HD DVD News Updates for Mid-October 2007
by Pravin on October 19th, 2007 in news.
After a few months of covering HD DVD news and information, I’ve noticed that waiting an extra day or two to report on certain kinds of news items results in a more developed story with a lot more of the facts. Some times we find out that the initial report was incomplete or entirely wrong, and many other times, we get to hear a few more perspectives that help us understand things a lot better.
Here are some of the stories that came up recently, along with a short summary of my take on the topic, as well as links so you can formulate your own opinion:
- Transformers: debunking misconceptions about audio and video defects
- Wal-mart has a $198 Toshiba HD-A2 and Target, supposedly a staunch Blu-ray promoter, is the first and only vendor for Venturer’s HD DVD player
- Major Australian electronics chain stops being Blu-ray exclusive
- Microsoft might be coming out with an Xbox with built-in HD DVD
- Sony sells PS3 graphics and CPU production to Toshiba
Transformers receives plenty of good marks for audio and video
At first it seemed like Paramount was determined to ruin a great disc by not providing Dolby True HD, however the reviews of the audio have been extremely positive, even earning the disc a full 5 stars at High-Def Digest. Some noticed that the video might be grainy in a few places, however (and I noticed this myself) one reviewer closely associated with an IMAX theater (the one that director Michael Bay personally complimented and brought his friends and family to) pointed out that:
“The movie was also much grainier than most people probably noticed, but we get all the grain just as if we were seeing it in the theater. What most impressed me that Paramount made no changes to this transfer was that in the film, many of the blacks are actually a dark blue. Same thing on the disc.”
Related links and quotes:
- J Whip’s review
- Transformers review at HighDefDiscNews.com
- E-Gear’s review
“Simply put, this is one of the best sounding discs I have ever heard. …The sound field is totally immersive. Despite all the explosions and action, one never has any problem hearing the dialogue. The bass is incredible, among the best I have heard on disc. …I can’t imagine how this disc could have sounded any better with True HD. I guess we may never know but after hearing this disc, I was certainly not longing to find out. The audio is that good. This is reference audio folks.”
“…explosions, gunfire, robot footsteps and just generally all the sound effects feel very lifelike with an amazing rear channel presence. The bass is absolutely thumping but not in a bad way. The dialogue is perfectly driven and mixed throughout the course of the film.”
“As it stands, Transformers ranks among the best-sounding high def films I’ve listened to on these next-gen formats.”
Wal-mart has a $198 Toshiba HD DVD player in their database and Target is selling the Venturer HD DVD player online
Some months ago, detractors jumped on a few sentences in a Los Angeles Times article where Wal-mart apparently declined to support HD DVD in their stores, and also wasn’t committing to carrying Venturer’s HD DVD player. Prior to that was news that Target would have prominent Blu-ray displays at their stores, in an apparent show of support for that format. In the end, Target came out as the first (and so far, only) vendor for Venturer’s HD DVD player (though at a higher price than everyone was expecting). And according to Wal-mart employees and customers posting at the AVS forum, it now appears that Wal-mart has been rolling out HD DVD displays and is preparing to offer a Toshiba HD DVD player (the HD-A2) for under $200.
JB HiFi, a major Australian electronics chain, decides to stop being Blu-ray only
I’m sure there might have been some incentives involved along the lines of the deal that got those special Blu-ray displays into Target stores, but whatever the case, JB’s CEO Richard Uechtritz pointed out that this is all about business:
“In our minds it is somewhat inevitable for the medium term that there will be two formats. JB customers will want it and we rather they buy it from JB than elsewhere.”
Their marketing director, Scott Browning, had earlier said that the availability of Paramount and Universal’s content exclusively on HD DVD was also an important factor.
Microsoft might be coming out with an Xbox 360 that has a built-in HD DVD drive
This is from a quote related to the JB HiFi news. Scott Browning said of HD DVD, “I believe that more content providers will get behind the format and that the likes of Microsoft which is a big supporter of the HD DVD format will bring out an Xbox with a built-in HD DVD player. This is a given.” I would like to emphasize that Browning said, “I believe” which is not the same as “I have been told” or something more concrete like, “I have seen.”
Why do these kinds of rumors gain any traction in the first place? Because it’s natural to conclude that Microsoft and Sony compete with each other in the game console business, and that Microsoft would try to make the 360 be more like the PS3 by including a high-def disc player.
There’s problem with that theory: Microsoft has shown no inclination towards this goal. They could have done it months ago right on time for the Halo 3 launch, and even made a special Halo 3 version come out on HD DVD if they wanted to, but they didn’t.
I wouldn’t rule out that Xbox 360s will one day have an HD DVD drive built right in, but I don’t think it’s happening any time soon. Microsoft already has a solid business of providing extra content via Xbox Live, which reduces the need for larger capacity game discs. And why would they break the hearts of those conspiracy theorists who believe that Microsoft secretly wants HD DVD to fail so that people can download movies from Xbox Live instead?
UPDATE: There’s more talk from Scott Browning and an unnamed Toshiba executive from Singapore about a future Xbox for 2009 with much more than just an HD DVD drive in it. Read about it here.
Sony sells PS3’s CPU and graphics production to Toshiba
I kid you not! Toshiba, IBM and Sony collaborated on the Cell processor, and all three companies have their own uses for that chip. Sony uses it on the PS3, while IBM has used it on some servers, and Toshiba has demonstrated some HD related products. Though they compete fiercely in the high-def DVD front, these companies are proving that anything goes when it comes to business, and that it’s much better for Sony’s financial health if Toshiba takes over making these PS3 parts. Isn’t it a hoot that increased PS3 sales actually funds Toshiba’s efforts?
There’s actually much more to write and comment on, but I’ll stop it there for now while I work on news about upcoming movies on HD DVD.
If you just can’t get enough of HD DVD news, I would highly recommend visiting the AVS Forum and High-Def Digest’s forums at least once or twice a week. These are places where you can often find the first reports of interesting news, and you can also take part in some great discussions, including tech-support topics.
October 19th, 2007 at 8:43 am
I’m sure that Blu-ray visitors are dying to talk smack. The comments are moderated to filter out trolling. If you’re dying to make an anti-HD DVD comment, link to this article and preach to your PS3 choir over at the appropriate forums.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Will a Xbox 360 with a built-in HD DVD player make much of a difference at this point? Think about it, Xbox sales are not growing, the majority of the people that have an Xbox will not buy a new Xbox. If they, Microsoft, wanted to be on top of this from the start, then they would have included a HD DVD player from the beginning.
And weren’t you the one who told me that we shouldn’t be believing employees of these chains? Just wondering. Although, it probably does not matter anyway, because I’m sure this post will not make it through anyway because you apparently do not want to look at any side that happens to be different from your own.
October 19th, 2007 at 1:59 pm
The Xbox 360 just outsold the Wii last month, primarily due to a price drop and Halo 3. According to http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/336041_xbox19.html, the NPD group reports that the 360 sold 528,000 units in September, with the Wii selling 501,000, and the PS3 trailing with a measly 119,000.
Sales on game consoles are growing, with spikes in each model’s sales charts showing up as special offers become available (usually price drops). The PS3 should experience a big sales spike in November and December, following its price cuts.
Microsoft could not include an HD DVD player from the beginning because those drives weren’t out yet, and Microsoft didn’t have a larger consumer electronics agenda. If drives become cheap enough, I’m sure they’ll consider it. There are reports on Kotaku and other game sites today about a whole other angle on that HD DVD built-in drive story.
I’m not opposed to differing points of view, and I put up with some trolling in the past. However, that’s not what this blog is about. This is a place for HD DVD. There are already blogs and forum sites where people can learn and brag about the other choices.
October 19th, 2007 at 6:52 pm
are you crazy? do you know how many units the 360 has sold in the us alone since it first came out? its only picking up momentum, with the price drops, so far 7 million units in the us, playstation 3 has only 1.7 million in the us. even with the price drops today ps3 80 gb for $499 and the 40gb in november it is still in deep trouble, and still too expensive. and just one good hit in heavenly sword, but 360 has bioshock, halo3, mass effect in november, last years gears of war, sony’s gonna have to drop the price to match the $279 version of the 360,a nd come out with better games and have microsoft somehow not have any more good games for sony to catch up
October 19th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
It’s a classic FUD (fear, uncertainty, doubt) tactic to spread misinformation and try to get people to believe those falsehoods. Misrepresenting Xbox 360 sales was a particulary bad point to choose because it’s so easily refuted, and by the mainstream media, no less.
October 19th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
hey bret: look at how well the PS2 is selling.
and that’s a DEAD console.
and then think about the 360, a relatively new console.
yeah.
exactly.
October 20th, 2007 at 7:58 am
My point in bringing up the fact that now Xbox might include a HD drive standard in one of their many editions will not have nearly the same effect that it would have had if it were there from the beginning. Bringing up games does not do much for your argument, as games as a matter of opinion. I personally hate first person shooter games. I agree with you though that Halo 3 is a big game for Xbox. Correct me if I’m mistaken, but doesn’t Playstation 3 have Metal Gear Solid coming out, which is a pretty big exclusive game.
I guess when I think about it, Microsoft could have folded their big lead if they waited until the system was ready for release instead of rushing it out. I’m sure you’ve heard of some of the early problems Xbox had, so that’s really a mute point.
With regards to FUD, that is what I get from every other site between both HD and BD supporters. I was not trying to spread FUD here, but I don’t believe the 7 million people that own a Xbox 360 will go out and get another one just because it has a HD DVD drive standard on it.
October 20th, 2007 at 8:31 am
Bret, if you’re so tired of the FUD then don’t propagate the same practices when it’s your turn to post messages. You’re basically using the commenting opportunity to plant seeds of doubt. In this particular instance, it was about the Xbox 360’s popularity and usefulness of HD DVD playback. The much better audience for this is over at PS3 and Blu-ray oriented venues.
The PS3 is great hardware, however the cost is prohibitive and the software library only boasts a few great titles in a few genres. It hasn’t even been out for a year yet, and we’ve already seen it go through a few pricing and model modifications to make it more attractive. Given another year, I’m sure the PS3 will be able to hold its own ground in terms of unit sales and game library.
In contrast, the 360 did not see price cuts or new models for a very long time. This is consistent with their strategy to make it a game box with media extension capabilities. Making the HD DVD optional was necessary at the time of release, and it’s continued absense in a player is also more proof of Microsoft’s focus for that game console.
October 20th, 2007 at 9:03 am
It seems to me that the PS3’s struggles (and there is no denying that the console is struggling) are due to several factors:
1) The console got to market a full year after the 360. By that time the latter console had already sold millions of units. Most people are npt going to invest over $800 to own two game consoles, so Sony lost millions of potential sales among those people who wanted a next gen console as soon as possible.
2) Sony overestimated the impact of BluRay to their sales of the console. Most people are perfectly content with SD DVD and are not going to buy a game console based on HD Video playback. In other words people buy a game console to play games. I never got the HD add on for the 360. When the time came I got a stand alone. My game console is for games.
3) PS3, as others have said, does not have a killer game over a year into it’s life. Xbox 360 on the other hand has several, most notably Halo3 , Bio Shock and Gears of War. People go out to buy the console specifically to play those games.
4) And VERY important, the PS2 is still a GREAT console with a wide catalogue of inexpensive games. I still have my PS2 and use it all the time. Why upgrade to a PS3 with limited game selection when the older console is just fine?
5) Price point is also a big factor. I now own two 360’s, one for me and one for my daughter and we can play through Xbox live from different areas and have a ball with that. PS3 is simply too expensive to buy multiple units.
6) Xbox Live is simply far and away the best online gaming experience for the console. Sony, by it’s own admission has miles to go to catch up in this area.
What all this has to do with HD DVD vs BluRay is unclear but those are my opinions about the lack of real success of the PS3.
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:30 pm
3) PS3, as others have said, does not have a killer game over a year into it’s life. Xbox 360 on the other hand has several, most notably Halo3 , Bio Shock and Gears of War. People go out to buy the console specifically to play those games.
Now that is FUD if I have ever heard it.
You apparently have never touched a ps3. Let alone warhawk, hevanly sword, resistance, motorstorm, tenken 5, not to mention all the 3rd party software.
By the way UT2008 > Halo 3, in fact UT > then all things halo, sorry to say. Talk to the creators of UT about how much they think microsofts closed source operation sucks, I guess you could talk to harmonix as well (special wireless technology, ha ha ha. Its called bluetooth MS!!!!)
Xbox Live is simply far and away the biggest rip off in gaming history. Pay 60$ a year on top of a DSL line for something I have been doing on a pc for ten years? Hmm, sounds like fud to me. I don’t care if turns water into wine, I refuse to pay a dime for online gaming unless its World of Warcraft! At least I can understand the cost there. Microsoft is the biggest bunch of scum on the planet, but I guess I can’t blame them for taking advantage of the stupid.
PS3 = greatest multimedia device ever created and I bought it for movies but now I enjoy games again and so did a lot of people so point two is pretty much something you just made up in your head.
Oh yeah, 40Gb ps3 is 399 with built in bluray drive, sounds like the price point is just right and your point 5 is garbage too.
I am sure I will be called a fanboy because I have the audacity to disagree with the all knowing Pravin the great world view.
Praise be XBOX360, Praise be Toshiba and the giver of life HDDVD. HDDVD is up there with the polio vaccine!
October 22nd, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Your obeisance is accepted and you will be blessed shortly.
Guys, don’t even try to refute his “argument” because it’s not worth your time and effort. I only approved his rant for its amusement value.
Plenty of gaming sites and mainstream media handily disprove his statements, and there’s need for us to even try.
Comments are now closed on this posting because it’s obviously become fanboy bait, and that’s not what this site is for.