Toshiba: DVD Forum hasn't yet approved final 51 GB HD DVD after all

[paulb]

from betanews.com

In a statement to BetaNews this afternoon, a Toshiba spokesperson said that only a preliminary version of Toshiba's 51 GB three-layer, single-sided HD DVD format had been approved by the DVD Forum, caretaker of HD DVD.

As it turned out, and as Toshiba's spokespersons may have only just now realized, the DVD Forum signed off on a preliminary specification, which may have been confused for the final specification because its version number is 1.9.

"We understand that the preliminary version (1.9) of the physical specifications for the triple-layer 51 GB HD DVD-ROM disc has been approved," said Toshiba's spokesperson today.

The spokesperson then added that it has not yet been determined whether current HD DVD players or recorders will be able to use the new format, which the headline of an official Toshiba statement given to BetaNews today is now calling "Trip-Layer." "Toshiba will study the performance of current HD DVD player/recorders with the disc after the standard receives final approval by the DVD Forum."

That last part is a pretty clear indication that final approval was not granted, contrary to our earlier report based on industry news that cited sources with a stake in the format.

The formal Toshiba statement reads as follows: "We welcome the DVD Forum Steering Committee's decision to approve the preliminary version (Version 1.9) of the physical specifications for the triple-layer 51 GB HD DVD-ROM disc. This decision reinforces the fact that HD DVD is capable of offering a range of capacities due to the flexible nature of the format and provides studios with even greater options for creating high definition content. With extended capacities, studios can meet their future needs for releases that may require more storage."

Toshiba's admission today is the first genuine admission from the company that work on engineering the final "Trip-Layer" format has actually not been completed, as was previously believed.

[gand41f]

WTF???

enjoy
gandalf

[jayd]

There goes one of HD-DUD fanboys attcking options, which they have been using alot lately, the smelly trolls.

[w_tanoto]

oh, what a zip-a-dee-doo-dah day!!!!
good find!!
Just let know the HD DVD wikipedians

[Rob71]

So TL-51 didn't have final approval and it may not be compatible with all players. Place your bets, will Lee Stewart and Co. post retractions,ignore it when it's brought up, or will all posts claiming it was a final spec disappear.

[GaS]

All we need now is some great sales ratios from Nielsen and the day will be complete.

[Bombthroat]

LOL...with this admission that the final specification is still not at hand and players haven't been tested sounds like HD DUD fans aren't going to be able to get their 40G worth of extras and their 11G ultra-low-bitrate video/audio encoded movies now. Wah...wah...

[Spankey]

Those pesky little facts keep getting in the way of things.

[Klaus]

On AVS it sure sounds like its approved. There is even a thread about it being "confirmed" that existing players can play TL51s....... Oh and the thread over there on this exact subject has been closed and locked.

[Knight-Errant]

Well on AVS a lot of false things look real.

[w_tanoto]

Originally Posted by Knight-Errant

Well on AVS a lot of false things look real.

Don't trust AVS, or HD DVD leaning forums

[Blaumann]

those are all just opinions. Approved or now, i'll believe it when they release a commercial TL51 and it actually plays in all 1st gen players.

[CptGreedle]

So now they have an unfinished format with 1 whole GB more than a BD, which uses an extra layer to work, and more info on each layer so it is now a new format too, and will most likely not work in all existing players, and currently has no films in the format...
Which means if they start to re-release films in the format just to make something "better quality" only those with new players can even read them and they'd have to re-purchase it anyways....

What a joke.

[CptGreedle]

Lets just make the whole HD format concept even MORE confusing for consumers who probably don't give a rats ass about the storage capacity in the first place!
Now everyone will be confused even more thanks to HD-DVD's attempt to create and spread more FUD and outright lies about their own format.

[Canada]

If HD DVD adds another layer to make there disk 45 gigs, I say Blu Ray should add another layer to make theirs 75 gigs. Fight fire with fire I say.

[Rio]

Ver. 0.9 means "it's almost final spec". Basically no new function will be added, no fundamental change will happen, just some editorial change.

Let's just see what this turns out.

[bhampton]

It was just a publicity stunt to try to prolong the good feeling HD DVD users got from the Paramount deal. As long as it gave them a little hope then it served it's purpose.

They are grasping at any shred of hope they can find nowadays, sooner or later they will have to look right at the fact that they made a mistake.

I don't envy them esp if they bought movies. I could have made the same mistake. When HD DVD first hit the scene it looked like a winner.

-Brian

[Intamin]

Maybe it's just my lack of exposure to hddud sites, or I guess I should say hddud fanboys, but my god those people are ridiculous.

Anyways, 1gb more, who cares. Won't happen for a long time anyways, at which point BD will probably be able to say we've got a 75gb now.

BTW, I love the irony of 30gb being enough, but now they decide they need to attempt to release something that is already becoming the BD standard.

[Canada]

Why do they ant 51 gigs just so they can say they have more space. If the 51 gig disc was coming for the Transformers release it would be big news but since it's not I am going to roll my eyes.

[Canada]

Originally Posted by Intamin

Maybe it's just my lack of exposure to hddud sites, or I guess I should say hddud fanboys, but my god those people are ridiculous.

Anyways, 1gb more, who cares. Won't happen for a long time anyways, at which point BD will probably be able to say we've got a 75gb now.

BTW, I love the irony of 30gb being enough, but now they decide they need to attempt to release something that is already becoming the BD standard.

50 gigs is the standard now, the only reason Blu Ray uses 25 gig is if 25 gigs is all that is nessesary.