Blu-Ray and HD-DVD update
(These are the competing formats that will let you watch movies in High Definition at home. Currently you are limited to high def broadcasts and cable.)
Apparently, we could not reach any agreement and the consumers are going to be losers with both format players coming to market in 2006.
Toshiba has announced two HD-DVD players priced at $499 and $799. Samsung has announced a Blu-Ray player for $999. All three players are expected to release in the first half of 2006. Only time will tell if any format shuts out the other one otherwise you can find yourself in situation where your favourite movie is not available in the Hi-Def format of your player. To make it worse, all of these players look like they were made in 1970. Of course, you do not want to buy the first pricey lot that can have some problems.
Toshiba HD-DVD player
Samsung Blu-Ray
Lets move on to the silver lining.
PS3 will support Blu-Ray so we will have at least one Blu-Ray player that looks good.
Xbox-360 will support an *external* HD-DVD drive. So people can buy one separately if they want to watch HD-DVD movies through your xbox360. More modular structure here that could be a price advantage critical given HDTVs have not penetrated so much in the market so far.
Now the best news about Blu-Ray :)
They have reshuffled the existing region system. The new system puts all countries in North and South America, Japan, Thailand, Malayasia, Korea, and India in region 1.
Americans will be able to import movies/players from Japan and More Blu-Ray players (and more importantly discs)will be exported to India from US and you will not have to worry about unlocking the region system before doing so.
We do not know about the HD-DVD region coding system yet, but don't be surprised if it is very similar to this, otherwise there will be no end to confusion.
You can read some more details at:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6141826.html
Apparently, we could not reach any agreement and the consumers are going to be losers with both format players coming to market in 2006.
Toshiba has announced two HD-DVD players priced at $499 and $799. Samsung has announced a Blu-Ray player for $999. All three players are expected to release in the first half of 2006. Only time will tell if any format shuts out the other one otherwise you can find yourself in situation where your favourite movie is not available in the Hi-Def format of your player. To make it worse, all of these players look like they were made in 1970. Of course, you do not want to buy the first pricey lot that can have some problems.
Toshiba HD-DVD player
Samsung Blu-Ray
Lets move on to the silver lining.
PS3 will support Blu-Ray so we will have at least one Blu-Ray player that looks good.
Xbox-360 will support an *external* HD-DVD drive. So people can buy one separately if they want to watch HD-DVD movies through your xbox360. More modular structure here that could be a price advantage critical given HDTVs have not penetrated so much in the market so far.
Now the best news about Blu-Ray :)
They have reshuffled the existing region system. The new system puts all countries in North and South America, Japan, Thailand, Malayasia, Korea, and India in region 1.
Americans will be able to import movies/players from Japan and More Blu-Ray players (and more importantly discs)will be exported to India from US and you will not have to worry about unlocking the region system before doing so.
We do not know about the HD-DVD region coding system yet, but don't be surprised if it is very similar to this, otherwise there will be no end to confusion.
You can read some more details at:
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6141826.html
posted by Nikhil at 8:31 AM
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