HDBeat Podcast 026 - 08.09.06
By Trent Wolbe 
posted Aug 9th 2006 11:00AM
posted Aug 9th 2006 11:00AM
It's the three of us again this week as we all give our opinions about the interview with Andy Parsons. We also give both formats a hard time this week, as the theme seems to be; where is all the love that so many have promissed to both formats? Microsoft, Apple and Disney all get singled out as dragging their feet. It's not all HD DVD Vs. Blu-ray this week, we also look forward to football season and comment on NBC's first try at producing a NFL game in HD.Get the podcast
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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh, Erik Hanson and Matt Burns
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Format: 45:07, 20 MB, MP3
Program:HDBeat Interview: Andy Parsons of the BDA & Pioneer's Senior VP
HD DVD supporters talk Q4 '06 and beyond
Microsoft demos Xbox 360 HD DVD player, menus
Ask HDBeat: Who else is going to make a HD DVD player?
Mac Pro's + Leopard = the ultimate HTPC -- nope
Disney's Cars DVD dated, no Blu-ray release in sight?
Extended warranties - Are they worth it?
NFL HD Preseason schedule
NBC's first NFL HD game
LISTEN (MP3)
Guys, traditionally, replacing a optical drive in a G5 tower is incredibly easy (therefore, the Mac Pro should be too). So Apple is not going to stock up on Blu-ray & HD-DVD drives (that might collect dust) when its still a niche product. Everybody who wants one will just pop their own hand-picked drive it in anyway. That's the whole point of adding the second optical bay on the new machine: to make room fro a drive that Apple doesn’t sell. The video editor market is smart enough to open their case and add whatever they want.
Besides, I don’t think that they can get the next generation drives at right quantity with a big enough discount. Apple has to run a very lean parts pipeline with a very high margin on those parts to make a profit off these machines. Now that Intel has gone to fixed pricing for all their customers, Apple has to put the squeeze on other features. This is the workstation business, not the high-def entertainment business.
The Microsoft rep said on Major Nelson's podcast that they are still trying to figure out the price. Making a business decision about the price should never be characterized as running scared. Putting out a three to four hundred dollar add-on out would be product suicide.
The fuzziness of NBC broadcast just drove me away. I was only halfway watching, and every time I turned around it was switching.
Podcast comments:
Your new producer is doing a fine job. More even levels throughout. The biggest improvement I've noticed is that the intro and outro music don't blow the speakers in my car any more. Hooray!
In terms of actual content, as long as I'm writing -- I was going to comment on this a few shows back, but you've been better about this the last couple of shows, so maybe you're already watching out for it. There are times when your conversation will go something like this:
Ben: "Hey, and what about this next story?"
Matt: "Yeah, I know, I can't believe that!"
Ben: "And comment number 17, what's he talking about?"
Matt: "Well, the response in comment 19 covers that pretty well."
The whole time, I'm yelling at the player, "What's the story about?!?"
If you guys could mention, just briefly, which story you're commenting on, I'd be very grateful.
Other than that small gripe, it's a great show. Keep up the good work!
Wiz,
Wow, this might be the best suggestion we have ever received. I have never thought about it and you are exactly right, sometimes we focus on not reading the entire blog outloud so much that we forget to mention the topics!
Thanks
Ben
I'll second Wiz's comments. Sometimes I'm sitting thinking would you just sum up the story at least 10 seconds so I know what your talking about. I normally do not hit the site everyday so I have no idea what your refering to.
It's not all HD DVD Vs. Blu-ray ?
More than enough for me.
PLEASE stop the chearleading and rationalizing and just report major developments (if anything) and MOVE ON. Please.
One question...you mention a combo player and the cost of licensing will drive up the cost. Do the manufacturers pay a one time fee to license the tech, period? A one time fee per product model number? Or per each unit sold/sold-thru? I can't see a license fee being more than 10 or 15 per unit...and if it's anything like the stories on HDMI 15k (now 10k), over a lifespan of CE equipment, they must make MANY more than 15k units, so the cost must be absorbed over the lifecycle, so it would likely be less per unit.
Any more details? Thanks fellas.