http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/ Engadget HD Comments for HDBeat Podcast 022 - 07.18.06 http://hd.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://hd.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/Jul 18th 2006 9:26AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/
-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]]>Jul 18th 2006 9:29AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/Jul 18th 2006 9:44AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/
I wish there was some way we could tell TNT-HD about how bad thier stretch-o-vision SUCKS. ]]>Jul 18th 2006 9:48AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/
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.]]>Jul 18th 2006 11:18AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/Jul 18th 2006 11:19AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/
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!]]>Jul 18th 2006 11:49AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/So are you saying it is easier or harder to produce a dual layer Blu-ray disc than it is to get Studio support?]]>Jul 18th 2006 11:52AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/
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?)]]>Jul 18th 2006 12:06PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/
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. ]]>Jul 18th 2006 12:52PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/
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.
]]>Jul 18th 2006 1:10PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/
Bravo, Mat, Bravo
]]>Jul 18th 2006 4:03PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/Jul 18th 2006 5:12PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/Jul 19th 2006 10:01AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/Not that I think either one will be the winner in the long run.]]>Jul 19th 2006 3:10PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/Jul 20th 2006 11:39AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/http://hd.engadget.com/2006/07/18/hdbeat-podcast-022-07-18-06/
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]]>Jul 23rd 2006 2:56PM