Post by kim on Mar 5, 2006 11:14:33 GMT -5
I'm not sure if this is the appropriate section to post this thread and if it isn't please feel free to re-locate it.
I felt that the topic is relevant because we tend to listen to more and more music through the DVD venue and I thought it may be of some interest to the gang here.
The following is a report I watched on the CTV news channel
this morning...
Two rival high definition video formats are fighting to succeed DVD as the new standard. It's a battle that could take its toll on consumers, and match the VHS and Betamax rivalry of the 1980s.
With its larger data capacity and sharper image, high-definition DVDs are set to replace the current DVD format.
"HD DVD is the natural and the best evolution of DVD," says Jim Cardwell of Warner Home Video.
But consumers will have to dole out between $500 US and $1,000 because the new discs require a new player.
Electronics giants Toshiba and Sony are squaring off to corner the market on the next generation of video formats.
While Toshiba is introducing HD DVD, Sony is introducing its Blu-Ray discs. While they look similar, they will not read in the other's player, leaving the consumer to choose one.
"For consumers it's going to be an ugly mess," Kris Abel, a technology expert, told CTV News about the rivalry compared to VHS and Betamax.
The major movie studios have already chosen sides. Universal, HBO and Warner Bros. will release new video discs in HD DVD. However, MGM and 20th Century Fox will back the Blu-Ray format.
Sony and Toshiba initially attempted to agree on a single format but were unable to reach a consensus.
"Both companies left their meetings and were quite upset and won't even talk to each other," Abel said.
"And now, basically they've said the battle will have to go to the store and consumers are going to have to decide this for us."
One factor that will lure consumers will be the price, and Sony has already announced the cost of its Blu-Ray discs.
In a statement released earlier this month, Sony Pictures said it will release new films at a wholesale price of $23.45 US – about a 15 to 20 per cent premium on current DVD prices.
Consumers, however, will have to wait and see what retail prices will be.
Toshiba has said it will release HD DVD players starting at $499 US, far cheaper than a $999 Blu-Ray player currently being designed by Samsung, the Associated Press reports.
HD DVD players could be in stores as early as March, while Blu-Ray players could be on the market in May.
But one side will likely be a loser. When VHS became the dominant format for video cassette tapes, it was difficult to find any movies supported by Betamax.
Now maybe I'm wrong in my approach here, but is it any wonder that the consumer gets down right pi**ed off and feels that downloading isn't so bad after all? Can you blame people for trying to take the easy way out when huge corporations forces our hand to do so out of pure financial desperation?
Jesse mentioned a really great point in a previous post about the artists whining because of lost revenues. In a nutshell, Jesse had mentioned and I agree fully because I mentioned it as well to an extent in a previous post...and that was that we, as consumers have supported these folks quite well in that we have purchased their releases in many formats over the years.
I'll use the BTO album example that I believe I had mentioned then...and that was that upon it's release back in the early 70's, I picked up the vinyl release of their debut album...then after many plays and the eventual untimely discarding of the album by my mom...(cuz she was on a cleaning spree)
? hahaha (no fault of the artist I know),
I then purchased it on 8-Track...when this version failed not long after due to a hungry tape eating, music killing machine, I picked it up on cassette format...only to witness it's eventual breakdown and poor quality due to tapes fragile nature. I know have purchased this release for the 4th time and by rough estimates, over the years, I have paid almost $60 bucks for this one album.
I'm sure the technology incorporated into this current format will take me well into the after life but what about those building their collections now as a young listener? Should they spend the money and hope that technology doesn't do a complete 180 degree turn and render these shiny discs obsolete...only to have to give into a new "chip" style album format with having to purchase a completely new and revamped stereo system to play them on?
Hey...I'm all for change and progress but not on the backs of the faithful fan supporter and music consumer. Personally, I think that if we are going to keep moving on wards and up wards, the record execs and mostly the artists should be sticking to their guns to keep the loyal fans in their favour.
Quite possibly, any new album should at least include a coupon type deal or serial numbered tab that can be cashed in down the road in the event of another technology change in the market place. Pretty much the same as a "software" upgrade that is in place today with computer software. Heaven forbid that they could offer it for free, so I'll suggest we meet them half way.
This may or may not help in curbing the so called "illegal" sharing of music? Hey?...at least it's something of an incentive on the industry's part?
I don't think it would be asking too much to offer a 50% price break to those that have already purchased a cd today, in order to upgrade to the new version 10 years down the road.
In comparison, as an art form, I don't see myself having to run to the local bookstore every 7 god damned years to spend more money to upgrade my copy of Stephen Kings "The Stand" because the one I have now has suddenly had all the vegetable based ink disappear off of the pages???...forcing me to by the new, shinier, sharper printed version using ink that lasts 3 times longer??
Anyway, this news left me feeling a little ticked off in the sense that "here we go again" has reared it's ugly little technological head.
Any thoughts?
*By the way Jesse, not sure if I mentioned it in that thread or not but you made a great point!...and by the way...
it's uhmm...11:15am...hahahahahahahahahahaha...sorry!!!...
couldn't resist!!!! hahahahahaha
Thanks
Kim
I felt that the topic is relevant because we tend to listen to more and more music through the DVD venue and I thought it may be of some interest to the gang here.
The following is a report I watched on the CTV news channel
this morning...
Two rival high definition video formats are fighting to succeed DVD as the new standard. It's a battle that could take its toll on consumers, and match the VHS and Betamax rivalry of the 1980s.
With its larger data capacity and sharper image, high-definition DVDs are set to replace the current DVD format.
"HD DVD is the natural and the best evolution of DVD," says Jim Cardwell of Warner Home Video.
But consumers will have to dole out between $500 US and $1,000 because the new discs require a new player.
Electronics giants Toshiba and Sony are squaring off to corner the market on the next generation of video formats.
While Toshiba is introducing HD DVD, Sony is introducing its Blu-Ray discs. While they look similar, they will not read in the other's player, leaving the consumer to choose one.
"For consumers it's going to be an ugly mess," Kris Abel, a technology expert, told CTV News about the rivalry compared to VHS and Betamax.
The major movie studios have already chosen sides. Universal, HBO and Warner Bros. will release new video discs in HD DVD. However, MGM and 20th Century Fox will back the Blu-Ray format.
Sony and Toshiba initially attempted to agree on a single format but were unable to reach a consensus.
"Both companies left their meetings and were quite upset and won't even talk to each other," Abel said.
"And now, basically they've said the battle will have to go to the store and consumers are going to have to decide this for us."
One factor that will lure consumers will be the price, and Sony has already announced the cost of its Blu-Ray discs.
In a statement released earlier this month, Sony Pictures said it will release new films at a wholesale price of $23.45 US – about a 15 to 20 per cent premium on current DVD prices.
Consumers, however, will have to wait and see what retail prices will be.
Toshiba has said it will release HD DVD players starting at $499 US, far cheaper than a $999 Blu-Ray player currently being designed by Samsung, the Associated Press reports.
HD DVD players could be in stores as early as March, while Blu-Ray players could be on the market in May.
But one side will likely be a loser. When VHS became the dominant format for video cassette tapes, it was difficult to find any movies supported by Betamax.
Now maybe I'm wrong in my approach here, but is it any wonder that the consumer gets down right pi**ed off and feels that downloading isn't so bad after all? Can you blame people for trying to take the easy way out when huge corporations forces our hand to do so out of pure financial desperation?
Jesse mentioned a really great point in a previous post about the artists whining because of lost revenues. In a nutshell, Jesse had mentioned and I agree fully because I mentioned it as well to an extent in a previous post...and that was that we, as consumers have supported these folks quite well in that we have purchased their releases in many formats over the years.
I'll use the BTO album example that I believe I had mentioned then...and that was that upon it's release back in the early 70's, I picked up the vinyl release of their debut album...then after many plays and the eventual untimely discarding of the album by my mom...(cuz she was on a cleaning spree)
? hahaha (no fault of the artist I know), I then purchased it on 8-Track...when this version failed not long after due to a hungry tape eating, music killing machine, I picked it up on cassette format...only to witness it's eventual breakdown and poor quality due to tapes fragile nature. I know have purchased this release for the 4th time and by rough estimates, over the years, I have paid almost $60 bucks for this one album.
I'm sure the technology incorporated into this current format will take me well into the after life but what about those building their collections now as a young listener? Should they spend the money and hope that technology doesn't do a complete 180 degree turn and render these shiny discs obsolete...only to have to give into a new "chip" style album format with having to purchase a completely new and revamped stereo system to play them on?
Hey...I'm all for change and progress but not on the backs of the faithful fan supporter and music consumer. Personally, I think that if we are going to keep moving on wards and up wards, the record execs and mostly the artists should be sticking to their guns to keep the loyal fans in their favour.
Quite possibly, any new album should at least include a coupon type deal or serial numbered tab that can be cashed in down the road in the event of another technology change in the market place. Pretty much the same as a "software" upgrade that is in place today with computer software. Heaven forbid that they could offer it for free, so I'll suggest we meet them half way.
This may or may not help in curbing the so called "illegal" sharing of music?
Hey?...at least it's something of an incentive on the industry's part? I don't think it would be asking too much to offer a 50% price break to those that have already purchased a cd today, in order to upgrade to the new version 10 years down the road.
In comparison, as an art form, I don't see myself having to run to the local bookstore every 7 god damned years to spend more money to upgrade my copy of Stephen Kings "The Stand" because the one I have now has suddenly had all the vegetable based ink disappear off of the pages???...forcing me to by the new, shinier, sharper printed version using ink that lasts 3 times longer?
?Anyway, this news left me feeling a little ticked off in the sense that "here we go again" has reared it's ugly little technological head.
Any thoughts?
*By the way Jesse, not sure if I mentioned it in that thread or not but you made a great point!...and by the way...
it's uhmm...11:15am...hahahahahahahahahahaha...sorry!!!...
couldn't resist!!!! hahahahahaha
Thanks
Kim
