Some of you might remember the battle between Blu-ray and HD-DVD technologies several years ago. Both were new technologies released in 2006 as a replacement to current DVD technologies. At that time, there was a division between major companies and what format was the best to use. On the HD-DVD side were companies like Microsoft, Toshiba, and Intel. On the Blu-ray side were companies like Sony, Disney, Apple, and Dell.
Initially, HD-DVD devices were the first to market, in April 2006, and were slow to be received by consumers. Blu-ray players were released in June 2006, but gained substantial momentum with the release of Sony’s PlayStation 3 video game console in November 2006. While Microsoft attempted to combat this by releasing a stand-alone HD-DVD player to use with its XBOX 360 gaming console, it was not well received.
Further hampering the battle between the two formats were the major Hollywood motion picture studios. Right from the start, both Sony and Disney opted for Blu-ray technologies, and it was not long before other studios, like Warner Brothers, made a decision to go with Blu-ray format over the HD-DVD format.
In the end, the battle between Microsoft and Sony and their gaming consoles is what ultimately killed HD-DVD technology. Consumers could get a gaming machine which also supported Blu-ray disc playback for less than it cost to purchase an XBOX 360 with the additional, external HD-DVD disc drive.
While HD-DVD technology and the companies that supported the format put up a good fight, lasting almost five years, in the end Blu-ray won out and has continued to grow in popularity. If you happen to own a HD-DVD player and need a new remote control, feel free to contact Replacement Remotes at 1-855-5-REMOTE (1-855-573-6683).