Toshiba remains stubborn, looks to DVD upscaling while brushing Blu-ray off
Read - Toshiba's London press event
Read - Toshiba Europe CEO comments
Read - Toshiba's London press event
Read - Toshiba Europe CEO comments
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
newguy @ Jun 17th 2008 3:41PM
This site has always and continues to have hard on for Sony and bias towards Toshiba. Nothing new Engadget, keep ‘em coming.
JDS @ Jun 17th 2008 3:43PM
Here are some comments from a reporter that was at the demo:
http://techdigest.tv/2008/06/toshiba_controv.html
SRT demoed, kindest remark: "fanciable nonsense"
Early June a rumour emerged that Toshiba would be launching a new attack on Sony, via the magic of new 'upscaling' technology. Of course, this is nothing new, with Toshiba themselves working on similar products for "some considerable years, at least 3-5 years", with DVD players, TVs and now laptops containing the upscaling chips, plus with their 'Super-resolution' imagery where SD-content is upscaled via an interpolation algorithm to 1080p.
However, today at a London event, Toshiba formally announced upscaling would be their next plan of attack on Sony, claiming they would be focussing on "taking standard content, and displaying in HD format". This technology, upscaling standard definition content, such as a DVD, to a higher resolution, has long been controversial for not even comparing to the real high-def experience that comes via Blu-ray, or HD DVD.
Toshiba explained to the assembled press at today's event that their technology would "add resolution", and "fill in the gaps", providing stronger colours and clarity where it was missing. They showed two TVs both displaying the same content, one at standard definition, and one using their upscaling device, and whilst the latter did look more impressive, it would pale in comparison if shown next to a true HD source. Which Toshiba obviously didn't do, as they're no longer endorsing HD DVD and will never support Blu-ray.
After receiving some far from publishable questions and insults from the assembled journalists ("fanciable nonsense" was one of the kinder remarks from a journalist during the Q&A session), the representatives, including Emily Shirley, Head of Product Marketing at Toshiba Europe were obviously getting irate. "Blu-ray is only a storage medium", they retorted, explaining it was not the only way to view high-def content on your TV.
Digital downloads are proving to be a lucrative business for all concerned, particularly Microsoft, and it was obvious from today's meeting that Toshiba will be supporting that side of the new format war for the foreseeable future. "The fact that Bill Gates and everyone in the industry is talking about downloads is illustrious", one of the panel members responded with, when asked about the worth of downloads in comparison to Blu-ray, however they hastened to add "we're not necessarily saying anything negative about Blu-ray".
It's unclear as to what products Toshiba will be launching in the next few months with the upscaling chip, however the Qosmio laptops announced today all feature the technology. All eyes will be on the IFA technology show on August 20th in Berlin, where Toshiba is expected to introduce their new Blu-ray 'killer'.
Mr. E @ Jun 17th 2008 6:20PM
Wow. Thanks for that post, JDS. So much for the idea that super-upscaling would somehow rival true HD quality. Today we all see that the emperor has no clothes, and Toshiba's moves can now only charitably be described as the corporate equivalent of "eccentric." They're obviously just trying to stuff the high definition genie back in the bottle to continue their DVD patent income by rolling out a little razzle dazzle B.S. and a quick "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"
I mean, after losing all that money in the format war, they won't even take advantage of selling Blu-ray to early adopters at today's higher profit margins? It's just sad, really, to witness the undoing of a company like this.
squiggleslash @ Jun 18th 2008 3:00PM
Toshiba will continue to gain patent income from Blu-ray. This argument "Toshiba wants to kill Blu-ray because it doesn't make any money from it" is ""fanciable nonsense".
All Blu-ray players will, for the forseeable future, be DVD compatible. Toshiba will continue to reap the royalties it always has. In the mean time, it wants to make money from a low cost, popular, proven technology instead of investing millions in a technology that's far from proven and looks likely to be displaced by online services in the next few years. Good for it. If I were a Toshiba shareholder, that's exactly what I'd want them to do. And I don't blame them for comparing to Blu-ray (or HD DVD) - that's what people want to know - and most people, honestly, have enough difficulty telling the difference between a DVD and a Blu-ray disk that I can honestly see Toshiba's upscaling as being "good enough" for the vast majority of consumers.
And until I read the other day that Engadget is owned by WB, I didn't know why Engadget continues this hate-on it has for Toshiba. WB wants to push Blu-ray. It knows that the technology only has a few years of life in it, and it wants it to at least live as an alternative once an online-based system has become standardized and made to work. If Blu-ray fails to make any impact - and, let's be honest, 80-90%+ of Blu-ray players are games consoles, the market for standalone players is virtually non-existant - then the investments WB and the rest of Hollywood have made in the technology are simply pointless.
So we see the once respectable HD blog whore itself to the point that it will not criticize any aspect of the technology, even the show-stoppers - such as BD+ - that'll make it fail. It's a beautiful thing that their lead story at the time of me posting this is about AnyDVD's BD+ support - you might not be able to play that BD disk in your standalone player because of the flawed copy-prevention system, but at least you'll be able to download a copy someone ripped from the same damned disk! Rather than hammering on Toshiba for doing the right thing, it's time they told their corporate parents to MAKE BLU-RAY WORK. Because no amount of advertising disguised as journalism is going to save Blu-ray if its supporters aren't willing to fix it.
xemumanic @ Jun 17th 2008 3:54PM
Put simply, Toshiba, like the remnant HD-DVD fanboys here, are just bitter. Instead of joining the BDA, which would even now, probably be welcomed in with open arms and deals to make the transition cost-effective, continues to push bullshit like this that no one will buy.
I see it now clearly. Toshiba will never join the BDA, and, like Yahoo, will continue to buck the trends, potential profit, and logic all in the name of spite.
Pakron1122 @ Jun 17th 2008 4:26PM
To say that Toshiba is bitter and bucking potential profits is a little ignorant. Toshiba wants to make as much money as possible. They are making it now with DVD and tried to with HD DVD. Since that didn't work, they are looking to go back to DVD in a different sort of way. To pay sony a bunch of licensing fees when they already have a movie format is not a good business decision. For anyone to say that they should, well, I sure hope you don't run a business.
The only way this would make sense is if blue was the only movie delivery medium. Which it isn't. Now which logic were you speaking of? Please don't state things that you believe are correct as fact.
And to say no one would buy super upconversion is again an ignorant statement. To give consumers the ability to view their current, rather large movie collections in a manner so far not yet achieved, is intriguing. Not only would Toshiba extend dvds long life, but they would receive additional capital licensing out their upconversion technology. This seems to be a very wise decision on their part. You need to put the blue koolaid down and step out into the sunshine. You need some perspective.
Gus @ Jun 17th 2008 8:49PM
What a bunch of tossers you all are, how about seeing the product for yourselves BEFORE you bucket it, typical one eyed blu ray arrogance!
Alex @ Jun 17th 2008 4:09PM
didn't Engadget already post this twice?
lakersin2025 @ Jun 17th 2008 4:25PM
Toshiba may be shooting themselves in the foot. Digital downloads are cool and all but still a few years off. They need to fill the gaps in the meantime and upscaling isn't the answer. I think it would be cool if we could go into the local video store and get a movie on an SDHC card instead of disc if you did not have access to high speed internet. Get rid of these old fashioned disc altogether. But that is not the case so I will continue to rent them on Blu-ray.
Pakron1122 @ Jun 17th 2008 4:31PM
I fixed it for you:
Toshiba may NOT be shooting themselves in the foot. BLU RAY IS cool and all but still a few years off. They need to fill the gaps in the meantime and upscaling IS the answer. I think it would be cool if we could go into the local video store and get a movie on an SDHC card instead of disc if you did not have access to high speed internet. Get rid of these old fashioned disc altogether. But that is not the case so I will continue to rent them on DVD.
JDS @ Jun 17th 2008 4:47PM
@ Pakron1122
This is engedgetHD not engadgetUC or engedgetSUC or engadgetFAUXHD.
Why don't you get a head start now & camp out so you can get the 1st Toshiba SUC player.
Or fill out an application to work for Toshiba.
Nfinity @ Jun 17th 2008 4:51PM
JDS,
I bet you that you will buy this player by next year. I'm absolutely 100% certain once you see the difference between your upscaled DVDs and super-upscaled DVDs. You'll be running to the store to get one.
On another note, if this is truly EngadgetHD, why are they even reporting about this. This technology is an extension of SD DVD. Obviously there's something more here no?
perdant @ Jun 17th 2008 6:25PM
@nfinity
how are you certain that you will see a difference? its just not possbile the source sucks, and no one mentions the fact that if your into audio this machine isnt going to make it sound any better...
Mr. E @ Jun 17th 2008 6:26PM
Nfinity, why would any of us here want to go backward? Blu-ray players can play DVDs just fine, with acceptable upscaling. I'm never buying another DVD-only player again. Ever. If Toshiba one day comes to their senses and starts selling a Blu-ray player with SUC for DVD playback, I might consider it.
Besides, did you read the article above from Techdigest.tv? Methinks based on this that Toshiba may have *just slightly* overpromised and underdelivered with SUC.
pakron1122 @ Jun 18th 2008 2:43AM
So, these are my first posts here. How is it that I am lowest ranked and JDS is highest ranked when I make good solid points, and he just puts me down and tells me to go work for toshiba?
DVD4ME @ Jun 18th 2008 4:34AM
Don't worry Pakron, you just happen to be posting onto a heavily pro BR site, keep up the good work!
burndive @ Jun 17th 2008 4:40PM
I think this technology looks pretty cool, and if Blu-ray players are still in the $400 range by the end of the year, I expect that they'll be making some money on this.
The fact is, we all have DVD collections that we're not getting rid of any time soon, and Toshiba is positioning itself to deliver the best player to display them on a HDTV.
When they finally do come out with Blu-ray players, I expect them to have this technology built-in, and if the other manufacturers don't have something just as good, then they will have a clear market advantage.
Of course they're not mentioning Blu-ray and HD DVD: they're not competing in the market of playing HD content; if you want to play new HD content, get a Blu-ray player; they don't make those. They're offering the best way to play old SD content.
We should stop feeding the trolls, though.
Truth Teller @ Jun 17th 2008 8:15PM
* quote
burndive
I think this technology looks pretty cool, and if Blu-ray players are still in the $400 range by the end of the year, I expect that they'll be making some money on this.
=====================================================
Precisely.
It doesn't take $400 Blu-ray players either.
If this tech streets at $100-$120 and Blu-ray players are still $200+ these will sell extremely well.
The majority (still) have SD TV.
Regular SD DVD players are still selling extremely well......in fact it's a total joke for the PS3/Blu-ray fanboys to be pretending that a majority of players will soon be Blu-ray.
In fact, strike the PS3 out of the equation and Blu-ray standalone sales are a joke.
The fanboys can try & talk it up as much as they like but besides the game console niche Blu-ray is invisible to the a/v mass-market.
Upscaling SD DVD players are not invisible.
A much better upscaling SD DVD player at regular SD DVD player prices is going to sell very nicely.
Nfinity @ Jun 17th 2008 4:48PM
How can you argue with anything Blu-Ray fanboys here are trumpeting about. It's futile.
Some of you simply have no desire to look past Blu-Ray regardless of how anything else might give value. It just proves the sorry state of many consumers today. The issue here is that again this technology is not going against Blu-Ray but improves on DVD, yet the fear from Blu-Ray fanatics comes from a very logical place. If this technology proves to be so good which it will from what I've seen, Blu-Ray adoption rate will trickle down to nothing. Quite obviously. In general, if you don't want this, you continue buying Blu-Ray. It's pretty simple. It's not one or the other in this case. But majority of consumers will be more then satisfied with this technology not to mention the fact that they'll be paying $6.99 to $9.99 for back catalogs.
What's really sad about the whole affair is this Blu-Ray fanboy attitude hurts consumers who simply don't see the benefit of Blu-Ray and are being forced to accept the higher prices of still unfinished technology.
Not to mention the fact that this Toshiba technology is as stated numerous times pretty awesome since you won't see some DVD titles on Blu-Ray in the next 5 years if ever and also allows super-upscaling on HD footage too.
It's pretty hopeless to argue with some of the fans here.
Spiza @ Jun 17th 2008 5:12PM
"What's really sad about the whole affair is this Blu-Ray fanboy attitude hurts consumers who simply don't see the benefit of Blu-Ray and are being forced to accept the higher prices of still unfinished technology."
Thats funny you say that because just this past weekend I put a gun against this dudes head in Wal-Mart and forced him to buy the magnavox blu-ray player.
gamedude420 @ Jun 17th 2008 5:28PM
this will be no where near true native 720p quality. its upscaled from sd sources, but it will be better than other scalers. So i have no problem with this as it would atleast make my sd material look better than they currently do. hopes to see this inlcuded in blu ray player soon or even for sony to add this as a firmware update to the ps3 with its cell processor and nvdia gpu. now i wouldnt mind seeing upscaled bluray 1080p to 2 and 4 k for future home projectors down the line. would it be anywhere near true 2 3 or 4 k footagte? hell know, but would it look better than it currently looks, yes.
so i can see this as an option for your existing library, but it doesnt replace the hd library.
DrXym @ Jun 17th 2008 5:41PM
Nfinity, don't be stupid. Super resolution is a nice feature to have in any player or TV, but that doesn't mean it will even slightly approach the quality of proper HD.
There are already several "super resolution" tools out there and none of them comes anywhere close to HD quality. You are living in cloud cuckoo land to even think that legions of DVD owners are going to buy a specific model of DVD player instead of a proper HD player. It is quite obvious that if they are going to buy an HD player, it will be a Blu Ray player, all of which are backwards compatible and upscale anyway. Furthermore, there is nothing about super resolution which precludes Toshiba from sticking it in a BD player. It would certainly make a hell of a lot more sense than sticking in a DVD player.
Truth Teller @ Jun 17th 2008 7:56PM
Hopeless is the word nfinity.
The resident delusional Blu-ray fanboys have not only decided that a majority have HD TVs
(they don't not even in the USA yet)
but that 'cheap' Blu-ray players are already here orare mere moments away) and everyone buying a new DVD player is just itching to go and get one.
It's genuinely farcical.
Mr. E @ Jun 17th 2008 8:20PM
Hey "Truth" Teller, I've got a secret for you. Toshiba is also ONLY targeting SUC at those pathetically few HDTV owners. A consumer would have to be insane or just plain gullible to buy any kind of upconverting DVD player for use on a 480p TV. Blu-ray owners are just asking a very legitimate question: if you've got an HDTV, and a clearly superior choice in Blu-ray which also gives you solid DVD upconversion, why go with an inferior option like SUC for newly released movies when you can have the real HD deal? It's not like new release DVDs cost much less than new release BDs.
Truth Teller @ Jun 17th 2008 9:17PM
E you're kidding yourself if you seriously imagine anyone (much) buys new DVDs at launch prices.
The DVD market is a mature market & that's a prime reason why that weekly top 10/20 sales data is so meaningless.
Of course Super Upconversion will only work with an HD TV - I did not say otherwise.
But it's funny how the Blu-ray fanboys seem to imagine no-one buys anything for 6 or 7 months of the year and yet upscaling DVD players are selling very nicely.
I was pointing out the ludicrousness of certain posters comments who appear to imagine HD TVs to be in the majority (when they are not, in the USA or Europe, the 2 single largest markets) & the crazed idea that any HD TV owner looking for a new movie disc player is automatically going to select expensive Blu-ray.
That's garbage (and is clearly not happening).
Just like the deluded claims re 'cheap' Blu-ray players is a totally fact-free state of affairs that is nowhere to be seen.
If these new Toshiba players street at $100 - $120 tops (slightly above the price of Toshibas most expensive SD DVD player) and Blu-ray is still $200+ (or more likely $300+) at the end of the year then Blu-ray is in big trouble.
......and let's face it, it's in deep trouble as it is what with it being almost entirely a game console format with zero impact on the a/v mass-market.
If Blu-ray doesn't start to shift out of that status (quickly & soon) then you can forget about high def on disc.
The next big deal will be about better and better upscaling/Super Upconversion and Toshiba (and those licencing it like Sharp) will be placed very nicely for that.
Gus @ Jun 17th 2008 9:18PM
Xym Mr.Ed and others, if this machine works at least as good as my XA2 and is cheap it will set the world on fire.
From all accounts it is significantly more advanced then the XA2 so good luck with your beloved blu ray format, why would any consumer in their right minds pay double the price for both hardware and software to get what, a 5% improvement, 10% even 15%, the masses aren't bothering with blu ray now and if this tech is as good as they say it is, it's BR niche market here we stay.
pakron1122 @ Jun 18th 2008 2:44AM
@ Truth Teller
To reinforce your point, I read that upconverting players are way up this year while blu ray stand-alones are way down. Very good point, btw.
DrXym @ Jun 18th 2008 5:22AM
Gus, the world will not be "set on fire" by an expensive DVD player from a single manufacturer. The mass market is either a) happy with DVD because they're SD only, or b) already have an upscaling DVD player, or c) own a BD player already, or d) are waiting to go HD and want BD, e) just don't care or are ignorant of SD / HD issues, f) AV enthusiasts who will buy an upscaling DVD player AND a BD player. Only f) is likely to care about this player and its a very small slice of the market who would be buying Blu Ray anyway.
By the way, the Silicon Optix Reon chip that your XA2 has is also in a number of Blu Ray players, and other players have their own upscaling solutions, e.g. Panasonic has its own UniPhier chipset. Upscaling in Sony Playstation 3 runs in software on a Cell processor (the big brother of Toshiba's offering) so it has enormous latitude to improve how it upscales.
Assuming this DVD stops being a pipedream and appears as a product in time for Christmas it will be just in time to compete with various $200-300 BD players and next year will be a total washout for DVD. Toshiba would be better off competing against the Reons, UniPhiers, Broadcoms in the OEM domain rather than shoehorning it into dead-end products. They're not fooling anyone for a second. Well perhaps they're fooling some people...
DVD4ME @ Jun 18th 2008 8:03AM
Good old Xym, one from the more lunatic blu ray fringe.
If blu ray produces a new range of tea towels youre on here waxing lyrical how they are the best thing since sliced bread, but a potentially great tech that you havent even seen yet get's the right royal blu kick in the nuts because it isnt made by one of the blu ray blinded sheep.
I used to think the old "Project Hydra" was a lot of crap, but you make me think it might be true, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week your here beating your blu drum no matter what the topic, are you/them all based at blu.com or whatever that nonsense is??
DrXym @ Jun 18th 2008 8:15AM
Right... so by responding to Nfinity or Gus (that a miracle vapourware DVD player is somehow going to change anything) I become part of some shadowy blu ray defence force? Grow up DVD4ME / HD4ME or whatever the hell you want to call yourself.
DVD4ME @ Jun 18th 2008 8:26AM
No, it's because you constantly dribble shi* and take such an offensive stance against anything that is not blu. You have made many comments on this post, every single one of them smashing Toshiba and this product and you havent even touched it, seen it tried it. If it's not blu, it's shi* in your opinion, and the fact that you replied in a matter of minutes only supports the hydra theory, how many are you?
How about saying, this product isnt for you, but hey it might be OK for others once tested,...... not a chance, probably because those POS Wally World players are currently taking the world by storm, lol, never mind, youre good for a laugh.
DrXym @ Jun 18th 2008 9:14AM
DVD4ME, as it happens I have used tools like video enhancer and I know what they are capable of. I have also done cell programming and would dearly love to see SpursEngine or something like it in every PC. I have also said repeatedly that super resolution is a welcome feature in any TV or player.
That doesn't mean however I check my brain in at the door and accept bullshit explanations of how super resolution is some miracle technology, or indistinguishable from HD, or how some non-specific vapourware DVD player is going to stem blu ray sales.
You or your exclusive clique might like clutch at every straw that floats by but that's your problem not mine. I am more than happy to bat down your idiotic notions as and when I see fit.
Jody @ Jun 17th 2008 4:51PM
Maybe one of the parts of "The Deal" with Sony, you know the one that included being almost given the Cell processor plant and exiting the HD-DVD business, Toshiba greed to stay out of the blu-ray business so sony would have less competition.
Gus @ Jun 17th 2008 9:22PM
Good point
DrXym @ Jun 18th 2008 5:28AM
Gus, stop ranking up your own posts, it's a sign of insecurity.
Gus @ Jun 18th 2008 8:02PM
Dr.Xym
If i could manipulate the votes yours would always be "lowest ranked" so how about taking off the tinfoil hat and getting out of your parents basement, get some sunshine on that pasty white skin and live a little champ.
kcjones @ Jun 17th 2008 4:52PM
The Mac Air doesn't have any disc drive and its selling like hotcakes. BD drives aren't a huge selling point to consumers, so Toshiba saves money by not including them in their Laptops. When the public asks for Blu-ray, I'm sure Toshiba will provide them. So it if hasn't hurt Mac why should it hurt Toshiba?
Nfinity @ Jun 17th 2008 4:57PM
Exactly.. +1
It's obvious that a lot of companies are simply going the non-optical media route. Wireless USB, Wifi Max this is the future as everyone sees it. The only ones who are struggling to keep the optical media in play are CE companies because they make a lot of money. If they don't fight this out they will have to change their whole set of component to support wireless, digital downloads etc etc.
It's natural but very sad that their greed and laziness to innovate are costing everyone technological progress.
Spiza @ Jun 17th 2008 5:16PM
A blu-ray drive+movie sucks up way to much power. The only way blu-ray is good on a laptop is for data or docking the laptop with power to a TV. Its just as good either way though to rip the movies and put them on the laptops hard drive if you want to watch on the go.
DEEZNUTZ @ Jun 17th 2008 5:00PM
I'd like to see a side by side of an OPPO, this new SUC player, and a PS3, all playing the same DVD movie at the same time to compare. I bet this will not convince the majority of average buyers, UNLESS the players debuted at less than $150, which I am most certain they won't.
I have a decent DVD collection and I still watch it.... on my PS3, which upscales rather nicely. OH, and it also plays BD, who would have thunk it?
To sum it up, pay $200+ for a SUC player that will NEVER play BD movies, or $300 for a BD player that will ALSO upscale your DVD's. Seems like back to back epic FAILS await Toshiba... unless they get smart, make a BD player, and incorporate this tech to differentiate their players from the others. Now you have a plan.
DrXym @ Jun 17th 2008 6:12PM
The PS3 has also seen some significant improvements to its upscaling in firmware updates. The original DVD playback had no upscaling at all (and no downscaling for Blu Ray to 720p) but now its very nicely interpolated with mosquito noise reduction. Wouldn't surprise me at all if Sony just released some kind of super resolution of their own as part of a future firmware update.
Vance @ Jun 17th 2008 5:11PM
When all video content is distributed via download and/or streaming, then Toshiba is exactly correct: BluRay will be a thing of the past, and we will have HD, or more likely, varying levels of "HD" without optical even in the mix.
So, what Toshiba is saying is that folks with DVD libraries in the hundreds do not need to upgrade it to BluRay. They will be able to get very close to that quality with upscaling for the existing libraries, then all the new content will be direct digital.
DrXym @ Jun 17th 2008 5:54PM
The funny thing is Toshiba are spiting themselves by not including BD drives. They own a 51% stake in a factory that makes BD drives for computers and set top boxes yet they won't stick any in their own laptops, not even as an option. Bizarre.
SimbaDogg @ Jun 17th 2008 6:14PM
seriously i can sum how much of an epic failure this will be in 4 short points
1) this unit does upconversion...SUPER upconversion.
2) many blu ray players do good, if not excellent upconversion
3) toshiba didn't want to compare the SUC to a true HD source (wonder why?)
4) wait till a magazine like sound and vision does a 2 part shootout:
A...upconversion on the toshiba vs a bluray player vs something like the oppo/denon
B...toshiba SUC vs tru 720p/1080p
i'm not saying the toshiba will get blasted in comparison, it really comes down to price...but say come x-mas time...a $200 player vs a $300/$400 tru hd playing blu ray player is a no brainer
===============
on a side note, to newguy (first poster)...imagine if the tables were turned, hd dvd came out on top...and sony came out w/ this tech...dont you think EVERYONE including engadget would be calling them stubburn? its basically what this amounts to. getting beat into the ground, and refusing to say uncle
J.Goodwin @ Jun 17th 2008 6:24PM
Blu-ray as a format is more than just Blu-ray as a medium, just as HD-DVD was. I'm with them as far as that goes, but to say that upscaling MPEG2 standard definition content provides a result that rivals AVCREC or WMVDVD or HDREC is just ridiculous.
I think that providing HD content on standard dual layer DVD media is a better option than this silly crap, and even that is a pretty silly option (unless you're doing it yourself at home in lieu of buying 25 dollar a shot BDREs, like me, because 25 bucks is a lot...seriously).
Gus @ Jun 17th 2008 9:28PM
Toshiba are currently working on exactly that also but it is not yet clear if both techs will be combined or seperate.
DrXym @ Jun 18th 2008 7:55AM
Toshiba have a patent for HD content on a DVD. The way it works requires two heads in the reader, one to read the normal DVD content and one to HD content off special layers. How the two are munged together is anyone's guess. Perhaps it works like DD+ where the HD layer holds the "difference" between the SD and HD content, or perhaps the HD layer holds an AVC equivalent of the movie in HD. It is certainly a horribly impractical solution, one which even if it appeared in players would be totally ignored by studios and production plants.
Toshiba are really fumbling the ball here. The Blu Ray market is still nascent enough that they could take a huge slice of it by producing quality players with compelling features while supplying the OEM channels with quality parts at the same time. At the moment they seem to be running around like headless chickens and there is little direction or sense to their plans.
DVD4ME @ Jun 18th 2008 9:03AM
Wow Xym, your on fire, do you ever have anything positive to say ??
Jim @ Jun 17th 2008 6:34PM
Toshiba is just trying to bring more value to DVD, keep it relevant in the brave new world of HD. They have every right to try to do that. Their HD-DVD players do a great job of up converting DVD and this new technology will only make it better. Higher bitrate DVD movies will certainly benefit the most from this technology. Certainly Blu-Ray will look better, and will most definitely sound better, and I don't think anyone here is saying it won't. But there are titles that will never be released in Blu-Ray format, personal home videos, etc. Besides if I already have the DVD, it's very hard for me to justify buying it AGAIN in Blu-Ray. Certain titles are the exception (LOTR, Star Wars, etc.).
Blu-Ray can counter with inexpensive BD players that upscale very well. It's not Sony's plan for at least 2-3 more years. It's almost like Toshiba is trying to divide up the DVD/BD media market and capture the low-end and mainstream markets, allowing Blu-Ray to be the high-end product.
I love HD and I own both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray. If Toshiba truly delivers on the PQ front with this new technology and the price is right, I would definitely welcome another player in my home theater setup.
Gus @ Jun 17th 2008 11:20PM
Whats the odds this, or a version of, will end up in the XBox 360?