Wal Mart Goes Blu Ray, Toshiba calling it quits?

[Derree]

http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/15/technology/wal-mart_blu-ray/index.htm?cnn=yes

Look like Sam likes Blu Ray

[BR7]

This story came out today as well.I wonder if the Wal-mart announcement brought this on?

A recent report by the Hollywood Reporter, citing unnamed sources, claims that Toshiba is getting ready to concede defeat. That said the report quotes a Toshiba vice president who says the company has not yet made a decision on what to do

Link to story

[admin]

This story came out today as well.I wonder if the Wal-mart announcement brought this on?

Link to story

This "news story" has already been "debunked" here:

http://forum.digital-digest.com/showthread.php?t=86239

This is the official (I think) announcement from Wal-mart confirming their preference to Blu-ray until June, when they will only stock one format:

http://www.walmartfacts.com/articles/5673.aspx

I think all that is happening is exactly what Warner had hoped to happen when they chose one format, that is for retail/rental outlets to follow suit. The next few months will mean that most stores will actively be promoting Blu-ray, if not stocking it as the only HD player. It will be interesting to see what effects this has on sales, and whether it meets the expectation of Warner when they made their decision. If it does not, then it could indicate the failure of HD so far to attract customers is not just because of format confusion or lack of focused promotions within stores (again, possibly due to format confusion).

HD DVD will not fold unless Paramount or Universal decide to support Blu-ray. It could still happen, but we will have to wait and see. You might wonder why Paramount/Universal would stick around, but the truth is that there is very little to lose at the moment due to BD/HD's rather poor uptake rate (I know there's the argument that it's doing better than DVDs at this stage, but DVD was not only a brand new format, but a brand new concept, and even it did not really take off until about 3-4 years after launch).

Paramount/Universal can easily make their move to Blu-ray after they've witnessed that Warner's decision was indeed correct and that HD sales are accelerating, because while they are competitors to other studios, their products are unique and they will sell regardless whether they enter the market early or late (entering late has the advantage of not needing to spend as much on promotions and bigger sales figures from the get go - the reason why George Lucas/Steven Spielberg movies takes ages to make it onto new formats).

[admin]

There's a lot of rumours now circulating that Toshiba might call for a quick end to the format war by exiting from future HD DVD development. It will be interesting to see if these rumours pan out or not. If Toshiba believes they can't win the format war, or at least stay in it, then a quick end is probably for the best.

However, if these rumours are false, then a few people have some explaining to do.

[ed klein]

From my viewpoint its REALLY TIME TO LET GO of the near dead hi def format HD-DVD. Yes, I prefer HD-DVD over Blu-ray hi def, but really the format is almost dead, let it go and start more development in Blu-ray hi def.

Much better time would be used in development of working software players for Blu-ray hi def, ripping, encoding, compressing, and burning. Developing standalone Blu-ray players that you don't have to discard after a new profile (2.0) is available.

Let it go, and lets move on, you will always have winning and loosing battles in you life, this is just a loosing one with HD-DVD format.

And, believe me if a huge corporate giant like Wal-Mart says its time to let go from a cost perspective its REALLY TIME TO LET GO.

[doctorhardware]

It looks like HD DVD is doomed.

[BR7]

I think the HD-DVD camp will stop soon.Even Reuters is reporting that Toshiba is calling it quits.

Toshiba plans to continue selling HD DVD equipment at stores for the time being but will not put resources into developing new devices, NHK said.

Link to story

[admin]

It looks like HD DVD is doomed.

I've fixed your post, Blu-ray is HD too

(unless you mean that a Blu-ray victory means the doom of high def, which some will agree with, but not realistic. Blu-ray has a lot of problems that will irk consumers in the short term, but it won't stop HD uptake in the long term)

Reuters is reporting the same story as NHK did about 15 hours ago. NHK is a reputable news source in Japan. However, NHK's story did not contain any quote from anyone at Toshiba, other than a "no comment" when Toshiba was pressed to comment, so the real confirmation will have to wait until Monday when Toshiba makes a statement either way. Remember that all the reputable news agencies also reported Paramount was to drop HD DVD in January, but it never happened.

I would say there is a 75% chance that Toshiba will announce HD DVD development to cease on Monday. What will happen afterwards is anybody's guess. If this does happen, you would expect Universal and Paramount to make their announcement regarding going Blu-ray as well. The real question would be would Toshiba make Blu-ray players, or maybe dual format players? Would Universal/Paramount still release in both formats for the short term like Warner, or go Blu exclusive straight away?

[doctorhardware]

Yes that is what I meant and not hd. Thanks Admin, I had just gotten up.

[admin]

Hmm ... rumours and counter-rumours suggest the news story in Japan might be about Toshiba closing down Japanese HD DVD factories. All new Toshiba HD DVD players since mid last year are now made in China (making the price drop possible), so I can see why those factories need to be closed down.

I'm actually now hoping that news of HD DVD's demise is true because I've already written and edited a bunch of stuff in anticipation, and if this story is not true, then I would have to re-write everything again. Not amused.

[JakeBlues]

Report: Toshiba May End HD DVD Format

Sunday February 17, 12:29 am ET

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080217/japan_toshiba.html

TOKYO (AP) -- Japanese electronics maker Toshiba might withdraw its HD DVD next-generation video format, Kyodo News agency reported Saturday.
The report cited unidentified individuals from the industry as saying Toshiba Corp. is reviewing its operations, with the timing of the withdrawal to be decided later, depending on U.S. demand for its HD DVD products and other factors.
Calls went unanswered at Toshiba Corp.'s Tokyo office, which was closed for the weekend.

HD DVD has been competing against the Blu-ray technology, backed by Sony Corp., other makers and five major Hollywood movie studios.
Recently the Blu-ray disc format has been gaining market share, while Toshiba has been forced to slash prices to sell its HD DVD machines. A Toshiba pullout would signal the almost certain defeat of HD DVD to Blu-ray.
On Friday, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the largest U.S. retailer, said it will sell only Blu-ray DVDs and hardware and no longer carry HD DVD offerings.
The announcement came five days after Netflix Inc. said it will cease carrying rentals in HD DVD. Several major U.S. retailers have made similar decisions, including Target Corp. and Blockbuster Inc.
Last month, Warner Bros. Entertainment decided to release movie discs only in the Blu-ray format, becoming the latest studio to reject HD DVD.
Warner Bros., owned by Time Warner Inc., had been the only remaining Hollywood studio releasing high-definition DVDs in both formats.
Both formats deliver crisp, clear high-definition pictures and sound, but they are incompatible with each other, and neither plays on older DVD players. Only one format has been expected to emerge as the winner, much like VHS trumped Sony's Betamax in the video format battle of the 1980s.

Duhhhh

[rago88]

Toshiba makes it final. finis....

Actually,
the only way to win the format war was not to play yet.
I won cause I never bought either..
sorry for HD buyers..

http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSL1627196120080216

[BR7]

Thanks :0
But this was already posted in the Wal Mart thread

[rago88]

OK.. It's official. HD is done..!!

Will movie downloads kill Bluray?

http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/02/hd-dvd-death-ma.html

[rago88]

I know.....

sent the wrong article......
just got home..