Are we approaching the point of media collapse?

Cafe Society
#1

I just read an article about the new HVD format (Holographic Versatile Disc) which is scheduled to hit the market in 2016 as a replacement for Blu-Ray. And my first thought was “Jeez, already?”

I’ve already gone though VHS, DVD, and Blu-Ray (and skipped Laser Discs, Beta, and HD). I don’t want to go through another format.

But here’s the worst part.The same article that was talking about HVD also talked about the new SDXC format which is in development - and is already being planned as the replacement for HVD.

Are we approaching the point where the market will just say “fuck it” and refuse to buy new media and the equipment to play it on? Or are we supposed to just accept that we have to adopt a new format every ten years?

#2

You’re not there yet?

I don’t know a single person with a Blu-Ray player - after all, an HDMI cable is much cheaper. Download hi-res movies to your computer, connect your computer to your TV, and voila.

Physical media is for chumps.

#3

I have a blu ray player that I’ve used all of 6 times in my life I think. I doubt I will concern myself with any new optical formats that come out in the future.

#4

Lucky you, in your fancy media-saturated landscape, and your 5000 different ways to consume content. Most countries do not have downloadable HD available, so they are still big DVD and Blu-Ray consumers. We don’t really even have HD channels on TV here, it’s only for less popular secondary channels.

Anyways, I agree. Blu-Ray takeup has been a lot slower than anticipated because HD doesn’t really add enough to the experience, and 3D was a bust, so going to new formats is a fools errand. At least give it a decade to settle down first.

#5

Agreed. I gave up on physical media long ago.
Between my online email accounts I have a shit ton of storage so I can just email myself documents I want to store. For large files I have backup 2TB hard drive and anything new I want is downloaded and backed up.
The nail in the coffin was Steam.

#6

Another person whose never actually met a Blu Ray user. Unless they come out with actual holograms, I expect the reaction to any new media format to be pretty lukewarm.

#7

A big factor why Blu-Ray hasn’t overtaken conventional DVD is that it doesn’t really offer any improvements in reliability or convenience. DVD beat out VHS because it was easier to access specific scenes and didn’t degrade like tape formats. Historically the public accepts stuff that is more convenient (cassette tapes, CD, MP3) over stuff that just gives you better picture or sound (reel to reel, laserdisc).

#8

3D was always destined to be a novelty gimmick. (Well, perhaps we can be kind and call it a “niche market”.) There’s a Cracked article which sums it up perfectly: People don’t want to wear dorky things on their face. This is also why Google glasses will never get widespread acceptance.

#9

Well, they do have HD content available for download but it’s called “piracy” and not everyone cottons to that.

I find it a little odd that so many people can authoritatively state what consumer electronics all their friends own as I don’t have a clue whether or not most of my friends own a Blu-Ray player or a standard DVD player. I mean, I assume they own one or the other but I couldn’t say which (and that’s not counting Blu-Ray drives in PCs or Playstation 3’s). I own one because my wife got it for me as a gift a few years back and it’s noticeably prettier than standard DVD. But then we rent so I don’t have a library to replace and the nominal upcharge to rent a Blu-Ray over a DVD is worth it in my opinion. I do agree that it doesn’t add enough to the experience to purchase a whole Blu-Ray library.

#10

I actually have a blue-ray player, or rather, my spouse does because it was important to him and hey, Christmas present. He also likes modern 3D and apparently has no problems with wearing dorky glasses. So we have a collection of 3D blue-rays but yes, it’s a niche market. I just happen to live with someone in the niche.

We also still have vinyl LPs from the mid-20th Century and a turntable to play them. We not only adopt new tech, we hang onto the old, too. We’re weird like that.

That said, we don’t rush out and the newest thing immediately. That’s partly due to finances, but also because we like to do a little research before making the jump.

#11

My friends have trying to persuade me to adopt their only-digital movie preferences, but I really love commentary tracks and the other extras that come with getting physical DVD discs. Until Netflix streaming/Amazon Instant/[other] can provide toggle-able commentary tracks, I’ll keep renting and buying DVDs.

#12

If 4K takes off, anybody wanting 4K resolutions will have to rely on physical media unless internet bandwidths and customer data limits increase dramatically.

If it doesn’t, I’ll wager that streaming will prevent any new physical media from becoming widespread.

#13

Wow, seriously? I get that downloadable media is probably the direction things are heading, but everyone I know who is into movies has a Blu-ray collection.

#14

We have a blu-ray player, bought because we wanted something region free and the blu-ray player was as inexpensive as the DVD player.

We may have used it, but who knows. Wouldn’t matter anyway - the damn thing is hooked up to an old CRT TV.

#15

This is weird. I thought everyone into movies had gone to Blu-ray by now. Watching on a big screen, there is a HUGE difference between HD and DVD quality. The improvement from 720p to 1080p is barely noticeable, but from 480p to 720p? Huge, unless your eyes are absolutely terrible. Sound quality is noticeably better too.

Sure I watch more movies over streaming than physical media, but if you’re going to BUY one, or rent one that isn’t available streaming? Bluray is definitely the way to go.

However, I see zero reasons to go beyond Blu-ray. I just don’t think there’s any noticeable improvement to be realized in the Home Theater experience at this point. The future is streaming content.

#16

Some countries don’t even have Blu-Ray. They have to go to plays!

#17

For me, the difference between tv speakers and 5 speaker surround sound was a billion times larger than dvd to Blu-ray.

So basically, when my wife bought me a surround system all my regular dvds were suddenly useful to me again.

as for media collapse…they just rebooted Spider-Man, when in my mind the Tobey Maguire one came out yesterday. They’re going to reboot Fantastic Four. Hulk has had three (I think) actors playing the title character.

#18

Why, when I was a kid, the whole family would head out in the morning to take in the luxury of a Punch & Judy show next to the tannery that afternoon, then return home late at night, tired but happy.

#19

I have a Blu-Ray player, but I don’t think I’ve ever watched a movie on it. It came with our surround sound system. Mostly I watch a movie online or rent it from cable on demand.

#20

The deal breaker for me was the information that they’re already working on the next generation medium. Intellectually, you always know new developments are coming but when you’re being asked to adopt a new technology, you like to have at least the illusion that you’ve reached the peak and you’re buying the culminating product in the field. But in this case, why on Earth would you buy into HVD when you’re being told upfront that it’s just another temporary product that will be replaced?

Personally, I’m surprised at how the opposite mentality is being embraced in the cell phone market. Advertising campaigns now are trying to make the quick obsolescence of their products out to be a virtue. They’re selling the idea that customers should welcome the introduction of new cell phones as a reason to throw out their old ones.