Windows Media gets into HD-DVD specs

Microsoft cheered today when an industry body DVD Forum made a decision to support Microsoft's Windows Media 9 format in upcoming HD-DVD standard.

Based on the decision, all HD-DVD players will have to support three different types of video encoding -- MPEG-2 (the one that current DVD-Video discs and digital TV use), H.264 (latest standardized video encoding layer of MPEG-4) and VC-9 (the video technology behind the Windows Media 9 format).

Decision is obviously a huge boost to Microsoft's efforts to get into big boys' movie business. DVD Forum also approved a near-ready specs for rewritable HD-DVD discs -- it has previously already approved specs for read-only discs.

HD-DVD is based on blue-laser technology and competes directly against the other blue-laser optical technology, Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray is supported by virtually all the consumer electronics companies and there are already Blu-Ray discs and devices available in Japanese markets, so the fight over the next generation of optical storage format is only beginning..

Source: News.com

Written by: Petteri Pyyny @ 27 Feb 2004 14:14

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9 comments

GrayArea

That is just ugly.

1.3.2004 07:17 #1

Prisoner

This is good and bad. I like the HD-DVD better than BluRay and this will give it the early push to win the war. Another war would not be good, an early resolution I would like. But with DVD's now, it will take about ten years for the HD-DVD market to really grow and take over. DVD's only took 6 years, but it was really the first digital.

2.3.2004 11:04 #2

Oriphus

Not sure what the news story was, since the feature to view the story in this thread wasnt implemented. Im guessing we are referring to Microsoft being brought into the DVD Forums main body and its Windows Media system that supports the HD DVD. Actually HD DVD refers to all High Definition DVD systems, but the one which we are referring to in particular i suppose. Also, I believe this HD DVD system is being chosen because it is most likely to be a more compatible version, even though Blu Ray will hold more and have a higher transfer rate.

The Future is Now
The Future is Blu

That should be an advertising slogan for Blu Ray lol

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http://www.dvd-backup.tk
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2.3.2004 13:40 #3

Prisoner

You should have clicked on the article link in news. Oh well, Yes this is talking about support of Microsoft with HD-DVD.
I say:

Why settle for grade B
Use HD-DVD

You need more rthyms with your slogan.

I am not a number
I am a Free Man

3.3.2004 13:10 #4

Oriphus

lol - yeah, but mine was taken from the orange phone adds lol.

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3.3.2004 13:12 #5

Prisoner

THis is getting of topic but what`s an orange phone?

Back on topic, HD-DVD I think is and will be better than Blu-Ray, as it is completely backwards compatible. From the inital stuff I read about BluRay, it required a catrige. Similar to DVD-RAM, and offered major limitation on its succession to CD's because you couldn't read CD'r in the Ram drive. I would actually like cartige setup, as would decrease the amount of dirt that destroys the disc, but It would still need to read my DVD's and CDs.

I am not a number
I am a Free Man

3.3.2004 13:20 #6

Oriphus

All of the very high capacity Blue laser systems will be using cartridges i believe. Hopefully backward compatibility wont be too much of an issue. My guess is that most manufacturers will included a Red Laser system in their players to enable playback of our original movies. The decision will most likely be made on which format, depending on the first big Hollywood movie to be released on it.

Orange is a mobile phone network supplier in the UK.

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http://www.dvd-backup.tk
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4.3.2004 01:53 #7

Prisoner

I avoid moble phones, to have people being able to contact you any time. that is crazy, I need to escape sometimes.

But Anyway, Your out of date Oriphus see:
http://www.afterdawn.com/news/archive/4801.cfm
The dual system is already available for HD-DVD, your bluRay is behind the times. I am not possive but I think the HD-DVD is not in a cartrige. I think its just a disc like DVD is, I hope this doesn`t limit it to being too dirty.

I am not a number
I am a Free Man

4.3.2004 08:00 #8

Oriphus

lol - It was demoed at the Vegas Conference in January and got some good reviews. However, the Blu Ray system was demoed nearly a year before that and has been available in Japan for a while. I was aware that teh DVD Forum had accepted this version, but i honestly feel, although ill be happy with whatever the forum wants, there will be another Blue Laser format war....

For your DVD needs http://www.dvd-and-media.com
http://www.dvd-backup.tk
For User Guides/Downloads: http://www.chrismccann.co.uk/user_guides.htm

5.3.2004 02:02 #9

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