HD-DVD / Blu-ray - what's coming your way... [Archive] - Page 4

Niceguygeoff

24-03-2006, 22:29

Why ignore [imports]? Sure it's nice to walk in to HMV and pay £5 for the privilidge of owning a R2 copy but early adoptors of DVD almost exclusively imported. As it hit the mainstream, most people bought from the highstreet, because the mainstreamers can't be bothered with online shopping.
This is true, but unfortunately it just ain't that simple when it comes to HD on disc. The software is no problem, as the path of importing first forged by wary laserdisc travellers is now well-worn as we go into the HD age. But it's the hardware which is causing concern, even for those precious early adopters whom we owe so much to.

You've got to consider the technological barrier (there are thousands of legacy displays without HDMI that could be barred from viewing proper HD images, unlike DVD which only needed a poxy scart socket to get the full benefit) and of course the format war. These are two major stumbling blocks IMO (yes, I know that most studios are saying that they won't restrict component) that will only create even wider-spread consumer confusion about HD on disc. Even the techie cognoscenti are aimlessly batting info back and forth. ;)

It doesn't help matters that the US HD-DVD launch has been put back again, and it'll be interesting to see if it sinks or swims and whether Sony alter Blu-ray's launch accordingly. If the reception for both is lukewarm at best, you can say bye-bye to the already slim prospect of seeing home machines from either format (not bloody laptops, but a proper deck) on UK shelves before 2007.

Faythur

27-03-2006, 01:01

I have also read somewhere that there will be no region coding for either high def format.

Oops, looks like I have been a bit confused here :doh: [old age creeping up :D ]

I knew that HD-DVD was to be region free, but I think it must've been about the PS3 where I got the idea into my head :nuts:

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/697/697656p1.html

The PS3 will be region free for gaming...

Sorry 'bout that

neilalford

27-03-2006, 08:05

True, no dates have been announced, but I can't see them launching players without software, or at least I can't see them not launching software when they are players in people homes.

Pretty sure the first UK DVD Player was out for over 9 months before any films were released (other than the couple of discs they gave away with the player), player came out, I think, around early autumn '97 and the first film releases must have been around May '98 I guess.

Niceguygeoff

27-03-2006, 10:58

neilalford

27-03-2006, 12:25

That was nearer the American timescale. We got a "soft" launch in the UK around about April '98, with the official launch in September '98 IIRC. And there weren't a whole lot of discs around during that interim period...

The first player was out well before April though, I bought one in February and I'm pretty sure it had been out some time by then. In fact by the time I got the A100 player Panasonic had already released their second player, the A350.

Spectre07

29-03-2006, 19:48

The Digital Bits (http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents) have some specs and special features on Warner's first HD-DVD releases

thescrounger

29-03-2006, 21:09

The Digital Bits (http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents) have some specs and special features on Warner's first HD-DVD releases

Very interesting.

I wonder if these hybrid discs will perhaps give HD-DVD a bit of an advantage?

Ben Martin

29-03-2006, 22:00

quite possibly. though the three discs in question on thedigitalbits are not confirmed to be hybrid discs. in fact, bill hunt implies otherwise:
We're trying to determine if that means that these are DVD/HD-DVD hybrid discs (offering both standard definition and high-definition video on the same disc), or that these titles make use of the Image Constraint Token (ICT) and analog video downsampling on HDTVs that lack HDMI or DVI connections. We strongly suspect that it's the latter, as all three titles are priced at SRP $28.99 (Warner has previously indicated that their DVD/HD-DVD hybrid discs would be priced at SRP $38.99). We'll confirm this with the studio and let you know for sure as soon as possible.

shand754

30-03-2006, 06:53

Looking at the specs for these first discs the technical box on the back of the cases say video will be 1080p for HD. I believe my Plasma, a panasonic PV500, will only do up to 720p. I am guessing that means that either the HD DVD player of the plasma will downscale the 1080p to 720p, is that correct?

Niceguygeoff

30-03-2006, 22:09

Most flatscreens/rear pros commercially available in the UK at the moment cannot accept a 1080p signal, regardless of the native resolution of the panel.

Your set will be able to accept 1080i for sure, which would be downscaled to the panel's native resolution.

But I would expect that an already downscaled 720p output will be available from the player as well, which you can then feed to your plasma with little scaling required.

Drpepper

31-03-2006, 10:46

Blu-ray Launch Going Ahead as Scheduled in US but nothing to play it on!!Blu-ray discs released on May 23
Sony announced its first Blu-ray Disc players won't arrive in stores until July.Samsung PD-B1000 out in June.Panasonic said its first Blu-ray player won’t be available until September.

story here (http://www.homemediaretailing.com/news/html/breaking_article.cfm?article_id=8860)

shand754

31-03-2006, 11:16

Spectre07

31-03-2006, 20:40

First out of the block - HD DVD player (http://www.homecinemachoice.com/cgi-bin/shownews.php?id=8623) have hit the shelves

John Hodson

02-04-2006, 13:11

Oops!

EDIT - sorry, conned by an April Fool prank!

LouBarlow

25-11-2006, 22:46

From the HTF:

Warner/New Line/HBO/etc. just announced 52 HD-DVD titles for release Q4 '05:

http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2005/Jan/1106003.htm

ABOVE THE LAW
ALEXANDER
ANGELS IN AMERICA (HBO)
AUSTIN POWERS: INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY (NEW LINE)
BATMAN BEGINS
BLADE (NEW LINE)
CATWOMAN
CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
CONSTANTINE
CONTACT
DARK CITY (NEW LINE)
THE DUKES OF HAZZARD
ERASER
EXECUTIVE DECISION
FINAL DESTINATION (NEW LINE)
FRIDAY (NEW LINE)
FROM THE EARTH TO THE MOON (HBO)
THE FUGITIVE
GOTHIKA
HARD TO KILL
HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER'S STONE
HARRY POTTER AND THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS
HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN
HOUSE OF WAX (2005)
THE LAST SAMURAI
THE MASK (NEW LINE)
THE MATRIX
THE MATRIX RELOADED
THE MATRIX REVOLUTIONS
MAVERICK
MILLION DOLLAR BABY
THE MUSIC MAN
MYSTIC RIVER
NEXT OF KIN
NORTH BY NORTHWEST
OCEAN'S ELEVEN
OCEAN'S TWELVE
PASSENGER 57
THE PERFECT STORM
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (2004)
THE PLAYER (NEW LINE)
THE POLAR EXPRESS
RED PLANET
RUSH HOUR (NEW LINE)
SE7EN (NEW LINE)
SOLDIER
THE SOPRANOS (HBO)
SPAWN (NEW LINE)
SWORDFISH
TROY
UNDER SIEGE
U.S. MARSHALS
WILD WILD WEST

Paramount just announced 21 HD-DVD titles for Q4 '05:

http://www.mysan.de/international/article21498.html

THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE
SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS
ELIZABETHTOWN
COACH CARTER
ITALIAN JOB
SCHOOL OF ROCK
SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW
FORREST GUMP
BRAVEHEART
GHOST
GREASE
MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2
BLACK RAIN
SAVE THE LAST DANCE
SLEEPY HOLLOW
U2 RATTLE & HUM
VANILLA SKY
LARA CROFT: TOMB RAIDER
STAR TREK: FIRST CONTACT
WE WERE SOLDIERS

Universal just announced 16 HD-DVD titles, likely for Q1 '06:

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/s...02774126&EDATE=

THE BOURNE SUPREMACY
THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK
VAN HELSING
APOLLO 13
U-571
12 MONKEYS
DUNE
THE THING
END OF DAYS
BACKDRAFT
WATERWORLD
THE BONE COLLECTOR
SPY GAME
PITCH BLACK
CONAN THE BARBARIAN
DANTE'S PEAK

Of all these titles, guess the disc I have just ordered...if I were to say: Pony-Tail...cook.... Erica Eleniak's tits covered in birthday cake... I may be giving too much away.

Ono

25-11-2006, 23:34

I really want the LotR Trilogy on HD-DVD.

Any news?

Space Duck

26-11-2006, 00:25

It's a shame to say but I'm preferring the Blu-Ray line up to the HD-DVD line-up and HDDVD is the horse I happen to be backing :lol:

Niceguygeoff

26-11-2006, 01:04

I'm also in for HD-DVD, if only because I need high-def goodness and £300 for a HD-DVD deck was too good to pass up (it's a superb DVD player to boot). I have to agree that the Blu-ray slate outshines the HD-DVD one, which is even worse off than the old list quoted above (Conan?!?). Still, there's plenty of goodness out there and hopefully Universal, Paramount and Warner will soon release their crown jewels on HD-DVD, so we can at least enjoy ourselves before the format gets the life strangled out of it.

dvdric

26-11-2006, 09:39

I want jurrasic park and star wars films in HD-DVD :)

George vader

26-11-2006, 10:26

Pony-Tail...cook.... Erica Eleniak's tits covered in birthday cake... I may be giving too much away.
I had the great pleasure of seeing that movie in the cinema :n0rty:

SimonI

26-11-2006, 10:27

Yeah, it's not exactly a list to inspire enthusiasm in the average film buff, being made up mainly of recent and fairly recent blockbusters - and yet it's supposedly the film buffs they should be going for in order to get HD established.

I would be far less enthusiastic about HD if they hadn't announced things like 2001 and already done great things with the likes of Robin Hood...

Space Duck

26-11-2006, 11:04

I do think more great titles will come along eventually, I noticed two cheapo horrors in the mix already which is my fave genre but £13 for a cheapo horror, hell no :lol:

I'd like to see some TV series begin to make their way to HD-DVD... but I don't want to be paying £80 for a season when it'll be released for £30 in cheaper packaging later on down the line.... I really hope they don't do special editions and then re-release under the guise of ultimate special special editions

MarcusUK

26-11-2006, 12:04

I want jurrasic park and star wars films in HD-DVD :)

Might be a wait for Star Wars :( Fox seem to be firmly in the Blue-Ray camp at the mo.

dvdric

26-11-2006, 13:18

Its ok then ill get it when i get ps3 on blueray

Space Duck

27-11-2006, 07:32

Can I just ask... These DVD combo discs do they look like the flip sided DVD discs we get from the US? You know the ones... Side A and Side B? So no actual Disc art....

LouBarlow

27-11-2006, 13:49

Yup

jon smith

27-11-2006, 14:15

Does anyone know if MI3 (HD DVD) was released today in the UK? HMV and Amazon have it and the ultimate boxset down as today, but no pics and not confirmed anywhere else?

Space Duck

27-11-2006, 14:30

Play shipped my MI Box set.... :P So it must be out... although I did go and check Virgin/HMV to see if they had any HD-DVDs in stock

charlie angel

27-11-2006, 14:34

Does anyone know if MI3 (HD DVD) was released today in the UK? HMV and Amazon have it and the ultimate boxset down as today, but no pics and not confirmed anywhere else?

It's in stock (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://clkuk.tradedoubler.com/click?p=20047&a=60823&g=606309&url=http://www.play.com/DVD/HD%20DVD/RNR/3-/1509776/Mission_Impossible_3/Product.html) at Play - £23.99 though :nuts:

Space Duck

27-11-2006, 14:36

As splobber mentioned before the box set is cheaper on Amazon.co.uk (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/redirect-home?tag=thedvdforums-21&site=dvd)

jon smith

27-11-2006, 16:26

Play shipped my MI Box set.... :P

Cheers. Have got on order with HMV, but they have no stock...

richdmx

05-12-2006, 22:18

Any news on The Matrix being released? In my Swordfish insert it says released 2006 but i cant see it anywhere :shrug:

Niceguygeoff

05-12-2006, 22:41

I bought the MI boxset in Virgin, only to take it back an hour later when I found out my amazon order had shipped :lol:

I've yet to delve in, but I can't wait to compare the Dolby Digital Plus sound of the first movie to the all-conquering mix on the laserdisc.

Space Duck

06-12-2006, 08:04

Any news on HD-DVD titles in the first quarter, it's looking superbly sparse!!

NicolaUK

04-01-2007, 12:02

Any news on HD-DVD titles in the first quarter, it's looking superbly sparse!!

I was wondering the same :D

Space Duck

04-01-2007, 12:20

DVDworldUSA have added 3 more titles to their list, Clerks 2 being one of them... :)

And there's that other post regarding Amazon.fr (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.amazon.fr/exec/obidos/redirect-home/thedvdforum09-21) and Terminator 2, as well as Total Recall and Rambo Trilogy :D

That's if you can stand icky frenchness in your collection :D

unitzero

04-01-2007, 14:42

Clerks is apparently a "Sony Pictures Home Entertainment" title.

Whats that all about?! have sony given up on BLuRay? lol

allan

04-01-2007, 14:44

I thought Clerks was a miramax/weinstein company release?

unitzero

04-01-2007, 15:35

Thats just what it said on dvdworldusa and it confused me.

Space Duck

05-01-2007, 08:39

DVDworld fixed my order for Pulse... it's on it's way!!! :) Woo Woo!!!

Space Duck

09-01-2007, 14:43

More up at DVDworldusa

Babel / HD DVD 2006 R
Wicker Man: UnRated / HD DVD
Beerfest: UnRated / HD DVD
Camp Cuddly Pines Power Tool Massacre / HD DVD(XXX)
Scooby Doo / HD DVD
Lucky Number Slevin / HD DVD
Clerks 2 / HD DVD

Dirty Dirty Pr0n!!!

R-T-C

12-01-2007, 10:46

More up at DVDworldusa
Camp Cuddly Pines Power Tool Massacre / HD DVD(XXX)
Dirty Dirty Pr0n!!!

Certainly no chance of seeing that on BR any time... ever:
http://whiggles.landofwhimsy.com/archives/2007/01/a_taste_of_things_to_come_if_b.html

NicolaUK

12-01-2007, 12:02

Didn't I read on here a while ago that porn was expected to be a huge seller for HD?

R-T-C

12-01-2007, 12:58

Didn't I read on here a while ago that porn was expected to be a huge seller for HD?

I'm not sure it is likely to sell that well at the moment - most adult films are shot on video/DV these days, so it will take a while before HD filmed material comes to the screens in any big numbers. However, I think that some people (say, the often big spending, tech-loving 18-24 male demographic) might be swayed by the fact that adult films are available on HD-DVD into buying that brand, rather than BR. As far as the manufacturers go, the volume of disc sales is less important right now, than the actual player sales.

neilalford

12-01-2007, 13:10

I'm not sure it is likely to sell that well at the moment - most adult films are shot on video/DV these days, so it will take a while before HD filmed material comes to the screens in any big numbers. However, I think that some people (say, the often big spending, tech-loving 18-24 male demographic) might be swayed by the fact that adult films are available on HD-DVD into buying that brand, rather than BR. As far as the manufacturers go, the volume of disc sales is less important right now, than the actual player sales.

Possibly, but the turn around times on porn films are pretty small I believe and they're generally quick to embrace new technology, Hi-Def video cameras are pretty affordable already so not a big deal cost wise, so they could easily start appearing pretty soon. In fact I belive that there are already a couple of Hi-Def porn titles out on HD-DVD.

The more worrying aspect is that certain titles (not just porn) are being refused a releases on Blu-Ray, good news for HD-DVD at the moment but bad news for consumers if Blu-Ray wins the format battle.

LouBarlow

12-01-2007, 14:00

Not sure of the attraction of hi-def porn personally - increased resolution of peoples bits is not exactly a turn-on.

Space Duck

12-01-2007, 14:26

:lol: This should be archived... the pro's and cons of the pron industry

NicolaUK

12-01-2007, 14:27

Not sure of the attraction of hi-def porn personally - increased resolution of peoples bits is not exactly a turn-on.

Exactly what my OH said :D

LouBarlow

12-01-2007, 15:23

I'm sorry, but seeing more inflamed pores of shaved areas really doesn't tickle my fancy.

The beauty of porn should be in the unattainable - when we see defects we can see in the 'real world' suddenly everything becomes less tittilating.

rwniel

12-01-2007, 16:21

GarethH

12-01-2007, 17:12

Not sure of the attraction of hi-def porn personally - increased resolution of peoples bits is not exactly a turn-on.

High resolution fluids :gag:

GarethH

12-01-2007, 17:13

I was wondering the same :D

Post CES and its still looking no better! Blu-ray here we come!

LouBarlow

12-01-2007, 19:11

Post CES and its still looking no better! Blu-ray here we come!

You are so a fanboy Gareth :lol:

Neither format has owt worth shouting about yet tbh...

Niceguygeoff

12-01-2007, 19:24

It's not looking pretty - and I don't just mean HD porn. Universal keeping quiet at CES was a real surprise, and people are getting disillusioned already. I'm perfectly happy with my HD-DVD deck but I always want more, and I almost bought the US version of the Samsung Blu-ray deck for £389 a few days ago.

thescrounger

12-01-2007, 19:24

Not sure of the attraction of hi-def porn personally - increased resolution of peoples bits is not exactly a turn-on.

Do you prefer to be blind folded with the light off?

LouBarlow

12-01-2007, 19:26

Do you prefer to be blind folded with the light off?

When I spank the monkey over porn?

thescrounger

12-01-2007, 19:42

When I spank the monkey over porn?

Maybe.

I can certainly see the appeal of Hi-Def naughty bits in the same way DVD was a big inprovement over VHS porn. Unless you don't like looking at naughty bits.

LouBarlow

12-01-2007, 19:54

I can certainly see the appeal of Hi-Def naughty bits in the same way DVD was a big inprovement over VHS porn. Unless you don't like looking at naughty bits.

Well I wouldn't spend all day looking at them, as I might 'Water Lillies'

Without context, i.e. not being attached to someone I care about, the muff is just not the most appealing of study items for me.

The act itself is more titilating than extreme high resolution close-ups of the quim, otherwise medical books would be more popular.

thescrounger

12-01-2007, 20:12

The act itself is more titilating than extreme high resolution close-ups of the quim, otherwise medical books would be more popular.

That's like saying you're better off looking at the national geographic magazine rather than watching Hi-Def wildlife documentaries.

Hi-Def is all about resolution, whatever the subject matter.

BlueDwarf

12-01-2007, 23:22

Some HD-DVD titles I'm not sure I've seen listed before (courtesy of the Australian supplier Devoted DVD (http://www.thedvdforums.com/jump2.php?url=http://www.devoteddvd.com.au/?ref=115)).

Rambo First Blood (all due 7th Feb 2007)
Rambo Part 2
Rambo Part 3
Total Recall

Robert
Posters on avs are reporting that the European Studio Canal releases suffer from pitch-correction issues. They are the correct running time, just too high pitch. Which is a pain.

thescrounger

13-01-2007, 10:51

Posters on avs are reporting that the European Studio Canal releases suffer from pitch-correction issues. They are the correct running time, just too high pitch. Which is a pain.

Studio Canal announced a while ago they would be releasing films as 24/60p. So I fail to see why there would be any Pitch issues.

BlueDwarf

13-01-2007, 11:01

I can't understand it either, but apparently there are.

Niceguygeoff

13-01-2007, 20:43

It's a real puzzler as to why (some of) Canal's releases are apparently too highly pitched without being sped up. Surely they didn't alter the pitch so that it sounded more like the PAL version?

The only other thing I can possibly think of is that they didn't have access to audio masters that matched the refresh rate of their HD transfers, so they took what they had from previous PAL releases and somehow stretched it to fit, retaining the higher pitch in the process. Utterly bizarre.

mjpartyboy

31-01-2007, 10:49

While I was waiting for the UK release of the 360 HD DVD player I bought the following:

(All are US unless otherwise stated)
Apollo 13
Batman Begins
King Kong (UK)
Serenity
Sky Captian and the World of Tomorrow
V for Vendetta
The past couple of months I've bought: Lady in the Water Combo
Miami Vice Combo
Mission: Impossible - Ultimate Missions Collection (UK)
Superman: The Movie
Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut
The Thing