Toshiba Ends Format War

TheBluePill said:
NO.

Two Totally different concepts.

Latency, even above cost, was the killer for Sat Internet.

This is a whole different ball-game, They already have the equipment and capability in millions of homes, ready to turn on.

This is more like Cable-Interent being viable since people already had it running to their homes, or DSL over telephone lines.

The Cost of the Set-Top DVRs are so low, it is an affordable option for anyone, Couple that with the extreme low cost of Hard-Disk based storage, and the time is NOW for this.
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Doesn't DirectTV provide pay per view hi-def movies via satellite to HD set top boxes? I don't have DirectTV, so I don't know if it's on demand yet or not. Should be.... This would be a good moneymaker and convenient for home satellite users.
 
SirKronan said:
Doesn't DirectTV provide pay per view hi-def movies via satellite to HD set top boxes? I don't have DirectTV, so I don't know if it's on demand yet or not. Should be.... This would be a good moneymaker and convenient for home satellite users.
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Not sure either, I do know you can record their HD programming, I shouldnt be much of a stretch to have their PPV movies like that if they arent already doing that.
 
Insight into Toshiba and HDDVD decisions:
http://www.eetimes.com/news/latest/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206800680&pgno=1

Switch to Digital Downloads people don't realize the scale of the problem: Most of my relatives don't have any high speed, a chunk don't even have internet at all.

So once you get down to those with high speed. What else do you need? Take my relatives that do have high speed. Do you think you are going to have much success renting them or selling them a box to sit on their TV to pay to download movies. Or do you expect them to download them with a computer and burn disks to watch them? Good luck with either of those.

Your main markets is as part of large cable TV package like U-Verse ( since that will make sense to people as a TV service), or with an already installed base like Xbox users with high speed. Either way this is primarily a lower quality rental service and it is approaching a vanishingly small market segment. For purchase would "buy" a movie for $20 that only lives in your set top box? I certainly wouldn't.

Even the small percentage that would be interested in such a service will still be interested in the purchase of HD media as keepers for favorite movies.

HD downloads are not a significant challenge to Blu-ray. The biggest challenge is DVD. I supect the majority of the audience won't move until movie prices are equal.

I would get a Blu-ray drive and start collecting my Blu Rays today if both formats hadn't shot themselves in the foot with HDCP. Neither will play on my computer because neither my display or graphics card is HDCP compatible. This is completely pointless protection that does nothing to safeguard the disk and blocks legitimate customers.

Kill HDCP and I am in today. Otherwise I will wait until I get new screen/card or move to a bigger apartment get a bigger screen and finally get a stand alone player or PS3.
 
TheBluePill said:
Not sure either, I do know you can record their HD programming, I shouldnt be much of a stretch to have their PPV movies like that if they arent already doing that.
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We used to be able to record our PPV from our cable provider, but now they've switch to OnDemand and we can't record or even cancel a show. At least we don't have to wait on showing schedules anymore.
 
BillR said:
That deal started over a year ago, I posted in the HTPC forum 6 months ago as well. Hardly news now.
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Sony, which is focusing on image sensor chips for digital cameras and pulling away from heavy investments for cutting-edge chip production equipment, said in October it would sell production facilities for making key microchips used in the PS3 to Toshiba, but the price has been unavailable.
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Just a follow up quote from the same article, like I said, 6 month old news.
 
ryan_975 said:
We used to be able to record our PPV from our cable provider, but now they've switch to OnDemand and we can't record or even cancel a show. At least we don't have to wait on showing schedules anymore.
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Interesting.

They could Stream the Videos Over-Night to your set-top box, Beats Waiting on Netflix.. :)
 
Snowdog said:
I would get a Blu-ray drive and start collecting my Blu Rays today if both formats hadn't shot themselves in the foot with HDCP. Neither will play on my computer because neither my display or graphics card is HDCP compatible. This is completely pointless protection that does nothing to safeguard the disk and blocks legitimate customers.

Kill HDCP and I am in today. Otherwise I will wait until I get new screen/card or move to a bigger apartment get a bigger screen and finally get a stand alone player or PS3.
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I believe if you have the right software and a blu-ray disc drive they will play whether you have an HDCP video card/monitor or not. Someone who knows for sure correct me please if I'm wrong, but I believe it just maxes the resolution at 1080i or 720p, instead of letting you run the full 1920x1080p. You have to have a compatible software DVD player though. Again, I don't know if I'm 100% correct, but I believe I read/heard that somewhere. I should get one and try it on my home theater PC! It doesn't have HDCP anything, just Vista home premium.
 
If you're non-HDCP compliant, it will either not play, or it will down-res to 540p. There are ways around it with AnyDVD HD, but that doesn't work every time and you have to keep it up to date with the newest release. The safest bet is just to have HDCP compliance.
 
w1retap said:
If you're non-HDCP compliant, it will either not play, or it will down-res to 540p. There are ways around it with AnyDVD HD, but that doesn't work every time and you have to keep it up to date with the newest release. The safest bet is just to have HDCP compliance.
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Arent there several new Cards that are HDCP Compliant for not a lot of scratch?
 
ya, the card and display should be compliant and connected with a DVI or HDMI cable.
 
w1retap said:
ya, the card and display should be compliant and connected with a DVI or HDMI cable.
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Or you can use a HDCP cheater adapter if you dont want to replace your display or have a unique display that isn't HDCP compatible. :)
 
Yes there are hacks, but I am not going to bother until I have the equipment (both card and display) as you are never assured it will keep working as they update the system, lock out anydvd, sue them out of existence etc.

HDCP sucks big time for normal users. Pirates don't care, as they just break the disk protection/download a broken version from the net.

Like most copy protection this mainly peanalizes legit users and makes pirates laugh at the stupidity of media comanies. I just want to buy/watch BR on my computer now, but they won't let me. Idiots.
 
Snowdog said:
Yes there are hacks, but I am not going to bother until I have the equipment (both card and display) as you are never assured it will keep working as they update the system, lock out anydvd, sue them out of existence etc.

HDCP sucks big time for normal users. Pirates don't care, as they just break the disk protection/download a broken version from the net.

Like most copy protection this mainly peanalizes legit users and makes pirates laugh at the stupidity of media comanies. I just want to buy/watch BR on my computer now, but they won't let me. Idiots.
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The HDCP cheater is not a hack, it's a device that fools the computer into thinking it's the monitor and it's HDCP compliant. It's basically developed for Home theater guys who don't want to dump a $50,000 projector simply because it's not HDCP compliant... it's also for those who prefer the older style projectors such as the 3 gun projectors.


But yes, it cripples the consumer the most. I gave up trying to get my rig to play HD movies, I just bought a set-top box to play movies.. it was too frustrating trying to get it to work on the computer.
 
Yeah but I still need a new HDCP graphics card, which I don't plan to get until I get a new display.

Just in case I wasn't clear. The "idiots" comment was aimed at the implementers of HDCP.
 
Ockie said:
Or you can use a HDCP cheater adapter if you dont want to replace your display or have a unique display that isn't HDCP compatible. :)
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Oh yes, I forgot about those. I'd be interested to see how well they work, or if they even work with PowerDVD. Ultimately, I think it is the computer program that makes the decision whether or not it is a HDCP 'certified' connection. I know PowerDVD doesn't recognize some people's HDCP monitors even though they really are HDCP ready. Hopefully someone can comment that has used one of those cheater devices before. I thought they were pretty expensive, anywhere from $150 to $300.
 
I have a 22" widescreen monitor not HDCP compliant. It's ridiculous I have to have it compliant for some lunatic copyright protection. I'm all for the tricky adapter.
 
Just a heads up to all: Ebay is EXPLODING with HD-DVD postings all of a sudden. You can pickup an HD-A3 for around $50 or around $100 with a pile of movies.
 
4saken said:
HDM is already 4-5x in sales over Digital Distribution, this early on, and distancing itself more and more every week. Digital Dist is the one that has to catch up, and before it can do that the internet infrastructure has to make strides before it has a chance. Then there is the issue of digital distributions HD quality is nowhere near on par with HDM, which is honestly the most important part imo. Its a few years off still before digital dist makes a dent.
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Exactly!

Now that Blu-Ray has won, people will be buying more BR players and movies, not going "ok well I guess now that the format war is over I can start downloading my movies through digital distribution" :rolleyes:
 
Snowdog said:
HDCP sucks big time for normal users. Pirates don't care, as they just break the disk protection/download a broken version from the net.

Like most copy protection this mainly peanalizes legit users and makes pirates laugh at the stupidity of media comanies. I just want to buy/watch BR on my computer now, but they won't let me. Idiots.
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It's a total shame. They really are just penalizing the legal. The pirates don't give a crap. One or many of them will eventually get around all of it, circulating illegal copies wherever they want with a bowl full of glee. It prevents people like me who now have to drop $30 on a movie from making a legal (and rightful) backup copy of our expensive investment. It's such bullcrap, and we customers just roll over and take it where the sun don't shine. We're out there buying whatever they spoonfeed us just like perfect little sheep. As long as they hit their budgets and make their profits they don't seem to give a rat's nads.
 
Remember your basic economic classes where prices raise to meet demand? Now that HD-DVD is gone there is more demand for drives.

Remember as years go on tech prices fall?

Remember that Sony isn't the sole owner of Blu-Ray?
 
I am seriously contemplating picking up an A3. Especially, since Blu-ray is getting more expensive and i don't want a PS3 yet.
 
soulman901 said:
Hey kids, remember when I pointed out that Sony is going to take you to the cleaners on pricing?
http://arstechnica.com/journals/har...blu-ray-player-prices-rise-as-hd-dvd-dwindles
Always remember, Sony is out to take your money.
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Just like the HD-DVD fanboys cried and screamed that we'd all be paying full price MSRP on all Blu-Ray's from now until the end of time because there is no competition, but that sure turned out wrong too.

Hell, we're seeing just as good sales on Blu-Ray's right now then we did back when HD-DVD was in its prime.
 
Ah yes.. I just got the ad. There are a few decent movies, but nothing spectacular. I'll probably pick up two of them. It's on a select few $29.99 movies.
 
SirKronan said:
It's a total shame. They really are just penalizing the legal. The pirates don't give a crap. One or many of them will eventually get around all of it, circulating illegal copies wherever they want with a bowl full of glee. It prevents people like me who now have to drop $30 on a movie from making a legal (and rightful) backup copy of our expensive investment. It's such bullcrap, and we customers just roll over and take it where the sun don't shine. We're out there buying whatever they spoonfeed us just like perfect little sheep. As long as they hit their budgets and make their profits they don't seem to give a rat's nads.
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its enough to make one pirate... *lightbulb*
 
Sorta glad Toshiba lost the war, the prices on these players are just unbelievable. I used the 10% off coupon at BB so I got the HD-A30 for only $122! Too bad they don't come with the 5 extra HDs anymore though, that woulda sweetened up the deal, also woulda been nice if they still had the A35 in stock for $150 but both stores here were sold out. :(
 
The tide is shifting very fast. Check out the #1 movie selling at Amazon right now:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/dvd/ref=pd_dp_ts_d_1

Surprisingly, the best selling movie is actually a Blu Ray disk. 3 of the top 10 are Blu Ray, 7 are DVD. Impressive performance for a format no one wants because DVD is good enough.
 
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