Blu-ray & HD-DVD Hybrid

Samsung and Toshiba have joined forces to end the format wars for good. They are releasing a hybrid player that plays both Blu-ray and HD-DVD formats. But that 's not all! Sony and NEC are also releasing a dual-format player of Blu-ray and HD-DVD. This is back-up for Sony, since they did loose miserably with Beta.

[bernie]

Sony are right to have a backup plan, after reading this new, HD-DVD Vs Bluray review.

http://www.dvdtown.com/arti...

I don't know if it's too late for Microsoft to produce a dual layer add-on drive or Sony to change their setup somehow, but overall it seems best to stick with good old DVD for now.

[Droidbro]

How is this a good back up plan for sony? Now they have a $600 monstrosity that will only play half of all movies. Unless they can figure out a way to put a hd-dvd and blu-ray version on the same disc. Or at least a two sided disc. Sony is screwed if this is true. MS can still change their HD-dvd player. Good thing theyre producing it seperately. They have time to change this kind of stuff, unlike sony...

[DG]

Why wouldnt sony have time to change it swaping drives is not a complicated task not for a million units in 4 months anyway.

[TheMART]

Because if things are going according plan, they are already producing the first couple of PS3's.

When they can implement a new drive (without any child deseases still in it), they'll be some time from now.

Customers with a BR drive only will start to complain if newer ones can play all. Also, if they do that, they'll automatically say: well we don't believe in BR so much anymore, we are going to put HD-DVD also in it...

[Droidbro]

you know how muching testing and debugging would be needed to switch out the drive. that, and devs are creating games and dev kits that have the bd drive in it.

[DG]

Even if they can and have time to do it they wouldnt. The war is still on dont get if confused both sides are just compromising to get the people in to it but only one will be left standing. Its still going to come down to two things price and the moview execs.

[greenlynxx]

This is just one more evidence that MS made the right decision by not going with either of the new dvd formats. There is simply too much confusion right now.

[Fat Onion]

checked out the website. if blue ray is having so much loading issues with movies, i can't imagine how bad the loading issues will be with ps3. guess thats the reason for the delay.

[pRo loGic II]

Is this real and if so WTF is Toshiba doing, they could have won the format war; that is; if HV-DVD got off the ground.

[Moostache]

I can't see how Sony would EVER let something like this happen BEFORE they release their own Blu-Ray players....

I expect a follow up article denying this later today or tomorrow AM at the latest...

It would be great news though if it were true (at least from a movie fan perspective. I can't see it happening though simply because this would almost force Sony to either redesign the PS3 (again) at the last minute (to include a hybrid drive instead of a straight BD drive) or it would mean that the PS3 would not be nearly as attractive as a "next-gen movie player" if it only plays one format and stand alone units can play both....

No way is this true.

[pRo loGic II]

Is this real and if so WTF is Toshiba doing, they could have won the format war; that is; if HV-DVD got off the ground.

[Unknownunknown]

They were clearly whipping up on the competition with their HD-DVD drive. It had superior image quality and far less problems.

[dikturbo]

Little late for this type of BS don't you think. No way will SONY release a dual platform player. They clearly have all their eggs in the PS3/BR basket. If they are delaying PS3 to integrate this dual format then the SONY spin marketing machine should get to work right now by first shutting up their executives. Every time these guys open their mouths they contradict each other. Contradiction occurs when there isn't a plan. These guys are either the most astute tactile buggers you've ever seen or they have no clue what to do next. It sure seems like the later.

[Droidbro]

Stop lying to yourself

[DG]

Wow imagine the egos that had to be crushed for this to happend. People forget that the only difference originally betwneen BR & HDDVD was that one used a blue laser and the other a violet and I think HDDVD later on went with blue anyway so they are basically the same tech. It was more about who can market it and push it better (ie the PS3). But people just want HD content Im glad this happend if its true. Now bring on that holographic stuff!

[BIadestarX]

I knew this was going to happen. If I were Toshiba I would be very careful; Sony can be be trying some dirty trick. Let’s say that the PS3 plays Blu-Ray only and all drives play Blu-Ray + HD-DVD. People with PS3 will buy blu-ray movies for sure; while people with standard players can play both. So, if a blu-ray movie works on every HD player plus the PS3 why would I buy a HD-DVD movie? I smell a mistake from Toshiba. I say let Sony hang itself and be eaten by worms. This hybrid deal can only benefit Sony.

[DG]

Booooyahhhhhhhh...

The greates advantage on the batlefield is the element of surprise.
Sun Tzu.

hey wasnt he from the same continent? LOL

[Droidbro]

not all movies would come out on both formats

[Droidbro]

were just going to have to wait to see how things pan out

[shoota33]

You half to be stupid to think this is really going to happen.

[DG]

No...but all parties would be stupid if they didnt make it happend. But knowing the @$$holes at both camps Im honestly taking this with a smile and a grain of salt.

[The Real Deal]

5. Next-Generation Performance: Here it is, the part where we can talk about how Blu-Ray and HD-DVD compare where it counts – High Definition. Sadly, this comparison is not entirely accurate for a few reasons. First and foremost, Blu-Ray is currently saddled with space limitations on the media. They are having a difficult time mass producing dual-layered media and are not expected to deliver dual-layered films until after the holiday season. Because of this, the Blu-Ray titles are being presented in near ancient MPEG-2 conversion. I hope this is the cause of my player’s hiccups and they will go away through time. I have a five year warranty, just in case. The HD-DVD films utilize Microsoft’s VC-1 compression. The films are being released in Dual-Layer. Here is the sentence you are waiting for: At the current time, HD-DVD offers a superior picture to Blu-Ray. Once dual-layer Blu-Ray discs become available, that will change.

[DG]

cool! Im thinking that wouldnt effect the first gen PS3 games right since they are only 1 layer anyway.

[Dragonopolis]

I hate moving parts. The real technology that isn't ready yet because of price per Gigabyte will provide smaller, faster, more secure, better protection is Flash Rom and Holographic storage (my person favorite) I want credit card size storage and ultra fast loading speeds and I believe that DVD technology can only go so far. I not a big fan of Internet download technology. I believe we have a long way to go in other technologies such as Cheaper faster computers. No way am I buying a $1500 computer just to play HD content on my tv from the internet. I also know that While someone else is watching tv another person in the house is on the computer playing a Video game and the two aren't compatible at the same time. So, you'll need a computer for work and play and another computer just to play downloaded content. Not going to happen. It will be a lonnnnnnnng time before (more than ten years) before Internet becomes the King of distribution.

[HyperBear]

It may be crazy and quite expensive, but why not just get the HD DVD add-on for christmas or whenver it comes out. And wait half a year or so, or however long it takes to you to save up for a PS3 and get that. Then you have both Blu-Ray and HD DVD, and running off of both Xbox 360 and PS3. That would not only be kick @$$ in your room, but your experiencing best of both worlds from Microsoft and Sony. Thats what Im doin.

[HyperBear]

but then most likely people would rathe rbuy HD DVD movies for HD DVD players and the HD DVD add-on for 360, over Blu-Ray movies and Blu-Ray players in the PS3. HD DVD is pretty much the exact same thing as Blu-Ray except for 5GB of storage. HD DVD players are cheaper, the movies are few bucks cheaper than Blu-Ray, and above all else, HD DVD does the exact same thing as Blu-Ray does, which bring movies to a HD era of 1080i or 1080p. So If your gonna be like me and get HD DVD add-on for 360 and buy PS3 a little later on, use 360 for games and HD DVD movies and use PS3 for games, seeing is how all games made for PS3 are on Blu-Ray discs.

[jedicurt]

Do what??? would people quit saying the hd-dvd's are a few bucks cheaper than Blu-ray, please go to amazon.com and type in hd-dvd and then type in blu-ray. Just by looking at this site, it looks to me like they will be pretty close to the same price, if blu-ray actually isn't even alittle cheaper, with more of their movies being at 19.99.

[PS360PCROCKS]

yeah and those are old movies that are redone

[MySwordIsHeavenly]

Seriously guys...if you've seen both formats...Blu-ray looks 10 TIMES better. Go talk to ANY person at your local Best Buy...why do you think they're dropping HD-DVD? It sux!!! The Blu-Rays dont scratch that easily...HD-DVD's still do!!! Why are you all so DUMB???

[Ugly American]

ha ha
hahahahaha
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
That post was great. The guys at MY Best Buy are not the sharpest tools in the shed. On top of the fact that there are SO many Blu-Ray vs HD-DVD displays set up.

It will be okay. The world is not coming to an end, just yet.

[Cyclonus]

Actually, dumbass, HD-DVD looks better than BooRay, which is even more pathetic, considering BooRay players cost TWICE what HD players do.

And Best Buy employees are ORDERED to promote BooRay, because Fony has given them $$$ to push that sh1tty product. Why are you such a dikless [email protected]?

But go ahead, and buy BluBallz and PoS2.5....the BUYERS REMORSE is gonna be fvckin HILARIOUS!!!

suck it, Sony

[Nodoze]

If you seriously think that the picture quality for Blu Ray is superior, you clearly have not had the stomach to read the early rerviews. Additionally in some of the Best Buy's they are playing HD-DVD and trying to pass it off as Blu Ray!! There is an entire thread about the deceptive Best Buy practices, one of which is to disconnect and move the HD DVD players out of sight, so that they can push Blu Ray. Sounds to me like Sony is already running scared if these are the tactics they need to use to push the 'superior' format they have invented. Oh and one last note, Pixar laughed at BluRay and flat refused to put any of their movies on the format. As such the exces at Disney needed to announce that they 'may' release on HD DVD as well. BetaMax, SACD, UMD, SD memory cards....and now BluRay looks like history is destined to repeat itself!

Read the threads about BluRay:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs...

[Marriot VP]

I got a question for you guys. Is the PS3 blu-ray player gonna be double sided. So instead of 25gbs it'll be able to handle 50gb disks.

Also I don't think the 360 HD-dvd drive will have to be double sided. 15gb is plenty, and 25gb for blu-ray is more than enough.

It's better we keep player prices low and don't kid ourselves about game or movie space needed.

[HyperBear]

The PS3 Blu-Ray will only be one sided, 25GB and same with the HD DVD add-on for Xbox 360, it to will only be one sided to 15GB. But if you buy the actual Blu-Ray or HD DVD players, then they are double-sided, Blu-Ray Player = $1300 = 50GB, HD DVD = $700 = 45GB.

[Marriot VP]

moocho thanks hyperbear, I didn't think the consoles players would be too keep the price low.

it kinda makes me laugh though cause you had everybody saying that you need 40-50 gbs for a ps3 game....lol. No game in my opinion will use more than 10-15gbs

[Moostache]

I could be totally off here, but doesn't the single-layer vs. dual-layer distinction rest entirely on the software (discs) and have nothing to do whatsoever with the hardware (BD or HD-DVD drive)?

The players will be able to read any disc (single layer or dual layer). the distinction only becomes important when you talk about writing to the discs in a write/re-writable drive. Then you have certain drives that cannot handle dual-layer writing, but unless I am completely wrong, all drives will be able to read either single or dual layer discs on HD-DVD and BD, whichever format they support that is...

[Marriot VP]

Nah, Moostache dual layer means it's on both sides and would require two lasers. Something like triple layer would rely on the disks and software themselves.

Like DVD-9, the 360 has two lasers on each side.

[pRo loGic II]

RE: Number >40 I found 100 more just like it. http://www.avsforum.com/avs...

[Shadow Flare]

the fact that the rival companies have put their heads together to create a player that plays both formats is most prob a sign none of them really knows what format will win. So they're just playing it safer this way.

I think though, that the 360 may have an add-on HD-DVD drive, but the fact that there's a blu-ray drive built into the ps3, is a big factor in blu-rays success and shouldnt be underestimated

[PS360PCROCKS]

I think though, that the 360 may have an add-on HD-DVD drive

where have u been? and it will only factor in if it can correctly work, doesn't look like crap like the initial players do now, and it actually is bought just for a movie player.

[FeralPhoenix]

Wow this is Big News if true, I know in one of my posts before I said that this was very likely to happen....can anyone provide a creditable link to confirm this?

[Marty8370]

Considering its old news that Sony & NEC have merge part of CD/DVD lense makin division's.This could well be true as that could have been Sony's backup plan all along,having a slice of both NEC(which backs HD-DVD)and Sony(which backs Bluray)perfect business.

[Joe Schmoe]

You can buy either format at 19.99 at walmart same price. I bought my first BD at best buy for 19.99 the fifth element

[Say's you]

Guy's talking about? I'mean come on did Sony recently released a slim PS2 I'mean they know they can't take off a PS3 that has Blu Ray already built in so like after the ones that has Blu Ray built in they'er going to make another PS3 that has Blu Ray and HD DVD hybrid now if you can't make a choice of which next gen DVD format

you want then you can just have them both on one disc on the PS3.

[Say's you]

Guy's talking about? I'mean come on did Sony recently released a slim PS2 I'mean they know they can't take off a PS3 that has Blu Ray already built in so like after the ones that has Blu Ray built in they'er going to make another PS3 that has Blu Ray and HD DVD hybrid now if you can't make a choice of which next gen DVD format

you want then you can just have them both on one disc on the PS3.

[Say's you]

Guy's talking about? I'mean come on did Sony recently released a slim PS2 I'mean they know they can't take off a PS3 that has Blu Ray already built in so like after the ones that has Blu Ray built in they'er going to make another PS3 that has Blu Ray and HD DVD hybrid now if you can't make a choice of which next gen DVD format

you want then you can just have them both on one disc on the PS3.

[Say's you]

Guy's talking about? I'mean come on did Sony recently released a slim PS2 I'mean they know they can't take off a PS3 that has Blu Ray already built in so like after the ones that has Blu Ray built in they'er going to make another PS3 that has Blu Ray and HD DVD hybrid now if you can't make a choice of which next gen DVD format

you want then you can just have them both on one disc on the PS3.