Sony and Panasonic to scuttle Blu-ray?

[jmkoch]

The news from the ongoing CES makes it look fuzzy for BD.

The sponsors of the BD format are not just hedging their bets, but possibly sealing its demise or demotion, by means of:

1) Adding digital video download features to new HDTVs. Even if the IQ is not quite BD, digital downloads may substitute and displace optical media altogether.

2) Keeping BD players and discs over-priced. To get past the "you're kidding" resistance of cash-strapped folks worried about the economy, there have to be more entry-level players below $150 and at least some "teaser" feature discs in prices comparable to standard DVD. In addition, the cost / GB for blank BD media should not be more expensive than that on blank DVDs.

3) Promoting very inexpensive "1080 upscale" standard DVD players with HDMI ports, some of them bundled with inexpensive 5-channel sound systems and supported by advertising that they are "the best player for your new HDTV." The shelf space given to these items seems to be far greater than that given to BD players.

These factors may not be a willful conspiracy, but have the effect of a strategy to scuttle the format.

BD won't disappear, but the odds of it supplanting DVD as the "universal format" now look slim.

[cdot2four]

ummm yeah im going to have to ask you to come in on saturday and ummmm yeahh on sunday too

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by jmkoch

The news from the ongoing CES makes it look fuzzy for BD.

The sponsors of the BD format are not just hedging their bets, but possibly sealing its demise or demotion, by means of:

1) Adding digital video download features to new HDTVs. Even if the IQ is not quite BD, digital downloads may substitute and displace optical media altogether.

2) Keeping BD players and discs over-priced. To get past the "you're kidding" resistance of cash-strapped folks worried about the economy, there have to be more entry-level players below $150 and at least some "teaser" feature discs in prices comparable to standard DVD. In addition, the cost / GB for blank BD media should not be more expensive than that on blank DVDs.

3) Promoting very inexpensive "1080 upscale" standard DVD players with HDMI ports, some of them bundled with inexpensive 5-channel sound systems and supported by advertising that they are "the best player for your new HDTV." The shelf space given to these items seems to be far greater than that given to BD players.

These factors may not be a willful conspiracy, but have the effect of a strategy to scuttle the format.

BD won't disappear, but the odds of it supplanting DVD as the "universal format" now look slim.

blu is here to stay for a long, long time my friend.

[jmkoch]

Originally Posted by brett_day

blu is here to stay for a long, long time my friend.

Yes, perhaps like my VCR that snores like Grampa, the 38 rpm wobbling turntable (with a busted stylus), or the dusty cassete player wrecked ever since someone tried to hide a chocolate bar. I inherited some mildewed 8mm film without a clue how to project or play back.

One issue is that the supposed "promoters" of BD are spending more to develop and sell things that will marginalize BD. The other issue is that there are clever competitors who are unveiling cheaper and more convenient alternatives.

[Stillhouse]

What proponents of HD downloads don't take into account is that not everyone has the kind of internet speed available for it to be worthwhile. People like me.

Plus some people will always prefer a physical product over a digital one. Count me in that group as well.

[Jimbo976]

Clearly Blu-ray is dead and I hear that the PS3 will soon be cancelled too.

[brett_day]

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

Clearly Blu-ray is dead and I hear that the PS3 will soon be cancelled too.

i hear that HD DUD will be making a comeback too seeing as you can get their movies for .99

[057user]

Originally Posted by Jimbo976

Clearly Blu-ray is dead and I hear that the PS3 will soon be cancelled too.

You should provide a source for such a stupid comment or just stop listening to the voices in your head

[Jimbo976]

Originally Posted by 057user

You should provide a source for such a stupid comment or just stop listening to the voices in your head

He only left his initials....

L. S.

[Cinema Jaguar]

Originally Posted by jmkoch

Yes, perhaps like my VCR that snores like Grampa, the 38 rpm wobbling turntable (with a busted stylus), or the dusty cassete player wrecked ever since someone tried to hide a chocolate bar. I inherited some mildewed 8mm film without a clue how to project or play back.

One issue is that the supposed "promoters" of BD are spending more to develop and sell things that will marginalize BD. The other issue is that there are clever competitors who are unveiling cheaper and more convenient alternatives.

You need a 8mm projector to run your moldy 8mm film or a super 8mm projector in case its a super 8mm movie which can be checked on by looking at the sprocket holes on the film or viewing the individual frames of the film.

[zicmubleu]

Generally all downloads use lossy compression techniques, things as large as HD viewing and entertainment almost necessitate it. The quality of a download will most likely always fall a little short of having a Blu-ray for the expected lifespan of the technology. Nothing lasts forever. I have never heard of a "38", but you failed to mention the old 8 track tape player you most likely had or still have. I still have my 33s, not many, but that old hiss and pop sound brings back good memories.

It seems to me that Blu-ray is making inroads faster than DVD did to VCR. I am looking forward to cheaper recordable BD-R/E media but no doubt I will have to be patient. My vote goes for Blu-ray having its day.

[Blu Titan]

Everything the op posted is the 100% opposite of what is actually happening. A sad attempt at "trollin" is you ask me.

[atomik kinder]

Originally Posted by Stillhouse

What proponents of HD downloads don't take into account is that not everyone has the kind of internet speed available for it to be worthwhile. People like me.

Plus some people will always prefer a physical product over a digital one. Count me in that group as well.

If they can't come up with one unified format for the digital downloads, I don't think it is ever going to happen on a large scale. First you have Apple, trying to push their product, are their movies compatible with VUDU? You cannot go through any other service to purchase your movies. So if VUDU offers something that Apple doesn't and you want it... Everybody wants a piece of the pie and they want their piece to be bigger than eveyone else's piece.

My Blu-ray discs will work on other blu-ray players, but all digital downloads don't work in all players.
(Is that correct or am I just imagining things)

[057user]

Originally Posted by Blu Titan

Everything the op posted is the 100% opposite of what is actually happening. A sad attempt at "trollin" is you ask me.

It did sound like someone is still pissed off they bought a HD-TURD...I mean DUD, didnt it?

[callas01]

I want to interject that I dearly love Blu and all that it is, hell, I've spent TOO MUCH money on it to go away anytime soon, not to mention that I have convinced my older brother to get one and a new receiver, my 2 co-workers, and some friends.

Ok, so there has to be something tho, I will tell you a few interesting stories that now have me ?ing, First I am in Costco, and 2 ladies are right next to me and I am looking a blu's, then one reaches over to grab a bd and the other says, her husband said that someone inside told him, don't waste your money, it will be gone in a couple years. Secondly, my wifes dad's girlfriend, came over for a birthday party, and she saw all our movies and player and said, (some guy) works at one of the studio's and told her and her husband (yes she married and dates openly my wifes dad) blu-ray will be gone soon and leading to something better and so they didn't buy one cause of that, they are waiting for the better thing in a couple years.


TRUST ME, I am not a troller, and I don't want to add fuel to this goofs(OP) fire, but I just seem to wonder, how longs is the future?

I will still buy my blus and be happy, but how long till tech changes and we see the new format.

[jmkoch]

Originally Posted by Cinema Jaguar

You need a 8mm projector to run your moldy 8mm film or a super 8mm projector

Precisely what I look forward (ahem...) to finding at some garage sale, estate auction, or antique shop. I suppose there are "as is" offers on eBAY. Then the trouble will be finding a compatible light bulb. If there any vaccum tubes needed, that will take another foraging expedition. Maybe the fan won't work. Toughest to refurbish or substitutes might be the drive belts. And then, digitalization, hmmm.

[jmkoch]

Originally Posted by atomik kinder

My Blu-ray discs will work on other blu-ray players, but all digital downloads don't work in all players.
(Is that correct or am I just imagining things)

I'd wager that the fresh wave of Digital boxes will play just about anything. h.264 mid-def. in 1280x720p at 4 mbps won't even need that much bandwidth. Raise the bitrate to 8 or 12 and it will be good enough to prefer a download at $10 over a BD at $25.

A preference for physical media? Where are all those physical mp3 discs? Will old fashioned letter writing soon overtake cell phone blab?

The point is this: Sony, Panny, and other BD makers are acting like they don't half believe the format themselves. The marketing of the players is a disgrace.

[Jimbo976]

Originally Posted by jmkoch

I'd wager that the fresh wave of Digital boxes will play just about anything. h.264 mid-def. in 1280x720p at 4 mbps won't even need that much bandwidth. Raise the bitrate to 8 or 12 and it will be good enough to prefer a download at $10 over a BD at $25.

A preference for physical media? Where are all those physical mp3 discs? Will old fashioned letter writing soon overtake cell phone blab?

The point is this: Sony, Panny, and other BD makers are acting like they don't half believe the format themselves. The marketing of the players is a disgrace.

Maybe they'll add HD-DVD playback support as well?

[Joe Cain]

Originally Posted by jmkoch

I'd wager that the fresh wave of Digital boxes will play just about anything. h.264 mid-def. in 1280x720p at 4 mbps won't even need that much bandwidth. Raise the bitrate to 8 or 12 and it will be good enough to prefer a download at $10 over a BD at $25.

A preference for physical media? Where are all those physical mp3 discs? Will old fashioned letter writing soon overtake cell phone blab?

The point is this: Sony, Panny, and other BD makers are acting like they don't half believe the format themselves. The marketing of the players is a disgrace.

Crap. All of it.

Raise the bitrate to 8 Mb/s? Gee, that's as good as Superbit DVD, and still 1/5 the max video bitrate for BD.

If the CEs don't believe in the format, they have a funny way of showing it: Sony, Panasonic, Sharp, & Samsung all have multiple player models on the market; at least a dozen CEs have players on the market, with another dozen having announced models; 5 new players from 4 different manufacturers have been announced just this week. I guess they're just pissing their stockholders' investments away on useless R&D and manufacturing?

You know, I've changed my mind. There's definitely an overall strategy to spend multi-millions to develop & introduce the format and then convince the public what they really want is something---either magic DL boxes or super-upconverters---that doesn't perform as well.

I'm really not forward to listening to this garbage until the day the first studio drops DVD, but I guess that's the way it's going to be...

[atomik kinder]

Originally Posted by jmkoch

I'd wager that the fresh wave of Digital boxes will play just about anything. h.264 mid-def. in 1280x720p at 4 mbps won't even need that much bandwidth. Raise the bitrate to 8 or 12 and it will be good enough to prefer a download at $10 over a BD at $25.

A preference for physical media? Where are all those physical mp3 discs? Will old fashioned letter writing soon overtake cell phone blab?

The point is this: Sony, Panny, and other BD makers are acting like they don't half believe the format themselves. The marketing of the players is a disgrace.

Can you put your iTunes downloaded songs on any other player? Well, yes you can if you burn it as a CD first and then rip them as MP3s. I doubt Apple Movies will be playable on anything other than their system.
And, they are going to let you download and KEEP a movie for $10! wow, what a bargain. The last time I checked On Demand HD rentals were $6. I don't know how much everyone else is charging, but I doubt $10 for an HD movie to keep. I think one of the things you fail to realize is that the movie studios are trying to make more money because of losing business from DVD sales, not make even less money.