Recommended Posts

Uhh.... Source?

The Yahoo link does NOT confirm that.

I quote from that article (emphasis mine)

While I agree, they probably will exit the business, they havent confirmed they will yet. Who knows, they might make an annoucement saying they're releasing Blu-Ray drives... lol. (Hey, that'd be good)

From the Yahoo article:

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp (6502.T) is planning to give up on its HD DVD format for high-definition video, conceding defeat to the competing Blu-Ray technology backed by Sony Corp (6758.T), a company source said on Saturday.

The only thing more official is the actual press releases.. which is now certain to happen most likely next week.

Update: Along with an English translation of the NHK's article (Thanks sfditty!) comes additional confirmation from Reuters sources, it's a wrap. Toshiba is shutting down its DVD manufacturing facilities in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, while official word is expected "soon".

http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/16/toshiba...hd-dvd-already/

Wow, bye HD-DVD.

If this is true, that Toshiba is going to kill the HD-DVD, for one thing it's nice, because it means no more format war.

But, we must all admit, it's not the better format that is winning. At least, HD-DVD was specification complete from day 1. We still have to deal with Profiles with Blu-Ray. And with TL51 (still to come, nothing is out on TL51 disc), HD-DVD could hold the same amount of data than a 50Gb DL Blu-Ray.

In the end, it's still good for customers, even if Blu cost more to own, at least their is no guess work, it's going to be THE format to buy. Just like the transition from VHS to DVD.

Think of all the money lost, for Toshiba, for studios that put movies on HD-DVD, for all the medium production, ....

The worst part is yet to come for Toshiba.... Think of it, soon, they most probably going to sell Blu-Ray player!!! That's a SLAP on your face alright!

We didn't know what the yields were going to be like for the 51GB disc, plus BR would still have the bit-rate advantage.

I wonder when Toshiba will bring out a BR player, and at what cost. Obviously since they won't be fighting for their format anymore there would be no point to lose money on their players, so it'll probably cost a fair bit more than their HD-DVD players for a while.

Edited by AlphaPrime
But, we must all admit, it's not the better format that is winning. At least, HD-DVD was specification complete from day 1.

HD-DVD the better format? Please - there's barely any difference between the two. That's like saying that Kingsmill is obviously the better type of bread over Hovis - they both do the same thing but in slightly different ways. HD-DVD had a complete specification but it was still a rushed format... rather than waiting for higher capacity they decided to push the format to beat Blu-ray. Blu-ray then fought back by releasing their format early and hence the mess with profiles.

I am still hoping we'll see Blu-ray discs with more than two layers in the future because one of the things that annoys me about TV shows is that you have lots of discs for them - I'd rather have two or three discs than seven or eight. If Blu-ray remains at only two layers, like DVD did, then it offers nothing above HD-DVD (providing three-layer discs became commonplace). I hoped Blu-ray would win because of the potential for higher storage (like the 200GB prototype disc). The only other plus point I've heard mentioned for HD-DVD is HDi but Microsoft said that they were happy to licence it to Blu-ray.

HD-DVD the better format? Please - there's barely any difference between the two. That's like saying that Kingsmill is obviously the better type of bread over Hovis - they both do the same thing but in slightly different ways.

neither, warburtons ftw!!!

bring on the bread war

HD-DVD the better format? Please - there's barely any difference between the two. That's like saying that Kingsmill is obviously the better type of bread over Hovis - they both do the same thing but in slightly different ways. HD-DVD had a complete specification but it was still a rushed format... rather than waiting for higher capacity they decided to push the format to beat Blu-ray. Blu-ray then fought back by releasing their format early and hence the mess with profiles.

I am still hoping we'll see Blu-ray discs with more than two layers in the future because one of the things that annoys me about TV shows is that you have lots of discs for them - I'd rather have two or three discs than seven or eight. If Blu-ray remains at only two layers, like DVD did, then it offers nothing above HD-DVD (providing three-layer discs became commonplace). I hoped Blu-ray would win because of the potential for higher storage (like the 200GB prototype disc). The only other plus point I've heard mentioned for HD-DVD is HDi but Microsoft said that they were happy to licence it to Blu-ray.

Even if both formats are replaced by downloadable content, there will still be a need for big optical discs to store those movies, and Hitachi plans to offer an 8-layer Blu-ray disc capable of storing 200GB of data. While this seems like a lot today, by the time it hits the market in 2009 it might not seem like much at the rate hard discs capacity is increasing.

this is from engadgethd...

From the Yahoo article:

The only thing more official is the actual press releases.. which is now certain to happen most likely next week.

You do realise that the "company source" is the same source that Reuters used right? (Read the whole article) lol not that I'm trying to defend HD DVD..I'm just pointing out that the Yahoo article is no more confirmation than anything else.

Edited by Bhav

Well this should now mean that all studio's are released from any contract they have with the HD-DVD group. I'd expect a press release from paramount/universial fairly soon. As for Warner, this also means they no longer have to supply HD-DVD's until May so they may pull out as well, although if the disk's are pressed there is little point in not selling them.

universal is ready to jump ship...

At least one of the two studios exclusive to HD DVD is already gearing up to join the other team.

"While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray," said Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

"The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear. Universal will continue its aggressive efforts to broaden awareness for hi-def?s unparalleled offerings in interactivity and connectivity, at an increasingly affordable price. The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate."

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html...rticle_id=12118

all over now ... was bound to happen sooner or later ..... so .. now ... lets look forward to some other format wars coming up .... or any other wars .... xp -vista, obama -clinton , naked news channel - ammm (thaz a clear winner)

Now its just a waiting game to see when they start releasing (or re-releasing in Paramount's case) on Blu-Ray. It will be interesting to see if they just port the encodes over or redo some of the movies. I'd also like to see if new releases come BD-Live ready [since it is around the corner].

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

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Posts

    • EU says AWS and Microsoft Azure should be treated as DMA gatekeepers by Pradeep Viswanathan Under the European Commission's Digital Markets Act (DMA), a company is presumed to be a gatekeeper if it meets certain quantitative thresholds. However, the Commission can still investigate and designate a company even if it does not meet the numeric thresholds, provided the service has a major market impact. The European Commission launched its investigations into AWS and Azure on November 18, 2025, to address unfair or anti-competitive practices in the cloud sector. Today, the European Commission has informed Amazon and Microsoft of its preliminary view that their cloud computing services, AWS and Azure, should be designated as gatekeepers under the DMA. The EC highlighted that Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure are the largest and second-largest cloud computing services in the European Union. Both of these platforms act as important gateways between businesses and their customers in the EU. The EC further mentioned that AWS and Azure have reached significant turnover, built large and entrenched user bases, and benefit from high switching costs and customer lock-in. Furthermore, their operational capacity and investments appear to have outpaced those of competitors. Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, said the following: It is important to note that the findings are preliminary and do not decide the final outcome. Amazon and Microsoft can now review the findings and respond to the Commission. However, if the Commission confirms its preliminary findings, it will formally designate Amazon and Microsoft as gatekeepers for AWS and Azure. Once designated, Microsoft and Amazon will have six months to bring their cloud services into full compliance with the DMA’s rules and regulations.
    • will EU users be getting the extra 1yr update for free again?
    • Samsung announces Galaxy A27 5G with 120Hz AMOLED display, expanded AI features, and more by Fiza Ali Samsung has announced the Galaxy A27 5G, its latest mid-range smartphone, bringing a handful of upgrades over last year's Galaxy A26 5G. While the changes aren't dramatic, they touch several areas that people tend to notice most in day-to-day use, including the display, performance, and software support. One of the more noticeable updates is the screen. The Galaxy A27 5G comes with a 6.7-inch Super AMOLED display that now supports a 120Hz refresh rate, making scrolling and animations appear smoother. Samsung has also switched to an Infinity-O punch-hole camera design, which leaves more room for the display and gives the phone a cleaner look from the front. Under the hood, the Galaxy A27 5G is powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 processor. The company says the new chip brings improved responsiveness in multitasking, gaming, and media consumption. The company also highlights GPU performance improvements and faster memory technology, which should contribute to smoother graphics rendering, quicker data handling, and improved power efficiency. Furthermore, Samsung has equipped the Galaxy A27 5G with a 12-megapixel selfie camera that is capable of capturing a wider dynamic range and more accurate colours. Like many smartphones launched recently, the Galaxy A27 5G also places a strong focus on AI features. Circle to Search with Google now supports multi-object recognition, making it easier to search for different products or items at the same time. The tech giant says the feature can also support virtual outfit try-ons directly from compatible search results. Photo editing tools are getting some attention as well, with Object Eraser updated to deliver cleaner edits when removing unwanted objects or people from images. Meanwhile, the Voice Recorder app can now transcribe and translate speech simultaneously in one of the 22 supported languages, which could be useful for meetings, lectures, or interviews. Samsung is also expanding AI assistant options on the device, with support for Google Gemini and Perplexity alongside Bixby. The company says these assistants will work more closely with Galaxy apps, including Gallery, to simplify common tasks. Samsung continues to strengthen its long-term software support policy with the Galaxy A27 5G. The smartphone will receive up to six generations of Android OS and One UI updates, along with six years of security patches from its initial global launch. In terms of security, the device includes Samsung Knox and Knox Vault, which are designed to help protect sensitive information stored on the phone. On the flip side, while the company is positioning the Galaxy A27 5G as a step forward from its predecessor, not every change is necessarily an upgrade. One of the first things buyers may notice is the higher price tag. The device launches at $349, making it $50 more expensive than the Galaxy A26 5G's $299 starting price. The selfie camera has also been reduced from 13MP to 12MP, while the ultrawide camera drops from 8MP to 5MP. Samsung has further downgraded the phone's dust and water resistance rating from IP67 to IP64. The Galaxy A27 5G is also marginally thicker at 7.8mm. The Galaxy A27 5G will be available in select markets starting July 3 and will come in four colour options, including Black, Blue, Light Green, and Light Pink. The company will also offer Samsung Care+ coverage plans for customers seeking additional device protection.
    • Doogee and Ulefone regularly release phones with 10k-25k mAh batteries, but those are bricks. I don't understand how they could make it only weigh 220 grams with a battery that size.
    • Windows 10 quietly gets one more year of support and updates by Taras Buria Windows 10 reached its end of life at the end of 2025. Microsoft kicked off the Extended Security Updates program, aimed at giving regular consumers one more year of security-only updates. By doing so, Microsoft gave users more time and money to update their computers to a newer operating system or compatible hardware. Now, with the end of the Extended Security Updates program quickly approaching, Microsoft is making an important adjustment. Users discovered that the official support article for the program now lists a new end-of-support date: The Extended Security Updates program is not a new concept. It has been an official way for business consumers to continue receiving critical updates for unsupported Microsoft products for many years. However, all this time, it was a business-only, paid feature. With Windows 10, Microsoft brought ESU to regular consumers, allowing them to get security updates for Windows 10 past October 2025 essentially for free. When Windows 10 was approaching the end of support, many guessed that Microsoft might adjust its support timelines, and this is exactly what seems to be happening. Of course, Microsoft would love everyone to switch to new computers, such as its latest Surface devices, but in the days of ever-growing hardware prices, not everyone is lucky enough to have money for a new PC. Leaving hundreds of millions of customers with a Windows version that no longer receives security updates is a major risk that Microsoft is not willing to take. If you have a Windows 10 PC to enroll in the Extended Security Updates program, check out this guide to learn how to do so.
  • Recent Achievements

    • First Post
      kinowa earned a badge
      First Post
    • Rookie
      krychek57 went up a rank
      Rookie
    • Grand Master
      Jaybonaut went up a rank
      Grand Master
    • One Year In
      Philsl earned a badge
      One Year In
    • Dedicated
      Scoobystu earned a badge
      Dedicated
  • Popular Contributors

    1. 1
      +primortal
      437
    2. 2
      +Edouard
      168
    3. 3
      PsYcHoKiLLa
      133
    4. 4
      Xenon
      76
    5. 5
      Michael Scrip
      75
  • Tell a friend

    Love Neowin? Tell a friend!