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Blu-ray vs. HD DVD

The battle between the two new high-definition video formats Blu-ray Disc or BD-ROM(Sony) and HD DVD (Toshiba) seems finally to be over.

The two formats are the successor of the DVD and are physically the same size of a DVD or CD. They are designed for the storage of data and high-definition video. The main difference between a DVD and these two new formats are the amount of data it can hold. Normal single layer DVDs hold up to 4.7 GB (double sided up to 8.5 GB), compared to that the Blu-ray Disc can hold up to 50 GB and the HD DVD up to 30 GB. This amount of storage is needed to hold high-definition movies, which are bigger (data wise) than a standard definition movie, because of its higher amount of pixels /picture quality.

The format war between those two new high density video formats began in 2006, when the first BD-ROM and HD DVD players and movies were released. First both formats had been head to head on player and movie sales. Both formats were evenly supported by the big movie studios like Paramount, Warner, Sony, Disney, Lionsgate, Universal, Fox or Dreamworks, but the sales of BD or HD DVD players and movies weren’t as high as the companies and studios wished. Consumers weren’t sure what to buy and the high prices also stopped them from buying any of the two formats. Some of the studios even brought out their movies on both formats. With the release of the Playstation 3 (which uses the Blu-ray format as its primary disc-drive) at the end of 2006, the BD-ROM started to outsell the HD DVD format. Throughout 2007 more and more Studios declared their “loyalties” surprisingly to Blu-ray and the little head start in sales through a earlier launch of the HD DVD format was completely gone. Even though the HD DVD format was first seen as less expansive and buggy, in February 2008 Toshiba (the electronic company that designed and produced HD DVD) announced that they are going to stop the production of HD DVD devices. This announcement came a month after the Warner Brother studios announced (last studio which released movies on both formats) to go with Blu-ray Disc.

After almost 2 years of format war we now finally know that the Blu-ray Disc is the successor of the good old DVD and the new high-definition video and data storage format. Let’s go Blu-ray!!!

The success of the Wii

The Wii is the fifth home video gaming console released by Nintendo. Everyone heard about it and almost everyone wants to have one. Since its launch in September, 2006 Nintendo sold about 25 million consoles worldwide and still has problems to meet the demand. Furthermore it is out selling its competitors Microsoft’s xBox 360 and Sony’s Playstation 3. Like Jeffrey M. O’Brien from CNN Money Fortune Magazine says: “Nintendo sold 360,000 boxes in the U.S. in April, 100,000 more than in March. That's two Wiis for every Xbox 360 and four for every PlayStation3.”

Power wise you cannot compare the Wii with the xBox 360 and PS3 with their powerful multi-core processors and high-end graphic chips for high definition games and video outputs. But Nintendo targets a broader demographic than Microsoft or Sony. The Wii is bringing people off all demographics together: for example in nursing homes, for Wii bowling leagues, on cruise ships and coed Wii-themed parties.

The Wii is a whole new concept of gaming with its motion steered Wii-Remote and Nunchuk controller. The Motion sensors/ accelerometers in both Wii-Remote and Nunchuk controller and the wireless connection to the console itself are bringing a completely new gaming experience to the people. The famous Wii-Sports game (which comes with the console) is the best example for that. The game requires you to actually move the Wii-remote like you would punch, swing it like a golf club or baseball bat in order to get points and succeed in the game. That made the Wii so popular and brought video games and new life to nursing homes and more and more families.

I think the Wii is a great video game console and suggests that everybody should buy one, even if its still really hard to get one. It is worth it!!! =)))