[mrtew]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

" According to new data from Nielsen Research Group, 71-percent of all PlayStation 3 consoles are connected to some form of HDTV (either LCD, plasma or front / rear projection), while 66-percent of Xbox 360s and 65-percent of Wiis were found to be played on a high-definition set."

That study is totally innacurate because it's based on answers to questions posed to owners of game consoles about HDTVs and it's already been established that only a tiny percentage even know what "HD" is, so they could be talking about the "Huge Domino" pizzas they eat while playing or anything.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Eug 

That's why people leave their standalones on, so they don't have to wait that long.

For instance, for my A2, the boot time is 27.5 seconds from power on until I get the first "HD DVD" logo on the screen, and then another 14 seconds before the disc starts to play, so total is 42 seconds.

If the machine is on with no disc, it takes over 20 seconds for playback to start from the time you press the close button. (This includes the few seconds for the tray door to close.)

If the disc is already loaded in the machine, with the machine on but stopped, it takes less than 5 seconds for playback to start.

Well, I had been leaving my A2 off when it was not in use, but this just solidifies that decision. I did some measurements, and my A2 uses only 1 Watt when off, but 37 Watts when powered on and idle (even if there was no disc in the machine). So, leaving the A2 on all the time would be like leaving a table lamp on all the time.

What also kinda surprised me is that while power usage during playback was 48 Watts, it was the same 48 Watts if I turned on the Picture-in-Picture commentary (Transformers). I would have expected the power usage to go over 50 Watts with PiP.

[Eug]

Somebody hacked the Blu-rayDisc.com website:

Blu-ray Disc

[mrtew]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Somebody hacked the Blu-rayDisc.com website:

Blu-ray Disc

It looks like a solid sheet of sickening light blue construction paper. What are you seeing on your end?

[exca1ibur]

Select the US and it redirects to the HD-DVD site.

EDIT: Looks like they may have caught it finally. The page doesn't render now.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by mrtew 

It looks like a solid sheet of sickening light blue construction paper. What are you seeing on your end?

They've taken down the site now, but this is what it showed:



Note the URL.

[icruise]

Classy move, HD-DVD supporters.

[Eug]

More Battlestar Galactica screengrabs

DVD <-- Blurry
Broadcast HD <-- Blocky
HD DVD <--

[jokell82]

Originally Posted by icruise 

Classy move, HD-DVD supporters.

Maybe Philips (site owner) is going red???

[Montezuma58]

Originally Posted by icruise 

Classy move, HD-DVD supporters.

It probably wasn't even a fan boy. I'd bet it was just somebody that did it because the hack would get a bunch more attention than most other site hacks.

[Montezuma58]

For the Canadians, it looks like Future Shop will have $99 Toshiba HD DVD players on Boxing Day.

[mrtew]

Originally Posted by Montezuma58 

For the Canadians, it looks like Future Shop will have $99 Toshiba HD DVD players on Boxing Day.

WOW, maybe I'll get one after all and wash my hands of this stupid lame 'war'. Just buy either red OR blue without even worrying about it.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Wow, talk about desperation:
Hack Attack: Official Blu-ray Site Redirects to HD DVD Site (UPDATED) | High-Def Digest

[hyteckit]

Some guy just wanna spread the love of HDDVD. I mush say Transformer is pretty freaking awesome. It's my best looking HDDVD in terms of Picture Quality.

So, bluray website just as hackable as the bluray copy protection.

Oh, another advantage of HDDVD over bluray is no region codes like those on DVD.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by hyteckit 

So, bluray website just as hackable as the bluray copy protection.

And that comment is as original as the forum comment in that link you stole it from

[Eug]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

Wow, talk about desperation:
Hack Attack: Official Blu-ray Site Redirects to HD DVD Site (UPDATED) | High-Def Digest

I guess you missed the many posts above yours... including the one with the screengrab.

[analogue SPRINKLES]

Originally Posted by Eug 

I guess you missed the many posts above yours... including the one with the screengrab.

Well duh why else would I have posted it?

Don't worry I already sent you a 1st prize ribbon and gift! (Hint, rymes with "Glo-Bay Wisk)

[hyteckit]

Originally Posted by analogue SPRINKLES 

And that comment is as original as the forum comment in that link you stole it from

Nah, that comment is all me. No need to steal that from another forum.

[mrtew]

Originally Posted by hyteckit 

Nah, that comment is all me. No need to steal that from another forum.

OMG you guys are all 13

[Eug]

Toshiba HD-D3 in Canada for CAD$99 on Xmas Day (or perhaps Xmas Eve), including 2 free movies.

ImageShack - Hosting :: fs1ie2.jpg

[mrtew]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Toshiba HD-D3 in Canada for CAD$99 on Xmas Day (or perhaps Xmas Eve), including 2 free movies.

ImageShack - Hosting :: fs1ie2.jpg

Maybe the supid 'war' will backfire and everyone will end up getting two cheap players and neither format will ever really outsell the other and all the studios will be stuck making two versions of all their movies for no reason forever. Idiots.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by mrtew 

Maybe the supid 'war' will backfire and everyone will end up getting two cheap players and neither format will ever really outsell the other and all the studios will be stuck making two versions of all their movies for no reason forever. Idiots.

Actually, if the formats become cheap enough, but remain at a stalemate, then some CE companies will simply make dual-format players for cheap, and the studios can remain exclusive to a single format.

[mrtew]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Actually, if the formats become cheap enough, but remain at a stalemate, then some CE companies will simply make dual-format players for cheap, and the studios can remain exclusive to a single format.

I don't know... I bet 5 years from now a third of houses will have dual player or both players, a third will have one or the other, and a third will have DVD (still waiting for a winner) and every studio will need to release every movie on all three formats. Every month that goes by without a victor makes it more inevitable because more and more people get dug-in to both formats and it becomes less and less easy for one format to just wither away and die. What percentage of movies are released on both formats now? If every studio was exclusive to one or the other it would be like you say, but it's going to be hard to explain to my Mom someday that (first she needs to get an HD player because it turns out that those DVD's she just bought all suck, and) she can get either of two identical formats of HD player, either of which will allow her to play 80% of all movies released but if she wants to watch one of the 20% of the movies that aren't released on whichever format she randomly chooses she'll need to buy the other. Or pay extra for a dual player now. Most people just aren't that into movies. She'll say, whatever.... "DVDs are good enough for me." or "I don't need to see any one movie that bad I'll just get whatever one you say is best." Eventually studios will realize that if you just release in one format you're sales will be 20% lower or 30% lower or whatever than if you release in both formats and they'll all be forced to release in both.

[Eug]

Video Business: Universal claims Warner's Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix HD DVD outselling Blu-ray version

Warner Home Video’s HD DVD release of Order of the Phoenix is edging out the titles’ BD version by a 55-to-45 ratio.

Ken Graffeo, Universal executive VP of marketing and co-president of the North American HD DVD Promotional Group, acknowledges the continued, on average, BD strength over HD DVD software. But he believes it is significant that HD DVD is catching BD in terms of fourth-quarter new releases, as he believes it is a more apple to apples comparison of consumer purchasing behavior.

These new box-office hits are not normally included in the primarily catalog ‘buy one, get one free’ deals. Popular with BD studios, these BOGO deals are enticing because consumers get two titles for 50% off the original price. But there is a question of how long studios can continue to support these promotions as they bring in considerably less money than regualarly-priced titles would.

[Eug]

w00t! I wasn't expecting my Battlestar Galactica, District B13, and Blade Runner order to arrive until next week, but Amazon.com upgraded the shipping, and Canada Post decided to deliver it on a Saturday.

[Face Ache]

I haven't read any of the 87 pages (OMG) in this thread, but it seems to me that the cheaper PS3s get, the more people will buy them. Those people will buy movies and then blu-ray will win teh format wars.


< lived through the betamax wars.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Video Business: Universal claims Warner's Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix HD DVD outselling Blu-ray version

See, despite what the fanboys claim I am not a raving lunatic.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Face Ache 

I haven't read any of the 87 pages (OMG) in this thread, but it seems to me that the cheaper PS3s get, the more people will buy them. Those people will buy movies and then blu-ray will win teh format wars.

Well, as many people have been saying all along... One of the keys to winning the war is cheap players.

However, right now the price of an HD DVD standalone is about half the price of a PS3.

[exca1ibur]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Video Business: Universal claims Warner's Harry Potter: Order of the Phoenix HD DVD outselling Blu-ray version

Warner Home Video’s HD DVD release of Order of the Phoenix is edging out the titles’ BD version by a 55-to-45 ratio.

Ken Graffeo, Universal executive VP of marketing and co-president of the North American HD DVD Promotional Group, acknowledges the continued, on average, BD strength over HD DVD software. But he believes it is significant that HD DVD is catching BD in terms of fourth-quarter new releases, as he believes it is a more apple to apples comparison of consumer purchasing behavior.

These new box-office hits are not normally included in the primarily catalog ‘buy one, get one free’ deals. Popular with BD studios, these BOGO deals are enticing because consumers get two titles for 50% off the original price. But there is a question of how long studios can continue to support these promotions as they bring in considerably less money than regualarly-priced titles would.

I wonder what the total sales are including the boxed sets, though. Also why is Universal tracking Warners sales? Why hasn't Warner given the numbers themselves?

[Eug]

Lame. On Disk 2 of the Battlestar Galactica HD DVD box set, there is a significant lip sync problem for a minute or so. It's best seen at 55'37" on the disc (second half of the mini-series) when that guy (whom I won't name, to avoid spoilers) is in the brig. This is on my Toshiba HD-A2 and on my Xbox 360, so this is an authoring issue, and not a player issue. Other parts of the same disc are fine, as are the other discs so far.

Somebody was asleep at the wheel.

OTOH, I think the disc packaging is fine, as is the image quality. Yes, the original mini-series pilot is VERY grainy, but the HD DVDs reproduce the grain faithfully. The grain is much more muted in the series itself, which is probably because it was shot on HD video. And yes, the detail present is excellent. I can't compare it to broadcast HD since I've never seen it on TV in HD, but it's quite nice, and a humungous step up from the DVD. Anyone who appreciates this show would love the HD DVD version... except for the lip sync issue at the 55 minute mark on Disk 2.

[alligator]

Okay, because this format was hasn't been won outright by now, I'm betting it never will be won. Given the fast pace of technology now days, it is more likely that we will have downloadable HD movies long before this stupid war is won. Then nobody wins!

[Big Mac]

I may be repeating myself here, but I don't see either HD format replacing standard def DVD as long as they're encumbered by draconian DRM schemes.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

I may be repeating myself here, but I don't see either HD format replacing standard def DVD as long as they're encumbered by draconian DRM schemes.

DVD DRM is arguably worse than HD DVD's.

There is no region coding on HD DVD at this time.

[icruise]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

I may be repeating myself here, but I don't see either HD format replacing standard def DVD as long as they're encumbered by draconian DRM schemes.

You think its DRM scheme has anything do with DVD's success? I don't. The average consumer doesn't even know what DRM is.

[starman]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

I may be repeating myself here, but I don't see either HD format replacing standard def DVD as long as they're encumbered by draconian DRM schemes.

The only people that give a rat's ass about DRM are people that want to rip the discs.

[Big Mac]

DRM doesn't just affect ripping. If I'm going to buy into a disc format, I don't want to be told where I can and cannot view it. I don't want to hear about HDCP restrictions. I don't want to hear about not being able to get the output to one of my video devices because said device lacks DRM compliance. I don't want to hear about computer restrictions that require me to run some DRM encumbered OS like Vista. I want to be able to actually use what I paid for. DVD meets that requirement (although it was not originally intended to).

[starman]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

DRM doesn't just affect ripping. If I'm going to buy into a disc format, I don't want to be told where I can and cannot view it. I don't want to hear about HDCP restrictions. I don't want to hear about computer restrictions that require me to run some DRM encumbered OS like Vista. I want to be able to actually use what I paid for.

I don't watch movies on my computer.
I have yet to see any set-top box deny a user access to a movie.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

DRM doesn't just affect ripping. If I'm going to buy into a disc format, I don't want to be told where I can and cannot view it. I don't want to hear about HDCP restrictions. I don't want to hear about not being able to get the output to one of my video devices because said device lacks DRM compliance. I don't want to hear about computer restrictions that require me to run some DRM encumbered OS like Vista. I want to be able to actually use what I paid for. DVD meets that requirement (although it was not originally intended to).

You don't need HDCP support to watch either HD DVD or Blu-ray. There is no HDCP requirement for component.

And although current discs don't support it, the Hi-Def formats have included support for Mandatory Managed Copy, something not present on DVD.

[jokell82]

Originally Posted by icruise 

You think its DRM scheme has anything do with DVD's success? I don't. The average consumer doesn't even know what DRM is.

And as long as the DRM on the new formats is unintrusive enough they still wont know. But once they try to do something with a BD/HD disc that they could do with DVD but can't now, they'll be pissed.

Playing on a computer is probably the first thing anyone would get upset about.

[Big Mac]

But Apple would invariably have to add HDCP in order to support HD-DVD or Blu-ray in OS X, right?

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Eug 

And although current discs don't support it, the Hi-Def formats have included support for Mandatory Managed Copy, something not present on DVD.

All HD-DVD discs currently support managed copy.

[Eug]

Originally Posted by goMac 

All HD-DVD discs currently support managed copy.

That is of course wrong. No managed copy mechanism has yet been implemented for either hi-def format.

Originally Posted by Big Mac 

But Apple would invariably have to add HDCP in order to support HD-DVD or Blu-ray in OS X, right?

Yes for DVI or HDMI, but technically no for component video output.

You can blame Apple for not implementing this, because the latest GPU models can support it.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Eug 

That is of course wrong. No managed copy mechanism has yet been implemented for either hi-def format.

HD DVD, Blu-ray "Managed Copy" coming later this year

"According to the HD DVD Promotional Group, managed copy will be retroactive for all HD DVD discs—that is, discs sold today will work with managed copy, even though the feature is not ready yet. The same is not true for Blu-ray, however."

[Eug]

Originally Posted by goMac 

HD DVD, Blu-ray "Managed Copy" coming later this year

"According to the HD DVD Promotional Group, managed copy will be retroactive for all HD DVD discs—that is, discs sold today will work with managed copy, even though the feature is not ready yet. The same is not true for Blu-ray, however."

Exactly. You can't make a copy of any HD DVD today, except illegally.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by Eug 

Exactly. You can't make a copy of any HD DVD today, except illegally.

Right, I didn't mean the software to manage copy the discs was done. What I said was that all HD-DVD discs out today support managed copy.

[icruise]

Will managed copy allow you to make a smaller sized copy for use on something like a portable player or is it limited to copying the movie as it is (in HD resolution)?

[goMac]

Originally Posted by icruise 

Will managed copy allow you to make a smaller sized copy for use on something like a portable player or is it limited to copying the movie as it is (in HD resolution)?

I don't think so. The DRM behind managed copy would only stay intact with the movie in it's original context. I recall Apple pushing for this sort of thing in the Bluray committee and it got shot down by the other members.

[icruise]

So wouldn't mean that you'd need 20-30GB of storage space per movie? Seems to me that just moving the disc from player to player would be easier.

[goMac]

Originally Posted by icruise 

So wouldn't mean that you'd need 20-30GB of storage space per movie? Seems to me that just moving the disc from player to player would be easier.

Yeah, but with multi Terrabyte drives coming out, I doubt it will be a huge issue.

[icruise]

Perhaps. But if my current video library was in an HD format and I wanted to make copies of it all, it would take 15-20 terabytes and (I'm guessing) several days just to physically copy the data to the hard disk. And I can't even view them on my iPod? I'm just not seeing the attraction of this feature.