Well, the 34th DVD Forum Steering Committee meeting occurred two days ago in Seattle, but it wasn't just the usual hum drum logo approvals and plans for
world living room domination. This time they approved two working programs which could be very interesting in the coming months and years: the first calls for development of a spec and region map, and the enforcement of region codes for HD DVD video discs -- where there currently is none (much to the
benefit of most consumers, and
to their advantage over Blu-ray). It's yet to be finalized and pushed through for future revisions of the
HD DVD spec, but don't be surprised if your net-connected HD DVD player all of a sudden obtains the region code "feature." Oh, and the Steering Committee notes also make mention of developing "physical Specifications for China only HD DVD-ROM format." Ok, guess they weren't just gonna lie down on the
EVD and VMD issue after all -- but what, no plans to tackle
VCDHD in the Ukraine? Eh, anyway, we'll keep you posted on developments.
[Via
The Reg]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sean @ May 26th 2006 11:17AM
Gee, how thoughtful of them! I know consumers everywhere have been dying for this feature to be added to HD-DVD! Thanks, DVD Forum, you're the best of the best!
Ladyfox @ May 26th 2006 11:33AM
Ryan posts:
"It's yet to be finalized and pushed through for future revisions of the HD DVD spec, but don't be surprised if your net-connected HD DVD player all of a sudden obtains the region code "feature."
And this is the part that, ever since the beginning, has bothered me about the entire HD-DVD/Poo-Ray format war; forced firmware updates. Of course, people will start saying "The hackers will save us!" and they may be right in that someone may find a way to stay out of a Federal prison and create a way to bypass the security lockouts on these formats. However, does it not bother anyone that our rights are slowly being eroded by a bunch of old farts smoking $100 bills that we gave them?
I mean, come on, I'm all for protecting your IP but this is really starting to get a bit much.
hmurchison @ May 26th 2006 1:03PM
[quote] I don't personally see HDDVD's making a big hit in China. I think Blu Ray would be favored because of the larger storage capacity. HDDVD's are just going to end up pirated on the same scope as regular DVD's.
[/quote]
HD-DVD sound kind of superfluous with EVD set to expand into Chinese markets. However I don't think larger storage capacity really means anything for distributed movies. When you rent a video do you go in the store and ask for a 9GB disc or do you simply look for the movie you want to watch?
Mike @ May 26th 2006 1:11PM
China is a problem when it comes to intellectual property protection. There are plenty of laws in the country, but little enforcement.
Since the Chinese don't possess the ability to think for themselves (hence come up with their own designs), they have to steal from everyone else.
Personally, I'm sick of seeing "Made in China" stickers because the quality of many products has dropped since production was shifted there.
I'll gladly pay a little more for stuff that's made in a country where quality is more important than "low price"
The Chinese will just break the HD encryption and use that data to remaster films which will be distributed on EVD/VMD/POS formats.
Sam @ May 26th 2006 1:51PM
Human stupidity part 2.
The region codes are the most stupid thing a brainless could think.
It's like saying that the new HDCP protection scheme is crap. If this is true, will the region codes be better? Of course not, this is ridiculous.
The only thing the producers can achieve with region codes is to limit their income because there are fewer movies for the distributor companies and the buyers to choose from.
I bet that if they do a serious marketing study, they will find that actually they loose money using the region codes!
Anyway... Robin Hacker get prepared!
Nogami @ May 27th 2006 3:23AM
Well damn, I'll be buying one FOR SURE now that they're restricting it even more.
(cawf). They're so full of crap - I have no intention of supporting either format. I've got a HD setup and I have NO intention of supporting ANY of their existing optical HD formats.
Ben Hobbs @ May 27th 2006 4:24AM
EVD has already been out in China for a long time, I have an EVD player from 18 montsh ago (and twho whole EVD 720p movies).
I think HD DVD may have just lost me as a future customer, no way will I accept regional encoding - especially after the fact if its tacked on later like this suggests.
When are these greedy companies going to make life more sensible, There is no reason for an actor to be paid 75 million $ to star in a movie, Music artists do not need gold plated ferrari's - All the while moaning that the public is screwing them and the record/movie companies, despite the fact they are making more money now than ever.
And when are people going to stop saying Blu-Ray features more capacity than HD DVD, currently HD DVD has the larger standard capacity.
I was heading the HD DVD way, but think I'll just wait for a Hard Disk or solid state movie player.
Leroy Vargas @ Jun 28th 2006 12:32AM
Darn, when I Googled for HD DVD Region Code and read a headline titled "No Region Codes for HD DVD" (which, ironically, belonged to ENGADGET), I felt way too happy because I hate Region-Code restrictions.
But now that I read this other ENGADGET headline, now I feel the same way I felt with current DVDs. But there's still hope: F.E.N.G.T.A.O.
If there was "DVD Region Free" (later renamed "DVD Region+CSS Free"), then I'm pretty sure there will be "HD DVD Region Free". Just wait some months after the final HD DVD region-code spec is released. BUAHAHAHAHA...
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