Hi-Def Releases (US - HD | BD RA)
Sony, Warner and Universal has sent us artwork for their new high-def releases
Title: Hi-Def Releases
Released: 1st January 2001
Further Details:





































News by Tom Woodward
Released: 1st January 2001
Further Details:
Blu-ray Disc: 13th June Releases







Blu-ray Disc: 23rd May Releases







HD DVD: 18th April Releases







HD DVD: 25th April Releases


HD DVD: 2nd May Releases




HD DVD: 9th May Releases



HD DVD: 23rd May Releases




HD DVD: 20th June Releases



News by Tom Woodward
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Existing Posts
I just figured they'd encode everything as progressive. Maybe they're video based so they didn't bother.
Chris wrote: What's up with the 480i version of Goodfellas as a 'Special Feature'? The current DVD release is 480p. You mean the extras right? I dunno, they seem to come in that format for every HD-DVD for some reason.
Faith Kaya wrote: CryptsKeeper wrote: Why must we ruin a perfectly good system? The hell with high-def.
you go girl !
I'm a dude, but thanks. LOL.
I saw a couple of these in Best Buy yesterday, out on display for show. It's so ridiculous. Like others have said, the hardware isn't even out. And if it was, why spend twice as much for these?
The moral of the story is: DVD is not going to be the new VHS.
you go girl !

I'm a dude, but thanks. LOL.
I saw a couple of these in Best Buy yesterday, out on display for show. It's so ridiculous. Like others have said, the hardware isn't even out. And if it was, why spend twice as much for these?
The moral of the story is: DVD is not going to be the new VHS.
What's up with the 480i version of Goodfellas as a 'Special Feature'? The current DVD release is 480p.
CryptsKeeper wrote: Why must we ruin a perfectly good system? The hell with high-def.
you go girl !
you go girl !

Why must we ruin a perfectly good system? The hell with high-def.
GavSalkeld wrote: DTS say that:
Quote: "DTS Digital Surround® (DTS' core 5.1 technology) has been selected as mandatory audio technology for both Blu-ray Disc (BD) and High Definition Digital Versatile Disc (HD-DVD).
However, I dont see DTS listed on any of these discs. So what gives?I have seen reviews stating that 7.1 will become the new standard but then of course it depends what the studios will do....
Quote: "DTS Digital Surround® (DTS' core 5.1 technology) has been selected as mandatory audio technology for both Blu-ray Disc (BD) and High Definition Digital Versatile Disc (HD-DVD).
However, I dont see DTS listed on any of these discs. So what gives?I have seen reviews stating that 7.1 will become the new standard but then of course it depends what the studios will do....
Thembones wrote: Is this technology significantly better? I know HD rocks but when this is about to get huge won't you be able to get them using an On-Demand kind of service. I imagine DVD and just about all moving technology medium will be obsolete by the time this becomes common place. So is this also going to be like every other technology that is going to leave lesser or not as popular selling titles unupdated and lost in the Hollywood shuffle so to speak. I don't know. I need to find out more on this.
From what I understand, HD content on cable and dish services is compressed way down and is pretty c**ppy. The difference between these HD films and HD films on disc is supposed to be equivelant to regular films on cable vs. films on DVD, which we know is pretty significant.
From what I understand, HD content on cable and dish services is compressed way down and is pretty c**ppy. The difference between these HD films and HD films on disc is supposed to be equivelant to regular films on cable vs. films on DVD, which we know is pretty significant.
I also am avoiding this nonsense until the year when you can pop into the supermarket & pick up an HD or BR player for £30. I have spent a lot of time & money rebuilding my DVD collection from the VHS era (which was not that long ago, c'mon!!) & am not buying new discs which I wont notice a difference on my 20" screen anyway.
Is this technology significantly better? I know HD rocks but when this is about to get huge won't you be able to get them using an On-Demand kind of service. I imagine DVD and just about all moving technology medium will be obsolete by the time this becomes common place. So is this also going to be like every other technology that is going to leave lesser or not as popular selling titles unupdated and lost in the Hollywood shuffle so to speak. I don't know. I need to find out more on this.
Steven Carrier wrote: The ONLY reason Waner Bros. is releasing "Swordfish" on HD-DVD is so people can see Halle Berry's boobs in high def and you know I'm right
Yes. Yes you are right and I would want to buy it just for that reason! lol
Yes. Yes you are right and I would want to buy it just for that reason! lol
The ONLY reason Waner Bros. is releasing "Swordfish" on HD-DVD is so people can see Halle Berry's boobs in high def and you know I'm right
Moonraker wrote: perhpas its time to give these their own pages, I think its getting too big.
Yeah, will start doing them individually soon. Just thought it would be nice to have a big page of launch titles initially.
Yeah, will start doing them individually soon. Just thought it would be nice to have a big page of launch titles initially.
DTS say that:
Quote: "DTS Digital Surround® (DTS' core 5.1 technology) has been selected as mandatory audio technology for both Blu-ray Disc (BD) and High Definition Digital Versatile Disc (HD-DVD).
However, I dont see DTS listed on any of these discs. So what gives?
Quote: "DTS Digital Surround® (DTS' core 5.1 technology) has been selected as mandatory audio technology for both Blu-ray Disc (BD) and High Definition Digital Versatile Disc (HD-DVD).
However, I dont see DTS listed on any of these discs. So what gives?
perhpas its time to give these their own pages, I think its getting too big.
kcivets not'sayin wrote: I thought these discs were supposed to hold HOURS of more content?
Technically, they could hold hours of content, but you're thinking in DVD bit-rate and quality terms. An HD transfer of the main feature will still take up a heck of a lot of room on the new discs. Once the capacities of the discs get higher then you may get more on, but I wouldn't expect too much from the early releases anyway.
Technically, they could hold hours of content, but you're thinking in DVD bit-rate and quality terms. An HD transfer of the main feature will still take up a heck of a lot of room on the new discs. Once the capacities of the discs get higher then you may get more on, but I wouldn't expect too much from the early releases anyway.
Artwork for HD DVD releases of Goodfellas and Swordfish now added...
It looks like the special features on some of these are no different than the regular dvd releases..am I wrong? I thought these discs were supposed to hold HOURS of more content?
YlowBstard wrote: Eliason A. wrote: Check out this month's issue of Premiere for a great guide on the latest for HD DVD and Blu Ray. And yes, it's official: both will be backward compatible.
That`s good to hear, but still, the only way I`m going to watch my HD and Blu Ray DVD`s is on my PS3 when it comes out. The players are ridiculously overpriced.
And the PS3 isn't????? The PS3 is going to cost well over $700. You could build a new computer for that much money that can play games, and have a blu-ray drive in it.
That`s good to hear, but still, the only way I`m going to watch my HD and Blu Ray DVD`s is on my PS3 when it comes out. The players are ridiculously overpriced.
And the PS3 isn't????? The PS3 is going to cost well over $700. You could build a new computer for that much money that can play games, and have a blu-ray drive in it.
Eliason A. wrote: Check out this month's issue of Premiere for a great guide on the latest for HD DVD and Blu Ray. And yes, it's official: both will be backward compatible.
That`s good to hear, but still, the only way I`m going to watch my HD and Blu Ray DVD`s is on my PS3 when it comes out. The players are ridiculously overpriced.
That`s good to hear, but still, the only way I`m going to watch my HD and Blu Ray DVD`s is on my PS3 when it comes out. The players are ridiculously overpriced.
Hey well I'm the first test subject, I recently brought SERENITY in HD-DVD. Also brought the Toshiba HD-A1 Player, well I do have to say it looks BEAUTIFUL! Brought a new HD-Television Sony "50 inch LCD with a HDMI hookup with HDCP last year, its so life like never seen anything like it. Cant wait for other titles to come out in this format. Also going to purchase Blu-Ray player when that comes out also. I highly recommended going to nearest Best Buy or Ultimate Electronics first to view there demo and see what it is all about.
Would it be possible to separate these new for x date postings into separate entries? Having to scroll through the same cover pictures over and over and over and over is just getting tedious.
Just a request.
Just a request.
Eliason A. wrote: Check out this month's issue of Premiere for a great guide on the latest for HD DVD and Blu Ray. And yes, it's official: both will be backward compatible.
Great to hear that you can play your DVD collection in the new system. So you don't have to by movies you have bought on DVD again. What about the region coding?
But I still think this new system is to early to arrive DVD is very much alive and still going strong.
Great to hear that you can play your DVD collection in the new system. So you don't have to by movies you have bought on DVD again. What about the region coding?
But I still think this new system is to early to arrive DVD is very much alive and still going strong.
Check out this month's issue of Premiere for a great guide on the latest for HD DVD and Blu Ray. And yes, it's official: both will be backward compatible.
To ugly cases...
nice, but where is the collector's edition with great packaging ??? ... 2008 ?
Artwork added for three Paramount HD DVD releases on June 20th.
William Coffey wrote: So, that True HD track on Phantom, is that like 5.1 EX?
no, the hd audio has to do with bit rate, normal dvd audio is around 780kb/s while hd audia can go upwards of 16 mb/s. Pretty amazing...and the video bit rate can go upwards of 30mb/s. and that is why you need special cords such as hdmi because the simple rca cables can only handle about 5 mb/s of both audio and video.
no, the hd audio has to do with bit rate, normal dvd audio is around 780kb/s while hd audia can go upwards of 16 mb/s. Pretty amazing...and the video bit rate can go upwards of 30mb/s. and that is why you need special cords such as hdmi because the simple rca cables can only handle about 5 mb/s of both audio and video.
mntwister wrote: The audio on these hd discs will sound MUCH better than on dvd.... The high-def discs will have a soundtrack similar to the master soundtrack. DVD soundtracks, while they sounded great, were very compressed and were, from a standpoint of hearing an original soundtrack before compression, actually poor.
Actually, both Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD will be lossless, i.e. original to the audio masters.
As for your claim that DVD soundtracks sounded very poor, well I beg to differ, in that I bet a DTS track at full bitrate sounded brilliant. These full-rate tracks preserve the fidelity of the masters and sound great. Dolby Digital however, I do find underwhelming for the most, so I agree there.
Actually, both Dolby Digital Plus and DTS-HD will be lossless, i.e. original to the audio masters.
As for your claim that DVD soundtracks sounded very poor, well I beg to differ, in that I bet a DTS track at full bitrate sounded brilliant. These full-rate tracks preserve the fidelity of the masters and sound great. Dolby Digital however, I do find underwhelming for the most, so I agree there.
Matt wrote: Sigh...haven't we been trying to tell folks that for the longest time? Nice to know that there are some of our readers out there that actually know what they're talking about when it comes to such things. 
Lol, well thank you! I do try :D

Lol, well thank you! I do try :D
mntwister wrote: The audio on these hd discs will sound MUCH better than on dvd. The compression of the soundtrack is much less, and the bit rate will be way higher. I think there will be no comparison of the soundtrack between a dvd and a high definition dvd (either format). The high-def discs will have a soundtrack similar to the master soundtrack. DVD soundtracks, while they sounded great, were very compressed and were, from a standpoint of hearing an original soundtrack before compression, actually poor.and will your equipment handle the *new* sound formating you suggest? I don't think that they will do anything too radical as there are no new amps on the horizon yet with new forms of encoding....
mntwister wrote: The audio on these hd discs will sound MUCH better than on dvd. The compression of the soundtrack is much less, and the bit rate will be way higher. I think there will be no comparison of the soundtrack between a dvd and a high definition dvd (either format). The high-def discs will have a soundtrack similar to the master soundtrack. DVD soundtracks, while they sounded great, were very compressed and were, from a standpoint of hearing an original soundtrack before compression, actually poor.
I'll reserve judgement until I here it, but the above comment seems ludicrous to me. Less compression does not equal better sounding. It isn't like Dolby 5.1/DTS compresses to the level of MP3.
I'll reserve judgement until I here it, but the above comment seems ludicrous to me. Less compression does not equal better sounding. It isn't like Dolby 5.1/DTS compresses to the level of MP3.
The audio on these hd discs will sound MUCH better than on dvd. The compression of the soundtrack is much less, and the bit rate will be way higher. I think there will be no comparison of the soundtrack between a dvd and a high definition dvd (either format). The high-def discs will have a soundtrack similar to the master soundtrack. DVD soundtracks, while they sounded great, were very compressed and were, from a standpoint of hearing an original soundtrack before compression, actually poor.
Mal wrote: I'm going to do what I did with DVD, I'll just get the drives and use them in a new PC for so many years before buying a separate player. It'll mean I'll have much more capacity for backups too... just have to wait for a drive to be officially released.
I'm thinking that I'll probably go that way myself by building a new PC for my entertainment center sometime this year instead of a new stand alone player. That way I can get all of the player and PC benefits of the formats in one shot as opposed to two seperate, and costly, hardware purchases. Plus, upgrading should be a lot less painful seeing as the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD drives for PC should be cheaper than the tabletop players.
Quote: Films are not "mixed in" DTS or Dolby Digital. They're mixed in a mixing studio, uncompressed, and then encoded to Dolby Digital or DTS or SDDS.
Sigh...haven't we been trying to tell folks that for the longest time? Nice to know that there are some of our readers out there that actually know what they're talking about when it comes to such things.
I'm thinking that I'll probably go that way myself by building a new PC for my entertainment center sometime this year instead of a new stand alone player. That way I can get all of the player and PC benefits of the formats in one shot as opposed to two seperate, and costly, hardware purchases. Plus, upgrading should be a lot less painful seeing as the Blu-Ray/HD-DVD drives for PC should be cheaper than the tabletop players.
Quote: Films are not "mixed in" DTS or Dolby Digital. They're mixed in a mixing studio, uncompressed, and then encoded to Dolby Digital or DTS or SDDS.
Sigh...haven't we been trying to tell folks that for the longest time? Nice to know that there are some of our readers out there that actually know what they're talking about when it comes to such things.

jodi wrote: "Batman Forever", while it was THEATRICALLY released during the DTS era, was mixed in Dolby Digital ONLY -- therefore, it does not count as a true DTS codec)... DVDs with their originally intended DTS mixes from their theatrical exhibitions.
Films are not "mixed in" DTS or Dolby Digital. They're mixed in a mixing studio, uncompressed, and then encoded to Dolby Digital or DTS or SDDS.
Also, a film thats released in DTS/DD/SDDS isnt just mixed in that one, singular format as your post suggests. There will be different types of sound mix encoded, depending on where it is going to be shown.
Quote: It is good to see studios like Paramount to finally be releasing more DTS-encoded DVDs, but they have a LOT more work to do... How about the "Mission Impossible" films or "The Relic" or the "Tomb Raider" films.
Well you can get Tomb Raider from Japan in DTS. I have it and its pretty cool!
Quote: Lionsgate is starting to impress me, and I can almost always count on 20th Century Fox for delivering DTS-encoded DVDs of their films (which, of course, were DTS-mixed theatrically).
Again, like I said before, not every film is give one singular sound mix and nothing is "mixed in" any format. The original DVD release of CRASH is Dolby Digital only. By your rationales, does this mean the sound mix was "downgraded" from DTS? No, of course not. Separate Dolby Digital and DTS mixes would have been made, and no doubt an SDDS mix for SDDS theatres. It just depends on what the company wants to use.
A film that was only released in Dolby Digital in cinemas can easily be released in DTS on DVD. The master stems are simply encoded to DTS for use on DVD.
I make short films and encode my films in both Dolby Digital and DTS. I do all the sound mixing myself, and I have frequent contact with DTS and have done a lot of research and reading into it. Its a fascinating topic.
Films are not "mixed in" DTS or Dolby Digital. They're mixed in a mixing studio, uncompressed, and then encoded to Dolby Digital or DTS or SDDS.
Also, a film thats released in DTS/DD/SDDS isnt just mixed in that one, singular format as your post suggests. There will be different types of sound mix encoded, depending on where it is going to be shown.
Quote: It is good to see studios like Paramount to finally be releasing more DTS-encoded DVDs, but they have a LOT more work to do... How about the "Mission Impossible" films or "The Relic" or the "Tomb Raider" films.
Well you can get Tomb Raider from Japan in DTS. I have it and its pretty cool!
Quote: Lionsgate is starting to impress me, and I can almost always count on 20th Century Fox for delivering DTS-encoded DVDs of their films (which, of course, were DTS-mixed theatrically).
Again, like I said before, not every film is give one singular sound mix and nothing is "mixed in" any format. The original DVD release of CRASH is Dolby Digital only. By your rationales, does this mean the sound mix was "downgraded" from DTS? No, of course not. Separate Dolby Digital and DTS mixes would have been made, and no doubt an SDDS mix for SDDS theatres. It just depends on what the company wants to use.
A film that was only released in Dolby Digital in cinemas can easily be released in DTS on DVD. The master stems are simply encoded to DTS for use on DVD.
I make short films and encode my films in both Dolby Digital and DTS. I do all the sound mixing myself, and I have frequent contact with DTS and have done a lot of research and reading into it. Its a fascinating topic.
Matt wrote: DVD didn't take off as quickly as you might think. My first DVD player cost $550 when I purchased it in late March of 1997, and that was for what I think was the cheapest Panasonic model I could find.
I'm going to do what I did with DVD, I'll just get the drives and use them in a new PC for so many years before buying a separate player. It'll mean I'll have much more capacity for backups too... just have to wait for a drive to be officially released.
I'm going to do what I did with DVD, I'll just get the drives and use them in a new PC for so many years before buying a separate player. It'll mean I'll have much more capacity for backups too... just have to wait for a drive to be officially released.
herby247 wrote: Dvd took off so quickly for 1 reason alone it WAS affordable, currently HD&BR is NOT!!
DVD didn't take off as quickly as you might think. My first DVD player cost $550 when I purchased it in late March of 1997, and that was for what I think was the cheapest Panasonic model I could find. It was over two years later that mass merchants such as Wal-Mart started offering players in the $300 range, and it wasn't until 2001 that DVD player sales first out did VHS by offering even cheaper players. When you take into consideration the increased costs of inflation and the technology incorporated into these new formats versus DVD of 1997, the initial price of these players isn't all that bad even if the pricetag will be prohibitive to a lot of people, though I doubt a lot of you ran out to replace your VHS players with brand new DVD ones in 1997 when those players first hit the market here in the U.S. anyway. The technology will be affordable one day to where most people can go down to Wal-Mart and pickup a player, but just like DVD it may take it a couple of years.
DVD didn't take off as quickly as you might think. My first DVD player cost $550 when I purchased it in late March of 1997, and that was for what I think was the cheapest Panasonic model I could find. It was over two years later that mass merchants such as Wal-Mart started offering players in the $300 range, and it wasn't until 2001 that DVD player sales first out did VHS by offering even cheaper players. When you take into consideration the increased costs of inflation and the technology incorporated into these new formats versus DVD of 1997, the initial price of these players isn't all that bad even if the pricetag will be prohibitive to a lot of people, though I doubt a lot of you ran out to replace your VHS players with brand new DVD ones in 1997 when those players first hit the market here in the U.S. anyway. The technology will be affordable one day to where most people can go down to Wal-Mart and pickup a player, but just like DVD it may take it a couple of years.
Most of us guys on here, are dvd addicts!
We live and breathe dvd, and the studios and tech companies are having trouble convincing us to shell out like £1000/$1000+!
The entire joe public that are essentially gonna decide this format war in their masses are just NOT gonna shell out that kinda money for dvd players, most of them are happy to goto their local asda(walmart-usa) and pick up a FULL dvd player for £19.99!!
They dont care about 5.1 and HD playback, they just wanna play their movies as inexpensivley as possible.
F*** them you may say, but keep in mind this, its THEM the masses that need to buy into the next format, and until it comes in at a realistic price, I think your gonna have a hard time convincing them otherwise.
Also the region coding is gonna be a stumbling block, loads of my friends have over 200 dvds all region 1, so are these gonna play on a uk HD/blue-ray player?
I think HD will have a place in the future years, but just not right now, LOTS of people have their dvd players just hooked to their tv's, no 5.1 set up or anything, 5.1 is out there just now for under £50 but people are HAPPY with stereo from their non HD dvds!
Dvd took off so quickly for 1 reason alone it WAS affordable, currently HD&BR is NOT!!
I second someones post on here, wait for the DUAL players, the technology IS there!
We live and breathe dvd, and the studios and tech companies are having trouble convincing us to shell out like £1000/$1000+!
The entire joe public that are essentially gonna decide this format war in their masses are just NOT gonna shell out that kinda money for dvd players, most of them are happy to goto their local asda(walmart-usa) and pick up a FULL dvd player for £19.99!!
They dont care about 5.1 and HD playback, they just wanna play their movies as inexpensivley as possible.
F*** them you may say, but keep in mind this, its THEM the masses that need to buy into the next format, and until it comes in at a realistic price, I think your gonna have a hard time convincing them otherwise.
Also the region coding is gonna be a stumbling block, loads of my friends have over 200 dvds all region 1, so are these gonna play on a uk HD/blue-ray player?
I think HD will have a place in the future years, but just not right now, LOTS of people have their dvd players just hooked to their tv's, no 5.1 set up or anything, 5.1 is out there just now for under £50 but people are HAPPY with stereo from their non HD dvds!
Dvd took off so quickly for 1 reason alone it WAS affordable, currently HD&BR is NOT!!
I second someones post on here, wait for the DUAL players, the technology IS there!
David Blackwell wrote: Staying out of the format war. The cost must come down for the players, the bugs must be worked out, and the downgrading of discs to 480 dpis (if you don't have a HDMI hook up) must go.
If reports are to be believed then the 'Image Constraint Token' will not be enforced by any of the studios in the immediate future, and all of the titles announced will be playable in full res across analogue connections. Don't know how long it will last, but I reckon it'll stay that way until someone 'wins' (which obviously won't be the consumer).
It's the only time the studios have seen sense so far in all this, and it's the early adopters who will have bought LCDs and plasmas without HDMI who are more likely to go high-def in the early days - and the studios don't want to p**s them off before they get a decent sales base.
If reports are to be believed then the 'Image Constraint Token' will not be enforced by any of the studios in the immediate future, and all of the titles announced will be playable in full res across analogue connections. Don't know how long it will last, but I reckon it'll stay that way until someone 'wins' (which obviously won't be the consumer).
It's the only time the studios have seen sense so far in all this, and it's the early adopters who will have bought LCDs and plasmas without HDMI who are more likely to go high-def in the early days - and the studios don't want to p**s them off before they get a decent sales base.
Staying out of the format war. The cost must come down for the players, the bugs must be worked out, and the downgrading of discs to 480 dpis (if you don't have a HDMI hook up) must go.
I like the universal HD DVD covers the best. they have that cool silver banner.
Michael Friedrichsen wrote: sildu wrote: One problem, please tell me that we will be able to play our standard dvds on these HD and Blu-ray disc players. If not, to hell with both of them. As some people pointed out, I have way too much money invested in dvd to upgrade to this. Please tell me that these new players will be backwards compatible. If not, it will never be worth it to me.
Yeah thats what I also want to know. There is no need to get it if you not even can play your invested DVD collection on the new players
I'm pretty sure that both format players will cope with DVDs - it's one of the only sure-fire ways to convince some of the fence-sitters to come over to the new formats. Toshiba's HD-XA1 is definitely touted as being backward compatible.
On another note, and answering my own question from earlier, I had a scout about and found Dolby's white paper on Dolby Digital Plus. While it is true that to fully utilise the benefits of the sound format you'll need an amp that can cope with the up to 3Mbp/s data rate (and feasibly beyond!), part of the spec - and importantly, something that Dolby will not issue a DD+ licence without apparently - is that equipment must be able to downsample the stream to 640kb/s Dolby Digital and output it through SPDIF as well as the full unfettered DD+ through HDMI and/or FireWire. Any DD amp can cope with 640kb/s, even though it's likely that all you will have ever thrown at it will be 448kb/s from DVDs (my DD Live soundcard outputs at the higher rate and the amp copes nicely).
Which is nice, as I've not long bought a new DD/DTS amp.
White Paper here for the tech heads out there
Yeah thats what I also want to know. There is no need to get it if you not even can play your invested DVD collection on the new players
I'm pretty sure that both format players will cope with DVDs - it's one of the only sure-fire ways to convince some of the fence-sitters to come over to the new formats. Toshiba's HD-XA1 is definitely touted as being backward compatible.
On another note, and answering my own question from earlier, I had a scout about and found Dolby's white paper on Dolby Digital Plus. While it is true that to fully utilise the benefits of the sound format you'll need an amp that can cope with the up to 3Mbp/s data rate (and feasibly beyond!), part of the spec - and importantly, something that Dolby will not issue a DD+ licence without apparently - is that equipment must be able to downsample the stream to 640kb/s Dolby Digital and output it through SPDIF as well as the full unfettered DD+ through HDMI and/or FireWire. Any DD amp can cope with 640kb/s, even though it's likely that all you will have ever thrown at it will be 448kb/s from DVDs (my DD Live soundcard outputs at the higher rate and the amp copes nicely).
Which is nice, as I've not long bought a new DD/DTS amp.
White Paper here for the tech heads out there
Both HD DVD and Blu Ray players will indeed play Standard Definition discs.
sildu wrote: One problem, please tell me that we will be able to play our standard dvds on these HD and Blu-ray disc players. If not, to hell with both of them. As some people pointed out, I have way too much money invested in dvd to upgrade to this. Please tell me that these new players will be backwards compatible. If not, it will never be worth it to me.
Yeah thats what I also want to know. There is no need to get it if you not even can play your invested DVD collection on the new players
Yeah thats what I also want to know. There is no need to get it if you not even can play your invested DVD collection on the new players
Are they already selling HD DVD players? I mean, this is a waste of money! You can already buy an inexpensive DVD player an buy something like "Phantom of the Opera" for about $7.99 right now instead of $24.99 for the HD one.
"I think Laser Disc will win."
I sometimes think this might the true comparison for HD and Blu-Ray--not VHS versus Beta but VHS "versus" laserdisc, with one becoming the common man's imprint (HD, I guess) and one becoming the video snob's favorite (Blu-Ray.)
I sometimes think this might the true comparison for HD and Blu-Ray--not VHS versus Beta but VHS "versus" laserdisc, with one becoming the common man's imprint (HD, I guess) and one becoming the video snob's favorite (Blu-Ray.)
Green Hornet wrote:
Also will they come out with a Component-HDMI/DVI converter? Now it would seem unlikely, since component doesn't have pure digital signal but that means many people wont even be able to get an HD-DVD player, especially those who bought their HD sets when they were still very expensive.
They already exist. I post a link once, but they rightly removed it because it is necessary for a HDMI/DVI to component converter to remove the copy protection. They are fairly easy to find using google. It's pretty sad that for the most part ways to break copy protection exist before the copy protection is even released.
Also will they come out with a Component-HDMI/DVI converter? Now it would seem unlikely, since component doesn't have pure digital signal but that means many people wont even be able to get an HD-DVD player, especially those who bought their HD sets when they were still very expensive.
They already exist. I post a link once, but they rightly removed it because it is necessary for a HDMI/DVI to component converter to remove the copy protection. They are fairly easy to find using google. It's pretty sad that for the most part ways to break copy protection exist before the copy protection is even released.
I think Laser Disc will win.
Adrian wrote: Green Hornet wrote: Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems HD-DVDs are a seamless transition from regular DVDs. You can buy any HD-DVD and watch the standard 480i definition version of the movie on your regular DVD player. Then later say in a few years you can buy a HD-DVD player, and you already have the HD version of the movie on the same disc.
I can't see how this would be true. They would have to encode two different versions of the movie and the extras/menus/etc on the disc. This would take up quite a bit of space. I can't imagine why they would want to use that space for 480p video.
I thought that is what they would do, if there is no standard DVD layer what do they do with the extra room on the disc. Furthermore what is even the point then, of putting the standard 480 definition version of the movie onto the HD-DVD in the first place.
Also will they come out with a Component-HDMI/DVI converter? Now it would seem unlikely, since component doesn't have pure digital signal but that means many people wont even be able to get an HD-DVD player, especially those who bought their HD sets when they were still very expensive. X-box 360 doesn't have HDMI connectivity, but they are releasing a HD DVD player attachment, wouldn't they need some sort of a component converter then????
I can't see how this would be true. They would have to encode two different versions of the movie and the extras/menus/etc on the disc. This would take up quite a bit of space. I can't imagine why they would want to use that space for 480p video.
I thought that is what they would do, if there is no standard DVD layer what do they do with the extra room on the disc. Furthermore what is even the point then, of putting the standard 480 definition version of the movie onto the HD-DVD in the first place.
Also will they come out with a Component-HDMI/DVI converter? Now it would seem unlikely, since component doesn't have pure digital signal but that means many people wont even be able to get an HD-DVD player, especially those who bought their HD sets when they were still very expensive. X-box 360 doesn't have HDMI connectivity, but they are releasing a HD DVD player attachment, wouldn't they need some sort of a component converter then????
GavSalkeld wrote: jodi wrote: Universal, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros. do not believe in DTS sound of any kind!
Universal, DreamWorks and only recently WB are all DTS supporters. Indeed, Jurassic Park was the first film released in DTS and that was a Universal film.
DreamWorks release DTS on DVDs - American Beauty and The Last Castle are two examples I can think of.
Warner didnt support DTS, but are now just starting to provide it on some titles, e.g. the Batman movies.
Yes yes yes yes yes, but that was YEARS ago!!!
Back in the early to mid years of DVD (1996 to about 2003), Universal and DreamWorks released just about every title of theirs in DTS on DVD. Since about 2004, DTS just simply disappeared in Uni and DW's "radar".
As for Warner, DTS sound on their DVDs has always been non-existant except for the following: "Twister" (a film that DTS founder Steven Speilberg had a hand in as it's executive producer), "American Outlaws" ( the film company Morgan Creek is a DTS proponent -- had Morgan Creek not made this film, this DVD would have been just another Dolby Digital DVD), and "Batman & Robin" (Tim Burton's "Batman" and "Batman Returns" don't count because, in their THEATRICAL exhibitions back in 1989 and 1992, they pre-date DTS by four years and one year respectively......"Batman Forever", while it was THEATRICALLY released during the DTS era, was mixed in Dolby Digital ONLY -- therefore, it does not count as a true DTS codec).
Fortunately, thanks to importing, I do own Warner's "Terminator 3" (imported from Britain) and "Phantom of the Opera" (imported from Japan) DVDs with their originally intended DTS mixes from their theatrical exhibitions.
It is good to see studios like Paramount to finally be releasing more DTS-encoded DVDs, but they have a LOT more work to do -- I don't think Paramount should limit DTS sound on DVD to sci-fi films like the 'next-generation' "Star Trek" films (all of which were mixed theatrically in DTS) and the upcoming re-release of "Event Horizon". How about the "Mission Impossible" films or "The Relic" or the "Tomb Raider" films.
Lionsgate is starting to impress me, and I can almost always count on 20th Century Fox for delivering DTS-encoded DVDs of their films (which, of course, were DTS-mixed theatrically).
I'm a very picky viewer, with more than my share of cheers and jeers to the above-mentioned studios these days.
I will say this......I will not support either HD-DVD nor Blu-Ray if certain studios do not get the message. I also tend to agree that HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are wasted technologies anyway.
If they can't deliver the intended goods (DTS, most importantly), then they are not worth spending my hard-earned money with, as well as not worth my time.
Jodi
Universal, DreamWorks and only recently WB are all DTS supporters. Indeed, Jurassic Park was the first film released in DTS and that was a Universal film.
DreamWorks release DTS on DVDs - American Beauty and The Last Castle are two examples I can think of.
Warner didnt support DTS, but are now just starting to provide it on some titles, e.g. the Batman movies.
Yes yes yes yes yes, but that was YEARS ago!!!
Back in the early to mid years of DVD (1996 to about 2003), Universal and DreamWorks released just about every title of theirs in DTS on DVD. Since about 2004, DTS just simply disappeared in Uni and DW's "radar".
As for Warner, DTS sound on their DVDs has always been non-existant except for the following: "Twister" (a film that DTS founder Steven Speilberg had a hand in as it's executive producer), "American Outlaws" ( the film company Morgan Creek is a DTS proponent -- had Morgan Creek not made this film, this DVD would have been just another Dolby Digital DVD), and "Batman & Robin" (Tim Burton's "Batman" and "Batman Returns" don't count because, in their THEATRICAL exhibitions back in 1989 and 1992, they pre-date DTS by four years and one year respectively......"Batman Forever", while it was THEATRICALLY released during the DTS era, was mixed in Dolby Digital ONLY -- therefore, it does not count as a true DTS codec).
Fortunately, thanks to importing, I do own Warner's "Terminator 3" (imported from Britain) and "Phantom of the Opera" (imported from Japan) DVDs with their originally intended DTS mixes from their theatrical exhibitions.
It is good to see studios like Paramount to finally be releasing more DTS-encoded DVDs, but they have a LOT more work to do -- I don't think Paramount should limit DTS sound on DVD to sci-fi films like the 'next-generation' "Star Trek" films (all of which were mixed theatrically in DTS) and the upcoming re-release of "Event Horizon". How about the "Mission Impossible" films or "The Relic" or the "Tomb Raider" films.
Lionsgate is starting to impress me, and I can almost always count on 20th Century Fox for delivering DTS-encoded DVDs of their films (which, of course, were DTS-mixed theatrically).
I'm a very picky viewer, with more than my share of cheers and jeers to the above-mentioned studios these days.
I will say this......I will not support either HD-DVD nor Blu-Ray if certain studios do not get the message. I also tend to agree that HD-DVD and Blu-Ray are wasted technologies anyway.
If they can't deliver the intended goods (DTS, most importantly), then they are not worth spending my hard-earned money with, as well as not worth my time.
Jodi
One problem, please tell me that we will be able to play our standard dvds on these HD and Blu-ray disc players. If not, to hell with both of them. As some people pointed out, I have way too much money invested in dvd to upgrade to this. Please tell me that these new players will be backwards compatible. If not, it will never be worth it to me.
I think that is still to be decided MDH. I believe to begin with you are screwed and due to content protection, you would be down converted to 480p since you do not have and HDMI jack. However, I think that there will be class action lawsuits against this kind of action and that eventually they won't be allowed to do this. Just my opinion.
If you have a DVI input, these are very similiar to the HDMI except that they don't have audio associated with it. If you have a DVI input that supports whatever revision of HDP (the copy protection) that is eventually released, you may be okay.
If you have a DVI input, these are very similiar to the HDMI except that they don't have audio associated with it. If you have a DVI input that supports whatever revision of HDP (the copy protection) that is eventually released, you may be okay.
I was wondering if someone could fill me in on somethings I'm not clear on.
I have a 42 inch Samsung High Defintion TV that's 1080i. There are component video jacks but there's no HDMI input jack. So would either a Blue Ray or HD-DVD player allow me to hook them up with component cables and allow me enjoy, at least, 1080i High Def or would it downgrade it to 480p, which if so, wouldn't seem to be any better than watching a DVD on my current progressive-scan DVD player?
So in short, would I have to go out and buy a new Hi-Def TV with 1080p capabilities and a HDMI input jack if I want to enjoy HD-DVD or Blue-Ray to their fullest?
I have a 42 inch Samsung High Defintion TV that's 1080i. There are component video jacks but there's no HDMI input jack. So would either a Blue Ray or HD-DVD player allow me to hook them up with component cables and allow me enjoy, at least, 1080i High Def or would it downgrade it to 480p, which if so, wouldn't seem to be any better than watching a DVD on my current progressive-scan DVD player?
So in short, would I have to go out and buy a new Hi-Def TV with 1080p capabilities and a HDMI input jack if I want to enjoy HD-DVD or Blue-Ray to their fullest?
jodi wrote: Universal, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros. do not believe in DTS sound of any kind!
Universal, DreamWorks and only recently WB are all DTS supporters. Indeed, Jurassic Park was the first film released in DTS and that was a Universal film.
DreamWorks release DTS on DVDs - American Beauty and The Last Castle are two examples I can think of.
Warner didnt support DTS, but are now just starting to provide it on some titles, e.g. the Batman movies.
Universal, DreamWorks and only recently WB are all DTS supporters. Indeed, Jurassic Park was the first film released in DTS and that was a Universal film.
DreamWorks release DTS on DVDs - American Beauty and The Last Castle are two examples I can think of.
Warner didnt support DTS, but are now just starting to provide it on some titles, e.g. the Batman movies.
jodi wrote: Universal, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros. do not believe in DTS sound of any kind!!!! You won't find DTS on ALL of their standard DVDs, HD-DVDs, and I fear the Blu-Ray discs as well. The three above mentioned studios are officially on my s**t list, and I would love to start organizing a boycott of ALL of their product until they get the message..........anyone with me!!!!!
Go ahead and boycott if you like, but you're reasoning is incorrect...and besides that, if you're going to boycott or protest something can't you think of anything more worthwhile than the availability of audio tracks on DVD?
Go ahead and boycott if you like, but you're reasoning is incorrect...and besides that, if you're going to boycott or protest something can't you think of anything more worthwhile than the availability of audio tracks on DVD?
Kaya Savas wrote: Yeah, I do believe that Sony will win this format war, I think they're still bitter over Betamax. Also I think releasing these when there IS NO PLAYER TO PLAY THEM IN is the stupidest move ever. They delayed Blu-Ray players but still release the movies?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Where is the logic? "Oooh, they look purty on my shelf".
Also, what is Dolby Digital-Plus? Why can't they put DTS-ES on all of these?
Universal, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros. do not believe in DTS sound of any kind!!!!
You won't find DTS on ALL of their standard DVDs, HD-DVDs, and I fear the Blu-Ray discs as well.
The three above mentioned studios are officially on my s**t list, and I would love to start organizing a boycott of ALL of their product until they get the message..........anyone with me!!!!!
Jodi
Also, what is Dolby Digital-Plus? Why can't they put DTS-ES on all of these?
Universal, DreamWorks, and Warner Bros. do not believe in DTS sound of any kind!!!!
You won't find DTS on ALL of their standard DVDs, HD-DVDs, and I fear the Blu-Ray discs as well.
The three above mentioned studios are officially on my s**t list, and I would love to start organizing a boycott of ALL of their product until they get the message..........anyone with me!!!!!
Jodi
It's not true. Originally Microsoft wanted HD-DVDs to have a classic DVD layer that would allow us to play these on regular DVD-Players.
But they've given up on that idea AFAIK.
But they've given up on that idea AFAIK.
Green Hornet wrote: Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems HD-DVDs are a seamless transition from regular DVDs. You can buy any HD-DVD and watch the standard 480i definition version of the movie on your regular DVD player. Then later say in a few years you can buy a HD-DVD player, and you already have the HD version of the movie on the same disc.
I can't see how this would be true. They would have to encode two different versions of the movie and the extras/menus/etc on the disc. This would take up quite a bit of space. I can't imagine why they would want to use that space for 480p video.
I can't see how this would be true. They would have to encode two different versions of the movie and the extras/menus/etc on the disc. This would take up quite a bit of space. I can't imagine why they would want to use that space for 480p video.
One or two exceptions aside, these first wave titles are pretty weak. Who in their right mind is going to shell out $30 bucks for "Stealth", "50 First Dates" or "Hitch"?
im not gonna rebuy all my dvd movies cause of this s**t.i have 450 dvds they will both go away just like superaudio cds and cdsdvd. wait and see. its 2 soon for this.
Chris wrote: I'm not. Already invested too much in DVD, and these formats are premature.
Same here Chris. One reason is that I don't have a HD monitor yet, so there's no use in going HD disc yet. Second reason is that I already have a solid modest sized collection, 500+ according to DVD Aficionado, so I don't see a rush to repurchase these things on HD disc yet. Third reason is quite obvious, if not to the studios....the players are going to be damn near $1000! I didn't buy a VCR when they were that high, and I didn't buy a DVD player when they were that high.
I gotta get a HD TV first and then we'll talk...
Luckily, I upgraded my sound system this past Christmas from a weak 230W DD system to a 720W DTS system.
Same here Chris. One reason is that I don't have a HD monitor yet, so there's no use in going HD disc yet. Second reason is that I already have a solid modest sized collection, 500+ according to DVD Aficionado, so I don't see a rush to repurchase these things on HD disc yet. Third reason is quite obvious, if not to the studios....the players are going to be damn near $1000! I didn't buy a VCR when they were that high, and I didn't buy a DVD player when they were that high.
I gotta get a HD TV first and then we'll talk...
Luckily, I upgraded my sound system this past Christmas from a weak 230W DD system to a 720W DTS system.
Correct me if I am wrong, but it seems HD-DVDs are a seamless transition from regular DVDs. You can buy any HD-DVD and watch the standard 480i definition version of the movie on your regular DVD player. Then later say in a few years you can buy a HD-DVD player, and you already have the HD version of the movie on the same disc. All companies that decided to go with HD-DVDs over Blue Ray will release 1 disc, with both Hi Def and regular version of the movie. However Sony and others will be releasing Blue Ray and regular standard DVDs separately. I don't see how Blue Ray will win this. I don't know that many people would want of spend $1000+ on a Blue Ray player. Not every one will buy a PS3 to watch movies on.
Bigger Titles
Ya I totally agree they need to release BIG HD DVD or Blu-Ray discs like All the Star Wars, Titantic (1997), Matrix Triolgy, All the Aliens etc. So it would generate more interest in there formats.
I see a couple of good movies being released. Is this Robocop the Uncut version or the cut version.
Yes, you need to buy a HD DVD player or a Blu Ray DVD Player.
The new PS3 supports Blu Ray though. And you need a HD TV screen for HD picture quality.
I'd wait a few years if I were you, when prices should go down.
And when the war settles on one format, but I doubt it would
happen anytime soon. It would be years before this happen!
The new PS3 supports Blu Ray though. And you need a HD TV screen for HD picture quality.
I'd wait a few years if I were you, when prices should go down.
And when the war settles on one format, but I doubt it would
happen anytime soon. It would be years before this happen!
What are these new hi-def DVDs? I'm not familair with them. Do you need a certain DVD player to play them or could you just play them in a regular DVD player?
Seriosuly why are so many of these movies not worth buying?? Chronicles of Ridd**k? Van Helsing???
Why not release star wars or LOTR or something that could actually generate a large audience? Titanic? Sound of Music??? I don't know
Why not release star wars or LOTR or something that could actually generate a large audience? Titanic? Sound of Music??? I don't know
Hmm... well House of Flying Daggers does sound tasty in HD thats for sure.
I'm content for buying only DVDs for now. It looks fine to me on my non HD TV.
Artwork added for Wave 1 & 2 of Universal's May releases...
i won't be buying either player when they're (eventually) released in australia. however, if microsoft do release the HD-DVD add-on for the xbox 360, then I will definitely consider it... depending on the price. if I had to pick one format, i'd go with HD-DVD, just for Serenity.
I think it nice that films will come out in highter resolution, it's the only thing that bugs me with DVD.
Adrian wrote: Looking back, Sony generally has the better technology, but either because they don't know how to properly market it or they want to high of royalties off their format, the formats generally tend to die. They don't have a good record: Betamax, Minidisc, UMD, SACD, etc. The only one that seems to be viable is their Memory Stick, but I don't know another company that uses Memory Sticks.You have pretty much hit the nail on the head there.
I think that the main reason why memory stick hasn't taken off is probably due to the fact that Sony probably charges too much to allow copying of their technology so therefore you can only get a Sony memory stick and then they charge heaps for it...
I think that the main reason why memory stick hasn't taken off is probably due to the fact that Sony probably charges too much to allow copying of their technology so therefore you can only get a Sony memory stick and then they charge heaps for it...
Metal Slug wrote: Who the f**k would buy ' Hitch' on Blu-ray? Aren't the discs going to be around $40 CAD each? That's such a waste.
Off-topic, but I just wanted to compliment your name. My all-time favorite game series.
Off-topic, but I just wanted to compliment your name. My all-time favorite game series.
Meh.
what happened with the matrix films I'm sure I heard they where coming as "lunch" titles
I am not gonna spend all that money on a new player and a new widescreen high definition tv just to watch movies as I would imagine the majority of people won't. Any high definition format is going to take a long time to warm up to people. DVD was so popular because you could easily buy a DVD player for less than 200 bucks very close to release. But having to spend 1500 on a player and just about as much to get a high definition TV? The prices to me don't add up to a slew of people jumping on board. This war will go unwon for years until prices are dropped.
I am also still sticking to DVD.
But I am worried about the region coding for HDDVD and Bluray when the time comes. But what the hell DVD's is very much alive and the picture on the new movies on DVD is gorgeous. So I can't really see the point in a upgrade now.
But I am worried about the region coding for HDDVD and Bluray when the time comes. But what the hell DVD's is very much alive and the picture on the new movies on DVD is gorgeous. So I can't really see the point in a upgrade now.
Worst Nightmare wrote: Sony has made many mistakes before with the older formats they tried to introduce - I haven't seen a post that also mentions their SACD yet - didn't that go off in a huff!!!
But seriously, just wait for a player that does both! The technology is there.....
It is really quite sad that Sony doesn't seem to market what it's got. SACD is an awesome format, especially when you consider that you can make hybrid SACD/CD that play in regular CD players, but give 5.1 to people that have SACD players. I was really never in to the format, but when I bought my Sony 400 disc changer, it came as an added bonus. I have a few hybrids, like Dark Side of the Moon, and they sound incredible.
Looking back, Sony generally has the better technology, but either because they don't know how to properly market it or they want to high of royalties off their format, the formats generally tend to die. They don't have a good record: Betamax, Minidisc, UMD, SACD, etc. The only one that seems to be viable is their Memory Stick, but I don't know another company that uses Memory Sticks.
But seriously, just wait for a player that does both! The technology is there.....
It is really quite sad that Sony doesn't seem to market what it's got. SACD is an awesome format, especially when you consider that you can make hybrid SACD/CD that play in regular CD players, but give 5.1 to people that have SACD players. I was really never in to the format, but when I bought my Sony 400 disc changer, it came as an added bonus. I have a few hybrids, like Dark Side of the Moon, and they sound incredible.
Looking back, Sony generally has the better technology, but either because they don't know how to properly market it or they want to high of royalties off their format, the formats generally tend to die. They don't have a good record: Betamax, Minidisc, UMD, SACD, etc. The only one that seems to be viable is their Memory Stick, but I don't know another company that uses Memory Sticks.
Universal really should remove "Best in picture and Sound" on the artwork
Sony has made many mistakes before with the older formats they tried to introduce - I haven't seen a post that also mentions their SACD yet - didn't that go off in a huff!!!
But seriously, just wait for a player that does both! The technology is there.....
But seriously, just wait for a player that does both! The technology is there.....
Metal Slug wrote: Who the f**k would buy ' Hitch' on Blu-ray? Aren't the discs going to be around $40 CAD each? That's such a waste.
It's a shame to see so many c**ppy movies as launch titles. I doubt Criterion will ever start releasing under these formats, unless if you guys have heard some rumours.If they have any success, of course Criterion will start releasing titles, just like they did with DVD after the LD.
I agree with the c**ppy titles though but they're strategy must've been to release some of the biggest selling titles on DVD. Kinda dumb since obviously the titles that'll sell the most will be the ones with the best eye-candy, which is what HD is all about.
It's a shame to see so many c**ppy movies as launch titles. I doubt Criterion will ever start releasing under these formats, unless if you guys have heard some rumours.If they have any success, of course Criterion will start releasing titles, just like they did with DVD after the LD.
I agree with the c**ppy titles though but they're strategy must've been to release some of the biggest selling titles on DVD. Kinda dumb since obviously the titles that'll sell the most will be the ones with the best eye-candy, which is what HD is all about.
Mal wrote: Well I think there's supposed to be a Blu-ray player appearing in June, it was originally planned for May but is suffering from delays. Will of course be very expensive. Here:
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/04/samsung...
Oh yeah, Samsung, I forgot about them. But isn't Sony's Blu-Ray player being delayed? Hence the delay in PS3?
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/04/samsung...
Oh yeah, Samsung, I forgot about them. But isn't Sony's Blu-Ray player being delayed? Hence the delay in PS3?
Well I think there's supposed to be a Blu-ray player appearing in June, it was originally planned for May but is suffering from delays. Will of course be very expensive. Here:
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/04/samsung...
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/04/04/samsung...
Mal wrote: Looking at the Blu-ray list I can tell they are mostly targeting a male audience, who are probably more interested in technology than the actual film ie the people most likely to buy the hardware early on. Although I would have expected Starship Troopers in there.
HD DVD seem to be after a more broad audience going on their selection.
Yes! But they are not releasing the hardware with the DVD's!lol, it baffles me. "Ooooh look, DVD's, I'll buy them and wait till November when they do release them." You know? I don't understand this move at all. Well, Sony baffles me cause Blu-ray isn't expected till November in the states, I forget about HD-DVD.
HD DVD seem to be after a more broad audience going on their selection.
Yes! But they are not releasing the hardware with the DVD's!lol, it baffles me. "Ooooh look, DVD's, I'll buy them and wait till November when they do release them." You know? I don't understand this move at all. Well, Sony baffles me cause Blu-ray isn't expected till November in the states, I forget about HD-DVD.
Deleted Member
Who the f**k would buy ' Hitch' on Blu-ray? Aren't the discs going to be around $40 CAD each? That's such a waste.
It's a shame to see so many c**ppy movies as launch titles. I doubt Criterion will ever start releasing under these formats, unless if you guys have heard some rumours.
It's a shame to see so many c**ppy movies as launch titles. I doubt Criterion will ever start releasing under these formats, unless if you guys have heard some rumours.
Looking at the Blu-ray list I can tell they are mostly targeting a male audience, who are probably more interested in technology than the actual film ie the people most likely to buy the hardware early on. Although I would have expected Starship Troopers in there.
HD DVD seem to be after a more broad audience going on their selection.
HD DVD seem to be after a more broad audience going on their selection.
Wow, HDDVDs as soon as april 18? so when are the Blu-Ray and HDDVD players coming out?
I hope HD wins, although I'm pretty worried with the PS3 having Blu-Ray and all.
And yeah, I'm definitely not upgrading anything any time soon. I'll wait for a winner and a price drop, thank you
I hope HD wins, although I'm pretty worried with the PS3 having Blu-Ray and all.
And yeah, I'm definitely not upgrading anything any time soon. I'll wait for a winner and a price drop, thank you

Is it more or a lot of these movies not very good?? Out of all of these I'd only get maybe 3. This format war is going to be ridiculous. I think I'm gonna wait this one out.
I think Sony is going to win because they have more support, the BDs have more space. UMDs failed because people had to buy new versions of movie ONLY for PSP. UMDs weren't a replacement for DVDs, and they certainly weren't higher resolution. The whole idea of UMDs was actually quite stupid if you ask me.
Minidiscs and Betamax was also a LONG time ago. Right now Sony seems to be poised to win this format war. I am not buying any hardware just yet, of course, but we'll see what happens...
The studios really should have put their feet down and refused to support any format unless it was the ONLY one! All of this c**p could have been avoided. Many of us could ALREADY have a player and handful of discs for it, as well...
Minidiscs and Betamax was also a LONG time ago. Right now Sony seems to be poised to win this format war. I am not buying any hardware just yet, of course, but we'll see what happens...
The studios really should have put their feet down and refused to support any format unless it was the ONLY one! All of this c**p could have been avoided. Many of us could ALREADY have a player and handful of discs for it, as well...
Just gonna wait until Blu-Ray burner technology improves and they're at a reasonable price. Until then, I'm sticking to what I already have enough of.
fumjum wrote: ECE wrote: I think Blu Ray will win because it will come with PS3.
"Yeah! Just like how the UMD discs on PSP took off! and how we are all walking around with MiniDiscs instead of CDs, and BetaMax was a big hit when VCRs came out. All by Sony" I said, SARCASTICALLY
Sony owns the biggest share of the gaming market as we know it. Being included could help their format quite a bit more than hurt it. Who wants to drop a grand on a player when you can spend around $500 and get it for basically free?
"Yeah! Just like how the UMD discs on PSP took off! and how we are all walking around with MiniDiscs instead of CDs, and BetaMax was a big hit when VCRs came out. All by Sony" I said, SARCASTICALLY
Sony owns the biggest share of the gaming market as we know it. Being included could help their format quite a bit more than hurt it. Who wants to drop a grand on a player when you can spend around $500 and get it for basically free?
ECE wrote: I think Blu Ray will win because it will come with PS3.
"Yeah! Just like how the UMD discs on PSP took off! and how we are all walking around with MiniDiscs instead of CDs, and BetaMax was a big hit when VCRs came out. All by Sony" I said, SARCASTICALLY
"Yeah! Just like how the UMD discs on PSP took off! and how we are all walking around with MiniDiscs instead of CDs, and BetaMax was a big hit when VCRs came out. All by Sony" I said, SARCASTICALLY
Is it just me or is that quite possibly the worst group of launch titles in existence? I like the idea of a few of them, Apollo 13 especially, but come on! I can't be the only one who doesn't need 50 First Dates in Hi Def.
WOW, they sure picked some flops for there initial release of the new formats.
I'll definitely wait a few years, maybe longer, I've invested WAY TOO much money in over 550 DVD's. $2000-$4000 for a high def TV and a $1000 for a new HD dvd player. Not something I'll be upgrading to soon.
MOst retailers have a hard time finding space to sell the DVD format that is out now, I don;t think you'll be seeing these at Target/Walmart for a longtime. I've heard they will only be sold where the players are being sold. Lets let them work the bugs out of the system for a few years and see what format wins. I love the referance to BETA, cause it is going to happen to one of these formats.
Phantom of the opera and Doom on HD, they weren't very good for DVD, lol. I would have picked different movies for the initial release. I love that The FIFTH ELEMENT is being released, I'm jealious.
I'll definitely wait a few years, maybe longer, I've invested WAY TOO much money in over 550 DVD's. $2000-$4000 for a high def TV and a $1000 for a new HD dvd player. Not something I'll be upgrading to soon.
MOst retailers have a hard time finding space to sell the DVD format that is out now, I don;t think you'll be seeing these at Target/Walmart for a longtime. I've heard they will only be sold where the players are being sold. Lets let them work the bugs out of the system for a few years and see what format wins. I love the referance to BETA, cause it is going to happen to one of these formats.
Phantom of the opera and Doom on HD, they weren't very good for DVD, lol. I would have picked different movies for the initial release. I love that The FIFTH ELEMENT is being released, I'm jealious.
Ive seen these before and I gotta say that I do not like the cropped images of the packaging, it looks nasty. I cannot buy these yet in the UK, but I'm kinda worried about the region coding of these HD-DVDs cos ive bought loads of region 1 DVDs and when the HD-DVD players come out I'm not sure they gonna play my region 1 dvds...its gonna suck balls if they cant. I reckon its gonna be a delayed release of for HD-DVD players in the UK, which might be a blessing cos the format wars might be settled by then and I reckon Sony got it already in the bag. Although Xbox360 is gonna have a seperate component available to buy to play the HD-DVDs...damn these format waaaaaaaars!! Whyyyyyyy!??
Serenity in hi-def. Wow. Just when I thought it couldn't get any better.
Oh, wait... I just noticed :O
I want the special feautures on HD too!!
I want the special feautures on HD too!!
The rational voice inside me says, "Wait, wait...wait until a few things are decided first before buying a new format player", but the irrational voice inside me, which is also the one that made me by an XBOX 360 a couple of months back, says, "I can't wait to see what some of these movies will look like on a brand new, 1080p big screen". Damn irrational voice--he's always writing checks that I have to pay for.
All HD films will be mastered in 1920x1080 regardless of format of choice.
ya need a "new" audio receiver to have Dolby Digital Plus, HD-DTS & Lossless audio.
You also need a television capable of displaying 1080p & it also has to have a 1080p input jack for you to view 1920x1080 progressive scan. If not, your stuck with 1080i or lower res.
Oh, & of course the minimun $500US purchase of a HD player.
Tempting, but I am not a millionare yet.
ya need a "new" audio receiver to have Dolby Digital Plus, HD-DTS & Lossless audio.
You also need a television capable of displaying 1080p & it also has to have a 1080p input jack for you to view 1920x1080 progressive scan. If not, your stuck with 1080i or lower res.
Oh, & of course the minimun $500US purchase of a HD player.
Tempting, but I am not a millionare yet.

Woo, good to see finally 1080p on HD-DVD. Even if the players can't do it.
So, Universal is the only one releasing pics only on HD-DVD, right? I'll go with BD. Players can do NOW 1080p, bigger capacity...
I don't like the "Experience" covers, and the chopped ones in both BD and HD-DVD ¬_¬
So, Universal is the only one releasing pics only on HD-DVD, right? I'll go with BD. Players can do NOW 1080p, bigger capacity...
I don't like the "Experience" covers, and the chopped ones in both BD and HD-DVD ¬_¬
I don't think I'll be taking any sides at this point, don't wanna end up with a Betamax... Although if I had to choose a format based on the titles released, I'll go for HD.
So, that True HD track on Phantom, is that like 5.1 EX?
you know, looking at the top and bottom part of these cases makes it feel like they are really putting the world BEST IN ..., but to people who do not,YET, have a HDTV, makes us (well, at least me) seem jealous.
I'm not. Already invested too much in DVD, and these formats are premature.
I'll probably get a new PC at some point with both a Blu-ray and HD DVD drive, and use Power DVD or something, but that's about it. Not that I review anything these days.

Hey Chris or Mal or Tom or whomever, are you guys going to get hi-def setups so these discs can all be reviewed? Just curious.
I`m going to stay away from both HD and BluRay aswell. Those cases for both formats are equally ugly, and come on, DVD`s still have a lot of life left. It seems kind of unneccessary at this point. I am furious that the PS3 will include a blu ray player because that means the price is going to be a lot more steep, and that just isnt cool!
Does anyone else think these are really ugly? I guess its necessary so people know what they're buying, though. I refuse to play any part in the "format war". I will buy DVDs for years to come.
Are the boxes a different shape than regular DVD cases? I can't tell from the pictures.
IT BEGINS!!!!!!!!!!
If it comes to this, at least I can buy The Last Samurai right away. I'm sure buying your favourite movie is going to be everyone's priority for the new formats.
If it comes to this, at least I can buy The Last Samurai right away. I'm sure buying your favourite movie is going to be everyone's priority for the new formats.
sroberts1220 wrote: Blu Ray is going to be the winner I think. Once Universal signs up to release them on Blu Ray, that will be the end of the format war.

There are still old movies that haven't even been released on dvd like Monster Squad, Night of the Creeps, Howard the Duck and more. Why new formats now? It bugs me out.
I think Blu Ray will win because it will come with PS3.
"Serenity" in HD will be awesome. I also like how these HD releases are retaining their original aspect ratio and not cropping them to 1.78:1. I absolutely hate watching a film that was formerly 2.35:1 in HD at a 1.78:1 ratio, unless it's something like "Once Upon A Time In Mexico", where the movie was shot for 1.78, but matted out to 2.35 for the theaters...
Yeah, I do believe that Sony will win this format war, I think they're still bitter over Betamax. Also I think releasing these when there IS NO PLAYER TO PLAY THEM IN is the stupidest move ever. They delayed Blu-Ray players but still release the movies?!?!?!?!?!?!?! Where is the logic? "Oooh, they look purty on my shelf".
Also, what is Dolby Digital-Plus? Why can't they put DTS-ES on all of these?
Also, what is Dolby Digital-Plus? Why can't they put DTS-ES on all of these?
Version 1 wrote: Isnt Blu-Ray disc where one you play it you have 48 hours and then it stops working,or was that something else??? You're thinking of either Divx or Flexplay.
Isnt Blu-Ray disc where one you play it you have 48 hours and then it stops working,or was that something else???
I'll be buying Blu-Rays for the PS3 when it comes out, but otherwise, I won't buy any Blu-Ray players or discs.
Not all of those HD DVD titles are being released on April 18. It's nice to finally see some cover art for the Universal titles.
Is it just me that thinks Blu-ray covers look like games, especially Robocop?
I'm not sold on this as an early bit of hardware that I have to have. It's a lot like the XBox 360 to me. Looks cool, but I'm going to wait for a lower price.
good to see 1080p stated on the HDDVDs - are they just releasing pack shots without any details on these things at the moment?
And what exactly is Dolby Digital Plus? Do you need a new amp to decode it or is it just that the bit-rate has been raised up to the proper 640kb/s from DVDs 448kb/s?
And what exactly is Dolby Digital Plus? Do you need a new amp to decode it or is it just that the bit-rate has been raised up to the proper 640kb/s from DVDs 448kb/s?
By the way, Blu Ray discs will have added content, they just are not announced yet for the specific titles.
Blu Ray is going to be the winner I think. Once Universal signs up to release them on Blu Ray, that will be the end of the format war.
Are there going to be special things only on these High def dvds??
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