A Bunch of HD DVD News...

Let's start with the newer ones...

• Personal Computer World has reported that Microsoft reaffirms its commitment to HD DVD and will launch an updated HD DVD drive for the Xbox 360 in 2008. Mark Bennett, Microsoft's European business development director for HD DVD, also said "there are more plans to incorporate HD DVD into the PC platform in the future."
  
  You may read the full article with an update on the information being misquoted, by clicking here.
  


• Microsoft’s implementation of HD DVD’s interactivity layer will be promoted on HD DVD hardware and packaging for software. Microsoft Corp. today announced that its trademarked HDi™ logo will soon appear on all Toshiba HD DVD players. In addition, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment will include the HDi logo on packaging for HD DVD movie titles beginning in the fourth quarter of this year. HDi technology is Microsoft’s high-performance implementation of the interactivity layer for the HD DVD format, which has taken the movie-viewing experience to an entirely new level with such advanced features as network connectivity and community scenarios.
  
  
  Still have no idea of what exactly is HDi? Check out this website. Basically, the advanced features found on HD DVD discs, such as on-the-fly navigation menus to Picture-in-Picture video commentary and sharing of favorite scenes over the Internet (on your connected HD DVD player), are created and powered using Microsoft's HDi.
  


• Shrek the Third HD DVD will be released on November 13. It is available to own at $39.98 SRP each.
  
  This is another HD DVD-exclusive title which will have web-enabled special features that can be accessed by simply connecting your existing HD DVD player to the Internet via the ethernet port. Web-enabled extras on this HD DVD disc includes Shrek’s Trivia Track, The World of Shrek and Donkey’s Digital Coloring Book. Besides web-enabled extras, there would also be an option to enjoy the movie with picture-in-picture access to storyboards, deleted scene pitches and technical goofs and you could also customise the look of the disc menus.
  
  Main feature will be presented in
  - 1080p High Definition OAR
  - Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 (English, French & Spanish)
  - English, French, Spanish & Portuguese
  
  An audio commentary with the cast could also be found on the disc and the many video featurettes/documentaries on the disc will be presented in high-definition.

• Image Entertainment has announced three concert titles to be released exclusively on HD DVD, this December 18. They are Moody Blues, The: Lovely to See You: Live (2005), Roy Orbison: Black & White Night (1987) and R. Kelly Live! The Light It Up Tour (2006). Each will have a suggested retail price of $24.99. Full details here.
  


• We've updated our HD DVD Release List with all the latest announcements and release date changes.