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Toshiba phasing out HD-DVD!

post #1 of 76
2/15/08 at 7:47am
Thread Starter 
http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents

About time to. 90% Japan is blu-ray, so they have been missing out on a shitload of revenue.
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post #2 of 76
2/16/08 at 3:30pm
It's done. According to Reuters.

Toshiba to give up on HD DVD, end format war: source

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp (6502.T) is planning to give up on its HD DVD format for high-definition video, conceding defeat to the competing Blu-Ray technology backed by Sony Corp (6758.T), a company source said on Saturday.

Japanese public broadcaster NHK had earlier reported that Toshiba would suffer losses in the tens of billions of yen (hundreds of millions of dollars) as it scrapped production of HD DVD players and recorders and took other steps to exit the business.

The company source told Reuters that Toshiba was in the final stages of planning to exit the HD DVD business and that an official decision would be made soon.

(Reporting by Mayumi Negishi, Kentaro Hamada and Nathan Layne, editing by Mike Peacock)

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post #3 of 76
2/16/08 at 4:17pm
That's all fine and well, but on another note, I'm tired of the Digital Bits trumpeting the defeat of HD-DVD. I read a note on their site last week that said essentially they're not taking HD-DVD advertising anymore because "they've chosen to go with Blu-Ray". What a shocker. You chose Blu-Ray a long time ago, and never failed to talk down about HD-DVD at any given opportunity, even saying that the hacking of the BR site was attributed to the backers of HD-DVD being desperate. When you hang out with a girl 24x7, hold her hand in public, and shower her with gifts, but still claim, "She's just a friend," don't be surprised if people greet your long-time-in-coming "announcement" that you're now dating with, "No shit, Sherlock. You weren't fooling anyone."
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post #4 of 76
2/16/08 at 6:33pm
wow, HD-DVD's getting a quick funeral. Maybe I should save mine for the Smithsonian..
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post #5 of 76
2/16/08 at 6:35pm
Well, at least now I can get HD-DVDs for peanuts once it's entirely official.
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post #6 of 76
2/16/08 at 6:49pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martianman View Post
When you hang out with a girl 24x7, hold her hand in public, and shower her with gifts, but still claim, "She's just a friend," don't be surprised if people greet your long-time-in-coming "announcement" that you're now dating with, "No shit, Sherlock. You weren't fooling anyone."
It's just a disc storage format, relax.
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post #7 of 76
2/16/08 at 8:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Martianman View Post
That's all fine and well, but on another note, I'm tired of the Digital Bits trumpeting the defeat of HD-DVD. I read a note on their site last week that said essentially they're not taking HD-DVD advertising anymore because "they've chosen to go with Blu-Ray". What a shocker. You chose Blu-Ray a long time ago, and never failed to talk down about HD-DVD at any given opportunity, even saying that the hacking of the BR site was attributed to the backers of HD-DVD being desperate. When you hang out with a girl 24x7, hold her hand in public, and shower her with gifts, but still claim, "She's just a friend," don't be surprised if people greet your long-time-in-coming "announcement" that you're now dating with, "No shit, Sherlock. You weren't fooling anyone."
I agree. Of all of the Electronics web sites out there I make it a point NOT to read the bits. While I have no problem with the death of HD-DVD, the fact that the bits has railed against it for so long, and with such vitriol, just annoyed me to no end.

Now with HD-DVD dead, BRING ON THE INDY, STAR WARS and LOTR FILMS DAMNIT!!!!
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post #8 of 76
2/16/08 at 8:55pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JudgeSmails View Post
I agree. Of all of the Electronics web sites out there I make it a point NOT to read the bits. While I have no problem with the death of HD-DVD, the fact that the bits has railed against it for so long, and with such vitriol, just annoyed me to no end.
Why?

It's OK for the Bits to rail against DIVX, which was evidently the disc media equivalent of Nazi Germany, but when they use a deep understanding of the business to call out HD-DVD for the time waster it was always destined to be, that's suddenly a problem?

Set aside questions of format superiority, which we all know are meaningless in a situation like this, and it was approximately two steps into the 'format war' when the eventual success of Blu-Ray was pretty fecking obvious.

As a digital advocacy site, I'd say it's the Bits' responsibility to call out one side or the other rather than pussyfoot about draped in a Swiss flag.
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post #9 of 76
2/16/08 at 9:03pm
Also: Harry concedes.
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post #10 of 76
2/16/08 at 9:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Russ Fischer View Post
Why?

It's OK for the Bits to rail against DIVX, which was evidently the disc media equivalent of Nazi Germany, but when they use a deep understanding of the business to call out HD-DVD for the time waster it was always destined to be, that's suddenly a problem?

Set aside questions of format superiority, which we all know are meaningless in a situation like this, and it was approximately two steps into the 'format war' when the eventual success of Blu-Ray was pretty fecking obvious.

As a digital advocacy site, I'd say it's the Bits' responsibility to call out one side or the other rather than pussyfoot about draped in a Swiss flag.
Aside from the near orgasmic schadenfreude they've been enjoying the past few weeks, I've always liked The Bits.

And I say "aside from" because it's been just sliiiiiightly annoying. It's teetering right there on the edge of "alright we get it already".

And, they do seem to know what the fuck they're talking about. I'd almost admit that reading about them backing Blu-Ray way back when was the first time I started paying attention to Blu-Ray. They've earned that much.
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post #11 of 76
2/16/08 at 9:57pm
Sooooo...when will Microsoft come out with a blu-ray add-on? I'd love to go blu at this point but want no part of a PS3 or a $250+ blu-ray player.

I've heard the PS3 outsold Xbox for the month of January...a blu add-on would be a good way to stem the tide of folks who only buy a PS3 for blu-ray.
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post #12 of 76
2/16/08 at 11:59pm
On another note, this is a pretty freaking cool move by Netflix. Although I haven't received said e-mail yet, I anxiously await it.
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post #13 of 76
2/17/08 at 12:35am
Downloading Watch It Now on 360 would be awesome, and would finally give me an excuse to rejoin Netflix.

Answer me this Netflixers, how's the Watch It Now quality? I know it's not hi-def or anything, but is it even widescreen?
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post #14 of 76
2/17/08 at 12:46am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jefelee View Post
Downloading Watch It Now on 360 would be awesome, and would finally give me an excuse to rejoin Netflix.

Answer me this Netflixers, how's the Watch It Now quality? I know it's not hi-def or anything, but is it even widescreen?
Someone can correct if I'm wrong, but from what I recall nothing I've watched on Instant View has been widescreen. And it looks good enough on a computer screen, but I don't really think it'll look great on your big screen. Somewhere between a VHS tape and a DVD.
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post #15 of 76
2/17/08 at 12:52am
Hmmm, that's not gonna do.
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post #16 of 76
2/17/08 at 12:58am
It also depends on the bandwidth you command. The have three tiers of quality: less than 1MB, between 1MB & 1.5MB, and greater than 1.5MB.
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post #17 of 76
2/17/08 at 1:07am
I've seen some Netflix Watch it Now movies in Widescreen. Close Encounters, Planet Terror, Pan's Labrynth, Daywatch, etc.
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post #18 of 76
2/17/08 at 1:24am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jefelee View Post
Answer me this Netflixers, how's the Watch It Now quality? I know it's not hi-def or anything, but is it even widescreen?
Several threads have been dedicated to this subject, but the might have all died in the migration.

It varies. Some things are widescreen, some not. Some are from good transfers, some not. There are full seasons of television (got me to watch Dexter) and their selection has been improving weekly. There are even a few gems that aren't on DVD, like Hal Hartley's TRUST. I use the instant view catalog probably more often than actual DVDs from Netflix.
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post #19 of 76
2/17/08 at 3:23am
Do you think MS would actually let Netflix have a video rental service on Xbox when they already have their own? How much would Netflix have to pay to MS to get the rights to do that?

Now that Blu-ray has won, do you think Sony will push for more digital downloads onto the PS3 or will be content with letting it be a Blu-ray player?

In the end I'm just glad that this is over and I can't wait for the benefits of a single format to start playing out.
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post #20 of 76
2/17/08 at 4:14am
Quote:
Originally Posted by dontEATnachos View Post
Do you think MS would actually let Netflix have a video rental service on Xbox when they already have their own? How much would Netflix have to pay to MS to get the rights to do that?

Now that Blu-ray has won, do you think Sony will push for more digital downloads onto the PS3 or will be content with letting it be a Blu-ray player?

In the end I'm just glad that this is over and I can't wait for the benefits of a single format to start playing out.
I don't know all the details about this, well...rumor. But the way I understand it is that it's a separate service from the rentals and downloads MS already offers. And really, is only available to those that already have a Netflix account to begin with.

Honestly, I see no reason why Sony or MS would be against such a thing like this as I think it would help drive sales. I'm already leaning towards getting one of these systems and something like this would push me over the edge.

I'll just wait for that tax return money...
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post #21 of 76
2/18/08 at 9:05am
Maybe the Next X-Box upgrade will include a built-in Blu-Ray drive! That external shit is stupid!
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post #22 of 76
2/18/08 at 1:07pm
In short, what are the various pros and cons of either format? Both seem to have their ardent supporters. I don't have either one as of yet, but I had hoped all along that Blu-Ray would become the predominant format if for no other reason than that it had a higher storage capacity. What is it about HD DVD that has made it the preferred format of its supporters?
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post #23 of 76
2/18/08 at 1:11pm
Rabid and irrational hatred for Sony Corp.
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post #24 of 76
2/18/08 at 1:34pm
HD-DVD had a couple good aspects:

* all of the players supported all of the features (Blu-ray has had 2 different specs already with a 3rd coming in a bit) and required things like an Ethernet adapter
* cheaper players
* no region locking (Blu-ray has 3 regions, Asia (excluding Japan), North America, South America/Europe/Africa)
* dual format DVD/HD-DVD discs (so that if you wanted to watch your movie on an old player, you weren't out of luck)

For people who actually manufactured the HD-DVD discs, there was less new equipment to buy since it's closer to old DVD so it was cheaper for them. For people who developed the discs, HD-DVD interactive features are actually a little more limited which actually made them EASIER to develop for (no dealing with the embedded Java in Blu-ray).

Blu-ray has lots of its own advantages as well, I just don't feel like detailing them at the moment.
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post #25 of 76
2/18/08 at 4:38pm
HD-DVD is not dead yet?
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post #26 of 76
2/18/08 at 5:39pm
It's dead. They're like Bruce Willis in the Sixth Sense.

"If you were Toshiba, what would you do? Sell what you can and recoup some losses, or cut the cord and get back to focusing on other aspects of the business?"

Oh yeah. I'd fuck as many brainless customers as possible. They should put their players in blue boxes just to trick people all the more.
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post #27 of 76
2/18/08 at 5:51pm


HD-DVD is not dead yet - Toshiba spokesman
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post #28 of 76
2/18/08 at 6:30pm
Rep!
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post #29 of 76
2/19/08 at 12:45am
Quote:
Rabid and irrational hatred for Sony Corp.
I am not a big fan of the big S mysel, but my dislike of Microsoft is far greater. Not to mention my electronics company of choice, Pioneer was in on Blu, add the studio support, and Dell, HP, and Apple and the writing was on the wall more than a year ago.f
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post #30 of 76
2/19/08 at 6:00am
Goodbye, HD DVD.

We had some good times. I loved you. You were worth every penny but, alas, it's over. Luckily, Toshiba's official announcement comes a day before I get my $2000 student loan check, so it's an expensive PS3 high-def hooker for me tomorrow. Woo.
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post #31 of 76
2/19/08 at 6:03am
Here's my main concern: Does the PS3 have those inconvenient BluRay multi-gig downloads to its hard drive because it's a developer's decision or is that something that Blu-Ray requires and HD-DVD would've never?

At least Blu-Ray boxes are prettier.


If Toshiba and MS would've made a deal to include the drive inside the XBox this thing would've kept going 'til the next-gen systems probably. And a hell of a lot more trash when it did end.
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post #32 of 76
2/19/08 at 6:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vader View Post
At least Blu-Ray boxes are prettier.
I liked both format casings, but I wish the boxes were a more neutral color. Reds -- and royal colors in general -- look awful as cover art on Blu-ray, and blues and grays look like crap on HD DVD.
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post #33 of 76
2/19/08 at 6:16am
Anyone else think it'd be a good idea to buy the titles that aren't on Blu-Ray (yet) but on HD-DVD when their prices hit rock bottom?

I already saw lots of titles for 14.99 at BB last night. And some of those box sets do look tasty if they start to dip in price.
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post #34 of 76
2/19/08 at 6:46am
Zodiac, Transformers, Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, The Bourne Trilogy, Big Lebowski, and King Kong are bound to be on Blu quite soon along with the handful of highdef WB titles still needing release. I'll think about picking them up then.
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post #35 of 76
2/19/08 at 10:16am
It's now "official". Toshiba throws in the towel. Well played Sony, now...get cracking on cheaper players and more disks!

Quote:
Toshiba announced on Tuesday it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders.

“We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called ‘next-generation format war’ and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop,” Toshiba President and Chief executive Atsutoshi Nishida said in a news release.

The decision by Warner Bros. to release movies only in the Blu-ray format made the move inevitable, Nishida told the Sydney Morning Herald. “If we had continued, that would have created problems for consumers, and we simply had no chance to win,” he said.
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post #36 of 76
2/19/08 at 1:24pm
I bought my HD-A2 cheap, and I knew what I was getting into when I did.
No hard feelings. But if I don't get my 5 free HD-DVDs, I'm going to be really pissed. In fact, they should throw in a couple extra as an apology.

What else are they gonna do with all those discs? Shiny coasters?
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post #37 of 76
2/19/08 at 1:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JudgeSmails View Post
It's now "official". Toshiba throws in the towel. Well played Sony, now...get cracking on cheaper players and more disks!
Thanks for the news, Tom Brokaw. You're 5 posts late though.
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post #38 of 76
2/19/08 at 1:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeShaynePI View Post
Thanks for the news, Tom Brokaw. You're 5 posts late though.
He sure "drunk your milkshake," Smails! If only he'd have followed it up with something akin to "Newsflash, Walter Cronkite" and remarked upon how you're not too cool for school. The we'd know he's the put-down king, instead of only having to infer from a single jab.




The war is at an end. Got my HD-DVD as a gift, but the real gift she gave me was preventing any buyers' remorse. Kept my HD-DVD purchases to a minimum, thankfully. Still have an upconverting DVD player until a PS3 comes into my price range. So all's well from my end.
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post #39 of 76
2/19/08 at 2:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by bendrix View Post
He sure "drunk your milkshake," Smails! If only he'd have followed it up with something akin to "Newsflash, Walter Cronkite" and remarked upon how you're not too cool for school. The we'd know he's the put-down king, instead of only having to infer from a single jab.
Well, I'm off to kill myself as I just can't take his level of abuse. It's just too damn witty for me. Look out bendrix, you're next!
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post #40 of 76
2/19/08 at 2:09pm
Noting Harry's concession: holy hell, 4 HD DVD players? Why the fuck do you need that many? 4? 4?! FUCKING 4?!?!
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post #41 of 76
2/19/08 at 2:15pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc Happenin View Post
Noting Harry's concession: holy hell, 4 HD DVD players? Why the fuck do you need that many? 4? 4?! FUCKING 4?!?!
It's excessive, but I didn't blink when I read it. When your life is dedicated to the consumption of media--not to mention the freebies you probably get because of your clout in the media-consuming community--four seems about right. Let's just hope he didn't buy them all.
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post #42 of 76
2/19/08 at 2:56pm
"Still have an upconverting DVD player until a PS3 comes into my price range. So all's well from my end"

Do you have a decent HD-TV ? If so you don't need an upconverting dvd player. The TV does it for you. My pioneer dvd-515 player is 9 years old, and the image looks fantastic on my Philips HD-ready TV. (Through a scart lead)For example, 'Heat' almost looks like a brand new transfer. (which it desperately needs)

I might post in the tech forum about this, but I'm pretty sure upscaling / upconverting dvd players are a con if you have a good HD-TV.
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post #43 of 76
2/19/08 at 3:29pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Doc Happenin View Post
Noting Harry's concession: holy hell, 4 HD DVD players? Why the fuck do you need that many? 4? 4?! FUCKING 4?!?!
Toshiba gave away free HD-DVD players to all the suckers at BNAT, so I assume that accounts for a few of them. That and the ones he got in exchange for blowjobs.
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post #44 of 76
2/19/08 at 3:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluelouboyle View Post
I might post in the tech forum about this, but I'm pretty sure upscaling / upconverting dvd players are a con if you have a good HD-TV.
Interesting. I'll try it out with a normal DVD player. If it's the same, I might as well use that instead. The 360 makes way too much noise.
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post #45 of 76
2/19/08 at 4:27pm
Let the picking up of cheap HD-DVDs begin! I'll eventually get a blu-ray player, but the fuck if I'm going to spend money on a re-release then, when I can get the equal product for cheap now.
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post #46 of 76
2/19/08 at 5:31pm
Universal goes blu: http://www.homemediamagazine.com/new...ticle_ID=12120

Expect Paramount's announcement soon. Expect it with a tear in their eyes and Toshiba's money stuffed in their pockets.
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post #47 of 76
2/19/08 at 5:55pm
I'm glad this is happening fast. I was very much an HD DVD supporter, but once Warner went Blu, I figured we'd get months and months of back-and-forth, with Toshiba trying to survive. Thank God it's really over.
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post #48 of 76
2/19/08 at 6:15pm
HD DVD Deathwatch: GameStop Edition.


Quote:
GameStop this morning confirmed that the major gaming retailer will no longer accept HD DVD items for trade-in. That includes used HD discs or Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on drives. The policy – which virtually ensures that your additional HD drive will become a dinosaur in your own living room – takes effect today.
Bwahahahahahah!!
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post #49 of 76
2/19/08 at 6:17pm
Wait, people go to Gamestop? Getthefuckouttahere!
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post #50 of 76
2/19/08 at 6:35pm
Next stop: pawnshops overflowing with HD-DVD players and discs.
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