Is Microsoft going to own the next generation DVD format?

from WinCustomize Forums

I think Microsoft is going to own the next generation DVD format. And I don’t say that as a Microsoft booster. I think it’s just the route that is going to make the most sense.

When I bought the new Terminator 2 DVD, the second DVD came with the full movie at 1080P (that’s P, not I) which is essentially super-duper High Definition TV. It was all in a collection of .WMV files and it all fit on a single DVD.

Moreover, with a computer with a DVD drive, I could watch this DVD on any screen – regular TV or the various other HDTV standards. It would just scale to whather and do so pretty seamlessly.

What I predict is that you’ll see new DVDs come with support for WMV files. Think about it, one DVD holding a 1080P (1080 lines of resolution) movie. Right now, most DVDs get filled up with a single 480P movie because they are so poorly compressed.

So Microsoft will end up owning the next generation format. This is a market Apple could have owned.

14,797 views 60 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Development in this area will be expensive and MS has a lot to spend. So, I am not surprised. Something strange happens at the same time. MS is getting a grip at the multi-media market (format wise) and at the same time the use of its family of WindowsMedia SDKs is limited. This started last year or so.
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I like the idea of being able to watch HDTV moveis on a normal DVD!
Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It's probably going to be 10 years before I can affort a HDTV, or maybe more. It'll happen when HDTV's are roughly to same price as regular TV. For now, I'll continue to watch DVD's on a 480 lines TV.
Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I refuse to be dependent on Billy's Crashware. If MS owns the HDTV DVD technology then I will stick with regular DVD or use whatever alternative HDTV format the anti-MS leaders in the tech industry come up with to rival MS HDTV DVD.



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Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I agree with Tech Cat on that, the thought that Microsoft will get its hands on DVD technology and make it exclusive to its products makes me feel uneasy. Don't get me wrong here, I am a devout WinXP user but should one single company really have so much power?

Oh here I go again, worrying about things I have no influence on...
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This'll be great... the DVD will only play in YOUR player, if you buy a new DVD player you'll have to get an activation code from Microsoft for it to play the movie. It will regularly contact MS to let them know how many times you've watched it and how many people were in the room (and their names and addresses if they've bought any RFID clothes from Walmart).
Reply #9 from WinCustomize Forums Top
One reason I do not use TIVO or Replay TV is that they report what you watch. If you watch Will and Grace just one time, your TIVO will think you are gay. It's nice that TIVO runs on Linux, but the spyware is a big minus >



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Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Oh gosh, my hands start shaking and my knees are trembling; we are not far away from Orwell's 1984!!!!
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
One reason I do not use TIVO or Replay TV is that they report what you watch. If you watch Will and Grace just one time, your TIVO will think you are gay. It's nice that TIVO runs on Linux, but the spyware is a big minus


Rampant Paranoia???? Himmel! Time to borrow Frogboy's Tinfoil hat!
[Message Edited]
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
They indeed monitor what is watched, but they claim they don't match the data with the persons. It's supposed to be for statistical reasons only.
Reply #13 from WinCustomize Forums Top
They indeed monitor what is watched, but they claim they don't match the data with the persons. It's supposed to be for statistical reasons only.


...but still, you never know what they are REALLY up to.



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Reply #14 from WinCustomize Forums Top
there is a way to match data with out persons or adresses.

I forgot what it is called (the process)

I better remember cause I'll have a test on it soon...

(Now where is my tin foil hat?)
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
This'll be great... the DVD will only play in YOUR player, if you buy a new DVD player you'll have to get an activation code from Microsoft for it to play the movie. It will regularly contact MS to let them know how many times you've watched it and how many people were in the room (and their names and addresses if they've bought any RFID clothes from Walmart).



Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I never use Windows Media Player anymore because that too reports what CDs you listen to and what DVDs you watch. Imagine what a MS DVD Player would be like.



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Reply #17 from WinCustomize Forums Top
MS is indeed trying to make money. But remember that they are not stupid. They learned a lesson from DirectX. In each generation of DirectX they include leading game developers and hardware manufacturers. These dictate what new capabilities DirectX will get. That is smart. That means DirectX has market support. In the predecessor of DirectX they did not and it failed miserably because of it. When developing new formats they will do the same. In this case DVD publishers and hardware vendors covering that market will have had a say in the new format. MS does not want to invest in something that nobody wants to sell, market and produce.
Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Whatever happens i hope there will be a standard for dvds.
Reply #19 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I hope most of the major movie producers and other companies that produce programs for DVD refuse to work with or support Micorosoft on creating a new HDTV DVD format.



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Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Microsoft created more standards for the PC than any other software house. Any good reason why that is bad?
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Microsoft is evil. I don't want to have to pay Microsoft to watch my movies. I rather we maintain a system where no one company monopolizes the video playback technology and you only pay the producers of the movies you buy.



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Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Im just waiting for media center edition to work with my ato- all in wonder



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Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
What gave you the impression that MS needs to be payed to use their format, Tech Cat? Maybe you are better informed than me.
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
If Microsoft gets a patent for HDTV DVD, then any company that makes an HDTV DVD Player will have to pay Microsoft. That cost is passed down to the consumer. The same goes for the HDTV DVD discs themselves. Microsoft could also set up the technology so that only Microsoft software can work with the DVDs. This means the player makers will have to purchase the software which again is a cost that is passed down to the consumers.



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Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Microsoft could even go a step further and be the only producer of HDTV DVD Players just as they are the only producer of XBOXs. Game developers have to pay Microsoft for a liscense to release a game for XBOX. Microsoft could do the same to movie producers that want to release their movies on HDTV DVD.



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