DVD Forum approves 'bigger than Blu-ray' HD DVD

[diabolo]

DVD Forum approves 'bigger than Blu-ray' HD DVD

07 Sep 07
Country: China, USA
Source: Online Services/Intelligence/Video and DVD/Updates

The DVD Forum, the international DVD standards authority, has approved a 51 GB single-sided triple-layer HD DVD disc for production. Extension to the HD DVD standard, which was submitted by Toshiba in April, received approval on 31 August 2007. Other recent developments include:
A single-sided triple-layer HD DVD/DVD hybrid (combi) disc, the DVD layer of which would be playable by legacy DVD players, is expected to be approved before the year end.The Forum has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China's Optical Memory National Engineering Research Centre (OMNERC) regarding licensing of the HD DVD-ROM China (formerly HD DVD-ROM China-only) format, specification for which was approved earlier this year. The only difference between the latter and the standard HD DVD format is the modulation scheme: the optical pickup in HD DVD China player will be able to play standard HD DVD discs, although Chinese discs will not be playable in standard HD DVD drives. According to the Forum, the Chinese government is keen to introduce the format domestically before the Olympic Games in August 2008. Large-scale integrates (LSIs) are already under development by manufacturers and use of AACS for the format is currently under negotiation.

Our take...
The approval of Toshiba's 51 GB disc is good news for the HD DVD camp, allowing it to compete directly with rival Blu-ray Disc's (BD) dual-layer 50 GB disc. As with the BD50, it is likely to take some time for production yields to reach a commercially viable level. However, once this has been achieved it will arguably eliminate one of the principle reasons behind some studios' support of Blu-ray over HD DVD, thus potentially making it easier for Disney or Fox to adopt a format-agnostic position without losing face. Meanwhile, the development of a triple-layer single-sided hybrid HD DVD/DVD disc will also be welcomed by HD DVD supporters. Both Warner and Universal have been releasing double-sided hybrids in the US for some time but they have yet to use this approach in Europe. Single-sided hybrids (sometimes called 'twin format' discs) offer the same space for promotional printing as traditional optical discs and do not require the consumer to think about which way to put them into the player. Anime title Freedom was released in the US as a single-sided hybrid in June but its capacity (15 GB HD DVD and 4.7 GB DVD) was not sufficient for a major studio release. The approval by the Forum of a triple-layer hybrid might arguably encourage some studios to release certain titles only on HD DVD/DVD hybrids, which could in turn lead to some DVD buyers building up a library of HD DVD titles by default, before making the decision to upgrade to a hi-def video player. So far there have been no indications that the BD camp plans to support hybrid discs.

[corduroygt]

With an installed base of exactly zero players, I'm sure these will take off...NOT!

[half-sane]

Originally Posted by corduroygt

With an installed base of exactly zero players, I'm sure these will take off...NOT!

just like BR advanced features !




this is very good news

[goshikisen]

Does that mean we can deep 6 all the "30 GB is more than enough" arguments?

[MikeRox]

Originally Posted by corduroygt

With an installed base of exactly zero players, I'm sure these will take off...NOT!

Actually when Lyris (from DVD times) enquired about this disc. He was told that it should just be a firmware update for current HD DVD players to be able to read all 3 layers of a 51gb TL disc meaning 100% compatability with all current HD DVD players.

[hd4me]

Wow what will they think of next

[Rob.D.inToronto]

Originally Posted by MikeRox

Actually when Lyris (from DVD times) enquired about this disc. He was told that it should just be a firmware update for current HD DVD players to be able to read all 3 layers of a 51gb TL disc meaning 100% compatability with all current HD DVD players.

They tested some early TL51s on an A1 drive and were able to get it to work.

The problem isn't the drives, it will be the pressing costs. DL30s are cheap, what will TLs cost?

[MikeRox]

Actually, there is a problem with the drives as well. The data on the 3rd (deepest) layer is read with alot of errors that aren't present on the first 2 layers. However the firmware/software update improves the reading of the more corrupted data to a point where the errors are wiped out.

Really bad explanation, but I'm sure you get the gist of it.

[Blu-News.com]

Good. Blu (fanboys) will stop complaining that HD DVD is keeping Blu-ray movies from achieving their full potential. So both formats win because of this, if this indeed does release and if Warner supports it..

[corduroygt]

Originally Posted by half-sane

just like BR advanced features !




this is very good news

6 million Blu-ray players will be able to play the BR advanced features.
NEXT!!!

[1080p]

Meanwhile, the development of a triple-layer single-sided hybrid HD DVD/DVD disc will also be welcomed by HD DVD supporters. Both Warner and Universal have been releasing double-sided hybrids in the US for some time but they have yet to use this approach in Europe. Single-sided hybrids (sometimes called 'twin format' discs) offer the same space for promotional printing as traditional optical discs and do not require the consumer to think about which way to put them into the player.

Now this is the most importaint news!
This would kill BD faster than you would think , It wouldn't even have time to bruise it.
This may have sliped by Paramount's ears. HD 30/DVD 9
If studios release all DVD/HD DVD's as one and no mater what retailer you went to .. they would carry it and if they could keep the price at SD DVD new releases. Forget about it and Blockblister's carrying of BD titles.
At least Blockblusters could then have HD DVD Weinsten exclusives!

[Indy_aka_Rex]

Originally Posted by half-sane

just like BR advanced features !




this is very good news

Except, most BR players out now can be upgraded to allow for basic BDJ features, it's not even known whether ANY HD-DVD player can actually read that third layer, let alone play it properly.

So much for "Blu-Ray having unfinished specs", Toshiba hasn't even had finished discs...

Regardless, 1gb over Blu-Ray is equal to... basically what, a decimal point of a bitrate upgrade or 10 minutes of deleted scenes in HD? Wooow.... so much better.

Let's not forget the cost behind tri-layer discs, seeing as how dual-layer HD-DVDs ain't exactly cheaper than dual-layer blu-rays... what's the point again?

[MikeRox]

there are 6 million Blu Ray players? when did the extra 1.3 million hit the market?

[half-sane]

Originally Posted by Indy_aka_Rex

Except, most BR players out now can be upgraded to allow for basic BDJ features, it's not even known whether ANY HD-DVD player can actually read that third layer, let alone play it properly.

So much for "Blu-Ray having unfinished specs", Toshiba hasn't even had finished discs...

Regardless, 1gb over Blu-Ray is equal to... basically what, a decimal point of a bitrate upgrade or 10 minutes of deleted scenes in HD? Wooow.... so much better.

Let's not forget the cost behind tri-layer discs, seeing as how dual-layer HD-DVDs ain't exactly cheaper than dual-layer blu-rays... what's the point again?

read the rest of the thread , the 3rd layer can be read correctly with a firmware update leaving no one out in the cold unlike BR when they finally finish their spec

[HomeTheatreFreak]

Originally Posted by diabolo

DVD Forum approves 'bigger than Blu-ray' HD DVD

07 Sep 07
Country: China, USA
Source: Online Services/Intelligence/Video and DVD/Updates

The DVD Forum, the international DVD standards authority, has approved a 51 GB single-sided triple-layer HD DVD disc for production. Extension to the HD DVD standard, which was submitted by Toshiba in April, received approval on 31 August 2007. Other recent developments include:
A single-sided triple-layer HD DVD/DVD hybrid (combi) disc, the DVD layer of which would be playable by legacy DVD players, is expected to be approved before the year end.
The Forum has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China's Optical Memory National Engineering Research Centre (OMNERC) regarding licensing of the HD DVD-ROM China (formerly HD DVD-ROM China-only) format, specification for which was approved earlier this year. The only difference between the latter and the standard HD DVD format is the modulation scheme: the optical pickup in HD DVD China player will be able to play standard HD DVD discs, although Chinese discs will not be playable in standard HD DVD drives. According to the Forum, the Chinese government is keen to introduce the format domestically before the Olympic Games in August 2008. Large-scale integrates (LSIs) are already under development by manufacturers and use of AACS for the format is currently under negotiation.

Very interesting. HD DVD supporters have seen this day coming for awhile now and to be honest I do think it is a very positive thing. Overall I dont think the format needed it but as we have seen time and time again stats on paper are sometime more important than actual reslts in the field. Anything HD DVD does that help nulify those advantages on paper is good for HD DVD. I also think this is far far more important for the computer sie then I think it is for the movie side. I would have been content with BD30 discs and in all liklyhood may still end up purchasing the majority of my computer discs on HD30 dpedning on the price descrepancy but again this is very positive news overall for the format.