This is probably a really dumb question but I wanted to know if it is possibly for a PS3 or a Xbox 360 add-on to run the other format by a firmware update. I was just curious if my PS3 or my 360 add-on could possibly one day play both formats.
I doubt it. I believe Blu Ray uses a blue laser to read the discs whereas HD-DVD uses the standard red laser, that would definately make HD-DVD unable to read Blu Ray discs. On the other hand (although still highly unlikely) since Blu Ray can read regular DVDs which typically use a red laser I could see it being able to read an HD-DVD as it is a red laser. I do not mean to impy that Blu Ray can or will ever be able to do so, but out of the two new formats I could see more plausability in Blu Ray reading both.......but I still want to make clear this won't happen.
Kind of like how the LG hybrid player is inherintly a Blu Ray player with the ability to "emulate" HD-DVD.
Thanks for your input that is what I was thinking myself. I just hate having a add-on for my 360 I just think it looks ugly so Im just wishful thinking my PS3 could play both one day.
Both Blu Ray and HD-DVD use different optical disc lasers, HD-DVD is similar to standard DVD, however Blu Ray reads closer to the edge of the disc which allows for better performance and load times since read and write speeds are faster.
The laser has to be a special one that can be tuned to both wavelengths which I seriously doubt either one has
No matter what, they'd have to charge you because they have to pay royalties to the BR or HD people to support the format, along with any other tech that has to be included
Both HD-DVD and Blu-ray both use blue lasers, but that doesn't make them any more compatible. A lot of times, or atleast the early players, actually had a seperate red laser for reading dvds and cds.
Microsoft has stated they would produce a Bluray add-on for the 360 if they felt it was wanted. While the add-on drive reads the HD-DVD discs the image processing is done with the Zenos in the 360 itself. I'd imagine a firmware update would allow the Zenos to render Bluray images, however a new Bluray drive add-on would be required to read the disc itself. I'd imagine the PS3 could theoretically be capable of doing the same with an HD-DVD drive. In fact, I'd bet someone ends up doing it via Linux on the PS3 in the future once portable USB HD-DVD drives become available.
BR and HD use essentially identical codecs (the block size is different).
 It's simply the drive would need retuning parameters (which likely is not possible with most drives), and the proper playback software.
 You can use the 360 drive on your PS3 if you want, unfortunately the Linux side has been supposedly crippled to block access to non-basic display modes. (Thinkstandard windows drivers vs the ones for your high-end Nvidia or Radeon)
I doubt it. I believe Blu Ray uses a blue laser to read the discs whereas HD-DVD uses the standard red laser, that would definately make HD-DVD unable to read Blu Ray discs. On the other hand (although still highly unlikely) since Blu Ray can read regular DVDs which typically use a red laser I could see it being able to read an HD-DVD as it is a red laser. I do not mean to impy that Blu Ray can or will ever be able to do so, but out of the two new formats I could see more plausability in Blu Ray reading both.......but I still want to make clear this won't happen.
Kind of like how the LG hybrid player is inherintly a Blu Ray player with the ability to "emulate" HD-DVD.
Large_Soda
Actually both use the blue diode. Just an FYI for ya.Â
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