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The AIMMA meeting included presentations by speakers representing both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc. Member discussion focused on the economics and efficiencies of transitioning to either format, including equipment costs and installation timing.If you'd like to read more, AIMMA's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
"Given that the HD DVD manufacturing process uses essentially the same equipment as existing DVD production, the format is far more compatible with the companies in our organization than the Blu-ray Disc format," said Ray Zerrusen, AIMMA president and president of member company OEM. "In a marketplace facing increasingly squeezed margins, HD DVD is the logical choice for our membership, providing a lower cost of entry and shorter ramp-up timing" he continued.
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As members of the AV Science Forum were the first to discover yesterday, Sony has once again pushed back its estimate of availability for its first wave of Blu-ray Disc player consoles, the BDP-S1.While many people have speculated that the delay is due to laser diode shortages, TVPredictions.com has reported that a "software issue" has forced Sony to postpone the release. Let's hope Sony can work out these issues in time for the holidays. Add a comment
According to the company's SonyStyle Web site, US customers should expect to see the player on December 4, with MSRP remaining set at $999.95 USD. The BDP-S1 had been slated for release next week.
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VidaBox LLC, an innovator of media center systems, announced today the world's first dual HD-DVD & Blu-Ray Media Center lines. The Dual HD upgrade allows the rack-mountable, premium LUX and MAX systems to play both high definition disc formats.Unfortunately, VidaBox's systems aren't exactly cheap. Prices for the LUX and MAX start at $3499 and $4399 respectively and that's without the Dual HD upgrade. More information can be found on VidaBox's website. Add a comment
"The Dual HD LUX & MAX systems are perfect for those who can appreciate convenience, high-fidelity audio, and high-quality video performance in a single, easy-to-use package," says Steven Cheung, co-founder of VidaBox. "High definition is the new video standard, and many customers want the ability to play both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs. Combining that ability with the attractive, rich feature set of media center allows everyone to conveniently use the VidaBox as the center of all their digital entertainment needs. There's no need to buy two separate high definition disc players, nor is there a need to use a PVR/TiVo, stereo, DVD player, etc. when everything - TV, movies, music, pictures, and more - can be easily accessed from a single remote at the touch of a button."
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Apple joined the Blu-ray Disc Association in March 2005 but has kept largely mum on its support and adoption of the next-generation disc technology. At the time, Apple's decision to put its weight behind Blu-ray was seen as a coup for Blu-ray and blow to the competing HD-DVD format, but documents recently obtained by Think Secret indicate that Apple may in fact be planning to support both formats equally.With there being no clear winner in the format wars, it makes sense for companies like Apple to straddle the line, providing support for sides. Of course, at this point its just a rumor so I wouldn't get too excited yet. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
While members of the Blu-ray camp, which include Dell, Panasonic, Pioneer, and Sony, have kept their distance from HD-DVD, which is backed by Microsoft, Toshiba, and Intel, among others, Apple would not be the first vendor to side with both formats: Hewlett Packard actively supports both formats.
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New Medium Enterprises said this week that it has begun taking orders for its HD VMD (Versatile Multilayer Disc) player, a format that the company says will support high-definition video. The $175 player will begin shipping in November, according to a company spokesman.The article also mentions that NME plans to begin marketing file formats, encryption technology, authoring tools and compression technologies. While all this is great, it won't really matter if movie studios don't get on board. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
In addition, the player will be shown off at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January, where an improved model will be released, the NME representative said.
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In 2006, the bulk of the $16.9 bil. revenue will come from standard-definition DVD ($16.8 bil.)," said Wade Holden, Kagan analyst. "By 2009, VHS will be virtually extinct and high-definition DVD revenue should grow to more than $2.6 bil. as the format war works itself out, either via one winning format or a combination HD DVD/Blu-ray player being introduced to the market. By 2015, VHS will be history and high-definition DVD will be the major-market shareholder with $18.3 bil. in revenue.I have to agree with this study. Contrary to what Blu-ray and HD DVD promoters want you to think, the DVD is not going away any time soon. More information on Kagan's report can be found here. Add a comment
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Japanese chip maker NEC Electronics Corp. said on Tuesday it began shipping a chip compatible with both Blu-ray and HD DVD formats in next-generation DVDs, bridging a format war splitting the electronics industry in two.While this is a step in the right direction, we still need an optical pick-up capable of reading both Blu-ray and HD DVD formats. Right now, NEC plans to begin production in the fourth quarter of 2006 with monthly shipments reaching 300,000 units in April. More information can be found here. Add a comment
If other hybrid technology is developed, the new chip could lower costs to build dual-format players, helping consumers and the movie industry sidestep the rivalry between the two opposing camps.
The chips go on sale for 10,000 yen ($84), roughly the same price as NEC Electronics' chips which read only Blu-ray or only HD DVD formats, the world's No. 8 chip maker said.
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Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (SPHE) today announced the imminent arrival of its first three 50GB dual-layer Blu-ray Discs (BD). The heart-warming comedy Click, starring Golden Globe-Nominee Adam Sandler, Oscar-Winner Christopher Walken and Kate Beckinsale, will be available on store shelves October 10. Black Hawk Down, the Oscar-winning, action-packed drama from director Ridley Scott, starring Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, Tom Sizemore and Eric Bana, features new Blu-Wizard(TM) technology and will be available to film fans on November 14. The hilarious box office hit, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, starring writer and producer Will Ferrell and Oscar-nominee John C. Reilly, hits shelves December 12. All three titles were authored by the Sony Pictures Digital Authoring Center (DAC) and manufactured by Sony DADC.At this time, SPHE has not announced pricing for these 50GB BD titles. Personally, I would not be surprised if they were a few bucks more than those on single layer discs. If you'd like to read more, SPHE's entire press release can be found here. Add a comment
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"AD-022" is a group that examines region (region) control in HD DVD. The region reproduction limitation etc. of classification by countries of HD DVD video disk on the market like DVD have not been installed now. However, the voice to request the region control comes out of the contents holder etc. , and it is said that the examination will be advanced aiming at the introduction.The DVD Forum also announced that they would be finalizing the specifications for 12x DVD-R DL media and the three layer TWIN disc in late 2006 and early 2007 respectively. If you'd like to read more, the entire article can be found here. Add a comment
The reproduction control not only is introduced into classification by countries as simply as past DVD but also an interactive function of HD DVD is used, and it is said, "The control of new as the region is controlled from the sale only for a certain period that is is examined". However, it has not become a conclusion at present.
The examination of the region control is advanced, and "WG-1" that examines a technological specification of HD DVD receives the activity etc. of TCG, and examines how to build it in. It is said the schedule to which the project book is updated in the first ten days, 2007.
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Taiwan-based CyberHome Entertainment (once known as Protop Innotech), a maker of DVD players an recorders, has decided to stop producing DVD players mainly due to that Philips demands royalty payment, according to industry sources.To get around these royalty issues, CyberHome is considering production of modules for DVD players and recorders. If you'd like to read more, head on over to DigiTimes. Add a comment
In peak periods in the past, CyberHome shipped over one million DVD players a month, the sources indicated.
