M:I-3 DVD to Debut in Three Formats


Recommended Posts

"Mission: Impossible III" will set a milestone when it is released to video on October 30, becoming the first movie to be available on DVD, HD DVD and Blu-ray simultaneously. The high-def versions will offer 1080p resolution and 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus surround sound.

The HD DVD release will also include an "enhanced commentary" by director J.J. Abrams and Tom Cruise that shows the pair talking in the corner as the movie plays. This capability is possible through HD DVD's iHD feature, which is not included in Blu-ray. Analysts say that more studios will follow with similar three format launches -- at least until one high-definition format prevails.

Source

Link to comment
https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/486000-mi-3-dvd-to-debut-in-three-formats/
Share on other sites

So what was with all this talk about blu-ray "well its better becuase its supported by more companies", i have a hunch that the reason most people liked blu-ray was becuase they thought the name sounded cool.

Whilst the name is cool (really?), in a sort of ambiguous way, the main reason people favoured Blu-Ray was because of the disc capacity - it means that more content can be included, or the same amount at a higher resolution. Other than that everything goes in HD-DVD's favour. Still, I'd much rather have a larger capacity, not least because if Blu-Ray becomes popular then recordable drives and media will come right down in price; not that it will matter when multi-TB holographic disks come out in several years.

I wasn't very impressed with DVD's when they first came out because they were only 7 times the capacity of CD's, whereas the jump from floppy disk to CD was massive. This generation is even worse... 9GB dual-layer DVD to single-layer HD-DVD is less than twice the size. This generation was rushed. I'm still holding out for Blu-Ray to win as I like the prospect of 200GB discs... even if they fail they should reach 100GB, so it means less disc changing for television series.

I wasn't very impressed with DVD's when they first came out because they were only 7 times the capacity of CD's, whereas the jump from floppy disk to CD was massive. This generation is even worse... 9GB dual-layer DVD to single-layer HD-DVD is less than twice the size. This generation was rushed. I'm still holding out for Blu-Ray to win as I like the prospect of 200GB discs... even if they fail they should reach 100GB, so it means less disc changing for television series.

I seriously doubt either format will increase in capacity. When CDs came out, did they ever increase in capacity? Not really. CD-Rs will let you store 700 MB instead of 650, but that isn't always reliable as the extra data is spread on the outer edge of the disk.

If you're going to add multiple layers to a disk to increase capacity, sooner or later you'll hit a barrier where it's not cost effective to add another layer when you could buy another disk. Either that or throughput will suffer due to multiple layers. Two layers may not pose a problem, but three or four layers might.

Just wait and see, disk capacity will not increase :sleep:

I seriously doubt either format will increase in capacity. When CDs came out, did they ever increase in capacity? Not really. CD-Rs will let you store 700 MB instead of 650, but that isn't always reliable as the extra data is spread on the outer edge of the disk.
CDs weren't designed as a multi-layer technology, unlike DVDs or HD-DVD/Blu-Ray. If you're going to make a point you should at least have some knowledge about the subject. However, I was disappointed that DVDs only went up to two layers, despite talks that they'd be upto four within no time.
If you're going to add multiple layers to a disk to increase capacity, sooner or later you'll hit a barrier where it's not cost effective to add another layer when you could buy another disk. Either that or throughput will suffer due to multiple layers. Two layers may not pose a problem, but three or four layers might.
Firstly, the cost might not be cheaper than multiple discs but it's a damn sight more practical for the user and certainly something that they prefer over dozens of discs - it could certainly give the format an advantage. Secondly, Blu-Ray has already been tested at 100GB and the 200GB prototype is still being designed (though with some issues), so your arguement holds no weight... with such fierce competition it will surely be something that Sony will wish to push in order to gain an advantage.

I hope that HD-DVD increases in capacity as well. As I have said, I have no interest in Blu-Ray other than for the format's size.

i wouldnt trust sonys "supposed" 100 or 200gb discs. they havent even been able to get the dual layer 50s out yet.
Indeed. I don't trust them but I am hopeful that it's a possibility, particularly with HD-DVD breathing down their neck.

Whilst the name is cool (really?), in a sort of ambiguous way, the main reason people favoured Blu-Ray was because of the disc capacity - it means that more content can be included, or the same amount at a higher resolution. Other than that everything goes in HD-DVD's favour. Still, I'd much rather have a larger capacity, not least because if Blu-Ray becomes popular then recordable drives and media will come right down in price; not that it will matter when multi-TB holographic disks come out in several years.

I wasn't very impressed with DVD's when they first came out because they were only 7 times the capacity of CD's, whereas the jump from floppy disk to CD was massive. This generation is even worse... 9GB dual-layer DVD to single-layer HD-DVD is less than twice the size. This generation was rushed. I'm still holding out for Blu-Ray to win as I like the prospect of 200GB discs... even if they fail they should reach 100GB, so it means less disc changing for television series.

QFT

Every movie studio, except Universal, supports either Blu-ray exclusively, or both Blu-ray and HD-DVD.

In comparison, there aren't very many movie studios that support HD-DVD (especially exclusively).

The future prospects for Blu-ray are good.

This is nothing like betamax where Sony was the sole supporter.

Whilst the name is cool (really?), in a sort of ambiguous way, the main reason people favoured Blu-Ray was because of the disc capacity - it means that more content can be included, or the same amount at a higher resolution. Other than that everything goes in HD-DVD's favour. Still, I'd much rather have a larger capacity, not least because if Blu-Ray becomes popular then recordable drives and media will come right down in price; not that it will matter when multi-TB holographic disks come out in several years.

I wasn't very impressed with DVD's when they first came out because they were only 7 times the capacity of CD's, whereas the jump from floppy disk to CD was massive. This generation is even worse... 9GB dual-layer DVD to single-layer HD-DVD is less than twice the size. This generation was rushed. I'm still holding out for Blu-Ray to win as I like the prospect of 200GB discs... even if they fail they should reach 100GB, so it means less disc changing for television series.

Well size does not matter for movies as the Blu-ray movies are being shown using MPEG 2 which is the same as DVD anyway. So you are giving a worse picture and taking up all that extra space.

So for movies Blu-ray is a bad thing and you are only comparing 15 to 25 and remember, that with mpeg 2 using a HD bitrate it is going to take that space away. So blu-ray movies you actually lose, not gain. You lose picture quality and space and to add on top of that you have to pay a lot more.

Not a good thing at all.

don't forget that blu-ray can do 1080P.

So can HD-DVD. Just the first players out are not doing 1080p, but both formats support 1080P.

Whoops

don't forget that blu-ray can do 1080P.

So can HD-DVD. Also, both formats can do MPEG-2, H.264 (MPEG-4 Part 10) and VC-1. So video wise, neither format has the advantage. But it's quite perplexing that Sony/Warner/et al. have decided to release the first-gen Blu-ray movies in MPEG-2. Especially Warner since they release their HD-DVD titles using VC-1. Why? No-one knows.

So can HD-DVD. Also, both formats can do MPEG-2, H.264 (MPEG-4 Part 10) and VC-1. So video wise, neither format has the advantage. But it's quite perplexing that Sony/Warner/et al. have decided to release the first-gen Blu-ray movies in MPEG-2. Especially Warner since they release their HD-DVD titles using VC-1. Why? No-one knows.

Sony has made their decision to push ONLY MPEG-2 on Blu-ray and as I had said that many other studios would follow and I was right.

So, as long as studio's push their movies as MPEG-2 on blu-ray and as long as that format is more expensive, then I am not for that format and I think it will be a problem for it.

Why would you want to take a chance on getting HD content in MPEG-2 on blu-ray, when you can get a much better picture in HD using VC-1 content and a cheaper player/media as well.

All content that is HD is being shipped using the VC-1 codec on HD-DVD.

Well size does not matter for movies as the Blu-ray movies are being shown using MPEG 2 which is the same as DVD anyway. So you are giving a worse picture and taking up all that extra space.

So for movies Blu-ray is a bad thing and you are only comparing 15 to 25 and remember, that with mpeg 2 using a HD bitrate it is going to take that space away. So blu-ray movies you actually lose, not gain. You lose picture quality and space and to add on top of that you have to pay a lot more.

Size does matter. And whilst single layer might be 15 versus 25 dual-layer will be standard and that will be 30 versus 50, with the gap expanding the more layers that are added. However, as you rightly point out, that makes no difference if they continue using MPEG2 and producing these half baked releases - why, I have no idea, but it is quite ridiculous and it is only hurting Sony to continue down this route. Unless they sort out these outrageous problems soon this is going to be a very one sided format war. :wacko:

Does everyone think this HD DVD v Blue Ray battle will actually result in a single format winner?

To be honest I dont think we will have a single winner, I think both formats will have a large enough following, with them each having their own plus's (and minus's!) that both formats could probably survive. Why does it have to be a single format solution!

Just my personal opion. Does anyone else agree, or am i alone on this one! LOL

I will prob be initially a blue ray follower pretty much because will be gettin PS3, but if I end up gettin 360 too, then having both as an option would appeal!

Cant wait for MI: III to come out, I'll hopefully get it on Blue ray if its available over here by then :)

Well size does not matter for movies as the Blu-ray movies are being shown using MPEG 2 which is the same as DVD anyway. So you are giving a worse picture and taking up all that extra space.

So for movies Blu-ray is a bad thing and you are only comparing 15 to 25 and remember, that with mpeg 2 using a HD bitrate it is going to take that space away. So blu-ray movies you actually lose, not gain. You lose picture quality and space and to add on top of that you have to pay a lot more.

Not a good thing at all.

The same codecs are in both standards so that is up to the movie studios AFAIK.

This topic is now closed to further replies.
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • DVD only? What kind of self-respecting optical disk backup/ripping tool doesn't support Blu-ray these days? I burned all my DVDs like 15+ years ago...
    • ...but you're Johnny, from Australia?    
    • Glow 26.9 by Razvan Serea Glow provides detailed reporting on every hardware component in your computer, saving you valuable time typically spent searching for CPU, motherboard, RAM, graphics card, and other stats. With Glow, all the information is conveniently presented in one clean interface, allowing you to easily access and review the comprehensive hardware details of your system. Glow provides detailed information on various system aspects, including OS, motherboard, processor, memory, graphics card, storage, network, battery, drivers, and services. The well-organized format ensures easy access to the required information. You can export all the gathered data to a plain text file, facilitating sharing with others for troubleshooting purposes. No installation needed. Just decompress the archive, launch the executable, and access computer-related information. Glow runs on Windows 11 and Windows 10 64-bit versions. Glow 26.9 changelog: New Features The processor hardware detection engine has been significantly enhanced beyond traditional Intel and AMD architectures. Native support is now available for modern platforms such as Apple Silicon (M-Series) and the newly introduced NVIDIA Spark. In addition, all ARM-based processors can now be accurately distinguished between ARM32 and ARM64 architectures, providing precise hardware reporting. This marks a major milestone for Glow's hardware detection capabilities. The RAM manufacturer identification algorithm has been expanded. JEDEC vendor codes for popular brands such as Patriot, PNY, Team Group, GeIL, Lexar (Longsys), and Asgard/Gloway have been integrated into the database. This significantly reduces the likelihood of incorrect or "Unknown Manufacturer" results and improves overall hardware detection accuracy. New Public IP Address and Internet Service Provider (ISP) features have been added to the Network section. To ensure reliability, this information is retrieved from the trusted service ipwho.is. When Hiding Mode is enabled, no requests are sent and these features remain hidden, as they may expose sensitive information. The search engine used in the Installed Drivers, Installed Services, and Installed Applications sections has been enhanced. You can now perform more flexible and accurate searches using initials, partial matches, and loosely arranged character sequences. The TS Preloader loading bar has been rebuilt using our modern TS Custom Controls graphics library, developed entirely in-house. As a result of this infrastructure upgrade, the loading bar now features smooth rendering and rounded corners that align with the visual style of Windows 11. [TS Updater] A new validation algorithm has been added to check whether the target application is currently running before the update process begins. Bug Fixes Resolved a condition that could prevent TS Preloader from shutting down safely during rare application crash scenarios. Fixed a text alignment issue in the Network section affecting the display of DNS addresses. Alignment is now rendered correctly. [TS Updater] Fixed an issue that could prevent the updated application's executable "*.exe" file from being located after the update process. [TS Updater] Fixed a bug that could leave outdated "*.sha256" files in the application directory after an update. [TS Updater] Fixed a rare issue that could cause subfolders to be moved into the root directory after an update. [TS Updater] Fixed an issue during the first launch that could cause flickering and a temporary white window appearance due to Windows Defender interactions. Changes A small improvement has been made to the internet connectivity detection algorithm. Connectivity checks are now performed in the background with minimal impact on the user interface thread. The keyboard shortcuts in the top menu have been reorganized and simplified to provide a consistent experience across all Türkaysoft applications and to avoid potential conflicts with standard Windows shortcuts. The TS Preloader splash image has been updated with a Türkiye-themed stadium design to celebrate Türkiye's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup—its first appearance in 24 years. Congratulations, Türkiye! The TS Custom Controls module has been updated to version 26.6, delivering improved stability and a more polished visual appearance. [TS Updater] The application icon has been redesigned to provide a more modern and refined look. Note: Always unzip the program before using it. Otherwise you may get an error. Download: Glow 26.9 | 1.8 MB (Open Source) Links: Glow Homepage | Screenshot | Github Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
    • DWARF mini review: the world's smallest smart telescope for night and day sky captures by Steven Parker DWARFLAB reached out to me asking if I was interested in checking out the DWARF mini, which is a portable astronomy telescope designed for amateur astronomers. Why do I say it's for amateurs? Well, for starters, it's not what you'd call "high end"; it's more of a professional-grade starting point for amateurs serious about capturing what's up there in our night and day skies. A typical amateur astronomer is most likely thousands of dollars deep into the hobby, and I will make no claims that this DWARF mini (at a fraction of the cost) could replace it all, okay? Well, if you read on, it will be clearer what I am trying to convey. Disclosure: DWARFLAB provided a free sample without any editorial input or review pre-approval. I have always been interested in looking up and observing the night sky. I see satellites crossing the sky above my garden most nights, and I am always looking at the moon. Yeah, I have a 200MP camera on my phone, but at 200X zoom, AI takes over and makes the pretty moon pictures that I snap, the DWARF mini does not, you get an actual true picture of what you can barely see with the naked eye. Before we start, let's share the highlights of the DWARF mini in bite-sized format: Pocket-Sized & Ultra-Lightweight Weighing just 1.85 lbs (840g), the DWARF mini easily fits into a backpack or large pocket. Its all-in-one, compact design makes it the ultimate grab-and-go digital telescope for hiking, camping, or traveling to dark-sky locations. Intuitive App Control & Built-in Sky Atlas Go from unboxing to your first shot in just 3 minutes! The DWARFLAB App provides a seamless experience with an interactive star map. Simply select your target and start exploring without the steep learning curve of traditional setups. Auto GOTO & 360° Pivot Freedom Enjoy pinpoint automated tracking with full 360° rotation. Powered by a high-sensitivity Sony IMX662 sensor (1/2.8-inch, 2.9μm pixels), it captures amazing, low-noise astro details, bringing faint nebulas and star clusters to life with stunning clarity. Pro-Level EQ Mode & Long Exposure Unlock advanced deep-space imaging with Equatorial (EQ) Mode. Supporting impressive single-frame exposures up to 90 seconds and featuring built-in light pollution filters, it easily cuts through city glow to reveal intricate celestial structures. Smart Cloud Processing & All-Ages Fun Effortlessly enhance your raw data with integrated cloud processing for professional-grade results. Perfect for beginners, kids, and adults, this telescope makes exploring and sharing the wonders of the universe an exciting, family-friendly adventure. The packaging is a pretty minimal affair with the outer box opening like a flap to reveal the plastic mould of the DWARF mini sitting in it. Below, the Sun filter, charging cable, cleaning cloth, and documentation can be found. DWARFLAB also provided a Mini Hydraulic Tripod ($89.99), and I highly recommend getting it if you plan on purchasing the DWARF mini, as it fully supports the motorized tracking feature of the telescope; plus, at 840g, the weight of the telescope, you will need a tripod that supports more than the weight of a smartphone anyway. What's in the box DWARF Mini Smart Telescope × 1 Sun Filter x 1 Type-C to Type-C Cord x 1 Cleaning Cloth x 1 User Guide With that out of the way, here are the full specs: DWARF mini Dimensions (DWH): 60.70 mm x 100.38 × 183.61 (2.39" x 3.95" x 7.23") Weight: 840g (1.85lbs) Aperture diameter: 30 mm (telephoto), 3.4 mm (wide angle) Image Sensor: SONY IMX662 1/2.8" (Telephoto) OmniVision OS02K10 1/2.8" (Wide-angle) Focal length: 150 mm (telephoto), 6.7 mm (wide-angle) Equivalent focal length: 1016 mm (telephoto), 45 mm (wide-angle) Shutter Speed: Tele - 1/10000-90s, Wide - 1/10000-30s Maximum exposure time: 90s (telephoto & wide-angle), Both in EQ mode Rotation range: Lens: 225°, Base: 360° Effective Pixels: 2.07M Maximum Resolution: 1920 × 1080 (Telephoto & Wide-angle) Built-in filters: Astro, Dark, Duo-Band (Telephoto), Astro (Wide-angle) Output: JPG, FITS, TIFF, MP4 Shooting Mode: Photos, Videos, Astronomy, Burst Shooting, Time-lapse Photography Storage: 64 GB Battery: Built-in 7000 mAh, supports external USB charging Charging Port: Type-C NPU: 1 TOPS Features: WiFi, NFC NFC One-Touch Connection Astronomy Post-Processing/Appointment Shooting/Astronomy Mosaic Wi-Fi Transmission Range: 15m (open environment) Color: Black Compatibility: iOS & Android smartphones/tablets Warranty: 2-years (24-months) MSRP: $399 Design Charge port On/off button Lens On the DWARF mini itself, it is a pretty minimal affair. On one side, there is a Type-C USB port to charge the non-removable 7000 mAh battery, and on the other side, a large button to power on or off the telescope. The button is flanked by an LED that is green when connected via the DWARFLAB app, or lights up red when being powered off. Below the button, there are four LEDs that indicate battery power. The DWARF mini does not have any sharp edges as all sides are rounded off; it has a good heft to it, but the weight of it feels quite balanced in the hand, so it isn't top or bottom-heavy. On the front there is the DWARFLAB logo which is quite small and there are no other markings on it. The tripod offers full 360° rotation of the motorized base, which allows for tracking for the time-lapse mode, but also for the 90-second captures of nearer objects in the sky, such as the Sun or the moon. Usage To get started, simply power on the DWARF mini and open the DWARFLAB app, tap on Connect, and it will scan for the DWARF mini over the Wi-Fi network. The device supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, as well as Bluetooth for discovery, so connection issues were minimal in my experience with it. As previously noted in the specs, the DWARF mini will stay connected with a phone or tablet up to 15 meters in an open environment, such as a backyard. Lighting status Powering on: The green circular light will rotate and breathe in turn Powering off: The red circular light is gradually extinguished Connecting: Green light strip rotating Connected: Green light strip solid/always on 4 lights 1= 0-25%, 2= 25-50%, 3= 50-75%, 4= 75-100% battery power To view the full lighting status, such as tracking mode and connection failure, you can check the user guide on the official DWARFLAB page. DWARFLAB app Above, you can see the steps undertaken to connect the DWARFLAB app to my Galaxy S26 Ultra. Weirdly, I got an alert that a firmware update failed to get uploaded to the DWARF mini the first time, but upon retrying, it worked. Then place the DWARF mini outside, make sure your smartphone or tablet is connected to it, and then head back inside, because you can manage it from the comfort of your home. Simply enter the Atlas tab in the app and search for what you want to capture, and then tap on the camera icon; the DWARF mini will then attempt to track the object and give you a live view right on your connected device. Results I've had the DWARF mini since April, but even though my garden is south-facing, I had a lot of trouble trying to capture a good image of the moon. In the end, it was possible after I took it with me on a trip to my parents in Southend, UK, at the end of May. Here is a capture of the moon, resulting from 20 stacked images over a 90-second exposure. What you are seeing here is not AI-assisted. A good example of what I mean is the latest flagships with their 200MP cameras claiming to capture things like closeups of the moon, and while they are not as good as the above example on the DWARF mini, the resulting image on smartphones is actually AI-assisted above 30X zoom. Here is an example of a similar shot at the moon at 200X zoom using an HONOR Magic8 Pro. The difference is clear. Next, here we have a shot of the daytime moon. Here is a shot of Arcturus, the red giant star, which is the fourth brightest in the night sky. As previously mentioned, it could be a bit clearer, but clouds passing in front of it muddied the shot a bit. The Sun The DWARF mini also ships with a sun filter, meaning you can take great shots of the sun as well. Tracking Sun Resulting (stacked) shot Live zoom The pictures themselves are limited to Full HD, and some of the examples actually came out in HD (1280x720), but this is because the standard telescopic result is in 720p while "Wide" is in 1080p. Above you can see how in the app the Sun is tracked, the resulting capture, and Live zoom. I have only scratched the surface of what is possible with this telescope; I found several examples online of shots of the Milky Way, among others, such as nebulae and galaxies. All of this requires patience and knowledge, although if you know what you are looking for, simply enter it in the Atlas tab in the DWARFLAB app, tap the camera icon, and the telescope will attempt to track it. Conclusion The good The DWARF mini definitely places itself in a price point that makes astrology accessible to anyone looking to get started in the hobby. Say you want to have a closer look at the moon, simply enter it in the Atlas, and the Live view also lets you zoom in and snap pictures. The bad Some issues I came across while operating the DWARF mini were that it sometimes failed to connect unless I held my smartphone right next to it, and finding and tracking sometimes took several attempts to get it calibrated. I discovered that it helped if I sort of positioned and pointed the telescope in the general area it was supposed to detect, but this obviously wouldn't work with objects you can't see with the naked eye; more testing is required for that. Another bit of advice is to ensure that the lens is clean. While making the examples of live zooming on the sun, I discovered that the telescope lens and sun filter were not completely clean, and only after cleaning with a microfiber cloth was I able to get a decent shot of the sun. Where to buy and a coupon Okay, $399 is not cheap for a side hobby, but nor is a $1,500 smartphone flagship that you'll most likely have for a couple of years. This is a one-time entrance into astrology, and it won't become obsolete in one year like a smartphone. It's a thumbs up from me. The DWARF mini is available to buy right now in the U.S. and U.K. at the links below. DWARF mini for $399 on the official site DWARF mini for $399 on Amazon U.S. Use the NEOWIN5OFF coupon code for an additional 5% off at checkout (expires June 21) As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
  • Recent Achievements

    • One Month Later
      lamborghiniv10 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      lamborghiniv10 earned a badge
      Week One Done
    • Reacting Well
      X-No-file earned a badge
      Reacting Well
    • One Month Later
      pestcontrol46 earned a badge
      One Month Later
    • Week One Done
      pestcontrol46 earned a badge
      Week One Done
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      504
    2. 2
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      270
    3. 3
      +Edouard
      75
    4. 4
      Skyfrog
      74
    5. 5
      Steven P.
      71
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!