Comments on: Sony details Blu-ray plans, new product releases

Cameras, eBook reader, music phones to be among electronics giant's new offerings.
Photos: Sony's coming lineup

[baisa]

Typical Gartner nonsense

Gartner analyst Van Baker says people won't buy next-gen DVD until someone "wins" the format war. What nonsense, and typical of what passes for analysis at Gartner.

If movies are available fairly widely in either format, people will buy that format. And it is likely combo players will be made, compatible with both formats. The lifespan of consumer tech is now so low that people don't view investing in a player the same way they did back in the VHS/Beta days. It is not such a big deal to replace something after a couple of years or less. And two years after the intro of either format, you can be a low-end combo player will sell for peanuts, so it is no big deal anyway.

[markdoiron]

Replacing Stuff

Brad, you say, "It is not such a big deal to replace something after a couple of years or less."

it is for me. and i suspect that it is for lots of other folks, too. besides the obvious drain this puts on family finanaces, there is also the enviromental impact of high turn-over of electronic devices. even businesses are balking at the constant need to upgrade: to wit, lots of them are sticking with older computers, and with older versions of windows and office because they do the job "well enough".

bottom line: i'm not seeing the **compelling** reason to upgrade from dvd to either format and, if the cost of the high def content is significantly higher (remember cassette to cd?), i plan to stick with dvd.

mark d.

[emellaich]

Error in Story

I think the story has an error that you may want to correct. It says the Sony ebook was "previously available in the United States". I believe you mean that the Sony ebook was previously UNavailable in the United States. Previously (currently) Sony only sells its Libre ebook in Japan.

Thanks,
Michael

[ordaj]

Any rootkits?

Highly likely.

[skeptik]

If I told you, I'd have to kill you...

Yes, Sony plans 4 new invasive rootkits, but the press is forbidden by law from discussing them because they are so stealth that even mentioning them is the first step in cracking their DRM and the Sony lawyers are agressively persecuting (yes that's the word I meant) anyone who even entertains a notion of thinking about glancing sideways at a discussion of cracking their latest DRM endeavors.
But you didn't hear that from me!

[anarchyreigns]

Boycott Sony, boycott Blu-ray!

<eom>

[bobby_brady]

I'm not buying Sony, I'm afraid of Rootkits or Rootkit like software

being installed.

[psedog]

Rootkits???

Why is everyone so worried about "Rootkits". Sony made one bad deal with another company that probably deceived them. Now the whole company is bad after making one mistake? Every time I hear of this "Rootkit" paranoia I can't help but wonder how young the posters must be. This "Rootkit" epidemic didn't even have any real casualties, but oh yeah, I forgot the sky is falling, right?
All I have to say is Grow up.

[Rolndubbs]

.........

Yep, that sony tv is going to network itself to my computer through the power cables and install a rootkit on my computer!!!! Or maybe it will somehow use the DVI out on my media center to upload a virus!!!! Sony is evil and must die!!!!

Please note the sarcasm in my above comments, and try using your brain for once. If you don't want to buy sony products, fine, but don't try to scare people off with your nonsense.

[C.Schroeder]

Car audio mis-step?

<quote> car stereo faceplates that can connect to computers to download and store music for playback on the road </quote>

OK, that's sort of cool, but wouldn't it make more sense to provide a standardized digital port for portable players to jack into?

[Andrew J Glina]

iPod-like hard drive

...and people say CNET does not like Apple! What kind of garbage is that? Since when did Apple make hard drives? They were not even the first to offer a HD music player...

[maneeshpan]

I still use my VCR sometimes DVD player

I read that major studios want to outlaw analog capture. I have
an ATI based TV Tuner with analog capture for Windows XP and
a DVD writer from Sony along with Nero 7 so I can burn CDs and
DVDs.

I still use my VCR sometimes and other times use my TV Tuner
which both have analog capture -- I also download video for
free off major p2p networks so I can get them without DRM. It is
easier for studios to encryot video in digital form than analog so
they want to stop analog capture. Most of the movies I own are
in VHS while I have bought a few DVDs most of my videos
though I prefer to record myself.

I have a video iPod with 80 GB of space and an iPod AV video
cable to connect it to my television and watch video, I buy
music, TV shows and movies now from iTunes Store frequently
which I can transfer to my iPod or play on my computer, watch
on my TV using iPod and soon plan to buy an Apple TV device so
I can play the content from my iTunes Library bought on iTunes
directly on my television without using up the iPod's battery.

I plan to buy a new HD TV in about a year but have no plans to
jump ship for BluRay Disc or HD DVD until they can be cracked
and still be usable afterwards.

Even while I buy on iTunes I am wary that DRM in video
purchases cannot be easily removed that's why I use moderation
in my purchases. Still prefer to download for free off p2p most
of the time.

I have a Nintendo DS at home to play games and also an Intel
Mac Mini. Screw the studios I use existing technology I'm not
buying content on new formats anytime soon.

Boycott BluRay and HD DVD.