At this point, it's just talk. Hopefully, they will not just use single layer on the BD side.

Here's the release:

Burbank, Calif. - Warner Brothers executives announced plans to soon begin producing a hybrid high-definition disc that will carry both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc content.

The disc technology, which Warner Brothers is calling “Total HD,” is actually capable of carrying three formats simultaneously – HD DVD, Blu-ray and DVD – but the company will start out by offering only the high definition formats, executives said. The company originally announced its disc plans this summer.

Warner executives see the hybrid disc as a cheaper alternative to universal format players, like the just announced player from LG, but its ultimate success will be contingent on other studios also adopting it.

Warner Brothers Home Video is one of the few studios supporting both HD DVD and Blu-ray Disc titles, today.

BD should not be an issue on THD disks. But DVD/HDDVD might. BD is at .1mm so one layer or two layers is a no brainer. But it does take care of one side. HD DVD and DVD are at .6mm 1/2 way through the disk. On one side you can only have two layers. Will it be two HD DVD, two DVD or one of each. In theory the BD side could also have DVD or HD DVD, but neither of those4 formats were built with a requirement to ignore the BD data layer. When JVC tried SS BD/DVD some DVD player had issues with the DVD side

That's PROBABLY why they're only doing BD and HD-DVD at this time... and likely on separate sides (I would imagine that since the data layers for BD and HD-DVD are designed to be read with the same color lasers there could be some issues - but I've also heard that BD easily supports more and more layers beyond the 2 currently in use, so perhaps the focus difference is enough to make it "drop out" for even HD-DVD players).

Daniel, the BD layers are still at around .1mm if there are 1,2 or 8 layer is just a few microns , if I am not mistaken the deepest one is at .1mm

Yes the disk ids DS with HD DVD (or DVD) on one side and BD on the other. Mike talked about a triple type and asked if BD would be the issue. I was just pointing out that DL HD DVD and DL DVD cannot happen on one of these. It can be DL HD DEVD, DL DVD or one of each. In theory it could happen but either HD DVD or DVD players would need to be redefined to make sure the laser does not have issues with the BD layers.



in theory if that image was to scale it would just be showing .5mm-.7mm the 2l BD@.1mm should be OK. So a 2BDx2HD DVDx2DVD should in theory work (the same way as JVCs SS 2BDx2 DVD but the tolerance for the under layer (DVD in that case) in players must be good enough to play the disks (for JVCs BD/DVD I think it played well in 90% of players tested)

as for focus - dual players- I don't think it is an issue. For example the PS3 is a single lens OPU and it focuses IR to 1.2mm, red to .6mm and blue to .1. I think the biggest issue would be intelligence. How and how long would it take to determine what type of disk it is? what if someone makes (2x2)x2 disks (DL BD and DL HD DVD on the same side and DL DVD on the other) how will a dual player know to go with BD or HD DVD

Just reserved the Toshiba HD-XA2. I'll be picking it up tomorrow AM. From what I have read it has amazing PQ:
[Link: tinyurl.com]
It uses the Silicon Optix Reon HQV chip.
Can't wait to hook that baby up so I can watch the 4 HD-DVD's I already own.

Picked up the Toshiba HD XA2 yesterday, got it all hooked up and watched U-571 last night. 1080i is the best I can do on my TV. And I really have nothing else to compare it to. But I must say it is the best PQ I have ever seen.
Today I will be shopping for more HD DVD's.

I now have 13 HD DVD's.
I want more!!!

The LG is being advertised as a release around May with a retail price of $1200. Looks promising. LG had the worst imitation of the Blues Brothers to intruduce their new product.

Does anybody know if the Toshiba has discretes?? Unlike most of their products...

It does not look like my HD XA2 has discretes.
Only had it hooked up for a day though.
With my MX-850 I used the XA1 codes.

The LG combo player might not be made, or should I say-
sold in it's present state. The HD-DVD part of this combo player does not support interactive menus. The HD-DVD consortium told LG they are in violation of the standards set by them.

Eighteen HD-DVD's and counting. In a couple of day I will own Digital Playgrounds- Island Fever 3 on HD-DVD as well. It was supposed to be released on BR, but they either changed their mind or Sony changed it for them.

Hmm, hovering at exactly 18 BDs here as well.

I bet on Beta also but I didn't lose. I enjoyed the higher quality Beta tapes/movies right on up to the point where I switched to DVD.

I am at 1 HD and 1 BD at the moment. I have a Blu Ray drive in my PC and I plan to get an HD player very soon.

I have 33 HD-DVD's now. And waiting for my 3 free one on the Toshiba rebate.
There's only 3 or four titles I want now from the current list. But Universal has announced 100 titles coming out this year:
[Link: tinyurl.com]

Anthony would be soooo ashamed of me for spending money like I have been lately.(:

While on the Beta subject, anybody out there know where to find a good quality pro/prosumer unit I can use to do some transfers from my tapes to digital?

When deciding on format to choose, I picked the higher quality one... and "lost"