This is a very good day for all of us. It seems that Toshiba have finally decided to stop the HD production. Don’t get me wrong, stopping the HD is not a piece of good news by itself.

The good news is that we (consumers) will finally get the opportunity to race for the High Definition products.

Should that decision be confirmed, it would mean that Toshiba, Microsoft and Intel would lose millions of dollars. This is the price of greed – the price you have to pay when you want to run solo and forget to focus on the consumer needs.

The big winner is definitively Sony and their PS3. Sales will probably increase. Samsung, which has always supported Blu Ray, will share that success.

This is a great victory for Sony. After the Betamax, Mini Disc, DAT and the soon-dying UMD (for movies) format, Sony is finally back on track with a successful format. The 80’s company still needs to catch up with Korean and Chinese companies and enter the digital eras properly.

As a consumer, you will finally be able to enjoy High Definition movies. Personally, I am very happy as the Blu Ray discs really provide better resolution and quality pictures.

What about the Matrix, or the Transformers? Or Warner and Paramount exclusive deals on the HD? Wait and see. If you have them, just keep them. Otherwise, wait for the ultimate, ultimate edition in Blu Ray.

Pop the champagne!!!

Have you ever calculated in how many ways you can watch a single movie?

First and foremost – you can watch it on the television. You can then record it to your VCR (if you still have one) or even download it to your computer.

It is then followed by the VCD or DVD or Blu Ray / HD-DVD disc. They all use a digital recording technology, use the same format (a disc) but the quality varies a lot between each format. VCD is mainly still used in Asia; DVD is the new standard while HDDVD and BRD are still fighting to take the lead on the high definition market.

This market does not take off because consumers are lost between those two formats and do not want to make the wrong decision. No decision being better than wrong decision, thus the sales do not increase. The second reason is the extreme complexity of this technology for the mass market which is lost between Full HD, HD, HD Ready, 1080p, 720p, 1080i etc. In addition to that, there are very few channels broadcasting in High Definition at this moment. Last but not least, the quality is not as good as it is supposed to be.

Anyway, let’s go back to my point. We have already evaluated how you could watch a movie using traditional methods. If you add the new technologies and new format, this is becoming ridiculous. Do you want to watch it on your iPod, on your UMD with PSP, on your Mac, on your PC, on your Archos; is it MP4, WMV, high definition or not, do you want to carry a portable DVD player? STOP IT!

There are a lot of advertisements to promote the legal download of movies. YES, but if people download movies illegally it is because it is easier for them.

If you are a good sheep, and buy your movies, then this is becoming a joke. You want to watch High Definition, you buy HD DVD or Blu Ray. You want to watch on a portable DVD player or at home movies that do not exist on High Definition, you have to get it on DVD.

If now, you want to watch it on your iPod and if you want to be legal, you have to get another version.

So what is the solution?

Mister Media companies, ONCE for ALL and ONE for ALL, this is the solution.

Consumers who are buying or renting movies are not interested in the technology. They want to watch a movie. So make sure when a new movie is released, all previous formats are included inside.

HD DVD is including a DVD version, this is a good start. But what about the MP4 or WMV files? Why should I buy a movie on High Definition, another version on UMD for the PSP or a digital file for my iPod?

Please, make sure you include the standard version with the High Definition as well with the digital versions. Consumers will be happier, will buy more DVDs and will get movies through illegal means lesser.

Do not repeat the failure of the Mini-Disc: listen to your target audience and their needs.