[RUMOR] New VC codec prepared as an answer

[Elandyll]

That has been started on Engadgethd by a "supposedly" Gamestop vendor, the info coming originally from their Microsoft Rep.
Needless to say that my BS o'meter is at 99.9, but I thought it 'd be interesting to see what people would think about this.

The guy pretends that a MS rep told him that, as part of a Toshiba - MS plan to come back front stage, following the Superbowl ad two things will happen.

First, the release of a "VC 2.1 codec". According to that same person, this codec allows such a compression boost that, when compared to curent gen codec, you can have 50 Gb down to 18Gb, with the same visual quality or better (2.77 ratio). Also, according to him, this "magical" codec is so advanced and sophisticated, that current machines can decode it -faster- than VC1, allowing faster loading, and faster parsing through pictures.

The ratio would then allow for HD DVD of a Theoretical 90Gb capacity (on current 33Gb discs).

Quickly noted, this codec (IF real, very much doubt it) would also be usuable on Blu Ray.
Hence 140Gb discs.

2nd Rumor, is the anounce of "New HD DVD products and prices" mid March, from Uni, Para and Tosh.
Don't really see where they can go from the Hardware point (short of giving them away for free), but maybe he means a new price point for the software and 4th gen players.

This second rumor seems much less far fetched (nothing prevents them from setting the HD DVD discs MSRP around $24.95 per exemple, or $19.95 even to compete with DVDs), if Tosh is still willing to subside its Studio partners.

Link:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/30...ly/1#c10133736