Not sure why but I don't like LG and Warner Bros.' announcement's of their "Total HD."

What does it mean to HD DVD and/or Blu-ray owners? I own both HD DVD (Toshiba HD-A1) and Blu-ray (Sony PlayStation 3).

Is there any reason to hold off/cancel my new Toshiba HD-XA2 1080p/HDMI 1.3 player purchase?

This whole thing is depressing me! :(

It is pretty weak that all the companies cant come up with one type of disc and one type of player like they did for DVD. It is a bit depressing.

The announcement of a dual format player means that the format war boils down to software releases. In this case, given the plethora of software from HD-DVD and BD, the consumer wins, and if the BDA can get off their asses they would have a clear studio advantage. It would also mean people who are waiting for a clear winner to emerge before investing in either format might be more willing to do so since a single player would be able to play both discs and their software would be viable no matter what.

The announcement of a dual format media from Warner means that likely only Warner would use it because it drives down their need to manufacture two distinct lines, though the Total HD disc might be more expensive for the consumer. It also likely wouldn't be adopted by any other studio, at least at this time, save Paramount.

I'm of the opinion that the best thing possible for us as consumers is one format with full studio support and great releases at a steady pace. Having a dual player certainly prolongs the format war longer than necessary, unless it's prohibitively expensive. It will also be interesting to see if the BDA and HDA allow dual format players, as I assume they have some say as to who can get playback keys and under what circumstances they can be used or revoked.

It is pretty weak that all the companies cant come up with one type of disc and one type of player like they did for DVD. It is a bit depressing.

Thank IBM's CEO for getting between the same companies who are slugging it out now (Sony/Phillips and Toshiba/everyone else) and getting a unified format that became DVD. Unfortunately, there's too much money that is perceived to be at stake for the people involved to back down now, so it's a winner take all situation.

In my humble opinion, the pressures on the Blu-ray group will be insurmountable after CES. I believe the HD DVD strategy is inexpensive HARDWARE. Toshiba is poised to make some major announcements and as rumored they will be announcing considerable price cuts and perhaps less expensive machines will start pouring out of China. It is a smart business move. The software availability will not be that obvious to most consumers this year and it won't be an advantage for quite awhile since HD DVD has its exclusive studios as well. Simply dumping software on the market isn't gonna happen. Toshiba is using a strategy similar to the companies that produce printers: sell the printer at a loss and get people buying YOUR ink! The rats will start jumping ship to sell their software to the millions of people that will be able to enter the world of hi definition for less than half of the cost of any Blu-ray unit. Hold firm folks be patient and remain HD DVD exclusive in your purchases!

Now I see why Warner started the dual format releases. I read they put a patent on those dual-format HD DVD / BD discs so it's a big cash grab for them if both formats flourish.

With the introduction of a dual-format player priced around or slightly under the cost of Blu-Ray only players, there will definitely be no need to purchase any Blu-Ray player whatsoever, providing that it can demonstrate speed, top playback quality and features. In essence, any future Blu-Ray adopter can immediately be "format neutral" with a dual-format player. It will not, however, stop HD DVD players from selling, especially when you can get the A2 for about $399 and the XBox 360 HD DVD add-on for $199 or less. So, if this dual-format proves itself performance and feature wise, there is no real reason to purchase a similarly-priced Blu-Ray only player which will force other Blu-Ray only CE companies to scramble and do one of two things (or both) to remain competitive:

1. Drastically reduce the price of their current Blu-Ray models
2. Flush them out (or recall all) and introduce their own dual-format players

If they do not do one or both, their sales (as bad as they already are) will likely decrease even further. A possible third option is for them to introduce HD DVD players for the sub-$400 market. Either way, it looks like HD DVD has the upper hand here with their $399 and under players, and with dual-format player(s) entering the playing field this only broadens the HD DVD market. One would almost get a sense that there could be a 'phasing out' of Blu-Ray only players all together (with the exception perhaps of Sony, who would be forced to reduce their player well below the cost of any dual-format counterparts). The spin off of all this is increased sales of HD DVD movies.

Next, with Warner releasing Total HD discs, we will begin to see even more pressure on Blu-Ray exclusive studios to start supporting HD DVD as well, especially if Total HD proves to be successful and maintains pricing comparable to, if not lower than, current Blu-Ray and HD DVD discs. I predict that these discs, in an effort to reduce costs, will be BD25 only, yet will be HD30. Much to the chagrin of Sony, they will also be encoded in VC1 for both HD DVD and BD, and not Sony's beloved MPEG2.

Either way, these are positive developments not only for consumers, but for HD DVD as well. CES 2007 will effectively be the beginning of the end for Blu-Ray, which will eventually be phased out into nothing more than an historical footnote.

I don't necessarily know if I would invest any additional money into that new HD-DVD player if I were you. You're still able to enjoy your movies now and it might pay to wait to see how things are going to shake out.

I'm staying put. I got the 360 add-on as a Christmas gift and I only paid $89 for the PS3 after gift cards. I still have two players to play two formats and play great games. Very glad that I didn't jump the gun earlier this year and waited for family and friends to finance my intro into HD movies...these two systems should tide me over until all these companies figure out what they're going to do.

All of this really is a geeks soap opera dream. We get to come here and peck like hens at the ins and outs of every aspect of not only the hd-dvd blu-ray war but the ins and outs of the beta vhs war. And then the ins and outs of the financial implications and reason why said formats did win or will win. Then the ins and outs of codecs bitrates and compression. Then the ins and outs of actual film and the silver crystals they use in them and the grain they cause. Then whether the grain was on the film that was used for the encode. Then go on to debate whether or not the the grain was an artistic impression of the directors intent on how he thought the film should look when he was doing the story boards.



Dual format player?

Not surprised. Everyone knew it was bound to happen.

Dual hd disk?

Surprisingly stupid. I'll shelve that right next to NUON and the usb ports on the a1.

Total HD discs is a fantastic idea. Now we can stop listening to all of the BR bitches say, "HD-DVD is done in # of months." And HD-DVD babies can stop saying, "when is X studio going to support HD-DVD."

As for the player, well, I have the Toshiba, and I'll be getting the PS3, so I have no need for a dual format player.

The dual format disc wiggles its way onto untested ground. It could save money for the distributors in the long run as there is less plastic to waste. It is handy for consumers with combi players, as they will not get many films that are faulty on both tracks. It is an ideal way to compare Blue Ray, with HD-DVD titles, but they should be the same. It will mean that the HD-DVD film will have the harder protective coating applied.. probably.

If it will take off... I am not sure.

Well, this LG announcment has already affected me...I returned my PS3 already and I have until the 27th of Jan. to return my A2....I will wait until I here about this duel format player from CES...if its $1000.00, and coming out in the first quarter, I will return my A2 aswell and get the LG.

This thing is going to end like DVD-A VS SACD and we're all going to lose

I have no idea how anyone can see "Total HD" as a good idea. What is an example of someone this benefits?

- if you have dual format player, why do you need the same disc that plays in both formats? We're really going to say that you have a better shot of getting a disc that isn't "faulty" since you can try both formats to see which one "works"? Really? A dual format player is fine since you can play every HD/Blu-Ray disc. Then, as someone said, it really does come down to software. However, why you would ever need to have a "Total HD" disc is beyond me.
- if you don't have a dual format player, but have a Blu-Ray and an HD-DVD player, same thing... why do you need a disc that plays both formats? You're going to watch every disc on each format to compare the two every time (and this is WB jumping into this - we already know each version will at least look the same)? And people are willing to pay to do that? I only need it once.
- So far, ONE studio is behind these. Does anyone really think that Universal, Fox, Disney, and Sony are going to go ahead and stick something on the format side they don't currently support? Even if everyone but Sony gives in one day, Sony will never issue a "Total HD" disc. If everyone isn't going this route, how does it solve anything?

In my humble opinion, the pressures on the Blu-ray group will be insurmountable after CES. I believe the HD DVD strategy is inexpensive HARDWARE.

That may be true, but do not forget that Toshiba is subsidizing their player pricing on the lower end, just like Sony is with their PS3s.

Well, this LG announcment has already affected me...I returned my PS3 already and I have until the 27th of Jan. to return my A2....I will wait until I here about this duel format player from CES...if its $1000.00, and coming out in the first quarter, I will return my A2 aswell and get the LG.

I think you're being very optimistic on both release date, as well as pricing for a dual format player.

I think you're being very optimistic on both release date, as well as pricing for a dual format player.

I agree. I don't see LG's playing comming out sooner than winter of this year. I would imagine the player would have to come out around $1000. Guess well have to wait a few days to fine out. :D

While I like the idea of a dual format player I think it might be to little to late. Being able to get a cheap 360 drive and a ps3 might cost less then whatever this one device will come out to. It better have amazing quality on both to make it worth while.

I don't mind the warner disk thing. I can't wait to see how this will work and how much it costs.

All this tells me is that I was wise to go with the 360 add on. After trade ins it cost me Nothing. I have about 15 or so movies and there's not alot coming out in the next few months I want sans Clerks 2. I was thinking PS3 mainly for the Blueray option and I'll hold back on that, All this says to me is the the HD scene is in Disarray. The Public is rejection it mainly because most don't have HDTV's and the One's that do are probably sub 40" sets with 720p output that won't see a heck of alot of difference between a Good SD Upconvert and a Hi Def disk. (Although I saw King Kong on a nice 1080p set and it blew me away with the level of Detail.


With the average new release at $13, people at balking when they see retail store's ridiculous prices on Hi Def Releases, $39 for Fearless ? Yikes

This thing is going to end like DVD-A VS SACD and we're all going to lose
You forgot DVHS. Classical music on SACD is fairly healthy.

larry

Relax all - :)

Dual format players are good, remember? It means your investment is protected no matter which side fails.

As far as how it affects us, here is my take on it: http://www.hdnowonline.com/Comment_Universal_Players.html

For the record, I'm going ahead with my XA2 order, since the USPs in the article apply to me also.

We don't know the specs on the LG machine, but if it is BD-Video 1.1 compliant or BD-Live 2.0 compliant (unlike all the first gen Bluray players so far) then I may also pick up an LG down the road.

The LG would make a perfect bedroom player IMO.

I am thinking those that spent $1000 on their glitch-laden Blu-ray players are getting their shorts in a bind.

The LG would make a perfect bedroom player IMO.Oh good then it can go right next to my PS3. :D

All it means is that more people will be jumping in and buying discs on both formats.

Relax all - :)

Dual format players are good, remember? It means your investment is protected no matter which side fails.

As far as how it affects us, here is my take on it: http://www.hdnowonline.com/Comment_Universal_Players.html

For the record, I'm going ahead with my XA2 order, since the USPs in the article apply to me also.

We don't know the specs on the LG machine, but if it is BD-Video 1.1 compliant or BD-Live 2.0 compliant (unlike all the first gen Bluray players so far) then I may also pick up an LG down the road. Good post, RD. But man, what an AMAZING article you wrote too! All those links, everything! Very cool.

Good post, RD. But man, what an AMAZING article you wrote too! All those links, everything! Very cool.
Thanks, AA :) !

All this will be moot when good $199 combo players hit the market. 2008? 2009? 2010?