Archives
October 2006
High-Def DVD Sales Disappoint
High-definition DVD player sales this year will be just
half earlier forecasts, according to a report at Britain's Computer
Active website:
The Consumer Electronics Association in the US had predicted that around
600,000 HD devices would be sold this year in America, but now expects this
number to be less than half. It has revised figures to 275,000 units sold,
with the majority being HD-DVD players.
Sean Wargo, director of industry analysis at the CEA, commented: “We assumed
there would be different brands of each player on the market, but there have
been a lot of delays, particularly with Blu-ray.”
Maybe plans by Toshiba to launch
Australian sales of its HD DVD player will boost the numbers.
October 31st, 2006
And You Thought High-Def DVD Players Were
Expensive in the US
CD Freaks provides a
run-down of company plans to launch high-def DVD players in the UK market.
Seems they'll all be around double the US price.
October 19th, 2006
This Wasn't Supposed to Happen
USA Today
reports:
Problems with high-definition DVD players are dragging down the entire
high-end television market.
October 17th, 2006
Panasonic's High-Definition DVD Player -
Reviews
Some early reviews for the new Panasonic DMP-BD10 Blu-ray high-definition
DVD player. From
Home
Theater Forum:
At $1299 the Panasonic is a pricey entry into a format that might not
even exist in a year or two. While it is still far too early to declare a
winner in this format war, I do believe that quality products like the
Panasonic DMP-BD10 do go a long way in showing the high quality and
potential of the Blu-Ray format. Picture quality is excellent, Audio is
outstanding and the player has enough room for future updating that it is a
formidable product for the long term (assuming Blu-Ray survives).
If one were to compare this Panasonic player to the offerings in the HD DVD
arena from Toshiba, it would be very safe to say that the picture equals the
Toshiba player's on material that is available on both formats. It will
probably take dual layer Blu-Ray releases with potentially higher bitrates
to really see if the Blu-Ray format is capable of producing a better image
than HD DVD.
And from Canada HiFi
(prices in Canadian dollars):
The Panasonic DMP-BD10 Blu-ray player delivered phenomenal picture and
sound quality, there is no question about it. This player undeniably proved
to me the potential of the Blu-ray format. The player's $1500 price tag is
however questionable given that it's difficult to say right now how the high
definition disc format war will pan out.
What's even more questionable is paying $1500 for a player that produces
essentially the same picture quality as a $700 Toshiba HD DVD player. The
only advantage that the Panasonic has over the Toshiba is that it outputs
1080p video (the Toshiba maxes out at 1080i). However, by all means if you
have the money, go pick up the Panasonic DMP-BD10 because overall it's a
fantastic high definition player.
October 16th, 2006
The $175 High-Def Player
Personal Computer World
reports that a British company, New
Media Enterprises, has developed a high-definition DVD player that will
retail for around $175. The company plans to target the Chinese and Indian
markets.
October 11th, 2006
The 800lb Technical Gorilla May Be Just
Around Your Corner
Yesterday (scroll down) I wrote, "Beware the Elephant." Now it's the
800lb technical gorilla.
HDTV magazine reports:
Kagan Research recently published their future view of pre-recorded
media....Kagan characterizes the two high-definition DVD formats (HD DVD and
Blu ray) as the only contest in town, but other technologies threaten to zip
right past these old dowagers. One might be the likes of holographic
technology....
Combining high storage and fast transfer rates from a nearly indestructible
medium makes holography poised to become a compelling choice for
next-generation storage and content distribution....Watch out high-def DVD
guys, you may be out of business if you don't put your houses in order and
stop asking the consumer to make costly decisions for you. The 800 lb.
technical gorilla may be just around your corner.
October 10th, 2006
"Blu-Ray Will Win" - But Beware the Elephant
Forrester Research continues to predict a
Blu-ray triumph, according to joystiq:
Blu-ray will win because it's got:
- Greater manufacturing support
- More movie titles
- A great distribution vector (PlayStation 3)
- Greater storage capacity (making it more useful in the long run)
Still, Forrester's calling BRD's ultimate triumph a pyrrhic victory because
the war between BRD and HD-DVD "will significantly slow down adoption of
standalone players." Furthermore Forrester's analysts believe that "neither
HD-DVD nor Blu-ray will flourish until consumers think they see a winner."
Forrester doesn't acknowledge the elephant in the room: If it takes too long
for a "clear winner" to emerge, alternate delivery formats (such as digital
distribution) may leapfrog both Blu-ray and HD-DVD.
October 9th, 2006
Feeling the Flop Sweat
Gizmodo looks at the
new Toshiba HD DVD player:
This is a more attractively-designed box than its predecessor, which
looked like its makers took an old VHS case and crammed HD DVD innards
inside. But we're still thinking Toshiba is feeling the flop sweat for HD
DVD, and might have a difficult time recovering from the shameful showing of
its debut models as well is the paucity of studios delivering movies in the
doomed format.
October 7th, 2006
Already a Failure
The
10 reasons why high-definition DVD has already failed. About-electronics.eu
tells us:
1. Nobody likes false starts
2. Format wars don’t sell players
3. HD DVD and Blu-ray are NOT quantum leaps in technology
4. Studios are conservative, greedy and unmotivated
5. PlayStation3 cannot save the world
6. Those who ignore history…
7. People want technology that’s 15 minutes ahead of its time
8. Enthusiasts are getting tired (and smarter)
9. A skeptical news media doesn’t help
10. Broadband and IPTV to compete?
October 6th, 2006
Dual HD DVD/Blu-Ray Player Coming from
Matsushita?
Gizmodo is reporting that "an anonymous source heard from someone
high-up in the company—we can't say who" that Matsushita (Panasonic) will
launch a dual HD DVD/Blu-ray player next year.
These sources say that Panasonic is doing this to protect itself, as the
next-gen DVD wars aren't close to being resolved, and they don't want all
their next-generation eggs in one next-generation basket, no matter how Blu
that basket may be.
October 3rd, 2006
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