makes a concession speech (this political season has reminded us all that comebacks are possible) and until (1) the winning side puts players on the market that are fully up to spec and don't require numerous firmware updates and (2) software prices come down and the market can support classic catalog.

Although I've largely lurked in this sub-forum, reading the opinions of my HTF colleagues these past months has been fascinating and very informative. Thanks to Ron and the mods for helping keep the discussion civil, on track, and balanced. The other forums/sites I referred to above aren't even part of my normal surfing routine anymore, but HTF is, and will always be, King in my opinion.
Export to Wiki
#903
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
the winning side puts players on the market that are fully up to spec and don't require numerous firmware updates

Hey Steve I wish we could have players that did not require firmware updates or that they would not need them in the future. But the old days where you purchased a player and it worked no mater what title you put in it has long gone. The technology has gotten so complicated that firmware updates are here to stay. I however am glad that we can update the firmware so that operational problems can be fixed without taking to product in to a technician.


Other links just for information:
Paramount to back out of Toshiba's HD-DVD | Technology | The Guardian
Paramount To Back Out Of Toshiba's HD-DVD

L.A. Times: Paramount still behind HD DVD - DVDTOWN.com
LA Times: Paramount Still Behind HD-DVD

Warner Bros. did not take any money to choose Blu-ray - DVDTOWN.com
Warner Bros Did Not Take Any Money To Choose Blu-ray

Toshiba: HD DVD is no Loser to Blu-ray
Toshiba: HD-DVD Is No Looser To Blu-ray
Reuters

HBO Confirms Switch to Blu-ray Exclusivity | High-Def Digest
HBO Confirms Switch To Blu-ray Exclusivity

New Line falls in line with Blu-ray
New Line Falls In Line With Blu-ray



I am not sure how long Toshiba's web site was down for but I noticed it was up today. Does anyone know how many partners The Look And Sound Of Perfect had on there before WB droped the bomb friday? As of today though here are the partners Toshiba is listing on there web site, (January 9th, 2008).
  • Acer
  • Dreamworks Pictures
  • DVD Forum
  • Intel
  • HBO Video
  • HP
  • Microsoft
  • New Line Home Entertainment
  • Paramount
  • Toshiba
  • Universal
  • Venturer
  • WB
Now I thought New Line was ether neutral or Blu-ray only so if someone could confirm this I would appreciate it. I know that New Line just recently released Rush Hour 3 on Blu-ray only so I am wondering why New Line is listed on Toshiba's web site. And they still have WB listed as partners on the website. I am suprised that Toshiba did not take there name of the site, but maybe Toshiba is hoping that WB might change there minds about going Blu-ray only? Or maybe Toshiba is leaving WB listed until May when WB has planed to drop HD-DVD titles? I guess if they dropped WB off there site while they are still supporting there format it would not look good.

Has there been any new news on WB titles coming out on Blu-ray for 2008 yet? I can not wait for Twister to come out on the Blu-ray format as I will be picking it on release day!

Thank you WB for going Blu!

1080p High Definition SupporterLossless Audio Supporter Current Library: 221 DVD's / 70 HD-DVD's / 181 Blu-ray's (251 HD Titles)

Export to Wiki
#904
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Moritz
Hey Steve I wish we could have players that did not require firmware updates or that they would not need them in the future. But the old days where you purchased a player and it worked no mater what title you put in it has long gone. The technology has gotten so complicated that firmware updates are here to stay. I however am glad that we can update the firmware so that operational problems can be fixed without taking to product in to a technician.



Until BD achieves relative stability in playback of a high percentage of BD titles (without the need of applying updates on a per-title basis), the general public will pretty much just get fed up with having to update their BD players with a high percentage of new BD titles they pop into their BD players, and just stick with DVD players. As it is now, BD is "Not quite ready for prime time" across the board. If it were ready, firmware updates would be few and far between.

"Jee-sus, it's like Iwo Jima out there" - Roger Sterling on "Mad Men"
Patcave | 2006 Films | 2007 Films | Dragon*Con 2009 | Heroes Con 2009

Export to Wiki
#905
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

I was just getting up to speed again. You get get 5 pages behind before you know it. Anyway, in regards to Ron saying Toshiba is upbeat, anything can change...well...the only change that could be upbeat for Toshiba would be a Blu studio going to HD, and i dont see that happening now at all. Course i know you cant tell us what you know, or hear, but by golly it gets me on the site every night...even after 12 hours of work. Oh hell, im here every day anyway!
Hey Patrick, the only good thing about a firmware update is you dont have to worry about a disc not working on a given player. Like has happened in the past for DVD and its player incompatibilities.
Export to Wiki
#906
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Sun
Until BD achieves relative stability in playback of a high percentage of BD titles (without the need of applying updates on a per-title basis), the general public will pretty much just get fed up with having to update their BD players with a high percentage of new BD titles they pop into their BD players, and just stick with DVD players. As it is now, BD is "Not quite ready for prime time" across the board. If it were ready, firmware updates would be few and far between.
Agreed. Up to now, both HD mediums (from what I understand some HD-DVD players have also had firmware updates?) have been lucky that early adopters tend to also be fairly technologically advanced. I can't imagine my parents ever bothering to update their firmware.

Which is why making everything from now on out at least BD 1.1, and preferably BD 2.0 compliant is of utmost importance. Those standards should make the BD format a "fixed target" as opposed to BD 1.0.

This may well be the year that the masses begin to buy into HD. If so, firmware updates should indeed be few and far between, or if they are a necessity, the manner in doing so should be as painless as possible. There are a couple of ways I can think of doing this:

1. For BD 2.0 players that are connected to the internet, the player could scan for new firmware when powered on and download them at a user-determined time or perhaps some time really late at night.

2. Depending on the size of the files, firmware might be able to be bundled with movies. PS3 does this by including a version of firmware with some of their games. However this would be much more difficult with BD in general because of the sheer number of players/manufacturers out there.

3. Since disc media is so cheap and the file sizes relatively small, for every "major revision" of the firmware each manufacturer could create a CD or DVD with all of their models' firmwares on it for free handout at the various large retailers like Best Buy, Circuit City, etc.

None of these suggestions are perfect, I know, so perhaps a combination of these suggestions could be implemented (along with others I haven't thought of).
Export to Wiki
#907
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Don't know if any standalone BD unit will ever be affective against the newer re-authored lossless audio HD discs of 7.1 discrete channels and which are becoming more frequently released.
5.1 channels would be compatible with older analog-in receivers and old HDMI 5.1 PCM-in processors like the Lexicon MC12 HD that can use the PS3, but the re-authored discs will make them all incompatible.

I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying that as soundtracks are released in 7.1 people with 5.1 input equipment are hosed? I guess I'm lucky that my non-HDMI Denon 3805 (bedroom) has a 7.1 input. in mind that a lot of the new BD players introduced at CES only have 5.1 outputs. Even if your reciever has just 5.1 I don't see it that big of a problem to bring in 5.1 PCM and listen to that mix. If you really want the other two channels you could always use DPL2x to have something to send them....I know it's not discreate but it could be better than nothing for some people. I guess I don't really see this as a big issue.

As to firmware upgrades I actually think that we will see more updates required for BD than in the past as they ramp up the BD-J interactivity. HD DVD went though it as they started releasing new interactive features a while back, and it seems like BD-J is more complex than HDi. Please note that this is NOT a bad thing. Every time I have had to update firmware for either format I just think how glad I am that they gave us the ability to do that and we don't have to take it to a service center like in the early days of DVD. I am glad to see that several 1.1 players announced at CES have Ethernet ports not for BD Live content, but to make FW updates easier. I have no problem with FW updates...

HTF Rules 
Export to Wiki
#908
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Essentially no money changed hands. The switch was apparently due to the following: 1) Sony, Fox, Disney were not even considering changing sides, regardless of 'payouts' being discussed; 2) All the studios, especially a couple were putting pressure on WB to make a choice to help end the stale mate so everyone (studios) could benefit; 3) The revenue from the BD sales far outweighed the HD-DVD sales for WB contrary to sales charts; 4) BD is seen as the revolutionary format with HD being seen as just an evolution with a shorter lifespan in the eyes of the BD studios; 5) consumers aren't buying into either format due to confusion; 6) the big one I'm told, because of #5, DVD sales as a result of #5 PLUS the recent 6 month trend of video games eating into DVD sales (and growing game sales, declining DVD sales) contributed to the decision to establish one format that consumers could graduate into rather than leave the studio with declining DVD sales, and no big next-gen (BD, HD) sales because of the consumer confusion and statemate of 'which one will win'.

I know you said take it with a grain of salt, but here his my $.02

Essentially is a very interesting word that doesn't meant no. 1) Toshiba was negotiating with other studios as part of a WB deal. I'm waiting for the Definitive Format War Reference Guide to be published before we will ever know if the studio was playing Toshiba or negotiating in good faith. 2) Absolutely true. Everyone (both sides) was putting pressure on WB (and it's parent company) to pick a side. 3)Huh? It is common knowledge that while BD yields have been improving and costs are coming down it is still cheaper to manufacture HD DVDs. WB was also using one encode for most titles so there was no extra expense there. Format sales since inception were 51/49 (BD to HD DVD) and even with all the PS3s and New Line exclusive releases the fourth quarter was 55/45. One of WBs highest profit titles was Planet Earth...the HD DVD outsold the BD copy by over 25000 units! Short of having huge manufacturing subsidies from the BDA, I can't see how BD revenue could "far outweigh" HD DVD revenue. 4) Of course the BD supporting companies think BD is the revolutionary format and HD DVD is an evolutionary format. The HD DVD companies probably think the opposite. 5) Time will tell. I think most consumers aren't buying into HD because most consumers are content with DVD and both formats have done a horrible job of educating consumers about the benefits of HD. 6) WB was probably one of the few studios breaking even or making money on HD. If customers are choosing video games over movies I don't think changing formats will help. Right now game content is more compelling than movie content for some people. I'm almost embarrassed to say I spent more long nights over my Christmas vacation playing Call of Duty 4 with friends than watching movies (don't judge me!).

As to the money, only time will tell what the details are. While I know the deal was worth a lot of money, it remains to be seen how it was structured. How much is production assistance, manufacturing subsidies, a share of patent royalties, marketing support, etc.

HTF Rules 
Export to Wiki
#909
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

With all the recent news there have been plenty of discussions all over the net about the competing formats. I'm shocked at the number of people outside of HTF who percieved HD-DVD a lesser format because of its name, exclaiming that its merely "upgraded dvd" while Blu-ray is truly next gen technology. If anything I always agreed it would be the other way around, with HD-DVD having an upper hand having "DVD" in it's name. go figure.

At any rate, it certainly isn't an uncommon perception, despite the two formats being largely identical.

"Because he's the hero that Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now... and so we'll hunt him... because he can take it... because he's not a hero... he's a silent guardian, a watchful protector... a DARK KNIGHT."

Export to Wiki
#910
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zack Gibbs
With all the recent news there have been plenty of discussions all over the net about the competing formats. I'm shocked at the number of people outside of HTF who percieved HD-DVD a lesser format because of its name, exclaiming that its merely "upgraded dvd" while Blu-ray is truly next gen technology. If anything I always agreed it would be the other way around, with HD-DVD having an upper hand having "DVD" in it's name. go figure.

At any rate, it certainly isn't an uncommon perception, despite the two formats being largely identical.
Where do you get that idea? I'm not hearing that from people I talk to outside of this forum or the other forums.
G.W. McLintock: Camille, you're on your own.
Export to Wiki
#911
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Let's suppose that this very day, Blu-ray has been officially declared the winner of the HD wars (and it looks very much like they will due to Warner's recent announcement). Does that mean that starting tomorrow, all new future Blu-ray movie releases will implement the ICT flag? I ask because I still have a component-only input TV and am worried that I will have to dig deep into the pocketbook again and buy a new TV if this happens.

From my own speculation, neither side implemented the ICT flag yet because neither of them wanted to be the first to alienate analog-only TV owners. But now that it seems imminent that Blu-ray will face no competing HD format, will they start putting in the flag as soon as their victory has been secured?

I realize that any responses will be purely speculative in nature. Is anyone else in the same boat as me with component only inputs?
Export to Wiki
#912
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

A lot of our customers CONTINUALLY ask whether HD DVD can play on their DVD/HDMI players.

My theory is that it is a result of the name HD DVD - being the same as an extension. That is the disadvantage.

ONLY when we point them to the COMBO discs, do they then understand the difference.

Of course you do have savvy customers as well who care to think about such 'trivial' entertainment information.
Yumbiosis - all things Yumbo
Export to Wiki
#913
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Does that mean that starting tomorrow, all new future Blu-ray movie releases will implement the ICT flag?
Highly improbable.The next phase would be to win over the current SD DVD customers, and they would certainly want to keep them happy!


Cees
HTF Rules (uhm ... and has Rules)
Export to Wiki
#914
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Watevah
I realize that any responses will be purely speculative in nature. Is anyone else in the same boat as me with component only inputs?

I'm in the same boat and jumped into BD recently. I doubt they will do it all that soon since they still need to transition the market from SD to HD. When they'll actually do it is anyone's guess of course. But I imagine we won't need to worry about it for at least another year or two. By then, I'll be ready to upgrade my HDTV...

_Man_

Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".

Export to Wiki
#915
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zack Gibbs
With all the recent news there have been plenty of discussions all over the net about the competing formats. I'm shocked at the number of people outside of HTF who percieved HD-DVD a lesser format because of its name, exclaiming that its merely "upgraded dvd" while Blu-ray is truly next gen technology. If anything I always agreed it would be the other way around, with HD-DVD having an upper hand having "DVD" in it's name. go figure.

At any rate, it certainly isn't an uncommon perception, despite the two formats being largely identical.

I have seen that very statement in THIS forum. That blu-ray is superior because HD DVD is based on outdated DVD tech.

Doug
"I'm in great shape, for the shape I'm in."
Bob Hope in The Ghostbreakers
Export to Wiki
#916
Rating: 0

theres a petition

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yumbo
My fellow HD DVDers,

Let's band together
As if it were St. Crispin's Day
And ask ourselves if you had once chance, just one chance
To fight

BUY EVERY HD DVD release from here on out on release day, and NOT any BD (you can always buy it later), the studios and unconvinced spectators will witness...

Freedom!!!

Smiles. Just SOMETHING constructive.

ps. have about 300 titles, 4 players, and 30 titles on the way...and intend to pick up more through May.

Who's with me?

there is a petition if your so inclined
Sign the Save HD-DVD! (Warner Brothers, The Consumer Has Not "Clearly" Chosen Blu-Ray) Petition
Picture Gallery
Click here for the rest of my system
Export to Wiki
#917
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Sun
..the general public will pretty much just get fed up with having to update their BD players with a high percentage of new BD titles they pop into their BD players, and just stick with DVD players..

Firmware-updates are part of the HD-players and probably (in some ways at least) will be also in the future. I´m sure you know that Toshiba releases new firmware-updates also? It´s just part the business, since these players are almost like computers now in some degree.

I´m really happy that these new firmware updates are being released. Of course, not sure what the lazy average joe thinks about them.. I just read some comments that some people don´t want to buy "Pan's Labyrinth", since they "don´t want to read subtitles" ( ). So updating their players is probably just too much to ask.

Well, there´s always that good-old DVD-player. Snif.

Rewind - DVDcompare/Site Administrator
*US PS3 (1080p) - Xbox 360 Elite (HDMI) - Nintendo Wii (Euro) - Sony PSP-2000 - Nintendo DSi
*HD DVD Toshiba XE1 (1080p) - Sony Bravia KDL-40W2000 (1080p) - Yamaha RX-V1800 (HDMI 1.3)

Export to Wiki
#918
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan_Ohio
At this point I think the vendors need to say Movies in HD may not be available in the future next to the player. I would hate for more people to buy a player and think there is all this content coming in the future..

No, they don´t have to say that. Just that there will be only one format in the future, most likely.

Or did you mean "HD DVD" by "HD" or?

Rewind - DVDcompare/Site Administrator
*US PS3 (1080p) - Xbox 360 Elite (HDMI) - Nintendo Wii (Euro) - Sony PSP-2000 - Nintendo DSi
*HD DVD Toshiba XE1 (1080p) - Sony Bravia KDL-40W2000 (1080p) - Yamaha RX-V1800 (HDMI 1.3)

Export to Wiki
#919
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ronald Epstein
Listen....

I can't come out and tell you everything we are hearing because
of obvious reasons and for the fact that anything can change.

Also, we are not the definitive source of information here. While
we have a lot of trust in the information we are receiving, there
are always different versions from so-called "insiders" worth
considering. Those who eventually get the story right most of
the time are those you gain trust in.

It's absolutely certain that Universal, Paramount and DreamWorks
are talking with the BDA. They would be stupid not to.

At the same time, Toshiba has been talking with the studios
still committed to HD-DVD on how to move forward.

Now I know Bill Hunt has just posted an announcement that
essentially guarantees that Paramount, Universal and DreamWorks
are extremely close to announcing they are going Blu-Ray.

I have a general idea where he is getting his information from,
but realize that we are operating off of a different channel.

I'm not saying Bill is wrong, but right now we have received
conflicting information. Toshiba is HIGHLY upbeat about moving
forward with HD-DVD right now.

So let's consider that for the moment there are now two sources
telling you two different stories coming from opposite sides of the
format spectrum. What that means to you, our readers, is that
you should continue to keep an open mind. For the moment,
you have The Digital Bits very high on these remaining studios
going Blu. That may very well be the case according to his sources.
However, we are sticking to our sources that are very optimistic
that Toshiba and their remaining HD-DVD studios are going about
business as usual.

This is not a ploy by us to give you false information that would
put HD-DVD in a favorable light. Truth of the matter be, we are
rather disturbed that HD-DVD would think about moving forward
in this manner, but if they do, I'm certain they weighed their options
carefully. We will also continue to support their format in addition to Blu-Ray.

Thanks for sharing this. Very interesting to see what´ll eventually happen.

Rewind - DVDcompare/Site Administrator
*US PS3 (1080p) - Xbox 360 Elite (HDMI) - Nintendo Wii (Euro) - Sony PSP-2000 - Nintendo DSi
*HD DVD Toshiba XE1 (1080p) - Sony Bravia KDL-40W2000 (1080p) - Yamaha RX-V1800 (HDMI 1.3)

Export to Wiki
#920
Rating: 0

Re: theres a petition

Quote:
Originally Posted by BrandonH

Hehe. petitiononline.com should be shut down on the grounds of being a waste of bandwidth. It has never accomplished anything. Might as well be renamed "bitchfest.com" (unfortunately it's already a registered domain name).
Export to Wiki
#921
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jari K
Firmware-updates are part of the HD-players and probably (in some ways at least) will be also in the future. I´m sure you know that Toshiba releases new firmware-updates also? It´s just part the business, since these players are almost like computers now in some degree.

I´m really happy that these new firmware updates are being released. Of course, not sure what the lazy average joe thinks about them.. I just read some comments that some people don´t want to buy "Pan's Labyrinth", since they "don´t want to read subtitles" ( ). So updating their players is probably just too much to ask.

Well, there´s always that good-old DVD-player. Snif.

I'm probably in the minority on this site, but I view firmware updates as a bad thing. A very bad thing. While I don't mind uploading one occasionally, and have done a few on my PS3, I would strongly prefer that they released a product that worked to specifications to begin with, was fully tested and had the specifications set. The ability to release updates just makes the manufacturers and developers lazy. I don't want to see home theater gear going the way of the personal computer. My new Vista machine barely worked until the onslaught of upgrades started coming in. I should have kept track of the number that were installed, it was incredible.

Additionally, I'm fairly positive that a large number of consumers will never install an upgrade. I know my parents won't, and I strongly suspect that the majority of my friends, all of whom are highly educated and definitely in the HD target market, won't. In fact, I'd be surprised if most of them are even aware of the concept. They'll just buy the product, and when it doesn't do something they think it should, they'll consider it a shoddy product and pass that on to all their friends and co workers. That kind of word of mouth advertising won't help the spread of HD media.

Unfortunately, Blu Ray seems to be the poster child for this sort of thing. I'd hate to see what we would have ended up with had HD DVD not put the pressure on them.

Lay down your law books now, they're no damned good -- The Eagles

Export to Wiki
#922
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

I don't have a problem with firmware upgrade for the most part. But when they have to release a new upgrade every time there is a major film release, it makes me start to wonder what the deal is.

Doug
"I'm in great shape, for the shape I'm in."
Bob Hope in The Ghostbreakers
Export to Wiki
#923
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

I agree about the insanity of firmware updates.

The updates should only be needed to work out a few little kinks and slightly improve performance. If someone buys a Blu-Ray movie, it should play on a Blu-Ray player. Plain and simple.

I have no problem at all updating the firmware on devices I own - even if it's required to play a movie... but I'm not the average consumer. The average consumer won't up up with this nonsense - nor should they. It should just work.
Export to Wiki
#924
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Hi,

I think that much like DVD and HDDVD had initial problems that require Firmware updates (I have experienced it with DVD personally), this will become a non-issue probably before the end of this year. (at least for everyone that owns 1.1 players or ps3). Once a few 1.1 and 2.0 titles have been out, most players should have had the necessary updates to work properly with future ones.
Export to Wiki
#925
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Douglas Monce
I have seen that very statement in THIS forum. That blu-ray is superior because HD DVD is based on outdated DVD tech.

Doug

The one area where Blu-Ray is TRULY next-gen, is the fact that it has much higher capacity per layer. All new replication equipment is needed for BD, compared to a minor upgrade for HDDVD. It's pretty clear that BD is a newer technology with more potential than HDDVD, but that said, HDDVD is today the better (more mature) format.
Export to Wiki
#926
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Yeah, I agree they really need to get their act together so firmware updates do not become a serious issue for the average consumer. However, I think having the capability (at least in concept) is a good thing as long as it's done right.

If at all possible, they should probably set up some way for retailers and/or distributers to apply firmware updates on old inventory to bring units as up-to-date as possible before they reach buyers hands. Seems like the digital camera industry might be headed in that direction, if it's not there already, so maybe this industry should follow suit.

_Man_

Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".

Export to Wiki
#927
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
The one area where Blu-Ray is TRULY next-gen, is the fact that it has much higher capacity per layer.
Less than a 2x improvement in density is not next generation. That is reserved for things that get on a order of magnitude (10x) improvment or at least several times the current system. If BD had 50 Gig per layer and all players had the ability to read 4+ layers out of the box then you could say it was next generation.

Revolutionary requires a device to have something new and different. Blu-ray has nothing new or different from HD-DVD. They have the same codecs, same lossy 4:2:2 video signal, and the same output connections. To call HD-DVD evolutionary requires you call Blu-ray evolutionary. My 500 Gig harddrive is not revolutionary compared to my 50 Gig harddrive just because it is faster and stores 10x as much. Just because a device uses different and much more expensive hardware to gain less than a 2x increase in storage does not make it revolutionary. Objectively such a shift to new technology for such a minor gain is normally considered a bad thing. Why go through the hassle and expense to develop a new technology for so little gain.

DVD was revolutionary over VHS tape because of the litany of capabilities, non-degrading digital signal, and form factor. At this time, HDM is simply a logical expansion of DVD because it mostly has more; more resolution, more color, more audio fidelity, and more codecs, not different.
Export to Wiki
#928
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck Anstey
Less than a 2x improvement in density is not next generation. That is reserved for things that get on a order of magnitude (10x) improvment or at least several times the current system. If BD had 50 Gig per layer and all players had the ability to read 4+ layers out of the box then you could say it was next generation.

I thought they meant next gen from DVD, not HD DVD. Yeah, it'd still be borderline next gen by your definition, but ~5.5x seems close enough (ie. "or at least several times the current system"), no?

I do agree that BD is not as revolutionary as DVD was -- well, for the mainstream market anyway since one could argue DVD was not *quite* that revolutionary over LD (or VCD in some other markets) either.

_Man_

Just another amateur learning to paint w/ "the light of the world".

Export to Wiki
#929
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Quote:
some way for retailers and/or distributers to apply firmware updates on old inventory

My HD-A2 was delivered in August with a February build date. But it came from Amazon so there would be no "store" with techs to install current firmware. The annoying thing was that Toshiba included a return postcard for a CD with the latest firmware. I mailed it back immediately - five months later, no disc. So even the existing support for firmware updates needs some work. I had to spend about an hour fussing with downloading and burning to update it myself.

Feline videophiles Susie and Dukie.

Export to Wiki
#930
Rating: 0

Re: Breaking News!! Warner is soon to be Blu-Ray Exclusive!

Here is an example of what I think would be truly revolutionary in home video.

Imagine a next generation player based upon the NVRAM in CF, SD, and other memory cards. Forget about current storage size limitations. It would offer:
1. No moving parts. A really big deal for reliablity.
2. A form factor that can take an insane amount of abuse. No more worries about scratches.
3. An expanding storage capacity. Unlike current DVD/Blu-ray discs that have a fixed storage size per layer, these cards are able to expand their storage capacity as fabrication sizes get smaller and the player can take advantage of it without change.
4. Variable form-factor. The only thing these cards need to be fixed is the connection at the front. The size and shape of the card outside of the connector can be anything. This allows multiple storage capacities and studios could choose whichever met their needs for each specific movie, with smaller likley being cheaper.
5. Likely to be easily portable but the amount of CPU horsepower needed for HDM may negate the smaller form factor.

Now a new format which met the above capabilities would also be future-proof for a much longer period.
Export to Wiki