Why was it even accepted by the industry to have 2 dualing HD formats? - Page 4

wow, well said

How can they prevent a studio or CE from splintering blu-ray in the same way that we've seen assorted DVD formats/incompatibilities develop (Dual Laser discs not working in players, DVD+R media seeing the light of day, players unable to play +R discs)?

May I know how many BETAMAX players were SOLD until it perished ? Was it like 1 million plus or in 1,000s ?

Your belief is not a legal argument, counselor. State your case - what specifically has been done that violates a statute or gives rise to a cause of action. If you can't do this - then please stop making vague allegations of illegal behavior. There is a legal term for that - libel.

But it is not technically feasible since BD and HD-DVD are different formats; it is not just a simple matter of copying the movie to another disc. Menus are different, features are different, and capacity being different might require a totally new encode.

Now you have a point, as long as Toshiba is willing to flood the market with players that most consider a dead format I suspect you may be able to get a class action suit against Toshiba. Not only that, but Toshiba has continued to sell players at or below cost that has prevent a fair playing field for other CE's like the BDA market has since the beginning. Other CE's did not have the royalties Toshiba is getting from the HD-DVD format so it does look like Toshiba is wide open for anti trust action.

This is exactly why Toshiba is in trouble, by being such a monopoly and forcing out other CE competition where as the BDA has welcomed over 100 different companies that are part of the BDA, with many times the number of CE manufacturers producing BD compatible players.

Aren't they already doing this with Blu-Ray 2.0? I know I am ready to buy a player now that I am soon getting a TV with HDMI (I had a 2001 vintage RPTV with component only till now) and I am really thinking I need to hold off till they get the freaking spec settled.

Incedentally, from 1993 to maybe 1999 or 2000 we used to rent laser all the time. Blockbuster did not carry it, but there was one local chain of maybe 8 or so stores that did. I used to feel so special going over to the laser aisle and bringing the giant plastic containers up to the counter. The clerks always knew what they were and that they were the best avilable format, but the VHS people looked at us like we had a unicorn in our hands. It was hilarious.

I'm not sure there will ever be a finalized spec, at least I hope not.

Even the so called final speced HD-DVD players have evolved and added additional features like DTS HD MA and 1080p that their early players can't take advantage of unless you replace the player. Same with blu-ray and their profiles as all BD players play 1.0 disc, but the older models can't take advantage of added features found in the 1.1 or 2.0 spec. I do believe that if DTS releases a 10+1 sound system for the home or someone decides to add HD PIP for full split screen support that the hardware manufactures and the movie studios will eventually support it just so we get a reason to get a newer player.

Final is only final for mature (obsolete) products. If the product is actively advancing with the industry, then claiming final spec is a bit of a strech.

True but to compare the two is a stretch. HD DVD had a base and development with certain levels of features known be comming out but not available were listed (or in the case of DTS HD not Listed) very clearly. 90% of the growth has been completely covered from first gen to 3rd gen and even the base first gen specs match or exceed BD's final specs (which like you mentioned neither are truly final).

Side question is DTS-HD or TrueHD required in BD live. I still have a hard time imagining them continuing to not require some kind of HD audio decoder outside uncompressed.

I thought the "2 dualing HD formats" came about because more manufacturers did not agree with the DVD association about HDDVD? And soon after the studios followed suit picking sides somehow (whether financially and/or strategically), though Warner and Paramount were on the fence.

Wrong. Common misconception though. Blu-Ray was launched before HD DVD. At the time Blu-Ray was a cartridge based recordable media that Sony had developed and Sony wanted to take Blu-Ray further by proposing it as the DVD format replacement.

Toshiba didn't like this at all and had a lot of technical reservations about the blu-ray format, which is why ultimately they launched the HD DVD format which did receive DVD Forum approval.

You can read the whole bloody thing including how close we came to not having this stupid war at all here;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc

toshiba didn't like it because they saw their DVD patent gravy train threatened.

They wanted to keep most of that for themselves, rather than join all the other CE companies and have to share.

And I though that Toshiba was only out to protect the consumer, and in the end everybody turned against them.