[Pc_Support] Intel, Microsoft to support HD DVD, not BlueRay ...

[Bryan J. Smith]

On Sat, 2005-10-22 at 13:29 -0400, Damien McKenna wrote:
> Why is Blu-Ray not data friendly?

HD-DVD uses the established Universal Disc Format (UDF, version 2.6)
filesystem that is used by all re-writable media, in addition to being a
replacement for ISO9660 for write-once media.  UDF 2.6 is designed for
DRM and other things, without destroying legacy compatibility.

Blu Ray uses it's own filesystem.  Although UDF 2.5 support has been
made to work with Blu Ray, the Blu Ray consortium refuses to use it as
the standard.  That's part of what HP is lobbying about, the refusal of
the MPAA/RIAA to guarantee compatibility.

Outside of Software Architects Inc. (SAI), which is 5-figures to
license, there is little support for the Blu Ray filesystem outside of
"players".  In other words, Intel, Microsoft, HP and just about everyone
else hates the concept that either they won't be able to play Blu Ray
audio/movies or, and more likely, they're going to have to pay huge
royalties for Blu Ray filesystem support.

Especially when UDF exists and works just fine for Blu Ray.
Again, it's about "control."

> We'll probably see the announcements over the next few months, if not 
> weeks with the way things are hotting up.

What I can't understand is where people are coming from Blu Ray.  It's
always been "behind" on release date and HD-DVD slips are only going to
make it not have as much of a lead.

This was so "deja vu" of the original Sony/Philips 3GB DVD-R+W that hit
Japan 2 years late.  _After_ 2nd Gen Matsushita pushed DVD-RAM was 4.7GB
as well as Pioneer DVD-R(G) drives came out at a lower price point.

Sony promises one thing, then delivers another.  HP wants to avoid a
repeat of this, because they were caught falsely advertising DVD-R(G)
then DVD+R support for their 1st gen DVD100i drives that ended up only
doing DVD+RW (no DVD+R) because Sony couldn't come through on its
promises.

Then I remember how much media Sony controls.  ;->

-- 
Bryan J. Smith     b.j.smith at ieee.org     http://thebs413.blogspot.com
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