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Memory-Tech, Toshiba Develop DVD/HD-DVD Discs
Kralizec writes "PC World reports that Memory-Tech has developed a dual DVD, HD-DVD disc, which stores DVD content on the upper layer and HD-DVD content on the lower. The DVD data can be read by standard DVD players, giving customers the incentive to buy now, and reap future benefits by buying an HD-DVD player at a later time. Blu-ray suffered a heavy blow when HD-DVD gained the support of four major movie studios; could this be the knockout punch?" (The format was developed jointly with Toshiba.)
That this will not be a KO. It will, in fact, be a disqualification on the part of the HD-DVD for ear biting.
The article says "The discs will help popularize the HD-DVD format for consumers and encourage them to purchase HD-DVD players..."
I hope this is referring to the read-only HD-DVDs, not these dual DVD, HD-DVD disc.
If consumers are given choice to buy new movies in HD-/DVD format, it'll only delay the need to purchase HD-DVD players, since it's obvious even to grandmas that all hardware price will drop so much in the first 6-12 months that if you can wait you will.
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Really damn smart. But I predict that "compatibility with existing DVD players" will be a relative thing. For no particular reason, I picked up one of those ultra-cheap US$35 DVD players, which not only chokes on home burnt DVD+ and -Rs, but also on a minority of purchased movies.
Note that the recently announced support by Universal Studios & others is non-exclusive, so they could still release Blu-Ray titles. This fact is usually omitted from the press. The speculation is that by announcing they got a break on the format royalties.
So I have some more links for y'all.
Technology News' Report and PCWorld's Article on the new disc that will contain a backwards-compatible (4.6 GB) DVD layer and a higher definition (15 GB) HD-DVD layer of which production is planned to begin in October or November of next year.
This seems like this could be a major factor in the format war between HD-DVD and the higher capacity Blu-ray.
- HD-DVD is technologically inferior to Blu-Ray.
- Blu-Ray is backed by Sony
I think we can see why HD-DVD would win this format war, judging by the past history of how other wars have played out.Two Roommates and a Boyfriend, updates Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
Can't I just punch a hole in the corner of a regular DVD and turn it over?
I for one welcome our new dual DVD, HD-DVD overlords...
But seriously, this is a great move. Not because it technologicaly better, but simply because people will buy these disks, perhaps not even knowing they are HD-DVD compatible. Some time later, when shopping for a new DVD player, when the salesman says "and if you have any DVD-HD-DVD disks, you will get better quality from your existing disks!" thus sealing the deal for lots of people...
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If the DVD/HD-DVD hybrid disc is the same or very close to the DVD-only disc price, people will buy the HD version on the off-chance it will be useful to them in the future. But if it costs significantly more, it'll get completely ignored.
This could be a chance for Toshiba & partners to lock in a good chunk of the market before the market even exists - but they'll never give up their precious new-product premiums. No way will they let their fancy new HD content go for the same price as existing SD content (especially as the hybrid disc will no doubt cost a little more to manufacture).
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A 4.6 GB DVD layer And a 15 GB HD-DVD Layer
15 GB not even twice a 9 GB standard double layer disk. The few movies released in HD on DVD compressed and using VC9 are not full HD resolution. You think and extra 6 GB is going to get you there all the way???
Blu-Ray starts out with 25 GB single layer and 50 GB for double.
Even with the Mpeg 4 encoding, the makers will be struggling to get true full HD on the disks for 2 hour plus movies and forget the bonus features.
HD-DVD used to have 2/3 the storage of Blu-Ray, now it will have 1/3 (1/12 if Blu-Ray delivers on 8 layer media)
Might as well just release HD on multiple regular double layer DVD and have a tray switch disks when last disk is done.
What seems like an advance is really just going to make certain the majority of HD-DVD content will be over compressed and crappy compared to Blu-Ray. Plus it is unclear the HD layer will not be overly affected by interference from the regular DVD layer (I am assuming larger standard DVD pits might create more optical interference for the lower layer than if an HD-DVD layer were above), thus more prone to failure and damage.
The sad thing is I can't deny the marketing genius of it.
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