Toshiba wants unified format

[zombie]

http://news.com.com/Toshiba+wants+un...3-6088269.html

It's a new article though I'm not certain as to whether the quote is current or not.

[Blue]

A bit late isn't it. Sort like closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. Iwonder if they are still expecting blu ray to give up and pay Toshiba very big royalties.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by nyg

http://news.com.com/Toshiba+wants+un...3-6088269.html

It's a new article though I'm not certain as to whether the quote is current or not.

The article is dated June 26, 2006, so I don't know how much more current you could want it to be.


LOL!

Then they shouldn't have been the ones to walk away from the negotiating table several months back and say "no" a la Sony 30 years ago with Betamax!


NOW the want a unified format? Are they getting a little nervous?

I thought HD-DVD was already winning, kicking ass, etc.? What's the problem?

I've said all along: I would have rather not seen SQUAT in the year 2005 or 2006 if it meant a solid, awesome, unfied HD format with 100 percent support that everyone could count on, no questions asked.

Even I would early adopt under that flag at the drop of a hat.

Maybe someone's finally getting a clue...

If we're all REALLY lucky, maybe this Christmas will yield us a very pleasant surprise.

Here's hoping!

[tron3]

Originally Posted by JTK

The article is dated June 26, 2006, so I don't know how much more current you could want it to be.


LOL!

Then they shouldn't have been the ones to walk away from the negotiating table several months back and say "no" a la Sony 30 years ago with Betamax!


NOW the want a unified format? Are they getting a little nervous?

I thought HD-DVD was already winning, kicking ass, etc.? What's the problem?

I've said all along: I would have rather not seen SQUAT in the year 2005 or 2006 if it meant a solid, awesome, unfied HD format with 100 percent support that everyone could count on, no questions asked.

Even I would early adopt under that flag at the drop of a hat.

Maybe someone's finally getting a clue...

If we're all REALLY lucky, maybe this Christmas will yield us a very pleasant surprise.

Here's hoping!

My sediments exactly. But this isn't like the modem wars with K-flex and X2 some 10 years ago. The Standards Comittee actually had the two codes sort of combined for their respective strengths. Can't do that here. They are two mutually exclusive technologies. Like putting diesel fuel in a regular gas car. They both yield motion, but you can't just change your gas.

The industry has screwed the public, and screwed themselves in the process. As with the modems, each company felt getting to market first would give the edge in winning. It did not. In the end, it left half the people angry with a worthless landfill that will rott over the next 500 to 1000 years to completely break down.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by tron3

My sediments exactly. But this isn't like the modem wars with K-flex and X2 some 10 years ago. The Standards Comittee actually had the two codes sort of combined for their respective strengths. Can't do that here. They are two mutually exclusive technologies. Like putting diesel fuel in a regular gas car. They both yield motion, but you can't just change your gas.

The industry has screwed the public, and screwed themselves in the process. As with the modems, each company felt getting to market first would give the edge in winning. It did not. In the end, it left half the people angry with a worthless landfill that will rott over the next 500 to 1000 years to completely break down.

Even the most ardent HD-DVD zealot might have to agree with me on this.

If HD-DVD's success here in the early goings has forced Sony and the BDA to blink and adopt the best codecs (VC-1 or whatever..) and BR has the better storage capacity...like everyone admits...if THAT happens...that completely negates the format war anyways, in effect.

At THAT point, you have what I always had hoped for: A format that has the best of both worlds.

And if Toshiba waves down and they all hit the negotiating table again and we all get a format that marries the best of BR and HD-DVD...We're all having a real nice Christmas!

I'm really trying hard to not read into this too much or get my hopes up, but I'm finding hard to not get downright giddy at this potential prospect.

This is the best news I've seen in months.

Toshiba is blinking.

[Psiweaver]

that would be wonderful to see the best of both worlds all on one unified format. This would most likely really really really piss off any early adopters of hd dvd though.

[hmurchison]

He's right and here's how a unified product launch works.


Both companies commit to universal drives.

SL 15GB discs go bye bye ...SL25GB discs go bye bye.

Here's the strategy


HD-9 discs comprise the ultra low end. Suitable for 90 bare bones programme. Movies are sub $15

DL30GB is your volume product movies are $15-35

DL50GB is your premium product. Lossless Audio is standard. Movies are routinely 35-40 dollars.

Hardware supports HDD drives for Managed Copy and DLNA for networking. Both platforms allow a generous tradeup to the new Universal Format. Royalties are paid to both groups.

The SoC integration is going to allow this very soon. Why not investigate the possibility?

[JTK]

I can't imagine how anyone who's remotely objective or understand this market at all or understands good business at all can't see that a unified format, with the best of both current formats, means more money for everyone, first and foremost, even if they don't care about anything else.

I'm not sure how this gets spun into Sony painting themselves into a corner and needing a graceful backdoor into HD-DVD. Look at the support.

Even if BR tanked into oblivion tomorrow, BR would still be used for the PS3 and the PS3 would not be affected. It simply would be a proprietary format for the PS3 and game developers' plans would not change.

^^ I think we all know that worst case scenario stands very little chance of coming to pass.



If anything, I'd say it's the other way around: Toshiba, MS, and the handful of strays backing HD-DVD might need to cut their losses and save face before all is said and done, especially since Toshiba was the one that said no and walked away from the negotiating table to begin with.


Oh well, the hell with it. It's nitpicking and semantics anyways, at best.

If they unify, they'd probably use the name HD-DVD which would be wise for all the obvious reasons.

Just get it done.

[JTK]

Originally Posted by nyg

I realize Blu-ray has a lot more support but the facts speak for themselves. HD DVD is available now and looks terrific. Blu-ray has some catching up to do. If Sony and others took Toshiba's olive branch we the consumers could have 100% studio support and lots of CE support soon, rather than potentially several years later.

That's fine. I hope they do it. I won't hold my breath.

[Psiweaver]

heh i really hope that they unify to give us the consumer the best deal

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Psiweaver

heh i really hope that they unify to give us the consumer the best deal

^^ The exact opposite of what a format accomplishes.

^^
That's the one thing, if nothing else, I'd like to think just about any reasonable and objective person could agree with from that Audioholics "10 reasons why HD formats have already failed" editorial.

Format wars are bad for everyone. Everyone loses.

[Psiweaver]

well yeah but hopefully a unified format could at least give us the consumer the widest choice in content to watch

[JTK]

Originally Posted by Psiweaver

well yeah but hopefully a unified format could at least give us the consumer the widest choice in content to watch

You can't beat 100 percent studio support.

[Psiweaver]

exactly which is what i really look forward too. I'm surprised that M$ didn't buy up some studio support for hd dvd.

[TooTallTom]

This "war" you speak of... does it involve arm wrestling?



if not... I think it should


seriously

[JTK]

Originally Posted by TooTallTom

This "war" you speak of... does it involve arm wrestling?



if not... I think it should


seriously

I think it should involved either UFC, ROH, or even ECW rules style of wrestling...except nothing fake or worked whatsoever.

Let's do it the right way and finish it!

[TooTallTom]

Moderator's Note: Please be more thoughtful in your postings. We will not tolerate racial prejudices on this forum. Thank you.

[Patrick]

Why is everyone talking about Sony's defeat? Blu-ray hasnt lost, heck the war has barely just begun. Only one player on each side is out yet and its Toshibas which is very cheap quality and Samsungs which isnt much better. There are still lots of players on the way. Yeah they have some delays but so did HD-dvd, Several delays.

Right now a clear winner isnt close to being seen. I still have faith in Blu-ray. I hate that so many of you seem to be backing out on them just because of ONE player from ONE company. Just a couple months ago you all were singing Blu-rays praises and writing out Hd-dvd's last will and testiment. I will wait to see what Sony, Phillips, Panasonic and others show on Blu-ray before I judge them. NO new piece of electronic technology ever comes out of the gate with no bugs or complaints. Just give them a chance. I'm still backing Blu-ray and will buy Blu-ray. If they still lose, fine, then I lose some money. If they win, great, I havent lost anything. But if I jump ship now before I even give them a chance, then I cant call myself a true supporter. It turns me into one of those backers that only has faith in what I am supporting when the going is good. Makes me cheap and selfish. Sorry but thats not me. I stick with who I started with an maybe in the end I will come out ahead. Sorry if this makes someone mad, but if you want to support both, fine, support both, if you want to Support only one, fine, choose a side and stich with them till you know its time to jump ship cause your is sinking. Blu-ray is still afloat and so far has just left dock, the speed and power will come when the others launch, Blu-ray allies are coming, give them a chance to get to the fight before you call them losers. I think in the end, (of this year) Blu-ray will be fighting a good fight.

Oh and if they merge, fine, Just take the best from both and call it Blu-ray. HD-dvd just sounds like a small improvement and not something new. Humm..VHS, CD, DVD, HD-DVD. Sounds Better to be VHS, CD, DVD, Blu-ray.

Thats all I have to say and this is my opinion, nothing more.

[hmurchison]

Explain to me how the Toshiba is cheap quality?

[JTK]

Originally Posted by hmurchison

Explain to me how the Toshiba is cheap quality?

You can't miss the complaint and bug threads even on a pro HD-DVD forum like AVS.

Why don't you take a look through some of those, for starters, and get back to us?