Unified standard abandoned by Blu-Ray and HD-DVD camps

According to Yomiuri newspaper, Toshiba and Sony have given up efforts for development of a unified stand for next generation DVD. Sony is backing it's Blu-Ray Disc technology, whereas Toshiba is backing the HD-DVD format. Both utilize the use of blue lasers, which have shorter wavelength than red lasers allowing data storing at high densities. The result is much bigger capacities than DVDs, which are needed for High Definition movies and next generation games.

Both camps had decided earlier this year to attempt to create a unified standard instead of engaging in a format war. However, it appears both sides back their technology too much and neither side will bow to the other. The war is over dominance in the future market for formats that can store high definition material. So basically, the war is over potentially billions of dollars. Now both camps are ready to go forward with product launches.

Both sides have suggested that talks could continue, but it's unlikely as both formats are due to appear late this year. Toshiba has confirmed it is moving forward with product launches and Sony will probably waste no time continuing with it's launches either. Now the fear among consumers and businesses is that HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray will be like the disastrous VHS vs. BetaMax war. However, some suggest that multi-format devices will appear, so the winner will be decided by content offered and not their technical specs.

Sources:
Reuters
The Register

Written by: James Delahunty @ 23 Aug 2005 11:54

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18 comments

Bird7

if the people can make a nuke and blow japan to all hell twice then some1 can design a HD/Blu Ray DVD Player

23.8.2005 13:59 #1

borhan9

I think as was said that they should bring out players that play both formats... I think the DVD Hardware companies should engage both sides amd find out what makes the new technology tick and make a player that plays both and then they can fight by themselves and the new technology can go ahead without any trouble.... I find it a joke that there is 2 formats already and i even dont like how there is dual layer Vs Single Layer DVD's now but u see the consumer smartened up and made software that can read and compress the media to a level that is still great and cheaper... so i reckon the same will happen here... both blu ray and HD will come out and a person will come out with the software to transfer and convert between both formats :) I say bring it on...

23.8.2005 14:29 #2

esco600

Looks like VHS and BetaMax all over again.

23.8.2005 15:37 #3

bassrider

VHS vs. BetaMax except one small difference. PCs. Like (above)said, PCs/innernet change the game as people will just convert formats.

Porn will be the true decider.

23.8.2005 16:44 #4

neo1000

Well, bye bye to both

23.8.2005 18:34 #5

SGSeries2

I knew good and well a single format wasn't going to happen, but there was hope. Now there's not hope, but a long await ahead of me. Yet, it's like voting. If nobody votes, nobody's going to win.

23.8.2005 19:49 #6

gozilla

Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, bah who needs em, Dual Layer DVD is more than enough.

23.8.2005 21:20 #7

BobL

Everyone keeps saying this is like VHS vs. Betamax. But it is not - it is VERY different.

With VHS and Betamax, there was no possibility of a dual format machine - the two formats were physically different in a way that made it impossible for one machine two handle both formats without having two complete tape transport systems. With Blu-Ray and HD-DVD, a player can still have one loading tray, and then have the internals necessary to play both formats.

A Blu-Ray HD-DVD dual format player is very possible. A dual-format VHS Betamax machine was next to impossible.

- Bob

24.8.2005 05:02 #8

dfd9880

IMHO, avoid both of them (toshiba and sony) and support the vendor that delivers a dual format unit. And maybe in the mean time, we create software that will easily allow transfer from one format to the other.

25.8.2005 08:00 #9

PCB4

I have a huge DVD collection. I am not about to toss it for the HD format even though I have a kick ass HD tv.

25.8.2005 09:23 #10

bassrider

Doesnt it seem too soon for a new format anyway?

25.8.2005 14:14 #11

gozilla

Quote: Doesnt it seem too soon for a new format anyway?Good point, it took DVD along time to become standard (it was introduced i think in late 96, early 97) and only recently, last couple of years, has it really took off.

HD-DVD and Blu-Ray will take along time to penetrate the market, so i dont think we will be throwing out our DVD players any time soon.

25.8.2005 15:42 #12

juniorken

hm, i have a HDTV-set and testing out some microsoft-wmv-samples it's not hard to notice the difference with standard dvd... No pixelcorrection necessary if viewed on 1080p or even 1080i.
If u view it on a standard tv the quality might be even worse than standard dvd because the video- and audiosignal need to be converted. Waste of money in that case.
But i'll be happily looking forward to a multiformat player :-)

25.8.2005 23:47 #13

nfatoys

I agree that this is NOT another VHS vs. Betamax marketing war. As was said, both formats share the same physical characteristics, and could be played in the same transport mechanism. I see this much more like the current DVD +R vs. -R format war. It didn't take long for everyone to start making players and burners that could handle either.

26.8.2005 03:28 #14

xboxd00d

Quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
it took DVD along time to become standard (it was introduced i think in late 96, early 97) and only recently, last couple of years, has it really took off.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I disagree, DVD's have been massive for atleast 5yrs now, I would say they have only started to "kill off" vhs in the past couple of years since dvd recorders became cheap enough.

26.8.2005 08:09 #15

SGSeries2

To say that it will be more like the dvd +/- R thing is a little too simplistic. I think it'll be a little more complicated than that. There's far less issue of rights management on blank dvds than on video dvds. Companies will be looking at which format will be able to bring in the most profit, just like any gaming company. There's reasons why you still see the majority of pc games on cd. Until there is a dual player, and virtually all players that are sold are dual players, it's going to be pretty cut-throat scenario. Neither company, from my knowledge, has said that they will be supporting the other's format on their player too. (Not a very wise way to go if you want to penetrate your video player in the market and dominate that particuliar segment, if you ask me, but that's not what they care about-) Then you get into royalties...

In any case, if such a disc player that supports both formats holds the majority of the market, it won't be "choose your flavor" of disc format; more likely, formats just won't "matter" anymore because stuff by sony and the like will be released on BD, and people backing HD will release it on their format. It's already been shown that dvds that take advantage of the disc space can come out cleaner both on and around the screen (ex. superbit movies). That's one of the main reasons I like BDs.

27.8.2005 21:09 #16

Coughdawg

I think the most cost effective for the consumer will win. That was one of the reasons VHS won over sony's betamax. Sony's Mini disk same problem too much money as compaired to the compact disk players.

2.9.2005 09:56 #17

QuirkyOne

I refuse to give up hope. The format war is silly, and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the involved parties actually secretly agree, and that they're only pretending there will be a format war to keep the idea in the media for a long time. It's all marketing, and when they "decide" to join forces, we won't be able to resist eagerly jumping to support the sole blue laser format (whatever they decide to name it).

4.9.2005 09:54 #18

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