DaViD Boulet
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- Feb 24, 1999
- Messages
- 8,826
For those of you who think that your posts at HTF go un-noticed by the studios think again...this is PROOF that we're being heard.
In response to the the all-important early-adoptor needs of "cheaper" and "out sooner" the industry HAS DEVELOPED AN ENTIRELY NEW HD FORMAT TO MEET THESE DEMANDS. I'm honestly *stunned* as you are when I got some insider tips this morning.
After the posts by many HTF members who have given their support to HD DVD and expressed that their decision is because it's "cheaper" and "will be out sooner" -- which are their most important priorities for a new format that may last for decades in their movie collection -- the industry has responded!
Here are the details:
In an effort to save cost and time (the two most important priorities for many HD enthusiasts it seems), the new format will not require a new player purchase. Instead, the new HD format will work using your existing DVD player. Amazing as it sounds...read on...
The new format will also not require any new disc purchase. This is the most astonishing part of all...the new HD format will actually work using your *existing* DVD collection.
What you do is place place a new "HD" stickers on the cases of your Standard-def DVDs. Then just play them like you would any other DVD! Since most HD DVD and BD titles will be downresed over component anyway, the 480P you get from your new HD discs won't be much different on the small-screen sizes/viewing ratio of most viewers. And since picture quality or new features like 1080P, multi-angle, interactivity, or lossless audio aren't as important as cost or time of availability...they won't be missed!
I'm asking my sources for more information so stay tuned...but my understanding is that the new "HD" stickers should be available soon and be priced CHEAPER than the price of a regular DVD...you may even be able to DOWNLOAD them and print them out yourself to save even MORE time and money! HOWEVER, you won't be able to make subsequent copies of the stickers and duplicate them for sale since they will all be watermarked and use a sophisticated version of digital copy management. The stickers *may* require the use of an internet connection but this is unclear. It seems that the industry would want to be able to deactivate stickers that are discovered to be the victim of piracy.
*** IMPORTANT UPDATE *****
The inital release of the stickers may not be fully featured in an effort to get them out by the projected launch date. We're not sure exactly what performance differences this may mean at this time, but expect the first wave of stickers to drop some of the format's features that will probably show up on 2nd generation stickers. It may be possible for first-generation buyers to upgrade their stickers to fully-functional status by means of a downloadable stamp...but at this time it is unclear...
More to come! I know this is great news and it's exciting that if low cost and speed of delivery are your primary goals for a new HD format...there will soon be an option that has even HD DVD beat!
-dave
In response to the the all-important early-adoptor needs of "cheaper" and "out sooner" the industry HAS DEVELOPED AN ENTIRELY NEW HD FORMAT TO MEET THESE DEMANDS. I'm honestly *stunned* as you are when I got some insider tips this morning.
After the posts by many HTF members who have given their support to HD DVD and expressed that their decision is because it's "cheaper" and "will be out sooner" -- which are their most important priorities for a new format that may last for decades in their movie collection -- the industry has responded!
Here are the details:
In an effort to save cost and time (the two most important priorities for many HD enthusiasts it seems), the new format will not require a new player purchase. Instead, the new HD format will work using your existing DVD player. Amazing as it sounds...read on...
The new format will also not require any new disc purchase. This is the most astonishing part of all...the new HD format will actually work using your *existing* DVD collection.
What you do is place place a new "HD" stickers on the cases of your Standard-def DVDs. Then just play them like you would any other DVD! Since most HD DVD and BD titles will be downresed over component anyway, the 480P you get from your new HD discs won't be much different on the small-screen sizes/viewing ratio of most viewers. And since picture quality or new features like 1080P, multi-angle, interactivity, or lossless audio aren't as important as cost or time of availability...they won't be missed!
I'm asking my sources for more information so stay tuned...but my understanding is that the new "HD" stickers should be available soon and be priced CHEAPER than the price of a regular DVD...you may even be able to DOWNLOAD them and print them out yourself to save even MORE time and money! HOWEVER, you won't be able to make subsequent copies of the stickers and duplicate them for sale since they will all be watermarked and use a sophisticated version of digital copy management. The stickers *may* require the use of an internet connection but this is unclear. It seems that the industry would want to be able to deactivate stickers that are discovered to be the victim of piracy.
*** IMPORTANT UPDATE *****
The inital release of the stickers may not be fully featured in an effort to get them out by the projected launch date. We're not sure exactly what performance differences this may mean at this time, but expect the first wave of stickers to drop some of the format's features that will probably show up on 2nd generation stickers. It may be possible for first-generation buyers to upgrade their stickers to fully-functional status by means of a downloadable stamp...but at this time it is unclear...
More to come! I know this is great news and it's exciting that if low cost and speed of delivery are your primary goals for a new HD format...there will soon be an option that has even HD DVD beat!
-dave