Read Widescreen Review issue 110 July 2006 ASAP

[JTK]

This is their HD-DVD blowout issue, I guess.

The centerpiece of this issue is a fairly in depth interview conducted
by Gary Reber of WSR with Mr. Joe Kane himself and...Amir from
Microsoft.

The same Amir you see posting on AVS all the time. THAT Amir.

It's a very interesting interview, to say the least, and I'm eager to get some
others' feedback after reading it.

Just a heads up.

[suprmallet]

Is there an online version?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by suprmallet

Is there an online version?

Yes, but you have to be a subscriber. Since I am, I downloaded the article and I can email it to anyone who wants to see it.

[suprmallet]

Please do. Suprmallet@gmail.com

Thanks!

[Jazar]

Originally Posted by JTK

This is their HD-DVD blowout issue, I guess.

The centerpiece of this issue is a fairly in depth interview conducted
by Gary Reber of WSR with Mr. Joe Kane himself and...Amir from
Microsoft.

The same Amir you see posting on AVS all the time. THAT Amir.

It's a very interesting interview, to say the least, and I'm eager to get some
others' feedback after reading it.

Just a heads up.

It's a very interesting read which makes my head spin and wish that there wasn't going to be a format war. HD DVD has performed respectably it seems in terms of image quality and dvd updscaling. I also really like that their players have internet connections to allow for firmware updates. Blu-Ray it seems has hit a snag with it's first player just released. Looks like Fifth Element isn't as perfect a transfer as one would have hoped based on early impressions. The hardware/player could also use some improvement.

I think, However, that HD DVD's leg up will be limited once: A) double density BR discs appear, B) other BR players beside Samsung's hit the market in the coming months, C) other codes beside MPEG2 can be used, and D) prices stabalize/PS3 is released.

Someone else said that BluRay is like a freight train running full speed into this war. We're just now seeing the headlights and pretty soon it's going to hit continously for the next 10 years. This battle will get ugly I think.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Jazar

It's a very interesting read which makes my head spin and wish that there wasn't going to be a format war. HD DVD has performed respectably it seems in terms of image quality and dvd updscaling. I also really like that their players have internet connections to allow for firmware updates. Blu-Ray it seems has hit a snag with it's first player just released. Looks like Fifth Element isn't as perfect a transfer as one would have hoped based on early impressions. The hardware/player could also use some improvement.

I think, However, that HD DVD's leg up will be limited once: A) double density BR discs appear, B) other BR players beside Samsung's hit the market in the coming months, C) other codes beside MPEG2 can be used, and D) prices stabalize/PS3 is released.

Someone else said that BluRay is like a freight train running full speed into this war. We're just now seeing the headlights and pretty soon it's going to hit continously for the next 10 years. This battle will get ugly I think.

That's what I came away with.

Come hell or high water, I don't believe that this format war will be short and sweet, that's for sure.

[Jim L]

I've noticed that Widescreen Review has been an unabashed cheerleader for HD-DVD for some time. They just regurgitate the same BS as Amir. They always seem to play up any shortcoming or setback of Blu-ray, while ignoring similar issues with HD-DVD. I also get the impression that they keep calling on the Blu-ray side to surrender, but never seem to recognize the fact the HD-DVD is definitely in the weaker position with studio, computer industry, and electronics manufacturer support. I've been meaning to write them and complain about their bias and distortions of fact, but didn't think that I'd ever have an impact.

I recently got a subscription renewal from them. I'm seriously thinking of trashing it.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Jim L

I've noticed that Widescreen Review has been an unabashed cheerleader for HD-DVD for some time. They just regurgitate the same BS as Amir. They always seem to play up any shortcoming or setback of Blu-ray, while ignoring similar issues with HD-DVD. I also get the impression that they keep calling on the Blu-ray side to surrender, but never seem to recognize the fact the HD-DVD is definitely in the weaker position with studio, computer industry, and electronics manufacturer support. I've been meaning to write them and complain about their bias and distortions of fact, but didn't think that I'd ever have an impact.

I recently got a subscription renewal from them. I'm seriously thinking of trashing it.

It may not mean anything, but both Stacy Spears and Joe Kane are on records as "working with Microsoft" on certain things. I'm sure you noticed JK say as much in that article. I respect the hell out of both of them. JK practically walks on water as far as I'm concerned, in some respects, but these things must be taken into account.

I'm willing to be fair and see how they run when BR really comes out in earnest before I start thinking about cancelling subscriptions, sicne I do like the magazine a lot, overall.

But I've been on AVS enough to know how Amir works and the kind of spin and propoganda he constantly puts up, so I was in all too familliar territory reading this interview.

I'm not the most technically advanced person by a longshot when it comes to some of this technology, but even I was thinking of some questions that Gary Reber could have/should have asked Amir with Joe Kane sitting right there.

I felt like the interview was softballing it a bit.