Intel, Microsoft Back Next-Generation DVDs

Intel, Microsoft Back Next-Generation DVDs

Updated 12:32 AM ET September 27, 2005

By MATTHEW FORDAHL

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - 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.

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.

"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.


Complete Story here: http://dailynews.att.net/cgi-bin/news?e=pri&dt=050927&cat=news&st=newsd8cscn080&src=ap&view=print

Microsoft have already pronounced that they will be backing HD DVD. There is a thread here:

https://www.videohelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=272662

Let's hope some kind souls will develop players like Media Player Classic under GPL that support HD DVD or Blue Ray.

I doubt this will be a popular post, but here it goes....

I can't beleive that Microsoft hasn't taken over the HD market. Not just the DVD war, but the format in general. Let's face it, the only way to view ANY HD content right now is through your cable/satelite provider or Windows Media Player HD files from your computer. They already have movies out in the HD format & can be played on HDTV IF you have your puter hooked up to the HDTV. The files can fit on a normal DVD & is pretty clear.

Now I may be incorrect on the specs of these files compared to what REAL HD content is supposed to be, but it still looks a HECK of a lot better than normal mpeg2 format.

If anyone can correct me on this, please do.

"I can't beleive that Microsoft hasn't taken over the HD market"

It hasn't

"Let's face it, the only way to view ANY HD content right now is through your cable/satelite provider....."

99% of the content

"HD files from your computer"

<1% of the content

"They already have movies out in the HD format & can be played on HDTV IF you have your puter hooked up to the HDTV. The files can fit on a normal DVD & is pretty clear."

If the files contain a full length movie and they fit on a regular DVD, then they're not full HD content.

"Now I may be incorrect on the specs of these files compared to what REAL HD content is supposed to be....."

You are. The ultimate HD is 1080p and no one provides this content yet. The closest is satellite with 720p content.

Wait for the release of set top players from either Toshiba et al or Sony et al and you'll see true HD.

Roberta

You should really check out those files as I KNOW you are informed.
if you haven't checked out the media, then please research before you reply.

The media files ARE 1080p & obviously you have not been to the site to check it out if you think NO ONE provides this yet. Satellite DOES offer 1080p as well.

As for the content on Cable/Sat Providers.... WHAT content?? There is actually VERY little content done in HD compared to normal SD format.

I do not mean to flame, but I do believe you a little misinformed & I appologise if I am incorrect.

Thank you for the info jntaylor63.

"...if you haven't checked out the media, then please research before you reply. The media files ARE 1080p & obviously you have not been to the site to check it out if you think NO ONE provides this yet. Satellite DOES offer 1080p as well."

From DirecTV's website:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/imagine/HDDVR.dsp

No 1080p.

From DSH Network's site:

http://www.directv.com/DTVAPP/imagine/HDDVR.dsp

No 1080p.

I don't know what share of the US satellite market DirecTV and DISH have, but I'll bet it's over 95%. So if there's someone else broadcasting in 1080p, they're small players and not relevant to the majority of satellite TV viewers.

Comcast Cable's Motorola receivers are limited to 720p or 1080i
Time Warner Cable's Pioneer and SA receivers are limited to 720p or 1080i

So I'm not sure which cable or satellite providers you say are broadcasting in 1080p, but if they're out there, they aren't the majors.

"As for the content on Cable/Sat Providers.... WHAT content?? There is actually VERY little content done in HD compared to normal SD format."

All of the major networks, many of the niche market channels and some movie channels. Check the providers' listings and you'll see that there's a lot of programming available.

"I do not mean to flame, but I do believe you a little misinformed & I appologise if I am incorrect."

Roberta

Thank you Roberta for the response, but you just prooved my point on the cable or satellite providers NOT broadcasting in true High Def where Mindows Media Files are 1080i.


FYI, I appreciate the feedback & am not getting upset. I am just hungry for information & appreciate you constructive critisims. So please don't get upset if it sounds like I am flaming.

Thanks

Oh yes....

http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jan2005/tc20050110_2911_tc024.htm

confirms that there is virtually no 1080p content available.

By the way, Microsoft's spec for their "HD" content is 6-8 MB/ps. The spec used by both Toshiba & Sony is 20-25MB/ps, so I don't see how MS's compression algorithm can produce comparable quality output at such a low rate (current DVDs can handle up to ~9MB/ps).

Roberta

Not worried about flames.

I guess the issue is "true" hi-def content. There's (virtually) none available now, but there is a lot of HD (720p, 1080i) content that sure do look purty!

Roberta

Ooops.


Just noticed that I gave DirecTV's URL 2x. DISH's overview of HDTV is in:

http://www.dishnetwork.com/content/products/receivers/hd/index.shtml


RAZ

Originally Posted by lordsmurf

I believe the concern between 20-25Mb/s and 6-8Mb/s data rates is because of the formats. The higher one is likely an MPEG-2 while the smaller one is one of the new MPEG-4 variations (H.264, VC-1).

Yup. It should be interesting to compare the two of them. Although, if I'm not mistaken, the ability to play Microsoft encoded HD video will be included in HD DVD and Blu-Ray discs (although Sony, in their infinite wisdom, may pull that option).

Roberta

lordsmurf wrote:
I believe the concern between 20-25Mb/s and 6-8Mb/s data rates is because of the formats. The higher one is likely an MPEG-2 while the smaller one is one of the new MPEG-4 variations (H.264, VC-1).

This does not include the overhead you might need for AACS decryption. Please note that MPEG-4 is 3X more complex than MPEG-2. You need some real horses under the hood to playback a bitrate higher than 12Mbps(MPEG4) and 20Mbps(MPEG2). The clips that you see from MS that are in WMHD are only 10Mbps. This is not true HD since the bitrate is not high enough and the picture quality is just slightly better than DVD. I know I would not pay the extra money for it.

Blu-ray fires back at HD DVD camp, Microsoft responds:
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20050929-5366.html

[/quote]EdDV wrote: I don't understand your point here. MPeg4 formats (e.g. WMV-HD, VC-1, H.264) are more efficiently encoded and hence consume less bandwidth (30-50%) than MPeg2 at the same quality. Encoding and decoding are much more computation intensive and hence hardware codec assist is generally used. WMV-HD 1080p is very much "true HD".

You are referring to the compressed encoded data. There is still the task of decoding the data to get it to a video output. Since this is complex it will take more processor and memory resources.
Some of the numbers that I have heard for H.264 and VC-1 is 15Mbps minimum for HD movie playback. Mpeg2 would probably be around the 25 to 27Mbps range.
Yes, WMV-HD is by definition "True HD" but it is not going to blow your socks off at 8Mbps with its video quality. I have seen Mpeg2 HD streams at 25Mbps and it is truely better than a 8Mbps or 10Mbps WMV-HD stream.
Movie studios need a compelling product. At that bitrate it is not compelling. BD or HD DVD is needed to store it. It cannot be done on DVD at the high bitrate.

RG