Reuters: Toshiba to exit HD DVD, end format war

[Borbus]

What about Microsoft, which is behind the HD-DVD? mmm thats a total loss...

I don't think Microsoft had much of a stake in HD DVD to be honest and I wouldn't be surprised if they have a stake in Blu-ray as well. And remember they have their competing HD download service.

By the way, there are several reasons that HD DVD was better, but I won't go into them here. As usual marketing prevails, Sony got their consumers to do exactly what they wanted them to. If consumers had a collective brain, Sony wouldn't even exist.

[Impact]

While I'm sad HD-DVD lost, as I truely believe still it was the better format, I'm glad to see the war has ended because I'm tired of having so many topics and news articles about it.

[goji]

But I do not get why people feel so excited over one HD Format over the other. I'm glad for once (just once? LOL) Microsoft has been on the wrong side of technology success. They're getting their tentacles into too many technologies.

Consider the same reasons you get excited for MS failing? (sans-lol)

I'm not exaclty sure where you get the idea MS is on the "wrong side of tech sucess" (anti-MS hater maybe)?

MS hasn't failed here, Toshiba and the other hardware members of the HD-DVD consortium failed. MS can still continue on with success as their software is adaptable. The HD-DVD hardware on the other hand is not.

[shockz]

Too bad this article isn't from Toshiba themselves.

Thus its not confirmed, love how everyone is celebrating.

Until Toshiba says so, its just more speculation.

Considering this is like the 5th source saying the same thing... I highly doubt it's not true.

Sorry that you bought an HD-DVD player... but its time to move on...

[Emn1ty]

This is a question for those who say 'I don't like Blu-Ray.... etc', can someone explain why it is that you don't like Blu-Ray? Or is this an 'Sony is evil' thing? I'm confused.

HD-DVD was pretty much a finished, proven technology where Blu-Ray is still expensive to produce and is going through upgrades and changes constantly (unless Im falling behind the times, I might be wrong here).

Even so, Blu-Ray is a more expensive format, simply because it uses a different technology to run its disks. This means you need another laser inside to read a normal DVD, upping the price even more. Not to mention it reads slower than current DVD's, which to me makes no sense at all. Why have so much more content if it takes four times longer to get to that content?

But that is all in the past seeing as HD-DVD has thrown in the towel :|

[Smigit]

But I do not get why people feel so excited over one HD Format over the other. I'm glad for once (just once? LOL) Microsoft has been on the wrong side of technology success. They're getting their tentacles into too many technologies.

For me it was the region free aspect and the fact that the spec seemed more thought out from day one as opposed to this profile debacle we have on the BluRay side where new profiles are preventing older players making full use of a disks features. But I'm not upset either, I sat on the fence and I'm happy that one format has won. Wasn't HD-DVD but meh, it's still a better outcome than what we've had the past 18 months.

[Danrarbc]

MS hasn't failed here, Toshiba and the other hardware members of the HD-DVD consortium failed. MS can still continue on with success as their software is adaptable. The HD-DVD hardware on the other hand is not.

Exactly. Wasn't HDi designed to be platform-independent in the first place (meaning it was only HD-DVD exclusive because of an agreement)? There's no technical reason a new BD profile can't come along to add HDi to BluRay.

Lets be honest here it's a much better solution than having a Java programmer on hand just to write a menu, when HDi can do it with a simple script.

It all depends on if the BDA wants to add it or not.

[P!P]

I'm happy there's finally a winner but then again...

Blu-Ray hardware is shi*ty. Samsung is being sued for faulty players. Most players out there are only profile 1.0 while only the newest players support 2.0 which adds features all HD-DVD player have. Blu-Ray seem to cost more. Blu-Ray in general cost more.... not happy HD-DVD went down this fast.

[shakey_snake]

Think of all the money forum posts wasted on pushing HDDVD, dang.

:p

[MrKuro]

I've been a supporter of both formats for a while, with multiple players for each. currently 72hddvds/63blu in my collection.

As an early adopter I will continue to enjoy my hd-dvds, and will be buying more through ebay and sales. Plus the toshiba players are excellent at upscaling the hundreds of DVD's I have.

More of my future purchases will inevitably be bluray as hd-dvds are phased out.

All in all, I will still enjoy HD media regardless of format. (I just hope blu hardware improves soon, at better prices)

Edited February 17, 2008 by WolfDV

[randomnut]

This is a question for those who say 'I don't like Blu-Ray.... etc', can someone explain why it is that you don't like Blu-Ray? Or is this an 'Sony is evil' thing? I'm confused.

I'm going to quote IGN's recent feature on HDDVD, as this explains my preference better than I could do myself. Although i'm a recent HD to Blu convert, experience wise it certainly seems like a downgrade, and I would much prefer to be watching HD.

In terms of user experience and value, HD-DVD also was a generally better option for much of its run. Blu-ray had something of an advantage in that all hardware could output 1080p, as opposed to low and mid-range HD-DVD players maxing out at 1080i. However, quality de-interlacing circuitry in modern HDTVs ameliorated this shortcoming in large part, and HD-DVD's advantage in interactive content support was actually much more significant. The Microsoft developed HDi interactive layer for HD-DVDs was ready early in the format's life, and allowed for a consistent development environment for interactive games, picture-in-picture extra features and commentaries, and web-enabled content. Blu-ray's BDJava, on the other hand, has remained both un-finalized and more difficult to use. The release of 300 on the formats threw this point into stark contrast, as the HD-DVD version offers a full range of next-generation extra features, and the Blu-ray none.

The HD-DVD camp also avoided major hardware standard alterations. First generation models all included Ethernet inputs for firmware upgrades, and as such should still be able to play any HD-DVD. Blu-ray, on the other hand, has cycled through a number of non-final hardware profiles, the earliest of which will not be able to upgrade to the final profile, as the hardware lacks both Ethernet ports for firmware upgrades and internal storage necessary for web-enabled content. Consequently, early Blu-ray adopters will eventual be disenfranchised, meaning Blu-ray will have broken a cardinal rule of consumer electronics: don't obsolete early hardware.

IGN

[TruckWEB]

Most Blu-Ray fans will tell you that "Interactive content" means nothing, it's not worth it and when you buy/rent a movie, it's only to watch the movie.

And future BD movies are "supposed" to play on Profile 1.0 player, they will only miss the interactive content, and, since it's worthless, no problem there!

-----

With HDi, you really had the feeling of playing something from a next generation. The menu, interactivity, PiP, Web content, games.... All very well done. Amazing.

Blu-Ray movies, as of now, it's simply an upgrade of DVD to Hi-Def. Nothing more. It did not help that the first bunch of BD movies where out using MPEG2 on 25Gb disc. They really did not look like Hi-Def movies, grainy and not very sharp.

[TDQuiksilver]

Most Blu-Ray fans will tell you that "Interactive content" means nothing, it's not worth it and when you buy/rent a movie, it's only to watch the movie.

And future BD movies are "supposed" to play on Profile 1.0 player, they will only miss the interactive content, and, since it's worthless, no problem there!

-----

With HDi, you really had the feeling of playing something from a next generation. The menu, interactivity, PiP, Web content, games.... All very well done. Amazing.

Blu-Ray movies, as of now, it's simply an upgrade of DVD to Hi-Def. Nothing more. It did not help that the first bunch of BD movies where out using MPEG2 on 25Gb disc. They really did not look like Hi-Def movies, grainy and not very sharp.

We are past that "first batch" ... that was then - this is now. For what it's worth, as time goes on and the tech behind Blu-ray advances it seems that some of those bitter folks will still hang onto the past. Let it go - we really should be discussing now how this technology and media (Blu-ray) can be enhanced and tweaked to perfection so that everybody can enjoy it to the fullest extent.

[torrentthief]

bluray IS a downgrade, the ONLY thing bluray had better was 50gb instead of 30gb, but the triple layer 51gb remove the only thing better bluray had, its a shame, now we have to have region coded bluray discs with bd+ which are also more expensive the hd-dvd discs and players are alot more and profile 2.0 isnt even out yet, bluray is half-baked STILL, but those pay-offs to movie companies won them the war:( shame so many people will do anything for money.

Lets hope toshiba create some bluray players that are much cheaper than sony's.

[Cormier6083]

I blame HD-DVD camp for this loss. They should have advertised. they had the opportunity to win, but they counted their chickens before they hatched.

Stop whining. There is nothing you can do, and you just have to accept the fact that HD-DVD is not longer around. Stop wallowing in the past.

[TruckWEB]

We are past that "first batch" ... that was then - this is now. For what it's worth, as time goes on and the tech behind Blu-ray advances it seems that some of those bitter folks will still hang onto the past. Let it go - we really should be discussing now how this technology and media (Blu-ray) can be enhanced and tweaked to perfection so that everybody can enjoy it to the fullest extent.

Blu-Ray needs HDi and final hardware specification now. Microsoft would be happy to make money and sell it to the Blu camp. The BD-Java thing seems to be crap/hard to implement.

I did say "first bunch" when talking about Blu movies. By the way, I own a PS3 and lots of movies, on both Blu and HD-DVD. I can make my own judgment on the picture quality.

[TDQuiksilver]

bluray IS a downgrade, the ONLY thing bluray had better was 50gb instead of 30gb, but the triple layer 51gb remove the only thing better bluray had, its a shame, now we have to have region coded bluray discs with bd+ which are also more expensive the hd-dvd discs and players are alot more and profile 2.0 isnt even out yet, bluray is half-baked STILL, but those pay-offs to movie companies won them the war:( shame so many people will do anything for money.

Lets hope toshiba create some bluray players that are much cheaper than sony's.

They probably will - so what? It's better for you in the end... isn't it? Some people will never pass up a chance to take a jab at Sony. Never fails. We know your reasons... but it seems so repetitive anymore. Again, I think we ought to discuss what other developers can do now with Blu-ray to clean up the hardware and profiles to get the ball really rolling.

Blu-Ray needs HDi and final hardware specification now. Microsoft would be happy to make money and sell it to the Blu camp. The BD-Java thing seems to be crap/hard to implement.

I did say "first bunch" when talking about Blu movies. By the way, I own a PS3 and lots of movies, on both Blu and HD-DVD. I can make my own judgment on the picture quality.

As can the rest of us - my picture quality looks great. I'm not sure what connections and/or television set you're using - or settings for that matter - but still, it makes me wonder.

If MS wants to sell off that tech, then so be it. Anything to help Blu-ray become a fine tuned piece of media won't hurt anybody. :p

[eilegz]

a big loss to toshiba, consumers in general and microsoft.

playstation 3 sacrifice his leader marketshare from previous generation to push blu ray and this will eventually and potentially bring back his leadership in HD and gaming area, Now that HD-DVD fail microsoft lose a lot, digital distribution it will take longer to take off, at least in High quality content that eat a lot of space besides not everyone have a high speed broadband. Microsoft do not include a bigger hard drive with their 360.

Consumers will buy the most expensive format and expensive players (like a ps3), most will stick with DVD, the only good thing would be a single format and less confusion.

Microsoft HDi will fail against BD-J, xbox360 eventually fail behind the ps3 as it happened in january npd sales, so sony did planned well this blu ray will help them dominate the world.

[TDQuiksilver]

a big loss to toshiba, consumers in general and microsoft.

playstation 3 sacrifice his leader marketshare from previous generation to push blu ray and this will eventually and potentially bring back his leadership in HD and gaming area, Now that HD-DVD fail microsoft lose a lot, digital distribution it will take longer to take off, at least in High quality content that eat a lot of space besides not everyone have a high speed broadband. Microsoft do not include a bigger hard drive with their 360.

Consumers will buy the most expensive format and expensive players (like a ps3), most will stick with DVD, the only good thing would be a single format and less confusion.

Microsoft HDi will fail against BD-J, xbox360 eventually fail behind the ps3 as it happened in january npd sales, so sony did planned well this blu ray will help them dominate the world.

Oh no! The commies are coming... the commies are coming! The world is going to end... ahhh! Sony! ahhh!

Heh... sounds like a certain forum - doesn't it? :laugh:

[TruckWEB]

As can the rest of us - my picture quality looks great. I'm not sure what connections and/or television set you're using - or settings for that matter - but still, it makes me wonder.

Well, I have 2 1080p HDTV, one Sony SXRD 50" and the other is a Sharp 46" LCD. Both calibrated using help from AVS Forum and using DVE. All connections are HDMI. Are you still wondering?

And let me say it again : First batch of BD movies. I did not say ALL BD movies. And I'm not the first one saying that HD-DVD movies had better picture quality, using VC-1 from the start.

Anyway, Blu won, now they need to catch-up with HD-DVD. Finalize the spec, push that Profile 2.0 already and do something good with the BD-J thing or buy HDi.

[Dysphoria]

This is the most ridiculous statement I've heard in a while. I dont know where you get your facts from but Microsoft does not care that much about the HD DVD format, that is why they never made games on that media. Toshiba was basically paying them to offer their format as alternative HD media. They can easily switch to BluRay as they did to HD DVD. That is why they kept the HD DVD player as a external standalone player.

Blu Ray winning the format war will in no way effect the game sales of the Xbox 360.

a big loss to toshiba, consumers in general and microsoft.

playstation 3 sacrifice his leader marketshare from previous generation to push blu ray and this will eventually and potentially bring back his leadership in HD and gaming area, Now that HD-DVD fail microsoft lose a lot, digital distribution it will take longer to take off, at least in High quality content that eat a lot of space besides not everyone have a high speed broadband. Microsoft do not include a bigger hard drive with their 360.

Consumers will buy the most expensive format and expensive players (like a ps3), most will stick with DVD, the only good thing would be a single format and less confusion.

Microsoft HDi will fail against BD-J, xbox360 eventually fail behind the ps3 as it happened in january npd sales, so sony did planned well this blu ray will help them dominate the world.

[TDQuiksilver]

Well, I have 2 1080p HDTV, one Sony SXRD 50" and the other is a Sharp 46" LCD. Both calibrated using help from AVS Forum and using DVE. All connections are HDMI. Are you still wondering?

And let me say it again : First batch of BD movies. I did not say ALL BD movies. And I'm not the first one saying that HD-DVD movies had better picture quality, using VC-1 from the start.

Anyway, Blu won, now they need to catch-up with HD-DVD. Finalize the spec, push that Profile 2.0 already and do something good with the BD-J thing or buy HDi.

Yes - I still am wondering. And?

And with all forces gearing up behind their back, I'm sure the Blu camp won't have too much trouble "catching up" with the other "far superior features" that HD-DVD had offered. Development will now be pushed quite fast - I have no doubts on this. Even for the bickering about the assumed issues Blu-ray has been having (unfinalized spec and hardware) you have to admit that still didn't keep the sales from blasting the HD competition out of the water. Guess it's not too much of an issue. ;)

[DrCheese]

the ONLY thing bluray had better was 50gb instead of 30gb

Wrong. It has a higher max data read speed than HD-DVD ever did allowing for higher bitrate's. Also it has the enforced anti scratch protection on every disk that made it very attractive for rental markets.

HD-DVD TL51 was nothing more than vapourware, it kept getting constantly mentioned during the format war but it never materialised. I really doubt it ever will now.

but those pay-offs to movie companies won them the war:

grr. The HD-DVD group did this as well, see paramount. It's business and its the way things work. Console companies have been doing it with game studio's for years.

Lets hope toshiba create some bluray players that are much cheaper than sony's.

I doubt they will at least straight off. One of the reasons for them apparently pulling out of the HD-DVD market is because they can no longer afford to subsidise the players the way they have been with no benefit. I can see them releasing the first profile 2.0 player tho, just to spite the BDA.

[sn00pie]

Bye HD-DVD, we won't miss you! Thank you Sony for the PS3 and giving me a Blu Ray player in it. :)

[MindTooth]

I will miss HD DVD. Since that was the real proper format, in the context of a finished standard when it was release. Not some crap guidelines two years after launch.

Birger :)