Warner joins Blu-ray DVD camp

Warner Bros. Entertainment said Thursday that its home video division will release DVDs in the high-definition Blu-ray format. The move further tips the scales in an industry weighing the merits of two rival next-generation technologies.

Warner, which had decided to distribute films in the popular HD DVD format, is now the second big Hollywood company to say it will also release films in Blu-ray. However, the trend toward supporting two formats seems to be one-directional; companies dedicated to Blu-ray have not moved to add HD DVD to their mix.

The competing formats are each backed by powerful technology companies, including Sony for Blu-ray and Toshiba for HD DVD, leading analysts and executives to fear a format war similar to the one between VHS and Betamax more than two decades ago.

For several months, Hollywood studios had been split almost evenly between the two formats, each studio saying it would release high-definition DVDs next year only in one format or the other. Paramount Pictures, however, broke ranks earlier this month to say it would release films in both. Warner's decision accelerates that trend.

On Wednesday, analyst firm Forrester Research released a report that predicted the Blu-ray format would ultimately win.

On Wednesday, however, computer giant Hewlett-Packard appealed to the Blu-ray group to include some HD DVD features, including a so-called mandatory managed-copy function that previously had been a key concern of Microsoft and Intel, which support HD DVD.

"Managed copying" would allow consumers to use a home computer or server to copy a DVD, and then stream or play the DVD around a home network, but not to burn the DVD again or send its contents online. HD DVD specifications require the managed-copying feature, but Blu-ray makes it optional.

Warner said it will join the Blu-ray Disc Association's board of directors, but still plans to release movies in HD DVD format as well. Discs and players of both types are expected to reach shelves next year.

Does Microsoft really matter?

Do they really matter? After all they are just a software company, they are not a hardware company nor a content provider.

The same with intel. Aside from chips they do not make computers, set top boxes nor do they provide content.

Not to beat up on HD-DVD alone, but Blu-ray has NVidia.

Sure I can understand Dell and Apple (after alll they will be the one putting the players in their systems. But why do inner-gut-hardware (Nvidia, Intel) companies and software companies (Microsoft) really matter?

[JCCox]

No they dont.

Its the likes of Sony, and Warner Bros that are going to determine if a format works.

Microsoft is an important company, but not in terms of producing a new format.

yes, Microsoft and Intel do matter

Hardware from intel and software from microsoft matters because they will support streaming of content from HD-DVD or Blue-ray disks as well as the hardware to support security features. HDCP protection will most likely be closely tied to these HD disk formats.

[cjohn17]

MS: One Trick Format

It amuses me that MS supports HD-DVD and Apple supports Blu-
Ray. Once again MS proves itself to be just behind the innovation
curve by backing "a one trick pony" format.

http://espellahumanzee.blogspot.com/

[Rolndubbs]

Microsoft

I only wonder if there support of HD-DVD stems from the fact that there video game competitor sony developed blue-ray, and because it is going to be in the PS3. It doesn't suprise me at all that microsoft isn't supporting blue-ray, it would be like them coming out and saying "Hey, sony chose the most innovative format for there console, and we didn't"

[EvlD99]

Don't spam

Your argument doesn't make sense. What would make HD-DVD a "one trick pony" but not Blue-Ray? Microsofts next operating system is going to be very media oriented and one feature that they are looking for is the ability to copy a movie to the hard drive. This is something that the Blue-Ray standard is not commited to.

[DaClyde]

multi-format players?

How hard will it be for the manufacturers just to produce multi-format players? At most, we're talking about a circuit board and a diode here, not the huge physical difference between VHS & betamax. If the studios don't pick one format over the other in the next year, multi-format players will probably be as common as multi-system VCRs (that play NTSC/PAL/SECAM) are everywhere except the US. In the end, it likely won't matter to the consumer except perhaps in which format game systems support.

[nicmart]

Multi-system VCRs "everywhere"?

I don't notice that PAL is taking Indianapolis by storm.

These VCRs have a tiny percentage of the U.S. market, and are
largely purchased by immigrants from non-NTSC countries.
Their use isn't so trivial since they must also be connected to
televisions that also support each format.

Even if the manufacture of multi-format players is relatively
cheap, it won't be cheap enough in an intensely price-driven
electronics market where one dollar is a lot. (Sony didn't even
include a blank disk with the DVD recorder I recently bought.)
One format will win, or they will be unified.

Most importantly, there will be pressure from content suppliers
toward one format, since their costs are increased by
redundance.

[nicmart]

"Warner's decision accelerates that trend"

Does it really accelerate a trend for one company to be joined by a
second company in supporting both formats? Not if the word
"accelerate" still has something to do with velocity. Used in this
way, each time two friends meet for lunch it would accelerate a
trend. What would journalists do without trends, and hype? Now,
get out there and accelerate your trends!

[jwmoreland]

clever

;-)

[Thunder Johny]

accelerate both formats

http://www.analogstereo.com/dual_action_cleanser.htm

[grey_eminence]

New Blu-Ray and Holographic Forum

Alot of information where you can also post your thoughts.

Great Sight !!