HD DVD Promotional Group Issues Form Letter Response

Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 by MegaZone

After yesterday’s announcement that Netflix is dropping HD DVD and Best Buy will promote Blu-ray, the HD DVD Promotional Group issued what seems to be their form letter response:

We have long held the belief that HD DVD is the best format for consumers based on quality and value, and with more than 1 million HD DVD players on the market, it’s unfortunate to see Netflix make the decision to only stock Blu-ray titles going forward. While the Best Buy announcement says they will recommend Blu-ray, at least they will continue to carry HD DVD and offer consumers a choice at retail.

Is it just me, or does that ‘at least’ postfix sounds desperate and pitiful? HD DVD needs to go on Jerry Springer. “Sure, he left me for another woman and told everyone he loves her more. But he said I can still cook for him and do his laundry! At least I can still be part of his life!” HD DVD needs some friends to sit them down and get them to move on. Someone stage an intervention.

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VUDU Reviewed, Doesn’t Cut It On HD Quality

Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 by MegaZone

EngadgetHD has reviewed VUDU, including their support for HD content. And they’re conclusions echo what I’ve said in the past:

We wanted the VUDU to deliver in such a way that HD freaks could really grab hold if those excruciatingly long wait times encountered with Netflix / Blockbuster were pushing them to find an alternative. Unfortunately, we still can’t wholeheartedly recommend the VUDU to those who appreciate high-definition. To be honest, the device still seems grossly overpriced when you consider that the aforementioned rental-by-mail options can be turned on and off on a whim, provide flicks that don’t vanish 24 hours after you hit play for the first time, and have HD libraries that far exceed that found on the VUDU. The primary selling point of this device is its ability to provide absolute instant gratification, but with HD VOD quickly expanding into more markets across the nation — not to mention the smattering of local B&M video stores surrounding most everyone — we’re still left scratching our heads trying to uncover exactly what niche this thing is aiming for.

At the end of the day, our time with the VUDU could be described as generally enjoyable. We were pleased with the interface, thrilled with the ease of use and particularly wowed by the audio quality. Still, those flashes of greatness can’t overcome the subpar HD video quality, high initial cost of ownership and unfortunate rental restrictions. Is the VUDU a unique and nifty gizmo for acquiring HD movies? Unquestionably so. Is it something that’s ready to replace your satisfactory relationship with HD VOD, Netflix / Blockbuster or HD DVD / Blu-ray? Not just yet.

VUDU is expensive for a single-purpose device, especially when video downloads are appearing as features on other devices – Amazon Unbox on TiVo, downloads on Xbox, AppleTV, etc. Sony is talking about adding downloads to the PS3. Netflix is talking about bringing streaming to more platforms, including the 360 and PS3.

And the system they use, caching a small amount of video for instant starts and relying on downloads for the rest, limits their quality. VUDU claims they can support HD downloads with a minimum of 4Mbps. But there is no way they can even come close to Blu-ray (or HD DVD) with bitrates that low. VUDU claims they’re ‘broadcast quality’, but even matching broadcast with bitrates that low would be tough. (Even given their codec advantage – broadcast is MPEG-2, VUDU is MPEG-4/H.264.) And EngadgetHD’s review reflects this.

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HD DVD Takes More Hits

Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 by MegaZone

Spanish distributor Tripictures has sided with Blu-ray. They’re the official Spanish distributor for New Line, and they’ll start their Blu-ray releases on February 20th with Hairspray, to be followed by Rush Hour 3 in March. From ZonaDVD via Blu-ray.com.

In another blow, Scandinavian retailer Hi-Fi Klubben announced that going forward they will no longer sell HD DVD. They’re putting their existing HD DVD stock on clearance to get rid of it and will be focusing exclusively on Blu-ray going forward. Hi-Fi Klubben via Blu-ray.com.

And Michael Bay is at it again, talking up Blu-ray and slamming HD DVD. Home Media Magazine reports:

“Blu-ray’s better, and I told everyone,” Bay said at the Visual Effects Society’s sixth annual award show, where he presented the award for animated character in a motion picture. “I was very vocal about it. I knew HD [DVD] was not going to make it.”

With HD DVD being edged out of competition by sheer volume of product moving to Blu-ray, Bay is all but gloating.

“Am I thrilled? It really wasn’t my fight, but remember what I said in the press? I was kind of saying HD [DVD]’s going to lose,” he said. “No one believed me.”

Bay has always been fairly vocal about his preference for Blu-ray over HD DVD, he has to be loving the recent developments. Via Blu-ray.com.

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Amazon Blu-ray Buy Two, Get One Free Sale

Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 by MegaZone

Amazon is currently running a Buy Two, Get One Free sale on 186 Blu-ray titles. They’re divided into four categories: 61 Action & Adventure, 42 Drama & Family Friendly, 42 Suspense & Horror, and 41 Comedy & Other Great Flicks. Via Blu-ray.com.

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Sling Media Wants To Know Your Guilty TV Pleasures

Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2008 by MegaZone

Sling Media sent out the following email today:

Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to show us your guilty TV pleasures. Because, let’s face it, we all have our dirty little TV secrets.

So, just what qualifies as a guilty TV pleasure, you ask? Well, it could be a program you watch that brings you crippling shame, such as figure skating or Univision with the sound off. Or, it could be an (embarrassing/devious) manner in which you watch TV, like in church or in rest stop bathrooms.

And just why on earth would you want to expose your sordid ways to the public? Well, prizes of course. And not lame prizes, like charm bracelets or poultry. But cold, hard cash prizes.

Click here for details

To enter you need to upload a video:

Hello fellow Slinger! As you know, the Slingbox gives us anywhere/anytime access to one of our favorite things in the world: our living room TV. We’re having a little contest where you can win a cash prize just for showing us how you use your Slingbox.

1. Simply post a video (on this web site) of you using your Slingbox in a manner that is fun, original, shocking, hilarious, or whatever.
2. Then viewers will be able to watch your video and rate it on a scale from 1 to 8.
3. After the voting period, the top three rated videos will receive cash prizes.

The prizes are $5,000 for first, $3,000 for second, and $2,000 for third. The submission deadline is March 31, 2008, with voting April 1-10, 2008.

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