Toshiba launches HD DVD player.

by Ben Tanner

Toshiba today launched the world's first HD DVD player in Japan. The HD-XA1 is the first playe to support the next-generation HD DVD format, officially beginning the next-generation DVD format war between HD DVD and Blu-ray, set to launch this summer.

The HD DVD standard provides high definition (HD) picture quality and enhanced sound, providing support for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD and DTS-HD sound formats. The player also allows user to play current DVDs scaled to their HDTVs.

The player also supports the HD DVD formats added features, such as support for advanced navigation and interactive features. For example, the player has a 'pop-up menu' that displays movie chapters with thumbnails while the movie plays, allowing users to navigate menus without stopping the movie. The player also supports 'picture in picture', so users can watch commentary or other featurettes superimposed on the actual feature.

The Toshiba HD-XA1 player is the first next-generation DVD player. Sony plans to launch its own next-generation DVD player based on the Blu-ray standard this summer. After both are launched, there is expected to be a period where the incompatible standards vie for control over the market, similarly to the VHS vs. Beta VCR standard wars nearly thirty years ago.

The two standards are intensifying competition on several fronts. In addition to heating up the rivalry between Toshiba and Sony in the consumer electronics market, Sony and Microsoft are also on opposing sides. Sony will include a Blu-ray player with its Playstation 3 next-generation video game console. With Microsoft supporting HD DVD, it will likely offer a version of its Xbox 360 next-generation console with an HD DVSource:D drive. Various movie studios have sided with one standard or another as well.

Source: http://www.digitalmediaasia.com