The HD format war is over

Here is some quotes and links about the end of HD format war, Blu-ray and HD DVD. Toshiba announced earlier today that day will discontinue HD DVD production.

I have both the HD DVD player add-on to the Xbox 360 and a PS3 so I will be covered. I alway thought HD DVD was the better format except for 20GB less i storage. Blu-ray had (have) one confusing bit for no-techies, there are different hardware profiles, three in fact. And early addopters have to buy a new player to get all the features. Only Sony’s Playstation 3 can be upgraded to the latest profile.

So I will now start to buy more Blu-ray movies, but do hope to get some HD DVDs as well. I guess Amazon and others will have them at a good price soon.

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The Blu-ray Disc Association comment on the end of the format war (Blu-ray.com):

“We in the Blu-ray Disc Association are very happy that this long format war is officially over. Now the task ahead for our member companies is to promote the Blu-ray Disc format as the best way to bring premier quality high definition content into consumers’ lives.”

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Sony U.S. shares rise on PS3, Blu-ray optimism (Reuters.com):

Sony U.S. shares rose to a session high of $47.07 in early trade on the New York Stock Exchange before easing to $46.30, up $1.52, or 3.4 percent from the Friday close. On Monday, markets were closed due to the U.S. President’s Day holiday.

Toshiba surrendered in the next-generation home movie war on Tuesday, after losing the support of key movie studios and retailers — most recently, Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research). Toshiba said it will aim to end its HD DVD business by the end of next month.

The Blu-ray win means consumers no longer have to choose between rival, incompatible formats and run the risk of being stuck with a 21st century equivalent of Betamax, Sony’s videotape format that lost out to VHS in the 1980s.

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Universal Studios Goes Blu (Highdefdigest.com):

“The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear. Universal will continue its aggressive efforts to broaden awareness for hi-def’s unparalleled offerings in interactivity and connectivity, at an increasingly affordable price. The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate. While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray.”

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HD DVD casualty report: over 1m players, recorders, and drives lost to the format war (Engadget.com)