Toshiba Quits HD DVD and Blu-ray Wins Format War

Toshiba has announced that they are exiting the HD DVD business, which means that Sony's Blu-ray is the victor in the next-generation optical video disc format war. Toshiba says they aim to cease shipments to retailers of HD DVD players and recorders by the end of March 2008. The Japanese electronics maker claims it will continue full product support and after-sales service to owners of Toshiba HD DVD products, although it is unclear as to how long. In any event, the company plans to keep on producing and marketing regular DVD players and recorders. It's up to the studios to decide how much longer they will continue releasing new titles on HD DVD, but this practice is expected to end soon because HD DVD is now officially an obsolete technology.