Tech Titans Prepare to Battle Over Next DVD Format

securitas writes "The New York Times Technology has an excellent feature by Ken Belson about the coming battle over the next-generation DVD format that consumer electronics and technology giants are already preparing for. The article covers the (high-definition) HD DVD group, led by Toshiba and NEC, and the Blu-ray Group, led by Sony and Matsushita (Panasonic/JVC). Mass production is expected to begin in 2005, but both sides are expected to show prototypes and aggresively pursue partners at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas next week. Add to the mix a nine-company Chinese faction that says it will develop its own DVD format because - fearing their technology could be used by Chinese rivals - the Japanese manufacturers haven't shared much information, even within the DVD Forum. Finally, Disney, Microsoft, IBM and Intel have yet to weigh in. The worst thing that could happen would be another Betamax/VHS-type war. In that case, 'Everyone is a loser, particularly Hollywood studios, the retailer community and, most importantly, the consumer,' says Warren N. Lieberfarb, developer of the original DVD format."

FWIW

[bschmitt]

For those unfamiliar with the techs, the spec set forth by Toshiba/Nec is backward compatible with the now current tech. The blu-ray is not backwards compatible.

I would like see the next-gen players be able to play both disks, I have ALOT! I also happen to favor Toshiba they make one of the better players out there for picture/sound.

Re:How are the media companies losers

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually you're wrong. Multi language versions of DVDs that come out after the original version is released would require re-pressing. Either that or they hold the whole release until all the multi language options are added, but then that means less space on the dvd for extras, directors commentary etc.

Re:Most importantly?

[ldspartan]

Believe it or not, you can draw attention to something by mentioning it first _or_ last. Language can be subtle that way.

Re:FWIW

[GizmoToy]

If you had read the article you would have seen that the Blu-Ray format IS backwards compatible. NEC's solution combines the red and blue lasers into one lens assembly, while the Blu-Ray system uses two separate laser assemblies. Both will be capable of playing current-generation DVDs and CDs.

what ever happened to FMD?

[gabe]

I'd heard about Fluorescent Multilayer Discs [sysopt.com] years ago, but what's happened to them since? They were supposed to hold almost 20 times as much data as a 4.7GB DVD. So, where are they?

Not that I really want a new format or anything. I just think FMDs are cool. DVDs are a-ok for me, and I just bought a DVD burner (which supports all the damned various formats), so why are they making something new, again. Can we just have some media technology that lasts for more than 10 years?

DVD Demystified

[Anonymous Coward]

DVD Demystified [dvddemystified.com] is an interesting website with a very informative book behind it. It contains a history of the original DVD wars 1994 - 1997 and explains how the format only came about as a result of unprecedented cooperation between the big ten companies.

Will we see that kind of cooperation again? Probably not. There's too much incentive to play dirty, after the massive success of DVD.

FWIW the book also contains far, far more tech background on the DVD format, MPEG-4, visual theory, etc. than anybody except Slashdotters will ever want to absorb.

Comment removed

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:what ever happened to FMD?

[Salamander]

The company (Constellation 3D) working on it finally failed several months ago. The problem didn't seem to be with the basic technology, which actually did work (so I wouldn't really call it vaporware), but with issues such as manufacturing the lens assemblies and the disks themselves for reasonable cost. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the idea reappears after materials and manufacturing technologies have advanced a bit to make real-world products feasible. Or perhaps the manufacturing problems were truly intractable. It's really hard to tell, but I wouldn't write the whole idea off just yet. We may yet see LEP/OLED or iridescence displays too; it's just the nature of bleeding-edge technology that you have to try a couple of times before you know whether the second- and third-order problems are solvable.

Re:Disabled functions

[Anonymous Coward]

On my POS mintek player, you can hit the "1" button on the remote control. That'll get you to the first chapter and you can then press the menu button to go to either the main menu or chapter selection screen.

A pr0n I was bought had one of those ads telling you how small your wiener was everytime you started it up. Nothing like questioning the size of your manhood everytime had it in hand.

Re:Disabled functions

[jgabby]

This Zenith from Circuit City [circuitcity.com] is what I have, and it has an "Autoplay" option, which will automatically start the main movie when the disc is put in, skipping menus and such. Quite handy.

Re:If I made the DVD specs for movies

[DarkEdgeX]

"DTS is better than DD"

Opinion, not fact. A well encoded DD track will blast away a DTS track. It ALL depends upon the encoding process. A blanket one is better than the other is so far from the truth. Tech specs it might be, but in real life application neither one is always better than the other.

You meant "Fact, not opinion". DTS allows higher bitrates than DD does, so the quality potential for DTS is much higher. Given identical sources and the same quality of encoders, DTS will do better than DD.

Re:exponential or incremental improvement?

[bay43270]

But they didn't authorize their movies to be released on Divx either. Spielberg claimed he was waiting to release films on DVD until support for the format was greater (presumably so they wouldn't release buggy discs that need to be re-released two years later -- how many underwelming releases of The Usual Suspects did we need?). Lucas just doesn't want to release his films on DVD, because the format is too permanent. As long as a permanent copy of his movies don't exist, he can continue to change them without worrying about the original versions circulating in the public.

These aren't really GOOD reasons for supporting DVD so late, but they have nothing to do with DIVX.

BTW, Amblin started releasing DVDs in October '98. Dreamworks started in August '98.

Re:Hold on a second.

[Anonymous Coward]

HDTVs are about $2,000 for a cheap one. Consumers aren't going to buy a new kind of HDTV every 5-10 years.

There are HD-capable CRT sets available for under $800. I bought a 50" HD-ready Toshiba for about $1800 two years ago.

Studios aren't shooting in 1080p -- they're shooting using film, which has no resolution.

Most are still using film, but Attack Of The Clones was done with 1080p digital. Also, there is a limit to the useful resolution in film - the grain size of the emulsion. Although, a good 35mm film probably has at least 4x the resolution of 1080p. And I'll agree with the original poster that the HD format should store the images at 1080p, and if the customer's set can't display that, the player can convert it. It makes more sense to have the storage format be progressive-scan and as high as resolution as will be needed, and allow the player to interlace/downconvert, rather than try to deinterlace or upconvert lower-resolution video.

Before you start spouting off about what should and shouldn't be, develop an understanding of what you're trying to talk about on Slashdot. That way you won't seem like some nerd whose only movie experience is playing DVDs on his computer in his basement.

Ooh, a lecture on understanding home theater from a guy who hasn't looked at prices on TVs in the past three years.

HD is worth it...

[ap0]

As an owner of a HDTV set with a HD digital cable box, I can say that once you go to watching HDTV, you never want to go back to anything less.

If the new HD players were backwards compatible with current DVDs, I would be happy to go out and buy a new player. The HD experience really is worth the upgrade. The only concern I'd have is if studios would have to do a standard DVD and also a HD DVD for new releases. Maybe there would be a way to compromise to save money.

Progressive-scan DVDs look good, but I think that once people see what they're missing with the new format, they'd be willing to upgrade.