http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/2008/02/hd-dvd-death-ma.html
http://www.crunchgear.com/2008/02/16/its-official-blu-ray-wins/
http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSL1627196120080216
The death of HD-DVD has been rumored for over a month due to recent changes in studios and companies jumping from the HD-DVD camp to Bluray. With Warner Brothers’ announcement to exclusively support Bluray later this year, it was just a matter of time before the rest abandoned HD-DVD (especially Universal who switched over from Bluray to HD-DVD just a few months prior).
Shortly following Warner Brothers’ news, Best Buy announced they would push the Bluray format to their customers over the HD-DVD format; although both formats would still be sold for now. Lastly, Wal-Mart’s announcement on Friday made it apparent that HD-DVD’s demise would be official quicker than expected.
Toshiba was dealt a blow on Friday when Wal-Mart Stores Inc said it would abandon the HD DVD format, becoming the latest in a series of top retailers and movie studios to rally behind Blu-ray technology for high definition DVDs. -TOKYO (Reuters)
Already linked across the internet, it is now official. Toshiba has given up on the product and is ceasing production on future HD-DVD products.
Being an HD-DVD owner, this is somewhat sad news, but something that I have suspected for awhile. I bought my Xbox 360 add-on the day it was released. At the time, it was the only way to get HD for under $500.
Looks like it is time for the 360 addon to move aside and a purchase of a PS3 to happen as soon as the new models are released.
R.I.P. HD-DVD…
