HD-DVD vs Blu-ray: A Primer

High Definition DVD (HD-DVD) vs Blu-ray is shaping up to fight a rival to the VHS versus Betamax format war of the early eighties. Looking like they have learned nothing from the DVD + / - RW debacle, the companies involved, whether in technology or content distribution industry (or in the case of Sony, both), are set to the from slug in the coming years. The price is the license fees paid to the format owners when the next generation of high definition DVD players and recorders start shipping in volume. As high definition television becomes more popular, consumers will want a recordable format that has the capacity to hold at least a few hours worth of HDTV content. Both Blu-ray and HD-DVD were developed in response to the anticipated need for an HDTV recording medium and provide quality content that would match the expectations of HDTV-owner clients. Moreover, film distribution companies money if they all titles currently available on DVD in one or both of the new formats and to persuade consumers that they really have to throw the DVD collection that they have time and money and start building again with the release of new high definition versions. Instead of being together and agree a format for high definition DVD, the industry has to split and produce two different versions. In the red corner is Toshiba, which developed HD-DVD and has signed numerous film companies as supporters, including Warner Bros., New Line, Paramount and Universal Pictures. In the blue corner, is, if you'll pardon the pun, Sony's Blu-ray. Sony plans to Blu-ray as the format for the next generation of PlayStation and has signed Disney and MGM and 20th Century Fox is expected to add to the list. Currently the major Hollywood studios are split down the middle with almost exactly half of them in each camp. HD-DVD developed by Toshiba and NEC and has the support of the influential DVD Forum, whereas Blu-ray is supported by Philips, HP, Sharp, Pioneer, Panasonic, and Sonic Solutions. Microsoft stands to benefit the format succeeds as the Windows Media 9 video codec has been approved for use in HD-DVD and Blu-ray content. Apple's H.264 codec has also been approved for both Blu-ray and HD-DVD.