Engadget HD http://hd.engadget.com Engadget HD http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/hd.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget HD http://hd.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[HD DVD's Managed Copy was never necessarily free, was always Mandatory]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/10/hd-dvds-managed-copy-was-never-necessarily-free-was-always-man/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/10/hd-dvds-managed-copy-was-never-necessarily-free-was-always-man/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/11/10/hd-dvds-managed-copy-was-never-necessarily-free-was-always-man/#commentsManaged Copy Demo It isn't often that we specifically call out another site for writing things that are just not true, but this one we can't let go. In an article about Blu-ray's Managed Copy, Ars Technica's Nate Anderson posts that Blu-ray's Managed Copy is a "stinker" because you might have to pay to make a copy and claims that the HD DVD version was better because it was free. Other than the fact that this is just not true, the part that really struck out to us was that he linked back to the Ars archive to support his statement, but must've missed the part of the source that states "No, as Jordi Rebbas told me, studios have to offer managed copy, but they have the option of charging for it." Lucky for us, both Intel and Microsoft exposed the real difference in Managed Copy between the two formats, which was that initially on Blu-ray the studios could choose whether or not each title was copyable, so in other words it wasn't mandatory. The BDA eventually caved and as we've said before, Managed Copy on Blu-ray is mandatory. Another related note is that Managed Copy was never implemented on HD DVD either, as it was also dependent on the finalization of AACS, but what was different was that the Discs did contain data that pointed to what was expected to become authentication servers. So in theory, if the format would've survived, even the initial Discs would've been copyable when it was implemented. Of course we'll never get to find out if it would've worked, but at least they did plan ahead a little, which is more than you can say for Blu-ray.

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HD DVD's Managed Copy was never necessarily free, was always Mandatory originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-rayblurayHD DVDHdDvdManaged CopyManagedCopyMandatory Managed CopyMandatoryManagedCopyTue, 10 Nov 2009 09:53:00 EST<![CDATA[Western Digital WD TV Live HD media player gets official]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/13/western-digital-wd-tv-live-hd-media-player-gets-official/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/13/western-digital-wd-tv-live-hd-media-player-gets-official/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/10/13/western-digital-wd-tv-live-hd-media-player-gets-official/#comments
Hope you didn't spend your well-earned shekels on a WD TV Mini -- it turns out that the HD-less wonder was just a waypoint to Western Digital's latest. The WD TV Live HD media player is an unassuming sort that doesn't really offer any surprises: 1080p video playback, support for all your favorite codecs, both Pandora and Live365 Internet radio apps, WiFi, two USB ports for external storage, HDMI, composite and component video outputs, SPDIF audio output, and more. No big whoop, right? All this can be yours for an MSRP of $149.99, but we hear that Best Buy has 'em for $119 -- and we wouldn't want you to pay any more than that. PR after the break.

Update: "That's WiFi ready." As in "WiFi adapter sold separately."

Continue reading Western Digital WD TV Live HD media player gets official

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Western Digital WD TV Live HD media player gets official originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>best buyBestBuyhdhd dvdhddvdhome entertainmentHomeEntertainmentmedia streamerMediaStreamerothersset top boxSetTopBoxstreamerwd tvwd tv 2wd tv livewd tv-2WdTvWdTv-2WdTv2WdTvLivewestern digitalWesternDigitalTue, 13 Oct 2009 10:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Blu-ray reportedly trailing CBHD in China, the second theater of the format war begins]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/07/25/blu-ray-reportedly-trailing-cbhd-in-china-the-second-theater-of/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/07/25/blu-ray-reportedly-trailing-cbhd-in-china-the-second-theater-of/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/07/25/blu-ray-reportedly-trailing-cbhd-in-china-the-second-theater-of/#comments
Just because Toshiba has given up on HD DVD and moved on, doesn't mean the format war is totally over for red. According to a report by a Japanese TV station, its successor, China Blue HD is actually leading Blu-ray in marketshare in that country. Of course, based on the article found by our friends at FormatWarCentral, all we have to go on is a machine translated description of a video in a language we don't speak describing the apparent initial success of the government backed format in a socialist republic. If you need more evidence than that to declare the format war officially restarted, you're probably a communist, but before we drag you in front of the Un-American activities committee check out the video for a peek at the slick new CBHD cases that The Onion will surely be shipping its videos in very soon.

[Via FormatWarCentral]

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Blu-ray reportedly trailing CBHD in China, the second theater of the format war begins originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 18:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraycbhdchinachina blue hdChinaBlueHdchineseformat warFormatWarhd dvdHdDvdmarketsharetv tokyoTvTokyoSat, 25 Jul 2009 18:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba launching Blu-ray player by year's end]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/07/18/toshiba-launching-bd-18-blu-ray-player-by-years-end/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/07/18/toshiba-launching-bd-18-blu-ray-player-by-years-end/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/07/18/toshiba-launching-bd-18-blu-ray-player-by-years-end/#comments
Need a little something to get you over the Saturday lull? Gnaw on this. Japan's own Yomiuri is reporting today that Toshiba is expected to finally admit defeat and enter the dark, devious world of Blu-ray later this year. For those keeping tabs, we've heard both confirmations and denials about the outfit finally caving and supporting the format it once battled so valiantly, but this seems to solidify it. If machine translation is to be believed, the company's first DVD / Blu-ray deck is slated for release somewhere in the world by the year's end. The article also mentions that Tosh is strongly considering a Blu-ray recorder for the Japanese market, though no further details on that are available. C'mon Toshiba -- get this bad boy to the States before Christmas. We're anxious for a BD price war.

[Thanks, Rata]

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Toshiba launching Blu-ray player by year's end originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 18 Jul 2009 15:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bdbd 18bd-18Bd18blu rayblu-rayblu-ray playerBlu-rayPlayerbluraybreaking newsBreakingNewsformat warFormatWarhd dvdHdDvdjapantoshibaSat, 18 Jul 2009 15:50:00 EST<![CDATA[Harris Poll concerning Blu-ray and HD DVD penetration is way off]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/25/harris-poll-concerning-blu-ray-and-hd-dvd-penetration-is-way-off/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/25/harris-poll-concerning-blu-ray-and-hd-dvd-penetration-is-way-off/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/25/harris-poll-concerning-blu-ray-and-hd-dvd-penetration-is-way-off/#commentsWe had a feeling something was up with the results of the recent Harris Poll and it looks like we had good reason. No one is trying to say that the folks that conducted the poll had a Red agenda or anything, it is just like Adams research puts it when talking about consumer polls in general, "you can't trust the average survey respondent to correctly identify the high-tech devices in their homes." You can say that again. The funny thing is that the results of the poll even look screwy when compared to the HD DVD Promotion group's numbers which reported that even after a few months following the format war, only 1 million stand-alone HD DVD players were sold. This is nowhere near the 10 million that it would take to make up 9 percent of the 111 million US households the poll reports. And in case you care, analysts project -- you know, the ones actually based on retail sales instead of a consumer survey -- that 14.8 percent of US households will have some way to play a Blu-ray Disc by the end of 2009, which is almost double what it was at the end of 2008.

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Harris Poll concerning Blu-ray and HD DVD penetration is way off originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-rayblurayHarris PollHarrisPollHD DVDHdDvdThu, 25 Jun 2009 20:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba CEO mentions the possibility of supporting Blu-ray]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/24/toshiba-ceo-mentions-the-possibility-of-supporting-blu-ray/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/24/toshiba-ceo-mentions-the-possibility-of-supporting-blu-ray/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/24/toshiba-ceo-mentions-the-possibility-of-supporting-blu-ray/#commentsThough some iffy poll results & a Chinese spinoff may have you thinking HD DVD is just on the cusp of a comeback, Toshiba president Atsutoshi Nishida suggested today that the company might join the rest of the consumer electronics community and support Blu-ray. In the midst of defeat last year he said it had "no plans" to switch sides, focusing on flash memory and DVD upscaling tech instead, but after a few billion in losses that might have changed, as the prez indicated just losing the format war wasn't enough reason to skip out on the Blu-ray market and that Toshiba "would like to keep our options open." Besides enjoying the good news that our exes have found gainful employment as executive speechwriters, we'll be keeping an eye out for another Cell-based Blu-ray player to join the PS3, if not tomorrow, someday.

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Toshiba CEO mentions the possibility of supporting Blu-ray originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>atsutoshi nishidaAtsutoshiNishidablu rayblu-rayblurayformat warFormatWarhd dvdHdDvdtoshibaWed, 24 Jun 2009 06:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Evidently it's still cool to hate on Blu-ray: Harris Poll spin]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/evidently-its-still-cool-to-hate-on-blu-ray-harris-poll-spin/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/evidently-its-still-cool-to-hate-on-blu-ray-harris-poll-spin/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/06/22/evidently-its-still-cool-to-hate-on-blu-ray-harris-poll-spin/#commentsHarris Poll results

We'd expect nothing less from some, and honestly 90 percent of the time we just ignore these types of posts, but when our friend CmdrTaco from Slashdot gets in on the fun we just can't help ourselves. It all started with that Harris Poll late last week in which stand-alone Blu-ray players got their own box instead of being grouped in with the PS3. So of course it's more fun to point out that only 7 percent of Americans own a stand-alone Blu-ray player than it is to recognize the fact that twice that many can actually watch Blu-ray Discs thanks to the PS3. So while it is true that HD DVD managed to sell more stand-alone players than Blu-ray, even today, it is still true that Sony's PS3 strategy was successful in selling more Blu-ray Discs than HD DVDs. Which is in the end what really matters.

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Evidently it's still cool to hate on Blu-ray: Harris Poll spin originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 22 Jun 2009 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-rayblurayCmdrTacoHD DVDHdDvdMon, 22 Jun 2009 11:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinetic's HD:Hub HTPC now shipping, HD DVD still a selectable option]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/23/kinetics-hd-hub-htpc-now-shipping-hd-dvd-still-a-selectable-op/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/23/kinetics-hd-hub-htpc-now-shipping-hd-dvd-still-a-selectable-op/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/05/23/kinetics-hd-hub-htpc-now-shipping-hd-dvd-still-a-selectable-op/#comments
We've got to hand it to 'em -- these guys aren't ashamed to be clearing out excess inventory, and honestly, we're still fond of the choice. Sure, HD DVD may be defunct, but what's the harm in having the capability in your HTPC should an old friend pop over with a disc to watch? All that aside, Kinetic UK's trio of media center PCs are now shipping after being introduced initially in March, with Blu-ray / HD DVD compatibility, up to 6TB of storage space, Core 2 Duo / Core 2 Quad / Core i7 processor choices and a healthy array of CTO options elsewhere. As for prices, you're looking at starting tags of £849.00 ($1,351) for the Mini HD:Hub, £1449.00 ($2,306) for the Home HD:Hub and £1569.00 ($2,497) for the flagship X HD:Hub.

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Kinetic's HD:Hub HTPC now shipping, HD DVD still a selectable option originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 23 May 2009 16:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraycore i7CoreI7englandhd dvdhd hubhddvdHdHubhome hd hubHomeHdHubHTPCKineticmedia center pcmedia pcMediaCenterPcMediaPcmini hd hubMiniHdHubnow availableNowAvailableon saleOnSaleothersukx hd hubXHdHubSat, 23 May 2009 16:04:00 EST<![CDATA[China Blue HD players revealed, second stage of the format war is officially on]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/04/24/china-blue-hd-players-revealed-second-stage-of-the-format-war-i/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/04/24/china-blue-hd-players-revealed-second-stage-of-the-format-war-i/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/04/24/china-blue-hd-players-revealed-second-stage-of-the-format-war-i/#comments
China's alternative to Blu-ray finally has some hardware to show off, with players from TCL and Shinco making their debut this week. Priced at less than 2,000 yuan ($292) they're reportedly 40% cheaper than the competition, and while the promised support from Warner Bros. has yet to materialize it plans to release 100 movies on the CBHD format by the end of the year. That's about all the machine translation could help us make out beyond the usual promise of lower licensing fees for Chinese manufacturers, but a better look at the latest (and by far most legit, although that's not saying much) Blu-ray fighter is beyond the read link.

[Via CDR Info]

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China Blue HD players revealed, second stage of the format war is officially on originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 24 Apr 2009 07:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blue laserBlueLasercbhdchinachina blue hdChinaBlueHdhd dvdHdDvdother formatsotherformatsothersplayerplayersshincotclFri, 24 Apr 2009 07:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Warner reintegrates HD DVD faithful with Red2Blu trade-in program]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/04/22/warner-reintegrates-hd-dvd-faithful-with-red2blu-trade-in-progra/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/04/22/warner-reintegrates-hd-dvd-faithful-with-red2blu-trade-in-progra/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/04/22/warner-reintegrates-hd-dvd-faithful-with-red2blu-trade-in-progra/#comments
U.S. HD DVD fans that passed up Best Buy's offer of $3 per disc, or just those who stocked up on cheap movies after the format gave up the fight have another option coming from Warner Bros. Send in the cover art sleeve (keep the disc) including UPC from your HD DVD case (plus $4.95 per movie and $6.95 / $8.95 per order S&H) and it will send you back a brand new Blu-ray copy. There's a few other restrictions, like 1 copy per movie and 25 different movies per household, but the biggest decision is likely to be whether giving up your precious I Am Legend sleeve is worth the trade, hit up Red2Blu.com for all the details and necessary forms. It seems to us like a decent offer to make HD DVD owners whole, we'd be surprised if Paramount and Universal came through with similar plans.

[Via DVDTown]

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Warner reintegrates HD DVD faithful with Red2Blu trade-in program originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 10:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-rayblurayhd dvdHdDvdtrade inTradeInwarnerwarner brosWarnerBrosWed, 22 Apr 2009 10:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Microsoft to Toshiba: with HD DVD, we go down together]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/03/28/microsoft-to-toshiba-with-hd-dvd-we-go-down-together/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/03/28/microsoft-to-toshiba-with-hd-dvd-we-go-down-together/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/03/28/microsoft-to-toshiba-with-hd-dvd-we-go-down-together/#comments
We've been looking for some new paper to turn here at the Engadget HD offices, and it looks like Marshall Phelps' "Burning the Ships" may be our next purchase. Penned by a top Microsoft lawyer and co-authored by David Kline, the book lays out details on how Microsoft had decided to sink right along with Toshiba even as HD DVD took its last dying breath. Apparently Microsoft pledged its unconditional support for the format in hopes of winning a rare cross-license deal with a large Japanese electronics firm. CNET reports that at the time, winning such a deal with Tosh was "key for it in its efforts to convince large companies, even those with broader patent portfolios, to cross-license Microsoft's technology." The writeup tucked away in the read link is pretty interesting for those intrigued by deep, dark secrets of the past, so head on down if that's you.

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Microsoft to Toshiba: with HD DVD, we go down together originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 15:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-rayblurayHD DVDHdDvdMicrosoftotherssupporttoshibaSat, 28 Mar 2009 15:42:00 EST<![CDATA[Kinetic HD:Hub HTPC gets hip with Core i7, square with HD DVD]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/03/15/kinetic-hd-hub-htpc-gets-hip-with-core-i7-square-with-hd-dvd/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/03/15/kinetic-hd-hub-htpc-gets-hip-with-core-i7-square-with-hd-dvd/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/03/15/kinetic-hd-hub-htpc-gets-hip-with-core-i7-square-with-hd-dvd/#comments
We know, vendors have to get rid of these leftover HD DVD drives somehow, but it's still a tad comical to see brand new systems shipping with support for a format that perished over a year ago. Nevertheless, we're still pretty jazzed about Kinetic's HD:Hub, as the built-in HD DVD drive is actually a dual-format player that handles the very much alive Blu-ray format as well. Furthermore, this one comes with a potent Core i7 processor, up to four TV tuners, 802.11a/b/g/n WiFi, a Creative X-Fi Titanium sound card and Windows Vista runnin' the show. There's no mention of a price, but we get the feeling that these are mostly reserved for those across the pond.

[Thanks, Anonymous]

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Kinetic HD:Hub HTPC gets hip with Core i7, square with HD DVD originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraycore i7CoreI7hd dvdhd hubhd:hubhddvdHdHubHTPCKineticmedia center pcmedia pcMediaCenterPcMediaPcothersSun, 15 Mar 2009 00:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Netflix streaming-only subscriptions coming 'in the future']]>http://hd.engadget.com/2009/02/25/netflix-streaming-only-subscriptions-coming-in-the-future/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/02/25/netflix-streaming-only-subscriptions-coming-in-the-future/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/02/25/netflix-streaming-only-subscriptions-coming-in-the-future/#comments This news may not be a surprise, given the huge success of Netflix's Watch Instantly streaming service, which had been activated over 1 million times on Xbox Live the last time we checked -- accounting for about 10 percent of its subscriptions. Regardless, word has come from Netflix's CFO Barry McCarthy that the company plans to offer a streaming-only service "in the near future." The Watch Instantly service currently offers about 12,000 movies (around 100,000 titles are available if you order the physical discs), on a variety of devices, including Xbox Live and Roku boxes, so it seems like a smart move, though we don't know the timeline or pricing of the stream-only service. Here's to hoping they expand their offering a little before then... maybe Final Destination? Just a suggestion.

[Via Joystiq]

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Netflix streaming-only subscriptions coming 'in the future' originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hd dvdhddvdnetflixstreamingstreaming mediaStreamingMediasubscriptionWed, 25 Feb 2009 20:38:00 EST<![CDATA[Blockbuster selling oodles of HD DVDs for $7.99 a pop]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/30/blockbuster-selling-oodles-of-hd-dvds-for-7-99-a-pop/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/30/blockbuster-selling-oodles-of-hd-dvds-for-7-99-a-pop/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/12/30/blockbuster-selling-oodles-of-hd-dvds-for-7-99-a-pop/#commentsMissed out on those fire sales held right after HD DVD's funeral, did you? Fret not, as Blockbuster is looking to make the most of your HD DVD player purchase. As of now, the rental outfit is selling over 300 HD DVD titles at just $7.99 each, which gives you a perfect excuse to blow that Christmas cash before 2008 is even over. In related news, Frys is offering up an Xbox 360 HD DVD player along with HD DVD box sets of Heroes: Season One and Battlestar Galactica: Season One for just $49.99. Better hurry on that one, though -- the deal's up at the stroke of midnight.

[Via HighDefDigest]

Read - Frys deal
Read - Blockbuster sale

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Blockbuster selling oodles of HD DVDs for $7.99 a pop originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 30 Dec 2008 14:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blockbustercloseoutdealdealshd dvdHdDvdsaleTue, 30 Dec 2008 14:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Netflix no longer carrying HD DVDs as of December 15th]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/11/13/netflix-no-longer-carrying-hd-dvds-as-of-december-15th/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/11/13/netflix-no-longer-carrying-hd-dvds-as-of-december-15th/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/11/13/netflix-no-longer-carrying-hd-dvds-as-of-december-15th/#comments
Things, they are a-changing at Netflix. It implements HD streaming on the Xbox 360, hires a new fellow to focus specifically on digital distribution, cans the art of selling secondhand DVDs and now, it's putting the kibosh on the remnants of HD DVD. If you'll recall, the rental firm chose to go Blu-ray exclusive back in February, and frankly, we're surprised the dangling love affair with the now-defunct format has lasted this long. Based on e-mails shot around to HD DVD renters, we're informed that the outfit will "no longer carry HD DVDs" effective December 15th; if you insist on keeping your HD DVDs in your queue, Netflix will kindly replace them with DVDs and go about its merry way. One more reminder of the brutal format war that was, but we'll never (ever) forget.

[Thanks, Shawn]

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Netflix no longer carrying HD DVDs as of December 15th originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 13 Nov 2008 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsdeadhd dvdhd rentalsHdDvdHdRentalskillkillednetflixrentalstoshibaThu, 13 Nov 2008 16:58:00 EST<![CDATA[HD DVD sales apparently still going strong]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/09/30/hd-dvd-sales-apparently-still-going-strong/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/09/30/hd-dvd-sales-apparently-still-going-strong/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/09/30/hd-dvd-sales-apparently-still-going-strong/#comments
Sure, sure, the format war is over, but we never expected HD DVD to just disappear overnight, and it looks like the combination of deeply-discounted hardware, cheap media, and a weak economy are keeping Red alive even as Toshiba pretends no one really wants true HD anyway. Players are going for as little as $60 with movies available for $10, and retailers like Buy.com say that "sales are still very strong." Of course, eventually all this stock has to run out, so we doubt this'll be a long-lasting phenomenon, but hey -- stranger things have happened.

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HD DVD sales apparently still going strong originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 13:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>format warFormatWarhd dvdHdDvdtoshibaTue, 30 Sep 2008 13:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba surprises with firmware 4.0 HD DVD player update]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/09/27/toshiba-surprises-with-firmware-4-0-hd-dvd-player-update/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/09/27/toshiba-surprises-with-firmware-4-0-hd-dvd-player-update/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/09/27/toshiba-surprises-with-firmware-4-0-hd-dvd-player-update/#comments
Honestly, we were taken aback when Toshiba released version 3.0 firmware for its launch HD DVD players two years after release, but that has been replaced by absolute shock, at a 4.0 software update for the long-dead format. The whole family can join in on this one, either via the player or downloading and burning a copy from the website, with updates available for the whole line: HD-A1, HD-XA1, HD-D1, HD-A35, HD-A2, HD-A2W, HD-A2C, HD-D2, HD-A20, HD-XA2, HD-A3, HD-D3, HD-A30. The only official word is this patch "addresses certain playback issues" -- forum posters report 1080p/24 playback jaggies on MPEG-4 AVC-encoded titles like Transformers is no longer a problem. If everything is working fine (and, of course, you're still using your HD DVD player) it may be best to wait until more reports to avoid any potential compatibility problems.

[Via Slashgear]

Read - AVS Forum
Read - Resource for : Firmware Update Information for Owners of Toshiba HD DVD Players:

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Toshiba surprises with firmware 4.0 HD DVD player update originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>4.0firmwarefirmware updateFirmwareUpdatehd dvdhd-a1hd-a2hd-a20hd-a2chd-a2whd-a3hd-a30hd-a35hd-d1hd-d3hd-xa1hd-xa2HdDvdtoshibaSat, 27 Sep 2008 19:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Struggling Toshiba looks for help from LCDs, not Blu-ray]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/09/19/struggling-toshiba-looks-for-help-from-lcds-not-blu-ray/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/09/19/struggling-toshiba-looks-for-help-from-lcds-not-blu-ray/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/09/19/struggling-toshiba-looks-for-help-from-lcds-not-blu-ray/#comments
As with scads of other mega-corps attempting to keep their chins up while the global economy decides what it wants to do, Toshiba has announced that it is now forecasting a $468 million net loss in the first half of 2008. Interestingly, it's being reported that the firm is looking to its LCD HDTVs for growth as its chip business struggles, with plans to grab over 10% of the worldwide LCD TV market by 2011. For whatever reason, the outfit is still refusing to play ball with the lone remaining high-definition movie format, with Corporate Senior Vice President Yoshihide Fujii proclaiming that it has "no intention of adopting Blu-ray for [its] DVD players and recorders." Quite honestly, Tosh's refusal to go Blu is beyond the point of comic relief -- now, it's just downright perplexing.

Read - Toshiba dips into the red
Read - Toshiba counts on LCD TV growth
Read - Toshiba again refuses to go Blu

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Struggling Toshiba looks for help from LCDs, not Blu-ray originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraybusinesseconomyhd dvdhddvdindustrylcd hdtvLcdHdtvquarterquarterlytoshibaFri, 19 Sep 2008 09:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba's hanging on to those HD DVD patents]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/08/27/toshibas-hanging-on-to-those-hd-dvd-patents/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/08/27/toshibas-hanging-on-to-those-hd-dvd-patents/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/08/27/toshibas-hanging-on-to-those-hd-dvd-patents/#commentsToshiba almost had to mess up its thirty-seven hundred dollar lynx coat, at the thought of seeing its HD DVD walking in the rain with some alley-cat-coat wearing hush-puppy-shoe-wearin' Taiwanese crumb cake. According to China's Economic Daily News, some Taiwanese manufacturers apparently sought to buy out the company's blue laser patents and use them negotiate a reduction in the cost of Blu-ray licenses. Whatever the master plan was, it's all for naught since Toshiba's not keen on giving up its licenses, which EDN sees as related to the upcoming China Blue High Definition discs still set to roll out based on HD DVD. HD DVD without Toshiba is like corn flakes without the milk, so it's unlikely we'll ever see it with anyone else, Tosh's own XDE dalliances notwithstanding.

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Toshiba's hanging on to those HD DVD patents originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cbhdchina blueChinaBluehd dvdHdDvdoran juice jonesOranJuiceJonespatentstaiwantoshibaWed, 27 Aug 2008 15:33:00 EST<![CDATA[SE2 Labs ITC One, now with remote diagnostics]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/08/10/se2-labs-itc-one-now-with-remote-diagnostics/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/08/10/se2-labs-itc-one-now-with-remote-diagnostics/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/08/10/se2-labs-itc-one-now-with-remote-diagnostics/#commentsWe've spent a little hands-on time with the ITC One uber-franken-HTIB, but Electronic House got some serious quality time with the unit during SE2 Labs' roadshow this past week. So if you've got $25,000 burning a hole in your pocket, but need just a little more detail on how the unit actually works, hit that read link. Still a little uneasy about pulling the trigger? Maybe knowing that SE2 Labs is adding remote diagnostics will ease your mind. For either standard maintenance (firmware updates, etc.) or unexpected problems, a technician can troubleshoot (and hopefully solve) the problem by using the RS-232 and IP connectivity in the ITC One. As SE2 Labs describes it, "...it's like having on-demand access to an A/V professional." Hmmm -- maybe if our friends got these, it would cut down the service calls we field!

[Thanks, Chuck]

Read - ElectronicHouse ITC One review
Read - ITC One remote diagnostics

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SE2 Labs ITC One, now with remote diagnostics originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 10 Aug 2008 21:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraydiagnosticsfrankenboxhd dvdhddvdhtibitc oneItcOneother hardwareotherhardwareothersse2 labsSe2LabsSun, 10 Aug 2008 21:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Poll: Did you purchase an HD DVD player post-format war?]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/08/09/poll-did-you-purchase-an-hd-dvd-player-post-format-war/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/08/09/poll-did-you-purchase-an-hd-dvd-player-post-format-war/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/08/09/poll-did-you-purchase-an-hd-dvd-player-post-format-war/#comments
While scads of HD DVD adopters took advantage of extended return periods in order to rid themselves of the defunct format, we wonder who ran out to acquire a player at rock-bottom prices? Even now, the cost of entry into Blu-ray is still ridiculously high, and it's not like we ever had any issues with the image / audio quality of HD DVDs. Rather than beating around the proverbial bush, we'll get right down to it: did you rush out to buy an HD DVD player soon after the format war concluded? Did you stock up on HD DVD titles at bargain basement prices? Are you still enjoying your HD DVD player right now? Tell us how your unit is faring after a few months of being shunned by everyone else, and don't even think of being shy.

View Poll


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Poll: Did you purchase an HD DVD player post-format war? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sat, 09 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bargaincheapformat warFormatWarhd dvdHdDvdplayerpollpollsSat, 09 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Forbes tells the inside story of how the format war was won]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/29/forbes-tells-the-inside-story-of-how-the-format-war-was-won/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/29/forbes-tells-the-inside-story-of-how-the-format-war-was-won/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/29/forbes-tells-the-inside-story-of-how-the-format-war-was-won/#commentsIn a recent Forbes article about the big turn around at Sony, we found the moves it took to ensure Blu-ray would win, to be the most interesting. According to the article, the Paramount move (understandably) had the BDA scrambling, which was evidently enough of a stressor to motivate all the divisions of Sony to work together towards a common goal. Among other things, the gaming division dropped the price of the PS3 and the movie studio had to give away Blu-ray movies with the PS3. Overall there's nothing new in the article if you've been following it all along, but aside from a few obvious mistakes -- Blue-ray and HD-DVD Forbes, really? -- it is interesting to get an inside perspective to the series of events that will always hold a special place in our gadget lives.

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Forbes tells the inside story of how the format war was won originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 29 Jul 2008 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayBlu-rayblurayForbesFormat Warhd dvdhddvdSonyTue, 29 Jul 2008 10:20:00 EST<![CDATA[China's Blu-ray competitor CBHD brings HD DVD back from the dead]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/28/chinas-blu-ray-competitor-cbhd-brings-hd-dvd-back-from-the-dead/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/28/chinas-blu-ray-competitor-cbhd-brings-hd-dvd-back-from-the-dead/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/28/chinas-blu-ray-competitor-cbhd-brings-hd-dvd-back-from-the-dead/#comments
CBHD, née CH-DVD -- the Chinese version of the now-deceased HD DVD format -- is in production, gearing up for a fourth quarter launch. DigiTimes cites reports from enorth.com.cn that Shanghai United Optical Disc has laid out the first production line, although Taiwanese disc makers (already burned by HD DVD) aren't as confident it can take on Blu-ray, even with considerably lower royalty fees and hardware costs for disc replicators. Coming alongside news that Chinese-built Blu-ray players based on increasingly affordable hardware is on the way, plus a decided lack of studio support, it's not hard to see how this one will turn out (again.) Not to underrate China's national pride, but unless it can gain an unexpected foothold among DVD pirates, CBHD will probably be on the high definition scrap heap alongside HD DVD, EVD and the rest before long.

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China's Blu-ray competitor CBHD brings HD DVD back from the dead originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 28 Jul 2008 09:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-rayblue laserBlueLaserbluraycbhdch dvdch-dvdChDvdchianchinesedigitimesformat warFormatWarhd dvdHdDvdother formatsotherformatsMon, 28 Jul 2008 09:35:00 EST<![CDATA[Survey finds most Americans think in-store movie renting is fading out]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/24/survey-finds-most-americans-think-in-store-movie-renting-is-fadi/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/24/survey-finds-most-americans-think-in-store-movie-renting-is-fadi/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/24/survey-finds-most-americans-think-in-store-movie-renting-is-fadi/#comments
Even we would agree that digital downloads aren't apt to siphon away a significant amount of physical media market share in the immediate future, but a recent survey conducted by CinemaNow (read: your skeptic hat should now be firmly in place) suggests that the vast majority of Americans feel otherwise. As a matter of fact, 87% of those surveyed agreed that "renting DVDs at the video store or through mail service will become a thing of the past," and 94% of those same folks reportedly felt that movie downloads were just "better for the environment." Not like the average joe / jane understands how much energy is consumed by warehouses full of drives, gigantic air-conditioned server rooms and legions of PCs sucking down content, but yeah, these results are totally representative of the truth.

[Image courtesy of Street Knowledge]

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Survey finds most Americans think in-store movie renting is fading out originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blockbusterblu rayblu-raybluraybusinessdigital downloadsDigitalDownloadsfilmsgreenhd dvdhd rentalshddvdHdRentalsindustrymoviesnetflixother formatsotherformatsrentalsThu, 24 Jul 2008 01:55:00 EST<![CDATA[ArcSoft's TotalMedia Theatre gets reviewed, loved]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/11/arcsofts-totalmedia-theatre-gets-reviewed-loved/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/11/arcsofts-totalmedia-theatre-gets-reviewed-loved/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/11/arcsofts-totalmedia-theatre-gets-reviewed-loved/#comments
Considering how fresh ArcSoft is on the scene, it pulled a decent amount of respect from a recent poll of ours asking which Blu-ray HTPC software was preferred. For those who've stuck with the big names (you know, Corel / CyberLink), you may be considering making the switch -- after all, at least ArcSoft's TotalMedia Theatre still includes support for HD DVD (unlike some others). Reviewers over at Missing Remote were generally thrilled with the software's performance, noting that Vista Media Center integration was top notch and even the customer support was on par. All in all, it doesn't sound as if you could really go wrong with slapping this into your next HTPC, but check out the read link just to make sure.

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ArcSoft's TotalMedia Theatre gets reviewed, loved originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 19:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arcsoftblu rayblu-rayblurayhd dvdhddvdhtpcmedia centerMediaCenterothersreviewreviewedsoftwareTotalMedia TheatreTotalmediaTheatrevistavista media centerVistaMediaCenterFri, 11 Jul 2008 19:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba plans new LCD HDTVs for IFA, will include Resolution+ technology]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/10/toshiba-plans-new-lcd-hdtvs-for-ifa-will-include-resolution-te/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/10/toshiba-plans-new-lcd-hdtvs-for-ifa-will-include-resolution-te/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/10/toshiba-plans-new-lcd-hdtvs-for-ifa-will-include-resolution-te/#comments
Okay, so we really have no clue what's going on inside of Toshiba's labs, but one thing is for certain: it has upscaling on the brain. After hearing of an elusive super-resolution DVD player and seeing an all-too-curious new DVD logo, in flies word from Germany that the outfit is prepping an updated line of Picture Frame LCD HDTVs for release at IFA 2008. On the surface, there's not too much different about these REGZAs compared to any others, but internally, the newcomers are expected to tout Cell-based Resolution+ technology, which will upscale SD images in an attempt to make something (read: HD) out of nothing. Granted, Tosh has been talking up this stuff since CES, so it's not an entirely new concept, but we'll be interested to see if this has anything to do with those rumored DVD deck plans.

[Via Big-Screen, danke Joel]

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Toshiba plans new LCD HDTVs for IFA, will include Resolution+ technology originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>celldvddvd download dldvd playerDvdDownloadDlDvdPlayerhd dvdHdDvdhdtvIFAIFA 2008Ifa2008lcdlcd hdtvlcd tvLcdHdtvLcdTvlogoother formatsotherformatsregzarumorspursenginesuper-resolutiontoshibaupconvertupconvertingupscalingXV555xv556zfThu, 10 Jul 2008 16:05:00 EST<![CDATA[ILY Enterprise unveils "world's first" 6x SATA Blu-ray duplicator]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/03/ily-enterprise-unveils-worlds-first-6x-sata-blu-ray-duplicato/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/03/ily-enterprise-unveils-worlds-first-6x-sata-blu-ray-duplicato/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/03/ily-enterprise-unveils-worlds-first-6x-sata-blu-ray-duplicato/#comments
ILY Enterprise is totally playing word games here with its "world's first" 6x SATA Blu-ray duplicator, but we suspect it actually is a tad quicker than Vinpower Digital's comparable unit. As the company states, this unit boasts a controller that is "specifically designed and built for a SATA connection to reduce the cost and work more reliably than IDE-converted-SATA units," though we can't say if you'll actually notice the difference in speed without a stopwatch. Whatever the case, those interested in firing up their own piracy farm movie production company can acquire one now (from 1 to 11 targets) for a presumably lofty price. Oh, and judging by those logos, we reckon these drives could be used to play back some of your old HD DVDs during off-hours -- talk about a nice perk.

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ILY Enterprise unveils "world's first" 6x SATA Blu-ray duplicator originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>6xbd-rbd-reblu rayblu-rayblurayduplicationDuplicatorhd dvdhddvdILY EnterpriseIlyEnterpriseother hardwareotherhardwaresataspartanThu, 03 Jul 2008 15:34:00 EST<![CDATA[DVD Download DL logo sparks wonder over Toshiba's super-resolution DVD player]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/01/dvd-download-dl-logo-sparks-wonder-over-toshibas-super-resoluti/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/01/dvd-download-dl-logo-sparks-wonder-over-toshibas-super-resoluti/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/07/01/dvd-download-dl-logo-sparks-wonder-over-toshibas-super-resoluti/#comments
We keep hoping that Toshiba will come to its senses and just let this whole thing die, but no. Apparently insistent on keeping the last-generation format alive for as long as it possibly can, it seems the outfit is getting ever-closer to a super-resolution DVD player that would reportedly upscale DVD content like nothing we've ever seen. The latest tidbit in this woefully depressing saga is a newly approved DVD Download DL logo, which was given the final thumbs-up by the DVD Forum Steering Committee last month. In reality, no one outside of Tosh's headquarters has any idea if this development is indeed intrinsically related, but at this point, we wouldn't be shocked one bit to find that it was. Then again, the June 11th meeting also saw specifications for CH-DVD approved, so here's to hoping Toshiba isn't jumping on that bandwagon fiery wreck.

[Via TG Daily]

Read - DVD Forum approval
Read - Discussion / rumors

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DVD Download DL logo sparks wonder over Toshiba's super-resolution DVD player originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraydvddvd download dldvd playerDvdDownloadDlDvdPlayerhd dvdHdDvdlogoother formatsotherformatsrumorspursenginesuper-resolutiontoshibaTue, 01 Jul 2008 17:33:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba remains stubborn, looks to DVD upscaling while brushing Blu-ray off]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/06/17/toshiba-remains-stubborn-looks-to-dvd-upscaling-while-brushing/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/06/17/toshiba-remains-stubborn-looks-to-dvd-upscaling-while-brushing/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/06/17/toshiba-remains-stubborn-looks-to-dvd-upscaling-while-brushing/#comments
For the attentive in attendance, you likely noticed that none of Toshiba's newly announced laptops (yes, even the absurdly powerful Qosmio rigs) have built-in Blu-ray drives. Like, there's not even an option. When questioned about the obvious oversight (ahem), Tosh's Europe CEO Alan Thompson noted that "Blu-ray was just one of the many ways that you can get HD content and is not required for accessing HD content." Furthermore, it seems as if the outfit is continuing on in its pursuit to develop the best DVD upconverting technology in the whole wide world, as it explained to the press in London that its forthcoming technology would "fill in the gaps" and "add resolution." Company representatives even remarked that "Blu-ray was only a storage medium," and reiterated that BD "wasn't the only way to view high-def content." It's one thing to bow out gracefully, pick up the pieces and get on with life. It's another thing to douse yourself in ignorance and pretend that Blu-ray (let alone HD DVD) never happened.

Read - Toshiba's London press event
Read - Toshiba Europe CEO comments

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Toshiba remains stubborn, looks to DVD upscaling while brushing Blu-ray off originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 15:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alan thompsonAlanThompsonblu rayblu-raybluraydvdeuropehd dvdhddvdlondonother formatsotherformatsQosmiosuper-resolutiontoshibaupconvertupconvertingupcsalingTue, 17 Jun 2008 15:27:00 EST<![CDATA[SE2 Labs looking to expand its dealer network]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/06/15/se2-labs-looking-to-expand-its-dealer-network/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/06/15/se2-labs-looking-to-expand-its-dealer-network/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/06/15/se2-labs-looking-to-expand-its-dealer-network/#commentsSE2 Labs ITC One
If you've been intrigued by SE2 Labs' ITC One high-end combo boxes, but can't find a dealer in your area, help may be on the way. The company is going on tour this summer to demo the ITC One to potential dealers around the country. Phoenix and L.A. have already been hit, and Seattle, Atlanta, New York and San Francisco remain on the tour schedule. Naturally, custom installers will be the focus here -- if you're considering one of these units that represent the densest form of HD goodness known, ping your installer. They'll be happy with the $25,000 MSRP (depending on configuration), modular construction, integration and upgradability. You'll probably be less happy with the price, but peeking at the cabinet chock-full of premium components (and the end results onscreen) will ease the pain.

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SE2 Labs looking to expand its dealer network originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 15 Jun 2008 12:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-rayblurayfrankenboxhd dvdhddvdhtibitc oneItcOnese2 labsSe2LabsSun, 15 Jun 2008 12:44:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba knows no shame, plans to release super-resolution DVD player]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/05/30/toshiba-knows-no-shame-plans-to-release-super-resolution-dvd-pl/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/05/30/toshiba-knows-no-shame-plans-to-release-super-resolution-dvd-pl/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/05/30/toshiba-knows-no-shame-plans-to-release-super-resolution-dvd-pl/#comments
Nothing too notable here -- just that Toshiba is apparently fixing to unveil a brand new DVD player in the age of Blu-ray that will be "capable of producing high-resolution images from regular DVDs." As you're laughing heartily, ponder this: are we looking at a simple upconverting DVD player? Or will that Cell-based SpursEngine chip bring "super-resolution" to a standalone deck? According to unnamed sources cited by Daily Yomiuri Online, the planned release "signifies an effort to recover from a humiliating setback suffered in March after announcing its decision to withdraw from its HD DVD business." We really cannot fathom why Tosh would even dream of fighting BD with souped-up DVD, but reportedly, it plans on marketing the unit "as a device with which consumers can enjoy a broader array of content than is available in the Blu-ray format." Congratulations Toshiba -- we thought it couldn't get any lamer than HD VMD, and you handily proved us wrong.

[Via VNU Net / Yahoo, image courtesy of DangerousIntersection]

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Toshiba knows no shame, plans to release super-resolution DVD player originally appeared on Engadget HD on Fri, 30 May 2008 15:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blu rayblu-raybluraybreaking newsBreakingNewsdvdhd dvdHdDvdother formatsotherformatsToshibaFri, 30 May 2008 15:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Xbox 360 HD DVD drive hits $19.99 in Canada]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/05/25/xbox-360-hd-dvd-drive-hits-19-99-in-canada/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/05/25/xbox-360-hd-dvd-drive-hits-19-99-in-canada/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/05/25/xbox-360-hd-dvd-drive-hits-19-99-in-canada/#comments
Although the €9.99 Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on over in Ireland is likely still the cheapest way to snag one from a retail location, that flight to Dublin is apt to offset any potential savings. Nevertheless, those in Canada can come awfully close to said deal by visiting FutureShop, which is currently offering the once-molten hot unit for a mere $19.99. Unfortunately, it seems sold out online, but you can certainly phone up your local B&M location and hope for the best.

[Thanks, Andrew]

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Xbox 360 HD DVD drive hits $19.99 in Canada originally appeared on Engadget HD on Sun, 25 May 2008 10:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadadealdealsfutureshophd dvdHdDvdothersxbox 360xbox 360 hd dvdXbox360Xbox360HdDvdSun, 25 May 2008 10:56:00 EST<![CDATA[LG to halt production of Super Blu combo players, launch Blu-ray deck this year]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/05/14/lg-to-halt-production-of-super-blu-combo-players-launch-blu-ray/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/05/14/lg-to-halt-production-of-super-blu-combo-players-launch-blu-ray/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/05/14/lg-to-halt-production-of-super-blu-combo-players-launch-blu-ray/#comments
Last we heard, LG was hanging tight to HD DVD in hopes of accommodating early adopters who still yearned for a dedicated player that handled both formats. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. In a recent report put out by the Korea Times, a spokesman for LG was quoted as saying that the "decision for it to halt the production of the combos" was "very tough," but he maintained that the outfit would "stop manufacturing the Super Blu series from the second half of this year." For those unfamiliar, the Super Blu crew contained the two-faced BH200 and BH100. Interestingly, the same individual noted that LG would be "unveiling a new Blu-ray player to catch up with the industry trend" at IFA in just a few months, but no further details were disclosed. August 29th just got a lot more interesting, yeah?

[Thanks, Harmin]

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LG to halt production of Super Blu combo players, launch Blu-ray deck this year originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 14 May 2008 11:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bh-200blu rayblu-raybluraycombo playerComboPlayerformat warFormatWarhd dvdHdDvdhybrid playerHybridPlayerlgproductionsamsungsuper bluSuperBluWed, 14 May 2008 11:47:00 EST<![CDATA[Toshiba pushes firmware 3.0 update to first-gen HD DVD players]]>http://hd.engadget.com/2008/05/08/toshiba-pushes-firmware-3-0-update-to-first-gen-hd-dvd-players/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/05/08/toshiba-pushes-firmware-3-0-update-to-first-gen-hd-dvd-players/http://hd.engadget.com/2008/05/08/toshiba-pushes-firmware-3-0-update-to-first-gen-hd-dvd-players/#comments
All those still hanging onto your obsolete vintage first generation HD DVD players have a reason to plug in the network cable and turn them on one more time, as Toshiba has issued a version 3.0 firmware update for the HD-A1, HD-XA1 and HD-D1. Similar to an earlier update for the Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on, the patch tweaks network connectivity a bit as well as clearing up some HDMI handshaking issues. The update quietly came online April 26, and of course can be issued by burning it to a CD or calling Toshiba and requesting a disc by mail. So go ahead, pour a glass of wine, dim the lights and celebrate a little quality time with a two year-old box that still offers features some new players can't match.

[Via DVD Town]

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Toshiba pushes firmware 3.0 update to first-gen HD DVD players originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 08 May 2008 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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[Via Format War Central]

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Paramount payoff confirmed by Viacom earnings report originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 06 May 2008 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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And you thought $49.99 was cheap. Word on the street has it that Microsoft's Xbox 360 HD DVD add-on, which has been seen as slightly less valuable since Toshiba pulled the plug on the once mighty red format, has stooped to €9.99 across the pond at GameStop (among other locales). For those not savvy on the absurd depreciation of the US dollar, we're talking $15.47 -- and that's with a Media Center remote bundled in, too. We're totally straight-faced when we say that's actually not a half bad deal if you're a fan of the media already out there, but the parsimonious among us are definitely waiting for these to come bundled with our favorite cereals before pulling the trigger.

[Thanks, Conor]

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Xbox 360 HD DVD drives going for ?9.99 in Ireland originally appeared on Engadget HD on Tue, 06 May 2008 04:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Although Best Buy was purging its stores of HD DVD titles months ago, it seems the dream is still alive in the Dominican Republic. Thanks to snapshots taken by a tipster who recently vacationed there, we get a real good look at what kind of premium the Toshiba HD-A3 (11,999 Dominican pesos, or around $353) is still pulling in. Even weirder? The only Blu-ray player in attendance was a PlayStation 3 (going for around $550). Either we've just hit the twilight zone, or folks move really slow in paradise.

[Thanks, Dennis]

Gallery: HD DVD holding its value in Dominican Republic


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HD DVD holding its value in Dominican Republic originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 01 May 2008 21:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Listen up, audiophiles -- we know you've already pored over Universal's Blu-ray plans, but for those thirsting for more details in the world of audio, you've found your oasis. Sitting down with The Man Room, Universal made clear that its first wave of BD releases on July 22nd (all films from The Mummy franchise) would actually include Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio tracks. Yep, that means you'll be getting more than just a lackadaisical port should you snap these up on Blu-ray. The studio also mentioned that it was looking forward to DTS-HD MA becoming "the Blu-ray standard" at its headquarters, so we're hoping to see (er, hear) a lot more lossless from these guys in the near future.

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Universal's Blu-ray audio plans revealed, DTS-HD Master Audio included originally appeared on Engadget HD on Thu, 01 May 2008 08:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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There's simply no question that the beauty of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (above) can only truly be appreciated after a winding drive down from Kailua Kona (or Hilo, for those who love the rain), but for folks without weeks on end to spare waiting to see lava flow from some of those majestic creations, a forthcoming film should give you the next best look. Volcanographer Mick Kalber has assembled an hour-long movie entitled Kilauea's Flow to Waikupanaha, and while we'd generally brush something like this off, a recent writeup about it most definitely caught our eye. We thought we had already seen HD DVD's last hurrah back in March, but if KHNL-8 is to be believed, the forthcoming flick will be available on Blu-ray and HD DVD. Granted, there's no release date mentioned, but given that red has been decomposing for months now, we're tempted to believe someone was simply misinformed.

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Hawaii volcano film to be released on Blu-ray... and HD DVD? originally appeared on Engadget HD on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 01:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What a difference a few new releases make for Blu-ray on the Nielsen VideoScan numbers, courtesy of Home Media Magazine as for the first time Blu is able to reduce Red to less than 10 percent of the market. The two big winners this week were AVP: Requiem and the Academy Award winning Juno. Both of these titles easily out sold the old favorite by a considerable margin. Normally we like to compare Blu-ray's performance to DVD and try to figure out why Blu only garnered 6 percent of the top 20 market, but shortly after we grabbed these charts from the digital copy of Home Media Magazine, it was removed and hasn't been reposted since -- warning dead read link. So we'll skip right to looking forward to next week, which doesn't look good but doesn't look bad either. It's hard to say how well the NatGeo global warming flick will do, and although we're sure someone enjoyed it, we doubt a movie with subtitles will be able to make it to the top of the charts.

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Nielsen VideoScan High-Def market share for week ending April 20th, 2008 originally appeared on Engadget HD on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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