Microsoft and Intel choose HD DVD
Well it is the news that Toshiba, and its ever so slightly beleaguered HD DVD format has been waiting to hear. The twin big boys of the PC world, Microsoft and Intel have today confirmed they will join the HD DVD Promotion Group. This basically means that they will back the format, at the expense of the Sony lead Blu-ray rival. Other HD DVD supporters include NEC and Sanyo. The companies cited reasons such as low-cost manufacturing, future proof compatibility and superior capacity and interactivity as the reason for their move.
Interestingly there is still an olive branch for Sony and the Blu-ray group. The release concludes by saying 'Although the companies have determined that HD DVD is the only viable solution at this time, each remains committed to working toward one format that meets consumer and industry requirements.'
Here’s what their talking heads had to say and the full text of their reasons for choosing the format.
'There are both challenges and opportunities in the transition to high-definition experiences throughout the home,' said Blair Westlake, corporate vice president of the Media/Entertainment & Technology Convergence Group at Microsoft. 'And after looking at the core advantages to the PC ecosystem and how it would benefit the consumer, it is clear that HD DVD offers the highest quality, and is the most affordable and highly flexible solution available.'
'Our vision with Intel's Viiv technology is that digital media content can be enjoyed on these Intel-based PCs and consumer electronics devices in and around the home in an easy and affordable manner,' said Brendan Traw, Intel fellow and chief technology officer of Intel's Digital Home Group. ‘Intel has determined that HD DVD best meets the needs of consumers and the requirements for the respective consumer electronics, computer and entertainment industries for delivering a high-definition, interactive experience to the home on optical media.’
Microsoft and Intel cited the following consumer and industry requirements of any successful next-generation optical format for high definition, which is reflected by what HD DVD delivers today:
Managed Copy: A first for DVDs. Managed Copy is a guaranteed feature within HD DVD that gives consumers the freedom to make copies of their discs to a hard drive or home server, including Media Center PCs using Intel Viiv technology, and enjoy them in every room of the house over their home networks. HD DVD discs also will allow copies of the movie to be played on portable devices.
Future-proof compatibility. Using proven HD DVD hybrid disc technology, a single disc can store both high-definition and standard-definition versions of a film, allowing consumers to immediately enjoy the standard-definition movies stored on these discs on today’s DVD players, while HD movies can be replayed later on the HD DVD platform. This is an opportunity for consumers to buy discs at launch that future proof their collections” in other words, helping assure customers that the discs they buy will remain viewable in the future.
Proven low-cost, high-volume manufacturing. HD DVD discs use essentially the same manufacturing equipment as existing DVDs, meaning that production of HD DVD can ramp up easily and with lower costs.
Superior capacity. HD DVD-ROM discs will offer dual-layer 30GB discs at launch, compared with BD-ROM discs, which will be limited to 25GB.
Superior interactivity. HD DVD discs will offer greater interactivity using iHD technology, allowing for enhanced content, navigation and value-added functionality for high-definition films. For example, HD DVDs can offer advanced picture-in-picture capability so that other video, such as a director' commentary, could play on top of the movie. Superior format for notebook PCs. The compatibility of HD DVD with standard DVD facilitates and simplifies development of slim disc drives for integration in notebook PCs, one of the fastest-growing segments of the PC market.
As longtime leaders in the development of new industry specifications, Intel and Microsoft believe a single optical disc format is an ideal solution that would drive rapid consumer adoption. Although the companies have determined that HD DVD is the only viable solution at this time, each remains committed to working toward one format that meets consumer and industry requirements.
