AfterDawn: News

Sony would like to avoid a format war

Sony has revealed it would like to avoid a format war between its Blu-Ray disc and HD-DVD. The company is open to discussions to attempt to find ways to bring the two formats closer together. While it seems like a good idea, it's unlikely that it will ever happen. Both sides claim that their format is the best suited for consumer needs and both have backup from tech companies and Hollywood studios. "From the point of view to provide the best service to the consumer one format is better than two," said Yukinori Kawauchi. "We're open to discussions."

Blu-Ray Disc is the most technically sophisticated format, which brings about production difficulties that the HD-DVD team claims to have fixed. Movie studios have also announced movies that they plan to release in the HD-DVD format later this year. Blu-Ray discs however can store about 15GB to 25GB per layer which makes it a nicer option to Hollywood studios because it means they can pack much more high quality material onto a disc.



Blu-Ray also has the support of some major companies including Philips, Apple, Dell, HP, Sharp, Panasonic and Hitachi. Also Sony's next generation console, PlayStation 3 will support the Blu-Ray format.

Source:
The Register

Written by: James Delahunty @ 13 Apr 2005 14:42

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• 13 comments

• Pop_Smith

  The "Format" war is not avoidable, unless they come out with a dual "HD-DVD and Blu-Ray" burner which isn't going to come out for a while (if at all).
  
  Peace,
  
  Pop Smith

  13.4.2005 15:16 #1

• OzMick

  Hmmm... the impression I get from this is "Sony wants the world to work it's way"... Somehow I don't think the 'discussions' Sony would want to hold would involve much compromise on its behalf in striking any agreement, holding out an olive branch in one hand with a dagger in the other...

  13.4.2005 16:56 #2

• squizzle

  I wonder if Sony's having 2nd thoughts about BluRay...

  13.4.2005 16:57 #3

• mrfezzy

  I believe that Blu-Ray will win as long as it maintains backward compatibility and is open enough to allow third party drives and disks. The ideal scenario in my mind, would be simply to have Blu-Ray adopt all the best features of the HD-DVD format. The other factor is to allow third party drive and disk manufacturers.
  
  Blu-Ray's size is essential for the near future, so that is a no brainer. If it is the standard, it will help to drive prices downward by economies of scale. This will allow blue laser technology to penetrate the country in only a few years in the desktop and entertainment categories.
  
  Of course, the Blu-Ray PS3 will be a no brainer, and will put some 200 million Blu-Ray players on the market.
  
  On a personal note, I won't be buying either unless there is a single unified format. I will simply stick to current DVDs until there is a decisive winner be that 2 years or 10 years from now. I will pursuit Blu-Ray technology for data backup.

  13.4.2005 20:05 #4

• jimmyjojo

  My only qualm w/ Blu Ray is that it won't be able to play my DVD9's and DVD5's. Whereas HD-DVD is backwards compatible. That alone is making me lean towards HD-DVD.

  13.4.2005 20:15 #5

• Rosco404

  Personaly i back the blu-ray format at the moment as there are so many large companys backing it, plus the PS3 will get the format known....

  14.4.2005 01:24 #6

• gibney85

  Im not worried about backward compatibiliy. Its all digital data folks. Just put the same amount of data on less discs than in the DVD format.
  
  Im for Blu-Ray - PS3 will be its worldwide PR machine
  
  What do you say now in a movie rental store instead of
  "lets rent out a dvd"....
  
  "Lets get a blu ray"
  
  I think with HD-DVD you can still use just DVD it doesnt really matter but Blu Ray mmmmmm

  14.4.2005 04:25 #7

• gibney85

  Im not worried about backward compatibiliy. Its all digital data folks. Just put the same amount of data on less discs than in the DVD format.
  
  Im for Blu-Ray - PS3 will be its worldwide PR machine
  
  What do you say now in a movie rental store instead of
  "lets rent out a dvd"....
  
  "Lets get a blu ray"
  
  I think with HD-DVD you can still use just DVD it doesnt really matter but Blu Ray mmmmmm

  14.4.2005 04:25 #8

• GrayArea

  #1- "I believe that Blu-Ray will win as long as it maintains backward compatibility..."
  
  #2- "My only qualm w/ Blu Ray is that it won't be able to play my DVD9's and DVD5's. Whereas HD-DVD is backwards compatible."
  
  Okay, which is it? I'm confused.

  14.4.2005 07:42 #9

• Rosco404

  Backwards compatibility will all be in the hardware. An Example would be.... A new home player may come out that support VCD/SVCD/MP3/DVD-Video/DVD-R/DVD+R/Blu-Ray/HD-DVD etc....
  
  or
  
  Blu-Ray Players may also read the normal DVD format thus being backward compatible.
  
  I belive they would have to make these players backward compatible with the standard DVD Format, as movies wont just stop being produced on DVD at a click of a finger. These new formats will be eased into retail first then become more known :)

  14.4.2005 08:21 #10

• Xinio

  If Sony is making the PS3 with Blu-Ray then i would hope that it is backwards compatible. Sonys Playstation systems have all been backwards complatible with the olders systems. Id they change that now they are going to make alot of pepole unhappy.
  
  Im for Blu-Ray if it's backwards Compatible

  14.4.2005 16:31 #11

• squizzle

  I'm for either one, doesn't matter to me... that is until you factor in video quality, compatibility and backwards compatibility, $$$$$, etc.
  
  Don't forget that the blank media will still be quite expensive at first, drives too.

  14.4.2005 18:55 #12

• jackcasey

  Hi. I remember Betamax. Sony promised as long as there was a vhs machine out there there would be a beta machine. The last beta machine was in 1993. I have 3000 beta tapes ( my friend has 4000 and 2 machines) . I abandoned 25 0f my non working beta machines in favour of 10 non working Sony beta machines and 4 working wounded beta machines (one creases the tape, one causes the picture to jump, one wont read L500s and the other an SL100 does work. I can go out and buy a vhs machine for $99. It takes $75 an hour to repair an old beta machine, if you can get the parts. My 3000 tapes are old black and white movies from TV. They were collected over 25 years. They will never come again ( Ronald Coleman in Clive of India, and The Masquerader,, Spencer and Katherine in Keeper of the Flame, Anna Neagle in Florence Nightingale, and Nurse Edith Caville, my Tv episodes of The Invaders and Naked City. THe demand is too low. All I ever wanted was a few good beta players in order to transfer them to dvds. I'll save some, but not all. I have to go into mpeg 2, but no futher until they decide on the next generation. I am not impressed by Sony, there are too many of us out there that went with quality, and got left with no way to play our memories. Jack

  17.6.2005 06:58 #13