Warner Postpones ‘Total HD’ July 2, 2007

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The one thing you can guarantee about a war between two technologies is that somewhere along the line, some enterprising companies will come up with a solution that straddles both.

LG has launched a hugely expensive dual HD DVD/Blu-ray machine, Samsung has promised one and Warner announced something called Total HD. Total HD (THD) would be a disc with a HD DVD version of the movie on one side and the Blu-ray version on the other. So far, so odd. For some, it’s the ultimate in price gouging and for others it seems like an vaguely interesting solution that would placate a few early adopters, and then disappear without a trace.

It was due out around now but Warner has pulled the plug, claiming Total HD discs will not arrive [if ever] until sometime in 2008. Apparently, it’s gauging the market because it seems some studios can make cash from selling both Blu-ray and HD DVD versions of the same movie.

Although Total HD might arrive in Q1/Q2 next year, I don’t really see a market for it. Better a dual-format player than a dual-format disc.-Martin Lynch

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