HD-DVD posts (Subscribe to this feed)
Microsoft's Bach tamps down Blu-ray Xbox rumors
by Kyle Orland 
{ Jun 9th 2008 at 12:00PM }
"Xbox 360 has a great ability to deliver [high-definition experience] through the Xbox Live (online download) service," Bach said. "It's a great way to get the high-definition concept because it's right there. There's no additional media. There is nothing you need to purchase ... You have to look at how fundamentally compelling the difference is between a progressive scan DVD player and the picture that it can produce and what you get on a high-definition player. The reality is there is some difference, but most people look at it and say, 'I am not going to pay extra for that.'"
The full interview also includes Bach's thoughts on in-game ads, the next-next-gen Xbox, and motion-sensitive controllers. Check it out.
Amazon offering $50 credit to HD DVD adopters
by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 9th 2008 at 10:00PM }
While we're on the subject, don't forget to grab that spiffy new update available for the Xbox 360 HD DVD player.
Amazon offering $50 to HD DVD owners
by Richard Mitchell { Apr 9th 2008 at 1:30PM }
Find a copy of the email being distributed by Amazon after the break.
[Thanks, zlionsfan. Via Engadget]
Just for laughs: Xbox HD DVD player gets update
by Alexander Sliwinski { Apr 8th 2008 at 7:00PM }
Instead, the update will add "compatibility improvements with certain titles" and "additional support for network features." Xbox 360 owners without Live can download the update through Xbox.com later this week.
Microsoft rolls out 360 HD DVD player update
by Dustin Burg { Apr 8th 2008 at 5:00PM }
Even though HD DVD died a slow and painful death, Microsoft is still showing current Xbox 360 HD DVD player owners ongoing love with the release of today's auto update. Once connected to Xbox Live with a HD DVD player firmly integrated into your 360, you'll be prompted to download a new update that's said to help with compatibility issues with some titles and will add additional support for network features. Even though this update won't resurrect Toshiba's commitment to HD DVD, it should make your HD movie experience a tad bit more enjoyable.April Fools' Alert #10: Wii Sports on iPhone and utter obsolescence
by Scott Jon Siegel { Apr 1st 2008 at 6:30PM }
The Wii Sports on iPhone gag is nothing more than an unclickable banner ad, making us wish the joke was taken a bit further. The Betamax to HD-DVD converter, on the other hand, is quite the stroke of genius. The idea alone is brilliant, made even more so by the "promotional" video, viewable after the break.
Best Buy Canada offers 'free' 360 HD DVD players
by Dustin Burg { Apr 1st 2008 at 10:00AM }
[Via xenocidic]
Future Shop offers $100 trade for HD DVD players
by Xav de Matos { Mar 21st 2008 at 3:15PM }
We didn't think HD DVD early adopters could get any luckier when Best Buy started handing out $50 gift cards, but we were wrong. Future Shop, Canada's largest retailer of consumer electronics, is offering a $100 trade-in promotion on all HD DVD players towards the purchase of select Samsung or LG model Blu-ray / HD DVD combo players (which retail for $499.99 CND each).
Future Shop has sweetened the deal to consumers by promising to donate returned HD DVD Players the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada for use in their after-school and evening programs. Charity and a discount in the HD format war? That's the Canadian hospitality we're accustomed to hearing about!
The promotion began on March 7 and will run until April 3 across Canada.
Best Buy shows the money to HD DVD adopters
by Richard Mitchell { Mar 19th 2008 at 6:30PM }
Best Buy is looking to make good with all the unfortunate souls who purchased an HD DVD player or accessory (be it the 360 HD DVD player or another product) before the format was officially declared kaput on February 23, 2008. The company will issue $50 gift cards to customers that fall in this unfortunate category According to CNN, many consumers won't even have to lift a finger to receive their gift cards as Best Buy is using Rewards Zone and service plan records as well as records from online purchases to identify eligible customers. Those who don't fall into those categories can bring a Best Buy receipt or credit card statement to their local store in order to receive their gift card. Best Buy will also begin accepting returns on all HD DVD players through their online trade-in center starting March 21, so long as said players are returned within 90 days of purchase. Returns will be refunded with store credit. Unfortunately, Best Buy isn't accepting returns on HD DVD discs.
[Via Joystiq]
[Via Joystiq]
Toshiba reportedly set to lose nearly $1 billion in wake of HD-DVD format death
by Griffin McElroy { Mar 16th 2008 at 9:00PM }
In order to truly enter a format war, one must possess a number of things. The first, of course, is a viable format, unique from all others currently on the market. The second is the persistence to constantly push your format on as many film companies and consumer electronics producers as you possibly can, to ensure your victory. Finally, should said victory never come, you must possess a strong stomach and a wide wallet -- as losing a format war is a costly and heartbreaking endeavor. According to the Nikkea Business Daily, Toshiba is learning this lesson to the tune of a ¥100 billion loss in revenue this year (to grasp the magnitude of this loss, here it is in numeric form: ¥100,000,000,000) or roughly $986 million in U.S. cash. We usually leave the economic speculation to the experts, but we're pretty sure that's a large sum of money that Toshiba would rather not part with. But as they say, in order to make an omelet, you've got to break a few eggs; though sometimes, you have to break 100 billion eggs, only to find that nobody wants to eat your omelet. Okay, nobody says that.
MS touts digital distribution over 'historic' discs
by Ludwig Kietzmann { Mar 14th 2008 at 2:56PM }
We definitely don't want to consume anything past its sell-by date either, as Lewis suggested we'll "look back wistfully at shiny discs as something that was somewhat a historic phenomenon in a way that we kind of think about vinyl or VCRs today." Though we don't outright disagree with Microsoft's same ol' song and dance, predicting a large change within the "next 12-18 months" seems overly optimistic. DVD doesn't look to be going anywhere soon, and neither does the sales traction granted to the PS3 by Blu-ray's recent victory.
Blu-ray Xbox 360 add-on rumor resurfaces
by Xav de Matos { Mar 7th 2008 at 1:30PM }
Yesterday our email exploded with news tips regarding the latest in the Blu-ray Saga. In an interview with the Financial Times, Sony Electronics US president Stan Glasgow proclaimed, "Sony is in talks with console rival Microsoft about offering a Blu-ray drive for the Xbox 360." While Microsoft has since denied any HD discussions are happening with Sony, we remember that a few MS execs let it slip that this could be an option if Blu-ray won the "war," which it did. One thing to keep in mind Xbox fanboys, this decision stems from wanting to offer multiple avenues to HD content to Xbox 360 users and doesn't mean we'll see that new SKU that slaps Master Chief's next outing on a BD disc. At least we think.
[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
This Week in HD DVD: the final edition
by Dustin Burg { Feb 25th 2008 at 6:00PM }
This is the curtain call, there is no more to see. Wipe the tears from your cheek fellow fanboys, for this will be final installment of This Week in HD DVD.Toshiba and Microsoft no longer support the HD DVD format, so we'd feel guilty and a bit dirty to continue our own support of a format that deserves to simply rest in peace. You will be missed HD DVD. That's a fact. You were strong and wise, but you were unable to gather support by the masses and as a result, you passed at a young age. This is it, the final curtain call. Goodbye HD DVD and goodbye to This Week in HD DVD. We promised we wouldn't cry ...
- HD DVD Movie Releases: February 26th
- The Assassination of Jesse James
- Beowulf
- The Brave One
- Cecilia & Bryn At Glyndebourne
- Dragon Tiger Gate
- Freedom: 1-3 Gift Set
- Freedom: 4
- Gustav Mahler: Symphony No. 2 Resurrection
- Rain in the Mountains
Microsoft unloading remaining HD DVD add-ons for $50
by Kyle Orland { Feb 25th 2008 at 4:45PM }
Sure enough, online retailers from Circuit City to Best Buy to Buy.com are listing the defunct accessory for 25 percent of it's original price. At that price, the remaining stock could go fast. Then again, with the prospect of more HD-DVD discs looking less than good, maybe $50 is still too expensive to unload.
Retailers drop HD-DVD add-on to $50 [update]
by Terrence Stasse { Feb 25th 2008 at 6:00AM }
Update: It's official. Xbox.com now lists the Xbox 360 HD DVD player at an MSRP of $49. W00t! (Thanks, Cal)Rumored for a while now, it has just been unofficially confirmed that the MSRP of the 360 HD-DVD add-on has been reduced from $130 to $50, cheaper even than a newly-released game. So far, K-mart and Amazon have reduced their price (and Amazon offering free shipping). Microsoft has not yet updated their price so this is still unofficial, but even so, it's likely that other retailers will be following soon. With the production ending on all HD-DVD players everywhere, the HD-DVD add-on is now good only as some sort of obscure collectors item. Then again if you've got a President Grant burning a hole in your pocket and you've got a hankerin' for some quick and easy HD movie action, this is a good short-term solution until all the cheap HD-DVDs dry up. Besides, if you're quick you could always get these free ones, and then not have to immediately buy any HD-DVDs at all. Remember the losing format, and look forward to digital distribution to (with luck and lots and lots of bandwidth) save us.
