Posts tagged HD DVD
Xbox 360 & Blu-ray
Feb 18th
Got an email from Micah today that contained a link to Smarthouse.com with some interesting news.
Rumours were circulating today that Microsoft is set to dump HD DVD and bring out a Blu ray Xbox 360 by as early as May 2008. The move will allow the Company to go head to head with the Sony PS3 gaming console which has been credited with being one of the main reasons that retailers have preferred Blu-ray over Toshiba’s HD DVD.
It’s rumored that Microsoft already has configured an add-on Blu-ray player. It is subject to internal marketing and sales approvals, the model could be on sale within 3 months.
[SOURCE: Smarthouse]
Toshiba and HD DVD
Feb 15th
There are rumors that the two are about to split up & Toshiba will most likely be manufacturing a Blu-ray player. I still think for the average person, they would have understood the name HD DVD better than Blu-ray, but to each his/her own.
We’re now seeing reports stating that it will pull the plug on its beloved format “in the coming weeks.” Citing unnamed industry “sources,” The Hollywood Reporter is suggesting that the end may be nigh for the HD DVD format. Toshiba will continue to study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers, particularly in light of its recent price reductions on all HD DVD players.
[SOURCE: Engadget]
Best Buy Blu
Feb 12th
When is it going to stop? Hopefully soon. Yesterday, Netflix put HD DVD in a figure four leglock and now Best Buy is clotheslining them.
Best Buy has announced it will officially promote Blu-ray as the HD format of the future. Starting in early March the store will showcase Blu hardware and software on its shelves and website, and switch from its current neutral stance, to recommending Blu-ray to any customers that ask. While “an assortment of HD DVD products” will remain. Read more…
All I need to hear is an announcement from Microsoft stating that they will be releasing an add on Blu-ray player for the Xbox 360. R.I.P. HD DVD.
[SOURCE: Engadget]
Netflix Goes Blu-ray
Feb 11th
Another nail in HD DVD’s coffin. Being a Netflix customer, this kind of sucks. Come on Microsoft… release a Blu-ray add on player for the Xbox 360. Anyone want to buy my HD DVD player?
Just received the following email at 3:11PM:
We’re Going Blu-ray
Dear Jason,
You’re receiving this email because you have asked to receive high-definition movies in the HD DVD format. As you may have heard, most of the major movie studios have recently decided to release their high-definition movies exclusively in the Blu-ray format. In order to provide the best selection of high-definition titles for our members, we have decided to go exclusively with Blu-ray as well.
While we will continue to make our current selection of HD DVD titles available to you for the next several months, we will not be adding additional HD DVD titles or reordering replacements.
Toward the end of February, HD DVDs in your Saved Queue will automatically be changed to standard definition DVDs. Then toward the end of this year, all HD DVDs in your Queue will be changed to standard definition DVDs. Don’t worry, we will contact you before this happens.
You can click here to change your format preferences.
We’re sorry for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call us at 1 (888) 638-3549.
-The Netflix Team
The Fall of HD DVD
Feb 6th
We all know it’s coming, so Toshiba should just throw in the towel and Microsoft should start working on a Blu-ray add on player for the Xbox 360. Over at Major Nelson’s web site he announced a price drop for the HD DVD player:
This just in: The Xbox 360 HD DVD Player price has dropped from $179.99 to $129.99 (U.S. MSRP.) This new price is effective immediately in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Combine the new price with the 5 free HD DVD offer and it’s a pretty good deal.
Amazon.com had a better deal, but they are now sold out.
[SOURCE: Major Nelson]
HD DVD vs. Blu-ray
Jan 9th
With Warner Bros. releasing exclusively on Blu-ray, the fate of HD DVD and the format war could come to an end. Blu-ray now has 70% of the major studios releasing their fims on the Blu. Being an Xbox 360 owner, I did purchase the HD DVD add-on player and love it, but only have one HD DVD. The one HD DVD I own is what came with the HD DVD player (King Kong). Microsoft has stated now that if HD DVD doesn’t work out, they would release a Blu-ray add-on player for the Xbox 360, so all is not lost. According to BetaNews, Albert Penello, director for global marketing at Microsoft, revealed that while his company will continue to back the HD DVD for the 360, that because of the external drive capability of the Xbox, that it would be also possible to ship a Blu-ray drive for the game machine if HD DVD didn’t survive the battle against Blu-ray.
[SOURCE: Gamernode]
Xbox 360 HD DVD IV
Nov 29th
I received my HD DVD add-on player for the Xbox 360 yesterday from NewEgg.com. Connecting the player was a cinch. It involved installing a dashboard update, disc included, and then connecting the player to the 360 via the supplied USB cable. After the player was connected, I inserted the King Kong HD DVD that came bundled with the drive and right away I could tell a difference in the video quality. I liked how you could acess the DVD menu without interrupting the movie. I pressed the pause key and it brought up a status bar from the bottom of the screen. It showed how far I was in the movie (exact hour/minute and chapter) and how much I had left to view. The most important thing I noticed was the quietness of the drive compared to the 360. For the $200.00 price tag, it was well worth it.
Xbox 360 HD DVD III
Nov 22nd
I decided last night to order the add-on player for the Xbox 360 while they are throwing in the Xbox 360 media remote and the HD DVD version of Peter Jackson’s King Kong. I ordered it via NewEgg.com and it should be here in a few days. The player will also upscale my current DVD collection, which Blu-Ray does as well. The only reason why I hope HD DVD will win the format war is… SONY!
Xbox 360 HD DVD II
Nov 20th
With all the recent events and PS3/Wii now in the wild, it’s almost easy to forget that Microsoft is also shipping the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player this month. Remember? It’s the $200 Xbox 360 HD DVD drive that can play movies in 720p, 1080i, and 1080p high-definition resolutions. The drive is starting to appear in retail, and people who preordered the accessory months ago are already receiving their units in the mail. I plan to get this very soon, unless someone wants to buy me this for Christmas…haha!
The package includes the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player, power supply, a USB connector cable, and installation disc. For a limited time, Microsoft will also bundle the player with an Xbox 360 Universal Media Remote and an HD DVD copy of Peter Jackson’s King Kong. Read more… [SOURCE: Gamespot]
Xbox 360 HD DVD
May 8th
It was announced at E3 that the HD DVD add-on for the Xbox 360 is going to happen and it will connect to the console via USB.
This new accessory will connect to the Xbox 360 console with a USB cable, enabling it to harness the power of the Xbox 360 console for the HD video outputs and digital surround sound. As an accessory, it becomes another shining example of the flexibility of Xbox 360 designed into the console in order to grow and add new features. It’s also just one of several new accessories being announced at E3. [SOURCE: Xbox.com]
However, pricing was not released as they are saving that announcement for another day. I think from what they stated, it will be cheaper than the Toshiba player which sells for around $500.00 & is already sold out at most retailers.
Consumers and retailers can now see the immediate price gulf between HD DVD players and their upcoming competition. If you can find one of the new Toshiba HD DVD players (retailers nationwide sold out when they launched in April) they sell for as little as $499, whereas the expected starting price of Blu-ray players starts at $1,000 and rises rapidly after that. [SOURCE: Xbox.com]
I wonder how many people will buy the HD-DVD version of movies they currently own on DVD? I will not be doing the whole library, but there will be a few that I would buy the HD version. Star Wars will be one of the few that I would want in HD.
