http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/ Engadget HD Comments for TotalHD gets the axe 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/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/Nov 15th 2007 4:10PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/
The only real negative that I could see to this is a higher price than either format by thenselves. But considering that it would have been 1/2 the packaging and 1/2 the shelf space when compared to separate releases, I would think that stores would have much preferred this version to go through.

You sound completely like some kind of fanboy who's more concerned that this dual-format disc might have led to his precious format becoming the loser faster than it could happen now, although admittedly I don't see a winner coming of this any time soon. Personally, I wish you fanboys (on both sides) would just shut the hell up.]]>Nov 15th 2007 4:55PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/]]>Nov 15th 2007 4:21PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/Nov 15th 2007 4:32PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/Nov 15th 2007 4:32PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/Nov 15th 2007 4:34PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/
And don't start calling people, including myself, fanboys just because they voice an opinion. I own both formats, I don't care WHO wins, but I want a clear winner sometime sooner rather than later so I can focus my attention on buying ONE format instead of 2, which THD was going to fuel.]]>Nov 15th 2007 5:00PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/
Warner has seen some future shift in the market, and I would say they're ready to make a big move where playing to both sides would not suit them.

Let's revisit this in February, I'll tell you what they were thinking. ]]>Nov 15th 2007 5:00PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/Nov 15th 2007 5:12PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/
The US retailing giants already called this war for HD DVD.

Warner are a just over a month off of going HD DVD exclusive.

Surely all those who wanted a clean cut end to this will now be happy?

Make the most of the remaining couple of weeks Blu-fans cos just like what happened when Paramount dumped Blu-ray the Warner movies will be drying up rapidly leaving far less movie content available to Blu-ray.

The word is that the deal was done long ago (and Paramount already told us all why - Blu-ray incurs much higher production costs).]]>Nov 15th 2007 5:33PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/Nov 15th 2007 6:00PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/Nov 15th 2007 6:43PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/
Of course PS3 gave Blu-ray a boost - how could it not? The PS3 was guaranteed to sell in millions, even if it is a bit of a flop in it's own market.
The problem Blu-ray has is that that 'strategy' is (for BD) cruelly double-edged.
Blu-ray = PS3.
But PS3 = pathetic movie disc attachment rates as well as pathetic sales for the rest of that supposedly great CE support.

All that had to happen was for HD DVD to be around long enough to sell enough (which it has done, very well) then HD DVD's superior attachment rates will take over & leave Blu-ray permanently trailing.
It's only a matter of time now.

The adult audio/visual market is far larger and much more significant than a mere kids game console could ever be.

Blu-ray needed to knock HD DVD out of the game quickly (which is what all that repeated - but empty - talking up BD & the repeated claims that 'we won' throughout 2007 were all about).
They failed.

HD DVD's complete specs, greater available, exclusive & potential content and much cheaper pricing (and lower manufacturing costs) will see the underdog win this one, make no mistake about it.

The killer blow is the US retailing industry, they will have their way and they called for HD DVD.
We just saw $200 prices smashed down to $98 for season specials. That will be followed up by genuinely sub $100 HD DVD players as the Chinese brands come on-line (CH-DVD is identical to HD DVD except for a firmware and a case badge).
As they ramp up multi-million production so HD DVD will see even cheaper units come along.
Blu-ray simply cannot compete with that.

Warner going HD DVD exclusive in Jan 2008 will finally kill Blu-ray off to be the PS3 proprietary format it was always destined to be.]]>Nov 15th 2007 8:59PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/Nov 15th 2007 7:38PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/]]>Nov 15th 2007 7:51PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/Nov 15th 2007 8:10PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/
If they think it won't make them any money, then they are convinced that either:

1) Neither HD format will succeed
2) One HD formate will be entirely gone very soon
3) Most people who have one format also have the other

Which do you think it is?]]>Nov 16th 2007 12:52AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/Nov 16th 2007 2:04AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/
Some extra disc space and a bit better bit rate and done ZERO for Blu-Ray. More content on HD DVD Disc's. Relying on the PS3 to win the war was a pretty bad mistake. If HD DVD died, Blu-Ray prices for players would continue to be high for who knows how long.

It's going to be a quite a while before you see a $199 Stand alone Blu-Ray player, and when you do it'll just will be the profile 1.0 players they're dumping into the marketplace that only suckers would buy.

I wish BLu-Ray had their act together right from the start. Not releasing this unfinished garbage. Starting right off the Bat with 2.0 players! With all the 1.0 players out there. Why spend the time and money with extra 1.1 or 2.0 features and extra content if you can't use it on a 1.0 player? If anything it'll just confuse people, and get lots of complaints. Blu-Ray is a joke.

If Blu-Ray does as a Movie format, the PS3 will continue to use it. Sony can't just swap over to HD DVD. Possibly allowing games to be released on DVD is a option. I still have ZERO interest is buying a PS3. Maybe in another year that will change. I won't buy one until there's some AAA exclusive games I want to play on that system.
]]>Nov 15th 2007 11:50PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/
Not sure consumers will believe that one...

As for the adult industry, from what i've read, they're not all that keen on EITHER format. The "stars" are finding that its exposing surgical scars and amplifying cellulite. Kinda destroys the fantasy, unless you're into that kinda thing. Theres reports that these girls are getting MORE surgery specifically with HD in mind!]]>Nov 16th 2007 4:21AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/
There is no evidence what-so-ever that Warner is going HD-DVD exclusive so trolling that they are isn't going to make it true just cos you read it on some miscellaneous blog! Yes, Yes, a Warner executive was quoted as saying they were looking at changing their focus but then again he was also quoted as saying they were committed to the BluRay format....But of course that was immediately denounced by HD-DVD fans because said comments were at a BluRay conference so he was obviously under duress of some sort and so was every jounalist present!

So the average attachment rate of BluRay players is lower than HD-DVD? O-K, well the committee for the blatanty obvious has stated that a good proportion of PS3 owners don't play movies. So if you look at your much lamented attachment rates in comparison with disc sales then what does that tell you about the hardware ratio of the two formats?
]]>Nov 16th 2007 6:06AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/
Firstly that the market is currently minute, everywhere.

Secondly (because Walmart & Amazon aren't counted in the Videoscan numbers - and yet they are only the 2 largest retail outlets on the planet) we know the videoscan numbers are very unreliable (which is how come DVD Empire's numbers has seen HD DVD lead at several points this year).

Thirdly that with this market so obviously in it's infancy the numbers themselves mean little at this stage and those making sweeping claims based on ratios and percentage leads are deliberately avoiding admitting the actual numbers sold as hard as they can.

Lastly using them to indicate trend alone they show us that, despite a year filled with supposedly 'blockbuster' Blu-ray releases, Blu-ray has only maintained a 60:40 lead despite having over 10 times the number of Blu-ray capable players (counting PS3s as players). ]]>Nov 16th 2007 8:47AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/11/15/totalhd-gets-the-axe/
Only videophiles care about this war. To everyone else, it's a disc that costs too much money for the improved picture.]]>Nov 16th 2007 12:34PM