Dispatches from the format war: HD DVD vs. Blu-ray
(Credit: CNET Networks)Developments in the Blu-ray/HD DVD format war kicked into high gear in the past couple of months. November and December saw the bulk of the long-delayed HD product lines finally hitting store shelves: Blu-ray players from Sony, Panasonic, and Philips; the PlayStation 3; the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on; and the second-generation Toshiba HD DVD players. In the new year, both camps came out swinging at CES 2007. With so much news to process, we've taken the opportunity to collect all the major developments into one easily digestible chunk.
Enter the combo player: LG officially unveiled the BH100, the first device to play both Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. Despite the caveats--it's $1,200, and the HD DVD functionality lacks that format's HDi interactivity features--this breakthrough player is the first model that's essentially future-proof. High-definition cinephiles will be able to buy movies on either format without fear of backing the wrong horse. The best news? The BH100 is already on store shelves.
...and the combo discs: LG offered hardware détente, while Warner took the software angle. Warner's new Total HD format (THD) puts an HD DVD and a Blu-ray version of the same movie on a single disc, which Warner pledges will sell for the same price as its single-format counterpart. Like the LG, it's a great hedge against the uncertain HD future.
51GB triple-layer HD DVD disc: Size matters, and Blu-ray has long been trumpeting its 50GB dual-layer disc capacity over HD DVD's 30GB. The underdog struck back with news of a 51GB triple-layer prototype. That puts HD DVDs ahead by a nose--at least until Blu-ray's rumored quad-layer 100GB discs hit the streets.
New HD DVD players: To date, only Toshiba's been producing set-top HD DVD players, albeit sometimes relabeled under the RCA brand. Toshiba expanded its second-generation lineup by one--adding the HD-A20, a $600 player that offers 1080p output)--but the company will finally be getting some company. Chinese manufacturers Shinco, Alco, and Lite-On are set to offer more affordable players later in the year, and the more familiar Onkyo and luxury Meridian lines will also be joining the camp.
New Blu-ray players: Samsung announced that its second-generation Blu-ray player, the BD-P1200, will sport cutting-edge HDMI 1.3 output despite costing $800 when it debuts in March; that's a 20 percent discount from the first-generation BD-P1000, which hit stores just a few months ago. Sharp also pledged to release its first Blu-ray player in 2007, while Panasonic, Pioneer, and Philips continued to highlight their recently released first-generation models. Sony, meanwhile, showed off two "Sapphire" Blu-ray prototypes, follow-ups to its brand-new BDP-S1. Of course, the PlayStation 3 remains the most affordable Blu-ray player on the market, with none of the players announced at CES 2007 beating the $500 and $600 price points of the two PS3 models.
Sales figures--who's winning? Both HD DVD and Blu-ray are fledgling formats, but that doesn't stop each camp from bragging that they've already left the other in the dust. While the numbers should be taken with a huge grain of salt, it appears that the two game consoles seem to be leading the charge for HD movies: Microsoft is said to have sold about 100,000 Xbox 360 HD DVD peripherals. Meanwhile, almost 700,000 U.S. consumers have picked up Sony's Blu-ray-capable PlayStation 3. HD DVDs total install base stands at just 175,000 (including, presumably, those Xbox 360 drives), though the camp has pledged to ship 2.5 million players by the end of the year (1.8 million of them from Toshiba).
It's all about the content: Hardware's all fine and good, but these formats will live and die based on the available content. To that end, Team Blu-ray looks to be ramping up in 2007 after a slow start. Disney, Fox, and Sony Pictures announced a slew of titles that won't be available on HD DVD, while Paramount and Warner will be releasing HD versions of fan favorites--including Blade Runner and the Matrix and Harry Potter films--in both formats. Universal remains the lone major studio that's exclusively publishing on HD DVD. It's little surprise, then, that the total number of Blu-ray titles (currently around 150) will soon begin to surpass the available HD DVD catalog. In other words, the burden is on HD DVD to continue to offer compelling content in light of the forthcoming deluge of Blu-ray movies.
The porn factor: There was a lot of ink on the fact that the adult industry has chosen HD DVD over Blu-ray. It turns out that Blu-ray isn't totally giving porn the cold shoulder, but the industry does appear to be backing the easier-to-produce HD DVD format instead. As Bill Hunt points out at The Digital Bits, the analogy with VHS and Beta isn't likely to hold up here (the appearance of adult movies on VHS was said to be a key factor in that format's eventual victory over porn-free Beta): With digitized smut readily available online, the adult industry's apparent preference for HD DVD isn't the slam dunk that some are painting it to be.
Cracked security: HD DVD and Blu-ray were both supposed to include military-grade encryption that would keep the HD content safe from pirates. Apparently, however, it's taken hackers less than a year to crack open the AACS protection found on both formats, resulting in HD copies of Serenity appearing on BitTorrent within days. Now come rumors that Blu-ray--despite having an extra level of copy-protection--is ripe for the plundering as well. If true, it could mean that both formats could amp up their guard, activating heretofore dormant security measures such as the image constraint token (lower resolution via component video).
A plague on both their houses? Perhaps the biggest issue still facing HD DVD and Blu-ray is the fact that neither could win. After years of false promises, so-called digital delivery is finally becoming a reality. Industry heavy hitters Microsoft (Xbox 360 Video Marketplace) and Apple (iTunes Store) are already offering movies and TV shows in DVD and true HD quality, and the online options will only multiply as broadband bandwidth continues to expand. While they face a variety of their own challenges and shortfalls (restrictive digital rights management, rental versus "ownership" pricing models), such services seem to be the wave of the future, especially with devices like the Xbox 360 and the forthcoming Apple TV making it easy to watch the content on the big screen instead of a computer.
And that, in a nutshell, is the status of the Great HD Format War--just 17 days into 2007.
- Topics:
-
Entertainment,
-
Home,
-
Home video,
-
Televisions
- Bookmark:
- Digg
- Del.icio.us
It seems USB drives could to it all. In the near future go to Blockbuster and use your pen drive to load a movie with a expiry code on it and head home. The same delivery over the net or for longer term purchase with a 'burn to dvd /per drive once' code built in.
If TV's came with a usb port there would be no need for dvd player.
Wouldn't it be nice to plug a usb drive into a tv and watch the movie? Talk about compact!
I think this WILL happen.
It seems USB drives could to it all. In the near future go to Blockbuster and use your pen drive to load a movie with a expiry code on it and head home. The same delivery over the net or for longer term purchase with a 'burn to dvd /per drive once' code built in.
If TV's came with a usb port there would be no need for dvd player.
Wouldn't it be nice to plug a usb drive into a tv and watch the movie? Talk about compact!
I think this WILL happen.
And so what if there are players out? The issue is the price (never mentioned); and whether they work smoothly and have a full, usable feature set (never mentioned).
Good thing people have figured out they don't need to think about BluRay or HD. Spend your money elsewhere.
And so what if there are players out? The issue is the price (never mentioned); and whether they work smoothly and have a full, usable feature set (never mentioned).
Good thing people have figured out they don't need to think about BluRay or HD. Spend your money elsewhere.
"...Apple (iTunes Store) are already offering movies and TV shows in DVD and true HD quality"
No. Apple is not offering either DVD nor HD quality movies. Apple sells what they call "near-DVD" quality movies. These movies are 640x480 maximum or when presented widescreen letterboxed (as most movies are) 640x360 or 66% of DVD resolution. (DVD uses 720x480 pixels.)
"...Apple (iTunes Store) are already offering movies and TV shows in DVD and true HD quality"
No. Apple is not offering either DVD nor HD quality movies. Apple sells what they call "near-DVD" quality movies. These movies are 640x480 maximum or when presented widescreen letterboxed (as most movies are) 640x360 or 66% of DVD resolution. (DVD uses 720x480 pixels.)
What I find shocking is that the corporate movie/music studios scream at the top of their lungs about piracy and force DRM on consumers, but are lining up to promote both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs. These large storage discs are really going to take piracy to the next level. Right now in China you can buy complete series of TV shows on one or two DVDs in compressed format. The storage on the next generation of discs will allow a complete series to be recorded in a high quality format on just one disc. Piracy will never have been easier, more convenient, or of such high quality.
What I find shocking is that the corporate movie/music studios scream at the top of their lungs about piracy and force DRM on consumers, but are lining up to promote both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs. These large storage discs are really going to take piracy to the next level. Right now in China you can buy complete series of TV shows on one or two DVDs in compressed format. The storage on the next generation of discs will allow a complete series to be recorded in a high quality format on just one disc. Piracy will never have been easier, more convenient, or of such high quality.
We have both the PS3 and the XBox360 with the HD add on. Both systems have their limitations. The XBox-360 has a switch on the power cord that must be used to play standard DVD's. The PS3 had problems with standard DVDs too. So, I accepted the fact that these play systems are aimed at the video game market and they are now used by my kids. They both work great for that. However, my kids and their friends prefer the XBox360. It has more to do with the games available than the graphics. The all think the PS3 lacks the better games.
So, I went out and spent another couple of grand, on a new Toshiba (XA2-1080P) HD-DVD player and the Samsung BlueRay machine. My advice, save your money and go with the HD-DVD player. At this time, there just isn't any difference between the two formats to make one worth more than the other. The toshiba does a great job upconverting your old DVD's and the latest Toshiba can play 1080P. I also experimented with 1080P, 1080i, and 720P. Again, once you get over true 720P you won't see a difference on the screens 60 inches or less. With my projector, the differences are barely worth mentioning.
In conclusion, you will get the most bang for your buck with the HD-DVD players. I wouldn't waste much time buying the game systems as I did and hope that they can double as your High Definition players. They just don't cut it for so many reasons that I won't even go into it. They know the problems they have and maybe XBox or PS3 will fix the flaws. I bought my Mom a standard (720P) 42 inch LCD HDTV and a Toshiba A2 HD-DVD player and it would more than meet the needs of 99% of the population. To be honest, I can't see the difference between my 1080p and her 720P. You really don't need to upgrade to the 1080p HD-DVD player. The 720 HD-DVD player will be more than adequate for most viewers. It would be interesting to run a test with 100 people to see if they can visually tell the difference. My money, would say that they can't. It would also be interesting to get input from someone in the medical field who specializes in optics and how the mind process that information. Perhaps, we have peaked out on our perception of visualization until it is offered in a 3-D format or holographic images. I think that peak is very close to 720P.
We have both the PS3 and the XBox360 with the HD add on. Both systems have their limitations. The XBox-360 has a switch on the power cord that must be used to play standard DVD's. The PS3 had problems with standard DVDs too. So, I accepted the fact that these play systems are aimed at the video game market and they are now used by my kids. They both work great for that. However, my kids and their friends prefer the XBox360. It has more to do with the games available than the graphics. The all think the PS3 lacks the better games.
So, I went out and spent another couple of grand, on a new Toshiba (XA2-1080P) HD-DVD player and the Samsung BlueRay machine. My advice, save your money and go with the HD-DVD player. At this time, there just isn't any difference between the two formats to make one worth more than the other. The toshiba does a great job upconverting your old DVD's and the latest Toshiba can play 1080P. I also experimented with 1080P, 1080i, and 720P. Again, once you get over true 720P you won't see a difference on the screens 60 inches or less. With my projector, the differences are barely worth mentioning.
In conclusion, you will get the most bang for your buck with the HD-DVD players. I wouldn't waste much time buying the game systems as I did and hope that they can double as your High Definition players. They just don't cut it for so many reasons that I won't even go into it. They know the problems they have and maybe XBox or PS3 will fix the flaws. I bought my Mom a standard (720P) 42 inch LCD HDTV and a Toshiba A2 HD-DVD player and it would more than meet the needs of 99% of the population. To be honest, I can't see the difference between my 1080p and her 720P. You really don't need to upgrade to the 1080p HD-DVD player. The 720 HD-DVD player will be more than adequate for most viewers. It would be interesting to run a test with 100 people to see if they can visually tell the difference. My money, would say that they can't. It would also be interesting to get input from someone in the medical field who specializes in optics and how the mind process that information. Perhaps, we have peaked out on our perception of visualization until it is offered in a 3-D format or holographic images. I think that peak is very close to 720P.
One huge thing to consider is some of the movies that come out on HD-DVD and Blue-ray, some are old and the conversion to HD just doesn't work right, however some of the newer movies that have actually been shot in HD look awesome.
One of the biggest things is the console findings.... blue-ray wins because of PS3. I have many friends with PS3 and the only blue-ray movie they have is Talledage Night's which came with the PS3. You can't count every PS3 as a blue-ray player even though it plays Blue-ray movies. On the other hand is the 360 add-on and the people who brought these have one thing on there mind... HD-DVD movies.
Bottom line is we will be stuck with both HD-DVD and blue-ray, however whenever a movie comes out for both I always pick HD-DVD over blue-ray simply because HD-DVD movies have better picture quality..... on my TV anyways.
The only thing I don't like about HD-DVD is there lack luster line-up even though I am picking up The Departed on HD-DVD Tuesday, can't wait.
One huge thing to consider is some of the movies that come out on HD-DVD and Blue-ray, some are old and the conversion to HD just doesn't work right, however some of the newer movies that have actually been shot in HD look awesome.
One of the biggest things is the console findings.... blue-ray wins because of PS3. I have many friends with PS3 and the only blue-ray movie they have is Talledage Night's which came with the PS3. You can't count every PS3 as a blue-ray player even though it plays Blue-ray movies. On the other hand is the 360 add-on and the people who brought these have one thing on there mind... HD-DVD movies.
Bottom line is we will be stuck with both HD-DVD and blue-ray, however whenever a movie comes out for both I always pick HD-DVD over blue-ray simply because HD-DVD movies have better picture quality..... on my TV anyways.
The only thing I don't like about HD-DVD is there lack luster line-up even though I am picking up The Departed on HD-DVD Tuesday, can't wait.
___________________________________________________________
^^^^^this is the bottom line^^^^^
___________________________________________________________
^^^^^this is the bottom line^^^^^
- I think Blu-Ray is winning so far.
-
by dpescamilla
March 24, 2007 12:43 PM PDT
- After watching CES 2007 on good old HDNET, it seems that Blu-Ray is killing the market right now. There was a lot more companies introducing Blu-Ray over HD-DVD. The only worthy HD-DVD was the LG multi format player. It?s nice to see that Sony finally made a right move and distributed the rights to other companies, and not falling into the Beta and UMD bad business strategy. As for the video game consoles providing the bulk of sales right now, I personally like the idea of not having an optional piece of equipment to buy, such as the Xbox 360 HD DVD player. One more note on the Xbox 360, I?m not an owner, but I not sure if the 360 has HDMI for the HD DVD player. I would think it does have HDMI if it wants to be marketed as true HD DVD. It will be a shame if it doesn?t.
-
Reply to this comment
-
-
See all 26 Comments >>