Digital Journal — Like the Beta-VHS war of yesteryear, HD-DVD and Blu-ray have been battling for DVD format supremacy. As the leaders of both Blu-ray and HD-DVD, Sony and Toshiba have fought a three-year battle to have their respective technology adopted as the next generation’s industry standard. Now, both Sony and Toshiba are working on an agreement to jointly develop a new standard for the next standardized DVD format.
If you’ve ever watched a film broadcast on a high-definition television, once the initial amazement wears off, there comes a moment when you might think, “Hey, why don’t DVDs look this good?” Then, later perhaps, after connecting the dots and realizing the prospect of the future, you shudder at the thought of repurchasing yet another version of the Star Wars Trilogy you just picked up.
At least, that’s what crossed my mind. Do we really need all this progress? Can’t we just stop and enjoy what we have for once? Alas, technology is and always will be a shark, constantly in motion to ensure its survival.
This generation’s version of VHS-Beta debate was shaping up to be High-Definition DVD (or HD-DVD), versus the mysterious-sounding Blu-ray Disc. These new formats were projected to reach North American consumers by the year’s end. The feud made me think: This can’t be happening again. Of course, nobody would be forcing us to buy all these movies multiple times. Then again, a special fifth-anniversary edition of The Lord of the Rings in high-def might be as irresistible as the ring itself.
The next generation of DVDs will surely be decided by a Sony/Toshiba deal. But the road to this stage of the game has been very exciting, to say the least. Digital Journal takes a look at this long-standing feud between Blu-ray and HD-DVD…
This article is part of Digital Journal‘s Spring 2005 issue. To read the rest of this story, pick up your copy in bookstores across Canada or the United States!
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