Post by Segaman on Feb 20, 2008 21:29:31 GMT -5
Following several days of rumors, Toshiba has confirmed that it will no longer develop, manufacture and market HD DVD players and recorders, effectively ending the high-def format war.
In a just-issued press release, the company said that it reached the decision following "recent major changes in the market." Toshiba emphasized that it will continue to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.
“We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called 'next-generation format war' and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop,” said Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation. "While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality.”
Toshiba said it will begin reducing shipments of HD DVD players and recorders immediately, with the aim of pulling all HD DVD players, recorders and disc drives from store shelves by March. The company went on to say that it would "continue to assess" the long-term viability of notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives.
In a just-issued press release, the company said that it reached the decision following "recent major changes in the market." Toshiba emphasized that it will continue to provide full product support and after-sales service for all owners of Toshiba HD DVD products.
“We carefully assessed the long-term impact of continuing the so-called 'next-generation format war' and concluded that a swift decision will best help the market develop,” said Atsutoshi Nishida, President and CEO of Toshiba Corporation. "While we are disappointed for the company and more importantly, for the consumer, the real mass market opportunity for high definition content remains untapped and Toshiba is both able and determined to use our talent, technology and intellectual property to make digital convergence a reality.”
Toshiba said it will begin reducing shipments of HD DVD players and recorders immediately, with the aim of pulling all HD DVD players, recorders and disc drives from store shelves by March. The company went on to say that it would "continue to assess" the long-term viability of notebook PCs with integrated HD DVD drives.
www.highdefdigest.com/news/show/Toshiba/Toshiba_Officially_Drops_HD_DVD/1477
Toshiba: "No Plans" to Back Blu-ray
don't expect Toshiba to begin manufacturing Blu-ray players anytime soon.
That's according to company president Atsutoshi Nishida, who spoke at a press conference in Tokyo Tuesday. "No plans at all, not at this moment," was Nishida's response when asked whether Toshiba planned to produce players using rival Blu-ray technology.
Not that the Blu-ray Disc Association wouldn't be happy to have Toshiba on their side.
"We have always said that Toshiba and Microsoft, and any other company, is more than welcome to join the Blu-ray Disc Association," BDA spokesperson Frank Simonis told TechRadar ahead of Toshiba's announcement.
Toshiba stressed in its press release that it will continue to market conventional DVD players and recorders, promising to "continue to contribute to the development of the DVD industry" through the DVD Forum.
That's according to company president Atsutoshi Nishida, who spoke at a press conference in Tokyo Tuesday. "No plans at all, not at this moment," was Nishida's response when asked whether Toshiba planned to produce players using rival Blu-ray technology.
Not that the Blu-ray Disc Association wouldn't be happy to have Toshiba on their side.
"We have always said that Toshiba and Microsoft, and any other company, is more than welcome to join the Blu-ray Disc Association," BDA spokesperson Frank Simonis told TechRadar ahead of Toshiba's announcement.
Toshiba stressed in its press release that it will continue to market conventional DVD players and recorders, promising to "continue to contribute to the development of the DVD industry" through the DVD Forum.
