Blu-ray, in General

[Cinesimilitude]

Warner announced Excalibur and V for Vendetta today with a release date of October 31.

V for Vendetta! woot woot!

[The Invunche]

A counterpoint to the HD DVD bias:

http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6379728.html

[Cinesimilitude]

As much as I love HD-DVD and as much as I hate sony, I want both formats. Here's some news that could bode well for a dual format player.

NEC announced today it has begun shipping a chip compatible with both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD formats. NEC also revealed that the new device has the same price ($85) as other chips from the company that read only Blu-ray Disc or only HD DVD.

In order to make a player that could read both formats, it'd be necessary the optical pick-up part that can read both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD media. This, together with the chip developed by NEC, would account for more than the fifty percent of the cost of the entire player.

Back in July, Ricoh Technologies announced it has developed an optical device that can read and write both next-generation optical disc formats. The device is a diffraction plate that is placed between the laser and the lens, which allows changing the laser beam's spot size on the fly to read both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD media.

Are we close to the end of this pointless war between Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD? Probably.

so we've got the chips and the lasers. anyone tech savvy enough to tell us what else has to happen for this to fall into place? I want a few blu-rays out right now, so I really hope this happens.

[The Invunche]

anyone tech savvy enough to tell us what else has to happen for this to fall into place?

If you think the hurdles are technological you're naive. This is about money and the fear of losing face.

[Cinesimilitude]

If you think the hurdles are technological you're naive. This is about money and the fear of losing face.

I don't think they are merely technological. It's not like these companies (those that would have a problem) have stopped NEC and Ricoh from making these products, and NEC is already selling their chip. They robably had a hand in making them, since they would have had to give these companies some information to allow them to creat the technology. I'm sure Image and Warner (two companies releasing on both formats) wouldnt have a problem with it. The way I see it, there is far more potential loss of profit in letting a format war occur, as opposed to just agreeing on something thats the best for the consumer. And what's best for the consumer is what fills the company's pockets, every time.

Here's the V art, btw. The back cover art is up at DVDactive.com and the special feaures say they are partially HD, but no mention of which ones specifically.

[Ted Todorov]

Concerning Apple's iTV: most people are looking at this as a movie streaming device -- I don't.

iTunes contains thousands of podcasts, many are video podcasts.
...
Just think of this as a logical extension of the iPod, iMovie and YouTube. You'll never want to watch your new copy of Seven Samurai via iTV, but as a better way to view "user generated" content, it certainly beats watching it on your PC.

You are certainly right about the Video Podcasts, I think they'll be huge.

On the other hand iTV will absolutely be a movie streaming device. Steve Jobs explicitly said that was its purpose when he announced it.

Initially it my not support HD (and certainly Apple's movies won't be in HD), but in the very near future, both iTV and Apple's movies will be HD.

Steve Jobs is a smart guy, and he realizes that due to the HD vs. Blu-ray format war, this is an ideal moment to corner the HD market. However, he needs the OK of the movie studios, and first they have to agree to SD movies before they agree to HD movies... If WalMart and Target are blue in the face now over the mere prospect of Apple selling SD films, they would be positively apoplectic if Apple starts selling HD, so the studios are going to need to see major $$ signs flashing before their troglodytic eyes before they agree.

The plan though definitely *is* for iTV users to be watching Seven Samurai, and so long as the studios do good transfers, there is no reason that it won't look great. Nor is there any reason for Janus/Criterion not to participate.

[Matt]

Nor is there any reason for Janus/Criterion not to participate.

I can see them doing this before they decide on a HD disc format.

[Ted Todorov]

I think the one key factor he's missing - and correct me if I'm wrong - is that the downloads will be lacking in extra features.

You are sort of correct, however some extras are in fact currently on offer through iTunes, and there is no reason for it eventually to offer every single extra DVDs currently do.

The existing extras, if you are interested, include featurets for various TV shows (Making of..., etc.) which have been offered as free downloads through iTunes. There also have been BSG commentary tracks in Podcast form.

It is true that the current version of iTunes does not support 5.1 sound or multiple soundtracks, but there is no technical reason why it couldn't be upgraded to do so in the future.

Keep in mind though that Apples target customer is Joe-above-avarage, not hardcore audio/video-philes. And Apple may feel that Joe cares more for HD than commentary tracks -- they will cater to the masses long before us.

[Ted Todorov]

I'm a little skeptical of Apple's intention of getting into the HDTV game.
...
the 128K music downloads from the iTunes store gives no indication that Apple has any plans to get into the quality game as opposed to the quantity.
...
I just think that given current technology limitations, the iTV is going to end up being closer to the Newton than the iPod.

It may be that iTV never becomes popular with same target audience that are early adopters for HD-DVD/Blu-ray. It may be that iTV is not primarily used for movies.

However, I think that iTV is absolutely guaranteed to be a smashing success (unless Apple uncharacteristically drops the ball and it simply doesn't work).

iTV will be a huge success because of the iTunes TV store if no other reason. The TV store is ALREADY an amazing hit. Every network, big and small is tripping over themselves trying to be on it. I seriously doubt most people watch those shows on their tiny iPod screens -- I'll bet 90% of them are watching them on their Mac/PC monitors. A large percentage of these people will buy iTV -- that alone will make it a hit.

Another future group of iTV users will be for people currently using Front Row for viewing Elgato EyeTV video and VIDEO_TS folders thanks to the great DVD Assist utility. No doubt iTV will be similarly hacked to support user generated video. Again, Apples movie store could be a bust (which I very, very seriously doubt) and iTV will still be a huge hit.

[porquenegar]

Viewed Dirty Dozen and Willy Wonka this weekend. Both are winners. Dirty Dozen includes a second feature as an extra, albeit in SD. Both look really good. I hope they keep these older films coming as I'm enjoying a lot more than some of the newer fare.

Casablanca, Deer Hunter and a few others announced for HD DVD today.

[Cinesimilitude]

Magnolia Pictures announced their first wave of HD and BD titles today. Not that It needs to be said, but Bikini Destinations will probably be the best seller out of the ones announced.

[Schkura]

Apparently, my Playstation 3 is shipping in 3 weeks with a Blu-Ray copy of Talladega Nights bundled with it. Its like they read my mind . A review is forthcoming for those on the edge of their seats.

[Matt]

So, to put it bluntly, will Christmas '06 be "The Decider" for the format war?

[porquenegar]

So, to put it bluntly, will Christmas '06 be "The Decider" for the format war?

I doubt it. Both formats will probably be around for a while. Lionsgate and Disney are both strongly rumored to be going format neutral by the end of the year.

I doubt the PS3 will be much of a Blu-Ray player but only time will tell. The PS2 was an exceptionally poor DVD player. I think I also read that the PS3 won't upscale SD DVDs but there may be more to it than that.

[Schkura]

I doubt the PS3 will be much of a Blu-Ray player

I didn't consider this until I read your post, but maybe it will be. So few actual games (and even fewer that look even remotely interesting) are being released for the system in the first few months that one might actually be bored into buying Blu-Ray discs just so they can use their new 600$ toy.

My boss, a bit of a conspiracy theorist when it comes to Sony, will love this idea: getting holiday shoppers to unwittingly fight over glorified Blu-Ray players.

[porquenegar]

It also appears that the PS3 will not include the cables required to pass the HD signal. I wonder how many people are going to connect up with the composite cables throw in Ricky Bobby and fail to see what all the Blu Ray hype is about. Sounds like a bad move by Sony.

[jedgeco]

I doubt the PS3 will be much of a Blu-Ray player

True, Sony has a bad track record here; the PS2 was a pretty lousy DVD player, at least from a usability standpoint. But DVD also had 3+ years on the market by the time the PS2 came out, so I bet there were few buyers of PS2s that didn't already own DVD players (at least initially). But now, Sony needs the PS3 to sell Blu Ray to a wider audience; they'd be nuts not to give it a stellar Blu Ray experience, which isn't to say they won't drop the ball anyway....

It also appears that the PS3 will not include the cables required to pass the HD signal. I wonder how many people are going to connect up with the composite cables throw in Ricky Bobby and fail to see what all the Blu Ray hype is about. Sounds like a bad move by Sony.

That would be a terrible move for Sony, but completely on par with what the company's been doing the past few years.

[jon]

Well I'm not touching either of them until they start making some cool looking covers instead of all that half art/half metal look that is happening.

example

also, the studio's are just recycling all the old art and not really embracing the new format fully it seems. I guess we will see more creative packaging after the format war

[Cinesimilitude]

Warner is the best for art so far, They don't mention HD anywhere except the back cover, and there's no metal thing. Paramount HD an Blu-Ray is ok, thye just have a border that looks like metal, and universal is touch and go, but those buena vista blu-rays are TERRIBLE.

[jon]

yah, warner is good with their classic films. Do they do that with every release though? Also, i think that the banner artwork will go away once there is a clear winner. Its like they are advertising the format right now.

edit: nvm, it seems Warner is keeping all their art clean

[Cinesimilitude]

Yeah, all warners art so far is clean, and clean in a way even DVD was not. Most warner HD-DVD's so far dont even contain critic quotes, which is fantastic. I don't think the banner declaration will go if a winner is declared, most likely a black or clear case with the logo at the top as opposed to the color disparity.

[porquenegar]

I'm reading from several different sources that the HD DVD Add-on to the Xbox 360 is wildly exceeding pre-order expectations. Good news for HD DVD as there is no doubt that 100% of these sales will translate to HD DVD purchases. This is still a big question regarding those purchasing PS3's. No one knows what percentage of PS3 buyers will purchase BluRay movies.

I'm also dubious about how good a player the Xbox player add-on will be. It's interesting how these gaming consoles are a real factor in this war.

[Cinesimilitude]

the 360 dvd player has excellent functionality whether it be with a remote or a 360 controller, and the picture looks even better than the upconverting properties of the Toshiba HD-A1. I'm getting the 360 add-on for sure, and the inclusion of King Kong is a FAR better HD reference disc than the PS3's inclusion of Talladega Nights.

[Cinesimilitude]

BluRay is Dead.

And...

From thedigitalbits.com

Finally, Sony has unfortunately revealed that they're delaying their BDP-S1 Blu-ray Disc player again. It had been expected on 10/25 (tomorrow), but it's now tentatively due to be released on 12/4. According to a company spokesperson, Sony is working on fine-tuning the player's firmware. I'll tell you, it's getting a little old hearing about these hardware delays.

I think what these companies are doing to early adopters of blu-ray is summed up beautifully with this gif.

[The Invunche]

Wishful thinking, guys.

BluRay is still technically superior and has larger studio support.

<-- not a BluRay fan.