...And Michael Bay was right.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by stockstar1138

this could be a very good sign actually.

Recently we have seen the usual suspects start to push dual-format players and/or downloads. That would seem to be a clear indication that the behind-the-scenes players are adjusting to the realities.

Microsoft was offering the studios free hosting of Managed Copy services in exchange for the user data right. I would expect the next thing will be they will offer to host the entire download delivery infrastructure for a piece of the action.

Gary

[doctorD]

Originally Posted by Spankey

I thought Michael Bay was a liar. He didn't know what he was talking about. Internet fan boys knew better. Where did Microsoft ever admit to paying off Paramount.

Unless HD-DVD dies a quick death, do not expect to see Paramount back to Blu after the 18 months is up.

It mentions that this is only related to download and advertising services...but I wouldn't put it past M$ to next go for more at a later time!

[Sonny]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Recently we have seen the usual suspects start to push dual-format players and/or downloads. That would seem to be a clear indication that the behind-the-scenes players are adjusting to the realities.

Microsoft was offering the studios free hosting of Managed Copy services in exchange for the user data right. I would expect the next thing will be they will offer to host the entire download delivery infrastructure for a piece of the action.

Gary

I think very soon we will be seeing Blu-ray vs Down loads, if people want there movie as Hi Def physical media they buy Blu-ray & if they dont they buy a Down load, any case this is better because they are very different & it will no longer be a 'Disc' war, & peace will come over all eventually ! PS I still hope M$ burns in HELL!!

[Spankey]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Recently we have seen the usual suspects start to push dual-format players and/or downloads. That would seem to be a clear indication that the behind-the-scenes players are adjusting to the realities.

Microsoft was offering the studios free hosting of Managed Copy services in exchange for the user data right. I would expect the next thing will be they will offer to host the entire download delivery infrastructure for a piece of the action.

Gary

I'd be interested to see if Paramount starts using VC-1. I agree, that "the usual suspects" have been open to dual format players now. I just don't see the enthusiasm for HD-DVD as a format now. The supporters are fighting for pride alone.

[Paden]

Originally Posted by Sonny

I think very soon we will be seeing Blu-ray vs Down loads, if people want there movie as Hi Def physical media they buy Blu-ray & if they dont they buy a Down load, any case this is better because they are very different & it will no longer be a 'Disc' war, & peace will come over all eventually ! PS I still hope M$ burns in HELL!!

Downloads are still a pipe-dream. 20 Blu disks hold a terabit of data. I know hard drive space is cheap these days but it ain't THAT cheap. Further, there isn't a reasonably fast delivery mechanism for that much data. Unless there's some sort of broadcast wireless on the horizon, I just don't see how they can quickly deliver product in a high quality format comparable to Blu.

[RickD]

Unfortunately, I imagine downloads would be compressed further and the PQ would take a big hit. And I wouldn't expect much more than plain DD sound.

Rick

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by webmaster@michaelbay

Although he was off by $400 million.

Microsoft, Viacom ink $500 million ad deal

I hate to say it but I was playing around on 360 today and saw potc 3, meet the robinsons all for rental on 360 , so its not just viocom.

[stockstar1138]

Originally Posted by Paden

Downloads are still a pipe-dream. 20 Blu disks hold a terabit of data. I know hard drive space is cheap these days but it ain't THAT cheap. Further, there isn't a reasonably fast delivery mechanism for that much data. Unless there's some sort of broadcast wireless on the horizon, I just don't see how they can deliver product in a high quality format comparable to Blu.

MS downloads aren't going to be the same quality. they will be 720p/1080i, low bit-rate vc-1 downloads. i personally think downloads have some place in the market. i would love to see downloads take over the movie rental industry. you get something like 72 hours with the download and then it won't play and you delete the file. expect sony to launch a download service next year. i think ms realizes blu-ray is going to steamroll hd dvd next year and is prepping the downloads, because they are going to try to pull downloads v. blu-ray as a new war. they need to realize that they will cater to completely different markets. personally, i don't think we will see ms/tosh writing any more big checks for hd ddvd

[School]

i know this my not be the case with eveyone but i dont like the digital download thing especially if its a movie i love to have a collection and all the packaging.

[kaliraver]

More evidence that HD-DVD is on its death bed and in 2008 the format war will be over.

[javabear]

My gosh. Microsoft meanfully aims to kill off HIGH-DEF. So, people needs to quit supporting HD-DVD because it's "cheap". Bad bad Microsoft!

[tron3]

Ok, I am here spreading the word and repeating myself.

We all know by now that BD outsells HD DVD about 3:1. It's still a pretty narrow margin given the numbers. Not as narrow as 2:1, but maybe still considered a TKO.

With that said, Blu-ray is the odds on favorite of winning. It has EVERY REASON to win. Even people just waiting for this format war to end are probably betting on blu-ray.

Therefore, if anything keeps BD from winning, if anything gives HD DVD the edge in a sudden turn of events, consider it a deliberate act of sabotage.

[gearyt]

Hmmmm. downloads... is that like DirecTV to a DVR in mpeg4 w/ DD ?? in 1080i

[Ben]

After all of the MS BS I've observed over the past few years related to HD media, I finally made the switch to MacIntosh about a month ago. I'm now happily MS free.

[AustinSTI]

Originally Posted by scook

I hate Microsoft and will never buy any of their products.

Hope you are running linux or a mac then...

[Storm]

Originally Posted by Whytewash

+1

Microsoft can have my software and computer business but dont take my movies under your control.

I agree. How about fixing Vista and leave the film industry alone.

[richteer]

Originally Posted by AustinSTI

Hope you are running linux or a mac then...

Or, in my case, Solaris. (I too hate M$.)

[Shawnsmail35]

Same here i recently bought my self an IMac nor more MS for me

[xwingsct]

If MS wants HD-DVD to succeed they would have put HD-DVD drive into their Xbox to compete with PS3 instead of an add on thing. The reason they support HD-DVD is because Toshiba uses their software. I hope bluray won so they'll loose all the licensing fees.
I bet from now on M. Bay will acquire all the rights to all his movies like Spielberg. We'll see if he'll direct Transformers 2 for the same studio.

[bhampton]

Must hurt to MS when Apple has the Ipod and Sony has the PS3 and all they have is the red ring of death.

-Brian