Toshiba CEO talks out about HD DVD's fate

Toshiba CEO Atsutoshi Nishida has finally talked out about his company's decision to drop HD DVD and went as far as to say that the format did not "stand a chance" following Warner's decision to drop the format for Blu-ray.

Citing the Warner decision, Nishida said that the format would have only had 20% of the software market share and that Warner's decision sealed the format war's fate.

"One has to take calculated risks in business, but it's also important to switch gears immediately if you think your decision was wrong," explained Nishida. "We were doing this to win, and if we weren't going to win then we had to pull out, especially since consumers were already asking for a single standard."

In the wake of the end of the HD format war, Toshiba said it would focus more on upconverting standard-def DVD players and PCs as well as HD digital downloads.

"We've been developing technologies in [the video downloads] area already, but now that we don't have the HD DVD business, I want to put even more energy into that,"added Nishida.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 4 Mar 2008 17:25

Advertisement - News comments available below the ad

43 comments

iluvendo

Sour grapes

4.3.2008 17:41 #1

nopcbs

What "sour grapes"? He told the truth. With Warner getting paid off by Sony to drop HD-DVD, superior technology or not, Toshiba had no choice, but to drop out.

Huge pity that the worse technology won, but Sony was willing to pay anything to win, and they did. Here's hoping that video-on-demand kills Blu Ray...and yeah, that is sour grapes on my part...even though I have a PS3.

4.3.2008 19:17 #2

nopcbs

4.3.2008 19:17 #3

Ludikhris

Im just glad the superior more consumer friendly option (BluRay) won. If it wasn't for Toshiba paying off dreamworks this could have been done earlier. It seemed like Toshiba would do anything to win, even pay off other companies. Thank goodness the better option survived. HOO RAY!

4.3.2008 19:22 #4

PetahG

Who says Blueray was the better option?

4.3.2008 21:48 #5

camaro17

Originally posted by Ludikhris: Im just glad the superior more consumer friendly option (BluRay) won. If it wasn't for Toshiba paying off dreamworks this could have been done earlier. It seemed like Toshiba would do anything to win, even pay off other companies. Thank goodness the better option survived. HOO RAY! i agree completely with you man.

Peace

4.3.2008 22:12 #6

DVDBack23

Originally posted by Ludikhris: Im just glad the superior more consumer friendly option (BluRay) won. It seems you are a fan of more expensive prices and crippling DRM?

4.3.2008 22:24 #7

elfman12

4.3.2008 22:25 #8

dblbogey7

As an HD DVD owner/user I feel like the Toshiba CEO just gave me the finger and a big, loud "F-U".

4.3.2008 22:46 #9

Ludikhris

Quote:It seems you are a fan of more expensive prices and crippling DRM?Im a fan of extra GBs of data and superior audio. Last I checked both formats had DRM. One format being cracked doesn't make it "more customer friendly". That's like calling a bully friendly because he only breaks one of your arms. The arguements for HD-DVD are groundless and I have decided to just use them in BRs favor.

Again, I'm just glad the better format won.

4.3.2008 22:53 #10

nopcbs

Quote:Quote:It seems you are a fan of more expensive prices and crippling DRM?Im a fan of extra GBs of data and superior audio. Last I checked both formats had DRM. One format being cracked doesn't make it "more customer friendly". That's like calling a bully friendly because he only breaks one of your arms. The arguements for HD-DVD are groundless and I have decided to just use them in BRs favor.

Again, I'm just glad the better format won.
********************************************************************

The worse format won. Consider: every HD-DVD player ever made supports Dolby Digital HD. Essentially no Blu Ray players support it. Every HD-DVD player ecer made includes an ethernet port for easy upgradability and access to on-line features, Few Blu Ray players have those feature. HD-DVD players have been readilly available for months at sub-$200 prices and at even sub-$100 prices. No Blu-Ray player is available for under $300. Toshiba made it a point to make all HD-DVD players be easily upgradable via their ethernet port. Other than PS3 (at $400 and up), essentially nu Blu Ray players are upgradable to Profile 2, the supposed mature version of Blu Ray that will (finally) debut this year.

DRM, I don't care about one way or the other, but people say that the Sony flavor is more draconian. Call that one a tie.

I see zero pluses for Blu Ray vs. HD-DVD as far as technology is concerned, and lots of pluses for HD-DVD. A pity the wrong format won.

Finally, I own two HD-DVD players (A2 and A3) bought for a total of under $200 (with 7 movies tossed in). Also have a $400 PS3 (one free movie). Image-wise, there is no difference. Cost-wise, there is a huge difference.

4.3.2008 23:12 #11

OzMick

Oh how people forget Sony's recent history... Now there's a company that will never again see a cent of my money. I hope they enjoy their "victory", it will be short lived before greed sets in again and a new format will be devised to fleece everyone out of their cash.

4.3.2008 23:31 #12

Ludikhris

Quote:Quote:Quote:It seems you are a fan of more expensive prices and crippling DRM?Im a fan of extra GBs of data and superior audio. Last I checked both formats had DRM. One format being cracked doesn't make it "more customer friendly". That's like calling a bully friendly because he only breaks one of your arms. The arguements for HD-DVD are groundless and I have decided to just use them in BRs favor.

Again, I'm just glad the better format won.
********************************************************************

The worse format won. Consider: every HD-DVD player ever made supports Dolby Digital HD. Essentially no Blu Ray players support it. Every HD-DVD player ecer made includes an ethernet port for easy upgradability and access to on-line features, Few Blu Ray players have those feature. HD-DVD players have been readilly available for months at sub-$200 prices and at even sub-$100 prices. No Blu-Ray player is available for under $300. Toshiba made it a point to make all HD-DVD players be easily upgradable via their ethernet port. Other than PS3 (at $400 and up), essentially nu Blu Ray players are upgradable to Profile 2, the supposed mature version of Blu Ray that will (finally) debut this year.

DRM, I don't care about one way or the other, but people say that the Sony flavor is more draconian. Call that one a tie.

I see zero pluses for Blu Ray vs. HD-DVD as far as technology is concerned, and lots of pluses for HD-DVD. A pity the wrong format won.

Finally, I own two HD-DVD players (A2 and A3) bought for a total of under $200 (with 7 movies tossed in). Also have a $400 PS3 (one free movie). Image-wise, there is no difference. Cost-wise, there is a huge difference.Ok so none of those are Sony issues, they are manufacturers of BluRay players that have the problems. Given that does include Sony, it's Sony's manufacturing and not their policies on BR standard. Can't upgrade? Not BR fault, its the fault of the player manufacturer. Cost too much? Same. It's not BluRays fault that Toshiba spent all their marketing dollars giving subsidies to HDDVD player manufacturers to try to undercut BluRay. The costs of manufacturing are not as big as they appear in retail stores. If there was not a BluRay then HDDVD would have been much more expensive, it was a marketing gimmick by Toshiba, and you all fell for it. Toshiba won't get a dollar of mine, because I dont need $200 paperweights right now.

I'm glad the better more consumer friendly option won.

5.3.2008 00:36 #13

samshizze

If your going to blame someone, blame microsoft. They didnt even try to save thier own format, since they believe downloading HD off broadband is the future. Bill Gates said it himself.

Bluray and Playstation 3 are gonna have a hell of a year!

5.3.2008 01:28 #14

DVDBack23

Quote:Quote:Quote:Quote:It seems you are a fan of more expensive prices and crippling DRM?Im a fan of extra GBs of data and superior audio. Last I checked both formats had DRM. One format being cracked doesn't make it "more customer friendly". That's like calling a bully friendly because he only breaks one of your arms. The arguements for HD-DVD are groundless and I have decided to just use them in BRs favor.

Again, I'm just glad the better format won.
********************************************************************

The worse format won. Consider: every HD-DVD player ever made supports Dolby Digital HD. Essentially no Blu Ray players support it. Every HD-DVD player ecer made includes an ethernet port for easy upgradability and access to on-line features, Few Blu Ray players have those feature. HD-DVD players have been readilly available for months at sub-$200 prices and at even sub-$100 prices. No Blu-Ray player is available for under $300. Toshiba made it a point to make all HD-DVD players be easily upgradable via their ethernet port. Other than PS3 (at $400 and up), essentially nu Blu Ray players are upgradable to Profile 2, the supposed mature version of Blu Ray that will (finally) debut this year.

DRM, I don't care about one way or the other, but people say that the Sony flavor is more draconian. Call that one a tie.

I see zero pluses for Blu Ray vs. HD-DVD as far as technology is concerned, and lots of pluses for HD-DVD. A pity the wrong format won.

Finally, I own two HD-DVD players (A2 and A3) bought for a total of under $200 (with 7 movies tossed in). Also have a $400 PS3 (one free movie). Image-wise, there is no difference. Cost-wise, there is a huge difference.Ok so none of those are Sony issues, they are manufacturers of BluRay players that have the problems. Given that does include Sony, it's Sony's manufacturing and not their policies on BR standard. Can't upgrade? Not BR fault, its the fault of the player manufacturer. Cost too much? Same. It's not BluRays fault that Toshiba spent all their marketing dollars giving subsidies to HDDVD player manufacturers to try to undercut BluRay. The costs of manufacturing are not as big as they appear in retail stores. If there was not a BluRay then HDDVD would have been much more expensive, it was a marketing gimmick by Toshiba, and you all fell for it. Toshiba won't get a dollar of mine, because I dont need $200 paperweights right now.

I'm glad the better more consumer friendly option one.Im sorry but you have yet to make one decent statement on how Blu-ray is better. It is just now getting features HD DVD has had for over a year, such as PIP. HD DVD is 51GB, Blu-ray is 50GB so how can you say there is more capacity? Visually, they are exactly the same. HD DVD had superior audio. HD DVD's "DRM" wasn't so crippling that it can even make your legit retail BDs unplayable like BD+ does. PS, calling cheaper prices a gimmick? I don't think so...even in the beginning, HD DVD players were $100 USD less than any Blu-ray on the market, including the PS3. Sony had fatter pockets and a, everyone must agree, smarter action plan for the format, as placing the BD drives in the PS3 was genius. The consumer has lost out for now, but hell, HD is still under 2 percent of all media sales so maybe digital downloads will come around for the steal :)

5.3.2008 01:34 #15

A_Klingon

Originally posted by dblbogey7: As an HD DVD owner/user I feel like the Toshiba CEO just gave me the finger and a big, loud "F-U".Well, I don't know what you paid for your machine, dblbogey7, (I hope you got a really good deal), but for myself, I am going to grab an HD-DVD player - if I possibly can before it's too late & they're all gone forever.

The value of one of these machines, now discounted beyond belief, is remarkable, even MINUS their inherent superb ability to upscale regular DVDs.

For the same price, you could never get a regular player that would be built as well. Even before HD-DVD's demise, I believe these players were consistently being sold *at a loss*, just to get them into people's homes as quickly as possible. The build quality, for example, of a Toshiba HD-DVD player right now, blows the doors off a comparably-priced *regular* DVD player.

I think that in my area, Walmart is gearing up to have one last 'blowout' sale. (I was speaking to one of their employees). Rather than go the (expensive)route of returning all their discs & players, they will be selling off what remaing players they have at a huge discount, and offering the movies at a 2-for-the-price-of-one discount.

I just hope I can get one of these players in time.

-- Mike --

5.3.2008 07:32 #16

SDF_GR

Quote:It is just now getting features HD DVD has had for over a year, such as PIP. HD DVD is 51GB, Blu-ray is 50GB so how can you say there is more capacity?You shouldent say BS like that.
If you consider as a fact that a triple layer HD-DVD is working 100% to all HD-DVD players then compare it with the 8layer 200gb BD disc that TDK have said that will be able to manufacture.
1 HD-DVD layer =17gb
1 BD layer = 25gb.
I dont know about the rest specs audio, video quality etc, i dont own a HD-DVD player but when talking about capacity BD is superior.

5.3.2008 07:36 #17

error5

Originally posted by DVDBack23: HD DVD is 51GB, Blu-ray is 50GB so how can you say there is more capacity?I'm sorry DVDBack23, but I think we need to clarify a few things here.

The TL51 disc spec was approved by the DVD forum but never saw the light of day with any movie release. Hence it's considered vaporware. The fact is sevral insiders at avsforums admitted that replication of these discs was going very badly that a commercial release was just not feasible at this time because of quality issues. (This actual quote was posted here at one of the threads - I can look it up later.)

Quote:HD DVD had superior audio.

This is simply not true. Dual format releases have the same audio quality given the same encode. Plus BluRay has the capacity to include an uncompressed PCM soundtrack which is bit for bit exactly the same as the studio master and yields exactly the same result as a losslesssly encoded one.

Quote:HD DVD's "DRM" wasn't so crippling that it can even make your legit retail BDs unplayable like BD+ does.I know about the playback issues of BD+ discs with the LG BH100 and the Samsung 1200 but these are firmware related problems. For me. I don't even know which movies have BD+ becuase I just pop them in my player and they all play without a problem. I have yet to see a report where a BD+ playback problem is not firmware-related.

Quote:PS, calling cheaper prices a gimmick? I don't think so...even in the beginning, HD DVD players were $100 USD less than any Blu-ray on the market, including the PS3. The fact remains that Toshiba's massive price cuts were a desperate strategy to increase software sales that eventually did not work. They lowered player prices so much that they priced everyone else out of the market. Venturer must have felt really pissed off after Toshiba undercut their player by $50. Have you ever wondered why there was no other CE maker who wanted to develop and manufacture an HD DVD player? That's right - there was NO PROFIT TO BE MADE.

Now dblbogey7 has the correct sentiment:

Quote:As an HD DVD owner/user I feel like the Toshiba CEO just gave me the finger and a big, loud "F-U".This new statement from the Toshiba CEO advocating inferior technology is one huge slap in the face to all of us who bought HD DVD players and movies. Upconversion and low-bitrate downloads - give me a break. This really leaves an extremely bitter taste in the mouth and makes me want to take my Toshiba XA2 and A1 players out to my driveway and run them over with my car.

Sorry for the rant but I just had to vent my anger at Toshiba's CEO.

5.3.2008 08:10 #18

7thsinger

Yes, the war is over, and i firmly believe that bickering about the supremacy of one format over the over is redundant. I believe each format had thier own strengths and thier own weaknesses.

Not to mention that eventually the winning (deepest pockets, most strategic) format too will be replaced with something else.

This is an excellent opportunity for HD DVD enthusiasts to pick up good quality players for upconversion for dirt cheap.

The format squabble lasted long enough to promote a small amount of competition which had an effect on pricing in consumer's favor. I believe we can expect to see prices going up on the Blu Ray side of things while HD DVD's players and movies will be sold at blow-out prices.

Personally, i still can't call one format superior to the other.

5.3.2008 08:44 #19

juankerr

7thsinger is right. Any discussion of superiority right now is moot. redundant, and useless.

OTOH I do understand dblbogey7's and error5's point of view. As a fellow HD DVD owner I can see how they can feel that way after Nishida-san's statements. It's one thing to try to save face but it's also another thing to turn your back on your supporters.

5.3.2008 08:54 #20

7thsinger

Quote:OTOH I do understand dblbogey7's and error5's point of view. As a fellow HD DVD owner I can see how they can feel that way after Nishida-san's statements. It's one thing to try to save face but it's also another thing to turn your back on your supportersIn complete agreement. That's a horrible thing to say to everyone who
was so faithfully was supportive.

5.3.2008 09:16 #21

ChromeMud

I don't see Blu-Ray movies going up in price just because of HD-DVD's retirement.There are competing formats such as HD cable,Sat and Digital Downloads that will get my money if Blu-Ray prices itself beyond value.
I wanted HD-DVD to win but kind'a knew that Sony was outgunning Toshiba in many ways so got a PS3.Using it as a movie player, not for games at the moment though.Says a lot about the PS3!

5.3.2008 10:31 #22

goodswipe

Originally posted by dblbogey7: As an HD DVD owner/user I feel like the Toshiba CEO just gave me the finger and a big, loud "F-U".Amen brother, my thoughts exactly.

Originally posted by Luda: It seemed like Toshiba would do anything to win, even pay off other companies.Hmm, isn't this what Sony (BDA) did also?

"look honey, it said goodswipe! oh wow, that's amazing."

5.3.2008 11:43 #23

hughjars

HD DVD movie production is being dropped with indecent haste.

Damned shame.

I find it hard to believe that 1 million+ HD DVD owners (worldwide) are not a viable market.

Thank God the players can do an excellent job with SD DVD and that there are 430+ HD DVD movies available
(that is in western markets there are around 800 titles worldwide).

It's also time to be glad that the emphasis with HD DVD was always more skewed towards the genuine classic then the most recent forgettable & worthless adolescent male kid's fav summer action hit BS.

But those companies that would now have us head off for Blu-ray have a weird set of values.

Especially when treated like this why on earth would anyone 'early adopt' the Blu-ray format?

They don't even have a range of mass-market friendly final spec players to offer.
It's also perfectly possible that 2 formats lost this little tussle......it's just that Blu-ray hasn't realised it and fallen over yet.

I'll be using every other alternative and avoiding Blu-ray myself.

If you want the DRM nightmare that Blu-ray is up to it's neck in then work away.
I just don't want it or need it and there are perfectly acceptable alternatives.

5.3.2008 12:15 #24

goodswipe

Originally posted by SDF_GR: 1 HD-DVD layer =17gb
Let's not cause anymore confusion for HD DVD. It actually has a capacity of 15gb per single layer. ;)

"look honey, it said goodswipe! oh wow, that's amazing."

5.3.2008 13:09 #25

DVDBack23

Quote:Originally posted by DVDBack23: HD DVD is 51GB, Blu-ray is 50GB so how can you say there is more capacity?I'm sorry DVDBack23, but I think we need to clarify a few things here.

The TL51 disc spec was approved by the DVD forum but never saw the light of day with any movie release. Hence it's considered vaporware. The fact is sevral insiders at avsforums admitted that replication of these discs was going very badly that a commercial release was just not feasible at this time because of quality issues. (This actual quote was posted here at one of the threads - I can look it up later.)

Quote:HD DVD had superior audio.

This is simply not true. Dual format releases have the same audio quality given the same encode. Plus BluRay has the capacity to include an uncompressed PCM soundtrack which is bit for bit exactly the same as the studio master and yields exactly the same result as a losslesssly encoded one.

Quote:HD DVD's "DRM" wasn't so crippling that it can even make your legit retail BDs unplayable like BD+ does.I know about the playback issues of BD+ discs with the LG BH100 and the Samsung 1200 but these are firmware related problems. For me. I don't even know which movies have BD+ becuase I just pop them in my player and they all play without a problem. I have yet to see a report where a BD+ playback problem is not firmware-related.

Now dblbogey7 has the correct sentiment:

Quote:As an HD DVD owner/user I feel like the Toshiba CEO just gave me the finger and a big, loud "F-U".This new statement from the Toshiba CEO advocating inferior technology is one huge slap in the face to all of us who bought HD DVD players and movies. Upconversion and low-bitrate downloads - give me a break. This really leaves an extremely bitter taste in the mouth and makes me want to take my Toshiba XA2 and A1 players out to my driveway and run them over with my car.

Sorry for the rant but I just had to vent my anger at Toshiba's CEO.Ok for the 3 layer disc, fair point. As for the audio, i had meant to say that audio support (except for high end $2000+ blu-ray players) was better on HD DVD from the start. Fair points though error5, my statements were a tad bold.

5.3.2008 14:47 #26

ChromeMud

Blu-Ray may have won the HD disk format war but I'm expecting an
almighty GROAN when the Holographic Disk SUPER-HD war begins.
And NO,I don't believe people will replace actual movie-disks/tapes for Digital Downloads.I prefer physical media in a box like most ardent movie collectors.Old Skool maybe but my ISP is the limiting factor,especialy the old copper cable network that will never see an upgrade to Japan's state-of-the-art gigabit download capacity anytime soon.

5.3.2008 16:55 #27

XEnigmaX

For those of you still wondering why Blu-ray one, it was inevitable from the beginning.

Specs don't matter to companies, nor does capacity, or nearly anything that matters to us consumers (Not that I'm saying HD-DVD is better than Blu-ray, nor am I saying it's worse).

The fact is, HD-DVD forced a standard new codec that proved to be costly for media moguls. Blu-ray used the old mpeg codec that everyone was already used to with DVD. It was cheaper for the companies to just use the technology they already had to produce Blu-ray, rather than spend that much more to learn and develop using new technology.

6.3.2008 00:12 #28

7thsinger

Originally posted by XEnigmaX: For those of you still wondering why Blu-ray one, it was inevitable from the beginning.

Specs don't matter to companies, nor does capacity, or nearly anything that matters to us consumers (Not that I'm saying HD-DVD is better than Blu-ray, nor am I saying it's worse).

The fact is, HD-DVD forced a standard new codec that proved to be costly for media moguls. Blu-ray used the old mpeg codec that everyone was already used to with DVD. It was cheaper for the companies to just use the technology they already had to produce Blu-ray, rather than spend that much more to learn and develop using new technology.I have a hard time citing this as the reason Blu Ray won this little squabble.

While you may be right in the codec issue, i feel that this had little to do with the victory, or the victor.

It was a strategy game, and the Blu Ray camp plays better chess. Nothing more and nothing less.

Production costs didn't matter.

Pricing for consumers didn't matter.

What mattered is the money that changed hands enough times and in enough places to buy out the studio(s) market.

Again, i have yet to be able find enough cause to call either format superior.

6.3.2008 00:20 #29

locobrown

I still say the best format lost in regard to specs.

6.3.2008 01:02 #30

hughjars

Originally posted by XEnigmaX: The fact is, HD-DVD forced a standard new codec that proved to be costly for media moguls. - HD DVD & Blu-ray mandated the exact same 3 codecs.

VC-1, AVC & MPEG2.

6.3.2008 06:36 #31

LOCOENG

I'm just glad the format war is over, it was stupid from the get go and someone was bound to lose leaving the consumer in a lurch. The Blu-Ray fans need to stop gloating and the HD-DVD fans needs to stop whining. What makes/made one format superior for one person might have made it weaker for someone else that is what is so great about having a choice...if you like the PS3 go buy one, if you don't buy a 360 and if they don't suit you go get a wii but there isn't any reason to nit pick others for choosing what works best for their needs.

Don't forget about your Buddies The rules ~ http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/2487

6.3.2008 08:46 #32

sbenthal

i think they ought to have to buy them all back,Toshiba isn't that stupid,are they?

6.3.2008 14:28 #33

wfalcon2

I actually own a player from both formats. I have since last November. I have to throw in my 2 cents worth. Being in the position to compare both, I am glad that I do own the Blu for all the available title ( and more to come with the war being over). But the Toshiba is definately the better player. The menus are easier to use, and the picture/sound is leap years ahead of the Panasonic. I wish that the better format had won, but it was not meant to be. What I am really pissed about is that Sony never finalized the format before releasing it to the public. Now, with profile 2 coming out this fall, I'm left with a limited, low end player. I hate Sony for this.

21.3.2008 04:22 #34

nopcbs

Sony deserves everyone's contempt because of the contempt they show their customers. Prime example, about the only onsolescence proof (maybe) Blu Ray player around for merely too much money (as opposed to hideously too much money) is the PS3. Sony pushes the fact that it is a good Blu ray movie player. But it does not have an IR port for a remote. That means forget about about using ANY universal remote including the excellent Harmony remotes. You get to but Sony's cheap but adequate BT remote. There is a third party NYKO IR/USB adapter adapter remote that you can teach your Harmony the commands from, but it is not full feature.

Would have cst a very few dollars to include an Ir receiver in every PS3 and make it a far more practical movie player. Did Sony do it?

Another thing, even the bottom of the line Toshiba A2 sends high definition Dolby Digital out the optical port as DTS to give you better sound (I have one and the shockingly better sound vs. just Dolby Digital was almost as big a jump as DVD to HD video quality.) So what does Sony do with their PS3? They leave out that very nice little feature. You want great sound, get a new receiver with HDMI audio. Thanks, Sony.

Finally, the user interface for playing movies on a PS3 is just annoying as can be compared to the simple/logical interface of the Toshiba A2.

Second finally, I bought one PS3 game, Blazing Angels. Popped it in, it plays vdeo, but no sound out the optical port. Apparently you have to have an HDMI audio-enabled receiver because Sony did not care enough to send the sound out the optical port.

Thanks, Sony.

21.3.2008 08:03 #35

error5

Originally posted by nopcbs: You want great sound, get a new receiver with HDMI audio. Thanks, Sony.

Apparently you have to have an HDMI audio-enabled receiver because Sony did not care enough to send the sound out the optical port.
How to get audio thru the optical port for movies and games:

> On the XMB got to SETTINGS
> Select SOUND SETTINGS
> Select AUDIO OUTPUT SETTINGS
> Select DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL)
> Check ALL the Boxes (Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, AACS, LPCM etc.)
> Press RIGHT directional button
> Press X (Enter)

Now you're all set.

No need to buy an HDMI receiver.

21.3.2008 09:39 #36

nopcbs

Thanks, but I already had to do this to get sound out of my movies. That worked. Still no sound from the Blazing Angels game, though.

The Marantz SR4002 receiver with HDMI audio is on order, as a result.

Thanks, Sony.

- nopcbs

nopcbs

21.3.2008 10:00 #37

ChromeMud

Quote:Originally posted by nopcbs: You want great sound, get a new receiver with HDMI audio. Thanks, Sony.

Apparently you have to have an HDMI audio-enabled receiver because Sony did not care enough to send the sound out the optical port.
How to get audio thru the optical port for movies and games:

> On the XMB got to SETTINGS
> Select SOUND SETTINGS
> Select AUDIO OUTPUT SETTINGS
> Select DIGITAL OUT (OPTICAL)
> Check ALL the Boxes (Dolby Digital 5.1, DTS 5.1, AACS, LPCM etc.)
> Press RIGHT directional button
> Press X (Enter)

Now you're all set.

No need to buy an HDMI receiver.All true error5 but my problem with Blu-Ray and not the PS3 is that most of my Blu-Ray disks have their audio in the latest formats such as DTS Master and lossless Dolby Digital.If you don't have the decoder you'll get AC3 / Dolby Digital 2.0 or Stereo PCM.I have just one disk with Dolby Digital 5.1 and as my amp is Dolby Digital only, I'm left with Movies sounding worse than my DVD's which have Dolby 5.1!They do look excellent though.
I wish the PS3 could use that CELL chip to transcode in realtime to any surround format you choose,that would be ACE.

The PS3 doesn't upscale 480i/P video or weird DivX resolutions to 1080P either unlike the 360 which upscales anything and everything to 1080P through Component cable.
So I hope they get the PS3 to upscale everything, I'm sure it could handle the workload.
One more thing that I want the PS3 to do is handle a lot more MPEG4 video codecs.I have camcorder and camera video that records in an MPEG4 format but the audio is either adpcm or a crappy raw 22khz audio.I don't really want to transcode it either so if the PS3 could handle these weird MPEG4 formats then I would be happy.
I was thinking of putting linux on PS3, maybe that could do more in the future?!?Currently,my 360 can handle more video codecs than the PS3,plus it can also stream huge HD 1080P video files over the network unlike the PS3 which has size limits.
The PS3 and 360 both need updates to be worthy media centres but they are getting there slowly.

21.3.2008 10:26 #38

borhan9

Quote:Toshiba CEO Atsutoshi Nishida has finally talked out about his company's decision to drop HD DVD and went as far as to say that the format did not "stand a chance" following Warner's decision to drop the format for Blu-ray.I think this is all CEO's stances. Warners decision was a decisive one that effected all players and well at least now we can really invest in the format that has a future ahead of it self.

21.4.2008 23:55 #39

locobrown

Now that Blu-ray is the next gen format, Sony better surpass the codecs that HD-DVD used or buy out the full copyright to those codecs because I don't want to watch movies at MPEG-2, we have DVD for that.

22.4.2008 13:23 #40

eatsushi

Originally posted by locobrown: Now that Blu-ray is the next gen format, Sony better surpass the codecs that HD-DVD used or buy out the full copyright to those codecs because I don't want to watch movies at MPEG-2, we have DVD for that.BluRay has been using AVC/MPEG4 and VC1 for more than a year now. A few new releases are still in MPEG2 but majority are coming out in AVC/MPEG4.

Check the technical specs on each title reviewd and you'll see:

http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/reviews.html

From blu-raystats.com less than 1/3 of all releases so far are MPEG2:

MPEG4/AVC - 41.2%
VC-1 - 27.3%
MPEG2 - 31.6%

http://www.blu-raystats.com/

22.4.2008 14:03 #41

error5

Originally posted by eatsushi: BluRay has been using AVC/MPEG4 and VC1 for more than a year now. A few new releases are still in MPEG2 but majority are coming out in AVC/MPEG4.That's correct...

...and if you look at the first 3 1/2 months of 2008 - out of 101 releases:

AVC/MPEG4 - 65.43%
VC1 - 30.86%
MPEG2 - 3.71%

Everyone seems to be getting away from MPEG2.

http://www.blu-raystats.com/stats.php?OrderBy=Codec&Date=2008

Originally posted by locobrown: buy out the full copyright to those codecs You don't buy the copyright to a codec. Instead, you pay a royalty to the codec's patent holders every time you use the codec to author a title.

Pioneer Kuro 50" PDP-5010FD 1080p Plasma With 24fps input and 3:3 72Hz Playback - ISF Calibrated
Toshiba HD-XA2 HD DVD Player// Sony PS3 60GB - soon to be replaced by the Panasonic DMP-BD50
Marantz SR6001 Surround Sound Receiver With HDMI// B&W604/602/LCR600 // Hsu Research VTF3 Subwoofer
HD DVD Titles - 85 // BluRay Titles - 58 (and counting)

22.4.2008 23:26 #42

locobrown

I have a HD-DVD player and 70 titles, and I was real happy with my HD-DVD then angry when the format faded, and happy again and went Amazon.com crazy buying movies at reduced prices, I continue to do so. I just expect more from Sony, now that Blu-ray almost single handedly derailed HD-DVD.

23.4.2008 12:52 #43

AfterDawn: News