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- TheWriteGuy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14In the end, because of the possibility of dual-compatible players, I wonder now if the high-def disc format war will result in a draw -- neither format loses... but then again, neither actually wins, because downloading and video-on-demand services (through your digital cable provider) become much more common in the coming years.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9No extra cost....except to the consumer.
- ZennZero, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9My understanding was that Blu-ray liscensing issues prevented dual-format players. Is this incorrect?
- SPNKrPunk, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7@iheartcrack:
Mm hmm...and how much did Apple marketing pay you to say that? - WhereAmI, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6Not everyone has High speed either, thats why this format war will happen, and there will be a winner, and there will be no more format wars.
Downloading songs is one thing, full length HD movies is another.
America especially is NOT ready for streaming. - mem7, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7Jewigs - Sony was just one of many companies that produced the format. Its NOT Sony's. Same goes with Microsoft and HD-DVD. So if there are such liscensing absurdities, then 10+ companies/organizations are to blame, not just one one.
- strictnein, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5Where are you going to be storing all these high quality 720p and 1080p videos (most xvid/divx encoded 720p and 1080i videos look like ass on a big screen)? And why do you think you can reliably stream them wirelessly?
- dWhisper, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Technology like this will probably just make this format war about on par with the still ongoing, but relatively unknown, war between the recordable DVD formats. -RAM, -R, and +R still exist, but because of consumer confusion, the actual manufacturers just adapted the technology to run everything.
In the end, the consumer wins... somewhat. NEC has a choice to make, integrate this into devices that compete with the stand-alone players on price, and they'll win. Try to get the extra buck and price it above, it'll be shaky, and the "immitation" players, Apex, etc, will make a solution that undercuts and gets those players in there.
I wouldn't have an issue forking over extra change to HD system that supports the upcoming formats, simply because I wouldn't have to worry any more about this disc or that. - redfan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3"My understanding was that Blu-ray liscensing issues prevented dual-format players."
You're right, if Blu-Ray companies get their way, according to this article:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060731-7388.html
At the same time, the European Commission is investigating this, and might put an end to it. - caldroun, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I am interested in 1 format or even 1 Player that can view them all as mentioned above...but this dual format ***** is for the birds. I won't be buying any HD/Blueray anything until that gets all sorted out.
- onTheJDAR, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3@iheartcrack
I am not sure about that. From what I understand, the iTV does not actually store data, just transmits it. So you would still need to have content somehow, right?
Sure, you and I could download, but most consumers are much more comfortable buying a movie at the store. Plus, stores like this model, and can use their marketing resources to drive up sales, which studios really like.
I am also uncertain that anyone is currently selling the rights to download HD quality movies, either (in fact, I thought Apple's down loadable movies were in standard, non-letterbox format, too).
In any case, it is still too claim the iTV can render other formats obsolete. - contradictator, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2If the Xbox360 modified the HD-DVD add-on to support both formats with this chip, it'd be a big advantage in the console wars. Not sure how much it'd impact the actual format wars tho.
- millixaw, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm sure Sony is adopting a "wait and see" tactic, having a few remaining rays of hopes that the PS3 will end the HDDVD/BluRay wars (with BluRay the victor) beforing easing up on the BluRay dual-player license issue. I personally don't think the PS3 will make a difference, but I don't think like Sony does.
- mooseboy, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3My next Optical drive will probably be another NEC. I bought one when the first combo DVD recordable drives came out, and will do it again when recordable HDDVD/Bluray is out. The difference is little more than that between DVD(-/+)R.
- Evoguy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Exactly... who cares that you can decode both disks, the real source of cost for dual-format players is the extra laser diode and all the associated stepping hardware for different track widths. After the data is digital, it's cheap to decode either format, but physically reading disks written with two different optical technologies is just a money sink.
- pyrates, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@iheartcrack
Gotta love it when the apple zealots come out to play. First off the format apple is using is less then dvd. I've looked at alot of hd content and dvd content and I can tell the difference. To me, something that is 640x480, appears blurry. It's only crisp when it is 1920x1080p. Maybe if it's 1280x720p might work. But nothing less then that. SD just isn't acceptable to me anymore. - kevnaca, on 10/12/2007, -3/+4Not all of us stream media. There will most likely be network hiccups also. This chip, if anyone uses it, would delay who will come out in front. Upscaling DVDs suck so i am waiting for one of these format to reign supreme. My hearts on Blu-Ray personally.
- mrgreen4242, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1"Where are you going to be storing all these high quality 720p and 1080p videos (most xvid/divx encoded 720p and 1080i videos look like ass on a big screen)? And why do you think you can reliably stream them wirelessly?"
Clearly you are encoding them poorly then. HDDVD/BRD both (can and sometimes do) use MPEG4 encoding, which is more or less DIVX/VVID and they look quite good.
802.11g can stream 720p MPEG4 (or better yet H.264) with no trouble. - redrighthand, on 10/12/2007, -3/+3I think that the dual-format war is ridiculous and consumers should do their best to boycott taking sides by sticking with Upscaling DVD players and the current media as long as possible. I have my favorite but I don't want to be on the wrong side of the fence when the consumers finally kill one of the formats. A dual format chip like this should show the hardware manufacturers just how lame their battle is.
- JEWigs, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3I hadn't heard that but it would be totally foolish - though not totally unlike Sony to pull a bonehead stunt like that.
- generalleoff, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2As expected. It's both or nothing and I personally could not care less what the logo on the disc is if I had a single machine to play both and it's not like I'll ever have to choose between HD-DVD or Blu-Ray Spiderman or anything. Format war my ass.
- noGoodNamesLeft, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2(bury)
- iheartcrack, on 10/12/2007, -15/+5The "iTV" box from Apple renders both these formats useless and I can't be happier. H.264 at HD quality. Screw Blu-ray & HD-DVD!
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