“Sony is in talks with console rival Microsoft about offering a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360, according to a senior executive,” Chris Nuttall reports for The Financial Times.
“The Japanese electronics maker has until now touted Blu-ray as an advantage its PlayStation 3 holds over Microsoft’s console. Microsoft has backed Toshiba’s HD-DVD format and offered an HD-DVD drive that can be plugged into the 360,” Nuttall reports. “But after Sony’s victory last month in the high-definition DVD format war, Stan Glasgow, Sony Electronics US president, said the two sides were now talking about Microsoft adopting Blu-ray.”
Nuttall reports, “Mr Glasgow, speaking at a media dinner, added that discussions were also taking place with Apple, which has not offered Blu-ray drives on any of its computers so far and has focused on digital media via downloads and streaming through devices such as its Apple TV.”
Nuttall reports, “On Blu-ray pricing, Mr Glasgow expects prices of players to drop to as low as $299 by the end of the year. They currently cost $399 and higher. He feels the price of a player could fall to about $200 by the end of 2009.”
Full article here.
Sure. Why not? They’ll become very cheap now and it’s the new optical media for the next ten years, so sure, make that deal.
“discussions were also taking place with Apple, which has not offered Blu-ray drives on any of its computers so far and has focused on digital media via downloads and streaming through devices such as its Apple TV.””
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If and when Apple decide to add Blu-ray drives to Macs.. Their reasoning would have very little to do with the ability to play Blu-Ray movies and everything to do with Blu-Ray authoring and storage solutions.
No future in optical discs. They can only spin so fast and store so much. Electronic distribution and/or read-only flash will be the future.
Imagine being able to purchase 1080p movies on 16GB/32GB etc read only flash drives that will be the size of those little USB keychain drives.
and the truth to why MS backed HD-DVD is now obvious… If they backed BD, they’d be backing a direct competitor to the XBOX.
Apple doesn’t play in the Game Console space so they could afford to back whatever they wanted.
Wait, this isn’t an article about a phone?
@macman,
I’ve never thought of that concept, it a goodun
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Peace
$299 is still way too high for a Blu Ray player… no sale here. I’ll stick with Handbrake and my Apple TV.
You’re going to have to do bettter than that Sony.
Good!
The lessor of two evils has won against the Evil Empire!
We continue to have some illusion of normalcy for just a little while longer.
Now who’s fscking idea was it to have glossy screens on Apple’s computers anyway?
Shoot the basterd now.
“Imagine being able to purchase 1080p movies on 16GB/32GB etc read only flash drives that will be the size of those little USB keychain drives.”
That would be very cool. And reusable.
And, Wal-Mart could fit more closeout deals in the bin.
Ballmer’s loving that crow today. First chairs and now birds. When will it end?!?!?! Oh, the humanity of it all!
“”Imagine being able to purchase 1080p movies on 16GB/32GB etc read only flash drives that will be the size of those little USB keychain drives.”
That would be very cool. And reusable.
And, Wal-Mart could fit more closeout deals in the bin.”
Yes … an excellent idea. But … why close them out? Return them to the source to be written over … again, and again, and … until they come up with something worth watching. Or, perhaps, sell the right to make a copy on your own 16/32 right at the store!
Dave
I have never understood why VHS and Beta, audio cassettes and even 8-tracks had protection for the media, yet when you get a DVD or CD out to play, it can be damaged easily.
Yes, a flash dongle that you insert in a video machine to to update and pay at McDonalds or wherever would be so much better than disc.
….not to be confused with the other flash dongle that you insert.
Although that could be electrifying.
Dave:
By closeouts, I just meant bargains. I like the idea of just plugging into a kiosk wherever you shop and grabbing a new movie. It would eliminate the need for separate brick and mortar rental stores.
Told ya!
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Apple does need BR for end to end HD production and distribution. At least on it’s Pro Towers.
Although a 24 inch iMac with BR would make a nice little HD media center as well.
@ Ampar
That “kiosk” already exists. It’s called the Apple TV, and it’s already attached to your HD television. You don’t even need to drive away from your living room with your little dongle! Optical and/or removable media distribution is dead!
To Aldebaran:
I understand that but I think even though things change for the better people sometimes still like to hold something they have purchased. Tactile feedback and all that. We’ll see I suppose. (And I’m no fan of the disc.)
@ Ampar
I certainly understand making a purchase of goods that *require* a tactile feel. For example I have a hard time buying clothes, shoes, or furniture online. But a movie (or music, or software), is just bits and bytes. In a world that is increasing striving to become green and reducing waste (packaging, unnecessary travel, etc.). The downloadable model is where I’d put my resources. Apple is clearly “skating to where the puck is going to be.”
I think we’re agreeing, Aldebaran. And it will be a generational change. My parents still use a VCR. Can you imagine?
My parents never could program their VCR, but my 71-year old Dad LOVES his new Sony Bravia 40″ flatsceen TV and surround sound I got him for his birthday last year. I’m getting them an Apple TV this year to go with it to make movie rental even easier, and so they can show off all those travel and grandkid photos my Mom has been collecting on her G4 iMac.
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I remember 25 years ago when I paid $800 for a VHS machine and movies on tape were $80. So, I am not complaining about a $400 player and $30 movies that are 100 times better.
Don’t do it, Apple. Especially if it will add to the price or keep the price level but reduce profit margins. Fuck Sony and fuck Blu-ray.
@Aldebaran:
I don’t think that physical media will be going away as quick as you think. Until storage technology drops in price and increases in reliability by an order of magnitude or two, plenty of people will still prefer to have a physical good. Optical discs certainly have their limits, but with any kind of care, will last quite a while. Hard drives fail, regardless of well they are treated. I think the idea of some sort of ROM-based solid state media is great- reduced size and no moving parts. Short of some sort severe EM pulse or just plain abusive physical handling, very difficult to break. And it has the benfit of you not being able to accidentally delete a movie by mistake.
Can you record on Blu-ray?