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HD-DVD

Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, Movies, Netflix

Netflix Drops HD-DVDs. The Format War is Officially Over.

We’re Going Blu-ray

Dear Ivan,
You’re receiving this email because you have asked to receive high-definition movies in the HD DVD format. As you may have heard, most of the major movie studios have recently decided to release their high-definition movies exclusively in the Blu-ray format. In order to provide the best selection of high-definition titles for our members, we have decided to go exclusively with Blu-ray as well.While we will continue to make our current selection of HD DVD titles available to you for the next several months, we will not be adding additional HD DVD titles or reordering replacements.Toward the end of February, HD DVDs in your Saved Queue will automatically be changed to standard definition DVDs. Then toward the end of this year, all HD DVDs in your Queue will be changed to standard definition DVDs. Don’t worry, we will contact you before this happens.You can click here to change your format preferences.We’re sorry for any inconvenience. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please call us at 1 (888) 638-3549.

-The Netflix Team

Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, PS3, XBOX
Warner Bros. abandons HD-DVD in favor of Blu-Ray
01.04.08 | Permalink | Comment?

(January 4, 2008 – Burbank, CA) – In response to consumer demand, Warner Bros. Entertainment will release its high-definition DVD titles exclusively in the Blu-ray disc format beginning later this year, it was announced today by Barry Meyer, Chairman & CEO, Warner Bros. and Kevin Tsujihara, President, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group.“Warner Bros.’ move to exclusively release in the Blu-ray disc format is a strategic decision focused on the long term and the most direct way to give consumers what they want,” said Meyer. “The window of opportunity for high-definition DVD could be missed if format confusion continues to linger. We believe that exclusively distributing in Blu-ray will further the potential for mass market success and ultimately benefit retailers, producers, and most importantly, consumers.”Warner Home Video will continue to release its titles in standard DVD format and Blu-ray. After a short window following their standard DVD and Blu-ray releases, all new titles will continue to be released in HD DVD until the end of May 2008. (more…)
Apple, Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, Mac
Next Gen Macs Rumored to Support Blu-Ray
01.03.08 | Permalink | Comment?

AppleInsider >_ “In a report issued to clients early Thursday morning, American Technology Research analyst Shaw Wu cited sources who say the Cupertino-based Mac maker, which already occupies a seat on the Blu-ray consortium, is set to begin shipping some of its computers with support for the next-generation DVD format.

“We believe this is a key announcement as current Macs ship with the DVD format and Sony gains a strong ally in Blu-ray,” the analyst told clients. He added that Disney, for which Apple chief executive Steve Jobs is a Director, is a firm supporter of Blu-ray, while rival Microsoft Corp. has placed most of its eggs in the HD-DVD basket.

However, Wu hedged his bets somewhat, saying there is “a smaller chance Apple may use a combo Blu-ray/HD-DVD drive to ensure full compatibility and not get involved in the format wars.”

Apple, which markets a complete line of HD content creation tools for consumers and professionals, announced in March of 2005 that it had joined Blu-ray Disc Association. Since then, however, the company has observed much of the ongoing battle between Blu-ray and HD-DVD from the sidelines, choosing to remain indifferent in the fight for control of the next-generation high def format.

The Mac maker during the first quarter of 2008 is expected to introduce a significant overhaul to its Mac Pro professional workstations, which are expected to be among the first systems from the company to include drives capable of supporting the Blu-ray format, sources close to AppleInsider and other Apple news publications have said.”
Adobe, Blogs, Blu-Ray, Flash, HD-DVD, Hulu
The Current State of High Definition Video
12.31.07 | Permalink | Comment?
PodcastingNews.com >_ Despite the fact that prices have plummeted for next-generation high-definition DVD players, the two systems — Blu-ray, developed by Sony, and HD DVD, from Toshiba, have sold only about one million stand-alone players combined.

In June, we suggested that the winner in the war between HD DVD and Blu-Ray could be Internet TV. Increasingly, it’s looking like that may be the case.

According to the New York Times, in the war over high-definition DVD formats, most buyers are sitting it out.

Neither has a clear advantage, either in terms of technology, number of movies or, increasingly, the price of the equipment. According to data from Adams Media Research, 578,000 HD DVD and 370,000 Blu-ray machines will be sold by the end of this year.

The winner of the format wars could be determined by which company has the most content, in the same way the VHS-Betamax VCR war was decided. But both formats offer about 400 movies. Studios allied with the Blu-ray camp include Columbia, Disney, Fox, Lionsgate, Miramax, New Line and Sony.

In the HD DVD camp are DreamWorks, Paramount, Universal, the Weinstein Company, and several smaller TV and motion picture companies. Warner Brothers releases movies for both systems.

In November, Howard Stringer, the Sony chairman, publicly acknowledged that the formats were in a stalemate, and predicted that neither side would fold.

There are a lot of things holding back interest in high-definition DVDs:
- Lack of standardization
- Lack of content
- Lack of availability
- Lack of need - most people don’t have TVs that can benefit from the extra resolution
- Desire to avoid investing in the “Betamax” of high-def DVD formats (more…)
HD-DVD, Movies, Transformers
Transformers HD-DVD coming out tomorrow
10.15.07 | Permalink | Comment?

<<ComingSoon.net>> :: The armies of Cybertron invaded theaters with a juggernaut fury that shook the summer of 2007, but on October 16, 2007 fans of all ages will discover that there is far “More Than Meets The Eye” to the massive mechanical behemoths when Transformers arrives on Earth in spectacular DVD and HD DVD two-disc Special Edition sets as well as on a single disc from DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures; distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment.

Earning over $650 million at the global box office to date, the massive production exploded onto screens from the creative minds of director Michael Bay and executive producer Steven Spielberg, in association with Hasbro, taking audiences by storm and becoming the biggest original film of the year. The first live-action film based on the enduringly popular “robots in disguise”, Transformers features the ultimate battle between good and evil, as the peace-loving Autobots seek to protect humanity from the evil forces of the Decepticons. The action-packed film stars a hot young cast of up-and-coming actors including Shia LaBeouf (Disturbia), Josh Duhamel (”Las Vegas”), Tyrese Gibson (Four Brothers) and Megan Fox (”Hope & Faith”), as well as seasoned performers such as Jon Voight (National Treasure) and John Turturro (The Good Shepherd). But the biggest stars are the Transformers robots themselves – including fan favorites Optimus Prime, Megatron, Bumblebee, Ratchet, Jazz and more – brought to life by revolutionary new VFX techniques developed by the innovative digital wizards at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM). (more…)
HD-DVD, Movies, Transformers
Transformers HD-DVD to be released on October 16, 2007 - IMAX on 9.21.07
09.05.07 | Permalink | Comment?

Transformers: The Movie (2007) - HD DVD
The HD DVD is presented in 1080p High Definition with English, French and Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus and English, English SDH+, French, Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese subtitles. In addition to the above features that will be presented in high definition, the Transformers HD DVD will also offer the following exclusive content:

Disc 1:
Transformers H.U.D. (Heads Up Display) - In this mode, viewers can access running text-based behind-the-scenes background information on the production during the feature. Users can also watch relevant picture-in-picture b-roll and video with Bay, Spielberg and other filmmakers during select sequences.

Transformers Intelligence Mode web-enabled features consist of:
- Transformation Mode
- Health Meter
- Weapon Mode
- Robot Bio
- In Scene Indicator
- Text Ticker
- GPS

Disc 2:
Transformers Tech Inspector - Gives viewers an unprecedented look at the Transformers robots through the exquisitely detailed models created by ILM artists. Users can zoom in on each detail for a closer examination and pause and change the rotation of the models.
HD-DVD, Heroes, Movies
Heroes Season 1 - Now Available on 7 Disc HD-DVD
08.29.07 | Permalink | Comment?

“This sci-fi action saga follows a global group of young, everyday people who, in the midst of perfectly normal lives, awake to discover they each have special powers — from stopping time to reading people’s thoughts. The newly minted unlikely superheroes eventually join forces to defeat their mutual foe, who plots to steal their super-DNA and destroy the world.”

Price comparison for the Heroes: Season 1 HD-DVD:

Circuit City - $99.98
Best Buy - $79.99
NBC Universal Store - $79.98
Amazon.com - $69.95
Wal*Mart - $69.87

(more…)
Batman, HD-DVD, Movies
Batman - The Dark Knight - Teaser Trailer - HD
08.28.07 | Permalink | Comment?

“In The Dark Knight, Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker.” –IMDB.com

(more…)
Adobe, Flash, HD-DVD, Netflix, Videos, YouTube
Get ready to embed HD videos onto your blog with Adobe MovieStar
08.21.07 | Permalink | Comment?

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Aug. 21, 2007 — “Adobe Systems Incorporated (Nasdaq:ADBE) today announced the latest update for Adobe® Flash® Player 9 software, code-named Moviestar, which includes H.264 standard video support - the same standard deployed in Blu-Ray® and HD-DVD® high definition video players - and High Efficiency AAC (HE-AAC) audio support, as well as hardware accelerated, multi-core enhanced full screen video playback. These advancements will extend Adobe’s leadership position in Web video by enabling the delivery of HD television quality and premium audio content through the ubiquitous Adobe Flash Player and pave the way to expand rich media Flash experiences on the desktop and H.264 ready consumer devices. The latest update for Adobe Flash Player 9 will be available in beta for immediate download later today on Adobe Labs at http://labs.adobe.com.”

This update to Adobe Flash player will either finally push HD video to the forefront of the web, increase flash adoption to 99.9%, or slow down the web to a crawl… I would expect that providing HD support to Flash is a natural progression and should be adopted by Netflix to help their instant movie watching module as it the video content will allow for a greater resolution and will not lock out non-Windows users. Expect YouTube to upgrade as well with MovieStar–hopefully ushering in a new wave of HD content online as early adopters begin to upgrade to high definition video cameras and more professional videographers entering the fray with technology that will now be able to display their artwork with high quality resolution.
HD-DVD, Heroes, Linkin Park, Movies, Transformers
Want to see Transfomers the Movie in high definition? Get an HD-DVD Player.
08.20.07 | Permalink | Comment?

The next generation high-definition video format war may soon be over…and HD-DVD looks to be the winner. Variety.com is reporting today that Paramount and DreamWorks Animation have officially decided to completely abandon Blu-Ray support and have all future releases distributed exclusively in HD-DVD. What this means to the average consumer is that if you’re looking to buy a high-def version of “Blades of Glory”, “Shrek the Third”, or “Transformers” this Christmas, you better have a player that supports HD-DVD!

Paramount chairman and CEO Brad Grey is quoted as stated the following, “I believe HD DVD is not only the affordable high quality choice for consumers, but also the smart choice for Paramount.” While DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg added the following, “We believe the combination of this year’s low-priced HD DVD players and the commitment to release a significant number of hit titles in the fall makes HD DVD the best way to view movies at home.” Being an Xbox 360 HD-DVD Player owner myself, this is more than welcome news. With Heroes and the Office also being released exclusively on HD-DVD, I would expect most high-def early adopters to shift their format focus to HD-DVD with the release of Transformers the Movie.

If you thought the Linkin Park / Jay-Z mashup was cool, check out this LP/Transformers mashup…