HDBeat Podcast 022 - 07.18.06

The entire HD Beat is crew is here for the first time as Podcast number 22 goes down as the first with 4 hosts, including our newest team member Erik Hanson. Of course more people means more opinions and more time so I hope you like your Podcasts long. We think you will as we have some interesting dialog, Ben continues to badger anyone who doesn't agree with him, but we can give as much as we can take and the rest of us let him have it.

Lots of HD DVD vs Blu-ray news this week, yeah we know big surprise, but we all had something to say about Major Nelson's interview, as well as other announcements and opinions. We are all going to be doing the Podcast together from this point forward and while we realize they might be longer, we are interested in knowing if we run too long, so feel free to post your comments and let us know if we should keep it shorter. Of course that doesn't mean we will change it, but at least you will feel better after you rant. We know we always do!

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Hosts
Ben Drawbaugh, Matt Burns, Erik Hanson and Richard Lawler.

Producer
Ben Drawbaugh

Format
1:09:55, 32 MB, MP3

Program
Dan Rather is coming to HDNet
Samsung shipping LED based DLP - HL-S5679W
Warner announces first Blu-ray releases; plans big third, fourth quarter for HD DVD
Disney announces Blu-ray launch titles & exclusive "Blu-scape" content
Pioneer now shipping the Elite PureVision PRO-FHD1 1080p plasma
First HD DVD porn goes on sale in Japan - safe for work
Major Nelson's podcast on HD DVD vs. Blu-ray
ATI to supply the Xbox 360 HD DVD decoder
Why HD DVD will prevail: My opinion three months later
SelectaVision VideoDiscs Vs. LaserDisc
Is anyone getting syndicated HD?
Fox Widescreen is not HD!


LISTEN (MP3)

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 18th 2006 9:26AM]

You guys can talk as long as you want if you keep bringing me some good info.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 18th 2006 9:29AM]

Good show, one of the best yet for sure. Thanks to all 4 of you being there, there was better information out there. Even the "war" got better coverage by having fair-minded hosts added (thanks Richard and Erik). Just wanted to point out a few things mentioned on the show:

-There's no region coding at the moment, so Japanese HD DVD's will work on US HD DVD players. It's unknown whether they will implement region coding in the future, although there is a committee studying it. Some reviews on dvdfile.com actually contain reviews of Japanese HD DVD releases with English options like Finding Neverland.

-Toshiba has been selling the HD-D1 at Wal-Mart since the April launch:

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4790608

It's the same as the HD-A1, except built for Wal-Mart. Wal-Mart also sells the RCA player. I believe this is what Amir and Major Nelson were talking about.

-Disney didn't help develop Blu-ray. They chose Blu-ray based on Sony's move to place it on the PS3 and because of the 50 GB dual-layer being more than the 30 GB for HD DVD. In fact, Disney and Microsoft developed iHD (for advanced HD DVD content) and hold patents in that.

-The reason Microsoft said Blu-ray complicated the software part is because they mandated Java (which requires a virtual machine) and BD+ (the extra layer of copy protection which BDA has been very secretive about). Their goal was to support high-def discs natively in Vista, and when Blu-ray added these requirements, they decided not to delay development of Vista to support both formats.

Here is Amir (who is bias of course) on the subject:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7973418&&#post7973418

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 18th 2006 9:44AM]

HD Guys - Congrats on the eventual wedding (Matt) and the eventual baby (Ben) on the 26th. That is also my birthday. I will make sure to pour one out for you that day. Since you probably won't watching much HD that day I will watch some for you. Congrats!

[telemike Posted Jul 18th 2006 9:48AM]

I sure wish ABC, NBC and CBS would offer SD 16:9 instead of 4:3 for thier digital stations. I'll take FOX widescreen over 4:3 SD anyday if I can't have HD. I

I wish there was some way we could tell TNT-HD about how bad thier stretch-o-vision SUCKS.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 18th 2006 11:18AM]

Hey guys, new viewer/listener as I just jumped on a 2005 60" Sony SXRD since they're clearing them out. Just wanted to say you have one more Michigan member representing Macomb Twp., MI.

On a side note, has anyone heard when Dish Network will start carrying FSN? I know DirecTV has it now but I am hoping E* gets it before hockey season starts.

Keep up the good work.

- Dan S.

[spid Posted Jul 18th 2006 11:19AM]

The bloom fell off the rose of Blue Ray when Sony announced the price for the PS3. The studios were counting on people to buy PS3 in drooves and that is not going to happen for a while. Sony's marketing strategy since the announcement is horrible. There are already reports IBM is having a problem creating Cell chips.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 18th 2006 11:49AM]

Great podcast guys. I really enjoy listening to them.

Matt - I'm with you on HD-DVD winning. What Blu-Ray backers seem to fall back on is PS3, but I just don't see it. I mean, how many people are banking on using PS3 as a Blu-Ray player? I think serious videophiles would have already bought the $1000 unit.

I know that's kind of vague, but what I'm saying is that I don't think PS3 is the trojan horse that Blu-Ray backers are making it out to be. If HD-DVD would do some advertising and boost sales, the studios will come.

Ben - one thing I think is unfair in the battle of Sony making dual-layer discs vs. studio support for HD-DVD is that the studios are guaranteed to support HD-DVD if HD-DVD is what the public wants. In other words, I don't think the technical challenge of having high yields of dual-layer discs can be fairly compared to the business challenge of getting the studios on HD-DVD's boat...

But that's just my opinion!

[BenD Posted Jul 18th 2006 11:52AM]

Ben,
So are you saying it is easier or harder to produce a dual layer Blu-ray disc than it is to get Studio support?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 18th 2006 12:06PM]

To answer your question: easier to get studio support...why do I say that?

I guess I'm saying that if HD-DVD wins, the studios are guaranteed to switch over.

In other words, if HD-DVD was declared the winner tomorrow, I think there'd be studio support in a matter of weeks. On the other hand, if you told Sony they had a matter of weeks to viably produce consistent 2-layer discs, it would be unlikely.

I know that's not totally fair though because neither one will have to accomplish those goals overnight...it's a process. What do you think?

On a separate note, I heard you say something that I thought was contrary to the statement Amir made in the MN podcast...you mentioned something about with 2-layer discs that MPEG2 would be fine...what Amir said though (and I realize he's got a dog in the fight) is that the VC1 codec was superior and therefore required less space. In other words - if Sony still plans to use MPEG2 on their dual-layer discs, why would we expect a higher quality disc (I realize that you can store more data obviously but what about PQ?)

[BenD Posted Jul 18th 2006 12:52PM]

I know what you mean, but I think there is more of a chance that Blu-ray will have dual layer discs in two weeks than for Blu-ray to close up shop which is what it is going to take for the war to be over.

VC-1 is only better than MPEG2 in regards to bit rate. No one has ever claimed that VC-1 had better PQ than mpeg2 unless you qualify by specifing a bit rate. If you have unlimited space than mpeg2 is as good as VC-1.

Personally I always expected the PQ to be very comparable on both formats.

[telemike Posted Jul 18th 2006 1:10PM]

Right now we have what:

HD-DVD:

Toshiba HD-D1
Toshiba HD-A1
Toshiba HD-XA1
RCA HDV5000

blu-ray:

Samsung BDP1000

As I see it, there are 4 (albeit very similar) HD-DVD players vs. one blu-ray player at this time.

I don't see the blu-ray CE manufacturer's edge yet, which gives HD-DVD time to get some chinese players to market if Toshiba is smart is licencing players to China at a price that is attractive for them to start manufacturing sub $500 HD-DVD players.

[neomoon Posted Jul 18th 2006 4:03PM]

You guys always mention noteworthy comments posted by users but this time I think we should give credit to Matt Burns comment and I quote... "When that crack-whore is just going off on the cop…that would be great to have"

Bravo, Mat, Bravo

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 18th 2006 5:12PM]

Great show, bring everyone back for the next podcast.

[gaber Posted Jul 19th 2006 10:01AM]

I must agree with Ben and Richard in that any film-sourced material that is directly telecined to video at a resolution of 720p/1080i/1080p is HD, regardless of aspect ratio. The point is that film by its very nature has enough individual grain elements to be considered high definition. HD is a measure of RESOLUTION, not aspect ratio.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 19th 2006 3:10PM]

I was somewhat of a Blu-ray fan boy, but now I'm beginning to switch over to HD-DVD....
Not that I think either one will be the winner in the long run.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 20th 2006 11:39AM]

I really don't care which format wins. I will buy a PS3 for the games and might buy the odd movie. If HD-DVD becomes the winner, by the time that becomes apparent , the HD-DVD players will be cheap enough to buy without a second thought.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 23rd 2006 2:56PM]

Best podcast yet fellas, hope to have a 4 way roundtable for all the future shows.

PS congrats to both Ben and Matt for the babby and wedding, and congrats to Erik on joining the team. Poor Rich, someone send him a fruit basket so he doesn't feel left out :P