The high-def guru makes his sixth prediction.
By Allison Moore
HD Diva
Washington, D.C. (December 12, 2007) -- Phillip Swann, president of TVPredictions.com, has been making predictions about TV technology issues for several years with an incredible rate of success.
For instance, Swanni was the first to say Voom's satellite TV service would fail; that Apple TV would be a bust; and that Interactive TV programs would never reach a mass audience in the United States.
"I'm not always right, but I will put my record up against anyone," Swanni says.
And now, Swanni is kicking off his forecasts for High-Definition TV in the coming year.
The video commentary below includes Swanni's sixth prediction -- Warner Bros. will endorse Blu-ray in the high-def disc format war against HD DVD.
To see Swanni's Prediction #6 for 2008, click below:
http://www.tvpredictions.com/swannisix121207.htm
Swanni,
How do they combine the two in to one when the use different players and software like java and hdi?
Doesn't make sense. IF and a big IF that happened, it would probably make Blu-Ray the winner. Blu-Ray would have no incentive to negotiate. Only if it stays a stalemate, would there be reason for either side to negotiate.
Oh boy, Swanni's going to get flamed for this one...
Hell hath no fury like an HD-DVD geek scorned.
The exact opposite would likely cause this to happen as well.
I don't mean to rain on your parade because I think some good content comes out of here, but predictions that Warner will go Blu-Ray is old news. And I'm assuming that you've already read this since it does pertain to Blu-Ray and you are an up-to-speed kind of guy.
Bus* Week
Anyways, just wanted to point that out. Your predictions are great, you don't need to give out week old predictions that someone else has already discovered will probably happen anyway. Bus* Week did all the leg work on this and so it just makes you look fake.
Business Week did not predict that Warner would endorse Blu-ray. It reported that Warner could endorse either format, adding that rumors say Blu-ray could be winning. But there was no prediction of a Blu-ray endorsement
Well this will be the one Swanni gets wrong in 2008, in fact, he may get it completely wrong as Warner could just as well go HD DVD exclusive. In many ways, that would make more sense.
The keys questions are will you see a newer version of Blu-Ray or HD-DVD? Also when will you be able to record? Keep in mind HD-DVD already announced they are working on a newer version. So all of the Blu-Ray and HD-DVD players will become outdated fast.
"How do they combine the two in to one when the use different players and software like java and hdi?"
The "merged" format would physically be Blu-ray. The "merged" term really refers to back-room deals to ease Toshiba's surrender. Possibly royalty sharing etc.
The two formats essentially merged when Blu-ray Disc adopted advanced audio and video codecs along side HD DVD. HDi was passed over in favor of BD-J after the BDA group evaluated the two in the company of supporting studios. The one "feature loss" I do regret on BD is the lack of required web-support in players. But it's a small price to pay for 50GB and 1.5x bandwidth.
how is this a prediction? i've seen this report in numerous other sources already...
I think it depends on whether Warner still wants an end to the format war with both sides compromising. (Does it still care? It's not a big profit centre, but it's been the only one to step forward and invest in a way of ending the format war.)
If that's what Warner wants, then it doesn't have to commit - it merely needs to drop big hints that it *may* go HD-DVD exclusive for five years. That'll get HD and BD to negotiate.
If it goes BD, the bellicose BD camp will crow and demand that HD capitulate.
BD is a technologically superior format which is critically flawed in two respects that can never be repaired: the baseline spec is much lower and much less stable than HD's, and the BD camp is run by arrogant @$$holes, as proven continually and with a perfect track record. Put the two together, and HD starts looking a whole lot better to people who have to actually make a living dealing with content.
"Doesn't make sense. IF and a big IF that happened, it would probably make Blu-Ray the winner. Blu-Ray would have no incentive to negotiate. Only if it stays a stalemate, would there be reason for either side to negotiate."
That's already taking place... negotiations with Toshiba. Lots of politics and parties are at play in what's going on right now... it's not a surprise tactic about to be sprung on the industry insiders in a single blow... the way that Paramount did with their buy-out from Toshiba.
Sony has been doing its part to work with Toshiba cooperatively as it approaches whatever outcome in early 2008 is on the way. Ruffled feathers are being soothed in the best way possible so that everyone can walk away from coming events with dignity in-tact.
BD is a technologically superior format which is critically flawed in two respects that can never be repaired: the baseline spec is much lower and much less stable than HD's, and the BD camp is run by arrogant @$$holes, as proven continually and with a perfect track record. Put the two together, and HD starts looking a whole lot better to people who have to actually make a living dealing with content.
Arrogance seems to find its way into every side of this format war (and at least the BDA has left room for profit for CE hardware manufacturers). As does a dose of reason. Let's hope that reason prevails, and we get a single Hi-def format so we can really some some consumer/industry adoption of Hi-def media.
Warner is waiting for the direction of the mainstream buyers and not early adopters. No one at this time can make a prediction as to which road Warner will take.....not even all of Swanni's inside info. Low priced HD-DVDs and players will be in the eyes of the budget minded mainstream consumer as well as the CEOs of WB. Lets just say HD-DVD is a winner in this category.
hi, all you HD-DUD fans:
We Blu-ray fans are drinking victorious beer while you are fooling yourselves on the internet. BD is bad, bad, bad, bad in every aspect. But we beat you in every aspect.
Warner Brothers will go with the format that sells more of their software. Right now Blu-Ray is outselling HD-DVD every single week and nearly every title released on both formats sells more on Blu-Ray.
Does Warner care if HD-DVD sells 10 million Toshiba HD-DVD players for $5 a piece? Not if it doesn't mean they'll sell more software than Blu-Ray.
Let's just skip over it and go to the sugar cube technology...it will possible be invented by the time this war is done.
More sales does not necessarily mean more profit. Profit is what counts and no one knows what Warners profit margins for each format are.
Right now total sales of both formats is pathetic. It's not even more than a mediocre selling DVD title.
Swanni will be proven right because there's only one place for Warner Bros. to go, and that's to Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray is already the leading format in every country in the world, with staggering marketshare in Japan, Europe, Australia, etc. If Warner Bros. wants to go HD-DVD, how will it sell them to the rest of the world? It would have to stay dual-format in various regions, and we already know they don't want to do that because it doubles production and inventory cost. As for the U.S., has HD-DVD even sold a million total players yet (standalone and Xbox attachment)? Last publicized news was "no" at a count of 750k. That's barely even entering the market. It means, even if you had a super release that sold through to 50% of HD-DVD owners, the most you could hope to sell is 375k copies. That's not very enticing. Meanwhile, due mainly to the PS3, Blu-Ray has exceeded 3 million players in America. Even if only 15% of those people buy a title, it would still have sold more copies than if 50% of HD-DVD owners bought the title. The choice becomes a no-brainer for Warner. HD-DVD is on its last legs. After Warner goes Blu-Ray exclusive, it's just a matter of waiting for Paramount's contract to expire, assuming Toshiba doesn't just quit and let Paramount keep the money. After all, Toshiba is losing money trying to sell HD-DVD at bargain prices. If victory is no longer possible, why keep throwing good money after bad?
It's also worth noting that what Toshiba has proven with its poor standalone unit sales despite freefalling their prices is that most people will not buy into either high def format at any price until this "war" is settled. To say a $199 or $99 player is what's needed has proven to be wrong. What's really needed is a single format.
I love blu ray, but does he think that he is psychic? Where are the facts that support this, just because Buss* Week puts an artical out then he can say that, i guess im psychic too then. I hope blu ray does win the war but come on i dont see a negotiation. Its goning to be one or the other. this war has gotten out of hand one company is not going to give up with a realy good fight. Sony has invested way to much money on their PS3's that is the only thing keeping there format going. Even if Warner does go blu i dont think that this gonig be the end of the war. Just my 2cents worth.
If you think that Toshiba has poor sales I'd be dying to hear what you think of the meager BD standalone sales. I think it's safe to say that the BD standalone market can be written off as a failure at this point.
C: I think it's safe to say both formats (players and movies) have been a failure to this point.
And Swanni, I think you're off on this one...IF Warner chose Bluray why on earth would sony want to negotiate after and settle on one format?...I think if warner went blu universal would too and paramount after their deal is done...end of game. I think the negotiations and truce on one format may happen if warner goes HD, since then it's a stalemate.
@C: How much has Toshiba been pushing their HD-DVD players for? Walmart had them as low as $98 around Black Friday, and they can still be found for around $200 today. Yet how many standalone HD-DVD players have been sold so far? Around 500k in all (the remaining 200k+ were Xbox attachments). Is that clear enough for you? Again, it's not about the price. Do you see? Everyone talked about $200 being a magic price, but what really happened @ $200 or even $100? Not much. It's all about needing only one format standing. Warner Bros. holds the key to making it a single format - and that key only turns one way: Blu-Ray, as Warner going to HD-DVD would solve nothing.
By the way, I think it's a joke when HD-DVD proponents continue to leave out the PS3 when they talk about Blu-Ray players. At least be honest with yourselves. Almost all movies cross-released on Blu-Ray and HD-DVD show the Blu-Ray version handily outselling the HD-DVD version. If HD-DVD has more players, how can this possibly be happening? Is it because owners of standalone Blu-Ray players are buying up six copies each of every one of these movies? No, it's because the PS3 is a Blu-Ray player, has sold around 3 million units in the U.S. and has to be factored in.
Mr S. predictions are a joke ;)...just a wannabe insider.
1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHSohyI5 ... ;eurl=http://www.tvpredictions.com/hdvideos1.htm
2) http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... &hl=en
3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENil-gNuE1Q
WB holds HD DVD patents, DVD patents, HDI patents etc. + many HD DVD films never released on Blu-ray 4 ex Matrix Trilogy, V, Batman Begins etc.
.
Actually, I think price is the point, which is another reason why the BD standalones have been a bust. 200k units split between Sony, Samsung, Panasonic and Sharp...pretty weak, no matter what the excuse is.
And price was most certainly the point when 90k HD units were sold in one November weekend.
And if there are millions of PS3's in the market, why is there only a 2-1 sales advantage for Blu Ray?
Hehe, it's clear the topics that still get people worked up here. The statistics are not as cut and dry as they could be. What is important is that there is no "compromise" FORMAT. Creating a new standard that is backward compatible with both discs will not fly, since too much hardware needs to be doubled with associated complexity - that's why dual formats players now are expensive. Each format has a blueprint for development with increased storage and additional features along with backward compatibility, but the only negotiation I see happening here is a buyout - or one system is driven into the ground first. I'd be surprised to see that happening within a year, but it will be interesting times this year though for sure.
One way of looking at things is that HD set-top buyers so far are all "early-adaptors" The PS3 buyers are in a completely different marketplace. Games are proprietary to their system, and have a built-in obsolescence anyway. If the video standard changes, it isn't really a big deal for them. It's only the investment in movies that is at risk.
This holiday season is really just the beginning of tests for the HD players in a mass market. Sales statistics will be only part of the format issue. Studio allegiances and back-room deals will certainly play. Also essential for mass-market momentum will be non-movie material. Independent releases have to be enabled soon too. If Apple makes their upcoming new pro-mac with hd disc burning hardware and software available, it will make a bigger splash than some might imagine.
PS3 is standalone! The only thing that is not standalone is the xhoax HD-DUD attachment. It doesn't work when it stands alone!
I think ww3 may have something here. Since PS3 is sucking wind as a game console vs. wii and 360, Sony has no other choice than to make it a stand alone BD player. Unfortunately, the PS3 is still a product of their Computer / Gaming division and is not available to traditional, non computer dealers. I was actually going to buy a PS3 and play my PS2 games on it until some good PS3 games are available, but Sony went back on their word and eliminated that feature from their latest release and even their 80gb model only plays about 50% of the existing library. This is the problem when a format doesn't have all capabilities listed in the basic specifications. They claim that eliminating the PS2 capabilities allowed them to reduce the price of the PS3 to get more competitive with both HD DVD and the Wii and 360. Sony is trying to ride both sides of the fence and I predict, they will end up dropping the BD player from the PS3 and focusing on the market that is and has always been more important to them, gaming.
How 'bout those banannas?
Peace
Dumbass: by 360 did you mean XHoax 360 that have one third fail in less than 24 hours? and M$ has to extend warranty to 3 years? now that sucks wind! I wonder if the HD-DUD attachment still plays movies after the XHoax dies.
Dumbass: So you bought a PS3 to play PS2 games. Is that the same reason you bought Toshiba HD-DUD player, to play DVDs? Well, what else can you do with it anyway.
I just got an inside tip that Sony is now in the 8-Track player camp whereas Toshiba is in the victrola camp. Word is high fidelity will never be the same.
Its a little more than coincidence that local grocery stores are seling out of tin cans and waxed string at record rates.
I see....
ww3, your powers of observation never fail to amaze. It seems you have very little to add to an intelligent discussion, therefore you drop back on your adolescent name calling skills.
I hope you enjoy your holidays and have a very happy new year.
Peace
You know Dumbass, being un-intelligent I am care-free and happy about every holiday and christmas. i am even happy about a 1080i player.
heres a school question?
peter and paul both have £50 to spend
both buy 4 apples and an orange but paul gives 2 apples to peter as there giving him the sh*ts
on passing the shops paul and peter spot the latest releases of a top film and top game
paul owning a bluray playstation opts for what?
peter owning a toshiba hd dvd player opts for?
what percentage of the sale does the movie industry gain from each?
extra point for showing calculation
Once again, HD-DVD proponents try to take PS3's out of the argument. HD-DVD may have sold 62% of standalone high def players on Black Friday due to drastic plummeting of their prices to $200 and $100 levels. But that means standalone Blu-Ray players still sold 38% AT FULL PRICES of $399. ON TOP OF THAT, almost 200k PS3's were sold that week in America at either $399 or $499. Once again, price is not the big factor here. Having a single format is what the consumers need before they will start buying. Get your head out of the sand, C. And, once again, if PS3's don't count and there are so many more HD-DVD standalones than Blu-Ray standalones, why do Blu-Ray releases of the same movie sell so many more than the HD-DVD releases? Think it through, for crying out loud. Use some friggin' logic instead of emotion.
I find it interesting that when the BD side tries to make a point against HD DVD, they insist we "Think it through". Unfortunately, that doesn't hold true for them. I'm not pro HD DVD or BD but I am anti DRM / BD+. That pushes me to HD DVD if I don't want have my future limited by the video / video game police. Why would anyone want to buy into a format that has the ability to limit viewing of any media to one specific player. Why would anyone buy into a format that can keep my kids from taking their video game to their friend's house to share. Why would anyone want to buy into a format that plans on making me purchase a separate disc for each player I may use, Living room, bedroom, car, my kids' rooms, etc.
Fox and Disney have stated specifically that their decision to back Blu Ray was based solely on the DRM / BD+ factor.
Anyway, I'm glad you have all made your decision, but did you "think it through"?
As always,
Peace
Okay, you want to go on a tangent, meander from what we were talking about (sales and price) and talk about DRM. That's fine. The DRM on both systems have been cracked. AACS has been cracked. BD+ has been cracked. You want to get back to the actual topic of my message now or what?
By the way, did you even read my message? I've been looking through it wondering how you could get into your off-topic oddball rant based on my message, and I can't see how anyone who read my message could go off on such a strange tangent. Sure, I said "think it through", but given the context around which it was said, I can only wonder if that's the only phrase you read in that whole paragraph.
@ Anonymous
If you make the HD-DVD crowd drop the "PS3 is not a stand alone player" and drop the "attach rate" arguments what are they left with other than losses in every sales week of 2007?
The boring truth & reality of the situation?
[and with Dumass it is always DRM / Dumass lives & dies by the DRM is killing me argument] Dumass MUST BE working for HD-DVD along with his boy / girl friend and alter ego Randybot - they need to get away from the format war & spend some quality time together.
Oh and Dumass loves to bring up the PS3 as a failed game console thing or how he / she wanted to play PS2 games on it...[then buy a 60GB PS3 and quit crying or keep using your PS2 if you even have one which I doubt]...the 40 GB PS3 is more a media hub / movie player then game console anyway...that's why it is a redesigned version of the original PS3 to cater to the AV concentric crowd and a lesser focus on gaming. And is also less expensive to combat HD-DVDs constantly collapsing retail pricing.
And with about 7,200,000 PS3s sold in 13 months I am not sure we are looking at a failed anything especially when the cheapest version is $399.
Soon enough the BDA [not just Sony] & Toshiba will come to a compromise, BD will win out AS THE DOMINANT FORMAT moving forward and all of this will be over.
PS3 owners will get a firmware update and all PS3s will be enabled to play HD-DVDS. Both HD-DVD & BD use a blue laser. HD-DVD is an extension of SD DVD. The PS3 plays SD DVDs....the PS3 will be the CHEAPEST EVER Dual Format / Combo player EVER!!!!
But a HD-DVD player cannot be updated VIA firmware or upgraded to play BD media....to bad, so sad...."Because the different/better lens in Blu-ray players an HD DVD player can never become a Blu-ray player"
http://www.voodish.co.uk/articles/can-t ... y-hd-dvds/
Dumbass is just so angry that BD won't let him steal movies.
Cheech and Chong and ww3,
It is obvious that neither of you really understands the format you are backing. I'm not saying you would change your mind if you did, but at least you would have an informed opinion that would reduce your anger toward anyone that has studied both formats.
You have both given me the gift of laughter and I am a much happier person after reading your humorous posts. Please continue so others can benefit from your interesting perspective.
Peace
i was refering to peter and paul who are the average kid on the street with only limited pocket money.
why did paul buy his ps3 in the first place and with the limited money he has his priority will be to use his funding for games given the choice its just common sense.
give the ps3 fanboy the choice between top game or film what will they choose.
now give the same choice to the hd dvd player owner?
its that simple ps3 1in2 hd dvd 2in2 and the movie industry knows this there not that stupid.
how many ps2 owners used it for a main dvd player?
how many ps2 owners brought a dvdplayer?
ljbanner,
Your point is very valid. Currently, there are no hot games for the PS3 so money is simply going to BD movies. When the games start rolling, that money will be diverted and maybe rental will see some action but BD movie purchasing will decline.
The PS2 question is also valid. The first PS2 I purchased was for my son. I figured he could use it as both a game system and a DVD player. Three years later, we have never used it or the second PS2 unit to play a DVD movie. Obviously, there are some in this forum who claim they use their PS2 daily for DVD movies. That seems like a waste due to the cost of the product vs. the cost of a stand alone DVD player. Why put the wear and tear on the game console?
Peace
Anonymous,
Obviously, you have no idea how to debate. The introduction of additional information is a long held strategy to prove a point. Your comment "think it through" is whip lashed right back at you because it is obvious you haven't "thought it through".
Just because you aren't equipped to debate some of the most important aspects of the BD vs HD DVD decision making from the studio side, doesn't make this information irrelevent. In fact, it shows that there are consumers who "drink the Kool Aid" and follow along mindlessly. It simply means that you need to go to school and learn more about these issues. If you then decide to back one side over the other, at least you are armed with the power of knowledge. Sometimes, as you have pointed out in your "think it through" statement, issues aren't spelled out and as humans we must begin to use our powers of observation. If you don't want to take the time to learn about these issues, continue posting your humorous, ill informed banter and I will continue to laugh when I read it.
Peace
ww3,
I guess you are right. But I wasn't aware that playing the disc I purchased on more than one unique player was actually stealing. I guess my kids are breaking the law when they take their movies from my house to their nana's and watch them on her player. I must be raising criminals because my son wanted to take his video game to his buddy's house to share. Oh, I don't think I can live with myself. I better jump on the Blu Ray bandwagon so I can have no option and I won't be tempted to allow my children to break "your" law.
Get real! You allow Sony and the BDA feed you a line then when they decide to go back on their word, that's ok with you. This is why there should be a list of foundation features written into the basic spec. for the format. If they aren't in the spec. you can't count on them being around for the future. This is the issue with the DRM / BD+. Many of you use your adolescent analysis abilities to combat a feature/technology you know nothing about.
Happy Holidays and as always,
Peace
i think the technology of bluray and hd dvd is the way forward but there are still many creases to be ironed out in both cases.
my personal opinion is that bluray is being rushed into production to stop sonys ps3 losing out in the gaming war. xbox360 should have taken the step to enclose hd dvd into its console rather than as an add on.
with the added cost of production for blu ray there is only one place that the cost can be offset and that is the customer and this will be more and more if this format takes a hold in both realms.
film studios will not take the brunt of these costs and will have no option but to pass them on.yet with hd dvd costs being the same as regular dvd and the costs of manafacturing dropping more and more the studios realise soon enough that they can not cut off there noses to spite there face.if its not broke dont fix.
im all for multi formats for gaming as i remember loading my tapes for 30mins on my spectrum 28k and amstrad pcp464 i remember being amazed at the faster load of my sega master system.
but at the moment bluray is giving me nothing more than a hd dvd.
if anything with the hd dvd im getting peace of mind that it is going to work from one day to the next.
u can debate all u want, but we all know that 8 track players will win in the end.
Anonymous,
On "thinking it through", I find that you neglected to add some additional information that would have been very appropriate. The $399 PS3 was actually advertised at $299 including a $100 rebate / giftcard therefore blowing a hole in your price is no concern hypothesis. Blu Ray was also running Buy on Get one for discs to offset the sales of Transformers and Shrek 3 on HD DVD. Another reason for increased sellthrough (of movies) is due to the lack of decent PS3 titles in the marketplace. Since Sony dropped the PS2 capability from the least expensive PS3, there are no decent games available, the only thing PS3 owners can do with their console is play BD or standard DVD movies. That is a great piece of machinery.
At this time, PS3 owners must purchase BD discs because Sony has screwed them on the gaming side. When more PS3 games hit the market, the money being used for BD movies will decrease and be diverted to games.
I say we don't cry foul at either side, we let them battle it out and we take advantage of the low prices. My problem with people like you is that you haven't taken your own advice and "thought it through".
Resorting to childish name calling is a true sign that one has no further intelligent communication to add to the debate and they resort to the tactics you demonstrated above out of utter frustration. Now that we have discussed the subjects you feel informed about, let's move on to more substantive topics.
Peace
@Mr. Dumass: Again, let me clarify this to you. Let's look at the phrase "think it through". What did the word "it" refer to? "It" refers to the question posed about whether the PS3 is a Blu-Ray player. Any schoolchild could explain that to you. However, it's clear that you agree that the PS3 is a Blu-Ray player since you don't think anyone actually uses it to play games. Great to see you've thought the question through and come to the same logical conclusion. As for the insulting, if you look back, you'll see that was started by you as well when you snobbishly declared that "obviously, have no idea how to debate". I beg to differ. It is clearly you who has no discipline for proper debate.
This post is to fix the inadvertent italic font.
By the way, at the risk of wandering off-topic and being entangled in one of your unrelated rants which will no doubt wander elsewhere before ever reaching any conclusion, your spiel about DRM is FUD. You can take a legitimate Blu-Ray movie and play it in another Blu-Ray player just as you can with an HD-DVD movie in another HD-DVD player. That's why places like Gamespot can sell pre-owned Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs. Also, you talk as if the Blu-Ray format is the only one with DRM when the truth is that both formats contain DRM.
Sorry, that's Gamestop, and not Gamespot.
Dumbass:
We don't want you to jump into the BD wagon. BD wagon has no place for retards. You can jump from anywhere you want. And please don't many any more babies: the world is already teemed with dumbasses. If your son cannot play his BD discs in any other machines other than his own, have his brain checked.
Anonymous,
Again, you are simplifying and going based on your limited knowledge of the BD format. Fox, Disney, Sony and the BDA stated back in April that they don't plan to implement the full capabilities of the BD+ DRM, "YET". Obviously, this was a move to keep this security scheme low key and not turn off consumers interested in purchasing Blu Ray. They didn't say they were abandoning the full fleged BD+ DRM that would limit playback to a single unique player. They simply stated it wouldn't be implemented "YET". Why would they make it a point to use the specific work "YET"? That is why your experience is as you stated, you can take a Blu Ray movie and play it on any Blu Ray machine. Don't be surprised, if HD DVD does go away, if shortly after that, BD movies and PS3 games start coming out with exactly the security scheme I am talking about. This would mean you will need to buy a separate copy of each movie / game for each player for which you wish to use.
DRM is an umbrella term, Blu Ray caved into Fox and Disney for the sole purpose of their exclusive support. Fox has now proved that since BD+ has been cracked, they really have no support to offer, until a new security scheme is developed, thus their lack of activity with BD movies. Take a look at the number of FOX titles that have been released on DVD lately, then look at the BD releases. You will find one title since the BD+ was hacked. Why? The one title was already completed and replicated, it didn't make sense to hold it back. Why are there no other BD movies from FOX?
What about rentals and used copy sales? That would either eliminate the rental of BD movies and PS3 games which is exactly what the studios and game manufacturers want and limit rentals and used copy sales to existing DVD and PS2, PS1, Xbox 360, Xbox, Wii and Gamecube titles. It is possible that BD+ could be configured for rental and sort of "region coded" to allow unlimited player playback.
In any event, thanks for bringing this subject up again and understand that once studios and manufacturers gain control of your home, you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube.
Peace
ww3,
Wow, you sure are hostile. I feel embarassed for you.
Peace
save your embarrassment for yourself on the funeral day for HD-DUD, dumbass.
ww3,
Thank you for the lesson in insightful debate. I am now going to build a snowman with my three kids and ponder the blessings I have. Later I will join them for a game or two on their Nintendo Wii. You have definitely made me realize that I am wasting precious time when I could be spending it with my children.
Please have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year
Peace
@Mr. Dumass: Where did you read all that from? It sounds like you are spreading someone else's FUD, because I've never read anything like that before on BD+ - nor has Blockbuster or any of the other Blu-Ray exclusive rental giants. If anything, people should be concerned about HD-DVD's ability to change its firmware at any time to increase DRM, as HD-DVD's specifications mandate Ethernet capability allowing it to "phone home". However, until fair use legislation is overturned, I assure everyone there is no need to bust out the tin foil hats like Mr. Dumass has. There are always extremists and alarmists with anything new.
Jesus! Three little Dumbasses! and none knows how to play a disc! Well, when you build the snowman, make sure the nose is placed below the eyes.
by the way, are you going to sell the snowman at Wal-mart for $99?
I have been watching this discussion (and I use that term very loosly) and can't believe that some of you are attacking like this. Do you have a reason for it? To call someone names because they are simply posing their side of things is very childish. Are you getting paid by one side or the other to be so passionate about a piece of machinery. I guarantee you will never receive a call or a card saying "THANKS for helping us win from either side". Not only do you attack the poster, you also attack his children. This seems to be more of an elementary school than a forum for new technology. What ever happened to the rules for not using profanity. It seems that some of you would have nothing to say if they were enforced.
I posted this on the other Warner discussion but figured most of the discussion is going on here how. I haven't bought either Blu-Ray or HD-DVD yet, but have been watching the show from the sidelines for quite a while and am amused at how passionate folks are about it. I was just about ready to go for the HD-DVD unit, only because of its significant price advantage, but after I saw Swanni's prediction that Warner will probably go with Blu-Ray, I put on the brakes until this mess gets cleaned up. Here's what I think will happen:
If, as the predictions indicate, Warner goes with BD, then the HD-DVD proponents will negotiate a deal with the BD contingent that will go something like this: Toshiba will buy the rights to produce Blu-Ray players in exchange for a deal with all the studios that all new releases for the next two years will be produced on a common disc that will play on either type of player. This will allow Toshiba to save face with its customer base and also allow them to stay in the hi-def DVD player market. It will also make the transition by HD-DVD owners to BD two years downstream more palatable when, presumably, BD prices will have fallen to more acceptable levels.
The reason I believe the Blu-Ray parties will go for this deal:
- Sony gets the licensing money from Toshiba
- The movie studios get an expanded market for their releases
And I wouldn't underestimate the size of the HD-DVD market, either. I've noticed HD-DVD prices have held up pretty well this holiday season (even on eBay) and I'm guessing sales numbers are going to be significant.
Just my .02 worth.
Soon enough the BDA [not just Sony] & Toshiba will come to a compromise, BD will win out AS THE DOMINANT FORMAT moving forward and all of this will be over.
PS3 owners will get a firmware update and all PS3s will be enabled to play HD-DVDS. Both HD-DVD & BD use a blue laser. HD-DVD is an extension of SD DVD. The PS3 plays SD DVDs....the PS3 will be the CHEAPEST EVER Dual Format / Combo player EVER!!!!
http://www.voodish.co.uk/articles/can-t ... y-hd-dvds/
But alas a HD-DVD player cannot be updated VIA firmware or upgraded to play BD media....to bad, so sad...."Because the different, more expensive & better lens in Blu-ray player, a HD DVD player can never become a Blu-ray player"
thanks mikey for your 2p worth
i think a lot of the passion from both sides arises from a class devide
on one hand you have the movie enfusiasts(god knows how you spell that)
secondly you have a gaming community that is in most parts a younger group of my dads bigger than your dad.
at the end of the day its about money.the ps3 and bluray folk are better because they spent more while the hd dvd groups have waited for a price drop to enable them to jump to high def
and in most cases hd dvd fans have had to work bloody hard even to afford these prices
on the other hand you have a group of people who have £400 to waste on a games console or even more for a blu player
so they are entitles in there little world to look down on hd dvd as inferior because we paid more
the facts still stand that blu offers no more than hddvd but because it cost more it must be better so knowing all the facts to these people has nothing to do with it as long as it costs more is what really pis%es hd dvd fans
power in numbers is what will decide and im sorry blups3 fans but there are a lot more on the lower scale of income in the world(fact)
I think the FCC will nix any merger between DISH and DIRECTTV. The argumetn about Satelite radio does not hold water because it is such a niche market. Look at the subscription rates - less tahn 1% of the cars on the road have it and very few homes bother.
While the metropolitan areas may have a wealth of services to choose from for TV sources, the rural areas have either OTA or Satelite. OTA does not offer much variety, so Satelite is the only option. Both satelite services have a propensity to raise prices - witness the extra charges for HD content - with a monopoly, then we will really be hosed. I think any merger proposal will get congressional scrutiny, and rural states will raise a big fuss. I know I will be contacting my representatives.
just realised something!hd dvd and blu are the same so why are we fighting each other when the studios should be supporting both.the studios are the ones we should be fighting as there playing the customers off against each other.no winners no lossers let the studios lose for a change and make them support both or none at all.
come on people power pass it on.
why would warner want to support a company that is in direct comp in the movies
sony owns all the rights to the bluray coding so all other studios will have to pay sony rights to use it!
it does not make sense to give your competitor the edge
sony has a large enough share of the electronics and movies why give them even more?
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