“Intel Corp. and Microsoft Corp., the leading suppliers of chips and software for most of the world’s personal computers, are throwing their support behind the next-generation DVD standard known as HD DVD,” Matthew Fordahl reports for The Associated Press. “After taking a neutral stance for months in the battle between the competing HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats, the companies said Tuesday they have joined the HD DVD Promotion Group that includes Toshiba Corp., Universal Studios and others.”
“The move means upcoming PCs running Microsoft’s upcoming Windows Vista operating system or Intel’s Viiv entertainment technology will come with support for HD DVD drives,” Fordahl reports. “‘We want to make sure that whatever is put out on the market is going to be as consumer friendly as possible from the price and usability point of view,’ said Blair Westlake, vice president of Microsoft’s Media/Entertainment and Technology Convergence Group.”
Fordahl explains, “Blu-ray technology can be licensed by any company anywhere in the world. Supporters of Blu-ray have claimed they have a more sophisticated technology with a greater storage capacity. HD DVD companies have pointed to the fact that their offering will be available sooner and at less cost — an argument disputed by the Blu-ray group.”
MacDailyNews Take: What a shocker! Well, maybe not so much. Imagine, Apple and Sony on the side of the better technology while Microsoft chooses to go with the cheap, second-rate “solution.” How typical is that?
The bottom line? Xbox 360 (HD DVD) vs. PlayStation 3 (Blu-ray).
[Notes: Blu-ray Disc supports the highest quality HD video available in the industry (up to 1920 x 1080 at 40 Mbit/sec). Blu-ray capacity: 50GB vs. 30GB for HD DVD disks.]
Companies supporting Blu-ray: http://www.blu-raydisc.com/Section-13469/Index.html
Companies supporting HD DVD: http://www.hddvdprg.com/about/member.html
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Twentieth Century Fox joins Apple, Dell, HP, others to support Blu-ray Disc format – July 29, 2005
Poll shows Apple-backed Blu-ray preferred by consumers over HD DVD for next-gen DVD standard – July 14, 2005
Microsoft allies with Toshiba on HD-DVD vs. Blu-ray Disc backers Apple and Sony – June 27, 2005
Apple joins Blu-ray Disc Association Board of Directors – March 10, 2005
