Warner Bros to back Blu-ray DVD format exclusively

By Rob2687
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Grand Master

kak

Posted
Posted
TOKYO, Jan. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Toshiba is quite surprised by Warner Bros.' decision to abandon HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray, despite the fact that there are various contracts in place between our companies concerning the support of HD DVD. As central members of the DVD Forum, we have long maintained a close partnership with Warner Bros. We worked closely together to help standardize the first-generation DVD format as well as to define and shape HD DVD as its next-generation successor.

We were particularly disappointed that this decision was made in spite of the significant momentum HD DVD has gained in the US market as well as other regions in 2007. HD DVD players and PCs have outsold Blu-ray in the US market in 2007.

We will assess the potential impact of this announcement with the other HD DVD partner companies and evaluate potential next steps. We remain firm in our belief that HD DVD is the format best suited to the wants and needs of the consumer.

Basically, they're going to see how badly Paramount/Dreamworks and Universal want out of their contracts. I bet Paramount is laughing their way to the bank right now.

Grand Master

Boz

Posted
Posted

The only thing that can make HD DVD live at this point is if Microsoft indeed embeds HD DVD player in the Xbox drastically pushing HD DVD numbers up just like PS3.

With Warner going Blu the ratio in movie catalogs will be 60:40 for Blu-Ray now. With a lot of movies I like being Warner, I will be definitely buying more Blu movies now.

I'm just curious if Warner will release LOTR and a few other catalog titles on HD DVD before end of May 2008. I think LOTR is quite possible as it's already done by some people involved.

It might still not be completely over, but it's a good start. I just find it really bad for consumers that region coded, DRM infested, 3 times more expensive format is very close to winning not to mention SD DVD/HD DVD combo capability meaning I didn't have to rebuy 2 versions of the movie and so on and so on.

But at the end of the day, Sony probably paid them great deal of money in the next couple of years until the prices come down for BD players and any problems with disc replication come to an end.

The only one who really lost here is the consumer. :(

Grand Master

+Audioboxer Subscriber²

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uhhhhhhhhh so when will this be released?

On January 4, 2008, Digital Playground will release Pirates (Collector's Edition) on Blu-ray - :p Today!!!

The Pirates (Collector's Edition) Blu-ray will feature the following bonus materials:

* Behind-the-Scenes Footage in HD

* Visual FX "Making Of"

* Audio Commentary with the Stars

* Bloopers

* Pirates Short

* Casting Video

* Trailers

* Photo Gallery/Bios

* No region coding

Grand Master

Ayepecks

Posted
Posted

While I will be glad that this should send one format to win (if you think HD DVD has much of a chance now you're only kidding yourself -- Sony has a dominant lead that will be almost impossible to beat in terms of movies), I'm disappointed Sony was the one that won, and not because I have an HD DVD player (since I got it when it was cheap).

I'm disappointed because Blu-Ray players are still really expensive, their discs are still more expensive (disregarding the dual-format HD DVDs), and they still don't have a final spec. If I were to buy a Blu-Ray player now, there's a decent chance it won't work with future Blu-Ray movies, which is just silly. Not to mention I hate region encoding, and HD DVD didn't have regions -- all HD DVD discs worked on every player, everywhere.

Still, once the prices go down significantly on Blu-Ray players, it'll be good for consumers who want a high-def disc player.

(I'm glad I only bought 6 HD DVDs :laugh: )

Grand Master

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While I will be glad that this should send one format to win (if you think HD DVD has much of a chance now you're only kidding yourself -- Sony has a dominant lead that will be almost impossible to beat in terms of movies), I'm disappointed Sony was the one that won, and not because I have an HD DVD player (since I got it when it was cheap).

I'm disappointed because Blu-Ray players are still really expensive, their discs are still more expensive (disregarding the dual-format HD DVDs), and they still don't have a final spec. If I were to buy a Blu-Ray player now, there's a decent chance it won't work with future Blu-Ray movies, which is just silly. Not to mention I hate region encoding, and HD DVD didn't have regions -- all HD DVD discs worked on every player, everywhere.

Still, once the prices go down significantly on Blu-Ray players, it'll be good for consumers who want a high-def disc player.

(I'm glad I only bought 6 HD DVDs :laugh: )

My understanding is that if you buy a certain player it can be updated with firmware?

The PS3 was upgraded to 1.1 somehow....

As for price of movies, on Amazon a lot of the movies (both HD-DVD and Blu Ray) are $19.95...

Grand Master

Joel

Posted
Posted
My understanding is that if you buy a certain player it can be updated with firmware?

The PS3 was upgraded to 1.1 somehow....

As for price of movies, on Amazon a lot of the movies (both HD-DVD and Blu Ray) are $19.95...

Yes, and it seems the ONLY BD player that can be firmware-upgraded is the PS3.

The consumers made their choice.

I still can't understand the logic of indifferent consumers making their choice. Does indifferent mean something else now? :unsure:

Grand Master

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Yes, and it seems the ONLY BD player that can be firmware-upgraded is the PS3.

I still can't understand the logic of indifferent consumers making their choice. Does indifferent mean something else now? :unsure:

I think what he means is the "consumers" made their choice in the sense that Blu Ray practically outsold HD-DVD for a whole year. We (the consumers) are the ones who buy the movies.

As someone else said perfectly in this topic, I believe HD-DVD failed for their poor marketing outside of the USA. They went in aggressive in the US with $99 players and the likes with the belief that conquering the US would = domination everywhere.

HD-DVD never existed in the UK :/

Grand Master

Ayepecks

Posted
Posted
Yes, and it seems the ONLY BD player that can be firmware-upgraded is the PS3.

Exactly.

Audioboxer: HD DVD discs cost lest than Blu-Ray discs; those $20 discs are ones that Amazon has cut the prices of themselves, I believe. New discs tended to be $25 for HD DVDs and $30 for Blu-Ray discs (I could have it $5 too high on both, can't recall); unless the prices are dropped soon, which I doubt will happen now that HD DVD's essentially lost, most discs will still be that expensive.

Grand Master

Elliot B.

Posted
Posted
The consumers made their choice.

Warner made their choice.

Blu-Ray came out as the winner.

The war is over.

99% of consumers are sheep. They didn't choose Blu-ray Disc over HD DVD.

Grand Master

PeterTHX

Posted
Posted
Yes, and it seems the ONLY BD player that can be firmware-upgraded is the PS3.

And the Samsungs, and the Panasonics, and the Pioneers, and the Sony standalones...

Don't know about the Philips or the LG ones. Sharp *just* came out with theirs...

Sony's PS3 updates have been much different because they add a lot of functionality.

Grand Master

TruckWEB

Posted
Posted
My understanding is that if you buy a certain player it can be updated with firmware?

The PS3 was upgraded to 1.1 somehow....

As for price of movies, on Amazon a lot of the movies (both HD-DVD and Blu Ray) are $19.95...

The problem with the spec is not only about software, but it's new hardware needed to support the new Profile. Sony could patch the PS3 to support Profile 1.1 because the extra work needed will be done by the CPU of the console. It's not all Blu-Ray player that enjoy the power of the CELL CPU.... Most player can't be upgraded because the hardware just can't support it.

And now we are talking about Profile 1.1, but Profile 2.0 is comming.... So even if you buy a P1.1 player today, it may not work with P2.0 ....

HD-DVD had a final spec since day 1, network ready, no DRM and was region free. The player cost less, and you could buy combo HD-DVD/DVD movies that could play in a regular DVD player. All in all, it was the best format. But I guess Sony finaly did something great with BD (and the PS3). They win....

I'm looking at my 38 HD-DVD and I tell to myself... AH HA! They got you... You lose! You lost your bet in that VHS/Beta war.... "Open Window, throw money out, close window...".

Early adopters are suckers.... Me included.

Grand Master

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99% of consumers are sheep. They didn't choose Blu-ray Disc over HD DVD.

And ultimately that's the fault of HD-DVD and their marketing not piercing the consumers enough to GIVE them choice.

In the UK it would be i'll buy an HDTV please, sales person have you heard about hi def blah blah blah, Blu Ray bought - Main reason being most of the electronic retail chains over here only seem to carry or promote Blu Ray.

Exactly.

Audioboxer: HD DVD discs cost lest than Blu-Ray discs; those $20 discs are ones that Amazon has cut the prices of themselves, I believe. New discs tended to be $25 for HD DVDs and $30 for Blu-Ray discs (I could have it $5 too high on both, can't recall); unless the prices are dropped soon, which I doubt will happen now that HD DVD's essentially lost, most discs will still be that expensive.

Fair enough, I do hope they come down in price then!

Grand Master

Julius Caro

Posted
Posted
And ultimately that's the fault of HD-DVD and their marketing not piercing the consumers enough to GIVE them choice.

In the UK it would be i'll buy an HDTV please, sales person have you heard about hi def blah blah blah, Blu Ray bought - Main reason being most of the electronic retail chains over here only seem to carry or promote Blu Ray.

Toshiba didnt care enough for the european market. People's been hearing "blu-ray" for at least the last couple of years, in europe. HD-DVD was so unknown that a couple of friends a couple of months ago asked if me this "new" hd-dvd was better than BD because it was newer xD

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