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BY A CORRESPONDENT
MARCH 12, 2005:
Apple Computer has thrown
its enormous weight behind the upcoming Blu-Ray
technology. This has tilted the balance of power
in favour of the Sony-promoted next-generation
high-definition digital video disc technology.
With this, the rival HD-DVD consortium led by
Toshiba-NEC falls a step behind.
Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are new
upcoming formats in DVDs, promoted by rival
consortia led by the Sony-led team pushing Blu-Ray
and Toshiba-group promoting HD-DVD. Apple joins
Sony, Dell, HP, Sharp, Philips, Panasonic, Hitachi
and eight other companies on Blu-Ray's board of
directors.
Detailed report on HD-DVD Blu-Ray battle
"Apple is pleased to join
the Blu-ray Disc Association board as part of our
efforts to drive consumer adoption of HD," Apple
bossman Steve Jobs said in a statement on the Blu-Ray
Web site.
The new formats of DVD are
not compatible with each other. If you have a DVD
drive which can run HD-DVD, it can't read Blu-Ray
and vice-versa. The success of either of the new
format, to a large extent, depends on acceptance
by leading Hollyood movie makers and technology
companies. At the end of the format war, only one
leader will be left, who entices more user
companies.
Hollywood supporters of
the Blu-Ray format include Walt Disney, Twentieth
Century Fox and Sony Pictures. HD-DVD format is
backed by Warner Brothers, Universal and
Paramount.
Both DVD formats will have
greater picture and sound quality, large data
storage capacity, enhanced copyright protection
and interactive capabilities.
In comparison, HD-DVD is
cheaper to make, but has slightly less storage
capacity, whereas Blu-Ray comes with more
space and for a higher price.
It is rumoured that Apple
Computer is secretly crafting a home multimedia
hub. If the rumours are true, the new storage
format will likely be part of it.
Recently, Apple acquired
the Silicon Valley firm TiVo, which hawked popular
but unprofitable technology.
BY A CORRESPONDENT |
