With HD DVD, things are just going from
bad, to
really bad, to
worse, to
car-crash-you-can't-stop-looking-at. You can file this one under that latter category, as
Wal-Mart has officially announced its intentions to stop
stocking HD DVD players and movies by June. According to reports, the retailer came to the decision after
Netflix and
Best Buy made announcements concerning their position in the HD format war. Susan Chronister of Wal-Mart wrote on the company's blog, "By June Wal-Mart will only be carrying Blu-ray movies and hardware machines, and of course standard-def movies, DVD players, and up-convert players." Susan went on to deliver what we consider a
total burn by adding, "if you bought the HD [DVD] player like me, I'd retire it to the bedroom, kid's playroom, or give it to your parents to play their John Wayne standard-def movies, and make space for a BD player." Look, we're not gonna say that this is it for HD DVD, but... uh, it doesn't look real great.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
posted Feb 15th 2008 11:39AM
Toshiba's official cancellation announcement in 5...4...3...2...
Personally I blame HD DVD "supporter" Microsoft for the downfall of HD DVD. MS's fixation on "downloads are the way to go for High Def content" is foolish. Not only is downloading HD too slow, its quality isn't as good as either BluRay or HD DVD. Plus, the monthly cost for a broadband connection fast enough is out of reach for most people, espcially with the economy tanking.
MS missed a chance to deal a knockout blow to Sony and give consumers a "Killer Ap" for Vista and pad their own interest both near term and long term.
If MS has 45 Billion to spend, they would have been better off paying off Warner, Disney, Blockbuster, Netflix and the rest to go HD DVD exclusive. Even if they didn't incorporate the HD DVD drive in the 360 as they should, they should have at least had NATIVE (no external program required: see Chris Lanier's Blog at: http://msmvps.com/blogs/chrisl/archive/2008/01/25/1480420.aspx ) streaming of DVDs and HD DVDs to extenders such as the 360 from 200 disc changers. This would have killed the PS3, given Vista sales a boost and the external HD DVD drive wouldn't be useless for loyal early adopters. Once HD DVD had caught on, MS would have the time to allow networks to be built for faster, cheaper and higher QUALITY HD rental/purchase streaming down the road. As it is, they've missed a chance to put Sony out, help their bottom line and customers. As it is, BluRay fanboys have successfully convinced people that Sony's extra layer of DRM (BD-J), rootkits and players that are buggy and aren't even uniform in features are superior because they cost more and have a few gigs of extra space and a "scratch-resistant" layer. Had HD DVD won and 200 disc changers streaming HD around the house to 360s and media extenders caught on, then you wouldn't need a "scratch-resistant layer" since you would only have to put the disc in once. The HD DVD disc could have been ripped and converted for use on a portable device, and be out of inventory for use on the changer until the PMP was cleared of the HD movie. But all these wonderful things won't be unless MS acts quickly and spends $45 billion not on buying a search engine in fight it's already lost, because Sony's BD-J DRM system is Java based, and MS will never support streaming of HD content in Windows with a Sony and Java based system. We will probably see 200 disc Bluray changers from Sony, but the interoperability with Media Center/360s will be much more difficult and likely have to come from third parties.
Can anyone REALLY believe that SONY has actually won? I know it's happened, just hard to believe.
I for one welcome our new Hi-Def overlords.
its karma for betamax since betamax was actually a better product and got screwed back in the day...as a disclaimer I am NOT defending all of sony's other shitty proprietary formats (Media Stick, etc)
Best comment ever!
I do believe.
Why does everybody think Sony owns Blu-ray? As far as I know, this is not the case. They are just a huge proponent of it and a member of the BD association. The real winner here is the CONSUMER. People can now buy a hi-def player and feel comfortable knowing that it will not disappear any time soon.
i think they were going with the "if we make enough formats, ONE of them has to win... right? ......right?"
i dunno, in the end, i think bluray is the better choice.
yep, Sony is just one of 18 members of the Board of Directors for the Blu Ray association. And one of over 200 companies total in the Blu Ray association membership. It is really starting to tick me off that people are slamming Blu Ray cuz they don't like Sony. Sony is just the most visible member of Blu Ray since they have the most to lose or gain with the format war, so they've been pushing it the hardest. If you don't like Sony, then get a Blu Ray player from one of the other many companies who make stand alone players.
from the wiki: "The 'Blu-ray Disc Founder' was founded in May 2002 by nine leading electronic companies: Matsushita, Pioneer, Philips, Thomson, LG Electronics, Hitachi, Sharp, Samsung, and Sony"
Actually, From Wiki:
"Sony started two projects applying the new diodes: UDO (Ultra Density Optical) and DVR Blue (together with Pioneer), a format of rewritable discs which would eventually become Blu-ray Disc (more specifically, BD-RE).[7] The core technologies of the formats are essentially similar."
And by "Sony wins" i mean from an investor stand point, are they not the biggest investor in Blu-ray?
Bye bye competition, hello monopoly. On one hand, less confusion is good, compatibility with everything is nice. On the flip side, what's keeping Sony competitive with pricing/support of their current/future Blu Rays?
Price people are willing to pay?
Given that the MSRP on most of Sony's new DRMed, Region Coded, BD movies is $45.00, I'd say it's time
for the consumers (the same ones that have "chosen" Blu-Ray) to bend over and grab their ankles.....
R
The fight now is between Blu-ray companies. The choice is here ... but on a brand level with the better format. Sorry hd dvd fanboi!
Competition will still be alive and healthy. The Bluray group has a lot more players than HD-DVD group (which is why they are basically winning).
Prices will and currently are coming down on bluray stuff, and they have to now that they need to compete with DVD which is truly the big competition.
Well iTunes and Windows Digital Media are still there. I replaced my HD-DVD player with an AppleTV and media server. I have no need to use Bluray, well, ever.
Physical media is dead to me. I look forward to it being dead for everyone else as well. I'm just wondering what BestBuy is going to put in all of that empty space once CDs and DVDs are gone. I suppose the US's lack of broadband investment will force the relics to stay around for awhile. And then there are those folks who can't let go of Vinyl so ...
Panasonic, Pioneer, Phillips, Samsung, LG, Sharp, Denon, JVC and well you know... most media player companies.
@jus10:
Where are you planning to back up all those downloads? A bluray burner would be the perfect back-up solution.
I gave up on digital distribution because of this, you store a huge library of movies then one day your drive crashes and you loose it all in the blink of an eye. You also keep running out of space, and have to constantly upgrade or add drives. No digital distributed media could be sold or exchanged between users. I cant even lend out legally obtained digital media. Worst of all the video and audio quality of downloaded media is no where near to what you get from discs.
For now and the next 10 (at least) years disc media will reign as a method of distributing SOLD video media (rentals will most likely be replaced by electronic distribution). When network bandwidth, extremely large reliable storage (holographic storage?) and more flexible DRM standards are available, then downloable media will reign.
Trying to overtake DVDs will keep sony honest
@cduran01:
Q: "Where are you planning to back up all those downloads?"
A: RAID
@AJ in the East Bay:
RAID is not a reliable backup solution. Regardless of how many drives in the setup, RAID is still plague by single point of failure.
How does Regional encoding, extra DRM, unfinished specifications, no backwards compatability, poor menu systems and interactivity, higher prices yet with exactly the same video/sound quality benefit consumers exactly...
Its a strange day when people cheer the loss of a much cheaper, less copy protected and yet identical quality format for a more expensive, unfinished product simply because of some misguided brand loyalty programmed into them from advertising.
Honestly, I think I'll skip this generation of video if its all been decided by movie studios playing games. Surely they would be better sticking to making films than messing with technology issues.
Yeah, cause DVD had a hell of a time coming down in price too.. amirite?!
Oh wait, it had VCD for competition.... hmm. Which would equate to DVD being Blu-rays competition now wouldn't it, on a relative basis?
I sure will be glad when stupid goes out of style.
So how come all this "COMPETITION" between vendors like Samsung, Sony, LG, Pioneer etc... hasn't driven down the cost of Blu-Ray players already then?
Apple TV only goes as high as 720p. Don't understand how it can replace Blu-ray...
@cduran01
Amen.
Blu-Ray is not a Sony format, its a consortium format that they are a major player in. They all have to play by the same rules and now they are competing against each other. Competition will now intensify and prices will drop faster sicne they don't have to worry about who was going to win.
@BenHobbs
Finally, someone who understands this isn't just some stupid Microsoft vs Sony war. 99% of the people on here are championing on standard or the other for absolutely no good reason. While the physical discs of Blu-Ray may be superior to HD-DVD (currently anyways), the interactivity model for Blu-Ray is a pile of crap. Unlike HD which uses xml, the Blu-Ray interactivity spec is just like OCAP (which was a complete joke) and requires a java engine to process. That coupled with the additional DRM is going to make streaming a giant pain in the ass. When physical discs go away and we're still saddled with this format (yes folks, format does not just mean what disc they go on) it's going to make the transition to streamable, sharable content much harder.
Because there is a thing called "cost." And blue diodes are not free to manufacture.
And what are you talking about with "no backwards compatability?" Am I supposed to be upset my Blu-ray player can't play VHS tapes?
My previous post was to our friend, Mr. BenHobbs.
Phantom,
Which RAID single point of failure? You mean the controller?
Here's how to fix that:
Step 1: Replace controller
Step 2: Go back to enjoying your media
Somehow I fail to see the problem.
You got the right. Anyone who prefers one option dominated by a company renowned for overpricing is an idiot..
I'm not sure how you would consider this a Monopoly? Toshiba is the only manufacturer pumping out dedicated HD players and even the Onkyo player that was scheduled to be released is a Toshiba rebadged. Meanwhile, Bluray players are currently or scheduled for release by Sony (of course), Samsung, Panasonic, Pioneer, LG, Marantz, Denon and god knows who else in the future. Meanwhile, HD DVD? Toshiba! PERIOD! Oh, and an add on for your Xbox (what ever). At least that's how it's been since the inception of HD DVD.
Sony developed the technology and have been actively marketing it and doing it well. If that means paying studios for their support? why not! Toshiba has done this with Paramount but at the end of the day, their marketing plans failed. Nothing more.
Why are you not calling VHS, CD or DVD a monopoly? Philips still received royalties for DVD technology. Is that a monopoly? NO! The only difference here is two major innovators did not see eye to eye on technology this time and decided to go their own way and go to war if neccesary.
So please. Let's stop with the Monopoly non-sense.
OK.. I'm done.. Going to watch a bluray movie now. ;-)
TonyD
Are you serious?
Where is DVD's competition?
Where was the confusion?
When has their been two movie formats?
The Fat Lady is singing....
MEOW! cat fight!
While I think that hd-dvd is a better format for the simple reason that it can play my old DVD movies, I really wish I hadn't gotten a hd-d3 for christmas now I'm gonna be stuck with a nice upconvert player and in 20 years it'll be a collectors Item.
WTF are you talking about? Every Blu-Ray Player plays SD-DVD. Get your facts right before you comment.
blu-ray is backward compatible with old dvd too duh
you know Bluray players can play DVD as well right?
Blu-Ray players can also play DVDs: http://www.blu-ray.com/faq/#bluray_backwards_compatible
Jesus you blu ray fanboys are rabid, my bad i thought that blue lasers couldn't read dvd since it used a red laser, I'm really not sure why you had to low rank me I didn't even say anything bad about BD calm down you won take a break soldier the war is over.
You were low-ranked because you were the one spreading lies and acting like a fanboy.
From that comment, I am guessing you also don't know that HD-DVD AND Blu-ray BOTH use blue lasers...
"Jesus you blu ray fanboys are rabid, my bad i thought that blue lasers couldn't read dvd since it used a red laser, I'm really not sure why you had to low rank me I didn't even say anything bad about BD calm down you won take a break soldier the war is over."
@Teetdogs
Because, they mostly comment on impulse and are tightwads over the slightest misinformation displayed on the web.
Just learn from your mistakes and don't let it happen again. ;)
"my bad i thought that blue lasers couldn't read dvd since it used a red laser"
fyi, hd dvd also uses a blue laser.
Can't... resist... must... be... asshole... to someone... who was.... wrong....
You guys are ruthless.
I love how the "format war" was won with back room deals and agreements by massive corporations, as opposed to the consumers choosing which was better.
Look at the sales figures! Not including the PS3 the far more expensive BR hardware is selling at a 2x faster pace than HD-DVD hardware. The consumer made this decision. Add in the PS3 and HD-DVD didn't stand a chance without Microsoft's help in the Xbox 360.
Right. It wasn't because BD had 9x the manufacturer support and 4x the studio support (at the beginning). It was because of backroom deals.