HD DVD Update
By: César A. Berardini - " Cesar"
Sep. 29th, 2004 03:25 pm

Dolby Digital Plus Is Mandatory

Dolby Laboratories has announced that Dolby Audio Technologies have been selected as mandatory formats for both High-Definition Digital Versatile Disc (HD DVD) and Blu-ray Disc. The DVD Forum has selected Dolby Digital Plus and MLP Lossless as mandatory audio formats for HD DVD. The Blu-ray Disc Association has also announced that Dolby Digital will be a mandatory technology on its new format, the Blu-ray Disc.

Dolby Digital Plus offers bit-rate and channel extendibility and is an extension of the popular Dolby Digital format, which is the audio standard for DVD-Video worldwide and North American high-definition television (HDTV).


The DVD Forum’s selection of Dolby Digital Plus as a mandatory audio standard assures future compatibility of HD DVD software media and playback devices with the more than 39 million A/V receivers equipped with Dolby Digital in homes today.


DVD Forum Approves Rewritable Specs

The DVD Forums has approved version 1.0 of the HD DVD-RW physical specification for a single-layer disc with a capacity of 20GB and version 0.9 of the HD DVD-R physical specification. Back in June, the approved version 1.0 of the specifications for High Definition DVD ROM and the mandatory use of three video codecs -- MPEG2, WM9 (VC-1) and MPEG4 AVC (H.264), for HD-DVD Video playback devices.


HD DVD Promotion Group Announced

Memory-Tech, NEC, SANYO and Toshiba announced today that they will together form the HD DVD Promotion Group, a voluntary association, to promote development of HD DVD hardware and content, assure early product launches, and promote the widespread commercial dissemination of HD DVD hardware and software products in the marketplace.

The proponents of HD DVD, a next-generation high-definition optical disc format, establish a preparatory organization, and expect to establish the official organization in spring 2005. They will extend a widely cast invitation to join the new organization to content holders, component manufacturers, and hardware manufacturers. Membership provisions and organizational structures will be worked out in due course. The HD DVD Promotion Group will actively promote the HD DVD format at major exhibitions and seminars around the world and initiate diverse programs to encourage information exchanges.

The HD DVD Promotion Group will facilitate proactive exchanges of opinions and information among hardware and device manufacturers and content holders, and organize joint promotions of HD DVD in support of the early product dissemination and market expansion. The Group aims to promote and support the continued growth and development of the global DVD industry.