News

Comment by: hughjars (Jan 21, 2007 09:22)

Go bore someone else with your fanboy-ism BobbyBlu.

This typical selective spin (which has been a hallmark of the Blu-ray propaganda campaign in all of this) proves nothing.

The facts are that even with the stalled PS3 and it's 1 million or so sales the so-called Blu-ray movie sales lead is patheticly small (if it really exists at all) and is certainly very very patchy.
It depends entirely on which stat and source you prefer to select.
It is not apparant everywhere and no matter of selective quoting can hide that fact.

Go try your tedious 'viral marketing' BS somewhere else.

The topic of this thread is the sales numbers of the [XBox 360 HD-DVD add-on.
Which have been very impressive (especially as few really thought an add-on would sell).
It'll be interesting to see the next release of sales numbers.

Go try and divert & wreck a different thread with your devotion to all things Sony, troll.

Comment by: BobbyBlu (Jan 21, 2007 09:41)

I see you not argueing the facts because this is very much true.Okay so tell me which launched first that would be HD-DVD & Blu-ray has pass HD-DVD in a few months even with its high price tag.You do all this Anti Sony talk but you keep forgeting that Sony hasn't had a full launch yet.

Quote:

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The topic of this thread is the sales numbers of the [XBox 360 HD-DVD add-on.
Which have been very impressive (especially as few really thought an add-on would sell).
It'll be interesting to see the next release of sales numbers.

---

I wonder why Microsoft has not released the numbers of Add-on shipped.Because it hasn't been that good & Add-on still sit on alot of store shelves.Microsoft is very good when come to releaseing number & Sony very slow but this isn't like Microsoft to hide number of Add-on shipped make you wonder don't it.

Microsoft: Ps3 cant do 60fps on 1080p. Guess what they were WRONG!!!!!
(11/19/05 - 9/19/06) Microsoft: Sony's 1080p support on PS3 is all Hype and Not Needed.
(9/20/06) Microsoft: Xbox 360 to add 1080p support.

Comment by: hughjars (Jan 21, 2007 10:41)

Quote:

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I see you not argueing the facts because this is very much true.Okay so tell me which launched first that would be HD-DVD & Blu-ray has pass HD-DVD in a few months even with its high price tag.You do all this Anti Sony talk but you keep forgeting that Sony hasn't had a full launch yet.

I wonder why Microsoft has not released the numbers of Add-on shipped.Because it hasn't been that good & Add-on still sit on alot of store shelves.Microsoft is very good when come to releaseing number & Sony very slow but this isn't like Microsoft to hide number of Add-on shipped make you wonder don't it.

---

- Jayzuss wept can you not read?

Your 'points' were answered long ago.

Clearly your comprehension, language & writing skills are about as silly and childish as your debating skills.

Go & try provoking the attention you obviously so desperately crave elsewhere you tedious little troll.

I'm sure there's a fanzine site out there for you where you & some others could constantly agree & congratulate each other for your devotion to all things Sony.

Comment by: BobbyBlu (Jan 21, 2007 11:20)

Your personal attacks don't faze me one bit it just goes to show that you a class less person.Don't get upset because i been debunking all you misinformed & misleading info.If you spend more time on doing better research than making personal insult you wouldn't be so misinformed.

Microsoft: Ps3 cant do 60fps on 1080p. Guess what they were WRONG!!!!!
(11/19/05 - 9/19/06) Microsoft: Sony's 1080p support on PS3 is all Hype and Not Needed.
(9/20/06) Microsoft: Xbox 360 to add 1080p support.

Comment by: Nephilim (Jan 21, 2007 14:50)

The next person to make any sort of personal comment towards another member will get asn automatic suspension - I don't care who it is!

The Forum Rules You Agreed To! http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487
My movies! http://www.intervocative.com/dvdcollection.aspx/Rephaim
"And there we saw the giants, and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight" - Numbers 13:33

Comment by: ggo70 (Jan 21, 2007 16:50)

On thing everyone overlook is what controlled the dvd conversion from vhs. What ended the beta max / vhs battle. The porn industry did. It is the biggest thing out there that nobody likes to acknowledge. I'm not going into numbers here, you look them up for yourselves. You will see that their sales dominate the market and have a lot of influence.

Sony was playing games with the porn industry regarding what they will or will not allow regrading them using the Blu-ray format. The porn industry got fed up and announced that they are pulling all support from the Blu-ray and will produce only DVD and HD DVD's. My prediction is that Sony shot themselves in the foot and will now lose the HD war.

My two cents. I will not justify spending 800 plus dollars on the PS3, cables to hook it up, one game, and also consider it a cheap Blu-ray player. I will gladly buy one after it proves that through the quality and selection games. As of now, I see nothing different from the 360 except for Resistance - Fall of Man. Not worth spending 800 dollars on. And for the exclusives, most are going to the 360 now.

-a disappointed Sony fan.

Comment by: clcokwise (Jan 22, 2007 05:38)

man, u guys are ticking every box on how to get a
thread closed, anyway lol. the porn industry is the one losing out here, Blu-ray provides almost twice as much space as HD dvd mean longer porn action and u now what they say "there is no porn like a long porn". and for those of u who think the war is being win by HD dvd, you have to remmeber it came out earlyer and more information of it is known however Blu-ray is doing better then ever right now, if you saw the 2007 ces you would have seen the new gadgets that are on Blu-ray and the companys. Blu-ray is winning this war. most of the industry don't know which side to go for, but this is not a bad thing if it means inventions like this
http://techdigest.tv/2007/01/ces_2007_lg_unv.html
anyway i am a sony fan but that doesn't mean i believe they know everything that's best but i do believe they went for the right choose by going blue. oh and here is a prove
http://www.blu-ray.com/
don't going think just because its a Blu-ray sit means that it wouldn't dis the format or that the information is bias.

goodmen

Comment by: hughjars (Jan 22, 2007 11:00)

The really hilarious thing here is that if you click on BobbyBlu's link http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthrea...40&page=1&pp=30 and read all the posts it doesn't even say what he is claiming it say.....it was only 2 pages, you'd have thought he'd have checked.

(that's what you get when you google and just go by a thread title and don't research the contents :P )

The thread is full of people who relate claims from retailers and store managers who all are saying Blu-ray movies are not selling and HD-DVD ones are, particularly since the release of the XBox 360 HD-DVD add-on!

Quote:

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the porn industry is the one losing out here, Blu-ray provides almost twice as much space as HD dvd mean longer porn action and u now what they say "there is no porn like a long porn".

---

- Porno is a business and they can't easily do business with Blu-ray, so they have gone elsewhere. It's that simple.
At this early stage that may be enough to 'drive' the path this takes.
(IIRC porno is a $30 billion global industry, far far larger than games or movies alone......and that would indicate downloaded porno from the net - which wasn't there during 'the VHS/Betamax battle' - is additional to 'regular disc sales')

In any event Blu-ray is not going to deliver longer films as if it were some kind of 'free bonus'......and with the VC-1 codec space is not the consideration you imagine.

Quote:

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for those of u who think the war is being win by HD dvd, you have to remmeber it came out earlyer

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- Only in the USA, here it launched in dec 2006.

Mind you British a/v fans have been privately importing since it came out in the USA......which, thanks to HD-DVD not being region coded (unlike Blu-ray) is easy to do.

But yes, you are right, the bottom line is (still) that there have been more total sales for the HD-DVD format than Blu-ray (by a mile).

Quote:

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Blu-ray is doing better then ever right now

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- Er, no it isn't, it's a long way from being 'better', they are in real trouble in fact.

This is compounded by the PS3s stalled sales (1 million may be more Blu-ray devices out there than any other high def capable machine but it is well below expectations and the movie attachment rates per machine are not good).

They, according to their own figures, have sold only approx 25000 stand-alones and PC burners (ie everything except the PS3) which is just over 3% of the total (when you count those PS3 devices).

In other words, Blu-ray has to all intents and purposes become a PS3 proprietary format.
Such enormous reliance on a mere games console is not healthy for the long-term prospects of the format.

This isn't a dig at Sony it is also how people outside and within the industry are seeing them -

Quote:

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"Sony is really protective of proprietary information and proprietary products, especially when it comes to the adult market. Sony is always a little more stand-offish and hands-away from it," said Jay Grdina, president of ClubJenna.

---

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/index.cfm?newsid=8144

You can also bet that those other CE companies that researched, developed and funded (at enormous cost) Blu-ray are thrilled that it has come down to being widely seen as a 'Sony proprietary product'.

This will rebound on them later, just wait.
Let's just see how many leave Blu-ray exclusivity for dual format later this year and into next.

Quote:

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if you saw the 2007 ces you would have seen the new gadgets that are on Blu-ray and the companys. Blu-ray is winning this war.

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- I watched CES very closely for developments.

The only thing that can be remotely close to your comments is when the Blu-ray gang stood up and (laughably) declared themselves 'winners' (which is never a good sign) in this so-called 'format war'.

Quote:

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most of the industry don't know which side to go for

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- Which makes their (and your) claim that they are the 'winners' so obviously false.

Although it is interesting (and indicative) that no-one and nothing left HD-DVD exclusivity to go 'dual format' (which actually I would expect) or left dual format to go Blu-ray exclusive (which I would not expect).
Nothing and no-one went 'towards' Blu-ray.

In fact the spin-free truth is that the movement that there was was away from Blu-ray exclusivity and towards either dual format or HD-DVD exclusivity.

Quote:

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this is not a bad thing if it means inventions like this
http://techdigest.tv/2007/01/ces_2007_lg_unv.html

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- You have got to be kidding.

How is LG going from being a Blu-ray exclusive hardware producer to being a dual format producer 'a good thing' or positive for Blu-ray?

It might be good for consumers (although prices are high and it does not support iHD....which isn't just a matter of those dumb 'extras' it also means some HD-DVD disks might not play at all) but the last thing Blu-ray needed was the long-term survival of HD-DVD.
Mind you, it's far too late for that tho! :D

Quote:

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here is a prove http://www.blu-ray.com/
don't going think just because its a Blu-ray sit means that it wouldn't dis the format or that the information is bias.

---

- Oh please.
One of the Blu-ray fanzine sites proves nothing.
Sony are renowned for 'viral marketing' (where supposedly 'ordinary members of the public' spout Sony PR to try and encourage buyers) and propaganda (they have been caught inventing supposedly independent websites to spread their propaganda).

Here's the truth -

The Toshiba HD AD1 is $399 right now on US Amazon.

The XBox 360 HD-DVD add-on (which can be used alone as a PC ROM Drive) is $200/£129.

Here's what really happened at CES

Microsoft & Broadcom signed a deal to bring cheaper Chinese HD-DVD players to market, probably in Q2/3 of this year
(and look what they did to SD DVD player prices - when HD-DVD players hit less than $200/£100 it's 'game over' for Blu-ray).

Blu-ray can't match those prices and just retreats into being a PS3 proprietary product
(just over 3% of all Blu-ray equipped machines are not PS3s).

300 brand new HD-DVD movie titles were announced at CES making the HD-DVD catalogue larger than Blu-ray's
(theirs was slightly smaller before CES and they announced 250 new titles).

51gb TL HD-DVD disc was announced.

Toshiba HD-DVD PC burner was announced.

LG went from Blu-ray exclusive to dual format.

Porno industry went from Blu-ray exclusive to dual format (Vivid, the largest company) or totally HD-DVD exclusive.

Five new companies announced HD-DVD manufacture (Meridian, Onkyo, Alpine, Chinese manufacturers Alco (Venturer) and Shinco)
http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6405701.html

There has been some clever spin regarding a relatively small lift in movie disc sales (but considering the numbers of PS3s shifted it isn't anything like the impressive avalanche it really should to have been).
Blu-ray had comparatively little happening at CES; 2 Sony prototypes, another expensive $800 Samsung, those 250 movie titles and that's it.

The momentum is clearly with HD-DVD.

Comment by: ZippyDSM (Jan 22, 2007 11:52)

hughjars

sounds like bobby blu is infected with the Sony PR virus.

I say ignore him until he speaks sense,of coarse its hard for me to hold my tong =0_o=.

Comment by: BobbyBlu (Jan 22, 2007 12:26)

Quote:

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hughjars
sounds like bobby blu is infected with the Sony PR virus.

I say ignore him until he speaks sense,of coarse its hard for me to hold my tong =0_o=

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Are you guys blind or just____I'm not going to say it Hughjars just blind to the facts i rest my case this tread is done im finish proving my points.I'm not going to even read that internet garbage that took him two days to find.Just looking at the links say it all nothing creditable just all talk.


CES: No New HD DVD Announcements from Universal
Tue Jan 09, 2007 at 04:24 PM ET
Tags: Universal, CES (all tags)

In a rather surprising move, primary HD DVD backer Universal Studios Home Entertainment confirmed today that they will be making no major title announcements at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, despite the formidable presence of all major studios supporting rival format Blu-ray.

Universal, the sole major Hollywood studio to be supporting HD DVD exclusively, was expected to bringing out its big guns for 2007 at CES -- or at least make enough new announcements to dazzle the early adopters who have been passionately backing the format thus far.

But when we contacted Universal to find out if anything further is to come from the studio out of CES, they confirmed they will not be unveiling any new street dates or detailed title info at all for the duration of the show. The studio stressed that they continue to support HD DVD and are planning to announce new titles "throughout 2007."

We must say, it seems like a strange promotional strategy to arrive at CES with nothing to brag about, especially given the highly visible nature of the show in the mainstream media, and that Blu-ray's showing has been quite muscular.

To be fair, a promotional flyer has been issued to the press and is available on the show floor, listing several notable HD DVD titles expected from Universal over the coming year, though many were already bandied about by Universal at last year's CES. Among the hits due in in 2007 are: 'The 40 Year-Old Virgin,' 'American Pie,' Bruce Almighty,' the 2003 remake of 'Dawn of the Dead,' 'Pride & Prejudice,' the original 'The Bourne Identity' and 'Inside Man.'

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/list/2

ZIppyDSM you Anti everything so how anyone going to trust anything you say you look at the glass full not half full..Just look at your tag and it say everything....

i have nothing else to add to this tread i'm tired of debunking all Hughjar misleading information.I'm done i stand to be corrected...

Microsoft: Ps3 cant do 60fps on 1080p. Guess what they were WRONG!!!!!
(11/19/05 - 9/19/06) Microsoft: Sony's 1080p support on PS3 is all Hype and Not Needed.
(9/20/06) Microsoft: Xbox 360 to add 1080p support.

Comment by: ZippyDSM (Jan 22, 2007 12:43)

bobby blu

I am anti fanboy
I am anti Fluff (padding a game with t&a or gore because they have nothing else)

I am anti shallowness (padding a game or movie with t&a or gore or gimmick because they have nothing else)

I am anti bad gameplay (using stale gameplay and making a gimmick out of it because they cant do anything new.)

I am anti Overpricing/Overcharging

I am anti bad quality control

I guess it seems like I am anti everything because a good bit of new stuff sucks,I guess you don't see it because you are as blind as I am "anti".

Constantly saying the same BS over and over again is getting old,you have no balance in your posts they mindlessly drool over Sony and you refuse to give any respect where it's due,you walk the line of trolling and incite others to break the rules and call you names,I am sorry I am not being Politically correct and hiding behind the issues or worshiping your holy fanboyness if any mod wants to ban me for politely disagreeing with the troll please feel free to do what you need to do.

BTW no I am not perfect I tend to speak to much and not be grammatically correct in my post and flow of words for that and getting acouple threads closed because I helped in derailing it I apologize,now if you will exsuce me I have to go find my arse it seems to have crawl up my head...

FIGHT THE M.A.F.I.A.A.
Sony has declared war on importers the consumer will be next with CD's,Videos/Games not far behind that....boycott SONY!
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/8062.cfm

Comment by: BobbyBlu (Jan 22, 2007 13:20)

LOL...thank you for proving what i said was right....

Microsoft: Ps3 cant do 60fps on 1080p. Guess what they were WRONG!!!!!
(11/19/05 - 9/19/06) Microsoft: Sony's 1080p support on PS3 is all Hype and Not Needed.
(9/20/06) Microsoft: Xbox 360 to add 1080p support.

Comment by: solarf (Jan 22, 2007 13:43)

really bobbyblu if your not here to discuss the topic, why do you waste your time just inciting ppl to flawed arguements...Anyway does anyone out there have the actual figures on how many hddvd addons were shipped?

Comment by: BobbyBlu (Jan 22, 2007 13:54)

Quote:

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really bobbyblu if your not here to discuss the topic, why do you waste your time just inciting ppl to flawed arguements

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Just because i have Blu in my name don't mean i cant talk about the subject.I own a 360 also just go back & read my posts i never got off topic til somebody who alway want it to be a Blu-ray vs HD-DVD tread got it off topic..So back on topic

Quote:

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Anyway does anyone out there have the actual figures on how many hddvd addons were shipped?

---

No Microsoft has not release this info which make you wonder because this is not like them to hide this.I talk to a Microsoft Rep last week when he came in BB he said that even he didn't know.I guess we will find out soon or later...

Microsoft: Ps3 cant do 60fps on 1080p. Guess what they were WRONG!!!!!
(11/19/05 - 9/19/06) Microsoft: Sony's 1080p support on PS3 is all Hype and Not Needed.
(9/20/06) Microsoft: Xbox 360 to add 1080p support.

Comment by: solarf (Jan 22, 2007 13:57)

okay so no one know, that does not mean they are hiding anything. well thanks for the info anyway.

Comment by: oofRome (Jan 22, 2007 18:52)

Quote:

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I'm not going to even read that internet garbage that took him two days to find.Just looking at the links say it all nothing creditable just all talk.

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What's wrong with broadcastingcable.com, pcadvisor, and the avsforums?

Writing off a huge post made by hughjars (that probably took him a decent amount of time) as "nothing creditable just all talk" is only detrimental to yourself. Just trying to help you out.


As for the absense of Universal title announcements:
Perhaps it's because they already made their big announcement:
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070107/nysu054.html?.v=1

Comment by: hughjars (Jan 22, 2007 18:57)

I just ask this, when the announcement was made about the 300 new HD-DVD titles this year who was chairing that meeting at CES 2007?

It was Universal for those who don't know.

The idea that Universal is lukewarm about HD-DVD and didn't say or do anything at CES 2007 is pure ludicrous propaganda.

Just because HD-DVD is working to a different game-plan to Blu-ray is no indication of anything, they're just not doing things the same way, that's all.
Why should they?

But when all you have got is spin and distortion who's surprised when salient little facts like that are (conveniently) omitted, huh?

You've also got to laugh at the front of the Sony fan-club bashing Microsoft for not saying how many XBox 360 HD-DVD add-ons were shipped when they have been releasing numbers sold.

Unlike Sony who will tell everyone about the 2 million PS3s shipped and then suddenly become silent when it comes to how many actually sold.

You couldn't make it up.

Comment by: BobbyBlu (Jan 22, 2007 19:23)

Quote:

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You've also got to laugh at the front of the Sony fan-club bashing Microsoft for not saying how many XBox 360 HD-DVD add-ons were shipped when they have been releasing numbers sold.

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We want to know how many was shipped not sold that the true teller if its sold out like you said right....

Quote:

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Unlike Sony who will tell everyone about the 2 million PS3s shipped and then suddenly become silent when it comes to how many actually sold.

---

I said this like two pages ago i said Sony was slow to release there numbers but this is unlike Microsoft..Don't try to turn me into a microsoft basher because im not i just question where you get some of your misleading info...thats all if got a problem with that link here you go feel free to post your arguement with them.

http://www.highdefdigest.com/forms/feedback

i would think they would know more about this than you or me plus they was there you wasn't

Microsoft: Ps3 cant do 60fps on 1080p. Guess what they were WRONG!!!!!
(11/19/05 - 9/19/06) Microsoft: Sony's 1080p support on PS3 is all Hype and Not Needed.
(9/20/06) Microsoft: Xbox 360 to add 1080p support.

Comment by: Nephilim (Jan 22, 2007 19:59)

God dammit people!

ZippyDSM, BobbyBlu and solarf - you guys left me no choice. I left a clear warning in nice red letters on the last page that anyone who made personal comments would be suspended and you all are taking jabs at each other. It's not that hard to take the higher road and stick to topic fellas. You each got a week and here's my warning again,


The next person to make any sort of personal comment towards another member will get asn automatic suspension - I don't care who it is!

The Forum Rules You Agreed To! http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487
My movies! http://www.intervocative.com/dvdcollection.aspx/Rephaim
"And there we saw the giants, and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight" - Numbers 13:33

Comment by: hughjars (Jan 22, 2007 21:52)

Universal was there and they were supporting HD-DVD just like I said.

Here's proof.

The trouble is because HD-DVD did not play the same game as Blu-ray (they did not match Blu-ray's tactic of producing a sheet listing titles and specific release dates week by week) the Blu-ray gang have been trying to talk that up as Universal 'not sufficiently backing HD-DVD'.
Whatever that's supposed to mean.
Propaganda & mere weak straws being clutched at, in other words.

People trying to down-play Universal at this years CES are simply relying on other people not having been to it and not seeing reports of what they said and did.

But those reports are there and Universal were there speaking up for HD-DVD.

.....and like I said, it was Universal that chaired the meeting where 300 new HD-DVD ttles were announced.

Quote:

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But the HD DVD camp's real trump card, backers said, will be the arrival this year of "competitively priced" HD DVD players from such companies as Alco, Jiangkui/ED Digital, Lite-On, Shinco, Meridian and Onkyo.
They cite the flood of cheap DVD players retailing for $99 or less as a key factor in bringing DVD to the masses.

"With the addition of new consumer electronics companies to HD DVD, we're predicting more than 2.5 million units in the market by the end of 2007," said Yoshihide Fujii, president and CEO of Toshiba's Digital Media Network Co.
"This growing level of manufacturer support is a clear result of HD DVD winning over enthusiasts and movie lovers alike."

On the software side, more than 300 HD DVD titles are in the market, with an additional 300 planned for this year.
Based on a yearly attach rate of 28 movies per player and an installed based of 2.5 million players by year's end, the North American HD DVD Promotional Group estimates 2007 movie sales to exceed $600 million, more than 40 times the 2006 tally.

"HD DVD is a well-recognized brand name, and it's the best way for consumers to make the transition from DVD into the high-definition world," said Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and chairman of the North American HD DVD Promotional Group.
"HD DVD has the most reasonably priced players and drives on the market and the highest-quality picture and sound possible, and our hardware sales and attach rates are high.
By the holidays, we'll have more than 600 movies available globally and offer an advanced level of Internet connectivity to drive HD DVD sales."

---

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/cont...3d71b69e7?imw=Y

The strategy is merely different as they say themselves -

Quote:

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when we contacted Universal to find out if anything further is to come from the studio out of CES, they confirmed they will not be unveiling any new street dates or detailed title info at all for the duration of the show.
The studio stressed that they continue to support HD DVD and are planning to announce new titles "throughout 2007."

To be fair, a promotional flyer has been issued to the press and is available on the show floor, listing several notable HD DVD titles expected from Universal over the coming year

---

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/C...m_Universal/429

More

Quote:

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Firing the opening high-def salvo of this year's Consumer Electronics Show, the North American HD DVD Promotions Group held a press conference late Sunday, with format-supporting studios previewing several high profile new disc titles to come in 2007.

Though exact specs and street dates are still to be announced, primary HD DVD backers Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Warner Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment released an impressive short list of some of their most highly-awaited new and catalog releases due in 2007.

Among the theatrical blockbusters promised in the coming year are 'The Departed,' 'The Good Shepherd,' 'Flags of Our Fathers,' 'Blade Runner,' 'The Matrix' trilogy and the entire 'Harry Potter' franchise, all from Warner, plus the already-announced February HD DVD debut of Paramount's 'Babel.'

TV on HD DVD will also heat up in 2007, with Warner/HBO issuing more of 'The Sopranos' in season-by-season sets, plus the new Battlestar Galactica' from Universal, and as expected from Paramount, the original series of 'Star Trek,' which was digitally remastered and retooled in HD late last year.

These titles represent just a handful of what the HD DVD Promotions Group today promised will be a total of at least 300 new titles on the format in the next year, from more than 41 studios and distributors currently supporting HD DVD worldwide, including HBO Home Video, New Line Home Entertainment, Genius Product, Inc., The Weinstein Company, Studio Canal, and Bandai Visual.

---

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/417

Like I said talk of movies studios bailing out (as studios - and hardware manufacturers - in fact moved from either Blu-ray exclusive to dual format or out and out HD-DVD exclusive) is wishful thinking, day-dreaming, sheer lies or just total BS from the Blu-ray crowd (you decide).

Comment by: hughjars (Jan 23, 2007 00:03)

Some solid facts from the official UK Video Charts
(check out how VHS is still able to beat both high def formats!
and how tiny their sales both are compared to SD DVD) -




Read the tiny growth and weep UK Blu-ray fanboys.

.....hey why not ignore the actual tiny numbers sold & just play percentage games (54% growth in sales numbers, wow) ?!

:lol:

Comment by: robtwilk (Jan 23, 2007 14:57)

I have been following this thread, although quite painful to sift through, there has been some interesting data to digest.

My concern as an early adopter - what about the studios that are backing only one format? I like Sony movies, my kids love Disney movies - it sucks having to buy HD-DVD and Blu-ray players, then building a collection of both DVD formats just to have access to ALL movies.

I bought the Xbox HD-DVD add-on and a Sony PS3 just to have access to HD movies. I find both formats amazing to watch - and for those who are not impressed, I would question your setup. True some High-Def conversions have been less than brilliant, but so many are fantastic.

Repeating myself, the PS3's bluetooth remote causes me to hold two remotes during Blu-ray movie watching and the dang remote is not backlit. Anyone know of a universal remote that handles bluetooth?

Also, I own lots of Sony equipment - (2)PCs, (3)Receivers, (6)DVD Players, PSP, PS3, (3)TVs - but they don't make the best of everything and they make plenty of mistakes.

If one particular company was perfect, we wouldn't have any format wars! Some guys like blondes and some like brunettes - does that make either one less enjoyable?

My last comment directed to the topic of this thread - I have seen stacks of HD-DVD add-ons at Fry's, Toys-r-us, and Best Buy. Also, you MUST consider that currently most of these units still have King Kong HD-DVD included in the box, which brings down the total cost of $199 to $172 (if you like the movie and based on Amazon's price of $27.95).

Comment by: hughjars (Jan 24, 2007 19:56)

Originally posted by robtwilk:

---

My concern as an early adopter - what about the studios that are backing only one format?

---

- Sadly that's the nature of a format war.

Either you must wait for a single solution (either a dual format disc, player or a single format to win and all previous material on the other kind to transfer to the new single format that wins).

Unfortunately there really isn't much else by way of options......other than perhaps downloading or sticking with SD DVDs for the type you can't get in HD.

(Both formats are currently cracked so d/l'ing is now possible)

In the meantime here's some more factual news of that on-going exclusive Universal HD-DVD support I was talking about dated 23/01/2007 -

http://tomshardware.co.uk/2007/01/23/universal_hddvd_2007/

Comment by: handsom (Jan 24, 2007 20:50)

Wow; people got really heated. (I mainly came here in search of what got someone banned.)

Honestly speaking, I'm somewhat surprised that anyone mentioned anything about HD DVD -or- Blu-ray at CES. With the incredible focus that this show has shifted almost entirely to games as of late, it just feels weird to me. IMO, it would feel like setting up a booth for DVD next to the Rainbow Six 3 booth at E3(One of the best booths EVER!!! lol).

I can't personally get all huffy about one side or another on this, because there is still new info, revisions, all kinds of things still coming out. And while one side has more studios; one studio is HUGE, and somewhat compensates. Also, 'a few studios' doesn't win a format war. ALL of them does. And we're a way off from that.

I wouldn't purchase either one yet, though I have a nice HD setup with surround sound (And wonderful thunderdome speaker setup *GLEE*); it's just too early to invest, IMO.

Either one could win, and there's no telling at all. Quality doesn't always win, and sometimes product support(Aka studio participation) doesn't always seem to win over either. It's going to be a battle of advertising and consumers. Pack in bonuses(You bought a $600 player, here's $100-$150 in films with it!) could be a major play... But it seems like BOTH Sony and M$ picked poor titles as pack-ins. It seems that a lot of people aren't fans of King Kong(Never saw it myself), and I personally have zero interest in talladeega nights(I can't for the life of me, imagine how Sony looked into their large exclusive library, of great films, with great visuals, and decided that THAT movie was the way to show off Blu-ray.... Huh!?!)

Regardless, it's still very early on. Who remembers DivX?(Not the .avi codec, the rental discs) Laserdisc? How about DVD-Ram Cartridges(Yeah, they tried to bring back caddies at the dawn of DVD+Rs) Zip drives? Double-sided floppies? In a few years, you might say the same of UMD(The way sales are going).

Needless to say, tons of formats come and go quickly, some are good, some aren't. There's just no way to predict yet, who it will be.

Either way, a very interesting debate.

Comment by: hughjars (Jan 26, 2007 15:26)

Finally Universal torpedo the BS about them, where are those Blu-ray Bobs and their spin/propaganda/lies now?

Quote:

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Friday 26th January 2007

Universal puts 100 movies through the HD DVD mill 5:09PM

Universal Studios Home Entertainment (USHE) is further throwing its weight behind HD DVD, the next-gen DVD format. It plans to release 100 HD DVD film and TV titles in 2007 - including the likes of Scarface and Brokeback Mountain - to increase momentum behind HD DVD.

One of the key elements in the battle for dominance between HD DVD and its rival blue-laser format, Blu-ray, is the support of content producers, such as the movie studios. The more content that is available in particular formats the stronger position it can gain in the market place among consumers.

USHE is working through its back catalogue with the roster including such films as: Bruce Almighty, The Bourne Identity, Meet The Fockers, American Pie, Inside Man, Pride & Prejudice, The Big Lebowski, Liar Liar, Lock, Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, Brazil, Erin Brockovich and Shaun of the Dead. These will join its existing 60 HD DVD titles.

It is also, however, committing itself to ongoing HD DVD releases through 2007. More than 90 per cent of the planned 2007 Universal titles, it says, will be released as combo discs - both a HD DVD version and a standard DVD version of the movie on the same disc.

'With more than two million HD DVD players expected in the market in North America by the end of 2007, Universal Studios Home Entertainment is committed to expanding its portfolio of compelling HD DVD content and further igniting consumer demand,' said the president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Craig Kornblau.

'By releasing most of our titles as combo discs we effectively satisfy consumers' multi-viewing habits, providing them with the most cost-effective option to watch their favorite films in either their DVD or HD DVD players.'

A complete listing of HD DVD launch titles can be found at

www.TheLookAndSoundOfPerfect.com.

In the on-going battle for format supremacy neither camp would have welcomed the news that both have been cracked. The hacker who cracked the AACS copy protection on HD DVD discs then circumvented the similar system on the rival Blu-ray technology.

The likes of Sony, Samsung, Philips and Apple are lined up behind Blu-ray technology, with NEC, HP, Intel and Microsoft among those in the rival HD DVD camp.

A potential middle-way has been pioneered by Warner Bros. Entertainment.
Its Total HD high-definition video disc is compatible with both Blu-ray and HD-DVD players, and the company has claimed support from some major retailers, such as Amazon.com.

Among the titles getting the Universal HD DVD treatment will be the original version of Psycho.
Is a 1960s black and white title suitable for the HD DVD treatment, especially when HD DVD players will already be backward compatible with DVD?

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HD-DVD-mill.html" target="_blank">http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/103190/unive...d-dvd-mill.html