Toshiba joins Blu-ray camp

Danny Tse
Danny Tse Posts: 5,206
edited September 2009 in Electronics
Now if only Panasonic will join the SACD camp....

BBC article: Toshiba joins Blu-ray camp
Toshiba is to start making products that can play Blu-ray discs.

The decision marks a big change for the electronics firm which was the prime mover of the rival HD-DVD format.

Blu-ray and HD-DVD went head-to-head to see who could dominate the burgeoning market for movies produced in the high definition format.

The format war was effectively won in early 2008 when the Blu-ray camp won the backing of all four of the biggest movie studios.

Blu-ray was largely developed by Sony. Its efforts to dominate the HD market were also helped by sales of the PlayStation 3 which has a Blu-ray player built-in.

Toshiba said it would begin production of stand alone Blu-ray players as well as drives for PCs and laptops. Its first products are likely to be ready for the end of 2009.

The Japanese firm also said it would join the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) - the industry body which oversees development of the high-definition format.

"In light of recent growth in digital devices supporting the Blu-ray format, combined with market demand from consumers and retailers alike, Toshiba has decided to join the BDA," the Japanese firm said in a statement.
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Comments

  • JohnLocke88
    JohnLocke88 Posts: 1,150
    edited August 2009
    Cool, I guess... Maybe it's time to officially shred all my HD-DVDs...
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  • TECHNOKID
    TECHNOKID Posts: 4,298
    edited August 2009
    JohnLocke88 wrote: »
    Cool, I guess... Maybe it's time to officially shred all my HD-DVDs...
    How about some KARMA ;) I wonder if Toshiba will offer some incentive to HD DVD owners to do the BluRay switch/conversion:cool: ?
    DARE TO SOAR:
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  • PhantomOG
    PhantomOG Posts: 2,409
    edited August 2009
    WB allows you to "upgrade" your HD DVD's to Blu for a $5, plus you get to keep the HD DVD disc.

    http://www.red2blu.com/products.html
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited August 2009
    Great News!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
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    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • cnh
    cnh Posts: 13,284
    edited August 2009
    What choice did they have. Essentially PCs, in particular, are starting to fly off the shelves with B-ray drives. That alone is a problem for Toshiba.

    It should worry Apple too. Have they offered a MacBook with a Blu-ray yet?

    cnh
    Currently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!

    Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
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  • Sherardp
    Sherardp Posts: 8,038
    edited August 2009
    It would be nice if they made a player that plays HD DVD and BD, that would be nice.
    Shoot the jumper.....................BALLIN.............!!!!!

    Home Theater Pics in the Showcase :cool:

    http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showcase/view.php?userid=73580
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  • JohnLocke88
    JohnLocke88 Posts: 1,150
    edited August 2009
    Sherardp wrote: »
    It would be nice if they made a player that plays HD DVD and BD, that would be nice.

    The sole reason I got me my LG Bh200 "super blu". Screw BD-live...

    I was kidding about the shredding... my HD-DVDs aren't going anywhere.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,050
    edited August 2009
    JohnLocke88 wrote: »
    The sole reason I got me my LG Bh200 "super blu". Screw BD-live...

    I was kidding about the shredding... my HD-DVDs aren't going anywhere.
    John, Do you know there is a firmware update that gives you BD-Live on the BH200? The update is available through the network connection. You just need to use a 1GB or larger USB flash drive to give the unit enough memory for the BDLive spec. See AVSforum for more info on the update.

    BTW, I'm a very happy owner of two BH200s. My HD-DVDs are not going anywhere. If/when these players die, I will rip all my HD-DVDs to my PC (using the Xbox HDDVD drive), transcode, and burn them to bluray.
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  • cheddar
    cheddar Posts: 2,390
    edited August 2009
    Also, they are still selling LG blu-ray burner/hd-dvd reader combo drives for PCs that can be had for around $150. If you could use a blu-ray burner anyways and have an hdcp capable PC, it might be a good hd-dvd back-up solution for some. I use an external Buffalo blu-ray burner/combo drive just for the blu-ray burner capabilities. But I'm thinking of getting an hdcp video card at some point to try out the HTPC side.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,050
    edited August 2009
    cheddar wrote: »
    Also, they are still selling LG blu-ray burner/hd-dvd reader combo drives for PCs that can be had for around $150. If you could use a blu-ray burner anyways and have an hdcp capable PC, it might be a good hd-dvd back-up solution for some. I use an external Buffalo blu-ray burner/combo drive just for the blu-ray burner capabilities. But I'm thinking of getting an hdcp video card at some point to try out the HTPC side.

    I know this is getting off topic, but the cheapest alternative for dealing with HD-DVDs (after your stand alone dies) is the Xbox HD-DVD unit, which I mentioned above.

    In case anyone didn't know, that item is selling for only $34 from Frys these days. It will connect easily to any PC via USB cable and works flawlessly with DVD Fab HD decryptor to rip them. It takes about an hour to rip a movie though, and it takes up 15-30GB depending on the movie.

    I've wanted one for quite some time, but I finally picked one up last week when I was at Frys and saw how low the price was. For $35, having the ability to archive my HD-DVD collection (which is in excess of 50 movies) is a no brainer.

    Hopefully by the time I need it, BluRay burners and media will be cheap.
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  • cheddar
    cheddar Posts: 2,390
    edited August 2009
    Frys already regularly drops Memorex and Philips BD-Rs to around $39 for 15. That's only 2 bucks and change to convert each hd-dvd to blu-ray now. I'm sure things will get even cheaper, but if your method is as easy as you say, then it's even better than the WB upgrade offer...provided the burn will fit on a 25GB BD-R.
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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited August 2009
    PhantomOG wrote: »
    WB allows you to "upgrade" your HD DVD's to Blu for a $5, plus you get to keep the HD DVD disc.

    http://www.red2blu.com/products.html


    Thanks for that. Any other studio doing this?
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  • SoundArtillery
    SoundArtillery Posts: 39
    edited August 2009
    PhantomOG wrote: »
    WB allows you to "upgrade" your HD DVD's to Blu for a $5, plus you get to keep the HD DVD disc.

    http://www.red2blu.com/products.html

    That is awesome! Thanks for the info.
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  • billbillw
    billbillw Posts: 7,050
    edited August 2009
    cheddar wrote: »
    Frys already regularly drops Memorex and Philips BD-Rs to around $39 for 15. That's only 2 bucks and change to convert each hd-dvd to blu-ray now. I'm sure things will get even cheaper, but if your method is as easy as you say, then it's even better than the WB upgrade offer...provided the burn will fit on a 25GB BD-R.

    I'm not suggesting the conversion is easy. Its not. The WB offer is the best way to go if your movie is listed. Most of my movies are not on the WB list. (actually, I found about 12 of my movies are available with the red2blue offer and I may take them up on it)

    As far as converting, the ripping part is easy, but then you have to demux, convert, compress audio, then remux, author, and burn. I have a feeling it will be quite a headache. Perhaps there will be an easier software package out at some point, or perhaps I will never need to do it. I could be lucky (I'm hoping) and at least one of my LG BH200 will survive for 10+ years and there will be some better media format out there for movies.
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  • PhantomOG
    PhantomOG Posts: 2,409
    edited August 2009
    Ricardo wrote: »
    Thanks for that. Any other studio doing this?

    Not that I know of. Supposedly the wait time on some of the more popular titles is pretty long, but for $5 and your cover art I guess you can't complain too much. I think some people are even seeking out the really cheap HD-DVD to purchase as a cheap method of getting the Blu :D
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  • Ron-P
    Ron-P Posts: 8,520
    edited September 2009
    They sure built one hell of a tank, the HD-A1, here's hoping their first Blu machine is built the same.
    If...
    Ron dislikes a film = go out and buy it.
    Ron loves a film = don't even rent.
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  • speedster2333
    speedster2333 Posts: 37
    edited September 2009
    I have the toshiba a30 and I still think it is a great player even compared to most blu-rays although it is god awful slow.
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