What is HD DVD?

Simply put HD DVD is a high density format optical disc used primarily as a source to store movies in HD video format (1080i/1080p) and audio format (uncompressed 24-bit/192 kHz for two channels, or up to eight channels of up to 24-bit/96 kHz encoding).

The HD DVD standard requires players decode PCM, Dolby Digital AC-3, EX, DTS, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD. Dolby TrueHD is a huge feature for HD DVD, as it is a lossless multichannel audio format. This means that when you listen to a movie in TrueHD you hear the original master audio – no audio is lost to any kind of compression scheme. It is a true environmental experience.

The interactive features of HD DVD come highly touted – and deservedly so. That is because the HD DVD standard uses HDi for authoring interactive features. HDi has its roots in HTML, XML and CSS so present web developers should be able to easily transition to authoring for HD DVD discs.

interactive features include:

Web-Enabled Content

Every HD DVD player comes equipped with an ethernet port* which allows the vewier to download extra interactive bonus features so you can more completely experience the movie. How does this work? Well, for example, you can downlaod new content with the Transformers HD DVD, and with the Heroes HD DVD you can interact with other fans of the show via the exclusive fan portal.

Picture-in-Picture Playability

Part of the HD DVD standard requires all HD-DVD players come equipped with a second video decoder which allows viewers to access bonus features while the feature is playing.

Interactive Menus

The level of interactivity with the HD DVD title increases with menus because you can access bonus content while the feature is playing. This is a killer app for HD DVD as it is very convenient.

In order to experience all that HD DVD has to offer it is important to use an HD TV (either 1080i or 1080p) with a multichannel receiver. Because this HD content needs the biggest pipe connection to your A/V equipment we suggest connecting your components together with HDMI cables for video and an optical cable for audio.

One of the biggest benefits of HD DVD to manufacturers of DVDs is that the same processes used to manufacture SD DVDs can be used to manufacture an HD DVD disc.

What is Blue-Ray Disc?

Blue-Ray Disc or “BD” is a format competing for dominance in the marketplace for the storage of HD movies. The key feature of BD is that it can hold more data, 50 GB in a dual layer format to HD DVD’s 30 GB dual layer format.

Key Differences between HD DVD and BD

While many of the audio features of BD are similar to HD DVD, there are some key differences. First, as stated above HD DVD players are required by the standard to decode TrueHD. This feature is optional on BD players. Why does this matter? In order to enjoy all the benefits of a BD player you have to have a reeceiver which can decode TrueHD. For alot of consumers that means purchasing a new receiver at no small cost. If you use HD DVD, however, the audio is decoded in the HD DVD player, so your recent receiver can play true mutichannel lossless audio.

Another key difference is the interactivity features. HD DVD uses HDi to author interactive features where BD uses Java. As a result, HD DVD has a much more to offer with interactive features. HD DVD players have the ability to utilize a Picture in Picture (”PIP”) format and connect to the internet to expand the interactivity – BD players do not have this ability.

Importantly, HD DVD is region-free so titles released in any country can be played on players in any other country. For Rights mangement, HD DVD relies on Advanced Access Content System (”AACS”). The AACS standard allows content providers to revoke an individual HD DVD player if its “cryptographic keys” have been compromised.

Why buy an HD DVD Player

You may have heard about a format “war” between these two formats; and to many its reminisent of the Beta v. VHS war of the 80’s. It is similar in that studios are sided with different formats restricting the titles available to the respective owners of HD DVD and BD players. The biggest trench is in the home console market.

With Microsoft support the HD DVD format it has included an external HD DVD drive as an option to its XBOX 360 player. This external drive connects to the 360 via a USB cable. with millions of 360 users there is a fertile market for this affordable upgrade. In fact recent statistics indicate that 1/3 of HD DVD users have the 360 add-on. Essentially, with the HD DVD add on, a 360 is a very formidable home entertainment system. The only down-side is the 360 DVD player does not upconvert SD DVD’s to 1080p … Boo! Furthermore, although when using my 360 add on to watch an HD DVD movie my receiver says TrueHD, most accounts say taht the 360 player does not in fact support his format.

Counter to the 360 is Sony’s PS3 which has a built in BD player. games for the PS3 use the BD format as well where the 360 uses a standard DVD format.

What movies are available for HD DVD?

see our list here. Admittedly, HD DVD has less exclusive HD DVD content than BD. Expect this to change as more studios side with the HD DVD format.

Why should I buy an HD DVD player?

First and foremost is cost. If you are going to adopt this next-gen format before all the dust settles, bet on the affordable player. a great HD DVD Player can be had for about $299 with 12 free movies included. Or, if you have Xbox 360 and do not care about the upconvert features you can get the external HD DVD player for about $120.

BD players usually start at about $500 although we have seen some players drop to about the $300 price point.

*the XBOX HD DVD player utilizes the XBOX Live connection.