I looked at search engines queries that landed people on my site. I realized that many are searching more about Blu-Ray players and functions. I will answers those questions and more.
Blu-Ray and movie studios
It was made official in the last few days and all major movie studios are now in the Blu-Ray camp. Both Universal and Paramount, they were HD-DVD exclusive, gave press releases that they will join Blu-Ray now. This may take some time before we get HD-DVD exclusive titles converted to Blu-Ray. Paramount has experienced with Blu-Ray because they were ready to release a few titles before they got in the HD-DVD camp last August. So, they should be faster. Universal is 2 years behind. Universal and Paramount will need to encode the movie again to take advantage of the 50GB of space on Blu-Ray discs. Current HD-DVD released were 30GB. It may have been done at the same time and they may just need to redo the menus or add extras. I just hope they use the extra space.Blu-Ray and Toshiba
Toshiba did not announced plans to make Blu-Ray players. But they will have too or they will loose some HD market share if they don't. The question is: Will they also make dual players? It may cost a little more for them but it's a way for HD-DVD supporters to replace their broken players later on.Blu-Ray and DVD
All your DVDs will work in a Blu-Ray player. Because it's connected to your HDTV, the picture will look even better because of the upconversion of the DVD. If you don't know, It's a process where it tries to take 480 lines and make it 1080 lines. It won't be true HD but good enough for comedies. ;) Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy ... that's where true HD will be the best and shine. That's what I planned to buy again in Blu-Ray but not all of them. I got a few must have titles in mind. :D The DVD has still a long life ahead of it. That is the advantage of going digital.Blu-Ray and Price
Blu-Ray won the HD format war but DVD is now it's main competitor so price will decrease. More companies will jump in and you will have an economy of scale. Add to that that the U.S. will go all digital next year and people will buy a lot of HDTV instead of buying a converter box.You might have a Blu-Ray player
Those with a PS3 do have a Blu-ray player already. It may be connected to a normal TV for now. If they buy a HDTV this year, where do you guest the PS3 will be connected next? ;)Blu-Ray and DivX
That codec is not supported by default. It was the same with DVD. A PS3 is the only one at the moment to support DivX.Blu-Ray vs Download/streaming
I have posted about it recently: The Truth About HD Streaming Or Downloads Videotron offer 30, 50 Mbps Internet Speed But…(Think about downloading or streaming a HD movie and the final cost to you) Digital Downloads Are Not About To Kill Blu-Ray(Techcrunch) If digital downloads can be: easy to use, same quality, priced right, then it will be a winner. But it you start to pay $1 per extra GB because you got over your monthly limits and a movie end up costing you $25 with no extras plus the renting fee or buying cost, then digital download won't work.I have a HD home theater. Will a Blu-Ray player work?
Depending of the age of you HDTV, it should not be a problem if it has a DVI or HDMI connection. Otherwise, you won't have the full benefit of the Blu-Ray player. For that, you need a 1080P HDTV and a 7.1 receiver that support all the latest audio codecs. I have a 720P/1080i HDTV(2003) and a old receiver(2001) that support Dolby Digital 5.1. So, it's not the latest and greatest but it will play the movie in HD.Blu-Ray: Why did it win?
Some will tell you it's money but I will tell you it was about content availability. Sony own a movie studio that released major movies like Spider-Man. Plus, Disney and Fox were supporting Blu-Ray too and are major players with blockbusters movies like Pirates of the Caribbeans, Die Hard, Cars . If you add to that number of PS3 sold, then you have a bigger supporting base than HD-DVD. Better marketing was also the cause. Those are only a few things.Can my HD-DVD player support Blu-Ray?
Yes, if it's a dual player. Those are rare and not made by Toshiba but by LG and Samsung.Blu-Ray recorder
They do exist for recording TV(OTA) and on PC's. Like DVD recorders, they cost a lot and are limited. Don't expect to copy a Blu-Ray movie or even a TV program on cable or satellite in HD. Those are protected.Blu-Ray and renting
Yesterday, I went to 2 local video store. One had about 12 titles in Blu-Ray and the other none. Both were own by major video chains in the area. One manager did not know that the war was officially over. They said that the demand was not there. If people don't see them, they can't rent them. The one with Blu-Ray said that when a title is not available in HD, people rent the DVD instead. I said to him that I was a prime candidate because I don't intent of buying movies but mostly renting them. So, my next option is too look at online video rental like this one in Canada. I will have to look into it more closely.Blu-Ray and profiles
Something that consumer will have to know is about the profile of a Blu-Ray player. If you only want to watch HD movies and extra is not important to you, then a profile 1.0 is okay for you. But some extras won't be available to you. Profile 1.1 allowed picture in picture commentaries while playing a movie for example. New players(since November 2007) support 1.1 but you should ask the seller first. It could be a older player on sale. Profile 2.0(not out) will allow access to internet enabled content for a movie. It should make it easier to update the machine too. The PS3 and some newer players will be upgraded to 2.0 when it's done. Note: HD-DVD had this features from the start. On the other hand, it was closed and could not be upgraded later on. But Blu-Ray should had started with profile 2.0 or at least be upgradeable.List of Blu-Ray porn
I don't have a list but you can go on Digital Playground(must be 18+). They were HD-DVD biggest producer until they announce they would produce Blu-Ray too. I had to sacrifice my eyes, again, but they only had 2 Blu-Ray titles in their store. They did announced more titles to come. I'm sure the rest of the adult industry will follow suit. This time around, the adult industry was not the major factor to win this format war.What's next?
My opinion is that Super Blu-Ray (4 times the resolution of HD) will be next and be compatible with Blu-Ray and DVD unless digital downloads can keep up. But, TV stations won't be rush to switch to that new technology and so are consumers(buyer's fatigue). We just started to get HDTV. If that happens, it will be in 15 years if not more. Those on the fence can safely buy a Blu-Ray player now. No other format will come now that the war is officially finish. Buy in peace! :D If you have other questions, contact me or leave a comment and I will had it to the list above.Keywords: High definition, Passion, Technology