Blue-ray（蓝碟）和HD DVD两个阵营的对决

Blue-ray（蓝碟）和HD DVD两个阵营的对决
高极登


高密DVD录像光碟分成Blue-ray（蓝碟）和HD DVD两个阵营，前者以新力为主导，后者则以东芝马首是瞻，双方都是日本消费电子产品巨擘。日本厂商倡导，欧美片商跟从，两方人马分庭抗礼，各有胜场。

　　然而新年伊始，原本两方都支持，双脚踏两船的电影业老大华纳忽然倒戈相向，投向新力的Blue-ray（蓝碟）阵营。

　　华纳在电影市场拥有两成的市占率，可说是举足轻重。整个高密光碟之战，似乎尘埃落定，虽然东芝一方不服气，掀起削价战，但新力一方扳回一局，已是不争的事实。

　　是该有个结局了，否则的话，两个制式共存，影响了高密光碟技术的发展和推广，最重要的是用户不知所措，守住旧的DVD技术，影响了高密光碟的销路。

　　两方拼斗，重演了80年代录像带制式之争，当年JVC的VHS和新力Betamax对抗，新力败下阵来，丧失了巨大商业利益，如今蓝碟胜出，新力可说是坐稳了江山，掌握了亿元的影碟市场。

　　虽则HD DVD生产成本便宜，DVD生产线只要略作改动，就能生产HD DVD，但笔者认为蓝碟胜在容量较大，单层容量可达25MB，四层容量可达100GB，HD DVD容量较蓝碟少了四成。现下技术走向高清时代，体现一部电影，需要更大的容量。

　　当年VHS后来居上胜出，就在于它的容量大，能录入三小时的影像，反观Betamax只能录上一小时，存不了一部影片。

　　硬件变化是为了适应软件，未来影音器材不只解析度高，可能还走向立体化和全景化(panorama)。我看过一些具有层次感的片子，它利用数码摄像的重叠技术，制造层次感，这类影片已走出2D，向真正的3D迈进了一步。

　　另外是全景化电影，它利用数码科技把影像衔接起来，让人们可能看到更宽广的画面，用来体现风景是最恰当不过了。有些影像还可以利用光标点按，作360度转动，这种技术可用来展示模型或是古董文物，让你看得更真确。

未来电影可能由很多架摄像机一起拍摄，你可以选摄换个角度观看画面。这类影片在储存方面，肯定需要更大容量的光碟。
人机介面面临革新

　　人机介面也正面临革新，现在我们用键盘、滑鼠、写字板、光笔、触屏、遥控器等和电脑电视沟通。不久的将来，新的沟通介面将出现。

　　一月初在拉斯维加斯举行的消费电子展上，很多商家就展示了动作遥感(motion sensing)技术，以后打电玩，无需靠按扭，用户只需在屏前做出动作，摄像感应器就会作出反应，比方拳斗游戏，你拳打脚跌扭摔，视屏中你的替身也有样学样，用你的招式和敌人交手。这样的游戏感觉上真实多了，肯定会受青少年欢迎。

　　微软主席比尔盖茨也在会场谈到动感技术，他说，往后只需拍掌就能启动电脑，隔空移动手指，就能操控光标，手指作V状则表示储存数据。

　　他也说，电子器材走向移动化，用户以后可能使用各种器材，不分时地调取资讯，数据储存在桌面电脑硬盘的时代将告终。

　　往后，数据将储存在网商或电信公司的伺服机里头，也就是所谓的数据寄存服务。人们即使身在国外，也能通过手机、公用电脑或是其他任何资讯器材，调取文档。

　　资讯科技的发展，已向网络电脑时代跨前的一步。真要到那个时代，光碟也可能面临淘汰的厄运。

·作者是《联合早报》新闻编辑

Toshiba officially declares HD DVD dead on Feb 19, 2008

Here is the statement in full:

Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall
strategy for HD DVD and has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD
players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the
market. Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for
all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.

HD DVD was developed to offer consumers access at an affordable price to high-quality, high
definition content and prepare them for the digital convergence of tomorrow where the fusion of
consumer electronics and IT will continue to progress.

“We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called 'next-generation format
war' and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop,” said Atsutoshi
Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation. "While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition
content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality.”

Toshiba will continue to lead innovation, in a wide range of technologies that will drive mass
market access to high definition content. These include high capacity NAND flash memory, small
form factor hard disk drives, next generation CPUs, visual processing, and wireless and
encryption technologies. The company expects to make forthcoming announcements around
strategic progress in these convergence technologies.

Toshiba will begin to reduce shipments of HD DVD players to retail channels, aiming for
cessation by the end of March 2008.

This decision will not impact on Toshiba’s commitment to standard DVD, and the company will
continue to market conventional DVD players and recorders. Toshiba intends to continue to
contribute to the development of the DVD industry, as a member of the DVD Forum, an
international organization with some 200 member companies, committed to the discussion and
defining of optimum optical disc formats for the consumer and the related industries.

Toshiba also intends to maintain collaborative relations with the companies who joined with
Toshiba in working to build up the HD DVD market, including Universal Studios, Paramount
Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation and major Japanese and European content providers on
the entertainment side, as well as leaders in the IT industry, including Microsoft, Intel, and HP.
Toshiba will study possible collaboration with these companies for future business opportunities, utilizing the many assets generated through the development of HD DVD.

NEWS on Feb 19, 2008

Now Universal goes Blu-ray


In a move that was almost inevitable given today's news from Toshiba, Universal Studios Home Entertainment has confirmed it will be releasing titles on Blu-ray. The company, the strongest supporter of HD DVD from the off, hasn't yet said what the time-frame is for its move, but confirms it will happen.

And that just leaves Paramount yet to show its hand on the day that saw the end of the Blu-ray/HD DVD 'format war'.

The statement issued by Universal Studios Home Entertainment President Craig Kornblau, seen left speaking at a past HD DVD Promotion Group event, says that "The path for widespread adoption of the next-generation platform has finally become clear.

"Universal will continue its aggressive efforts to broaden awareness for hi-def’s unparalleled offerings in interactivity and connectivity, at an increasingly affordable price. The emergence of a single, high-definition format is cause for consumers, as well as the entire entertainment industry, to celebrate.

While Universal values the close partnership we have shared with Toshiba, it is time to turn our focus to releasing new and catalog titles on Blu-ray."