DigitalBattle.com

Despite Blu-ray’s emergence as the ultimate winner of the format war, Samsung is questioning its future. Andy Griffiths, the director of consumer electronics of Samsung UK has estimated that Blu-ray has only five years left while Sony has estimated the PS3’s lifespan to last another ten. Mr. Griffiths estimates that with the success of Xbox Live and Steam digital downloads are the future of media. “In 2012 we will be in a true HD world,” he said. “Everything from your television to your camcorder will be offering you pictures in high-definition, and we plan to offer you that HD world from all angles.”

Although Blu-ray might die off as a good portion of the media-loving tech-savvy people might switch from standard discs to all-digital, given that Blu-ray hasn’t even come close to shutting out standard DVDs, will digital downloads be able to do so? The current generation is growing up with technology, but the previous generation is still around and many of them are still using outdated technologies like VCRs, the AOL web browser and dial-up internet. Besides, the convenience of physical discs will always be preferable until internet speeds that allow users to download an entire film in the time it takes to turn on your DVD player and pop in a disc.