Toshiba announces a few more details on its HD DVD players
Posted on 09/07/05 01:04 by Seán Byrne                             
Toshiba announces a few more details on its HD DVD players

Toshiba has recently done a road show in the US demonstrating HD DVD and what consumers can expect from the format once it launches late November in the US.  The launch will also include 89 HD DVD titles.  The audience seemed very positive towards HD DVD when they saw comparisons of images from HD DVD against DVD.

A HD DVD will only output high definition content over HDMI and other secure digital connections.  Unfortunately this means that HDTV sets that only support Component or other analogue inputs would only receive a standard definition down-scaled image from a HD DVD player.  HD-DVD discs will come in capacities of 15GB, 30GB and 45GB which hold 4, 8 and 12 hours of MPEG-4/AVC encoded content respectively.  Another disc version is a DVD/HD DVD hybrid for legacy DVD player support. 

Toshiba has its hopes in ensuring the studios are happy with HD DVD including the enforcement of secure digital connections for streaming HD to a suitable television.  The protection of content on the disc itself will also be a very important factor.  Blu-ray on the other hand is still likely going to do very well when it comes to the PC drives, especially with its higher disc capacity. 

At a recent Toshiba road show in the US they demonstrated their upcoming HD-DVD specification and a few more details became available as to what we can expect from the format when it launches in the US late (November) this year '“ it will launch with 89 titles available in HD. The audience reaction was very positive to the comparable images shown in both standard DVD and HD-DVD.

The most interesting thing for people buying TVs at the moment is that Toshiba have stated that their HD-DVD Player will ONLY output high Def on the player's HDMI output (plus other digital connections) the analogue output will be downrezed to 480 lines (in the US - expect the equivalent, no doubt, in Europe). The Toshiba player will also have a USB interface to allow connection to computers for enhanced content and interactive options direct off the disk. In addition mastering of the underlying DVD content will be based on 1080p - but there was no discussion on the resolution of the MPEG4 images.

The full article can be read here.

Even if PC users may not be happy with HD DVD's lower capacity, Toshiba surely seems to be trying to lure at least movie lovers towards their new format.  Also, even though the broadcast flag is no longer mandatory as a result of an appeals court ruling, this has not stopped Toshiba from ensuring the movie industry gets what they are asking for when it comes to protecting against potential piracy.  Then again, I expect Blu-ray to follow similar suit, especially if Blu-ray backers don't want security and anti-piracy measures to become a tie breaker for the movie studios to decide on which format to go with. 

Feel free to discuss and find out more about HD DVD and Blu-ray on our Music Download, Peer to Peer (P2P) & Legal Issues Forum.  For those who are not familiar with HD DVD or Blu-ray, see this article for an in-depth comparison of both formats.

Source: Digital Spy - Broadcasting

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By Olli, Sat 9 Jul 2005 01:24
Olli>A HD DVD will only output high definition content over HDMI and other secure digital connections. Unfortunately this means that HDTV sets that only support Component or other analogue inputs would only receive a standard definition down-scaled image from a HD DVD player.< OMG, the movie industry is completely paranoid! This is worse than what we've already got today with D-Theater tapes! And it is completely useless, there are already HDMI secure -> VGA (RGB analog) -> Composite adapters available. I don't think I really like the industry's attitute. I am the customer, I want to use my component HDTV set. If they don't offer me what I want, I won't buy it. Simple as that.
By sorti, Sat 9 Jul 2005 03:37
sortiGot a link for a working HDMI - > VGA? device? Please supply it (WITH HDCP). Anyone who bought a HDtv before an hdDVD format happenes is crazy and asking for trouble anyway.
[edited by sorti on 09.07.2005 03:38]
By kwkard, Sat 9 Jul 2005 06:39
kwkardI bought an 800 samsung hd crt televison. It only has compenent. No HDMI, but I only bought it for my xbox. I am planning on getting an LCD soon, and I will make sure it has HDMI.
By Devilbmxskater, Sat 9 Jul 2005 08:09
Why cant they just make it like the vcr's and dvd players and use coaxial cable. They would be able to send the signal throught that and all tv shoud have the connection
By sorti, Sat 9 Jul 2005 08:59
sortiYes some HDtvs have something called opencable or cablecard. Your cable box is inside the TV, you call the cable company they come out put a card in your TV then call in and have your TV activated. Then you can watch things like HBO/Showtime without a box. But you can't use cablecards with DVRs or multi tuners yet thats something for opencable/cablecard 2.0.
By hajj_3, Sat 9 Jul 2005 09:13
give dvdjon 30 mins and it'll be cracked Smilie lol
By dannyrohr, Sat 9 Jul 2005 11:07
Unsprising information in my opinion. I have been telling people for years to not buy a HDTV without either HDMI or DVI-HDCP inputs. 4 hours of content on a 15GB even with H.264 is pretty much a load of BS unless they are talking about SD. A 15GB disc will be good ONLY for the movie and no extras with H.264 ciompression at 1080p. 30GB discs will leave room for extras and multiple audio tracks. I am personally hoping for lossless MLP audio. The details I really want to know is wether or not movies are stored and can be played back at the NATIVE 24fps (or 48, 72). The player should be the device to convert to other outputs such has 1080/720/480i60 (US, Japan) or 1080/720/576i50 (Europe, Australia etc) Danny.
By Olli, Sat 9 Jul 2005 13:21
OlliSure: http://www.spatz-tech.de/spatz/dvi_hdcp.htm In the end, the industry's restrictions only hurt the paying customer. Professional pirates won't care anyway....
[edited by Olli on 09.07.2005 13:23]
By Olli, Sat 9 Jul 2005 13:29
OlliHey, there is even a better one. Removes HDCP from HDMI: http://www.spatz-tech.de/spatz/dvi_magic.htm This "copy protection" is completely useless, prevents you from using computer displays and only hurts the customer. Even worse, HD-DVDs will only run on a "secure" OS like Longhorn. No, thank you.
By shimman, Sat 9 Jul 2005 18:07
i am sure what's the problem with analog output or dvi; who has a time for recording/capturing entire movie from dvi?? professional pirates can copy whatever they wish & it only gives average users problems. new dvds won't let me skip previews that's more than enough to make me to build a pc based ht so that i can cut the preview, warnings & other stuffs i don't want to see. bd will be even worse as $ony is the main player #$%^, i will only buy dvds until someone comes up with dvddecryptor like software so that i can have a control not othersdevil
By Olli, Sat 9 Jul 2005 18:59
Olli> bd will be even worse as $ony is the main player < Yes, you will probably need an online connection to watch (so the content provider can validate your license).
By Olli, Sat 9 Jul 2005 19:01
Olli>The details I really want to know is wether or not movies are stored and can be played back at the NATIVE 24fps (or 48, 72). The player should be the device to convert to other outputs such has 1080/720/480i60 (US, Japan) or 1080/720/576i50 (Europe, Australia etc)< Nope. Not in PAL land. You have to stick with the Mickey Mouse voices. puke And in NTSC countries you'll have your micro-stutters as before.
[edited by Olli on 09.07.2005 19:02]
By Kenshin, Sat 9 Jul 2005 22:01
I doubt HD-DVD recorders and players from LG and Samsung won't have component and DVI connectors.
By Olli, Sat 9 Jul 2005 22:59
Olli> I doubt HD-DVD recorders and players from LG and Samsung won't have component and DVI connectors. < I doubt that Hollywood would allow them to have "unprotected" HD outputs...
[edited by Olli on 09.07.2005 23:00]
By FreqNasty, Mon 11 Jul 2005 13:28
Watch all the component only HDTV sets tumble in price once news of this hits the mainstream. I'm glad the Pioneer range of plasmas has HDMI.

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