James Delahunty
27 Sep 2005 11:52
U.S. software giant Microsoft and chip-maker Intel have pledged support for the HD-DVD format; a competing format to become the next generation standard to replace DVDs. The format, developed by Toshiba is going head to head with Blu-Ray which was developed by Sony Corp. and is promoted by the Blu-Ray Disc Association. Both formats, which depend on blue lasers can store much more data than ordinary DVDs which makes them perfect to store high definition movies and next generation videogames.
Possibly billions of dollars is being fought for by both sides, whom also both have major backing. Blu-Ray has scored a lot of support especially from Hollywood, being backed by such studios as Walt Disney Co., Sony Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox. Many experts have long being saying that it seemed Blu-Ray has advantage in the format war, but the added support from Intel and Microsoft for HD-DVD was a blow to Blu-Ray.
This might give HD-DVD the edge over Blu-Ray at least in North America, Intel and Microsoft's strongest market. "We wanted to choose the format that has the highest probability of this market taking off," said Stephen Balogh, director of optical media standards and technologies at Intel. HD-DVD also has support from Hollywood studios including Universal and Paramount.
However, in a format war, consumers have the last word as we all have to decide which format we want to go with eventually. Blu-Ray so far has had a lot of support from consumers, mainly due to its higher storage capacity than HD-DVDs.
Source:
Reuters