HD format death watch?

[Umon Daisuke]

For the two or three people interested in the ongoing format war (which turned into an all but decisive victory for BD), Hollywood Reporter is reporting that Toshiba will be dropping HD-DVD in a matter of weeks:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ib77125d96b22e86027d0bfb0c25aa58d

[A-J]

the quicker one of the two becomes the standard format, the better.

[Umon Daisuke]

Wal Mart is dropping HD-DVD apparently. The signs are there, particularly that Wallyworld promoted HD-DVD throughout the holidays.

http://checkoutblog.com/entries/2008/2/15/wal_mart_chooses_a_hi_def_platform.aspx

[A-J]

its ooooooover !

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=240426

Toshiba admits defeat, will cease HD DVD now.

[Umon Daisuke]

Wow, talk about fast.

[Dot50Cal]

No kidding, Im so glad this is over.

[A-J]

atleast now there's more incentive for the hackers to ramp up work on cracking the old blu ray >_>

[Umon Daisuke]

Well, BD+ is a bitch to hack and it's the reason why Samsung's first BD player is essentially obsolete. Right after AACS was compromised, BD+ was immediately dispatched on the market. It's been giving hackers headaches and nothing concrete came up so far.

Have a look:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BD%2B

Now all that's left for me is to upgrade my receiver. CAD prices have yet to be matched with US ones unlike TV's, and the selection is VERY limited here. The only Onkyo dealer around charges about $250 more than US pricing.

Worse is the fact that one of the premier AV places around has essentially become Bose and Sharp pushers.

[TheSelfishGene]

Glad I never got involved. Makes the PS3 I've been eyeing a bit more attractive now.

[Colicab]

Good to see the format war is over

[Umon Daisuke]

Official press release (just about 25 minutes before this post):

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/?epi_menuItemID=8529ea2ad8631dcd3bb97904c6908a0c&epi_menuID=887566059a3aedb6efaaa9e27a808a0c&epi_baseMenuID=384979e8cc48c441ef0130f5c6908a0c&ndmViewId=news_view&newsLang=en&newsId=20080219005651

Apparently, some execs were thinking about suing Warner earlier on, but one of them had to leave a Nikkei interview with a gem of a quote:

"The new generation of DVD will be short-lived. There will be no winner."

I wonder how the 10+ CE manufacturers that developed BD and the studios feel

[kevstah2004]

Pfft that's so last century it's all about Holographic DVD's, sugar cube HDD's & LazerTV now ;-P
I nearly patented my own disc drive 3 years ago but never got around to it that read the disc at multiple angles and heights for optimum storage.
I still might patent my wireless battery charging system if no ones else brings it out.