Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD- Page 5

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 2:48am

I am NOW aching to get my PS3. ACHING I tells ya!

[tazber]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 2:49am

are you a gamer jerby?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 2:52am

Hey, jerby, our avs could make out.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 3:05am

I dunno--my av looks like it's ready to chomp!

I am a little bit. I own some Star Wars PS2 games--love Battlefront and the Legos.

I hear they will be doing more Lego games--for Indiana Jones, etc. And it's not a kids' game either! lol Just cute as hell. I would def get into those.

I would likely get into more games owning a PS3. I just hate games where you wander around looking for hidden crap, etc. unless it's really clever (like the SW Legos games).

I love playing with my buddy's Wii (tee hee).

[tazber]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 3:12am

did you see these pics jerby?
Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Legos

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 3:14am

Awww--those are cute.

Are you a gamer?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 3:20am

S'okay, jerby, I don't mind a little lip biting action.

[tazber]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 3:23am

I'm actually not a gamer. I always felt like I would get too addicted to them if I played.
I have some friends who are hardcore though.

[mateo]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 3:25am

HD DVD, won't give up too easy:

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=40659

The companies of the HD DVD Promotion Group today issued a statement in response to the decision by Warner Home Video to exclusively back the Blu-ray format:

"While Warner's decision is a setback for HD DVD, the consumer has benefited from HD DVD's commitment to quality and affordability -- a bar that is critical for the mainstream success of any format. We believe widespread adoption of a next generation format will ultimately be determined by the consumer."

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 3:28am

But that's supposedly how WB decided--consumers were buying way more of the BR discs.

Still--At least 70% are the films will be BR, eh? That's pretty strong for me.

[tazber]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 3:31am

I think that's just PR matty, everyone who knows what they're talking about have pretty much said it's over.

Btw, everyone is recommending this set called Planet Earth. It's suposed to really show off the quality of BR. Anyone seen it?

[mateo]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 3:32am

I bought it for my dad, not on BR though.

I would imagine it looks spectatcular.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 5:27am

https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=b
blu ray blu ps3 ray
1. Blu Ray
54 up, 18 down


What is most likely to become the next form of media. Blu Ray was developed by Sony so it will obviously be on the PS3! Some movies are already using Blu ray technology. Although Blu Ray is Currently not popular (may vary at time period of which you read this) there is still Blu Ray players available (lots of $).

Blu ray disks are basically the thing the will make DVDs obsolete. Like what DVDs did to videos. Each side oh a blu ray disk can hold 25 GB, and dual can hold 50 GB, and get this, they're making a quad-layered one with 100 GB.

Blu Ray + PS3 = lots of $
tags blu ray blu ray ps3 playstation 3
by Is this name used? N.Y. Aug 31, 2006 email it
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2. blu ray
18 up, 29 down


Blu-Ray is suppost to be the next generation of media technology replacing the DVD's. I think it was a stupid idea for DVD's. DVD's are just fine and will probaby satisfy me for a long time. So, i'm saying blu ray sux really big cocks. It is just a waste of money and a really stupid idea. same features and everyting and probably just like 3% difference in quality. only stupid dumb-**** rich people would buy them cause so stupid. IT IS THE SAME F*CKEN THING DUMBASSES.

Jimmy wanted a blu-ray player really bad cause he is so dumb. His family had to use most of the money they invested for his christmas presents on the cheapest blu ray player they could find was $800. Jimmy did not get nothing but a few cheap piece **** gifts after that.

On his next paycheck he spent $34.99 on Alien Vs. Predator blu ray disc while the one on DVD was $10.79!
tags blu ray dvd dumb ass
by Stilts54321 Sherwood Mar 2, 2007 email it
Updated On: 1/5/08 at 05:27 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 9:35am

Nice "colorful" post there, thetinymagic2.

I feel like I should chime in again and say that I don't think Blu-ray Discs are going to replace DVDs. At least not for many, many years. And I don't think that's their mission. It's definitely THE growth market, though. DVDs have sort of leveled out now. Studios have run through most of their catalogs (but not ALL, as we know!). They're looking for new frontiers, and the next big "boom" in the industry. Interactive Hi-Def is definitely the next big boom.

But BD will never "replace" DVD until the vast majority of TV sets in the market place are hi-def. For now, it's only a fraction of the total.

Eventually, and I mean it 10-20 YEARS, you might see a full switch-over. But they would have to be easily available everywhere that DVD players are available: living rooms, laptops, cars, portable devices, etc.

And by that time, as with the way "hard copy" CDs are going... I think you'll see films and TV shows "consumed" as downloadables in hi-def.

So relax... Blu-ray isn't going to replace DVD anymore than the LP replaced the 45.

*waits to see if anyone remembers LPs or 45s*

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 10:48am

Tazzy--New Line announced yesterday they're Blu-ray Disc exclusive too, so in addition to "Hairspray," which is already on BD (it was New Line's first hi-def release), you'll be seeing those little guys with the furry feet in glorious hi-def too. (No, LOTR is not out yet on BD, but I've no doubt it's coming.)

Personally, I can't wait for some of Warners' "ultra-resolution" titles (an eye-popping patented film restoration technique) to come on on BD, like:

Citizen Kane
Wizard of Oz
Gone With the Wind
Casablanca
Robin Hood

Plus, you know, ALL those MGM musicals.

EDIT: I will add this, as far as hi-def "downloadable" movies swooping in and derailing BOTH HD DVD and Blu-ray... As much as I think downloadable HD entertainment is the future, it is NOT here yet. And by "yet," I mean at LEAST ten years. Not 1-2 years.

Why?

Many reasons. First of all, when it comes to hi-def, it's ALL about the quality of the picture and sound. And currently to give consumers a true quality HD image, you're looking at anywhere from 20 GIGS to 50 GIGS of a download. Right now, people download their music files, which are about 2 to 5 megabytes. Not 50 GIGABYTES.

So, there are only three choices:

1) Sacrifice the compression, which will make the quality of picture look TERRIBLE, completely defeating the purpose of hi-def... or

2) wait until computers, phone lines and cable lines can support a "fast" 50 GB download, or...

3) wait until some mad scientist somewhere comes up with yet another "revolutionary compression format" that keeps the quality of the picture, but greatly reduces the file size. We just saw that happen with the new MPEG-4 compressions, which are being used on BD discs.

I'm guessing it will be a combination of 2 AND 3, but beware of option 1. In an effort to go "downloadable" too fast, you will see higher compression rates happen first... meaning crappy picture and sound. I would be very wary of that. And I think we're a decade away from seeing "successful" HD downloads.

Also for thought: Keep in mind that NO current hi-def channels are even broadcasting in 1080p, because they don't have the bandwidth to stream the video. So you're not even getting the highest hi-def via Dish or Cable yet. That will have to come first, before you can think about downloading any of that "quality stuff" to a computer.

And how many movies do you think you can fit on your hard drive, if they're 20 to 50 GIGS?

Lots to happen first before HD downloads replace HD discs.

I do believe it's coming, just like others are saying, but NOT by the end of the year, and NOT even by the end of the decade. That's WAY too fast to be realistic.

Updated On: 1/5/08 at 10:48 AM

[Craig]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 11:15am

I was reading a few pundits last night and today who seem to think that Paramount may either have an out clause regarding their "exlusivity" or may pay whatever penalty to get out.

It's JUST a guess at this point - but who knows - they might switch (or do both formats) sooner than the contract they have now suggests...

[tazber]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 12:08pm

Thanks for all that info besty. I would be lost in the hi def wilderness without you.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 12:23pm

Thanks, Tazzy! I have a flashlight and a map, it's okay.

Craig---That's definitely possible.

Warners has to keep releasing HD DVD titles through May of this year, per contractual agreements. Then it's BD only for them.

I'm not sure what was in Paramount's "exclusive" contract, but it was around $150 million of incentives according to web sites. Still "incentives" isn't cash in the bank. It's things like paying NOTHING to advertise the release of Shrek 3 or Transformers (or other titles) on HD DVD, because Toshiba would feature the movie in one of their spots for an HD DVD player, and pay for the cost of the ad. That sort of thing.

But who wants $150 million of free ads and promos that aren't going to sell much (if any soon) product? Still, it will be up to whatever was in the deal, as far as out-clauses, etc.

And from the "sour grapes" camp, I've heard that Warners got a sweet incentive deal from the Blu-ray camp to go exclusively BD. And I'm sure that's true. Both sides were in a bidding war to win over Warners in the past several months. But as Warner Bros. was quick to point out yesterday, the home entertainment market is a $40 billion industry, and whatever compensation they received was a drop in the bucket, and has very little to do with their decision to go with Blu-ray. (I'm sure they TOOK it, though!)

They wanted to end the format war. Period.

Because sales are stalled, not just between the two HD formats, but DVD sales were down last year for the first time ever. Everyone is waiting to see what to buy now. They're very confused and don't want to waste their money. If Warners had gone with HD DVD, it would have been pretty much a 50/50 split between the two formats. It would NOT have been "game over," and it would have only added to a stalled situation and created a stalemate between the two sides. By going with BD, they ended the war. Sales can now move forward, and the HD home entertainment market can grow with confidence.

They went with Blu-ray for many reasons, but I see THAT as the biggest reason by far. It's just good business.

Updated On: 1/5/08 at 12:23 PM

[Craig]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 12:30pm

I wonder if (at all) there were any incentives to the major re (and e) tailers to carry formats.

If one of the formats wanted to push the other format out, I would have thought that besides the studios, they would have incentified the stores. Not sure if that would be legal or whatnot - but it seems to me if they could have locked up some major stores to only carry blu-ray or HD DVD, that would have had a profound affect.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 3:14pm

I don't know if there were store incentives. I know everyone in the biz was waiting to see what Best Buy, Target or Wal-mart would carry, as far as players and discs.

(Internet sales, by the way, make up only a small fraction of the total hardware and software sales... as much as we love our Amazon and DeepDiscount!)

But honestly, this "war" was won by Blu-ray when Sony decided to sell their best player, cheaply (hell, practically for FREE) as part of their PS3. That was the "Atom bomb." The "check mate" move.

The stand-alone players of both formats were just "sticks and stones" statistics, by comparison.


EDIT: I would go so far as to say, in the "high tech history books," the war between VHS and Betamax was won by the porn industry. But the war between HD DVD and Blu-ray was won by the gamers.

Updated On: 1/5/08 at 03:14 PM

[Roscoe]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 8:02pm

I'm finding all of this very informative and more than a bit scary. Thanks for posting all of this great information, everybody.

I'm still not so sure about the future being so squarely centered on downloadable entertainment only. I'm still squeamish everytime I download a song from itunes, what the hell happens if my ipod or my computer dies, is it going to be a total pain to reconstitute all of it? And the size of movies versus songs, and all that. I like having things on a disc, separate from the player.

So I'm a Techno Age Luddite.

[thetinymagic2]

Posted: 1/5/08 at 8:06pm

That's not MY quotes but others' opinions on Urbandictionary.com.

[Icehouse Life]

Posted: 1/6/08 at 2:07am

This format war will be over this year with Blu-Ray winning. I knew that Warner will join Blu-ray exclusivity based in a large part in immense sales in its favor. What is shocking was the annoucemnt just before the upcoming CES in Las Vegas this week.

If I had a wish for what I want to see on Blu-Ray DVDs is a multi-disc set of the recent Olympics with all of the events, ceremonies, medal ceremonies, and lots of extras.

As far as on-demand, that stuff can be added onto a Blu-Ray through a computer transfer and Internet downloading, since it is theorecticly future-proof without the need for multiple dipping, can it?

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/6/08 at 8:53am

I know a lot of people were surprised that Warners made their announcement on the last workday before CES began... but the more I think about it, I agree it was the right thing to do, as long as the deal was made. It was best for consumers. Otherwise the HD DVD camp would be giving consumers a big song-and-dance show about what was coming, only to have the rug ripped out from under them, as soon as the convention was over. By announcing BD support before the convention began, the rug was still pulled out for HD DVD, but NOT for consumers.

In fact, HD DVD had already scheduled a big press conference for tonight (Sunday) to help kick off the CES convention with all of their upcoming plans... and they CANCELLED it completely, after Friday's news.

Icehouse--I'm not sure what your question is about downloading HD and/or on-demand. I have an DVR that records HD content already. It works just like any DVR on the market, and I'm able to play back and watch HD content whenever I want to. But as I pointed out in an earlier post, this "HD" doesn't even begin to compare to a Blu-ray Disc playing at full 1080p. The current HD signals look great, don't get me wrong, but they are hardly "pristine" or "state of the art." They have tiny compression artifacts all over them, and they are 720p or 1080i at the most. Nobody is broadcasting 1080p yet. So, it's a noticeably lesser grade of HD than can be found on either of the disc formats.

That's why I say that until the quality can rival hard discs, consumers looking for the very best hi-def has to offer won't settle for a second-rate downloaded picture on a DVR over a first-rate picture on a disc.

[mateo]

Posted: 1/6/08 at 12:40pm

They cancelled their conference?


Well that about says it all.