Microsft is starting to flex their muscles with HD DVD

Qbfinest83 · 12-13-2007, 11:59 AM

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...13122007-1.htm\

Quote:

So it would appear Microsft is starting to flex their muscles with HD DVD, nice call Michael Bay you have to realize Blu-Ray.com isn't a valid source of information.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...13122007-1.htm

New tool streamlines development and testing process for HD DVD content, accelerates advancement of next-generation interactivity, including experiences powered by Microsoft HDi technology.
December 13, 2007: 09:00 AM EST

REDMOND, Wash., Dec. 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Microsoft Corp. today announced the release of the Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator, enabling film studios and disc authoring companies to model the behavior of HD DVD disc content, including encoded video and HDi interactivity, in a virtual environment before committing to burning a single HD DVD disc. This comprehensive tool is among the first commercially available, software-based solutions of its kind, eliminating the need for expensive hardware or time-consuming and costly trial-and-error processes for testing HD DVD titles, helping to ensure that titles ship error-free.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO)

The enhanced content and rich interactive capabilities of HD DVD increase the need for an efficient way to troubleshoot coding to maintain the highest-quality consumer experiences. The emulator uses a combination of available hardware (the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system and the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player) and specialized emulation software to ultimately enable playback of near-final assets from a network storage share, portable hard drive or optical disc. This allows focused testing of the layout, the menus, and the behavior of the interactivity functionality of a title. Detailed log reports from the Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator deliver valuable tracing information to help quickly and easily pinpoint problems with advanced interactivity code that otherwise could take hours of manual debugging.

"We are committed to supporting and advancing the HD DVD ecosystem, and the new Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator reflects these efforts by providing developers with the software-based tools they need to efficiently deliver the highest-quality content," said Jordi Ribas, general manager of HD DVD at Microsoft. "Microsoft developed the Emulator to help save studios and postproduction houses time, resources and costs involved with the creation of HD DVD content, and let them focus on what really matters -- pushing the envelope with the format."

Sessions using the Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator are designed to complement existing workflows so that tests can be run at various stages. The tool offers several choices for how to run a session: directly from a network storage share, from a USB drive connected directly to the Xbox 360 console, or from an optical disc in the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player. While the tool enables the testing of content playback on the Xbox 360 HD DVD Player specifically, it effectively eliminates layers in the testing process for other HD DVD players as well.

Validated by the Industry's Leading HD DVD Production Houses

As part of the development process, Microsoft implemented a beta program from July through November of this year, involving more than 40 participants, including Deluxe Digital Studios, Enteractive GmbH, Imagion AG, Memory-Tech Corporation and NetBlender Inc. Participants found that the tool significantly decreased the number of hours and reduced the costs associated with the production process, freeing up time to refine and improve content.

"The authoring process for HD DVD is more complex and expensive than the process for standard DVD, and as with any new technology, it can require a lot of time and resources," said John Harrington, CEO of NetBlender. "In the process of working with the new Xbox 360 HD DVD Player Emulator, we were able to cut the number of test discs needed per month from roughly 200 down to 50, saving more than 100 work hours per month. This positively impacted our business essentially overnight. We estimate we will recoup the low cost of the tool in less than one month's time."

Setting up the Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator simply requires establishing a connection to Xbox LIVE, navigating to the Download Games menu, and adding the Emulator software to the hard drive of the Xbox 360 console. The one-time licensing fee is $2,999.

As scenarios for next-generation interactivity continue to expand and evolve, streamlining the production process for HD DVD titles frees up resources that licensees can use to focus on refining and improving content -- maximizing the potential of HDi to create compelling user scenarios. The Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator is available for sale immediately at http://www.thisishddvd.com/emulator.

More information on the Xbox 360 HD DVD Emulator and HDi License Program, as well as a downloadable case study of NetBlender's use of the emulator, is available at http://www.thisishddvd.com/emulator.

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

This is good news hopefully they will pass the savings on to us and have the cost of HDDVD comes down

niennumb1 · 12-13-2007, 12:04 PM

Thanks for posting this. Sounds great!

MikeRox · 12-13-2007, 12:06 PM

That would certainly help with attracting more support. Have Sony got something similar planned for a Blu-ray environment?

The sooner we get less clunky, better coded discs the better.

doctorxring · 12-13-2007, 12:11 PM

Good news. Thanks for posting.

This is the kind of thing that makes it happen in the long run.

dxr

neal77 · 12-13-2007, 12:14 PM

Could this be one more bit of good news for HD DVD that might sway some studio over to the red side?

dolphy · 12-13-2007, 12:32 PM

Yeah, just like Microsoft's Zune player. Revolutionary.

daiello · 12-13-2007, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolphy

Yeah, just like Microsoft's Zune player. Revolutionary.

I'd invest into Microsoft over Sony any day

mshulman · 12-13-2007, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolphy

Yeah, just like Microsoft's Zune player. Revolutionary.

That's a really poor comparison. Totally different.

deadeyedaryl · 12-13-2007, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daiello

I'd invest into Microsoft over Sony any day

Yeah they make alot more money

Super XP · 12-13-2007, 04:11 PM

This is great news for HD DVD. Microsoft is in the business of making money and winning, they are not about to lose anytime soon.

Have fun Sony, the more you piss of MS the worst it gets for your Blu-Ray

jnester74 · 12-13-2007, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dolphy

Yeah, just like Microsoft's Zune player. Revolutionary.

I love my Zune and really love my Zune pass. unlimited downloads of songs. Bite me Itunes.

MikeRox · 12-13-2007, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qbfinest83

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/...13122007-1.htm\

This is good news hopefully they will pass the savings on to us and have the cost of HDDVD comes down

I think they're more looking at improving the profitability on HD DVD rather than passing any savings onto us right now sadly. In the long run though, any cost cutting they can do is great, because at the end of the day it makes studios more likely to support the format.

Cowboy X · 12-13-2007, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeRox

That would certainly help with attracting more support. Have Sony got something similar planned for a Blu-ray environment?

The sooner we get less clunky, better coded discs the better.

Maybe maybe not. It is quite possible that they don't, it is very clear that in this console generation MS focused heavily on ease of use, reduced cost and reduced stress to developers. This has not been the case for Sony. Rest assured that Sony will have to respond sometime in the future, but I am certain that Sony would not price it so low ........... at least not by choice.

MikeRox · 12-13-2007, 04:49 PM

You know, I said in that thread over a BD studio going neutral how I thought it would be Disney. But reading about the problems fox have been having with software and BD players, (starting with Fantastic Four) I do wonder if that has possibly been developed more to give studios such as Fox, a cheap means to test the water for HD DVD development without them having to officially commit to the format.

**PFC5** · 12-13-2007, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeRox

You know, I said in that thread over a BD studio going neutral how I thought it would be Disney. But reading about the problems fox have been having with software and BD players, (starting with Fantastic Four) I do wonder if that has possibly been developed more to give studios such as Fox, a cheap means to test the water for HD DVD development without them having to officially commit to the format.

That is a good observation Mike. However Disney has had some problems with their releases too on BD. There latest POTC doesn't play on the Samsung BD-P1200 and I think has glitches on some others as well.

I know we have heard about some Warner movies in BD packaging having HD DVD discs inside. Wouldn't it be funny if that happened by accident with a current BD only studio?

12-13-2007, 12:04 PM	#2
niennumb1 HD For life! Join Date: Nov 2007 Age: 31 Posts: 648	Thanks for posting this. Sounds great! __________________ HD-DVD MOVIES: Lost count BLU-RAY MOVIES: Lost count

12-13-2007, 12:06 PM	#3
MikeRox Blu Blu Skies! :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: Huddersfield, United Kingdom Posts: 12,260	That would certainly help with attracting more support. Have Sony got something similar planned for a Blu-ray environment? The sooner we get less clunky, better coded discs the better. __________________ REGION B 4TW! Latest HD additions - I Love You Man - 17 Again - Born on the 4th of July - Paul Blart: Mall Cop - Monsters, Inc. HD Movies - Um... Lost count >_< bout 250 Latest Gaming Additions - Mirrors Edge - Scene It BOS - Wartech: Senko No Ronde - Lego Indiana Jones/Kung Fu Panda 2 pack - Silent Hill

12-13-2007, 12:11 PM	#4
doctorxring Is there anyone else ? Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 64	emulator Good news. Thanks for posting. This is the kind of thing that makes it happen in the long run. dxr __________________ Panasonic 42PZ700U -- Samsung 5084 Toshiba HD-A3x2 -- Panasonic BD10A, 30K

12-13-2007, 12:14 PM	#5
neal77 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: L.A. California Posts: 495	Could this be one more bit of good news for HD DVD that might sway some studio over to the red side? __________________ HD-DVDS: 155 DVD's: 1,800 SHARP 52" 52d92u LCD TV XBOX360 ELITE HD-DVD ADD ON Toshiba A30

12-13-2007, 04:11 PM	#10
Super XP Star Trek: The Movie! Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Toronto, ON. Canada Posts: 5,775	This is great news for HD DVD. Microsoft is in the business of making money and winning, they are not about to lose anytime soon. Have fun Sony, the more you piss of MS the worst it gets for your Blu-Ray __________________ Toshiba Regza 46" HDTV (46RF350U) LCD 1080p/24p Toshiba HD-A35 / HD-A3 / XD-E500 LG GGC-H20L Super Multi / PC Drive Onkyo TX-SR605 7.1 TrueHD/DTS HD MA Precision Acoustics™ 8Ch. Hi Def Loudspeaker Series DVD's = 200 = 130 = 10

12-13-2007, 12:32 PM	#6
dolphy How can anyone watch standard def? Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 18	Yeah, just like Microsoft's Zune player. Revolutionary.

12-13-2007, 04:49 PM	#14
MikeRox Blu Blu Skies! :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: Huddersfield, United Kingdom Posts: 12,260	You know, I said in that thread over a BD studio going neutral how I thought it would be Disney. But reading about the problems fox have been having with software and BD players, (starting with Fantastic Four) I do wonder if that has possibly been developed more to give studios such as Fox, a cheap means to test the water for HD DVD development without them having to officially commit to the format. __________________ REGION B 4TW! Latest HD additions - I Love You Man - 17 Again - Born on the 4th of July - Paul Blart: Mall Cop - Monsters, Inc. HD Movies - Um... Lost count >_< bout 250 Latest Gaming Additions - Mirrors Edge - Scene It BOS - Wartech: Senko No Ronde - Lego Indiana Jones/Kung Fu Panda 2 pack - Silent Hill

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