Engadget HD Podcast 075 - 03.05.2008
By Trent Wolbe 
posted Mar 5th 2008 11:00AM
posted Mar 5th 2008 11:00AM
With the format war winding down, we talk up Blu-ray and the challenges it faces from all fronts. But before we get to that, we talk about Paramount & Dreamworks' last HD DVD releases, as well as what's left from the big studios. Every once in a while there are topics that we get very passionate about, and the thought of Pioneer killing the best looking HDTVs sold today, gets us rilled up. Of course we won't know what Pioneer's plan our 'til Friday, in the meantime we'll keep our fingers crossed.Get the podcast
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Hosts: Ben Drawbaugh and Steve Kim
Producer: Trent Wolbe
00:37 - Comments from Engadget HD Podcast 074 - 02.27.2008
09:32 - Paramount & Dreamworks HD DVD support ends March 4
10:24 - Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending February 24th, 2008
14:40 - Ask Engadget HD: Does Blu-ray show enough love to 720p HDTV owners?
19:11 - How big is the streaming pie?
24:01 - Why Blu-ray will be the next DVD
39:17 - TiVo officially shutting down TiVo Rewards referral program
42:37 - Pioneer Kuro PDP-5080HD tops Home Theater Mag's HDTV shoot-out
43:15 - Pioneer says goodbye to plasma manufacturing
43:57 - Pioneer "reviewing" plasma business, probably on the way out
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Ahh... Talk about product names conjures up fond memories of my semi-reliable 1988 Acura Legend. Thanks for this fine example.
Were you guys talking about the Star Wars "Definitive Collection" laserdisc set?
http://www.blam1.com/StarWars/PILF-1757.htm
I'm pretty sure that THAT was the version that never made it to VHS. I have three, different, widescreen trilogies on VHS -- the very first set with the red box and hologram cover, the THX original set (also known as the "Faces" set), and the "Special Edition" set. I had the "Faces" set on laserdisc as well, but I'm fairly sure that the Definitive Collection was never on VHS.
For a long time, they didn't release the original theatrical release on DVD. They had that new enhanced version, but not the original. Laserdisc was the only way to get the theatrical release in great quality.
Getting this from wiki now, but the laserdisc is still the best way to get the original trilogy in theatrical release. They did release it on DVD in 2006, but it was from the laserdisc transfer.
I had a friend serving in the military in south korea. He came back with a laserdisc player in 98, and I remember being blown away by the quality.
OK, OK, nuff already bout the format war!!! One thing that is never covered is dual format players. I never understood why consumers care about a particular format if all the players avaiable can play all formats. The way it looks, SONY PS3 gamers decided on the next gen format. Doesn't make any sense. Example. HTPC with a dual format player adds minimal cost to a PC ($200 - ROM). With the correct HW, (i.e. sound card, AV receiver) you can get all the benefits of the HD optical DISC. Most if not all the latest gen graphics cards support HD DISC HW acceleration. Personally, I think the BLU-RAY has little incentive to improve on it's BETA status. What did the end of HD DISC format war do? Lower costs? Improve HD DISC penetration? Improve HD DISC development? If all format players were cheaper and more manufacturer support, that is what consumners would have preferred. There is little difference in user experience when you insert a HD-DVD or BLU-RAY DISC into your dual format player.
For the small, loud, vocal minority that preferred one format:
1. Do you own a dual format player?
2. Can you visibly tell the difference?
3. How much different better is the user experience?
My personall experience with the above questions
1. Yes
2. No.
3. Little difference.
I've never owned a dual player, but I really like the experience of the user interface of the ps3. I know its not for everyone, but its very "fun", without owning a single game.
Well, I'm glad you guys agree with what I said, but what's up with not mentioning my name?
And that sucks about the Kuro, my uncle just bought one so lucky him I suppose, but I haven't gone over to check it out. I wanna see how the 768 really looks, because there is still that part inside me that wants more pixels, but of course I remind myself that it isn't the most important thing.
That's how back in the day I ended up with a HORRIBLE HP 6mp camera and my uncles old 3mp Canon powershot is so much better in every aspect.
BTW, Congratulations Steve! I hope now that you broke the record you're not planning on retiring.
And Ben, is there a record for which listener/comments has been mentioned the most in the podcast?
:)
No there isn't, mostly because it'd be hard to go back and keep track.
Well, I finally checked out my uncles kuro. And I have to say it's completely bad ass. I totally see why he's not in a hurry to get a blu-ray player.
I was watching kingdom of heaven and Hot Fuzz and on his old upconverting dvd player and the kuro, it looked amazing. It looked just as good as the hd rips that I...aquired...that I watch here on my LCD.
Speaking of which, what's the dealio with the contest? Is that over already? Are you guys going to announce the winners quietly or make a post about it so we all know and 99.9% of people who read engadget hearts get crushed.
Ben, your assessment of the digital downloads lacks one big thing, hard numbers. Do you know how many moves have been downloaded off Voodo, Xbox 360, or Apple TV? Or how about the number of people who stream content off Hulu or the network websites? Have you compared the streaming numbers with the total numbers of Blu-Rays sold?
So far they both seem like niche audiences with the great upside for digital downloads. Both "formats" have their hindrances for adoption. Until you have you know the real facts its hard to say one format will be the successor or not.
Larry,
If I had hard numbers, it wouldn't be a prediction.
I'm sure we won't have to soliciate to find out which services are a success. Time will tell if Vudu or ATV ends up with Moviebeam. **which I also predicted would fail.**
Ben,
Sorry but when you start the article off with,
"Many give consumers too much credit, and even worse are ignoring the facts."
I just assumed the most important facts presented would be how the consumers are deciding with their dollars. I mean your throwing around numbers in the article you should at least include the most important number.
We never knew how many subscribers Moviebeam had because they were so low the company wouldn't share them. The only so called facts we had were from analyst, and a week doesn't go by where we don't cover a story about an analyst describing out poorly downloaded video is doing.
Meanwhile, the BDA touts their numbers a few times a year, as well as projections for the future.
The only other so called fact -- maybe that wasn't the best choice of words -- is that 1080p TVs sell better than 720p TV despite the fact that they don't sit close enough to appreciate a difference.
I concede your point, that I used a bad expression there, but my argument still holds as much water despite my opener.
Ben,
With all the press release by Microsoft and Apple trumpeting their download services there is nothing that gives a hint as to the success they are having?
I thought cheap 720p lcds were still outsell their 1080p brethren by significant margin. I am fairly certain it was Circuit City or Best Buy who said they overestimated the appeal of 1080p televisions and did stock up on enough cheap 720p lcds last year.
If you want to do a feature by feature comparison that's one thing. Or if your talking about video quality that's another, but to say Blu-Ray will be the next DVD you really need some more numbers.
I'm making a prediction.
It really isn't any more complicated than that.
If you want to compare features, it's really convenience vs everything else.
The data you feel is required for me to make this prediction simply isn't available.
Do you guys listen to your podcast after it's recorded/edited ?
Ben: you should.
I listen to every episode, but I haven't listened to this one yet.
Why?
The Engadget HD Podcast Drinking Game:
1. A shot of Goldschlager when Ben mangles the English Language. [Warning: This could lead to alcohol poisoning and/or death]. Ben, it is "Carte Blanche", not "Carte Blanc".
2. A half shot of Jagermeister when Steve responds to whatever Ben says with, "Right..." and offers nothing else of value. Make it a full shot when Ben asks for Steve's opinion and then interrupts before Steve begins to talk.
3. A shot of Tequila whenever Ben mentions his Kuro.
4. A shot of Everclear whenever Ben mentions RS-232.
I want a hulu account still. Can Ben or someone else give me one. I'm a valuable ... listener of the podcast. Thanks!
It says your email is already signed up to join the beta account.