Are Blu-Ray and HD-DVD going to have region coding like regular DVDs? Also will there be one picture format or NTSC and PAL again?
yes there will be region endoding at least for blu-ray http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray#Region_codes
As for region coding... Yes for Blu-ray, No for HD-DVD. DTV is a world standard! It was created to replace the PAL and NTSC systems. So, no you don't have to worry about that anymore (although broadcast formats vary from region to region). DTV: Formats... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_television#Formats Ced
thanks for the info. Does anybody know how large the capacity is for either HD-DVD discs and Blu-Ray that are being sold now? Is it single layer? Also how big are the respective movie files? I would guess only about 15GB max but thats just a guess. Can the discs be ripped with Decrypter and AnyDVD? Not that it really matters since there are no burners.
The HD-DVD discs are 30BG dual layer discs. The Hybrid layer discs are 15GB single layer on one side and DVD-9 on the other side. The Blu-ray discs are all 25GB sigle layers discs. No. Except the DVD-9 side of the Hybrid HD-DVDs are able to be ripped of course. Ced
a merely 15GB. Maybe in 3 years when they start encoding at least 30GB movies I'll be an HD player. As for the region coding, I guess that makes me an HD-DVD fan. Although a longtime Sony brand fan I can't stand more region coding although I understand how its important (so you can't buy the same DVD in Singapore for $5 where in the US it cost $20). At the same time I can't playback my REGION 2 DVD movies which, by the way, cost between $40-$70 each and I have to make DVD-5 backups of those. Well enough complaining. Thanks for the info.
Actually, I think Ced meant to say that BluRay is 25 Gigs for single layer and 50 Gigs for double layer.
Thankz dblbogey7, Yes, I did mean to say Blu-ray is using 25GB single layer discs not 15GB (sorry). But, to my knowlege, the Blu-ray camp isn't selling any movies using 50GB dual layers discs yet. Check-out these lists of movies catagorized by disc type and codec... HD-DVD: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HD-DVD#Released_titles Blu-ray: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blu-ray Ced
Here's a post from an MS insider and VC-1 expert on how you can fit a four hour movie (example - LOTR Extended Edition) on a double layer 30 Gig HD-DVD: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7733344&&#post7733344
are all HD-DVDs in hybrid format? Will Blu-Ray make Hybrid DVDs too? I assume the DVD9 is the same as the retail DVD of the same movie.
No - not all HD-DVD's are in combo/hybrid. No word yet on BluRay coming out with combo/hybrid discs. Combo Releases so far - HD-DVD on one side and SD DVD on the other side: 16 Blocks (Warner) Animal House (Universal) ATL (Warner) Firewall (Warner) Good Night, and Good Luck (Warner) Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (Warner) Rumor Has It (Warner) Unleashed (Universal)
is there an official site online for combo releases on HD-DVD? Does it say "hybrid DVD" on the commercial disc packaging?
The discs are labeled COMBO FORMAT - not Hybrid DVD: http://www.amazon.com/Slither-DVD-H...ref=sr_1_15/002-9613254-8896810?ie=UTF8&s=dvd This is the site I consult for previous and forthcoming releases. It also tells you if they are COMBO or pure HD-DVD. http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=692850