Oh, how the times have changed. Merely months ago we caught Frank Simonis, chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Association, firing off
all sorts of
vitriol at the red camp, and now that the wheels are
falling off of the HD DVD wagon, we're seeing quite the change of heart. According to a recent interview with
Tech Radar, Mr. Simonis was quoted as saying that Toshiba and Microsoft, along with any other company, is "more than welcome to join the BDA." He continued by stating that if "Toshiba decides to drop HD DVD, it would extend the hand of friendship to them." Yeah, it's kind of cute to see such lovey-dovey phrases being thrown around, but we've all ideas none of these heartfelt feelings are easing the sting felt by Toshiba right about now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
DeadPlasmaCell @ Feb 18th 2008 4:13PM
I'm not sure either care too much.. MS seems to be focusing on Digital downloads. I think they'll let Blu-ray battle it out with Standard DVD now. So I wonder if we'll see weekly DVD vs Blu-Ray pie charts now that HD-DVD is pretty much out of the game?
Yubastard @ Feb 18th 2008 4:17PM
but of course! ;)
cheese head @ Feb 18th 2008 4:48PM
I'm pretty sure MS and Toshiba both care about BD with HD DVD dead.
Toshiba: Electronics company with a nice line of HDTV's that has sold VHS, and DVD players and has a lot of expericen with the blue laser shared by both formats.
MS: What is the disk format going to be for the XBOX 3 games? It isn't going to be DVD or digital downloads and a proprietary MS format would be idiotic.
qo_op @ Feb 18th 2008 6:48PM
Next person that mentions Digital Downloads should be banned then shot.
DeadPlasmaCell @ Feb 18th 2008 8:49PM
@ qo_op
lol, I swear the Blu-Ray fanboys are a bunch of 12 year olds.. DD is going to happen, just accept it. Sure it probably wont happen anytime soon, but it's already starting.
/Purple
Jove @ Feb 19th 2008 1:07AM
yeah, just like cars. the city of the future will be self-contained and vertical, plus goverments are moving towards pushing mass transit to stop peoples reliance and love for cars. it will happen, youl see. thats why toyota and gm should just exit the business right now and join alstom and bombardier in working with subways and such because that IS the future and the car will inminently... die. that would be smart wouldnt it?
DeadPlasmaCell @ Feb 19th 2008 1:23AM
@ jove
Yes, silly me for not noticing the similarities there... It's the next logical step in distribution, when it will happen, who knows.
Craig @ Feb 18th 2008 4:34PM
You cant really compare DVD vs Blu-Ray at least until HD-DVD is completely off store shelves, and even then high def movies are a niche market that is still growing.
The "average consumer" doesnt even have an HDTV yet and in alot of cases doesnt understand what a high def movie actually is.
MI @ Feb 18th 2008 5:04PM
60% surveyed apparently said they were waiting for the war to end to get a Blu-Ray player. I think the niche will quickly grow to a notch and beyond, once the word is out and 'Uni-Mount" start releasing BD movies.
h0mi @ Feb 18th 2008 4:34PM
Curious? These are corporations not people. No hard feelings, it's just business. Holding grudges are not good for business.
MI @ Feb 18th 2008 5:05PM
Or forums. Glad to see this all wrapping up.
taylor9502002 @ Feb 18th 2008 4:44PM
Group Hug?
Big Wizz @ Feb 18th 2008 5:13PM
so long as its strictly a platonic group hug.
Giggity
DEEZNUTZ @ Feb 18th 2008 4:56PM
If it means profits, then they will sleep together. I wouldn't be surprised to see a BD add-on for the 360 by Christmas or earlier. Would be a cheap way for 360 owners to get some BD lovin' instead of springing for a $400 PS3 which they never had any intention to buy.
Toshiba will definitely have a BD player by the holiday's. And life goes on.
daschupa @ Feb 18th 2008 5:04PM
"but we've all ideas none of these heartfelt feelings are easing the sting felt by Toshiba right about now." That sentence made my head explode, thanks.
Killer @ Feb 18th 2008 5:27PM
Yea sure...I can see this playing out.
BDA: "Oh hey, Toshiba and Microsoft. Look, we want to tell you how sorry we are for your loss. You guys fought hard, and we promises you we have no hard feeling over this whole format war."
Toshiba and Microsoft: "Geeez, Thanks guys!"
BDA: "Now if you would, gladly take your seats way far back there near the Janitor's closet. Right next to Samsung."
*Toshiba and Microsoft sit down*
BDA: "Alright everyone, now that we have this format war over with, any suggestion what to do next?"
*Microsoft and Toshiba raise their hands*
BDA: "Anyone?"
*Samsung raises hand*
BDA: "Yes?"
Microsoft and Toshiba: "Hey, why didn't you call on us?"
BDA: "Because, we don't care what you think. Now go make us mone...I mean Blu-ray players..."
Killer @ Feb 18th 2008 5:42PM
@cheese head
"MS: What is the disk format going to be for the XBOX 3 games? It isn't going to be DVD or digital downloads and a proprietary MS format would be idiotic."
Wait? A proprietary MS format would be idiotic? So what does that make Sony? They make propriety formats for everything they make. (PSP, Cameras, Video Cameras, etc.) So if Microsoft makes it then it's idiotic? Besides, a proprietary Nintendo format hasn't hurt the Wii at all. Game consoles don't have to work with the main stream formats, you know. Microsoft could just as well put a HVD drive in the next Xbox. It's for the games. I don't understand this whole "proprietary gloom" idea. The PS3 wasn't going to fail if Blu-ray didn't become the standard. It had another use, Games! The only idiotic use of a propriety format would be if it was in a standalone player that can only do one function meaning it was doomed from the start, but no one makes that mistake? well wait, VMD perhaps?
Vidikron (FU) @ Feb 19th 2008 12:46AM
The Wii doesn't use a proprietary format. The Wii uses DVDs, it just can't play DVD movies.
RC @ Feb 18th 2008 6:09PM
Barring the fact that HD DVD takes itself off life support and makes a gigantic comeback, I would think that Microsoft would take up the offer. Toshiba could pull a Mitt Romney and support it too, but I think Microsoft is more likely to join the BDA.
Of course, if the EU comes in and starts an antitrust investigation, Microsoft wouldn't touch Blu-Ray with a 10 mile pole.
tifosiotaku @ Feb 18th 2008 6:17PM
I doubt antitrust legislation will happen, but that's just me.
tifosiotaku @ Feb 18th 2008 6:20PM
Oh, and "OWWWWWWW! BURN!" ^_^
Mehar @ Feb 18th 2008 6:23PM
It dosen't mean they will accept it, what if Microsoft belives so strongly in Digital Distribution that they create their own assosicate called the "KAA" (Kick Ass Assoication), jk but DD may see a group in the near future aswell, so many companies are vying to get in.
Toshiba will accept it in a heart beat once they make it public that HD DVD is no more.
RC @ Feb 18th 2008 7:42PM
Microsoft would accept it for the sole reason of the Xbox 360 vs the PS3. 360 owners who want a low priced BD player could go for the PS3, or Microsoft could release a Blu-Ray addon drive like the HD DVD one.
Truth Teller @ Feb 18th 2008 7:33PM
Of course the BDA are trying to be nice & conciliatory now.
They want DVD Forum approval for the Blu-ray versions of Twin disc &
combos discs
(there is no technical reason they cannot do what HD DVD were going
to do).
They know that only with a Blu-ray version of Twin disc or combo
discs do they stand even a remote hope in hell of ever replacing SD
DVD.
Personally I hope the DVD Forum tell them to f*ck themselves after
the way the BDA have behaved in this 'war'.
......but then again, the thought of Toshiba undercutting the lot of them and forcing them all to look at much slower and reduced returns by putting out excellent quality profile 2.0 combo players @ sub $200 and Microsoft putting out an XBox 360 Blu-ray add-on @ $100 and seeing them thoroughly shaft the rest of the BDA does have a certain appeal to 'natural justice'.
With a little luck they'd accidentally leak the bits the sharing community needs to render Blu-ray's region coding & BD+ completely worthless too while they're at it.
;) :P
nin @ Feb 18th 2008 7:51PM
What a great idea cause those combo discs were working great for
HD-DVD... oh wait no one cared.
Someone is bitter they backed the wrong format.
tifosiotaku @ Feb 18th 2008 8:49PM
Dude, just suck it up and get a combo player, so you can watch your HD-DVD's and build up a Blu-Ray collection. Or are the bitter tears too much to handle?
ProfWho @ Feb 19th 2008 12:49AM
How did the BDA "f***" Toshiba? Last I check both side engaged in the same tactics and behaved as children.
MI @ Feb 19th 2008 2:10AM
Yea, BDA was really mean in this whole thing. They conned thousands of people into buying into a dying format when they knew full well where things were going. Oh wait, that was Toshiba. Then they were going to extend the format war through the spring so they could unload the rest of their players to a few more suckers even when they knew it was done. Oh yea, that was Toshiba too. Fortunately for the slow of mind, when they announced their intentions to Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart decided to wreck their party and save their customers from any more bad purchases. That is why they made their announcement when they did. And lets be real, when Wal-Mart comes out as the good guy, you know the bad guy is pretty bad.
If you feel stupid for buying into HDVD and even stupider for EVERY prediction you've made to date, that's your problem. Don't sit here and piss and moan about it now that EVERYONE knows what's going on.
Last point, you really don't need to make predictions on what BD is going to do or if it will get market share from DVD. You haven't been right yet, and now isn't when it's all going to start going your way. Even NFinity has lightened up and gotten a sense of humor about it all. Let's stop the blathering on and get on with the HD fun for a change.
Mehar @ Feb 18th 2008 7:58PM
You can't possibly think the Blu Ray addon if released will be the same price as the HD DVD add on is or was.
misterhearn @ Feb 19th 2008 12:12AM
To those who think a proprietary format would be dumb of M$ for next gen Xbox, you're kidding right? UMD anyone?
A proprietary format can make it more difficult to pirate software titles as well. If a blu ray 360 add on comes out I'm up to buy it.