[aristotles]

Originally Posted by hyteckit 

I never said you said Woolworth sells HDDVD players. I said don't make up stuff about Circuit City and Best Buy dropping HDDVD players. I just wanted to clarify that Woolworth only sells HDDVD movies.

You said:

Stop making up stuff unless you have proof. Woolworth only sells movies. Don't sell them selling hidef players.

[hyteckit]

Two separate sentences.

'Stop making up stuff' was regarding Circuit City and Best Buy dumping HDDVD players.

'Woolworth only sell movies' was too clarify your statements, so people on this thread don't think Woolworth actually sells HDDVD players.


I should've said:

Stop making up stuff about Circuit City and Best Buy unless you have proof. Woolworth only sells movies. They don't sell hidef players.

[mrtew]

Originally Posted by aristotles 

What you on about eh? I don't know you or that other person. Stop embarrassing your fellow Canadians that is assuming you actually are one. If you are an adult, behave like one.

Geez, sorry mom. I didn't care at all who it was until you (or maybe someone else) started defending him. I've never seen anything like that on any MacNN forum so I got curious who it was and why they'd be banned. The more you protest this total stranger's privacy as if they were some poor nerd that got pants'd in gym rather than just a jerk that got the boot, and keep a shroud of secrecy around the whole incident just makes the desire to know what the heck is going on, but I guess I'll be a good Canadian and try to forget about it and go back to insulting people for whether they like one kind of little plastic disc or the other. Thanks for setting me straight, I'm still learning.

[Eug]

Interesting: Standalone player sales for the weeks ending Jan. 12 and Jan 19 (NPD).



But like we said, one week doesn't make a trend.

Originally Posted by mrtew 

I don't have an HD DVD player. Why would someone have it hooked up to the ethernet? To play a game which is based on the movie or something? I'm asking.

Downloadable extras, etc. This is possible since all HD DVD players must have built-in storage space. (And firmware updates.)

[Dakar the Fourth]

66/34 has been the status quo from the previous year, hasn't it?

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

66/34 has been the status quo from the previous year, hasn't it?

Not for standalone hardware sales. Overall HD DVD had the advantage in 2007, although IIRC around Xmas time it was more like 50/50.

This is NOT counting the huge numbers of PS3s sold however (and not counting Xbox 360 HD DVD drive sales either).

[Dakar the Fourth]

My mistake. I must have been thinking of software sales.

I'm curious to see what this looks like a month after the Warner move then, when the media coverage is a distant memory for most buyers.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

My mistake. I must have been thinking of software sales.

I'm curious to see what this looks like a month after the Warner move then, when the media coverage is a distant memory for most buyers.

Yeah, you're thinking software sales.

[harbinger75]

Blu-Ray...all the way.

I say this because I'm sick and tired of this "war". Pick a damned format already.

[Lateralus]

[hyteckit]

Week 2.
Blu-ray Disc - 21,770 units
HD-DVD - 1,758 units

Week 3
Blu-ray Disc - 16,496 units
HD-DVD - 8,639 units


Blu-ray sales drops close to 25%
HD-DVD sales up close to 500%

Week 4 is going to be worst for Blu-ray.

[turtle777]

Originally Posted by hyteckit 

Week 2.
Blu-ray Disc - 21,770 units
HD-DVD - 1,758 units

Week 3
Blu-ray Disc - 16,496 units
HD-DVD - 8,639 units


Blu-ray sales drops close to 25%
HD-DVD sales up close to 500%

Week 4 is going to be worst for Blu-ray.

You fanboism knows no bounds

-t

[TETENAL]

heise online - Saturn nimmt HD-DVD-Player bei Kauf eines Blu-ray-Modells in Zahlung

Saturn gives a €150 rebate on any standalone Sony BluRay player if you return them your HD DVD player. The deal also includes 2 BluRay movies in the box and 6 more after registration.

Sony : Blu-ray Disc™ Aktion FAQ : Deutschland

[hyteckit]

Originally Posted by turtle777 

You fanboism knows no bounds

-t

Hey, just doing what Bill Hunt does at the digitalbits. Facts are facts.

Blu-ray can't maintain momentum. Sales are down by 25%.

[Dakar the Fourth]

Here are some facts:

Week 2:
HD-DVD had 8% the sales of Blu-Ray

Week 3:
Hd-DVD had 52%.

I'm sure Blu-Ray will be devastated during their "worst week" when they still are moving 25% more players...

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

Here are some facts:

Week 2:
HD-DVD had 8% the sales of Blu-Ray

Week 3:
Hd-DVD had 52%.

I'm sure Blu-Ray will be devastated during their "worst week" when they still are moving 25% more players...

Heh. However, to be nitpickedly accurate, that is actually their second best week.

[Dakar the Fourth]

As in this is the second most units they've ever moved in a week?

edit: blu or HD?

[Shaddim]

Originally Posted by hyteckit 

Week 2.
Blu-ray Disc - 21,770 units
HD-DVD - 1,758 units

Week 3
Blu-ray Disc - 16,496 units
HD-DVD - 8,639 units


Blu-ray sales drops close to 25%
HD-DVD sales up close to 500%

Week 4 is going to be worst for Blu-ray.

All the HD-DVD fire sales have kicked in, this will normalize once all the major retailers run out of stock.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Dakar the Fourth 

As in this is the second most units they've ever moved in a week?

edit: blu or HD?

As in Blu's second best percentage showing in a week for standalone players, IIRC. (I'd have to check again to make sure though.)

In terms of actual units, I would guess they moved more in some weeks before Xmas.

Originally Posted by Shaddim 

All the HD-DVD fire sales have kicked in, this will normalize once all the major retailers run out of stock.

Well, the "fire sales" are reflective of new lowered MSRPs. This was Toshiba's response to the Warner announcement, and not a clearout.

[Shaddim]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Well, the "fire sales" are reflective of new lowered MSRPs. This was Toshiba's response to the Warner announcement, and not a clearout.

It's still a clearout, as retailers aren't going to be restocking.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Shaddim 

It's still a clearout, as retailers aren't going to be restocking.

Retailers are restocking when necessary. (Or at least they are around here.)

Why wouldn't they, if they can move units? Now, if the units stop moving then they'll stop restocking.

[jokell82]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Retailers are restocking. (Or at least most of them are around here.)

Why wouldn't they, if they can move units? Now, if the units stop moving then they'll stop restocking.

If they're selling better than upscaling DVD players they'd be stupid not to restock. Even if HD DVD completely goes away in the next week they're still good upscaling players.

[Shaddim]

Originally Posted by jokell82 

If they're selling better than upscaling DVD players they'd be stupid not to restock. Even if HD DVD completely goes away in the next week they're still good upscaling players.

They aren't. Those $50 upscaling players are still whipping their asses in terms of sheer numbers, 8,600 players isn't much to write home about. Sure, there are a few who still want an HD-DVD unit, but once those few are satisfied the whole format can gratefully sink into the abyss.

[jokell82]

Originally Posted by Shaddim 

They aren't. Those $50 upscaling players are still whipping their asses in terms of sheer numbers, 8,600 players isn't much to write home about. Sure, there are a few who still want an HD-DVD unit, but once those few are satisfied the whole format can gratefully sink into the abyss.

Do you have sales numbers for those weeks for standard DVD players? The latest I've found is July of last year.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by jokell82 

Do you have sales numbers for those weeks for standard DVD players? The latest I've found is July of last year.

Also, we're talking about a few models of HD DVD players (and Blu-ray players) vs. hundreds of models of DVD players. That does reflect the overall market of course, but isn't a good gauge of whether or not a store will carry a unit.

ie.

If the HD-A3 HD DVD player ($130-150) continues to sell well, then a store will likely decide to keep selling it. This same store might also sell 4 different models of upscaling DVD players ($60-130), and 5 different models of DVD players that don't upscale ($30-80), and may not sell the higher-priced HD-XA2 HD DVD at all.

[Eug]

Well, that's interesting...

Some guy has managed to edit and flash his HD-A2 firmware so that now it is DVD region free and will upscale PAL discs too.

He's using an older firmware though. I think I'll wait until the hacks get a bit more mature before I try doing the same.

[icruise]

I bought that Family Guy Blue Harvest DVD that includes the iTunes version of the movie. It was a little different than I had expected. First of all, it comes on a separate disc, rather than on the DVD itself. I don't know why this is. It's possible that the disc is a CD-ROM so as to increase compatibility with computers, or maybe they didn't want to use up the space on the DVD for the file, but that seems a little unlikely. You put the disc in your computer and it pops up in iTunes like a source. You then have to type in the code that's on the disc's insert, and you can then "download" the file. (It acts for all the world like you're downloading it from the iTunes Store, but it's actually just copying it from the disc). It's about a 500MB file, with 640 x 480 resolution. It looks very good on the computer. Probably as good as the DVD, which isn't too hard considering the source material. I wonder if they put a limit on how many times you can download with a particular code.

Anyway, I think it's a great idea, and one that should be used for more films.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Snap:

" When viewing growth since inception, aggressive promotions in Q4 2007 actually put HDM's growth ahead of DVD's. We already got a hint of this at the BDA press conference, where a graph showed that HDM is in a similar growth trend to DVD and VHS, but it bears repeating -- in the big picture, HDM is doing just fine."

Viewed in perspective, HDM growth outpacing DVD - Engadget HD

[aristotles]

I would like to see proof that CC and BB are replenishing their warehouse stock of HD DVD players. Individual CC and BB stores would replenish their in-store stock from their warehouses as they would be able to leverage the buying power of the corporation. I do not believe those people who claim that that either of those chains are not clearing out the players actually work for the stores. I believe that they are HD DVD enthusiasts who are getting second hand information and interpreting it wrong because they do not know how large chains operate and order electronics.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Ars Technica reviews Adobe Encore CS3: Page 1

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Sonic's Scenarist now Blu-ray, digital distribution format only - Engadget HD

[jokell82]

Originally Posted by aristotles 

I would like to see proof that CC and BB are replenishing their warehouse stock of HD DVD players. Individual CC and BB stores would replenish their in-store stock from their warehouses as they would be able to leverage the buying power of the corporation. I do not believe those people who claim that that either of those chains are not clearing out the players actually work for the stores. I believe that they are HD DVD enthusiasts who are getting second hand information and interpreting it wrong because they do not know how large chains operate and order electronics.

With Best Buy, the proof is in the price. If the price of an item changes so that the it ends with a .60, .50, or some other price instead of .99, that means it's on clearance. But a standard .99 price means it's a stock item.

There is no way to know either way for sure until either the price changes like that or there is an announcement made. You are guessing just as much as anyone else.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

National Geographic Makes Move to Blu-ray Exclusivity | High-Def Digest

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Even thought Warner is still supporting HD it seems they don't care much about it:

Future Warner HD DVD releases to to inferior to their Blu conterparts? - Engadget HD

[jokell82]

The game division of Sony turned a profit last quarter:
Sony sells 4.9M PS3s in fiscal Q3; game division yields profit - Joystiq

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Slashdot | Time Warner Filtering iTunes Traffic?

[goMac]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

Slashdot | Time Warner Filtering iTunes Traffic?

And if you read the comments Time Warner already fixed it...

[aristotles]

Toshiba HD DVD ad was a dud. They just recycled an existing ad with a new pricepoint at BB and CC.

Apparently it was also in SD instead of HD in a lot of markets.

[jokell82]

I didn't even see it. When did it air?

[Oversoul]

Apparently the spot was a regional ad buy, so some markets got it and some didn't. It aired in some markets during the halftime commercial break (i.e., when a lot of people usually get up to use the restroom).

Here's the ad: Video: HD DVD Super Bowl Commercial | High-Def Digest

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Holy crap that was bad. Pretty realistic situation though. A bunch of dudes watching football popping in a copy of Shrek half way through the game and invite their girlfriends in. Heck I'm sold.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

"A lot of people (including Steve Jobs) like to talk about the imminent arrival of HD downloads, a magic talisman that will help peace-loving technophiles avoid the atrocities of the last shiny-silver-disc format war. But as we've discussed and others have researched, bandwidth, and not resolution, determine final quality."

Vudu Test Confirms HD Download Worries (Plus: What Needs to Be Done)

[climber]

Downloads will eventually be a good alternative to Blu-ray rentals. That is once they have the bandwidth. But how can one argue that downloads will somehow replace the purchase of real disks? People will always want to own a copy of some movies. I do not see that going away anytime soon.

[jokell82]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

"A lot of people (including Steve Jobs) like to talk about the imminent arrival of HD downloads, a magic talisman that will help peace-loving technophiles avoid the atrocities of the last shiny-silver-disc format war. But as we've discussed and others have researched, bandwidth, and not resolution, determine final quality."

Vudu Test Confirms HD Download Worries (Plus: What Needs to Be Done)

So because Vudu sucks iTunes will inevitably suck as well? I'll wait to pass judgment on the iTMS downloads until I see them.

[Oversoul]

Originally Posted by jokell82 

So because Vudu sucks iTunes will inevitably suck as well? I'll wait to pass judgment on the iTMS downloads until I see them.

Sorry, but I've seen iTunes' new HD movie rentals in person at MacWorld. Not impressed. AppleTV still only delivers at 720p and consequently their HD movie rentals are only 720p. What's worse is these movies are encoded at extremely poor bit-rates, and it shows. In my opinion, these "HD" movies looked no better than an upconverted DVD on my Oppo 981. Bandwidth is no doubt a consideration in how Apple encodes their movies. It's going to be a while before iTunes and like download services can deliver video quality comparable to physical HD media or even OTA HD or HD On Demand.

Here's more: Apple TV Source - Will iTunes HD movies be "HD" enough?

I also spoke to an Apple rep on the floor there and he noted AppleTV's HD downloads are only available as rentals -- not purchases. Before I buy into HD video downloads, I'd like to know that I can actually own a copy of the movie.

[jokell82]

That's fine. I've read reports that they are similar in quality to a cable or satellite HD channel. And that because of the encoding they can achieve a lot more with their 5mbps (not 4 as your article suggests) than an mpeg2 stream can. So, again, I'll wait until I see them with my own eyes to pass judgment.

And we knew HD downloads were rentals only from the keynote.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

"A lot of people (including Steve Jobs) like to talk about the imminent arrival of HD downloads, a magic talisman that will help peace-loving technophiles avoid the atrocities of the last shiny-silver-disc format war. But as we've discussed and others have researched, bandwidth, and not resolution, determine final quality."

Vudu Test Confirms HD Download Worries (Plus: What Needs to Be Done)

The reviewer is actually very misleading when he compares to the AppleTV. First, as far as I've read, Vudu actually does 1080p downloads. Not only that, it does them at 4 mbps. And we have no idea what kind of compression Vudu uses. Vudu is also fully streaming which means worse compression and even worse image quality.

It should be pretty obvious why Vudu looks like crap.

To compare, Apple is doing 720p at at least 4-4.5 mbps. Comparing Vudu at all to the AppleTV is very misleading.

[icruise]

Have you actually seen Apple's HD downloads, goMac? Just curious. I have not.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by icruise 

Have you actually seen Apple's HD downloads, goMac? Just curious. I have not.

I haven't. I use XBox Live for online downloads, which should be comparable. Apple uses H.264 with 5.1, and Microsoft uses VC1 with 5.1. Apple, from the math we did earlier in the thread, might have a slight edge in bitrate.

The image and sound quality on XBox Live has been great. I hauled my XBox over to a friends house and hooked it up to his 5.1 surround system and his 67" 1080p plasma to watch some CSI from Live, and it looked and sounded great. When the AppleTV software update comes out, I plan on switching over. I'm ordering my Mac Pro this month, and am looking at Cinema Displays, so the budget might be tight, but I'll try and pick up an AppleTV when the software update ships.

So, in short, no I haven't seen the AppleTV's HD service in person, but I use a comparable service.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by goMac 

So, in short, no I haven't seen the AppleTV's HD service in person, but I use a comparable service.

Which I guess makes you the pro.