Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

NeutralX2 — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:44:08 GMT

Looks like a good show. Downloading now.

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

ezporter — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:44:08 GMT

can't wait to hear it major, thanx.

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

jdogg836 — Sat, 12 Aug 2006 21:21:36 GMT

ZeroCorpse, you'll be missing out on the advanced audio codecs. I've got an HD-A1 and with the soon to be released firmware v 2.0 all of the audio formats will be supported. With the Xbox360, you'll be left with plain vanilla Dolby Digital or DTS. Also, the majority of tv manufacturers have included HDCP compliant DVI ports for at least 5 years. My first DLP had DVI-D on it and that was purchased in 2002. When you say "no advantage to the consumer" you are leaving out that post-ICT implementation you are left with 480P if your set doesn't have the right connection.

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

ZeroCorpse — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 02:17:17 GMT

HDMI is NOT "better quality" in any way, shape, or form. The only difference is that the signal is digital, meaning it's either working at 100% or not at all, while analog cables can suffer from signal loss and degradation, meaning you can get 95% of the signal if the cable is too long, crimped, etc. If you have a good, high-quality analog cable (VGA or Component) it looks IDENTICAL TO HDMI at the same resolution. HDMI is only being pushed right now because some studios are paranoid and like the idea that they can add more copy protection to their movies through HDMI, but you gain ZERO technical benefits with an HDMI cable. ZERO. --- In fact, unless you have a pass-through in your HDTV, having HDMI is a pain in the neck because you have the sound going through the TV, rather than passing through your surround receiver directly. That's one more component for your sound, which does degrade it a little. --- Why no upscaling through component? Because right now you can't plug VGA, DVI or HDMI into a VCR or video capture card and record a DVD at high quality. It's PURELY a copy protection scheme. There's no advantage to the consumer. None whatsoever. Stop drinking the kool-aid, guys. --- Most HDTVs do NOT have HDMI. Mine doesn't. The ones sold for the past five years don't. It would be a BIG mistake to initiate the ICT, even if the 360 or PS3 have HDMI, because so many people who dropped thousands on an HDTV would be left out in the cold, unable to use their expensive HDTV to watch movies in full HD resolution. THE STUDIOS WILL NOT SHOOT THEMSELVES- OR THE HD FORMATS- IN THE FOOT LIKE THAT! --- The 360 HD-DVD player will be a success because it will be low-cost, work with all HDTVs (and not just the ones being sold this year and beyond) and watching HD-DVDs won't wear out the primary drive on your 360. It's like having a stand-alone, but without the big price tag of a secondary investment.

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

jdogg836 — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 23:48:19 GMT

The concerns about the ICT flag on HD DVD's is a very real problem. Without HDMI, the 360 add-on is in real danger of upsetting lots of people who purchase it. I've heard about the rumored ICT implementation dates, but the fact of the matter is they haven't publically gone on record as saying such. They could change their mind and add it this year with zero back-pedaling. The only possible loophole to this would be the VGA connector, which is grandfathered in as a connector free of macrovision and ICT processes. Major, could you get some confirmation from those in the know that the VGA port will be fully functional with the HD DVD drive? That would eliminate the problems as even those without VGA could transcode over to component video.

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

DA360 — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 15:24:57 GMT

In response to Christer: BOTH HD-DVD and Blu-Ray support H.264 (MP4 AVC), VC-1, and MPEG 2 (which DVDs use), and its up to the content creator to choose what codec they want to use with their movie. An interview Major had on one of his earilyer shows said this as well. Also, about HDCP, it seems like it won't be an issue we will have to worry about until around the end or even after the Xbox 360's life span. I just saw this Wikipedia quote from their HDCP article: "Movie studios are apparently in agreement to not include the ICT flag on any HD DVDs or Blu-ray Discs until at least 2010, or possibly even 2012.". So the whole HDCP issue won't be a major problem for the Xbox 360. Also, HDMI is under constant changes (there's already multiple versions, I believe), so I almost consider it too risky to implement anything into it until they get a set version of HDMI. In fact, I consider it risky even for Sony to implement HDMI into the PS3, because the PS3 might eventually get stuck with a old, obsolete version of HDMI.

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

Christer — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 07:47:35 GMT

What Codecs will the HD-DVD feature? I thought I heard H264? Is this correct? Will this codec be like, installed on the xbox, so I can stream x264 movies with, let's say... transcode. Anyone?

Chris

Norway

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

Kathryn Hadley (Previously Grover....) — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 18:08:53 GMT

Pssst! Blue angels are Navy! I realize you're caught up inevitably in Xbox 360 vs. PS3, but methinks this is one war you don't wanna be caught up in. LOL Speaking of which, everybody just shut up about Major Nelson being a "fanboy" or whatever. He works for freakin' MICROSOFT! There is no law in any government in the USA that says he has to "respect" PS3 in any way, especially with the way Sony's been acting. For crying out loud, get over yourselves!

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

Jeremy — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 17:37:43 GMT

Interesting show. Was it just me, or did one of the guys (I'm terrible with names, didn't catch his) in the HD-DVD interview sound and talk amazingly similar to Milton (from the movie Office Space)? I wonder if he has a red Swingline stapler in his office/cubicle...

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

Tyger Cheex — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 08:36:33 GMT

Rob Said: "Interesting. In the interview the developer says that the HD-DVD will "absolutely be the cheapest HD DVD player available". Since the console itself lowest price is $299, and the Toshiba HD-DVD standalone player is $499, then the maximum price for the add-on is $199 which would end up being $498, or $1 cheaper than the Toshiba. Hopefully they can actually get it down cheaper than that - $149 would be a better value - $50 cheaper than the Toshiba." Y'know what Rob, that's EXACTLY what I just came online to say. Well said brother! For me, at the moment at least, a HD-DVD player is pointless as I cant afford to upgrade my current set to a decent HDTV (as much as I want to), but in the future I'd love to go High Def. With a bit of luck, prices will have dropped by then and there will be more HD DVD players out there, and for the 360's add-on to continue to be competitive the price of that will have to drop too! I was slow to get on the DVD band wagon. My first disk was Star Wars Episode I, and I only bought that because my PS2 was a DVD player "out of the box". Eventually I bought a "proper" DVD player for the house and it cost me about £40 (about $55) and for that you get a adequate MULTI REIGON player. The thing is... in a few years time I can see HD DVD played being really cheap so I'll be interested to see how Microsoft plan on staying competitive with the dedicated HD DVD player market. As a side note: Man, I seriously hope the way we comment is gonna be 'fixed' soon. I'm looking forward to Litheon's re-vamp of the site. A forum style (where we can actually quote people properly, post our own links and images when we reply etc.) would be much better. I did email Larry my suggestion and he said they were workign on it. Looking forward to it a lot guys!

Fresh new Xbox 360?

Mr. Roboto (Mancuso) — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 04:04:28 GMT

I have been hearing SO many rumors about another 360 coming out with an upgraded processor chip that would in turn make the system overheat less easily and possibly provide more power. Is this true? If so, will you provide a service to those who already bought a 360 to upgrade them? (Any comments on this matter are greatly appreciated)

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

Ruben — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 21:53:25 GMT

Great show as always! I listened to show and I do agree with alot of things but you are missinforming customers. Reason why people want HDMI is for several reasons. First hdmi will allow 1080p content and it is true digital. Also you can get digital sound via hdmi also if you include hdmi 1.3 then you will get 7.1 sound and support for SACD AND DVD Audio. HDMI looks better and is better then component. SO 1 cable will allow the work for both audio and video. The other reason why people ask about hdmi is because in the future Movies HDDVD movies will only display in HD via HDMI so why would anyone buy this addon if it isnt HDMI? you will limit yourself for the future

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

THE MAC GOD — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 20:38:15 GMT

The ONLY reason they backpedaled on the HDMI, well, the only logical reason, is that it's true that the 360 can't output true HDMI. All video experts I've heard say that the quality is just so much higher with HDMI, and I have to agree... The HD channels over cable look noticeably better on a gold plated HDMI cable than gold plated component cables. Why do most upscaling DVD players use HDMI? Higher quality. To state an opinion ("I think component looks better") isn't a justifiable reason not to include a true HD standard... well THE HD standard. Plus, as MN said in the other podcast about HDDVD, HDMI audio is bar none. Too bad we can't find that out. From the HDDVD show comments: I started a thread before the 360 came out on the xbox live forums, but I think it is dead, as I cannot find it anymore. Basically, I was saying that you can't usher in the HD era without having an HD connetion. Component cables aren't 'real' HD... They are an analog signal. HDMI and DVI ARE 'true' HD as they are a digital connection. I was arguing that MS wasn't really in the 'true' HD era until they offered an HDMI or DVI output cable. Now, I've read that you can't do that with the current boards (well, you can, but you wouldn't get a 'true' HDMI output) and that there is a redesign with an HDMI out, coming. Either way, I guess my main question/comment is that how can USB 2 support the massive bandwidth needed for HD DVD? Will MS be offering an HDMI cable so that we can get true, digital HD output at that point in time? /end

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

Speed7 — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 18:30:55 GMT

The only reason I'm worried about the no HDMI support is that if the studios decide to put the copy protection flags on the HD-DVDs (which they will eventually) componet in incompatable with copy protected HD-DVDs. This issue has never been addressed and this bothers me and the only reason I am not already on the acessories bandwagon.

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

Xunder — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 13:37:20 GMT

The Punchline? Superman Returns is slated for PS2, not the PS3.

re: Show #186 The one about the HD-DVD player

Dalbito — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 13:14:05 GMT

Am I the only person here thinking that the HD-DVD add on is just a waste of time? Although my 360 is an excellent DVD player, I NEVER use it to watch DVDs as it makes too much noise. I'm guessing this will not change once the HD-DVD is introduced, meaning that it'll be nothing more than a stop gap until the prices of stand alone (and silent running) players come down.

It was the same with the PS2, but I suppose that was aimed at getting DVD into kids bedrooms. My 360 sits in my living room connected to a few thousand pounds worth of kit and when the silent parts of a movie play, that's what I want to hear...silence!