Toshiba rumored to quit HD DVD as Wal-Mart pulls support
The conflict between high-definition disc formats is rapidly drawing to a close, as Wal-Mart is the latest store to back Blu-ray over HD DVD and Toshiba is reportedly poised to withdraw its format from the market in the near future.
Remaining support for HD DVD began to unravel on Friday morning when the Hollywood Reporter cited a source which claims Toshiba will shutter its HD DVD efforts "soon," with an announcement potentially due within weeks.
The apparently reluctant concession would follow weeks of steep decline in support for the optical disc standard, which began with Warner Bros.' switch to Blu-ray as its exclusive HD movie format just ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Since then, Best Buy and Netflix have both chosen Blu-ray as their de facto choice for HD movies, relegating HD DVD to second-tier status and threatening to discontinue it entirely in the case of Netflix.
Several independent movie studios have also followed Warner's lead in opting for Blu-ray, with only Paramount and Universal now left as HD DVD supporters.
Just hours later, however, the likelihood of an HD DVD resurgence was dimmed even further by an official announcement by Wal-Mart that it would focus solely on Blu-ray. A statement issued by the big-box retailer on Friday revealed that the company would reorganize shelf space at all its Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores within 30 days to promote Blu-ray alone. HD DVD products will exit the company's product channel entirely by June.
Wal-Mart's decision is anticipated to be especially damaging to HD DVD's prospects, as the nationwide chain is often regarded as the single largest video sales outlet in the US and is sometimes cited as a potential obstacle to widespread adoption of online movie downloads through its influence over movie studios' pricing.
And while Toshiba officially remains confident in HD DVD, its frequent partner Microsoft has itself seemingly scaled back its normally vocal endorsement of the beleaguered storage medium, says the Reporter. The Windows developer's technology evangelist for HD DVD, Kevin Collins, has reportedly failed to respond to multiple requests for comments.
Apple has largely kept to the sidelines during the battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD, providing small amounts of support to both camps while declining to build either technology into its Mac range.
Remaining support for HD DVD began to unravel on Friday morning when the Hollywood Reporter cited a source which claims Toshiba will shutter its HD DVD efforts "soon," with an announcement potentially due within weeks.
The apparently reluctant concession would follow weeks of steep decline in support for the optical disc standard, which began with Warner Bros.' switch to Blu-ray as its exclusive HD movie format just ahead of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. Since then, Best Buy and Netflix have both chosen Blu-ray as their de facto choice for HD movies, relegating HD DVD to second-tier status and threatening to discontinue it entirely in the case of Netflix.
Several independent movie studios have also followed Warner's lead in opting for Blu-ray, with only Paramount and Universal now left as HD DVD supporters.
Just hours later, however, the likelihood of an HD DVD resurgence was dimmed even further by an official announcement by Wal-Mart that it would focus solely on Blu-ray. A statement issued by the big-box retailer on Friday revealed that the company would reorganize shelf space at all its Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores within 30 days to promote Blu-ray alone. HD DVD products will exit the company's product channel entirely by June.
Wal-Mart's decision is anticipated to be especially damaging to HD DVD's prospects, as the nationwide chain is often regarded as the single largest video sales outlet in the US and is sometimes cited as a potential obstacle to widespread adoption of online movie downloads through its influence over movie studios' pricing.
And while Toshiba officially remains confident in HD DVD, its frequent partner Microsoft has itself seemingly scaled back its normally vocal endorsement of the beleaguered storage medium, says the Reporter. The Windows developer's technology evangelist for HD DVD, Kevin Collins, has reportedly failed to respond to multiple requests for comments.
Apple has largely kept to the sidelines during the battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD, providing small amounts of support to both camps while declining to build either technology into its Mac range.
Comments
So now you won't be able to rent, buy, or even buy a player for HD DVD disks.
At this point, the only people who think HD DVD isn't dead are people who bought HD DVD players and are hoping for a miracle. This war is now well beyond over.
Which doesn't bode well for the XBox 360, which is already suffering badly. With a drive that will essentially be useless soon for movies, it just lost its main competitive edge over the Wii, and it no longer compares in features to the PS3.
Folks HD DVD died when Warner left.
You're just wasting bits pontificating about the inevitable. This is coming from an HD DVD owner.
I would like to pick up a player for $50 though. I'll be looking for some gooood firesales.
And while Toshiba officially remains confident in HD DVD, its frequent partner Microsoft has itself seemingly scaled back its normally vocal endorsement of the beleaguered storage medium, says the Reporter.
As someone who stuck with Apple thought the 90's, I'd just like to express the joy I feel to see Microsoft and beleaguered in the same sentence.
Well done Sony. Shame VHS didn't die too. Yes I know Beta went on in various forms for pros, .. I used it, but domestically it was a tragedy that 'cheap' won out back then. Not that I am saying HD DVD was cheap, just nice to see Sony win this one.
This time they realized that fitting an entire full-length movie on the medium was important...
As someone who stuck with Apple thought the 90's, I'd just like to express the joy I feel to see Microsoft and beleaguered in the same sentence.
Finally!!!
as long as the drive is affordable. DVR recorders were nice because they were faster than shuttling data around on a network and cheaper than a stack of drives.
Now drives are cheap and networks are fast. Blu-ray will be important but not as important its predecessor IMO.
Great news. The best wins. The consumers purchase now that the war is over. Prices drop dramatically. We all win.
'Best wins'?
Blu Ray is the one format which has region codes - HD DVD doesn't.
Blu Ray is the one format which requires DRM - HD DVD has that optional.
Who wins?
Certainly not the best one.
The big studios perhaps.
Clearly not the consumer.
But then again it could be argued that consumers are always stupid...
'Best wins'?
But then again it could be argued that consumers are always stupid...
Show them a bigger number and they follow like lemmings.
'Best wins'?
Blu Ray is the one format which has region codes - HD DVD doesn't.
Blu Ray is the one format which requires DRM - HD DVD has that optional.
Who wins?
Certainly not the best one.
The big studios perhaps.
Clearly not the consumer.
But then again it could be argued that consumers are always stupid...
No one cares hobit... the only thing people care about is that this foolishness is finally over.
As someone who stuck with Apple thought the 90's, I'd just like to express the joy I feel to see Microsoft and beleaguered in the same sentence.
Yes! Beleaguered by proxy.
Several independent movie studios have also followed Warner's lead in opting for Blu-ray, with only Paramount and Universal now left as HD DVD supporters.
Hang in there Universal. Make us proud.