Blu-ray hits bumps in the road to HD market dominance

Blu-ray player sales dropped 40 percent earlier this year and do not seem to have recovered yet. Aside from soaring PlayStation 3 sales, Blu-ray is struggling to take advantage of HD DVD’s demise. Read More...

Computerworld: Blu-ray beats HD DVD—now what?

Now that Sony's Blu-ray Disc DVD format has beat out Toshiba's HD DVD , the question arises: Just what spoils are there? Computerworld’sLucas Mearian answers that and other questions.

Sony's Blu-Ray DVD Format Could Prevail

Sony's Blu-ray technology is emerging as the likely winner in the format battle for the next generation of DVD players after Toshiba appeared ready to ditch its HD DVD business.

Rumor: Apple’s Blu-Ray plans revealed

Anyone want a rumor? We got one, cheap. Sighting “a source” and “info gleaned from various non disclosures”, faithful Macenstein tipster Doug has written us with what he claims is Apple’s forthcoming plan to offer a new Blu-Ray burner/NAS device geared toward video professionals and tying into the Final Cut Server line. As with [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Rumor: Apple’s Blu-Ray plans revealed", url: "http://macenstein.com/default/archives/1287" });

Switched On: Blu-ray had friends in high def places

Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about technology, multimedia, and digital entertainment. When Sony included a DVD drive on its PlayStation 2, it was clear which technology was helping sell which product. After just avoiding being a victim of a format war itself, DVD was on its way to enticing consumers with many of the same benefits that had turned the compact disc into a huge success -- high-fidelity, portability, durability and the end of rewinding. The PS2 may well have been a success without DVD, but DVD did not need the PS2. For the PlayStation 3, the issue was a lot murkier. While US sales of standalone -- that is to say, excluding PS3 -- players for Blu-ray and HD DVD were almost dead even in 2007, Blu-ray titles consistently outsold HD DVD titles. Part of this may have been due to Toshiba's heavy bundling of titles with HD DVD players, but PlayStation 3 owners seem to have bought Blu-ray movies in droves. While Sony consistently promoted Blu-ray's game and movie capacity as a PS3 selling point, the PS3 -- specifically its owners' embrace of Blu-ray movies -- was the major consumer factor in swinging the fate of the high-definition video disc for Blu-ray. Yet the fight was fought at least as much by corporations as by consumers. Out of the gate, Blu-ray had more studio support and a Murderers' Row of consumer electronics companies -- Sony, Samsung, Panasonic, Philips, LG, Sharp, and Pioneer -- backing the format. Not only did these companies account for the vast majority of DVD player sales in the US, they also accounted for most of the large-screen TVs, paving the way for bundles and other promotions that are sure to accelerate now that there is more security in buying Blu-ray.Continue reading Switched On: Blu-ray had friends in high def places Permalink | Email this | Comments

Blu-ray winning studio war, but needs to sway consumers (USATODAY.com)

USATODAY.com - The end of the high-definition disc war seems in sight, say industry observers, with major studio Warner Bros. jumping to the Blu-ray Disc camp and leaving the competing HD DVD format with a dwindling base of Hollywood support. But ahead lies the real uphill battle: selling high-definition discs - in any format - to consumers who appear more than satisfied with the DVDs they've already bought over the past few years.