have nt you heard? Blu-ray has region coding and another layer of copy protection. if you hack your player, BD+ Blu-ray disk wont play on it.

and Blockbuster is being eaten alive by Netflix. And have you heard the 'rotten' NEW Blu-ray movie disks that people at AVS forum is complaining about. Apparently, several people have spotted unremovable spots inside several of their new blu-ray movie.

---

Added on June 22, 2007, 5:06 amwait - Sony's new BD player is MSRP at $499 only - $100 cheaper than the PS3

This post has been edited by g5sim: Jun 22 2007, 05:06 AM

the 20GB model has been discontinued several months back. It was a no show even since launch. The model as disconnected because analyst said that the model caused <>$300 loss per each console and compared to 60G model that cause >$200 loss per console due to its higher price

huh PS3 only RM1.8K .. this is the 20GB or 60g?

come to think of it - never mind what - he wants to use it as BD player

people would take RM1.8K PS3 anytime over the silly price of $4,999 player i didnt knot it is that less expensive here

yeah right = wait for our grand children to own Sony Picture, Warners, Paramount, Universal, FOX, Disney, Speedy, Canal, Lionsgate, MGM .. etc

stock swimming from singapore izit?

got two brothers in singapore. should get them to smuggle some too

lol - silency probably knows some gang who is preying on Malaysian PS3 purchasers in singapore

omg - i cannot read that rustynail is writing

i dun think there is any BD player with HDD recorder around. Toshiba however is selling their HD DVD player with HDD recorder since last year and a new model is coming soon. but the price is for Japanese market only. Tivo killed DVD recorder market in USA

what do you mean by recorder? with Harddisk? no wonder its sooo expensive. Toshiba's HD DVD player/recorder is only for the Japanese market. Its not solde elsewhere as for the HD DVD player. its not here yet. No official contents (HD DVD movie officiall available - no point selling it and wasting marketing cost doing so )

For those of you who really believe the hype by Blu-ray of its EXCLUSIVE studio support which BD= Sony Pictures, MGM, FOX, Disney vs HD DVD = Universal, Weinstein, think again. Yupe BD has 80% studio support. Check their US releases! do they have 80% more than HD DVD ? They have 20 more titles and FOX and MGM have not be releasing movies since March. This is when they announced hundreds of titles during CES in January .. just to pull almost all of the titles last minute talking about BD's hype vs HD DVD's commitment

HD DVD 237 vs Blu-ray 257.

Blu-ray

Black Snake Moan (Paramount)
Hustle & Flow (Paramount)


HD DVD

American Me (Universal)
Army of Darkness (Re-issue) (Universal)
Being John Malkovich (Universal)
The Big Lebowski (Universal)
Black Snake Moan (Paramount)
Bulletproof (Universal)
Dead Silence (Universal)
Freedom: 1 (Bandai Visual)
Hustle & Flow (Paramount)
Mallrats (Universal)
Meet Joe Black (Universal)
Mystery Men (Universal)
Unleashed (Re-issue) (Universal)
The Watcher (Universal)

it is used to hype that the other format is dying - though is 50% cheaper, you are going to end up with an obsolete format like we did with Betamax

they have even listed chick flicks as their future releases as part of their plans to get HD to masses, not only AV enthusiast

---

Added on June 27, 2007, 10:36 amhmm soo early - i thought that one is in time for the christmas shopping spree by Wallmart and just clear that .. the reported cost for the players (China mari Fu Yuan using Microsoft + Broadcom's reference SOC design) would cost only $50 and Wallmart is reported planning to sell it at twice or triple ($99 or $149) the cost with initial order of 2mil units.

This post has been edited by g5sim: Jun 27 2007, 10:36 AM

no one is talking about Blu-ray being obsolete. The only fear that is thrown around in the format war is BD association telling consumers that that HD DVD is going to be an obsolute format. Look around, Sony get 'exclusive' BD backers to announce that they 'will never' release titles in HD DVD. the latest is Blockbuster video rental chain in the USA. Blockbuster cited consumer preference as as the reason to only offer HD DVD at 250 stores and online rental while BD will be awailable in <>1700 stores in the US. I mean come on! People are not stupid. It is FREAKING obvious that they are 'paid' to say such. Which retailer in their right mind make press release telling consumers what they wont have!! they publicise what you have not what dont have with the hope that when HD seekers come in looking for HD DVD, Blockbuster can promote BD instead. make sense ? Retailers DONT PAY MONEY TO TELL CONSUMERS WHAT THEY DO NOT SELL/RENT. Its retard and its against positive marketing !

PS3 wont be obsolete - dun worry - PSP is still around with UMD. Sony will continue to provide contents on BD even if BD as a movie format is dead. Dun worry

what do you mean? the advertisements, press releases ... ?

what i am pointing out is what Blockbuster did was rediculously stupid. Well unless they are getting other benefits from Sony ofcourse

its surely cheaper than your PS3. that is for sure. the current MSRP for the Toshie players are $399 $499 $699 Which i think comes August first would be officially $249, $349 and $549. And comes christmas - $199, $299 and $499 with Walmart's chinese players selling at $149

---

Added on June 28, 2007, 10:35 amAlso, Samsung and LG will put standalone HD DVD players to the market by Christmas together with Onkyo's already announced HIGH END HD DVD player

This post has been edited by g5sim: Jun 28 2007, 10:35 AM

hmm for good news, HD DVD player will be $100 cheaper in two day's time. As Sony starts its 5 Free BD movie offer, Toshiba will officially reduced the MSRP prices for their A20 and D2 player to $299 and $399 respectively. The high end player which video enthusiasts agreed to be the best Standard DVD upconvert player would how ever MSRP at $799.

Toshiba also announced that the father's day promotion of the players which saw the prices of the players sliced $100 off each models, saw Toshiba almost doubled the units in less than a month. Toshiba started selling HD DVD players in April 2006. In May 2007, they announced that the have sold 100,000 standalone HD DVD players. however during the fathers promotion, toshiba SOLD 70,000 units in less than a month. and some said that player price is not important and that content drive the sales of player. remember this. Printer makers sell printers cheap so that they can continue to sell them cartriges and toners. Gillete sell razors cheap so that people would buy the blades.

http://www.twice.com/article/CA6456373.html

"Toshiba Primes Q4 HD DVD, LCD Market

By Greg Tarr -- TWICE, 6/28/2007 3:01:00 PM
New York - Toshiba is making available a firmware update for its HD DVD players, adding network connectivity to download Web-enabled bonus content among other things, the company said at a press reception held here last week.

In LCD TV, the company said is now shipping large-screen Regza models just as its LCD TV market share has spiked in key screen sizes.

In other HD DVD news, the company said that promotional pricing levels on its HD DVD players in May and June will become standard suggested retails July 1. The HD-A2 is now $299, while the HD-A20 is $399. The top-of-the-line HD-XA2 continues at $799.

"With HD DVD, studios have the ability to develop new and unique content for movie fans, enabling consumers to have an entirely new way to access entertainment and customize their home movie experience that is currently not available with any other format," said Jodi Sally, Toshiba's digital A/V group marketing VP.

Using supplied Ethernet ports on all Toshiba HD DVD players, users will able to download bonus features to internal storage from a movie studio's server. The functionality will also enable "unlocking" bonus content hidden on some HD DVD discs using a downloadable key.

Users will also be able to upload content and interact with content providers through such means as interactive polls, Toshiba said.

Toshiba also said that it will add 24p frame-rate output to its HD-AX2 and HD-A20 through an update planned in September.

At the same time, Toshiba's TV marketing VP Scott Ramirez said the company is ready to ship new premium 46-inch, 47-inch and 52-inch Regza LCD TVs and will add its 57-inch Cinema Series LCD TV model in July.

Ramirez said that Toshiba's flat-panel market share has jumped significantly, according to The NPD Group's retail tracking service TV data. Market research on TV sales, including combos, showed Toshiba nearly doubled its share in the 32- to 42-inch LCD category in April and May 2007.

"Consumers are responding to the quality and design of Regza, but more importantly, they are proving that Toshiba is a market leader in flat panel TV," Ramirez said.

According to NPD, Toshiba's share in the 32- to 42-inch screen size grew 90 percent, to 10.8 percent market share, making Toshiba No. 3 in the LCD screen size range, including combos.

Toshiba's 40- to 42-inch LCD market share grew to 12.7 percent in the period, while its 37-inch share grew 13.2 percent.

The new LCD models coming to market add Toshiba's advanced ClearFrame 120 Hz Anti-Blur System for smooth fast action image reproduction,

New models include the Regza 47-inch 47HL167 ($2,499) and 52-inch 52HL167 ($3,499), and Regza Cinema Series 42LX177 ($2,299), 46LX177 ($2,999) and 52LX177 ($3,999). The 57-inch model will ship in July at a price to be determined. "

See how Toshiba's HD DVD titles and player allow download of additional subtitles to the player memory and stream with the HD DVD movie. Oh wait BD's 2x more expensive players do not even have ethernet port

Toshiba and Microsoft Remind Us What HD DVD Can Do (and What Blu-Ray Can't)



Dismissing that whole Blockbuster Blu-ray decision as nothing more than a PR victory, and in no way an exclusive deal by the video-rental company, execs from Toshiba and Microsoft came to NYC to show off the latest in HD DVD amenities. The latest firmware, the one that finally allows for Web-enabled network capabilities, is here, and to mark the occasion, Toshiba has officially lowered the prices of two of its players: the HD-A2 with 1080i output will drop to $299, and the HD-A20 with 1080p output will be $399. (There had previously been an instant rebate keeping the prices low.)

Kevin Collins of Microsoft is the chief evangelist of HD DVD, and he talks about three things that, in combination, he says, make HD DVD better than Blu-ray.

. Internet connection for online updates, and now, finally, Web-enabled content
. Dual decoding for real picture-in-picture playback
. "Persistent storage" memory on the deck for customization and downloading

The sad thing for you is that Collins demonstrated these traits using the HD DVD of 300, coming out in July. However, I wasn't allowed to take photos of that, because Warner would be angry, but just take my word for it, it looked very cool. In one scene, when the Spartans are pushing the Persians off the cliff, you can pull up a green-screen "behind the scenes" version and compare it in realtime. The bronze helmets look plastic; the boiling sea below is nothing but green cushions! Collins says that the Warner Blu-ray version of 300 would have the behind-the-scenes footage, but no physical way to watch both the scene and the footage simultaneously.

The disc will also have a Risk-style XML game that lets you lead soldiers against enemy armies. It looked pretty involved, so it might actually be entertaining.

To demo Web content, Collins pulled up the anime flick Freedom, from Bandai. He pulled down French subtitles where none existed before. He downloaded trailers (compressed for the Web.) Check out the gallery for all that, plus some translucent PIP effects-hell, just because that movie just looks so amazingly good.
The third HD DVD title Collins showed off was Blood Diamond. In the menu, you could pull up pages, via the Web, discussing various parts of Africa and providing up-to-date information on diamond-trafficking, civil wars and other issues that the movie touches on.

Toshiba's Jody Sally said the company had set September 4 as the day it will ship firmware allowing for 24P compatibility; that is, playback of movies at 24-frames-per-second where available, and pending 24P compatibility in your TV.

Speaking of TVs, Toshiba had its latest Regza LCD models on hand, most originally introduced at CES. There were two never before seen 52 inchers (from $3,500 to $4,000 depending on feature set) and a 57 incher (price not yet determined, shipping next month). The company was proud to announce that it is now Number 3 in market share in the 32-inch to 42-inch LCD category. You are forgiven if you didn't know there was such a category, but nevertheless, it marks a 90% sales spike for Toshiba, and its execs are beaming.

Toshi press release


HD DVD DELIVERS ADVANCED CONTENT AND INTERACTIVITY BY OFFERING EXCLUSIVE WEB-ENABLED CAPABILITIES

Momentum for HD DVD continues to grow as player sales reach new heights and Toshiba captures 70 percent share of high definition set-top player market

WAYNE, NJ - JUNE 28, 2007 - Today at its summer press event, Toshiba America Consumer Products, L.L.C. ("Toshiba") announced that HD DVD is bringing a whole new world of high definition entertainment to the hands of consumers. Delivering on the promise to provide advanced content and interactivity, new HD DVD titles with web-enabled network capabilities now allow consumers to easily access additional content and bonus features, as available, to enjoy their favorite HD DVD movies like never before. Current users of Toshiba HD DVD players can enjoy the web-enabled network capabilities by updating to the latest HD DVD player firmware, now available from Toshiba.

Since the launch of HD DVD, all of Toshiba's players have offered advanced interactive functionality including picture-in-picture video and audio commentary, which have already been available on many HD DVD movies. Now Toshiba takes interactivity to the next level. The company's latest firmware update supports improved network connectivity for downloading web-enabled network content and is another example of the company's commitment toward achieving the ultimate home entertainment experience. No other high definition home entertainment format currently matches the features offered by Toshiba and the HD DVD format. "Through web-enabled network connectivity, HD DVD is unlocking the door to an entirely new world of entertainment and once again achieving another milestone in next generation DVD," said Jodi Sally, Vice President of Marketing, Toshiba's Digital A/V Group. "With HD DVD, studios have the ability to develop new and unique content for movie fans, enabling consumers to have an entirely new way to access entertainment and customize their home movie experience that is currently not available with any other format."

Toshiba HD DVD Players' Web-Enabled Network Capabilities
Using the Ethernet ports found on all Toshiba HD DVD players, and the currently available firmware update, once connected to the network, users can download bonus features, as available, from a movie studio's server. This data is then saved in the player's persistent storage and can be accessed by the user. In addition to downloading new bonus features, some HD DVD discs may even include locked prerecorded content which can be unlocked with a downloadable key from the studio's online server.

In addition to downloading content, HD DVD users also have the ability to upload content and interact with content providers. For example, with the award winning title, "Blood Diamond" from Warner Home Video, users can participate in interactive polls. After providing feedback, results are delivered back to users via the HD DVD player.

Web-enabled network content became available on June 26 with the launch of Bandai Visual's anime title "Freedom" volume 1. This title is the first HD DVD anime title available in the United States, the first web-enabled network content disc and the first "twin format" disc (featuring both HD DVD and DVD on one side of the disc).

"While others may talk about interactivity, HD DVD has proven time and time again that it offers true interactive features and capabilities for consumers which can make the enjoyment of movies a new experience every time they're viewed," commented Sally.

Toshiba Announces 24p Output
Coming in early September, Toshiba will add an enhanced performance function to its HD-XA2 and HD-A20 HD DVD players by offering the capability for users to update the firmware of their players allowing playback of film content in 1080p/24 frames per second, or 24p. Movie films are traditionally captured at 24 frames per second and Toshiba's HD DVD players will be able to maintain this frame rate allowing consumers to enjoy movies in their native form.

Mandatory to the HD DVD format, every Toshiba player is equipped with an Ethernet port. In addition to the capability to access web enabled content, this also allows HD DVD owners to conveniently update the firmware of their players with new features and performance improvements.

Movie Aficionados Adopt HD DVD as the Next High Definition Format of Choice - The Numbers Speak for Themselves
Responding to recent promotions as well as the industry growth of HDTV, the market adoption of HD DVD increased significantly in the past 2 months garnering Toshiba with approximately 70 percent share of all high definition set-top players, both HD DVD and Blu-ray, in both April and May according to NPD. "These numbers prove once again that HD DVD is the high definition format of choice," commented Sally.

Effective July 1st the pricing levels available during the May and June promotions will become standard MSRPs, making the HD-A2 available for an every day price of $299.99 and the HD-A20 for $399.99. The top of the line HD-XA2 continues at $799.99 (MSRP).

Important Notes:
HD DVD with high-definition content required for HD viewing. DVD with standard definition content will upconvert to near HD quality. Viewing high-definition content and up-converting DVD content may require an HDCP capable DVI or HDMI input on your display device. Firmware update may be required for some interactive features depending on content, which may also require an always-on broadband internet connection. Some features may require additional bandwidth. To take advantage of the web-enabled network content, downloading and installing the latest firmware update (ver.2.2 for HD DVD player models HD-XA1, HD-A1, and HD-D1; and ver.2.0 for HD DVD player models HD-XA2, HD-A2, HD-A2W, HD-D2, HD-A2C, and HD-A20) is required. Web-enabled features will require an always on broadband connection along with specific movie titles that include this form of content. MP3/WMA audio files not supported. Some current DVDs and CDs may not be compatible. Some Combo Discs and Twin Format Discs may not be compatible. HDMI audio support for PCM only. For 24p output, content that was created in 1080p/24 frames/sec is required. Viewing 24p output requires an HD display capable of accepting a 1080p/24Hz signal. Because HD DVD is a new format that makes use of new technologies, certain disc, digital connection and other compatibility and/or performance issues are possible. This may, in rare cases, include disc freezing while accessing certain disc features or functions, or certain parts of the disc not playing back or operating as fully intended. If you experience such issues, please refer to the FAQ sections of www.toshibahddvd.com or www.tacp.toshiba.com for information on possible work-around solutions or the availability of firmware updates that may resolve your problem, or contact Toshiba Customer Solutions. Some features subject to delayed availability. While Toshiba has made every effort at the time of publication to ensure the accuracy of the information provided herein, product specifications, configurations, system/component/options availability are all subject to change without notice. For additional information on Toshiba HD DVD players, please visit http://www.tacp.toshiba.com/hddvd/

---

Added on June 29, 2007, 2:59 pm*****************************************

and oh Warner's Blood Diamond also allow users to access a HD DVD poll - which catalogue title that viewers would want to be released ind hidef disk

the leaders:

2001
Ben Hur
Wizard of Oz

FYI, I voted for
Animatrix
Singin in the Rain
North by Northwest
L.A. Confidential (Drama category)

This post has been edited by g5sim: Jun 29 2007, 02:59 PM

even more tempting - the MSRP for HD DVD now officially starts at $299 ($299 x 3.6 = RM1076). This is the HIGHEST price that retailers can offer. They CANNOT sell the player above that price. They however can reduce the price like many do. and oh the purchase also come with 5 FREE movie disks (offer ends July 31st, 2007).

BH Photo ships A2 to Malaysia for <>RM1500 (express shipping included)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/4635...DVD_Player.html

Sony has just recently announced their BD player at MRSP RM4,999. I was like WTF .. BH photo is selling Sony's S300 BD player at $499 (RM1846). + courier + tax still less than RM3000 and BH photo ships to Malaysia

BH photo ships the cheapest BD player, Sony's BP S300 to Malaysia for <>RM2300 (express shipping included). However, due to Sony's "phantom product launch". The player is not in stock. They are currently taking orders only

https://secure.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/control...A=cart&Q=update

---

Added on June 30, 2007, 2:57 amMinidisc anyone? and their own flash memory format .. what was that i forgot too much dead formats from them. difficult to remember lah !!

This post has been edited by g5sim: Jun 30 2007, 02:57 AM

he was referring to dead formats only lar. the remaining two is still alive - but by the rate that PS3 is going, Sony will be announcing PS4 without the BD drive very soon

the problem with BD is its new. It takes far more cost to build a BD disk manufacturing facility and you can only product BDs or replicate BDs with. And with BD Association announcing that that BD Studios sold less than 2mil BD movies in its first year, who in the right mind would want to make such investment? The only manifacturer of BD50 is Sony. HD DVD plants on the other is 2x cheaper than BD. One can convert the regular DVD line to product HD DVD. Anything happen to HD DVD, the line can be converted back to produccing DVD.

50GB capacities of BD was hyped to death and many with less critical mind bought it. BD50 is more expensive and bear no significant to consumer. Consumer do not have the equipment to enjoy the lossless PCM sound. They cant see the differences between 720p or 1080i or 1080p on their 32 and 37in LCD TVs. Come to think of it, the HD DVD version with only 30gb of space have much more content/feature than BD

and on the PS3 sales, that is no longer a secret. Kutaragi was fired. Hundreds of Sony Computer staffs in USA were also fired recently. Hell the BlockBuster CEO who made the decision to publicly announced that they will have BD is <>1700 rental stores and only 250 stores for HD DVD was also fired and they are announcing the closure of <>300 stores too .. everything is not good in BD land