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The first Blu-ray DVD discs have been released in the US ahead of the launch of the first Blu-ray player on 25 June. The move marks the start of a Sony-led campaign in the next generation DVD format wars against the Toshiba-led HD DVD system. The battle to win consumers began in March 2006 when Toshiba released the first HD-DVD player. The introduction of two different formats has split the electronics industry and Hollywood film studios. Historic fight Many people liken the fight to the 1980s tussle between VHS and Betamax. Then, Sony lost out to rival JVC in the format wars. This time, the electronics giant will be hoping that it will come out on top. Backers of its technology include Samsung, Dell and Apple, while Toshiba, with NEC, Microsoft and others, is pushing HD DVD. In Hollywood, companies like Disney and 20th Century Fox have sided with Sony, while the followers of HD DVD include Universal. Warner Bros and Viacom have said they will support both. Film extras Both systems are incompatible but can both store large amounts of data, important for high-definition video. The technologies use a blue laser to write information. It has a shorter wavelength so more data can be stored. The first Blu-ray discs can store 25GB of high-quality data, but will eventually be able to store 50GB. Toshiba's HD DVD will hold 30GB. By comparison, a standard single-layer DVD holds just under 5GB of data Both disc formats offer much better quality audio and video, and the ability for film-makers to pack many more extras onto a single disc. They will also be more user-friendly, allowing users to switch languages or skip scenes without having to return to the main menu. Games technology The first Blu-ray players are made by Samsung and will retail at $1,000 (£550) in the US, nearly twice the price of the first HD-DVD players. Seven discs have gone on sale including classic films like The Terminator. Even before the players have hit the shelves, backers of the HD-DVD format have upped the stakes. Toshiba has said it will offer the first HD-DVD recorder in Japan from mid-July 2006. The recorder will sell for nearly 400,000 Yen (£1,900). But many people are waiting for what could be the "killer application" for Blu Ray. Sony's PlayStation 3, which will be launched in mid-November, will come with a Blu-ray drive as standard. In comparison, owners of Microsoft's Xbox 360, which is already available around the world, will have to buy a separate HD DVD drive when they become available. Games consoles tend to drive early adoption of technology because hardcore gamers, keen to get their hands on the latest titles, are prepared to buy the latest technology. The games industry is estimated to be worth $25 billion (£13.5 billion) dollars annually. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Next generation DVDs tested Jonathan Fildes Science and technology reporter, BBC News Later this year two competing next generation DVD formats will hit shelves across Europe. To find out how they compare, BBC News went along to the offices of the British Video Association to see them in action. The battle for the hearts, minds and wallets of next generation, high-definition DVD consumers started in earnest in March of this year when Toshiba launched the first HD-DVD player. Three months later Samsung returned the initial volley with the release of the first Blu-ray players. The opening salvos, already likened to the 1980s tussle between VHS and Betamax, meant that consumers were once again thrust into an uncertain world where a DVD player they purchased could be obsolete within a year. On one side is the Toshiba-led HD-DVD format and on the other the Sony-led Blu-ray. In the 1980s Sony lost out to rival JVC in the video format wars. But it took nearly 10 years for consumers and industry to decide which player had a place in the world's living rooms. Digital push According to the British Video Association (BVA), by the end of this year there will be 14 million HDTVs in Western Europe. Already, they say, 75% of all televisions sold are HD ready. The high definition push is already upon us and there is clear demand for the new technology. Other than a sticker confirming which format they play, there is little difference in looks between the rival format players. Blu-ray Disc: 25GB or 50GB Supporters: Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Sharp, Philips, Hitachi, Pioneer, Apple, Dell Studios: Sony, Disney, 20th Century Fox, Warner, Paramount But that is where comparisons end. First up in the test was Blu-ray. On one screen, the beautiful House of Flying Daggers was shown in standard DVD format, while on another the high-definition version played. The difference was immediate: the picture was crisper, the colours more vibrant and there was an almost hallucinogenic 3D-like quality to the film on Blu-ray. In one scene, one of the characters rode a horse through a field of flowers. As he galloped past, plumes of pollen rose into the air as they were kicked up by the horse. Instant gratification But some of the strengths of the new format only become apparent when you try to access extra features on the disc. There is no more stopping the film to access the menu. Pop up displays and navigation can all happen as the film continues to play in the background. Other features include a picture within a picture, allowing a "making of" or director commentary to be shown within the same screen as the main feature. The high capacity of both new formats - 50GB for a dual-layer Blu-ray disc and 30GB for a dual-layer HD-DVD - also means that there is a potential for even more content. At the moment most distributors use the 30GB HD-DVDs and single layer 25GB Blu-ray discs. But the 5GB edge HD-DVD currently enjoys does not seem to make much difference when viewing. Digital divide Unfortunately, it is not possible to watch House of Flying Daggers on HD-DVD because the film is a Sony Pictures release. It is only available on Blu-ray. HD-DVD Disc: 15GB or 30GB Supporters: Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo, Microsoft, Intel Studios: Universal, Warner, Paramount And that is part of the problem with the competing formats. They have already split the Hollywood studios. Disney and 20th Century Fox have sided with Sony, while Universal supports HD-DVD. Warner Bros and Viacom have said they will support both. But until more studios take this middle road or there is agreement on one format, consumers will either have to buy two players or make a choice of which studio's films they are not going to watch. Net extras On the HD-DVD player they showed King Kong. Again the picture was outstanding, allowing you to make out individual hairs on Kong's body. The sound on HD-DVD was incredible too. The extra capacity of discs of both formats allow 7.1 surround sound. Like Blu-ray, HD-DVD allows far more interesting menus and interactive features. Both players have an internet connection, which adds a further dimension to these extras. For example, instead of having the same trailers at the start of a film, the DVD player could automatically download the latest film teasers. Directors could also do live streaming commentary over a film, or music videos could have extra hidden content that could be unlocked over the internet. Digital decision But with both formats offering similar picture quality, sound and extras, how do you choose which one to buy? There is a price difference. The Toshiba HD-DVD player currently sells for $500 (£270), while Samsung's Blu-ray machine is priced at $1000 (£540) in the US. These are the first machines on the market and other cheaper models will follow. Trade bodies like the BVA say they are platform agnostic. Others, like Deluxe Digital Studios who make DVDs in both formats, say that neither has an advantage. It seems it is only really the companies making and backing the different technologies that have strong opinions on which the consumer should invest in. So for now, people have a choice: to buy into one technology, hoping it will not be superseded by another format in a year's time, or to sit back and wait. There may still be agreement between big business, or both formats may continue to exist side-by-side. No one knows. What is certain is that the release of the two competing formats across Europe later this year marks the start of what could become, if past format wars are anything to go by, a long campaign to dominate the global living room. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| EU probe into rival DVD formats European Commission competition officials are looking into the licensing strategies behind the two rival next-generation DVD formats. The two rival systems are HD DVD, which has been developed by Toshiba, and Blu-ray, which has been created by a consortium led by Sony. Each promises better picture and sound quality than existing DVDs. A Commission spokesman said it was asking the firms for more information. Sony said it was co-operating. "We have sent a letter earlier this month to the makers of HD DVD and Blu-ray to request information about licensing," said the Brussels spokesman. 'No complaint' The Commission wants to know details of how the makers of the two new formats plan to license out their products to hardware manufacturers wanting to make new DVD players, as well as to firms wishing to produce the new discs themselves. Once the Commission's anti-monopoly officials receive more information, they can decide whether or not to start an official inquiry. Sony said in a statement: "There are no indications of any complaint, nor of any antitrust concerns on the part of the Commission or anyone else." Both HD DVD and Blu-ray have already been released in the US - HD DVD in April and Blu-ray in June. Sony's consortium behind Blu-ray also includes Philips, Samsung and Sharp. Toshiba was not immediately available for comment. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Big films set for Blu-Ray release Major films including The Da Vinci Code and Pirates of the Caribbean are among the titles to be released on the Blu-Ray next generation DVD format. Some 75 software titles will also be released in Japan at the end of the year, as competition with the rival HD DVD format hots up. Hollywood and electronic firms are backing Blu-Ray, while HD has computer giant Microsoft on its side. Players for both formats were introduced in Japan earlier this year. 'Dampen' Sony is planning to release a Blu-Ray player in the US this October, while a time-frame for a release in Japan has yet to be decided. Games consoles with the Blu-Ray technology, including the Playstation 3, are likely to debut in November. Both sides are expected to release an attractive package of films and computer games to increase interest in their product. The new hardware is likely to breathe new life in the dwindling home video market, but some experts fear a repeat of the tussle between VHS and Betamax formats, when consumers were confused and VHS gradually won over the market. Experts have predicted that the two formats will co-exist until a dual format system is developed. Ben Keen, chief analyst for Screen Digest, said earlier this month that the format war would "dampen consumer appetite" for the HD disc category. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| November launch date for HD-DVD Toshiba has confirmed that it will launch its first HD-DVD player in Europe on 15 November. The 599 euro (£400) HD-E1 will be released two days before rival Blu-ray players, which are available within Sony's new PlayStation 3 console. A second Toshiba HD-DVD player will be released in December, the company said. Toshiba and Sony are backing rival formats, but analysts say the competition could depress the market for next-generation DVD equipment. HD-DVD and Blu-ray players are already available in the US and Japan. Price points Toshiba says it has already sold 50,000 players in the US and Japan, and aims to sell 200,000 by the end of the year. The question is: who needs 50GB? Yoshihide Fuji Toshiba Speaking at the IFA electronics show in Berlin, the company's vice-president of its European DVD division said 10,000 HD-DVD players would be shipped to Europe for the November launch. Any subsequent shipments would depend on consumer interest, Masaki Kimura said. Prices for Toshiba's first wave of HD-DVD machines have been set considerably higher than in the US, where the first HD-DVD machines were released in April, and some retail for a little as $499 (£260, 390 euros). By contrast, Samsung's first Blu-ray player was priced at $999 (£524, 760 euros) in the US. Movies 'the key' Backers of the rival formats have been reluctant to concede any ground in the battle to emerge on top in the HD video market. Both formats offer greatly increased storage capacity, compared with traditional DVD players, to cope with the huge sizes of video encoded for new high definition TVs and displays. But while HD-DVD discs can contain up to 30GB of data, backers of Blu-ray boast that their discs can store even larger files, of up to 50GB. Analysts and manufacturers say that deals with film studios may hold the key to winning the emerging contest between the two formats. While Toshiba showed off its new HD-DVD machines at IFA in Berlin, Hollywood giant Twentieth Century Fox gave Blu-ray a boost by announcing plans to release films for that format only. "We have no plans to release on HD-DVD. Consumer-wise Blu-ray is the best proposition," said Mike Dunn, global president of home entertainment for the studio. Time Warner also announced plans to release films on Blu-ray, Reuters reported. But Yoshihide Fujii, Toshiba's digital consumer chief, raised doubts that most Hollywood films would require the greater storage capacity of Blu-ray discs. "The question is: who needs this," he told Reuters, referring to Blu-ray's capacity. He said the rival formats could continue to co-exist, but conceded that the major film studios could make or break either format. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Damnit. I hate living in "Rip off Britain" The Samsung Blu-Ray DVD player is going to cost $999 Stateside. So what does that convert to in Sterling? Just have a look at Play.com to find out. £999 <_< :cry: <_< <_< It's a crime I tells ya. |
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| Double disc might end hi-def war Inventors have come up with a design for a disc that can store copies of films in rival high-definition formats. A US patent has been filed for the discs that could hold both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray versions of movies. Currently movie makers and technology companies are dividing into camps that back either one or the other of the two formats. The creation of the discs could end the looming battle over the different high-definition formats. Format wars The design of the disc patented in the US would have three layers. One for a standard DVD version of a film and then one for each of the competing formats. The innovation is thought to be possible because the rival formats store data on the discs at different depths. Using reflective films should make it possible to store data for one movie format in one layer but to see through that, if needed, to the deeper layer which has the same movie in the rival format. The engineers behind the idea reportedly w**k for the Warner Brothers movie studio. The idea could end the potential confusion that consumers face as high-definition films in different formats start to go on sale. Few movie studios are planning to release films in both high-definition formats the majority are backing Blu-ray. Only three are backing HD-DVD. This week movie studio Universal announced it would not support the Sony-backed Blu-Ray format. In late September Warner Brothers will release the first movie in both high-definition formats. For consumers the issue is made more confusing because Microsoft and Sony have backed different formats for their next generation games consoles. Industry analysts have predicted that the confusion could mean the market for high-definition movies is stunted until one format becomes dominant. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Blu-ray player put to the test By Darren Waters Technology editor, BBC News website High definition movies have finally arrived in the UK in the shape of the first Blu-ray player from Samsung, the BD-P1000. For more than two years we have been tantalised with promises of knockout picture quality that would make ordinary DVD video look tired and monochromatic. But does the reality match the hype? Samsung's first UK Blu-ray player is a sleek unit that outwardly resembles an ordinary DVD player. BlU-RAY FACTS Capacity: 50GB (dual-layer) Scratch resistant coated disks Video resolution (max): 1920*1080 (1080p) Players are backwards compatible Supported by seven of the eight major film studios On Friday the BBC News website will be answering your questions about Blu-ray and high definition video Blu-ray DVDs are capable of holding 50GB of information, almost 10 times that of ordinary DVD discs. That ability to hold much more data means movies with much greater resolution can be stored on the disc. The Samsung player can output movies in 1920*1080 (1080p) resolution, the highest quality that today's high definition TVs can offer. Those are the raw numbers but what is the visual experience actually like? We were watching movies on a Samsung HDTV (high definition television) and the leap from DVD to high definition was immediately obvious. Colours seemed richer, everything on the screen had a tangible sharpness and the range of light from the sun of a pavement to the shadows of an alleyway was rendered beautifully like a high dynamic range photo. High definition picture quality is sumptuous although my television, like many other HDTVs, struggled in darker scenes. I had a few problems with the Samsung player, however. I could not get the player to output audio in 5.1 surround sound. The player told me it was sending 5.1 audio to my amplifier but it was resolutely telling me that the sound was mere 2.1 surround sound. After an hour of trying to solve it I gave up. The other problem, and one that is rather more worrying, is that despite being advertised as backwards compatible, I could not get the machine to play ordinary DVDs. Time and time again it told me to either "check the disk" or "check the TV screen". All Samsung's advertising states the machine can indeed play ordinary DVDs so I must assume this is a one-off problem with the player I was testing. The first batch of Blu-ray videos have had their pictures encoded in Mpeg 2, a codec that is shared by ordinary DVDs. That has led to some complaints about picture quality when compared to rival HD-DVD, which is encoding movies using a more advanced codec. Unfortunately we have not been able to compare the two rival formats side by side yet. I could also see no discernible difference between watching movies in 1080p (the best quality resolution) and 1080i, which is used by the majority of high definition TVs. There is no doubt that high definition is a leap forward in picture quality and that the results from the first Blu-ray players is very impressive. But the BD-P1000 is on sale for about £1,000 almost twice the cost of a rival HD-DVD player, which goes on sale in the UK next month. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Hybrid answers to DVD format wars The first DVD player to play both rival high definition DVD formats has been announced by South Korean firm LG. The dual-format player will be able to play the Sony-backed Blu-ray discs and the Toshiba-led HD DVD discs. The introduction of two next-generation formats has split both the electronics industry and Hollywood film studios. The player will be launched at the same time as a hybrid double-sided Blu-ray HD DVD disc, developed by Warner Bros. The Total HD discs and the LG player will both go on display at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas that starts on 8 January. Battle lines Players and discs for both HD DVD and Blu-ray went on sale last year. The two technologies are incompatible but offer similar features. Blu-ray Price: Roughly £900 Disc: 25GB or 50GB Supporters: Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Sharp, Philips, Hitachi, Pioneer, Apple, Dell Studios: Sony, Disney, 20th Century Fox, Warner, Paramount Both are able to store much more high-quality data, important for high definition images and high fidelity audio, and both use a blue laser to read information. Used in games consoles, the two formats offer detailed graphics and stunning sound on one disc. However, the launch of the rival technologies has split the industries they serve. Toshiba, with NEC, Sanyo and others, is pushing HD DVD; while backers of Sony's Blu-ray discs include Samsung, Dell and Apple. In Hollywood, companies like Disney and 20th Century Fox have sided with Sony, while the supporters of HD DVD include Universal. Warner Bros, the company behind the hybrid discs, has said it will support both. HD-DVD Price: Roughly £450 Disc: 15GB or 30GB Supporters: Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo, Microsoft, Intel Studios: Universal, Warner, Paramount Analysts have warned that the format war, which has been likened to the Betamax-VHS videotape fight in the 1980s, could cause confusion amongst consumers and impact on sales of both technologies. The new player and discs could allay these fears. Both would mean that consumers would not be forced to choose between rival formats and risk investing in an expensive technology or DVD library that could rapidly become obsolete. No prices or release dates for the technologies were announced. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| No ceasefire in DVD format battle By Darren Waters Technology editor, BBC News website, Las Vegas Vegas blog - day two The high definition DVD format war will continue until a winner is declared, technology watchers have heard. Blu-ray and HD-DVD are battling to become the pre-eminent hi-def format to replace the slowing DVD market. The two formats are incompatible with each other and so consumers are being asked to choose both the player and the system when moving to high definition. There is also no sign of the two camps working on a unified format, the Consumer Electronics Show was told. 'Wasted opportunity' Some believe the industry at large is being damaged by the war due to consumer confusion. Ben Keen, chief analyst with Screen Digest, said: "There is an awful lot of people in the US and Europe who have HD displays and no hi-def content. "That's a wasted opportunity at this point. The industry is not exploiting that opportunity." "The growth of the industry is much slower than it could be," agreed Dr H G Lee, chief technology officer of LG Electronics, which has announced the first player to accept both formats. "We recognise that the two formats are here to stay." But the backers of Blu-ray are much more bullish and are predicting victory. Blu-ray has more backing from film studios and more makers of the players, but HD-DVD has sold equally well in the first year of release. But the Blu-ray camp believes a library of exclusive titles and the power of PlayStation 3 - which has an in-built Blu-ray player - will see the format pull ahead in the next 12 months. No-one is going to buy any player without good array of content Andy Parsons US Blu-ray Disc Association chairman Mike Dunn, president of worldwide home entertainment for 20th Century Fox, said: "I really believe the format war is in its final phase." Supporters of Blu-ray believe that the late arrival to the market in 2006 of new next generation Blu-ray DVD players has given a more even picture than is true. Studio backing Currently there is an even number of titles available for both formats but most analysts predict there will be more content available for Blu-ray than HD-DVD next year. Seven of the eight major US film studios back Blu-ray and five of them are exclusive to the format. Andy Parsons, chairman of the US Blu-ray Disc Association, said: "It comes down to content and selection of content. No-one is going to buy any player without good array of content. "As title population grows consumers will quickly see which platform has the titles." In an ominous sign for HD-DVD, the backers of Blu-ray revealed that of the 20 biggest selling DVDs of 2006 the vast majority were from film studios supporting Blu-ray. Toshiba and Microsoft, the principal backers of HD-DVD, see the future very differently. They believe that the cheaper cost of HD-DVD - both in terms of hardware and the ability of firms to produce content on HD-DVD disks gives them the advantage. Amir Majidimehr, corporate vice president of consumer technology at Microsoft, said the dual format player by LG - originally a Blu-ray only backer - was proof of the vitality of HD-DVD. LG is saying that HD-DVD is not dying Amir Majidimehr Microsoft corporate vice president of consumer technology "LG are recognising there is a thriving market for HD-DVD. That's the most positive thing for me. "It's going to show the way to other Blu-ray exclusive companies. LG is saying that HD-DVD is not dying. "You can wish it goes away but I'm here to ensure that it doesn't." Microsoft has sold more than 175,000 and says that they sold out as quickly as they were made. Toshiba has said that it plans to sell more than 1.8m HD-DVD players in 2007. Mr Majidimehr predicted that the lifespan of both formats would also be less than the current DVD format. It has lasted 10 years with great success but Mr Majidimehr said the technology would be superseded by developments in online delivery of hi-def content. Future technology at the Consumer Electronics Show 2007 Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Sony price cut for Blu-ray player Sony has cut $100 (£50) off the price of its new next-generation DVD player as it tries to get ahead in the market. The BDP-S300 now costs $499 - half what the firm's first Blu-ray player cost at its launch six months ago. Sony said growing demand for the next generation technology and falling production costs had allowed for the price cut. Electronics company Toshiba sells its rival high-definition (HD) DVD player format for less than $300. Both companies have struggled to win customers for their respective systems as the battle of the formats is causing confusion, according to analysts. They believe customers will wait to see which one the market will settle for in an echo of the 1980s Betamax-VHS videotape battle. Most sales of Blu-ray discs are for use on the Sony Playstation 3 console, which contains a Blu-ray player - although film purists say that they are not ideal for watching DVDs. Format war The introduction of two next-generation formats has split both the electronics industry and Hollywood film studios. Players and discs for Toshiba's HD DVD and the Sony-led Blu-ray system went on sale last year. The two technologies are incompatible but offer similar features. Both are able to store large amounts of data, important for high-definition images and high-fidelity audio, and both use a blue laser to read information. Used in games consoles, the two formats offer detailed graphics and stunning sound on one disc. Backers of Sony's Blu-ray discs include Samsung, Dell and Apple, while NEC, Sanyo and others have been pushing Toshiba's HD DVD. In Hollywood, companies like Disney and 20th Century Fox have sided with Sony, while the supporters of HD DVD include Universal. Earlier this year, South Korean firm LG announced it would build the first DVD player to play both rival high-definition DVD formats. The player will be launched at the same time as a hybrid double-sided Blu-ray HD DVD disc, developed by Warner Bros, although no release dates have been given. Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Studios Take Sides In HD Wars Studios staked out sides in the high-definition disc wars on Aug. 20, with Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks siding with HD DVD and Fox striking a deal with the rival Blu-ray format. Paramount and DreamWorks Animation SKG announced that they will exclusively support the next-generation HD DVD format for future releases, including Transformers and Shrek the Third. The exclusive HD DVD commitment will also include all movies distributed by Paramount Pictures, DreamWorks Pictures, Paramount Vantage, Nickelodeon Movies and MTV Films, as well as movies from DreamWorks Animation, which are distributed exclusively by Paramount Home Entertainment. (The announcement does not include film directed by Steven Spielberg, which will remain available in both formats.) Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, meanwhile, announced a Blu-ray disc release strategy that will include 29 new releases through the end of the year, including Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer |
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| Director Bay joins DVD format war Director Michael Bay briefly threatened to pull out of a sequel to Transformers after Paramount Pictures dropped the next generation Blu-ray DVD format. "No Transformers 2 for me!" wrote the director on his personal website. "To deny people who have Blu-ray sucks!" But his comments were replaced several hours later with an apology as Bay confessed: "I over-reacted." On Monday, Paramount and DreamWorks said they were dropping Blu-ray in favour of the rival HD-DVD format. The announcement means that blockbusters like Shrek the Third, and Bay's Transformers film, will not be released on Blu-ray. Movies directed by Steven Spielberg, however, will continue to be released in both formats. Format war Electronics giant Sony, which owns Blu-ray, is locked in a battle for supremacy with Toshiba, which created HD-DVD. Each format offers a higher quality of picture and sound than current DVDs. Blu-ray discs have more storage space, which can mean a better image, while HD-DVD offers more interactive features. The race for dominance is reminiscent of the format war between VHS and Betamax video tapes in the 1980s. The Blu-ray camp has notched up some victories against its rival recently, including a vote of support from video rental company Blockbuster. Prices of players on both sides have dropped recently - with dedicated HD-DVD players outselling Blu-ray in the US. However, the fact that Sony's PlayStation 3 games console can play Blu-ray discs means more homes have Blu-ray players. It is believed that Hollywood studios could ultimately decide the fate of the two formats, but the fact that Sony is itself a movie studio has complicated the matter. Warner Brothers is now the only company to release films in both formats, meaning that Spider-Man 3 will be a Blu-ray exclusive, while The Bourne Ultimatum will only be available on HD-DVD. Famous supporters Aside from Bay, several film-makers have voiced their support for different formats. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who is responsible for Pirates of the Caribbean series, said Blu-Ray "far surpasses any other format". A spokesperson for Dreamworks Pictures told film trade paper Variety that Steven Spielberg was also "a supporter of Blu-ray", although he added: "He is not exclusive to either format". Bay, whose previous film credits include Bad Boys, Pearl Harbour and Armageddon, wrote on his website that he had been converted to HD-DVD after watching war epic 300. He explained his original comments were written late at night after friends had complained they would not be able to watch Transformers on Blu-ray. "As a director, I'm all about people seeing films in the best quality possible, and I saw and heard first-hand people upset about a corporate decision," he wrote. "I heard where Paramount is coming from, and the future of HD, and players that will be close to the $200 (£100) mark which is the magic number. I like what I heard," he said. "So I think I might be back on to do Transformers 2!" Story from BBC NEWS: |
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| Blu-ray future limited for some Owners of Blu-ray DVD players may find themselves frozen out of future developments in the technology because their machines are not upgradeable. The Blu-ray camp has recently rolled out new features for players, which include picture in picture options. But the majority of Blu-ray players sold to date do not have the necessary hardware to offer the features. Some discs already come with a note telling users that they may need to upgrade software in their machine. In some discs, the note reads: "To ensure the best possible viewing experience, your Blu-ray disc player may need a firmware or software update." But these updates relate to improvements in playback and do not offer a pathway to the new features. The issue has arisen as Blu-ray attempts to offer new features to compete with rival standard HD-DVD. When the first Blu-ray machines were launched the hardware requirements for manufacturers did not include provision for planned developments. The guys that bought the first Blu-ray players are the guys who bought the first laser discs. They know the risks. Alastair Upham, DVD Review Instead Blu-ray players were divided into so-called "profiles", with all machines released before November 2007 designated as profile 1.0. Machines released onto the market since November are called profile 1.1, but none of the standalone Blu-ray players can be upgraded to accommodate this profile. Films will still play on the machines, but access to extra features is limited. Later this year the Blu-ray camp will offer profile 2.0, called BD Live, which will allow the players which support the feature to connect to the internet to download related content, such as ringtones, trailers and photos. But because internet functionality is not a mandatory requirement in current players, none on the market today will be able to access the feature. The only Blu-ray player which can upgraded to use all the features is Sony's PlayStation 3, because it comes with the right hardware built-in and online access. Consumer confusion Frank Simonis, of Philips and the European chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Association, said the division of Blu-ray players into potentially three camps was "not an ideal situation". But he denied that consumers would be confused. The discussions related to features took place at a point in time when every hardware company had frozen the architecture for their first generation of players Frank Simonis, Philips "Whether you have a profile 1.0, or profile 1.1 machine, the playback is not disturbed. It's the high definition playback that consumers are seeking." Philips has just released its first player which supports profile 1.1 and Mr Simonis confirmed that older players could not be upgraded. Mr Simonis said the reason Blu-ray backers had launched players which could not be upgraded was one of timing. He said: "The discussions relating to features took place at a point in time when every hardware company had frozen the architecture for their first generation of players. "We needed to create momentum and get the players on the market. If we had postponed launch to add in the hardware for the latest features, we would not be in the situation we have today." The release of players which cannot be upgraded was unlikely to ease consumer confusion around high definition DVD players, said Alastair Upham, editor of DVD Review magazine. "One of the big problems with the Blu-ray format when launched, and something which gave the HD-DVD camp ammunition, was that Blu-ray wasn't finished - they hadn't agreed on a standard. "And that problem means that an early adopter of Blu-ray could have spent £1,000 on a player only to find he potentially can't play newer releases. Blu-ray boost "So while there are discs out there with better features, if you have an earlier player you can't take advantage of this." The Blu-ray camp received a boost at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas last week when film studio Warner dropped support for HD-DVD in favour of its rival. But Mr Upham said the format had a lot of work yet to do to reassure consumers they are safe to upgrade from DVD. He added: "If Blu-ray wants to reach a wider audience, it needs to have more clarity." But he said the likely victims of the Blu-ray profiles issue was almost certainly a limited audience. "The guys that bought the first Blu-ray players are the guys who bought the first laser discs. They know the risks." Story from BBC NEWS: |