macnn/electronista

02/17/2008, 10:05pm, EST

Sunday, February 17th

Toshiba officially mulls pulling HD DVD

Toshiba is reviewing whether or not it will continue the HD DVD format, the company said Monday morning in a public statement. The Japanese electronics firm neither confirmed nor denied claims by national broadcaster NHK that it would halt HD DVD production outright but has admitted that it is reconsidering its position on the HD movie disc standard. The comment is the first public acknowledgement by Toshiba that it may need to discontinue the format after a succession of key studio and retail losses.

Before Toshiba's statement, multiple claims by American publications and the Reuters news agency had suggested that Toshiba would retire its HD DVD efforts within weeks.

Doubts began to rise in earnest for HD DVD's future when Warner dropped HD DVD from its movie catalog at the start of January, explaining that it would phase out the format in favor of Blu-ray by June. This triggered a rash of moves by smaller studios and retailers who echoed Warner's position. The most damaging move since Warner's announcement was Wal-Mart's move to Blu-ray exclusivity, which effectively cut HD DVD from the largest movie sales outlet in the US.

While Toshiba is not the only firm involved in promoting HD DVD, it serves as the primary manufacturer of HD DVD hardware and would leave the format with virtually no distribution should it leave the market.


Filed under: industry
Other story tags: blu-ray, Toshiba, HD DVD, Warner, Wal-Mart

, , 13comments, del.icio.us, slashdot, digg, buzz, 
13 comments
Reader Reactions (Please use <i></i> for italic text)

subscribe to comments
for this article




Expand All   Global Settings
Chopper3
If/when HD-DVD is dropped
0
02/18, 4:26am, EST
will there be any form of effort to appease those who have invested in players and media do you think or will they just give us their corporate middle-finger?
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Oct 1999
User is offline
cvbcvb
American Way
0
02/18, 5:58am, EST
I would expect some disgruntled owner to do what is quite common in this day and age of “wronged consumers”.

File a class action lawsuit...

CVB
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Nov 2003
User is offline
Roehlstation
re: If/when...
0
02/18, 8:40am, EST
Why is it that people now feel that corporations OWE them something? Has everyone in this society become a giant bunch of cry babies? "wah wah, I spent all this money on a luxury item without waiting to see which format would eventually win out...wah"

Sickening
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2001
User is offline
UberFu
@ roehlstation
0
02/18, 9:22am, EST
But if everyone had waited to see which format would win out - then neither format would have won_
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Oct 2002
User is offline
Roehlstation
Not really:
0
02/18, 9:36am, EST
Maybe, Maybe not, the sales numbers aren't really clear which sold better, but Blu-Ray really didn't outsell HD-DVD, this is purely a "which is BETTER technology decision"

The only thing HD-DVD had going for it was it was a little less expensive...
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Aug 2001
User is offline
MoparSteve
firmware update?
0
02/18, 9:48am, EST
HD & BD both use the same laser. Could the firm ware on a HD player be updated to be able to play BD? If so, I would think there would just need to be a license fee arrangement with Sony....
Junior Member
Joined Dec 2000
User is offline
dampeoples
laser
0
02/18, 9:52am, EST
They do not use the same laser, unless you mean both are blue
Mac Elite
Joined Jul 2002
User is offline
lkrupp
No entitlements...
0
02/18, 11:23am, EST
"will there be any form of effort to appease those who have invested in players and media do you think or will they just give us their corporate middle-finger?"

Didn't happen in the VHS/Betamax battle and it won't happen here either. Didn't happen in the OS wars or the PC hardware wars and won't happen in the Blu-Ray/HD/DVD struggle. Corporations don't owe consumers anything if their products don't succeed in the marketplace. Somebody will maybe try to get a class action lawsuit going but it will fail. Get over it.

Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined May 2001
User is offline
MeandmyMac
Corp. Middle Finger???
0
02/18, 11:28am, EST
I heard the HD & BR endeavor described as a "war" as to which will be the next format. If HD is indeed capitulating, since when are the losers placated. I thought "to the victor belonged the spoils"?
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Feb 2008
User is offline
cvbcvb
Blu-ray (buy later...)
0
02/18, 1:13pm, EST
“The only thing HD-DVD had going for it was it was a little less expensive...“

Being a lot cheaper was not the only thing going for HD-DVD. They also had no Region Coding (which is what consumers should have) and finalized technical specs. Blu-ray is still sorting out players as Profile 1.0, 1.2, 2.0 and Java Interactive... Many Blu-ray players are not able to be upgraded. I’m sure some of theses “winners” will also file a class action lawsuit...

From Video Business: the following Blu-ray players are 'Profile 1.0' players, meaning they can not play PIP or web-enabled interactive features:

Sony BDP-S300 Sharp BD-HP20U Samsung BDP-1400 Pioneer BDP-95FD Philips BDP9000

The following Blu-ray players can play PIP, but not web-enabled interactive features:

LG BH200 Panasonic DMP BD300 Philips BDP7200 Samsung BD-UP5000 Samsung BD-P1500 Samsung BD-UP5500 Sharp BD-HP50U
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined Nov 2003
User is offline
additional comments:..1..2..Next
Your Comments

In order to post comments: If you are a registered member, please login with your MacNN Forums username and password otherwise please uncheck the checkbox below.


Registered Member?
macnn forums login:

macnn forums password:

Not a member of the MacNN forums? Register now for free.

AT&T Cell Phones: Get your next AT&T phone at 1800mobiles.com

Convert PDF to Word for Mac: Easily Convert PDF to Word Doc, Excel, and More. Fast and Accurate. No Registration Trial

Check Out the VIERA from Panasonic!: Enter a New Visual Era with Panasonic VIERA HDTVs. An Enhanced Experience.

Virginia Custom Homes: Our building contractors will build your dream home on your own lot.

Houston Flooring Company: Call the flooring experts today for hardwoods carpeting and more.

Buy from The Apple Store, iTunes.com, Amazon.com, TechDepot, OfficeDepot, Computers4Sure, or donate.