http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/ Engadget HD Comments for HD DVD camp unable to confirm Wal-Mart HD DVD player http://www.engadgethd.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadgethd.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 11:10AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 11:18AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/
Why do people think that the HD DVD promotions group has any ability to comment on this? Wal-Mart placed the order and is selling the thing. Fuh Yuan is making them. Those two parties have the right to comment on the transaction (the last time I checked, these types of transactions were usually private). The only way the HD DVD promotions group could comment is if given permission by Wal-Mart or Fuh Yuan. Obviously this is ammo in Wal-Marts gun against other retailers, and they probably don't want to spill all the beans and allow them to develop a response. It's business 101 folks. At least we now see that Engadget has some bias in its reporting...]]>Apr 24th 2007 11:36AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 11:36AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 11:55AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 11:58AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 12:00PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/

Dude, this Ben character that writes news is so obviously biased it's not even funny. I don't understand how can Engadget even tolarate ridiculous news that this guy posts. Seriously.

I have been visiting Engadget for a little bit now and Ben you are SO obviously biased, your every conclusion and wording has Blu-Ray this and let's hold off on this from HD-DVD to see if it will pan out. Oh people from a forum organized to take over the lead on amazon, I mean come on. Do you see how wrong that is. If you are biased towards Blu-Ray it's not your place to comment on news, or at least Enagadget should fill the site with Blu-Ray Assoc. ads and officailly come out and say, we "heart" Blu-Ray. It's simple as that.

How is "HD DVD camp unable to confirm Wal-Mart HD DVD player " news at all? In the world of market transactions, tough competition you expect to have all the details about the product 6-8 months before it's released?

This is ridiculous, do you have any knowledge of how business works? Especially with HD-DVD and Blu-Ray war. If Walmart officially announced this they would kill off their existing HD-DVD and Blu-Ray sales or what's left of it because people would hold-off for the cheaper one. This is the same reason why Apple doesn't talk about their products until the day they announce them.

Please either try to be more objective and try to reason as well as support information before you blurp them out here. That's the least we should expect from an Engadget author.]]>Apr 24th 2007 12:12PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 12:33PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/
]]>Apr 24th 2007 12:17PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 12:19PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 12:28PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 12:51PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 1:07PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/
Neither format will win this war, they both will survive because hybrid players will be the norm once hardware that can handle both is available in quantities. The formats are more similar than different. Consumers eventually won't pay attention. Sort of like DVD-R vs DVD+R.]]>Apr 24th 2007 1:21PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 2:21PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Here's a link to the IC (chipset) that can decode all media formats and below that the story that Ricoh has made a combined reader. Right now the LG and Samsung Duo players require multiple laser diodes and a bunch of chips to be able to support both formats. Opens the door for PC/laptop hybrid drives too.

http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/482335/526

Ricoh Pioneers Combined Blu-Ray / HD-DVD Reader

July 14th, 2006

Ricoh has announced that it has developed a component that can read both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray discs.The new device uses a diffraction lens to adjust the position of the laser used to read the disc so that it is correct for each format. Ricoh hopes to increase the maximum power of the laser shortly so that it can be used to write as well as read.

“Ricoh is the first in the world to announce this hybrid technology,” said Ricoh spokesperson, Satoshi Aoki. “We believe it’s groundbreaking.”

However, some are pouring cold water on Ricoh’s invention. “The market potential for the product is not very large,” said Wolfgang Schlichting, an analyst with market researcher IDC. “The verdict is still out… both formats still have the chance of becoming dominant, and companies need to focus on products that are price-driven and sell today.”

Delivery is expected in 2007.
]]>Apr 24th 2007 3:21PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/
This was a press release by Fuh Yuan, which he fails to mention in his story. He acts as tho it is some unsubstantiated rumour, and also neglects to mention that every native Chinese speaker who has read the press release has agreed that it could ONLY be talking about HD DVD.

That he has the chutzpah to tell all of us that Walmart and the HD DVD group must confirm this press release before he will accept it is rather funny. Walmart are not going to broadcast their business strategy - YET Ben also forgets to mention that when Walmart were directly questioned on this HD DVD order two days ago, they (Walmart) did NOT deny the story - only saying that they are heading more into Gi Tech. That is as good as a confirmation, since they would have denied this story outright if it were not true, given such a direct question.

Engadget is one of the few entities who do not accept that this story is true - Bluray.com being the other one... :)]]>Apr 24th 2007 3:56PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.blurayfreak.com/2007/03/bluray_player_f.html]]>Apr 24th 2007 7:10PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.blurayfreak.com/2007/03/bluray_player_f.html]]>Apr 24th 2007 7:15PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 4:05PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 9:16PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 7:39PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://cdrinfo.com/Sections/News/Details.aspx?NewsId=20262. Pretty much sum's it all up. Does Hddvd even have 1m Diodes produced yet? Never mind 1m a month from here on in, till nov. At which time there will be 5m BRD only diodes made every month, and make sure you read it because it does clarify that they are BRD only diodes!! Sony is selling their cheaper model in wal-mart starting this summer. So even if there is a slim chance that these are in-fact HDdvd plays from Fuy Hun. Which is more likley to sell, a FUh yun HDdvd at $200; or a Sony BRD player for $299, which has all the good new releases. J6P isn't as broke as you want to believe guy's, and he loves NAMES. Remember Tons of HD programing started in sports. Who loves sports again??? ]]>Apr 24th 2007 9:28PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 24th 2007 10:36PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/I am surprised you haven't picked up this already, but ALL of Engadget's posts are filled with "us" and "we", it is part of who we are.

The news is in the headline, granted there isn't much of it. ]]>Apr 25th 2007 5:55AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/
Maybe this is the inevitable reaction to the fact that the Bluray fanboy counter to the recent HD-DVD sales advantage (both topics having been faithfully covered by Ben with his now predictable Bluray leanings) completely FAILED and the HD-DVD version of Planet Earth remains well above the Bluray version in sales even though it's clearly out of stock.
]]>Apr 24th 2007 11:41PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/
Yes, price alone can win the format war. Think about average Joe (non enthusiast) at Best Buy. He's looking for a HD player for his HDTV. He sees BR and HD DVD players and the HD DVD unit is $100-$200 less. He can't perceive any audible or visual quality difference. The movie selection is comparable. HD DVD also has the advantage of having a name that people understand. Joe may not know what BD is or means. Which player does Joe choose? I bet 8+ out of 10 Joe's choose HD DVD for name recognition and price reasons.]]>Apr 25th 2007 3:23AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 25th 2007 8:09AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/
Walmart and FUn Yah will not name format; HDDVD nor BRD acknowledge order


I mean, to be neutral, wouldn't you ask BOTH parties? I'll be the BRD camp wouldn't confirm that the order is BRD format either, BECAUSE NEITHER HDDVD NOR BRD KNOW.]]>Apr 25th 2007 9:37AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/
Oh dear, time to watch all the doom predictions for Blu-Ray suddenly change their tune, when it applies to their beloved Toshiba HD-DUD..]]>Apr 25th 2007 2:22PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/]]>Apr 25th 2007 4:10PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/20/business/dvd.php]In switch, Toshiba turns to China [/url]

By making its technology available to Chinese manufacturers, Toshiba hopes to get cheaper HD-DVD players in the stores months ahead of Sony, Panasonic, Samsung and other Blu-ray companies. This would help Toshiba outmaneuver Sony. [b]Toshiba, analysts say, also knows that DVDs became a mass market item in the United States after low-priced models arrived from China and filled big-box retailers like [color=red]Wal-Mart[/color].[/b] :o

[b]PRESS RELEASE[/b]

[url=http://hddvd.highdefdigest.com/pressrelease_hddvdpromogroup2007summer.html]Title line-up [b]and strategic hardware price reductions reinforce strength of [color=red]HD DVD [/color]format[/b].[/url]

"The spring is ramping up well for [b][color=red]HD DVD[/color][/b], with an incredible list of movies [b]and the best priced hardware on the market[/b]," said [b]Ken Graffeo, executive vice president, HD Strategic Marketing[/b], Universal Studios Home Entertainment. "Our consumer base continues to buy movies at rates that outpace DVD in its early years, which shows the willingness of consumers to make the transition to high definition."

"HD DVD continues to perform exceptionally well for [b]Warner Home Video[/b], and we see this continuing as more titles from the HD DVD studios roll out [b]and more hardware hits the market[/b]," said [b]Steve Nickerson, senior vice president of market management for Warner Home Video[/b]. "Fans of high definition have a lot more to choose from with the release of long-awaited blockbusters like The Complete Matrix Trilogy on HD DVD."

"[b]As hardware prices continue to fall, this is a great time to experience [color=red]HD DVD[/color][/b]," said [b]Chris Saito, vice president, marketing, Paramount Home Entertainment[/b]. "Our HD DVD line-up for Spring and Summer 2007 has something for every audience, with hits ranging from Dreamgirls to Flags of Our Fathers."

[url=http://www.broadcom.com/press/release.php?id=950062][b]Microsoft Technology[/b] Brings [b][color=red]HD DVD[/color][/b][u] to the Mainstream[/u][/url]

[u]Several of the more innovative consumer electronics companies plan to use this new hardware and software platform to speed the production of [color=red][b]HD DVD[/b][/color] players, including Lite-On IT Corp., one of the most experienced systems integrators backing high-volume consumer electronics manufacturers, and Zhenjiang Jiangkui Group Co. Ltd./ED Digital, one of the largest, high-volume manufacturers of DVD players in China[/u].

[url=http://www.microsoft.com/Presspass/press/2007/jan07/01-08BroadcomMSPR.mspx][b]Microsoft and Broadcom [/b][u]Deliver Combined Hardware and Software Platform for More Cost-Efficient[/u] [b][color=red]HD DVD [/color][/b]Players[/url]

[color=red][b]LAS VEGAS — Jan. 8, 2007[/b][/color]
“One of the critical steps in bringing [color=red][b]HD DVD[/b] [/color][b]to the mass market is driving down the price of the units while maintaining flawless quality[/b],” said [b]Peter Besen[/b], [b]vice president, Consumer Electronics, Broadband Communications Group[/b], from Broadcom. “[b]Our BCM7440 chipset brings multiple processors, dual decoders and dedicated graphics engines to the table. Combined with the power of Windows CE 6.0, we’re able to offer a complete reference design that dramatically reduces development time for our manufacturing partners[/b].”

“We’ve seen strong sales of [color=red]HD DVD[/color] players and movies so far, but using this new platform, companies can produce[color=red] HD DVD [/color][b]players in record time, resulting in more choices for consumers[/b],” said [b]Amir Majidimehr[/b], [b]corporate vice president of the Consumer Media Technology Group at Microsoft[/b]. “[b]The power and high integration of BCM7440, combined with the Windows CE 6.0 HD DVD platform, results in even lower cost players for consumers than the high value products already in the market[/b].”

[b][color=red]The first players incorporating the new platform are expected from manufacturers in the second quarter of this year[/color][/b]. :o
]]>Apr 25th 2007 3:16PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 25th 2007 6:41PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/20/business/dvd.php]]>Apr 25th 2007 6:49PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://kotaku.com/gaming/deal/get-a-360-hd+dvd-drive-for-72-255347.php But the absolutely most interesting fact is that this next chinese web site mentions, "...Blue DVD can read quite as much as 50G over 12 movie discs..." and that, "Blue DVD traverse the most crucial invention by the Chinese, not only catching, anti-fouling, the cost of production is also low, even the traditional and DVD compatible, even listed first international sensation, the machine the famous American manufacturers ordering of two million units..." Seeing as we know that Walmart ordered 2 million players, and that the only player that currently is specced to handle 50Gb discs is Blu-ray, This all adds more credablility that the machines are in fact Blu-ray, not HD-DVD. http://google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Ftw.news.yahoo.com%2Farticle%2Furl%2Fd%2Fa%2F070420%2F8%2Fd6ex.html&langpair=zh%7Cen&hl=en&ie=UTF8]]>Apr 26th 2007 8:42AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 26th 2007 9:19AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/
"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."

N some inside info from the AVSforum ;-)

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

It's HD DVD players, not Blu-ray ;-)

]]>Apr 26th 2007 1:46PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 26th 2007 9:44PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.fuhyuan.com/ev/action/main.asp?news_id1=34123&Action=Show]]>Apr 26th 2007 1:49PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/Apr 26th 2007 10:41PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/
The Fuh Yuan base deal is done. They will be producing HD DVD players for Wal-Mart.

No one says the deal hasn't been done yet or that the initial order will not be completed. The posting on their web site is a bit confusing, and may be an attempt to stop people form contacting them directly.

I don't know about the significance of the recent post on their site, but it does not affect the base deal. That is in progress and sub-contracts have been made and finalized.

They are looking for the best price and availability they can give to Wal-mart for deliveries above the base amount.

Initial confirmed order quantities are over 1 Million units, its probable the 2 Million units initially mentioned in the first Fuh Yuan press release is the base number. Fuh Yuan has been asked to give quotes and estimates on how quickly numbers above the base quantity can be delivered next year.

Early estimates of full scale mass production in August were evaluated and found to be somewhat aggressive and possibly over optimistic. Physical assembly or staffing or the physical facility is not the issue, a short delay is SoC software related. Plant will be producing at that time but full scale production may slip until October, with initial batch quantities of 5-10 thousand units required to be available in the first week or so of October.

Recent meetings between Fuh Yuan and Broadcom engineers revised the schedule and engineering considerations have lead to the late August to early October production schedule slippage.

Fuh Yuan is making the chassis and loader and doing assembly.

Decoder chip and other silicon being supplied by Broadcom, probably the reference design announced at CES, or a derivative.

The optical unit is based on a Toshiba HD DVD unit design and is being manufactured by the TDK hardware unit under contract.

Wal-Mart has certified the China Great Wall manufacturing facility for Wal-Mart (probably for compliance with stuff like personnel management and environmental considerations) .

Probable limited production runs available in mid-late Oct in some selected Wal-Mart stores. Wal-Mart under control obviously of when they first start to sell the players, but some limited production available to them in October.

I have conflicting information on when the initial 2 million orders is scheduled to be delivered by. One source says all by end of 2007. Several others say, some in October, a lot (around 1 million or so ) by EOY 2007, with the rest in early 2008. The quantity produced by the end of the year may be dependent on the production throughput of the plant which is not known yet.

Its possible that under 50% of the initial 2 M units may be available by the end of the year. Big volume is expected in 2008 and as of now more than 50% of the 2M order is expected after the EOY.

Last Friday Fuh Yuan had a major meeting with Broadcom, perhaps feedback from Broadcom was the reason for the August to October full scale production delay. Broadcom may have to spin the chip or may have a delay in the completion of the embedded software or perhaps Broadcom wanted a bit of room in the overall software schedule.



Several other SoC player deals for HD DVD are now in the works. This isn't the only deal being worked on, though it is one of the largest and obviously significant because it involves Wal-Mart.

All major SoC guys like Broadcom and Sigma are working now on HD DVD solutions. Sigma's Blu-ray SoC solution is available but any units using it will not be in production before this Fuh Yuan device hits the shelves.

My sources for this include several prominent hardware guys in the industry that have been known as being creditable before and are both involved and non-involved in some aspect of the deal. The mods here know some names, but I cannot reveal the sources. ]]>Apr 27th 2007 12:48AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/24/hd-dvd-camp-unable-to-confirm-wal-mart-hd-dvd-player/
" The mods here know some names, but I cannot reveal the sources"

not mods at Engadget but mods at AVS-Forum. Just to make that clear. Engadget is pretty much all Blu-Ray oriented and just loves posting news like this to introduce even more FUD.]]>Apr 27th 2007 12:53AM