Big Announcements CES 2007 | Digital Bits: Disney, Fox have no plan to support HD-DVD

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Are these not the very same sources that claimed Disney was going to go neutral at CES .

Yep.

I guess they couldn't tell the subtle difference between going neutral, and going INTO neutral. As opposed to Disney pushing their BD engine into overdrive.

The ValueElectronics guy was telling me they would go neutral last July. Then again, he was telling everyone the A2 would be out in October.

Gary

[dialog_gvf]

Has there been anything from Denon that indicates they could release an HD DVD player? That camp seems distinctly unfriendly to the idea of spending for quality hardware. Despite the format needing some terribly.

D&M Holdings, Inc. is a BDA Member.

Gary

[ay221]

I remember that Oshodi guy saying that this and that company were going hd-dvd.

[4K display]

I'm not trying to be a downer here but I am definitely "proceeding with caution" about CES 2007. Blu-ray was in a VERY favorable position at this exact time last year and look what happened..

Other than that this is very exciting and hopefully ALL BD studios & companies start/continue knocking us out with outstanding products. But I'm especially looking forward to Disney puttin her in high gear.

[Zvi]

Originally Posted by Maxpower1987

Are these not the very same sources that claimed Disney was going to go neutral at CES .

Those are enlightened HD DVD followers Able to see through time and space and make accurate predictions and spread the word of the wise. Like BD50 doesn't exist, Sammy won't play BD50 (even if it exists, although it doesn't exist), and many more.

Originally Posted by phloyd

I guess they sold the demo units they were so popular

Sure thing. And those europians too. Dumping their BDs and buying HD DVD players here. Besides we already have huge HD DVD install base haven't you heard?

[ProvenFlipper]

Originally Posted by dialog_gvf

Has there been anything from Denon that indicates they could release an HD DVD player? That camp seems distinctly unfriendly to the idea of spending for quality hardware. Despite the format needing some terribly.

D&M Holdings, Inc. is a BDA Member.

Gary

There are rumors supported by HD-DVD zealots that Denon would be producing a high-end HD-DVD player.

[BTBuck1]

Originally Posted by ProvenFlipper

The situation is looking bleak for HD-DVD. Hopefully we'll see some quality BD equipment announced at CES. I'm talking about 2nd gen players that decode all codecs, have BD-Live and output 1080p24. Maybe this will be enough to sway some of the HD-DVD diehards over to the side where the grass is actually greener.

Just reading through their thoughts, & posts over at AVS, anyone rational has already bought a BD player. Even irrational ones like plazman, Joerod & Gary Murrell have sold out their original hype while hiding behind the "I still think hddvd is better" or "hddvd is my first format, i just rent BD's" B.S. But guess what, wether you rent or buy...it's support.

The only thing thats going to convert the remaining is cheap, and I mean cheap BD players...$350 & under, or if the white flag is raisd by Toshiba.

I have every bit of confidence that it's business as usual for the BDA, I don't think they are worried one bit about HDDVD...who would be? The BDA holds all the cards...and it shows, they have remained professional throughout this, never disparaging their competition, never spreading fud, and IMO have lived up to everything they said they would do. So, the timeline wasn't perfectly on track...it's still 2006 we have 4 BD players out, 1 on the way and a gamesystem that plays movies virtually perfectly!
What more do you want?

[Deciazulado]

Music?

[theknub]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

Music?

is that with or without a fat lady singing?

[Rio]

I would be very surprised if not tier 1 HD DVD or BD company will announce its original design player at CES. Being licenced entier platform including fundamental software from tier 1 companies and just tweak analog circuit or audio DAC or something minor modifications may be possible, though.

As to cost of players, innards picture of A2 and BD players clearly showed that HD DVD player has had more complex, expensive design than BD standalone players. A2 still looks being subsidized.

[dialog_gvf]

Originally Posted by 4K display

I'm not trying to be a downer here but I am definitely "proceeding with caution" about CES 2007. Blu-ray was in a VERY favorable position at this exact time last year and look what happened..

True, but as we now know it wasn't capable of exploiting that position.

The PS/3 was to be delayed. The only player close to being ready would end up being a month late, some six months in the future from CES 2006. And BD-50 replication was still not working.

Things are somewhat different this year. This time the BDA can make a big splash, and really mean it.

Gary

[WriteSimply]

Originally Posted by Rio

I would be very surprised if not tier 1 HD DVD or BD company will announce its original design player at CES. Being licenced entier platform including fundamental software from tier 1 companies and just tweak analog circuit or audio DAC or something minor modifications may be possible, though.

I think those who have not yet gotten their feet wet on either format will not have any players announced or in prototype at CES 2007.

Those that have, like say LG and JVC, will likely to show a working prototype or projected dates of their first gen player.

The companies that released players this year - Samsung, Panasonic, Sony & Philips - will have second gen players on display and with somewhat firm dates.

As to cost of players, innards picture of A2 and BD players clearly showed that HD DVD player has had more complex, expensive design than BD standalone players. A2 still looks being subsidized.

I've really not seen the pix of the innards of the A2 or XA2. And I've not seen the pix of the A2 but the XA2 from an industrial design POV is just FUGLY! As Deciazulado puts it, (I paraphrase) "It looks like my bedside alarm clock!" I'm sure it works glitch-free.

But THE topic that HD-DVD fanatics will get behind is the lack of or minimal support of BD-Live players. This is something to be concerned about as 2nd gen from the first four CEs (Samsung, Panny, Sony & Pioneer) may not be BD-Live enabled. Other CEs may or may not release BD-Live. The best hope for a beta testing unit is still - you guessed it - the PS3.

Coming back on topic, CES may see the BD studio support going full blast. What would be interesting is if we see the announce dates of BD-Live titles.


fuad

[Rio]

I'd say, it's toooo early for studios to support "Live" function for either format. If it's not the case, both Toshiba and add-ons equip Ethernet connections and certain amount of flash memory. So, why we are sitll not seeing any of internet related functions on HD DVD titles? There is no stumbling block to get there.

It's funny watching some of HD DVD supporters accusing BD camps of lacking "BD-Live", but they are not complaining about lack of support of their beloved "live" function on HD DVD titles

Movie studios are doing business. Current HD market is too small to make money for them. "Internet Live" functions may sound great, but it requires studios running servers for it, meaning pay extra moneys. Until they figure out how to earn more moneys from "live" function, I don't expect it'll become a "normal" application, rather than some sort of technical demonstration.

[Dave]

No support for HD DVD???


LOLOLOLOL!

[iceman]

Originally Posted by phloyd

Oddly I saw all the BD demos at Best Buy where I was there looking for the A2 to check it out.

Oddly there were no A2s there for demo or sale. So... zero HD DVD players. This is December... and no players to be even seen let alone had.

On the other hand there was a Sony (nice demo!), a Samsung (reduced price), and in Magnolia section a Panasonic and Pioneer. Signs of choice.

If you are looking in B&M stores, BD is everywhere, HD DVD is hard to find at best (hardware at least).

BB has HD-DVD players, it's just that you have to ask for them and they bring them out from the stockroom, or so I've heard.
I've also heard that it's the same thing with Circuit City, they tend to "hide" the HD-DVD products and show off BD products...

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Iceman

they tend to "hide" the HD-DVD products and show off BD products...

They are so ugly, thats the best they can do to protect the interior of the store

[Josh]

Blu-ray players have a much higher profit margin, so it makes sense for retailers to push them over HD DVD. As they say in the business, always upsell.

[ProvenFlipper]

Originally Posted by Iceman

BB has HD-DVD players, it's just that you have to ask for them and they bring them out from the stockroom, or so I've heard.
I've also heard that it's the same thing with Circuit City, they tend to "hide" the HD-DVD products and show off BD products...

As far as Best Buy is concerned... The A1 and XA1 have been deleted and the displays sold, or sent back to Toshiba in most stores. There are no players to bring from the back if a customer was to ask, only the 360 add-on.

Originally Posted by joshd2012

Blu-ray players have a much higher profit margin, so it makes sense for retailers to push them over HD DVD. As they say in the business, always upsell.

When the Samsung and Toshiba players were out on the market, the profit margin percentage was roughly the same, so we had to sell two HD-DVD players to make what we could make on one BD player.

What is happening now is BD players are flying off the shelves because customers see no other choices. I've personally have sold 5 Sony players in the week that it has launched in BBY stores. My Mom works at Sears and she said they can't even keep the Sony BD player in stock.

Alot of people were weary of the Samsung player and were waiting for the Sony player. It's a shame the normal BBY don't have the Panasonic player, or at least the ability to order it. That would give me the ability to show someone the really expensive player, and then the Sony becomes "a bargain" in some people's eyes.

[JTK]

Everyone's pretty much said anything I could have said to this, except there's one message I have for HD-DVD zealots:

See? I told you so.

Anyone who really thought BD was going LOSE ground at CES was serious deluded or just plain ignorant.

This CES is going to start showing some serious seperation and advancement in favor of BD, leaving HD-DVD in the dust. Even some of the AVS HD-DVD acolytes are starting to see the writing on the wall. A blind man really couldn't miss it at this point.

I love looking at these zealots literally drooling and stumbling over themselves and already getting threads on this subject locked with useless "time outs" and the rest of the usual non-modship that happens over there.

I literally wake up to more good news every day, just as expected. How many MONTHS now have most of us been saying these things were going to happen, just like this?

I kind of wish some of this shock and awe that's going to be coming at CES could have made it about one month earlier, in time for Christmas, but oh well...

In some major parts of the world, HD-DVD is already DOA and it's dying a slow drawn out death here in the West. My only annoyance left with everything is I still feel like the BDA inadvertantly has thrown HD-DVD a few bones to keep up the pretense of a ball game here, when there really isn't.

I want to see the "wrath of God" finally start descending and just end this nonsense already! If the BDA really has their act together fully and finally: Finish it!


Lots of burned crow being passed about! Lots of new "format neutral" people all of a sudden!

[GoldenRedux]

Originally Posted by Deciazulado

Music?

I second that. 5Mhz DSD, perhaps?