“Two groups are competing for control of high-definition DVD formats to be launched in spring 2006. After a long and tedious run up to the launch, it is now clear to Forrester that the Sony-led Blu-ray format will win. But unless the HD-DVD group abandons the field, it will be another two years before consumers are confident enough of the winner to think about buying a new format DVD player. In the meantime, they will expand their video-on-demand (VOD), downloadable video, and Internet video habits,” Forrester Research’s Ted Schadler predicts.
Full research reports (US$249.00) here.
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FYI: Blu-ray’s disks will hold at least 50 gigabytes and perhaps 100 gigs or more. HD DVD will start at 15 gigs, and top out at 45. The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) is responsible for establishing format standards and promoting and further developing business opportunities for Blu-ray Disc — the next-generation optical disc for storing high-definition movies, photos and other digital content. The BDA has more than 130 members. Its Board of Directors consists of Apple Computer, Inc.; Dell Inc.; Hewlett Packard Company; Hitachi, Ltd.; LG Electronics Inc.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Panasonic (Matsushita Electric); Pioneer Corporation; Royal Philips Electronics; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation; Sony Corporation; TDK Corporation; Thomson; Twentieth Century Fox; and Walt Disney Pictures and Television. HD DVD’s list of backers includes such names as Microsoft, Toshiba, NEC, Viacom, NBC Universal, and Time Warner among others.
Related articles:
BusinessWeek: ‘it looks as if HD DVD’s days are numbered’ – October 07, 2005
China to develop own as-yet-unnamed DVD format; Blu-ray vs. HD DVD vs ? – October 07, 2005
Paramount’s decision gives Blu-ray slight lead over HD DVD in next gen DVD format war – October 04, 2005
Record set straight on Blu-ray Disc Association’s superior high definition format – September 29, 2005
Microsoft backs cheaper, less sophisticated, lower capacity HD DVD over Apple-backed Blu-ray format – September 27, 2005
Twentieth Century Fox joins Apple, Dell, HP, others to support Blu-ray Disc format – July 29, 2005
Poll shows Apple-backed Blu-ray preferred by consumers over HD DVD for next-gen DVD standard – July 14, 2005
Microsoft allies with Toshiba on HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray Disc backers Apple and Sony – June 27, 2005
Apple joins Blu-ray Disc Association Board of Directors – March 10, 2005
Blues by Ray (Charles) always win. Is that what we’re talking about?
yipeee, looks like the PS3 will be ny new HD DVD player.
Unless the fan noise is equally loud as the PS2 fan. : (
It figures that the M$ backed HD-DVD would be based on existing DVD technology, while other companies are spending their R&D dollars on developing the next generation standards and technologies. M$ is addicted to legacy programming, they long for the good ole’ days when anything they made was instantly an industry standard.
good riddance M$…
marko,
Do you watch silent movies on your ps2 ? or play games with the sound turned down? how is it that you can hear the fan???
I couldnt even hear the fire alarm if my ps2 was running
why does no one want to talk
anymore about apple craptel?
trust me, this is not something to fuzz over.
the end
is not near but this could spend the crippling effect
of windows virus, malware, spyware, adware.
is no one
else worried>??
“Apple backed…”
Apple is just going along for the ride because the other choice is a M$ based format and most of Hollywood doesn’t like that idea one bit.
HD-DVD is so crippling, it’s really just a small upgrade in storage compared to BR-DVD for only a slightly cheaper price. Eventually a higher standard will be needed regardless, so we should all go over to BR-DVD right away and get it over with.
With BR-DVD we will be able to back up most of our boot drives to DVD again. Mine is currently around 74GB, way over HD-DVD specificiations.
I thought that Toshiba just unleashed the HD-DVD technology in China, to propagate it there. Doesn’t this turn the tables a bit, if suddenly the HD-DVD is dirt cheap??
not even microsoft can stop the juggernaught that is the PS3. PS3 will have blue-ray, blue-ray has won.
Microsoft doesnt care which format they use. they want to use HD-DVD because of the abliity to move the data that is copy protected OFF of the media. Aparently BLU-RAY has a more difficult DRM situtation and will not allow the end user to take the content off the disc. This article is way too biased. People need to research the situtation before they just throw out somthing that has Microsofts name on it.
“the crippling effect
of windows virus, malware, spyware, adware.”
Lisa, isn’t this a operating system issue and not a processor issue?
Apple computers will still run OSX when they switch to Intel.
lisa—would you write that again in English please?
Lisa, No, no one else is worried about the voices you hear in your head.
‘m the voice in Lisa’s head and I take acception to that!
Playstation 3 will have blue-ray.
No game consoles will have hd-dvd.
game over, man!
[Private Hudson in Aliens]
“Game over, man — GAME OVER!”
[/Private Hudson in Aliens]
To Atist:
Well, that is ok. I’m just glad to hear you don’t take “exception” to it.
…And this battle — and delay — effectively gives Apple and others a two-year window to develop and jump start online HD video sales and delivery…
Guys: MS has stated several times that they like Blu-Ray, but object to the fact that Blu-Ray has not yet instituted mandatory “managed copy” into their DRM. Managed copy is the ability for the disc’s DRM to securely allow the customer to rip the disc’s contents to a hard drive and stream it to other PC’s or TV’s. Blu-Ray discs may end up having this capability as an option (possibly at an extra charge to the consumer), but HD-DVD makes it MANDATORY. As of yet, Blu-Ray has yet to announce mandatory managed copy. I wonder how many studios would voluntarily add this feature for free. My guess is zero. That’s why MS has endorsed HD-DVD over Blu-Ray
On this point, I’ve got to agree with MS. Managed copy will be a huge sticking point for me. In the future, I’d love to be able to rip my entire movie collection to one central million-gagigabyte HD and have the ability to call up any movie I want from any TV or computer in the house without searching through stacks of discs or having to worry about scratched and lost discs.
If Blu-Ray doesn’t make this feature mandatory, I’m not sold.
PS: I know that Blu-Ray’s final DRM specs aren’t official and that they may eventually add mandatory managed copy. I think MS’s decision to support HD-DVD, as well as HP’s recent announcement that their support of Blu-Ray is conditional on the inclusion of mandatory managed copy, is not as much an endorsement of HD-DVD as it is an endorsement of mandatory managed copy. I think they’re trying to send a message to Blu-Ray: “ADD MANDATORY MANAGED COPY!!!”
“…it is now clear to Forrester that the Sony-led Blu-ray format will win.” – Forrester Research.
I think I just heard another chair slam against the wall in Steve Ballmer’s office.
Lisa, you have the answer in what you wrote already. Next time re-read your statements: windows virus, malware, spyware, adware.
WINDOWS virus, etc.
where do you see “OS X” in the above?
Why would anybody with a fully functional brain believe that MS could deliver a secure managed copy service that wouldn’t land up being hacked by DVD Jon’s successor (since he’s probably gone legit since joining his new employer).
And that’s why most studios are going to stick with Blu-ray, quite apart from the Java-based interactivity, the better capacity and the other advantages.
This will not affect Apple either way.
They are using Flash!
So Says Bobby!
http://www.technologypundits.com/index.php?article_id=217
Hey Chris,
I’m at work stuck with Windows and explorer. I guess I depend too much on Safari spell check.
iPodder’s right Lisa.
The fact that the Macs will still run OSX on the new Intel chips means they are essentially still Macs. Windows stuff won’t make a dent.
I want managed copy capable Blue-ray if Apple is using ’em. I love Apple but losing the capability to archive my DVD collection would burn me.