Blu-ray Still wins the Week of Transformers

[space2001]

looks like even though Transformers did amazing on HD DVD, Blu-ray still one the week,

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/index.cfm

[Dennis M]

Quite honestly Space, I could care less either way.
And I think most people here feel the same way.

[space2001]

yah I know me to but I just find the irony of HD DVD buying paramount for 150 million and they still can't get the sales back in there corner.

[Dennis M]

It's just part of the back and forth game in this format war.

The BDA did a BOGO sale that week to offset the sales of Transformers. And it worked. I took advantage of it myself.

Walked up to the counter with my copy of Transformers on HD DVD and 6 Blu ray movies.

Personally I don't think either of these formats are going away anytime soon. So I bought a player in both formats and am enjoying movies. Which is all that really matters.

Don't see Toshiba or Sony cutting me a dividend check when this thing is over. So really, why should we care?

[HDFan01]

yah I know me to but I just find the irony of HD DVD buying paramount for 150 million and they still can't get the sales back in there corner.

How sad. This guy is trying to turn this in to another bickering Blu-Ray/HD DVD forum. There are already plenty of others out there.

Blu sold more discs last week. Yipee.
HD DVD had twice the revenue. Yipee.

Transformers had the best first week of any other single format HD film. Now that is all I care about!

[nelson]

Don't see Toshiba or Sony cutting me a dividend check when this thing is over. So really, why should we care?

Bingo!!!!!!

[Johnny LaPhlegm]

I love these people that study hdm software sales like day traders. Here’s some perspective: Transformers sold more copies on standard DVD in its first week than all of high-def media for both formats have sold since inception.

[Double]

To me, this news means I am one step closer to owning Transformers in HD wihtout buying an HD-DVD player.

[space2001]

I am not trying to start any war with anyone, I am just stating facts. if you have proof that I am wrong then please feel free to bring it up.

I am not attacking anyone on these forums. And I only keep things to the facts. All I am doing is reporting transformers news. Hence why I posted it in the transformers forum.

[nelson]

looks like even though Transformers did amazing on HD DVD, Blu-ray still one the week,

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/index.cfm

The *special* BOGO offer had noting to do with it, did it?

[piturra]

Transformers had the best first week of any other single format HD film. Now that is all I care about!

Paramount knew what they were doing ...

Paramount's CTO on Why His Studio Is Dumping Blu-ray

Alan Bell discusses why HD DVD is his studio's exclusive high-definition format.
Melissa J. Perenson, PC World - Tuesday, August 21, 2007 5:00 PM PDT

PCW: Presumably, making this move wasn't something you did lightly. What led up to the decision to shift your production exclusively to HD DVD?

Bell: Paramount has been getting experience with publishing titles in both formats for the last year. We've had a hands-on ability to see how these formats work in practice. And after some hands-on analysis, we decided that HD DVD was the format we wanted to support.
...

PCW: So, as a studio, you believe that the underlying stability of HD DVD's specs is a benefit?

Bell: When you look at what the DVD Forum has specified as required, it's a good set of advanced technologies. You can be assured that that benefit will be available to all consumers, no matter what [player] model they purchased. That speaks to the DVD Forum, that it published specs that were complete and market-ready, and that it didn't need to publish up [and change the specs], as Blu-ray has. To some degree, [such changes are] going to create some legacy issues.

For example, HD DVD players have [ethernet] connectivity built-in. If the player doesn't have that, or it's optional, you can't rely on that [as a feature].

If Paramount stayed publishing for both Blu-ray and HD DVD, ... the "Transformers" Blu-ray 2-Disc would ONLY have the same Special Features as the SD DVD 2-Disc since All Blu-ray players today are only BD 1.0 compatible, ... with NO ...

1) True PiP Interactivity

2) NO Internet Connectivity.

Look at actual specs and product reviews and HD DVD is the clear choice. Some day perhaps months down the road when BD Profile 1.1 (PiP) is ready to roll and BD Profile 2.0 (Network Connection) is out Blu-ray will be capable of doing what HD DVD is doing now and has been doing since April of 2006.
---------

Anyway, here's what would be missing if a Blu-ray "Transformers" disc was available ...

DISPLAY: 62" Toshiba 62HM196 1080p HDTV
CAMERA: Canon A550 7.1MP on a Tripod / Distant approx. 10'
................Flash = OFF
................Manual Mode / ISO 100 / F-Stop variable between -1/3 to -1

"Transformers" HD DVD Movie Scenes - HUD (w/True PiP) NEXT GENERATION FEATURES w/TRUE PiP





Steven Spielberg - talking about Shia, FULL VIDEO PiP NEXT GENERATION FEATURE running Seamlessly while the HD Feature is playing!!!


Excellent repeat movie viewing experience with cool movie production 'behind-the-scene' trivia, tidbits & INFO!!!
------------------

"Transformers" HD DVD Movie Scenes - WEB Enabled INTELLIGENCE MODE w/GPS Tracking NEXT GENERATION FEATURES

WEB ENABLED FEATURES Menu - It took about approx. 10-15 secs. to download the INTELLIGENCE MODE w/GPS INFO - too fast to take a pic.


New Overlay Screen w/All Sorts of Cool INFO & GPS tracking of course (top right corner)

====================================
FOR THOSE THAT HAVE THE HD DVD VERSION OF "TRANSFORMERS":

When you get time, you've got to watchthe "INTELLIGENCE MODE" w/GPS Tracking.

The text** & GPS Tracking ADDS more Fictional 'behind-the-scene' INFO and when a BOT is pertinent to the scenes, the STRENGTH Meter comes ON! As long as the BOT is part of that Scene, the STRENGTH Meter stays ON whether you see him or not!!! Pretty cool to watch how much damage they can take and in some cases, until they are terminated!

**SOME INTERESTING FICTIONAL MOVIE STORY BASED INFO REVEALED:

1. About Sam (Shia LaBeouf) & chores

2. Sam's missed opportunities w/Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox)

3. Interesting INTEL on each of the Decepticons and Autobots while on screen or off (some funny facts)
.... a) STRENGTH Meter STATUS ON
........ 1) ICON Either Represents the BOT's Disguise (Auto, Jet, etc.) or Natural Alien Cybertron State

5. Phone Customer Service (India) Rep. - why he's working there!

6. Maggie Madsen (Rachel Taylor) background - nice INFO to know!

7. Maggie & Glen Whitmann (Anthony Anderson) INFO - why she knew him

8. Mikaela Banes (Megan Fox) connection with the "FIRST SEVEN" - cool INFO

9. How Sam explains why he now owns a $500,000 Camaro!!!

.... etc., ... tidbit's of funny and great Fictional Movie Story Based trivia & INFO!

------------------

Besides the "INTELLIGENCE MODE w/GPS Tracking INFO (more digital pics linked below**), there is ...

... THREE "S7" ICONS that are active now!!!

Each "S7" ICON has one short video clip that you can download & delete after you watched them (which I did).

- 1st "S7" short video is a surveillance video clip in a garage (cool)
- 2nd "S7" short video viewing a street from an alley (funny)
- 3rd "S7" short video a family having a birthday party (could be unsettling?)

Since "Sector 7 (S7)" deals with the government alien cover-up, these clips of course shows something or object Transforming - I won't tell you what they are, but the 1st one is an homage to one of the G1 Transformers!!!

There will be SIX Total "S7" ICONS, I guess one of theses mornings, the Fourth "S7" ICON will show-up and I'll check that out during breakfast!!!

Also, don't forget to look for the 5 easter eggs on HD DVD disc 2!!!


===============================

**These images represents about 1/5 of what I took, CLICK HERE to see them all (including these images & short video samples)!!!

===============================

To me, this news means I am one step closer to owning Transformers in HD wihtout buying an HD-DVD player.

FOR THOSE THAT JUST BOUGHT THE 2-DISC SD DVD VERSION OF "TRANSFORMERS":

Wal-Mart Stocks Sub-$200 HD DVD Player

It's official. After weeks of rumors, Wal-Mart has begun selling Toshiba's second-gen HD-A2 HD DVD player for $198, setting a new low-price record for a stand-alone next-gen player.

Although reports of a rollback for the HD-A2 first surfaced earlier this month, it wasn't until the middle of this week that consumers began spotting endcaps with that magic price cropping up at select Wal-Mart locations nationwide.

In an article first published by Fortune Magazine, Wal-Mart spokesperson Melissa O'Brien confirmed the price cut and denied rumors that each Wal-Mart store would stock only 18 units of the Toshiba player, saying "there are no limited quantities for stores or purchases."

The spokesperson would not comment on the retail giant's holiday plans for HD DVD and Blu-ray, other than to say "we know HD DVD and Blu-ray are going to be popular items this holiday season for some of our customers."

Toshiba's 1080i HD-A2 was originally released this past January at a retail price of $499, but is now available at various retailers at prices ranging from $230-280. The HD-A2's successor -- the third-generation HD-A3 -- is due to hit stores November 1 with a list price of $299.

Wal-Mart says the $198 price for the HD-A2 is being offered for in-store purchases only (their website still lists it at $274).

Probably an inventory sale since the G3 Toshiba HD-A3 HD DVD Player has just been released!!!

Anyway, ... An Affortable & Great Way to see the HD DVD High-Definition 1080p blockbuster movies like "Transformers" on your 720p / 1080p LCD, Plasma or DLPs and also finally TO SEE THE NEXT GENERATION FEATURES UNAVAILABLE with Blu-ray TODAY!!!

THANK YOU Dreamworks / Paramount & Michael Bay for THESE NEXT GENERATION FEATURES!!!

Phil

[Elandyll]

It's ok, that time has come to an end.
Starting on Oct.31st, all new BD players will have access to superior interactivity and connectivity, even compared with HD-DVD.

It is a shame that due to those $150M Blu-Ray fans won't have access to TF in HD for another year, but eventually they will, do not worry about this my friend

[piturra]

It's ok, that time has come to an end.

Starting on Oct.31st, all new BD players will have access to superior interactivity and connectivity, even compared with HD-DVD.

It is a shame that due to those $150M Blu-Ray fans won't have access to TF in HD for another year, but eventually they will, do not worry about this my friend

You Do Know, ... that the only Blu-ray BD 1.1 player announced (Denon) to date has been delayed till 2008.

Now, around December you might get the $1049 Samsung BD-UP5000 Duo HD Player.

It will be BD Profile 1.1 Ready, but according to ...

Samsungs Newsrelease & UPDATE @ PCWorld.com ...

Samsung Dual-Format High-Def Player Does Blu-ray and HD DVD - Wednesday, July 25, 2007 9:40 AM PT Posted by Melissa Perenson

UPDATE: And, sadly, you won't get support for the forthcoming update to Blu-ray's minimum player specs that go into effect October 31. ...

... Samsung's Maria Colon, marketing manager, and Reid Sullivan, vice president of marketing; they clarified that the BD-UP5000's storage and picture-in-picture would only work on HD DVD discs, not Blu-ray Discs. Sullivan also said that Samsung would not have a Blu-ray player with the updated specs until 2008.

...As Sullivan noted in conversation with me, it's the proverbial chicken-and-egg challenge: If the software (meaning: Blu-ray movies) aren't out that require the storage and picture-in-picture, then why should the hardware makers rush to integrate those features?

So, Oct. 31st was just a nice target date that Sony set, but will miss (again)!!!

------------

I really like some of Blu-ray EXCLUSIVE blockbuster movies!!!

But since Blu-ray's BD-J spec. is a mess, I'll wait until the following is a reality (that is, ... if Blu-ray survives**) ...

1) $198.00 Blu-ray Profile 1.1 (PiP Interactivity) & Profile 2.0 (Internet Connectivity) is available.

2) Blu-ray blockbuster movies are Re-Released to take Advantage of BD-J Profile 1.1 & 2.0
.... a) Maybe Warner will finally release ...
........ 1. "Batman Begins" with the same NEXT GEN FEATURES available w/HD DVD already!?!?

------------

**Sony will not meet sales goal for Playstation 3
By Henning Molbaek
FIRST ONLINE Oct 25, 2007

Its computer division however, still struggles to show good numbers. They have sold the Playstation 3 with loss and sold less than expected. A quarterly loss of ¥96.7 billion ($845 million) showed they have a long way before they will make any money. The games unit, which recently announced a price cut for the PS3, won't be profitable until the next business year ending March 2009, it said.

Meanwhile, ... more digital pic's ...

"Transformers" HD DVD Movie Scenes - HUD (PiP) NEXT GENERATION FEATURES w/TRUE PiP


Peter Cullen background INFO.


PiP Video behind-the-scenes INFO

"Transformers" HD DVD Movie Scenes - WEB Enabled INTELLIGENCE MODE w/GPS Tracking NEXT GENERATION FEATURES


Bumblebee signals the gang!


SKORPONOK, Decepticon INFO.


Phil

[Hockeytown Fan]

To me, this news means I am one step closer to owning Transformers in HD wihtout buying an HD-DVD player.

No your Not LOL

[Double]

No your Not LOL

Yes, I am. You see, I have a PS3, and if Blu-Ray remains successful then when the HD-DVD/Parmount/Dreamworks deal expires or if HD-DVD fails, then Transformers will eventually come out on BR.


LOL

[jasonhuang1115]

Thanks, piturra, for the detail comparison between features of Blu-ray and HD DVD. That really makes me think about getting a HD player first before the Blu-ray player drops price. I have seen you kindly posting lots of screen-cap of the web-interactive content of HD DVD. I remember there is a feature that you can evaluate those Transformers in 3D (like zoom in very close to see the detail). Would you please post some screen-cap of that sort? I am doing/learning 3D stuff and that feature of the HD DVD is actually the most appealing part to me.

[Dennis M]

Thanks, piturra, for the detail comparison between features of Blu-ray and HD DVD. That really makes me think about getting a HD player first before the Blu-ray player drops price. I have seen you kindly posting lots of screen-cap of the web-interactive content of HD DVD. I remember there is a feature that you can evaluate those Transformers in 3D (like zoom in very close to see the detail). Would you please post some screen-cap of that sort? I am doing/learning 3D stuff and that feature of the HD DVD is actually the most appealing part to me.

Hi Jason,

I have the HD DVD and the interactive features are quite impressive.

The HD DVD players are getting pretty cheap.

If fact Sears is going to sell the HD A3 (gen3) player for 169.00 on Black Friday.
I'm thinking about getting another player for the living room at that price.

[ClaytonMG]

To me, personally, I don't care about the PIP features. Also, if they wanted to do the PIP features, they could've done what WB is doing with T3 and had a seperate encode of the film. The disc is big enough to do so...

Also, so what if the BOGO sales made Blu-Ray do better that week? How is that any worse than a company paying $150 million to make some titles exclusive just to try to save their dying format? The ONLY reason HD-DVD would've won this week is because of Toshiba paying off Paramount to go exclusive, and that's it.

[ClaytonMG]

Anyway, ... An Affortable & Great Way to see the HD DVD High-Definition 1080p blockbuster movies like "Transformers" on your 720p / 1080p LCD, Plasma or DLPs and also finally TO SEE THE NEXT GENERATION FEATURES UNAVAILABLE with Blu-ray TODAY!!!

THANK YOU Dreamworks / Paramount & Michael Bay for THESE NEXT GENERATION FEATURES!!!

Phil

Wait, how much is it for a new 1080/24p HD-DVD player? I thought they cost more for some reason. Same with the one that has the ability output 7.1 sound.

[Dennis M]

To me, personally, I don't care about the PIP features. Also, if they wanted to do the PIP features, they could've done what WB is doing with T3 and had a seperate encode of the film. The disc is big enough to do so....

Have you tried the interactive feature? If you haven't you can't really make this statement.
At first I myself looked at the concept of interactive features as fluff and went Meh. Just give me the movie. Once I actually tried them my opinion changed. It just takes the HDM to another level I am enjoying.

Encoded another film on the disc is extremely inefficient. Blu-ray does not want to do this. Their profiles are going to give you these features in the future. If the BDA did not think this feature was of any value they would not have bother introducing profiles 1.1 and 2.0 in the first place.
So, you can't just dismiss these features because they are on HD DVD. They are going to be on Blu-ray as well.

Also, so what if the BOGO sales made Blu-Ray do better that week? How is that any worse than a company paying $150 million to make some titles exclusive just to try to save their dying format? The ONLY reason HD-DVD would've won this week is because of Toshiba paying off Paramount to go exclusive, and that's it.

This is some what hypocritical in the light of the Exclusive deals that Disney and Fox signed with Sony. Never mind the Target deal. Welcome to the world of business. Backroom deals are done all the time Toshiba and Sony are no exception.

It's time to live with it and move on.

[piturra]

Yes, I am. You see, I have a PS3, and if Blu-Ray remains successful then when the HD-DVD/Parmount/Dreamworks deal expires or if HD-DVD fails, then Transformers will eventually come out on BR.


LOL

Probably not since ...

Toshiba and Microsoft Announce Plans to Form Advanced Interactivity Consortium

DreamWorks Animation, Paramount, Universal and Warner join IT and consumer electronics industry leaders to extend and promote interactive experiences beyond optical media to new platforms.

TOKYO and REDMOND, Wash. — Oct. 5, 2007 — Toshiba Corp. and Microsoft Corp. today announced plans to form the Advanced Interactivity Consortium (AIC), an open forum aimed at the promotion of superior interactivity for a wide range of next-generation consumer devices, digital content and distribution scenarios. The newly formed organization’s mission is to maximize consumer satisfaction worldwide by accelerating industrywide adoption of advanced interactivity and interoperability across a broad array of HD DVD products.

In addition to its crystal-clear picture quality and sound, HD DVD, the next generation of DVD, approved by the DVD Forum, is the first platform to include advanced interactivity as a basic feature in high-definition movies and players, substantially expanding the possibilities of high-definition home entertainment.

...

The Advanced Interactivity Consortium will also include major Hollywood studios DreamWorks Animation SKG, Paramount Pictures, Universal Studios and Warner Bros., which have given their commitment to these advanced scenarios and experience bringing new features to consumers. Each studio currently distributes or will distribute HD DVD titles with HDi-enabled features, from advanced in-movie navigation, bookmarking and picture-in-picture, to Web-enabled communities, content downloads and e-commerce stores.

Glad to see Warner join, they already have released EXCLUSIVE HD DVD's like "Batman Begins" w/HDi-enabled features and didn't release "Batman Begins" on Blu-ray due to their messy BD-J Specs.


NOTE: Amazon now has joined Wal-Mart and Circuit City selling the Toshiba HD-A2 HD DVD Player for $197.99 w/FREE SH!!!

====================

FYI: The final 3 "S7" short video clips have been uploaded!!!



To recap, the first 3 ...

1st short video is a surveillance video clip in a garage (cool)

2nd short video viewing a street from an alley (funny) :laugh:

3rd short video a family having a birthday party (could be unsettling?)

-------------------------

NEW "S7" CLIPS: (My son told me that G1 "Transformers" Fans will know what these ... represents!!!)

4th short video clip in the back yard or park.

5th short video clip - wonder what that was???

6th short video - could tie-in with the movie!!!

Have fun!!!

Phil

[Dennis M]

Wait, how much is it for a new 1080/24p HD-DVD player? I thought they cost more for some reason. Same with the one that has the ability output 7.1 sound.

Cost on a player that does 1080/24p is in the 250 ballpark.

How many people have displays that support 1080p/24? I do, but not many others.
So, how useful will 1080p/24 output be for people out there right now?

Output for 7.1 is really not a factor. How many titles have 7.1 encoding? Three, maybe.
Next, how many people have a 7.1 setup?

1080/60p output is not really a useful feature either. All players with this feature to a conversion internally from the disc.

(Disc)1080p/24 -> convert to 1080i/60 -> deinterlace to 1080p/60.

If your using a player to do this you might as well output 1080i/60 and let the TV deinterlace it. Most TV's have the same deinterlacing chips found in the player if not better ones.

[ClaytonMG]

I have a 1080p TV so... why would I care what other people have? And you're right about 7.1. I don't think there's any on HD-DVD. However, there's some DTS 6.1 titles that I believe would require a player that outputs 7.1 PCM, since HD-DVD requires the player to do the decoding of the audio.

[Dennis M]

I have a 1080p TV so... why would I care what other people have? And you're right about 7.1. I don't think there's any on HD-DVD. However, there's some DTS 6.1 titles that I believe would require a player that outputs 7.1 PCM, since HD-DVD requires the player to do the decoding of the audio.

Gotch ya, does your 1080p display support 1080p/24 input? And does it support 1080p/24 native to the screen? In other words it does not convert it to 1080p/60 to display.

I think there's limited support on Blu-ray as well. At least those with 7.1 analog ouputs. Not sure if all decode 7.1 to PCM over HDMI. I'll have to check that. I know my PS3 does.

[ClaytonMG]

For Blu-Ray, ALL players output 7.1 PCM via HDMI. I think the Panasonic players are the only ones that can do analog 7.1. I think that's pretty stupid though, if each player can outpud 7.1 PCM, they should be able to do analog as well. But yes, the PS3 does output 7.1 PCM.

As for my TV, yes it accepts 1080/24p. It's the new Sony SXRD 60A3000 and let me tell you, it's a pain in the butt trying to get the black levels right! I switched over to this from an old CRT, and whew! But aside from the black levels (which I'll have to get the DVE disc for HD-DVD and hope the settings are the same which I think they probably will be) the TV is amazing.