So has blu ray basically won the format war?

With Warner's annoucement on Friday- Blu ray will have 70% of the market. What will happen to HD DVD? Will it turn into what Beta is now- something only creepy old guys who never leave their apartment use?So has blu ray basically won the format war?
I don't like the idea of Blu-ray "winning" (the misleading advertizing and arrogance associated with Blu-ray turned me off relative to the relative integrity of the HD DVD campaign) but it is in the interest of (almost) everyone that there be one format for HD disks.



I suspect that other studios will fairly quickly drop HD DVD and convert to Blu-ray if not already doing so.



The issues in my view are not whether Blu-ray will be "THE" HD disk format (it clearly will) -- but what will happen with prices, what comes after Blu-ray and will any of it replace DVD (or simply coexist.



It has been assumed that Blu-ray manufacturers have been losing a bundle on promoting Blu-ray. Will they raise prices on hardware? Drop incentive programs like free disks with new players? Raise prices on disks?



As consumers we have a lot to thank the HD DVD camp for in terms of low costs ... but without competition recouping losses may be a temptation.



Also where to from here. Have you noted that Sony HDTVs are building in xvYCC colour space and 10 bit colour support ... while initially it will probably be video games that utilize this extra capability a replacement for Blu-ray (or extension of the standard) isn't far away (8 bit colour and BT709 colour space are standard for Blu-ray). This may be a "simple" extension of Blu-ray technology, but you can be sure Sony have plans to take advantage of the capability they are building into their hardware (assuming content is produced to support it).



Finally, only 38% of US households are predicted to have HDTVs by the end of 2008. And only a fraction of these will allow the benefits fo Blu-ray to be realized (most are 720p models well under 40", and many don't have HDMI connectivity). A majority of even those with HDTVs are expected to resist the premium prices for HD disks. so the likelihood of Blu-ray disks replacing DVD before HD download and VOD services are a viable mainstream alternative to HD disks, or video holographic disks (or other technology) arrives, appears unlikely. In other words Blu-ray is likley to remain a niche format with DVD as the primary disk media for a long time to come.
You got it........So has blu ray basically won the format war?
not yet, this is a step forward



This can end up like beta maxSo has blu ray basically won the format war?
not yet... if microsoft dumps hd dvd, THEN it will be over..
I don't think so, Blu-Ray is a Sony only format. I think as time goes by you will see the HD-DVD player become increasingly popular as no one will have exclusive rights to it. Think back Beta was a Sony only format, and you saw what happened there.
No not even chance dvd is still big also the price drop on ps3 has help the blu-ray case.
blu-ray has won , hd-dvd just don't know it yet !

soon universla pictures and paramount picutres will join the blu-train



P.S : The future is Blu
I don't think anyone is a clear winner yet. That depends on which format the porn industry chooses.



That's what won the war for VHS.
Yeah pretty much....New Line Cinemas is partners with Warner so it won't be long until they go Blu-Ray only as well as confirmed by this article



http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/05/new-l鈥?/a>