NEWS FEEDSo is Blu-ray really dead?
10.29.08
Well, we all knew Steve Jobs’ view of Blu-ray (remember when he described it as a “bag of hurt?”), but it seems he is not the only one who thinks Blu-ray just may be drawing its last dying breaths. proclaims “Blu-ray is dead” and makes some points that might just make some folks sit back and say hmmmmmm.
Granted, it took a while for DVD to make it into mainstream when it was first introduced, like 5 or 6 years, or so. You still had diehards hanging on the their VHS. Heck, I still also own a VHS player. It’s practically a relic. So, you have people arguing, give Blu-Ray a break—it’s only been out a year or so.
Thing is, DVD didn’t have all the competition the Blu-ray does. Blu-ray is also facing a heck of an economy where it is a “nice to have,” not really a “have to have.” This not even taking into account how expensive the suckers are to make and how that limits the studios that can even touch them.
Oh, one more thing, most people that get a player, are they even gonna notice that big of a difference? Because what it seems to come down to now, isn’t really picture as much as the sound. So, lots and lots of people say “no”—not unless they are total audiophiles that have kick-ass systems where they will really be able to hear the difference in sound quality.
Back when Blu-ray was first introduced, they had no idea that people would be able to actually watch their DVDs on their HDTVs and have them not look like crap. Then came upsampling DVD players. Oops. There goes that theory.
Only 4% of videos sold in the US are on Blu-ray. So, for all of the hype of “get it on DVD and Blu-Ray now!,” there is a difference between media hype, retail hype, and actual retail sales. And we now have the HD download capability right there. Many people feel that within a year, the Blu-Ray will be nothing but a niche market techie plaything. As always, thoughts are welcomed.
