Future BR players playing HD-DVD??

[hammer]

What are the odds involved in future Blu-Ray players being able to play HD-DVDs? After all, DVD players are able to play many proprietary formats such as: VCD, CD, SACD, DVD +R, DVD -R, SVCD, etc...

As far as I know, both HDD and BR technologies use blue lasers modulated at different frequencies to play their discs (not unlike the technologies listed above). That being the case, what are the odds that my collection will be future proofed by Toshiba making the HD-DVD technology open for development in other players?

[SickSol]

Bottom line is you will have to buy a dual format player.

[The_Doctor]

They should do this. (IMHO they should do this just for the future of HDM) However Sony wants to crush HD all together because it would be a simple matter for Independent houses to release for it bypassing blu all together. Sony would lose money and or least not make as much as they think they should.
Someday More CEs are going to recognize this, by the time the next Gen Movie playback comes along, if its a disc format or not remains to be seen, I imagine the companies behind the innovation will be smart enough to include generic universal disc play back. The only reason we can't play laser discs in our DVD (hd or blu) players is because the disc don't fit.

I thin in the near short term LG will do well, there are millions of HD disc in the wild, unless they are all recalled and replaced some sort of HD capable player will be in demand.

[lostinva]

it would be great if this happened, but I'm not holding my breath.

As far as software playback is concerned, CyberLink has already dropped HD DVD from version 8 of PowerDVD...

It makes no sense to me to remove this functionality, considering the surplus of sparsely used, archaic media formats that are often still supported in software players.

[The_Doctor]

Originally Posted by lostinva

it would be great if this happened, but I'm not holding my breath.

As far as software playback is concerned, CyberLink has already dropped HD DVD from version 8 of PowerDVD...

It makes no sense to me to remove this functionality, considering the surplus of sparsely used, archaic media formats that are often still supported in software players.

Well that is a shame. But they've been gimping their PowerDVD ultra program as they continued to "update/Upgrade" it. Obviously they reaction has nothing to do with the market. Other factors from their own ineptitude (or laziness) to being complicit with the BDR (or maybe HD royalties) . I heard some beta testers say they were pulling HD support in PDVD Ultra 8 and other swear up and down it was there. Others said they couldn't play either format.
Nero and ArcSoft are picking up more or the market just from earlier limitations from Pdvd 7 updates. Anyone buying the new 8 has to look at it as less of product for a premium price.

[Aristottle]

HD DVD is officialy a "DEAD" format.....I can't see any bluray players being made that are able to play HD DVD simply because the market for HD DVD would be so incredibly tiny. Not to mention why would companies what to pay a licencing fee to Toshiba?

My advice to anyone to who a decent size HD DVD collection, is to pick up an extra combo player, or hd dvd player.....that way you will always be able to enjoy your HD DVD movies (that you got at great prices.)

[winklepr]

I have one backup player. I'd like to get a BH200 as well but funds have been drying up from software purchases (since I fear those drying up or rising in price). If they're still available for good prices when funds replenish however, it will be near the top of my list (especially if firmware updates keep improving it's Blu-Ray functionality to make it profile 2.0).

[Josh Z]

Originally Posted by Aristottle

HD DVD is officialy a "DEAD" format.....I can't see any bluray players being made that are able to play HD DVD simply because the market for HD DVD would be so incredibly tiny.

Many DVD players will play VCDs.

[The_Doctor]

Originally Posted by Josh Z

Many DVD players will play VCDs.

I was just about to point out how many players support: VCD, SACD, DVD +R, DVD -R, SVCD, as the OP said. There are far fewer SACD than there are HD DVDs

One follow up to the powerDVD 8 debocal, I talked to buddy big into the computer HD scene. He said indeed HD support was originally in the beta version, then the function was removed from the ratail. So I read it as either BDA influence or HD royalties.
But what is fascinating is according to him online groups like this one have found a work around to add HD functions back to PowerDVD8 and it has even spurred sales of the retail powerdvd 8. So HD DVD play back does matter to the people who are into HD computers.

[oxbladder]

uh not many DVD players support SACD or DVD-A. VCD and SVCD have hit and miss support. DVDs have never had a set standard and for a time some didn't handle one or the other of DVD-/+R but with people using both and burners eventually supporting both DVD players added the support for both.

HD DVD is a whole different ball of wax and with no CE supporting it in any way other than Toshiba and they are not building the machines anymore there is just no point. Added to that it would cost to put the support and the technology for that support in. For a dead format that makes zero sense to me.

HD DVD is dead so if you want to continue to view your movies that you own you will just have to buy "back-up" machines.

[dman]

Originally Posted by oxbladder

HD DVD is a whole different ball of wax and with no CE supporting it in any way other than Toshiba and they are not building the machines anymore there is just no point.

That's actually not true at all. Toshiba, Venturer, LG, Onkyo, and Samsung all made HD DVD players. Then of course there's the XBox 360 Addon. Then HP, Plextor, Buffalo, Acer, NEC, and other's produced PCs or drives for the PC, so the hardware support was much more than you suggest. Plus, there are tons of discs out there. I would say HD DVD won't fade into obscurity... if you notice, people are still buying the discs like crazy! If you look at this weeks numbers, HD DVD sales stayed steady while Blu-ray dropped off a lot. If I were a CE manufacturer, I'd consider supporting both. I'll agree, it may not be common but it will still exist. Keep in mind that Sony was still supporting Betamax (ok, only in Japan) until 2001! I would not be surprised if every BD player made by Toshiba (they'll have to make one at some point!) still supports HD DVD. It gives them a niche... any HD DVD user who wants BD can keep their old HD DVD library alive for years to come... I know it would convince me to buy a Toshiba!

[allargon]

I would totally buy a Blu-Ray/HD DVD combo unit or even just a Blu-Ray player from Toshiba. Considering the crap standalones that the BDA has given us, Toshiba could add 1GB of flash to ANY HD DVD player, change the lense angle (okay, I know it requires more than that like that slow ass Java crap, etc.) and voila! profile 2.0 Blu-Ray.

Some strange force is at work getting rid of all the HD DVD players with these full and partial refunds from Wal-Mart, Circuit City, etc. I don't recall retailers being so generous with Betamax, SACD or DVD-A. DIVX enabled? auto-validation and let suck..err..buyers keep their discs.

Anyhoo, for now look the LG (best option) and Sammy (not really) combo players. The Sammy has the most potential with its Reon processor and 5.1 analog outputs (and lower MSRP). However, Samsung support for this player has been worse than its support for its 3 Blu players. (That's pretty bad.) Whereas LG (and StudioCanal) has said they are continuing to support HD DVD even though Toshiba, Universal, MS and Paramount have ceased doing so.

[hammer]

I can understand not wanting to cannibalise on future BD sales; however, I think that would be a marginal phenomenon at most in the future when BD is more mainstream.

We can only hope. OTHERWISE, let's hope CH-DVD players catch on and we can flash "upgrade" them to play HD-DVD!

[GonzoGator]

If Toshiba ever makes a Blu Ray player, it's probably a safe bet it will read HD-DVD as well

[resevilfan86]

Originally Posted by Josh Z

Many DVD players will play VCDs.

But VCD is just a standard that requires different software to read then just normal software for a music CD to be read. HD-DVD requires a totally new laser to be installed into the machines. Not to mention the software needed as well. Thats quite a difference.