http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/ Engadget HD Comments for New CES, same doubts about Blu-ray 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/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
BEATING DVDs WILL TAKE TIME!!!!

Let it be.]]>Jan 5th 2009 10:52AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
The Matrix DVD was such a success, in *one week* it sold 700,000 copies.

Compare to the Dark Knight Blu-ray, which sold 600,000 copies... IN ONE DAY. Yes, that's *day*, not week!

Sure, beating DVD will take time, but not nearly as much as naysayers are predicting. Already it is doing better than DVD at the same point in its life. Heck, I even know people who own regular old SDTVs but bought Blu-ray players so they could just purchase BD discs from now on.

-Pie]]>Jan 5th 2009 3:46PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Well how stupid are they, sounds more like fanboy BS to me!]]>Jan 5th 2009 10:11PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/]]>Jan 7th 2009 2:12PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.allbusiness.com/services/motion-pictures/4849840-1.html

DVD Sales of The Matrix eclipsed all VHS sales, with the exception of one title, that week. So The Matrix on DVD actually outsold The Matrix on VHS.

That's just not true of TDK.
]]>Jan 8th 2009 7:26AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
I like blu-ray, have digital download services also, but... sorry everyone some movies are better to own a real copy of instead of digitally. you can then also use it however, wherever you want. alot of restrictions on how you can use digital ones. ]]>Jan 5th 2009 10:54AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
Even with a small user base, does an extra 20% revenue on a new release justify authoring a Blu-Ray release?

I think at this point, blu-ray has already established itself as a revenue vehicle for Studios and new release. All signs still point to a continuing (albeit slower than expected ) increasing in user base. It would be unlikely for studios to discontinue releasing blu-ray titles at this point, and therefore severing a potential high-margin revenue stream. ]]>Jan 5th 2009 10:57AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
these HD Blu-Ray discs should be no more than $5 more than their comparable DVD versions. in this economy people don't want an HD Tax. ]]>Jan 5th 2009 11:02AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 11:27AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
1. Expectations of higher quality make mastering a BD more expensive than mastering a DVD.
2. There are higher material costs involved in pressing BDs, due to the shortage of presses and the slightly more expensive nature of BDs themselves (lower yields due to higher density, plus requirements for protective coatings etc.)
3. Patent royalty rates on BDs is considerably higher than it is for DVDs.
4. Budget DVD titles tend to cut costs like omitting DRM. This cost saving isn't possible with Blu-ray, as DRM is mandatory.

and... the kicker...

5. One of the entire points behind Blu-ray is to introduce a new revenue stream as profits on DVDs aren't anything like what they were.

In the end, the studios and the CE manufacturers are going to blame each other for the high prices, but budget titles really aren't coming any time soon. What we've seen with discs is the same as what's happened with players - every now and again BD users get excited because of a promotion where products are being sold off cheaply, often as a close-out deal, and assume this means that prices have actually fallen. You can get a Profile 1.1 Blu-ray player that the manufacturer is trying to get rid of for under $200 if you shop around. Likewise you can find an old BD title that's been on shelves for a year for under $15.

But those are the exceptions. Those are the equivalents of $5-10 DVDs and $20 DVD players, which you can find too by looking hard enough. The real cuts are not here yet, and there's only so far media prices can fall.
]]>Jan 5th 2009 11:50AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/2. Very True largely why so many wanted HD DVD
3. This doesn't have to be... those who hold those royalties will eventually lower thier rates once they see prices can't go much lower.
4. Good point... i wonder they will give up on DRM... (costs more to implement and is useless)
5. I don't think so... you think that they started making HD TVs 10 years ago to help make up lots revenue for Hollywood?

your last point is spot on. In a years time, we'll start see great titles that came out this year at reasonable prices... this is no different than how DVD played the game. Frankly BD is doing quite well all things considered. DVD didn't have this type of competition. ]]>Jan 5th 2009 3:48PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
yeah, Swanni from TVpredictions.com believes VUDU is going under in 2009. so buyer beware.]]>Jan 5th 2009 11:03AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 11:00AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/10/24/global-hdtv-shipments-exceed-sdtvs-for-first-time/]]>Jan 5th 2009 12:35PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 3:02PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
i'm sorry, but thats probably the dumbest caveat i've ever heard. ]]>Jan 6th 2009 2:14AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 11:15AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
What makes the Blu-ray better than the current available streaming services (that for the mosts part also use a MPEG4 implementations like H.264) is the higher bit rate it offers.

]]>Jan 5th 2009 11:37AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
The problem with stream is the need of a good and stable internect connection,so they try do minimize the file's size.]]>Jan 5th 2009 11:17AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 11:32AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 11:34AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 12:00PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/ditto. especially in these economic hard times.
people are going to buy less, rent more, steal even more.


]]>Jan 5th 2009 1:53PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
I'd pay $5 over a DVD for a BR edition.]]>Jan 5th 2009 12:02PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 12:18PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 12:58PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
I'm willing to bet before the year is done, blu-ray new releases will average in price at $21, some cheaper, some more, but by end of next year, I suspect everything will be averaging under $20 including catalog titles and new releases will be in the $17-$19 range...

Bookmark this comment and we'll compare later...]]>Jan 5th 2009 3:13PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
It's already extremely confusing for the average consumer (read non-engadget reader) to understand the differences between analog, digital, and hd digital. But after more of your average consumers start putting rabbit ears on their HDTVs, they'll start expecting more for less when it comes to HD content.

Many in Indianapolis found out this year when Comcast cut off the Colts games over a contract dispute, seeing that the free signal was just as good (if not better) as the one they pay extra for.

So when your average consumer gets used to the free HD OTA broadcasts of their favorite prime time shows, I think they (as many of us) will expect HD content to be the norm, not the upcharge.

This would be the best time for blu to be priced THE SAME as dvd, going Walmart on dvds by eliminating a reason to not go blue (aside from player prices). I say never going to happen though, and blu will ride off into the sunset.]]>Jan 5th 2009 12:06PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 12:29PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 1:47PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 2:53PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 1:55PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 2:44PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 2:56PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 3:06PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 3:01PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
It's not really in Hollywood's best interests to force a switchover to BDs if it comes at the expense of a massive loss in sales. They're keen to make a next generation format be successful, which is why Warner picked sides last year, but that next generation format has to actually work. It has to be something people will switch to, before they can drop DVD. $30+ "DVDs" with Blu-ray copies built-in aren't really going to get there.

]]>Jan 5th 2009 3:42PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 6:07PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
I have absolutely no interest in VOLUNTARILY going with Blue-ray. I switched to DVDs only because combo DVD/VCR players were/are readily available. So I never felt like I was wasting all the money I had spent on VHS tapes. In fact, the price of DVD Recorder/VHS players is so low that I have replaced a couple of our older combo players so that I could copy the VHS tapes onto DVD.

However, switching to Blue-ray WOULD mean an extra piece of equipment (ACK! More cables!) since there are no Blue-ray/DVD/VCR or even Blue-ray/DVD combo players available (that I am aware of anyhow). So, it would only be used for one purpose, and only if I shelled out even more money to buy those Blue-ray discs.

Factor in the price of a Blue-ray player versus a DVD/VHS player and the price of Blue-Ray discs versus DVDs and there is really NO INCENTIVE for me to switch. Particularly when I keep hearing about how easy it will soon be to watch downloaded movies either through a set top box or directly on my TV through broadband or my PC. I already can watch a whole lot of them through my cable company's on-demand services.

Yes, the quality may be a bit better with Blue-ray, but right now it's just not worth the trouble and I think I'm not the only one that is sick and tired of of technology that is not backwards compatible in some way that doesn't force us to completely abandon previous formats.

]]>Jan 5th 2009 3:40PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
all Blu-ray players play DVDs...

it isn't an extra component it would REPLACE your existing DVD player]]>Jan 5th 2009 4:12PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
Although, color me confused underneath the blush. I swear that I had read that Blue-ray players are not compatible with DVDs. Was that only when they were first introduced?

Although, I guess it still won't change much for me. The price of most DVDs is equal to a night out at the movie theater for two people, so it's no big deal to buy one.

I'll now return to technotard lurking mode.]]>Jan 5th 2009 4:45PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
I have just 2 HDMI cables: one to the TV from the receiver, and one from the receiver to my PS3. (I use CableCARD for my antenna.) How clean is that!?]]>Jan 5th 2009 5:16PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 17th 2009 5:45AMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/I haven’t spent over $25 Canadian on a new, back catalog or old release (obviously excluding box sets).
Hell, even if you're a lazy punk, HMV is one of the most expensive place to buy Blu-Rays from and even they have a massive inventory of 2 for $40 and 2 for $50 on Blu-Ray.
You need to shop at better places: online is cheap (there are plenty of dirt cheap sites but again, the lazy man's site is Amazon) and Wal-Mart is semi-decent for offline purchases!
People are getting really stale on here and that's why I'm posting so much less but I find it sad that people don't realize that Blu-Ray is doing well.
It won't "replace" DVD; it doesn't have to but more people will buy - get this - *NEW* releases on Blu-Ray instead of the DVD counterpart once they have an HD TV and a Blu-Ray player (players which have drastically dropped in price and are bundled with HD TVs like crazy now!)
Blu-Ray players still play DVDs and if you think many people will replace their DVD sets for Blu-Rays, then you're nuts! They may replace their favs and there may be the few that go all out, but keep things realistic!
Blu-Ray is doing fine and people are willing to pay a small premium to have better quality.
Is Blu-Ray taking off to crush DVD or DVD's records, of course not but that's not a reason to think it will fail.
DVD was the format that made a large difference in the movie experience, *anything* after that can't have the same impact because quality is being enhance but functionality will never have the same drastic improvements DVD made over VHS!
When you put all that together, the picture should be clear and expectations should get in line which point to Blu-Ray being successful for what it is. Sure everyone would like it to perform better but I don't believe that's reason enough to say it will fail or that its not successful. That's just inexperience and ignorance not to mention that the economy is playing an obvious role here!
Wait for the hybrid discs! Then we might see DVD only discs start to disappear to help encourage Blu-Ray player purchases since you already own both versions!
You can be a fanboy, hater, on the fence or follower, but if you can understand the basics of what’s happening here, you shouldn't come out with stupid claims and confuse people that come here that are trying to learn!]]>Jan 5th 2009 4:00PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 5th 2009 5:43PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/
Sure I can stream youtube fine but movies are another story. I've tried to watch a movie over a download service twice. Both times I had to wait a half hour to download enough of the movie so that it would play for 15 minutes before it needed to buffer again. The only way the service works is to download the movie completely before watching. This takes an hour or two depending on the connection. That is just for a SD rip. I don't even want to try HD.

Getting in my car, driving to the video store to rent a movie, and coming home takes less time than waiting for a download. Then you have the limited playback aspect, less than DVD quality, lack of a good surround sound track, and price that isn't much better. If I'm downloading a movie to keep it should cost a lot less than buying it on DVD. In many cases its more expensive. If I am renting the movie I should have a limited number of playbacks rather than a set time period.]]>Jan 5th 2009 5:44PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/and the new disc tech that they developed and just approved 2 moths ago. the only way bluray could survive, is to bring down coast of players add mandatory support for all audio codecs onboard and bring down disc prices to maybe 24.99 that would make it a mass product. cost is whats hurting them as with the ps3. but hey thats sony for you dream high and price higher! ]]>Jan 5th 2009 6:18PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/I rarely watch a movie more than once, so owning a copy is just not worth it for me, it will gather dust (with the rest of them), I would much rather rent a movie online as it's about a quarter of the cost of buying a blu ray movie.]]>Jan 5th 2009 6:43PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Jan 10th 2009 6:54PMhttp://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/http://www.engadgethd.com/2009/01/05/new-ces-same-doubts-about-blu-ray/Everyone talking as if BR is powering along strong and will overtake DVD shortly!

What a joke, with the PS3 having sold millions of players in a far shorter time than any equivalent DVD player and spiking interest amongst those many millions of PS3 owners with the 4th biggest movie of all time, somehow BR is the new baby Jesus??!! .......And HD TVs at 30 odd %, yet somehow this magical format is about to overtake DVD??!!

Get real people, if it ever happens it's still years away, the format is still massively attached to the pS3 demographic, is extremely handicapped by DRM , too expensive and not a quantum leap to justify mass market penetration yet, J6 hasn't even heard about blu ray!
Just settle down people, obviously the blood has drained from many of your brains and gone to 'other' hardened parts of your bodies, this story is like a trip to bluray.com 12 months ago.]]>Jan 5th 2009 6:45PM