Seems like those in the HD DVD camp are having a good month.
First, Sony has started collecting contact info from folks displeased with the quality of (the now discontinued) The Fifth Element on Blu-ray. When the title is remastered next month, Sony will broker a trade.
Next, over the last few weeks a couple of people have reported Blu-ray disc rot (above) on (some unplayable) copies of The Prestige. While this is probably an isolated incident of a bad batch of discs, it’s a bit disconcerting.
But look on the bright side, Blu-ray owners – no rootkit. ;)
Not such a good month for HD DVD – Blockbuster just announced they’re backing Blu-ray. ;-)
This rot situation isn’t a big deal. LD had rot. DVD had rot. HD DVD probably will too, since it is physically the same as DVD. It is usually a manufacturing defect – trapped oxygen oxidizing the metal layer, bad batch of plastic with discoloration. Even mold can cause a problem. It isn’t a problem with the format itself.
I’d say it was an awful month for HD DVD, actually.
Yup, I’d agree. The Blockbuster thing is a huge blow. As I wondered in my post, what sort of backroom deal prompted this?
If they hadn’t run a press release, I wouldn’t be suspicious…