Nothing too notable here -- just that Toshiba is apparently fixing to unveil a brand new DVD player in the age of Blu-ray that will be "capable of producing high-resolution images from regular DVDs." As you're laughing heartily, ponder this: are we looking at a simple upconverting DVD player? Or will that
Cell-based SpursEngine chip bring "super-resolution" to a standalone deck? According to unnamed sources cited by
Daily Yomiuri Online, the planned release "signifies an effort to recover from a humiliating setback suffered in March after announcing its decision to
withdraw from its HD DVD business." We really cannot fathom why Tosh would even dream of fighting BD with souped-up DVD, but reportedly, it plans on marketing the unit "as a device with which consumers can enjoy a broader array of content than is available in the Blu-ray format." Congratulations Toshiba -- we thought it couldn't get any lamer than
HD VMD, and you
handily proved us wrong.
[Via
VNU Net / Yahoo, image courtesy of
DangerousIntersection]
posted May 30th 2008 3:25PM
Actually, this is already in the HD DVD spec. All they would be doing is removing the blue laser. HD DVD content and high Def video titles can already be placed on a "red laser" disc. So... not sure why they are doing this, the war is over...
If they are cramming new codecs into the DVD standard for hi-res playback, they should release firmware for their HD-DVD players to support it. That would help them move some old stock, and make early adopters feel a little less scammed (even though they knew what could happen).
Quit fucking around, Toshiba. Start making BR players.
If this new player is $30, then they will sell like hot cakes. Blu Ray is for suckers who believe everything they read. Film quality is still better than a perfect digital picture... Film is an art, not an exact science.
Blu Ray was never claimed to be higher quality than film, however most of us do not own a projector like the ones at the cinema, nor would we like to pay thousands of dollars to get a movie on film
Blu Ray is the closest thing you can get right now to film quality, and the closer the better
We have known for a long time engadget is a bunch of blu ray fanboys owned by TW. Cram it already punk!
This site is so pro Blu is scary, but at the same time the one reporting the news is the lamest for his/her comments. Why would not Toshiba do what they are doing. The DVD installed base is way bigger than Blu ray and DVD movies are way more affordable, I mean a LOT.
I really dont understand how anyone could not see this as a benefit for the consumer...Yes we di this song and dance a couple months ago with Toshiba VS Sony..
but this is different. BR has only 5% of the market..Thats small. So Toshiba likes its chops and says "hey weve got one last chance to make a splash" IM all for it..Last time i checked when Sony had some competition the prices of these players was WAAAAY down. With any next-gen competition Bluray MOBSTERS can just sit back "LIKE THEIR DOING" And make there own rules. And move at their own OVERPRICED pace..
BRING ON THE FIGHT AGAIN TOSHIBA..
I can't wait to see this dvd player and how close it will get to blu-ray quality(which shouldn't be that hard)Feel sorry for those suckers that fell for the blu-ray hype!!!
The only sucker is you if you think that fake detail is going to be as good as actual detail.
You probably don't understand the difference between an M5 and a Kia Spectra.
Good upscaling can produce an acceptable picture, yes. And in some instances a surprisingly good picture. In fact when I'm sitting 14' back from my 46" 1080, an upscaled DVD is totally fine.
But take "Sunshine" for example.... I can literally plant my ass 3' in front of the TV and the detail is mindblowing. Try that with an upscale. With the increase in 1080 DLP projectors, you can shoot a 14' screen up on the wall that will look astounding.
So, Bluray is pointless unless you own and have room for a projector, or are practically pressing your nose against the screen?
Rob, you have a good point.
Yes, I do sit really close to my TV. It's awesome. My mom warned me it would blind me.... but whatever.
"I can't wait to see this dvd player and how close it will get to blu-ray quality(which shouldn't be that hard)"
Are you completely devoid of reason? "It shouldn't be that hard" to increase detail by 6X?? This is actually a very simple problem of information entropy and compressibility. I'll save you the academic lesson, but basically you can't just create information out of thin air.
The Blu-ray disc has about 2 million pixels of visual resolution. The DVD has under 300,000. It doesn't matter if you have a damn IBM BlueGene supercomputer in your living room, NO DEVICE WILL EVER be able to ADD VISUAL INFORMATION back into the picture. Upscaling doesn't do jack shit. It just interpolates a statistical average to fill in the gaps so a low-res video fits on a 1080P TV.
I don't care what Toshiba does, if you have ANY DECENT HDTV over 24" wide than you will easily see the difference between *real* HD as in Blu-ray and the much inferior DVD.
Round 2
Fight
Sounds good to me. Any innovation/competition is good for consumers. Sounds to me like it could be a device that reads h.264 data files from dvd or something along those lines.
Oppo FTW
I may be off topic here but that picture gives me the creeps...eeeeh!
Just like CDs are way better than mp3s - and yet most people I know are buying their new music by mp3 downloads.They don't seem to mind the inferior sound.
And CDs aren't super high audio quality to begin with.
In the end, convenience usually wins.
I say it's healthy competition and maybe BR prices will be forced to come down.
The nails in the coffin didn't work! The zombie of HD DVD is breaking out!
Engadget is 100 times more emo than I ever thought.
Cry more about HD-DVD?
XD
Toshiba should get into selling blu-ray blanks, they'd be twice as wealthy as they are already within a month.
Vidikron (FU) @ May 30th 2008 6:53PM
The only sucker is you if you think that fake detail is going to be as good as actual
YEP!ANOTHER SUCKER!You are probaly the dumb asses that buy monster cable products and think they can sear or hear a difference!
Most people aren't techie.
Didn't Engadget ran a story on the fact that more than 80% of HDTV owners don't watch HD content at all? So, 80% HDTV owners don't care about image quality.
Toshiba's decision is silly as an electronic product, but it makes total business sense as a mass consumer product.
For most people, they own a huge collection of DVDs, they have HDTVs, pitch them a player that'll convert their DVDs to HD at an affordable price, and they opt for that over Blu-ray. They'd care less about any difference.
Makes way more sense the all the SUCKERS out there that bought HD DVD and $400 to $500 BLUERAY players. It's funny to listen to the blueray suckers trying to justify their purchases.
All I can say it Ha Ha, too bad there is not content to play on them. And for those that say it is coming...... wake up people in the next few years you will be downloading full HD content on demand and anything you want!!!!!!! You can even do this now in a smaller way. I download movies from Unbox right to my TIVO for $2.99!!!
So keep spouting off about how great your player is, we are all laughing.
For now, better upconverting DVD players are a great idea.
M
im sure you reacted the same way when you heard they were putting movies onto a disc instead of VHS
I will never suffer buyers remorse because I only watch Blu Ray because I have a PS3, so its no loss to me if the format becomes obsolete... also i can get most Blu Ray movies off amazon for about the same price i would get them on DVD at a local store... so hell yeah I'll take the WAY better image and sound quality
and yes, there is a lot of content... this isnt 2006... Blu Ray is barely new anymore... look at Amazon's content library for Blu Ray movies and times that by 3, then you have an idea of whats out there for Blu Ray content
but i mean... i guess if you don't like HD content and you're happy with your sub-par experience and 4:3 ratio 480i Walmart TV then I can understand your argument of how better is not in fact, better... er... wait?
Well, this is what represent a company that never quits! It stands for its right, it stands without shame!, it is a great company! Buy toshiba, buy something that never quits! Yay, Go Tosh Go, :)!
Oh my gosh I almost peed myself laughing when I saw that picture!!!
Toshiba needs to release a DVD player that makes Hollywood movies suck less.
@ cedric
gud point
hey i have a good idea, how about use bose up-conversion to 1080p technology in a thing you call you own just to try to recover from you guys being whopped in the ass by sony
thats all this is
SONY: Pure Baloney
let it go Toshiba, just let it go, you lost accept it and move on
What is this a joke?!?!?! I'm still waiting for HD DVD to make a comeback. Come on Toshiba, Finish The Fight!!!
The title of this article implies releasing a DVD player that gives customers more choices to watch DVDs is "shameful". At least that's the way I read it.
Why is it shameful?
1) Because Blu-Ray has won the hidef war and we will have no other nonsense, thankuverymuch?
2) Because Blu-Ray is the last word in visual entertainment and we will have no other nonsense, thankuverymuch?
3) Because DVD is hold hat and we won't go for it at Engadget, thankuverymuch?
4) other...?
I really can't argue against more choice, especially more unique choices in the market. Isn't that what it's all about? It's not like they are forcing it down anyone's throat.
Wait and see what comes from this?
Wow lots of emotion and not a lotta of facts.
1080P is better than 1080I which is better than 720P which is better than 780i which is better than 480.
Now thhis is true only if the sourch and all the process inbetween are equal to the tak.
What can you se? depends on the capability of the set or projector and the eye and the distance.
If you factor all that in artifically produced 1080 on a set capable of 1080 will look very good and not detract from the viewing experience.
Artifically producing this by upconverting with a great algrothim will enable tha general audiance to have a much larger source of viewable material at a much lowere overall cost with not much preceivable loss of experience.
No see that wasn't all that hard was it?
now this is what they are talking about: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1qxa1zv5uI
Most films besides romance has scenes that fly by too fast for the eye candy of HD to matter much anyway. I saw in it the theater. HD can shove it. HD is fit for gaming, but I'm gonna be hard to buy over with BR prices like they are.
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