Toshiba pulling the plug on HD DVD already? - Yup it's over.

Japan's NHK has followed up The Hollywood Reporter's earlier indications Toshiba was ready to dump its money-losing HD DVD business, with news that the company is prepared to cease manufacturing software and hardware, at a loss of hundreds of millions of dollars. This caps the worst week ever for red, when HD DVD was dumped by Netflix and Wal-mart, pushed to the background by Best Buy and put on -- an apparently incredibly short -- deathwatch right here. Toshiba is mum on the subject right now, but we hear there's plenty of cheap players and movies in a dumpster around back of the HQ.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in; via Reuters; warning, Japanese read link]

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".

[Michael @ Feb 16th 2008 8:35AM]

Can I use this again without being shit on?


"All your HD DVD are belong to us"
-Love, Blu-ray.

[r3loaded @ Feb 16th 2008 8:42AM]

We are Blu-Ray of Borg. Resistance is futile. HD DVD will be assimilated.
:)

[ace_spades @ Feb 16th 2008 8:54AM]

I think the only thing that's being shat(?) on here is HD-DVD

[Flashpoint @ Feb 16th 2008 9:16AM]

i REMEMBER PEOPLE ON eNGADGET TALKING SO MUCH SHIT AS TO WHY blu ray WOULD FAIL:

#1 Sony backed format
#2 Blu Ray would cost more to poduce and be more expensive
#3 HDDVD on Xbox 360 would be a huge success
etc,

What's funny is, Blu Ray 50 GB disks cost 47 cents to make while HDDVD's cost more than 60 cents for both the 15GB and the 30GB.


This format war was OVER when I heard 2 things:

#1 Blu Ray's capacity is potentialy higher than HDDVD's would ever be

#2 Playstation 3 had a BD player built in and Xbox 360 had no HDDVD player built in.


Microsoft could have given HDDVD a fighting chance if they'd put it in the ELITE 360 and the revised PREMIUM 360.

Maybe if MS had done that, Blu Ray wouldn't hold over 85% of the market share.

[Ignatius @ Feb 16th 2008 10:42AM]

The sad thing is now, is that Blu-ray prices are going to double without any competition.

Just like Rockefeller oil.

[Jay @ Feb 16th 2008 10:49AM]

@Ignatius,

Not nessie-celery. Now there is a clear winner the market will grow (think of the fence-sitters for a start) and probably many more discs will be sold [Blu-ray is actually in a stronger sales position now than DVD was at the same point in its life]. That will almost certainly bring efficiencies and price cuts.

[Michael L. @ Feb 16th 2008 11:02AM]

I can FINALLY say this to all of the die-hard HD DVD backers, who were blatantly sure that HD DVD would win the war with a wide margin:

"In your face, suckers!!!!11!!111"

Ah. I've wanted to to do that a long time. :)

(I smell some "Vote comment down" in the air. Alright, HD-DVD-backers, have your last revenge.)

[z3r0D @ Feb 16th 2008 11:25AM]

To people who say competition is good, and without HDDVD, Bluray prices will skyrocket.

There is not just 1 company making bluray, there are many. They'll fight among each other, and competition will still exist. Driving prices down to current DVD levels =\.

[Manny @ Feb 16th 2008 11:31AM]

"The sad thing is now, is that Blu-ray prices are going to double without any competition."

Oh how wrong you are. There will be many manufacturers producing Blu-Ray devices and they'll be competing with each other. Prices will drop just like any other consumer electronic device. Your comment is only slightly plausable if Sony were the only manufacturer.

[mattclarkie @ Feb 16th 2008 12:07PM]

I said this on another site, but I will say it again. Prices will not go up, because there will actually be more competition with just 1 format.

At the moment around 15 manufacturers make HD-DVD or Blu-Ray players. Once Blu-ray is officially the only one left other manufacturers will produce them, and within 12 months cheaper brands, the Bush's, the Alba's and later the no-named brands. This will push prices down.

When the only players around are from Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Hitachi, and especially Pioneer, prices will always be higher. Plus manufacturers are trying to limit losses because they are not confident, I know many players sell at a loss, but if they were confident that the format would win they would sell at even more of a loss until manufacturing rates meant they could sell cheap and at a profit. Prices could never go up once they go down, which they have lately.

If you sell your first 100,000 units at a loss of $200, but this means that your next million can be sold at a pofit of $20, you would be willing to take the loss.

[Blayne @ Feb 16th 2008 1:44PM]

So what's Microsoft going to do? Add an external Blue Ray drive for the Xbox or just work one into the next generation box? Whatever the case, it will be a sad day in Redmond when that happens.

[pscs @ Feb 16th 2008 2:15PM]

yep. i see no CD or DVD prices rocketing sky high... it will take a few years (only) for Blu-Ray to be as cheap as DVD (I mean normal blank recordables)...


and now computers will come with blu-ray readers and writers soon to follow :D i hope they wont phase out the CDs because every1 just loves them. well, they could eventually, if blank DVD prices become as cheap as a blank CD.

To me the CD's size is quite a usable size that you can burn something without worrying that the rest of the space is wasted or there isnt enough... :)

[happy_penguin @ Feb 16th 2008 4:28PM]

"This format war was OVER when I heard...

Blu Ray's capacity is potentialy higher than HDDVD's would ever be"

Exactly. It's all about capacity, people. Capacity, capacity, capacity.

[Jomolungma @ Feb 16th 2008 5:16PM]

er.... 1? that was quickish

[steve @ Feb 16th 2008 10:07PM]

As an HD-DVD supporter, I really am hurt by this. Now i have a $200 dollar piece of plastic stuck to my xbox. I am happy however that somebody's won. I look forward to the day i can get a sub-$100 bluyray player. All i every really wanted out of this war was to get some kickass HD movies for my HDTV. It just sucks i picked the wrong side. Its also ashame blu-ray supporter (most ive seen) are being arrogant assholes (Micheal L) I mean first you blame us for being arrogant then you go say something like that. Wow...

[Jon @ Feb 16th 2008 8:42AM]

Well about time. There is nothing dishonourable of swallowing your pride and withdrawing, thus saving tons of money in the long run.

[kev @ Feb 16th 2008 10:42AM]

Our government doesn't seem to think the same way! :P

[Haha, it was just asking to be said]

[Mike @ Feb 16th 2008 12:15PM]

You know, I know there's a lot of money to be made in the format war, but after I keep hearing about multi-million dollar deals for this studio and that company, I've started to wonder how worth it it would all be in the long run. If you spend all this money and your format does win, are you really going to make it up in royalties in the long run? It always puzzled me that companies could spend so much just to promote their format, and it makes me puzzled that HD-DVD didn't drop out sooner with all the things it had going against it.

[SteveS @ Feb 16th 2008 4:12PM]

Yeah its about friggin time! Bring on the BD+ and region codes! Hurray! We won?!?

[Jon @ Feb 16th 2008 4:24PM]

@SteveS,

And HD-DVD didn't have AACS?

[ethana2 @ Feb 16th 2008 5:02PM]

If only Microsoft did that with Windows and ooxml. The world would be a better place, filled with /real/ operating systems and document formats.

[SteveS @ Feb 17th 2008 9:40AM]

@Jon:

Comparing AACS to BD+ is like comparing a Pleo to the T-1000...

[Jon @ Feb 17th 2008 9:44AM]

Doesn't matter. Both are still DRM. Both are not good. Toshiba isn't a charity, none of them are. Live with it.

[SteveS @ Feb 17th 2008 10:47PM]

@Jon:

While some people are willing to bend over with no vaseline when it comes to the things we buy, it's not that easy for others to just "live with it".

[bob e @ Feb 16th 2008 8:43AM]

This is sure to bring some pretty good prices for the remaining HD DVD Players and movies. I may just have to pick one up now...

A player and 12 movies for $59 - I'm in.

[James @ Feb 16th 2008 11:51AM]

False economy in the long run. You would still have to buy a Blu-Ray player at some point...

[scott @ Feb 16th 2008 12:59PM]

yeah, you'd still have to buy a blu ray player...but 12 movies for $59 is still a great deal...especially since it's in hd glory


oh and

yay blu ray!

[smurfy @ Feb 16th 2008 8:52AM]

Wow. Hard to believe it's finally over. Well, maybe not quite yet, but I believe March will be a blu month.

[Jacob @ Feb 16th 2008 12:23PM]

The future is downloads.

[Jon @ Feb 16th 2008 4:43PM]

Yes it is, but not yet.

[Taylor @ Feb 16th 2008 10:27PM]

@Jacob:

Not in Australia at least.

Though ADSL2+ is available at some exchanges, cable isn't widely available (Pay TV usually goes via satellite). Most people hang around 512kbps, at a cost of $40 AUD a month.

Downloading a 1080p movie at that rate...
About 13GB.
that's 109 051 904 kilobits.
at 512kbps (not KB/s) that's 212 992 seconds = 59.1644444 hours

60 hours at the fastest possible speed. The cap.

Not gonna happen.

[ZeroTech @ Feb 16th 2008 8:44AM]

Now I can finally start shopping for 1.1 BD players. Engadget, let's get some BD-BD reviews going now instead of BD vs. HD-DVD. It's about time. . .

[Superprime @ Feb 16th 2008 10:07AM]

Is the PS3 upgradeable to 1.1 and future Bluray versions?

[Dan @ Feb 16th 2008 10:15AM]

Yes, it is.

[MjW @ Feb 16th 2008 10:31AM]

The PS3 got a firmware upgrade back in December 2007 that enabled DivX and BluRay profile 1.1 and it works flawlessly.

And yes it will get all the latest profiles through firmware updates.

[dx @ Feb 16th 2008 12:36PM]

Naaaaa... engadget will try and keep the Blu and Red camps fighting with sensationalistic headlines as long as they can. Great ad revenue. ;)

[ethana2 @ Feb 16th 2008 4:51PM]

Plus the PS3 lets you run your own code. 256MB of RAM is just enough for Ubuntu, Firefox3, Pidgin, and Exaile. I'm thinking of buying one, but I'm probably going to buy an Ubuntu Inspiron from Dell instead.

If Sony unlocks the RSX to OtherOS, I may just break down, head out and get one though... the CBE is a very interesting processor, imo.

[Flashpoint @ Feb 16th 2008 8:48AM]

I Know I will be low ranked for saying this, but:

COULD THIS BE THE FINAL NAIL IN HD-DVD's COFFIN????

[Dr. Evil @ Feb 16th 2008 10:01AM]

I think HD-DVD still has a fighting chance.

I also believe Dennis Kunicich may just win the '08 presidential election and Amelia Earhart will be landing anytime now.

[Marvin Quach @ Feb 16th 2008 10:04AM]

ehhhh... we ran out of nails a long time ago!

[josh @ Feb 16th 2008 11:15AM]

@Dr. Evil

I hear they found Jimmy Hoffa as well.

[KayRazy Ken Kutaragi @ Feb 16th 2008 11:20AM]

and God has been found, every single one of them throughout the history of Man. Gawd is real people, it just broke on FOX News.

[Tony @ Feb 16th 2008 3:04PM]

@ KayRazy

Is that your way of saying "C-C-C-Combobreaker!!!?"

[Raheem @ Feb 16th 2008 8:49AM]

This just in: TOSHIBA acknowledges HD-DVD sales fall since announcement that HD-DVD sales have fallen.

[Stompntom @ Feb 16th 2008 11:59AM]

@zerotech - right now the PS3 is the only BluRay player to buy toat will be supported with BluRay 2.0....and it is the same price as the stand alone players so why not?

[ZeroTech @ Feb 16th 2008 9:52AM]

Because I have a Harmony 880 that I love and the PS3 is lacking in the IR department. Otherwise I'd be all over it.

[harveylubin @ Feb 16th 2008 11:49AM]

ZeroTech,
You can use your Harmony remote with your PS3! For $19.99 you can get the Nyko Blu-Wave (http://www.nyko.com/Store/ProductDetail.aspx?i=113). I have one and it works flawlessly with my Harmony remote.

[harveylubin @ Feb 16th 2008 11:55AM]

ZeroTech,
I forgot to mention that Logitech has all the commands for the Nyko Blu-Wave, so you just need to attach the USB IR receiver to one of the PS3 USB ports, and then program your Harmony remote with the Nyko commands.

[ZeroTech @ Feb 16th 2008 12:18PM]

@ harveylubin: So, I can natively control all of the BluRay functions of the PS3 with this via my 880? That would be a lock if that was true. I don't console game at all, but the ability to play the new Gran Turismo on my movie player might lock this up. Hmmm....

[Geoffrey Sperl @ Feb 16th 2008 1:49PM]

@ZeroTech: Harvey's right. I have an 880 and a PS3 and I use the Bluwave dongle, too. It's the size of a standard USB drive, so it really isn't all that obtrusive.

You might find yourself tweaking the Harmony commands to get them where you like them, but it's not that difficult.

The only caveat: You cannot control power settings with an IR remote on the PS3. There are some hacks out there that allow for attaching a pad to the power button or hacking the Sony Bluetooth remote, but those are a bit less elegant that the USB dongle.

Plus, if you set up your PS3 for Folding@Home then you won't want to turn it off (just keep in mind that the PS3 is running all the time at that point).