AfterDawn: News

Next generation format talks stalled

Talks between Sony and Toshiba over a unified next generation standard format have been stalled because Toshiba's top negotiator, Yoshihide Fujii, believes further talks will be useless unless Sony makes an effort to examine Toshiba's proposal for a unified technology. Toshiba Corp. is backing the HD-DVD format while Sony is backing its Blu-ray disc format. However, neither side would like to enter into a format war that could cost them millions of dollars and be a major inconvenience to consumers.

Fujii believes that Sony "failed to provide enough evidence that its format has a clear advantage over ours in terms of cost and range of applications." Both formats have their good and bad points and both have gotten huge support from other tech companies. Up until now, talks have been aimed mainly at what disc structure a possible unified standard would use and reports were that the talks were leaning towards a disc with Blu-Ray disc structure and Toshiba's software for copy protection and data transfer.



Hollywood studios have yet to have their say on their view of a possible unified standard. Several studios have already backed a format. The Blu-ray and HD-DVD groups are really fighting over potentially billions of dollars over the coming years for the use of their technology.

Source:
MacNewsWorld

Written by: James Delahunty @ 16 May 2005 16:48

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• Ludikhris

  Real life translation:
  
  Talks between Sony and Toshiba over a monopolized market for the next generation standard format have been stalled because Toshiba's top negotiator, Yoshihide Fujii, believes further talks will be useless unless Sony makes an effort to listen to Toshiba's proposal for a unified technology for the first time. Toshiba Corp. is backing the HD-DVD format while Sony is backing its Blu-ray disc format. However, neither side would like to enter into a format war that could cost them millions of dollars of stolen consumer money and be a major inconvenience to consumers who are already overburdened with the amount of money they have.
  
  Fujii believes that Sony "know their prouduct is better but should waste more time getting the product to the market because its the amount of customers money they get thats most important." Both formats have their good and bad points the later especially for HD-DVD and both have gotten huge support from companies, BR recieved many tech companies and HD the movie industry. Up until now, talks have been aimed mainly at what disc structure a possible unified standard would monopolize the market on and reports were that the talks were leaning towards a disc with Blu-Ray disc structure and Toshiba's software for copy protection and data transfer to stop innocent people from getting the most of the products they buy.
  
  Hollywood studios have yet to have their say on their view of a possible unified standard which amazes most people because they never know when to shut up. Several studios have already backed a format. The Blu-ray and HD-DVD groups are really fighting over potentially billions of dollars more than necessary over the coming years for the use of their technology.
  
  Quote Sony in a press release:
  "I love lamp!"
  
  
  
  
  Source:
  Ludikhris

  16.5.2005 17:53 #1

• m_towell

  Thanks Ludikhris for reading between the lines.
  
  It is true that, from a consumer's point of view, that one format is better.
  
  But, at the same time, one format means that they can charge what they like because there's no competition.

  18.5.2005 18:01 #2