I’ve written many an opinion column on why the Playstation 3 is the best console out there. After HD DVD died, my argument was strengthened further. Ryan then put the nail in the coffin by confirming that the only BD Live-enabled player on the market right now is the PS3.

A lot of talk has gone on revolving around the price of Blu-Ray players on the market. Some argue that prices have increased since HD DVD died out. Others state that prices are going down on specific players. While each side has some truth to it, the Playstation 3 remains at $399 and gives you both the best Blu-Ray player available and the most powerful gaming console on the market. Either way, consumers shouldn’t have any second thoughts about picking up a PS3 if they’re considering an HD solution for movies.

I’m glad we had this little talk. In the end, I’m just trying to keep you informed.

We have no idea how you’re going to fit a HD display large enough to make a difference in your car, but Alpine insisted on bringing the HD-DVD to your backseat, it might useful in 5 years when your whole movie collection is replaced by HD-DVDs. May be we lack the kind of Alpine vision, but we don’t see any point in this apart from just a gimmick against the Bluray standard, “See? We’re in cars, how ’bout you?”. You should be able to pick up one of these by summer this year, if you are so passionate about it. — Sam Chan

Alpine [Impress]

Many people these days are trying to be unique and making their houses “contemporaryâ€? in ways that people have never done (there is a house that has a glass bottom pool for a roof). If you’re one of these people, or you want to feel like you’re going contemporary, maybe you should pray that the Zgiga TV 2 leaves the concept stage and comes into production. This structure is a mix of an LCD display and a BluRay/HD-DVD player. Since it’s not flush with the wall, you have a ledge on top of the TV to place those porcelain dolls you seem to have forgotten about in your closet. Having a BluRay/HD-DVD player with touch sensitive control panel and an LCD display attached is a really cool concept; now what’s up with the 2 extra boxes. Maybe the name Zgiga TV 2 means TV and 2 random boxes. Whatever, this is supposed to be “contemporary,â€? so the designers could basically do whatever they want with it. Obviously the designers know what the critics like because the Zgiga TV 2 just won a red dot online award in the Design Concept category. — Nick Rice

qixen-p design studio [via SlashGear]

It is the problem that has been making Sony execs cry: Blue-Laser Diodes. Well, the diodes aren’t the problem, the problem is the fact that no one can seem to be able to produce enough of them. Why Sony? Because Blu-Ray drives are a huge part of what they are doing right now. Blu-Ray is built into the PlayStation3 and the new round of Blu-Ray drives. Because of the lack of the diodes, the prices of the drives are sky high, and the lack of PS3s is also due to the deficit.

Sharp is giving Sony a reason to celebrate. Sharp has begun to produce the blue-laser diodes for use in all of the Blu-Ray devices. As of now, Sharp as produces 150,000 diodes which will be fought over by Blu-Ray and HD-DVD drive manufacturers (HD-DVD uses blue-laser diodes as well). So more PS3s? Probably. Will anyone buy them?….. Definitely. — Nik Gomez

Sharp begins Mass-Production of Blue-Laser Diodes [Gizmowatch]