Gizmo

I was always under the impression it could never be done, bitstream or decode. Seems kinda off Sony has yet to release a firmware update enabling it if it could do that, since Fox has titles with it for well over a year now.

Supermallet

From what I've heard, the issue is with DTS dragging their feet on providing a decent decoder, not Sony. But the PS3 should be able to do it at some point.

bunkaroo

PS3 has HDMI 1.3 correct?

Unless there are different "flavors" of 1.3, isn't that enough on the hardware end for bitstreaming DTS-HD? I can't believe the PS3 would not be capable with its specs.

Besides, if it weren't possible, I would hope by now we'd get a definitive announcement so we can move on.

If it comes out the PS3 won't ever be able to do DTS-HD, then I'll be in the market for the Panny the next day.

gryffinmaster

That's a sharp machine right there.

Gizmo

No, its a Samsung Oh boy...

abintra

Is the appeal of the dual format player mostly just the smaller footprint versus one having two seperate players?

Unless something changes in the immediate future, there won't be any new people buying into HD DVD so that anyone presumably interested in a combo player would have already owned a stand alone HD DVD player correct? The combo format player will likely fetch a small premium versus a stand alone BD player so one is basically paying more for another HD DVD player.

darkside

A combo is not a 100% necessity for me, but I currently only have a PS3 for BD. I want a second BD player at some point and would rather it be able to play HD DVDs as well. If this isn't an option I will deal with it, but if there is an affordable option out there I would like it to be a combo.

I still have 3+ years on a $500 player warranty for my A2 (warranty was originally on my A1 that stopped reading discs). If there is a good $500 combo out there I will try and swap my A2 for it. My A2 currently has problems with audio CDs so I could definitely bug them enough to hopefully get a replacement player. I'm in no hurry though. The combo has to be good and that means Samsung and LG are out. I'm not replacing my A2 with either of those brands. Maybe Panasonic or Toshiba will come through with one at some point.

wewantflair

There are different flavors of HDMI 1.3. The PS3 cannot bitstream advanced audio. As for decoding DTS-HDMA in player, there is no reason why this can't be done, unless there is a problem implementing the (theoretical) decoder from DTS.

Drexl

Well, the different "flavors" would be 1.3, 1.3a, and 1.3b. Wikipedia's page has some information about the differences between the versions, but nothing on 1.3b: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hdmi

The issue is that a certain version of HDMI does not guarantee that the optional features will be implemented (note that passing advanced audio as bitstream is optional). I believe the PS3 is HDMI 1.3 (not a or b), but there are 1.3 devices that will pass the new codecs as bitstream. Furthermore, HDMI 1.2 allowed for DSD to be passed as bitstream, but the PS3 doesn't do this. So, you can't just look for "HDMI 1.3" and assume it will do what you want.

tonymontana313

Finally the BD CE manufacturers step up with the right players at the right prices. Kudos to the BDA!

tonymontana313

This is huge what you just bolded. Paramount can pretty much leave Hd-dvd whenever they want. So the chances of Paramount jumping over soon has increased exponentially in my view.

wewantflair

Can you really infer that from what was bolded in the article? Honestly, now...

PopcornTreeCt

I like to think if Paramount goes Blu or neutral we will definitely see the Indy sooner rather than later.

tonymontana313

From the Financial Times

Published: January 6 2008 19:15 | Last updated: January 6 2008 19:15

In Hollywood, history has a habit of repeating itself, often to the great annoyance of audiences, with plots and stories recycled and retold.

VHS triumphed over Betamax after securing enough studio backing. The victory sparked a surge in consumer spending on home video, creating a lucrative revenue stream for Hollywood.

Studio chiefs are hopeful that Warner Brothers’ decision to back Blu-ray will end the latest format war and provide fuel for their home entertainment businesses.

With DVD sales growth stalling, studios have been anxiously awaiting the emergence of another format with popular appeal.

Warner produces more DVDs than any other studio and has the largest film library in Hollywood, which is likely to make its support the deciding factor in the format war.

Its backing of Blu-ray on the eve of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas could prove the decisive move because it will give Blu-ray about 70 per cent of Hollywood’s output.

Warner joins Sony Pictures Entertainment, Walt Disney, 20th Century Fox and Metro-Goldwyn Mayer in the Blu-ray camp. Universal, Paramount and DreamWorks Animation are the studios backing HD-DVD.

Paramount and DreamWorks joined the HD-DVD camp last year after securing fee payments worth an estimated $150m from the HD-DVD camp.

Universal has been the format’s biggest champion but it was tight lipped on Sunday about its next move. It was unclear whether the studios backing HD-DVD would change sides, although it is understood that Paramount has reserved the right to switch its backing to Blu-ray.

The Warner move certainly caught the HD-DVD camp unawares and left Microsoft, Toshiba and the other companies backing the format in disarray about what to do next. The HD-DVD Promotions Group, which represents the format, said it was “discussing the potential impact of the [Warner] announcement with the other HD-DVD partner companies and evaluating next steps”.

Toshiba said in a statement that it was “quite surprised by Warner Bros’ decision to abandon HD-DVD in favour of Blu-ray, despite the fact that there are various contracts in place between our companies concerning the support of HD-DVD”.

The HD-DVD Promotional Group admitted the Warners move was a setback.

HD-DVD players are cheaper than Blu-ray devices. In the run-up to Christmas, Wal-Mart sold as many as 90,000 players in a single day after dropping the price on an early Toshiba model to $99.

But Blu-ray machines have proved more popular. Blu-ray discs outsold HD-DVDs by a ratio of two to one before Christmas and by the end of last year there were 4m Blu-ray-capable players in North America, compared with about 750,000 HD-DVD machines.

A Blu-ray spokesperson said Warner’s move would “strengthen and accelerate the adoption of Blu-ray”.

The analyst community has been in little doubt about what the Warner move means for the format war.

In a blog posting titled: “Hope you kept your HD-DVD player/disc receipts”, Rich Greenfield, an analyst with Pali Research, wrote: “We expect HD-DVD to ‘die’ a quick death”.

The Valeyard

So I just went Blu.

I couldn't resist this week's Best Buy deal (10 Free discs) so first thing this morning, the wife and I hit our local BB and went shopping.

We're ready for the future.

wewantflair

You are still reading it incorrectly.

Gizmo

What Blu-ray player? The same deal was going on last week with a $299 Sony BDP-300...

dsa_shea

For the new Blu-Ray owner I hope you enjoy your purchase.

dsa_shea

Sounds alot like the price point for the HD-A30 model.

TheMovieman

So, with Panasonic's BD50 coming soon, will they slash the price of their BD30? Reading reviews, this looks like the one I'd want if I went BR but at $500, that's way too much. Any chance that will be slashed in half (I know it won't be soon, but maybe toward the 3/4Q of 08)?

Gizmo

Umm....ok?

I was asking him which one he bought since the BDP-300 was $299 last week with the same 10 free discs. I wanted to see if that price was still valid (as it shows $399 at BB.com).

I'm confused?

The Valeyard

Those were marked for $399 at my Best Buy. Sorry. I ended up getting a Samsung BD-P1400 (plus The Simpsons Movie, Blade Runner, Rush Hour 3, Music and Lyrics & Brothers Grimm).

Bummed that I missed the $299 sale last week but I'm still happy with my purchase.

Michael Sheridan

Isnt the Sony 300 still on sale for 299.99 at Circuit City? PM it, and get your 10 free BDs.

Gizmo

PM the Sony at CC instead...the Samssung has/is giving people issues playing new discs FYI.

The Valeyard

Huh. Did not know that. Great! That's what I get for impulse buying.

Thanks. I may be taking this back tomorrow.