http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/ Engadget HD Comments for HD DVD and Blu-ray releases on January 1st and 2nd, 2007 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/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 9:14AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 9:50AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 12:27PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 1:02PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 1:39PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
"Region coding is a tool" - what a load of crap. Over the last few days I have been trying to go back and collect some of the movies that I watched back in college, one of which was the move "Johnny Got His Gun". So I do a search for this movie, and apparently it is out of print in the US, but I can buy the region 2 and region 4 versions, which means that I need to buy an imported DVD player, or I can just not watch the movie. This is a 37 year old movie that was once available in the US, the argument about keeping the rest of the world from just does not hold. You write like this is a good thing, and the Blu fans support it by marking you up.

Blu-Ray is about controlling the movie experience, region encoding, more DRM, and keeping the price artifically high to limit it to those with a higher income.

And for those asking why DRM is bad, all I need to say is - WOW! How many articles have been written on the non-HD version of this site about DRM-free MP3 files on iTunes? How many complaints about the false, but widely circulated DRM restrictions built into Vista? It seems like the same people that complain about DRM in their music and in an OS that they do not use, and have no intention to use (unless they pirate it), are the ones saying that DRM is OK on their Blu-Ray disk. I have a couple hundred movies ripped onto an external 750GB hard drives so that I can easily watch my movies and protect them from scratches. Without the cracked DRM on DVDs, and because the additional DRM on Blu disks, I would not be able to do this. My BDP-S301 is downstairs, so I am limited to watching my Blu disks there, and do not have the networked convienence like I do with my standard DVDs.

I cannot believe how people are so in love with the BDA, that they would take any talking point they are fed and spin it into a great thing. I have both, and preferr HD DVD, but if the same restrictions were on HD DVD, I would think of it as the "necessary" (necessary for a movie/HD lover) evil as I do my Blu-ray player.]]>Dec 31st 2007 3:11PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
Region coding is also away for a studio to control release rights and enforce certain local regulations and such. Region coding may make it harder for some consumers but for the vast majority, they know nothing about it....but for studios plopping millions of dollars into big movies, they want control over its release, booohoo for you, that you can't get your way....sometimes, you just don't get what you want...the movie studios and distributors have rights to control how their movies are bought and sold in different countries, so those companies who want to exercise that right have only two choices, DVD or blu-ray.]]>Dec 31st 2007 6:25PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
When Paramount/Dreamworks when HD exclusive, they had the right to distribute the movies how they wanted, which meant only on HD. But when that happened, the BD fans biched, wined, compained, made threats, made up numbers that have never been proven true ($150 million), complaining that they ruined High-Def movies, and were just pathetic children. But it was OK because it was an offense against the BD group. There was a movie that I would have liked to watch that I had not seen in a while. I am not upset about not being able to get the movie, I would like to see it again but will not act like the children over the Para/Dreamworks switch.]]>Dec 31st 2007 6:50PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
What if they just simply don't go to theatre's?

Are they going to pirate it instead?

Region coding has always been silly, if anything it protects local distributors. Given the high cost of importing it doesn't seem all that necessary. I live just a few miles from an area that's heavily populated by Eastern European immigrants, lack of region coding would make their day. Of course, then we might not sell as many Divx supporting DVD players.]]>Dec 31st 2007 11:24PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
@Mike

In this case, region coding is a good thing, because it allows the high def version to be released day&date with DVD, whereas HD DVD will have to wait until later because the studio does not want the disc version available in markets in which it is still playing in theaters.]]>Dec 31st 2007 9:20AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 9:21AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 9:26AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
Now that the only Blu-ray player that matters is officially Profile 1.1, you are officially allowed to care about extras again (just not web-enabled extras).]]>Dec 31st 2007 12:16PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 1:46PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 9:28AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
Time to pick up RE!]]>Dec 31st 2007 9:35AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
Sadly not enough of them have gotten their heads around the idea that it is as out-dated as it is pointless as it is stupid.

They will end up being dragged kicking and screaming into the modern reality, eventually.

Unfortunately until then the consumer (many of us with no interest whatsoever in traditional 'cinema theatres' and who are only concerned with our own 'home theatre') will continue to be treated like 2nd best - which is never a good position for an industry to take with a large section of it's paying customers.

Regional coding ought to be done away with a.s.a.p.; regardless of the general 'format war' - there's plenty to not like about Blu-ray besides regional coding.

The whole DRM issue being a prime consideration for me. ]]>Dec 31st 2007 10:21AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
If I remember correctly even HD-DVD has DRM, it's just that it's been broken already. ]]>Dec 31st 2007 10:52AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
They're in the business to make profit from investing in these movies and not to satisfy your impatience and non interest in going to the cinema, which at the end of the day is the first choice medium for them to deliver it to.]]>Dec 31st 2007 12:56PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 1:41PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://www.spymac.com/details/?2320681]]>Dec 31st 2007 11:31AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
That's not true. The Panasonic DMP-BD30 is profile 1.1 ready.]]>Dec 31st 2007 10:49AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/I know Panasonic says it is, but honestly I'll believe it when I see it.

Link?]]>Dec 31st 2007 10:50AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://www2.panasonic.com/consumer-electronics/shop/Video/Blu-ray-Disc-Players/model.DMP-BD30K_11002_7000000000000005702

It says: "Now Blu-ray means something else too: an entirely new movie-viewing experience, made possible by Final Standard Profile, which adds features never seen before, like four Picture-in-Picture modes including Enhanced Commentary (from directors and actors), Backstage Pass, Peek Behind the Animation and Audio Mixing."

Go to technical specs: BD-ROM Playback - BD-Video (Final Standard Profile)

Click the FINAL STANDARD PROFILE link: BD-ROM Profile version 1.1

I think that's enough evidence that it is profile 1.1 lol]]>Dec 31st 2007 10:55AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/I just find it very hard to believe that Panasonic was able to have a 1.1 profile compatible player out so much earlier than anyone else. I'd bet that a firmware update is imminent that actually enables this feature that they've been touting for months.

I've been wrong before, but I need a link of someone with a player and one of the new flicks saying it works.]]>Dec 31st 2007 10:57AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
Unless you've already seen HD DVD, in which case it's an entirely familiar movie-viewing experience.]]>Dec 31st 2007 12:23PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/...for those who want PiP video commentary then get HDDVD or 1.1 Profile Blu-ray, for the majority of people, we don't care...]]>Dec 31st 2007 12:51PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 10:56AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
I own the Panasonic BD30K. It does have the 1.1 profile. It doesn't need a firmware to run it. It works fully with no problems. Besides it doesnt even have a ethernet port so it wouldn't make sense if they pre-loaded 1.1 but you needed an update to run it. Mcreex is right.]]>Dec 31st 2007 11:13AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Which movie did you try?
How well did it work?
Overall how do you like the features of that disc?

thanks!]]>Dec 31st 2007 11:14AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
Haha, J/K, I can't wait to check out these Profile 1.1 on my PS3 this week! Go BLU!

Peace,
Mexigun]]>Dec 31st 2007 10:58AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 12:25PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
Could you at least write: "and possibly the Panasonic DMP-BD30 (waiting for actual confirmation of use)" or something like that no?]]>Dec 31st 2007 11:01AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=936144&page=88]]>Dec 31st 2007 11:11AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 11:06AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 11:14AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
So you download HD movies via torrents eh? Is that a legal subscription service or did you just admit to piracy?]]>Dec 31st 2007 12:54PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
I'd be careful if I were you. The MPAA seems to be getting more extreme:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d82Lq2rVB_4]]>Dec 31st 2007 11:41PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 11:08AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
Played it in DTS-HD Master.
It works perfectly, except I'm not to fond with the remote, its sort of clunky.
I'm not very much into special features, I hardly watch them on but I did enjoy the intractive Vietnam memorial on the disc. It was interesting seeing the stories of those people and it was very accurately designed to what it really looked like. That's pretty much the only feature I've tried, I'll go do the PiP if you want me too to see if that works, but I'm pretty sure it's 1.1 since the box on the side says 1.1 standard profile player loaded.

I'm waiting on my other movies to get here from amazon.]]>Dec 31st 2007 11:27AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 1:04PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://reviews.cnet.com/video-players-and-recorders/panasonic-dmp-bd30k-blu/4505-6463_7-32730548.html

"...first Blu-ray Profile 1.1 player..."

"The Panasonic DMP-BD30 offers excellent video quality and is Blu-ray Profile 1.1 compliant..."

"The DMP-BD30 is the first Blu-ray player we are aware of that is Final Standard Profile, also known as Blu-ray Profile 1.1."

Hope that helps. ;)]]>Dec 31st 2007 11:53AMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/Dec 31st 2007 1:04PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/@ Dec 31st 2007 10:52AM
Why is DRM such a negative selling point. I just don't get it. I understand music. DRM stops you from being able to legitimately use the product like you want. Even when your doing it legally. On movies though it just doesn't seem that big a deal. It'll play in any player I buy it on so why would I care.
===========================================================================

- Because for a start that may well not always be the case.
There is talk on certain sites of new 'security keys' no longer being provided FOC after a certain point in time.
Then there are the inevitable compatibility problems, software conflicts and even unrecognised hardware problems that will inevitably follow this BS.

It's a pointless pain in the a$$, the real 'industrial pirates' are not in the least bit effected by it, it only bothers the paying punter.
It's about as non-customer friendly as it gets.

At it's heart it's just a wheeze for the companies creating it and buying into it, it's a pointless cash generator paying out at the paying customer's expense.
There's not a single example of a mainstream consumer CE DRM not being avoided or broken in the end - and there's not going to be either.
Meanwhile it will merely bug & annoy the customer.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

*quote* Bob P.
@ Dec 31st 2007 10:52AM
If I remember correctly even HD-DVD has DRM, it's just that it's been broken already.
===========================================================================

Which is a prime reason why DVD is such a good platform and it's why HD DVD is, by far, the lesser of the 2 new evils.
As you rightly say HD DVD's AACS DRM has been broken
(and reportedly it's been so fundamentally broken that further revisions will be easily brushed aside).

But it's true that it may still cause problems and annoyances for the paying customers.

Blu-ray's BD+ has not been broken -or for that matter in the hardware based watermarking they use - and we all saw the rash of 'issues' that caused some Samsung owners when they found that they could not play the movie discs they had paid for.

I just don't think that's acceptable, teething problems are one thing (and these are new tech so some are inevitable - who can recall how bad DVD was when it started) but when it's a built-in part of the 'security' software designed to, er, 'work' like that then that is something else all together.
]]>Dec 31st 2007 12:32PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/ That's some pretty bad reasoning you've got for spreading inaccurate information about the ps3 being the only 1.1 player on the market.
panasonic announced their player as fully 1.1 compliant on the day it was released. There's press releases and all sorts of things on the internet stateing this. Your own blog site even shared the links to these things.
I think it's pretty bad newsmaking for you to make a comment and then once corrected, refuse to make a change on your page until you have visual evidence. The company says it works. It is certified as 100% 1.1 compliant. You shold update your post to reflect that it'll work on both the ps3 (which is a large market share) AND the panny 1.1 player. (as well as a few of those software players too (search your own blog to read about those too)).
]]>Dec 31st 2007 12:42PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
I'm a Blu-ray supporter, and have been called Ben "Blu-ray" Drawbaugh many times, but I still recognize that the BDA is a PR machine and half of what they say won't be true for another 6 months after they say it is. Don't take my word for it, go look up all the delays BD50 had, all the while the BDA insisted there weren't any problems.

Second, I was at lunch when everyone posted this so called evidence and I'm still waiting before I udpated my post. Here is what I need to be convinced.

I need someone with a Panny to say that they've enjoyed true PIP (not a dual encode like early discs) with the shipped firmware. Or if the firmware was already released then I'll specify that. ]]>Dec 31st 2007 1:10PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
*rolls eyes*]]>Dec 31st 2007 12:59PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
*rolls eyes*]]>Dec 31st 2007 12:59PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
They only use them to basically allow content to release early.I sure would hate to wait almost a year to view a movie I saw the previous year.]]>Dec 31st 2007 2:04PMhttp://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/http://hd.engadget.com/2007/12/31/hd-dvd-and-blu-ray-releases-on-january-1st-and-2nd-2007/
Amazon.com has an HD-DVD buy one get one free going on: http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html?ie=UTF8&docId=1000183001&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=1343D65SEW30TZXSH30K&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=344066701&pf_rd_i=193642011

Amazon.com also has the Toshiba A3 HD-DVD player going for $179 with 10 Free movies]]>Dec 31st 2007 4:22PM