HIGH DEF DVD...WHATS THE LATEST NEWS?


Hello all,
I have not heard anything lately about High Definition Blue Ray and HD DVD players.
What is the latest news about them?
When are they expected to be released in the US, and at what prices?
Will they be able to play normal DVD's and perhaps SACD's and DVD-Audio discs as well?
Thanks for your time and answers.
Lanny
daltonlanny
From what I gather the momentum is behind Blue Ray thank goodness . It is not supporting sacd and I am not positive about dvd a but i doubt it . It should be backward compatible to play your dvd collection . The audio format will be called TRUE HD I think and will be based on MLP lossless technology . The catch is that unless your monitor supports HDMI you are out of luck as it will downconvert the signal so once again , the early adopters get reamed. There may still be a dual launch and Samsung has already announced a universal player but of course it will not be high end . Release dates are the second quarter of 06. Maybe a tad sooner.
Can't these people just decide on a format and run with it this industry has been hurt more by the politics than anything else. I think the first one to get a hd dvd out will be the format.
There's a lot riding (read $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$) on the outcome, which is why the various parties can't dance successfully. First in MIGHT win, but the situation is complicated. Issues include:

The cost of conversion in manufacturing,

Stock issues in stores,

Successful marketing,

Fighting public perception and hesitation,

Sufficient attractive quantities of desirable software.

For more see http://www.GreatHomeTheater.com/hd-dvd.html

Bob Wood
We should know a lot more next week at Cedia....but Blu Ray is currently in the lead with both software and hardware support..and is rumoured to have at least a few examples at Cedia.
When the PS-3 is released which could be this spring or next November....there will instantly be millions of B/R players in the general publics homes via the trojan horse theory.

The latest B/R info mentioned several players and quite a bit of content by June 06.
Ears means CES. I'll be there and am sure this will provide much amusement. Anyway, looks like both formats will produce Hi Def DVDs. Blu rays will be more expensive. ( Meaning the actual DVDs) the players will start at 1000 when first introduced.

The CEO of Netflix was interviewed on Charlie Rose 2 nights ago or so. He thinks it will take three years for enough titles and equipment to be out to make a real change in the mass market.

I think the same and will happily buy new stuff when Receievers can decode Hi Res audio content, Plamas can display true 1080P, and HDMI conects actually work without problems from reliable DVD players.