Blu-ray Options

[2wolUTT]

You might like dvdprofiler if you haven't tried it before. It lets you keep an online database of your stuff, like this
http://www.invelos.com

I tried a program liked that once but it was pretty dull. That looks a lot better. Is it the free copy worth it or should I just buy it?

[impala454]

Its free for up to 50 DVDs, then a one time fee to purchase the software. I like it because it has all the info you could ever want about the DVD, the ability to enter them by barcode, and its ability to customize and export all the data to XML or various other data files.

[impala454]

Pretty interesting engadget article on the sales numbers after the warner announcement:

Some were very quick to crown Blu-ray the winner when we learned that the Blu-ray player owned 93 percent of the HD movie market the week after Warner went Blu. Evidently the numbers were leaked and the NPD group was quick to respond in an attempt to clear things up. As expected, some we're just as quick to discount the Blu-ray success -- which is just as silly as saying the numbers alone mean Blu-ray has won. Two things happened that week that we're not so sure could continue forever; HD DVD sales were down, and Blu-ray sales were up. With some help from a a few promotions (free player with a new TV) -- stand-alone Blu-ray player sales were up 30 percent (22k, up from 15k) -- but this alone wasn't enough to shift HD DVD share from 40 percent down to 7. HD DVD only sold 1,758 stand-alone players during the same week, compared to 14,558 the week before. So while Blu-ray was up 30, HD DVD was down 88 percent. So it isn't that the Blu-ray sales were all that spectacular, but instead it was that HD DVD sales were way down. At this point it doesn't mean anything, but if it continues for more than a month then that's whole another story entirely.

[impala454]

Looks like HD-DVD is coming back in sales, but another big announcement that will hurt:

http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/11/netfl...an-hd-dvd-soon/

In what can only be classified as yet another crushing blow to the embattled HD DVD camp, rent-by-mail giant Netflix has just announced its intention to only stock Blu-ray titles in the future. Netflix justified its decision by pointing out the fact that most Hollywood studios seem to be converging solely around the Sony-backed format -- a fact that's all too familiar to Toshiba and friends. With both Blockbuster and now the 'Flix having eschewed HD DVD for BD, it's gonna get harder and harder to even find a place to rent those former discs in the first place, let alone one that has a decent selection.

[Testm0nkey]

so when are blu-ray players going to stop being so expensive?

[impala454]

Your guess is as good as mine... if HD-DVD drops completely then more manufacturers may start cranking out their own Blu-ray players and drive the cost down. Right now all I'm aware of is Sony, Panasonic, and Samsung.

[zetec]

netflix is awesome, but this kinda saddens me.

[impala454]

Michael Bay keeps reminding us he's a few fries short of a happy meal:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/14/micha...-hd-format-war/

Finally, Michael Bay has stepped down from Cheese Mountain to pontificate on the finer points of the HD DVD vs. Blu-ray war. Speaking from the inner-sanctum of his lair -- located equidistant from the Church of Scientology and a gigantic cotton candy stand -- Mr. Bay reminds us that, "Blu-ray's better, and I told everyone," then goes on to further prop himself by adding, "I was very vocal about it. I knew HD [DVD] was not going to make it." We're glad that Bay can sleep at night, safe in the knowledge that the mere "quality" of the formats decided the winner of this battle, rather than massive business partnerships fueled by the desire for marketshare. He wrapped up his message (actually given at an awards ceremony held by the Visual Effects Society) by saying, "Am I thrilled? It really wasn't my fight, but remember what I said in the press? I was kind of saying HD [DVD]'s going to lose... No one believed me." He then slammed a trophy he was receiving to the floor, pointed to the packed room, and yelled, "In your face, HD DVD!"

How this man made such an entertaining movie in Transformers is beyond belief

[Spectatrix]

How this man made such an entertaining movie in Transformers is beyond belief

http://youtube.com/watch?v=ux6SmwawY4M

"Those aren't ideas, those are special effects!"
"I don't understand the difference."
"I know you don't. Get him out of here."

[impala454]

lol, "and the 18 wheeler is like BRAWWW and then WOOOOSH"

[impala454]

Toshiba to drop HD DVD, sources say http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/conten...7d0bfb0c25aa58d

Toshiba is widely expected to pull the plug on its HD DVD format sometime in the coming weeks, reliable industry sources say, after a rash of retail defections that followed Warner Home Video's announcement in early January that it would support only the rival Blu-ray Disc format after May.

Officially, no decision has been made, insists Jodi Sally, vp of marketing for Toshiba America Consumer Products. "Based on its technological advancements, we continue to believe HD DVD is the best format for consumers, given the value and consistent quality inherent in our player offerings," she said.

But she hinted that something's in the air. "Given the market developments in the past month," she said, "Toshiba will continue to study the market impact and the value proposition for consumers, particularly in light of our recent price reductions on all HD DVD players."

That last part is pretty convincing...

[blaarg]

Michael Bay keeps reminding us he's a few fries short of a happy meal:
http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/02/14/micha...-hd-format-war/
How this man made such an entertaining movie in Transformers is beyond belief

Did you read the digg comments to this article. Fucking funny...

http://digg.com/tech_news/Michael_Bay_sing...e_HD_format_war

My favorite comment was:
"He doesn't win the format war unless he's leaping away in slow-motion from an exploding warehouse full of HD-DVDs."

[Spectatrix]

Walmart goes Blu-ray only: http://money.cnn.com/2008/02/15/technology...dex.htm?cnn=yes

[Oasis]

Why the FUCK haven't they released Fletch on Blu Ray?

[zetec]

remastering old flicks for bluray actually has a TON of production involved.

this is actually a pretty hella interesting article on the process:

http://www.soundandvisionmag.com/features/...hd-is-made.html