Sony Intros New Bluray Disc Players

With Toshiba’s public withdrawal of HD DVD having virtually sealed the fate of the format, rival Sony has made some haste in announcing spanking new Blu-ray Disc Player models; namely, the BDP-S350 and the BDP-S500.

Announcing the Blu-ray Disc players at Sony’s product showcase in Las Vegas, Chris Fawcett, vice president (Marketing) of Sony Electronics Home Product Division, said “the new devices bring home movie experience beyond cinema”.

Both players support ‘Bonus View’ for viewing picture-in-picture content, and have external ports for users to add optional storage devices.

Meanwhile, the BDP-S350 is BD-Live capable, and has an Ethernet port for firmware upgrade and access to Internet-based interactive content.

 The other player, the BDP-S500 does not require any firmware upgrade to enable interactivity features, and will ship with 1GB of storage.

The S350 and S500 can handle 7.1-channel Dolby TrueHD decoding and bitstream output, as well as DTS-HD Master Audio bistream output. Whereas the S550 adds DTS-HD Master Audio decoding to 7.1 channel analog audio output.

Both players feature 1080/60p and 24p True Cinema output, and are compatible with a wide array of video formats, including BD-R/RE (BDMV and BDAV modes), DVD+R/+RW, DVD-R/-RW, CD, CD-R/RW (CD-DA format), and JPEG on DVD/CD recordable media.

Sony said the BDP-S350 will ship this Summer for about $400, while the BDP-S550 will be available this Autumn for around $500.

In a separate announcement, DreamWorks Animation SKG said that it is locked in an exclusive deal to distribute DVDs on Toshiba’s HD DVD format, even though the latter plans to quit HD DVD technology.

Explaining further, DreamWorks Chief Executive, Jeffrey Katzenberg, said, “We have a partnership with Toshiba, and have an obligation to see this through. As you know, we have been well-compensated for our support. It really is in their court at this point to really declare what the next step will be. We’re poised either way to jump into the marketplace when the conditions are right to do so.”

As such, DreamWorks is waiting for a cue from Toshiba — more so because they plan to release the DVD version of “Bee Movie” next month, and are waiting to hear from Toshiba on how to proceed…

Toshiba concedes defeat to Sony in DVD battle

The battle between the next-generation of DVD players appears to be over after one of the manufacturers indicated it was ready to concede defeat.

Toshiba gave its strongest signal yet that it was ready to pull the plug on its high-definition HD-DVD machines, ending a war that recalls the fight between VHS and Betamax in the 1980s.

Sources said the company was reviewing its business and that “a complete withdrawal” was one of the options being considered.

The move will be welcomed by the 17,000 households in Britain which bought Sony’s Blu-ray DVD players last year, but not by the 15,000 who invested in Toshiba’s new-generation players.

Both promise to play films in a clarity and detail seen only at the cinema, but consumers have been left confused over which machine to buy, knowing it will not be compatible with films released by studios favouring the other format.

Most have opted to bide their time to see who emerges as the winner, while others have bought expensive DVD players that can play both HD-DVD and Blu-ray discs.

Toshiba’s suspected departure from HD-DVD comes only days after Walmart, the world’s largest retailer, announced it would no longer stock Toshiba’s players and was instead committing itself to the rival Blu-ray format.

It also follows the announcement last month by Warner Bros, one Hollywood’s biggest film studios, that it would be distributing all its movies in Sony’s Blu-ray format.

The announcement means that people with HD-DVD machines will now have to invest in a Blu-ray player costing around £350 if they want to watch the forthcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, or the Batman sequel, The Dark Night, on their high-definition television sets.

Blu-ray now enjoys the backing of four of the big six Hollywood studios. Only Paramount and Universal still back HD-DVD.

Industry experts said that if this does mark the end of the format war, it will come as a relief to consumers who have been reluctant to splash out on technology that could become obsolete.

“It’s good for consumers, some of whom must have been resisting buying next-generation DVD recorders because of the two incompatible formats,” said Hiroyuki Shimizu, an analyst at IT research company Gartner.

“If there’s only one format, consumers don’t have to worry about incompatibility, but on the other hand, manufacturers still face a challenge to persuade people who are satisfied with conventional DVD recorders to replace them with next-generation ones.”

A spokesman for Toshiba refused to be drawn on reports that it was dropping its HD-DVD machines.

“There have been media reports that Toshiba will discontinue its HD-DVD business,” he said.

“In fact, Toshiba has not made any announcement or decision on that. We are currently assessing our business strategies, but nothing has been decided at this moment.”

By Nicole Martin, Digital and Media Correspondentd

Toshiba to give up on HD DVD, end format war

Toshiba Corp (6502.T: Quote, Profile, Research) is planning to give up on its HD DVD format for high definition DVDs, conceding defeat to the competing Blu-Ray technology backed by Sony Corp (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research), a company source said on Saturday.

The move will likely put an end to a battle that has gone on for several years between consortiums led by Toshiba and Sony vying to set the standard for the next-generation DVD and compatible video equipment.

The format war, often compared to the Betamax-VHS battle in the 1980s, has confused consumers unsure of which DVD or player to buy, slowing the development what is expected to be a multibillion dollar high definition DVD industry.

Toshiba’s cause has suffered several setbacks in recent weeks including Friday’s announcement by U.S. retailing giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) that it would abandon the HD DVD format and only stock its shelves with Blu-ray movies.

A source at Toshiba confirmed an earlier report by public broadcaster NHK that it was getting ready to pull the plug.

“We have entered the final stage of planning to make our exit from the next generation DVD business,” said the source, who asked not to be identified. He added that an official announcement could come as early as next week.
No one answered the phone at Toshiba’s public relations office in Tokyo.

NHK said Toshiba would suffer losses running to tens of billions of yen (hundreds of millions of dollars) to scrap production of HD DVD players and recorders and other steps to withdraw from the business.

Hollywood studios had initially split their alliances between the two camps, meaning only certain films would play on any one DVD machine.

The balance of power tipped decisively toward the Sony camp in January after Time Warner Inc’s (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Warner Bros studio said it would only release high-definition DVDs in Blu-ray format. With that, studios behind some three-quarters of DVDs are backing Blu-ray, although some release in both formats.

Netflix Opts for Blu-Ray High-Def DVDs

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — Netflix Inc., the online movie rental company, said Monday it is switching exclusively to the Blu-ray format for high-definition DVDs, following four major movie studios in selecting the Sony technology over one pushed by Toshiba Corp.

Toshiba and Sony have been vying to set the standard for high-definition DVDs for several years. The stakes are high because the winner will also get a boost in sales of DVD players needed to read the new format.

The Walt Disney Co., Sony Corp.’s Sony Pictures, News Corp.’s Twentieth Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have endorsed Blu-ray. Paramount and Universal Studios publish their high-definition DVDs in Toshiba’s HD DVD format.

Netflix has stocked both formats since they became available in 2006, but said the decision of four of the six major studios to issue films only in Blu-ray format made it likely that the Sony format will prevail.

“From the Netflix perspective, focusing on one format will enable us to create the best experience for subscribers,” the company said, adding that not many customers order high-def DVDs.

Many consumers have held off on buying a high-def DVD player until the dominant format is decided.

Best Buy Recommends Blu-Ray Over HD DVD

In another sign the high-definition DVD race nearing the end, electronics retailer Best Buy Co. (BBY: 47.37, +0.67, +1.43%) said Monday it will “prominently showcase” Blu-ray hardware and software products beginning in early March.

The electronics retailer did say it will continue to carry an assortment of Toshiba Corp.’s HD DVD products for consumers who want to buy them, but it will “prominently showcase” Sony Corp.’s Blu-ray format.

Earlier Monday, online movie rental company Netflix said it is switching exclusively to Blu-ray as its high-definition format.

Toshiba and Sony have been vying to set the standard for high-definition DVDs for several years, but the race is tilting toward Sony.

Walt Disney Co., Sony Corp.’s Sony Pictures, News Corp.’s Twentieth Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer have endorsed Blu-ray. Paramount and Universal Studios publish their high-definition DVDs in Toshiba’s HD DVD format. Many consumers have held off on buying a next-generation DVD player until the dominant format is decided.

Best Buy’s shares rose 67 cents to $47.37. American Depositary Shares of Sony rose 51 cents to $43.50

Another Sony Blu-ray Win: Woolworths drops HD DVD

It seems to be just a matter of time now to we see the end of HD DVD, with the news breaking today that Woolworths in the UK has dropped HD-DVD in favour of the Sony Blu-ray format. This news makes me glad I brought a Sony PS3, what makes this even more significant is the fact that Woolworths is “the UK’s biggest retailer of next-gen DVD discs” and it’s going to exclusively back Blu-ray from March 2008.

The store said that Blu-ray discs outsold HD DVDs by ten-to-one last month. Add this to other news around the world it looks like Blu-ray will be the winner of the next major format.

Do you think the Sony PlayStation 3 machine has added a lot to the success of the Blu-ray format

Sony Develops Smaller, Cheaper Blu-ray Disc Laser Unit

The new, improved laser unit  (Source: Sony Corp.)New 3mm laser helps pave way for more compact, 9.5mm
In the spirit of continuous improvement, Sony Corporation announced on Thursday a new design of the blue-violet laser unit that measures just 3mm thick. The laser unit is a crucial component of Blu-ray Disc drives and players.

Developed in part with Nichia Corporation, the new blue-violet laser is now small enough for practical integration of Blu-ray Disc playback and record functions into mobile applications, such as laptop computers and in-car entertainment systems. Sony said that its less-than 3mm thick laser unit will enable Blu-ray Disc drives measuring in 9.5mm thickness.

Besides improvement in packaging, the new laser unit also features more stable reading of dual-layer media and new reading capabilities, such as the ability to read organic media.

The shrink to a 3mm design also cuts down cost – a critical point in Blu-ray Disc hardware. Last year, Blu-ray Disc movie players hit sub-$300 levels. Analysts now believe that it costs Sony around $400 to manufacture each PlayStation 3, thanks in part to the falling costs of Blu-ray Disc drive hardware.

With the falling price of Blu-ray Disc assemblies and processor die-shrinks to 65nm, SCEI chief Kazuo Hirai expects the PlayStation division to be profitable starting next fiscal year.

By Marcus Yam

Blu-Ray is crushing HD DVD, as recent HD DVD sales grind to a virtual halt

Warner Home Video’s defection from the HD DVD camp may have put a damper on hardware sales In the week since the studio’s surprise early-January announcement that after May it will support only the rival Blu-ray Disc format, sales of HD DVD players ground to a virtual halt, giving Blu-ray hardware a whopping 93% sales advantage, according to data from the NPD Group.

According to raw retail data collected by NPD, consumers bought just 1,758 HD DVD players the week of January 12, down from 14,558 players the week before. In contrast, consumers bought 21,770 Blu-ray Disc machines, up from 15,257 the previous week.

NPD would not confirm or deny the actual sales figures, saying they are proprietary. (A copy of the report was provided to The Hollywood Reporter by a third-party source.)

But analyst Stephen Baker confirmed the weekly market-share shift, with the caveat that it’s too soon to tell whether this is the start of a long-term trend.

“It’s always very dangerous to make long-term assumptions based on one-week sales data,” he said.

Baker said that while the Warner defection might have had an impact on HD DVD player sales, other factors also may have come into play, including an aggressive promotion by Sony and Sharp in which HDTVs were bundled with Blu-ray Disc players.

“And we haven’t seen the results of Toshiba significantly dropping the price of their set-top players (later in the month),” Baker said. “One week just doesn’t give us enough data points to say something is going on for the long term. It only tells me in one week something happened.”

NPD tracks point-of-sale data from major U.S. retailers that collectively account for about two-thirds of consumer electronics hardware sales.

By Thomas K. Arnold (Computerworld)

HDDVD: Get a shovel and a Pine box now!

Paramount is poised to drop its support of HD-DVD following Warner Brothers’ recent backing of Sony’s Blu-ray technology, in a move that could sound the death knell of HD-DVD and bring the home entertainment format war to a definitive end.

Paramount and DreamWorks Animation, which makes the Shrek films, came out in support of HD-DVD last summer, joining General Electric’s Universal Studios as the main backers of the Toshiba format.

However, Paramount, which is owned by Viacom, is understood to have a clause in its contract with the HD-DVD camp that would allow it to switch sides in the event of Warner backing Blu-ray, according to people familiar with the situation.

With hi-def war, it’s 1975 all over again (Blu-Ray vs HD DVD)

Wrong. High-definition DVD technology has been retro, forcing consumers to choose one of two formats, Blu-ray or HD DVD, bringing back memories of VCRs and the VHS vs. Betamax wars.

That’s because movie studios and technology companies have lined up on two different sides of high-definition DVD technology.

“I’d like to spank both sides on the fanny because they left it up to the consumer, and they shouldn’t have,” said Dale Cripps, publisher and founder of HDTV magazine.

“Either way the consumer is facing some kind of loss, based on the choice they make: ‘If I choose Blu-ray, and it turns out that HD DVD sprints off to success, do I have movies and equipment that can play it?”

An HD-DVD video disc of “The Bourne Supremacy” is seen at left,

with a Blu-Ray disc of “Superman Returns” at right

Most movies are available in both formats. Still, you’re going to find yourself with an extra chore to do in the video aisle: doublechecking whether the movie you want is available in the format that will work with your high-definition DVD player.

And it helps to keep a scorecard of which movie studio is backing which format or both, something that seems to be changing every week.