http://www.fuhyuan.com/ev/action/main.asp?news_id1=34123&Action=Show

To me it looks like a delay which i don't think HD-DVD can afford because it leaves blu-ray more time to bring out more blockbuster movies like spiderman trilogy and even the matrix and of course the maturity of BD-J. Plus who knows, chinese blu-ray players as well to counterattack :D although i wouldn't buy it

Discuss or flame :D

dead link.

Fixed. Thanks JE3146

Whoops! Maybe they were bragging to other Chinese businesses about a deal possible in the works, and didn't expect the news to travel? That total speculation, but it jives with what I understand about Chinese business practices (I've spent a bit of time in China) and with the total lack of confirmation offered by both Wal MArt and the HD DVD guys.

The hell with Blockbusters. Just give me a good movie. These vacuous big budget flicks vex me with their insipid logic and low brow comedy. Planet Earth is a breath of fresh air amidst the stench. </rant>

Fuh yu...err Fuh Yuan is likely one of a few large groups from Asia looking to cash in on HD DVD. If Toshiba is maintaining that they'll be at 3 million players by next March then clearly there are big deals coming.

I'll sit back and wait, knowing that HD is becoming more affordable at every level.

Fixed. Thanks JE3146


:cool:


Interesting though...

Still doesn't negate the possibility of such a deal....

But sure stretches reality a whole lot further away from it being a sure thing .... ;)

I had to go through a proxy to see the page, so incase anyone else is stuck at work:

We are sorry to correct the statement that we have two million HD-DVD players order from Wal-Mart and manufactured by China Great Wall Group. The actuality is that we had not received yet. We are asked to provide the schedule to Wal-Mart and cost to determine the quantity even more than two million, if the cost is good enough and timing is correct. So the capacity is under consideration. Any qualified manufactured base group will be welcome.

The hell with Blockbusters. Just give me a good movie. These vacuous big budget flicks vex me with their insipid logic and low brow comedy. Planet Earth is a breath of fresh air amidst the stench. </rant>

Fuh yu...err Fuh Yuan is likely one of a few large groups from Asia looking to cash in on HD DVD. If Toshiba is maintaining that they'll be at 3 million players by next March then clearly there are big deals coming.

I'll sit back and wait, knowing that HD is becoming more affordable at every level.

Agreed. If we could just get the zealots to realize that as well..... ;)

The hell with Blockbusters. Just give me a good movie. These vacuous big budget flicks vex me with their insipid logic and low brow comedy. Planet Earth is a breath of fresh air amidst the stench. </rant>

Fuh yu...err Fuh Yuan is likely one of a few large groups from Asia looking to cash in on HD DVD. If Toshiba is maintaining that they'll be at 3 million players by next March then clearly there are big deals coming.

I'll sit back and wait, knowing that HD is becoming more affordable at every level.

To hell with blockbusters ? Numbers do speak unfortunately even it is sub-par quality.
Thats why the numbers of these Chinese HD-DVD players that are suppose to come out has everyone talking. No one is mentioning how good or bad the quality is going to be. All these manufacturers care about is making them cheaply and in huge numbers without regard to quality.

It just seems to me that they spilled the beans and got some orders to shut the hell up until Walmart is good and ready to have it be known.

Everyone who's trying to put the lid back on isn't denying a deal, just trying to stem the stream of of unsolicited exposure it's getting. I think this was a leak in the truest sense of the word.

What impresses me that it's probably still on, is the lack of response from anyone of the BD side; that means officials, not us schmoes.

Simply looks like Wal-Mart inquired of their capacity to manufacture plenty of low-cost HD DVD players and they haven't yet given an answer although they appear to be soliciting other manufacturers to come on board.

Sounds like the company was asked to supply a bid, and it wasn't an actual contract. Ouch.

Simply looks like Wal-Mart inquired of their capacity to manufacture plenty of low-cost HD DVD players and they haven't yet given an answer although they appear to be soliciting other manufacturers to come on board.

That's the way it sounds to me as well. I wish we could get a better worded statement from them instead of one in broken English.

To hell with blockbusters ? Numbers do speak unfortunately even it is sub-par quality.
Thats why the numbers of these Chinese HD-DVD players that are suppose to come out has everyone talking. No one is mentioning how good or bad the quality is going to be. All these manufacturers care about is making them cheaply and in huge numbers without regard to quality.


IMO all the studios know what they and each other have for "blockbusters," and what they do not. They are know such titles will do as can be expected given the limited number of people in the buying pool. The only people crapping their pants over the horse race at this level of penetration are us.

Simply looks like Wal-Mart inquired of their capacity to manufacture plenty of low-cost HD DVD players and they haven't yet given an answer although they appear to be soliciting other manufacturers to come on board.

I think you are correct. It seems walmart is out looking to have them manufactured as cheaply as possible with no one yet under contract. We may not see these cheapo players till next year. The question is, will that be too late ?

I have a feeling that this is a done deal, but Wal-mart and HD DVD wants to keep this as hushed as possible. Someone posted (http://www.highdefforum.com/showpost.php?p=286874&postcount=121) on another forum the following:

Wal-Mart's flagship store #100 in Bentonville, AR carries both Blu Ray and HD-DVD. The HD-DVD players seem to turn over faster (price sells) but they currently have about twice the number of Blu Ray titles as far as software goes.

By the way, the "Wal-Mart orders cheap HD-DVD players" article was in the official Wal-Mart corporate newsletter yesterday so I would say it's a go.
Until we see a scan of the newsletter it's hearsay of course.

The thing is, how do we quantify "everyone"? I think Wal-Mart is taking a big gamble on this, assuming that so many of their customers will be clamoring for not only an HDTV, but also justifying another $100-$299 for an HD DVD player, and anywhere between $20-$35 for a movie. And that's not counting surround sound.

If I'm HD DVD or one of it's strongest supporters, I'm not so sure that I want to pin my hopes of winning on the "lowest common denominator". It just lends itself to all kinds of bad scenarios.

See my post in the HD DVD thread on this subject.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=10399159&&#post10399159

My take is initial deal is confirmed.

This is to get people to stop calling them on the first deal and to say they have been asked to give Wal-Mart pricing and availabilty for a follow on buy.

I think you are correct. It seems walmart is out looking to have them manufactured as cheaply as possible with no one yet under contract. We may not see these cheapo players till next year. The question is, will that be too late ?

Since HD DVD wasn't going away with or without them. No

Toshiba themselves will probably break the $300 barrier by years end.

My take is initial deal is confirmed.

That's just it Kosty, we have a bunch of "armchair QBs" running around, taking one leaked statement (without a shred of hard proof) and acting like it's the second coming of Christ.

People need to get lives if they're getting this worked up over something so (truly) insignificant. Last I checked, nobody here has their job depending on this "scuffle". :rolleyes:

Since HD DVD wasn't going away with or without them. No

Toshiba themselves will probably break the $300 barrier by years end.

And just to play devil's advocate, what if the BDA reciprocates? Stalemate yet again. Further posturing for nothing.

Sounds like the company was asked to supply a bid, and it wasn't an actual contract. Ouch.

:) :)

sounds that Wal Mart called Fuh Yuan to get them to release the statement of correction. FY's press release is seriously affecting WM's business strategy. ;)

That's just it Kosty, we have a bunch of "armchair QBs" running around, taking one leaked statement (without a shred of hard proof) and acting like it's the second coming of Christ.

People need to get lives if they're getting this worked up over something so (truly) insignificant. Last I checked, nobody here has their job depending on this "scuffle". :rolleyes:
On AVS, there's nothing bigger than this type of news. Good evidence of that is the fact the original Fuh Yuan thread is now at over 1800 posts, in just a week.

On AVS, there's nothing bigger than this type of news. Good evidence of that is the fact the original Fuh Yuan thread is now at over 1800 posts, in just a week.

I know, it just gets old.

And just to play devil's advocate, what if the BDA reciprocates? Stalemate yet again. Further posturing for nothing.

Yep. This whole war is getting tiring. It's like a bunch of 9 year olds arguing over whether one comic book character can beat up another. My ignore list gets larger and larger every day because new zealots for both sides keep popping up.

I think I'm about ready to call it quits. My wife bought me a PS3 for Valentine's Day of this year. And while I've enjoyed the few BD's I've bought, I'm about ready to sell it all and go back to DVD. Screw Sony, Toshiba, Microsoft, and the rest. :mad:

Toshiba themselves will probably break the $300 barrier by years end.

I'd be shocked if they didn't, that only means $50 lower on the current Walmart offering. Of course I don't think dropping it $50 more during this year will suddenly shift the lead to HD-DVD either. Blu-ray players will also be coming down in price.

On AVS, there's nothing bigger than this type of news. Good evidence of that is the fact the original Fuh Yuan thread is now at over 1800 posts, in just a week.

On this part of the forum, AVS doesn't deserved the S.

And just to play devil's advocate, what if the BDA reciprocates? Stalemate yet again. Further posturing for nothing.


They may well, you won't see in my posts the suggestion that this means HD DVD will "win," just that it's not going anywhere.

The biggest issue in all this is that the bottom will drop out of the player market, the question is when and what side gets there first. My guess is HD DVD because is been part of the the plan, I see BD as having their arm twisted.

I also think your gonna see $199 players not $299.

This is a rather unfortunate turn of events for a company about to go IPO. But then, I guess he didn't realize the press would start asking Walmart about this, and once that happens.... this retraction is the only thing they could do.

They may well, you won't see in my posts the suggestion that this means HD DVD will "win," just that it's not going anywhere.

The biggest issue in all this is that the bottom will drop out of the player market, the question is when and what side gets there first. My guess is HD DVD because is been part of the the plan, I see BD as having their arm twisted.

I also think your gonna see $199 players not $299.

I agree, we will be seeing the bottom drop out on the player market. It may have been "in the plans" for HD DVD, it's a necessity. Without the potential of a price advantage, IMHO, HD DVD might be dead in the water. Even with uber-cheap players, studio neutrality and mass-adoption isn't guaranteed.

My point is that there is no point to all of this. BD zealots with their claims since last year of "just wait until..." and now the HD DVD zealots following suit. Neither format will gain a foothold quickly enough to unseat SD DVD. We've got people here on AVS who own each and every HD disc released in either format, pontificating about consumers who are unable to purchase an HDTV, or who are just as happy as a pig in slop with their 27" SDTV and $50 DVD player.

As I said previously (with a little different spin this time), if I'm HD DVD/BDA or one of it's strongest supporters, I'm not so sure that I want to pin my hopes of 'winning' on the "lowest common denominator".

Hopefully Wal Mart isn't as spiteful as Apple. Jobs has been known to kill prospective projects that got leaked...

I agree, we will be seeing the bottom drop out on the player market. It may have been "in the plans" for HD DVD, it's a necessity. Without the potential of a price advantage, IMHO, HD DVD might be dead in the water. Even with uber-cheap players, studio neutrality and mass-adoption isn't guaranteed.

My point is that there is no point to all of this. BD zealots with their claims since last year of "just wait until..." and now the HD DVD zealots following suit. Neither format will gain a foothold quickly enough to unseat SD DVD. We've got people here on AVS who own each and every HD disc released in either format, pontificating about consumers who are unable to purchase an HDTV, or who are just as happy as a pig in slop with their 27" SDTV and $50 DVD player.

As I said previously (with a little different spin this time), if I'm HD DVD/BDA or one of it's strongest supporters, I'm not so sure that I want to pin my hopes of 'winning' on the "lowest common denominator".


Just when I thought there was no hope for this forum ;)

Well said.

Internet time baby.

No one expected a Mandarian article posted on a Chinese website about a Taiwanese company using Japanese technology bieg biult in mainland China doing a deal with an American company would be posted by a guy living in Sinapore on a website and be robo translated by HD format war junkies and translated by native speakers within hours of its posting and would be discussed here hours after it was first being written, and would have thousands of posts and would be read by a zillion people . :p

or something like that.... :D

P.S . Most of the people that contacted me said they wanted AVS to get some accurate information out for discussion.

Internet time baby.

No one expected a Mandarian article posted on a Chinese website about a Taiwanese company using Japanese technology bieg biult in mainland China doing a deal with an American company would be posted by a guy living in Sinapore on a website and be robo translated by HD format war junkies and translated by native speakers within hours of its posting and would be discussed here hours after it was first being written, and would have thousands of posts and would be read by a zillion people . :p

or something like that.... :D

P.S . Most of the people that contacted me said they wanted AVS to get some accurate information out for discussion.

You're right...

It's funny how fast the internet is. I think the first time I really got a glimpse of it was a few years back there was an Earthquake in a neighboring state, and I saw(and read) a post on a forum talking about the Earthquake before I even felt the tremors.

That is FAST.

We are sorry to correct the statement that we have two million HD-DVD players order from Wal-Mart and manufactured by China Great Wall Group. The actuality is that we had not received yet. We are asked to provide the schedule to Wal-Mart and cost to determine the quantity even more than two million, if the cost is good enough and timing is correct. So the capacity is under consideration. Any qualified manufactured base group will be welcome.


hahahahahaha. I've been saying from the beginning to take this with a HUGE grain of salt. It was amazing how personally angry some members would get when anyone suggested this might not be true. Now even the company is retracted the story.

THERE IS NO CONTRACT FROM WAL_MART FOR PLAYERS!

Bad news for HD-DVD.

...and now Onkyo may re-think it's HD DVD support.

At a press conference yesterday, held at it’s New Jersey headquarters, Onkyo seemed to back track a bit from it’s plans to sell an HD DVD player in 2007. Keith Haas, director of sales, said the company is “looking at both [the HD DVD and Blu-ray] formats” and rethinking it’s decision of which format to back, even possibly a dual-format unit. If there is an introduction, look for it “in the fourth quarter.”

Back at January’s CES show, Onkyo announced plans to sell and HD DVD player, rather than the rival Blu-ray format.

My point is that there is no point to all of this. BD zealots with their claims since last year of "just wait until..." and now the HD DVD zealots following suit. Neither format will gain a foothold quickly enough to unseat SD DVD. We've got people here on AVS who own each and every HD disc released in either format, pontificating about consumers who are unable to purchase an HDTV, or who are just as happy as a pig in slop with their 27" SDTV and $50 DVD player.

As I said previously (with a little different spin this time), if I'm HD DVD/BDA or one of it's strongest supporters, I'm not so sure that I want to pin my hopes of 'winning' on the "lowest common denominator".

It depends on how spooked they are by the lackluster adoption rate of HDM in general.

I don't think the Walmart move (or any launch of $200 players) represents a threat to SD. Two-million players sounds like a lot only in comparison to the overall lack of significant sales in standalone's up to this point. I think they might trigger more neutrality, but no way is SD going to have to watch it's back (IMO for at least 4 years).

I think Disney will cave eventually, they at one time had the intention of supporting both, and if they can't beat them, they will join them. I also hope Pioneer will go hybrid, they won't have any compelling reason not to once the player price of BD standalone dips below any possible profit.

THERE IS NO CONTRACT FROM WAL_MART FOR PLAYERS!

Bad news for HD-DVD.

But there isn't anything saying there won't be Wal-Mart players.

This is a perfect example of what I'm talking about.

If Kosty says it is a deal, I believe it to be true. The real point missed by some in this is that the holy grail of HD optical medium as a big profit producer for the CE manufacturers just went down the drain. It is a rush to the bottom in terms of pricing. They will be at current DVD levels within a year or two. Thantb must make companies like Panasonic scratch their heads wondering why there even bothered. The furture is clearly hybrid players which is good news for HD-DVD.

It depends on how spooked they are by the lackluster adoption rate of HDM in general.

I don't think the Walmart move (or any launch of $200 players) represents a threat to SD. Two-million players sounds like a lot only in comparison to the overall lack of significant sales in standalone's up to this point. I think they might trigger more neutrality, but no way is SD going to have to watch it's back (IMO for at least 4 years).

I think Disney will cave eventually, they at one time had the intention of supporting both, and if they can't beat them, they will join them. I also hope Pioneer will go hybrid, they won't have any compelling reason not to once the player price of BD standalone dips below any possible profit.

Exactly. I think it's going to be quite a while.

Of course it doesn't, but I must admit that I am a bit perplexed at the move by Wal-Mart. It's a bold move for a company that's supposed to be a retailer. If they sell well, we could start seeing "Sam's Choice players" (again catering to lowest common denominator - not smartest move IMO). If they don't sell well, it is a blow for HD DVD and HDM in general. It's a no-win situation in my eyes.

They may. I'm covered either way as a format agnostic, but I'm just sick of being inundated by fanboys (not you) of both sides either going over the top on each individual "snippet" of a misconstrued quote, or spreading FUD about the other camp.

It's like a fight between two 98lb weaklings. Pathetic and boring to watch.

Especially when I've got HD movies (who cares which format) to view. :cool:

we could start seeing "Sam's Choice players" (again catering to lowest common denominator - not smartest move IMO
I don't know, they built an empire doing just that.

The real point missed by some in this is that the holy grail of HD optical medium as a big profit producer for the CE manufacturers just went down the drain. It is a rush to the bottom in terms of pricing.
A) Good for the consumer B) they still make $ on DVD players (or they wouldn't make them). Not certain if I see a downside. They will move to HD media & there will be a demand. Maybe they won't make the big bucks but as a consumer I don't really care.

It was all a giant PR test by "Phase Hydra"

They were testing the water, to see how long they can hold out on their high end equipment.

They found out they better bring cheap BR's to market now or die tomorrow.

PHASE HYDRA FTW! :p

We heard all kind of confirmations how this Fuh Yuan deal was unofficially confirmed etc. Seems like this forum if full of more and more credible sources. I wonder what they have to write on their web site to get people to say there's no such deal. Even the original chinese article translated with online translation engine gives quite clear picture that the whole thing was IF they get the order, etc.

That's just it Kosty, we have a bunch of "armchair QBs" running around, taking one leaked statement (without a shred of hard proof) and acting like it's the second coming of Christ.

People need to get lives if they're getting this worked up over something so (truly) insignificant. Last I checked, nobody here has their job depending on this "scuffle". :rolleyes:
Of course there are people on this forum whose jobs depend on one side or another winning. Surely you know about the viral marketing campaigning going on. You sure have a lot of negative things to say about HD DVD considering that you are "neutral."

Internet time baby.

No one expected a Mandarian article posted on a Chinese website about a Taiwanese company using Japanese technology bieg biult in mainland China doing a deal with an American company would be posted by a guy living in Sinapore on a website and be robo translated by HD format war junkies and translated by native speakers within hours of its posting and would be discussed here hours after it was first being written, and would have thousands of posts and would be read by a zillion people . :p

or something like that.... :D

P.S . Most of the people that contacted me said they wanted AVS to get some accurate information out for discussion.
macbeth said something to this effect. "A tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing".

That we lead lifes so devoid of meaning that so many would debate endless hours over HDM that sell so few disks in total, over pre-IPO vaporware is enough to make one start drinking again.

I'd like to think that there were indeed organized viral or bacterial marketing from the blue and red crusaders, but I fear from our content here, that the more likely scenario is that many of us are mere teenagers living in the basement, sitting in our pyjamas typing away on wired keyboards, squinting at old CRTs, people who have time to kill before mom comes back with more potato chips.

That's not enough to get paid.

Of course, we could just be bored between meetings.

Of course, we could just be bored between meetings.

ding ding ding... lol... :D

Wow. The company with the supposed contract announces there is no contract and HD-DVD supporters take that as confirmation of a contract! Amazing.

Wow. The company with the supposed contract announces there is no contract and HD-DVD supporters take that as confirmation of a contract! Amazing.
I'm not amazed anymore at all. I was few days ago when they were cross referring each others posts as confirmation to their own posts.

Wow. The company with the supposed contract announces there is no contract and HD-DVD supporters take that as confirmation of a contract! Amazing.


In reality, there's usually a leak before a denial, then finally the product that was originally promised.

Odds are this will happen at some point or another, but the great thing about the retraction is atleast the majority of people will shutup about it..... I hope... ;)

In reality, there's usually a leak before a denial, then finally the product that was originally promised.

Odds are this will happen at some point or another, but the great thing about the retraction is atleast the majority of people will shutup about it..... I hope... ;)

But the whole thing is so weird. The original leak wasn't exactly as it has been quoted here :D If you translate the original news it says they're expecting deals. According to some that release was for their potential investors.

here's an small excerpt from very bad google translation:
"Deng Hongmo Kyrgyzstan profitable news release pointed out that the Taiwan Blue HD DVD will traverse cooperation with the Japanese TDK, from the Great Wall is responsible for production, product immediately after the birth of the American WALMART two million Taiwan orders It is expected that the end of this year, output may reach 100 million dollars next year"

http://www.fuhyuan.com/ev/action/main.asp?news_id1=34123&Action=Show

To me it looks like a delay which i don't think HD-DVD can afford because it leaves blu-ray more time to bring out more blockbuster movies like spiderman trilogy and even the matrix and of course the maturity of BD-J. Plus who knows, chinese blu-ray players as well to counterattack :D although i wouldn't buy it

Discuss or flame :D

big oops indeed.

The only thing I'm sure of is Walmart is hacked off! If true, FY has given BDA a good leg up to counter. If they submitted similar RFI's to other manufacturers one guy's pricing is now out in the open and the others bid knowing that. If WM submitted RFI's to potential BD and dual format manufacturers than they know that WM is fishing and may just be running them all through the wringer. If partially true or not true at all, than WM is left trying to work their strategy around some rumor.

PC Magazine: Wal-Mart Shoots Down Cheap HD DVD Rumor (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2122715,00.asp)

Wal-Mart denied rumors that it had placed a substantial order with a Taiwan supplier for ultra-cheap HD DVD players that could swing the format wars in that direction.

A spokesperson for the company said Thursday that reported leak concerning Taiwan-based consumer electronics manufacturer, Fuh Yuan, partnering with TDK in China to manufacture the $250-299 players, had no merit. The report first appeared in AVS Forums, and was picked up by other Web sites.

"The article… was full of inaccuracies and we had no participation in it," the spokesman said in an e-mail to PC Magazine. "Most of the facts, including the purchase, were untrue," she added. "Not sure how it originated."

When asked to comment specifically on a statement appearing on Fuh Yuan's site http://www.fuhyuan.com/ev/action/, which implies the retailer is at least interested in ordering the players, the spokesperson said she could not comment on or disclose Wal-Mart's internal business with suppliers and our orders. However, the supplier said that no deal was imminent.

[...]

PC Magazine: Wal-Mart Shoots Down Cheap HD DVD Rumor (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2122715,00.asp)

OUCH!!!

Looks like the evidence is piling up!!


THERE IS NO CHEAP WALMART PLAYER.

It is amazing how many of us were flamed for even suggesting to take the "story" with a grain of salt.

Man, this is really sad news. I'm a PS3 owner, but could only see good things coming (sooner) from low-priced HD-DVD players. Prices could only come down, down, down from both sides.

I've always seen myself as owning both (via combo player, or whatever).

I guess we'll just have to wait a little longer, provided one of the formats doesn't die first.

PC Magazine: Wal-Mart Shoots Down Cheap HD DVD Rumor (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2122715,00.asp)

A non-denial denial from Wal-Mart doesn't prove anything.

A non-denial denial from Wal-Mart doesn't prove anything.


"The article… was full of inaccuracies and we had no participation in it," the spokesman said in an e-mail to PC Magazine. "Most of the facts, including the purchase, were untrue,"

"The article… was full of inaccuracies and we had no participation in it," the spokesman said in an e-mail to PC Magazine. "Most of the facts, including the purchase, were untrue,"

We already know that the purchase has not happened yet. But Fuh Yuan confirmed on their own web site that:

We are asked to provide the schedule to Wal-Mart and cost to determine the quantity even more than two million, if the cost is good enough and timing is correct.

So, Wal-Mart is in negotiations with Fuh Yuan to produce low costs HD DVD players. This is a fact.

PC Magazine: Wal-Mart Shoots Down Cheap HD DVD Rumor (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2122715,00.asp)
The last (last but not least) sentence is missing.

The spokesperson added: "We expect that as prices decrease and new elements are added in the coming months that consumers will choose which format will dominate, and that could happen by the end of this year."

"Truth. Information. Relevance. Clarity."

The last (last but not least) sentence is missing.


Actually the whole second half of the article was missing (as indicated by the conventional dots in square brackets).

Exactly. Of course it doesn't, but I must admit that I am a bit perplexed at the move by Wal-Mart. It's a bold move for a company that's supposed to be a retailer. If they sell well, we could start seeing "Sam's Choice players" (again catering to lowest common denominator - not smartest move IMO). If they don't sell well, it is a blow for HD DVD and HDM in general. It's a no-win situation in my eyes.

I dunno, there have been $40 "Cyberhome" DVD players for years now, but there are still mid-level and high-level players being produced. A lot of time a place like Best Buy is only going to have one or two to choose from (if your lucky), but then they don't want $500 players that sell three a week if they don't also have $200 players that sell 25-30 a week.

It's my gut that it's all gonna go hybrid, and that the hybrids won't be looked on as BD/HD DVD players, but rather DVD players with HD capability.

Kinda not terribly exciting if you wanted a bloody war followed by a glorious victory, but HD nonetheless.

I dunno, there have been $40 "Cyberhome" DVD players for years now, but there are still mid-level and high-level players being produced. A lot of time a place like Best Buy is only going to have one or two to choose from (if your lucky), but then they don't want $500 players that sell three a week if they don't also have $200 players that sell 25-30 a week.

It's my gut that it's all gonna go hybrid, and that the hybrids won't be looked on as BD/HD DVD players, but rather DVD players with HD capability.

Kinda not terribly exciting if you wanted a bloody war followed by a glorious victory, but HD nonetheless.
I paid CDN$24.95 for the cyberhome-like walmart DVD players, they're back to 29 now, but every few months, they get a stack in and go on sale at lower and lower prices. They're so cheap we were using them as signal generators in our lab - we buy 20 at a time. At these prices, they're treated as disposable junk and treated the same way, we chuck out a few players every month because they don't last long when played 24-7. (But neither did the HD-A1s and HD-A2s we used as signal generators).

Who's to say Walmart or Blu-ray don't also have a Chinese player lined up for release in the next 6-12 months, only their source hasn't spilled the beans months in advance?

Who's to say Walmart or Blu-ray don't also have a Chinese player lined up for release in the next 6-12 months, only their source hasn't spilled the beans months in advance?

Nobody, but their is a "Who's to say no cheap Blu-ray" post to go with every six HD DVD/Walmart posts. ;)

My guess is that HD DVD will beat them too the punch however for three reasons.

1) Blu-ray has gotta get their special features and anti piracy stuff nailed down, and that probably means that there can't be a BD blue-print for these players yet.

2) Toshiba seems ready and willing to have the bottom drop out of the player market, all of BD price-cuts don't seem voluntary but done under duress. The HD DVD camp has been talking about this for quite some time.

3) It was my understanding that China is supporting their own form of HD DVD, that varies little from our own. It stands to reason they would then be more able to accommodate HD DVD faster than they would BD.

Nobody, but their is a "Who's to say no cheap Blu-ray" post to go with every six HD DVD/Walmart posts.

Blu-ray players are more expensive now and still selling better than HD-DVD. I'd be surprised to see a $50 price drop suddenly cause a dramatic turn of events to 1 blu-ray player for every six HD-DVD players. It could happen but I highly doubt it.

Blu-ray players are more expensive now and still selling better than HD-DVD. I'd be surprised to see a $50 price drop suddenly cause a dramatic turn of events to 1 blu-ray player for every six HD-DVD players. It could happen but I highly doubt it.

Blu-ray standalone ?

Blu-ray players are more expensive now and still selling better than HD-DVD. I'd be surprised to see a $50 price drop suddenly cause a dramatic turn of events to 1 blu-ray player for every six HD-DVD players. It could happen but I highly doubt it.

WTF are you smoking. The PS3 should not be considered a sale as a blu-ray player for the most part. It is a gaming machine that has Blu Ray capabilities, most people are buying it for the PS3 portion along with the added benefit of a Blu Ray player. HD DVD standalone sales are thrashing the Blu standalone sales by a fairly large margin. We have such a weird mixture of gaming machines and standalone's that we have a hard time actually calculating where the "lead" is coming from.

:cool:


Interesting though...

Still doesn't negate the possibility of such a deal....

But sure stretches reality a whole lot further away from it being a sure thing .... ;)
Well, Walmart asked them to propose a schedule and pricing. That's still pretty good news.

I guess I do not see the logic in a lot of you HD-DVD supporters. Over in the Blu-ray section I started a thread titled; "Disney & Fox Solidly In Blu-ray's Corner." In the OP I quoted VP's from both Disney and Fox, quoting statements which clearly showed they were enthusiastically exclusively backing Blu-ray. The thread was within minutes overtaken by HD-DVD supporters essentially saying it was all lies and that both of these studios will go neutral soon.

Now today we get word from both Wal-Mart and Fuh Yuan essentially saying there is no agreement on the table. Again we have the HD-DVD supporters claiming it is not true and that the players are on the way.

Thirdly I am personally attacked frequently here on AVS by HD-DVD supporters for my posts claiming I need proof in order for them to be taken seriously. I ask this, why the double standard? Shouldn't all of these Wal-Mart/HD-DVD threads all have been labeled with the word "rumor" in the titles and made clear to only be "rumors" in the OP's of many threads on this subject?

~Josh

Blu-ray players are more expensive now and still selling better than HD-DVD.

Come on. No they're not.

I have to assume you're counting the PS3. That's selling pretty well... but given the attach rates, I think it's pretty clear that it's not selling as a "blu-ray player". It's selling as a gaming machine.

If you're going to present an argument, how about grounding it in reality?

Well, Walmart asked them to propose a schedule and pricing. That's still pretty good news.

That's what Fun Yuan claims, but apparently their claims are not too reliable. Moreover, if Walmart is asking for price now, it is quite unlikely that this would be for the holiday season.

The thread was within minutes overtaken by HD-DVD supporters essentially saying it was all lies and that both of these studios will go neutral soon.

Show me a single post in that thread claiming that it is "lies" or that "both of these studios will go neutral soon". Please.

What people were saying is that it is idiotic to take a press statement as a sign of anything.

That's what Fun Yuan claims, but apparently their claims are not too reliable. Moreover, if Walmart is asking for price now, it is quite unlikely that this would be for the holiday season.
If you have some proof that FY makes a bunch of false claims bring it. They could have a bunch of DVD players ready by November if there was an order for them, however. It still could just be a trick to get some easy capital from investors. I hope they are dealt with if it was.

Now today we get word from both Wal-Mart and Fuh Yuan essentially saying there is no agreement on the table. Again we have the HD-DVD supporters claiming it is not true and that the players are on the way.



beatboy, I know you're hoping and praying it's not true but...This is simply damage control on WalMart's part. WalMart will have inexpensive HD DVD players in stores soon to the chagrin of smurfs everywhere.

beatboy,

I guess I do not see the logic in a lot of you HD-DVD supporters. Over in the Blu-ray section I started a thread titled; "Disney & Fox Solidly In Blu-ray's Corner." In the OP I quoted VP's from both Disney and Fox, quoting statements which clearly showed they were enthusiastically exclusively backing Blu-ray. The thread was within minutes overtaken by HD-DVD supporters essentially saying it was all lies and that both of these studios will go neutral soon.

Now today we get word from both Wal-Mart and Fuh Yuan essentially saying there is no agreement on the table. Again we have the HD-DVD supporters claiming it is not true and that the players are on the way.

Thirdly I am personally attacked frequently here on AVS by HD-DVD supporters for my posts claiming I need proof in order for them to be taken seriously. I ask this, why the double standard? Shouldn't all of these Wal-Mart/HD-DVD threads all have been labeled with the word "rumor" in the titles and made clear to only be "rumors" in the OP's of many threads on this subject?

There is enough double standards to go around. Both sides are guilty of a double standard when it comes to press releases, and selectively believiing what one wants.

It is wrong on both sides.

Both sides should have learned this with Samsung - at Cebit the president stood there and comitted to BD 100%, said BD would win, and that they had no plans for a HD player of any sort. Then a month later they announce a Universal player.

People shouldnt believe press releases from either side.

beatboy,



There is enough double standards to go around. Both sides are guilty of a double standard when it comes to press releases, and selectively believiing what one wants.

It is wrong on both sides.

Both sides should have learned this with Samsung - at Cebit the president stood there and comitted to BD 100%, said BD would win, and that they had no plans for a HD player of any sort. Then a month later they announce a Universal player.

People shouldnt believe press releases from either side.

Moreover, beatboy is a fine one to play victim here when he has made numerous threads proclaiming things with inside infomation without so much as even a press release. So please stop playing the role of victim. I see AVS as the victim from all of your phony threads that never panned out.

Quite frankly the majority of posts about the arrival of cheap HD DVD players to Walmart have been speculative as to what the effect would be, and not direct assertions of first-hand knowledge about the agreement.

Ninety percent of what goes on here is fortune-telling based on loose statistics and biased "news." People support the news that supports their interests and condemn that which does not on both sides.

Six months from now we oughta have a lot of answers to a lot of questions including this one, but the sure thing is that nothing said here is going to make or break any deals.

...just got a phone call on my special red line. The deal is back on, except it is now going to be Big Lots's shelves that will be dominated by these "blue light HD-DVD" players. There's no link for this at this time, but my word is good enough for all you's.

Discuss... :D

Show me a single post in that thread claiming that it is "lies" or that "both of these studios will go neutral soon". Please.

What people were saying is that it is idiotic to take a press statement as a sign of anything.

Here is the first reply to that thread:

Well you have to logically assume that they are waiting to see where this Wal-Mart deal leads, and if Wal-Mart exerrts pressure on them to go neutral.

Uh, Wal-Mart deal? What Wal-Mart deal? There is NO Wal-Mart deal.

Here is the HD-DVD FUD machine in action. This member probably really believed there was a Wal-mart deal due to the circular journalism ring that published blog stories based on AVSforum posts. The people on AVS referenced the blog posts referenced on AVS, and then more pro HD-DVD blogs referenced posts on AVS that referenced blog posts sourced from AVS, until a frenzy had been created.

Actually it is probably worse in the long run for HD-DVD to run with made-up stories like this because a lot of credibility in the HD-DVD community has been damaged.

There is definitely a double standard in the way that positive HD-DVD rumors are treated here compared to the way positive Blu-ray rumors are treated. The recent fictional Wal-Mart HD-DVD fiasco is a perfect example of this.

Krinkle,

Uh, Wal-Mart deal? What Wal-Mart deal? There is NO Wal-Mart deal.

We dont know that. As I stated above, the president of Samsung misled the public about the existence of the Universal player that was leaked via the french news paper (which many BD supporters said didnt exist, and was vapor ware, etc. and we know what happened there).

There is definitely a double standard in the way that positive HD-DVD rumors are treated here compared to the way positive Blu-ray rumors are treated

Not really. BD supporters had quite a field day ridiculing HD supporters who believed the French reports. So again, it goes both ways, if one is honest with oneself.

I also find your position a bit odd when you start a thread stating that Onkyo is backing out of HD DVD when, in fact, the article you linked says no such thing.

And just to play devil's advocate, what if the BDA reciprocates? Stalemate yet again. Further posturing for nothing.
As long as it's a $200 to $300 BD player with Ethernet Port, TruHD 5.1, DTS-HD 5.1, BD-Live/BDJ 2.0, etc etc etc ;)

...just got a phone call on my special red line. The deal is back on, except it is now going to be Big Lots's shelves that will be dominated by these "blue light HD-DVD" players. There's no link for this at this time, but my word is good enough for all you's.

Discuss... :D
Ah so, you've seen the blu light.

krinkle -- if you're not going to address my question, please don't quote it.

I was specifically addressing beatboy's claims that "HD DVD supporters" overtook his thread within minutes claiming that the press comments were lies and that both studios were going neutral soon.

That's complete fiction. It never happened.


Cry and moan about fanboys all you want... but don't invent stuff.

Seems pretty simple to me, Walmart is saying no, Fuh Yuan is saying no, but everyone who wants hd-dvd to succeed is saying yes? Why dont we not assume things and let things happen. Until i see this unit on the shelf this holiday season, it does not exist! Cmon guys, get off the pc and load up a flick, lets get to enjoying the HD movies rather then bickering!

Seems pretty simple to me, Walmart is saying no, Fuh Yuan is saying no, but everyone who wants hd-dvd to succeed is saying yes? Why dont we not assume things and let things happen. Until i see this unit on the shelf this holiday season, it does not exist! Cmon guys, get off the pc and load up a flick, lets get to enjoying the HD movies rather then bickering!

And everyone that wants HD DVD to fail is saying no... This reminds me of when some people say no they really mean yes.

Ah so, you've seen the blu light.
Shouldn't it be K-Mart? :confused:

I'm sure you a your fellow smurfs are hoping and praying it's false but you'll see inexpensive HD DVD in WalMart sooner than later. And without a doubt before you'll ever see any inexpensive BD players. Actually inenexpensive BD players is an oxymoron.
At this point FY look like they might have been lying to get some investment money, but it is strange that they chose HDDVD when HD video isn't that popular ATM.

These type of "omg cheap hd-dvd from china" and "omg no there isn't" threads are funny as hell. Clearly it's MS's anti-phase phyrdralic in play.

Anyways how do you pronounce Fuh Yuan. Is it funyan, but with a chinese accent??

At this point FY look like they might have been lying to get some investment money, but it is strange that they chose HDDVD when HD video isn't that popular ATM.


I still think it's gonna happen :) , going just on my gut so nobody need call me an idiot until I'm wrong, and though I have yet to call anyone an idiot for any reason here, I will extend equal courtesy to those who think it's hogwash. :)

The fact of the matter is that there is ZERO evidence of this happening. In-fact we have representatives from both companies today denying the original rumor. The best anyone can say is that they "think" it will happen.

I personally "think" stores like Wal-Mart, Sears, Target etc. will eventually carry cheap versions of both format's players. I have no "evidence" this will happen though.

~Josh

You can believe what you want to believe.

I put a bit more faith into the information creditable industry people are telling me about the situation. You can choose to acccept it as probable fact or possible fiction. Whatever.

The one thing about it that you cannot deny is that HD DVD supporters for years as well as the HD DVD PRG , Broadcom and Microsoft have stated that bringing low cost Chinese SoC designs is a goal of the HD DVD PRG and if this Wal-Mart Fuh Yuan buy does not happen now it would only delay their inevitable entry into the US marketplace.

Its seems logical to me even without the infomation I received.

With:

The original two chinese articles - one with a partial drive picture - one a press release

Various word-of-mouth (but non-atributable) confirmation from people in the States (to Kosty and Robert Z)

Reported by acquantance, phone conversations to/from a Fuh Yuan employee about new factory, etc

A non-complete partial retraction by Fuh Yuan on their English website

A wiggle-worded email to PC Mag from a Walmart PR guy

I would say that there is lots to start out with -- court room legal evidence no -- but much more solid info than many the OP of an AVS thread. ;)

We have zero evidence outside of the original press release, the retraction and Walmart's PR release that indicates many inaccuracies and most are not true.

I believe what has happened here is Walmart is soliciting bids from multiple Chinese manufacturers. No deal has been cut, however the potential for the 2-3 million units is out there.

SO > Fu Yuan has NOT won the bid.
AND > Walmart is ready to throw down and bring this to an end by the end of the year. It MAY be Fu Yuan, or it may be some yet to be announced company (like Sony :p )

Sounds like cheapie HD DVD players for ALL!

BD fans can get one too, no worries.

We have zero evidence outside of the original press release, the retraction and Walmart's PR release that indicates many inaccuracies and most are not true.

I believe what has happened here is Walmart is soliciting bids from multiple Chinese manufacturers. No deal has been cut, however the potential for the 2-3 million units is out there.

SO > Fu Yuan has NOT won the bid.
AND > Walmart is ready to throw down and bring this to an end by the end of the year. It MAY be Fu Yuan, or it may be some yet to be announced company (like Sony :p )

Sounds like cheapie HD DVD players for ALL!

BD fans can get one too, no worries.That's how I see it as well. The choice of HDDVD seems a little to sensible for someone that was just trying to collect some cash.

Seems to me this all boils down to this... Wal-Mart's in China shopping for a sizable volume of HD DVD players and the format fanatics (on both sides) have taken, what looks like, a premature press release to a whole new level of silliness.

Once again challange the info not the poster,

TIME OUT