Re: Toshiba launch new DVD player with upconverting features

mvckalel, I want the technology that allowed Harrison Ford to zoom into that photograph on Blade Runner.

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A cnet editor has a little (pre)review up:

Well not really because as they say

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We're hoping to get a review sample sometime this week, so we'll be able to run it through its paces.

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Mvckalel, I want the technology that allowed Harrison Ford to zoom into that photograph on Blade Runner.

You'll have to wait for the 2nd gen Skyhawk

Seriously - this technology might be complete pants - however from initial reports Toshiba are going to put a fair bit of marketing behind it (HD-DVD marketing was gash - so thats not really saying anything).
However as we have all read Joe public can't see enough difference to spend on BD. The Japanese who traditionally jump on new technology are not doing that with BD. Even the PS3 (Sony's so called Trojan Horse) is being outsold by 3-1 in Japan by the Wii.

People who have home cinemas and high end equipment are quite rightly not going to settle for anything other than HD source - but these people (like it or not) are in the minority. Average Joe - average household don't care enough and if Toshiba's xDE technology improves image quality even subtlety as some reports say that just makes it even more likely these people will care even less.

$149 for a first gen piece of hardware - what did Blu-ray and HD-DVD hardware cost on its initial release compared to where prices are now. This technology will be sub $100 very shortly and if Toshiba is trying to extend the life of DVD then they surely will license this to cheap Chinese manufacturers in the near future.

Hey Skyhawk... hey, I've got a better one than yours!

How about that technology seen in Deja Vu, where the investigators could "back up" time by 4 days, as well as being able to have recorded (from several camera angles) the 'event' that the storyline comprises (from satellites in the sky using a special software testing program). While the movie was absolutely gorgeous to watch on Blu-ray (one of the best images I've seen), the screenplay is preposterous.

Just think if Toshiba had this technology and could have intercepted (and overheard) the meeting where Warner execs made the decision to go Blu-ray exclusive, perhaps they could have headed off that decision with a huge payoff to Warner... so that HD-DVD might have... ah forget it.

-JOE- (Love Hendrix!)

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[Post edited by Love Hendrix! on Aug 18, 2008]

After all Sony's failed formats I wonder if Sony's Exec's have Deja Vu in their mind also

Makes me wonder why they didn't go with the cell chip on-board. Then I guess the price would be the same as a Blu_Ray deck. Or will the produce a Blu-Ray deck with cell. Now MS is also looking at a new console in the next year or so. So will it be in their best interest to revive HD DVD, with the cell chip and HDI? Probably not, all the investment dollars have been made.

BTW, The XBOX 360 has officially outsold the PS3 in Japan 2.5 : 1.

OK Hendrix, you got me. Deja Vu was definitely the best upconversion I've seen yet. You're right. If Toshiba can pull something like that off, I'm throwing my PS3 out the window, and going for that!

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$149 for a first gen piece of hardware

Hey Scotsman, does that mean that Toshiba's next REAL upconverter (SUC one) will be profile 1.2 as opposed to their 1.0 player? What about all those poor consumers who buy this one? And what when DVD 2.0 comes out even later?

Oh no matter. By the time that they release that, everyone will be high definition anyway.

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Even the PS3 (Sony's so called Trojan Horse) is being outsold by 3-1 in Japan by the Wii.

Damn, just a year ago it was 8 to 1.

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Damn, just a year ago it was 8 to 1.

I know it is fuel on a fire. However, XBOX 360 actually beat the PS3 in Japan this past week. Something NO ONE thought possible. I guess no on can know for sure in the console war.

That said. Why not embrace new upscaling technology? Perhaps Toshiba could license it and that way it could find way to Blu-ray players, TVs, download boxes and much more. I'm an HD addict but I'm still watching a lot of SD because it is not possible to get it all in HD. I want that to look as good as possible and if a $149 DVD player can help to that I'm in. The fact that Blu-ray land has to attack everything that moves and isn't Blu is really not the way to go in my book. Prove your worth with good play and not by trashing your opponent before he gets on the field. And come on Blu-ray, if you are afraid of a $149 DVD player from Toshiba you are in much more trouble than you realize. Believe in your own strengths and stop living in fear

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[Post edited by Henning on Aug 19, 2008]

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Hey Scotsman, does that mean that Toshiba's next REAL upconverter (SUC one) will be profile 1.2 as opposed to their 1.0 player? What about all those poor consumers who buy this one? And what when DVD 2.0 comes out even later?

Skyhawk what you're describing I call 'pulling a Blu-ray' and no I don't mean that.

What I mean is when they optimize their production process to reduce manufacturing costs. Toshiba never did what you describe with HD-DVD - I can't see them starting now.

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[Post edited by Scotsman on Aug 19, 2008]