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Rumour: Largest HD-DVD studio, Universal, going neutral
- Thread starter Dacalo
- Start date
destrekor
Lifer
I really hope its true. There are some Universal movies I want, and the end of a the format war is important for the HD market.
plus, seeing that some Spielburg movies were through Universal, and seeing as Spielburg will typically wait until the format is considered a stable and viable format, I would love to look forward to his movies in HD.
I wonder, if at that point though, if HD-DVD would continue to be made and sold as if it were a competitor. Because as long as its still on the market, most consumers will believe the format war is still raging and may wait or continue to buy HD-DVD. Now, while I will feel bad for those consumers who continue to buy HD-DVD once its effectively dead, they should be properly informed. Consumers aren't even properly informed about the two formats as it is now.
plus, seeing that some Spielburg movies were through Universal, and seeing as Spielburg will typically wait until the format is considered a stable and viable format, I would love to look forward to his movies in HD.
I wonder, if at that point though, if HD-DVD would continue to be made and sold as if it were a competitor. Because as long as its still on the market, most consumers will believe the format war is still raging and may wait or continue to buy HD-DVD. Now, while I will feel bad for those consumers who continue to buy HD-DVD once its effectively dead, they should be properly informed. Consumers aren't even properly informed about the two formats as it is now.
mugs
Lifer
HD-DVD is pretty much screwed if that's true.
Could someone educate me on the key differences between HD-DVD and Blu-ray? My understanding is:
- Blu-Ray has about double the capacity of HD-DVD
- HD-DVD is less of a departure from DVD from a manufacturing standpoint, so manufacturing cost is less initially
- They both use the same 3 codecs, so all other things being equal, they should look the same (I understand that Blu-Ray movies initially looked worse than HD-DVD, because they were all encoded in MPEG 2, but that has changed now?)
- Blu-Ray has data closer to the surface that is more sensitive to scratches, but TDK developed Durabis which prevents scratches pretty well
- Different menu systems
Did I miss anything? If not, what reason is there to choose HD-DVD over Blu-Ray other than disliking Sony? (which is a valid reason considering their recent high-profile copy protection blunders, i.e. the rootkit and the DVDs that wouldn't play)
Could someone educate me on the key differences between HD-DVD and Blu-ray? My understanding is:
- Blu-Ray has about double the capacity of HD-DVD
- HD-DVD is less of a departure from DVD from a manufacturing standpoint, so manufacturing cost is less initially
- They both use the same 3 codecs, so all other things being equal, they should look the same (I understand that Blu-Ray movies initially looked worse than HD-DVD, because they were all encoded in MPEG 2, but that has changed now?)
- Blu-Ray has data closer to the surface that is more sensitive to scratches, but TDK developed Durabis which prevents scratches pretty well
- Different menu systems
Did I miss anything? If not, what reason is there to choose HD-DVD over Blu-Ray other than disliking Sony? (which is a valid reason considering their recent high-profile copy protection blunders, i.e. the rootkit and the DVDs that wouldn't play)
destrekor
Lifer
people get worked up and mad because they have claimed allegiance to a single format and likely have already purchased a player and some movies. I have a PS3, so naturally I want BD to win out, plus I have 14 BD movies (one a NIN concert disk), so I honestly have quite a bit invested in the medium.
MmmSkyscraper
Diamond Member
Fixed.
Aikouka
Lifer
15GB vs 25GB per layer. Supposedly HD-DVD producing companies have the edge over creating more feasible layers per disc and being able to manufacture them.
True.
Yes, they did initially look worse because they used a high bitrate MPEG2 stream. Now they're using VC-1.
True.
There's a small issue with this one on Blu-Ray's side. Not all players have the java capability in their current form and Blu-ray spec does not require an ethernet adapter for easy upgrading. So whether or not all players can be upgraded to support the interactive features (such as real picture-in-picture, not hardcoded PiP) is up in the air.
Cost. If you have an XBOX 360 or a decent PC, the drive is only $200 brand new and it comes with King Kong.
MmmSkyscraper
Diamond Member
I'm not surprised they have to give it away 😉
destrekor
Lifer
well the whole Sony thing, sony cannot control the copy protection on the discs, unless its a Sony Studies film. It would be the consortium to decide any protection across all discs pressed.
the scratching is completely not a problem. the TDK developed layer is brilliant!
BD is near finalizing their BD-J code, so the menu system shouldn't be too different at that point. And while some players currently may not be capable, my PS3 should be thanks to the HDD. 🙂
and as far as manufacturing, initial costs would be more expensive due to different equipment, but the discs should actually cost less to produce once the technology is in its prime. BD's are one solid piece of plastic, or whatever that material is, whereas HD-DVDs, and DVDs, are two separate layers fused together. I would imagine that is a more costly disc pressing method since its an extra step.
image quality, in theory, should be better on BD. But some studios are releasing the BD counterparts of a movie on the 25gb discs, with the HD-DVD receiving the dual-layer treatment at 30gb. This is unfair to the BD format since they could do much more. But due to neutrality, studios are trying to not present one format as a stronger format than the other. It would be viewed by consumers are purposely marring a format by making one look better. In practice it looks as if they are doing that very thing to BD, but in all honesty, 25/30gb is not as much of a split as 50gb/30gb, which means not as much room to change IQ. And actually, movies across the formats share similar bitrates because of that. Except in the case of some movies that take advantage of the dual-layer BD, which tend to use MPEG2 and thus doesn't really provide a chance for the format to shine with higher bitrate AVC or VC-1 encodings.
Thankfully, the Pirates of the Caribbean movies will be released on BD as a 2-disc set, with a 50gb disc for the movie itself, and a 25gb disc for the extra content!!! 🙂
in theory, and in practice, a movie that takes full advantage of BD will provide higher bitrates than HD-DVD, which in turn means a higher IQ. However, some people may not be able to discern a difference.
regardless, the only reason people shy away from BD is because its Sony, and the world always wants a company to hate and right now its Sony (a few blunders kind of creates that issue at Sony). one other reason is movies on a format. Universal is a large studio, so there are quite a few movies that are not on BD that are on HD-DVD. Plus, Warner has been waiting for BD-J to come out so they can release some of their films on the format, since movies like Batman Begins and V for Vendetta use the java technology.
destrekor
Lifer
expensive pieces of electronics.
how would you like to know you bought something, and turn around half a year later to discover it is completely useless, except for that fancy blue LED?
I don't find people should concern themselves with others being concerned about a format, if they do not have anything invested in said formats. Also why those who do not own electronics and movies of either format will not see a reason to care and stand there confused as to why others do. Some people will care because it actually affects them.
If I didn't have either format, I wouldn't care. I would be slightly annoyed if HD-DVD won out considering I have always favored BD, but it wouldn't cause me worry or grow concerned.
MmmSkyscraper
Diamond Member
I'm registering my disinterest on behalf of the Don't Care Club. I took one for the team 😛
Would you like an application form?
MmmSkyscraper
Diamond Member
:thumbsup:
:Q
mugs
Lifer
Do you seriously think that's true? 😕
And for a 2 hour movie, are you really going to see a difference in image quality between 30 GB and 50 GB? You reach a point where increasing the bitrate gives you only a marginal improvement at best, if it's even noticeable at all. I thought the main benefit of the additional space was more room for special features?
People don't hate Sony because they want someone to hate, people hate Sony because Sony gives them reasons to. The rootkit alone is enough to make many people not want to buy a company's products.
destrekor
Lifer
thats true, but it still doesn't mean there is no reason to get worked up.
that's like someone going to the horse track, betting on a good horse with a lot of money, and losing when the horse with the worst odds actually wins. Of course you are going to get worked up. That's how it is with me and BD. It's the horse with the greatest odds to win. So I am taking a risk. I cannot guarantee any certain outcome but one in particular has a pretty strong chance of happening, especially now: BD becoming the stable and viable format that will stick around. At least I hold onto that thought, hoping it is true in the end.
as for the 3DO comment that you snuck in while I was typing my post... I doubt you felt nothing when it went under. I find that hard to imagine. If you truly did not, than you are nearly one in a million since most people tend to get upset when they discover a purchase of such an extreme cost was utterly wasted.
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