Apple: Blu-ray Won the Format War

Jim Goldman of CNBC recently sat down with Steve Jobs to discuss the new and upcoming products Apple announced during the MacWorld Expo held earlier this week. Jobs was asked about the format war and if he thought Apple had usurped both Blu-ray and HD DVD with their addition of HD movie rentals to iTunes. His response was, "Clearly, Blu-ray won, but in the new world order of instant online movie rentals, in HD, no one will care about what format is where." We, of course, disagree with the "Mac Daddy" about the second part.

What he failed to mention about Apple's iTunes HD movies is that they're only encoded in 720p, half the resolution of Blu-ray, which encodes all film content at 1080p (Full HD). The result is a picture which is only half as sharp, half as colorful, and half as beautiful as Blu-ray. Furthermore, only some of the iTunes HD movies have surround sound, and those that do only make use of the archaic Dolby Digital technology. Anyone who has listened to a PCM, Dolby TrueHD, or DTS-HD Master Audio track knows that there is simply nothing that can compare to a lossless/uncompressed audio track.

I hope someone sends him a copy of 'Ratatouille' on Blu-ray soon to show him what True HD really looks like and that not all HD is created equally.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=873


Blu-ray Extends Sales Lead After Warner Announcement

Home Media Magazine is reporting that the Nielson VideoScan data shows Blu-ray captured 85% of the high definition media market the week following the Warner Brothers exclusivity announcement. At the top of the list was Lionsgate's '3:10 to Yuma', which sold four times as many units as the second place title, Sony's 'Resident Evil: Extinction'.

The Top 10 was dominated by Blu-ray titles this week, with not a single HD DVD title selling enough units to be considered a contender. The best selling HD DVD title sold only 1/10 as many copies as '3:10 to Yuma', showing not only the popularity of that title, but also of the format in general.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=872

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Added on January 18, 2008, 10:38 amI meant if he wanna get the used one.

This post has been edited by aiman04: Jan 18 2008, 10:38 AM

No HD download for me (though only 720p?), the internet service in Malaysia sucks anyway.

I likes physical media, I wanna own physical stuff.

Err, except for MKV files from Paramount/DreamWorks and Universal titles.

This post has been edited by aiman04: Jan 18 2008, 10:50 AM

really want to tumpang some BDs, String, but afraid got so many people asking, then how want to carry back...

I'll decide by 16th... You're so kind to do this Stringfellow...

And yes, Spidey Trilogy only around $43 at Amazon..

When you're helping someone, you qualify as a kind person already, see, now you're so humble lak...

Yup, US$43 for Spidey trilogy, crazy Amazon huh...

Haha... Lucky I was fast, made my last purchase 2 days ago...

The Spidey Trilogy is now back to $60.95...

I have a feeling we'll see a BOGO next week. I kind of seeing a trend in Amazon's B-lu-ray offering.

Like Indy always say, "Trust me"...

This post has been edited by aiman04: Jan 18 2008, 09:48 PM

RX, I've been reading that in US a lot of people returning their Tosh's... Why you want it ar? Actually real question is, why now?

Plus, is it appropriate to discuss that here guys?

Welcome wckhor, lets spread te BLU wonder!!!

Well, Paramount only the distributor, they don't own the movies. Lucasfilm is the owner, just like Star Wars where Fox was paid by them to be distributor (slight different in the Indy deal though, Paramount actually still paying half the budget, and they got some percentage from the box-office).

Plus, it is in the Paramount's press release, that their contract with HD DVD doesn't include movies by Steven Spielberg. That's a fact. So Spielberg moves can be released on any format he wants. Though he's considered neurtral, he's actually leaning more to the BLU.

You sound like Yoda la bro. But both Luke and Anakin never really listens to him, did they?

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Added on January 20, 2008, 9:02 amSave up to 53% on Top Drama Hits

Dramatic titles, dramatic savings! Save up to 53% only for 23 titles at Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=..._rd_i=193640011



This post has been edited by aiman04: Jan 20 2008, 09:02 AM

I reserve Jesse James can ar? Just tell me when you want to let go.

Now the last title, that maybe I want to rent from you, can?

CDs, DVDs, Music Cassettes, Vinyl (including Blu-ray Discs)

Standard International Shipping (10-15 business days)
Per shipment $4.99
Per Item $3.99

Expedited International Shipping (5-9 business days)
Per shipment $13.99
Per Item $3.99

Priority International Courier (DHL) (2-4 business days)
Per shipment $29.99
Per item $3.99

Delivery days are just estimates.

I have never ever kena than kastam if I use DHL. Most time if I check the tracking detail, they only takes 3 minutes to clear.

Too many is one thing, but the real thing is luck & nasib. The kastam I think just tahan randomly those big packages, because sometimes more 20 BDs no tahan wan...

It's worth it because of very quick and reliability. Mine always arrive within 3-4 days if use DHL, if got problem, like weather, maybe 5 days. Never ever sangkut or missing, never kastam tax (my own experience, though some kena, like miniacs above).

The cheapest shipping option sometimes I use, to save some money lar...

Rate, see above.

It is quite reliable, my experience usually about 10 days including weekends. But sometimes, due to holiday season like last xmas, I got mine after 4 weeks.

But if it's somehow lost, write to them via their customer service page a few days after the estimated delivery date. They give you option to replace or refund your order.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/help/contact-us/g...UTF8&type=email

Here's what they replied to me:


This post has been edited by aiman04: Jan 22 2008, 07:45 AM

The biggest shipment I ever ordered was 12, that arrived in 3 days without any problem.

No tax right?

It's about luck and nasib.

But from my observation, the smaller the package, the bigger chance of not being taxed.

Maybe shipping to a university address will also help I think, though never tried.

Me reserve Jesse James, pleeeeaaase...

Itu lan lola lan, itu film noir punye style.

The girl must do something, and has 3 option to do it, so the movie shows all possible ways. So you see 3 different scenes trying to do the same thing. I think she need to pay ransom money for her boyfriend, don't remember...

This post has been edited by aiman04: Jan 22 2008, 10:01 AM

Donno lar, haven't watch... I just heard about the movie, in fact considered to buy on DVD before...

But, don't think we'll get to see those on a girl who's running almost the whole movie!

Retailers Emphasizing Blu-ray

In the wake of the Warner announcements, major retailers are shifting focus to the Blu-ray format in hopes of accelerating the end of the format war. Trans World Entertainment, Newbury Comics, Video Buyers Group members and Hastings Entertainment are all beginning to emphasize Blu-ray as the next generation high definition format in hopes to spur growth in the relatively small market.

Mark Higgins, Trans World VP of DVD, videogames and consumer electronics merchandising commented, "As retailers, we need to simplify things for the consumers as much as we can with merchandising one format. We don't want to be biased, but that is clearly the direction that high-def production looks to be going."

Many retailers, especially online retailers with no shelf space limitations, will continue to offer both formats, but have been and will continue to order more copies of Blu-ray titles versus HD DVD titles due to demand. "Although it looks like the writing may be on the wall, DVDEmpire will continue to push both formats equally until our customers show there is no longer any demand for one format or the other," remarked DVDEmpire editorial director Shannon Nutt.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=879

Blu-ray Holds 90% of HD Recorder Market in Japan

A major study of 2,300 electronic stores in Japan shows that consumers are increasingly buying high definition recorders, with 90% of those sales being Blu-ray. Holding a controlling 60% of the market was Sony with their Blu-ray recorders. In second place is Panasonic with 27% of all sales, followed by Sharp with 10%.

Toshiba's HD DVD recorders only managed to hold 4% of the market.

Overall, the demand for high definition recorders has increased from 6.1% in September and October to nearly 20% for November and December. This upward trend combined with Blu-ray domination are encouraging numbers for consumer electronics manufacturers looking to make profits on optical hardware once again.

http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=878

Yes, you are correct.

If you like film noir, you would like this movie.

Some people just like to watch normal/linear storytelling/editing/cinematography, so they may just hate it.

Or GGW...

POP, are you getting 3:10 to Yuma too?

It gets almost perfect score.

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/movies.php?id=617&show=review

I kind of like westerns (but then again, I kind of like all kind of movies).

When you see this movie, tell me how is it that good ar? I might get this one, got my eye on it for quite sometime already.

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Added on January 22, 2008, 12:49 pmPOP, didn't see your post there. Err, can tumpang that one ar?

This post has been edited by aiman04: Jan 22 2008, 12:49 PM

GGW boring? You've seen it ar?

Well, seriously dude, can I tumpang 3:10 to Yuma ar?

I don't have any other titles to buy right now, so only buy one per shipment rugi lor...

This post has been edited by aiman04: Jan 22 2008, 12:54 PM

Great, PM me for the total price I have to pay you. Thanks man.

Never used the Expedited option yet, maybe I try someday.

Go to Amazon.com > Your Account > Track Pakages, if there's a yellow "Track your package" button, then just click that. Or, it will say "Shipped via ***" next to that button, go to that site and track there.

Sure2... If I don't reply tonight, just go on and place the order.

I maybe offline tonight, suddenly got some plan because of the newly gazetted public holiday tomorrow.

Thanks BN (not gvernment, because this is obviously an election fishing trip).