Archived: Insiders Thread

[BorrowedTime]

Penton-Man,

Watching the Victoria's Secret show as I type this (actually... commercial break). Just wondering if you're in any of the crowd shots... not that I'd expect you to tell us either way...

[Iceman_II]

Originally Posted by spicynacho

Based on the first article to come out of the High Def 2.0 Forum, it looks like a bummer. Analysts predict a stalemate, 55:45 split in 2012. Say it ain't so, insiders, say it ain't so.

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6509576.html

Don't worry about it, look at the way its written, and you see a definate "slant" to the writing... especially the line about how by the end of 2008, the installed base of ps3s will be greater than all HD-DVD platformes combined.... and then they throw in a dependant clause, to take the impact out of "by eight times"

These people are simply the corporate version of the fortune teller from the county fair... if they really could tell the future they would pick the lottery number, because they can't tell the future, they pander to the people with the deepest pockets who have shown their willingness to spend money... again, just like the carnies at the fair.

[blindcat87]

While this war is a bit different in many respects, I can remember various thinktanks, focus groups, and other crystal ball analysts in the early days of DVD vs DIVX predicting parity, nicheing (is that a word?), and basically all of the same predictions we are seeing today in this battle. I also remember reading predictions that DIVX would be the last packaged media and would lead to a transition from owned media to pay-per-view as the standard, eventually leading to a downloadable PPV standard. Sound familiar? I really am beginning to see HD DVD as an attempt at a stealth DIVX 2.0.

I just keep remembering the adrenaline surge I got the day I booted up my computer, got the dialup going, and found the headline waiting for me on all of the DVD forums that DIVX was dead. I actually got up and did a jig. I am looking forward to another such day and, despite the gloomy forecasts of all of these market psychics, believe it will come. The only question is will it be sooner or later.

Hope the rest of this event has a bit more substance to it and I look forward to hearing what the insiders have to say about it. Have fun guys and bring us back lots of good news.

Chris

[Blu Titan]

Originally Posted by blindcat87

While this war is a bit different in many respects, I can remember various thinktanks, focus groups, and other crystal ball analysts in the early days of DVD vs DIVX predicting parity, nicheing (is that a word?), and basically all of the same predictions we are seeing today in this battle. I also remember reading predictions that DIVX would be the last packaged media and would lead to a transition from owned media to pay-per-view as the standard, eventually leading to a downloadable PPV standard. Sound familiar? I really am beginning to see HD DVD as an attempt at a stealth DIVX 2.0.

I just keep remembering the adrenaline surge I got the day I booted up my computer, got the dialup going, and found the headline waiting for me on all of the DVD forums that DIVX was dead. I actually got up and did a jig. I am looking forward to another such day and, despite the gloomy forecasts of all of these market psychics, believe it will come. The only question is will it be sooner or later.

Hope the rest of this event has a bit more substance to it and I look forward to hearing what the insiders have to say about it. Have fun guys and bring us back lots of good news.

Chris

Great post! I know I am off topic, but once in a blu moon can be forgiven I am a CPA and I did work as a market analyst. Trust me when I tell you that none of those people can predict what will happen tomorrow let alone 6 months to a year from now. Anybody that would be able to make accurate predictions of the success or failure of a given venture or business will quickly become a billionaire. Financial, statistical, and forecasting information can be expressed in more ways than anybody would care to know. The key lies in the purpose of the information and method by which it is conveyed.

[Balian]

Originally Posted by spicynacho

Based on the first article to come out of the High Def 2.0 Forum, it looks like a bummer. Analysts predict a stalemate, 55:45 split in 2012. Say it ain't so, insiders, say it ain't so.

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6509576.html

Actually, I hope Warner reads this report. It paints a very bleak future of HDM IF Warner stays neutral. Only Warner now can help end this senseless war. It is in the best interest of Warner and the video industry for Warner to be Blu-ray exclusive.

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by BorrowedTime

Penton-Man,

Watching the Victoria's Secret show as I type this (actually... commercial break). Just wondering if you're in any of the crowd shots... not that I'd expect you to tell us either way...

All you had to do was look out for the guy with the long tongue, buggy eyes that was howling like hound dog……………………..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfjuZVG4wGM

(Believe me, the rehearsal was far more risqué than what you guys saw on TV).

[Penton-Man]

Originally Posted by PaulGo

Or how about this:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...postcount=2667

Specifics aside as to who paid whom how much, one thing that I believe really bothers *them*, is that it is apparent now that this prestigious Director is completely aware of the M$ intent and the direct as well as indirect tactics that this organization may be willing to implement to achieve those ends.
Michael Bay just joins a chorus of other Directors voicing their support of the Blu-ray format, some of which can be seen in past videos here……………
http://www.hollywoodinhidef.com/videoarchives.php

Plus, I am just as gratified by the possibility of what creative talent may tell their fellow colleagues in the business about the high-def optical formats as I am to see him speak his mind publicly to his fans on his official website.

[Azumi]

hello Insiders,

Now that the High Def 2.0 conference is behind us and the holiday season is underway, I wonder if you can enlighten us with the word on the street (from the main Studios and key players, I mean).

I know that forward looking insight is a very sensitive subject, so you can stick to present day insight. How have Warner and Uni reacted to the Thanksgiving sales figures, and the current Blu-ray momentum? Does Paramount (and the industry) think that sales of Shrek 3 and Transformers were within the expectations? Do studios like Warner still want a stronger installed base of standalone (non PS3) players?

I also have a second question:

Blu-ray is outselling HD DVD with more confortable margins in the rest of the world -- especially in Europe, Japan, Australia and some emerging markets, as recent figures have stated.

Since the competition is very tough in the US, is the BDA trying to win by default, by outselling HD DVD in the international markets that provide most of the Studio's revenues? If the rest of the world is Blu, would it matter if in the US BD hasn't outdistanced HD more than 2-to-1?

Thank you,

[makeusleep]

Originally Posted by Penton-Man

Specifics aside as to who paid whom how much, one thing that I believe really bothers *them*, is that it is apparent now that this prestigious Director is completely aware of the M$ intent and the direct as well as indirect tactics that this organization may be willing to implement to achieve those ends.
.

From Mr. Bay's second quote it also seems the big wigs in Hollywood are well aware also. Hopefully this will push a united front from Hollywood and the CE industry to rid themselves of this havoc ragging liken "Microsoft". Maybe then they can concentrate on making a functioning X-box 360 ver. 2.0 that does not come with a 35% failure rate.

"Does anyone out here want to challenge what I feel suits my films better in terms of look. I see every frame of my films over a hundred times before it is ever released. I know the lighting conditions I shot it and the result on the DI. I know the range. I know what the final product should look like - Blu Ray suits my films better. But that said - I don't a care about this format war because I have both formats in my screening room - I'm just filling you in on what people deep in the film industry feel ultimately is going on "
http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum...p?t=607&page=4

[Bullseye]

Originally Posted by makeusleep

From Mr. Bay's second quote it also seems the big wigs in Hollywood are well aware also. Hopefully this will push a united front from Hollywood and the CE industry to rid themselves of this havoc ragging liken "Microsoft". Maybe then they can concentrate on making a functioning X-box 360 ver. 2.0 that does not come with a 35% failure rate.

"Does anyone out here want to challenge what I feel suits my films better in terms of look. I see every frame of my films over a hundred times before it is ever released. I know the lighting conditions I shot it and the result on the DI. I know the range. I know what the final product should look like - Blu Ray suits my films better. But that said - I don't a care about this format war because I have both formats in my screening room - I'm just filling you in on what people deep in the film industry feel ultimately is going on "
http://www.shootfortheedit.com/forum...p?t=607&page=4

Well i hope those producing films for Universal and WB make them aware of their feelings and lets end this nonsense.

[Mukha]

Originally Posted by Azumi

Blu-ray is outselling HD DVD with more confortable margins in the rest of the world -- especially in Europe, Japan, Australia and some emerging markets, as recent figures have stated.

Since the competition is very tough in the US, is the BDA trying to win by default, by outselling HD DVD in the international markets that provide most of the Studio's revenues? If the rest of the world is Blu, would it matter if in the US BD hasn't outdistanced HD more than 2-to-1?

This reminded me to ask, anyone know what's up with Australian blu-ray releases? I was in the store today looking to pick up a few of the Kubrick movies that were due for release today (was looking forward to these for a while) and they were not available. Up until this morning (checked before heading out) they were listed on the national website with a release date of 12/5 but this afternoon the release dates were changed to unknown (and not generally expected in the country until Feb). How can the nation's two largest dvd retailers be in the dark about the release dates until that very date?

I hope I don't need to worry about Harry Potter's release date of Dec 19 suddenly changing on that day. Can somebody verify that other Warner titles are still on track for release here?

I also wanted to rant about having to wait until Jan 18 for Ratatouille and Feb 6 for Cars but that theme has been done before.

[space2001]

I asked this further up and it proablly got missed.

Are we going to get BD9, only reason I ask is I have home movies that I would like to put and give some nice menus to.

is this going to come with a firmware update to the ps3. Thanks

[The Don]

how did TF (HD-DVD) win the best audio quality award?

the movie itself has great sound(DVD or HD-DVD), but the fact that it was over Pirates 3 or SM3 was a little strange...

it's funny though, how TF is made out to be the HD-DVD's version of David ....vs Goliath ahaha

[savage1984]

Originally Posted by JadedRaverLA

If I had a nickel for eveytime I read that statement, I think I'd have enough to buy one of the upcoming Denon players... or 1,000 clearance HD DVD players. Personally, I'll take the Denon.

Yeah, I don't think I have enough room in my house for 1,000 cupholders...

[The Big Blue]

Recently one of the insiders (can't find the post now) stated that there should be some good deals on hardware 'next week' (I think). Are we talking next week as in Monday or are there some deals for this weekend?

I'm desperate to find a great deal on a player for a Christmas present for my parents.

Thanks.

[Elandyll]

I think it still needs to be confirmed, but someone mentionned the Sony BDS 300 at $299 for the week of Xmas (again, to be verified).
Also, Best Buy starting on Dec. 7th has a 10-12% off week that includes Blu Ray players (according to my mailer ), so that would make a normal $399 BDS 300 around $349.

[SDG]

$50 gift card next week at Wal-Mart with the purchase of a PS3. Sorry for posting here.

[hollywoodguy]

Shameless bump of a couple of older posts to get a few questions into this thread :

KJack,

1) How far do you think we are off from the first player that does it all: BonusView, BD-Live and able to put out all advanced codecs as either fully internally decoded MPCM or raw bitstream (with the choice up to the end user)?

2) Do you see any major shifts in the US player market (sans PS3 & 360 add-on) for the rest of 2007? Before the start of the holiday season we saw a momentary sales lead of Blu-ray players over HD DVD. With the $199 and $99 1080i players the momentum (in units sold) seems to have shifted back considerably to HD DVD, but we haven't heard any non-PS3 numbers from the BD companies in a while.

Re: DTS HD MA

If all players decoded it, we'd probably want the studios to use nothing else. Lower bitrate peaks than DTHD, highest-available-quality lossy core and smaller size than DTHD&DD combined are awfully good specs. I would be very interested in some of the insider's opionions about the future of DTS HD MA.

Maybe RBFilms, if he still reads this thread, can chime in for a second to explain why he thinks DTS HD MA is the best choice for HDM, I remember him being very vocal about it in the past.

Also KJack, is internal decoding coming soon?

Paidgeek, how was working with DTS HD MA on Close Encounters? Any perceptual difference to DTHD? Advantages, disadvantages? Any plans by Sony to use it in the future for other reasons than to indulge a certain director ?

[dobyblue]

Question to insiders only:

Can someone tell me a definitive answer to this?
I am under the assumption that 1080i60 and 1080p60 are the exact same thing, with one being interlaced and one progresseive.

That is to say, 60 full 1920x1080 frames delivered per second.

I have been looking at a discussion elsewhere that people are syaing 1080i60 is not the same as 1080p60, because there are only 30 complete frames in a 1080i60 signal.

Which is it?

1080i60 = 1920x1080 frames deliverd 60 times per second, interlaced
1080p60 - 10290x1080 frames delivered 60 times per second, progressive.

Right or wrong?

[kjack]

1080i60 = 1920 samples x 540 lines delivered 60 times per second.

1080p60 - 1920 samples x 1080 lines delivered 60 times per second. This results in 60 frames per second.

To avoid confusion, newer specs use 1080i30 instead of 1080i60, so the number after the "i" or "p" is always in frames per second.