Acer joins the Blu-ray camp

Acer has become the newest member of the Blu-ray Disc Association, joining more than 170 consumer electronics manufacturers, computer companies and content providers.

Acer is one of the three largest PC brands in the world, and the number one notebook brand in Europe.

"We are delighted to welcome Acer to the Blu-ray Disc Association," said Victor Matsuda, chairman of the organisation's Global Promotions Committee.

The news comes not long after it was reported that Paramount was paid to drop Blu-ray completely and to support the rival HD-DVD format.

Data compiled respectively by Home Media Research and GFK Research suggests that Blu-ray Disc movie titles accounted for 66 per cent of HD movie sales in the US and 60 per cent of HD movie sales in Europe in the first half of 2007.

With more companies choosing one format or the other, some market watchers believe that there is "no end in sight" in the next-generation DVD format war.

But with the increase of IPTV, and several manufacturers producing dual-format DVD players, many others believe that it will become academic.