Microsoft Drops Price On HD DVD Add-On

Talk about inventory clearance!

Microsoft was kind enough to drop the price on their Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on to $49.99, but they're still obviously discontinuing the unit. You would think Microsoft would be giving these away in light of recent events, but the liquidation sale is on. So if you're looking for an HD DVD player on the cheap (even though you won't have many movies), here it is.

[Xbox via Gizmodo]

Paramount, Universal Go Blu-Ray

With the official announcement from Toshiba today that they are ending their development of HD DVD, word comes down that Paramount and Universal will publish films on Blu-Ray. This isn't a surprising move, considering that the landscape of the HD format war has completely tilted towards Blu-Ray. Universal had this to say:

"While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray"

I guess very soon, Blu-Ray owners will be able to pick up that Transformers movie that they've always wanted.

Breaking: Universal Studios Goes Blu [High-Def Digest via Crunchgear]

Sony Laughs At Microsoft About HD DVD

Although Mircosoft kinda shrugged off the demise of HD DVD, leave it to Sony to point fingers in a very classy way (insert sarcasm). Check the quote from Dave Karraker, who is senior director for corporate communications for Sony Computer Entertainment America.

"It’s unfortunate that Microsoft’s external HD-DVD drive will not enhance the experience at all for the gamer. Sony realizes that to truly take gaming into the next generation requires a larger data format for both games and movies. PS3 uses the Blu-ray format for gaming, giving developers 50 GB of high-definition storage on a single disc, while Microsoft’s 9 GB DVD gaming format is an obstacle for storing HD content. Furthermore, Microsoft’s announced HD games patch is really just a compatibility feature — upscaling lower-resolution content does not make it Full HD (1080p), something that PS3 can do out of the box."

Did I miss something?

Outside of a couple of good (not great) games, the PS3's 50GB storage that they like to parade around hasn't equaled up to the 9GB that the 360 has taken to the next level. Just because you have a lot of space doesn't mean you know what to do with it. People don't care that your games are in "Full HD" if your game sucks in "Full HD". Just because it might look pretty doesn't make it good, just ask Star Wars fans about the last trilogy.

Sony, please concentrate on the first 9GB like Xbox 360 has and see if you can put together a truly great game. And if you need all that extra space afterwards, then use it. And please stop patting yourself on the back, if it wasn't for the built in Blu-Ray no one would be buying your console.

That's the truth.

Sony Responds to HD-DVD Announcement [Kotaku via Crunchgear]

Microsoft digs doing the 'ostrich thing'

"We do not believe the recent reports about HD DVD will have any material impact on the Xbox 360 platform or our position in the marketplace," the company said. "We will wait until we hear from Toshiba before announcing any specific plans around the Xbox 360 HD DVD player." [MSNBC.com]

Well, that's a nice try. But I'll give it a failing grade. If Microsoft continues with no platform changes, it will be a nearly Xbox-only platform, which means further development will be expensive compared to the number of units on the market (which should keep dropping like a stone?).

Waiting for Toshiba? Why? What? If the future is this clearly blue, why the waffling? Or is there something else in the wind?

HD Format War Is Over: Toshiba Throws In Towel

Well that's it kids!!!

Although no official word from Toshiba, a report on Japan's NHK said that Toshiba has decided to pull from the next generation of high definition DVD production. Obviously this doesn't come as a surprise to anyone following the HD format war. With the decision of Wal-Mart, Netflix, and Best Buy going exclusively to Blu-Ray this week, it was just a matter of time for Toshiba to end production on HD DVD.

The NHK report states that HD DVD products will stay on the market for a while, Toshiba will cease production of HD DVD and will close factories in northern Japan. The report says that Toshiba will take a financial hit in the ball park of "hundreds of millions of U.S. dollars". The official announcement is set to come sometime next week.

So if you find that HD DVD player you've alway wanted for the low low price you were looking for, there is a reason.

[NKH via Crave]

Microsoft Drops Price Of 360 HD DVD Add-On

Well if you don't believe that HD DVD is done and you've been wanting to pick up that new Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on, Microsoft is dropping their price for the unit. The once $179.99 HD DVD add-on is now available for $129.99, and it still qualifies for the five free HD DVD movies that was once a good deal.

Who knows, maybe this will save HD DVD.......... Oh, who am I kidding?

Xbox 360 HD DVD Player price drop (now US $129.99) [MajorNelson via G4TV]

HD DVD's Motto In A Nut Shell

Sometimes, you just can't make this stuff up.

The ad for HD DVD at the CES.

[via Gizmodo]

How HD DVD Was The Better Format

I don't usually care for long posts, but this subject just needs to be talked about. Brian Lam of Gizmodo just says it all about the HD format war. Just read below:

"Before winning the majority of Hollywood studio support, those partial to the Blu-ray format have primarily relied on a few points to make their case: more storage and rocketing sales at the ratio of 2:1 to HD DVD. Those are bullshit arguments. As consumers, we should have only been looking at what each format delivered and in that case, HD DVD was a more stable platform with more features on almost every disc that was offered in both. It's a moot point now, because the platform with more content deserves to win, but here's why I wish HD DVD wasn't on its knees:
When Wilson compared the same discs in each format, Harry Potter and 300, HD DVD had many, many more features. Proof is in the pudding:

The difference is still less subtle when comparing the two editions of 300:

Blu-ray could technically support a lot of that functionality, according to the spec, but the trick here is that most of the spec is not and still isn't mandatory. And even when all the Blu-ray players on the market are up to the final spec, whenever that may be, the majority of the original players will still not support extras, so why would anyone develop those extras? They won't. A stair-stepped rollout of what each player must have to be spec compliant has severely limited the Blu format, despite all that great storage capacity. And this might take a very long time to fix, if it ever does.
HD DVD, you were the people's format: R.I.P.

Why I Wished HD DVD Had Won: The Format That Loved Me [Gizmodo]

Why Warner Bros. REALLY Went To Blu-Ray

So as I had suspected all along, the real reason that Warner Bros. defected to Blu-Ray has come out. And it turns out that it's the reason I thought it might be, money.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Don Lindich uncovered the WB's dirty little secret, and the numbers that are involve are staggering. Aparently Warner wanted to stay with HD DVD, and gave Toshiba some time to bring in another studio into the camp before they turned Blu-Ray. Toshiba had Fox lined up to go HD DVD exclusive, which would have also made Warner HD DVD exclusive, but Fox nixed the deal in the last minutes.

The reason why Fox canceled the deal? Well Fox received a reported $120 million payout from Sony to stay with Blu-Ray. Warner Bros. then switched to Blu-Ray and received between $400 and $500 million to go Blu-Ray exclusive. Warner Bros. Kevin Tsujihara said that it wasn't a bidding war that brought them to Blu-Ray, which is true considering that HD DVD didn't get a bid in.

So it's not that the consumer made the decision to go with Blu-Ray, or the line that "Blu-Ray is the more advanced format, so that's why we went with them" crap. It's just Sony flat out paid more than Toshiba was willing to do, and the consumer suffers for their greed.

Money certainly does talk.

[Post-Gazette via Gizmodo]

Toshiba Drops Price On HD DVD Players

It didn’t very long for the hardware deals on HD DVD to come through, as Toshiba has dropped the prices of the HD-A3 and HD-A30. The HD-A3 and HD-A30 are available on Amazon.com for $134.98 and $174.98, and you still get 2 free movies (Bourne Identity and 300) with them. What’s interesting about the price though, is that often time’s retailers will use the last two digits to reflect the status of the product. Prices ending in 99 cents represent current products and 98 cents represents no new product will replace the item.

So if you’re interested in picking up a high definition format that will not have any new movies for it soon, get ‘em now!

Amazon.com: Toshiba HD DVD via Crunchgear]

Universal Ends Exclusivity With HD DVD

The end is nie…

This sounds to be the case for HD DVD as Variety has confirmed that Universal will no longer support HD DVD exclusively. Universal and Paramount were the last two movie homes to support HD DVD exclusively, but that has changed since the announcement of Warner Bros. Blu-Ray only support. Paramount has a clause that will allow them to also push both formats, but some speculate that they will leave HD DVD completely.

Universal did say that they’re still committed to HD DVD, and in fact plan HD DVD promotions in the future. But Jesus Diaz from Gizmodo brings up an interesting point stating that retailers are not going to commit "premium shelf space to a dying format.”

If HD DVD starts to lose shelve space and begins to be pushed to the side, Universal might as well not make another HD DVD!

[Variety via Gizmodo]

Are People Returning HD DVD Players Now?

You just knew that this was coming after the news that broke this past weekend, but reports from the CES are that people are returning HD DVD players bought on the cheap on Black Friday. What I find funny is that I couldn't find a cheap HD DVD player anywhere, and now it looks like that might have been a good thing.

Anyone get a HD DVD player this holiday season who's looking to return it?

[CES 2008 via Gizmodo]

Microsoft Considering Blu-Ray Support

So now that the dust has started to settle after the devastating blow to HD DVD, a Microsoft executive has told Reuters that they might consider supporting Blu-Ray. While they still made it clear that Microsoft is still behind HD DVD, they would support the format that consumers want. Check the quote by marketing manager for Xbox hardware Albert Penello:

"It should be consumer choice; and if that's the way they vote, that's something we'll have to consider," He went on to say "I fundamentally don't think ... this has a significant impact on Xbox 360 versus (Sony's) PlayStation 3,"

It might in the long run Albert, it might in the long run.

Microsoft's Xbox could consider Blu-ray support [Reuters via G4TV]

Paramount Rumored To Go Blu-Ray Exclusively

Another devastating blow is rumored to be looming for HD DVD, as Financial Times is reporting Paramount has a clause in their HD DVD exclusivity that allows them to abandon ship if HD DVD tanks and Warner goes to Blu-Ray. Paramount is said to be ready to invoke that clause, in light of Warner’s defection.

In less than a week, HD DVD has gone from spunky underdog to heart attack victim on life support waiting to have the plug kicked out. If Paramount makes this switch, it would leave Universal and Dreamworks in the HD DVD camp. And with Dreamworks being a branch of Paramount, one would think that the change to Blu-Ray wouldn’t be to far behind.

Nite nite HD DVD. We hardly knew ye.

[Financial Times]

New Line Goes Exclusive To Blu-Ray

As another nail goes into the HD DVD coffin, New Line has confirmed in Variety Magazine that they will follow Warner Bros. and go exclusively to Blu-Ray. There are other film homes that could still go either way, but one would expect them to lean towards Blu-Ray now. With the thought of The Lord of The Rings Trilogy being in HD, this might be the pushing point for many consumers.

It's starting to look like there's only going to be one sheriff in this town.

Microsoft To Make Xbox 360 Announcement At CES

With the CES coming up next week, the rumor mill has ramped up in the Microsoft camp. Word has it that Bill Gates is set to announce a new Xbox 360 SKU, perhaps the built-in HD-DVD and or the licensing of Xbox technology to other companies like Toshiba.

Maybe Toshiba will build a unit that might now red ring as much as our favorite white elephant.

We will find out next week folks!!!

Microsoft teases with 'important' Xbox 360 news for CES [Destructoid.com via G4TV]

Porn Coming To Blu-Ray: PS3 Owners Rejoice

The porn industry, after putting out (no pun intended) titles on HD DVD for over a year, has decided to give Blu-Ray a chance. The adult industry felt that it was "to expensive" to produce on Blu-Ray, has now changed its mind and will send titles to the format. The Blu-Ray camp, who once said that they would never allow porn on their format, finally got over their morality once they realized how much money the industry brings in. And with the format war long from over, this seems to be the best move for Blu-Ray.

Now both camps are able to see Ron Jeremy's harry ass in 1080p.

[CE Pro via Gizmodo]

BusinessWeek And Diffusion Group Take Sides On HD Format War

Are you ready for some more HD format war speculation? BusinessWeek comes in with 3 indicators on why they think Blu-Ray will win the format war.

1. Blu-ray has sold more than twice as many discs as HD DVD this year.
2. While HD DVD has a larger number of dedicated players in the market, 2.3 million PS3s offer an overwhelming advantage.
3. Rumor suggests that Warner Bros. will go Blu-ray only, giving that side 70% of the home-video market.

What is funny is that Diffusion Group released a report on why they think HD DVD will win, stating that "43% prefer HD DVD, 27% prefer Blu-ray, and 30% are undecided." This is the best part:

"The most immediate wave, which is expected to be exhausted by early 2008, is comprised of the remaining early adopters who...show a preference for Blu-ray. The second (and more sizable) wave will consist of early mass-market consumers who, while less enthusiastic about technology per se and very price sensitive, are more likely to favor HD DVD."

This should be interesting, because if Warner Bros. goes exclusive to Blu-Ray, that format will hold 70% of the movie houses. While I think that most people would buy the cheaper HD format, it wouldn't make sense if all the movies turn out to be on Blu-Ray. That would spell doom for the HD DVD camp.

[BusinessWeek and Diffusion Group via Gizmodo]

The State Of HD DVD

Wilson Rothman of Gizmodo wrote one of the most interesting articles about "The state of HD DVD". In this article he talks about the facts of where both Blu-Ray and HD DVD are at in todays market. Rothman compares the two formats and you can really see the difference between them, and why he feels the 'format war' is long from over. I hope that anyone who is interested in picking up one of these players in the future read this, so as they can understand what they're really buying.

Conspiracy theories aside, this is a great article.

[The State Of HD DVD via Gizmodo]

Conspiracy Theories By Michael Bay: Microsoft Wants Both Formats To Fail

I've heard many "Evil Empire" stories about Microsoft, but I think this one is the best (or the most out there one). Michael Bay the director of 'Pearl Harbor', 'The Island', and 'Transformers' hasn't made it a secrete that he's more of a fan of Blu-Ray than HD DVD. So much so that he said that he wasn't going to make 'Transformers 2' because Paramount went exclusively to HD DVD (he's recently changed his mind on that one). But he hasn't stopped his campaign for Blu-Ray, and for conspiracy theories. Check the quote:

"Microsoft wants both formats to fail so they can be heroes and make the world move to digital downloads…. That is the dirty secret no one is talking about. That is why Microsoft is handing out $100 million dollar checks to studios just [to] embrace the HD DVD and not the leading, and superior Blu Ray. They want confusion in the market until they perfect the digital downloads. Time will tell and you will see the truth."

Now digital downloads may be the future of HD formats, but I just don't see Microsoft dumping $100 of millions to a format with a hope that they'll both fail. That makes no sense!

With this kind of imagination, this guy should be making movies..... Oh, wait....

DVD Formats [The Official Michael Bay Forums via Crunchgear]