While Timeless DVD will be adding HD transfer service in the near future, we’d be lying if we didn’t admit that the vast majority of our orders and queries involve transferring plain old analog video tapes to DVD (or video files). But that’s completely normal, considering analog tapes were the primary format used by consumers over the past thirty-some years.
But as a business that intends to be around for a long time, we also frequently examine where DVD technology is heading. Manufacturers would like us to believe that Blu-Ray is the natural progression from DVD. But the fact remains that the consumer adoption rate for Blu-Ray is much slower than it was for DVD. In a recent poll, it was discovered that only 7 percent of American homes have a Blu-Ray player. Americans are still not sold on the idea of Blu-Ray, even though its picture quality is twice as good as regular DVD. Why is this?
In all likelihood, more polling research holds the answer: 51% of people of all ages watch at least some video content online. If television shows and movies are easily downloadable and takes up no space in your home, why invest in a new generation of optical media?
Internet video is a great idea, and likely explains why Blu-Ray has not taken off. Nevertheless, service providers have not cracked seamless Internet video yet. Bandwidth remains spotty with many providers, service plans, and areas. Plus, devices such as Apple TV and Roku have not yet mastered a simple and convenient user experience. Cable and satellite on-demand boxes are currently the most reliable providers in this area, especially for HD content–but they aren’t exactly “internet video.”
But who could have predicted the explosion of DVDs way back in 1990? Here in 2010, we have no idea what the prevailing video delivery method will be in 2030. But we’re sure looking forward to finding out!
