Microsoft and Intel Back HD DVD

[Ian]

Microsoft and Intel have finally chose a side in the DVD format war... and they've chosen HD DVD. Can't say I'm surprised.

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/050927/sftu073.html?.v=26

Here are some of the reasons why they chose HD DVD:

-- Managed Copy: A first for DVDs. Managed Copy is a guaranteed feature within HD DVD that gives consumers the freedom to make copies of their discs to a hard drive or home server, including Media Center PCs using Intel Viiv technology, and enjoy them in every room of the house over their home networks. HD DVD discs also will allow copies of the movie to be played on portable devices.
-- "Future-proof" compatibility. Using proven HD DVD "hybrid disc" technology, a single disc can store both high-definition and standard-definition versions of a film, allowing consumers to immediately enjoy the standard-definition movies stored on these discs on today's DVD players, while HD movies can be replayed later on the HD DVD platform. This is an opportunity for consumers to buy discs at launch that future proof their collections -- in other words, helping assure customers that the discs they buy will remain viewable in the future.
-- Proven low-cost, high-volume manufacturing. HD DVD discs use essentially the same manufacturing equipment as existing DVDs, meaning that production of HD DVD can ramp up easily and with lower costs.
-- Superior capacity. HD DVD-ROM discs will offer dual-layer 30GB discs at launch, compared with BD-ROM discs, which will be limited to 25GB.
-- Superior interactivity. HD DVD discs will offer greater interactivity using iHD technology, allowing for enhanced content, navigation and value-added functionality for high-definition films. For example, HD DVDs can offer advanced picture-in-picture capability so that other video, such as a director's commentary, could play on top of the movie.
-- Superior format for notebook PCs. The compatibility of HD DVD with standard DVD facilitates and simplifies development of slim disc drives for integration in notebook PCs, one of the fastest-growing segments of the PC market.

[Ian]

Gotta love how they compare dual layer HD DVD-ROM to single layer BD-ROM when talking about capacity. I can't wait to see Blu-ray's response to this.

[pranav81]

Which format is better,in end consumer point of view?What do you think Ian?


::Pranav::

[dolphinius_rex]

Gotta love how they compare dual layer HD DVD-ROM to single layer BD-ROM when talking about capacity. I can't wait to see Blu-ray's response to this.

I noticed that too.... that is just TOO funny! It's like they almost have to lie in order to make HDDVD sound better or even competitive to BluRay.

[Ian]

Which format is better,in end consumer point of view?What do you think Ian?

They both have their highs and lows.. but the DVD Forum's actions have really bothered me lately. They've been very petty about any advancement the Blu-ray group has made. They announce Blu-ray does this and the next day the DVD Forum responds with a press release saying "Blu-ray's new so and so sucks". Their totally biased research study irked me the most though.

If it weren't for the PS3, I think HD DVD might just pull it off. They have the ideal name for next gen, high def DVD technology. Most people are going to see "HD DVD" and immediately recognize it. Blu-ray? Uh yeah.. wtf is that?

[dolphinius_rex]

Funny... I think HD DVD as a name is pretty lame. Blu Ray screams futuristic technology to me. But I'm more techie then the average consumer.

[rc213]

I love how they act as if HD-DVD will not require some sort of DRM Technology like Blu-Ray will. The way I see it, neither format will win as long as they are split. Hollywood wont back a format that doesnt have strict DRM Technology, they sure as hell dont want another CSS fiasco. Also the fact that microsoft plans on requiring HDCP enabled Video Cards and Monitors in order to view any kind of High Defenition video in Windows Vista.

[burninfool]

The "Future Proof" comment is interesting and will probably be a winning point with consumers and Hollywood.HD-DVD lasers(blue) penetrate to the same depth in the disc as the current DVD's(red) do,meaning both formats could be put on one HD-DVD(something Blu Ray cannot do).This means lower costs for manufacturers and convenience for the consumer.
I don't care which format wins as long as the players and movies are cheap.

[Ian]

burninfool, you bring up a good point. Having something like that would be great for those that haven't upgraded to HD DVD yet but don't want to rebuy their movies when they finally do.

[rc213]

The "Future Proof" comment is interesting and will probably be a winning point with consumers and Hollywood.HD-DVD lasers(blue) penetrate to the same depth in the disc as the current DVD's(red) do,meaning both formats could be put on one HD-DVD(something Blu Ray cannot do).This means lower costs for manufacturers and convenience for the consumer.
I don't care which format wins as long as the players and movies are cheap.

They both have the ability to offer HD/SD Content on the same disc.

http://news.com.com/JVC+previews+Blu-ra ... 06834.html

[Ian]

Interesting article at Tom's. It gives more insight into Microsoft's decision.

http://www.tomshardware.com/hardnews/20 ... 90208.html

I was most surprised by this:

The surprise entry in Microsoft's and Intel's list of failures is disc storage capacity. On paper, Blu-ray appears to have the advantage. But the two companies looked beneath the paper: Capacity, said Ribas, "used to be the biggest advantage of Blu-ray, and we believed it. We thought, they'll get 50 GByte BD-ROM discs working, but it's not happening, and it's nowhere in sight. There are not even pilots. It's only in the lab that they are building these discs." With regard to demonstrated capacity, he told us, HD DVD-ROM actually leads BD-ROM by a score of 30 GByte to 25 GByte.

[dolphinius_rex]

It's probably true that BluRay doens't have double layer discs ready yet, but the difference of 5GB is not much (especially considering a single layer disc is much easier to read, manufacture, and less easy to damage critically). When BluRay DOES get their multilayer technology perfected, we could end up with Quad layer 100GB discs, compared to a quad layer HDDVD with 60GB of storage.

I would happily trade 5GB now for 40GB later!

Although I don't have much use for media bigger then DVDRDL right now anyways

[dodecahedron]

A disc production factory can make minor upgrades to its equipment, he stated, with the result being equipment that can produce both conventional DVD as well as HD DVD.

which will mean that prices for DVD blanks will rise as HD-DVD will gradually gain more market share.

[dodecahedron]

all that talk about 'future technologies' etc. blah blah...
we still don't have Mt. Rainier!!!
<end of rant>

[dolphinius_rex]

all that talk about 'future technologies' etc. blah blah...
we still don't have Mt. Rainier!!!
<end of rant>

Probably because on the whole, almost nobody cares

[RJW]

It's all about the royalties.
With Blu Ray JAVA based system M$ will not get any incomes for royalties.
HD-DVD uses M$ technology.
Count in also the console war fact and you know that M$ only option is to choose for HD-DVD.

Technically Blu Ray still seems to be the better format.
Also the popularity of Blu Ray still seems to be better in Europe. Independant studies show that. (See polls on quite some technology but also gameing and consumer electronics sites.)

But Blu Ray might have on major problem.
Manufactureing of the media.

When Mitsubishi announced they would use there japanese facility for Blu Ray that announcement was much worse as these cheap M$ talk.
Mitsubishi Japanese facility is there most expensive manufactuering place if they are going to make media there then they expect that they can make profit, which means not much taiwanese/chinese companies are expected to have the expertise in house to come with good media from day 1.
(See Mitsubishi/Verbatim dual layer disc's. And that one was still produced in singapore (Which means lower personell costs !)

[RJW]

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/ ... _tc024.htm

Some info which I hinted allready earlier about and which shows what is going on.

[dolphinius_rex]

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2005/tc2005106_9074_tc024.htm

Some info which I hinted allready earlier about and which shows what is going on.

I couldn't wipe the grin off of my face while reading that article. I don't think HDDVD will last long the way things are going now!