While it seems that the HD DVD gang has been on a wonky tightrope for years , surrounded by barrack Blu - shaft of light supporter like Sony , Samsung and Panasonic , it sometimes feels like HD videodisk could stay on that tightrope for a very long time . Last week we reported thatit ’s in conclusion rolling out the long promised financial backing for downloaded depicted object ; this workweek , two more announcements made the underdog seem good and spirited .
https://gizmodo.com/toshiba-and-microsoft-remind-us-what-hd-dvd-can-do-and-273454
Microsoft announced a deal with its Seattle - based neighbour , Amazon.com , creating the “ 1,000 HD DVD Indies Project . ” The Amazon subordinate CustomFlix will sell up to 1,000 feature - duration indie flicks to Amazon customers , burning and ship the HD videodisk only as order for them come in in . From what I gather , this uses the HD DVD - universal gas constant disc formatting , just as stock - def CustomFlix order are burn to regular DVD - R. This is n’t the same as signal Disney or 20th Century Fox , but it is a star sign of spirit .
At the same time , Paul Erickson , an analyst at IMS Research , put out a program line specifically stating that theBlockbuster selection of Blu - rayhas “ small impact ” on the formatting war .
Erickson ’s logic is a little doubtful , though . He say for the most part , the deal was just a way for Blockbuster to cozy up to Sony :
“ Sony is a provider of video mental object to Blockbuster , has a major retail presence in picture - related consumer electronics that can potentially be connect with Blockbuster on a promotional groundwork , and is a significant investor in the on-line pic download service Movielink , which Blockbuster has actively been seek to acquire . It makes much more strategic sentiency in universal for Blockbuster to ally itself with Sony ’s Blu - ray Disc format versus Toshiba ’s HD DVD . ”
And this is supposed to assure the HD DVD crew how , on the dot ?
The good second of news program look at the bottom of the IMS passing : “ The expectation is for the HD DVD player to reach the coveted $ 200 price decimal point by hoiday 2007 . ” Erickson then foil it by add together , “ … or former 2008 . ” HD DVD has lasted a while against great betting odds , but I say if it ’s not priced to move fast this Christmas , there ’s no way it will live on another year . And Microsoft , while you ’re out there advance HD videodisc , how about pay a visit to your own Xbox compound and hawk an structured gamy - def drive ?
Say what you will about the expert virtues and drawbacks of each format , Blu - ray has far more marketing heftiness , and much greater capability to mount the massive offense once all the military personnel are in personal line of credit . If HD DVD ’s happy few , this stria of brother , makes one false move , that ’s it . Game over . peradventure that ’s why it ’s so fitting that the next big HD videodisk flick release is 300 .
Press releases :
Blockbuster Choice of Blu - re has Little Impact on Blue Format War
Austin , TX ( July 2 , 2007 ) – Blockbuster ’s recent announcement that 1450 of its stores would entirely pack Blu - shaft Disc title as their high - definition offering , has been observe by some as a potential turn point in the battle between the two data format . However , the ontogenesis may be considerably less significant than it appears on its surface , in affect a format warfare that is arguably still a year away from crowning a victor .
Paul Erickson , market psychoanalyst with IMS Research , feels the conjunction between Blockbuster and the Blu - beam Disc formatting should not come as a surprise ; “ Sony is a supplier of video content to Blockbuster , has a major retail presence in picture - related consumer electronics that can potentially be unite with Blockbuster on a promotional basis , and is a substantial investor in the on-line movie download divine service Movielink , which Blockbuster has actively been trying to larn . It makes much more strategic sense in general for Blockbuster to ally itself with Sony ’s Blu - light beam Disc format versus Toshiba ’s HD DVD . ”
Based on his employment in the composition , “ The Future of High - Definition TV -2007 Edition , ” Erickson states that the promulgation will finally have special impact : “ The retail television rental line remains in a unbendable decline . Though this announcement appear to be a atomic number 59 coup for Blu - ray Disc , it is doubtful that it will actually drive increased hardware penetration . Actual sales betoken that mainstream consumer are generally glad with DVD , and still find both aristocratic formats ’ standalone player too expensive for mass espousal , no matter of content handiness . Also of line , only a circumstances of Blockbuster ’s approximately 4500 retail wall socket in the US are bear upon . The company has hedged its military position by state that consumer requirement would regulate its pick and by allowing its existing 250 store that offer both blue data formatting , as well as its online renting service , to proceed renting HD videodisk title . ”
The expectation is for HD DVD players to reach the coveted $ 200 Mary Leontyne Price point by vacation 2007 or early 2008 while keep a 40 - 50 % price reward over the cheesy Blu - irradiation participant . immix with tiresome Sony Playstation 3 sales in the US , Erickson believes these factors point to a data formatting war that is still quite in contention : “ The format that can reach the greatest mass - grocery store ironware incursion of its standalone players will at last succeed . With the Leontyne Price drops for both formats ’ role player expected for the end of this twelvemonth , 2008 will be the true test of whether HD DVD ’s low entry price or Blu - ray ’s great studio support will try the stronger factor in drive the mainstream sales numbers necessitate for victory . ”
About IMS Research
IMS Research is a supplier of market inquiry and consultancy service on a wide range of world-wide electronics markets . The company is support by headquarters in Wellingborough , UK and offices in Austin , Texas and Shanghai , China . IMS Research on a regular basis publishes elaborated research on the consumer electronics and digital goggle box markets , including digital gear up - top boxes , videodisk recorders , HDTV , IPTV , and fluid TV . www.imsresearch.com
Amazon.com and Microsoft Team Up to help oneself Indie Filmmakers Jump Into HD DVD
Up to 1,000 new indie title to be made available in HD DVD through the CustomFlix DVD on Demand Program ; Sundance Channel original series , “ openhanded Ideas for a Small Planet , ” to be among first HD television offerings on Amazon.com .
“ This quislingism with Microsoft is a big chance for self-governing filmmaker to achieve Amazon customers with their films via the HD DVD format , ” say Peter Faricy , vice chairperson of medicine and movies at Amazon.com . “ By crop together with Microsoft and leveraging the proven CustomFlix DVD on Demand model , we can get down the barrier to entry for independent filmmakers and dramatically increase the pick we offer our customers . ”
The project will be spearhead by CustomFlix , which will bring as many as 1,000 feature film - duration sovereign films to Amazon client using the CustomFlix DVD on Demand technology , which produces and ships DVD only as they are order . This model greatly improves the cost structure for self-governing film maker by eliminating the need for costly stocktaking .
“ From a technological standpoint , we found that the HD DVD format gibe our business mannequin perfectly , ” say Dana LoPiccolo - Giles , carbon monoxide - founder and managing director of CustomFlix . “ With retail ledge space at a premium , our exemplar eradicate the risk of exposure of carry inventory and immediately expands the telephone number of great HD videodisk title available to consumers . ”
“ syllabus like this one from Amazon lower barrier to accounting entry for main creative person and provide consultation with increased admittance to high - quality , in high spirits - definition content , ” said Christian Vesper , senior vice president of programming , acquisition and scheduling for Sundance Channel .
Sundance Channel will be reviewing the eminent - definition feature for potential program on the connection as well as realize its own HD original eco - series , “ Big Ideas for a Small Planet , ” available for purchase through Amazon ’s HD videodisc computer program .
“ Amazon ’s involvement in this project will be a major benefit to main film maker wanting to break off into the high - definition market segment , ” said Amir Majidimehr , corporate vice President of the United States for the Consumer Media Technology Group at Microsoft . “ The usage of Microsoft ® technology and author expertness will ensure that all the HD DVD titles offered by Amazon have impeccable character , thanks to the VC-1 codec and innovative synergistic scenario with HDi ™ . ”
Amazon.com offers a unsubtle and arise extract of HD television , histrion and DVD through its HD DVD store at Filmmakers concerned in submitting their HD DVD work for consideration as part of the 1,000 HD DVD Indies Project can go to http://www.customflix.com/hddvdindies .
About CustomFlix
CustomFlix , a appendage of the Amazon.com grouping of companies , is the drawing card in manufacturing on demand services for independent and enterprise medium content owners . CustomFlix was founded in 2002 with the commission of profitably connect content owners to a ecumenical audience . Today , CustomFlix offer professional digitisation into the Future - Proof Archive religious service , as well as inventory - free physical medium distribution via both CD and DVD on Demand and video downloads through Amazon Unbox .
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