Sony May Unite Blu-ray Disc, HD-DVD

**MIG-31** · Mar 24, 2005, 09:42 PM

After more than a year of touting Blu-ray Disc as the best technology to replace DVD for storing high-definition video, a top executive at Sony, one of Blu-ray's major backers, has opened the door to the possibility of unifying the format with its arch rival, HD-DVD.

Listening to the voice of the consumers, having two rival formats is disappointing and we haven't totally given up on the possibility of integration or compromise," Ryoji Chubachi, Sony's president-elect, said at a news conference Thursday in which he discussed the company's performance and future strategy.

The statement may surprise backers of the rival camps, who have assembled consortiums of major electronics companies, disc makers, and Hollywood studios to promote the formats in a battle that echoes one fought a quarter of a century ago between Betamax and VHS.
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Read More: pcworld

Tipstaff · Mar 25, 2005, 06:32 AM

I'd lay odds that Ryoji was cleaning out his mouth with Javex after the conference was over. I bet having to 'relent' to saying that really left a bad taste in his mouth.

Honestly though, all this is gonna do is complicate things. Rather than settling on one, uniform format, you have 2 competeing formats. Customers are going to be reluctant to buy into Blu-Ray or HD-DVD cuz they won't want to waste money on a format that might not be around for long. Should be a fun war though...

I'm betting Sony hopes that by combing technologies that one of them will emerge as the 'standard', and odds are that one standard format will be Blu-Ray... at least they hope it will be.

-Tip

goku21 · Mar 25, 2005, 08:53 PM

Beta Max? =)

Mar 24, 2005, 09:42 PM	#1
MIG-31 HardwareHeaven News Mod Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Nottingham,UK Posts: 56,854 Rep Power: 471 System Specs	Sony May Unite Blu-ray Disc, HD-DVD After more than a year of touting Blu-ray Disc as the best technology to replace DVD for storing high-definition video, a top executive at Sony, one of Blu-ray's major backers, has opened the door to the possibility of unifying the format with its arch rival, HD-DVD. Listening to the voice of the consumers, having two rival formats is disappointing and we haven't totally given up on the possibility of integration or compromise," Ryoji Chubachi, Sony's president-elect, said at a news conference Thursday in which he discussed the company's performance and future strategy. The statement may surprise backers of the rival camps, who have assembled consortiums of major electronics companies, disc makers, and Hollywood studios to promote the formats in a battle that echoes one fought a quarter of a century ago between Betamax and VHS. _______________ Read More: pcworld __________________ Please Post Your News Submissions Here

Mar 25, 2005, 06:32 AM	#2
Tipstaff HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Real capital of Canada: Torauna Posts: 6,773 Rep Power: 191 System Specs	I'd lay odds that Ryoji was cleaning out his mouth with Javex after the conference was over. I bet having to 'relent' to saying that really left a bad taste in his mouth. Honestly though, all this is gonna do is complicate things. Rather than settling on one, uniform format, you have 2 competeing formats. Customers are going to be reluctant to buy into Blu-Ray or HD-DVD cuz they won't want to waste money on a format that might not be around for long. Should be a fun war though... I'm betting Sony hopes that by combing technologies that one of them will emerge as the 'standard', and odds are that one standard format will be Blu-Ray... at least they hope it will be. -Tip __________________ Portal: The Flash Version _________________________________ Brain: So, you sacked the cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker? Mr. Sackett: The second cocky khaki Kicky Sack sock plucker I've sacked since the sixth sitting sheet slitter got sick.

Mar 25, 2005, 08:53 PM	#3
goku21 DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 152 Rep Power: 0	Beta Max? =)