All 'Potter' DVDs to be shelved by 2007

Thu Jan 11 17:02:44 UTC 2007

Of course, HD DVDs won't look HD on a regular set, but if they go  with the 
HD system rather than Blue Ray, I think they'll still play on a regular  DVD 
player.  Of course, I could be wrong. . .but think about it  logically.  Very 
few people own HD DVD players right now.  If they  release ONLY HD DVDs, and few 
people own the players, their sales will be  incredibly low.  WB is not in 
the business of NOT making money, so they  will release them in the way that 
will make them the most money.  I suspect  the new HD DVD system will replicate 
the existing one enough to play existing  DVDs. 

Okay, I just did a quick online search.  Wikipedia (and other  sites) has a 
lot of info on these HD players.  This is an excerpt from  Wiki:

>> Compatibility  
_Backward  compatibility_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backward_compatibility)  will be available with all HD DVD players, allowing users to  have a 
single player in their homes to play both HD DVD and DVD discs. There is  also a 
hybrid HD DVD format which contains both DVD and HD DVD versions of the  same 
movie on a single disc, providing smoother transition for the studios in  terms 
of publishing movies, and letting consumers with only DVD drives still use  
the discs. DVD disc replication companies can continue using their current  
production equipment with only minor alterations when changing over to the  format 
of HD DVD replication. Due to the structure of the single-lens optical  head, 
both red and blue laser diodes can be used in smaller, more compact HD DVD  
players. 
Note that rewritable HD DVD media doesn't exist yet, and it's uncertain  
whether currently available HD DVD players and recorders will be compatible with  
rewritable media.<< 
Wiki says some players will play both HD DVD and  Blu-ray: 
>> 
[_edit_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=HD_DVD&action=edit&section=12) ]  HD DVD players

 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Vidabox_max.jpg)  

 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Vidabox_max.jpg) 
_VidaBox_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VidaBox)  MAX Dual Blu-Ray+HD DVD  
System

On _April  18_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_18) , _2006_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006) , Toshiba  released the first HD DVD players for the 
United States, the _Toshiba  HD-A1_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshiba_HD-A1) 
 and _Toshiba HD-XA1_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshiba_HD-XA1) . They  
utilize an _Intel_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel)  _Pentium 4_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentium_4)   processor and contain 1 GB of _RAM_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAM) ; the drive mechanism is also an  _IDE_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AT_Attachment)  HD DVD drive. The  units run a specialized 
version of the _Linux_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux)  operating system 
booting off  a _USB_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USB)  _thumbdrive_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thumbdrive) .  The HD-A1 was also _rebadged_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebadged)  by _RCA_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RCA)  and 
sold as the HDV-5000. 
During the fourth quarter of 2006, Toshiba began releasing its second  
generation HD DVD players for the US. The _Toshiba  HD-A2_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Toshiba_HD-A2&action=edit)  was released in early December 
for $499.99; the _Toshiba  HD-XA2_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Toshiba_HD-XA2&action=edit)  is expected to be released in late December for 
$999.99. The high-end  model, the HD-XA2, will feature HDMI 1.3 and 1080p 
output._[12]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD#_note-10)  
On _October 18_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/October_18) , _2006_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006) , _VidaBox_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VidaBox)  
announced the first Dual  HD player / media center capable of playing back 
both Blu-ray Disc (BD) & HD  DVD formats. The _VidaBox MAX_ 
(http://www.vidabox.com/Products/MAX.htm)  and _VidaBox LUX_ 
(http://www.vidabox.com/Products/LUX.htm)  can have both  drives upgraded to play both high-definition formats up to 
their native 1080p  resolutions at 24-bit color. _[13]_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD#_note-11)  
On _January  5_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_5) , _2007_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007) , LG  unveiled a player capable of playing both _BD_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc)  and HD DVD media (as  well as the 
existing formats). 
On _January  8_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/January_8) , _2007_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007) , at _CES_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CES) , it 
was announced that  HD-DVD has sold more than _Blu-ray Disc_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc)  [_citation needed_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citing_sources) ]. It was  announced previously (prior to the 
Playstation 3 launch) that HD DVD had  captured two thirds of the early market however 
Blu-ray was almost 50% more  profitable.<< 
This answers the HD DVD vs. Blu-Ray question for WB DVDs: 
>>HD DVD is promoted by _Toshiba_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toshiba) , 
_NEC_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippon_Electric_Corporation) , _Sanyo_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanyo) , _Microsoft_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft) , and  _Intel_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel) , among  others. 
In terms of major studios, HD DVD is currently exclusively backed by 
_Universal Studios_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Studios) , and  is 
non-exclusively backed by _Paramount Pictures_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramount_Pictures) ,  _Warner  Bros._ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Bros.)  
(including subsidiaries _HBO_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HBO) _[17]_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD#_note-15)  and _New  Line Cinema_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Line_Cinema) )_[18]_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD#_note-16) , _Warner Music Group_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warner_Music_Group) ,  _The Weinstein  Company_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Weinstein_Company)  (through _Genius  Products_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Genius_Products&action=edit) )_[19]_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD#_note-17) , _Image Entertainment_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_Entertainment)   (including Discovery Channel)_[20]_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD#_note-18)  , _Magnolia Pictures_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnolia_Pictures) _[21]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD#_note-19) , _Brentwood  Home 
Video_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brentwood_Home_Video&action=edit) , _Ryko_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ryko) ,  Koch/_Goldhil  
Entertainment_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Goldhil_Entertainment&action=edit) _[22]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD#_note-20) , and _Studio  
Canal_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Studio_Canal) . It is rumored that _Hewlett 
Packard_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hewlett_Packard)  may  support HD DVD, 
but as of now, they are part of the _Blu-ray Disc  Association_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray_Disc_Association)  Board of Directors, making it 
impossible for HP to support HD  DVD in the foreseeable future.

Some companies, such as _NEC_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nippon_Electric_Corporation)  or  VidaBox, have developed dual-format or hybrid technologies. 
NEC is developing a  single chip that works with either HD standard_[23]_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD#_note-21)  ,  while _VidaBox_ 
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VidaBox)   has released a Windows Media Center PC with a HD DVD 
and Blu-Ray drive_[24]_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD#_note-22) .<< 
With Microsoft behind HD DVD as well as so many big studios, it seems  to 
have the edge, although this Wiki article says the Sony system has more bit  
density (more information per disk).  The entire article is here:  
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD_ (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD_DVD)  
I'm no techie.  I still haven't found the answer to the question  about 
whether HD DVDs will play on old players, but the HD DVDs having the old  format on 
the reverse side should take care of that problem. 
Just found another interesting article here:  
_http://www.dvdauthority.com/hddvd/_ (http://www.dvdauthority.com/hddvd/)    Here's an excerpt: 
>>HD-DVD offers everything that made DVD great and bumps up the  video 
quality for those that want the absolute best in what they’re watching. I  would 
personally hold off on buying a player until we see who wins the format  war. It 
can’t be profitable for a studio like Paramount or Warner to produce  both a 
Blu-Ray disc and an HD-DVD disc of the same movie. Consumers will  ultimately 
decide which format will win and which will lose. If you’re happy  with your 
current DVD setup, then I’d advise you to hold off until a winner is  declared. 
Standard DVD shows no signs of slowing down and the studios will keep  
producing these discs. For the exception of the picture, HD-DVD offers  everything 
that a regular DVD offers and if you’ve got a lot invested in your  home 
theater, odds are that HD-DVD will look better but not so much that you  stand up and 
say “How did I watch DVD before?” I know I didn’t.  << 
So hang on to your DVD players - I imagine they'll offer things in  both 
formats until the HD wars shake out and one format wins that particular  battle. 
Non-techie me,
Lynda AKA "Abraxan"

My blog: _www.abraxan.blogspot.com_ (http://www.abraxan.blogspot.com/)   
Read my Harry Potter fics here: 
_http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPRefinersFire/_ (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPRefinersFire/)   

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