Warner to unveil Total HD hybrid Blu-ray HD DVD discs at CES
People love to continue to characterize Blu-ray and HD DVD as VHS vs. BetaMax -- but it's vaguely reassuringly quite different. This time around we aren't contending with physical cartridge incompatibilities and differing analog tape types, thankfully now it's blu-laser based optical discs which do operate differently, but are at least different in the same physical form factor. Enter Warner's finally-commercialized Total HD discs, the hybrid double-sided Blu-ray HD DVD discs we originally heard about being patented are now being commercialized and introduced at CES next week. Of course, so long as some studios don't release in both formats on the same disc (say, for example, Sony Pictures Entertainment), this disc actually hinders the unwitting user who buys content that isn't double-sided, thinking that Blu-ray and HD DVD formats are no longer relevant in day to day buying decisions. We know this is indeed a great stopgap for all those crossover movies released in multiple formats, but we really think it's the hybrid players, not discs, that are going to save the day during this format war.[Thanks, Ezra]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Eric D-J @ Jan 4th 2007 11:34AM
A disc that would be able to hold dual formats would be a pain in the butt at the moment until the machines can tell the difference. If you want to see an example of the bad this can cause, take a HD-DVD and put it into a Pioneer Blu Ray player. It will do bad things to this machine. Of course the Pio is a super picky unit anyway. Bring along a paperclip for your test, because it won't want to give the HD-DVD disc back and you will need to manually eject it.
Nick @ Jan 4th 2007 12:15PM
I don't see this as a good thing in anyway. Now we will have Three Different Discs. Consumers are already puzzled over Blu-Ray and HDDVD. Throw Total HD into the mix and they have no idea whats going on.
Tryf @ Jan 4th 2007 12:16PM
Only a single layer of each format, and a license fee to each camp...
Rob @ Jan 4th 2007 12:59PM
Actually, why would this mean there have to be three high-def DVD formats? Warners could make one disc, which could be sold in both the HD-DVD section as well as the Blu-ray section.
SimbaDogg @ Jan 5th 2007 2:02AM
Eric D-J...is this something you have personally done yourself?
Cristhian @ Jan 5th 2007 2:59PM
Finally, it seems that Warner will be the deciding factor here, a player that can play both formats would be really good, but I wonder if both HD-DVD and Bluray would encode their discs to only play in their respective players? As for me I'm on the HD-DVD bandwagon, its more practical, and with my Xbox 360 it can do 1080p.
Tauron @ Jan 5th 2007 5:44PM
Forget about this! As far as consumers are concerned, the war is over. HD DVD wins!I've read the polls and surveys and HD DVD IS the prefered format. Check these stats out: 91% of HD DVD buyers are happy with their purchase. As opposed to 75% of Blu-ray owners who actually RETURNED their players! 86% of first time buyers will buy HD DVD players. Almost 70% of poll respondents feel HD DVD will win the format "war". HD DVD hardware and software is out-selling Blu-ray, period.
addex @ Jan 7th 2007 1:11PM
Just pick one! I am for Blu-ray but if we could have and end of the war today and HDDVD was tha answer then fine by me, I just want HD!
DylanBlue @ Jan 9th 2007 2:19AM
This is too much to take. I know! How about we just continue to buy and view SD DVDs in SD (standard definition) format, which is practically JUST AS GOOD to save ourselves the unneeded stress and money and give a big F.U. to these stubborn, greedy corporations???
digitalbt @ Jan 9th 2007 11:45PM
I'm on the HD-DVD bandwagon with my recently purchased Toshiba HD-A1 player, but I think this hybrid disc is really not in the best interest of the consumer, but in the best interest of the studios, who won't have to produce 3 packages for the same movie (DVD, HD-DVD, Blu-Ray). In fact, lets do this hollywood: only sell one package, a hybrid disc that contains all 3 formats and costs the SAME PRICE as the regular DVD. And lets get both formats down to about $200 per player.