Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say

[dolphinius_rex]

Feb 15, 2008

The format war has turned into a format death watch.

Toshiba is widely expected to pull the plug on its HD DVD format sometime in the coming weeks, reliable industry sources say, after a rash of retail defections that followed Warner Home Video's announcement in early January that it would support only the rival Blu-ray Disc format after May.

Officially, no decision has been made, insists Jodi Sally, vp of marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products. "Based on its technological advancements, we continue to believe HD DVD is the best format for consumers, given the value and consistent quality inherent in our player offerings," she said.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/con ... 7ca5d?pn=1

Really, Toshiba's seriously lame attempt at refuting the rumour is making me think there may be something to it. If I was Toshiba, unless I had ABSOLUTELY no faith in my product, I would 100% completely refute *ANY* truth to the rumour... rather then say "Officially, no decision has been made" which makes it sound more like they haven't decided if they're willing to quit now, but they're really thinking about it.

[Grain]

I agree. Sounds like the typical weak rumor denial that end's up coming to fruition. I guess if their going to pull the plug, sooner rather than later. Hopefully they at least start making dual format players if the pull out is true.

[dolphinius_rex]

I agree. Sounds like the typical weak rumor denial that end's up coming to fruition. I guess if their going to pull the plug, sooner rather than later. Hopefully they at least start making dual format players if the pull out is true.

Well, based on the new Walmart news, I'd say that Toshiba is DEFFINATELY going to pull out of HD DVD soon.

And yeah, I'd say them making a dual format player to begin with would be a good idea. Maybe a dual format, and a Blu-Ray only player. They made HD DVD, they need to continue SOME support for a while. They should at least man-up like Sony has done time and time again when their formats failed. Although I'm not expecting Toshiba to hold on to HD DVD like Sony did with Beta.... Sony's ongoing support for Beta was truly insane

[Grain]

I don't know if Toshiba hold the licensing for HD DVD, but if they or whoever does would make them cheaply accessable, the third party makers out there would help keep hardware support alive for those of us with HD DVD libraries.

[dolphinius_rex]

I don't know if Toshiba hold the licensing for HD DVD, but if they or whoever does would make them cheaply accessable, the third party makers out there would help keep hardware support alive for those of us with HD DVD libraries.

They've been TRYING to get cheap 3rd party support from day 1.... but they kept undercutting the "cheap manufacturers" because they were always selling at a loss. That's what killed the Venturer HD DVD player.

With Toshiba now looking like they're dropping al HD DVD manufacturing, I'd say there is likely to be ZERO support for HD DVD by sometime in august to december at the latest.

[Dartman]

Well there has been a rumor the toshibas can support blue with a firmware upgrade because supposedly the pickups everyone uses can do both but from what I know I don't think it's true.It would be a great customer relations thing to allow all those HD players to go dual format for free after all the crap everyone's been through choosing sides and whatever.

[dolphinius_rex]

Well there has been a rumor the toshibas can support blue with a firmware upgrade because supposedly the pickups everyone uses can do both but from what I know I don't think it's true.It would be a great customer relations thing to allow all those HD players to go dual format for free after all the crap everyone's been through choosing sides and whatever.

Unfortunately, there is no way that would be possible. Even if a firmware upgrade would allow the laser to be refocused to a different focul point on the disc (I doubt this is possible), the players do not support all the BD-Java functions, and there is no way (short of a some major hardware modding) that it could be added.

It's kind of like saying a CD-ROM could be upgraded to read DVDs because they both use red laser technology

[Grain]

With Toshiba now looking like they're dropping al HD DVD manufacturing, I'd say there is likely to be ZERO support for HD DVD by sometime in august to december at the latest.

Toshiba is at least saying they will continue to offer support for present models, whether any further firmware updates will be necessary is doubtful though. After they pull out of the market with their cheap hardware, I suspect that may just provide the small vacuum for third party companies to jump in. Heck, you can still get new DVD-Audio and SACD compatible DVD players, but try and buy a new disc in either format now! There's been more HD DVD's sold than both of those combined.