Blu-ray Not Open to Change
In yet another interesting twist to the never-ending Blu-ray vs HD DVD Gen-Next format war, camp Blu-ray has declared that it will not adopt the proposal put forward by Hewlett-Packard.
HP, which has long been a supporter of the Blu-Ray format, said in October that if two technologies it considered important to PC users - iHD and Mandatory Managed Copy - were not included in Blu-ray's specifications, the company would consider switching over to Toshiba-led HD-DVD.
Mandatory Managed Copy lets users legally copy DVDs, and store the digital file on a home network; while iHD offers new interactive features, and is slated to be implemented in Microsoft's Vista operating system.
Blu-ray has announced that it will incorporate Mandatory Managed Copy, but will launch it in Spring 2006, with interactive features based on Sun Microsystems' Java software.
A spokesperson for Blu-ray said that while HP's request is being taken seriously and Mandatory Managed Copy will be part of the Blu-ray format, the Blu-ray group is not willing to delay the launch of the format, and will go forward with the Java-type option.
Maureen Weber, general manager - personal storage, personal systems group, HP, said that if Blu-ray remains committed to its latest stance, HP will adopt a more neutral position vs. being an exclusive Blu-ray supporter. She also said that if Blu-ray is unable to incorporate technologies that HP thinks are critical for the PC architecture, HP will be more neutral. The company will think of cost and implementation across the board. Potentially, it could support both HD DVD and Blu-ray. She added that people will see HP supporting both formats, in various trade show booths.
In a separate development, Microsoft has re-affirmed its support of the HD-DVD format. The format also enjoys Intel's support. But whatever HP, Microsoft and the rest might say, the fact of the matter is that current consensus seems to be in favor of the Blu-ray format.
With billions of dollars at stake, as the electronics, computer, movie and television industries gear-up for a technology change, it looks like the Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD format war might leave behind utterly confused consumers, besides proving an expensive loss for so many companies involved.
HP, which has long been a supporter of the Blu-Ray format, said in October that if two technologies it considered important to PC users - iHD and Mandatory Managed Copy - were not included in Blu-ray's specifications, the company would consider switching over to Toshiba-led HD-DVD.
Mandatory Managed Copy lets users legally copy DVDs, and store the digital file on a home network; while iHD offers new interactive features, and is slated to be implemented in Microsoft's Vista operating system.
Blu-ray has announced that it will incorporate Mandatory Managed Copy, but will launch it in Spring 2006, with interactive features based on Sun Microsystems' Java software.
A spokesperson for Blu-ray said that while HP's request is being taken seriously and Mandatory Managed Copy will be part of the Blu-ray format, the Blu-ray group is not willing to delay the launch of the format, and will go forward with the Java-type option.
Maureen Weber, general manager - personal storage, personal systems group, HP, said that if Blu-ray remains committed to its latest stance, HP will adopt a more neutral position vs. being an exclusive Blu-ray supporter. She also said that if Blu-ray is unable to incorporate technologies that HP thinks are critical for the PC architecture, HP will be more neutral. The company will think of cost and implementation across the board. Potentially, it could support both HD DVD and Blu-ray. She added that people will see HP supporting both formats, in various trade show booths.
In a separate development, Microsoft has re-affirmed its support of the HD-DVD format. The format also enjoys Intel's support. But whatever HP, Microsoft and the rest might say, the fact of the matter is that current consensus seems to be in favor of the Blu-ray format.
With billions of dollars at stake, as the electronics, computer, movie and television industries gear-up for a technology change, it looks like the Blu-ray vs. HD-DVD format war might leave behind utterly confused consumers, besides proving an expensive loss for so many companies involved.
Labels: Technology
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