Thoughts and Answers on Managed Copies

re: Rebuttal to Alexander Grundner's

TrackBack — Mon, 14 Nov 2005 21:09:00 GMT

re: Thoughts and Answers on Managed Copies

chrisl — Thu, 29 Sep 2005 00:40:00 GMT

Ed: Never heard of that source. Here's something from Toshiba
http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2004_12/pr0701.htm

There are several types of HD-DVD discs that have been developed, but I don't know for sure which will be able to be used in shipping HD-DVD players. Cinram has a dual sided, hybrid disk that can do 8.4GB on one side and 15GB on the other. Memory-Tech and Toshiba have a single sided, dual layer (no flipping the disc) that does 4.7GB and then 15GB. I don't remember off the top of my head what the 30GB discs do, but I would assume it's the some concept (single/dual sided, dual layer, etc) There is also a three layer disc that does 45GB out there for HD-DVD.

Microsoft will have no direct control over what codec's are used on the disc's from different studio's. It can either be VC-1 (aka WMV9, aka VC-9), or MPEG-4 AVC (aka H.264), or MPEG-2.

All the current WMV-HD titles are under 10Mbps, IIRC. I can check on that, but using VC-1 AP VBR it will be about 10GB for just the single movie using about the lowest bitrates. Higher bitrates will be better, and studios will hopefully take advantage of them. You also have to add audio to the disc, then extras, then everything else.

The webmaster is trying to fix the problems with CAPCHA. I can't do much about it except turn them off. As soon as I do that I get 20+ spam posts in an hour. :( Sorry.

Chris Lanier

re: Thoughts and Answers on Managed Copies

chrisl — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 18:22:00 GMT

I doubt the ability of the XBox 360 (as it will be sold initially) to have a DVI-HDCP/HDMI cable. Is say this based upon the fact that all the current outputs (composite, S-Video, component and VGA) are analog based. I doubt the rear av connector has the digital out pins built in. I hope I am wrong though. Mostly because as Chris says this means you can't watch DRM HD content from a MCE box. Secondly though because all new TVs are being sold with HDMI (or at least DVI).

re: Thoughts and Answers on Managed Copies

chrisl — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 18:06:00 GMT

Chris, that isn't what my technical references say on HD-DVD capacities. The specification says that each side has 15GB of storage, making a total of 30GB. If you put a standard DVD on there, the 4.7GB has to come out of that total capacity.

Here's one source: <a href="http://www.disctronics.co.uk/technology/hddvd/#HD-DVD">Disctronics</a>

Do you have a link I can follow to see more details on the different formats?

Note that the same source says that WMV HD can do a full-length movie in 1080 line video on a single layer HD-DVD (ie, 15GB). Presumably this is the format that will be used in Vista Media Center.

PS: Your capcha system is rejecting 4 of 5 posts from me.

re: Thoughts and Answers on Managed Copies

chrisl — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 17:45:00 GMT

Ed: That 30GB is for full HD usage. There is an additional 4.7GB that isn't in the figure that will be used for the standard DVD.

a fan: Thanks for the grammer mistake. =)

re: Thoughts and Answers on Managed Copies

chrisl — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 14:34:00 GMT

manor should be "manner", also there is a rumored hdmi cable for x360 MS has talked about it, I think they said it is to be relaeased later - this might fit with HD-DVD roll out

re: Thoughts and Answers on Managed Copies

chrisl — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 04:45:00 GMT

Chris, aren't HD-DVD disks hybrid, with both standard and HD copies on a single disk? If so, that's about 5GB of the 30 that won't be needed for a copy. Also, I'm betting that most people who want to rip a copy of a DVD won't want every single extra, interview, and behind-the-scenes documentary. So I really don't think the 20GB per movie estimate is out of line. Might even be a little high.

YMMV, of course!

re: Thoughts and Answers on Managed Copies

chrisl — Wed, 28 Sep 2005 04:06:00 GMT

"Why couldn't I watch the movie I paid for just cause the internet was down!!". I can see the problems now.

Benig someone with an extensive hdtv movie collection on their mce machine, I'm signifigantly more siked about upcoming dvd changer support. hopefully the hush hush is because its the larger than dvd formats. Its just too costly and heat generating to keep that much space in an mce machine. jukeboxes have gotta be cheaper and no delay in the time it takes to rip.