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Toshiba to give up on HD DVD, end format war: source
Sunday February 17, 8:32 am ET
By Mayumi Negishi and Kentaro Hamada

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toshiba Corp (Tokyo:6502.T - News) is planning to give up on its HD DVD format for high definition DVDs, conceding defeat to the competing Blu-Ray technology backed by Sony Corp (Tokyo:6758.T - News), a company source said on Saturday.

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The move will likely put an end to a battle that has gone on for several years between consortiums led by Toshiba and Sony vying to set the standard for the next-generation DVD and compatible video equipment.

The format war, often compared to the Betamax-VHS battle in the 1980s, has confused consumers unsure of which DVD or player to buy, slowing the development what is expected to be a multibillion dollar high definition DVD industry.

Toshiba's cause has suffered several setbacks in recent weeks including Friday's announcement by U.S. retailing giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE:WMT - News) that it would abandon the HD DVD format and only stock its shelves with Blu-ray movies.

A source at Toshiba confirmed an earlier report by public broadcaster NHK that it was getting ready to pull the plug.

"We have entered the final stage of planning to ma

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Just heard that Toshiba will officially throw in the towel today* - jaiva 02:17:18 02/16/08 (14)

And the best-selling Blu-Ray player is... - ILoveJazz 22:54:26 02/17/08 (2)

You say that like it's a bad thing NT - Jazz Inmate 11:45:18 02/18/08 (1)

RE: You say that like it's a bad thing NT - ILoveJazz 13:28:25 02/18/08 (0)

here 'tis - Duilawyer 08:37:25 02/17/08 (0)

Does this mean that Toshiba will soon be marketing Blu-Ray Players? - DavidLD 14:39:26 02/16/08 (0)

Does this mean that Toshiba will soon be marketing Blu-Ray Players? - DavidLD 14:38:18 02/16/08 (6)

surely so and probably with a preferred licensing rate or some other type of consolation gesture from Sony* - jaiva 15:49:24 02/16/08 (5)

they wish - Joe Murphy Jr 17:02:00 02/16/08 (4)

maybe, maybe not - jaiva 17:38:39 02/16/08 (3)

inconsistent theory - Joe Murphy Jr 16:13:00 02/17/08 (1)

er... no - jaiva 16:40:03 02/17/08 (0)

Very true, it is Japan Inc. - Ole Lund Christensen 04:43:08 02/17/08 (0)

Here is the link - Ole Lund Christensen 08:05:17 02/16/08 (0)

It's about time... - SF tech 02:43:08 02/16/08 (0)

Follow Ups

here 'tis - Duilawyer 08:37:25 02/17/08 (0)

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