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HD DVD coming back from the dead in China?

3 July 2008 12:19 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 40 comments

On June 11 the DVD Forum's Steering Committee met for the second time this year. Their biannual meetings usually result in boring discussions about bureaucratic matters, but not so this time around. That's not entirely surprising considering it's the first meeting with an agenda set entirely after HD DVD's demise at the hands of Blu-ray earlier this year.

You might think Blu-ray's victory in February would have immediately halted any serious discussion about new HD DVD development, but you'd be wrong. In fact a format called C-HD DVD is still in development. The C stands for China, which is where it's being developed and expected to be sold.

Don't expect this to mean the return of HD DVD in the rest of the world, at least not any time soon. It's not in the studios' interest to rekindle the format war. And it's hard to believe the executives who were apparently blind sided by Toshiba's decision to suddenly drop HD DVD are lining up to repeat that experience.

Of course things aren't exactly decided yet. If Blu-ray hasn't made significant progress toward mainstream adoption in the next couple of years the studios could become restless. If C-HD DVD were already established in China it's hard to believe the studios wouldn't at least consider jumping ship again.

Toshiba is already rumored to be targetting Blu-ray with better upscaling DVD players. The adoption at this most recent meeting of the DVD Download DL logo could also be a sign that HD DVD technology is going to be re-used in the older format.

Even if C-HD DVD doesn't ever come to market it looks like Toshiba may be in the best position to benefit if Blu-ray fails. Right now that's not looking like a bad place to be.

Permalink to this article | Topics: Blu-ray HD DVD Home Theater

Toshiba debuts "near-HD" XDE players (18 August 2008)

CH-DVD finally goes into production (28 July 2008)

Blu-ray production to get a boost in China (12 July 2008)

Will DVD be inheriting HD DVD's web features? (3 July 2008)

Blu-ray outselling DVD, in Japan (2 July 2008)

Japanese researchers develop 42GB red laser disc (27 June 2008)

Disney decides chat clients are the killer app for BD Live (12 June 2008)

US HDTV owners don't want Blu-ray (3 June 2008)

Toshiba set to launch "Blu-ray killer" DVD technology (30 May 2008)

Blu-ray player sales are falling (30 April 2008)

Microsoft finally pulls plug on HD DVD add-on (24 February 2008)

Toshiba confirms dropping of HD DVD (19 February 2008)

Warner Bros. goes Blu-ray (4 January 2008)

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DXR88 (Member) 3 July 2008 22:45
*Quote:* *Quote:* Even the HD-DVD vs. Blu Ray war wasn't easy to grasp for some people. A lot of that comes from poorly trained store clerks that can't adequately explain the benefits of Hi Def to the consumer. you know i like to test store's like that. ill ask them whats the difference. you would be surprised how many a store clerk has told me that blue-ray has a better picture and sound. i went to wal-mart and i ask this one fellow,whats the difference between the two he goes of to say, there ain't no significant difference. its sad when i store clerk from best-buy or other high tech gadget place will lie to you to get the most expensive thing out the door. [ + quote]
core2kid (Senior Member) 4 July 2008 0:07
A perfect example of that is when I asked for the best most portable Digital camera and he showed me one of these Sony ones for $300 or something with only some 3x digital zoom. It was pretty small though. He kept telling me how it was the best camera ever made. I ended up getting another Sony, because of the damn helper there and I personally hate it now. Its a 7.2MP camera with a 1.5 inch LCD. Spend 200+ on that thing! [ + quote]
Blackjax (Member) 4 July 2008 0:07
I thought the pleasantly round female belted out a tune already. Maybe not? [ + quote]
DXR88 (Member) 4 July 2008 1:39
*Originally posted by Blackjax:* I thought the pleasantly round female belted out a tune already. Maybe not? ?_? [ + quote]
PantherM (Newbie) 4 July 2008 8:33
*Quote:* *Originally posted by Blackjax:* I thought the pleasantly round female belted out a tune already. Maybe not? ?_? The fat lady that sings... [ + quote]
7thsinger (AfterDawn Addict) 4 July 2008 9:00
*Originally posted by Blackjax:* I thought the pleasantly round female belted out a tune already. Maybe not? Maybe she didn't sing loud enough for China to hear. [ + quote]
SDF_GR (Member) 4 July 2008 11:05
*Quote:* Toshiba is already rumored to be targetting Blu-ray with better upscaling DVD players If toshiba say that they can take 720x576px(DVD) and make it look as good as 1920x1080px(BD)... Then i wonder where Sony or yamaha, samsung can reach by starting with 1920x1080(BD)...5000+ x 2800+ px? Is that simple? The pixels arent there, end of story. [ + quote]
nyurbiz (Newbie) 4 July 2008 12:44
So you knuckleheads don't think the major studios will be putting out HD DVD content for the largest market in the world? Go take another bong hit and think about it. [ + quote]
Mr-Movies (Member) 4 July 2008 13:03
I don�t think that HD-DVD will be coming back but if it did it would be good for all of us. Even though most of you didn�t like the so called format war it was and always is good for the consumer. We need competition in the market for pricing and performance. There are big differences with BD size capability is the main one but the bitrate is better as well and because of the size capabilities they use higher res sound uncompressed. So when you ask a store sales clerk what the differences are and they say better sound and picture they are right, presuming the source is high quality of course. These things have been hashed over-and-over again here at AD and you should know better. Now if you are an Upscaling king then what can we say it just doesn�t matter you�ll never get. AS to HiDef there is really nothing to explain once the customer sees the difference from a side-by-side or even stand alone viewing you need not explain anything the difference is noticeable, unless of course you are an upscaler king. As to the differences in formats then some explanation might be necessary. When buying a digital camera digital zoom is meaningless Optical zoom is the important feature to look at and 10x is the way to go or better if you can find it. Digital zoom is just a marketing thing and I love it when they multiply the two to make it look even better, what a joke. Its like buying an amplifier and when they display the wattage they add all of the channels in a peak-to-peak form to make it really seem powerful instead of using the more important RMS rating per channel. [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 4 July 2008 13:05
juankerr (Member) 4 July 2008 13:12
*Originally posted by nyurbiz:* So you knuckleheads don't think the major studios will be putting out HD DVD content for the largest market in the world? Go take another bong hit and think about it. The largest market you're referring to also boasts the fact that more bootlegs are sold than genuine copies of movies and 90% of revenue is lost to piracy. I'm sure the major studios will be salivating at the chance to release there. http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/hollywo...9788693472.html [ + quote]
gerbs (Newbie) 4 July 2008 13:23
I will just add to this discussion by stating that if this proves successful in China we will see it here. China is the source for electronics and even if it is just an add on someone will offer it for sale in the U.S. market. Cost of discs will also be important for those who will be burning their own. Remember not everyone goes over to Wally World to buy their movies--the internet makes it possible to shop everywhere. Anyway have fun and don't get too serious--it's just entertainment. [ + quote]
juankerr (Member) 4 July 2008 13:32
*Originally posted by gerbs:* I will just add to this discussion by stating that if this proves successful in China we will see it here. The problem is CH-DVD uses a video and audio codec that is totally incompatible with anything we have here. They will use the proprietary AVS video standard whose patents are 90% owned by Chinese companies. This allows them to bypass any royalty payments to the patent holders of VC-1 and AVC. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Video_Standard [ + quote]
Mr-Movies (Member) 4 July 2008 14:29
*Quote:* *Originally posted by gerbs:* I will just add to this discussion by stating that if this proves successful in China we will see it here. The problem is CH-DVD uses a video and audio codec that is totally incompatible with anything we have here. They will use the proprietary AVS video standard whose patents are 90% owned by Chinese companies. This allows them to bypass any royalty payments to the patent holders of VC-1 and AVC. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audio_Video_Standard They would use the US codec if they were going to reintroduce it here again obviously. It could happen even though I doubt it will. [ + quote]
salsa36 (Newbie) 4 July 2008 15:20
Is this an Asian problem? We should stick to ONE format: jpeg, CD, MP3, DVD, BluRay etc. If chinese people want to mess around, let them do it. At least it will be lead free. [ + quote]
SDF_GR (Member) 4 July 2008 16:00
Toshiba wants to, but have they asked what movie studios have to say? If they are willing to release their movies to that format? and to a country with the highest piracy ratings. Toshiba has anything to show against BD+ for securing the content to CHD-DVD? If toshiba cares only to release chinise movies to that discs, np just keep them in china. [ + quote]
spydah (Junior Member) 4 July 2008 23:28
How do we know that China "the international counterfeit device makers" are not making their version of the HD-DVD system and pushing it out like they do with any popular device or item? They might be re-creating the HD player to sell cheaper just for profit. Its sad they do that but this might work in Toshiba's favor. [ + quote]
inikkid (Newbie) 5 July 2008 20:27
I am happy and content with HD DVD and just plain old DVD. Newer never did mean significantly better -- only significantly more expensive. Sony can keep its Blue-ray -- and do not for a moment think I am alone in this. [ + quote]
goodswipe (Inactive) 7 July 2008 10:41
This must be the HD DVD players hughjars was always talking about. [ + quote]
7thsinger (AfterDawn Addict) 7 July 2008 10:54
Where is that fellow these days anyway? Learn To Backup DVDs Here And Here. [ + quote]
juankerr (Member) 7 July 2008 11:40
*Originally posted by inikkid:* I am happy and content with HD DVD and just plain old DVD. Newer never did mean significantly better -- only significantly more expensive. I'm confused. If you think that newer isn't significantly better - then why did you even bother buying HD DVD??? [ + quote]
goodswipe (Inactive) 7 July 2008 11:53
*Originally posted by 7thsinger:* Where is that fellow these days anyway? Ahh, Mr. hughjars got banned months ago. He came back again under a different alias, but I haven't seen him around since then. Think he got canned back in January or Feb., whenever HD DVD bit the dust. *Originally posted by juankerr:* *Originally posted by inikkid:* I am happy and content with HD DVD and just plain old DVD. Newer never did mean significantly better -- only significantly more expensive. I'm confused. If you think that newer isn't significantly better - then why did you even bother buying HD DVD??? Because HD DVD was affordable. Maybe not when it first came out, but a year later or so it was going for a reasonable price. Also, no telling when this guy bought his. "I hope Newbies that come across your signature bar do not become intimated and decide this forum is for wisecracks and stick to other ones." -ofield [ + quote] This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 7 July 2008 11:55
juankerr (Member) 7 July 2008 12:15
*Originally posted by goodswipe:* Because HD DVD was affordable. Maybe not when it first came out, but a year later or so it was going for a reasonable price. Also, no telling when this guy bought his. If affordability is his only complaint then he should see something in his price range within the next 1 - 2 years. Prices are coming down and this year's holiday shopping season should come with some good deals. [ + quote]
goodswipe (Inactive) 7 July 2008 12:34
*Originally posted by juankerr:* *Originally posted by goodswipe:* Because HD DVD was affordable. Maybe not when it first came out, but a year later or so it was going for a reasonable price. Also, no telling when this guy bought his. If affordability is his only complaint then he should see something in his price range within the next 1 - 2 years. Prices are coming down and this year's holiday shopping season should come with some good deals. Yea, I can see Blu-ray players starting off at 299, plus some type of free movie deal during the Christmas season. I believe by then, more people will be buying Blu-ray. "I hope Newbies that come across your signature bar do not become intimated and decide this forum is for wisecracks and stick to other ones." -ofield [ + quote]
core2kid (Senior Member) 7 July 2008 14:16
*Originally posted by goodswipe:* *Originally posted by juankerr:* *Originally posted by goodswipe:* Because HD DVD was affordable. Maybe not when it first came out, but a year later or so it was going for a reasonable price. Also, no telling when this guy bought his. If affordability is his only complaint then he should see something in his price range within the next 1 - 2 years. Prices are coming down and this year's holiday shopping season should come with some good deals. Yea, I can see Blu-ray players starting off at 299, plus some type of free movie deal during the Christmas season. I believe by then, more people will be buying Blu-ray. You already got $298 players at Wal-Mart http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=9864613 My PC: Core2Quad Q6600 @ 3.07GHz\|Asus P5K-E Wifi AP Edition\|4GB RAM @ 817MHz\|6800GT 350MHz/900MHz\|250GB SATA2 Primary XP\|200GB SATA1 Secondary Vista\|500GB WD MyBook\|Vista Rating 5.0 My Game Systems(Order of Release): Atari 2600\|Genesis\|GB Original\|PS\|GB Pocket\|N64\|GB Color\|Dreamcast\|PS2 w/ HD Loader\|PS2\|GameCube\|XBOX Halo Edition\|GBA SP\|Slim PS2\|DS Silver\|DS Blue\|PSP @ 3.90M33-3\|GB Micro\|XBOX 360 HD DVD Player\|PS3 80GB MGS Bundle [ + quote]
goodswipe (Inactive) 7 July 2008 14:26
*Originally posted by core2kid:* *Originally posted by goodswipe:* *Originally posted by juankerr:* *Originally posted by goodswipe:* Because HD DVD was affordable. Maybe not when it first came out, but a year later or so it was going for a reasonable price. Also, no telling when this guy bought his. If affordability is his only complaint then he should see something in his price range within the next 1 - 2 years. Prices are coming down and this year's holiday shopping season should come with some good deals. Yea, I can see Blu-ray players starting off at 299, plus some type of free movie deal during the Christmas season. I believe by then, more people will be buying Blu-ray. You already got $298 players at Wal-Mart http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.d...9864613 I was talking more along the lines of something from Sony, Panasonic, or Samsung. LOL @ Magnavox! "I hope Newbies that come across your signature bar do not become intimated and decide this forum is for wisecracks and stick to other ones." -ofield [ + quote]
nick99088 (Newbie) 26 August 2008 22:47
I was talking more along the lines of something from Sony, Panasonic, or Samsung. Tiffany & Co 5 OPEN HEART Necklace [ + quote]