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Company Sells Standard-Def as HD for 8 Months
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A factory in Oregon has managed to pull the wool over the eyes of consumers for eight months by selling regular DVDs as Blu-ray Discs.
One company, going by the name of Cine:def, realized that not everyone can tell the difference between the quality of high definition movies and flicks that were released in the bog standard DVD format many moons ago. While even the least tech savvy of people would likely notice if they were sold the Dark Knight in standard definition as opposed to Blu-ray, movies that warrant less concentration or attention would probably slip by unnoticed.
Capitalizing on this, Cine:def ran a scam that peddled both adult films and popular children’s movies in standard definition but boxed in Blu-ray packaging and sold at a considerably higher price. Beginning production in August 2008, Cine:def managed to raise $1.4 million in revenue by selling titles like Cinderella and Snow White to parents who were buying for their young children and unlikely to watch the movies themselves, as well as blue movies like the Debbie Does Dallas series and Muffy the Vampire Layer, to people who would likely not notice if their movies were as sharp they could have been because they were too, er, distracted.
The scam was uncovered when an unnamed Toshiba employee on business in Oregon called the company’s toll-free number to see if he could fast track several titles for delivery to ensure he had his purchases before flying home. He noticed that the quality of his entertainment was no where close to what he had seen with HD DVD versions of the same movies.
The factory workers are pleading ignorance, while the director claims the scam was an endeavor to bring high quality entertainment to those who could not necessarily afford Blu-ray movies.
“The way we see it, everyone should have the right to be a part of the bleeding edge technology that is fast becoming our standard format,” said founder and CEO, Terry Bull. “Given the current economic crisis, not everyone can afford to replace their movie libraries and eat the cost of their old ones. We’re offering people the chance to believe that no matter how bad things are financially, they are still in keeping with the current technological trends,” he continued. “Besides, is there really a difference, anyway?”
Terry Bull and Financial VP for the company, Joe King, will face charges of fraud and false advertising in front of a grand jury on April 23rd. It is not yet known if the production companies who have had their copyrights infringed upon will press charges.
What do you guys think of this story? We find it hard to care. While we will concede there is a difference between standard definition and high def, there is no Blu-ray drive present in Apple products. God Steve Jobs himself declared the devices a "bag of hurt" and ever since then, we've found we've been using our own less and less.
Source : Tom's Hardware US
Oh nice, Apple slipped into the article, that will get you more hits no doubt.
+1 from me and I agree, BluRay and DVD look the same if you are a clueless mac user
LOL Steve Jobs = god that's great....
Well when I compare standard DVD movies to HD movies I see a big difference. This story was more funny then interesting, but I'm glad you guys posted it.
It was an April Fool's. The Steve Jobs reference was poking fun at recent musings that Tom's is all about Apple. All in good fun.
@Errayim: Thanks man. Glad people are seeing the funny side of the editorial night staff!
Jane,
Usually you're no where near as bad (if at all) as the other two I continually complain about, but I really have a problem with this last paragraph. Ugh.
"What do you guys think of this story? We find it hard to care. While we will concede there is a difference between standard definition and high def, there is no Blu-ray drive present in Apple products. God Steve Jobs himself declared the devices a "bag of hurt" and ever since then, we've found we've been using our own less and less."
Mr. Terry Bull, founder and CEO, I must say that your surname suits you well because you're entire defense is nothing more than bullshit.
How does this help people's self esteem, self-perception and the economy? It's not like you were selling blu-ray boxed dvds at DVD PRICE, you were selling blu-ray boxed DVDs at BLU-RAY PRICE. And regardless of your intentions, its still FRAUD. It's like selling a fake rolex at true rolex price and then claiming it helps people's self-esteem to buy a knockoff at full price.
This guy is total scum, and needs to go jail. Maybe in prison he can think up a better excuse.
And by the way, there actually is a difference between blu-ray and dvd, you idiot.
Jane,Usually you're no where near as bad (if at all) as the other two I continually complain about, but I really have a problem with this last paragraph. Ugh. "What do you guys think of this story? We find it hard to care. While we will concede there is a difference between standard definition and high def, there is no Blu-ray drive present in Apple products. God Steve Jobs himself declared the devices a "bag of hurt" and ever since then, we've found we've been using our own less and less."
Mr. Terry Bull, founder and CEO, I must say that your surname suits you well because you're entire defense is nothing more than bullshit.How does this help people's self esteem, self-perception and the economy? It's not like you were selling blu-ray boxed dvds at DVD PRICE, you were selling blu-ray boxed DVDs at BLU-RAY PRICE. And regardless of your intentions, its still FRAUD. It's like selling a fake rolex at true rolex price and then claiming it helps people's self-esteem to buy a knockoff at full price.This guy is total scum, and needs to go jail. Maybe in prison he can think up a better excuse. And by the way, there actually is a difference between blu-ray and dvd, you idiot.
It's an April fool! I was kidding!
this was april fools???
Now i feel stupid....
(toms needs an edit button!!!)
that is hilarious, I figured somebody would try it and they really did some research to figure out which demographics were pefect to hit.
It was! I was just poking some fun. Turns out it was pretty believable! Sorry but I got you guys.
Well Blue Ray looks better on a true high def system... Otherwise DVD is just about the same.
Scariest (and funniest) aspect of this prank is that it could very well be happening exactly as described.
Who buys a child's movie from a place that only sells porn and children's movies, sounds creepy to me.
lol fooled me, but then again, I thought tom's was supposed to be relaible source, I guess I know better now...
We've been duped!
this was the most believable one yet. GJ Jane
this was the most believable one yet. GJ Jane
Cheers, mate.
No surprise that the Maces are all ticked off about this joke. Boy those Mac heads are sure smarter than everyone else...
I kinda expect "Tom's to Transition to All Apple News" to be Jane's work and this Tuan's. This is the most believable one though.
I kinda expect "Tom's to Transition to All Apple News" to be Jane's work and this Tuan's. This is the most believable one though.
Not sure what you mean by that... and believable is sort of the point of April Fool's jokes.
No surprise that the Maces are all ticked off about this joke. Boy those Mac heads are sure smarter than everyone else...
True. Hell hath no fury like a fanboy scorned.
I think Tom's should post articles like these every day. This stuff's hilarious.
LOL
More Apple!
Ya had me going on this one too
Toms Hardware meets The Colbert Report.
I didn't really believe the story but I wasn't thinking April Fools for sure. I mean uh hello - regular DVD's do not work in Blue Ray DVD players last I checked. And what granny or technically challenged person wouldn't figure that out way before 8 months.
Not to mention, where the heck would they get a ton of empty Blue Ray DVD cases that exactly matched what they needed. Plus as someone else said - helping? Uh? That made no sense! =)
“The way we see it, everyone should have the right to be a part of the bleeding edge technology....."
So you're lying to customers charging them for it then not giving it to them and pocketing the cash..... yes, very noble, way to look out for the consumer!
You let "God" dictate what movie media you use? Grats sheople, welcome to the Jobstopia. I kid, but not really.
But then again, this ISN'T VHS->DVD. Rewinding < Not rewinding. Chapter Skip > No chapter skip. Then there's the longevity and the quality of DVDs.
But BluRay is different. Aside from quality and a less-difficult-to-scratch disc, there really isn't much difference, so it's obvious that the sell is harder, especially when people have the perception it's hard to tell the difference between standard and HD. I will concede that I can only tell the difference between 720p and 1080i/p if it's pointed out to me and I look REAL hard, but comparing SD to HD is like comparing a beautiful Gala apple to a rotten apple with a worm in it.
I use my BRDVDs as much as i can, price permitting. But the "bag of hurt" comes in the same realm of DVDs did, just with a slower adoption rate. The quality in movies, and the some of the features make BRDVDs great media, but the slow adoption rate has lead to a slow maturity rate and therefor inhibitive pricing.
To me, BRDVDs just need time. They are the future and they are truly worth the time. It's just a matter of adoption. And until Apple joins on the bandwagon, I get the feeling that the Sheople such as our Stevetheist here, won't adopt at any increased rate like DVD.
“The way we see it, everyone should have the right to be a part of the bleeding edge technology....." So you're lying to customers charging them for it then not giving it to them and pocketing the cash..... yes, very noble, way to look out for the consumer!
You let "God" dictate what movie media you use? Grats sheople, welcome to the Jobstopia. I kid, but not really.But then again, this ISN'T VHS->DVD. Rewinding < Not rewinding. Chapter Skip > No chapter skip. Then there's the longevity and the quality of DVDs.But BluRay is different. Aside from quality and a less-difficult-to-scratch disc, there really isn't much difference, so it's obvious that the sell is harder, especially when people have the perception it's hard to tell the difference between standard and HD. I will concede that I can only tell the difference between 720p and 1080i/p if it's pointed out to me and I look REAL hard, but comparing SD to HD is like comparing a beautiful Gala apple to a rotten apple with a worm in it.I use my BRDVDs as much as i can, price permitting. But the "bag of hurt" comes in the same realm of DVDs did, just with a slower adoption rate. The quality in movies, and the some of the features make BRDVDs great media, but the slow adoption rate has lead to a slow maturity rate and therefor inhibitive pricing.To me, BRDVDs just need time. They are the future and they are truly worth the time. It's just a matter of adoption. And until Apple joins on the bandwagon, I get the feeling that the Sheople such as our Stevetheist here, won't adopt at any increased rate like DVD.
Sorry guys, this was an April Fool's joke. Not serious (or true) at all. Purely satirical.
Hello? Read the comments, it's a J-O-K-E
you had me until the steve jobs = god reference. Otherwise belieavable, I have bought a blu-ray movie that was just an upconvert of a standard def movie I swear. And i would not be surprised at all if this was really happening.
Good one,
Very believable.
you had me until the steve jobs = god reference. Otherwise belieavable, I have bought a blu-ray movie that was just an upconvert of a standard def movie I swear. And i would not be surprised at all if this was really happening.Good one,Very believable.
Cheers.