2 more weeks for HD DVD to take a week in '07...will Bourne be their saving grace? Mmmm naaaaaah.
On a serious note, will HD DVD ever take a week in '08? Anyone have a list of movies on tap for HD DVD where they may have a fighting chance for a week in '08?
I also want to hear some of your guys' odds of Warner going Blu-exclusive in '08 due to Blu-ray winning in sales handily for 52 weeks in a row. I think there is about an 85% chance they'll do it.
Also, I really think we'll be hearing a bit about Blu-ray come MacWorld in January...
PS3 sales figures seem to be picking up markedly, which may be a very positive event for the blu-ray crowd. Personally, I would rather see blu-ray win just because I like the technology more (DVD menus suck) and because it makes a much better archival format.
Either way, I'm fairly certain that disc-based media has a long future ahead of it. The on-demand crowd is a little bit ahead of themselves.
Since at this time this thread is all whimsy, I'd like to offer a Friday the 13 look at 2008, even though today isn't the 13th.
The recession that hit the US in late 2007 worsens, ...
Um ... there's inflation, but no real recession. The US is poised to soon become the dominant leader in "green" technology, which isn't surprising because it's the dominant leader in pretty much every other form of technology. High-tech investing is going nuts right now -- supposedly, more nuts than it was during the dot-com era, and you aren't even aware of it.
This, of course, has nothing to do with blu-ray or HD-DVD, but I figured I'd make the statement anyway.
I just saw a Program on TVJapan that showed a 95% domination in Japan of Blue-ray, with it emerging a clear victor in Japan. I am convinced it is the better media format, but who wants to convert all our macs to that? My prpblem is that I still don't feel like getting ah HD version of the Bosox manager spitting in the dugout to justify upgrading my miserably old Sony CRT-type 21" TV.
I just saw a Program on TVJapan that showed a 95% domination in Japan of Blue-ray, with it emerging a clear victor in Japan. I am convinced it is the better media format, but who wants to convert all our macs to that? My prpblem is that I still don't feel like getting ah HD version of the Bosox manager spitting in the dugout to justify upgrading my miserably old Sony CRT-type 21" TV.
If it is indeed broken, and I will be able to use HandBrake-like tools to rip BR discs in the future, I would actually consider switching sides.
As I've always maintained, I'm only anti-Blu-Ray because Sony has learned nothing from their anti-consumer ways and DRM'd Blu-Ray discs to a ridiculous degree.
*All you need to know really as M$ ALWAYS fail on a level playing field.
That's a silly thing to say. How many format wars has Sony won? How many formats has Sony attempted to push as the standard? How many formats failed miserably in Sony's hands? Sony and Microsoft's past failed attempts says nothing about the outcome of this format war. Seems a silly argument for you to make anyhow, considering I'm quite sure Microsoft has had far more success pushing formats into mainstream than Sony.
If it is indeed broken, and I will be able to use HandBrake-like tools to rip BR discs in the future, I would actually consider switching sides.
As I've always maintained, I'm only anti-Blu-Ray because Sony has learned nothing from their anti-consumer ways and DRM'd Blu-Ray discs to a ridiculous degree.
Anybody have any real data on this?
Not full blown broken yet. There is a bug in the current implementation of BD+ (or the disks implementing it thus far) which allows a user of AnyDVD to backup a BluRay disk by simply copying the BD+ files over. You can't reencode the move yet, SlySoft (and I am sure others) are still working on that.
That's a silly thing to say. How many format wars has Sony won? How many formats has Sony attempted to push as the standard? How many formats failed miserably in Sony's hands? Sony and Microsoft's past failed attempts says nothing about the outcome of this format war. Seems a silly argument for you to make anyhow, considering I'm quite sure Microsoft has had far more success pushing formats into mainstream than Sony.
It's NOT silly, you are silly as you didn't read what I said despite quoting it.
but seeing as you want to praise M$ you tell me how many formats have they pushed that have succeeded WITHOUT windows? ie. a level playing field?
Total Blu-ray Disc movie sales across Europe have topped one million units, it was announced today by the Blu-ray Disc Association European Promotions Committee. Of the High Definition movie discs bought by consumers year-to-date in Europe, 73% were in the Blu-ray Disc format and 27% were HD DVD, according to sales data provided by Media Control Gfk International.*
The only High Definition packaged media universally supported by the film, music, gaming and computer industries, BD is the #1 selling High Definition packaged media. The one million sales figure relates to movies: if BD game disc production is added into the equation then total number of discs produced for sale in Europe already exceeds 21 million units. The so-called ?PlayStation effect? is important since it is creating major economies of scale and makes BD disc replication cost effective.
Blu-ray Disc movie sales experienced their highest weekly sales since the inception of the format, in week 44, topping 66,000 units. * This is due to the launch of new release titles such as 300, Spider-Man 3, Die Hard 4.0 and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World?s End releasing in some markets.
?This is an important milestone for Blu-ray Disc in Europe and proves once again that whenever consumers have the choice they decide overwhelmingly in favour of BD,? stated Frank Simonis, Chairman of the Blu-ray Disc European Promotions Committee. ?Early indicators show that the Christmas holiday season will be exceptionally good for Blu-ray Disc across all categories from packaged media to standalone players and BD capable games consoles.?
Blu-ray Disc has become the first High Definition movie format to sell more than one million discs in Europe, with Blu-ray Disc's sales lead over the rival HD DVD format increasing each month since the PS3?s release in March, outselling HD DVD by 2:1 YTD and 3:1 since the launch of the PS3.
The launch of the ps3 in March was seen as a turning point for the Blu-ray Disc format across Europe, with weekly movie sales of Blu-ray Disc titles averaging between two- and five-times the amount of HD DVD sales week over week.*
The best selling Blu-ray titles year-to-date are 300 ? the number one selling title in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Benelux and Sweden and Casino Royale - the number one selling title in UK and Ireland.
News of the 1 millionth Blu-ray Disc sale in Europe was met with pleasure in many of the leading Hollywood studios. Bob Chapek, Worldwide President, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment believes that this news is the prelude for an exponential growth period in BD sales.
?Blu-ray will inevitably prevail because Blu-ray delivers what consumers want: True High Definition picture without compromise, the best sound quality, the best choice in content, the most in special features, and of course the most disc storage capacity. No tradeoffs. No compromises,? commented Chapek.
It's NOT silly, you are silly as you didn't read what I said despite quoting it.
but seeing as you want to praise M$ you tell me how many formats have they pushed that have succeeded WITHOUT windows? ie. a level playing field?
You think the format war is a level playing field? Come on Walter, the only reason Blu-Ray has more ground is because it comes bundled with the PS3, something people were going to buy regardless. It's a well-learned Microsoft tactic, probably first used to run Netscape into the ground by bundling a fully-working browser with Windows. It's really the only tactic that works when you're selling something consumers in general don't care to pay for.
i rarely post in threads regarding hd format, but here's my 2 cents and predictions albeit 2008 is probably a bit early.
1. new competing technology will force inexpensive combo drives (why are there still + and - r?!)
2. people will feel sick when they think about how much time they wasted posting in threads like these because it will be pointless. there will be no winner.
3. OR, if there's has to be a winner, HD-DVD will win for two reasons. "HD" and "DVD" in the title. Familiarity and perception. This becomes unmistakingly clear at the holiday dinner table with family and friends--at least around my house.
anyway, that's my rant. still debating buying a ps3 for myself for xmas. i really don't have anything against blu, but i was an early hd-dvd odopter and now own 2 players. honestly, there's simply nothing i want to go buy or rent in either format at the moment. (begin segway to studios deciding outcome....pfft, please).
You think the format war is a level playing field? Come on Walter, the only reason Blu-Ray has more ground is because it comes bundled with the PS3, something people were going to buy regardless. It's a well-learned Microsoft tactic, probably first used to run Netscape into the ground by bundling a fully-working browser with Windows. It's really the only tactic that works when you're selling something consumers in general don't care to pay for.
I think Blu-Ray is leading because it's a superior format and disk. Simple. Look at world wide #'s not just America. Studios will have to end up using Blu-Ray regardless because the rest of the people on the planet were smarter and choose the superior format for themselves from the get go. Only americans were dumb enough to go with cheap, and the catchy more familiar title "HD-DVD" without researching who the studios were choosing.
Japan is 97% Blu-Ray or something close to that. And the rest of the world is following suit. So studios will end up having to make the movies using that format regardless.
I think Blu-Ray is leading because it's a superior format and disk. Simple. Look at world wide #'s not just America. Studios will have to end up using Blu-Ray regardless because the rest of the people on the planet were smarter and choose the superior format for themselves from the get go. Only americans were dumb enough to go with cheap, and the catchy more familiar title "HD-DVD" without researching who the studios were choosing.
Japan is 97% Blu-Ray or something close to that. And the rest of the world is following suit. So studios will end up having to make the movies using that format regardless.
Or...maybe Blu-Ray is leading because PS3 buyers have the inherent ability to watch films at a higher quality than standard DVD, so they do?
I'm amazed at how many Blu-Ray backers continuously spout this "superior format" nonsense; the video and audio look and sound freakin' identical. Beyond the viewing experience, each format has a thing or two it can do that the other can't (yet), but at the end of the day it's about watching movies, which is exactly the same. And what's this nonsense about "the rest of the people on the planet" choosing your superior format? 80%-90% of your superior format's userbase is people who bought PS3s. Blu-Ray is presently just the new Sony UMD.
Comments
2 more weeks for HD DVD to take a week in '07...will Bourne be their saving grace? Mmmm naaaaaah.
On a serious note, will HD DVD ever take a week in '08? Anyone have a list of movies on tap for HD DVD where they may have a fighting chance for a week in '08?
I also want to hear some of your guys' odds of Warner going Blu-exclusive in '08 due to Blu-ray winning in sales handily for 52 weeks in a row. I think there is about an 85% chance they'll do it.
Also, I really think we'll be hearing a bit about Blu-ray come MacWorld in January...
Is it a sign of things to come perhaps for the Mac community? Know something we don't yet?
Either way, I'm fairly certain that disc-based media has a long future ahead of it. The on-demand crowd is a little bit ahead of themselves.
Since at this time this thread is all whimsy, I'd like to offer a Friday the 13 look at 2008, even though today isn't the 13th.
The recession that hit the US in late 2007 worsens, ...
Um ... there's inflation, but no real recession. The US is poised to soon become the dominant leader in "green" technology, which isn't surprising because it's the dominant leader in pretty much every other form of technology. High-tech investing is going nuts right now -- supposedly, more nuts than it was during the dot-com era, and you aren't even aware of it.
This, of course, has nothing to do with blu-ray or HD-DVD, but I figured I'd make the statement anyway.
Oh yeah, like how all those Vista ads meant that Macs were going to switch to Vista!
Either way, I'm fairly certain that disc-based media has a long future ahead of it. The on-demand crowd is a little bit ahead of themselves.
Yes, yes they are.
I just saw a Program on TVJapan that showed a 95% domination in Japan of Blue-ray, with it emerging a clear victor in Japan. I am convinced it is the better media format, but who wants to convert all our macs to that? My prpblem is that I still don't feel like getting ah HD version of the Bosox manager spitting in the dugout to justify upgrading my miserably old Sony CRT-type 21" TV.
I am convinced it is NOT
BD+ already broken
BD-Java fragmented
50GB disc yield no palpable quality advantage
Hollywood isn't in Japan.
I am convinced it is NOT
BD+ already broken
BD-Java fragmented
50GB disc yield no palpable quality advantage
Hollywood isn't in Japan.
Until you make a U-Turn statement.
Like what about your love for foreign films? holly wood is not in foreign
HD-DVD = Microsoft backed* proprietary Toshiba format.
*All you need to know really as M$ ALWAYS fail on a level playing field.
BD+ already broken
BD+ is not broken.
I'd love to know the actual status of BD+.
If it is indeed broken, and I will be able to use HandBrake-like tools to rip BR discs in the future, I would actually consider switching sides.
As I've always maintained, I'm only anti-Blu-Ray because Sony has learned nothing from their anti-consumer ways and DRM'd Blu-Ray discs to a ridiculous degree.
Anybody have any real data on this?
*All you need to know really as M$ ALWAYS fail on a level playing field.
That's a silly thing to say. How many format wars has Sony won? How many formats has Sony attempted to push as the standard? How many formats failed miserably in Sony's hands? Sony and Microsoft's past failed attempts says nothing about the outcome of this format war. Seems a silly argument for you to make anyhow, considering I'm quite sure Microsoft has had far more success pushing formats into mainstream than Sony.
I'd love to know the actual status of BD+.
If it is indeed broken, and I will be able to use HandBrake-like tools to rip BR discs in the future, I would actually consider switching sides.
As I've always maintained, I'm only anti-Blu-Ray because Sony has learned nothing from their anti-consumer ways and DRM'd Blu-Ray discs to a ridiculous degree.
Anybody have any real data on this?
Not full blown broken yet. There is a bug in the current implementation of BD+ (or the disks implementing it thus far) which allows a user of AnyDVD to backup a BluRay disk by simply copying the BD+ files over. You can't reencode the move yet, SlySoft (and I am sure others) are still working on that.
That's a silly thing to say. How many format wars has Sony won? How many formats has Sony attempted to push as the standard? How many formats failed miserably in Sony's hands? Sony and Microsoft's past failed attempts says nothing about the outcome of this format war. Seems a silly argument for you to make anyhow, considering I'm quite sure Microsoft has had far more success pushing formats into mainstream than Sony.
It's NOT silly, you are silly as you didn't read what I said despite quoting it.
but seeing as you want to praise M$ you tell me how many formats have they pushed that have succeeded WITHOUT windows? ie. a level playing field?
http://www.myth-games.com/news3055.htm
Total Blu-ray Disc movie sales across Europe have topped one million units, it was announced today by the Blu-ray Disc Association European Promotions Committee. Of the High Definition movie discs bought by consumers year-to-date in Europe, 73% were in the Blu-ray Disc format and 27% were HD DVD, according to sales data provided by Media Control Gfk International.*
The only High Definition packaged media universally supported by the film, music, gaming and computer industries, BD is the #1 selling High Definition packaged media. The one million sales figure relates to movies: if BD game disc production is added into the equation then total number of discs produced for sale in Europe already exceeds 21 million units. The so-called ?PlayStation effect? is important since it is creating major economies of scale and makes BD disc replication cost effective.
Blu-ray Disc movie sales experienced their highest weekly sales since the inception of the format, in week 44, topping 66,000 units. * This is due to the launch of new release titles such as 300, Spider-Man 3, Die Hard 4.0 and Pirates of the Caribbean: At World?s End releasing in some markets.
?This is an important milestone for Blu-ray Disc in Europe and proves once again that whenever consumers have the choice they decide overwhelmingly in favour of BD,? stated Frank Simonis, Chairman of the Blu-ray Disc European Promotions Committee. ?Early indicators show that the Christmas holiday season will be exceptionally good for Blu-ray Disc across all categories from packaged media to standalone players and BD capable games consoles.?
Blu-ray Disc has become the first High Definition movie format to sell more than one million discs in Europe, with Blu-ray Disc's sales lead over the rival HD DVD format increasing each month since the PS3?s release in March, outselling HD DVD by 2:1 YTD and 3:1 since the launch of the PS3.
The launch of the ps3 in March was seen as a turning point for the Blu-ray Disc format across Europe, with weekly movie sales of Blu-ray Disc titles averaging between two- and five-times the amount of HD DVD sales week over week.*
The best selling Blu-ray titles year-to-date are 300 ? the number one selling title in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Benelux and Sweden and Casino Royale - the number one selling title in UK and Ireland.
News of the 1 millionth Blu-ray Disc sale in Europe was met with pleasure in many of the leading Hollywood studios. Bob Chapek, Worldwide President, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment believes that this news is the prelude for an exponential growth period in BD sales.
?Blu-ray will inevitably prevail because Blu-ray delivers what consumers want: True High Definition picture without compromise, the best sound quality, the best choice in content, the most in special features, and of course the most disc storage capacity. No tradeoffs. No compromises,? commented Chapek.
It's NOT silly, you are silly as you didn't read what I said despite quoting it.
but seeing as you want to praise M$ you tell me how many formats have they pushed that have succeeded WITHOUT windows? ie. a level playing field?
You think the format war is a level playing field? Come on Walter, the only reason Blu-Ray has more ground is because it comes bundled with the PS3, something people were going to buy regardless. It's a well-learned Microsoft tactic, probably first used to run Netscape into the ground by bundling a fully-working browser with Windows. It's really the only tactic that works when you're selling something consumers in general don't care to pay for.
1. new competing technology will force inexpensive combo drives (why are there still + and - r?!)
2. people will feel sick when they think about how much time they wasted posting in threads like these because it will be pointless. there will be no winner.
3. OR, if there's has to be a winner, HD-DVD will win for two reasons. "HD" and "DVD" in the title. Familiarity and perception. This becomes unmistakingly clear at the holiday dinner table with family and friends--at least around my house.
anyway, that's my rant. still debating buying a ps3 for myself for xmas. i really don't have anything against blu, but i was an early hd-dvd odopter and now own 2 players. honestly, there's simply nothing i want to go buy or rent in either format at the moment.
You think the format war is a level playing field? Come on Walter, the only reason Blu-Ray has more ground is because it comes bundled with the PS3, something people were going to buy regardless. It's a well-learned Microsoft tactic, probably first used to run Netscape into the ground by bundling a fully-working browser with Windows. It's really the only tactic that works when you're selling something consumers in general don't care to pay for.
I think Blu-Ray is leading because it's a superior format and disk. Simple. Look at world wide #'s not just America. Studios will have to end up using Blu-Ray regardless because the rest of the people on the planet were smarter and choose the superior format for themselves from the get go. Only americans were dumb enough to go with cheap, and the catchy more familiar title "HD-DVD" without researching who the studios were choosing.
Japan is 97% Blu-Ray or something close to that. And the rest of the world is following suit. So studios will end up having to make the movies using that format regardless.
I think Blu-Ray is leading because it's a superior format and disk. Simple. Look at world wide #'s not just America. Studios will have to end up using Blu-Ray regardless because the rest of the people on the planet were smarter and choose the superior format for themselves from the get go. Only americans were dumb enough to go with cheap, and the catchy more familiar title "HD-DVD" without researching who the studios were choosing.
Japan is 97% Blu-Ray or something close to that. And the rest of the world is following suit. So studios will end up having to make the movies using that format regardless.
Or...maybe Blu-Ray is leading because PS3 buyers have the inherent ability to watch films at a higher quality than standard DVD, so they do?
I'm amazed at how many Blu-Ray backers continuously spout this "superior format" nonsense; the video and audio look and sound freakin' identical. Beyond the viewing experience, each format has a thing or two it can do that the other can't (yet), but at the end of the day it's about watching movies, which is exactly the same. And what's this nonsense about "the rest of the people on the planet" choosing your superior format? 80%-90% of your superior format's userbase is people who bought PS3s. Blu-Ray is presently just the new Sony UMD.