HiDef DVD News VII - News Only : AND WE MEAN IT: NEWS ONLY

[2Channel]

Why Wait for Wal-Mart; Circuit City Lists Toshiba HD DVD Player for $197.99
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=9426

Well, it appears that Circuit City has beaten Wal-Mart to the punch and is currently offering the HD-A2 for $197.99. The player is available online with free shipping or if having the player in your hands right now is a priority, you can choose in-store pickup.

[fafner]

Why Wait for Wal-Mart; Circuit City Lists Toshiba HD DVD Player for $197.99
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=9426

Well, it appears that Circuit City has beaten Wal-Mart to the punch and is currently offering the HD-A2 for $197.99. The player is available online with free shipping or if having the player in your hands right now is a priority, you can choose in-store pickup.


And they seem to be flying out of the cc stores according to posts throughout the forum.

fafner.

[amirm]

Can you provide an excerpt of that article,as that link you provided only had a title for CED non-subscribers.

Here is the relevant part:

"At a hardware level we will support both, but the consumer-facing features of HD DVD are very important which is why we have been an advocate with Microsoft and Toshiba," Leszinke said.

[PaulGo]

Blu-Ray Disc Gets Momentum Here
10-28-2007 18:03
By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter
Blu-ray discs are taking an edge over HD-DVD discs in the fledgling high-definition (HD) video market with strong support from big firms such as Samsung Electronics and Korea Telecom.

Samsung said it is working together with Sony for Blu-ray movie titles and players in Seoul. Korea Telecom also forged a strategic partnership with the Japanese company, which is the leader of the Blu-ray team, to launch an Internet-based TV service based on PlayStation3 console next month.

``The local Blu-ray market is starting to heat up as the supply of Full HD TVs and Full HD projectors is increasing and more movie titles are released,'' said Jun Dong-soo, executive vice president of Samsung's audio and video division. ``We will spur the growth of the market with new players that can satisfy consumers in both price and quality.''

Neither of Blu-ray and HD-DVD gained a strong foothold in Korea or in other countries. In the beginning, they received a lot of attention from the industry, which thought they would soon replace the vernacular DVD discs. However, as of now fewer than 40 movie titles are available in Korea and none of them have sold more than 2,000 copies.

In the beginning, Samsung was one of ardent supporters of the Blu-ray group and it had downplayed the HD-DVD format, which is bolstered by Toshiba and several major movie producers in the United States. But since last year, the firm changed its position to a neutral one because the meager sales of both formats made it hard to predict which would be the eventual winner. So instead of devoting itself to Blu-ray, Samsung sold an expensive dual player that can play both Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats.

Recent moves, however, showed that the electronics giant has finally settled on the Blu-Ray side. Last week, it launched a 600000 won Blu-Ray player, far more affordable than the one-million won model first introduced last year. The following weekend, the firm held a public showcase for the P1400 player and other beam projectors at the COEX exhibition center in southern Seoul together with Sony Pictures. The event was watched by members of DVD Prime, a prominent movie society on the Internet.

Korea Telecom, the telephone and Internet line operator, made a more ambitious move to utilize the HD video fever. The company said last month that it would soon connect its Internet-based TV broadcasting service to Sony's PlayStation 3 game console for the first time in the world. This is supposed to be a win-win strategy, as consumers will be able to use the console box as a Blu-ray player and set-top box for HD TV, it said.

The Blu-ray technology uses a blue-violet laser to read and write the disc. Because of the shorter wavelength of the blue-violet laser, compared to the red laser used for DVDs and CDs, it can store up to 25 gigabytes of information on a single disk, about five times more than a DVD.

In comparison to HD-DVD, which also uses a blue laser, Blu-ray disc has more information capacity per layer, but is known to be more costly to manufacturer.

One of the two formats was thought to replace the current DVD format to become a new market standard by around next year. But so far, the transition to the HD format has been far slower than expected due to high prices and lack of content.

Market reports are showing that the Blu-ray has nevertheless taken a sharp edge over HD-DVD in the format war worldwide. According to Home Media Magazine, American consumers bought 2.6 million Blu-ray discs in the first nine months of the year and just 1.4 million HD-DVD discs.

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/10/123_12659.html

[2Channel]

Blu-Ray Disc Gets Momentum Here
10-28-2007 18:03
By Cho Jin-seo
Staff Reporter

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2007/10/123_12659.html

You copied the whole article except for the closing sentence.

In Korea, Warner and Sony Pictures are planning to release some 50 movie titles for either Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats by December, including blockbusters such as ``The Transformers.''

Interesting that no one at Samsung was quoted as saying they were refocusing on Blu-Ray. I wonder if this mean that they won't cancel the new BD-P2400 after all.

[crassp]

and this also:

Neither of Blu-ray and HD-DVD gained a strong foothold in Korea or in other countries. In the beginning, they received a lot of attention from the industry, which thought they would soon replace the vernacular DVD discs. However, as of now fewer than 40 movie titles are available in Korea and none of them have sold more than 2,000 copies.

[crassp]

New Sony Players Cheat Blu-ray Specification Deadline (http://www.audioholics.com/news/industry-news/sony-blu-ray-specification-deadline)

In the market for a new profile 1.1 Blu-ray disc player to make sure that the player has all the latest features such as picture in picture commentary?


Sony doesn’t have it covered.

[John Dawson]

From the London Financial Times 29/10/2007 - page 30 (sorry no link as yet); reporter Mariko Sanchanta in Tokyo.

"By shrinking the powerful "Cell" chip - the brains behind the PS3 and its most expensive component - and reducing the size of the graphics chip, Mr Oneda* said Sony should be able to cut production costs for the PS3 by one-third next year.
Sony says its lossmaking games division should be profitable again by the start of the new financial year in April."

* Sony's chief financial officer

John Dawson
(ARCAM)

[lomax]

Possible solid state revolution on the horizon

Terabyte Thumb Drives Made Possible by Nanotech Memory

Researchers have developed a low-cost, low-power computer memory that could put terabyte-sized thumb drives in consumers' pockets within a few years.

Thanks to a new technique for manipulating charged copper particles at the molecular scale, researchers at Arizona State University say their memory is, bit-for-bit, one-tenth the cost of -- and 1,000 times as energy-efficient as -- flash memory, the predominant memory technology in iPhones and other mobile devices.

"A thumb drive using our memory could store a terabyte of information," says Michael Kozicki, director of ASU's Center for Applied Nanoionics, which developed the technology. "All the current limitations in portable electronic storage could go away. You could record video of every event in your life and store it."

More http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/news/2007/10/ion_memory

I did not see a future in flash as there was a upward limit on the size the memory modules. But this break though ends all that, if we really see the first product 18 months away it could spell the end for HD Disk media.

[PaulGo]

Jupiter: Blu-ray-HD DVD War Is 'Futile'
The research group says most people will be loyal to the standard-def DVD.
By Swanni

Washington, D.C. (October 29, 2007) -- Jupiter Research says most Americans may not embrace either Blu-ray or HD DVD in the high-def disc format war.

However, despite what some analysts are saying, Jupiter says the war itself is not the overwhelming obstacle, Consumers may be content to use 'upconverting' DVD players to make their standard-def DVDs look better.

"The real competitor that both these formats face is not each other, but rather low cost DVD players with up-scaling capabilities that pass the ‘good enough’ test for most consumers," says Michael Gartenberg, Jupiter's vice president and the lead author of a new report on high-def discs.

Blu-ray and HD DVD are rival formats competing for the high-def disc audience. However, both player and disc sales have been slow due to high player prices and confusion over the format war.

While acknowledging that consumers are turned off by the format battle, Jupiter says they may not be inclined to accept a single new standard for movie rentals and purchases.

In some cases, for instance, they might prefer to watch films downloaded over the Internet.

"The abundance of material in such a wide variety of formats is going to make adoption of any single standard very difficult as consumers may well opt for a combination of what is already available," said David Schatsky, Jupiter's president.

The company said high-def disc supporters must do a better job of communicating to consumers why their technology is better.

"To be successful, manufacturers must offer a clear and visible improvement in quality and functionality as well as place greater emphasis on platform longevity and backward compatibility," said Schatsky.

And high-def content won't do it alone, the company said, citing research showing that just 24 percent of consumers say additional HD programming would motivate them to upgrade their home equipment.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/jupiter102907.htm

[Kosty]

Possible solid state revolution on the horizon

Terabyte Thumb Drives Made Possible by Nanotech Memory

Researchers have developed a low-cost, low-power computer memory that could put terabyte-sized thumb drives in consumers' pockets within a few years.

Thanks to a new technique for manipulating charged copper particles at the molecular scale, researchers at Arizona State University say their memory is, bit-for-bit, one-tenth the cost of -- and 1,000 times as energy-efficient as -- flash memory, the predominant memory technology in iPhones and other mobile devices.

"A thumb drive using our memory could store a terabyte of information," says Michael Kozicki, director of ASU's Center for Applied Nanoionics, which developed the technology. "All the current limitations in portable electronic storage could go away. You could record video of every event in your life and store it."

More http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/news/2007/10/ion_memory

I did not see a future in flash as there was a upward limit on the size the memory modules. But this break though ends all that, if we really see the first product 18 months away it could spell the end for HD Disk media. It also could bean easy use for the mandatory USB expansion posts on HD DVD players and some BD ones if consumers get attached to those optical media formats and like having shiny discs to hold.

[PaulGo]

Blu-ray Mounts Event Offensive
Author: THOMAS K. ARNOLD
tarnold@questex.com
Posted: October 29, 2007
Email this Story to Friend

The gloves are off. Backers of the high-definition Blu-ray Disc format are staging a two-day offensive in Hollywood this week, touting their triumphs and offering previews of upcoming releases such as Cars, Ratatouille, the “Die Hard” movies, Dirty Dancing and Spider-Man 3 to a crowd of more than 50 influential print and online journalists.

The event, which concludes Tuesday, could be seen as a guns-blazing pre-emptive strike against the rival HD DVD camp, which almost simultaneously got a boost from Wal-Mart and other retailers, which reportedly began selling HD DVD players for just less than $200. That is expected to give the HD DVD format a significant boost, particularly in the wake of Paramount Home Entertainment’s defection several weeks ago from the Blu-ray side.

The so-called “Blu-ray Festival” coincides with the launch of a new branding and consumer education campaign, with the tagline “I Do Blu,” that premiered Oct. 28 during the final game of the World Series.

Both the campaign and the festival, the latter orchestrated by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, underscore growing sentiments, backed by research, that consumers are largely indifferent to high-definition discs and turned off even more by the presence of two incompatible formats.

To combat this, Blu-ray backers are stepping up the rhetoric and courting the press, particularly the new vanguard of online Web sites, bloggers and discussion boards that cater to the early adopters who historically have set trends the masses have followed.

“It’s a great idea,” said Ron Epstein, a founder of the Home Theater Forum, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. “The early adopters are all on the Internet — that’s where they find their information. And there’s a certain brand new, just happened element.”

“These are the people who are regularly covering technological advances in home entertainment,” said Steve Feldstein, SVP of marketing and corporate communications for 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment. “They are at the forefront of the format, as are their readers.”

Representatives of all the Blu-ray-exclusive studios — Lionsgate, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment and Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment — were in attendance at the Monday morning opening breakfast, as were key executives with supporting consumer electronics manufacturers such as Sony, Philips and Panasonic.

Also there was Dan Silverberg, VP of high-definition media for Warner Home Video, which since Paramount’s move to the HD DVD camp is the only studio to support both next-generation formats.

That may not be for long, Silverberg said. “One thing that may be changing is our strategy,” he said. “When both formats launched and hardware prices were high, we made a decision to support both formats and let the consumer decide. But now that hardware pricing is affordable for both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it appears consumers no longer want to decide — so the notion of staying in two formats for the duration is something we are re-evaluating now that we are in the fourth quarter.”

Silverberg noted that Warner has the top-selling Blu-ray title of all time with 300 and is consistently No. 1 or No. 2 in both Blu-ray sales market share and in number of Blu-ray titles in the market.

“We can definitely talk Blu-ray,” he said. “We are committed to the format.” At the Monday morning kickoff, the featured speaker was David Berman, director of Home Theater Specialists of America (HTSA), a buying consortium of 62 dealers and 800 installers with combined revenue of more than half a billion dollars a year. He said the HTSA supports Blu-ray because a member survey found 92% favoring Blu-ray over HD DVD.

The press was given a fact sheet of more statistics and Blu-ray milestones, including the fact that even in a week in which Transformers came out on HD DVD and with no comparable title in its lineup, Blu-ray Discs still managed to outsell discs in the rival format. So far this year, Blu-ray titles have outsold HD DVD titles by a 2-to-1 margin. Since inception, Blu-ray software sales have accounted for 61% of high-def disc software sales. And 17 of the 20 top-selling high-definition disc titles are available on Blu-ray.

There also were indications that the Blu-ray camp is done playing nice. At the entrance to the opening breakfast, at the Hollywood and Highland complex, was a huge blowup of a Deadline Hollywood article by renegade online columnist Nikki Finke. The article raised questions about Paramount Home Entertainment’s claim that it sold 190,000 copies of Transformers on HD DVD in a single week.

Later in the day, on the 20th Century Fox lot, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment president Mike Dunn blasted Paramount for its defection, accusing the studio of “taking the bait,” referring to a reported $50 million payout to drop its support of Blu-ray Disc and release titles exclusively in HD DVD.

Dunn also intimated that the format war is being perpetuated by Microsoft in the hopes of confusing consumers so much they don’t support either format and ultimately buy their entertainment online. He didn’t name the computer giant by name, but blasted “the orchestrated campaigns of confusion and anti-consumerism fueled by an 800-pound gorilla that would prefer to force us all into the practice of paying tolls for the right to exchange information and enjoy entertainment.”

Fox also previewed several Blu-ray Disc titles still in development, including I, Robot, Independence Day and Sunshine, which will be released early next year and boast picture-in-picture, audio mixing and other groundbreaking interactive features.

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=11449

[2Channel]

From the London Financial Times 29/10/2007 - page 30 (sorry no link as yet); reporter Mariko Sanchanta in Tokyo.

"By shrinking the powerful "Cell" chip - the brains behind the PS3 and its most expensive component - and reducing the size of the graphics chip, Mr Oneda* said Sony should be able to cut production costs for the PS3 by one-third next year.
Sony says its lossmaking games division should be profitable again by the start of the new financial year in April."

* Sony's chief financial officer

John Dawson
(ARCAM)

Found the link

Sony admits mistakes in TV market
By Mariko Sanchanta in Tokyo
October 28, 2007 11:00:00 PM
http://wapft.volantis.net/d2c/0.0?feed-article-id=aa22974c-8587-11dc-8170-0000779fd2ac&channel-id=FT.com%20-%20US%20homepage

snip.............
Sony's TV division lost Y21bn ($184m) from July to the end of September, more than double the loss in the same period last year. The next few months in the US are crucial as TV sales are the biggest single contributor to Sony's revenues, according to Macquarie Securities.

Poor performance at Sony's TV and games divisions could wipe out any benefits from attempts to restructure the company by Sir Howard Stringer, Sony's chief executive. However, Sony is on track to achieve a 5 per cent operating margin in the year ending March 2008, a target that was established by Sir Howard.

Mr Oneda also said that Sony missed the mark with its rear-projection TVs, a cheaper alternative to plasma and LCD sets, in the US. "In the US, the rear projection TV share was 28-30 per cent, and last year it was less than 20 per cent because of a (pricing) attack from plasma TVs," he said. "The price reduction was so drastic that we couldn't anticipate it. We lost big marketshare and the market is shrinking . . . and we started to lose money very quickly."

Sony is trying to boost sales of its PlayStation 3 games console in the last three months of the year by launching a new model and cutting prices of others.

By shrinking the powerful "Cell" chip – its most expensive component – and reducing the size of the graphics chip, Mr Oneda said Sony should be able to cut production costs for the PS3 by one-third next year.

[Ja Phule]

According to CED...

-China's HD DVD format, CH-DVD will be the topic at the China DVD Forum on Thursday
-Includes update on progress of specs, content authoring, advanced interactive features and copy protection

-BD Association in LA today and Tues will have events hosted by Disney, Fox, and Sony.
-Event also includes tour of Panasonic studio where most of the interactivity is performed

-BD+ to be used on FOX's Prison Break set
-Unknown whether other studios will support BD+, despite issues it causes older players. Warner will not us BD+.

[mikemorel]

Will Warner Bros. Endorse Blu-ray? (http://www.tvpredictions.com/bluwarner103007.htm)

Washington, D.C. (October 30, 2007) -- Warner Bros. has been neutral in the Blu-ray-HD DVD disc war, releasing movies in both high-def formats.

However, that policy may be changing, says a top Warner executive.

Dan Silverberg, Warner's vice president of High-Definition media, hinted Monday at a Blu-ray briefing for the media that the studio might soon endorse Blu-ray.

Warner is now the only major studio that releases movies in both format; two support HD DVD exclusively while four have endorsed Blu-ray.

But Home Media Magazine reports that Silverberg believes that Blu-ray may be winning the format war and, consequently, it may be time for the studio to pick one over the other.

“One thing that may be changing is our strategy,” he said. “When both formats launched and hardware prices were high, we made a decision to support both formats and let the consumer decide. But now that hardware pricing is affordable for both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it appears consumers no longer want to decide — so the notion of staying in two formats for the duration is something we are re-evaluating now that we are in the fourth quarter.”

The Warner executive noted that Blu-ray sales have topped HD DVD by a 2-1 margin over the last nine months.

While he didn't come out and endorse Blu-ray, it sounded like the studio had a clear favorite if it decides to endorse one format.

“We can definitely talk Blu-ray,” he said. “We are committed to the format.”I see at least one thread spiraling out of control...

More here...

Blu-ray Mounts Event Offensive (http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=11449)

[Kosty]

The TVPredictions piece is sourced from the HMM article, it is just adding some editorial comments that are not actually stated in the original piece.

Notice the implied comments in blue are not from the sourced article, thy are his own interpetation of it....

Dan Silverberg, Warner's vice president of High-Definition media, hinted Monday at a Blu-ray briefing for the media that the studio might soon endorse Blu-ray.

Warner is now the only major studio that releases movies in both format; two support HD DVD exclusively while four have endorsed Blu-ray.

But Home Media Magazine reports that Silverberg believes that Blu-ray may be winning the format war and, consequently, it may be time for the studio to pick one over the other If you read through the HMM piece, you can see that it is a bit more neutral on the statements and nowhere is there in the source article those words.

That is Swammi editorializing and reading a bit more into the sourced article than what was really carefully said.


Heres, the appropriate quotes form rom the referenced article:

Notice he was a Blu-ray conference as a guest, as Warner was not an event sponsor:

...Also there was Dan Silverberg, VP of high-definition media for Warner Home Video, which since Paramount’s move to the HD DVD camp is the only studio to support both next-generation formats.

That may not be for long, Silverberg said. “One thing that may be changing is our strategy,” he said. “When both formats launched and hardware prices were high, we made a decision to support both formats and let the consumer decide. But now that hardware pricing is affordable for both Blu-ray and HD DVD, it appears consumers no longer want to decide — so the notion of staying in two formats for the duration is something we are re-evaluating now that we are in the fourth quarter.”

Silverberg noted that Warner has the top-selling Blu-ray title of all time with 300 and is consistently No. 1 or No. 2 in both Blu-ray sales market share and in number of Blu-ray titles in the market.

“We can definitely talk Blu-ray,” he said. “We are committed to the format.”

[mikemorel]

The TVPredictions piece is sourced from the HMM article, it is just adding some editorial comments that are not actually stated in the original piece.Duly noted. :)

[PaulGo]

Blu-ray Ad Campaign Airs
by Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 10/30/2007 6:37:00 AM

Hollywood, Calif. — Sensing the need to step up promotional efforts behind the Blu-ray Disc format heading into the critical holiday selling season, a group of hardware manufacturers and studios have pooled their resources on a “multimillion-dollar” television, print and online advertising campaign, billed as the largest for the format so far.

The effort, called “I Do Blu,” quietly kicked off its prime-time TV portion a week ago with a spot on “Dancing With The Stars,” and will continue through the Super Bowl. Representatives working with the project declined to reveal the exact size of the budget, but described it is the largest to date for the Blu-ray Disc format.
“Before we were really targeting the early adopter [with Blu-ray] but now the time is right to really go broad,” said Rich Marty, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment new business development VP. “The [PlayStation3] is coming out at $399 now, and while some of purchasers will be into games, we believe a lot more of them will also really be into movies.”

“There are 35 million HDTV sets out there in U.S. homes now, and they need to be informed that if they want to maximize their high-definition movie playback they really need a Blu-ray player,” said Lexine Wong, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment marketing executive VP.

The ads reference the quality of full HD 1080, Marty said, and features players and sets that don’t focus on any particular brand to remain fair to the three supporting equipment manufactures.

Companies backing the project include hardware manufacturers Sony, Panasonic and Philips, and Blu-ray-backing studios include Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Lions Gate and Warner Home Video.

“It was agreed that we can get a bigger and better message out there if we all do this together,” Marty told TWICE, explaining the collaboration between studios and manufacturers. He added that some companies were invited to participate but opted out at this time.

Movies featured in the 30-second TV spot include some of the biggest releases of the fall, including “Spiderman 3,” “Fantastic Four: Rise of The Silver Surfer,” “Live Free or Die Hard,” “Ratatouille,” “Wedding Crashers,” the “Harry Potter” series, “300” and others.

Magazines targeted in the effort include all of the A/V specialty publications, and mostly entertainment and sports-focused publications including Entertainment Weekly, Sports Illustrated, Maxim, GQ, Fortune and others.

The Internet component will include a wide range of top sites and search engines, and will link back to a micro site with more details on the Blu-ray experience, Wong said.

Handled as “a branding campaign,” key retailers starting with Target and Wal-Mart are tagged at the end of the first TV spots, Marty said, but other dealers will be included as the ads continue their run. Retailers will also be supplied with point of sale material, including informational brochures that explain the benefits of Blu-ray, 1080p and the hit movies available.

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6495508.html?desc=topstory

[firemaster]

The TVPredictions piece is sourced from the HMM article, it is just adding some editorial comments that are not actually stated in the original piece.

Notice the implied comments in blue are not from the sourced article, thy are his own interpetation of it....

If you read through the HMM piece, you can see that it is a bit more neutral on the statements and nowhere is there in the source article those words.

That is Swammi editorializing and reading a bit more into the sourced article than what was really carefully said.


Heres, the appropriate quotes form rom the referenced article:

Notice he was a Blu-ray conference as a guest, as Warner was not an event sponsor:

“We can definitely talk Blu-ray,” he said. “We are committed to the format.” At the Monday morning kickoff, the featured speaker was David Berman, director of Home Theater Specialists of America (HTSA), a buying consortium of 62 dealers and 800 installers with combined revenue of more than half a billion dollars a year. He said the HTSA supports Blu-ray because a member survey found 92% favoring Blu-ray over HD DVD.

I think the speaker is David Berman, not Silverberg .

[Grubert]

“We can definitely talk Blu-ray,” he said. “We are committed to the format.” At the Monday morning kickoff, the featured speaker was David Berman, director of Home Theater Specialists of America (HTSA), a buying consortium of 62 dealers and 800 installers with combined revenue of more than half a billion dollars a year. He said the HTSA supports Blu-ray because a member survey found 92% favoring Blu-ray over HD DVD.

I think the speaker is David Berman, not Silverberg .

No. Several avs and highdefdigest members have emailed TK Arnold and he clarified the quote came from Silverberg.

[Dave JJ]

Blu-ray Ad Campaign Airs
by Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 10/30/2007 6:37:00 AM

Hollywood, Calif. — Sensing the need to step up promotional efforts behind the Blu-ray Disc format heading into the critical holiday selling season, a group of hardware manufacturers and studios have pooled their resources on a “multimillion-dollar” television, print and online advertising campaign, billed as the largest for the format so far.

The effort, called “I Do Blu,” quietly kicked off its prime-time TV portion a week ago with a spot on “Dancing With The Stars,” and will continue through the Super Bowl. Representatives working with the project declined to reveal the exact size of the budget, but described it is the largest to date for the Blu-ray Disc format.
“Before we were really targeting the early adopter [with Blu-ray] but now the time is right to really go broad,” said Rich Marty, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment new business development VP. “The [PlayStation3] is coming out at $399 now, and while some of purchasers will be into games, we believe a lot more of them will also really be into movies.”

“There are 35 million HDTV sets out there in U.S. homes now, and they need to be informed that if they want to maximize their high-definition movie playback they really need a Blu-ray player,” said Lexine Wong, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment marketing executive VP.

The ads reference the quality of full HD 1080, Marty said, and features players and sets that don’t focus on any particular brand to remain fair to the three supporting equipment manufactures.

Companies backing the project include hardware manufacturers Sony, Panasonic and Philips, and Blu-ray-backing studios include Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Lions Gate and Warner Home Video.

“It was agreed that we can get a bigger and better message out there if we all do this together,” Marty told TWICE, explaining the collaboration between studios and manufacturers. He added that some companies were invited to participate but opted out at this time.

Movies featured in the 30-second TV spot include some of the biggest releases of the fall, including “Spiderman 3,” “Fantastic Four: Rise of The Silver Surfer,” “Live Free or Die Hard,” “Ratatouille,” “Wedding Crashers,” the “Harry Potter” series, “300” and others.

Magazines targeted in the effort include all of the A/V specialty publications, and mostly entertainment and sports-focused publications including Entertainment Weekly, Sports Illustrated, Maxim, GQ, Fortune and others.

The Internet component will include a wide range of top sites and search engines, and will link back to a micro site with more details on the Blu-ray experience, Wong said.

Handled as “a branding campaign,” key retailers starting with Target and Wal-Mart are tagged at the end of the first TV spots, Marty said, but other dealers will be included as the ads continue their run. Retailers will also be supplied with point of sale material, including informational brochures that explain the benefits of Blu-ray, 1080p and the hit movies available.

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6495508.html?desc=topstory

The portion of the article which I've bolded (and hi-lited in red) is a new tidbit of info isn't it? Would it be reasonably safe to say WHV wouldn't sign on to an expensive marketing campaign ("opted out") supporting blu-ray only to announce tomorrow they are dropping the format?

[gsw]

Blu-ray Ad Campaign Airs
by Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 10/30/2007 6:37:00 AM

Companies backing the project include hardware manufacturers Sony, Panasonic and Philips, and Blu-ray-backing studios include Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Lions Gate and Warner Home Video.



Read this very carefully. It doesn't say what you think it says. This is exactly the kind of misleading wordplay that the BDA fudsters have no qualms about using.

[Dave JJ]

Read this very carefully. It doesn't say what you think it says. This is exactly the kind of misleading wordplay that the BDA fudsters have no qualms about using.

How does the next paragraph in the article not directly relate to the prior one though?

“It was agreed that we can get a bigger and better message out there if we all do this together,” Marty told TWICE, explaining the collaboration between studios and manufacturers. He added that some companies were invited to participate but opted out at this time.

It seems to clearly state who are participating in this ad campaign and explicitly states that other companies were given the option as well but "opted out". How is that misleading wordplay by "BDA fudsters"?

[AEC]

From CNN Money - Fortune

October 29, 2007
Big retailers launch HD DVD price war


Toshiba HD-A2. Image: Toshiba
A pre-holiday retail skirmish in high-definition DVD players has begun. Just days after Wal-Mart (WMT) slashed its in-store price on the Toshiba HD-A2 to $198, Circuit City (CC) and Amazon (AMZN) followed suit by offering the player online for $197.99.

Consumers seem eager to buy the HD-A2, which had been selling on Amazon for $230 and as much as $280 elsewhere. The Toshiba player, which had been one of several top-selling DVD players on Amazon before the price cut, has quickly become the favorite: On Monday morning it was the 24th most-purchased electronics item on Amazon’s site. The next closest DVD player ranked 46.


The low prices could shift momentum in the high-definition format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray, which are vying to succeed today’s ubiquitous DVD. Like mainstream DVD players, HD DVD and Blu-ray players accept DVDs. But they also play high-definition discs in their own formats, which look sharper on today’s large, flat-screen televisions.

[gsw]

It clearly states that Sony, Panasonic and Philips back the campaign. It then lists studios that back bluray (read: any studio that releases on bluray) hoping you will skip over the distinction. Now it could just be poor word choice on the part of the author, but it just seems too deliberate.

[PaulGo]

Fox Plans First ‘PIP’ Blu-ray Disc
by Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 10/30/2007 8:41:00 AM

Los Angeles — Interactivity was a hot topic among Blu-ray Disc supporting studios during a Blu-ray Disc Fest for the press here Monday.

20th Century Fox Home Entertainment disclosed it expects to be the first to launch a Blu-ray title with picture-in-picture interactivity enabled by Sun’s BD-Java platform, when it releases the Sci-Fi thriller “Sunshine” in January.

A number of players will be on the market that support the 1.1 specs that enable the picture-in-picture with audio capability, including 256MB of persistent memory. Sony’s PlayStation3 is expected to soon receive a firmware update to utilize the feature.

Fox demonstrated the picture-in-picture feature during the festival event at its studios here. The feature presents an inset video of the filmmakers discussing the production of the film in a video stream that runs along with the feature.

Several early Blu-ray players were not designed to support the 1.1 BD specs supporting picture-in-picture features. Players using the rival HD DVD format have offered picture-in-picture capability since launch.

All new Blu-ray players launched after Oct. 31 are mandated to support the 1.1 spec by the Blu-ray Disc Association.

Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has also disclosed it will offer picture-in-picture enabled releases next year, including “Finding Nemo” and “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.”...

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6495573.html

[MrXpress]

(I searched for a couple of words in this article and nothing came up, so hopefully this hasn't been posted yet. The real interesting stuff is near the bottom)

Toshiba HD DVD Player in Midst of Price War
http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?sec_id=2&&article_ID=11448

Forget Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving when national retailers unveil deep discounts aimed at jumpstarting the holiday shopping season. Retail behemoth Wal-Mart didn’t even wait for Halloween candy to go stale before announcing it will offer Toshiba’s $300 HD-A2 HD DVD player for $198.

Wal-Mart ignited mass consumer frenzy for DVD in 2003 when it bowed a $40 player on Black Friday.

The HD-A2 offers 720p/1080i resolution, unlike Toshiba’s third-generation players the HD-A30 ($399.99) and the HD-A35 ($499.99), which feature 1080p output.

Amazon and Circuit City quickly responded by offering the HD-A2 for a penny less at $197.99. Through Sunday, the HD-A2 ranked in the top 25 among Amazon’s most popular consumer electronics products.

Amazon offers the Samsung BD-P1400 for $389.00, Blu-ray’s most inexpensive player on the market.

Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Digital Platforms, has identified dipping below the $200 price as a turning point in mass consumer adoption of high-def packaged media.

Toshiba spokesperson Jodi Sally said the price cuts were retail-driven — not manufacturer-driven — and signaled an early start of a high-definition holiday shopping season.

“There was no official move on our MSRP, but I’m happy to see the strong sales momentum on our players,” Sally said. “We experienced a great lift in player sales when Transformers (Paramount) was released, and the strong momentum continues.”

The studio, which released titles in both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc, now distributes exclusively in HD DVD.

Sally said third-party research indicated Toshiba’s market share of next-generation, optical-disc players (including Blu-ray) has climbed to about 60%. She said the format also experienced a significant unit upturn with sales of HD DVD-enabled PC laptops.

Sally said Toshiba has a 70% worldwide market share of all high-def players.

[slugger393]

Companies backing the project include hardware manufacturers Sony, Panasonic and Philips, and Blu-ray-backing studios include Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Lions Gate and Warner Home Video.


How does the next paragraph in the article not directly relate to the prior one though?


It seems to clearly state who are participating in this ad campaign and explicitly states that other companies were given the option as well but "opted out". How is that misleading wordplay by "BDA fudsters"?


Dave.

Take out ',and' (a conjunction - used to join two independent clases.)

Read the two separate sentences.

Please understand that this is how PR works. If you read both sentences independently (say two different articles about different subjects) you have:

-Sony, Panasonic, Philips launching an ad campaign.
-List of companies that release films on Blu-Ray.

This is the exact method AVS poster Kamspy referred to today:

Transformers sales already convinced them. And the fact that Sony will no longer subsidize BD replication in 08(not public yet) is going to be a major factor, my friend is a PR guy for Sony and they have already had meetings about how to spin losing warner.

All the BD talk is people pasting out of context cut up quotes.

Let us all hope that TrueHD is kicked to the curb for DTS-MA. Warner and Universal seem to get away with a crappy TrueHD track and pass it off as lossless. HD DVDs only flaw to me is too much TrueHD and not enough DTS-MA.

This is nothing that can be disputed or my attempt to bash blu-ray.

Toshiba does the same thing except they just throw out random huge numbers.

[Dave JJ]

It clearly states that Sony, Panasonic and Philips back the campaign. It then lists studios that back bluray (read: any studio that releases on bluray) hoping you will skip over the distinction. Now it could just be poor word choice on the part of the author, but it just seems too deliberate.

You are doing the same selective reading as was done by some posters on AVS regarding yesterday's quote from WHV's VP Dan Silverberg (attempting to attribute it to someone else) and we all know how that turned out.

Companies backing the project include hardware manufacturers Sony, Panasonic and Philips, and Blu-ray-backing studios include Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Lions Gate and Warner Home Video.

“It was agreed that we can get a bigger and better message out there if we all do this together,” Marty told TWICE, explaining the collaboration between studios and manufacturers. He added that some companies were invited to participate but opted out at this time.

The article reads very clear to me unless you are implying Rich Marty is deliberately being deceptive regarding other BDA members in their very presence no less.

[Dave JJ]

Companies backing the project include hardware manufacturers Sony, Panasonic and Philips, and Blu-ray-backing studios include Walt Disney Studio Home Entertainment, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, Lions Gate and Warner Home Video.





Dave.

Take out ',and' (a conjunction - used to join two independent clases.)

Read the two separate sentences.

Please understand that this is how PR works. If you read both sentences independently (say two different articles about different subjects) you have:

-Sony, Panasonic, Philips launching an ad campaign.
-List of companies that release films on Blu-Ray.

This is the exact method AVS poster Kamspy referred to today:



This is nothing that can be disputed or my attempt to bash blu-ray.

Toshiba does the same thing except they just throw out random huge numbers.

The article is not a press release though. It was written by an independent writer for an independent website and not the BDA or Sony's press office. If that had been the case then I'd follow along with your reasoning.

Edit:
Not sure how I missed this the first time but this is further proof...

Sensing the need to step up promotional efforts behind the Blu-ray Disc format heading into the critical holiday selling season, a group of hardware manufacturers and studios have pooled their resources on a “multimillion-dollar” television, print and online advertising campaign, billed as the largest for the format so far.

[gsw]

Dave, like I said, it could be poor grammar. But if the second clause relates to the first, then it would read "bluray-backing studios including". As it is, it makes two separate statements spliced together with a comma. Would get the author an automatic F from most English teachers.

[markrubin]

Hello

reminder: News Only Please!!

Thanks

[mikemorel]

Blu-ray Disc Assn. promotes new Bonus View (http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6495668.html)

OCT. 30 | LOS ANGELES—The Blu-ray Disc Assn. has branded the new profile for Blu-ray hardware ‘Bonus View.’

After Oct. 31, all launched Blu-ray players must feature advanced functionality not required of earlier players. These enhancements, previously either termed Profile 1.1 or Full Profile, include greater memory and the ability to play picture-in-picture.

During Monday’s Blu-ray Festival here, Andy Parsons, senior VP of product planning at Pioneer and chair of the BDA Promotions Committee, confirmed the new name for the specifications.

Parsons also explained that the BDA is not going to object to some Blu-ray manufacturers, such as Samsung, which are not technically abiding by the Oct. 31 deadline for advanced features in players. Samsung’s dual-format model, bowing in late December, will include ‘Bonus View’ machinery but will still require a firmware upgrade to playback such advanced interactivity as picture-in-picture. That upgrade won’t be available to consumers until January.

“The key point is to get to the transition to Bonus View,” said Parsons to VB. “The player is compatible with all the hardware. We won’t quibble over something like [the firmware upgrade]. We don’t want to get bureaucratic. The most important thing is to deliver product that meets customer expectations.”

On Monday, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment said it would bring out in January the industry’s first Blu-ray picture-in-picture title, sci-fi flick Sunshine.So, no longer either termed Profile 1.1 or Full Profile; now "Bonus View". Got it. :p

[PRO-630HD]

It clearly states that Sony, Panasonic and Philips back the campaign. It then lists studios that back bluray (read: any studio that releases on bluray) hoping you will skip over the distinction. Now it could just be poor word choice on the part of the author, but it just seems too deliberate.

Good eye!!! That is exactly what it says.

[mikemorel]

Panasonic intros next-gen Blu-ray player (http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=202800271)

Panasonic has announced the introduction of the DMP-BD30, which the company calls the next generation High Definition 1080p Blu-ray Disc player. The DMP-BD30 is the first standalone Blu-ray player to be introduced with Final Standard Profile, which adds a variety of new and enhanced features to the Blu-ray arena and one that separates the Panasonic Blu-ray player from the rest of the field.

Also unique to the DMP-BD30 is the inclusion of an SD Memory Card slot for playback of High Definition content recorded in the AVCHD format. The SD slot also allows for viewing of digital still images recorded to an SD Memory Card.

Final Standard Profile is an advanced function added to the Blu-ray standard, which opens the door to new functions such as Picture-in-Picture (which displays a second image in a sub window) and Audio Mixing (allows the consumer to switch the sound between the main and sub windows).
...
So "Profile 1.1" and "Profile 2.0" gave way to "Bonus View" and now "Final Standard Profile"? :confused:

[gtgray]

BD may not have the intellectual properties rights for FUD. I am sure thet own uncertainty though. They have done everything possible to cloud the whole profile thing with its plethora of naming conventions.

[2Channel]

40GB PS3 features 65nm chips, lower power consumption
http://www.engadget.com/2007/10/30/40gb-ps3-features-65nm-chips-lower-power-consumption/

It's been revealed that the new 40GB PlayStation 3 features more than just a cut down hard disk drive. Sony has also thought to stick the 65nm version of the Cell inside the new console, reducing the power usage down to around 135 Watts (down from 200 Watts.) That means the console also runs cooler and quieter, which is always a plus for a device that usually resides in the living room. Sony also jiggled around a few other components by making the heat pipe smaller, swapping out the motherboard for a new version, and added a button battery to keep time when the system is off. Looks like potential PS3 purchasers will be looking forward to a less noticeable din then.

[Richard Paul]

PANASONIC INTRODUCES NEXT-GENERATION BLU-RAY DISC™ PLAYER
Only Blu-ray Player to Feature Final Standard Profile (http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/prModelDetail?storeId=11301&catalogId=13251&itemId=195672&modelNo=Content10252007122010583&surfModel=Content10252007122010583)

LOS ANGELES CA (October 30, 2007) – Panasonic, a leader in High Definition technology, announced today the introduction of the DMP-BD30, the next generation High Definition 1080p Blu-ray Disc player. The DMP-BD30 is the first Blu-ray player to be introduced with Final Standard Profile, which adds a variety of new and enhanced features to the Blu-ray arena and one that separates the Panasonic Blu-ray player from the rest of the field. Also unique to the DMP-BD30 is the inclusion of an SD Memory Card slot for playback of High Definition content recorded in the AVCHD format. The SD slot also allows for viewing of digital still images recorded to an SD Memory Card.

Final Standard Profile is an advanced function added to the Blu-ray standard, which opens the door to new functions such as Picture-in-Picture (which displays a second image in a sub window) and Audio Mixing (allows the consumer to switch the sound between the main and sub windows).
...
With an SRP of $499.95, the DMP-BD30 also features a myriad of technology advances, including Deep Color Compatibility, and HDMI 1.3B, that bumps the step gradation from 8-bit 256 all the way up to 12-bit, 4,096 step gradation. To further enhance the viewing experience, the DMP-BD30 also provides 1080/24p playback, so the consumer can enjoy the same 24-fps (frames per second) reproduction as the original movie.
...

[Kosty]

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/blu_ray/panasonics-dmp+bd30-is-the-500-next+gen-blu+ray-player-to-beat-316903.php

"Panasonic's DMP-BD30 Is The $500 Next-Gen Blu-ray Player To Beat".

...Last week Samsung told us its hybrid BD-UP5000 Duo would be the very first next-gen Blu-ray player. Today, Panasonic rolls out theirs, with plans to deliver even faster. The $500 DMP-BD30 will meet the requirements of BD Profile 1.1, also known as "Final Standard Profile." This will be the only next-gen Blu-ray player on the market when it hits in the second week of November. As you read this, Sony and Pioneer are also reading, knowing they probably should have been able to do what Panasonic is doing (and what Samsung claims it will do): deliver a "standard" Blu-ray player by Christmas 2007.

That said, the DMP-BD30 is nothing but "standard." To meet the BD Profile 1.1 spec, it needed internal storage. Panasonic answered that in the the way it knows best, by adding an SD card slot. (This is essentially their way of saying, "Get your own damn 256MB of flash memory," but since I've got more than my share of those, I will happily comply.) It can read JPEGs, MP3s and even video files in the popular high-def AVCHD format used Panasonic high-def camcorders as well as those of competing manufacturers.It's using the P4HD system and Uniphier chip developed for the original DMP-BD10 for 1080p/24p rendering as well as upconversion that can give HQV a run for its money, and it supports HDMI 1.3 for Deep Color (when available).

It's also significantly smaller than its pricier predecessor, as you can see from my picture (top) and the brochure illustration:Of course, the crowning glory of the 1.1 spec is picture-in-picture. Two tuners are required, though as in the case of this player, only one has to be HD. The second tuner is standard-def, but capable of simultaneous reading of other parts of the disc. Those discs aren't yet on the market, but when they hit, this player will be the only thing that can play them. (Samsung's Duo will get that capability following a firmware upgrade promised for January.) That means that, if you are hankering for a Blu-ray player that isn't obsolete the minute it hits the store shelf, your choices are limited, but clear.

Way to go, Panasonic. We applaud your ability to deliver on the Blu-ray promise. Sony, Pioneer, Philips, Sharp, Hitachi... what the heck happened?...

[mikemorel]

DreamWorks Animation Q3 2007 Earnings Call Transcript (http://seekingalpha.com/article/52092-dreamworks-animation-q3-2007-earnings-call-transcript)

Operator

Your next question comes from Doug Creutz - Cowen & Co.

Doug Creutz - Cowen & Co.

I was wondering if you could tell me with respect to your decision to go HD DVD support exclusive, should we expect to see any impact to the P&L, any direct impact to the P&L from that? Thanks.

Lew Coleman

As you know, we have not disclosed or confirmed whatever economic incentives there are. But from an accounting standpoint, the economic incentives would be attached to the ultimates of individual films and therefore would be amortized as we would amortize the profit on any film.

So I guess the direct answer to your direct question is there's no direct relationship but there is an indirect relationship through the ultimate process.

Doug Creutz - Cowen & Co.

So your gross margins would essentially be higher?

Lew Coleman

Yes.

[Kosty]

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?sec_id=2&&article_ID=11448

Article linked above but this point was missed


...Toshiba spokesperson Jodi Sally said Kmart, which is owned by Sears, would exclusively stock Toshiba HD DVD players in retail stores due to their lower price.

A clerk at the retail chain's Anaheim location confirmed the store only carried Toshiba players.

He added that Kmart also carried Sony's PlayStation 3 video game console with Blu-ray drive in its gaming department

[Ja Phule]

From CED

www.warren-news.com

"A star performer was its Digital Products segment, which includes PCs, TVs and HD DVD."

[Kosty]

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6495604.html

...Toshiba reported a 17 percent gain in net sales, to $32.1 billion, in its fiscal first half compared with the same time last year, and net income increased more than seven times that of last year’s first half, to $397 million.

Digital products — which includes PC, CE categories HDTV and HD DVD, mobile phone and business products — posted a 9 percent gain in sales to $12.5 billion and reversed last year’s loss to a $2.6 million operating profit. The company noted that TVs still had to “bear the brunt of fast declining sales prices, particularly in the U.S. and Europe.” I guess that massive HD DVD player subsidy thing and selling them at a massive loss per unit meme should die any time now? :D

[Richard Paul]

Kosty, the title for your post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12063179&postcount=3290) is "Flash memory card and firmware needed for new $500 DMP-BD30" but where in that article does it say that it needs a firmware upgrade? I see that mentioned for the Samsung Duo player but not for the Panasonic. Also aren't you supposed to have the title of a news post match the title of the article? I ask that since I noticed the title for that article is "Panasonic's DMP-BD30 Is The $500 Next-Gen Blu-ray Player To Beat".

[2Channel]

Kosty, the title for your post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12063179&postcount=3290) is "Flash memory card and firmware needed for new $500 DMP-BD30" but where in that article does it say that it needs a firmware upgrade? I see that mentioned for the Samsung Duo player but not for the Panasonic. Also aren't you supposed to have the title of a news post match the title of the article? I ask that since I noticed the title for that article is "Panasonic's DMP-BD30 Is The $500 Next-Gen Blu-ray Player To Beat".

First Look at Panasonic's $499 DMP-BD30 Blu-Ray Player (Product Review)
http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/panasonic-dmp-bd30-1275.shtml

It's not often that a manufacturer in the Consumer Electronics space actually moves forward a launch date but that's exactly what's happening today with Panasonic's early launch of their third generation Blu-ray Disc player, the DMP-BD30. Originally announced for Q1, 2008, the BD30 is now expected in stores in the middle of November for a suggested list price of $499.99.

The DMP-BD30 is the first player to support Blu-ray's "Final Standard Profile" (a.k.a "BD-ROM Profile 1, Version 1.1"). This means it can do all those nifty tricks like Picture-in-Picture (PIP) commentary tracks (with audio level mixing) and Secondary Audio, when the software supports it.

Although the DMP-BD30 does not include a network port, it does include an SD memory card slot. From this you can play back AVC-HD video files or JPEG images stored on any SD or SDHC memory card. And while you're enjoying a slide show of your favorite digital pictures, you can set them to music, because the BD30 also supports concurrent playback of standard CDs or MP3 CDs with your photos.

By software, do they mean the titles or the player software?

[Kosty]

Kosty, the title for your post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12063179&postcount=3290) is "Flash memory card and firmware needed for new $500 DMP-BD30" but where in that article does it say that it needs a firmware upgrade? I see that mentioned for the Samsung Duo player but not for the Panasonic. Also aren't you supposed to have the title of a news post match the title of the article? I ask that since I noticed the title for that article is "Panasonic's DMP-BD30 Is The $500 Next-Gen Blu-ray Player To Beat".
You are right .

I corrected and deleted reference to firmware update in my post you referenced..

No requirement here AFAIK to have post title match article title, and the source would not let you cut and paste it.

I thought it was unusual enough to see that the player would only be 1.1 capable with additional hardware and interesting that it does not have an internet connection so it is not BD-Live capable.

[mikemorel]

Ritek to launch HD DVD discs via co-marketing with Toshiba in Japan (http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20071030PD223.html)

Ritek, the second largest Taiwan-based maker of blank optical discs, on October 30 announced it will launch HD DVD-R (recordable, write once) and HD DVD-RW (rewritable) discs under its own brand Ridata, while Toshiba will launch its new HD DVD recorder in a joint sales promotion in the Japan market.

Ritek's HD DVD discs conform to the AACS (advanced access content system) content protection standard and can store 75-minutes of high-definition video each, Ritek pointed out.

Ritek has used a self-developed FMS (flexible manufacturing system) to upgrade existing DVD disc production equipment for making HD DVD discs. As a result capital spending was much lower than the NT$100-150 million (US$3.1-4.6 million) procurement cost for a Blu-ray Disc (BD)-R and BD-RE (rewritable) disc production line, the company indicated.Consequently, HD DVD discs are significantly less expensive than BD discs, Ritek noted.

[timbobarry]

Rogers Videos Adds More Blu-ray & HD DVD Rentals (http://marketnews.ca/news_detail.asp?nid=3190)
In response to “increasing demand”, Rogers Video says it will add more Blu-ray and HD DVD rentals of top releases in 250 of its stores across Canada.

"We are witnessing increasing customer demand for high-definition movie titles," explained Michael Jacobson, Vice President, Merchandise and Distribution for Rogers Retail. "Our goal is to ensure that we are supplying our customers with choice and availability in whatever format they are after."

These movies will also be included in the retailer’s Star Rewards program which launched in late August, and offers points toward future rentals and purchases.

As the format war continues, Rogers Video is obviously not taking sides, ramping up discs in both formats in what appears to be an equal balance.

For more information, visit www.rogersplus.ca.

[mikemorel]

Toshiba Vardia records HD TV to standard DVDs (http://www.tech.co.uk/home-entertainment/high-definition/news/toshiba-vardia-records-hd-tv-to-standard-dvds?articleid=1772103710)

High-definition video recorders, whatever their stripe, are all very well, but wouldn't it be nice if they could use good old cheap DVDs instead of the costly new HD DVD or Blu-ray disks? Well, dream no more - from tomorrow we'll be able to order Toshiba's new Vardia recorder that can do precisely that.

The ¥99,000 (£420) Vardia RD-A301 hits pre-order in Japan tomorrow and will ship there in mid-December. When it does, it will bring with it the handy ability to record broadcast HD TV onto a standard DVD-R.

Using a transcoder that converts high-definition MPEG-2 broadcasts to the smaller MPEG-4 AVC format, the A301 can fit two hours of full quality HD TV on a conventional 4.7GB DVD. We've already seen the transcoding technique used by Panasonic in one of its Blu-ray machines, but that still requires the costly next-gen disk.

The recently industry-approved HD Rec function is flexible too, as it allows high- and standard-definition recordings to share a single disk and can be used to record to the built-in 300GB hard drive. At maximum compression, the drive can hold up to 159 hours of HD TV, while a single-layer HD DVD-R disk stretches to seven hours.

Other features of the A301 include dual HD tuners for recording simultaneous high-def broadcasts and the ability to transfer digital VHS recordings via a FireWire connection. Lastly, at just 69mm tall, the new recorder is considerably smaller than many of the next-generation machines it's likely to compete against.$868 initially.

[lsdavinci]

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ic868cb7073298c939b2bb7aed90a45d6

"A Warner source said the studio is watching what happens now that Wal-Mart and other big retailers are selling entry-level Toshiba HD DVD players for less than $200, about half what the cheapest Blu-ray player costs. If there is a significant spike in HD DVD software sales, the studio may cast its lot with that format, whereas if there is no real impact, Warner may go Blu-ray only."

[mikemorel]

Hope this is where this goes as it may impact on the format war.

Sony Said to Be Pondering Partial Sale of Movie Units (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/31/business/31sony.html?_r=1&ref=business&oref=slogin)

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 30 — Sony Pictures Entertainment is considering selling half of its fledgling animation studio, maker of the films “Surf’s Up” and “Open Season,” and even more of its thriving 15-year-old digital visual-effects company, which pioneered computer-generated imaging techniques in films like “Stuart Little,” “The Polar Express” and the “Spider-Man” movies.

Sony Pictures, a unit of the Sony Corporation, has hired the investment bank Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin to assess the value of the two divisions. An outright sale of both, which is possible, could bring around $500 million, according to people involved in the discussions.

All told, Sony has invested more than $400 million in the animation and effects businesses over the years.

One person involved in the talks, who spoke anonymously because the matter is still at an early stage, said the company intended to sell no more than a 50 percent stake in the five-year-old Sony Pictures Animation, which had modest success with “Open Season” last year.
...

[rover2002]

From November 1, 2007 to January 31, 2008, Toshiba will begin a marketing campaign in Japan that offers a free copy of "Transformers" HD DVD for every HD DVD recorder/player purchased.

Gifts for every RD-A301 purchased:


Transformers (2007) HD DVD
Original Transformers action figure
5 Blank HD DVD-R discs
5 Blank DVD-R discs
Gifts for every RD-A600/300 purchased:

Transformers (2007) HD DVD
5 Blank HD DVD-R discs
5 Blank DVD-R discs
Gifts for every HD-XF2/XA2 purchased:

Transformers (2007) HD DVD

http://hddvdformat.blogspot.com/

[rover2002]

Toshiba Vardia records HD TV to standard DVDs (http://www.tech.co.uk/home-entertainment/high-definition/news/toshiba-vardia-records-hd-tv-to-standard-dvds?articleid=1772103710)

$868 initially.


Key Features of New DVR

1. Support for "HD Rec" feature that can record HD video in conventional DVD discs
The new DVR is the first model to support "HD Rec", a format for recording HD video*7 to conventional DVD discs*3 standardized by the DVD Forum. Furthermore, by initializing a DVD disc with HDVR format, titles recorded in VR-mode, TS-mode and MPEG4 AVC transcoded TSE-mode can all be stored together in a single DVD disc. "HD Rec" is suitable for viewers who want a simple method for recording HD and SD broadcasts in standard DVD.


2. Integration of HD Transcoder: longer recording of HD video
By integrating HD Transcoder, which transcodes the MPEG2 video used in digital HD broadcasting into MPEG4 AVC, the new DVR achieves longer recording times for HD video. As video is transcoded at the same resolution as the original broadcasted, full-HD can be recorded at the same picture quality. As audio data is not converted in transcoding, recorded broadcast sound remains as it is in AAC up to 5.1ch x 2 stream. The data transfer rate in transcoding can be selected from among 47 rate settings, from 3.6Mbps to 17Mbps, offering consumers a wide variety choices that can be matched with the disc used for recording. When recorded in HD Transconding (TSE-mode)*8, a single-layer 4.7GB DVD-R disc can store from approx. 29 minutes (17Mbps) to two hours (3.6Mbps) of HD video, while a single-layer 15GB HD DVD-R disc can store from around 1 hour 45 minutes (17Mbps) to seven hours (3.6Mbps).


3. Support for dubbing from D-VHS using i.LINK
In addition to standard support for "i.LINK dubbing" of HD video by connecting the DVR with another Toshiba DVR that supports i.LINK, the new DVR also supports "i.LINK dubbing" from D-VHS. This allows viewers to build an HD DVD and DVD library of HD content*9 recorded in the past on D-VHS tape.


4. Support HD DVD for enhanced experience of HD picture quality

The integrated HD DVD recordable drive supports recording of HD television programs to HD DVD-R discs and playback of HD DVD titles. Alongside superb image and sound recording and playback, the new DVR also supports the extensive range of advanced features*10 offered by HD DVD titles.

The new DVR also supports various discs, including playback of DVD packaged software, recording and playback of DVD-RAM, DVD-R, and DVD-RW discs, and playback of music CD.


5. Other features
(1) REGZA LINK (HDMI-CEC)
By connecting the new DVR with Toshiba REGZA LCD TV through an HDMI cable, a remote controller for the REGZA TV can be used to operate the DVR. For example, playback of HD DVD movie software and recorded content, or setting program recording using REGZA's full-HD electronic program guide on display.

(2) Support for dual-recording of HD broadcasting program
By integrating digital tuners into two systems covering the full range of HD broadcasting sources-- terrestrial, broadcast satellite (BS) and 110° communications satellite (CS) broadcasts-- the new VARDIA DVR can record two digital HD broadcasts simultaneously, an essential feature for viewers who want to record two programs at the same time.


6. Toshiba HD DVD Campaign of "Transformers"
From November 1, 2007 to January 31, 2008, Toshiba will promote a marketing campaign that offers a free HD DVD of "Transformers" to purchasers of a relevant HD DVD product who register for the campaign. The scope of the gifts is shown below.


http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2007_10/pr3101.htm
http://www3.toshiba.co.jp/hdd-dvd/products/vardia/rd-a301/img/rear-b.jpg
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2007_10/imgdat/img3105.jpg

[mikemorel]

Toshiba downbeat on DVD recorder sales (http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/9a02a136-87d5-11dc-9464-0000779fd2ac.html)

Toshiba on Wednesday said that sales of next-generation DVD recorders in Japan would fall far short of initial estimates, as consumers continue to be put off by high prices.

The Japanese electronics group lowered its guidance for industry sales of Blu-ray and HD-DVD recorders by 66 per cent, from 400,000 units to 135,000 units to March 2008.

Sony and Toshiba are locked in a battle over which of their respective Blu-ray and HD-DVD technologies will become the standard for next-generation high-definition DVD content, in a contest reminiscent of the VHS/Betamax war. At stake is a potentially huge upgrade market for next-generation high-definition DVD movies that can be played on the HD flat-panel displays.

However, Toshiba’s revision on Wednesday casts doubt on whether the two next-generation formats will take off in the world’s second-biggest market.

In Japan, HD-DVD and Blu-ray DVD recorders sell for Y150,000-Y200,000, ($1,290- $1,730) which is still too high for the majority of consumers. “Most people don’t see the need to buy an HD-DVD recorder right now,” said Yoshihide Fujii, president of Toshiba’s digital media network group.

“The market will grow by 2010, but unless prices decline, they will not sell.”

In the US and Europe, however, prices of both Blu-ray and HD-DVD players have dropped over the past year. Best Buy and Circuit City, two leading US electronics retailers, are selling HD-DVD players for $300 and $200 respectively.

Best Buy’s HD-DVD and Blu-ray players come with seven free movie titles thrown in.

In Japan, next-generation DVD recorders are widely on sale, whereas in the US and Europe the majority of models are players only.

Mr Fujii was more upbeat about next year. He said that global sales of laptop PCs equipped with next-generation HD-DVD drives would more than double to 5m units next year as prices decline due to more entrants.
...

[2Channel]

Asus reveals uber-quiet HR-0205T HD DVD drive
http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/10/31/asus-reveals-uber-quiet-hr-0205t-hd-dvd-drive/

Those not exactly thrilled with the noise levels produced by the Xbox 360 + HD DVD drive combo will likely adore Asus' latest, as it gives HTPC builders an uber-quiet alternative to playing back HD DVDs without having to replace one's rig or purchase a standalone player. The "world's quietest" HR-0205T optical drive handles dual-layer HD DVD discs and basically every flavor of DVD and CD, too. Asus swears the unit can play back an HD DVD while emitting just 21.1dB of noise, which could reportedly be compared to a "quiet auditorium." Regrettably, there's no word on a price or release date, but considering that this thing couldn't burn an HD DVD if its life depended on it, we'd hope the price would be fairly reasonable to compensate.

[gtgray]

Walmart really has A2s for $99 Friday AM... have fun kids.

[Kosty]

http://www.walmart.com/

As part of their holiday kick off this Friday 8:00

Secret In store specials

also included


Toshiba HD A2 HD DVD player $98.87 :eek:


Sanyo 50 inch Plasma HD TV $998


HD DVD titles for $14.98

Clerks 2
Lucky # S7even
Pulse
Failure to Launch
4 Brothers
Italian Job
Sleepy Hollow
Casino
12 Monkeys
Backdraft
Big Lebowski
Sea Biscuit
Alexander Revisted
Blood Diamond
Full Metal Jacket
The Last Samurai
Swordfish
Unforgiven

(all my magic price points)

I assume these are still eligible for the 5 free movies rebate from the HD DVD PRG as well

see link for details

http://holiday.ri-walmart.com/?section=secret&utm_source=Walmartcom&utm_medium=POV1&utm_content=secret1&utm_campaign=holiday&povid=cat14503-env15844-module117144-lLink1


AVS Forum discussion thread to discuss this subject here:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=931479


Note:

BTW, Jodi Sally, Vice President of Marketing, Toshiba America Consumer Products, has been personally made aware of the mistake on the Wal-Mart sales website (shows the $98 Toshiba HD A2 as a "DVD" not as a HD DVD player) and has said she has advised the Toshiba accounts manager and Wal-Mart about the issue.

[Kosty]

from Star-Trek.com

HD DVD player giveaway planned for Star Trek TOS HD DVD/DVD combo box set launch day -Media Event Activities

Virgin/Toshiba to Give Away Free HD DVD Players!


One-hundred fifty lucky Star Trek fans will be walking away with a free Toshiba HD DVD player on Tuesday, November 20. There's only one catch ... this special giveaway is happening in New York City at the two different Virgin Megastores. But if you are lucky enough to live close by and are willing to stand in line to get a player, you could be walking away with an HD DVD player from Toshiba, valued at $299!
INFORMATION:

Date:
Tuesday, November 20.

Details:
The Times Square store opens at 9:00 a.m. and the first 400 customers who purchase the Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1 Remastered on HD/DVD will receive a goodie bag containing a tribble, a vintage poster of the cast and a free issue of the current Star Trek magazine. Of those, the first 120 customers who purchase the set will also receive a free Toshiba HD DVD player valued at $299.

As an alternate choice, head down to the Union Square store, which opens at 11:00 a.m., and get in line. The first 150 customers who purchase the Star Trek: The Original Series Season 1 remastered on HD/DVD will also receive the goodie bag described above. At this location, the first 30 of those customers who purchase the set will also receive a free Toshiba HD DVD player.

(Please note that the Star Trek Remastered set plays on both DVD and HD DVD players. It is literally the best of both worlds!)

We advise that you get there early to take part in this giveaway. Warning: We can't confirm this, but rumor has it there may be Klingon sightings!

Locations:
Virgin Megastore – Times Square
1540 Broadway, Level 2
Phone: (212) 921-1020

Virgin Megastore – Union Square
14th and Broadway
Phone: (212) 598 - 4666

We suggest you get down to the Virgin Megastores early for the best possible chance of getting one of these amazing players!





http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/2311736.html


discuss here:


http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=931510

[Kosty]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcfpJDcmq5M

New Wal-Mart sales campaign for holiday season feautures Toshiba HD DVD players

campaign start was Oct 31st during ABC primetime


edit;


New Shrek HD DVD ad campaign with videos links in this thread

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=931677


edit:

The holiday campaign will appear on TV networks like ABC, ABC Family, CBS, CMT, CW, Discovery, E!, ESPN, HGTV, Lifetime, NBC, Nick at Nite, TBS, TLC, TNT and USA. The publications to carry the print ads include Better Homes and Gardens, Family Circle, Parade, People and Redbook.



http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/01/business/media/01adco.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&ref=business&pagewanted=all&oref=slogin

[PaulGo]

Victor Matsuda, VP of Sony's Blu-ray Disc Group, tells GameDaily BIZ that the PS3 has played a key role in the format's momentum and this holiday will be huge.

Posted by John Gaudiosi on Thursday, November 01, 2007

LOS ANGELES—The Blu-ray Disc Association held a two-day summit in Hollywood with Walt Disney Home Entertainment, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Lionsgate, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment, Sony and Panasonic to showcase new hardware and blockbuster movies being released for the format and trump the latest innovations from the new technology.

PlayStation 3 was a key part of the summit, as executives have focused on Sony's next generation console and the gamers and early adopters who have bought it when targeting their Blu-ray film releases for both new movies and catalog titles. So far, Blu-ray movies are outselling rival HD-DVD movies by a margin of 2 to 1, and that's mostly thanks to sales of PS3.

"When you compare PS3 to other Blu-ray player sales, you can only assume the PlayStation 3 has had a huge impact or else the 2 to 1 margin we have over HD-DVD wouldn't be there," said Victor Matsuda, vice president, Blu-ray Disc Group, Sony. "I think we always focus on how the numbers are doing on hardware and the emphasis tends to be on the traditional disc players only and the PlayStation, numbers-wise, has always been exponentially larger than the total number of disc players (for both PS2 and now PS3)."

Matsuda said the issue now becomes how many of those PS3 owners are using the console as a Blu-ray Disc device.

"The information we have is extremely positive," said Matsuda. "Because that question arises we do surveys on a regular basis and in the next few weeks we'll be releasing information on what percentage of people who buy a PS3 use it for Blu-ray Disc playback and with what frequency. It is very positive."

With hit movies like Cars, Ratatouille, The Simpsons Movie, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, Ocean's 13, Spider-Man 3, and the Harry Potter films all slated for Blu-ray releases this fourth quarter, the format has over $1.5 billion in domestic box office revenue being released on the format. Sony will be doing its part, beyond the pack-in Spider-Man 3 BR-D disc with the $400 40 GB PS3, to promote the movie playing capabilities of its game console.

"Promoting the movies together with the PS3 is a big part of the corporate strategy for promoting Blu-ray Disc this fourth quarter," said Matsuda. "There's a big advertising spend that will focus on the convergence of the PS3 as a movie and game device...much more aggressive than it's been since launch."

Matsuda also said that packaging the remote control for movie playback in the console, something that's currently sold separately, might be something Sony will look at in the near future to boost the movie-playing aspect of the hardware.

Also looking ahead to the future, Matsuda said that the upcoming movie offerings through the PlayStation Network, Sony's digital delivery entertainment pipeline, prepares the company for the long-run when digital delivery becomes more mainstream

"Just working with the Sony Pictures people we know that's definitely another revenue source in the future," said Matsuda. "We're focusing on the packaged media business now while preparing for that next phase, as well."

http://www.gamedaily.com/articles/news/bluray-advertising-for-ps3-to-be-much-more-aggressive-this-holiday/18377/

[BenDover]

http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/sony/sony-us-prez-says-rolly-oled-tv-coming-soon-plus-thoughts-on-blu+ray-apple-and-more-317722.php


UPDATEDToday at an executive round table in NYC, Sony Electronics president Stan Glasgow (center) and Sony consumer sales president Jay Vandenbree (left) answered some burning questions. ...


Is Sony concerned with BD Profile 1.1 Blu-ray players from Samsung and Panasonic? "The important thing is the features. Performance doesn't improve with 1.1," says Glasgow, adding "The important thing is what studios are doing to add capability. 1.1 is just the beginning." He confirmed that not every Blu-ray feature can be upgraded via firmware, as we knew.

The HD DVD-Blu-ray Format War: "The war is continuing to rage. We're still in the middle. There's a lot more that can be done. Let me say this: there are 170 companies [in the Blu-ray camp] against two companies [in the HD DVD camp]. I find some abnormality in that. Let's leave it at that." He looks forward to more "performance" on Blu-ray, with increased studio involvement.

...

[mikemorel]

More from Stan Glasgow:

Sony: Upbeat On Holidays; Talks Q4 Blu-ray, OLED Plans (http://www.twice.com/article/CA6496408.html?desc=topstory)

When asked about Blu-ray player pricing from Sony for the holiday season, Glasgow said it should be “in the $399 range ... I don’t expect it to go much lower than that.”

When asked where the industry is in the format battle between Blu-ray and HD DVD, he noted, “It continues. I still find it curious that there are 170 companies backing and two companies behind [HD DVD]. I find some abnormality in that. Hopefully when all the [movie] titles reach the market this season and the beginning of 2008, [consumers] will see the [difference] in performance.”

Concerning talk from this week’s Blu-ray meeting in Los Angeles where Panasonic debuted a 1.1 player, the specification mandated by the Blu-ray Disc Association, Glasgow also said that [B]Sony plans its own for next year with “possibly 1.2” features.

He added, “1.1 is a set of features. Step-by-step we will be adding features and have to work with the studios” which can add plenty of features to a disc. Glasgow added that certain existing Blu-ray decks could be “upgraded with firmware” via the Net to have some 1.1 features.For those keeping score at home, we now have:

Profile 1.05 for those players that have "some 1.1 features"
Profile 1.1 players.
Profile 1.2 players.
Profile 2.0 players.
Bonus View players.
Final Standard Profile players.

[mikemorel]

GSD&M's Idea City to Promote HD DVD (http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/prnewswire/LATH13301112007-1.htm)

GSD&M's Idea City has been tapped by Toshiba North America Consumer Products, LLC and DreamWorks Animation SKG to produce advertising in support of HD DVD, the high-definition DVD format that's riding a wave of industry buzz. Television and print advertisements will launch November 1st, using characters from DreamWorks Animation Shrek franchise, coinciding with the HD DVD release of Shrek the Third.

[Kosty]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/21581845

Mentions of more Laptops with HD DVD



Blu-ray: Picture Gets Dimmer for Entertainment Format

Posted By:Jim Goldman

Could it be a "black-and-blue" Friday for Blu-ray? Their are rumblings about a big announcement coming from Wal-Mart that could give a big boost to HD-DVD.

I'm hearing that the company will begin selling the Toshiba HD-A2 for $98 in a special one-day, in-store secret sale. The unit sells for $198 at Circuit City and Amazon, so this is a steep discount.

It points to the aggressive strategies shaping up in the format wars gripping next-generation DVDs. K-Mart has already decided not to sell Blu-ray players at all because of the affordability chasm between the two. The cheapest Blu-ray player at Wal-Mart runs $464. The Xbox 360's external HD-DVD drive is now available at $179, and that comes with five free movies. You can get even more free titles with your purchase at Best Buy , including the first season of the NBC hit series "Heroes." Nice deal.

I've already detailed in previous posts how HD-DVD is far-outselling Blu-ray on laptop computers and how Toshiba will make available a notebook with onboard HD-DVD for under $1,000 this holiday shopping season. Look for other big price breaks from the other major HD-DVD laptop makers, including Acer, Gateway , HP Hewlett-Packard
....

[BenDover]

Oh my, Best Buy has apparently followed suit...$99 A2

Best Buy offering A2 at $99 (http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/High-Def_Retailing/Toshiba/Best_Buy/Best_Buy_Drops_Toshiba_HD_DVD_Player_to_$99_Supplies__Very_L imited/1134)

[Manchild]

My only problem with the Friday sale is that I already have all those HD-DVDs and a A30...oh well...go HD-DVD I guess!

[Richard Paul]

For those keeping score at home, we now have:

Profile 1.05 for those players that have "some 1.1 features"
Profile 1.1 players.
Profile 1.2 players.
Profile 2.0 players.
Bonus View players.
Final Standard Profile players.mike, isn't this more than a little misleading and aren't personal comments, especially negative ones, not allowed in the news thread? I ask anyone reading to report that post since the news thread shouldn't be used for smearing either HD format.

[Manchild]

Anyone know if Warner re-upped their BDA membership?

[2Channel]

The BDA "clarifies" the Profile 1.1 mandate (PIP)
http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/01/the-bda-clarifies-the-profile-1-1-mandate-pip/

We don't know about anyone else, but we've been a little confused about this so-called mandatory profile 1.1 deadline of October 31st 2007. While some couldn't care less about PIP, -- or any other extras on their HD movies -- who wants to buy a player that doesn't support everything Blu-ray has to offer? The reason we're confused is because manufacturers like Sony just released a players right before the deadline and Samsung's new BD-UP5000 is 1.1 "ready". Well, at this week's Blu-ray fest, Andy Parsons clears up the confusion by saying "We won't quibble over something like the firmware upgrade. The most important thing is to deliver product that meets customer expectations." We're not sure what your expectations are, but as long as your brand new Blu-ray player can handle the first PIP title when it hits the street, we guess it doesn't matter when it became officially 1.1 compliant. Honestly, we're surprised Samsung said anything at all, after all who'd be able to say it wasn't compliant if there weren't any movies before the firmware hit the streets.

[mikemorel]

mike, isn't this more than a little misleadingMaybe you can explain it.

[timbobarry]

From Home Media Magazine (http://homemediamagazine.com/)
Vanguard Cinema has announced it plans on releasing its first HD DVD in January.

Channels, which will street Jan. 22 at $29.95, follows a Hollywood movie producer who has a recurring dream that could become reality. His late-night channel surfing one day becomes more than recreation when a character from a soap opera magically appears in his room.

The film stars Ed Asner, Jim Oja and Nat Christian.

[jdg345]

mike, isn't this more than a little misleading and aren't personal comments, especially negative ones, not allowed in the news thread? I ask anyone reading to report that post since the news thread shouldn't be used for smearing either HD format.

I agree Mike ... that was certainly misleading.

You forgot to mention the profiles for the audio only formats, and you also forgot to mention that Profile 2.0 is completely optional. Technically, you also forgot to mention the separation for Profile 1.1 and Profile 2.0 players that actually have the local persistent storage embedded and those that do not.

I don't think there was any smearing going on though. It is what it is.

[Talkstr8t]

STATEMENT FROM JONATHAN MAGASANIK, VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MERCHANDISE MANAGER, HOME ELECTRONICS, SEARS HOLDINGS

Kmart Not Exclusively Supporting HD-DVD Format

Hoffman Estates, Ill (November 1, 2007) – There have been numerous statements in the media today, attributed to Toshiba, indicating exclusive support for the HD-DVD format in Kmart stores.

These statements are false.

Kmart intends to support both the HD-DVD and Blu-ray platforms, and has no plans to support either platform exclusively.

About Kmart

Kmart, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a mass merchandising company that offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands that include Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, Martha Stewart Everyday and Route 66. For more information visit the company's website at www.kmart.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.

[Lee Heytow]

It is always good to keep it real - for both sides. It is difficult enough for any of us to digest what is real, let alone the phony stuff.

So despite my being an HDDVD supporter, thank you Talkstr8t

[IRockSoAwesome]

STATEMENT FROM JONATHAN MAGASANIK, VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MERCHANDISE MANAGER, HOME ELECTRONICS, SEARS HOLDINGS

Kmart Not Exclusively Supporting HD-DVD Format

Hoffman Estates, Ill (November 1, 2007) – There have been numerous statements in the media today, attributed to Toshiba, indicating exclusive support for the HD-DVD format in Kmart stores.

These statements are false.

Kmart intends to support both the HD-DVD and Blu-ray platforms, and has no plans to support either platform exclusively.

About Kmart

Kmart, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a mass merchandising company that offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands that include Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, Martha Stewart Everyday and Route 66. For more information visit the company's website at www.kmart.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.

I don't see this on the sears press release page
http://www.searsholdings.com/pubrel/

May I ask where you got it from, or if you have a link

[Talkstr8t]

Panasonic intros next-gen Blu-ray player (http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=202800271)

So "Profile 1.1" and "Profile 2.0" gave way to "Bonus View" and now "Final Standard Profile"? :confused:There never was an official "Profile 1.1" - it has always been "Grace Period Profile" and "Final Standard Profile". Bonus View has been approved as branding for Final Standard Profile ("Profile 1.1") players or for titles which contain features which require FSP support (i.e. secondary video).

[Talkstr8t]

Flash memory card needed for new $500 DMP-BD30 for profile1.1There's been no official word that the DMP-BD30 doesn't have at least 256MB of internal storage - the SD slot has been positioned as a way of also viewing AVCHD content. I'm checking with sources to confirm whether an SD card is required for local storage.

[Talkstr8t]

I don't see this on the sears press release page
http://www.searsholdings.com/pubrel/Perhaps because it's a "statement", not a press release.
May I ask where you got it fromFrom being an insider!
or if you have a linkNope - if I did any old non-insider could have posted it!

Seriously, this hasn't been widely distributed yet, but it undoubtedly will be.

[jdg345]

[QUOTE=IRockSoAwesome;12088346]I don't see this on the sears press release page
http://www.searsholdings.com/pubrel/Perhaps because it's a "statement", not a press release.
From being an insider!
Nope - if I did any old non-insider could have posted it!

Seriously, this hasn't been widely distributed yet, but it undoubtedly will be.

Isn't one of the rules of this thread that a link to the source needs to be provided?


Please limit posts in this thread to a link to a news article and/or a partial quote with an optional line or two describing the article.

[2Channel]

STATEMENT FROM JONATHAN MAGASANIK, VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MERCHANDISE MANAGER, HOME ELECTRONICS, SEARS HOLDINGS

Kmart Not Exclusively Supporting HD-DVD Format

Hoffman Estates, Ill (November 1, 2007) – There have been numerous statements in the media today, attributed to Toshiba, indicating exclusive support for the HD-DVD format in Kmart stores.

These statements are false.

Kmart intends to support both the HD-DVD and Blu-ray platforms, and has no plans to support either platform exclusively.

About Kmart

Kmart, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD), is a mass merchandising company that offers customers quality products through a portfolio of exclusive brands that include Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer, Martha Stewart Everyday and Route 66. For more information visit the company's website at www.kmart.com or the Sears Holdings Corporation website at www.searsholdings.com.

One quick question on this. Other than the PS3, will Kmart be selling any Blu-Ray players in their stores this Christmas season?

[johnu]

Nope - if I did any old non-insider could have posted it!

Seriously, this hasn't been widely distributed yet, but it undoubtedly will be.

Welcome back to the forums. Must have been pretty important for you to come back to this forum. Now that you're back, being a Blu-ray insider and all, maybe you could post something on what the Blu-ray insiders reaction is to the Toshiba-Walmart $98/199 deal. It seems like just a couple of months ago you were telling me that there weren't going to be $200 Chinese players for the holidays. You were certainly right about that, at least so far.

[2Channel]

There never was an official "Profile 1.1" - it has always been "Grace Period Profile" and "Final Standard Profile". Bonus View has been approved as branding for Final Standard Profile ("Profile 1.1") players or for titles which contain features which require FSP support (i.e. secondary video).

Thank you for the name/branding clarification. I have a couple of questions.

1. I assume that "Bonus View" is a trademarked name. Is that correct?
2. Do you know what the official brand names are for profile 2.0 and 3.0?

[johnu]

Thank you for the name/branding clarification. I have a couple of questions.

1. I assume that "Bonus View" is a trademarked name. Is that correct?
2. Do you know what the official brand names are for profile 2.0 and 3.0?

and the name for profile 1.2?

[Talkstr8t]

One quick question on this. Other than the PS3, will Kmart be selling any Blu-Ray players in their stores this Christmas season?I have no further information, just this released statement. If the moderators see fit to delete it because (to my knowledge) it hasn't yet been publicly reported elsewhere, so be it.

[Talkstr8t]

Thank you for the name/branding clarification. I have a couple of questions.

1. I assume that "Bonus View" is a trademarked name. Is that correct?
2. Do you know what the official brand names are for profile 2.0 and 3.0?
and the name for profile 1.2?
Sorry, this isn't the appropriate thread for this discussion. PM me with another thread and I'll be happy to respond.

[Talkstr8t]

More from Stan Glasgow:Glasgow also said that Sony plans its own for next year with “possibly 1.2” features.There categorically is no profile 1.2. I presume he either misspoke or was misquoted and in fact was referring to 2.0.

[Adam_G]

There's been no official word that the DMP-BD30 doesn't have at least 256MB of internal storage - the SD slot has been positioned as a way of also viewing AVCHD content. I'm checking with sources to confirm whether an SD card is required for local storage.


I was at PHL for the unveiling/press event this week and I asked the engineers if the 256MB of persistant storage mandated in 1.1 was internal, and was told that no, you would need to use an SD card. I asked if a 256MBSD card was included and was told no.

[mikemorel]

Warner Evaluates, Not Shocks Everyone to Pieces (http://www.videobusiness.com/blog/830000483/post/870016687.html)

Contrary to reports elsewhere, Warner Home Video has not changed its dual high-def format stance, according to studio spokesman Jim Noonan.
Sure, Blu-ray is beating HD DVD in titles sales by a 2 to 1 ratio. But that is not giving Warner an itchy exclu-Blu trigger finger.

True, the studio is using the word "evaluate" more when it discusses its high-def positioning. That does leave some wiggle room for a different decision down the road. But as of now, there is no leaning at Warner, where the studio is happy to be juggling both high-def formats and maximizing all possible high-def business.

"As far as whether this is an iron-clad situation, we are a smart company and evaluate all of our strategies on an ongoing basis," said Noonan. "It won't be any different in this case."

That said, Noonan added, "We have not altered our decision to be in both formats."

Much pressure has been placed on this fourth quarter to shed some light on the status of the format war. Each side is going in with full guns blazing, as studios are exclusively releasing A-list titles in HD DVD and Blu-ray.

The fourth quarter "is another piece of information," said Noonan.

War on, everyone!

[BenDover]

There never was an official "Profile 1.1" - it has always been "Grace Period Profile" and "Final Standard Profile". Bonus View has been approved as branding for Final Standard Profile ("Profile 1.1") players or for titles which contain features which require FSP support (i.e. secondary video).

excuse me, you aren't seriously saying that profile 1.1 was never official? were there major misprints in the blu-ray standards all this time? or are you saying that now they've decided to call it something else b/c it might sound better?

there certainly was/is "profile 1.1" in the bda standards...but if being plastered all over the blu-ray specification books doesn't make it official, then i guess we should take your word for it...

[scaesare]

There never was an official "Profile 1.1" - it has always been "Grace Period Profile" and "Final Standard Profile". Bonus View has been approved as branding for Final Standard Profile ("Profile 1.1") players or for titles which contain features which require FSP support (i.e. secondary video).

Say what??

Are you saying that the name is wrong, or that the set of player specs that EVERYBODY (yourself included) here has referred to as 1.1 really don't exist as anything?

Either way, can you clarify exactly what the Oct. 31 deadline was for then?

[Talkstr8t]

I'm not in any way denying the existence of what has been referred to here as "Profile 1.1", I'm referring to the proper terminology. The specification refers to "Profile 1" and "Profile 2". What has casually been called "Profile 1.1" here is known within the specification book as "Profile 1 Version 1.1". The term used from a specification license standpoint is "Final Standard Profile". The consumer-facing name will be "Bonus View".

[smithfarmer]

I'm not in any way denying the existence of what has been referred to here as "Profile 1.1", I'm referring to the proper terminology. The specification refers to "Profile 1" and "Profile 2". What has casually been called "Profile 1.1" here is known within the specification book as "Profile 1 Version 1.1". The term used from a specification license standpoint is "Final Standard Profile". The consumer-facing name will be "Bonus View".

Orwellian Newspeak at it's finest.:rolleyes:

[Kosty]

http://www.hddvdnbc.com/

Ads spotted on NBC CNBC and MSNBC, all owned IIRC by Universal.

New 30 sec national TV spots explaing how HD DVD is different than DVD and how to look for the HD DVD logo on red HD DVD cases..

[Richard Paul]

Maybe you can explain it.mike, I already have (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=10910140&postcount=1) and it seems to me like you are trying to turn 3 video profiles into many more in that post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12083977&postcount=3313). Some of the profiles you listed don't actually exist and three of the ones you listed (Profile 1.1, Bonus View, Final Standard Profile) refer to the same thing. Personally I don't really see the need for you to criticize the Blu-ray player profiles in the news thread and I certainly don't see any need for exaggerating the number of them.

[mikemorel]

it seems to me like you are trying to turn 3 video profiles into many more in that post (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=12083977&postcount=3313). I was quoting straight from news reports over the last three days.
Some of the profiles you listed don't actually exist The President of Sony Electronics refer to them. I trusted him.
and three of the ones you listed (Profile 1.1, Bonus View, Final Standard Profile) refer to the same thing.Tell the BDA to straighten it out. If they can't get it right among themselves, how can consumers?
Personally I don't really see the need for you to criticize the Blu-ray player profiles in the news thread and I certainly don't see any need for exaggerating the number of them.BTW, what are profile 1.0 now called, if 1.1 players are "bonus" view? :confused:

[TomsHT]

Why is it not required to label the players profile on the box? The in-store demo showed all types of PIP features & online features yet the $1,000 players underneath of it didnt say anything about not being able to play these features.

This seems more misleading then someone quoting an news article that mentions four existing profiles plus now mentions a new fifth profile plus two more names for existing profiles.

[amillians]

‘NATIONAL TREASURE 2' to be Disney’s first Blu-ray with Profile 1.1 interactivity when it bows first half, chief says.

From today's CED. Don't have a subscription anymore, so just the headline. I guess chief didn't get the "Call it Bonus View, dammit!" memo. Meh.

bo·nus : \ˈbō-nəs\ : noun : something in addition to what is expected or strictly due. How...apropos.

[scaesare]

I'm not in any way denying the existence of what has been referred to here as "Profile 1.1", I'm referring to the proper terminology. The specification refers to "Profile 1" and "Profile 2". What has casually been called "Profile 1.1" here is known within the specification book as "Profile 1 Version 1.1". The term used from a specification license standpoint is "Final Standard Profile". The consumer-facing name will be "Bonus View".

OK, so the spec books DO refer to "Profile 1 version 1.1" though, so that is official (albeit slightly different than how it's been referred to here, as you clarify).

So:

Profile 1 version 1.0 = BD Video 1.0 = Grace Period Profile = ???

Profile 1 version 1.1 = BD Video 1.1 = Final Standard Profile = Bonus View

Profile 2 version 1.0 = BD Live = ???

Profile 3 version 1.0 = ??? (BD Audio?) = ???


Are there any "Consumer-facing names" for the other two payer profile versions?

Is there any additional versioning associated with the 3 profiles?

[mikemorel]

KMart: We're Purple (http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Kmart/Kmart:_Were_Purple/1137)

Despite reports to the contrary, Kmart says it has no plans to choose to sides in the high-def format war.

In a statement released late Thursday, Kmart VP Jonathan Magasanik said the following:

There have been numerous statements in the media today, attributed to Toshiba, indicating exclusive support for the HD DVD format in Kmart stores. These statements are false. Kmart intends to support both the HD DVD and Blu-ray platforms, and has no plans to support either platform exclusively.

Kmart's dual-format pledge comes on the heels of widespread reports that it had chosen to stock its HD-A2 HD DVD player as its only stand-alone high-def disc player this holiday season.

It wasn't immediately clear whether the retailer's statement meant it planned to stock stand-alone Blu-ray players alongside the Toshiba deck, but as we've previously reported, the chain already sells the Blu-ray enabled PlayStation 3 in its gaming department

[TomsHT]

Kmart: We're Purple (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/newreply.php?do=newreply&noquote=1&p=12093305)

dead link...

[Grubert]

dead link...

Highdefdigest (http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Kmart/Kmart:_Were_Purple/1137)

[jdg345]

dead link...

I wouldn't be surprised if the source of that article was simply Talkstr8t's post here.

[TomsHT]

I wouldn't be surprised if the source of that article was simply Talkstr8t's post here.

I agree, someone makes one unofficial statment with no public source and then all of a sudden its being passed around as news articles

[Grubert]

Again:

http://www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Kmart/Kmart:_Were_Purple/1137