Sonopress Joins Blu-ray Disc Association

[Marwin]

Sonopress Joins Blu-ray Disc Association
http://www.sonopress.com/us/?id=52&prel=1&prNo=24

[Captain'04]

there is a little mistake in the news article

.... "We are pleased to be among the first to join the elite group of companies that will contribute to the Blue-ray Disc Association. ......

Its not Blue-ray -> Blu-ray

[Gorkab]

Originally Posted by Captain'04

there is a little mistake in the news article

.... "We are pleased to be among the first to join the elite group of companies that will contribute to the Blue-ray Disc Association. ......

Its not Blue-ray -> Blu-ray

Yeah bad mistake...

[zombie]

I've seen that misspelling all over the net... in articles and forums. Until Blu-ray becomes a household name it's going to continue. The mistake I hate seeing in articles related to Blu-ray is the common myth that Blu-ray players won't be able to play DVDs. I don't know where that lie started but a lot of people believe it to be true. Many of the HD-DVD backers use this as a reason they prefer HD-DVD.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by n2blu

I've seen that misspelling all over the net... in articles and forums. Until Blu-ray becomes a household name it's going to continue. The mistake I hate seeing in articles related to Blu-ray is the common myth that Blu-ray players won't be able to play DVDs. I don't know where that lie started but a lot of people believe it to be true. Many of the HD-DVD backers use this as a reason they prefer HD-DVD.

At the moment, Blu-Ray players use a seperate transport for dvd. That's why the boxes are so big. It's basically like having a dvd player and a Blu-Ray player crammed into one box. HD-DVD on the other hand can read both types of disc from the same laser, Blu-Ray can't. It has always been a possibility, that to keep costs down the first Blu-Ray players will not be backwardsly compatible, and won't play dvds.

[zombie]

Originally Posted by Rob

At the moment, Blu-Ray players use a seperate transport for dvd. That's why the boxes are so big. It's basically like having a dvd player and a Blu-Ray player crammed into one box. HD-DVD on the other hand can read both types of disc from the same laser, Blu-Ray can't. It has always been a possibility, that to keep costs down the first Blu-Ray players will not be backwardsly compatible, and won't play dvds.

They've already made a laser for Blu-ray which reads Blu-ray discs, DVD discs, and CDs. I first read about it months ago. I believe this newer laser will be used in most, if not all of the initial U.S. Blu-ray players. Also I think the chances of a Blu-ray player being released that does not include DVD playback are zero! There's just no way they'd stab themselves in the foot and help promote HD-DVD by doing so.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by n2blu

They've already made a laser for Blu-ray which reads Blu-ray discs, DVD discs, and CDs. I first read about it months ago. I believe this newer laser will be used in most, if not all of the initial U.S. Blu-ray players. Also I think the chances of a Blu-ray player being released that does not include DVD playback are zero! There's just no way they'd stab themselves in the foot and help promote HD-DVD by doing so.

OK, I didn't realise the laser that read all 3 formats was ready yet. All the Blu-Ray protoypes I have seen so far have been massive which Suggested twin transports. I suppose it comes dowm to 2 things really; Which format has the biggest/best selection of films, and which is cheapest, (players and discs).

[phloyd]

Originally Posted by Rob

I suppose it comes dowm to 2 things really; Which format has the biggest/best selection of films, and which is cheapest, (players and discs).

I think that this is true if you are only considering the HD market (which is really not very big).

I think that Sony is betting on the PC and PS3 markets to make Blu-Ray the winner. HD-DVD may be the format "of preference" early on for HD movies, but really that is all it is good for. Will it have the legs to make it to when DVD is a thing of the past? That could be quite a long time given how slowly the HD transition is going...

So, perhaps the 'side markets' of PC storage and gaming will be the immediate applications that will ensure the survival of Blu-Ray since these markets are seriously waiting for the advantages of what BD has to offer - and HD-DVD doesn't offer the capacity for PC and PS3 - well, we know where that is going

Cheers!
DAve.

[zombie]

Great post phloyd. I completely agree. Blu-ray's larger storage capacity easily makes it the format of choice for computers. PS2 outsold XBox and GameCube by a huge margin so IMO it's safe to assume PS3 will be huge for the Blu-ray format.

[Rob]

Would be interesting to see what would/may happen if the XBox 2 and Nintendo Revloution were/are released with HD-DVD as has been rumoured. Especially as the XBox 2 is to be released in USA last qtr 2005 roughly 6+ months before the PS3. I can see the XBox 2 doing significantly better than Xbox as this time it's not only coming out first, (XBox was 12-18 months after PS2), but Microsoft have already established a customer base with it's XBox. It may even give the PS3 a run for it's money.

As for PC storage, I'm not sure if the average pc user has the need for 30GB discs let alone 50GB. I'm not sure how significant this is. I would assume businesses would be looking towards the new HVD's with their 200GB-1TByte+ storage. For console use 30GB would easily be sufficient. Most PS2 games come on a single layer 4.7GB dvd, as do most XBox titles. Only the odd PS2 game needs 2 discs, or XBox game need a dual layer 9.4GB dvd.

As for which format I will end up with, I'll be looking to the format which has the best range of software. The price of hardware and discs will also have a bearing, with perhaps the cost of discs being more important in the long run. HCC mag reckon HD-DVDs will be twice the price of dvds. I assume they were talking of the USA market. But that translates to hi-def discs of £40-50!

[zombie]

Originally Posted by Rob

As for which format I will end up with, I'll be looking to the format which has the best range of software.

For longer movies Blu-ray will be able to fit the movie with a high bitrate whereas HD-DVD would have to overcompress the picture in order to fit it on a disc. I don't see why this doesn't matter to you. Of course HD-DVD could put the split the movie onto two discs but personally I hate it when DVDs are done like that. As for your comments about price, everything I've read suggests HD-DVDs will be priced $20-30. This is not at all a big deal IMO since many DVDs still cost this much. Blu-ray discs are expected to be at or slightly above the cost of DVDs. This is terrific pricing if you ask me.

[Rob]

I read in an English mag that HD-DVD discs were to be twice dvd price, (I assume they were talking about the American market). If this is the case in the UK then we're looking at £40-50, (dvds are £20 for single, £25 for dual disc packs in the UK). Which is far too much imo. I'll pay a £5 premium but no more.

Regarding disc capacity, most films are under 2 hours so I can't see how it will be a problem. If Sony's 50GB discs hold 4.5hrs of hi-def, then pro rata HD-DVDs would hold just under 3 hours. Easily suffient for every one of the 100+ films I own on dvd apart from Apocolypse Now and Lawrence of Arabia. Of the top of my head I can't think of any others. I'm sure they could fit in these titles onto one 30GB disc without too much of a loss in picture quality. How many films will come near to needing 4.5 hrs?

It really is a shame that they Toshiba and Sony couldn't have co-developed a single hi-def disc as I think it will slow the adoption greatly. I have no idea which one to back now. Apart from larger capacity discs, with 100GB and 200GB in the future, what does Blu-Ray offer over HD-DVD. :?

[zombie]

Originally Posted by Rob

I read in an English mag that HD-DVD discs were to be twice dvd price, (I assume they were talking about the American market). If this is the case in the UK then we're looking at £40-50, (dvds are £20 for single, £25 for dual disc packs in the UK). Which is far too much imo. I'll pay a £5 premium but no more.

AFAIK Paramount is the only studio thus far to actually come out and state a price for their HD-DVD movie line: $19-$29 each. That's a very fair price IMO. I highly doubt the UK equivalents are going to be nearly as expensive as what you have read. I could be wrong but I doubt they'll be that much more costly.

Regarding disc capacity, most films are under 2 hours so I can't see how it will be a problem. If Sony's 50GB discs hold 4.5hrs of hi-def, then pro rata HD-DVDs would hold just under 3 hours. Easily suffient for every one of the 100+ films I own on dvd apart from Apocolypse Now and Lawrence of Arabia. Of the top of my head I can't think of any others. I'm sure they could fit in these titles onto one 30GB disc without too much of a loss in picture quality. How many films will come near to needing 4.5 hrs?

From the many posts I've read at AVS Forum (most of which are from persons who are far more knowledgeable than I am on this subject), HD-DVD discs will suffer from being overly compressed for all movies over 2 hours long. As drama is my favorite movie genre, a lot of the movies I love are far longer than two hours. Don't forget that HD-DVD still needs more for audio and extras.

It really is a shame that they Toshiba and Sony couldn't have co-developed a single hi-def disc as I think it will slow the adoption greatly. I have no idea which one to back now. Apart from larger capacity discs, with 100GB and 200GB in the future, what does Blu-Ray offer over HD-DVD. :?

Because of the reason above I am strongly pro Blu-ray over HD-DVD. I will consider buying an HD-DVD player as well though simply because of the Warner exclusives they'll have, at least in the beginning. I think Blu-ray's larger capacity is a huge plus for the format. The other thing I like better about Blu-ray is that it's far more futureproof. The BDA is already experimenting with an 8-layer disc. The more capacity that can be had for a future home video format the more likely it won't be extinct. When they start doing more supplemental features in HD there will be plenty of room for it on a Blu-ray disc. When HD is outdated and some sort of super HD becomes available it's very likely Blu-ray will be able to support it as well. Thus, no need to buy yet another new video player like we're having to do with Blu-ray and/or HD-DVD. Other than those issues though we'll have to see what the final specs are for both formats to see what other pluses and minuses exist for each format. I'm really hoping for the option to include lossless audio on Blu-ray discs as well.

[phloyd]

Originally Posted by Rob

As for PC storage, I'm not sure if the average pc user has the need for 30GB discs let alone 50GB.

More and more people are working with DV video and DVD. DV consumes 14 GB per hour.

I am sure that some people doing video editing will enjoy the opportunity to 'back up' the DV soruces of their DVD projects onto a disc format.

Just last night a not very technical type friend of my wife's was talking about all of the DV footage she has of her 1 year old that she needs to archive, etc.

It won't be too long before this kind of thing is very commonplace IMHO - disc would be a much better format than tape for archiving those precious moments.

Cheers!
DAve.

[Rob]

If a 25GB Blu-Ray disc can hold 2hrs 15 of hi-def material, surely a 30GB HD-DVD disc can hold 2hrs 30 mins without any problems? Other films will just have to be on 2 discs I suppose? Obviously Blu-Ray is preferrable with it's 50GB discs and 4.5hrs, but I don't feel it's all that important. 2 of my 100+ films are over 2.5Hrs. One of those films LOArabia, has an interlude anyway. Blu-Ray haven't even finalised the details for the pre-recorded discs yet. They had nothing to announce at the CES whereas the HD-DVD announced players, likely prices and 89 titles plus dates. If Blu-Ray is unlikely to release in USA til 2006, it could be 2007 before we see anything in the UK. Still, I'll be buying one of the next gen consoles so will probably watch hi-def discs through them at first. If i buy a PS3 and Blu-Ra fails, at least I still have a PS3. Once a format has established itself, prices have fallen etc, I'll be looking to buy a hi-def player/ recorder with 1TB hdd or something.

[phloyd]

I agree that BD dropped the ball big time with CES. They had nothing new to say compared to last year... I was pretty disppointed in that repect.

Cheers!
DAve.

[Rob]

Yeah, you would have thought they would have had something to say. Even if it were just to take some of the attention away from the HD-DVD launch. Console manufacturers do it every E3 even if they have nothing to launch but the competition does, (new hardware or game).

[mmmhome]

I thnk taht´s only the silence before the storm