http://www.smarthouse.com.au/HD/Blu_ray/L9R7H4Q2
Blu-Ray Dead In 5 Years Says Samsung
By Branko Miletic | Friday | 05/09/2008
For all the Sony executives reading this story, a note of caution: this story contains some disturbing material or material that may offend. In a UK tech web site overnight, Samsung has gone on record and said that the Blu-ray format will only lasting another 5 years before it is replaced by another format or technology.
"I think it [Blu-ray] has 5 years left, I certainly wouldn't give it 10", Andy Griffiths, director of consumer electronics at Samsung UK told web site Pocket-lint in an interview, adding that that "2008 is the format's year".
Instead he says, Samsung is putting its faith in its OLED technology, which although already developed, is being held back at the moment "due to high manufacturing costs", according to the report.
"We will launch the OLED technology when it's at a price that will be appealing to the consumer, unfortunately that's not yet", noted Griffiths, adding that 2010 as a possible date when he believes that when the technology becomes mainstream it will replace LCD.
"It's gonna be big, but at the moment it's a great story, not commercial, product", he told Pocket Lint.
Samsung has also recently announced it's partnered with Yahoo to offer widgets on its internet connected televisions as it tries to turn the television into an information hub of the home rather than the PC, in a move thought to be a pre-emptive strike against Panasonic and its VieraCast LCD TV concept.
"The content has to be relevant, but once it is it will make the TV more than a TV", said Griffiths.
"In 2012 we will be in a true HD world. Everything from your television to your camcorder will be offering you pictures in high-definition, and we plan to offer you that HD world from all angles", he told Pocket Lint.
