End of the Blu-Ray / HD-DVD Format War?

Next week's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas should shake up the format war. The NYTimes reports that Warner Brothers will announce the Total HD disc that can store both Blu-ray and HD-DVD content. The article also mentions that LG (along with "possibly other gadget makers") is expected to announce a player that can play both formats. According to Yahoo, LG has not announced pricing, but the Times notes that such dual-format devices are bound to cost more than existing players. And the Times outlines the many considerations that would come into play before studios decide to release their content in both formats on a single disc.

Re:Excellent

[gEvil (beta)]

This will end the Blu-Ray / HD-DVD war much in the same way that DVD±R drives ended the DVD+R / DVD-R war.
And to a lesser extent the Betamax / VHS war.

Please elaborate on how DVD±R drives ended the Betamax/VHS war...

Re:Excellent

[winnabago]

Give him some slack, he managed to find the '±' key on the keyboard!

2 x 2

[3.14159265]

This makes my head hurt.
On the one hand we've got discs that have both HD-DVD and Blu-Ray, and on the other players that play both formats.
Somebody slap somebody!

Re:Total HD Player

[thePowerOfGrayskull]

Most of my friends who have the new wide screen HD TVs don't have HD service. Furthermore, they stretch standard TV to fill their wide screen which makes everyone look fat. They end up with a low quality distorted picture but they are really impressed with their new "media experience". This is the real HD experience. I doubt there is any real demand for true HD.

I would submit that your friends are ninnies, and that you draw your conclusions from too little data.

Re:Total HD Player

[Godji]

In this case, I don't believe a regulatory agency even exists to mandate media format upgrades.

Please, PLEASE don't give the MPAA ideas like that!!!

Re:Total HD Player

[thePowerOfGrayskull]

You're right. I don't have many geek friends. My data is also anecdotal, limited, and probably biased. However, my point is that most "average" people are clueless about HD. I am skeptical that there is a "market" for HD. (I am also usually wrong about "consumers" and "markets".)

You've completely ruined my off-the-cuff flippant remark with logic.

Shame on you.

Re:Excellent

[jZnat]

Dude, it's easy, just press + and - in really fast succession. ± See?