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Sony and Toshiba Give Up On Unified DVD Format

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the hard-headed-hardware dept.

HoTiCE_ is one of several to let us know, Reuters is reporting Sony and Toshiba have apparently given up efforts to develop a unified format for next-generation DVDs. The two companies had opened up negotiations but they fell through due to time constraints on new products from both groups.

2 of 339 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Dual format? by NekoXP · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Same laser wavelength too.

    I wonder actually what is so different between the two formats.. the way it's
    encoded on the disk, right? Isn't this a SOFTWARE issue (drive firmware) more
    than anything, or is there really some strangeness involved that I am missing.

    Maybe the dual-layer (and triple-layer) technologies use incompatible ways of
    focussing the laser; but isn't that also down to software and the use of another
    lens (like CDRW/DVD drives have already..)

    I dunno, really.. I don't have access to the specs. Who does? Who can make a
    really informed statement that dual-format drives will be possible?

    The trouble then is which format will the industry pick?

    I would say HD-DVD - because it's inherent cheapness (same disc layout as DVD,
    same manufacturing facilities and little changes to machinery will make it as cheap
    if not cheaper than DVD). Blu-Ray requires people to retool.

    Blu-Ray may end up being the custom format that runs the Playstation 3, like UMD
    is the custom format that runs the PSP, Matsushita's discs were the custom format that ran the Gamecube, and GD-ROM was the custom format that ran the Dreamcast.

    Besides Sony releasing their own movies in Blu-Ray format for the PS3 and a clutch of Sony & Samsung players, why would any cheap-ass (and we're all cheapasses at heart) bother with it? Remember in the VHS/Betamax war, Sony lost at the end of the day. They are not infallible and we shouldn't just think that because they have the Playstation that they will not lose again.

    Neko

  2. True nature of this fight. . . by doctor_no · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Out of all the coverage that has gone on about the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray battle something that has been seriously overlooked is the what this fight is really about. Toshiba and Time Warner makes an incredible amount of money from DVD 6C and other Toshiba/Sanyo/Warner ownened patents, they get a kick back from every DVD and DVD player that hits the market becaue they are the main beneficiaries of the 6C patents. And they are trying to keep these patents in place for the next-generation of high-definition media.

    Blu-ray is an effort to get around the 6C patents and Toshiba owned patents. When Sony and co. approached Toshiba/NEC/Warner in forming a unified format, one of the conditions that was put in place was to keep the 6C patents in place, and merely keep the software aspect of Blu-ray. This of course is why an agreement cannot be reached. Neither side has any reverance for the consumer.