Q.
Answer
The most reliable player for blu ray disc player is the Panasonic. Three 3 is not a very good rating. Go online to Home Theater Magazine and read the reviews on blu ray disc player. I own a first generation player model BD-10 which is over 4 years old and I have had no problem playing over 300 blu ray disc movies. When AVATAR first came out many player (Sony, Samsung & LG the top brands) had problem playing the movie until you had the firmware update, while my Panasonic had no problem. The model BD-65 and BD-85 are the newest model from Panasonic. Hope this will help you out.
The most reliable player for blu ray disc player is the Panasonic. Three 3 is not a very good rating. Go online to Home Theater Magazine and read the reviews on blu ray disc player. I own a first generation player model BD-10 which is over 4 years old and I have had no problem playing over 300 blu ray disc movies. When AVATAR first came out many player (Sony, Samsung & LG the top brands) had problem playing the movie until you had the firmware update, while my Panasonic had no problem. The model BD-65 and BD-85 are the newest model from Panasonic. Hope this will help you out.
HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray?
Q. I was wondering if there was a real difference between HD-DVD and Blu-Ray in quality and/or sound. What do you prefer? Have you chosen a side? Or are you waiting for a more dominant format? Paramount and Dreamworks the two top movie studios are supporting HD-DVD only while other studios are going strictly blu-ray. I need to know which one to buy but want to buy only one. Not both.
Answer
There are many differences between Blu-ray and HD DVD. I'll first specify the differences in hardware, before going into the format wars and sales.
Here are the basic hardware specs:
Blu-ray Disc, created by Sony, and Phllips, promoted by the Blu-ray Disc Association (comprising of over 250 members), is a next generation optical disc, using blue-violet, lasers, which have a better precism rate than standard DVD's therefore can read more holes in the metal foil, at a much higher rate of '"holes"" per square centimetre, than standard DVDs. This means Blu-ray Discs can hold 50GB of data double layer. Blu-ray Disc, uses Sun Microsystems BD Java application for interativity. Blu-ray Disc uses the following codecs for data commpresion which are MPEG 2 enhanced for HD, Microsofts VC1 and MPEG 4 AVC (h.264). Many of the older Blu-ray Discs use the MPEG 2 codec, with many of the newer discs using MPEG 4 AVC, except for Time Warner which use VC1. Blu-ray Disc uses LPCM, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital True HD, DTS, and DTS HD audio codecs along with Dolby Digital audio. The mandatory codecs (audio) for stand alone players are Dobly Digital, PCM, LPCM, DTS, and one of the lossless audio formats. If the other codecs for audio aren't present, the signal is downgraded. Blu-ray Disc, has profiles 1, which can only play the feature film, and stand alone special features, and normal BD J navigation, while profile 1.1 can enable PIP content and 2 has internet access. Except for computer drives and the PS3 drives cannot be upgraded via firmware upgrades. However Profile 1 players can play the main features fine on Profile 1.1 and 2 discs, but will offer limited special feature capablility. Blu-ray Discs can reach a huge 48Mbps bitrate during film playback.
HD DVD also uses the basic principle of blue lasers, HD DVD, is a format promoted by Tohsiba and Microsoft, backed by the DVD Forum, promoted by the HD DVD PROMOTIONAL GROUP. HD DVD was created, as a rival to Blu-ray as after blue laser diodes were created, a group of electronic giants left, to create the Blu-ray Disc Association. This put Tohsiba under pressure, so they started, the AOD (Advanced Optical Disc) project. AOD was backed by the DVD Forum, and was then called HD DVD. HD DVD holds 30 GB of data double layer, having a much smaller capacity compared to Blu-ray Disc. HD DVD uses Microsofts HDi interativity layer and accomodates MPEG 2, VC1 and MPEG 4 AVC (h.264) codecs, Most of the released HD DVD discs are compressed using the VC1 codec with a few MPEG 4 AVC discs, and very few/ or no MPEG 2 discs.
HD DVD uses DTS HD , Dolby Digital True HD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, and Dolby Digital audio, all of the codecs are MANDOTORY for all players. All HD DVDs can access all special features, and require no profile upgrades, all players have PIP enabled and internet connectivity. HD DVD is an upgrade from DVD so it benifits, with good compatibility and stability, as it's very close to DVD, unlike Blu-ray which is a totally new technology. HD DVDs can reach during a film a max bitrate of 30.8Mbps.
As you see except for capacity HD DVD is a far better format, which is finalised and offers full capability, as it has all mandotory audio codecs unlike Blu-ray therefore will have better audio capablities. Blu ray however has slightly better visual quality, which isn't noticiable. HD DVD also has a better interactivity layer, HDi is arguably better than BD J especially due to all players being able to access all special features. Blu-ray disc is an unfinalised product, with flaws, with computer drives and the PS3 being the only full feature players around. These facts show that HD DVD is by far better in terms of technology except for capacity. as HD DVD is finalised, like the Betamax, offers higher quality, but limited space, causing potential limitations. HD DVD is also slightly cheaper, although the cheapest HD DVD players do not offer full HD output, or offers limited connections. Although, visually theoritically Blu-ray Disc is slightly better, as it has higher bitrates, reaching up to 48 Mbps, unlike HD DVD which can do around 30Mbps. A disc with an higher bitrate will effectively have a better quality image, but will most likely be un noticialble by the lay person, and only a really keen eye will be able to notice the difference. However with having higher bitrates, means more stress for hardware. Computers find high bitrate MPEG 4 AVC films a pain to decode, and maybe in the future some standalone players might slutter a bit, especially in the low end sector, that is yet to be introduced. However due to HD DVD's more finalised format, I for one believe it's like the Betamax a more consumer freindly format, which is complete, while Blu-ray Disc is a product in development. Overall due to not all Blu-ray Discs having full support for Profile 1.1 and 2 and not being able to decode some lossless audio tracks such as Dolby Digital True HD and DTS HD without lossing quality, I'll have to say technology wise, HD DVD is better, except for capacity, which was (hello?) what the Betamax lacked in. So, even with the low bitrates, currently HD DVD is a better format by far, while Blu-ray is a better format for the future due to higher bitrates, and better capacity, like the VHS. Many people can argue that Blu-ray Disc is a better format, but I for one believe that as Blu-ray Disc is an unfinalised format, you can't possibily class it as a better format, as Blu-ray is a format that will grow into something good, in the future, but for now, all we worry about is the current quality, and in terms of interactivity and audio HD DVD surely wins this round, like the Betamax did. Also I forgot to mention BD+ gave a lot of early standalone player investers a lot of grief, they wouldn't play, giving a "friendly"" message to contact the manufacturer. It didn't effect PC drives although or PS3s.
But technology isn't the key, technology wise superior Betamax didn't win the format war against VHS. Now it's time to get to the sales side, which is the most important for you and me.
Blu-ray Disc is leading the sales and in terms of support has over 70% of the hi-def media share.
Blu-ray Disc is exclusively supported by:
Warner Brothers Studios, New Line Studios, HBO Video,
Sony Pictures Entertainment (Columbia, Columbia Tristar, Screen Gems)
Buena Vista (Walt Disney, Miramax Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, and Pixar Annimation)
20th Century Fox and Fox Search Light
MGM
Lionsgate
Blu-ray is backed neutral by BBC video for now, but is backed exclusively by the National Geograhic, and many other minor studios, especially foreign studios.
HD DVD is backed by
Universal Studios
Viacom including Dreamworks, Paramount, Dreamworks Annimation, MTV and Nickolodiam Films.
It is also backed by the minor companies such as The Wiensten Company and Focus Features. It is backed non exclusively by BBC.
Sales wise, Blu-ray has since Warners announchment 80% of the software sales in the US, with around 75% for this year. Last year Blu-ray Discs sold out HD DVD by 2 to 1. Hardware sales wise since Warners announchment Blu-ray has 60% of the total sales, once peaking at 93%. Note this does not include the millions of PS3's which people buy due to the profile hassels, with Blu-ray, and due to it's low cost. If PS3's were included HD DVD would have a much lower hardware percentage margin. Sales wise and studio wise Blu-ray Disc is the winner, meaning that Blu-ray is most likely to WIN the format war. In Europe Blu-ray has around 80% of the market, with Japan having 90% and Australia having a huge 95% of the market. Blu-ray sales wise has the edge. Also Blu-ray is supported exclusively by rental giant Blockbuster, with Target going Blu only.
People remark, HD DVD will win due to it's low hardware prices, it should be noted that at the end of the format war Sony's Betamax was actually lower in price, than the VHS system, HD DVD is basically repeating the Betamax. VHS actually started it's winning streak when it had 70% of the market share, which (oh my god!!!!) Blu-ray has now due to Warner. Many people say that Blu-ray is being the Beta, due to being better than HD DVD in terms of technology, Actually it is not, it's bad in terms of audio, many players don't support all the codecs, and has an unfinalised BD J interactivity platform. Sure it has a higher data capacity but VHS also had a higher recording time. For once, Blu-ray is turning out to be the winning format. Blu-ray Disc has endless support, a strong BDA, and has plenty of licensing, unlike HD DVD which basically Tohsiba manufacturing all of them. The main thing that made the BETA lose, was that it had in sufficiant licensing, like HD DVD. But as we see, it's the consumer who losses, in format battles, HD DVD has a good chance being the Betamax, in all aspects. What you have to think about is the sales not the technology. Blu-ray Disc will be the better format, in a few years time, but currently Blu-ray Disc lacks in audio and interactivity to be branded technically better than HD DVD. HD DVD is the format for today, Blu-ray Disc is the format for tomorrow. That is why Blu-ray is winning, it's a format with heaps of potential, sure the early adopters miss out on a bit of interactivity, but Blu-ray Disc has room to grow, not only in movies, but also in data storage and software. Blu-ray Disc is tomorrows optical media in the making, while HD DVD was the format that was made for today. Actually Blu-ray Disc was a huge step from DVD, and was a totally new technology, that wasn't finalised, but won the hearts of many consumers and companies due to the potential. ""The Future is Blu"". Don't go for todays format go for tomorrows format.
It is clear t
There are many differences between Blu-ray and HD DVD. I'll first specify the differences in hardware, before going into the format wars and sales.
Here are the basic hardware specs:
Blu-ray Disc, created by Sony, and Phllips, promoted by the Blu-ray Disc Association (comprising of over 250 members), is a next generation optical disc, using blue-violet, lasers, which have a better precism rate than standard DVD's therefore can read more holes in the metal foil, at a much higher rate of '"holes"" per square centimetre, than standard DVDs. This means Blu-ray Discs can hold 50GB of data double layer. Blu-ray Disc, uses Sun Microsystems BD Java application for interativity. Blu-ray Disc uses the following codecs for data commpresion which are MPEG 2 enhanced for HD, Microsofts VC1 and MPEG 4 AVC (h.264). Many of the older Blu-ray Discs use the MPEG 2 codec, with many of the newer discs using MPEG 4 AVC, except for Time Warner which use VC1. Blu-ray Disc uses LPCM, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital True HD, DTS, and DTS HD audio codecs along with Dolby Digital audio. The mandatory codecs (audio) for stand alone players are Dobly Digital, PCM, LPCM, DTS, and one of the lossless audio formats. If the other codecs for audio aren't present, the signal is downgraded. Blu-ray Disc, has profiles 1, which can only play the feature film, and stand alone special features, and normal BD J navigation, while profile 1.1 can enable PIP content and 2 has internet access. Except for computer drives and the PS3 drives cannot be upgraded via firmware upgrades. However Profile 1 players can play the main features fine on Profile 1.1 and 2 discs, but will offer limited special feature capablility. Blu-ray Discs can reach a huge 48Mbps bitrate during film playback.
HD DVD also uses the basic principle of blue lasers, HD DVD, is a format promoted by Tohsiba and Microsoft, backed by the DVD Forum, promoted by the HD DVD PROMOTIONAL GROUP. HD DVD was created, as a rival to Blu-ray as after blue laser diodes were created, a group of electronic giants left, to create the Blu-ray Disc Association. This put Tohsiba under pressure, so they started, the AOD (Advanced Optical Disc) project. AOD was backed by the DVD Forum, and was then called HD DVD. HD DVD holds 30 GB of data double layer, having a much smaller capacity compared to Blu-ray Disc. HD DVD uses Microsofts HDi interativity layer and accomodates MPEG 2, VC1 and MPEG 4 AVC (h.264) codecs, Most of the released HD DVD discs are compressed using the VC1 codec with a few MPEG 4 AVC discs, and very few/ or no MPEG 2 discs.
HD DVD uses DTS HD , Dolby Digital True HD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS, and Dolby Digital audio, all of the codecs are MANDOTORY for all players. All HD DVDs can access all special features, and require no profile upgrades, all players have PIP enabled and internet connectivity. HD DVD is an upgrade from DVD so it benifits, with good compatibility and stability, as it's very close to DVD, unlike Blu-ray which is a totally new technology. HD DVDs can reach during a film a max bitrate of 30.8Mbps.
As you see except for capacity HD DVD is a far better format, which is finalised and offers full capability, as it has all mandotory audio codecs unlike Blu-ray therefore will have better audio capablities. Blu ray however has slightly better visual quality, which isn't noticiable. HD DVD also has a better interactivity layer, HDi is arguably better than BD J especially due to all players being able to access all special features. Blu-ray disc is an unfinalised product, with flaws, with computer drives and the PS3 being the only full feature players around. These facts show that HD DVD is by far better in terms of technology except for capacity. as HD DVD is finalised, like the Betamax, offers higher quality, but limited space, causing potential limitations. HD DVD is also slightly cheaper, although the cheapest HD DVD players do not offer full HD output, or offers limited connections. Although, visually theoritically Blu-ray Disc is slightly better, as it has higher bitrates, reaching up to 48 Mbps, unlike HD DVD which can do around 30Mbps. A disc with an higher bitrate will effectively have a better quality image, but will most likely be un noticialble by the lay person, and only a really keen eye will be able to notice the difference. However with having higher bitrates, means more stress for hardware. Computers find high bitrate MPEG 4 AVC films a pain to decode, and maybe in the future some standalone players might slutter a bit, especially in the low end sector, that is yet to be introduced. However due to HD DVD's more finalised format, I for one believe it's like the Betamax a more consumer freindly format, which is complete, while Blu-ray Disc is a product in development. Overall due to not all Blu-ray Discs having full support for Profile 1.1 and 2 and not being able to decode some lossless audio tracks such as Dolby Digital True HD and DTS HD without lossing quality, I'll have to say technology wise, HD DVD is better, except for capacity, which was (hello?) what the Betamax lacked in. So, even with the low bitrates, currently HD DVD is a better format by far, while Blu-ray is a better format for the future due to higher bitrates, and better capacity, like the VHS. Many people can argue that Blu-ray Disc is a better format, but I for one believe that as Blu-ray Disc is an unfinalised format, you can't possibily class it as a better format, as Blu-ray is a format that will grow into something good, in the future, but for now, all we worry about is the current quality, and in terms of interactivity and audio HD DVD surely wins this round, like the Betamax did. Also I forgot to mention BD+ gave a lot of early standalone player investers a lot of grief, they wouldn't play, giving a "friendly"" message to contact the manufacturer. It didn't effect PC drives although or PS3s.
But technology isn't the key, technology wise superior Betamax didn't win the format war against VHS. Now it's time to get to the sales side, which is the most important for you and me.
Blu-ray Disc is leading the sales and in terms of support has over 70% of the hi-def media share.
Blu-ray Disc is exclusively supported by:
Warner Brothers Studios, New Line Studios, HBO Video,
Sony Pictures Entertainment (Columbia, Columbia Tristar, Screen Gems)
Buena Vista (Walt Disney, Miramax Pictures, Hollywood Pictures, Touchstone Pictures, and Pixar Annimation)
20th Century Fox and Fox Search Light
MGM
Lionsgate
Blu-ray is backed neutral by BBC video for now, but is backed exclusively by the National Geograhic, and many other minor studios, especially foreign studios.
HD DVD is backed by
Universal Studios
Viacom including Dreamworks, Paramount, Dreamworks Annimation, MTV and Nickolodiam Films.
It is also backed by the minor companies such as The Wiensten Company and Focus Features. It is backed non exclusively by BBC.
Sales wise, Blu-ray has since Warners announchment 80% of the software sales in the US, with around 75% for this year. Last year Blu-ray Discs sold out HD DVD by 2 to 1. Hardware sales wise since Warners announchment Blu-ray has 60% of the total sales, once peaking at 93%. Note this does not include the millions of PS3's which people buy due to the profile hassels, with Blu-ray, and due to it's low cost. If PS3's were included HD DVD would have a much lower hardware percentage margin. Sales wise and studio wise Blu-ray Disc is the winner, meaning that Blu-ray is most likely to WIN the format war. In Europe Blu-ray has around 80% of the market, with Japan having 90% and Australia having a huge 95% of the market. Blu-ray sales wise has the edge. Also Blu-ray is supported exclusively by rental giant Blockbuster, with Target going Blu only.
People remark, HD DVD will win due to it's low hardware prices, it should be noted that at the end of the format war Sony's Betamax was actually lower in price, than the VHS system, HD DVD is basically repeating the Betamax. VHS actually started it's winning streak when it had 70% of the market share, which (oh my god!!!!) Blu-ray has now due to Warner. Many people say that Blu-ray is being the Beta, due to being better than HD DVD in terms of technology, Actually it is not, it's bad in terms of audio, many players don't support all the codecs, and has an unfinalised BD J interactivity platform. Sure it has a higher data capacity but VHS also had a higher recording time. For once, Blu-ray is turning out to be the winning format. Blu-ray Disc has endless support, a strong BDA, and has plenty of licensing, unlike HD DVD which basically Tohsiba manufacturing all of them. The main thing that made the BETA lose, was that it had in sufficiant licensing, like HD DVD. But as we see, it's the consumer who losses, in format battles, HD DVD has a good chance being the Betamax, in all aspects. What you have to think about is the sales not the technology. Blu-ray Disc will be the better format, in a few years time, but currently Blu-ray Disc lacks in audio and interactivity to be branded technically better than HD DVD. HD DVD is the format for today, Blu-ray Disc is the format for tomorrow. That is why Blu-ray is winning, it's a format with heaps of potential, sure the early adopters miss out on a bit of interactivity, but Blu-ray Disc has room to grow, not only in movies, but also in data storage and software. Blu-ray Disc is tomorrows optical media in the making, while HD DVD was the format that was made for today. Actually Blu-ray Disc was a huge step from DVD, and was a totally new technology, that wasn't finalised, but won the hearts of many consumers and companies due to the potential. ""The Future is Blu"". Don't go for todays format go for tomorrows format.
It is clear t
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