Archive for the ‘HD DVD’ Category
Where does the HD DVD announcement leave Microsoft?
Microsoft released a statement saying that the end of HD DVD does not impact the sales of the Xbox 360. At first glance this seems like a reasonable conclusion. However, Microsoft should be concerned about the PlayStation 3, which is the cheapest Blu-ray player on the market and one of the major reasons why Blu-ray won out over HD DVD.
If I went out today to buy a new Blu-ray player, I would pick up a PlayStation 3. Why? Because of the ability of the PlayStation to play both Blu-ray discs and GAMES. Now, that is the reason why Microsoft should be concerned. Since Microsoft’s HD DVD add-on player for the XBOX 360 is now defunct, they need to bring a Blu-ray player to market and fast.
The chairman of the Blu-ray Disc Association is quoted saying that Toshiba and Microsoft are “more than welcome to join the BDA.” In a Microsoft statement on Monday, they hint at future unannounced plans. So, maybe there is hope for a Blu-ray player on the XBox360. But, will Sony allow this to happen since they are a major backer of Blu-ray and have an advantage over the Xbox with their PlayStation 3.
Read: Microsoft addresses possible end of HD DVD
Read: BDA sez Toshiba and Microsoft are “more than welcome” to go Blu
HD DVD is Dead
Game Over! We’ve known this day was coming ever since Warner Brothers Entertainment made their announcement last month that they were going Blu-ray exclusive. Having purchased an HD DVD add-on drive to my XBOX 360, picked up a Toshiba HD-A2 player at Christmas for $98.87 and a 12 disc collection of movies, I feel like I’m the one left holding the bag in this format war. Yes, it was my decision to buy this stuff, but the landscape was significantly different when I made the decision. The formats were fairly equal and it looked like the war would go on for years ahead. I am upset with the corporate powers that be at Toshiba and Warner Brothers Entertainment for pushing the format war through the 2007 holiday season and then dropping a bomb on consumers in January with the Warner Brothers announcement. It basically allowed both companies along with the retail channel to sell through their inventories and reduce the losses these corporations would have to take at the expense of the consumer.
Buy One Get One HD DVD Offer at Amazon
Amazon is offering up a great deal on HD DVDs with a Buy One Get One Free promotion. Hurry because these deals usually don’t last for long.
The Harry Potter movies were tempting, but I picked up Breach and The Good Shepherd for myself.
Keep the deals coming!!
Bourne Movies in HD DVD for $49.95
Amazon.com has all three Bourne Movies (Identity, Supremacy and Ultimatum) in HD DVD format for only $49.95. If you’re a true Jason Bourne fan you will surely have to pick up this great buy and watch your favorite action pack spy movie in crystal clear HD DVD.
Hurry this is such a great deal!!
High Definition on the XBOX 360
Last year during the holidays I bought the XBox 360 HD DVD player add on. After getting it all hooked up to my Sony 51″ Projection TV, I wasn’t very impressed with the picture. My TV did support 1080i resolution. To be honest, I couldn’t tell the difference between HD DVD and regular DVD. I remember going to work and telling everyone that this HD DVD thing wasn’t all that great because it looked the same as regular ole DVDs.
Well, I have to admit to my mistake. My XBox 360 was hooked up to my TV with a XBox 360 Component HD AV Cable. However, there is a little switch on the connector end that is plugged into the XBox. The switch is for standard definition and HDTV. Mine was set to Standard.
I’ve had my XBox for almost two years and have been running it on standard definition this whole time and even after buying the HD DVD player last year I still didn’t figure out my mistake.
Now, that I flipped the switch and set the HDTV Setting to 1080p (on my new Samsung TV) it is working much better and there is definitely a difference. HD is amazing!!!
Microsoft offers two cables that support HD resolutions and they both support 1080p. In some of the blogs that I have read recenlty they said a VGA HD cable is required to get 1080p. This is wrong. Both cables offer the support.
Xbox 360™ VGA HD AV Cable (Part Number B4S-00001)
- DV-15S Standard VGA Connector
- Experience High Definition movies and games at up to 1080p resolution
- Also supports 480p, 720p, 1080i or 1080p
- Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound output
- 8-foot long shielded cable
Xbox 360™ Component HD AV Cable (Part Number B4V-00004)
- High-definition gaming output of 720p, 1080i or 1080p
- Progressive-scan DVD playback in 480p
- Dolby® Digital 5.1 Surround Sound output
- Component (Y, Pr, Pb) high-definition video output
- Composite cable for standard TV output
- Eight-foot-long shielded cable
Here are some additional links discussing HD support on the XBox:
Toshiba HD DVD Player for $98.87
This past Friday, I picked up Toshiba’s HD-A2 1080i HD DVD player for only $98.87 at Wal-Mart. They had them marked down in a “Secret In Store Special“. As you can see in the picture the HD-A2 was signed at the regular price of $196.00 and you had to know about the special. It had to be entertaining for the Wal-Mart employees to watch people stroll up to pick up their HD DVD player and walk off knowing that it was a “Secret”.
I was in the store 30 minutes prior to the 8:00AM start time of the special and the item scanned for the sale price. Keep that in mind as the holiday season picks up. Wal-Mart will continue these “Secret In Store Specials” through out the holiday.
I picked up a couple HD DVDs that were also on the “Secret In Store Special”. I got both Blood Diamond and Alexander Revisited The Final Cut for $14.96 each.
Update 11.12.07: EngadgetHD.com is reporting that “Wal-Mart, Best Buy and Circuit City — among others — were able to move 90,000 stand-alone HD DVD players this weekend.”
XBOX 360 HD DVD Player Price Drop
Microsoft announced a price drop on it’s XBox 360 HD DVD Player from $199 to $179 effective August 1, 2007. In addition, five free HD DVD movies will come along with any XBox 360 HD DVD purchase between August 1st and September 30th. Customers can choose from 15 titles through a mail-in offer including titles such as Apollo 13, Constantine, U-571, The Perfect Storm, Tomb Raider and others. The five free HD DVD movies offer previously was exclusive to Toshiba HD DVD players.
The King Kong HD DVD is still included in the XBox 360 HD DVD Bundle along with a Universal Remote Control.
