It's a Wrap, HD DVD Shutting Down

This is on engadgethd.com...

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Along with an English translation of the NHK's article (Thanks sfditty!) comes additional confirmation from Reuters sources, it's a wrap. Toshiba is shutting down its DVD manufacturing facilities in Aomori Prefecture, Japan, while official word is expected "soon".

about time

Where is the official press release from Toshiba?

Everyone is all giddy and happy but haven't we been bitching and moaning that without a press release nothing is official?

My guess for official word will be early next week, perhaps even Monday. Toshiba has to make some sort of an announcement now.

Even if Toshiba says it's over, it's not officially over until the Nielson stats we see published every week drop HD DVD entirely and only compare Blu-ray versus standard DVD

I'm with Funkmaster... I'd like to see a press release before I call anything official.

I'm glad that after years of bickering one format finally emerged as the clear winner, and I'm also glad that this is the format I originally bought into.
Now that we one format for high-def, it's time to start educating current DVD owners (the general public) about the benefits of high definition content and about Blu-ray in general.

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Now that we one format for high-def, it's time to start educating current DVD owners (the general public) about the benefits of high definition content and about Blu-ray in general.

And so it begins, Sony will now try push out (eliminate) DVD to maximize it's return on investment. Personally I hope that doesn't happen.

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And so it begins, Sony will now try push out (eliminate) DVD to maximize it's return on investment. Personally I hope that doesn't happen.

Even if that happens, it'll be years before Blu-ray really starts to realistically compete against DVD. There is still a lot of money to be made from DVD sales in the foreseeable future, but as more and more people start owning larger sized HDTV's, the clear advantage of a 1080p image will be undeniable. Sony is not about to shoot itself in the foot by immediately phasing out it's DVD business.

One of the most important things to concentrate on for BDA member companies going forward will be to drive down production costs for both players and software which in turn will translate into lower prices for both in the retail world. That will help fuel mass adoption.

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NHK says Toshiba plans to continue selling HD DVD players in stores for the time being, but will not manufacture new players.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/toshiba021608.htm

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One of the most important things to concentrate on for BDA member companies going forward will be to drive down production costs for both players and software which in turn will translate into lower prices for both in the retail world. That will help fuel mass adoption.

I agree 100%.

Tony, if they're not making any new players but still selling them are they not just clearing inventory then?

Falcon,

I think this is the reason why they have'nt announced anything yet. The question is how many units are out there and how fast can inventory can be depleted. They need the money to help shorten the lossess.

[Post edited by tony1569 on Feb 16, 2008]

i thought it would be perfect sense to not call it quits until they have sold all their extra stock of players.

First of all there is no official word from Toshiba, this could be another "paid under the table" leak of information/speculation by Sony, the same the NPD group "leaked" un-official weekly-sale numbers (don't tell me someone on the NPD group didn't get paid to do so specially since the NPD group officially stated the numbers should NOT be taken as official and final).

Second of all, if this is true (which is highly likely) we won't hear official word from Toshiba until next week so all this is still speculation.

Third of all, the article says: "Toshiba plans to continue selling HD DVD equipment at stores for the time being but will not put resources into developing new devices, NHK said." The key word here is "DEVELOPING NEW", that most likely mean that Toshiba could still produce second and third generation HD-DVD players, but for sure it won't produce fourth generation players and most likely there might not be any new firmware updates for current generation players.

Finally, unless the BD group gets its act together, BD is most likely to crack under its own weight. BD still has too many bugs that cannot be fix on their current generation machines. Unless you have a PS3, all of you BD fanboys with your BD players will be forced to buy a new player in order to take advantage of all the "benefits of high definition content and about Blu-ray in general." BD might end-up like Laser Disk: LD might've won the "LD vs. CED Disk hiccup" but LD ended up going the way of the do-do because of the already stablished VHS base.

As a high definition enthusiast I'll make sure I "educate" people into seeing the truth about the "benefits of high definition content and about Blu-ray in general." How in today's economics quality do not matter anymore, what really matters is how much money you have to pupsh your product to the masses. Just like in politics where the candidate with the most money for his/her campaign wins the election in this format war, the format with more money (and not quality and features) won the format war.

[Post edited by wii-lite on Feb 16, 2008]

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i thought it would be perfect sense to not call it quits until they have sold all their extra stock of players.

It's quite possible that this is why Toshiba is touting its HD DVD players as standard upconverting players now - to ensure a market still exists for reduced price stock as a contingency plan to clear out existing inventory.

I said once here that if Toshiba marketed their players in any way as superior "upconverting" players rather than touting the benefits of HD DVD media only to compete against standard DVD, the war would be over.

[Post edited by Skyhawk on Feb 16, 2008]

Incidently, not supposed to say this, but... I spoke my Toshiba rep yesterday... The word and e-mail I received yesterday was to continue to support HD DVD as you normally do. I can officially quote this word for word."Toshiba players make excellent upconverting DVD players for your customers current DVD library..." Hmm Now I ask you gentleman, Why is Toshiba offering a SD6000 upconversion DVD at $99, and a HD DVD player at $149? Seriously, not being partial here, but Shitcan the DVD lineup, and just sell 2 Models of HD DVD/DVD players? Recoup the losses, and wait...

I sell electronics in my business too. That's why I still have contact with reps. Just in case you are wondering...

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It's quite possible that this is why Toshiba is touting its HD DVD players as standard upconverting players now - to ensure a market still exists for reduced price stock as a contingency plan to clear out existing inventory.

Bingo Sky. How many here would recommend anything other than a Toshiba HDDVD player for upconverting? specially knowing your uncle... or grandma isnt going to watch HD.

If they annouce, or dont annouce... it dont matter to me. you guys know whats comming. In other words.. I think they can clear inventory easy.. and minimize the loss as selling them as upconverting players. my BB already has them listed that way. and in fine print says also plays HDDVD. it has been like that for several weeks now.

[Post edited by kucoloco on Feb 16, 2008]

Hmmm... ReaggieP, interesting.

But I think the best bet for Toshiba to "recoup losses" is to get a line up of Blu-ray SA players out there at competitive prices while still making a healthy profit ASAP in my opinion. Perhaps they've already been working on this as a contingency plan. Stealing significant market share from Sony would help them save face (that Asian thing), while pleasing their shareholders. But they have to do this soon before other CE makers become too entrenched in the market. By "soon" I mean by Christmas shopping season of '08.

Falcon said -

"And so it begins, Sony will now try push out (eliminate) DVD to maximize it's return on investment."

Falcon... PLEASE. If Sony were to 'try' this, it wouldn't be right 'now', since almost all home video profits are made with SD-DVD, and adoption into Blu-ray is in it's infancy, and then we have those bothersome BD+/BD-Java issues too.

Maybe in another year or two (more likely in my opinion) will Sony attempt a strategy to 'eliminate' DVD, but for 'now', well that's out of the question, and not within their power to do anyway. Market demand for DVD says otherwise.

-JIMI (the Voodoo Child)
-my new nickname-

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Toshiba is shutting down its DVD manufacturing facilities in Aomori Prefecture, Japan

Um, that would be FALSE. They don't make them in Japan.

Toshiba HD DVD equipment is manufactured in CHINA, anyone with an HD DVD player just check the label on the back.


Oh yea, the $ony PreySatan 3 is made in CHINA as well....

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Um, that would be FALSE. They don't make them in Japan.

Toshiba HD DVD equipment is manufactured in CHINA, anyone with an HD DVD player just check the label on the back.


Oh yea, the $ony PreySatan 3 is made in CHINA as well....

Are you 100% positive that Toshiba's HD players aren't manufactured in Japan and assembled in China?

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Are you 100% positive that Toshiba's HD players aren't manufactured in Japan and assembled in China?

What part of "MADE IN CHINA" on the label says anything about Japan????

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Toshiba HD DVD equipment is manufactured in CHINA, anyone with an HD DVD player just check the label on the back.

You dork! You made me run all the way downstairs to my HT room and check the back of my HD DVD player.




Err... yeah it said "Made in China".

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What part of "MADE IN CHINA" on the label says anything about Japan????

I think you need to take a chill pill before you boil over chief. BTW, I don't have a HD player nor have I ever bothered to check one out in a store, so how would I know what it says in the back. For all I know, it could have said assembled in China. You do know that is a common occurrence, right?

I took my pc drive apart today. The board was printed in Japan. The outside drive shell was assembled in China... That leaves me to beleive that the drive boards are made in Japan, and the units assembled in China.

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I took my pc drive apart today. The board was printed in Japan. The outside drive shell was assembled in China... That leaves me to beleive that the drive boards are made in Japan, and the units assembled in China.

Thank you! I hope you're reading this VC.

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You dork! You made me run all the way downstairs to my HT room and check the back of my HD DVD player.




Err... yeah it said "Made in China".

you couldn't just, I dunno, take his word for it?