P$3 related, so i'm posting it here.

[p2501]

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2017528,00.asp


Universal Studios Backs Out of Blu-Ray

Universal Studios has decided not to release movies within the Blu-Ray format, according to a spokeswoman representing the Blu-Ray Disc Association.

In an email sent to PC Magazine, a spokeswoman said that Universal had withdrawn its earlier support for the format. A PC Magazine reporter had requested supporting documents when researching a previous story documenting imprecisions in surveys released to bolster the Blu-Ray and competing HD-DVD format, although that request was not actually referenced in the email.

"This spring, you received materials explaining the advantages of the Blu-ray format for optical discs," the spokeswoman said. "Those materials explained that, to date, over 108 movie and music titles were scheduled for release in Blu-ray Disc and listed the studios behind those releases.

"Unfortunately, in the graphics accompanying that text, a few titles from Universal Studios were depicted," the email continued. "Although the Blu-ray format has many advantages over competing technologies and has the support of numerous studios including Disney, Fox, Sony Pictures, MGM, Lions Gate, Paramount and Warner, Universal has decided not to release titles in this format. We will let you know when and if that changes, along with other updates about how well the Blu-ray format has been accepted."

The report comes after Craig Kornblau, the president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment, was quoted by ITwire.com.au, speaking at the CEDIA consumer electronics show last week.

According to ITWire, the Kornblau essentially handed the next-generation DVD crown to HD DVD: "Look at the blogs, look at the reviews by the early adopters and even look at the mainstream media -- HD DVD has maintained its first-to-market advantage and delivered on the promises of providing the best high definition image and sound quality at the best value for consumers today," Kornblau said.

Universal Music Group, which is owned by Europe's Vivendi, has supported the Blu-Ray format.

Although Blu-Ray seemed to have won the lion's share of supporters in the early going, the format has suffered from Sony's miscues. Sony has already run into Blu-Ray production issues, suffering from a shortage of blue lasers, which has forced the company to delay its PlayStation3 console in Europe, which uses a Blu-Ray drive.


umm, wow. :eek:

[LouCipherr]

The beginning of the end for blu-ray.

It's a shame too, 'cause just like Betamax, the better format will lose out simply 'cause of an uneducated consumer base. :rolleyes:

Nothing ever changes does it?

[MinionZombie]

Call me un-edu-ma-kay-ted ... but what's the difference between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray? ... And say it in simple terms, my brain 'urts. :D

P$3 ... boooooooo! *hiss*

[p2501]

blu-ray smells funny, that's about it.

[LouCipherr]

There's a lot of differences, a few of them being: disc capacity (blu ray has this one) type of discs you can use (HD-DVD is better for this, 'cause from what I understand you can use standard single-layer and double-layer discs but get the added capacity), price of hardware to play the stuff once you invest.. there's so many factors right now it's mind boggling, but I can say this: after all I read, blu-ray is definitely the superior technology, but because everyone will have to buy all new hardware (new burners AND players) I can't see it taking off.

For one of the best articles on BLU-RAY vs. HD-DVD, Click this link right here. (http://www.cdfreaks.com/article/186)

I dunno.. it just seems that just like betamax, the better format will lose out. Remember, betamax had superior sound and quality of picture, but VHS won because "you can store more on one tape than with a betamax tape" - again, customer ignorance won that battle for VHS.

I dunno about you, but i'd rather have superior quality than length of tape.

LC

[Kaos]

but VHS won because "you can store more on one tape than with a betamax tape" - again, customer ignorance won that battle for VHS.


The only reason VHS won over Betamax was the price of the player. JVC licensed the technology to other companies creating competition and lower prices for the VHS VCRs. Sony refused to license Betamax technology to other companies until it was way too late. For most of its life, Betamax could only be purchased from Sony at a hefty premium above what you could buy a VHS machine.

This is a classic case study many business schools reference.

Although Sony has wised up to the licensing thing, BlueRay cost twice as much more than the HD-DVD alternative with little or no discernable difference in picture quality. Most reviews of movies released in both formats say they are indistinguishable or slightly better on the HD-DVD.

Toshiba is banking on the lower price allowing deeper market penetration. Sony is banking on people playing movies on their PS3 to allow deeper market penetration. Given the low production yields of BlueRay and the lower than expected availability of the PS3 this year, I think HD-DVD has the edge to penetrate the market with their player based upon price, availablity, and picture quality.

If HD-DVD is still the top seller by next spring, the movie companies (like Disney) that currently plan on only supporting BlueRay will change their minds quickly.

[DeadJonas190]

I was going to reply to LouCipher, but Kaos said pretty much what I was going to say so ummm yeah, what he said!

[MinionZombie]

In the immortal words of the maniacal VHS itself - "I was fair competition, I took down Betamax and I'll take down DVD!" :D

Anyone got any links to screen cap comparisons between Betamax and VHS?

Of course, PAL VHS looks infinately better than NTSC VHS. I've got a couple of NTSC tapes and I was shocked at how muddy and fuzzy the picture was, but it's hardly surprising when PAL has significantly more lines that NTSC.

Aside from the problem with solid blocks of colour on VHS (think the opening credits of A Clockwork Orange) and the inevitable deterioration after time/poor care, I always felt VHS was pretty good ... PAL VHS of course. :D

[Kaos]

Of course, PAL VHS looks infinately better than NTSC VHS. I've got a couple of NTSC tapes and I was shocked at how muddy and fuzzy the picture was, but it's hardly surprising when PAL has significantly more lines that NTSC.



That is what 16 years of innovation gets you (approximately 96 more visible lines of resolution). NTSC was created in 1951, and PAL in 1967.

[LouCipherr]

I agree, to a certain extent, but I was referring to the initial release of both systems. I think the eventual downfall of Beta was due to the price, yes - but initially one of the main reasons people were drawn to VHS was for the length of recording time. When both VHS and Beta were first released, their prices weren't that far from each other. I owned one of each, so I know first hand - again, this was at first, i'm not talking about 'down the line' when beta was about ready to die off anyway and VHS became a licensing whore. :lol:

Regardless of the vhs/betamax debacle, I see the same thing brewing with HD-DVD and Blu-Ray.

Blu-Ray (Betamax) = superior technology, already falling apart at the seams
HD-DVD (VHS) = more consumer friendly, gaining ground as it's the only place left to go

I personally have been rooting for blu-ray because of the added capacity, but now I don't know what to think anymore.

Screw it, let the manufacturers fight it out, then let the consumers figure out what they want as the standard. Then i'll dig my heels into the new high-capacity stuff. Until then, my single-layer 4gb discs work just fine for me.

[MinionZombie]

Hooray for 4.7gb single layer DVDs!

[hseiken]

I think maybe it's a little too soon to start switching to a new format. I mean, DVD's didn't get very popular until 5 years ago...now people are going to be told that the next wave of video playback is already here and they should drop their DVD collections and get blu-ray/hd-tv discs? DVDs were available for a LONG time before they were widely accepted. VHS tapes still come out here and there, too...I think the consumer is going to say "Screw you, new formats! I just made this DVD collection...I ain't about to help make it obsolete just yet!" Especially since the majority of people I know just casually watch TV and don't even OWN an HDTV set.

I don't even own a TV at all, so what do I know?

[Kaos]

I think maybe it's a little too soon to start switching to a new format. I mean, DVD's didn't get very popular until 5 years ago...now people are going to be told that the next wave of video playback is already here and they should drop their DVD collections and get blu-ray/hd-tv discs? DVDs were available for a LONG time before they were widely accepted. VHS tapes still come out here and there, too...I think the consumer is going to say "Screw you, new formats! I just made this DVD collection...I ain't about to help make it obsolete just yet!" Especially since the majority of people I know just casually watch TV and don't even OWN an HDTV set.

I don't even own a TV at all, so what do I know?

You are correct, it will take years for DVD to be replaced by one of the high def formats, but if there is going to be a transition it would have been better to have just one high def format.

[p2501]

i suspect HD DVD will eventually take over, if only because it's directly compatable with with the current version of DVD.

Blu-ray lacks that, so it immeadtely has to overcome the idea that a comsumer is going to have to replace all of the DVDs they've been a massing for the past few years. this more than anything else is what's going to kill Bluray.

[MinionZombie]

Indeed, in fact sales numbers were saying that the pick up of DVDs was much higher than at the equivalent time in the life of VHS when it came out, people have - like what has been said - amassed a great collection. I myself have over 300 DVDs, so that's a significant outlay when you add it up...these companies are morons for thinking the public will put up with ditching a brand new format as it is.

What's a better way is to have a player that plays DVDs - which have perfect quality anyway - and also new HD versions, which you can start buying in your own time/when they eventually take over. The most important thing really, is to not make current DVDs obsolete, because quite frankly, there's nothing wrong with them...with these HD discs, will it be goodbye to the days of "4 disc special collector's extended edition"? :rockbrow:

[LouCipherr]

Good point, MZ. I can maybe see businesses having a need for high-capacity formats for data backup and storage, etc., however; the average home computer user will probably never have a practical use for HD DVD's - at least not yet. Maybe in the future, but right now I think the HD format is best left to the corporations who 1) can afford it, and 2) have a use for it.

There's really nothing more needed for the home user than the current single and double layer discs. Hell, even when I copy a dual layer disc (y'know, to protect my original from getting messed up.. :lol: HEY! It's "fair use"!) to a single layer and compress it almost 50% of the original - it still looks WAY superior to any analog format (vhs) and to be honest, my eyes can't tell a difference between the original DVD and the copy.

I think will take years for the next-gen HD optical drives to really gain ground for the general home consumers out there.

Then again, technology moves in mysterious ways. I still can't see many home computer users going "well, a new HD format is coming out next month... time to ditch this standard DVD burner and get a blu-ray" or whatever - at least not yet.

Y'know what REALLY pisses me off? dual-layer media has never really come down in price. I dunno if that's because no one bought it 'cause of the announcements that blu-ray and HD-DVD were coming soon, but if we could've got dual-layer DVD media to the market at a decent price, I think it would've delayed the HD formats a bit.

Let 'em all fight it out, i'll pick the winner after it's been decided by the public and the prices drop. :D

LC

[hseiken]

Let 'em all fight it out, i'll pick the winner after it's been decided by the public and the prices drop.

The last part of the sentence is probably the most important aspect...

[p2501]

What's a better way is to have a player that plays DVDs - which have perfect quality anyway - and also new HD versions, which you can start buying in your own time/when they eventually take over. The most important thing really, is to not make current DVDs obsolete, because quite frankly, there's nothing wrong with them...with these HD discs, will it be goodbye to the days of "4 disc special collector's extended edition"? :rockbrow:


exactly. to that end HD-DVD is going to win out. because the players from the start will support the "old" DVD format.

as for where DVD's are going in general, you sepcial editions and boxed sets , may only be changed by a reduction in the number of discs included within them. but that i suspect will be it.

[LouCipherr]

Dj and I were in Best Buy the other day and saw a shelf of Blue Ray movies and HD-DVD movies on the other side. I can say one thing: I like the new packaging/dvd case for these types of movies (as opposed to the standard DVD box we're used to now - these are translucent, almost thinline plastic cases w/feet). Other than that, I can wait 'till the format war is over. ;)

LC

[Andy]

exactly. to that end HD-DVD is going to win out. because the players from the start will support the "old" DVD format.


Blue ray players support DVD and CD too :rockbrow:

[p2501]

Blue ray players support DVD and CD too :rockbrow:

this is the first i've heard of this. the last thing i read on Blu-ray (maybe 4 months ago) was an arty on cNet, which indicated there was an issue with the bluray laser not bieng able to retreive info off of the disc at a high enough rate to ensure consistant image quality.

perhaps they were talking out of there ass?

[Andy]

it was once an issue, and they held back the blueray format until they could resolve it. i cant remember the article i read but i know they are definatly backwards compatible now.

here's a quote from samsung on the issue:


The BD-P1000 plays Blu-ray software titles at the highest resolution available via a native 1080p HDMI output for films digitally mastered in 1920 x 1080p. The BD-P1000 also up-converts conventional DVDs to 1080p through the HDMI digital interface so the picture quality of any traditional DVD will look noticeably more detailed when used with the disc player. The BD-P1000 is backwards compatible and plays both standard DVDs and CDs in addition to supporting all DVD formats including, DVD-RAM, DVD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+RW, and DVD+R.

Source : Howstuffworks.com (http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/blu-ray.htm)


This (http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/GENCD/3-/1135114/Samsung_BD_P1000_Blu_ray_Disc_Player/Product.html) is the player they are talking about too on play.com :p.

[Dommm]

what allot of people forget in the war between Betamax and VHS is that of porn, many poeple found out that they could now jerk off at home rather then at the cinema in soho and thus decided to buy this format mmm.... I wander which player is going to go this route first??

[p2501]

it was once an issue, and they held back the blueray format until they could resolve it. i cant remember the article i read but i know they are definatly backwards compatible now.

here's a quote from samsung on the issue:



Source : Howstuffworks.com (http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/blu-ray.htm)


This (http://www.play.com/Electronics/Electronics/GENCD/3-/1135114/Samsung_BD_P1000_Blu_ray_Disc_Player/Product.html) is the player they are talking about too on play.com :p.

cool, that's for clarifing that.

[LouCipherr]

Wow, thanks for the link Andy. I had no idea they had a blu-ray that was capable of reading standard DVD's.

Now that puts me right back on the fence again with this BR vs. HD-DVD stuff.. argh!!

[Andy]

personally i do think blu-ray will do alot better than most of you guys are giving it credit for, sure it might be a little bit more expensive but it is the superior format by far. i think most people will see that.

[Danny]

what allot of people forget in the war between Betamax and VHS is that of porn, many poeple found out that they could now jerk off at home rather then at the cinema in soho and thus decided to buy this format mmm.... I wander which player is going to go this route first??

id place my bet on hd-dvd porn first;)

[LouCipherr]

I've been rooting for blu-ray since the beginning as I always did think it was the superior format, but I was put off by it when I initially heard the blu-ray drives couldn't read standard DVDs. Once you pointed us to that link, that has me right back to wanting blu-ray..

I hope they sort out this format war quick - either that or they both get their market share, although I'm not sure I see that happening - at least not indefinitely.

LC