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Toshiba confirms plans to support the once-rival Blu-ray format

by Parm Mann on 10 August 2009, 10:30

Tags: Toshiba (TYO:6502)

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Toshiba were rumoured to be launching Blu-ray players by the end of the year, and the Japanese manufacturer of the ill-fated HD DVD format has today confirmed its plans by applying for membership of the Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA).

In an official statement, Toshiba cites the growing demand of Blu-ray as a reason for its decision. "In light of recent growth in digital devices supporting the Blu-ray format, combined with market demand from consumers and retailers alike, Toshiba has decided to join the BDA," said the company.

"Toshiba aims to introduce digital products that support the Blu-ray format, including BD players and notebook PCs integrating BD drives, in the course of this year. Details of the products, including the timing of regional launches, are now under consideration. We will make announcements in due course," it adds.

In the months following the demise of HD DVD, Toshiba had attempted to undermine the relevance of high-def formats by introduction an upconverting technology for standard-def DVDs known as XDE (eXtended Detail Enhancement).

However, it has now opted to join the likes of Sony, Samsung, Panasonic and numerous others as a member of the BDA.



HEXUS Forums :: 8 Comments

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good, their a top company. HD-DVD was a top product, its a shame it didn't win the format wars just to stick it to Sony.
Fair do's to them. They are a great company :thumbsup:
Jay
good, their a top company. HD-DVD was a top product, its a shame it didn't win the format wars just to stick it to Sony.

But after all that trying with formats that nobody really liked Sony had a win coming to them lol…
kingpotnoodle
But after all that trying with formats that nobody really liked Sony had a win coming to them lol…

Not really, its taken bluray ages to be anywhere near the quality of HD-DVD in terms of viewing experience with the likes of picture in picture with behind the scenes of how they did it and very easy navigation via the onscreen menu!. Now BR has only just got to the stage of features and its hardly the better format, slower read speeds and a much more expensive technology (look at the br disk!) but sony was backing it with the PS3 and microsoft joined in cause of this and they screwed it up for toshiba really as MS did jack all to help (apart from release a really expensive add on).

A triple layer HD-DVD can hold 45gb which is perfect, its still cheaper than a single layer BR and you dont need the extra space given from more layers for films or games really because the compression rate on say a game is poor on the ps3 and offers no advantage to consumers interms of graphics that you can see! They just expaded it to take up all the room, a marketing gimmick to say DVD is dead but it should of been replaced with HD-DVD.

People seem to forget that Sony are only a member of the Blu-ray Disc Association and iirc disney had more involvement than them so really sony dont diserve as much credit as the others who made BR happen!.

Now my post seems completely anti BR so ill be honest and say i didnt like the way BR won by marketing it into the general public, but it has won and so eventually it will be better than HD-DVD in other areas. If Toshiba join the Blu-ray Disc Association then you will probs see the changes take effect quite soon.
also HD-DVD was a finished format, it was what it was always going to be so your launch HD-DVD player would always play all HD-DVDs unlike some blueray players.