Engadget HD Podcast 035 - 10.10.2006
By Trent Wolbe 
posted Oct 11th 2006 11:07AM
posted Oct 11th 2006 11:07AM
Bad news for format war haters, not sure what is going on, but this week is almost all HD DVD vs Blu-ray all the time. We do cover the little non related news and perhaps release too much personal information about ourselves, but the rest of the time it is announcements, expectations and disappointments of the current state of the format war. Get the podcast
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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Matt Burns
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Program06:44 - Engadget HD giveaways: win a Samsung HL-S5679W DLP with LED backlight
08:59 - Engadget HD Review: RazorVision HDMI video cable
11:32 - Mitsubishi shows big, beautiful Blu-ray recorder with HDD
14:16 - High-def DVDs critical for future growth, says analyst group
16:12 - Warner cuts projections on high-def dvd sales due to Blu-ray delays
17:18 - Sony Pictures first three 50GB titles officially announced
19:29 - Fox rolling out Blu-ray movies with motion-sensing technology
23:56 - More Blu-ray titles and region-coding
24:51 - China-only HD DVD spec defined
26:47 - HD DVD Mobile Experience drops by the Today Show
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Is the MP3 download link working for anyone?
I think there may be a problem with the feed...
Thanks for the heads-up everyone and sorry about the error. The link should be fixed now. Thanks!
Thoughts on the amount of HD-DVD/Blu-Ray titles released thus far..... this comment may be a bit subjective, but the due to the overall poor quality of movie releases recently, I've slowed down my DVD purchases considerbly. Keep in mind -- I own just under 400 DVDs (consumer bought and quality versions -- not the cheapy supermarket versions. I think you guys talked about this earlier -- saying that you don't own many Standard Definition DVDs.)
I say all that to say that the relatively low amount of HD-DVD or Blu-Ray titles released so far doesn't really bother me.... at this point I forsee most of my purchases being re-buys of some of the favorites that I already own. (Matrix, Lord of the Rings, T2, Gladiator, Star Wars, etc.)
Speaking of the Matrix.... I remember when DVD players began to take off commercially in early to mid 2000. I spent a lot of time watching displays and players in J&R Music World in Manhattan and also watching consumer behavior. The thing that seemed to turn the corner on consumers buying players en masse (aside from lower device prices) was the release of the Matrix DVD. I think it's going to take a big title like this to make an impact on player sales and move the high def stand-ups to the front of the store.
Sadly, I don't think there are many titles on the horizon that create "Matrix-type" excitement. (Perhaps Spider Man 3 or "The 300" -- awesome looking trailer.)
One last comment - Ben, on your trip to New York, don't forget to make a trip downtown and stop in J&R Computer World. They're located right across the street from City Hall (so just use that as a "sightseeing" excuse if you need to!)
They have about six separately themed stores on the entire block. What I most want you to check out is the store that has TVs and displays. Just want to get your thoughts on that vs. other stores you've been in. (P.S. Bring money.)
Hi,I would like to let you know the podcats RSS link is not working with the PSP I have to use the MP3 link and dowload it. I think it would be useful if it would just create the list of podcasts in the PSP RSS Feed feature and stream the podcasts!!!!
Matt,
Congratulations to you! My wife is four months along as well.
So here is the important question. Do you need an HDV camcorder for the baby? My wife isn’t so sure that we need a camcorder at all. I was looking at the Sony HDR line. Do you have any experiences with these recorders? I’m also not sure what I would do with the video once I shot it since there is no HD DVD standard. I’ve read that it is possible to record HD to a standard DVD that can be read by an HD-DVD player. Have you tried this?
Love the show. Keep up the great work.
-David
Hi, great show guys !
With the latest news about the failure of multi-format HD players to see the light of day.
http://www.engadgethd.com/2006/10/12/taiwan-drive-makers-response-to-nec-blu-ray-hd-dvd-combo-than/
LG, Ricoh, Samsung, Toshiba, Pioneer, all have failed to launch (or be permitted to launch) combo players (launch RUMORS notwithstanding).
I'd like to hear each of your in-depth opinions on what forces are at work here and who you think the primary force(s) is/are behind blocking these players from benefiting the consumer market.
Personally, I think the Co. (and partners) with the most to lose would be the main force behind this - SONY (and their all Blue Ray exclusive partners). I look forward to hearing your expert opinions on this.
Thanks !!
One more thing, I found the bookended AT&T ad distracting. I hope they don't expand into having you guys read cards or interrupting the flow of your show with "and now a word from our Sponsor".
Oh yes, and congratulations Matt.
Ben,
I think you were a bit too quick to dismiss the importance of the release of 2nd generation HD DVD player by Toshiba. Late last year there were a series of discussions and several surveys over on the AVS forum about when people planned on buying Hi-Def player and why. Two of the most frequent answers was "as soon as a 2nd generation player comes out" and "when the price drops below $500". Assuming the bugs seen with the HD-A1 are at least partially resolved, I think a lot of people will buy the HD-A2, including me.