HD-DVD is dead

[The Green Guy]

Toshiba, the proprietary company behind HD-DVD has officially pulled the plug and is no longer making HD-DVD players. Here is an official press release ...

TOKYO--Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the market. Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.

Format war over, Blu-Ray wins!!!!!!!!

Now maybe one day Microsoft will use Blu-Ray and games like Lost Odyssey won't be on 4 DVD discs!!!

[duFfstyLe]

Wow Sony finally wins a format war. Remember Beta? Lost. Mini discs? Lost. UMD's? well not lost but no one really makes anything for them but Sony. In a way, I didn't care, because whoever would win will make gaming a better place all together.

[Wobbly Goblin]

Microsoft Planning Blu-ray For Xbox 360, Following Fall of HD DVD

Hollywood (dbTechno) - Reports have been flying since the fall of Toshiba’s HD DVD high-def format. It is now believed that Microsoft may be coming out with a Blu-ray add-on for the Xbox 360 as early as May 2008, to compete with the Sony PS3.

Microsoft has stated in the past that they are not 100% loyal to the HD DVD brand, as they have stated time and time again that they are open to giving the consumer what they want. It is now clear that the consumer wants Blu-ray, and Microsoft may be listening to them as they are apparnetly planning a Blu-ray Xbox 360 for release in May 2008.

The HD DVD format is expected to be killed off this week, and one of its big supporters is ready to make the switch over to Blu-ray.

The news comes from David Richards at the Aussi online technology magazine SmartHouse. They state that “insiders at Microsoft” have told them about the Blu-ray plans for the Xbox 360.

Microsoft is working on a standalone Blu-ray player for the Xbox 360, similar to the current HD DVD add-on external drive for the Xbox 360 released over a year ago.

The Blu-ray add-on drive for the Xbox 360 could be ready to go by May 2008.

There is also word that they are working on an Xbox 360 which has a Blu-ray player built into it.

The big news though, and the more likely scenario, is that the Xbox 360 will be getting an external Blu-ray drive to better compete with the Sony PS3.

Source --> http://www.dbtechno.com/gaming/2008/...all-of-hd-dvd/

[shwiger]

i'm proud to say i won 50 bucks from a friend. We bet when the discussion first came about.

[duFfstyLe]

Originally Posted by Wobbly Goblin

Microsoft Planning Blu-ray For Xbox 360, Following Fall of HD DVD

Hollywood (dbTechno) - Reports have been flying since the fall of Toshiba’s HD DVD high-def format. It is now believed that Microsoft may be coming out with a Blu-ray add-on for the Xbox 360 as early as May 2008, to compete with the Sony PS3.

Microsoft has stated in the past that they are not 100% loyal to the HD DVD brand, as they have stated time and time again that they are open to giving the consumer what they want. It is now clear that the consumer wants Blu-ray, and Microsoft may be listening to them as they are apparnetly planning a Blu-ray Xbox 360 for release in May 2008.

The HD DVD format is expected to be killed off this week, and one of its big supporters is ready to make the switch over to Blu-ray.

The news comes from David Richards at the Aussi online technology magazine SmartHouse. They state that “insiders at Microsoft” have told them about the Blu-ray plans for the Xbox 360.

Microsoft is working on a standalone Blu-ray player for the Xbox 360, similar to the current HD DVD add-on external drive for the Xbox 360 released over a year ago.

The Blu-ray add-on drive for the Xbox 360 could be ready to go by May 2008.

There is also word that they are working on an Xbox 360 which has a Blu-ray player built into it.

The big news though, and the more likely scenario, is that the Xbox 360 will be getting an external Blu-ray drive to better compete with the Sony PS3.

Source --> http://www.dbtechno.com/gaming/2008/...all-of-hd-dvd/

Would be sweet to get ps3 games reformatted to 360 so they are playable on the 360.

[The Green Guy]

That "DBTechno" source is stating rumors as facts. The real facts are that Microsoft doesn't comment on rumors and nothing official has been announced.

The truth is M$ is all about their download service and after the failure that was the HD-DVD add on I can almost guarantee we won't be getting a Blu-ray add on drive. You can download and stream HD quality movies to your 360 now, sure they are not Blu-ray, but the avg consumer isn't running 1080P HDMI anyway.

[shwiger]

i'm glad i'm not the avg customer

[CyberKnight]

Yeah, but what a crappy format to win. The final revision still hasn't been released, and only then will it finally catch up to the feature set of HD-DVD. And the early players can't be upgraded (PS3 excepted).

I for one won't be downloading any movies anytime soon because of three little letters: DRM. Until I can take a downloaded movie and watch it downstairs, upstairs, or in the minivan, tying a movie to one device (and, in the 360's case, a device that is prone to death and very spotty results transferring those rights to a replacement device) is just stupid as far as I'm concerned.

Downloadable games have their pros and cons. Once installed, I admit it's nice not to have to load or swap discs. Getting there, though, is a pain. Last time I loaded Halo 2 on the 360, it took far less time to install the three map packs I have on disc than it took to install the one I had to download. And of course there are DRM issues, and resale is right out, and you have to manage hard drive space instead of shelf space, so in addition to buying the game you have to buy the overpriced hard drive...

Ok, I'm done ranting for today.