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First homebrew hybrid Blu-ray/HD DVD 'player'
We have a hard time calling this contraption a 'player' but by definition, it plays back both Blu-ray and HD DVD's and therefore, we digress; it is a player, just not a conventional set-top version. Basically, this computer is equipped with the NEC HD DVD drive from Toshiba's HD A1 set-top player (top drive) and the Sony internal PC Blu-ray drive (next one down) that made all those waves a few weeks back. Payback is made possible from the Japanese release of WinDVD 8 Platinum and is feed through Sapphire's HDCP-certified graphics card. Apparently everything runs smooth as silk (so says the owner) on the AMD 64 3200 powering the whole system dispite the fact that Cyberlink claims dual-core processors are necessary for any high-def media playback. In fact he claims the Blu-ray playback is better then the Samsung BD-P1000 set-top player. But here it is, the first hybrid Blu-ray/HD DVD player. Now, can someone please put the drives in a HTPC box so the whole thing doesn't look so nerdy.[Thanks for the tip Tyler]
IFA 2006: Pioneer NOT planning HD DVD / Blu-ray hybrid drive
Yet another claim of a coming dual-format HD DVD and Blu-ray player has now turned into yet another denial of an upcoming combo player. Pioneer has now stated to cdfreaks that previous reports of a coming BDR-103 were based on quotes "taken out of context" and gave the now-familiar "we have no current plans to do so" line when questioned about possible HD DVD support. "We have the technology" was all the excuse needed to rebuild The Six Million Dollar Man, why doesn't the same go for Blu-ray and HD DVD?
IFA 2006: Pioneer planning BDR-103 HD DVD & Blu-ray combo drive
Pioneer was among the first to release a Blu-ray burner with their BD-R101A, now they've announced two follow-up products, one of which will include HD DVD compatibility. The BDR-102 will add the CD compatibility that was missing from the in previous drive, although speed, connectors and other specifics are still up in the air. Finally the BDR-103 will add HD DVD support, but no specifics available there either. We're not too surprised, since reps from both camps have dismissed rumors that the licensing agreements precluded such a device, and we know the hardware is possible, but of course, we've seen these announced before. As soon as there is a release date -- and a price -- we'll be a bit more optimistic.[Via cdfreaks]
New PSP Entertainment Pack coming for $250
Buy.com is now taking pre-orders for the PSP Entertainment Pack. At $250 (the same cost of a Value Pack), it includes a PSP system, 1GB Memory Stick Pro Duo, sampler UMD, ATV: Offroad Fury game and Lords of Dogtown UMD movie. Is it worth it? Let's find out: PSP Core System: $200 1GB Memory Stick Duo: $33 ATV Offroad Fury: $20 Lords of Dogtown: $26 The total price for all of these things combined is $279, which means you save $29 with the Combo, but honestly, unless you wanted to get all of those things, it's better off to get yourself the Core system and a Memory Stick of your choice.[Via Playstation.com Forums]
Hands-on with B-Boy
Marco, regular PSP Fanboy reader, wrote in our comments section: "It is something nobody has done before (as far as I know)... I think people are jaded about any game being about Hip Hop... but at least I do know that there are people who do make the genre respectable."Very true, Marco. It's pretty easy to get jaded over games that don't seem authentic, but B-Boy seems to be the real deal. It's a game that deserves a bit more attention than it's getting, if only for its unique premise: you play as a rising star of break-dancing, and you battle other b-boys to try and become the best. It looks pretty new and different, and according to IGN, it "doesn't play quite like anything that's come before." The D-Pad controls movement, and the face buttons are used as the building blocks of moves. You string things together, and maintain balance using the L and R buttons a la Tony Hawk. There are transition moves, and increasingly complicated moves which require greater button combinations, and that's where a surprising amount of depth can come into play. Like extreme sports games, you can build up some impressive combos.B-Boy promises to mix music rhythm and sports gameplay into an innovative combination. The game is currently UK-exclusive, but hopefully we'll see it branching out soon.
'Waist Deep' coming out as a HD DVD combo disc
Add another title up to the latest trend in HD DVD discs. Universal Studios is going to release the Tyress Gibsons gangster flick, Waist Deep, as a combo disc, meaning it has the ability to play in normal DVD players up to 480p and then also in your HD DVD player at the full resolution. The jury is still out on whether the purpose is to allow people to "buy now, use later" or buy now and use in their HD DVD player but also with any other DVD player said person owns. Whatever it may be, this disc is going to be encoded at 1080p on the HD DVD side and then 480p on the flip. Just like most of the other combo discs though, this one is going to retail for $39.99 when it hits shelves come October 10.
The Lake House will be the first movie to debut on DVD, Blu-ray and HD DVD on the same day
The romantic drama The Lake House starring Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock will be a day-and-date release on HD DVD & Blu-ray with the standard DVD version on September 26. The HD DVD version will be a combo DVD/HD DVD disc meaning only 15GB of storage for the high definition film, while the Blu-ray edition will ship on a single-layer 25GB Blu-ray disc. The space difference hasn't been a problem so far on HD DVD so we don't expect it will be here. No word on any extras yet although we can probably expect the same ones as the standard-def DVD release. The HD DVD version will be priced slightly higher in line with other combo releases, but have the ability to play in a regular DVD player. Much like the first combo disc released for HD DVD, Rumor Has It, we're really puzzled by the choice of movie but welcome the trend of films coming out on next-generation formats without any delay.
LG: No combo Blu-ray and HD DVD player this year
Those waiting for a dual-format player to solve the conflict between HD DVD and Blu-ray will be waiting at least a little longer, or maybe forever. LG had indicated they would be replacing their canceled BD199 Blu-ray player with one capable of playing both formats, but they told TWICE that they have no plans to release such a device this fall. They did mention that they have been a strong supporter of the Blu-ray format, with their GBW-H10N burner already available, and when queried about 2007 only responded that they have not finalized their 2007 product plans yet. With Samsung still maintaining their "no plans" line and Ricoh's multiformat laser not due till the end of next year and still playerless it could be a very long wait for a compromise. We're trying to remain optimistic but we know how these types of things usually end up.
Warner announces first Blu-ray releases; plans big third, fourth quarter for HD DVD
Well that was quick. Warner has announced their first Blu-ray releases. They officially announced their support last October but had not yet announced any release dates. August 1 is the big day, with four movies coming out on Blu-ray, three already available on HD DVD and one all-new in high definition. Training Day, Rumor Has It and Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang, have already shown up on HD DVD, while George Clooney's Good Night, and Good Luck has not. We'll finally be able to compare the same title on either format and tell what, if any, difference there is.
Ricoh shows off their Blu-ray/HD DVD/DVD/CD capable laser at Interopto 2006
As previously mentioned Ricoh is working on a way to read all four formats with a single adjustable laser, and they came to Interopto 2006 to show it off. Of course with their panels written in Japanese it's a little hard to understand the details, but the idea is clear. They claim they will be able to provide samples to OEMs this year, but don't anticipate players on shelves until the end of 2007. Of course some people think the Blu-ray and HD DVD format war could be over by then, and we still have the unknowns of license restrictions and price to deal with before this is a realistic alternative to existing standalone players and recorders.
Ricoh laser head reads/writes HD DVD and Blu-ray discs
While there is still doubt over if or when a Blu-ray and HD DVD capable drive will be available, Ricoh has created a single laser that is able to read discs in either format. Their new component will be able to read and write to Blu-ray, HD DVD, DVD and CD with one pickup and one objective lens. The 3.5-mm diameter, 1-mm thick round diffraction plate detects what kind of disc has been inserted, and adjusts to change the laser beam as necessary for the format. They'll be showing off the tech later this week at the International Optoelectronics Exhibition '06 in Japan.While both formats use blue lasers they record at different distances and widths, a single head that overcomes those differences could make a dual-format player cheaper and a more realistic possibility if licensing fees and agreements don't get in the way. Ricoh certainly doesn't think they will, saying this technology will "make it possible to build players and recorders for all formats which benefits consumers". That's the triple truth, although if this coming technology at all influenced Toshiba's conciliatory remarks recently is unknown.They see this technology becoming commercially available by the end of this year. It will only be available for playback devices initially, as a higher powered laser is needed for recording. Those of us waiting for a relatively inexpensive solution to the high definition format war will be waiting just a bit longer.
Universal pushes back several HD DVD titles
Universal has shuffled back the planned release dates for three of their upcoming HD DVD movies for unknown reasons. Backdraft, previously scheduled for September 12, is now slated for a week later on September 19, while Army of Darkness & Fast Times at Ridgemont High also slide a week from October 3 to October 10. They've also apparently given up on the Dual-format nomenclature, following Warner in calling them Combo versions. A name change is nice we guess, but we'd really like to see a price drop that brought them in line with other HD DVD releases, paying extra for future proofing is getting really tired.
Samsung does NOT plan on releasing a HD DVD/Blu-ray combo player
The Internet has been buzzing the last few days with 'breaking news' that Samsung is going to release a combination Blu-ray/HD DVD player. (link to our post) Sounds good right? Well, we are sorry to inform you that Samsung has no current plans to release such a device. None, what so ever. We contacted Samsung Electronics America's PR department this morning after this story was on Digg's front page. A rep was very happy to talk to us and indicated that, yes, it is just a rumor. She provided us with this statement from a few days back.Samsung Electronics is fully committed to the Blu-ray format and currently only has plans to introduce a Blu-ray player to the market.While it would be great to have a dual format player, do not expect one soon. Eventually, we will probably see one if both formats are successful. However, if one format dominates over the other, then we may never have a need for a combo.
Samsung universal HD DVD/Blu-ray player still a possibility
Their BD-P1000 isn't even -- officially -- on shelves yet, and already Samsung is talking about their next Blu-ray player. Well, not their next Blu-ray player, their next Blu-ray and HD DVD player. Samsung announced the possibility of a dual-format player last year, but later drew back from such plans, saying licensing agreements made such a player "impossible". According to Digital World Tokyo the unit may still see daylight, "if HD DVD proves as successful as Blu-ray disc". While we didn't think the battle would be decided so early, this could be a crucial period for Toshiba and their supporters to gain traction and force compromise from members of the Blu-ray camp. With shaky early reviews, Blu-ray may not be coming from the position of strength we previously expected.
Universal cuts HD DVD prices, announces two combo HD DVD/DVDs
Call it the Blu-ray effect. With the other high definition DVD format set to release in a few days, Universal is dropping prices on all their HD DVD releases from $34.95 to $29.95. Since retailers rarely sell the movies for the actual MSRP, we'll see what this translates to on store shelves and if when Blu-ray launches, it is actually cheaper than HD DVD.In the second bit of Universal HD DVD news, also from High Def DVD Digest, they are following Warner Bros. lead and releasing hybrid HD DVD/DVD discs. Their first releases on the format will be National Lampoon's Animal House and Unleashed. They will continue to be listed at $34.95. Looks like competition is benefiting the consumer already. We'll be a little happier when we see price drops on the hardware and more content available however. Also, will Warner drop the prices on their movies, and what about Paramount's indefinitely delayed titles?Read - Universal cuts prices on HD DVDRead - Universal schedules two combo HD DVD/DVD movies
Firewall HD DVD/DVD combo review
With the news that 16 Blocks is being released next week on the hybrid HD DVD/DVD format, we thought it might be a good idea to take a look at how its two predecessors have fared. Mark Zimmer over at digitallyOBSESSED published a review of Firewall today, and came away impressed. He had no notable complaints about the audio or video transfer for either version, giving them an A and A- grade, respectively. That's a welcome result for the HD DVD camp considering the same reviewer criticized Rumor Has It for problems with the video and sound and lack of extras. Still, even on Firewall the bonus features are only contained on the SD side of the disc, requiring a flip to view them on your HD DVD player. Any HD DVD owners or future HD DVD owners taken advantage of these discs yet? Alternatively, do you view combo discs as a problem since early adopters have to pay extra (so far about $3 over other new titles) for an SD DVD copy they probably won't ever view?
Warner's third HD DVD/DVD combo title 16 Blocks coming June 13
Looks like Warner will continue with these day-and-date combo disc releases, as they have announced the Mos Def and Bruce Willis flick 16 Blocks will be available next week both on standard DVD and an HD DVD/DVD combo disc. Just like the first release Rumor Has It, the list price is $39.98. This may be an interesting trend to watch, what genres and what specific titles get day-and-date releases, combo releases, or extra features. A quick check on Amazon shows the Rumor Has It and Firewall combo discs going for $27.97 and the standard definition DVDs retailing for $16.96. Is high definition future proofing worth $11? We will see.
Poll results: (Reevaluated) next-gen combo platters
After receiving over 30,000 votes -- a new Joystiq record methinks, and nearly four times as many responses as our earlier poll -- we finally have a winner! For our poll, we wrote, "With a finite amount of entertainment dollars going to next-gen consoles, it could be argued that every extra dollar spent on a PS3 is one less being spent on another console like the Wii." With a more expensive PSWii combo, our readers aren't going to be dropping the Wii so much as they'll be buying less PS3s. Even with a much larger test bed, the percentage of respondents who intend to purchase a Wii is roughly the same; however, the PlayStation 3 suffered a significant setback, resulting in an increase in Xbox 360 purchasing intentions. Total percentages: # of votes - % of votes - previous %Wii: 26204 votes - 85.93% - 84.21%PS3: 6581 votes - 21.58% - 48.41%360: 17629 votes - 57.81% - 46.30%Market share: new % - old %Wii: 51.98% - 47.06%PS3: 13.05% - 27.06%360: 34.97% - 25.88%It is clear that Peter Moore's assertion that people are "going to buy an Xbox and they're going to buy a Wii" has some legs, with a plurality of voters choosing the Wii60 combo platter. Nintendo's console combo strategy also appears to have withstood Sony's price announcement, just resulting in notably less PSWii bundles.Of course, these numbers may have no analog in real life sales for any console (statisticians we are not) but they do represent an accurate depiction of what Joystiq readers think. Have at 'em.(Update: corrected some grammatical confusion.)
Polaroid's MGX-0550: GPS and DVD combo
You know, it's still hard to get used to a new Polaroid product doing anything other than snapping pics. Well those are days long gone, so blot your eyes old timers and check the new MGX-0550 -- Polaroid's new SiRFstar III, WAAS-enabled, 12-channel GPS and DVD / CD playin' combo device. That 5.6-inch touchscreen delivers your choice of kid squelching vids or the most relevant of the pre-loaded maps covering the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. And yeah, the MGX-0550 will interrupt your media fix to provide the latest navigation instructions over its built-in FM transmitter through your car stereo system. When you arrive, be sure to drag the MGX-0550 along since DVDs will play for another 3 hours off rechargeable battery. No pricing or availably yet, but then again, how much do you care?
Warner's first HD-DVD/DVD combo disc, additional titles announced
HD-DVD is moving the movement, with their latest announcement that we will see the first back-and-forwards compatible movie hitting store shelves May 9. Rumor Has It (which I have never heard of) will contain a high definition version on one side and a standard definition DVD on the other. The second piece of good news is that it will premiere on the same day as the standard definition release. The bad news is that this hybrid disc is going to cost you $39.99, a 135% premium over just the standard DVD as eHomeupgrade points out.Also announced today for HD-DVD release are Goodfellas, Swordfish and Training Day, all of which will cost $28.99.Now we'll see if anyone is really interested in future-proofing their DVD library, especially at such a price. Blu-ray also has similar types of discs on the way; with neither format expected to gain that much traction in its first year, getting consumers to build up libraries of content and locked into a format early could be key. That said, content will mark the true victor in the next generation wars, and with the "special features" provided by Eva Mendes and Halle Berry I see where Warner is going early and I kind of like it.
