Yes it is a bit late, but for those who missed it, the format war has officially been over for about a couple weeks. Toshiba made a statement saying that it will “no longer develop manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders”. It seems that ever since the fiasco at CES with Warner, HD DVD has been on the downhill.Â
Toshiba has they have also stated that they have no plans to adopt Blu-Ray, but as Blu-ray seems to be the new next-gen format, they may inevitably have to. Hit the jump for Toshiba’s press release.
Toshiba Announces Discontinuation of HD DVD Businesses
19 February, 2008
Company Remains Focused on Championing Consumer Access to High Definition Content
TOKYO–Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has undertaken a thorough review of its overall strategy for HD DVD and has decided it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders. This decision has been made following recent major changes in the market. Toshiba will continue, however, to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.
HD DVD was developed to offer consumers access at an affordable price to high-quality, high definition content and prepare them for the digital convergence of tomorrow where the fusion of consumer electronics and IT will continue to progress.
“We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called ‘next-generation format war’ and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop,” said Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation. “While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality.”
Toshiba will continue to lead innovation, in a wide range of technologies that will drive mass market access to high definition content. These include high capacity NAND flash memory, small form factor hard disk drives, next generation CPUs, visual processing, and wireless and encryption technologies. The company expects to make forthcoming announcements around strategic progress in these convergence technologies.
Toshiba will begin to reduce shipments of HD DVD players and recorders to retail channels, aiming for cessation of these businesses by the end of March 2008. Toshiba also plans to end volume production of HD DVD disk drives for such applications as PCs and games in the same timeframe, yet will continue to make efforts to meet customer requirements. The company will continue to assess the position of notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives within the overall PC business relative to future market demand.
This decision will not impact on Toshiba’s commitment to standard DVD, and the company will continue to market conventional DVD players and recorders. Toshiba intends to continue to contribute to the development of the DVD industry, as a member of the DVD Forum, an international organization with some 200 member companies, committed to the discussion and defining of optimum optical disc formats for the consumer and the related industries.
Toshiba also intends to maintain collaborative relations with the companies who joined with Toshiba in working to build up the HD DVD market, including Universal Studios, Paramount Pictures, and DreamWorks Animation and major Japanese and European content providers on the entertainment side, as well as leaders in the IT industry, including Microsoft, Intel, and HP. Toshiba will study possible collaboration with these companies for future business opportunities, utilizing the many assets generated through the development of HD DVD.
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Sony’s new XDV-D500 sports a 3-inch, 432 x 240 pixel resolution display with 160-degree viewing angle and a 500:1 contrast. Apparently it also has an impressive battery life of 8-hours of TV reception. Thanks to its 2GB internal memory, it can also record ‘up to 10 hours of scheduled programming’.
For you even tinier enthusiasts, the other model, XDV-G200, comes with a 2-inch LCD including AM/FM radio. However this model lacks the recording function. Unfortunately these two mini-TVs will only be available in Japan for about $400
The new 16GB iPhone and 32GB iPod touch are now available in the Online Apple Store, with the same specs as its predecessors. The 3G iPhone is not in sight despite assurances, but we can be happy with what we have at the moment. Both new models will cost $499 and should be available immediately. Hit the jump for the press release.
Apple Adds New iPhone & iPod touch Models
CUPERTINO, Calif., Feb. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today added new models of the iPhone(TM) and iPod(R) touch which have double the memory, doubling the amount of music, photos and videos that customers can carry with them wherever they go. The revolutionary iPhone now comes in a new 16GB model for $499, joining the 8GB model for $399. iPod touch now comes in a 32GB model for $499, joining the 16GB model for $399 and the 8GB model for $299. “For some users, there’s never enough memory,” said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPod and iPhone Product Marketing. “Now people can enjoy even more of their music, photos and videos on the most revolutionary mobile phone and best Wi-Fi mobile device in the world.”
Both iPhone and iPod touch feature Apple’s revolutionary Multi-Touch(TM) user interface and pioneering software that allows users to find and enjoy all their music, videos, photos and more with just a touch of their finger. All iPhone and iPod touch models include the latest software enhancements announced last month including the ability to automatically find your location using the new Maps application*; create Web Clips for your favorite websites; customize your home screen and watch movies from the new iTunes(R) Movie Rentals. Both iPhone and iPod touch feature the world’s most advanced mobile web browser in the world with Safari(TM) and great mobile applications including Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather and Notes.
Pricing & Availability
The new 16GB iPhone is available immediately for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) through the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and AT&T retail and online stores. The 32GB iPod touch is available worldwide immediately for a suggested retail price of $499 (US) through the Apple Store (http://www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. iTunes Movie Rentals are available in the US only. iPhone and iPod touch require a Mac(R) with a USB 2.0 port, Mac OS(R) X 10.4.10 or later and iTunes 7.6; or a Windows PC with a USB 2.0 port and Windows Vista or Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2) or later and iTunes 7.6.
While oddly resembling the companion cube to some gamers, JVC’s new SP-A440 speakers are to give a ‘broader’ sound coverage, resembling that of a surround sound experience. The SP-A440 has two play modes – theater mode provides the surround sound while music mode gives us a clear two-channel sound. Prepped to come in a multitude of colors (red, white silver, and naturally black), the new speakers should be shipping in late February in Japan for around $45. Hit the jump for additional pictures.
He’s done it again. From the man who brought us the Xbox 360 laptop – one of our personal favorite mods, and arguably the most awesome thing to grace us since sliced bread – has come out with his brand new Xbox 360 Elite laptop, taking portable consoles to a whole new level. We can’t begin to imagine how Ben Heck would go about accomplishing such an amazing feat, but we sure as hell can sit back and let the envy flow.
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Ever wish you could blow your was inflatable? Ever wish you could blow up your mouse like a balloon? Well wish no more! Introducing, the Jelly Click. This inflatable mouse is here to cater to those who need ‘extreme portability’. Hit the jump for more details.
All electronic circuits in the Jelly Mouse are housed on a flexible board. The actual body is really just plastic. All you need to do when you need the mouse is to blow it up, attach and USB port, and squeeze it three times – just kidding about the squeezing part. According to the developer, it also floats. Great. Now we need a laptop to do that and we’re good.
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Unveiled in the, slightly underwhelming, Apple keynote, the MacBook air will finally start shipping to all you slim, lightweight laptop enthusiast who can finally carry their laptop in nothing more than an envelope. Though complaints have arisen stating that the specs leave something to be desired, it cannot be argued that the MacBook Air is one sexy laptop. Albeit a sexy laptop without a CD drive and limited USB port space. Nevertheless, Apple fanboys rejoice!
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As of late, there have been rumors surrounding the demise of the 80GB PS3 and even more speculation about a 120GB+ model with the new dualshock 3 (rumble included this time ‘round) said to replace it. While the rumors continue to run rampant as usually, it seems that it has been confirmed by GameStop that the 80GB is on the way out to make room for a new model. One with undoubtedly a bigger HD drive and possibly the new controller. However, it must be said that nothing official remains of this news. We’ll have to wait patiently for word from the top to see if a new model is in sight.
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