Yes... Another One!

[Petra_Kalbrain]

I know that these type of articles are re-hashing what WE already, and the general public are finally starting to, know. However, I thought that the last line was particularly well spoken. It's something that you don't often hear as writers like to avoid making this blatant a comment. I highlighted the text that put a smile on my face after reading through the bunch of stuff that everyone else writes about when dealing with this subject.

Massive technology research house Gartner says that the HD format war that has been raging for nearly two years will end in 2008. Guess who they think will take the prize?

Despite the HD-DVD camp's recent protestations to the contrary, Gartner believes that the war between Toshiba's preferred HD format and Sony's competitive Blu-ray technology will be won by Blu-ray and that it will happen this year.

Even though there have been massive price cuts on HD-DVD hardware - especially stand-alone players produced by Toshiba - Gartner feels that these measures will simply draw out the inevitable conclusion of a battle to decide what may be the last physical format on which people will buy their movies or TV shows.

The primary reason for HD-DVD's predicted demise that Gartner cites in their report is a lack of support (and therefore movie titles) from the major studios.

It has been speculated that this would be a nearly insurmountable hurdle to overcome since Warner Brothers announced their exclusive support of the Blu-ray format immediately before the opening of the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas earlier this month. The announcement spurred wild speculation as to Paramount's commitment to the format.

Indeed, consumers seem to already smell the blood and have recently given far more of their dollars to the Blu-ray format.

Apart from consumers who have already purchased an HD-DVD player and/or movies, the biggest group to be potentially impacted by a Blu-ray victory is Microsoft, who have backed the HD-DVD format since its inception and continue to sell HD-DVD player add-on hardware for their popular XBox 360 video game console system. Should the HD-DVD format fail, Microsoft would have to license the Blu-ray technology from competitor Sony in order to maintain viable HD movie playback on their console.

Source: http://www.sync-blog.com/sync/2008/0...r-declare.html

[Marcusarilius]

Only one thing to say...

[Kayne314]

Actually they'd have to license it from the BDA. Not Sony.

Damn it! even when I agree with the article, I still see shoddy reporting.

Sony does not equal Blu-ray. Blu-ray is a consortium of companies. Yeesh!

And yes I know I'm

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by Kayne314

Actually they'd have to license it from the BDA. Not Sony.

Damn it! even when I agree with the article, I still see shoddy reporting.

Sony does not equal Blu-ray. Blu-ray is a consortium of companies. Yeesh!

Technically, yes, the entire BDA would profit from the licensing. But, the reporter is correct in that Sony would benefit most since they not only hold partial licensing rights to the technology, but they also hold the rights to the manufacturing royalties on the reproduction plants. So, Microshaft would technically have to ultimately have Sony's approval before replication began... perhaps an opportunity to charge them DOUBLE! Give Microcock a taste of their own medicine!

Originally Posted by Kayne314

And yes I know I'm

It's alright. At least you are on the correction side of the equation. Some people (HD DUDders) on misinformation.

[Maxell]

MS wants HD downloads to take off, as they are already selling such videos though xbox.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by Maxell

MS wants HD downloads to take off, as they are already selling such videos though xbox.

You obviously don't understand the iterations of the highlighted statement from the article. By saying, "viable HD movie playback on their console" the writer is effectively saying that the current "HD" downloads available on the Xbox360 are not as valuable as Hi-Def content on a disc! Strictly because the physical compression of the video and lack of HD audio streams make the Xbox360 downloads ANYTHING BUT Hi-Def content.

[quaylie]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

You obviously don't understand the iterations of the highlighted statement from the article. By saying, "viable HD movie playback on their console" the writer is effectively saying that the current "HD" downloads available on the Xbox360 are not as valuable as Hi-Def content on a disc! Strictly because the physical compression of the video and lack of HD audio streams make the Xbox360 downloads ANYTHING BUT Hi-Def content.

that's what it sounds like to me too.

[sAvAgE69]

Technically, yes, the entire BDA would profit from the licensing. But, the reporter is correct in that Sony would benefit most since they not only hold partial licensing rights to the technology, but they also hold the rights to the manufacturing royalties on the reproduction plants. So, Microshaft would technically have to ultimately have Sony's approval before replication began... perhaps an opportunity to charge them DOUBLE! Give Microcock a taste of their own medicine!

I am a anti M$ kinda person. they should really make M$ angry and put the Blu ray enconding support exclusevly to the Linux Kernel, and other Linux Binaries as closed source of ofcourse.

[swivel]

Originally Posted by Maxell

MS wants HD downloads to take off, as they are already selling such videos though xbox.

HD downloads are not going to replace physical ownership. Serious movie-watchers want to keep their purchase. Unless you set up a multi-Terabyte server in your home, you are going to have to delete as you go.

And portability stinks with downloads. You DL to your living room box and go on a road trip and can't take your movies with you. No way will the DRM let you copy to another device, because that would make piracy too easy. Physical copies are the best for customer usability and piracy protection. My DVD's play in everything, from car players to laptops to devices in everyone's homes.

I'm sorry, but Microsoft is backing a fringe technology here. People will use it occasionally, the way we buy a movie on PPV every now and then, but nothing will replace walking into a store and buying a box with pretty cover art.

[mystiksuicide]

Originally Posted by sAvAgE69

I am a anti M$ kinda person. they should really make M$ angry and put the Blu ray enconding support exclusevly to the Linux Kernel, and other Linux Binaries as closed source of ofcourse.

Agree!!!!!

[The Don]

bah...360 owners don't use their system for playing movies...

[Maxell]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

You obviously don't understand the iterations of the highlighted statement from the article. By saying, "viable HD movie playback on their console" the writer is effectively saying that the current "HD" downloads available on the Xbox360 are not as valuable as Hi-Def content on a disc! Strictly because the physical compression of the video and lack of HD audio streams make the Xbox360 downloads ANYTHING BUT Hi-Def content.

But still, MS looks like they would rather gamble with HD downloading well before they deal with BDA for Blu-Ray license and drives.

[Wendell R. Breland]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

So, Microshaft would technically have to ultimately have Sony's approval before replication began... perhaps an opportunity to charge them DOUBLE!

I believe the license is to be issued without prejudice.

Click MPEG LA for info on Blu-ray Disc patent. Here is the 18 members of the patent pool.

CyberLink Corporation
Dell Inc.
Hewlett-Packard Company
Hitachi Ltd.
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
LG Electronics Inc.
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (Panasonic)
Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
Pioneer Corporation
Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
Sharp Corporation
Sonic Solutions
Sony Corporation
TDK Corporation
Victor Company of Japan, Ltd.
Warner Home Video Inc.

[WickyWoo]

While charging MS and Toshiba a penalty fee is certainly emotionally satisfying, it would likely be an actionable offense and they would sue and win over it.

It's simply not productive. The fact that they've come crawling should be all the satisfaction that's required, and proves you've won

Garack on DS9 said it best: You've only truely won when your enemy knows they were wrong to oppose you in the first place

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by WickyWoo

Garack on DS9 said it best: You've only truely won when your enemy knows they were wrong to oppose you in the first place

LMAO! What can I say other than, that there is a brilliant truth.

[sjmssmpsn]

Originally Posted by sAvAgE69

I am a anti M$ kinda person. they should really make M$ angry and put the Blu ray enconding support exclusevly to the Linux Kernel, and other Linux Binaries as closed source of ofcourse.

yea!!! what ever he said

[EvolutionCherry]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

LMAO! What can I say other than, that there is a brilliant truth.

LOL Yeah Garak was one smart guy.