Recording on HD DVD's...update

[lynesjc]

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200605030104.html

"Ahead of the World Cup soccer matches beginning in June, a growing number of shoppers are asking when recorder-players will be released, electronics retailer Bic Camera said.

Toshiba plans to release HD-DVD recorders in May or June, in time for the World Cup, while Sony has yet to announce when Blu-ray Disc recorders will be ready.(IHT/Asahi: May 3,2006)"

Given that the players are $500, I'd expect the recorders will be approximately $750 to $1k. Recordable discs will be very expensive initially.

[Calexico77]

http://www.asahi.com/english/Herald-asahi/TKY200605030104.html

"Ahead of the World Cup soccer matches beginning in June, a growing number of shoppers are asking when recorder-players will be released, electronics retailer Bic Camera said.

Toshiba plans to release HD-DVD recorders in May or June, in time for the World Cup, while Sony has yet to announce when Blu-ray Disc recorders will be ready.(IHT/Asahi: May 3,2006)"

Given that the players are $500, I'd expect the recorders will be approximately $750 to $1k. Recordable discs will be very expensive initially.

[poster's note: I have been working on HD-DVD & Blu-ray technology & content for the last year or so]

I would be completely floored if the HD-DVD recorders were really ready to go until early June. If they do make the May date, I would be seriously concerned with their quality. The initial launch of HD-DVD was full of serious known problems. I wouldn't be suprised if they were put on the market, yet needed an upgrade to function in some way.

The Blu-ray players aren't due until end of summer - the recorders won't be till a little while after that. And in terms of stock, one of the main issues with Blu-ray is how delicate the media is, so the recorders will have mucho bugs.

I'd just get a spare DVR just for the World Cup, and wait until everything's totally worked out.

[the stranger]

Sorry for my ignorance, but

I am planning to record the games on DVR and then transfer to DVDs with my regular DVD recorder. I assume that the games broadcast in HD can still be recorded on my non-HD recorder (obviously at a lower picture quality)? Thanks very much.

[cristoforo7]

Yes, they can be recorded to your DVD recorder at the lower picture quality. What you will have will be a standard definition, letterboxed recording (black bars on top and bottom when displayed on a traditional 4:3 television) unless your DVD recorder is somehow able to record in "anamorphic" mode.

When a non-anamorphic recording is played back on a 16:9 HDTV, you might then have black bars around all four sides of the recording, unless your HDTV allows you to "zoom" the picture to fill the screen. It also depends on which display mode (standard def or high def) you use when playing the recording back.

[the stranger]

Thanks very much. Sounds like I would be better off recording the standard broadcast in the first place.

[cristoforo7]

No, not necessarily. With a standard broadcast you won't get a widescreen picture. Recording the HD video to your DVD recorder with give you widescreen at least and probably better picture quality, albeit not HD.

[the stranger]

Well thanks for bringing the important issues to my attention. Now I just have to experiment to find the best method for my particular equipment!:)