Intel and Microsoft have weighed in on the next-generation DVD format
war, choosing to side with HD DVD. The move places the two giants of the PC
industry in opposition against Blu-ray technology, which is backed by Sony.
Both Intel and Microsoft have now joined the HD DVD Promotion Group as
part of their endorsement of the HD DVD format. The HD DVD Promotion Group
is a consortium led by Toshiba, NEC, Sanyo and Memory-Tech.
WMV HD Content Showcase:: 3.0 GHz Intel Pentium 4 or higher processor (or equivalent); 512 MB of RAM You can play these titles in the DVD drive on your computer. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/musicandvideo/hdvideo/contentshowcase.aspxHOME | Intel, Microsoft to Fund Parallel Programming - News and Analysis :: Intel and Microsoft jointly announced an initiative to create two "universal parallel Windows Vista Headaches • HD-DVD/Blu-Ray Player, Hot HDTVs http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2277128,00.aspHOME | The HD DVD Promotion Group noted in a statement that Intel's and Microsoft's
participation, "will contribute to the early market penetration of HD DVD
products."
"The announcement from these two leading IT companies reconfirms the
design advantages of the HD DVD format and its achievement of maximum
compatibility between AV and PC products," said Hisashi Yamada, chief fellow
of Toshiba's Digital Media Network Company and chairman of the Technical
Coordination Group at the DVD Forum, in a statement. "In fact, it is
increasingly clear that HD DVD offers the best way forward in the
convergence of the AV and PC worlds."
IT Peripheral Expo Australia - Microsoft dumps HD-DVD:: Feb 25, 2008 Along with Intel and NEC, Microsoft had been one of the primary backers of the Toshiba HD DVD format. Toshiba said last week that after a http://www.itperipheralexpo.com.au/content/view/123/45/HOME | Blu-ray backer HP threatens to back HD DVD too | The Register:: Nov 17, 2005 Blu-ray backer HP threatens to back HD DVD too to claims from Microsoft and Intel - both HD DVD backers - that Blu-ray lacked MMC. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/11/17/hp_blu-ray_hd-dvd/HOME | Microsoft is no stranger to HD DVD and has even had a hand in helping the
specification itself. Microsoft's VC-9 video decoding technology was
approved as part of the HD DVD specifications last year for Rewritable Disc
version 0.9.
The HD DVD format currently includes the 15GB (single-layer,
single-sided) and 30GB (dual-layer, single-sided) discs options. In May Toshiba announced a new high-end option that would extend HD DVD's capacity to
45GB.
Sony's Blu-ray format, however, has a greater theoretical capacity that could reach as high as 100GB, according to a recent press release from TDK. The Blu-ray backers currently include media heavyweights Sony, Universal Music, Walt Disney, 20th Century Fox, Apple, Dell and HP.
HD DVD has its heavyweight media backers, too, including Paramount Home Entertainment, Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Warner Home Video and
New Line Cinema among its supporters.
As well, support for HD DVD is now expected in Microsoft's
upcoming Vista operating system, extending the reach of the format beyond
standalone media players.
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