[exca1ibur]

Sorry for the long post. This is a list of 'some' of the exclusives for the next year. Starting from Fall... The red are the exclusives for each. If you look at this list, this shows what I mean about content. Now when the players get to the same price which do you think a consumer is going to go for?
Also Sony said they would 'SHIP' 6 Million PS3s by March 2007.
Sony: 6 million PS3s by March of 2007 | PS3 News | GamePro.com

They came up short, no question. But that wasn't as bad as everyone is making it out to be. They shipped 5.5 Million.
PlayStation 3 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


HD-DVD - 21 Exclusives over the next year
2001: A Space Odyssey (Warner)
Above the Law (Warner)
Amadeus (Warner)
American Pie (Universal)
American Pie (Unrated) (Universal)
American Pie Presents: A Naked Mile (Universal)
Angels in America (HBO)
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (New Line)
The Aviator (Universal)
Awake (Weinstein)
Band of Brothers (HBO)
Battlestar Galactica: The Complete First Season (Universal)
Bikini Destinations (Magnolia)
The Black Dahlia (Universal)
Blade (New Line)
Blade Runner (Warner)
The Blues Brothers (Universal)
Braveheart (Paramount)
Breaking and Entering (Weinstein)
Bubble (Magnolia)
Catwoman (Warner)
A Clockwork Orange (Warner)
Coach Carter (Paramount)
Conan the Barbarian (Universal)
Contact (Warner)
Dark City (New Line)
Dawn of the Dead (2003) (Universal)
Deadwood: Season One (HBO)
Decameron (Weinstein)
Deliver Us from Eva (Universal)
The Dirty Harry Collection (Warner)
Dr. Seuss' The Cat in the Hat (2003) (Universal)
Dragon's Lair (Digital Leisure)
Elizabethtown (Warner)
Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room (Magnolia)
Eraser (Warner)
Executive Decision (Warner)
Eyes Wide Shut (Warner)
Final Destination (New Line)
Forrest Gump (Paramount)
Friday (New Line)
From the Earth to the Moon (HBO)
Gothika (Warner)
Grease (Paramount)
The Green Mile (Warner)
Grind House (Weinstein)
Hard to Kill (Warner)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Warner)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Warner)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Warner)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Warner)
Hot Fuzz (Universal)
Idlewild (Universal)
Inside Man (Universal)
Killshot (Weinstein)
Last Legion (Weinstein)
The Lemon Drop Kid (Universal)
The Libertine (Weinstein)
The Maltese Falcon (Warner)
The Mask (New Line)
Maverick (Warner)
Mrs. Henderson Presents (Weinstein)
The Music Man (Warner)
Mystic River (Warner)
Next of Kin (Warner)
North by Northwest (Warner)
Ocean's Eleven (Warner)
Ocean's Twelve (Warner)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Warner)
One Last Thing (Magnolia)
Passenger 57 (Warner)
The Player (New Line)
Pride & Prejudice (Universal)
Psycho (1960) (Universal)
Red Planet (Warner)
The Return (Universal)
Rush Hour (New Line)
Saturday Night Fever (Paramount)
Save the Last Dance (Paramount)
Scarface (1983) (Universal)
School of Rock (Paramount)
Scoop (Universal)
Se7en (New Line)
Shaun of the Dead (Universal)
The Shining (1980) (Warner)
Shuttle Discovery's Historic Mission (Magnolia)
Sin City 2 (Weinstein)
Soldier (Weinstein)
Son of Paleface (Paramount)
Spawn (New Line)
Spongebob Squarepants: The Movie (Paramount)
Star Trek: First Contact (Paramount)
Star Trek: The Original Series (Paramount)
TransAmerica (Weinstein)
Twister (Weinstein)
U.S. Marshals (Warner)
The Ultimate Star Trek Collection (Paramount)
Vanilla Sky (Paramount)
Vengeance of the Zombies (BCI)
The War Within (Magnolia)
Wild Wild West (Warner)
Young Hannibal (Weinstein)

Blu ray 48 Exclusive Titles over the next year (Not including the 12-15 Fox titles on hold)
edited-
2001: A Space Odyssey (Warner)
Above the Law (Warner)
Aladdin (Buena Vista)
Amadeus (Warner)
Angels in America (HBO)
Armageddon (Buena Vista)
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (New Line)
Bad Boys (Sony)
Band of Brothers (HBO)
Batman Begins (Warner)
Battle of Britain (MGM)
Beauty and the Beast (Buena Vista)
Belly (Lionsgate)
Blade (New Line)
Blade Runner (Warner)
Bram Stoker's Dracula (Sony)
Braveheart (Paramount)
The Bridge on the River Kwai (Sony)
A Bridge Too Far (MGM)
Bull Durham (MGM)
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Fox)
Cabin Fever (Buena Vista)
Catwoman (Warner)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Warner)
Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle (Sony)
The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (Disney)
A Clockwork Orange (Warner)
Coach Carter (Paramount)
The Complete Matrix Trilogy (Warner)
Constantine (Warner)
Contact (Warner)
Dark City (New Line)
The Dead Zone: The Complete First Season (Lionsgate)
Deadwood: Season One (HBO)
Desperado (Sony)
The Dirty Harry Collection (Warner)
Dukes of Hazzard (Warner)
Edward Scissorhands (Fox)
Elizabethtown (Paramount)
Eraser (Warner)
Executive Decision (Warner)
Eyes Wide Shut (Warner)
Father of the Bride (1991) (Buena Vista)
A Few Good Men (Sony)
Final Destination (New Line)
Finding Nemo (Buena Vista)
A Fistful of Dollars (MGM)
For a Few Dollars More (Sony)
Forbidden Planet (Warner)
Forrest Gump (Paramount)
Frank Herbert's Dune (Lionsgate)
Friday (New Line)
From the Earth to the Moon (HBO)
Gothika (Warner)
The Graduate (MGM)
Grand Prix (Warner)
Grease (Paramount)
The Green Mile (Warner)
The Guns of Navarone (Sony)
Hard to Kill (Warner)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Warner)
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Warner)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Warner)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Warner)
Herbie: Fully Loaded (Buena Vista)
Hostel (Sony)
House of a 1,000 Corpses (Lionsgate)
I, Robot (Fox)
Independence Day (Fox)
Jerry Maguire (Sony)
Kill Bill: Vol. 1 (Buena Vista)
Kill Bill: Vol. 2 (Buena Vista)
The Lion King (Buena Vista)
The Maltese Falcon (Warner)
Man on Fire (Fox)
The Mask (New Line)
Master & Commander (Fox)
Maverick (Warner)
Monster's Ball (Lionsgate)
The Music Man (Warner)
Mutiny on the Bounty (Warner)
Mystic River (Warner)
National Lampoon's Van Wilder (Lionsgate)
National Treasure (Buena Vista)
Next of Kin (Warner)
North by Northwest (Warner)
Ocean's Eleven (Warner)
Ocean's Twelve (Warner)
Once Upon a Time in Mexico (Sony)
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Warner)
Open Range (Buena Vista)
Out of Time (MGM)
Passenger 57 (Warner)
The Perfect Storm (Warner)
Pi (Lionsgate)
Platoon (MGM)
The Player (New Line)
The Polar Express (Warner)
Poseidon (Warner)
Predator (Fox)
The Recruit (Buena Vista)
Red Planet (Warner)
Remember the Titans (Buena Vista)
Requiem for a Dream (Lionsgate)
Ronin (MGM)
Rush Hour (New Line)
Saturday Night Fever (Paramount)
Save the Last Dance (Paramount)
School of Rock (Paramount)
Se7en (New Line)
See No Evil (Lionsgate)
The Shining (1980) (Warner)
The Siege (Fox)
Sin City (Buena Vista)
Snow Dogs (Buena Vista)
Soldier (Warner)
The Sopranos: Season One (HBO)
Spawn (New Line)
Spider-Man (Sony)
Spongebob Squarepants: The Movie (Paramount)
Star Trek: First Contact (Paramount)
Star Trek: The Original Series (Paramount)
Stargate: Atlantis - Season One (Sony)
Superman: Ultimate Collector's Edition (Warner)
To Live and Die in L.A. (MGM)
Troy (Warner)
Twister (Warner)
U.S. Marshals (Warner)
The Ultimate Matrix Collection (Warner)
Vanilla Sky (Paramount)
Walking Tall (2004) (MGM)
Wild Wild West (Warner)


I still don't understand why there is a need to exclude the PS3 numbers with the Blu ray players. I device that can play a Blu ray movie is as just a potential customer as anyone else. They didn't just sell this huge amount of discs only to the stand alone players. Thats like trying to split up HP, Dell, Gateway from the Windows market. They all run windows so whats the difference?

[Kenneth]

By looking at the list, I still believe that I'm in the right boat, which is blu-ray. No doubt about it, Universal holds a lot of popular titles, but in general I'm not interested and not gonna pay for.

[jokell82]

Originally Posted by icruise 

What's so strange about it? If you see no hope of your side winning (at least not for a long time), why support it? This isn't politics, where you might choose a losing side just to make a point.

Because f*ck Sony, that's why.

I'd much rather see HD-DVD win, because it's not just a format of one particular company who stands to make it rich off of licensing. Plus I'm much more interested in upcoming HD-DVD content than I am with anything BluRay has coming out.

[jokell82]

BTW, in those lists the HBO releases are listed as exclusive to BluRay, but they're also in the HD-DVD list. What gives?

[starman]

Why is Star Trek: First Contact listed as a Sony title?

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by jokell82 

Because f*ck Sony, that's why.

I'd much rather see HD-DVD win, because it's not just a format of one particular company who stands to make it rich off of licensing. Plus I'm much more interested in upcoming HD-DVD content than I am with anything BluRay has coming out.

Microsoft is the lesser of 2 evils? What the hell did sony ever do to you or are you just being fashionable by following the sony hate train?

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Kill bill's and Sin city on BR only? That just assured me that I made the right choice with BR!

Than again HD does have Dr. Seuss

[exca1ibur]

Originally Posted by jokell82 

BTW, in those lists the HBO releases are listed as exclusive to BluRay, but they're also in the HD-DVD list. What gives?

You are right. Edited

Originally Posted by starman 

Why is Star Trek: First Contact listed as a Sony title?

You are right as well. Edited. I'll let them know about that one.

[Eug]

Out of the exclusives, I want:
Battlestar Galactica (Universal)
Hot Fuzz (Universal)
Shaun of the Dead (Universal)
The Bridge On the River Kwai (Sony)

Out of the non-exclusives, I want:
2001: A Space Odyssey (Warner)
Blade Runner (Warner)
Grind House (Weinstein)
Star Trek: The Original Series (Paramount)
* Grease (Paramount)
* Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Warner)
* Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (Warner)
* Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Warner)
* Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Warner)

* - Well, I don't really want these, but my GF does.

These are excluding titles I've already purchased. I also might pick up a few more non-exclusives later on.

I still don't understand why there is a need to exclude the PS3 numbers with the Blu ray players. I device that can play a Blu ray movie is as just a potential customer as anyone else. They didn't just sell this huge amount of discs only to the stand alone players. Thats like trying to split up HP, Dell, Gateway from the Windows market. They all run windows so whats the difference?

The reason many people consider the PS3 separately is because disc sales numbers have illustrated that it takes around 4-5 PS3s to equal one standalone (or Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on).

So, yes, the PS3 is very important early on in the war, but 3 million PS3s are probably equivalent to about 600000-750000 standalones in terms of movie software sales.

P.S. That Universal title "Idlewind" is actually "Idlewild".

[exca1ibur]

Originally Posted by Eug 

The reason many people consider the PS3 separately is because disc sales numbers have illustrated that it takes around 4-5 PS3s to equal one standalone (or Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on).

So, yes, the PS3 is very important early on in the war, but 3 million PS3s are probably equivalent to about 600000-750000 standalones in terms of movie software sales.

This still doesn't make sense to me. I don't see a need to split up Blu ray markets in two. I'd think total sales is what needs to be looked at. Why should is matter who you sell your stuff too, as long as its selling?

If you sell 100,000 movies and only 20,000 are from standalone? What difference should it make, you have sold 100,000. Why shouldn't total sales be the only factor here?

P.S. That Universal title "Idlewind" is actually "Idlewild".

Good catch. I'll let them know about that one too. Fixed.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

Microsoft is the lesser of 2 evils? What the hell did sony ever do to you or are you just being fashionable by following the sony hate train?

Microsoft has their hands in both formats. You can't avoid Microsoft by picking Bluray over HD-DVD.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by exca1ibur 

If you sell 100,000 movies and only 20,000 are from standalone? What difference should it make, you have sold 100,000. Why shouldn't total sales be the only factor here?

It makes it easier to make projections.

The big movie disc sales growth in the coming years will be because of standalone sales.

Even if Sony were to sell another 3 million PS3s by the end of 2007, then that would be equivalent to say 700000 more standalone Blu-ray players.

So, total standalone equivalents for the PS3 would be 1.4 million by the end of 2007. Add in another 600000 Blu-ray standalones, and that's 2 million standalone Blu-ray players worldwide. Let's be generous and add another 50% to that to bring it to 3 million Blu-ray standalone equivalencies by the end of 2007.

Toshiba OTOH is predicting 1.8 million HD DVD players in North America alone in 2007, and 4-5 million HD DVD players worldwide for fiscal 2007 (which includes Q1 2008). That's on top of sales from 2006. That seems rather optimistic, but nonetheless those are the numbers being thrown around. Let's temper that a bit and bring the number down to 3 million sold by the end of 2007.

Catch my drift?

Hence, continued stalemate, as I've been arguing all along.

P.S. This is the projected disc title release numbers for 2007 from the HD DVD side:

US Studios
175+ shipping today in US
300+ announced for 2007

Studios include: Paramount., WB, Universal, HBOVideo,
HDNet, CustomFlix, Hi Def Entertainment, TFLM Elsevier,
Magnolia, DVD International, Weinstein Co., Image
Entertainment, Rhino, Eagle Rock Ent., Discovery

Japan
50+ Titles available in Japan
100+ announced for 2007

Studios include: NHK, Bandai Visual, BSi, Digital Site,
GDH, Happinet Pictures, Pony Canyon, Shochiku,
Shogakukan, Toshiba Entertainment, Video Arts Music,
+ {Warner, Paramount, Universal}

Europe
75+ titles available in EU
140+ announced for 2007

Studios include: Studio Canal, Eagle Vision, DVD
International, ILC, LCG, FTD, EMS, Imagion, Nixbu,
Cameo, Pathe, Dea Planeta, Filmax + {Warner,
Paramount, Universal}

That makes it 300 HD DVDs already available, plus another several hundred yet to come.

[icruise]

The Blu-ray exclusives I'm interested in are (red ones are ones I will definitely buy):

• Aladdin
• Beauty & The Beast
• Edward Scissorhands
• Father of the Bride
• Finding Nemo
• I, Robot (well, maybe)
• Kill Bill: Vol. 1
• Kill Bill: Vol. 2
• The Lion King
• Sin City
• Spider-Man
• Master & Commander

The HD-DVD exclusive titles I'm interested in are:

• Conan the Barbarian

That's it. I wonder which side I should be supporting...?

I don't think I'm going to be buying Star Trek: The Original Series again after buying it first on those lame 2-episode DVDs and then in the seasons sets (luckily I was able to sell the individual DVDs just before the season sets came out, so I didn't really lose anything).

Originally Posted by goMac 

Microsoft has their hands in both formats. You can't avoid Microsoft by picking Bluray over HD-DVD.

Are you seriously arguing that Microsoft is equally invested in BR and HD-DVD? In any case, I personally don't think that it makes much sense to choose a format based on dislike of a particular company (either Sony or MS).

[icruise]

Originally Posted by Eug 

That makes it 300 HD DVDs already available, plus another several hundred yet to come.

Surely there is a lot of overlap between the titles available in the various regions, isn't there?

[Eug]

Originally Posted by icruise 

Surely there is a lot of overlap between the titles available in the various regions, isn't there?

Some I presume, but it should also be noted that several Blu-ray exclusives will be released on HD DVD in Europe as well. This is significant, since there is no region coding on HD DVD.

So, for example, Terminator 2 is a Blu-ray exclusive in North America, but Terminator 2 on HD DVD from Europe will work on North American players.

I already see European HD DVD imports at my local HMV store. The main problem is price on these import HD DVDs, since they cost more obviously.

Import Blu-ray discs don't exist at that store at all though, because of region coding.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by icruise 

Are you seriously arguing that Microsoft is equally invested in BR and HD-DVD? In any case, I personally don't think that it makes much sense to choose a format based on dislike of a particular company (either Sony or MS).

Microsoft's technology is used in both formats. Microsoft may have publicly committed to HD-DVD, but they made sure to get their tech into Bluray also.

[exca1ibur]

Originally Posted by Eug 

It makes it easier to make projections.

The big movie disc sales growth in the coming years will be because of standalone sales.

Even if Sony were to sell another 3 million PS3s by the end of 2007, then that would be equivalent to say 700000 more standalone Blu-ray players.

So, total standalone equivalents for the PS3 would be 1.4 million by the end of 2007. Add in another 600000 Blu-ray standalones, and that's 2 million standalone Blu-ray players worldwide. Let's be generous and add another 50% to that to bring it to 3 million Blu-ray standalone equivalencies by the end of 2007.

Toshiba OTOH is predicting 1.8 million HD DVD players in North America alone in 2007, and 4-5 million HD DVD players worldwide for fiscal 2007 (which includes Q1 2008). That's on top of sales from 2006. That seems rather optimistic, but nonetheless those are the numbers being thrown around. Let's temper that a bit and bring the number down to 3 million sold by the end of 2007.

Catch my drift?

Hence, continued stalemate, as I've been arguing all along.

P.S. This is the projected disc title release numbers for 2007 from the HD DVD side:

US Studios
175+ shipping today in US
300+ announced for 2007

Studios include: Paramount., WB, Universal, HBOVideo,
HDNet, CustomFlix, Hi Def Entertainment, TFLM Elsevier,
Magnolia, DVD International, Weinstein Co., Image
Entertainment, Rhino, Eagle Rock Ent., Discovery

Japan
50+ Titles available in Japan
100+ announced for 2007

Studios include: NHK, Bandai Visual, BSi, Digital Site,
GDH, Happinet Pictures, Pony Canyon, Shochiku,
Shogakukan, Toshiba Entertainment, Video Arts Music,
+ {Warner, Paramount, Universal}

Europe
75+ titles available in EU
140+ announced for 2007

Studios include: Studio Canal, Eagle Vision, DVD
International, ILC, LCG, FTD, EMS, Imagion, Nixbu,
Cameo, Pathe, Dea Planeta, Filmax + {Warner,
Paramount, Universal}

That makes it 300 HD DVDs already available, plus another several hundred yet to come.

Still makes no sense. Of that big list how many will be shipping for both formats? I also still don't get how total sales be harder to project than splitting the camp, and comparing part of sales of one format to all the sales of the other. Looking at players in general for a market shows more of a projection because these people are potential customers with a player to buy your product. I just can't see a company ignoring 3 million players that can play their product.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Electronista | Buffalo ships internal, external Blu-Ray drives

$430 for an external USB 2.0 BR burner.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by exca1ibur 

Still makes no sense. Of that big list how many will be shipping for both formats? I also still don't get how total sales be harder to project than splitting the camp, and comparing part of sales of one format to all the sales of the other. Looking at players in general for a market shows more of a projection because these people are potential customers with a player to buy your product. I just can't see a company ignoring 3 million players that can play their product.

Nobody is is "ignoring 3 million players that can play their product". In fact, this is the way even some people working for studios releasing on Blu-ray are factoring in those players. These people are not stupid. They fully acknowledge that the PS3 is not the same as a standalone player when it comes to movie disc sold.

Video Business "Panelists: No end yet to high-def war"

"Mandato [a Paramount analyst] predicts the number of hardware units in homes by the end of 2007 will be at 1.7 million for each format. On the HD DVD side, that includes 1.2 million stand-alone players and 500,000 Xbox 360 add-on drives."

"For BD, Mandato is counting only 22%, or 1.2 million, of the 5.5 million PS3 units projected to be sold during the year, plus 500,000 stand-alone players, because his analysis suggests that just 22% of PS3 households purchase movies regularly."

IOW, he thinks one 1 PS3 is worth only 0.22 of a standalone (or 360 HD DVD drive), or it takes 4.5 PS3s to equal one standalone. Judging by current movie disc sales, for both sides, that seems about right.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by Eug 

"For BD, Mandato is counting only 22%, or 1.2 million, of the 5.5 million PS3 units projected to be sold during the year, plus 500,000 stand-alone players, because his analysis suggests that just 22% of PS3 households purchase movies regularly."

I don't buy only 22% buy regularly as previous polls have indicated 80%.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

I don't buy only 22% buy regularly as previous polls have indicated 80%.

Previous polls didn't look at numbers purchased, which is the entire point of this discussion.

Sure, many PS3 owners do buy Blu-ray discs, but the fact of the matter is though that they buy very few on a per player basis. 22% is a good estimate that accounts for attachment rate. Actually, my own guess would put it at around 25% (or 4 PS3s per 1 standalone), which is in fact more generous for the PS3 demographic than even that Paramount guy's estimate.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Moser Baer develops 8x-capable Blu-ray Disc media - Engadget HD

[jokell82]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

Microsoft is the lesser of 2 evils? What the hell did sony ever do to you or are you just being fashionable by following the sony hate train?

Why would Microsoft ever come into play when choosing one of these formats? They're not the creator of either one, and they stand to make a lot of money of both through codec licensing. If Microsoft is your deciding factor you should abstain from buying BOTH formats.

Sony has done plenty in the past 1-2 years to warrant a boycott from ALL consumers, but I guess people are very willing to forgive these days...

[Eug]

Originally Posted by jokell82 

Why would Microsoft ever come into play when choosing one of these formats? They're not the creator of either one, and they stand to make a lot of money of both through codec licensing. If Microsoft is your deciding factor you should abstain from buying BOTH formats.

True, but Microsoft has a higher stake in HD DVD for a couple of reasons. MS developed HDi, which is the interactive layer of HD DVD. MS's Windows CE is also the basis for the HD DVD standalone reference design's OS.

[el chupacabra]

...and Blu ray discs aren't using much VC-1. Almost all HD dvds are.

Looks like MS has a lot to lose if the inferior technology doesn't win.

The links have been posted in this thread already showing which movies are in what format; VC1, mpeg4, or mpeg2

[analogue SPRINKLES]

. According to the videophiles over on AVS, the PS3 is now the premier BD and DVD player with the 1.80 firmware.

* Excellent/Amazing 1080p upscaling of DVDs
* For those with 720p only sets it now does 720P downscaling for BD along with upscaling for DVD
* 1080p24 support (film is native 24 fps, no more 3:2 pulldown)
* Blacker-than-Black (BTB) and Whiter-than-White (WTW) support with (full range/limited) the BTB has been confirmed by DVE
* HQV DVD test and the PS3 1.80 firmware passes ALL tests!! Cadence, interlacing, artifacting, you name it, it passed!!!

Go see page 163 (and on) in the AVS " One-and-Only PS3 as Blu-Ray Player Thread" for more details.

Firmware 1.80 up for downloads, our opinions also available - PS3 Fanboy

[Eug]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

. According to the videophiles over on AVS, the PS3 is now the premier BD and DVD player with the 1.80 firmware.

* Excellent/Amazing 1080p upscaling of DVDs
* For those with 720p only sets it now does 720P downscaling for BD along with upscaling for DVD
* 1080p24 support (film is native 24 fps, no more 3:2 pulldown)
* Blacker-than-Black (BTB) and Whiter-than-White (WTW) support with (full range/limited) the BTB has been confirmed by DVE
* HQV DVD test and the PS3 1.80 firmware passes ALL tests!! Cadence, interlacing, artifacting, you name it, it passed!!!

Go see page 163 (and on) in the AVS " One-and-Only PS3 as Blu-Ray Player Thread" for more details.

Firmware 1.80 up for downloads, our opinions also available - PS3 Fanboy

Yep. It will probably also get BD Profile 1.1 support next year.

I feel sorry for some of those who paid $1000+ for Blu-ray players. They perform worse than the PS3 on these tests, and will never have networking or proper PiP support.

Too bad the PS3 still costs $600 though. Good price for a console + player, but most people don't want the console part, and it's a player that doesn't support infrared universal remotes either.

---

BTW, the first disc to surpass 100000 isn't Casino Royale. It's The Departed:

Today Warner Home Video (WHV) announced that it is the first studio to surpass sales of 100,000 copies of a high definition title with Martin Scorsese's 2006 Academy Award® Best Picture winner, "The Departed".

With the number one and two highest selling titles on high definition formats - "The Departed" and "Superman Returns" - as well as three other titles in the top ten, ("Batman Begins", "Happy Feet" and "Goodfellas") Warner Home Video continues to be the market share leader in high definition disc sales.

"It's no accident that Warner is the first studio to reach this benchmark. We owe this success to a combination of great content and our decision to support both high definition formats," said Ron Sanders, President of Warner Home Video. "By releasing titles on HD DVD and Blu-ray, Warner Home Video not only increases our potential audience reach, but also offers consumers assurance that regardless of the format they choose they can enjoy our movies."

With more than 30-percent market share of DVD sales in the high definition market, Warner Home Video has sold more high definition product and released more titles than any other studio. WHV's support of HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc allows consumers to watch the Studio's award-winning entertainment on any high definition home viewing device or player they choose.

"High definition media represents an incredible opportunity for the industry, and we, as content providers, can help push mainstream adoption by producing in both formats and giving the consumer a simple choice," continued Sanders. "At a time when the home video business is flat and high definition media presents our best hope for near term growth, it is unfortunate that we as an industry continue to perpetuate consumer confusion."

[icruise]

But isn't that 100,000 copies on BR and HD-DVD combined?

[icruise]

By the way, I was at Target the other day and was interested to see that Letters from Iwo Jima was $5 more expensive on HD-DVD than on Blu-ray. This also seems to be the case for The Departed. Of course the reason is that the HD-DVD versions of the movie also contain the DVD version on the same disc, but I really question if that feature is worth $5 per movie for most people. Aren't people buying HD-DVDs precisely because they want the HD version of the movie? I'm not saying there aren't some cases where it might be useful (if you want to rip the movie for example, although I doubt that's what the studios had in mind). But being forced to pay extra whether you want the DVD version or not doesn't seem like that great of an idea.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by icruise 

But isn't that 100,000 copies on BR and HD-DVD combined?

I would think so as this is the one title that is a big seller and on both formats. At last indication the BR version was outselling the HD one by a large margin.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by icruise 

But isn't that 100,000 copies on BR and HD-DVD combined?

Yes it is. It shows the benefit of being format neutral. Sony, Universal, Disney, etc. should take note.

Originally Posted by icruise 

By the way, I was at Target the other day and was interested to see that Letters from Iwo Jima was $5 more expensive on HD-DVD than on Blu-ray. This also seems to be the case for The Departed. Of course the reason is that the HD-DVD versions of the movie also contain the DVD version on the same disc, but I really question if that feature is worth $5 per movie for most people. Aren't people buying HD-DVDs precisely because they want the HD version of the movie? I'm not saying there aren't some cases where it might be useful (if you want to rip the movie for example, although I doubt that's what the studios had in mind). But being forced to pay extra whether you want the DVD version or not doesn't seem like that great of an idea.

I agree. Combo pricing sucks. I think the DVD side is useful cuz I can rip it for my laptop or whatever, but that's maybe worth $2, not $5.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by icruise 

By the way, I was at Target the other day and was interested to see that Letters from Iwo Jima was $5 more expensive on HD-DVD than on Blu-ray. This also seems to be the case for The Departed. Of course the reason is that the HD-DVD versions of the movie also contain the DVD version on the same disc, but I really question if that feature is worth $5 per movie for most people. Aren't people buying HD-DVDs precisely because they want the HD version of the movie? I'm not saying there aren't some cases where it might be useful (if you want to rip the movie for example, although I doubt that's what the studios had in mind). But being forced to pay extra whether you want the DVD version or not doesn't seem like that great of an idea.

Yep you are totally right and Warner knows it now.

At first they thought having DVD on one side would be a HUGE plus for HD-DVD, they also said something like 90% of all movie releases would be dual format HD/DVD. Yet people said exactly what you said and it looked bad that the disks costs more than the BR version so they changed their minds and now almost none of the future releases on HD will be dual disks. So much for that advantage.

[icruise]

Is it not possible for them to make the combo discs cost the same as normal discs? Is it licensing or something that drives up the price? I wouldn't think that the discs would be physically more expensive to make.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by icruise 

Is it not possible for them to make the combo discs cost the same as normal discs? Is it licensing or something that drives up the price? I wouldn't think that the discs would be physically more expensive to make.

The discs ARE physically more expensive to make, but not that much more. They're just price gouging IMO.

[Adam Betts]

PS3 firmware 1.8 kicks ass. BIG improvements

[icruise]

Yes, it is nice. I don't know how much to praise Sony for some of this stuff, since it really should have been there from launch, but they are being very proactive about correcting problems and adding features. My TV doesn't have HDMI, so I can't use the DVD upscaling, but the upscaling/smoothing of PS1/PS2 games is a very nice addition.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by el chupacabra 

...and Blu ray discs aren't using much VC-1. Almost all HD dvds are.

Sure, but what does MS care? Whether or not Bluray discs use VC-1, they still get money from the licensing on every Bluray player sold.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by icruise 

Yes, it is nice. I don't know how much to praise Sony for some of this stuff, since it really should have been there from launch

They are adding features like background downloading much faster than the 360 did. Plus my PS3 can do all sorts of wicked things my Xbox could only dream of.

Once HOME and some sort of VOD hits the PS3 will be bliss.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Yes it is. It shows the benefit of being format neutral. Sony, Universal, Disney, etc. should take note.

Not when they don't break down what percentages each format sold.

I am guessing 55,000 BR to 45,000 HD if that.

Macworld: News: Copying HD DVD and Blu-ray discs may become legal
"Under a licensing agreement in its final stages, consumers may get the right to make several legal copies of HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc movies they’ve purchased, a concession by the movie industry that may quell criticism that DRM (digital rights management) technologies are too restrictive."

I thought HD-DVD was the only one with managed content?

[el chupacabra]

Because money made from licensing of players sold is a drop in the bucket.

For example both the ps3 and xbox lose between $100-$200 on every unit sold. But the idea is to make all that money back through licening fees on each disc sold. Even though nobody believes it MS is claiming to be breaking even with the xbox through disc sales. So keeping in mind if $100 loss is nothing to worry about due to massive disc sales... They make only 10-20 cents per player sold.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by el chupacabra 

Because money made from licensing of players sold is a drop in the bucket.

For example both the ps3 and xbox lose between $100-$200 on every unit sold. But the idea is to make all that money back through licening fees on each disc sold. Even though nobody believes it MS is claiming to be breaking even with the xbox through disc sales. So keeping in mind if $100 loss is nothing to worry about due to massive disc sales... They make only 10-20 cents per player sold.

What are you talking about? Microsoft makes money on EVERY hi-def player sold. That includes the Playstation 3, the Toshiba HD-A2, the Pioneers, etc.

[el chupacabra]

I guess I have to make it even more simple. IF 50,000,000 players are sold in the next 5 years, which is a long shot, that's only 1-2 million dollars a year on players. They invested more than that.

They will make 60 Million only if EVERY person in america buys one over the years...

[Kenneth]

Originally Posted by Adam Betts 

PS3 firmware 1.8 kicks ass. BIG improvements

Yes... the 'network multimedia' feature looks interesting to me.. hopefully it will talk to the Mac.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by Kenneth 

Yes... the 'network multimedia' feature looks interesting to me.. hopefully it will talk to the Mac.

Only windows media as far as I know. When do these things ever work with Macs?

[icruise]

I think there's a good chance that the Nullriver will be able to adapt their program that allows streaming from a Mac to the 360.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by icruise 

I think there's a good chance that the Nullriver will be able to adapt their program that allows streaming from a Mac to the 360.

Probs allthough I am more excited for net accessible remoteplay that will be here in a week.

[mdc]

"By releasing titles on HD DVD and Blu-ray, Warner Home Video not only increases our potential audience reach, but also offers consumers assurance that regardless of the format they choose they can enjoy our movies."

Hopefully this will get other studios thinking about releasing on both formats. I doubt it, but it'd be nice.

Originally Posted by icruise 

By the way, I was at Target the other day and was interested to see that Letters from Iwo Jima was $5 more expensive on HD-DVD than on Blu-ray. This also seems to be the case for The Departed. Of course the reason is that the HD-DVD versions of the movie also contain the DVD version on the same disc, but I really question if that feature is worth $5 per movie for most people. Aren't people buying HD-DVDs precisely because they want the HD version of the movie? I'm not saying there aren't some cases where it might be useful (if you want to rip the movie for example, although I doubt that's what the studios had in mind). But being forced to pay extra whether you want the DVD version or not doesn't seem like that great of an idea.

If there was a combo version (HD-DVD and DVD) or just the HD-DVD for $5 less, I'd take the plain HD-DVD version.
One thing that is nice about the combo discs is that we only have 1 HD-DVD player in the house and 2 tvs (with a DVD player on the 2nd TV in the bedroom). A few of my HD-DVDs are combo discs and it has been nice to be able to watch the DVD version in the bedroom. I'm not ready to buy a 2nd HD-DVD drive yet.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

Only windows media as far as I know. When do these things ever work with Macs?

QuickTime H.264 works on the Xbox 360 as well, even with Connect360.

HD video streaming

Connect360 now supports WMV+WMA, H.264 and MPEG4 video sharing, allowing you to stream HD quality video right to your living room!

It also apparently now does on-the-fly transcoding, but I haven't tried that yet.

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

I thought HD-DVD was the only one with managed content?

Both Blu-ray and HD DVD support it. (It was first on HD DVD, but Blu-ray added it later to match.)

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by Eug 

QuickTime H.264 works on the Xbox 360 as well, even with Connect360.

HD video streaming

Connect360 now supports WMV+WMA, H.264 and MPEG4 video sharing, allowing you to stream HD quality video right to your living room!

It also apparently now does on-the-fly transcoding, but I haven't tried that yet.

I was talking about out of the box support for connecting to macs.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by el chupacabra 

Because money made from licensing of players sold is a drop in the bucket.

For example both the ps3 and xbox lose between $100-$200 on every unit sold. But the idea is to make all that money back through licening fees on each disc sold. Even though nobody believes it MS is claiming to be breaking even with the xbox through disc sales. So keeping in mind if $100 loss is nothing to worry about due to massive disc sales... They make only 10-20 cents per player sold.

Licensing for the discs is not paid to Microsoft. It is paid to the MPEG LA because VC1 is now an MPEG LA standard. Microsoft only makes licensing money from the decoders.

So money for licensing MPEG2 content and VC1 content goes to the same place.