The Next Gen Video Formats

**Monarch** · 02-10-2006, 17:28

In case you didn't know...

Well, as in the '80s with the likes of Betamax and VHS, HDDVD and Blu-Ray are set to come out relatively soon and with it the 'format wars'. Sony lost out last time (for those of you who have been asleep this past 20 years) so it'll obviously not want to miss out again.

Blue-Ray will be featuring in Sony's next gen console, the ps3, however Microsoft who are backing HDDVD have left as hddvd player out of their 360 console, a blunder?

My mate at school knows more than me about this sorta stuff and he brought out the following points, are they correct/do you agree?

Betamax was a better format
It only lost because the porn industry backed VHS
There's another, less known format, that my come out to be on top.
Nobody gives a c**p about whats in the consoles.

So what do you think we'll be watching our movies on in a couple of years time? Discussion thread for future formats. Also a prediction poll.

**Lemur** · 02-10-2006, 17:45

For what it's worth, the porn industry is backing Blu-ray, or at least that's what I read on Slashdot. Here's some recent info on Blu-Ray.

I think we'll all be watching DVDs for some time. There are bigger issues than screen resolution -- namely DRM. Evil, naughty DRM. Filthy, troublesome DRM. If you don't know what DRM is, you need to find out, now. It's a giant trench filled with sharks with frickin' lasers on their foreaheads, and it's between us and next-gen content.

[edit]

Here's some info on the DRM models being batted about:

Blu-Ray
HD-DVD
HDMI

**Blodrast** · 02-13-2006, 18:30

I'm actually not too sure anything will be staying around for too long (like VHS did, for instance). There is huge progress being made in storage media, and I think that's gonna keep things very dynamic; until that comes to a halt, I don't think any formats will have enough time to become standards... my two cents.

as for storage, I couldn't find the link anymore, but I recall reading (last week ?...) about some folks who came up with a prototype hdd of some terabytes, I think...

**Viking** · 02-13-2006, 20:17

Originally Posted by Lemur

For what it's worth, the porn industry is backing Blu-ray, or at least that's what I read on Slashdot.

It looks like it`s going to be Blu-ray..

**Lemur** · 02-15-2006, 16:13

Looks like Gah! is the correct answer. According to Ars Technica, both formats have been delayed. Again. FTA:

The final specification of the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) has been delayed again, meaning that the final specifications needed to produce HD DVD and Blu-ray products still sits off in the undetermined future.

According to a report at Heise online, the members of the AACS licensing authority could not agree on a final specification last week. The hold up must infuriate HD DVD backers, because the last sticking point apparently only applies to the Blu-ray specific BD+ anti-piracy measure. BD+ is part of Blu-ray's "we have more protection than you" approach to appeasing the studios.

**Samurai Waki** · 02-16-2006, 07:14

Probably Blu-Ray but who knows?

**Gawain of Orkeny** · 02-18-2006, 01:06

Well, as in the '80s with the likes of Betamax and VHS, HDDVD and Blu-Ray are set to come out relatively soon and with it the 'format wars'. Sony lost out last time (for those of you who have been asleep this past 20 years) so it'll obviously not want to miss out again.

The funny part is that Sony invented both. But it felt VHS was inferior and sold the right to Panasonic. Beta does indeed blow VHS away. I could never figure out why the software producers preffered it over Beta. Thats the only reason it won out and we all lost out.

I suggest no one buy either of these formats until they decide on one.