When Peter More, Microsoft's Corporate Vice President of Interactive Entertainment Business commented about Microsoft possibly taking on Blu-ray support in its Xbox 360 if HD DVD lost the battle, it looked like Microsoft was finally going to follow the flow. Unfortunately, this will not be the case as Microsoft has now issued an official statement to make it clear that they are 100% behind Toshiba's HD DVD format.
According to the statement, Microsoft believes the HD DVD format is the best choice for its consumer and thus is the reason behind planning to launch an external HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 later this year. It also mentions that Microsoft has absolutely no plans to take on support for any other optical format on its Xbox 360, however they do mention that the console is a future proof system in that they can adopt its functionality to suit its customer's needs. For example, while Microsoft makes it clear that they will not offer Blu-ray support, it may still be possible to add such support if they decided to change their mind later on.
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"Microsoft firmly stands behind the HD-DVD format as the best choice for our consumers. As we've said before, we're confident that HD-DVD will bring the excitement of high definition movies to the consumer faster and at a greater value. We believe that consumers have signaled what format they want to enjoy high definition DVD and we're going to follow them down that path. The question of whether Xbox 360 has the flexibility to adapt to consumers' needs is a different issue entirely. Xbox 360 is a future-proofed system -- one that allows us to add features as consumers demand them -- as evidenced by our offering of the HD DVD drive as an accessory," reads the official line. The statement concludes, "Current reports indicating that we have a back-up plan, which includes Blu-Ray support are incorrect. At this point, we're fully committed to HD-DVD and have absolutely no plans to support other optical formats." |
It looks like Microsoft is confident that it can help make HD DVD lead the market as well as take a risky move by confirming their refusal to take on Blu-ray. When Apple's iTunes and iPod products first lead the market, Microsoft was very confident that even that time, that they could lead this market when they introduced their WMA Janus DRM technology. To them, it looked like a major advance in digital music download technology as consumers could now fill their (Janus compatible) players with an unlimited songs for a flat monthly fee instead of paying out dearly on individual songs. Unfortunately, as Apple's iTunes still accounts for 83% of the US music download service market at this time, over a year after its launch, it looks like Microsoft had little success with this, at least so far.
Feel free to discuss about the Xbox 360 on our Console Forum.
Source: GameDaily BIZ
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*snickers*
http://www.betanews.com/article/HD_DVD_Bluray_Has_Problems/1136673259
http://www.macworld.com/news/2005/05/10/hddvd/index.php
[edited by masterbw on 17.01.2006 03:17]
Yes, there has been a TRI-LAYER HD-DVD disc announced that will have the capacity of 45GB.
HD DVD single layer media has the capacity of 15GB per layer.
Guess what?
Blu-ray Disc has the capacity of 25GB per layer.
TDK has already announced the development of a QUAD-LAYER Blu-ray disc, meaning 100GB capacity on one disc.
"less problems? I'm not so sure about that one, regardless of what the HD DVD guys have to say. I have yet to see a prototype HD DVD burner, but I have seen numerous Blu-ray burners and the Pioneer BDR-101A should be available for purchase within months.
[edited by Wesociety on 17.01.2006 04:28]
Average Joe's thoughts: "OK, the console is futureproof, I'm safe in buying it".
Toshiba/HD-DVD marketing thoughts: "thanks Microsoft, for clarifying ur behind our great format and there will be no other".
Microsoft:
"please buy our console, it's futureproof and stuff, doncha know?"
All parties involved:
smiles all 'round. Dreams of dollar signs.
Average Joe (again):
"optical disc war...what optical disc war? I've got a futureproof console!"
Let the PR war be played...
HD-DVD PROs: it's not SONY, it's quite big, it's cheaper both player and discs, it's more reliable, has less contraints.
HD-DVD CONs: Less space on a single layer?
But who cares so much about space if it's going to cost much more and is lesser reliable?
Think about the DVD+-R DL. They still cost a lot and the majority of people out there still buys only DVD-+R SL...
Besides, if you want hundreds of gigs on a single disc and you don't care so much about the costs go Holographic...
[edited by ominus on 17.01.2006 14:44]
But will this quad layer disc every emerge? Quad layer DVD was designed and marketed years ago but was never adopted. There isn't really any need for such large capacity discs for high def distribution unless you stick to MPEG2. And as everyone is going down the MPEG4 route that isn't going to happen. Sony are only sticking to MPEG2 for the first generation of discs...
Furthermore introduction of such discs will be largely incompatible with existing players/discs. "But a firmware update will be issued" I hear you cry - well, maybe, but tell that to the millions of people who brought 1st generation DVD-RW drives only to find 2x media was incompatible. Likewise when 4x DVD-RW arrived...and likewise when 6x DVD-RW arrives...
>>>> "less problems? <<<<
This is quite likely to be correct. HD DVD uses a traditional 0.6mm production process. BluRay uses an all new 0.2mm one. By definition BluRay discs are more prone to problems. But hey, don't let figures get in the way of your fandom
HD-DVD is much cheaper to produce when it comes to the disks and the optics. It doesn't mean that the cost will come down for blue-ray, but the initial cost will be steep.
[edited by lilchina1 on 17.01.2006 18:17]
No it's not just Sony it's just everyone hating Sony. Sony is just backing the technology they didn't make blu ray.
it's quite big,
Um Blu Ray is bigger
it's cheaper both player and discs,
True but price will go down in due time
it's more reliable,
Considering none of us have laid our hands on any hd-dvd disc's this is just a guess since blu ray has a thinner layer but there has been announcements that they created a good protection for there discs
has less contraints
Only true on the movie playback front not on burnable media. Also these extra encryption features are only optional and not forced. Last most studios like with dvd will probably create even better technology just to be on the safe side of security.
Just read some articles around cdfreaks and compare the prices...
In term of prices you can think this way:
DVD+-R DL : BD-R = DVD-R : HD-DVD
Just a simple equation... The time will let us know if I'm right or wrong...
DVD+-R DL : BD-R = DVD-R : HD-DVD
Just a simple equation... The time will let us know if I'm right or wrong...
<<<<<
I have no doubt that you are going to be correct. DVD-/+R DL are made by specially adapted plants which - despite everyone saying that soon everyone would be making them - failed to happen. Result: Verbatim and a handful of otherf companies make them are charge a fortune. Same with BluRay. HD DVD, which can be pressed on existing DVD plants, will be and remain the cheap option.
oh-so-short memories.
remember beta vs. vhs?
another overpriced proprietary sony "innovation" that the industry didn't buy into.
blu-ray will be no different.
finally, this is all hoopla anyway - NEITHER format will gain ascendancy. while they're busy proclaiming "*I* am the victor!" and stirring fanboiz to a foment, time and their window of oppostunity is passing fast. other technologies are and will continue to arise and will inevitably upstage them before they can even get going.
to cut a long story short:
*yawn*
remember betmax was and still is the best, ask tv companys that still use a version of it.
Microsoft 100% monopoly company
as to MS being a monopoly:
you say that as if it's a bad thing. deal with it. the computer you're typing on now wouldn't exist if it weren't for MS. they BUILT the personal computing industry, pie-in-the-sky wannabes from Apple to the contrary. so look down at your keyboard, and bow to MS. :D
MS has their own reasons for dissing sony junk (not the least of which is because it's from sony). however, in this case i'll stand up and cheer when a proprietary expensive wannabe standard by a greedy entertainment company trying to MONOPOLIZE and lock down user capabilities bites the big one from the world's leading PC software vendor.
your mileage (and intelligence) may vary.
With or without them we'd have personal computers. Don't mistake the leader for the innovator.
