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Eug Wanker · Dec 28, 2006 , 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by olePigeon

Well, I'd imagine that it wouldn't down-sample if the VGA monitor was HDCP compliant, but I don't know how that'd be possible since VGA is analogue. As far as I know, HDCP requires a digital connection and is restricted to DVI/HDMI.

According the info I've come across, HD DVD does not require downsampling over VGA, but the software available is doing it anyway. I'm presuming that the software makers are doing this just to be on the safe side, to appease the content owners.

Yes, HDCP requires a digital connection.

Eug · Jan 2, 2007 , 09:47 AM

Cyberlink responds to the alleged AACS hack:

First of all, PowerDVD complies to AACS compliance rules to ensure HD DVD contents are fully protected. Cyberlink is confident that PowerDVD fully protects HD DVD contents.

Secondly, PowerDVD does not keep "Title Keys" in system memory. Cyberlink is not sure how the user got the Title Key and notes that the released tool nor the video on YouTube provides the information on obtaining the Titles Keys.

Thirdly, there are no evidences that the user is using PowerDVD to hack/crack HD DVD video content. He or she was simply using PowerDVD to playback the video that was ripped with other software. PowerDVD supports evo video file format playback.

slugslugslug · Jan 4, 2007 , 12:34 AM

Gizmodo just reported that LG is going to show a dual-format player at CES, for release in "early 2007."

Dark Helmet · Jan 4, 2007 , 12:36 AM

Originally Posted by slugslugslug

Gizmodo just reported that LG is going to show a dual-format player at CES, for release in "early 2007."

Shame it has to be LG.

exca1ibur · Jan 4, 2007 , 12:39 AM

Add this to the mix now...

Another Format?

Kerrigan · Jan 4, 2007 , 12:45 AM

Whatever the case, I'm just going to get a PS3. That way if Blu-ray goes bust (unlikely) at least I can justify the purchase of the player because of the games.

Dark Helmet · Jan 4, 2007 , 01:00 AM

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

Whatever the case, I'm just going to get a PS3. That way if Blu-ray goes bust (unlikely) at least I can justify the purchase of the player because of the games.

Bingo. Blu-Ray or not I would have got a PS3 and I would have got a stand alone blu-ray player anyway if it wasn't for the PS3 so it is win win for me.

icruise · Jan 4, 2007 , 02:07 AM

Originally Posted by exca1ibur

Add this to the mix now...

Another Format?

From the article:

However, among its perceived advantages, HD-DVD players are less expensive and also play standard DVDs, while Blu-ray players do not

Blu-ray players play normal DVDs, don't they? Sounds like the HD-DVD "combo disc" idea confused him.

I don't understand how this "total HD" disc works. Can anyone explain how a single disc can work with both kinds of players? What is its storage capacity?

Kerrigan · Jan 4, 2007 , 02:46 AM

I can't believe that's a NYT article, it makes no sense. Beyond confusing the average customer, this is even confusing the journalists and geeks like us. Imagine going into a shop and seeing DVDs, Blu-Rays, HD-DVDs, and Total DVDs.. customers will not like this.

mrtew · Jan 4, 2007 , 05:26 AM

Originally Posted by Eug

Right now, HD DVD.

FWIW, this is a real-time assessment of the race at Amazon.com: The DVD Wars

Looks like BluRay is going to win afterall!

Originally Posted by Kerrigan

Imagine going into a shop and seeing DVDs, Blu-Rays, HD-DVDs, and Total DVDs.. customers will not like this.

Well, customers don't like being faced with the choice between BluRay and HDDVD right now so I bet they'd LOVE to see a new format come along and blow both of them away (except of course for the customers that have already chosen one or the other).

mitchell_pgh · Jan 4, 2007 , 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by mrtew

Well, customers don't like being faced with the choice between BluRay and HDDVD right now so I bet they'd LOVE to see a new format come along and blow both of them away (except of course for the customers that have already chosen one or the other).

The thing is, these new disks will play in stand alone HD DVD players and Blu-Ray players as well.

One disk for both players. I'm guessing here, but this sounds like a not so great thing. They should have just adopted one format so that consumers could just start going HD.

I'm not going HD with movies until there is a clear winner.

Eug Wanker · Jan 4, 2007 , 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by icruise

Blu-ray players play normal DVDs, don't they? Sounds like the HD-DVD "combo disc" idea confused him.

One or two of the early Blu-ray players didn't. I'm not sure if all retail ones do or not.

I don't understand how this "total HD" disc works. Can anyone explain how a single disc can work with both kinds of players? What is its storage capacity?

A combo disc has HD DVD on one side, and a standard DVD on the other.

"Total HD" is similar. HD DVD on one side, and Blu-ray on the other. I don't see these catching on in a big way but who knows.

CheesePuff · Jan 4, 2007 , 07:10 AM

Wouldn't a "Total DVD" cost nearly twice as much as the already over-prices discs cost now?

mitchell_pgh · Jan 4, 2007 , 07:29 AM

Originally Posted by CheesePuff

Wouldn't a "Total DVD" cost nearly twice as much as the already over-prices discs cost now?

Considering they would have to pay royalties to both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, and the disks would cost more... I don't see it being that big, but you never know. That being said, I doubt it would be twice as much.

I would actually support such a disk, but I'm afraid for the Blu-Ray version of the disk as it could be limited to only 25GB of storage space, and the whole "WOW" feature of Blu-Ray is the idea of having a HD moving less compressed spanning over a 50 GB disk (less artifacts, more space for extras, better sound [NOT ALWAYS, but space isn't an issue with Blu-Ray in the same way it CAN be for HD-DVD.]

Eug · Jan 4, 2007 , 07:46 AM

Combo HD DVD/DVD discs are about $5 more. That's enough to make them less desirable than pure HD DVD discs.

mdc · Jan 4, 2007 , 09:19 AM

We were buying movies at Best Buy last night and they had Slither on a combo disk for $34. My wife wants to watch the movie, but at $34 I'm not buying a movie that expensive. They should keep the "not so good" movies away from the combo format since I'm not paying a premium for them.

We ended up buying Blazing Saddles, Happy Gilmore, Full Metal Jacket, and Sleepy Hollow. I can not find Superman Returns at Target or Best Buy. Amazon I guess.

Eug · Jan 4, 2007 , 10:00 AM

Originally Posted by mdc

We were buying movies at Best Buy last night and they had Slither on a combo disk for $34. My wife wants to watch the movie, but at $34 I'm not buying a movie that expensive. They should keep the "not so good" movies away from the combo format since I'm not paying a premium for them.

We ended up buying Blazing Saddles, Happy Gilmore, Full Metal Jacket, and Sleepy Hollow. I can not find Superman Returns at Target or Best Buy. Amazon I guess.

Combo would be great if they charged reasonable prices. However, the prices are stupid, and that's why most of the HD DVD people hate combo discs.

Combo discs for Blu-ray up to now had not been feasible, so there are no combo discs at all on the Blu-ray side (yet).

Eug Wanker · Jan 6, 2007 , 02:06 AM

The Descent is the first major Blu-ray release which has the Picture-in-Picture video commentary capability.

Except that it doesn't. It has another FULL copy of the movie on disc, but with a commentary video burned into the corner.

Lame. No wonder it needs BD50.