It's a real battle of the formats here at CES, with HD-DVD and Blu-ray wrestling / rockpaperscissors / monopoly matches on the hour, every hour to declare the winner here at CES. Well, not quite, but it should happen like that.
Today though, the Blu-ray association released a statement and "declared its victory as the premiere high definition DVD format of choice". Interesting, bearing in mind that more HD-DVD units have been sold than Blu-ray (partly because they were first out there, though).
Blu-ray attribute their 'victory' on the PS3 being able to play their discs, but HD-DVD also have a few things to crow about.
For instance, HD-DVDs are able to play on normal DVD players, so people can start to build up a collection without making the investment of a still expensive player. They're also not doing the expected slacking the content, bearing in mind there's only two of the major studios behind them. There are already 260 HD-DVD movies available, with another 300 being released over the next few months. Blu-ray so far has 170 titles.
It was announced yesterday that HD-DVD players would also all be shipped with ethernet connections, which will allow you to download movie trailers from the internet. Another reason to choose HD-DVD.
But do we need a winner? With LG's announcement that they're shipping players that play both formats, maybe the battle is over before it's really begun.
Maybe worth changing:
"For instance, HD-DVDs are able to play on normal DVD players"
to:
For instance, some HD-DVDs are able to play on normal DVD players
"Interesting, bearing in mind that more HD-DVD units have been sold than Blu-ray."
You must have received your $2,200 laptop with HD DVD player from Microsoft (I know about the "gift" Microsoft has been sending out asking to soften blows to HD DVD and try to deal Blu-ray hurtful blows).
HD DVD total units equal 175,000 in North America. Blu-ray total units equal over 1 million in North America. That's a land slide in Blu-ray's favor.
HD DVD has announced only a total of 300 movies by the end of 2007. Just Fox and Sony has announced about 200 titles coming to Blu-ray (which equals 370 titles by the end of 2007). Then there are the other Blu-ray exclusive studios like Disney and MGM.
Those are titles that will not be seen on HD DVD. The HD DVD titles from all but 1 studio (Universal) will be on Blu-ray as well. That boosts Blu-ray titles past 400 titles by the end of 2007!
WellInformed, I think you need to change your name. You say that the HD-DVD group have said that 300 HD-DVDs will be available by the end of 2007, when what they actually said is that 300 NEW titles will be released throughout 2007, which will put them way over 400 titles.
Also, it's a known fact that HD-DVD movies are outselling Blu-Ray movies by a lot, and the war will be won on movie sales not hardware sales.
Mallrat, how about some facts and figures?
Anyone can say "it's a know fact", well I don't. So prove it please.
The majority of the biggest selling DVDs and box office hits from 2006 are exclusive to blu-ray. Including a certain Mr Bond. Casino Royale on blu-ray is being released on the same date as the DVD. just in time for PS3 in Europe too! Disney have announced Pirate of the Caribbean 1 & 2 exclusive to blu-ray and let's not forget that Pixar are now owned by Disney so the only place to see their back catalogue on HD will be... you know the rest.
Blu-ray has an exclusive set of triple A franchises available, and as far as I can see HD-DVD has nothing to rival them.
HD-DVD had an initial advantage by launching first. Over the course of 2007, largely thanks to PS3, that will change.
I look forward to Summer sales figures for HD-DVD Vs blu-ray movies. I know what I'm expecting to see.