Okay so maybe that is a bit sensationalist but what Disney did at the recent format steering committee has caused quite a ruckus in the Blu-Ray camp.
The meeting was going as usual and then the question of whether to allow the new 51GB HD-DVD as an official format came up, as usual all the Blu-Ray backers abstained from the vote and the HD-DVD and impartial backers said yes… However Disney, which has always been one of the strongest Blu-Ray backers, also decided to vote yes to the new format.
So are they thinking of becoming dual format? So far we have no comment but this is an interesting turn of events.
X-bit labs – Disney Votes for 51GB HD DVD Media Approval.
[Thanks to J4NR1K for the tip]Last Updated: November 21, 2007
Abev
November 21, 2007 at 10:19
Doesnt the 51gb didk require a new upgraded player?
ocelot
November 21, 2007 at 10:51
LOL weren’t Warnet Bros supposed to be jumping ship already. Taking a mighty long time to do it…..
doobiwan
November 21, 2007 at 13:05
I think it’s more a case of taking the wait and see approach to this festive season. BR has the numbers lead at the moment, but with sub $200 HD-DVD players in the market, there is a high likelyhood HD-DVD could become dominant.
Disney is a content provider and will go where the customers are.
@Abe, it might, but I don’t think so. Remember ALL HD-DVD players are firmware upgradeable online.
I know the biggest driver for triple layer isn’t capacity, it’s being able to offer “seemless dual format DVD/HD-DVD”, ie regardless of what type of player you stick it in, it’l play.
JP
November 21, 2007 at 15:16
If disney go dual format the “war” will be over.
Abev
November 22, 2007 at 08:30
“The snag, of course, is that today’s HD DVD players will be incapable of reading the new disc, which is something of a problem for early adopters, who will presumably have to buy new kit. Toshiba last week positioned the new disc as an “extended capacity, high-end option”.
“http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01/15/tosh_touts_51gb_hddvd/”
doobiwan
November 22, 2007 at 10:03
Okay, so just like BR then? 😉
Abev
November 22, 2007 at 11:02
Nah, Im pretty sure that the Multilayer Blu disks, will be playable through firmware updates. All HD DVD is doing is continuing to screw the consumer by drawing out a war that they should have admitted was over long ago!
doobiwan
November 22, 2007 at 11:11
We’ll see about that in the new year. If Disney flips it’s all over.