HD-DVD ceases to exist

Last one out, turn off the lights.

That was essentially the tone of the note that the HD-DVD Promotional Group sent to its members last Friday. The obituary for the format was short and to the point:

HD-DVD Managing Members

March 28, 2008

The HD-DVD Promotion Group was dissolved as of March 28, 2008, and the website was closed accordingly.

Please access to DVD Forum for HD-DVD formats, and DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corporation for format books and its license. Regarding the HD-DVD products, please contact each selling agency directly.

It was also a bit late. The battle between HD-DVD and its nemesis format, Blu-ray, ended as soon as HD-DVD's biggest backer Toshiba announced it would stop making HD-DVD players. That was almost six weeks ago.

So, again, we bid adieu to a failed format and heard US retailer Best Buy is desperate to get rid of them.

Via CNET Crave | Photo credit: Crave UK

My cat just tore apart a US$300 power cord!

Head-Fi forum member Akathisia never expected his post of this incident to spark off a controversy. While most insiders are aware of these divine cables' inflated pricing, it's still a revelation when one gets dismembered. In this case, it was his feline pet that committed the damage. Considering that the cables were supposed to be a US$300 Virtual Dynamics Power 3 cord, it was a shock to discover that this amounted to nothing more than US$15 worth of common bulk wires, garden hose, electric tape, etc., after the cat had ripped it apart. Not exactly the kind of space-age material one would associate with colorful marketing fluff such as "LiniPur" conductors.

It's certainly a wakeup call for boutique cable fanatics, although Virtual Dynamics is on clearly the defensive as can be seen in the furious war of words brewing in the forum. If you're a hands-on chap and would like to try out D.I.Y. for a lot less than what Akathisia paid for, it's time to shop for Belden professional audio cables. This would probably cost you less than US$50, besides imparting a priceless sense of accomplishment. If post-production and sound studios can use it, well it's certainly good enough for the rest of us.

Disclaimer: CNET Asia is not responsible for any injuries or mishaps that may incur in your undertaking of any D.I.Y. projects.

Via Audio junkies | Photo credit: Head-Fi forum/Akathisia

PlayStation Network compromised!

Heads up, people! If you're a member of Sony's PSN online gaming community, its high time you verify the integrity of your existing account. The Japanese company has recently issued an official apology for a security breach. Apparently, hackers have gained illegal access to account information through malicious programs or worms. These were found in some PS3s, leading to reported cases of compromised passwords and PSN credits.

We have sounded out Sony's regional office and are awaiting updates on the severity of the problem. Accordingly to Akihabara news, a firmware patch is in the pipeline and should address the console and network vulnerability. Stay tuned.

Via Akihabara news | Photo credit: Sony

Bitch Blog online via BD-Live

There seems to be increased traction on BD-Live (profile 2.0) implementations in some of the upcoming HD releases. Most notable Liongates' Saw IV with MoLog. The latter is a BD-Live-interactive Blu-ray disc movie blog function. Imaging gossiping and sharing special moments of this horror flick real-time with fellow Saw fans while catching the movie. While we're excited about this innovative concept, there is still a certain degree of skepticism. Like whether it makes sense to type long messages using a cumbersome virtual keyboard and remote.

In the final analysis, this is probably a good-to-have capability and is not a substitute for quality video and audio mastering. Until the studios sort out their high pricing, these enhanced Blu-rays are definitely not flying off the shelves en mass. Make them affordable and readily available and perhaps Blu-ray will stand a better chance against online movie download services. It's really as simple as that, people.

Via Home cinema choice | Photo credit: Lionsgate (minus the spoof)

HD-DVD blowout sales

Yo! How's US$9.99 for a Hollywood blockbuster mastered in crystal-clear HD visuals and high-resolution surround sound? If you are transiting Dublin, California, check out the local Best Buy stores and get to stock up on some dirt-cheap HD-DVDs. Though it seems outright insane to bet your chips on a defunct technology, this is an absolute no-brainer for existing HD-DVD player owners. It sucks that my fellow enthusiasts over in the US are cashing in on these fire sales, while the Blu supporters are hopelessly dreaming about the next US Amazon buy-one-get-one-free promotion. Reality check, dudes! These promotions are probably gone for good now that the (HD-DVD) competition has been axed. Time to pay good money for your Blu-ray fix!

However, if you're one of those HD-DVD advocates stuck in Asia, not all is lost. Some Singapore video libraries are clearing their supplies at no less than 50 percent discount. Grab them while stocks last, because that's the last you're going to see of those HD-DVD titles. The clock is ticking.

Via tgdaily | Photo credit: tgdaily

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