The Apparent Facts

This is a follow-up of an article published at the beginning of August: Hi-Def DVD - Audio Streaming Over HDMI

I have an obligation to our readers to be as complete, analytical, and accurate as possible with the information I publish, so this second article is needed.

Some statements provided by the source in that first article were recently contradicted by an announcement of an actual product. As I mentioned in my article, I contacted the HD DVD Promotion Group for them to verify Dolby's statements on the subject of the DVD Forum and HD DVD. Although they responded, after numerous requests they still did not confirm nor correct Dolby's statements. As a respect to Dolby's source, I assumed they were factual and used them for the article.

As you might recall, Dolby stated that the pass-through streaming feature on HD DVD players was something that A) future approval from the DVD Forum may be considered because it was a key non-optional element of the format, and "no action has been taken at this time", B) the Advanced Content flag used on discs impedes the pass-through function on the player, and is not a manufacturer's or consumer's choice, and C) the pass-through feature may face opposition from content makers and software developers, also members of the DVD Forum, because the interactive advance content mixed with the soundtrack is a feature that is not optional, and is of their interest to always have those interactive features mixed with the soundtrack.

What Better Factual Verification than an Actual Player?

As it turned out, Toshiba just announced the HD-A35 player that will be available on October 2007 for $500 which press release claims would have such pass-thru streaming feature over HDMI 1.3:

http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/news/2007/08/toshiba_to_debut_third_generation_hd_dvd_players_for_high_definition_enthusiasts.php

Due to the apparent contradiction, I requested an official verification by Toshiba as follows:

My question to them: "Is this meaning that the soundtrack would be passed untouched, undecoded, and without audio mixing of commentaries, etc. directly to the HDMI 1.3 output for an external A/V receiver to decode the Hi bit audio (Dolby True HD, DTS Master Audio, etc), and in theory obtain improved sound quality?

Toshiba's response: "Yes, that is correct."

Due to the situation, I also requested a direct response from the DVD Forum regarding Dolby's statements of format related approvals for such feature, no response was provided, but judging by the announcement of the new Toshiba player having such a feature, we probably know the answer in advance.

Who Are You Going to Trust?

In perspective, even when one could question Dolby's assertions as on the side of speculation in an article intended for facts, this is the same Toshiba that also declared early 2007 not having plans for a 24fps 1080p feature for their HD-DVD future players, no upgrades for that feature on just released models, no such feature on the specifications of future players, and shortly after, Toshiba implemented exactly the opposite, included the feature on new players, and also offered upgrades for existing players.

So, who should a consumer trust when making investment decisions on new consumer electronics? I am trying to fill that gap, but manufacturers do what they have to do to survive and be on the competitive edge and in many cases, they have to contradict themselves over time, which makes it harder for consumers to select products. One typical case is the yes/no changing decisions when admitting the development of a Blu-laser Universal player by LG and Samsung for over a year.

While the pass-thru feature is good news for the HD DVD format and for consumers, this experience reminds everyone that there cannot be any trust on this industry from anyone. Complexity, confusion, and strategic deception are here to stay for a long ride, and consumers always loose. Ironically, consumers are the ones footing the bill for the R&D, "strategic planning", and "format war" departments of these big companies.

What Can you Do?

No more games, vote with your $.

If you think a player with Dolby TrueHD as 2-channel only, established on the standard, is idiotic, vote with your $.

If you think a Universal player that costs more than buying two players of both formats deserves a psychiatric institution for the idea, vote with your $.

If you think two formats consuming each other in a war and expect content providers and consumers to decide is irrational, vote with your $.

If you think a player that costs $1000 needs a long chain of several firmware upgrades to function properly and have the features that should have there in the first place is abusive, vote with your $.

Welcome to the mess, but do not forget, your pocket is king.