[opendtv] Re: What's next for DVD? Blu-ray and HD-DVD battle for yourhome theater

Hello, 

Another message by Tom: 
 http://www.tomshardware.com/hardnews/20050629_133206.html



Microsoft proclaims neutrality in HD disc format scuffle 
By Scott Fulton 
June 29, 2005 - 13:32 EST 
Redmond (WA) - In responses this morning to questions posed to Microsoft 
Corp. by Tom's Hardware Guide, a company spokesperson backed down from 
expressing explicit support for the HD DVD high-definition videodisc 
format championed by Toshiba, whose alliance with Microsoft was formally 
expanded in an announcement in Tokyo Monday. 
"This agreement is aimed at realizing a closer relationship between 
Microsoft and Toshiba in an arena where mutual benefit can be attained," 
the spokesperson commented, "and has no association with pending 
standardization matters. Microsoft maintains its neutral position in 
supporting the emerging high definition video formats that deliver new 
possibilities for content providers and consumers." 

While the spokesperson reiterated statements made by Microsoft Chairman 
Bill Gates in the early portions of Monday's Tokyo press conference with 
Toshiba President Atsutoshi Nishida, the official Microsoft statements 
today are noticeably tailored down from comments Gates made later in the 
conference, expressing interest in including HD DVD technology in future 
versions of its Xbox 360 game console. 

"There have been no announcements regarding high definition optical 
formats for Xbox 360," the spokesperson told Tom's Hardware Guide. "We're 
keeping our options open at this early stage of the format war. 

Gates was widely quoted yesterday as having stated, "We are looking at 
whether future versions of Xbox 360 will incorporate an additional 
capability of an HD DVD player or something else." 

"What I can confirm," the spokesperson continued, "is that we're 
supporting the optimal format for high definition games today: DVD. The 
power of Xbox 360 will enable developers to use decompression routines 
that will let them store high-definition content on less space." The 
statement did not specify whose decompression routines would be used for 
this purpose. 

Supporters of the competing Blu-ray technology, championed by Sony, should 
not take heart just yet, as the spokesperson took the opportunity to 
remark about what has been perceived to be one of that format's current 
deficiencies: "Right now, dense formats such as Blu-ray have slower 
transfer speeds than current DVD drives." 


(Huh ?) 

Greetings, 
-- Jeroen

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